Category: Cricket

Mumbai: The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, will meet on Saturday to choose India’s team for the Champions Trophy. However, they face two big questions: Is Jasprit Bumrah fit to play? And how can they include Yashasvi Jaiswal in the team?

Bumrah, a top fast bowler, recently had back spasms during the Sydney Test against Australia and couldn’t bowl on the last day. He has been told to rest, and his fitness is being closely checked by the BCCI’s physiotherapists. Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and captain Rohit Sharma will carefully consider Bumrah’s condition before deciding if he should play. After the meeting, they will hold a press conference to update everyone.

Rohit Sharma’s presence at the press conference suggests he will remain the captain of the ODI team, even amid doubts about his future in Test cricket after a tough tour in Australia. Recently, a 37-year-old Rohit uploaded a video on Instagram showing him practicing his famous batting moves.

There’s also a lot of talk about including 23-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal in the squad, as he is performing well right now and could add variety with his left-handed batting. But fitting him in may be tough since Rohit, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer are already strong choices for the top order. If they want Jaiswal, it might mean leaving out KL Rahul. It’s possible Jaiswal could get a chance to play against England in the upcoming three-match ODI series instead.

The squad for the England series will also be chosen on Saturday. Rishabh Pant is likely to be the main wicketkeeper since Sanju Samson’s absence from the Vijay Hazare Trophy disappointed decision-makers. Dhruv Jurel may be considered as a backup wicketkeeper.

Senior bowler Mohammed Shami is expected to be included since he has played many domestic matches and is also part of the T20I squad against England. Another name that might be discussed is Karun Nair, who has scored an impressive 752 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. However, finding a spot for him in the already crowded middle order, which includes all-rounder Hardik Pandya, is challenging, though he might get a chance for the one-dayers against England.

Selectors will also check on wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav’s fitness as he has been recovering from a groin injury. He has shared videos of himself bowling, which is encouraging news. Additionally, Prasidh Krishna could also be heading to Dubai with the team, as India’s campaign kicks off against Bangladesh on February 20.

Akash Deep, a young Indian bowler, had an unforgettable moment when Virat Kohli asked him if he wanted one of his bats. Akash was shy but excited, replying, “Who wouldn’t want it, Bhaiyya?”. This happened during India’s tough tour of Australia, which was hard for the team. Akash Deep took five wickets in two Tests and scored a crucial 31 runs at the Gabba, where India managed to save the match even though they lost the series 1-3.

Akash Deep remembers how Virat Kohli offered him the bat himself. “He asked, ‘Do you want my bat?’ and I could only say yes because everyone wants a bat from a superstar like him,” he said with a smile.

Even though Akash didn’t take many wickets, he bowled a lot during the matches, making him a reliable player. He was sad when catches were dropped right after his good deliveries. “Rohit bhaiya believed I could take wickets whenever,” he added.

Akash shared his thoughts on a tough moment when Marnus Labuschagne was dropped by Yashasvi Jaiswal during the game in Melbourne. Labuschagne went on to score important runs, making Akash feel that if he had been out earlier, they might have won that match.

Bowling in Australia taught Akash a lot because it was different from playing in India, where he was used to pitches that help spin bowlers more. Akash said, “Playing here helped me learn how to bowl better under pressure.”

Unfortunately, Akash had to miss the final Test in Sydney because he had a stiff back but is now recovering well. He’s waiting for the National Cricket Academy to tell him when he can start bowling again.

When asked about his journey, Akash said, “So many people helped me from my brother who took me to practice to my coaches. I want to keep improving myself and adding new skills quickly

Former Australian cricketer Brett Lee has shared his thoughts on Virat Kohli’s disappointing performance during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Virat had a tough time, scoring just 190 runs in five Tests. He began well with a great hundred in the first match in Perth, but after that, his form slipped badly.

Kohli kept getting out in the same way—he was caught edging balls that were pitched outside off-stump, which ended up in the hands of the wicketkeeper or the slips. This has been a problem for him for the last four years, and it worries his fans and teammates. Lee noticed that Kohli’s dismissals were unusual for a player of his caliber.

He said, “It was very un-Kohli-like. Even good batsmen can get out sometimes, but Virat kept getting out the same way. After his splendid century in Perth, he struggled to make a mark in the following matches.”

Brett Lee believes the Australian bowlers executed their game plan perfectly against Kohli. “They really did their homework and had a solid plan to tackle him. Unfortunately for Kohli, he only had one good innings in Perth,” he added.

Despite the struggles of both Kohli and Rohit Sharma during the tour, Lee defended them, saying they were ready for the challenge. He observed Kohli carefully and noted that he seemed focused and committed to performing well. However, the runs weren’t there for him, which is disappointing for everyone.

