Cricket

Shreyas Iyer, the in-form batter, has been appointed as the captain of the 17-member Mumbai squad for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scheduled from November 23 to December 15. The squad also includes Prithvi Shaw, who has been recalled after being dropped from the Ranji Trophy side due to fitness and discipline issues.Iyer has been in exceptional form this Ranji Trophy season, amassing 452 runs at an impressive average of 90.40, including two centuries. His blistering 233 against Odisha and 142 against Maharashtra were instrumental in Mumbai's consecutive victories.The inclusion of Shaw is a significant development, as the 25-year-old opener has been in prolific form in domestic cricket. He has scored 332 runs in four innings in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, including a century and two half-centuries.Other notable inclusions in the Mumbai squad include Ajinkya Rahane, who has been captaining the team in the Ranji Trophy, and Siddhesh Lad, who has also been among the runs this season. Spin bowling all-rounder Tanush Kotian, who recently represented India A in unofficial Tests in Australia, has also been selected.Veteran all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who has been a regular member of the Indian team in recent years, will add experience and depth to the Mumbai side. The squad also features promising young players such as Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Jay Bista, and Suryansh Shedge.Mumbai will be aiming to make a strong impact in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which is a domestic Twenty20 tournament. The team has a balanced squad with a mix of experience and youth, and will be hoping to challenge for the title.

Mumbai, the defending Ranji Trophy champions, will face Services in Palam on Wednesday, aiming for their third outright victory of the 2024-25 season. With only eight points separating the top five teams in Group A, Mumbai, currently third behind Baroda and Jammu & Kashmir, recognizes the importance of a win before the campaign pauses for white-ball tournaments.Services, currently fourth in the standings, also has aspirations of challenging for a knockout spot. After defeats to Baroda and Jammu & Kashmir in the second and third rounds, they bounced back with a 35-run victory over Maharashtra last week. "We had lost the previous two games. So to beat Maharashtra was very important. We won a close contest and on their turf. For any team, that is bound to give confidence," said Services coach Rajesh Tiwari.Mumbai, led by Ajinkya Rahane, displayed its dominance in the previous round, crushing Odisha by an innings and 103 runs. The victory was built on a 354-run stand between Shreyas Iyer and Siddhesh Lad, the highest fourth-wicket partnership for the 42-time winner. Iyer plundered a 228-ball 233 while Lad contributed 169 off 337 balls.Iyer's continued good form, as evidenced by his century against Maharashtra, suggests he is eager to reclaim his place in India's Test plans. Services captain Rajat Paliwal acknowledges the challenge ahead against Mumbai's formidable batting lineup. "The wickets in matches here have been taken by medium-pacers as well as spinners. Batters have also scored runs. There will be help for everyone from this surface," Paliwal said.

India's Test woes continued as they suffered a humiliating 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand. The Rohit Sharma-led side's batting woes were exposed once again, with their struggles against spin bowling becoming a major concern.Former cricketers and fans alike have called for the return of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane to the national side. Both players have enjoyed success in Australia, and their experience and solidity could provide much-needed stability to the Indian batting line-up.Pujara has scored 602 runs in his last 20 innings before being dropped, averaging 33.4 with four fifties and a hundred. Rahane, on the other hand, has amassed 808 runs in his last 20 innings, averaging 42.5 with nine fifties and a hundred.In contrast, Rohit Sharma has scored 550 runs in his last 20 innings, averaging 28.9 with two fifties and two hundreds. Virat Kohli has scored 823 runs in his last 20 innings, but his average drops below 29 if his 186-run knock is removed.Former India captain Sachin Tendulkar has called for introspection and urged the team management to stop "needless experimentation" in the Test format. He also emphasized the need for better pitches.Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh echoed Tendulkar's sentiments, calling for a review of the team's performance and a focus on playing on more challenging surfaces.India's defeat marks the first time they have been whitewashed 0-3 at home. The loss has raised serious questions about the team's preparation, shot selection, and match practice.

Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane has emerged as a beacon of resilience and determination on the cricket field, particularly when his team faces adversity. Throughout his illustrious career, he has consistently embraced challenges, delivering his best performances when the pressure mounts.Rahane's affinity for challenging conditions stems from his formative years playing at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The lively bounce and unpredictable nature of the pitch honed his skills against formidable bowling attacks. "I always loved challenges where the ball moves, seams, or bounces," he remarked in a Star Sports promo.His unwavering spirit has translated into remarkable achievements on the international stage. Since his debut in 2011, Rahane has amassed over 8,400 runs across all three formats, including 15 centuries and 51 fifties. His highest score of 188 stands as a testament to his ability to construct long and impactful innings.In Test cricket, Rahane has established himself as a dependable batsman, scoring over 5,000 runs at an average of 38.46. His 12 centuries and 26 fifties have played a pivotal role in India's success in the longest format. In ODIs, he has contributed over 2,900 runs, including three centuries and 24 fifties.Rahane's versatility extends to T20Is, where he has scored over 375 runs at an average of 20.83. His ability to adapt to different formats and conditions has made him an invaluable asset to the Indian team.Despite his impressive record, Rahane's last appearance for India came in a Test match against the West Indies in July 2022. However, his unwavering determination and love for the game suggest that he has much more to offer.

India's star batters have suffered a significant decline in confidence due to the excessive use of rank turners in home matches, according to former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. This has adversely affected their home averages and overall careers.Harbhajan cited Ajinkya Rahane as a prime example, highlighting that his career has been hindered by these challenging surfaces. In the recent Test series against New Zealand, India lost on a Pune turner after managing only 156 and 245 runs, with New Zealand's Mitchell Santner taking 13 wickets.Harbhajan questioned the Indian team's strategy of relying heavily on turners, arguing that it has proven counterproductive. He pointed out that batters have lost confidence playing on these tracks, as they are unable to predict the ball's behavior."Our batters have lost a lot of confidence playing on these tracks. The biggest example is Ajinkya Rahane, a fine player. His career suffered because of these kind of surfaces," Harbhajan emphasized.He further explained that batters lose confidence when they are unsure whether to attack or defend on pitches where the ball turns excessively. This has led to a decline in their performance, even in overseas matches where the conditions are more favorable.Harbhajan also criticized the Indian team management's preference for bowlers who are accurate but lack the ability to turn the ball on flat decks. He suggested that bowlers like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who possess exceptional spin skills, should be utilized more effectively.Despite the challenges, Harbhajan believes that India has the talent to produce replacements for its aging players. He emphasized the importance of providing opportunities to young players at the right time, citing the examples of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma."The game will move on and we will get replacements," Harbhajan asserted. "It is about getting right opportunities at right time."However, he acknowledged that the upcoming Australia series and the World Test Championship final will be crucial for many players in the team.

Ajinkya Rahane, a seasoned Indian cricketer, has attributed his transformation in fitness, training, and nutrition to the profound influence of former skipper Virat Kohli. Rahane's admiration for Kohli's unwavering commitment to a disciplined lifestyle has inspired him to adopt similar practices."Virat Kohli has been a tremendous source of inspiration for me," Rahane revealed in an interview with Curly Tales. "His approach to the game, his training regimen, his fitness, and his diet have all left an indelible mark on me."Rahane's transformation extended beyond his physical attributes. He also embraced Kohli's mindset and unwavering determination. "I've learned so much from Virat," Rahane said. "His ability to stay focused, his resilience, and his unwavering belief in himself have been invaluable lessons for me."The duo's on-field chemistry has also been a testament to their mutual respect and understanding. "I've thoroughly enjoyed batting alongside Virat," Rahane added. "We complement each other well and have forged some memorable partnerships for India. My favorite partnership with him was the 260-run stand we shared in Australia during the 2014 Test series."Despite not being a regular fixture in the national team, Rahane remains a dependable middle-order batsman, particularly in overseas conditions. His leadership skills were evident during India's remarkable Test series victory in Australia in 2020-21, where he captained the team in Kohli's absence.Rahane's success as a captain stems from his belief in empowering his players. "There's no secret to success," he said. "I believe that this game is not about individuals; it's about the collective effort of 11 players. Every player is equally important.""As a captain, it's crucial to give players freedom and confidence," Rahane continued. "Every player has the potential to be a match-winner, and it's my responsibility to create an environment where they can thrive."Rahane's insights into the impact of Virat Kohli and his own leadership philosophy provide valuable lessons for aspiring cricketers and leaders alike. His emphasis on discipline, teamwork, and empowering individuals serves as a reminder of the essential ingredients for success in both sports and life.

The Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup, two prestigious tournaments in Indian First Class cricket, showcased the cream of the crop. While the quality of cricket lived up to expectations, the sluggish pace of play, with teams and captains seemingly indifferent to adhering to the prescribed over-rate, cast a shadow over the proceedings.Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane, a veteran of 85 Test matches, has called for the imposition of run penalties to curb the over-rate menace in domestic cricket. "There is no penalty for the overs short... if they start penalising the team by the number of runs for every over that the fielding team is short by, for instance 12 runs for one over, 24 for two and so on and it should be added after every day's player," Rahane suggested after leading Mumbai to its 15th Irani Cup triumph.The over-rate in the Irani Cup was so abysmal that the game was repeatedly brought to a standstill. While Rest of India (RoI), led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, bowled 68 and 70 overs on the first two days, respectively, the final day's play was the most bizarre. With RoI in no hurry and Mumbai batters employing time-wasting tactics to secure a draw, only 38 overs were bowled in 240 minutes before the teams shook hands.Currently, the fielding captain and team face monetary sanctions for over-rate violations – 10 to 50% of the match-fee for the team and 20 to 100% for the captain. Monetary and disciplinary sanctions are also imposed on the batting side for time-wasting."I always believe that players should maintain that discipline. They should play within the rules. But at the moment there is no penalty, so I cannot comment too much about the rules. Whoever is managing domestic cricket, I feel if they can add a strict run penalty, it will be a huge thing," Rahane emphasized.

Mumbai's batting lineup showcased resilience and composure on the opening day of the Irani Trophy, overcoming early setbacks to end the day in a commanding position against Rest of India.After being inserted into bat, Mumbai lost three quick wickets to Mukesh Kumar, who dismissed Prithvi Shaw, Hardik Tamore, and Ayush Mhatre to leave the team reeling at 37 for 3. However, captain Ajinkya Rahane steadied the ship with a crucial 102-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer.Iyer, who has been in impressive form for India in recent months, contributed 57 runs before being dismissed by Yash Dayal. Undeterred, Rahane continued to anchor the innings, finding an able ally in Sarfaraz Khan.The duo put on an unbeaten 98-run stand, with Rahane remaining not out on 86 off 197 deliveries, including six fours and a six. Sarfaraz, meanwhile, reached 54 not out, hitting six boundaries.Rahane's innings was particularly impressive, coming on the heels of his century for Leicestershire in the County Championship. His experience and leadership proved invaluable for Mumbai, who were without allrounder Musheer Khan due to a neck injury.At stumps, Mumbai were well-placed at 237 for 4, with Rahane and Sarfaraz still at the crease. The duo will look to continue their partnership and extend Mumbai's lead on day two.

Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer and his mother have recently purchased a luxurious apartment in Mumbai's Worli area for a whopping Rs 2.9 crore. The 525-square-foot apartment is located on the second floor of Triveni Industrial CHSL in Adarsh Nagar. The transaction was registered on September 19, 2024, according to property registration documents accessed by Zapkey.Meanwhile, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has announced its squad for the upcoming Irani Cup 2024, which will be played from October 1 to 5 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Veteran batsman Ajinkya Rahane will lead the team against the Rest of India.Rahane, who played a crucial role in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy triumph, returns to captain the side after skipping the Duleep Trophy 2024. He will be joined by opener Prithvi Shaw, who is set to make an impact after a successful stint in the County Championship.The match will be crucial for both Shaw and Iyer, as they aim to revive their international careers with strong domestic performances. Shaw, eager to showcase his potential after impressing in county cricket, and Iyer, under scrutiny following recent struggles in red-ball cricket, are eyeing this game as a stepping stone back to the Indian national team.The Mumbai squad also includes young talents like Musheer Khan, who lit up the Duleep Trophy with his performances recently, and experienced campaigners like Siddhesh Lad and Shams Mulani. Hardik Tamore and Sidhaant Addhatrao have been selected as the two wicketkeepers, while the formidable bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur returns to red-ball cricket, likely eyeing a spot in India's plans for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.In a major boost, Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube could also join the team if they are released from their India duties. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that Sarfaraz, who is part of India's squad for the second Test against Bangladesh, will be released to play for Mumbai in the Irani Cup if he is not selected for the Test.The match will be especially significant for Rahane, who continues to be a reliable presence in domestic cricket and is instrumental in Mumbai's success. He will be hoping to lead the team to victory, with the experienced Iyer and promising Shaw providing key contributions.