Brisbane is a special place for cricket fans, just like MS Dhoni’s famous six in the 2011 World Cup final. Rishabh Pant’s incredible boundary at the Gabba in Australia will always be remembered. It wasn’t a perfectly hit shot; in fact, it was more of a mix between a push and a block. The ball slowly made its way to the boundary, and Pant kept running, excited and finally celebrating with a happy punch in the air.
On Thursday morning, Pant returned to the Gabba for the first time since that memorable match. He paused for a moment, closed his eyes, and took in the surrounding sights before joining his teammates for practice. That short pause must have brought back amazing memories from that epic evening.
During the game, the commentators were thrilled: “It’s full, it’s down the ground. India wins the Test and the hearts of cricket fans everywhere!” Pant, just 23 years old and having played only 15 Tests, scored an impressive 89 runs. His teammate Shubman Gill, who was 22 years old and had only played three Tests, scored 91 runs.
The team had a big job ahead of them: they needed to chase down 328 runs to win or survive the entire 98 overs to keep the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Winning at the Gabba was tough since Australia hadn’t lost there since 1988. The coach, Ravi Shastri, and captain Ajinkya Rahane told the team to play regular cricket, but Pant had a different approach in mind.
Shastri later said, “We wanted to play smart, but Rishabh had his own ideas.” Pant wasn’t just playing to survive; he was determined to win, showcasing his unique and bold style of play.
At a recent event, Pant reflected on that moment and how he didn’t realize its importance at the time. Rohit Sharma had told him, “You don’t know what you’ve achieved,” and Pant was confused because his only goal was to win. He later understood the true significance of that performance.
Both Pant and Gill have faced challenges since that match, including Pant’s serious car accident. But the fact that Pant is back and working to improve is remarkable. Meanwhile, Gill’s performance in Test cricket has had ups and downs, but he is still young, only 25, and the team believes in him.
Returning to the Gabba gives both players a chance to relive their triumph, even if just in their minds. The sight of the ground alone might inspire them. The Australian team, as Mitch Marsh mentioned, may want to forget their loss in 2021, but for Pant, Gill, and the rest of the Indian team, that unforgettable moment will always hold special meaning.
Category: Sports
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Rishabh Pant’s Unforgettable Gabba Moment: Cricketing Glory Revisited!
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Vinod Kambli: Health Update and Cherished Cricket Memories”
Vinod Kambli, the former Indian cricketer, is feeling a bit better after facing serious health problems recently. At 52 years old, Kambli has been struggling with a bad urine infection that made him collapse a month ago. Thankfully, he is on the mend now, thanks to the support of his family. His wife Andrea, son Jesus, and daughter Johanna have all helped him during this tough time.
Two weeks ago, Kambli attended a memorial event for his coach, Ramakant Achrekar. His appearance there raised concerns among fans and fellow cricketers because they noticed he seemed unwell. However, seeing his old buddy Sachin Tendulkar brought a smile to his face, and he even sang a song that was a favorite of Achrekar.
In a recent interview, Kambli shared, “I am better now. My wife took me to three hospitals and insisted I get fit. Ajay Jadeja came to see me, which was nice. My son helped lift me up, and my daughter and wife were there for me too.” He described how he felt dizzy one month ago, leading to his collapse. A doctor advised him to get admitted to the hospital for treatment.
Kambli is known for his remarkable start in cricket, scoring double centuries in his third and fourth Tests. However, his career had its ups and downs, and he made several comebacks. He last played for India in 2000 at just 28 years old. After retiring, he continued playing domestically until 2004, but some of his off-field actions often got more attention.
In 2009, Kambli stirred controversy on a reality show, hinting that Sachin could have done more to support him during tough times, which caused tension between the two friends. Over time, they reconciled and remain close.
Reflecting on his career, Kambli cherishes his innings of 224 runs against England at Wankhede Stadium, recalling the strong team he played with, including legends like Anil Kumble.
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Gukesh Dommaraju: Youngest Chess World Champion at 18!
In an exciting match in Singapore, 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju from India beat the current champion, Ding Liren from China, to become the youngest chess world champion ever! Gukesh, at just 18, is four years younger than Garry Kasparov, who held the record since 1985.
Gukesh played with the black pieces and won the crucial last game after Ding made a big mistake when he was in a good position. The final score of the exciting match was 7.5 to 6.5 in Gukesh’s favor.
Ding Liren had not been playing his best lately, especially after he won the championship against Ian Nepomniachtchi last year. He hadn’t won in the long “classical” format for a long time. But he got his confidence back after surprising everyone with a win in the first round of this match. After Gukesh had two wins and they had eight draws, Ding managed to tie the score in round 12.
