Category: Cricket

Indian cricketer Shardul Thakur has been performing really well in the Ranji Trophy for his team, Mumbai. He played an important role in helping Mumbai win against Haryana in the quarter-finals. Even though Mumbai lost unexpectedly to Jammu & Kashmir in the last league match, Shardul stood out by scoring fifties in both innings.

During that game against Jammu & Kashmir, Shardul had the chance to share the dressing room with India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, who was back to play after taking a break. Shardul talked about his conversation with Rohit and how he stays positive even when he’s not scoring many runs.

Rohit had a tough time scoring runs in recent matches against New Zealand and Australia. However, he surprised everyone by scoring a fantastic 119 runs off just 90 balls in the second ODI against England, helping India chase down 305 runs successfully.

Shardul, who is both a friend and teammate of Rohit, praised him a lot. He said Rohit never loses his confidence, no matter how many runs he scores or misses. When they talked during the Ranji game, Rohit told Shardul that he just needed one good inning to get back on track.

“He told me, ‘I know the runs aren’t coming now, but all I need is just one innings. Then, runs will come automatically again,’” Shardul shared.

Shardul dismissed worries about Rohit’s form and believed that his recent outs were just bad luck. “In the ODI against England, he looked really comfortable. He did not seem out of form at all. It’s just a matter of luck. His batting style makes him a very dangerous player,” Shardul said.

Shardul also mentioned that even though Rohit didn’t score well in the domestic game, he looked assured and confident during practice. He reminded everyone that being an opener is tough, especially against new fast bowlers. He believes we shouldn’t doubt Rohit, considering how many matches he has helped India win over the years.

Jos Buttler, the captain of the England cricket team, has responded to comments made by former Indian coach Ravi Shastri and ex-England captain Kevin Pietersen. They claimed that England didn’t train enough during their recent tour of India, suggesting they only had one practice session throughout a series where they lost all three matches.

Buttler disagreed with this statement, saying, “I’m not sure that’s quite true.” He mentioned that England’s tour started with a five-match T20 series, which began on January 22. He explained that they have had a long trip with many travel days. While there were a few times they didn’t train, they’ve done plenty of practice sessions throughout their time in India.

England has faced tough times, losing four consecutive ODI series since their early exit from the 2023 World Cup and winning only four out of 14 ODIs during this challenging period. Buttler acknowledged that his team struggled against a strong Indian side, but he believes their confidence is intact.

He said, “We want to win games to build confidence. It’s better to win than to lose.” Buttler recognizes that India is currently one of the best teams in ODI cricket and sees a glimmer of hope for his team. “We haven’t performed at our best, but that gives us something to aim for. We know we can improve and become a dangerous team in the upcoming Champions Trophy,” he added.

When it comes to facing spin bowlers, Buttler remains positive. While England struggled against India’s spinners, he has “no concerns” about his team’s ability to handle spin in future matches, emphasizing, “We simply have to be better.” He trusts in his players’ abilities, highlighting Joe Root as one of the best players against spin bowling in the world.

After India’s loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, the BCCI introduced strict rules, including limits on family travel for players. According to the new guidelines, family members can only travel with players for two weeks if the tour lasts 45 days or more. However, this won’t apply during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai, where the tournament lasts only 20 days. India’s first match is on February 20 against Bangladesh, followed by a highly anticipated game against Pakistan on February 23 and a final group match against New Zealand on March 2. If India reaches the final, it will be on March 9.

Even though the team will be in Dubai for 24 days starting February 15, family members won’t be allowed to join the players during the tournament. The BCCI has made it clear that if players want their families to accompany them, they must pay for it themselves. A senior player asked about bringing family along, but his request was denied. The BCCI is strict about this rule, and it seems unlikely any exceptions will be made at this point.

The only players who could potentially be involved in this situation are Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as they are the most senior players on the team. Kohli’s wife, Anushka, has been present at most matches, while Rohit’s wife, Ritika, recently had their second child. The BCCI has confirmed that, as of now, families will not be traveling with players during the Champions Trophy.

In a recent press conference, Rohit Sharma accidentally let slip some details about the family travel rules, indicating that the players are discussing this sensitive issue internally.

Influencer and entrepreneur Ranveer Allahbadia has found himself in hot water after an episode of Samay Raina’s show, “India’s Got Latent.” Ranveer asked a contestant a question that many people thought was inappropriate, leading to a big backlash online. Thousands of social media users criticized him, and he reportedly lost about 8,000 followers.

The situation grew even worse for Ranveer when popular cricketer Virat Kohli was seen unfollowing him on Instagram, which got people talking even more about the incident.

