Category: cricket

KL Rahul will lead India in ODI series against SA

Posted on

KL Rahul has been named captain of the Indian side for the three-match ODI series against the Proteas by the BCCI. In Durban, the series will kick up on December 10.

The BCCI confirmed in a press statement on November 30 that power hitter Suryakumar Yadav, who is currently leading the Indian cricket team in the five-match Twenty20 International series against Australia, will continue to captain the side in the shortest format for the three-match series against South Africa.

Meanwhile, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah announced that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of the country’s top players, had asked the Board that they postpone from the white-ball portion of the tour. The board also disclosed to us that Mohammed Shami is presently receiving medical attention, and his availability is contingent upon his level of fitness. But Rohit and Kohli will be back for the Tests.

After the current T20I series against Australia, Suryakumar will take over as captain since Hardik Pandya, who took the lead in the format following the T20 World Cup last year, is still sidelined due to an ankle injury he sustained during the most recent ODI World Cup.

After losing to England in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in Adelaide last year, both Kohli and Rohit have not participated in any T20 Internationals.

Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj have all returned to the T20I team for the South Africa tour, having had a break from the ongoing T20I series against Australia, which began just four days after the World Cup final against the same opponents. Shivam Dube, Avesh Khan, Axar Patel, and Prasidh Krishna are the players who make room for them. Nonetheless, Prasidh plays for the Test team, while Axar and Avesh are members of the ODI team.

With the return of Jadeja, Chahar, Kuldeep, and Siraj, the bowling attack will have a lot more experience for the T20Is, even though the batting lineup is mostly same. This could be a sign of what the team management and selectors are considering for the T20 World Cup, which is less than six months away.

With only Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Kuldeep remaining from the ODI World Cup roster, the ODI team sees many more changes. While Rajat Patidar was called up after being included in the team earlier this year against New Zealand as a replacement for Iyer but not getting a game, Rinku Singh and B Sai Sudharsan received their first ODI call-ups. Along with Deepak Chahar, who recently returned to the T20I lineup for the Australia series, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh, and Arshdeep Singh were all back in the ODI squad.

In the past week, Chahal has taken nine wickets for Haryana in four one-day matches for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, including a six-for against Uttarakhand. Samson, who is also playing for Kerala in the competition, has only scored 101 runs at an average of 25.25 in four innings, with just one fifty to his record.

The BCCI announcement did not reveal the vice-captain for the ODI team, in contrast to the Test and T20I selections.

Following Pandya’s injury, Rahul captained the Indian ODI team in nine matches, the first of which took place in South Africa early in 2022 and saw India destroyed 3-0. Rahul served as vice captain of the team throughout the World Cup. Later that year, Rahul led India to victory in a 3-0 series in Zimbabwe. In three previous One-Day Internationals (ODIs) that India won, one in Bangladesh in December of last year and two at home against Australia before to the most recent World Cup, he captained the team in Rohit’s absence.

Rahul has been an important middle-order batsman for India, primarily at No. 5, since making his ODI side comeback for the Asia Cup in September following a protracted injury absence. In 16 innings since his comeback, he has hit at 92.54 and averaged 75.70, with two hundreds and four half-centuries.

The day after the BCCI extended Rahul Dravid’s term as head coach, which had ended after India’s loss to Australia in the World Cup final in Ahmedabad, the team announced for the T20I, ODI, and Test tour to South Africa.

With the exception of IPL2024, India has just six more Twenty20 international matches left before the T20 World Cup in 2024, following the conclusion of their current five-match Twenty20 international series against Australia on December 3. On December 10, 12, and 14 they play three matches in South Africa; in January of the following year, they host three matches against Afghanistan.

On December 10, 12, and 14, respectively, India will play three Twenty20 Internationals in Durban, Johannesburg, and Gqeberha.

After that, the Indian squad will play three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) against the Proteas in Johannesburg, Gqeberha, and Paarl on December 17, 19, and 21.

The Indian Team and the Proteas will play two tests later. The first Test will take place in Centurion from December 26 to December 30. However, the second test will take place in Cape Town from January 3 to January 7.

Rahul Dravid is going to continue as India’s coach

Posted on

After Dravid’s contract expired after the 2023 World Cup, the BCCI spoke with him and decided to extend it by unanimous vote.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) declared on Wednesday that Rahul Dravid and his team members’ contracts had been extended, dispelling any lingering questions over the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team and their support staff.

The board has chosen to extend the contracts of India’s coaching staff, which included head coach Dravid, batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhmabrey, and fielding coach T Dilip. The ODI World Cup completed recently. The main explanation for this is said to be the strong showing that India, under their leadership, had at the World Cup.