In an exciting match on Wednesday, Indian women’s cricket team captain Smriti Mandhana set a new record by scoring the fastest One-Day International (ODI) century for Indian women. She reached her hundred in just 70 balls during the third ODI against Ireland. Without their usual captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, Mandhana shone brightly, hitting 12 fours and 7 sixes to make a fantastic score of 135 runs before being caught out by Orla Prendergast.

This amazing feat broke the previous record held by Kaur, who made her century in 87 balls against South Africa last year. Mandhana’s century is now tied for the seventh fastest in ODI history, matching the 2012 record of former England player Charlotte Edwards. With her 10th ODI century, Mandhana is now in a tie for third place for the most centuries ever scored by women in ODIs, with England’s Tammy Beaumont. The all-time record is held by Australia’s Meg Lanning with 15 centuries, and New Zealand’s Suzie Bates with 13.

Things have been quite tough for the Indian cricket team during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. By the end of the series, there were rumors about a clash between the coach, Gautam Gambhir, and the captain, Rohit Sharma. Rohit even chose to skip the last Test match in Sydney. Things got messier when reports suggested Rohit might retire after the fourth Test, but after changing his mind, tensions with Gambhir grew.

Some players, including wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, are ready to play in the Ranji Trophy later this month. There’s been pressure for international players to join domestic tournaments. Because of this, people are questioning Gambhir’s role as head coach. Former Indian captain Kapil Dev shared his thoughts on the situation.

Kapil mentioned that while everyone has high expectations, it is ultimately up to the players to perform well. “The coaches are not playing on the field, the captain and team are. A new coach will bring different ideas and hopefully improve things. If not, people will complain,” the 66-year-old said.

Kapil noted that Gautam Gambhir is different from previous coaches like Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid. “Gambhir can be intense, unlike Dravid who is more calm,” he added.

Gautam Gambhir’s next challenge comes soon when India faces England in five T20 matches and three One Day Internationals (ODIs). Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will return for the ODI matches as they prepare for the Champions Trophy set for February-March.

By Amlan Chakraborty, NEW DELHI – The Ranji Trophy, India’s top domestic cricket competition, is getting some star power as famous Indian players come back to play. They are hoping to improve after a tough few months.

Rohit Sharma and his team are recovering from a tough time on the field. They lost 3-0 at home to New Zealand and then got beaten 3-1 in Australia. This meant they could not make it to the World Test Championship finals for the third time in a row. Rohit, who is the captain, had a rough tour and was dropped from the last test in Australia after not scoring runs. Despite only getting one score of fifty in his last 15 innings, he has no plans to stop playing Tests. Rohit practiced with the Mumbai team at Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday before the second part of the Ranji Trophy starts on January 23. He is expected to play in at least one of Mumbai’s last two Group A matches, returning to the tournament after nine years.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was the top scorer for India during the five-test series in Australia, will play in Mumbai’s next match against Jammu and Kashmir. Shubman Gill, who scored only 93 runs in five innings in Australia, is set to play for Punjab in their upcoming match against Karnataka in Bengaluru. Rishabh Pant, who sometimes plays too aggressively, will also be back in action with Delhi’s next match against Saurashtra. He hasn’t played in the Ranji Trophy since the 2017-2018 season.

Virat Kohli is also looking to bounce back after scoring just 190 runs in nine innings during the Australia series, with only one good score of 100 in the first match. He hasn’t yet confirmed if he will join the tournament, which he hasn’t played since 2012, even though the Indian board is encouraging players to come back to domestic cricket to regain their form.

India’s next challenge is a five-match series in England starting on June 20.

India recently faced a tough loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), losing 1-3 to Australia. This defeat has led to a lot of thinking and discussions within Indian cricket, both in the game and behind the scenes. One of the biggest surprises was Ravichandran Ashwin’s sudden retirement during the series, which shocked fans and cricket experts alike.

Ashwin, who is seen as one of India’s best cricketers, decided to retire from international cricket after the third Test match. At 38 years old, his announcement sparked rumors about possible issues within the team and disagreements with the management. However, Ashwin explained that his choice was personal and not influenced by others.

On his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, “I think a lot about life and what to do next. When you feel your job is done, there’s really nothing more to think about. People talked a lot about it, but I don’t think it’s a big deal.”

He discussed his experience in the series, mentioning that he didn’t play the first Test, played the second, but missed the third. He considered playing again, but ultimately felt his “creativity” in cricket was finished.

Because of this, many fans wondered if he should have had a special farewell game. But Ashwin made it clear that he didn’t want a big goodbye. He said, “What difference does it make if people clap for me when I come on the field? After a week, no one will remember it anyway.”

Despite his retiring, Ashwin expressed a desire to continue playing cricket elsewhere, stating, “It’s better to leave people asking ‘why’ instead of ‘why not.’” He finished his career as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests, with 537 wickets in 106 matches, and 765 wickets across all formats of the game, a record that puts him in the same league as cricket legend Anil Kumble.

