Cricket

Mohammad Nabi, the former Afghanistan skipper, has expressed his desire to participate in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled for next year in Pakistan. The 39-year-old played a pivotal role in Afghanistan's 2-1 series victory over Bangladesh in Sharjah, contributing 135 runs and two wickets.Nabi's performance in the series, including a crucial 34* in the final match, helped Afghanistan chase down Bangladesh's total of 244/8 with just 10 deliveries remaining. His valuable contributions and experience were instrumental in the team's success.Despite being in the twilight of his international career, Nabi is determined to make the Champions Trophy his final chance to win an ICC trophy. "In my mind from the last (50-over) World Cup, I thought of retiring, but if I can play one Champions Trophy, it will be great for me," Nabi said. "Just small contributions from my side to the youngsters and my insight to them will be more useful."Afghanistan's recent performances in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup and ICC Men's T20 World Cup have established them as one of the most exciting white-ball teams globally. Nabi's experience and leadership will be invaluable to the team as they aim to make a mark in the Champions Trophy.Before the Champions Trophy, Afghanistan will embark on a multi-format tour of Zimbabwe, including three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Test matches in Bulawayo. These matches will provide the team with an opportunity to fine-tune their preparations and build momentum ahead of the major tournament.

Sanju Samson's inconsistent performances have sparked a debate about his treatment in the Indian national team. Despite his undeniable talent, Samson has struggled to cement his place in the side, leading to questions about whether he has been unfairly overlooked.In the recent T20I series against Bangladesh, Samson's struggles continued. He managed just 29 runs in the first match and failed to make an impact in the second. This lack of form has frustrated fans, who have taken to social media to express their disappointment.Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has emphasized the need for consistency from Samson. He warned that the Kerala batter could be dropped if he does not improve his performances. "He is good. He scored 29 runs. My only thing was that since he had reached here, he should go slightly further ahead. He should score a few more runs because, otherwise, they would drop him," Chopra said.Despite his recent struggles, Samson has shown glimpses of his brilliance. Chopra praised his elegant shot-making during the match in Gwalior. "You need to talk about Sanju Samson. Abhishek Sharma was playing amazingly well until he got run out, but how well did Sanju play? Gautam Gambhir said long back that if Sanju Samson doesn't play for India, it's India's loss. He was made to open. The silken touch was seen. He wasn't hitting the ball hard; it seemed like he didn't want to hurt the ball, and he was hitting one four after another."Samson made his international debut in 2015, but has yet to become a regular in the Indian team. He will need to step up his performance in the upcoming matches to prove that he deserves a permanent place in the side.

Arshdeep Singh, the young left-arm pacer, has emerged as a vital cog in India's T20I setup since his debut in 2022. His impressive performances have propelled him to the cusp of a significant milestone in the ongoing series against Bangladesh.With 86 wickets in 52 T20Is, Arshdeep is poised to surpass two legendary Indian bowlers in the T20I wicket-taking charts. After his three-wicket haul in the first T20I in Gwalior, he is just three wickets away from equaling Jasprit Bumrah's tally of 89 wickets in 70 T20Is. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with 90 wickets from 87 T20Is, is also within reach.If Arshdeep maintains his current form, he could become India's second-highest T20I wicket-taker by the end of the series. Only Yuzvendra Chahal, with 96 wickets in 80 matches, stands ahead of him. Notably, all of India's top five T20I wicket-takers are still active, highlighting the depth of talent in the team.Arshdeep's rise has been meteoric. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace has made him a potent weapon in the powerplay and death overs. His consistency and ability to deliver under pressure have earned him the trust of the Indian team management.As India aims to clinch the series against Bangladesh, all eyes will be on Arshdeep to see if he can surpass these modern-day greats. Currently fifth among India's highest T20I wicket-takers, he trails his teammate Hardik Pandya, who has 87 wickets.India's next two matches are scheduled to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi (9 October) and Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad (12 October). Arshdeep will have ample opportunities to etch his name in the history books and further cement his status as one of India's most promising young bowlers.

