Cricket

Brad Hogg, a former Australian cricketer, has criticized the Australian team's lack of preparation for their match against India in the T20 World Cup Super Eights. Hogg specifically pointed out the ineffectiveness of Mitchell Starc, the pace bowler, who struggled to contain Rohit Sharma's onslaught.Rohit Sharma unleashed a blistering 41-ball 92, which included an over where he plundered 29 runs off Starc's bowling. This explosive innings propelled India to an imposing total of 205 runs. India's formidable score proved to be too much for Australia, as they fell short by 24 runs in their chase.Hogg believes that Australia's lack of preparation was evident in their poor fielding display. He described their efforts on the field as "terrible," expressing his disappointment with their subpar display.In addition to Rohit's explosive batting performance, Hogg also pointed out that the subpar fielding display by the Australian team played a role in their loss against India.Hogg also slammed the Australian team's fielding performance in their match against Afghanistan during the Super 8s stage. He described their efforts on the field as "terrible," expressing his disappointment with their subpar display.In a stunning turn of events, Afghanistan managed to secure a 21-run victory over Australia, defying expectations. The Afghan team then proceeded to defeat a resilient Bangladesh side, securing their spot in the semifinals. This remarkable achievement sent the people of Afghanistan, a nation afflicted by conflict, into a state of euphoria and celebration.Hogg believes that South Africa, often labeled as chokers, are finding their rhythm at the crucial stages of the T20 World Cup. He praised Aiden Markram's team, calling them "amazing," and suggested they have the potential to overcome their historical struggle of never securing an ICC trophy.Given their history of strong performances, Hogg is confident that South Africa has what it takes to overcome the challenge posed by Afghanistan and advance to the championship match.

David Warner's illustrious 15-year international career came to a poignant end as Afghanistan's victory over Bangladesh in St Vincent on Monday night sealed Australia's elimination from the T20 World Cup at the Super Eight phase.Warner's departure from the international stage has been a gradual process. He played his final ODI in November's World Cup final triumph over India and his last Test against Pakistan in January. The T20 World Cup was widely anticipated to be his swansong, although he had hinted at a possible return for next year's Champions Trophy.His final appearance, against India, was a subdued affair. He scored a modest six runs off six balls before edging Arshdeep Singh to slip, where Suryakumar Yadav took a sharp low catch. Warner's frustration was evident as he punched his bat with his right hand and walked off the pitch with his head bowed.After the match, Warner was seen chatting with Virat Kohli on the outfield, while Josh Hazlewood indicated that the timing of Warner's send-off from his teammates would depend on the outcome of Afghanistan's game against Bangladesh."Nothing's been said yet," Hazlewood said. "It might be said after this [press conference] before the [evening] game, but I think we'll wait until after the game and then we'll [acknowledge] the career that's been. It's been unbelievable. We'll definitely miss him around the group, out in the field and off-field - an amazing all-format career."Hazlewood acknowledged that Warner's departure would mark a changing of the guard for Australia, with Cameron Green being the only player in the squad younger than 28. However, he suggested that it would not be a complete overhaul."They come around pretty quick, the T20 World Cups, every two years," he said. "There might be a couple of changes, but a lot of the guys still play in franchise cricket if they're not playing for Australia, so they're available to be picked. There's some class players in our 15, and we've got a couple on the bench as well. You'd think it'd be an actual slow change… I don't think there'd be anything drastic."Warner's retirement marks the end of an era for Australian cricket. He has been a key figure in the team's success across all formats, and his absence will be keenly felt.

Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has been a lively presence in the Indian team's camp at the T20 World Cup 2024, despite not yet featuring in a match. In a video shared by the BCCI on social media, Chahal was seen imitating a bus conductor, enthusiastically shouting "ground, ground, ground" as the team bus approached the stadium. He also tapped the side of the bus and peered out the window, adding to the jovial atmosphere.Chahal's inclusion in the Indian squad was based on his impressive performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. However, he has not yet been given an opportunity to showcase his skills in the T20 World Cup.The match between India and Australia was crucial for the Australian team, as a defeat could have put them on the brink of elimination. Australia had only one win from two matches in the Super 8s before facing India. A loss to Rohit Sharma's men made it two defeats and just one victory from three matches.Following their defeats to India and Afghanistan, if Bangladesh lose their final Super 8 match on Tuesday, Afghanistan will advance to the semi-finals. India, on the other hand, have secured a spot in the top four after victories over Australia, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. They will next face England.