Beyond just social media complaints, an FIR (First Information Report) has been filed against Ranveer, Samay Raina, and others involved with the show. Assam police have summoned them for questioning because they received a complaint alleging that some discussions on the show were sexually explicit and hurt public decency.

In light of the backlash, Ranveer publicly apologized for his comments. The episode in question has been taken down from YouTube, and Samay has decided to remove all videos related to “India’s Got Latent” from his channel.

Ranveer said, “Everything that is happening has been too much for me to handle. My only goal was to make people laugh and enjoy.” He promises to cooperate fully with the authorities.

The Assam police are continuing their investigation, and they have sent a team to Mumbai to look into the matter further.

Team India played really well in the last One Day International (ODI) match against England, winning by a big margin of 142 runs in Ahmedabad. This victory means India won the series 3-0. England had a tough time in all three games, losing by wide margins. To make things worse, Ravi Shastri, the former coach of India, who was commentating during the match, said that the England players only practiced one time during the entire series.

Shastri mentioned on-air, “I heard England had just one practice session the whole trip. If you don’t work hard, you won’t get better.”

Kevin Pietersen, a former captain of England, was shocked by Shastri’s claim. He expressed disbelief after England lost, saying, “I can’t believe these players only practiced once. There’s only one batter—Joe Root—who trained. You cannot come to India and keep making mistakes without practicing.”

He continued, “No athlete goes into a series thinking they’ll improve without practice. I am really surprised that England hasn’t practiced since the first game. That’s unbelievable!”

Pietersen criticized the England players for choosing to play golf instead of going to practice, stating, “I understand you want to have fun, but you’re being paid to win matches, not play golf. This is a cricket tour, not a golf tour. You should leave knowing you gave your best for your team.

He also pointed out that after the series, no England player can say they tried their best in the matches, except maybe Joe Root, who did practice. Pietersen added, “It’s sad that England players did not respect Indian conditions or the game.”

Ahmedabad: Moments that stand out with Jasprit Bumrah on the cricket field often include him knocking the bails off behind Dawid Malan or sending Mahmudullah back to the pavilion with a perfect yorker during the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, it’s his clever deliveries that quietly change the game in the middle overs, like when he finally got Mohammed Rizwan out.

While many fans remember the big wickets taken early on or at the end of the game, it’s in the middle overs where many key battles are won or lost. This part of the game, which takes up 60% of a 50-over match, might not always be exciting, but it is really important. In these middle overs, players like Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson score a lot with their clever shots. To stop them, a team needs to take their wickets. With Bumrah in the team, it becomes easier to get breaks. But if he isn’t playing, it could be tough for India.

Rohit Sharma, India’s captain, mentioned, “The middle overs can change the game’s direction. If we can take wickets during these overs, we won’t have to worry too much about the end.” This is critical considering Bumrah’s fitness will be uncertain. If he’s fit, it’s excellent for India, but if he isn’t, they might need to use more spin options to get wickets.

In the last World Cup, India’s success in the middle overs was thanks to Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, who took 23 wickets combined. They were not just taking wickets; they were also keeping runs low. Jadeja continues to be an asset in the current series against England with his smart bowling, but Axar Patel and Kuldeep have yet to put in their best performances.

New spinner Varun Chakravarthy debuted in the second ODI, showing some initial challenges, but his unique style could help him make the Champions Trophy team. As for Axar, he contributes with his batting, and Hardik Pandya has also been fit for bowling. Chakravarthy can provide cover for Kuldeep, making it possible for both to play together.

India’s next matches in the Champions Trophy are against strong teams like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand, all taking place at the Dubai International Stadium. Over the years, India has tried many strategies for their middle overs, focusing a lot on spin bowling. Pandya has been a solid choice among the pace bowlers.

Shami and Arshdeep Singh also need to deliver strong performances in the upcoming match. As Rohit hinted, the team is eager to improve and build on their last performances as they hope Kohli can shine again. Kohli has just had a few matches without scoring a fifty after his previous outstanding innings. “We want to keep getting better as a team. As long as everyone knows their roles, we should do well,” Rohit concluded

Last year, India faced a surprising defeat in Test cricket at home against New Zealand. This was a big shock because New Zealand had never won more than one Test match in India before, with their last victory all the way back in 1988. They ended up beating India 3-0 in a series that many thought India would win easily.

Former Sri Lankan cricket captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, who led his team to victory in the 1996 World Cup, believes his team could have defeated India too if they played in India. He said that with great bowlers like Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralidaran, it would have taken his team just three days to win.

Rohit Sharma’s India was expected to reach the World Test Championship final for the third time in a row at the start of the series. Instead, they struggled and lost to Australia later, which meant they missed the final for the first time ever.

