Cricket

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed his disappointment over the underutilization of all-rounder Axar Patel in the first two T20I matches against South Africa. Despite playing Axar as the third spinner alongside Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, the Indian team management has failed to utilize his skills effectively.In the second game of the series, Axar bowled just one over despite the pitch offering assistance to spinners. Manjrekar believes this was a glaring mistake by captain Suryakumar Yadav. "What are we doing with Axar Patel? Why are you playing him? Give a little clarity. Axar Patel, one over in Kingsmead, Durban, and here also just one over. On a pitch where six of the seven wickets were picked up by spinners, he bowled just one over," Manjrekar said.Manjrekar emphasized that Axar's underutilization is a waste of a valuable resource. "In my opinion, he is being underutilized as a resource. We are saying that you are playing three spinners, but you are unable to play them properly. I am not thinking much about the batting failure, but not bowling Axar Patel was an obvious mistake on Surya's part," he added.Akaash Chopra also highlighted the fact that Tristan Stubbs struggled against spinners, and a few more overs from Axar could have made a difference for India. "That was a thing that stood out here as Tristan Stubbs, who played well, wasn't able to pick length properly at the start. He was going back against full deliveries. He is a quality player and he showed in the end how and why, but Gerald Coetzee came as an out-of-syllabus question, and I feel he will get one-and-a-half to two crores extra in the auction because he also hit sixes," Chopra said.Despite Varun Chakravarthy's impressive five-wicket haul, South Africa managed to snatch a three-wicket victory, leveling the series at 1-1. The Proteas' victory halted India's 11-match winning streak, but it was not without its share of drama.India struggled to a modest total of 124 for six on a bouncy pitch, while South Africa collapsed to 66 for six and 86 for seven. However, Stubbs and Coetzee's valiant partnership of 42 runs for the eighth wicket guided South Africa to victory.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 retention list is set to be unveiled on October 31, and the Delhi Capitals are facing a pivotal decision regarding their star players. While Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel are widely expected to be retained, rumors have emerged that Pant could potentially be released into the auction pool.Former India and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player Aakash Chopra has fueled these speculations, suggesting that Pant's availability in the auction could spark a bidding war. Chopra highlighted Pant's status as India's number one wicketkeeper, his ability to score quick runs, and his experience as an IPL captain as factors that would make him a highly sought-after player."If Rishabh Pant enters the auction pool, it will be massive," Chopra said. "He is a keeper-batter, and even though his T20 numbers have been inconsistent, he has the potential to be a game-changer. I can guarantee that his name will fetch a hefty sum in the auction."Pant's potential release would create a significant void in the Delhi Capitals' lineup. The franchise has yet to win an IPL title, and Pant has been a key figure in their recent campaigns. However, the team may be forced to consider other options if they believe that Pant's performances have not justified his high salary.Several teams are likely to be interested in acquiring Pant's services if he becomes available. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Punjab Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are all in need of a wicketkeeper-batter, while Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans could also be potential suitors.The IPL 2025 retention list will provide clarity on the future of Pant and other top players. If Pant does enter the auction pool, it will be one of the most significant developments in the history of the tournament.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise retention deadline is fast approaching, with teams having until October 31 to submit their lists. Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has predicted the players that Delhi Capitals (DC) may retain ahead of the auction, which is likely to take place on November 25-26 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.According to Singh, Rishabh Pant is an automatic choice for retention. He believes that DC should also retain Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and potentially Mitchell Marsh. This would mean that DC would retain five capped players, which would cost them a minimum of Rs 75 crore.Singh does not believe that DC will opt for an uncapped player, as the price slabs for capped players are higher. He believes that DC should focus on retaining a strong core of players and then filling out the rest of their squad through the auction.

Rishabh Pant to Step Down as Delhi Capitals Captain in IPL 2025In a significant development, star Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant will relinquish his captaincy role for the Delhi Capitals in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. According to reliable sources, the franchise is considering appointing all-rounder Axar Patel as the new skipper or exploring options at the IPL auction.Pant, who led the Capitals in IPL 2024 after returning from a severe car accident, will remain the franchise's top retention. However, the team's leadership believes that he would perform better without the burden of captaincy.The Delhi Capitals last reached the IPL playoffs in 2021 and finished as runners-up in 2020 under Shreyas Iyer's leadership. In IPL 2024, Pant led the team to a sixth-place finish with six wins and six losses.One potential candidate for the captaincy role is Iyer, who recently led the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title. Pant recently met with Delhi Capitals co-owners Parth Jindal and Kiran Kumar Grandhi to discuss his future with the franchise.Despite being India's match-winner in Test cricket, Pant's performance in white-ball formats has been inconsistent. In 76 T20Is, he has scored 1,209 runs with only three half-centuries, averaging 23.25 and striking at 127.26.In the IPL, Pant has amassed 3284 runs in 111 matches for the Delhi Capitals, including 18 fifties and one century. However, he was overlooked for Dinesh Karthik in India's XI during the 2022 T20 World Cup.The Delhi Capitals recently appointed Hemang Badani as head coach and Venugopal Rao as director of cricket for the next two seasons.