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, has revealed the tactical adjustments he made to overcome the challenging conditions and lead his team to a crucial victory against Australia in their final T20 World Cup Super Eight match.Despite losing his opening partner Virat Kohli early on, Rohit played a match-winning knock of 92 runs off just 41 deliveries, showcasing his skill with seven boundaries and eight sixes. His impressive performance helped India post a formidable total of 205/5, which proved to be a challenging target for Australia. The Indian bowlers then restricted Mitchell Marsh's team to 181/7, securing a 24-run victory and advancing to the semifinals.The persistent wind at the venue posed a significant challenge for the batsmen, prompting Rohit to adapt his batting style. He revealed that he had to play more strokes on the off side to minimize the wind's impact on his shots, ultimately leading to his match-winning contribution."I thought right from over number one, there was a strong breeze blowing across. They (Australia) changed their plan, bowling against the breeze, so I realized I had to open up the off side as well," Rohit said after the match. "You've got to factor in the breeze and understand that the bowlers are smart as well and open up all sides of the field. When you keep an open mind and not just think of one shot, you can access all areas of the field."Rohit also expressed his confidence in Kuldeep Yadav's ability to perform exceptionally well in the West Indies, following the wrist-spinner's experience with seamer-friendly conditions in the United States. Kuldeep returned excellent figures of 2/24 in his four overs."Kuldeep, we understand the strengths he has, but you have to use it when you need it. The pitches in New York were seamer-friendly, but we knew he would play a big role later," Rohit said.Rohit remained focused on the game's rhythm, asserting that his primary goal was to sustain the "tempo" of the match. He made it clear that personal milestones, such as reaching a century, were not his concern at that moment."It was a good wicket, and you want to try and back yourself to play those kinds of shots. I've been trying to do that for a few years now, and I'm glad it came off today. The fifties and hundreds don't matter, I wanted to bat with the same tempo and carry on," he added.Rohit expressed his desire for the Indian team to maintain their current style of play as they progress into the knockout stages of the tournament."We don't want to do anything different (in the knockouts). We want to play the same way, understand what the individuals need to do in a given situation, and play freely," Rohit said. "So far we've been doing that consistently, and semifinals, we have to try and do the same thing. It'll be nice (to play England in the semifinal). Nothing changes for us, we want to focus on what we can do as a team, and take the game on."

Australia's hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024 now hinge on the outcome of the final group game between Bangladesh and Afghanistan. After their 24-run defeat to India, Australia's fate rests on Bangladesh's ability to defeat Afghanistan by a significant margin.For Australia to qualify, Bangladesh must beat Afghanistan by a margin of less than 62 runs if they bat first (assuming a total of 140). If Bangladesh chases, they must reach 141 in at least 12.4 overs to give Australia a higher run rate.Bangladesh's net run rate currently stands at -2.489, significantly lower than Australia's -0.331. To surpass Australia, Bangladesh needs a resounding victory on Monday night. A win by 62 or more runs, or a chase of 141 in 12.3 overs or earlier, would propel them to second place in the points table.If Afghanistan scores 160, Bangladesh can stay ahead of Australia by chasing it down in 12.5 overs or sooner (if they score 161), or in 13.3 overs if they level scores and win with a six.For Afghanistan, the equation is simpler: a win guarantees them second place in the group and a semi-final berth, while a defeat eliminates them. Even a Super Over defeat would only improve their NRR to -0.433, still below Australia's -0.331.The team that qualifies in second place from this group will face South Africa, the Group 2 toppers, in Tarouba in a night game on Wednesday. India will take on England in the second semi-final in a day game on Thursday in Providence.