Before this loss, India had just achieved an incredible victory against Bangladesh, smashing 285 runs for 9 wickets in less than 35 overs, even after a lot of rain had affected the match. This win was their 18th straight Test series victory at home, breaking the record of 10 series that Australia held.

The government of Odisha asked the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) on Monday to explain why the floodlights failed during the second ODI match between India and England on Sunday at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. This failure caused a 35-minute pause in the game while India was trying to chase a score of 305 runs.

The incident happened at the start of the seventh over, with India’s openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, doing well and scoring 48 runs off 37 balls. Suddenly, one of the floodlights went out, leaving both teams upset. The umpires had to ask the players to leave the field.

In a letter to OCA, Siddhartha Das, the Director of Sports in Odisha, stated, “This incident led to about 30 minutes of match delay, which upset players and fans. We want OCA to explain why this happened, identify who is responsible, and tell us how they plan to stop this from happening again.” OCA has 10 days to respond.

What caused the floodlight issue? According to an Indian Express report, the problem occurred when the generator for that floodlight stopped working. This raised concerns about whether Cuttack could host international matches, especially since it was the first ODI held there in six years. OCA secretary Sanjay Behara explained, “When one generator failed, we tried to use the second one. But it took time to move the second generator because the players’ vehicles were blocking the way.”

Shardul Thakur shone in the Ranji Trophy with an amazing six-wicket haul during the quarterfinal match against Haryana. The fast-bowling all-rounder, who has been out of the Indian cricket team, is showing he deserves to return for the upcoming test series. The 33-year-old star has been performing well with both bat and ball for Mumbai in recent Ranji Trophy matches, catching the eye of the BCCI selectors and coaches due to his important contributions.

In the quarterfinal, Shardul’s impressive bowling helped Mumbai take control of the game. He claimed the first wicket by getting Haryana opener Lakshhya Dalal out for 34 runs. Later, he took down the last five batters for Haryana, completely changing the game’s momentum. Shardul bowled with great accuracy, which troubled the Haryana batsmen and led to several leg-before-wicket dismissals.

Mumbai managed to dismiss Haryana for 301 runs, after scoring 315 in their first innings. Fans on social media praised Thakur’s performance and suggested he should be picked for the upcoming tour to England in the summer. After a tough season in limited-overs cricket, where his economy rate was high, Thakur found his form again in the Ranji Trophy.

He explained that the conditions were challenging during the T20 and one-day tournaments. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he took 10 wickets in seven matches, and in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he was one of the top wicket-takers, finishing with 15 wickets in nine matches, but his economy was high.

Since the Ranji Trophy resumed, he has been outstanding, taking eight wickets in his last game against Meghalaya, including a first-innings hat-trick. His fantastic bowling helped Mumbai win by an innings and 456 runs, putting them at the top of their group.

Shardul Thakur received the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his four-wicket performances in both innings and for scoring 84 runs in the first innings. He showcased his hitting ability with a remarkable 84 runs off just 42 balls.

With his six-wicket haul against Haryana, Shardul has now taken a total of 30 wickets this season, with an average of 23.95 and best bowling figures of 6 for 58. In nine innings with the bat, he has scored 396 runs at over 40 runs per innings, including one century and three fifties.

Virat Kohli, the famous Indian cricketer, seems to be getting closer to former England captain Kevin Pietersen. Pietersen is in India for commentary during the ODI series between the two teams. They have been seen chatting and laughing together several times during their matches.

During one game in Nagpur, Kohli, who was injured at the time, showed Pietersen his hurt knee that kept him from playing in the first match. They enjoyed a funny moment that made them both smile. On another occasion, while fielding near the boundary, Kohli was spotted laughing and talking with Pietersen, who was watching from the sidelines.

People on the internet are curious about why these two are talking so much. Some think Kohli might be interested in learning about real estate prices in London, where he has spent a lot of time since the birth of his son, Akaay. Kohli’s childhood coach even mentioned that Kohli plans to move to London soon, leaving India behind. Since Kohli has a home there, asking about property prices makes sense.

During the second ODI, Aakash Chopra, a former Indian opener, mentioned on air that Kohli could be asking Pietersen about good neighborhoods in London. Pietersen responded thoughtfully, saying, “Never assume things,” hinting that their chats might be about something different.

Later, Pietersen revealed that they were talking about golf, a sport he loves. When another former Indian cricketer, Suresh Raina, guessed this, Pietersen agreed, adding that he has told Kohli to start playing golf because it’s a fantastic game.

Kohli spent a lot of time in London last year, including when he and his wife, Anushka Sharma, welcomed their second child. After some matches in India, Kohli briefly traveled to the USA and West Indies for the T20 World Cup before returning to the UK. After that, he quickly came back to India and has been here since.