Cricket

The ongoing feud between India head coach Gautam Gambhir and former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has taken a new turn, with ex-cricketer Brad Haddin revealing the backstory behind the war of words.The conflict began when Gambhir responded to Ponting's comments on Virat Kohli's form, urging him to focus on Australian cricket. Ponting retorted by calling Gambhir a "prickly character."Haddin, who played under Ponting at Delhi Capitals in 2018, hinted at a deeper reason for the animosity. "Gambhir is a character that would use this as an us versus them mentality," he said. "His reaction was prickly, and you don't need your coach to get caught up in that sort of scenario unless his tactic is to build an us versus them."Haddin teased a forthcoming revelation about the backstory between Gambhir and Ponting. "I know what the backstory is. I'll tell you; just wait till later of the week. There was a little elbow, suspensions, and fines," he said.Haddin compared Gambhir's approach to that of Australian rugby coach Wayne Bennett, who often takes the spotlight to deflect pressure from his team. "It's out of the Wayne Bennett style of coaching," he said. "We're not talking about Rohit Sharma or Kohli now. We're talking about Gambhir and Ricky. He has bitten back, taken the pressure away from his team."While acknowledging Gambhir's "prickly" nature, Haddin questioned whether he was intentionally creating a distraction for his team, which is under pressure after losing the series to New Zealand. "Is he doing this now to take it away from his teammates?" he asked. "If it's an emotional reaction, then there's a problem. But if he's doing it to deflect things away and take it [attention] away from his team, that's a different thing."

Virat Kohli's Test Dominance in Australia Earns Him Unparalleled RespectIn the lead-up to the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has shed light on the immense respect Virat Kohli commands in Australia, attributing it to his remarkable performances in Test matches on Australian soil.Chopra believes that Test cricket holds a special place in Australia, and dominating in this format is the ultimate way to earn respect. He emphasized that Kohli's stellar Test record in Australia, with 1,352 runs at an impressive average of 54.08, has made him a celebrated figure among Australian fans and media alike.Chopra dismissed any suggestion that the hype surrounding Kohli is a result of media manipulation, stating that Kohli has "commanded" respect, not demanded it. He explained that Kohli's ability to conquer challenging Australian grounds and decimate their team has earned him the admiration of the Australian public.Chopra contrasted Kohli's achievements with those of current India captain Rohit Sharma, pointing out that despite Rohit's greatness in limited-overs cricket, especially against Australia, he hasn't had the same impact in Test matches Down Under. Rohit has scored 408 runs at an average of 31.38 in 14 Test innings in Australia, without a century to his name.Chopra also noted that the widespread recognition of Kohli is reminiscent of the respect shown to Sachin Tendulkar in Australia, where his Test exploits earned him lasting admiration. He emphasized that to earn respect in Australia and England, players must perform exceptionally in Test matches, and Kohli has undoubtedly achieved this.

Former Australian all-rounder Brendon Julian has predicted a resounding victory for the hosts in the upcoming first Test against India, scheduled to commence on November 22 in Perth. Julian's bold prediction stems from India's recent struggles, particularly their humiliating defeat at the hands of New Zealand earlier this month.Julian believes that India's captaincy woes, with Rohit Sharma likely to miss the first Test due to personal reasons, could further hinder their chances. He suggests that Jasprit Bumrah, who is set to lead the team in Sharma's absence, may face additional pressure that could impact his bowling performance."The Aussies will clean up India in 4 days," Julian asserted. "There are worrying signs for India, straight at the top. Rohit Sharma is not playing the first Test; he has come out and said that. So Jasprit Bumrah will captain the side. Now that's a lot of pressure when you're the opening bowler. He is a wonderful bowler; no doubt about that. But all of a sudden when you're opening the bowling and captaining the side, that's a whole different ball game."Julian also expressed concerns about Virat Kohli's form, suggesting that the star batter is not in sync with Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir. "The way that Virat Kohli got out against New Zealand - for him to get out like that in that Test series was unbelievable. Kohli is not at his best. He is not gelling with the captain probably and the coach but having said that, he can quickly turn it around. But if they start pulling in Perth, I reckon it'll be all over," he added.Kohli's presence in Australia has always generated significant buzz, but this series holds immense importance for him. It is viewed as a make-or-break phase in his illustrious career, with the former Indian captain under pressure to regain his form and secure his spot in the Test team amid a potential transition phase.Kohli's current form is a cause for concern. In 19 international matches this year, the 80-time centurion has managed to score only 488 runs at an average of 20.33, with just two half-centuries in 25 innings and a highest score of 76. His struggles in Test cricket have been particularly troubling, given his past dominance in the format.

