Cricket

Legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist has expressed concerns about the potential impact of India's recent 3-0 Test series whitewash at home against New Zealand on their upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour of Australia.Gilchrist believes that the humiliating defeat will have a significant psychological impact on the Indian team, particularly on its senior players. "It does (have an impact), more for the Indian players and the Indian team internally. They have to be asking themselves pretty hard questions," Gilchrist told FoxSports.He added, "I do think on the back of that loss and the fact that it was a clean sweep... I think that will raise some questions internally and the pressure and the expectation and the desire from a passionate cricketing nation to see that change around, that'll ride heavily on those shoulders of all those players."The series was particularly disappointing for India's experienced players. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli managed only 91 and 93 runs respectively in the entire series, while Ravichandran Ashwin picked up only nine wickets in spin-friendly conditions.Gilchrist expressed concern about how these players will bounce back from such a disappointing performance. "There are a few ageing players there who may start to even second guess themselves a little bit. There's some high class cricketers in that Indian squad. It's going to be fascinating to see how they rebound from that challenge," he said.Meanwhile, there have been reports that the Test future of the four senior players may be at risk. A senior BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity, "If India doesn't qualify for WTC final in England, one can be rest assured that all four super seniors won't be on that flight to UK for the ensuing five-Test series. In any case, all four have likely played their final Test at home together."

India's upcoming five-match Test series against Australia, commencing on November 22, has sparked anticipation and predictions from cricket experts. The Rohit Sharma-led Indian team aims to continue its winning streak in Australia, having triumphed in the last two Border-Gavaskar Trophy series on Australian soil.Former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, in a recent podcast appearance, expressed optimism about India's chances, predicting a 3-2 series victory. He highlighted the team's remarkable comeback in the previous Test tour, where they overcame a humiliating 36-run collapse in the second innings to secure a 2-1 series win.Yuvraj emphasized the importance of preparation and unity within the Indian team. He praised their performance in the last two tours, noting that beating Australia in Australia is akin to winning a World Cup.Meanwhile, former England captain Michael Vaughan and Australian legend Adam Gilchrist predicted a 3-1 and 3-2 series victory for Australia, respectively. Vaughan cited the home advantage and Australia's strong team, while Gilchrist acknowledged India's recent success in Australia.Yuvraj's prediction sparked a humorous exchange with Vaughan, who suggested claiming a "moral victory" if India falls short. Yuvraj responded with a confident "We will take it."Yuvraj also recalled India's historic comeback in the previous Test tour, highlighting the team's resilience and match-winning abilities. He believes that the current generation of Indian players has the potential to repeat that success if they prepare well and remain united.The upcoming Test series promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the world's top cricket teams. India will aim to extend its dominance in Australia, while the hosts will seek to regain their home ground advantage. The outcome of the series will have significant implications for both teams' rankings and will be closely watched by cricket fans worldwide.

The upcoming India vs Australia Test series is highly anticipated, with former England captain Michael Vaughan predicting a 3-1 victory for the hosts. The five-match series, scheduled to commence on November 22 in Australia, is considered the pinnacle of Test cricket.India has dominated the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in recent years, retaining it for the last four series, including two victories in Australia. However, Vaughan believes the Aussies have a strong chance of reclaiming the trophy this time around.Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist also predicts a 3-2 win for his home team, while former India batting star Yuvraj Singh foresees a 3-2 victory for India.The series will feature matches in Perth, Adelaide (pink-ball Test), Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. India has won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 10 times, while Australia has claimed it on 5 occasions. Australia's last Test series win against India came in 2014-15, while their last series victory in India was in 2004-05.The upcoming series promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the world's top Test teams. India will be looking to continue their dominance, while Australia will be eager to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Rishabh Pant's remarkable return to Test cricket after a horrific car accident in December 2022 has garnered widespread admiration, including from Australian legend Adam Gilchrist. Pant's fighting spirit, fearless approach, and ability to entertain have earned him high praise from the former wicketkeeper-batsman.Gilchrist, known for his own aggressive batting style, believes Pant takes it to another level. "I reckon he attacks a bit more than I did," Gilchrist said. "He looks fearless. What I do like is that he occasionally puts a foot on the brake and absorbs a bit of pressure. So he's a class act."Pant's return to competitive cricket with the Indian Premier League earlier this year was a testament to his resilience. After undergoing multiple surgeries and spending over a year in rehab, he contributed to India's T20 World Cup triumph and played the Duleep Trophy to mark his red-ball comeback.Gilchrist, who played 96 Tests, 287 ODIs, and 13 T20Is, believes Pant's entertainment value is what sets him apart. "He is, what you say, bums on seats and people pay money well and truly. I would happily pay money to watch him play cricket," Gilchrist said. "He's got the humour. He knows how to go about a very serious business in a fun way."Pant's first Test innings upon return yielded a score of 39, demonstrating his ability to perform at the highest level despite the challenges he has faced. His fighting spirit and determination have inspired many, and his return to form is a welcome boost for Indian cricket.