This championship was a long format with 14 games and had a prize money of $2.5 million! Gukesh qualified for this event by winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year.
Also, the previous world champion, Magnus Carlsen, who had the title since 2013, gave it up last year because he wasn’t feeling motivated to compete anymore.
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Gujarat Giants Revamp Coaching Staff Before 2025 Women’s Premier League
Gujarat Giants is making big changes to their coaching team for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025. They have announced that Pravin Tambe will be the new bowling coach and Daniel Marsh will be the new batting coach. Michael Klinger, who was already the head coach, will continue in his role.
The team is owned by Adani Sportsline and is planning for the upcoming player auction to build a strong team.
Daniel Marsh, the new batting coach, is excited about his job. He has played cricket in Australia and has a lot of experience, scoring over 11,000 runs in his career. He wants the team to have a fearless batting style.
Pravin Tambe, the new bowling coach, made headlines for his impressive debut in a major cricket league at age 41. He has played for teams like the Rajasthan Royals and is looking forward to helping the players improve their bowling skills.
Michael Klinger has a wealth of coaching experience and has helped many teams. He is proud to build on the groundwork laid last season and hopes that the experience of players who represented India last year will help the team do better.
The WPL player auction will take place on December 15 in Bengaluru. This year, teams can choose from 120 players, including both Indian and international stars. Some standout players, like Deandra Dottin and Heather Knight, are set to go for high prices in the auction.
Gujarat Giants have kept some key players, including Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney, but have let go of others like Sneh Rana and Veda Krishnamurthy. The last two seasons have been tough for Gujarat Giants as they finished last, winning only two matches.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, guided by Smriti Mandhana, are the defending champions of WPL 2024, having beaten the Delhi Capitals in the final last year.
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Rohit Sharma to Open in Crucial Test Against Australia!
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, is set to open the batting again in the upcoming third Test match against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. The match will start this Saturday at the Gabba in Brisbane. The series is currently tied at 1-1 after India won the first Test in Perth but lost the second Test in Adelaide by 10 wickets.
In training on Thursday, Rohit, who struggled in the last match batting at No. 6, practiced facing the new ball. He played with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep, which was different from his training before the last Test. Initially, it looked like India would stick with their opening pair of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had a great partnership in Perth. However, after batting poorly in Adelaide with scores of just 3 and 6, many believe Rohit should return to his usual position as an opener.
Former players Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar shared their thoughts on this decision. Shastri feels that Rohit can be more aggressive and expressive at the top of the order and suggested he should open again. Gavaskar also supported this idea, stating that if Rohit plays well from the start, he could score a big century.
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Nortje Injured: South Africa Adjusts Squad for T20 and ODI Series
Anrich Nortje, a fast bowler for South Africa, has faced more injury trouble. On Thursday, it was announced that he would miss the rest of the T20 series and three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) against Pakistan. Nortje was out for nine months since September 2023 because of a stress fracture but returned to play in the T20 World Cup, where South Africa made it to the final in June.
Unfortunately, he has now hurt his toe and won’t play in the second and third T20 matches or the whole ODI series. This is crucial practice for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy. Doctors found a fracture in scans taken on Wednesday, and Nortje will see specialists to figure out the best treatment.
To replace him in the two T20 games in Pretoria and Johannesburg are Dayyaan Galiem, an all-rounder who has not played for South Africa before. Now, the team is getting ready for the ODI matches, bringing back star players who rested during the T20 matches. Temba Bavuma, Tristan Stubbs, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, and Tabraiz Shamsi are all back.
Also included in the squad is Kwena Maphaka, an 18-year-old fast bowler who will play in the ODI matches for the first time. The ODI series starts in Paarl on Tuesday.
South Africa ODI Squad:
– Temba Bavuma
– Ottneil Baartman
– Tony de Zorzi
– Marco Jansen
– Heinrich Klaasen
– Keshav Maharaj
– Kwena Maphaka
– Aiden Markram
– David Miller
– Andile Phehlukwayo
– Kagiso Rabada
– Tristan Stubbs
– Ryan Rickelton
– Tabraiz Shamsi
– Rassie van der Dussen -
Cricket Returns to the Olympics in 2028: A Historic Comeback!
In a big announcement for cricket lovers around the world, cricket is coming back to the Olympic Games! The sport will be part of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, marking its first appearance since 1900. Back then, Great Britain won the gold medal by beating France.
On Thursday, ICC President Jay Shah met with Cindy Hook, the CEO of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee, to talk about this exciting return. Jay Shah shared his excitement on social media: “Very exciting time ahead for cricket’s involvement in the Olympics movement!”
This historic decision was made during a meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Mumbai last year. The matches will be played in the T20 format, which is fast and very popular, making it perfect for a wide audience.