Arshdeep Singh, the T20 World Cup-winning left-arm pacer, believes in living in the present and not dwelling on the past or future. Despite making his debut just two years ago, the 25-year-old has already played 55 T20Is, including two World Cups."I'm enjoying my game and didn't even realize how these two years flew by. I just try and stay in the present, enjoy the highs and lows, that's my focus," Arshdeep said ahead of the second T20I against Bangladesh.Arshdeep's mantra is to live in the moment. "Today is my rest day so I will enjoy my rest today. Kal ka kal dekhenge (Will think about tomorrow when it comes). The T20 World Cup is two years away, very far. I don't think much about the future," he added.The Punjab bowler has been making a case for his first Test cap but is unwilling to discuss it. He developed his red-ball skills in county cricket last season and recently put on an outstanding performance in the Duleep Trophy."I want to do my best in all the formats wherever I get the opportunity," he said.Arshdeep believes that playing in different formats helps players adapt to various conditions and improve their skills. "It gives opportunity to the players to explore their skills. How he can take wickets in different ways, how to absorb pressure," he said.The second game of the series is anticipated to be a high-scoring contest, with the hosts leading 1-0. Teams reached the 200-run mark eight times in the five IPL games played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium earlier this year."We (Punjab Kings) didn't have a match here in the IPL this season but seeing the scores at this ground, I didn't feel like seeing the wicket. We will come tomorrow and assess the conditions and make plans accordingly. The coach and captain will check the wicket and tell us the plan," Arshdeep said.

Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has attributed his successful India comeback to a technical shift in his bowling style, emphasizing the importance of over-spin over side-spin. The 33-year-old, who made an underwhelming debut in the 2021 T20 World Cup, has since honed his craft, taking three wickets against Bangladesh in the series opener.Chakravarthy's over-spin technique, similar to that of Australian great Nathan Lyon, generates sharp bounce and turn, as evidenced by his dismissal of Jaker Ali with a deceptive googly. "I used to be a side-spin bowler, but right now, I have completely shifted to being an over-spin bowler," Chakravarthy explained. "It's a minute technical aspect of spin bowling, but it took me more than two years."Despite impressive performances in the IPL and domestic cricket, Chakravarthy had to wait patiently for his India recall. The hunger to prove himself fueled his determination. "Whenever there was a squad that was announced, I used to feel like, 'Why is my name not there?' and I used to keep thinking about that," he said. "So that kind of brought the motivation within me that I should not leave this."In the series opener, Chakravarthy conceded 15 runs in his first over, but skipper Suryakumar Yadav showed faith in him, and he responded by dismissing Towhid Hridoy in the following over. "Yes, in the first over the catch could have gone my way, but that's how T20s are played," Chakravarthy said. "I felt the reverse-sweep six was a good ball but it still went for a six, so it's all mixed emotions."Chakravarthy's return to the Indian team highlights the depth of India's spin bowling resources, with leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi also performing well in limited opportunities. "There is good competition and there is good camaraderie also," Chakravarthy acknowledged. "And the person who was cheering me was Ravi Bishnoi; he was coming and telling me messages, so I can't ask for more."

Ravindra Jadeja, the enigmatic all-rounder, has quietly established himself as a cornerstone of India's Test machine. Despite often being overshadowed by the spectacular performances of his teammates, Jadeja's contributions have been instrumental in India's recent successes.In the recently concluded Test against Bangladesh, Jadeja played a pivotal role in India's 280-run victory. His 86 in the first innings, when India was struggling at 144 for five, provided a much-needed foundation. He then chipped in with five wickets in the match, including the crucial dismissals of Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das, helping India secure a 227-run lead.Jadeja's all-round brilliance is not a recent phenomenon. Since his comeback in 2018, he has amassed 1926 runs at an impressive average of 43.77 while picking up 128 wickets (avg 25.16). During this period, he has scored four centuries and taken as many five-wicket hauls.His exceptional fielding skills have also earned him widespread acclaim. Widely regarded as one of the best fielders in the world, Jadeja's athleticism and anticipation have saved countless runs and created numerous opportunities for his team.Jadeja's rise to prominence has coincided with a shift in India's Test strategy. The team has moved away from its traditional reliance on pace-bowling all-rounders and embraced the versatility of players like Jadeja and R. Ashwin.As India prepares for the second Test against Bangladesh, Jadeja stands on the cusp of a significant milestone. He is one wicket away from entering the elite club of players who have taken 300 Test wickets. If he achieves this feat, he will become only the seventh Indian to do so.Jadeja's journey from a promising young spinner to a world-class all-rounder is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and unwavering belief in his abilities. As he continues to scale new heights, he is sure to leave an enduring legacy in the annals of Indian cricket.