They lost to Australia in the tournament final, thus they did not win the championship, but they did win ten of the eleven games they played in a way that had never been witnessed by any Indian team before.

Due to the frequent travel and dedication required by his work, Dravid was reportedly reluctant to accept an extension; however, it seems that after being contacted by board officials, the former captain of India changed his mind.

Following the conclusion of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, “the BCCI engaged in productive discussions with Dravid and unanimously agreed to further the tenure,” the BCCI stated in a release.

The duration of the extension granted to Dravid and his support staff was not specified, although it is likely to last until the West Indies and USA T20 World Cup in June of the following year.

Dravid was named India’s head coach following the 2021 T20 World Cup. India has performed admirably in all three forms since then. They defeated Sri Lanka, South Africa, and New Zealand at home and kept the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Their progress was halted in ICC competitions during the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinals. In the World Test Championship, they performed far better, but they fell short at the last hurdle. In the ODI World Cup, the narrative was comparable. Dravid’s team finished second against Australia in the semi-finals despite their impressive results up until then.

The Asia Cup, held in Sri Lanka in 2023, was the only multi-nation trophy that India won under Dravid’s leadership.

VVS Laxman will remain the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, even though he is presently coaching the young Indian team in an acting capacity for the five-match T20I series against Australia.

“The Board praises Dravid’s extraordinary professionalism and appreciates his pivotal contribution in shaping the Indian Team. The Board also recognises VVS Laxman for his excellent work as the NCA Head and interim Head Coach. In keeping with their illustrious on-field collaborations, Dravid and Laxman have collaborated closely to advance Indian cricket, the announcement stated.

In addition to thanking his family for their efforts, Dravid stated that he will not waver in his commitment to ending India’s protracted quest for an ICC trophy.

“Working with Team India over the past two years has been really unforgettable. We have experienced both highs and lows together, and the group’s support and companionship have been incredible the entire time. Sincerely, I’m proud of the culture we’ve established in the changing room. It is a culture that perseveres through hardships as well as triumphs. Our crew is incredibly talented and skilled, and we have placed a strong emphasis on following the correct procedures and adhering to our plans, which has directly affected the end product.

“I express my gratitude to the BCCI and the Office Bearers for their confidence in me, support throughout this time, and endorsement of my vision. Due to the demands of my position, I have to spend a lot of time away from home, and I am very grateful for my family’s support and sacrifices. Their support work in the background has been crucial. We are still dedicated to pursuing excellence even as we take on new challenges beyond the World Cup,” Dravid stated.

Dravid’s efforts to propel India to the top of the rankings in all three formats were praised by BCCI president Roger Binny and secretary Jay Shah, who also wished him luck in the future.

The success of Team India has been largely attributed to Rahul Dravid’s vision, professionalism, and unwavering efforts. Being the Indian Cricket Team’s head coach puts you under constant scrutiny, therefore I’d want to thank him for accepting the obstacles and succeeding in them. The Indian Team’s accomplishments bear witness to his strategic direction. It is a testament to the mutual respect and shared vision between him and the BCCI, and it gives me great pleasure that he accepted the opportunity to continue as Head Coach. “Under his leadership, the team will undoubtedly surpass previous achievements and reach new heights,” stated Binny.

The BCCI secretary, Jay Shah, stated that Dravid is the best person to advance Indian cricket.

“I had stated that, at the time of his hiring, Rahul Dravid was the best candidate to assume the position of Head Coach, and Dravid has once again shown his unwavering dedication to perfection. Team India has become into a formidable force in all three forms, and our success in all three formats is a direct result of his vision, direction, and team strategy.

Our World Cup campaign was nothing short of spectacular, having won 10 straight games before to the final, and the Head Coach deserves recognition for creating the ideal environment for the squad to succeed. We fully support Head Coach and will do all in our power to ensure his continued success on the international front.

Can Suryakumar Yadav be the next captain of Indian T20 side?

Posted on

All eyes will be on Suryakumar Yadav, who might be named captain of the next T20I series in South Africa. The change in leadership dynamics follows India’s tremendous milestones achieved during Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, but India’s failures in ICC tournaments.

With great anticipation, Rohit assumed captaincy. He guided India to the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinals, the 2023 ICC World Test Championship championship final, and the ODI World Cup championship match. Notwithstanding these successes, India has yet to win an ICC trophy, as seen by their most recent defeat by Australia in the ODI World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

For the T20I series vs Australia, Suryakumar Yadav will serve as captain. In the first three games, India won two of them. Suryakumar’s captaincy is in question because usual T20I captain Hardik Pandya is out with an injury and important players like Rohit, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah are rested.