Legendary Australian wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist has named India's Mahendra Singh Dhoni among the three greatest wicket-keeper batsmen of all time. Gilchrist, himself a renowned wicket-keeper batsman, placed fellow Australian Rodney Marsh ahead of Dhoni in his rankings.Gilchrist, who played 96 Tests for Australia, cited Marsh as his idol and role model. He praised Dhoni's calmness and composure, describing him as someone who "did it in his way, always calm." Gilchrist also included Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara in his top three, acknowledging his class and versatility as a batsman and wicket-keeper.Gilchrist's comments come as India prepares to tour Australia later in 2024 for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India has won the last two Test series between the two nations in Australia, and will be aiming for an unprecedented hattrick.Gilchrist believes Australia has the potential to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but acknowledges that it will be a close contest. "India know how to go away and win overseas," he said. "Naturally, I'm going to say Australia, hope they get there. But it's too close to call. It will be a close tussle."India's recent success in Australia has been a testament to their growing dominance in Test cricket. They have won the last four Border-Gavaskar Trophies, all by a margin of 2-1. Gilchrist's comments suggest that Australia will need to be at their best to prevent India from extending their winning streak.

Former New Zealand cricketer Ian Smith has high praise for Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, comparing him to Australian legend Adam Gilchrist. Smith believes that Pant has the potential to match Gilchrist's achievements if he maintains his current form.Pant has impressed Smith with his performances since returning from a car accident earlier this year. He has been in excellent form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the ongoing T20 World Cup."Rishabh Pant since his accident has come back very strong and he looks in terrific form. He is dynamic. He's aggressive, he's dangerous," Smith said.Like Gilchrist, Pant has shown his versatility by batting in various positions across different formats. Smith believes this makes him a valuable asset in white-ball cricket."He can compliment who's with him, whether he comes in to support Kohli or whether he comes in to support... Rohit Sharma, so three is a good spot for him because I firmly believe that in white-ball cricket your best players should have the opportunity to face the most deliveries. And so that's what makes him valuable.""He can hit the first ball he faces out of the ground and he's got other bailout options as well if it doesn't work out that way. I mean, you know, he's replaced a very good player in KL Rahul. KL Rahul is a world-class cricketer. That says it all for me," Smith added.Pant, 26, is seen as a similar type of cricketer to Gilchrist, who could bat down the order in Test cricket and up the order in white-ball formats. However, Smith cautions that Pant still has a long way to go to reach Gilchrist's records, who scored over 15,000 runs in international cricket and took over 800 catches behind the stumps."Ah yeah, well, he's got a bit to go. But yes, similar type of cricketer who can, in Test cricket, bat down the order. And in white-ball cricket can be back at the top of the order. So there's that similarity with Gilchrist there. But if he continues in the same vein for a few more years, then people will say Gilchrist and Pant, yeah, very close," Smith said.