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of the Indian cricket team, addressed the media in a press conference ahead of the first Test match against Bangladesh. The press conference provided insights into Gambhir's coaching philosophy, the team's preparations, and his relationship with captain Rohit Sharma.Gambhir emphasized the importance of bowlers in the modern game, stating that Jasprit Bumrah is the best fast bowler in the world. He credited Bumrah, along with Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja, for transforming India into a "bowlers' game."The head coach also expressed his respect for Bangladesh but asserted that India will approach the series with the mindset of a champion side. He believes that the team's best style is the one that wins.Gambhir's first Test series as head coach will be a significant milestone in his career. He previously led the team in T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka.During the press conference, Gambhir and former India captain Virat Kohli discussed their on-field altercations in the past. Gambhir jokingly deflected Kohli's question about how altercations affect his performance, saying that Kohli has had more altercations than him.Kohli and Gambhir have put their past differences aside and are now working together to achieve success for the Indian team. They have "put an end to all the masala" surrounding their rumored rift.Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, acknowledged that Gambhir's coaching style is different from his predecessor, Rahul Dravid. However, he emphasized that he has a good understanding with Gambhir and that the new coaching staff brings a different perspective.

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has expressed his belief that head coach Gautam Gambhir's past aggressive behavior stems from a desire to protect his players. Karthik believes this approach will benefit the team, emphasizing that Gambhir does not display anger unnecessarily."His aggression has generally come out in protection of his players and that is something the current lot of players will enjoy. Knowing him, he is not someone who gets angry for the heck of it," Karthik told reporters on the sidelines of a Legends League Cricket event.Karthik also acknowledged Gambhir's inexperience in coaching Test cricket, which may be a concern as he prepares for his first assignment with the series against Bangladesh in Chennai on Thursday."He has been a part of numerous T20 tournaments. But this Test series will be completely new for him as a coach and it must be playing at the back of his mind," Karthik said.However, Karthik expressed confidence in Gambhir's ability to navigate the challenges of Test cricket."He is someone who has navigated through tough waters. He's got the acumen to understand the pulse of the game, which is extremely important as a coach," Karthik said.Karthik also spoke about India's upcoming series against Bangladesh, highlighting the challenges for both teams. He noted Bangladesh's recent success against Pakistan but pointed out the difficulties of playing against the Indian team at home."It will start with a lot of confidence from Bangladesh. (For India) it's about understanding that they are playing a slightly different Bangladesh team," he said."But, India in India is a different kettle of fish to beat. It's not going to be in any way as easy as compared to going outside and beating other countries in their backyard," he said.He also discussed the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, predicting a tough competition."The BGT will be a challenge for Team India. The current Australian team is in form and (is) a pretty well-oiled unit. It's not by chance that they won the World Test Championship," he said."It will be tough for India. But considering the grit and resilience that India has, it will be a wonderful series to watch," he added.

India's cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, is gearing up for a grueling schedule that includes 10 Tests in 15 weeks. The team is aware of the strain this can put on their fast bowlers, particularly Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who are expected to play a significant role in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.To manage the workload, India has implemented a plan to monitor and rest their bowlers as needed. They have already given Bumrah and Siraj breaks during previous Test series. The team is also expanding its fast-bowling pool, with left-armer Yash Dayal joining the squad for the Bangladesh series.Despite the challenges, India is not viewing their home series against Bangladesh as preparation for their overseas tours. Rohit Sharma emphasized that every game is important, and they aim to win every Test match.The team has been in Chennai for a week-long training camp to prepare for the Bangladesh series. The camp has allowed them to spend ample time on the field and get ready for the challenges ahead.