According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is eager to persuade Rohit to stay as the team’s captain. This is in spite of prior rumours indicating Rohit’s unwillingness to participate in the shortest format. The BCCI has made it plain that Rohit would skipper the squad in the next T20 World Cup if he accepts. Suryakumar will remain captain of the South Africa T20Is in the event that he stands down.

“Yes, there is still uncertainty about what will happen when Hardik returns, but according to the BCCI, Rohit would captain the team in the T20 World Cup if he accepts to lead in T20Is. Surya would continue to skipper the T20I team in South Africa if Rohit doesn’t agree, a BCCI source under the condition of anonymity said PTI.

The impending comeback of Hardik Pandya and player workload management will factor into the BCCI’s decision. A busy schedule that includes an 11-day white-ball tournament and a Test series afterward makes selecting a captain for each format essential.

The ODI World Cup saw widespread acclaim for Rohit Sharma’s leadership, which increased the BCCI’s faith in his skills. But Rohit’s decision to play in Twenty20 Internationals is still very much personal. His choice will have a big effect on India’s pre-T20 World Cup strategy and captaincy structure.

India Loses 3rd T20 Match Against Australia In The Series

Posted on

Australia defeated India by five wickets thanks to an absolutely unbelievable run chase almost entirely spearheaded by Glenn Maxwell. Ruturaj Gaikwad scored a century to lead India to a 222/3 total. Even though Australia’s batsmen consistently lost wickets, they managed to stay within the required run rate. In the end, Maxwell was essentially the only player who maintained their run rate continuously while Marcus Stoinis supported on the opposite end. It was nearly a one-man show.

It took Captain Matthew Wade some time to get going as well, but in the end, he was able to support Maxwell in his attack. Wade was on 28 off 16 balls when Maxwell finished unbeaten on 104 off 48 balls, with a six and three fours off the final four balls of the match.

For India, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi claimed two wickets.

Earlier, when batting first, India got off to a rough start as Ishan Kishan and Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early. On the second delivery of the second over, Jason Behrendorff dismissed India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal (6) as Wade caught the ball. Shortly after, Stoinis catches Ishan Kishan on the third delivery of the third over, and Kane Richardson takes him. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Suryakumar then steadied the vessel. Before SKY was dismissed for 39 off 29, the two scored 57 off 47 balls for the third wicket. Since then, Gaikwad has persevered and made an even stronger statement along with Tilak Varma, celebrating his 50 in the process.

After that, Gaikwad picked up a significant pace, eventually surpassing 100 in 52 balls. Glenn Maxwell bowled the final over of the Indian innings, which went for a massive thirty runs. Gaikwad finished undefeated at 123 off 57 balls as India finished with a total of 222/3.

Tilak Varma and Gaikwad combined for 141 runs in just 59 balls, with Varma scoring just 39 runs in 29 balls.

Aaron Hardie, Jason Behrendorff, and Kane Richardson each took one wicket for Australia.

In their first two Twenty20 matches, the Men in Blue have looked impeccable, and the Indian batsmen have amazed everyone by scoring over 200 runs in each of the two games. Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Ravi Bishnoi, and the other bowlers from India will be trying to chip in more to relieve some of the load on the batsmen, who are already under a lot of strain without bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

Suryakumar Yadav, who is leading the team for the first time in this T20 series, has never lost before. SKY will aim to make this series memorable for him as captain by handily defeating the Kangaroos following the ODI World Cup.

Australia will be without seasoned opener Steve Smith and wrist-spinner Adam Zampa ahead of their Twenty20 match on Tuesday. Cricket Australia has already called in replacements for a number of Australian players who will be returning home on Wednesday, including Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.

The T20 World Cup coming up next year has added extra significance to this series, and Australia, who have looked worn out from their extended stay in India, will need to improve in every area to be competitive.

Maxwell’s innings were praised by Surya after the game, who called it “insane” and said, “We just wanted to get Maxi out quickly (laughs), that was the plan.” However, you have to give the bowlers something while defending 222 in a situation when there is a lot of dew. Similar to how we played in Trivandrum, where there was a lot of dew and they lost wickets early on but were always in the game because they had wickets in hand. I instructed the boys to get Maxwell out fast during the drink break, but that was ridiculous.”

As the series stands India won 2 and Australia won 1 out of the 5 matches. Australia still has matches to make a comeback and now after winning the last match, the series has become more interesting to watch.