As the T20 World Cup approaches, anticipation builds for the tournament's standout performers. Former India captain Virat Kohli is widely expected to dominate the run-scoring charts, but legendary Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist has offered a surprising prediction.Gilchrist believes that David Warner will emerge as the tournament's highest run-scorer. On the Club Prairie Fire Podcast, he stated that the Australian opener will have "one last dance" before retiring after the World Cup. Former England captain Michael Vaughan, however, maintains that Kohli will score the most runs.Kohli's recent form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) supports Vaughan's prediction. He ended the 2024 season with the Orange Cap for most runs, becoming the only Indian to win the honor twice. Kohli scored 741 runs in 15 matches at an average of 61.75, with a century and five fifties. His best score was 113* and his strike rate stood at 154.69, the highest it has ever been for him in a single IPL season.Gilchrist's choice for the highest wicket-taker is Kuldeep Yadav, while Vaughan opts for Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa.Kohli's impressive IPL performance has fueled expectations for his success in the T20 World Cup. His ability to anchor the Indian batting lineup and score runs consistently makes him a formidable threat to opposing bowlers. However, Warner's experience and recent form suggest that he could be a dark horse in the race for the tournament's top run-scorer.The T20 World Cup promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with a host of talented players vying for individual glory. Kohli and Warner are among the favorites to lead the run-scoring charts, while Yadav and Zampa are contenders for the highest wicket-taker award. As the tournament unfolds, it will be fascinating to see which players rise to the occasion and etch their names in the annals of T20 cricket.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has strongly criticized the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for its decision to recall players from the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the T20I series against Pakistan. Vaughan believes that the players would have benefited more from participating in the IPL playoffs than playing in the T20I series.Vaughan's comments come after England players Will Jacks, Phil Salt, and Jos Buttler were ordered to return for international duty, missing out on the IPL playoffs. Vaughan argues that playing in the high-pressure environment of the IPL playoffs would have been better preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup than playing in a T20I against Pakistan."I think England missed a trick by sending all their players home," Vaughan said on the 'Club Prairie Fire' podcast. "I think Will Jacks, Phil Salt, Jos Buttler in particular, playing in the IPL in the eliminations (playoffs), pressure, crowd, expectation, I would argue that playing here is better preparation than playing a T20 game against Pakistan."Vaughan emphasized that he is not advocating for club cricket to take precedence over international duty. However, he believes that the pressure and intensity of the IPL playoffs would have been more beneficial for the players' development in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup."I am all for international cricket, but...this tournament (IPL) in particular is so exposed to pressure...players are under a huge amount of pressure from fans, owners, social media; it's massive," Vaughan said. "I just felt Buttler, probably not as much but I still think he could have stayed here, but Will Jacks and Phil Salt, I think they would have been better prepared (for the T20 World Cup) staying here and playing in the IPL than going back to Headingley to play a (T20I) game."Former Australia captain Adam Gilchrist agreed with Vaughan's assessment, stating that the players who were actively involved in the IPL playoffs should have been allowed to stay back. "I am sure there are a number of (England) players who could have fulfilled those obligations (for T20I series against Pakistan) in the international setup there, but the guys that were actively involved in the IPL, in the finals period (should have stayed back). I think that's a missed opportunity, spot on," Gilchrist said.The IPL final will be played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday in Chennai, while the T20 World Cup will begin on June 2 in the US and West Indies.

Shivam Dube, the enigmatic all-rounder from Mumbai, has emerged as a captivating dark horse candidate for India's T20 World Cup squad. His stellar performances for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 have not only propelled his team but also caught the attention of cricket pundits and former players.Dube's impact for CSK this season has been undeniable. As the side's star batter, he has amassed an impressive tally of 245 runs in seven matches, emerging as their highest run-scorer with a staggering strike rate of 157.05. With notable contributions including two half-centuries and a highest score of 66*, Dube's consistency and power-hitting prowess have been key factors in CSK's campaign.Former Australian cricketer and wicketkeeping maestro Adam Gilchrist recently endorsed Dube as his dark horse pick for India's T20 World Cup squad during an interview with Cricbuzz. Gilchrist praised Dube's irresistible form and highlighted his ability to take on both spin and pace bowling with confidence and finesse."Shivam Dube, I think his form is irresistible," Gilchrist remarked. "He's taken on spin bowling, which we've known and witnessed for a while. But he's taking on the quick bowlers. He seems to be confident in his shot selection all around the ground."Gilchrist further emphasized Dube's all-round talent, suggesting that his bowling skills could add depth to the Indian team if utilized effectively. Despite limited bowling opportunities, Gilchrist expressed optimism about Dube's potential impact in the T20 World Cup, urging the team management to consider maximizing his bowling contributions in the nets."If they get the message to him, to make sure he is at least bowling a lot in the nets...he is too irresistible as a talent, an all-round talent to not take to the World Cup," Gilchrist added.With the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee facing mounting pressure to assemble a formidable squad for the showpiece event, the inclusion of Shivam Dube as a dark horse candidate adds an intriguing dimension to the selection process. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball could prove invaluable in the high-pressure environment of the T20 World Cup.