Australia's T20 World Cup hopes now hinge on the outcome of the Afghanistan-Bangladesh match after they suffered a 24-run defeat to India in their must-win Super 8 clash.The Aussies ended their Super 8 campaign with just one victory in three matches and now require Bangladesh to beat Afghanistan and become the second team from Group 1 to qualify for the semifinals.Australia will fail to reach the last four if Afghanistan, who defeated them by 21 runs in a stunning upset last time out, beat Bangladesh in the concluding game of the Super Eights stage.Despite the defeat, Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh said his team technically still stands a chance for the last four berth and expressed his support for Bangladesh to win."It's disappointing. Still technically a chance to go through, and today India got the better of us. I think over the course of 40 overs there's a lot of small margins, but honestly, India were the better team," Marsh said at the post-match presentation.He also lavished praise on Indian captain Rohit Sharma for his blistering knock of 92, emphasizing the impact he can have on the game once he settles in at the crease."We've seen for 15 years what Rohit Sharma can do in that kind of mood, and he got off to an absolute flier. In a run chase like that, you're in it if you can keep it at tens for as long as possible, but India were too good for us. Come on, Bangladesh!"Rohit led from the front with a 41-ball knock, including seven fours and eight sixes, as his side posted a total of 205-5.Australia was then held to 181-7, with opener Travis Head top-scoring with 76 in an innings where left-arm paceman Arshdeep Singh took 3-37.India will now play defending champions England in Thursday's semi-final in Guyana.

In a thrilling Super 8 clash at the 2024 T20 World Cup, Indian all-rounder Axar Patel etched his name in the annals of cricket history with an extraordinary catch to dismiss Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh.After Marsh had survived a couple of earlier dropped catches, Axar produced a moment of brilliance on the final ball of the ninth over. Kuldeep Yadav's length ball was slog swept by Marsh, sending it hurtling towards the deep backward square-leg fence.As the ball approached, Axar, despite being a left-handed fielder, instinctively raised his right hand and timed his jump to perfection. The ball, traveling at a rapid pace, stuck in his grasp, sending shockwaves through the Australian camp.The catch not only ended Marsh's dangerous 37-run knock but also broke the 81-run partnership between him and opener Travis Head. It was a pivotal moment in the match, as Australia were chasing a formidable target of 206 set by India.Earlier, Rohit Sharma had played a blistering innings of 92 off 41 balls, propelling India to a commanding total. On a batting-friendly surface, Rohit unleashed his full repertoire of shots, hitting seven fours and eight sixes, including a record-extending 200th six in the T20 format.Axar's catch and Rohit's innings were the highlights of a memorable match that showcased the skill and excitement of the T20 World Cup.

Virat Kohli's early dismissal left India reeling at 6 for 1 in the second over of their T20I clash against Australia. However, Rohit Sharma stepped up to the plate and unleashed a brutal assault on Mitchell Starc, turning the tide in India's favor.Starc's first delivery to Sharma was a full toss outside off stump, which the Indian opener dispatched over cover for a six. The next ball was another full delivery, this time wider, and Sharma again sent it soaring over the boundary at cover point.Sharma's onslaught continued with a powerful drive down the ground for four off the third ball. Starc's fourth delivery was a 144kph full toss outside off stump, and Sharma seized the opportunity to launch it into the crowd at deep midwicket for another six.Starc attempted to stem the flow of runs with a wide blockhole, but Sharma was unable to connect. The Australian pacer then overstepped, resulting in a wide.Undeterred, Starc persisted with the wide yorker, but this time it sailed outside the tramlines. Sharma capitalized on the full toss that followed, top-edging it over deep third for another six.Starc's expensive over ended with Sharma on 26 runs from just five deliveries. The Indian opener's blistering start gave India the momentum they needed to post a competitive total of 161 for 7.

Indian cricket team's star batter Virat Kohli's dismal form at the T20 World Cup 2024 continued on Monday as he was dismissed for a duck during the Super 8 match against Australia. Kohli faced just five deliveries before he completely miscued a shot off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood and the catch was comfortably taken by Tim David at wide mid-on.Kohli's dismissal sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many fans expressing their disappointment and frustration. Some even called for him to be dropped from the team."Someone send him back to 3," tweeted Waqiullah Budye."TV Off," wrote Lokesh Saini."Pull is not everyone's cup of tea," added Jaunism.Kohli's poor form in the tournament has been a major concern for India. He has scored just 66 runs in six matches, with four single-digit scores.Earlier, Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and opted to field."We are going to bowl first. Looks a belter, it looks lovely. It's a quarter final, looking forward to it, big challenge against India. We have had ourselves in this situation before, every game is a must-win now. We got an experienced group, a great staff. Starc comes in for Agar," Marsh said at the toss.India skipper Rohit Sharma said that he would have fielded if India won the toss."We would have fielded first as well, looks a bit sticky. We wanted to chase. We know what exactly we are doing, will try to do our best. I hope it doesn't change much. The overhead conditions also matter in this part of the world. We have adapted well, hopefully another game where we put up a show. Every game matters in this tournament, nothing changes. We are playing the same team," Rohit said.