Virat Kohli Will Skip T20Is And ODIs vs South Africa

Posted on

Virat Kohli decided to skip white ball cricket for some time and he will not be joining the Indian team for the T20 and One-Day matches against South Africa. In two weeks, India will embark on a tour of South Africa, with the first Twenty20 International (T20I) scheduled for Durban on December 10.

The 2023 ODI World Cup’s top scorer, Virat Kohli, has communicated his choice to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). During the World Cup, Kohli scored 765 runs in 11 innings. He was named Player of the Tournament for his incredible scoring performance during the competition.

Kohli has communicated to the selectors and BCCI that he needs a break from white-ball cricket and that he will let them know when he is available to play in the future. He is eligible for selection for the two Test matches in South Africa as of right now because he has notified the BCCI that he will be playing red-ball cricket, according to a source.

While traveling to South Africa, India will play two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is. In the next few days, the Indian team for the upcoming tour will be chosen. The team is playing Australia in a five-match Twenty20 International series right now.

India and South Africa will play their first Test match on December 26 at Centurion, while their second Test match will take place in Cape Town on January 3, 2024.

Additionally, it has come to light that captain Rohit Sharma has not yet disclosed what he plans to play in the One-Day International match against South Africa. It is anticipated that he will also skip the T20I series in Rainbow Nation.

The Test match, which starts at Centurion on Boxing Day, is expected to feature the comeback of these two senior batters in the Indian lineup.

It is rumored that Virat is now vacationing in London. According to reports, Rohit is also in the UK, taking some time off from the game following India’s devastating World Cup final loss to Australia.

During the ODI World Cup, Kohli and Rohit were both in outstanding form; the former finished the competition as the leading run-scorer. It’s unclear when or in what capacity the two want to rejoin the white-ball squad.

For those who don’t know, since the West Indies tour, Kohli has been playing cricket nonstop. The former captain of India has participated in three Test matches and fifteen ODIs. The 36-year-old led the scoring charts in the just-finished World Cup, amassing a record-breaking 765 runs in 11 One-Day Internationals. He then eclipsed Sachin Tendulkar’s 49-century record in the Semi-final match against New Zealand.

On the team’s coaching scenario, BCCI is in favor of Rahul Dravid traveling to South Africa with the Test squad. Earlier after the final loss it was rumored that a new coach would be appointed but it looks like Dravid still has work to do.

“The contract will be worked out but the Test series is important and even if he doesn’t go for the T20I series in SA, he can join (the team) from the ODIs,” said a source. It is expected that Rahul will receive his new contract during the South Africa series and he might join the team for the Tests.

Regarding VVS Laxman, he might be the team’s coach throughout the opening stretch of the series, which would provide him with a firsthand assessment of the ‘A’ team.

The T20 and ODI matches in South Africa will be a chance for upcoming young players to rise in the scene. Virat and Rohit are expected to join the team for the tests and it is going to be a new era in Indian Cricket.

ICC World Cup 2023: When we talk about the 15 we are very clear what we want – Rohit Sharma

Posted on

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has revealed they are clear about their World Cup squad. India lost the last ODI of the series against Australia by 66 runs at the Saurashtra Cricket Association, Rajkot on Wednesday, which was their last competitive match before the World Cup.

India have ticked the right boxes as a unit but the fitness of Axar Patel remains the only concern for the team ahead of the World Cup. Patel could not play against Australia due to a quadriceps injury he suffered in the Asia Cup clash against Bangladesh.

In the absence of Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin had bagged his opportunity with both hands, picking four wickets in two matches.

Rohit Sharma said in the post-match presentation, “When we talk about the 15 we are very clear what we want. We are not confused, we know where we are headed as a team. It’s a team sport and we want everyone to come and play their part – that’s how we win championships. It’s about looking after the body and try and stay fresh for the next one and half months.”

On the other hand, Rohit added Jasprit Bumrah is going to hold the key for them in the upcoming ODI showpiece. Bumrah has also made an impressive return after back injury and he has been right on the money.

Iyer, SKY and Ashwin tick key boxes for India before World Cup

Posted on

These three one-day matches against Australia were the Indian cricket team’s last chance before the deadline to submit to the ICC their final 2023 World Cup squad, and from victories in Mohali, Indore and Rajkot the management should have gleaned all that was left to be.

India rested for the first two matches Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav; Jasprit Bumrah missed the second ODI for personal reasons; and for the final ODI in Rajkot, there was no Pandya, Shubman Gill, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan or Axar Patel on account of a mix of rest, fitness and “personal things” in the words of the captain, Rohit.