Saqib Mahmood, a fast bowler for England, is having trouble getting his visa to travel to India. Because of this, he will miss the training camp in Abu Dhabi with his teammates. His passport is stuck in the visa process, but he hopes to get the visa by Friday before some players head to Kolkata.

This isn’t the first time Mahmood has faced visa delays. Six years ago, he had to drop out of an England Lions tour to India for the same reason. Last year, during a trip to India, spinner Shoaib Bashir experienced similar visa issues and missed the first Test match.

Australian opener Usman Khawaja also faced visa delays in 2023. Fortunately, other England players of Pakistani heritage, like Rehan Ahmed and Adil Rashid, have already received their visas.

In his career, Mahmood has played two Tests, nine One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 18 Twenty20 (T20) matches for England. The England cricket team’s tour of India will start with a T20 match in Kolkata on January 22. Jos Buttler will captain the team for the T20 series, which will be followed by ODIs and the Champions Trophy.

Joe Root is back in the ODI squad after over a year, while Ben Stokes is not included due to a hamstring injury from the recent Test against New Zealand.

Brendon McCullum has been the test team’s coach since May 2022 and introduced a new exciting style of play that fans love, called “Bazball.”

England’s Squads:

ODIs (India Tour and ICC Champions Trophy):
– Jos Buttler (captain)
– Jofra Archer
– Gus Atkinson
– Jacob Bethell
– Harry Brook
– Brydon Carse
– Ben Duckett
– Jamie Overton
– Jamie Smith
– Liam Livingstone
– Adil Rashid
– Joe Root
– Saqib Mahmood
– Phil Salt
– Mark Wood

T20s (India Tour):
– Jos Buttler (captain)
– Rehan Ahmed
– Jofra Archer
– Gus Atkinson
– Jacob Bethell
– Harry Brook
– Brydon Carse
– Ben Duckett
– Jamie Overton
– Jamie Smith
– Liam Livingstone
– Adil Rashid
– Saqib Mahmood
– Phil Salt
– Mark Wood

Amid concerns about Jasprit Bumrah’s injury and if India could have handled his workload better during their recent five-Test tour of Australia, former captain Kapil Dev has urged people not to compare cricket in his era to today’s game. This comment came after his former teammate Balwinder Singh Sandhu criticized the idea of managing players’ workloads.

Kapil said, “Please don’t compare my time with Bumrah’s. You can’t compare different generations. Today’s players score 300 runs in one day, which we couldn’t do back then.”

Although India lost the series 3-1, Bumrah was the top bowler, taking 32 wickets in five matches at an incredible average of 13.06. He achieved three five-wicket hauls and was awarded Player of the Series. Sadly, Bumrah couldn’t play the last innings of the Sydney Test due to a back injury.

Sandhu also spoke about Bumrah’s situation and said that bowling around 150 overs in five matches is not a big deal. He explained that Bumrah bowled in shorts bursts and that the average of 16 overs per innings or 30 overs per match isn’t excessive. Sandhu added, “Workload management is nonsense. I come from a time when players listened to their own bodies, not to anyone else. I don’t agree with this idea at all.”

On this day in 2018, New Zealand celebrated a big win over Pakistan, taking home a 183-run victory in the third One Day International (ODI) at the University Oval in Dunedin. Fast bowler Trent Boult was the star of the day, taking 5 wickets for just 17 runs, which helped bowl Pakistan out for only 74 runs. New Zealand’s win gave them a 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

New Zealand started their innings by batting first, but things looked shaky at first when opener Colin Munro got out quickly. Captain Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill, who scored 45 runs, worked hard to rebuild the innings. Williamson played great, scoring 73 runs, and Ross Taylor added 52 runs to help the team reach a total of 257 runs, getting all out in the last over. Rumman Raees and Hasan Ali from Pakistan stood out with the ball, each taking three wickets.

When Pakistan batted, they faced early trouble from Trent Boult. His amazing bowling took out key players Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, and Mohammad Hafeez, leaving Pakistan struggling at just 2 runs for 3 wickets. Boult’s skill made it very hard for the Pakistani batsmen to score runs.

Pakistan’s trouble increased as they fell to 32 for 8, almost breaking the record for the lowest score in ODI history. Lower-order batsmen Mohammad Amir and Rumman Raees tried to hold on, scoring 14 and 16 runs, but it was not enough. Finally, Pakistan was bowled out for just 74 runs in 27.2 overs, the lowest score by a visiting team in New Zealand.

Boult’s incredible performance of 5 wickets for 17 runs is a reminder of his talent, especially after he had taken 7 wickets against West Indies just weeks before. The third ODI in Dunedin will always be remembered for Boult’s brilliant swing bowling that destroyed Pakistan’s batting lineup. His outstanding effort earned him the Player of the Match award and helped New Zealand secure the series victory.