Cricket

India's T20 World Cup preparations culminated in a resounding 60-run victory over Bangladesh at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York. In the absence of Virat Kohli, who arrived in New York shortly before the match, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya shone with the bat.Pant, making his first India appearance in over 18 months, top-scored with a blistering 53 off 32 deliveries, including four boundaries and four sixes. Hardik, silencing critics about his form, smashed an unbeaten 40 off just 23 balls.During Bangladesh's chase of 183, a photoshopped image of India captain Rohit Sharma sparked controversy. The image, which depicted Sharma as out of shape, was later debunked by fans who shared genuine screenshots of his physique.Sharma, who had participated in an official photoshoot for the T20 World Cup a few days prior, appeared in good shape in those pictures. However, he struggled to time the ball on a two-paced track, scoring only 23 off 19 balls.India surprised by opting to bat first, with Sanju Samson opening alongside Sharma. Pant, returning from a horrific car accident in December 2022, retired after scoring 53.India's bowlers dominated Bangladesh's chase, with left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh leading the charge. Bangladesh was restricted to 122 for nine, despite a brief fightback from Mahmudullah Riyaz (40 retired out) and Shakib Al Hasan (28).

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has lauded Rishabh Pant for his exceptional performance in challenging conditions during India's T20 World Cup warm-up game against Bangladesh on Saturday. The wicketkeeper-batter scored a rapid 53 off 32 balls, helping India set a competitive target of 183. India subsequently restricted Bangladesh to 122/9, securing a comprehensive 60-run victory in New York.Manjrekar praised Pant for his ability to quickly assess the conditions and adapt his game accordingly. "The pitch was slightly difficult when he came to bat. We saw Sanju Samson getting out after scoring only one run off six balls. After that, he (Pant) came and his specialty is that he is extremely street-smart and assesses very quickly what needs to be done," Manjrekar said on Star Sports.Pant's explosive innings included four fours and four sixes. Manjrekar highlighted Pant's impressive strike rate of nearly 200 on a difficult pitch, which underscored his ability to perform under pressure. "He is a batter who scored runs at a strike rate of almost 200 on a difficult pitch. This is Rishabh Pant's specialty. His record in T20Is is very ordinary, an average close to 20 and a strike rate of 120 or lower, but we saw today what this guy can do," Manjrekar added.Former India all-rounder Sanjay Bangar also commended Pant for his approach, noting his initial caution before launching into big shots. "Everyone will talk about the four fours and four sixes he hit, but he scored only one run off his first six or seven deliveries. So the best thing was that he gave himself time, especially against the spinners. We have the notion that he plays a lot of shots against spinners," Bangar said.Bangar further observed Pant's comfort against both pace and spin. "Actually, his best shots are against the pacers and he gets out many times against spinners. Today he batted well against both pacers and spinners. So I feel a stability has come into his mind considering the way he batted," Bangar noted.Pant's performance against Bangladesh demonstrated his potential to be a game-changer. Despite his modest T20I record, his ability to adapt to challenging conditions and perform under pressure makes him a valuable asset to the Indian team.

Bangladesh's T20 World Cup hopes hang in the balance as they anxiously await news on the severity of Shoriful Islam's finger injury. The left-arm pacer sustained a nasty split between his index and middle finger during Bangladesh's warm-up match against India in New York.During the final over of India's innings, Shoriful attempted to field a drive from Hardik Pandya but was struck on the hand. He immediately collapsed in agony and was rushed off the field by the Bangladesh team physio.Initial medical examination revealed that Shoriful required six stitches to close the wound. BCB's chief physician, Dr. Debashis Chowdhury, stated that the extent of the injury and Shoriful's recovery time will be determined after a follow-up visit in two days."Shoriful suffered a split injury between the index and middle finger of his left hand while trying to stop a ball in his last over," Chowdhury explained. "After initial medical attention, he was taken to Nassau University Medical Centre. The hand surgeon administered six stitches. We will visit him again after two days. We will know then how much time it will take for Shoriful to return."Shoriful's injury is a major setback for Bangladesh, who are already without frontline pacer Taskin Ahmed due to a side strain. If Shoriful is ruled out of the opening match against Sri Lanka on June 7, Bangladesh will be severely depleted in the pace department.The 21-year-old Shoriful has been one of Bangladesh's most promising young bowlers in recent times. He impressed in the recent series against South Africa, taking 5 wickets in 3 matches. His absence would be a significant blow to Bangladesh's chances of making an impact in the T20 World Cup.Bangladesh will now head to Texas for their opening game against Sri Lanka. They will have six days to assess Shoriful's recovery and make a decision on his availability. The team will be hoping for a positive update on his condition, as his presence would be crucial to their hopes of a successful tournament.