After big wins in the first two matches, India paid the price for a bowling effort lacking desire in Rajkot and a rejigged batting lineup, losing to Australia by 66 runs, but with the series in the bag it did not make a difference.

The only real remaining pieces of the proverbial jigsaw puzzle that the Indian team management needed to look at from these three ODIs were four. One, whether Shreyas Iyer could spend some time at the crease after an interrupted and far from ideal comeback from injury. Two, whether Suryakumar Yadav – whose only chances in ODIs have come when someone has been rested or injured – could carry some much-needed form into the World Cup should he at any point in the tournament be called into the XI. Three, if the recalled Ravichandran Ashwin could push his World Cup credentials given he had played just two ODIs in six years. And four, whether Bumrah could bowl his full quota of ten overs in an ODI since he returned after 11 months away.

Each player gave their response. After being run out in Mohali, in the next. Match Iyer reminded anyone who had doubts that his rightful spot in the lineup is as India’s No 5, when he scored 105 off 90 balls in the second match. In the third game he made 48 off 43 deliveries.

Suryakumar, who entered the series with an ODI batting average of under 25, reeled off superb half-centuries in the first two matches – the latter a stunning unbeaten 72 off 37 deliveries – to go into his first World Cup with some form and renewed confidence. Ashwin played in Mohali and Indore and took four wickets, which should have sealed his World Cup berth.

Bumrah bowled ten overs across three spells in the first ODI for figures of 10-2-43-1 and then in the last match, played on a road of a pitch, he came back from conceding 51 runs from his first five overs to end with 3/81. A tough second match, but bowling 20 overs in two matches is the best news where Bumrah is concerned given how long it had been since he previously bowled ten overs in an ODI.

You may pick three fast bowlers – Sunil Gavaskar selects India’s playing XI for World Cup 2023 opener against Australia

Posted on

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar has picked India’s playing XI for the World Cup 2023 opening match against Australia. Gavaskar feels India could pick three fast bowlers in their final XI. India recently won the first two ODIs against Australia convincingly and they will be looking to replicate the same.

The hosts won the first game by five wickets whereas the Men in Blue won the second ODI by 99 runs (DLS method). Gavaskar picked three pacers – Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah as the fast bowlers in the playing XI.

“You may pick three fast bowlers – Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. If they want to go with two seamers since they already have Hardik Pandya, then an extra spinner can be included. You can have Ashwin in the eleven,” said Gavaskar while talking to Star Sports.

“In any team, the top three batters are quite important. A good start from the openers helps the others that follow to play freely. The contribution from the opening pair is going to be crucial,” he added.

 

Sunil Gavaskar’s Team India playing XI vs Australia:

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.

On the other hand, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan wants India to go with five bowlers in the opening clash against the Aussies.

Chhattisgarh Men’s T20 Invitation Cup 2023, Kerala vs Andhra, Match 3: Probable XIs

Posted on

The 3rd T20 match of the Chhattisgarh Men’s T20 Invitation Cup is slated to take place between Kerala and Andhra on September 30. The game will take place at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur and will kick off at 9 AM IST.

Kerala is right on top of the points table sitting with a comfortable NRR of 1.7. Kerala as a team was outstanding on the field in their preceding fixture against Jharkhand. Sourabh Tiwary and Nazim Siddique gave Jharkhand an ideal start but the wheels started coming off very soon.

Vinoop Manoharan accounted for the bulk of the damage picking up three wickets for just 13 runs while Pathirikattu Midhun picked a solitary wicket. However, the team showed some brilliant fielding effort which resulted in 3 run-out dismissals, and were eventually able to restrict Jharkhand to 131.

In response, Ajnas M top-scored scoring 48 (33), and got some good support from the skipper Sachin Baby who made a well-compiled innings of 32 (22) to steer Kerala to a comfortable seven-wicket win.

Andhra is second in the points table sitting with an NRR of 0.601. The Andhra bowlers appeared very lackluster at first giving away too many runs in the first half of the game.

Cheepurapalli Stephan, Harishankar Reddy, and Lalith Mohan were expensive with the ball and conceded at more than 10 RPO. The Andhra bowlers could only accumulate six wickets as Chattisgarh Red raced to 177 in their allotted overs.

In response, Ashwin Hebbar and Shaik Rasheed led the attack and launched a brutal assault on the Red’s bowlers. The duo smoked the bowlers to all parts and raced to their target in record time without losing too many wickets. Ashwin Hebbar was later adjudged Player of The Match for his breathtaking knock of 111 * (64).