Delhi Capitals' Retention Strategy: Aakash Chopra Advises Prioritizing Pant and AxarFormer Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has urged the Delhi Capitals (DC) to prioritize the retention of wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and all-rounder Axar Patel ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.Despite rumors of Pant's potential departure, Chopra confirmed that the star player will remain with the Delhi-based franchise. He emphasized Pant's importance as the team's first retention, allocating a budget of Rs 18 crore for his services.Chopra also highlighted Axar's consistent performances, citing his contributions as a bowler, batter, and fielder. He believes that retaining Axar will save the team significant funds in the auction, as his value would be high if he were available.For the third retention, Chopra identified a dilemma between Australian all-rounder Jake Fraser-McGurk and Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav. While he prefers an Indian player, he acknowledges the value of Fraser-McGurk and suggests using the Right To Match (RTM) card for one of them.Chopra further recommended retaining Abishek Porel as the uncapped player, securing him at a lower price of Rs 4 crore. This move would leave DC with two RTM cards after retaining three capped players and Porel.

India's historic T20 World Cup triumph in June 2023 continues to provide captivating behind-the-scenes anecdotes. All-rounder Axar Patel recently shared a hilarious incident involving himself and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj during a celebratory episode of "The Great Indian Kapil Show."As the Indian team erupted in joy after their thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa, Axar and Siraj faced an unexpected dilemma. While their teammates reveled in the moment, the duo found themselves in a predicament."Siraj told everyone, 'Arre DK bhai ne mera English mein interview le liya. Itne saare log hain, sabko English aati hai. Hum dono ko hi kyu pakda English ke liye, pata nahi (Dinesh Karthik took our interview in English; all others know English, then why did he catch hold of us I don't know)," Axar narrated, sending the audience into fits of laughter.Accompanying Axar on the show were India captain Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Shivam Dube. The anchor, Kapil Sharma, couldn't resist asking Axar if he had indeed given the interview in English."Haan diya na, mujhe hi nahi pata mai kya bola. Siraj to aadha interview chhod ke bhaag gaya, bola 'meri jitni English thi khatam ho gayi hai' (yes, we did; but even I don't know what I said; Siraj left the interview in between saying that his English vocabulary finished)," Axar replied, eliciting more laughter from the crowd.The incident highlights the camaraderie and lighthearted moments shared by the Indian team during their historic triumph. Despite the pressure and intensity of the tournament, the players found time for humor and shared experiences that will undoubtedly be cherished for years to come.

Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal has revealed that the team will definitely retain captain Rishabh Pant ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced new retention rules, allowing franchises to retain a maximum of six players, including one Right-To-Match (RTM) option.Jindal emphasized the importance of retaining key players, stating that the team has several talented individuals. He mentioned Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Kuldeep Yadav, Abishek Porel, Mukesh Kumar, and Khaleel Ahmed as potential candidates for retention."We have some very good players in our team. The rules have come out now, so after discussing with GMR and our director of cricket, Sourav Ganguly, decisions will be made. Rishabh Pant will definitely be retained," Jindal said.However, Jindal did not mention Australia's David Warner, who has been a key player for Delhi Capitals in the past. The new retention rules classify players who have not represented India in the past five years as 'uncapped,' allowing them to be retained at a lower price.This rule could benefit Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who are likely to retain former captain MS Dhoni under this category. Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020 but last played for India in 2019.The deadline for franchises to submit their retention lists is October 31. Delhi Capitals will carefully consider their options and aim to build a strong team for the upcoming IPL season.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has unveiled new retention rules for the upcoming season, allowing franchises to retain a maximum of six players. Delhi Capitals (DC) have begun deliberations on their potential retentions, with co-owner Parth Jindal confirming the retention of star wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant.Jindal revealed that other players under consideration for retention include Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Kuldeep Yadav, Abishek Porel, Mukesh Kumar, and Khaleel Ahmed. According to the IPL Player Regulations, franchises can retain up to five capped players (Indian or overseas) and two uncapped players through retention or the Right to Match (RTM) option."We have some very good players in our team," said Jindal. "The rules have just come out, so after discussing with co-owners GMR and our director of cricket, Sourav Ganguly, decisions will be made."DC have yet to win the IPL since its inception in 2008. Jindal expressed optimism about the team's chances in the upcoming season, stating, "We'll see what happens in the auction. As per the rule, we can retain six players. Those discussions will be held first."The new retention rules provide DC with flexibility in building a competitive squad. With a strong core of players to retain, the franchise can target specific areas of improvement in the auction. The retention of Pant, a key figure in the Indian national team, is a significant boost for DC.

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction approaches, franchises are finalizing their retention strategies. According to reports, the Delhi Capitals have identified their priority players, with skipper Rishabh Pant topping the list.Pant, a key member of the Indian team across all formats, was rumored to be considering a move to Punjab Kings, where former Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting is now in charge. However, a report in Cricbuzz suggests that Pant will remain with DC and be their top retention pick.The wicket-keeper batter currently earns INR 16 crore per season, but this figure is expected to increase with the BCCI's new retention guidelines. In addition to Pant, Delhi is likely to retain Team India stars Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav.Overseas players Jake Fraser-McGurk and Tristan Stubbs are also reportedly set to be retained by the franchise. If the BCCI allows franchises to retain an uncapped player, DC is expected to keep wicketkeeper-batsman Abhishek Porel.