KL Rahul's Injury Woes Continue Ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy OpenerIndian star batter KL Rahul's participation in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) opener against Australia is in doubt after he was forced to retire hurt during an intra-squad match simulation at the WACA.Rahul was struck by a rising delivery and was seen leaving the ground in discomfort, escorted by a physio. The incident has raised concerns about his fitness and form, which have been under scrutiny in recent times.The first Test of the BGT begins on November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Rahul is a candidate to partner Yashasvi Jaiswal in the opening Test, with skipper Rohit Sharma likely to be unavailable due to the impending birth of his second child.Rahul's recent performances have been underwhelming. In the home series against New Zealand, he was dismissed for scores of 0 and 12 in his only Test appearance, leading to his exclusion from the next two Tests. His struggles continued in a recent India A game against Australia A, where he scored only 4 and 10.The pressure is mounting on Rahul to regain his form as India looks to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the challenging Australian conditions. India are aiming for their third consecutive Test series victory in Australia, a feat that would cement their status as one of the world's leading Test teams.Rahul's injury is a setback for India, who are already dealing with the absence of several key players, including Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Shami. The team management will be hoping that Rahul recovers in time for the first Test, but his participation remains uncertain at this stage.

Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar believes that Virat Kohli has the experience and ability to overcome his recent batting struggles and perform well in the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia.Kohli has been in poor form with the bat, scoring just 93 runs in six innings during India's recent 0-3 Test series loss to New Zealand at home. However, Gavaskar is confident that Kohli will turn things around, especially considering his exceptional record in Australia."Yes, I do [believe he will turn things around]," Gavaskar said in an interview with Star Sports. "That's because he hasn't got runs against New Zealand. He'll be very, very hungry."Kohli has a strong record in Australia, having scored 1352 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 54.08. He has also scored six centuries and four fifties Down Under."Even in that Adelaide Test match, where in the second innings we got out for 36, in the first innings, Kohli had got 70 plus if I recall correctly," Gavaskar said. "So, all the times he has played in Adelaide, he has got runs."Gavaskar suggested that if Kohli can survive the initial few balls of his innings and calm his nerves, he will be able to score big runs."Before Adelaide, it's Perth. He got one of the finest centuries at Perth in 2018-19. Terrific, terrific 100," Gavaskar said. "So, when you have got runs under your belt on certain grounds, you just feel a little bit confident."The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series kicks off on November 22 with the first Test in Perth. The second Test, a day-night affair, is scheduled from December 6 to 10 at Adelaide Oval. The third Test will take place at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to 18.The traditional Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground is set for December 26 to 30, followed by the fifth and final Test at Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7.

Virat Kohli, India's batting maestro, is poised to make history as he prepares to face Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, commencing on November 22 in Perth. Despite a recent dip in form, Kohli's impressive track record in Australia makes this series an ideal stage for him to rediscover his peak performance and leave an indelible mark on the game.Kohli is on the cusp of several significant milestones during this series. He is just 458 runs away from surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record of 1,809 Test runs in Australia, a feat that would solidify his status as India's greatest batter on Australian soil. Additionally, he is within striking distance of becoming the visiting player with the most Test centuries in Australia, currently trailing English legends Jack Hobbs and Wally Hammond by just one century.The Adelaide Oval holds a special place in Kohli's heart, as it is his most successful Australian venue. With 509 runs in four Tests at an average of 63.62, he is just 102 runs away from surpassing Brian Lara's tally of 610 runs and becoming the highest-scoring visiting batter at this iconic ground.Beyond Test cricket, Kohli is also in contention to top the list for most fifty-plus scores in international cricket by a visiting batter in Australia. He currently boasts an impressive 30 fifty-plus scores across all formats, putting him in the running alongside legends Viv Richards and Desmond Haynes.Kohli's consistent performance in Australia extends to overall international runs. He has accumulated 3,426 runs across all formats, putting him 126 runs ahead of Sachin Tendulkar's record of 3,300 runs. He is also aiming to become the first Indian to reach 4,000 international runs on Australian soil, requiring 574 more runs to achieve this milestone.The Adelaide Oval has been particularly kind to Kohli, as he has already notched five centuries at the venue. Scoring another century there wouldn't just make him the first visiting player to reach 1,000 runs at the venue, but also surpass Jack Hobbs' record of five centuries at the MCG.This series will mark Kohli's 100th international match against Australia, likely during the third Test at The Gabba. This achievement would make him the second Indian to reach this milestone, joining the ranks of Sachin Tendulkar who has played 110 matches against the Aussies.Kohli's current tally of 16 centuries against Australia puts him in a strong position to chase down Sachin Tendulkar's record of 20 international centuries against the Aussies.Having faced a challenging year with the bat, scoring just 488 runs in 19 matches across formats at an average of 20.33, Kohli will be eager to use this series as a platform for redemption. Australia has historically been a happy hunting ground for him, and his performance in this series holds the potential to shape not only the outcome of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also cement his legacy in Test cricket.

