Cricket

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season kicked off with a highly anticipated clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Chennai. Former RCB star AB de Villiers expressed his skepticism about MS Dhoni's decision to step down as CSK captain in favor of Ruturaj Gaikwad.De Villiers, now a cricket analyst, stated, "I think it's a huge mistake. To me, MS Dhoni is five guys in the team as captain. Will that work together? I am not sure. We will have to wait and see. I do think it's a mistake. What happened last time is similar. I feel CSK's all about MS Dhoni's leadership. And his captaincy will be a mistake."Gaikwad, the newly appointed CSK skipper, revealed that Dhoni had hinted at the captaincy change last year. "Last year itself, Mahi bhai had hinted about captaincy at some point of time. He just hinted that, 'be ready, it shouldn't be a surprise to you'. When we came into the camp, he involved me in some of the match simulation."Despite losing the toss, Gaikwad remained confident. "Feel privileged. But I want to try and be in my shoes, not fill anybody's shoes. (On captaincy) I got to know last week, but Mahi bhai hinted at it last year," he said.CSK fans have high hopes for the season under Gaikwad's leadership. His past success, including leading India to gold in the Hangzhou Asian Games, adds weight to their expectations.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is set to kick off in less than 20 days, with the opening match featuring MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore, led by Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, on March 22 in Chennai.Amidst the ongoing Test series against England, where Kohli has opted out due to personal reasons, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar raised concerns about his participation in the upcoming IPL. However, RCB great AB de Villiers has hinted at Kohli's potential presence in the tournament."Nothing confirmed yet. Virat Kohli has hinted that he might want me to come over just to spend a bit of time with him and some of the batters perhaps. Nothing confirmed yet. I think the call has got to come from Andy Flower, Faf, and the team," de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.Gavaskar, while acknowledging India's impressive performance against England despite the absence of key players, emphasized the importance of team spirit and the contributions of young players."Three years back, India missed a lot of big names in Australia but they still managed to pull off a fantastic win not just in Gabba. After getting all out in Adelaide for 36, they won in Melbourne and drew in Sydney. They battled hard to save the Sydney Test match. If Rishabh Pant stayed on the crease for half an hour, then India could have won that match as well," Gavaskar said."That's why I always say, you don't need big names... If any big name thinks that India won't win without him, these two series have shown that whether you are there or not... Cricket is a team sport. It doesn't depend on one individual."The success of the Indian team under captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid has highlighted the importance of nurturing young talent and fostering a positive team environment."Credit must go to the way captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid have managed the team. They gave chances to the young players, molded them, and encouraged them to play their natural game. This shows that whether we have big names or not, if we have players with big hearts, then we can win," Gavaskar added.

Legendary South African cricketer AB De Villiers has expressed his belief that Rajat Patidar, despite his disappointing performances in the ongoing Test series against England, could retain his place in the Indian team due to the team's supportive culture.In a recent video on his YouTube channel, De Villiers praised the team culture fostered by skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid, which he believes provides young players with the time and space to regain their form."Rajat Patidar not having the series of a lifetime or the one to remember. But the good thing about this Indian team and the culture is that you will survive in that side because of the great cricket they are playing and the results coming their way," De Villiers said.Patidar, who has averaged just 10.5 in his Test career so far, has struggled to make an impact in the ongoing series. However, De Villiers believes that the team's success could allow them to be more patient with the young batter."If Patidar's attitude is catchy and if he is a likable character in the dressing room, Rohit and the selection panel will have the ability to say, 'Hold on, we do believe this guy has a future and we see him as a part of the team moving forward. Even though he hasn't been scoring runs, let's give him a longer run'," De Villiers explained.De Villiers also emphasized the importance of giving young players opportunities to learn and grow, even when they are not performing at their best."You need to give these guys a chance to learn and grow. You can't just throw them in the deep end and expect them to swim. You need to give them a life jacket and help them along the way," he said.India will face England in the fifth and final Test match of the series in Dharamsala starting March 7. It remains to be seen whether Patidar will be retained in the team, but De Villiers' comments suggest that he has the support of the team management and could be given another chance to prove his worth.

Rajat Patidar's underwhelming debut series against England has sparked speculation about his future in the Indian Test team. With just 63 runs in three matches, the middle-order batter has failed to live up to expectations. However, despite Patidar's struggles, South African legend AB de Villiers believes the Indian team will give him a longer rope.De Villiers, who played alongside Patidar in the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise, praised the Indian team's culture of supporting players through lean patches. He pointed out that India's strong performances in the series have created a buffer for Patidar, allowing him to survive despite his lack of runs."Rajat Patidar not having the series of a lifetime or the one to remember. But the good thing about this Indian team and the culture is that you will survive in that side because of the great cricket they are playing and the results coming their way," de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.De Villiers also highlighted Patidar's positive attitude and likability as factors that could influence the team management's decision to retain him. "If Patidar's attitude is catchy and if he is a likable character in the dressing room, Rohit and the selection panel will have the ability to say, 'Hold on, we do believe this guy has a future and we see him as a part of the team moving forward. Even though he hasn't been scoring runs, let's give him a longer run'," said the former South Africa captain.Former India opener Aakash Chopra also weighed in on Patidar's inclusion for the final Test, predicting his inclusion in the XI. "I think Rajat Patidar will play the fifth Test match. I think he will get another chance," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.The fifth and final India-England Test begins from March 7. Patidar will be hoping to make a significant contribution and prove his worth to the Indian team.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran Indian spinner, has reached a significant milestone in his illustrious career by claiming his 500th Test wicket during the third match against England. This remarkable achievement has earned him a place among the cricketing greats, and former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers has heaped praise on Ashwin, labeling him a legend of the game.De Villiers, who has faced Ashwin's bowling firsthand, knows the challenges that the Indian spinner poses to batsmen. He described Ashwin as "one of the toughest bowlers I have ever played against," highlighting his natural variation, bounce, and subtle changes with his wrist. De Villiers also praised Ashwin's accuracy, knowledge of the game, and patience, which make him a formidable opponent.The South African legend advised England's batters to stay positive and use their feet a lot more against Ashwin in the remaining two Tests of the five-match series. He suggested that putting pressure on Ashwin by coming down the wicket, staying back deep in the crease, and working him to the leg side could be effective strategies to counter his bowling.De Villiers also took the opportunity to praise young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who slammed a double hundred in the second innings in Rajkot. He described Jaiswal as an "incredible player" with aggressive batting skills and a knack for putting pressure on the bowlers. De Villiers believes that Jaiswal has the potential to succeed in different conditions around the world, given his ability, talent, and mindset.Ashwin's 500th Test wicket is a testament to his skill, dedication, and longevity in the game. He has been a key player for India over the years, contributing with both bat and ball. De Villiers' praise for Ashwin is a fitting tribute to the Indian spinner's achievements and his status as a legend of the game.