Cricket

Temba Bavuma's elbow injury has ruled him out of the second Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence next Tuesday. Aiden Markram will assume the captaincy in his absence, with the expectation that Bavuma will be available for the upcoming home Tests against Sri Lanka.South Africa's Test coach, Shukri Conrad, confirmed the decision in Dhaka, stating that Bavuma's recovery has not progressed sufficiently for him to participate in the second Test. The rehabilitation program will be adjusted to ensure his readiness for the Sri Lankan series.It remains uncertain whether Bavuma will remain with the squad in Bangladesh or return home to continue his recovery and participate in domestic red-ball cricket. The first-class competition commences next week, and Bavuma's team, the Lions, will play three matches before the first Test against Sri Lanka.Conrad expressed his preference for Bavuma to stay with the squad, acknowledging his valuable role and the fact that it is still his team. However, he understands Bavuma's family responsibilities and will respect his decision.Bavuma sustained the injury earlier this month during an ODI against Ireland, falling awkwardly while completing a run. He retired hurt on 35 and was unable to field. The injury affects the same elbow that Bavuma injured in 2022 during a T20 tour of India, which subsequently ruled him out of South Africa's tour of England later that year.In Bavuma's absence, Matthew Breetzke, who made his debut in the Mirpur Test, could retain his position at No.6. Alternatively, South Africa may opt for an additional allrounder or bowler in their XI. Left-hander Senuran Muthusamy is a potential replacement, offering both batting and left-arm spin bowling capabilities.South Africa currently holds a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series after securing a seven-wicket victory in the first Test.

Rohit Sharma, India's captain, has expressed confidence in his decision-making abilities, as evidenced by his team's recent Test match victory against Bangladesh. Despite losing over 220 overs due to weather, India secured a seven-wicket win by adopting an aggressive approach.Sharma believes that his experience has equipped him to trust his instincts. "I have been out there enough to trust my judgments on what I do," he stated. While open to suggestions, he emphasizes that the final call is his.Sharma acknowledges that not all decisions will be successful, but experience and knowledge are crucial. "At the highest level, you need to have a bit of everything," he said. "You need to be calm to take decisions wisely, and you need to back it with your experience."Sharma admits that India's aggressive approach could have backfired, but he was prepared for the consequences. "We had to take risks to get a result," he explained. "I know the result could have gone either way, but I was okay with it."He praised his team's fielding performance, highlighting the 23 catches they took out of 24 opportunities. "The catches are hard to take as reaction time is very less," he said.Sharma emphasized that his style of aggression is not about body language but rather about actions on the field. "The kind of batting we do, the kind of field positioning we do, the kind of bowling we do, that to me is aggression," he said.However, he does not object to players like Mohammed Siraj engaging in verbal exchanges with batters, as it can unsettle them. "Siraj, superb athlete, he gives everything on the field he has," Sharma said. "He wants to do something -- talk to the batter, make him uncomfortable so that the team gets into the game."

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has lauded Rohit Sharma's aggressive captaincy and batting approach in the second Test against Bangladesh. India's dominant display, led by Sharma's fiery knock, has set new records and showcased the team's champion mentality.Manjrekar believes that Sharma's legacy as captain will be defined by his aggressive mindset. "This is how he thinks," Manjrekar said. "A strong team, one of the top two sides in the world, they also showed the champion's approach, realizing so much time has been lost."Sharma's blistering knock of 23 runs off 11 balls, including three sixes and a four, exemplified his willingness to take risks for the team's success. "He does not mind in the process, like in the 50-overs World Cup... He didn't get a big hundred on anything like that," Manjrekar added. "Even here, was quite happy to put his wicket on the line and suddenly we have a Test match which India could win."India's batters went on a run-scoring spree, setting the fastest records for 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 runs in Test history. The declaration on 285/9 gave India a 52-run lead, setting up a potential result in the rain-curtailed Test.Ravichandran Ashwin's brilliance with the ball further boosted India's chances, removing Zakir Hasan and Hasan Mahmud. India's aggressive approach has raised hopes of a positive outcome, despite the initial signs pointing towards a draw.

India's Captaincy Conundrum: Who Will Lead if Rohit Sharma is Unavailable?With the second Test against Bangladesh looming, the question of who will captain India if Rohit Sharma is injured or unavailable remains unanswered. Traditionally, the team's vice-captain would assume the leadership role, but no vice-captain has been named for this series.Assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has clarified that the team does not require a designated vice-captain. He highlighted the presence of several players with leadership qualities and captaincy experience at the highest level."We have got a lot of IPL captains in this team," Nayar said. "Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal have all led their franchises. I wouldn't look at them as youngsters anymore. They have the leadership qualities that are required."Nayar also emphasized that the team's decision-making regarding the playing XI will be influenced by the pitch conditions and weather forecast."We don't know which surface we are going to play on yet," Nayar said. "Kanpur is often known to have good pitches, but we are not sure about the bounce. The conditions and forecast will be a huge factor in how the pitch plays."All players are currently fit and available for selection, according to Nayar.