India's T20 World Cup preparations took an unexpected turn as Sanju Samson opened the batting alongside Rohit Sharma in their warm-up match against Bangladesh in New York. Samson's brief stay at the crease ended with an lbw dismissal for 1, leaving India's opening combination still up for debate.With regular openers Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Virat Kohli in the squad, Samson's inclusion at the top of the order raised eyebrows. Kohli, who arrived in New York on the eve of the match, was unavailable for the warm-up game. Samson, one of two wicketkeeper-batters in the squad alongside Rishabh Pant, replaced Samson at the crease at No. 3.The opening combination has been a topic of discussion for India, with Rohit expected to take one of the two slots. Kohli, despite his successful IPL campaign as an opener, has traditionally batted at No. 3 in T20Is. Jaiswal, on the other hand, provides a left-handed option and can prevent oppositions from bowling left-arm spin in the powerplay, a style of bowling that has troubled both Rohit and Kohli in the past.However, given that this is a warm-up match where both teams can use their entire squads, the choice of Samson as opener and Pant at No. 3 should not be overanalyzed. India may be looking to assess both their keepers before deciding on their opening combination for their tournament opener against Ireland on June 5.

India's T20 World Cup preparations got underway with a warm-up match against Bangladesh at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Saturday. Captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat, citing challenging conditions. Notably, Virat Kohli missed out on the game, as confirmed by Sharma.The match provided India with a valuable opportunity to acclimatize to conditions similar to those they will encounter in their group stage matches against Ireland, Pakistan, and the United States. Bangladesh, on the other hand, sought to find their winning formula after a disappointing series defeat to the USA.Sharma explained Kohli's absence, stating that he had only arrived the previous day and needed time to adjust. He also revealed that the rest of the squad was available for selection. Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed his desire to bowl first, but acknowledged the need to adapt to the conditions.India's playing XI featured a mix of experienced and emerging players, including Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, and Shivam Dube. Bangladesh fielded a strong side led by Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, and Mahmudullah.The match was a closely contested affair, with both teams showcasing their strengths and weaknesses. India's batting lineup struggled to find consistency, while Bangladesh's bowlers impressed with their accuracy and variations.In the end, India emerged victorious by a narrow margin, providing them with a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the T20 World Cup. The match also highlighted areas for improvement, which the team will undoubtedly address in their remaining preparations.

India, the inaugural T20 World Cup champions in 2007, will face Bangladesh in a warm-up match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Saturday. This match will serve as a crucial opportunity for India to test the ground conditions and the nature of the drop-in pitches, as they will play their first three group matches against Ireland, Pakistan, and USA at the same venue.Beyond testing the playing conditions, India will also seek answers to several questions that will help captain Rohit Sharma and chief coach Rahul Dravid determine their preferred playing XI.Opening Combination:Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar highlighted the uncertainty surrounding India's opening combination. He suggested three possibilities:* Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma (left-right combination)* Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (left-right combination)* Yashasvi Jaiswal not included in the playing XIWicketkeeper-Batsman:Manjrekar believes that Rishabh Pant should be brought back into the Indian team as soon as possible, and the warm-up match could provide an ideal opportunity. He suggested that Pant could be preferred over Sanju Samson.Preferred Spinners:India has several talented spinners in their squad, including Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Manjrekar emphasized the importance of assessing their form and determining the preferred combination.