Cricket’s reboot in the Olympics comes after a successful return in the Asian Games last year, where it was played for the first time since 2014. India shone bright, winning gold medals in both men’s and women’s competitions. Afghanistan and Bangladesh received silver and bronze medals in the men’s event, while Sri Lanka and Bangladesh took silver and bronze in the women’s tournament.
Having cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is a major achievement for the sport, giving it a global stage to show off its excitement. Everyone is looking forward to this event, which brings fresh opportunities for cricket to grow and reach more fans around the world!
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Cricket’s Exciting Return to the Olympics: What’s Next?
Jay Shah, the new head of the International Cricket Council (ICC), recently met with important officials from the Brisbane 2032 Olympics organizing team. They talked about the chances of cricket being featured in the Summer Games.
Cricket will return to the Olympics for the first time in 128 years during the 2028 Los Angeles Games. However, it still isn’t confirmed for the 2032 Brisbane Games. Jay Shah shared on social media, saying, “Exciting times ahead for cricket in the Olympics!” He also posted pictures of the meeting.
The meeting included Cindy Hook, the organizing committee leader, and Nick Hockley, the CEO of Cricket Australia. Shah is also set to watch the third Test match between India and Australia starting at the Gabba this Saturday.
One of Shah’s important tasks is to sort out the hosting plans for the Champions Trophy, which is happening in February-March. All parties involved have agreed on a new mixed format, but no official announcements have been made yet. This has led to many questions about the event’s future.
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India Gears Up for pivotal Test Against Australia at The Gabba
The Gabba in Brisbane is one of the two Test cricket venues in Australia still using traditional pitches, along with Sydney’s SCG. This stadium is also home to the Brisbane Lions, a local Aussie Rules Football team, and the bright maroon and yellow seats reflect the team’s colors.
The Gabba is famous for hosting India’s unforgettable Test win in January 2021. Even though the Indian team was missing key players like captain Virat Kohli and star bowlers, they pulled off an incredible victory against Australia, a team that hadn’t lost at this ground since 1988. India chased down a target of 328 runs with help from young players Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, along with the determination of Cheteshwar Pujara, winning by three wickets.
This time, some of the players from that match are back, including Rohit Sharma as captain and Mohammed Siraj, who is now a key bowler. However, they are not thinking about the past; instead, they need to focus on their current situation. India has struggled with batting lately, managing to score over 200 runs just once in their last five Tests. So, their training session before the upcoming third Test against Australia is all about improving their batting performance.
In places like Brisbane, batsmen must learn to defend their wicket and ignore balls outside off-stump, especially when they just come in to bat. Virat Kohli, despite being an experienced player with 30 Test centuries, has often fallen for deliveries he should let go. He’s now trying to be more disciplined in his approach to batting.
During their training, India’s bowlers worked hard in smaller groups with the help of coaches. KL Rahul was particularly focused, staying in the nets longer to refine his skills since he now has the pressure of opening the batting.
Concerns about Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness arose after he received treatment for his groin, but he looked strong and ready during practice. Bumrah and Siraj will likely form a strong bowling attack with Akash Deep joining them, while Washington Sundar is expected back in the team, taking Ashwin’s spot.
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India’s Gabba Practice: Rohit Sharma at No. 6 and Team Strategies Unfold
During India’s first practice session at the Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday, it seemed like captain Rohit Sharma will continue batting at No. 6. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal are expected to open in the third Test starting Saturday (December 14).
Rohit made a big change before the second Test in Adelaide by giving up his opening spot to let Rahul bat at the top after Rahul’s great performance in the first match. Unfortunately, this move didn’t work out, as neither Rahul nor Rohit scored many runs in their new roles. Rahul started off well in the first innings but got out for 37 runs, while in the second innings, he was caught out for just 7. Rohit seemed uneasy batting at No. 6, which he hadn’t done in six years. He went out for just 3 runs in the first innings and scored only 6 in the second, struggling with the moving pink ball.
Despite these results, it looks like India will keep the same batting line-up at Gabba. Rahul and Jaiswal were the first to practice, while Rohit came to the nets early. He replaced Rahul for some batting practice before Rahul returned for more.
Virat Kohli kicked off the training with a motivating talk to the team. He continued his usual intense batting session and discussed his techniques with assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate to improve his reactions to certain deliveries, as he had been out in similar ways during the last games.
Jasprit Bumrah took on a mentoring role, teaching Nitish Kumar Reddy how to improve his bowling speed. Reddy has been impressive with his batting but needs to work on his bowling to help the team more.
Mohammed Siraj, who recently had a heated moment with Travis Head in Adelaide, spent time with video analyst Hari and bowling coach Morne Morkel, aiming to fine-tune his delivery for more swing.