Former Australian pacer Brett Lee has urged Indian batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to reset their approach and focus on technical refinement ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia.Lee emphasized the importance of introspection and a return to basics for the two batters, who have struggled for form in recent Tests. "When you have a couple of bad runs back to back, that's when the pressure gets set in," Lee said. "They've just got to go back to the drawing board."Lee believes that Rohit and Kohli's tendency to be overly aggressive may have contributed to their poor performances. "I can't say there's a technical fault there because I've seen him play for the last decade," Lee said of Rohit. "But maybe he's a little bit too aggressive."Lee also warned that the Australian pacers would be targeting Rohit and Kohli with the new ball. "I can promise you the Australian fast bowlers will be attacking Rohit Sharma with that brand-new ball," he said.Lee advised the Indian batters to work on their technique, freshen up mentally, and hit the ground running in Australia. "They are champions because they do the basics better than anybody else," Lee said. "Then, just hit the reset button, almost."Rohit has managed only 588 runs in 11 Tests this year, while Kohli has accumulated 250 runs in six Tests. Both batters will be under immense scrutiny during the Border-Gavaskar series, which begins in Perth on December 17.

In a thrilling T20I series opener in Brisbane, Australia emerged victorious over Pakistan by 29 runs, despite a rain-delayed start that reduced the match to a seven-over contest.Veteran batter Glenn Maxwell showcased his exceptional form, smashing a blistering 43 off 19 deliveries to power Australia to an imposing 93-4. Openers Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short set the tone with an aggressive start, while Marcus Stoinis provided a late surge with an unbeaten 21 off seven balls.Pakistan's chase faltered under the lights as quicks Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis claimed three wickets apiece. Bartlett dismissed captain Mohammad Rizwan for a second-ball duck and Usman Khan in the same over, while Ellis accounted for Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris.Despite a late flurry from Abbas Afridi, who top-scored with an unbeaten 20 off 10 balls, Pakistan's batting order crumbled, finishing well short on 64-9.The victory marked a resounding performance for an Australia side missing several top players who are preparing for the upcoming Test series against India. Maxwell expressed his delight, saying, "We almost had our bags packed because we thought we wouldn't get a game in. We certainly had a lot of fun out there."The series now shifts to the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday before concluding in Hobart on Monday. Pakistan captain Rizwan acknowledged the challenges of playing in such a fast-paced match, saying, "It's difficult to keep things normal in this type of match because it went very fast."

Veteran Australian opener Usman Khawaja has extended his support to his new opening partner, Nathan McSweeney, ahead of their Test debut against India in Perth. Khawaja emphasized the importance of McSweeney playing to his strengths rather than attempting to emulate David Warner, who he described as a "special player."Khawaja, who has amassed nearly 5,500 runs in 73 Tests, believes that the notion of needing to score runs at a rapid pace is a misconception. He advised McSweeney to focus on "repeating the process" that has brought him success in the past."I don't know where this myth started that you needed someone to score really fast. As an opener, you're trying to score runs, and you've got five days to do it," Khawaja said. "Opening is as much about scoring runs as it is about absorbing that time."Khawaja acknowledged Warner's exceptional ability to switch gears effortlessly in the Test format. However, he cautioned McSweeney against trying to replicate Warner's style."Davey (Warner) was special. He could score runs while absorbing. He could sometimes score 100 off 100 balls, but he didn't do it every time. Sometimes it took him 170, 180 balls to get that 100," Khawaja said. "He was consistent, he was out there, he was setting a platform for guys later to come in and score runs."Khawaja expressed confidence in McSweeney's ability to both score runs and bat time. "I think Nathan does that really well. He can score runs, but he can also bat time. They're really important facets to have in Test cricket if you want to set games up."Khawaja warned McSweeney that there were "no guarantees in cricket" but said that the 25-year-old batter didn't "have to do anything different" in the Test arena. "You just try to repeat the process... The only thing that really changes is that you have a few more people watching."Khawaja believes that McSweeney has the temperament and skills to handle the demands of Test cricket. "You always go through ups and downs in cricket, but when you look at Nathan, you look at his demeanor, you look at the way he plays, you feel that over a longer period of time that, yes, this guy will be able to handle the scrutiny of Test cricket and the pressure of Test cricket."