Nepal and Netherlands Poised to Surprise in T20 World Cup, Says Adam GilchristLegendary Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has identified Nepal and the Netherlands as potential dark horses in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Both teams are grouped with Bangladesh, South Africa, and Sri Lanka in Group D, and Gilchrist believes they have the potential to upset the established order.Gilchrist highlighted the international experience gained by Nepal's young players, led by Rohit Paudel. He noted that several Nepalese players have featured in major T20 leagues around the world, giving them valuable exposure to high-level competition."I think Nepal would be a team that might be able to fire a shot," Gilchrist said. "They've got a couple of young players who have been in all the big leagues for a number of years now."As for the Netherlands, Gilchrist pointed to their history of upsetting bigger teams in ICC events. He recalled their victory over South Africa in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, demonstrating their ability to punch above their weight."The Dutch always seem to ruffle a few feathers, they always seem to get under the skin," Gilchrist said. "They nailed them in the T20 World Cup last time in Australia in Adelaide. So, it might be the Dutch."Gilchrist also emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for lesser-known cricket-playing nations to compete against top teams. He cited the example of the USA's recent T20 series victory over Bangladesh, highlighting the potential for upsets in the upcoming World Cup."That's in a financial component where they get a little bit of a lick of the ice cream... but also just the experience," Gilchrist said. "With the T20 format, that's the opportunity for these nations to come in and start trying to ruffle a few feathers but also bed down the cricket programs in their countries."Nepal and the Netherlands will face each other on Tuesday in their opening match of the T20 World Cup. Both teams will be eager to prove their worth and potentially cause an upset in the tournament.

Group D of the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup promises thrilling encounters between former champions Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa, Netherlands, and Nepal.Sri Lanka:Led by Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka boasts a balanced squad with a strong batting lineup featuring Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, and Charith Asalanka. Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka provide experience as seam-bowling all-rounders, while Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage offer spin-bowling options. Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana are expected to play key roles in the bowling department.Bangladesh:Bangladesh enters the tournament with some uncertainty, as they continue to search for their strongest XI. Experienced opener Litton Das has been out of form, but teammate Tawhid Hridoy is confident of his comeback. Vice-captain Taskin Ahmed's fitness is a concern, but the Tigers have experience in Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah. Mustafizur Rahman's deceptive off-cutters could prove valuable in slow conditions.Nepal:Nepal will field a young side led by 21-year-old Rohit Paudel. Paudel's recent form against West Indies A is a positive sign, and Gulshan Jha and Pratis GC are other young stars to watch. Sompal Kami and Karan KC provide experience, but Nepal remains the least experienced side in the group.Netherlands:The Netherlands have a history of surprising in ICC tournaments, having beaten South Africa in the last two editions. They will face the Proteas again on June 8, aiming for a hat-trick of wins. Michael Levitt has earned a place in the absence of Colin Ackermann, and the Dutch have restored their core players for this edition. Bas de Leede, who was named ICC Men's Associate Cricketer of the Year last year, is a key all-rounder.South Africa:South Africa is arguably the strongest side in the group and the tournament. Their batting lineup boasts Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Reeza Hendricks, while Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Marco Jansen lead a formidable fast-bowling attack. However, the Proteas lack a genuine all-rounder.Key Players to Watch:* Matheesha Pathirana (Sri Lanka): A lethal pacer with a dangerous yorker* Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa): A versatile middle-order batter with a high strike rate against spin* Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal): A hard-hitting batter who holds the record for the fastest T20I fifty* Bas de Leede (Netherlands): An all-rounder who was named ICC Men's Associate Cricketer of the Year last year* Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh): A skilled spinner with deceptive off-cutters

India's T20 World Cup Preparations Intensify with Warm-Up Match Against BangladeshAs the countdown to the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2024 draws near, the Indian cricket team has arrived in New York to acclimatize to the conditions and fine-tune their preparations. Skipper Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of getting used to the pitch and conditions ahead of their tournament opener against Ireland on June 5.India's lone warm-up match before the marquee event will be against Bangladesh on June 1. This game will provide the team with a crucial opportunity to test the nature of the pitch and overall conditions. It is also significant because India's matches will start at 10.30 AM local time, requiring the players to adjust to day-time matches after playing under lights in the IPL for the past two months."We're looking to understand the conditions more importantly (before the tournament proper) as we haven't been here before," Rohit told ICC. He stressed the need for his side to get into a "rhythm" before the real action starts, using this warm-up match as a springboard.The challenge for the Indians will be to adapt to the drop-in turf, something they don't encounter often in international cricket. "It's just about getting into that rhythm of getting the feel of the ground, pitch and stuff like that," Rohit said.Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto also expressed his excitement about the warm-up match, despite Bangladesh's recent shocking series defeat against the USA. He praised the excellent construction of the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, noting that it looks "crazy" and "feels great."The warm-up match is expected to draw a large crowd, as fans in New York are eager to witness the World Cup action. Rohit expressed his hope that the stadium will be packed for their matches. "People in New York will be very interested in coming and watching the World Cup, as it is happening for the first time here," he said.