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has suggested that left-arm pacer Yash Dayal could be considered for a place in the Indian Test team for the second Test against Bangladesh, starting on Friday in Kanpur. Patel believes that Dayal, who has "tremendous potential," could replace either Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Siraj, giving India an opportunity to field a left-arm pacer."This will be a great chance to see a left-armer. It has been a while since India had a left-arm seamer, so I feel if he gets the chance, it will be good. We will know. Yash Dayal has tremendous potential. So I don't think there is harm in trying," Patel said.Patel's suggestion comes in the wake of India's emphatic 280-run victory in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. Skipper Rohit Sharma had earlier indicated that the team would be monitoring the workload of their pacers throughout their busy Test schedule, which extends until January next year.Another aspect that will be closely watched in the second Test is the middle-order setup of the Indian team. Sarfaraz Ahmed and Dhruv Jurel impressed during India's 4-1 series triumph over England earlier this year, but with the return of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, Patel believes it may be difficult for them to break into the playing XI."I don't think Sarfaraz and Dhruv will make a comeback to the side. Rishabh has just made a comeback. Both of them are very very talented players and very much ready for Test cricket. But they will have to wait for their chances," Patel added.Jurel and Dayal have been included in the Rest of India squad for the upcoming Irani Cup, while Sarfaraz has been selected in Mumbai's squad. If they are unable to make it to the playing XI against Bangladesh, they will have the opportunity to feature in the Irani Cup.

The Indian cricket team is facing a crucial decision as they prepare for the second Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on Friday in Kanpur. The team's playing XI remains uncertain, with the selection of spinners and pacers hinging on the pitch and weather conditions.Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir meticulously inspected two prepared pitches at Green Park Stadium. The team management is contemplating the inclusion of a third spinner, considering the possibility of rain on the first and third days of the match.Assistant coach Abhishek Nayar hinted that the final decision will likely be made just before the toss. "Both pitches look pretty good. Kanpur is often known to have good pitches. I am not sure about the bounce yet," Nayar said during Thursday's pre-match press conference.In the first Test in Chennai, India opted for a combination of two spinners and three pacers. However, Kanpur's conditions may favor spin, prompting the team to consider adding a third spinner. Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav could join Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja if this change is implemented.Nayar remained tight-lipped about Kuldeep's potential inclusion in his home state. "With the conditions and the forecast, it is going to be interesting when we turn up in the morning. A lot will depend on that because, as you know, in Test cricket, conditions can be a huge factor in how the pitch plays," Nayar explained.All players are fit and available for selection, Nayar confirmed. "It is too early for us to judge and decide or have any sort of thought process on the pitch or the conditions. But we are hoping we come in tomorrow to a sunny day and not an overcast Kanpur," he added.The Indian team will need to carefully assess the pitch and weather conditions before finalizing their playing XI. The decision will have a significant impact on their strategy and chances of securing a victory in the second Test.

The Indian cricket team is gearing up for the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, which commences on Friday. Having secured a comfortable victory in the first Test, India aims to replicate their success and strengthen their position in the race for the World Test Championship final.However, Virat Kohli's poor form in the first Test has raised concerns. Dismissed for 6 and 17 in the two innings, Kohli was dismissed twice in four overs by unheralded pacer Jamshed Alam during a net session on Wednesday. Alam, a 22-year-old from Lucknow, attributed his success to the out-swingers he bowled on a practice pitch that favored pacers.Despite Kohli's struggles, former Pakistan player Basit Ali believes the Indian star will regain his form in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting on November 22. Ali suggests that Kohli will thrive on the pacy wickets in Australia, where he has a proven track record of success."Virat will return to form against Australia," Ali said. "He will like the pacy wickets in Australia. Big players often lose concentration against weak teams but they do well against tougher oppositions."Ali also expressed confidence in India's ability to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. "People say India win at home but they have won two series in Australia as well," he said. "India won't allow Australia to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year as well."Kohli's return to form will be crucial for India's chances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Indian team will be eager to prove their dominance against a formidable Australian side and secure their place in the World Test Championship final.

Former Indian cricketer and renowned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has strongly advocated for the inclusion of left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav in India's playing XI for the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur. Despite Kuldeep's impressive performance in the recent home series against England, where he claimed 19 wickets in four matches, he was surprisingly omitted from the team in the first Test in Chennai.Manjrekar believes that Kuldeep's exclusion was a mistake, arguing that his unique bowling style would have been beneficial even on a pitch that was not expected to favor spinners. "I feel Kuldeep Yadav should not be dropped so easily," Manjrekar said on the ESPNcricinfo YouTube channel. "I believe that even if it was not a turner, India would have benefited from playing Kuldeep Yadav in Chennai because the seamers will get help for just one or one-and-a-half days on an Indian pitch."Manjrekar suggested that Kuldeep could replace Jasprit Bumrah in the team if the pace spearhead is rested. "If Bumrah wants a rest, give him. Try and get Kuldeep Yadav back," Manjrekar said. He further emphasized the importance of playing all three spinners, including Kuldeep, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Axar Patel, even on a green top. "Even if it's a green top and the sun is out, they should keep in mind that the green top will be just for the first few hours, and Siraj and Bumrah are enough for that. When you have three proven spinners, you should play all of them," Manjrekar said.With India securing a comprehensive 280-run victory in the first Test, where Bumrah played a crucial role with five wickets, the team management may consider resting him to manage his workload. This would provide an ideal opportunity for Kuldeep to make his way back into the side. Another pacer, Yash Dayal, could also be in contention for his debut if Bumrah is rested.

Virat Kohli's recent performance in the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai has been a topic of discussion among cricket enthusiasts. Despite not scoring significant runs, Kohli's presence on the field has been a source of inspiration for the Indian team.In the first innings, Kohli managed a score of 6, while in the second innings, he was dismissed for 17. However, his contributions extend beyond his batting performance. Kohli's experience and leadership qualities have been invaluable to the team, especially in the absence of regular captain Rohit Sharma.During Bangladesh's second innings on Day 3, Kohli was captured making a humorous gesture that has since gone viral on social media. The gesture, which involved Kohli pretending to play a shot with an imaginary bat, has been interpreted as a light-hearted moment amidst the intense competition.Despite his recent batting struggles, Kohli remains a key figure in the Indian team. His ability to motivate and inspire his teammates is a testament to his leadership qualities. Moreover, his presence on the field provides a sense of stability and confidence to the younger players.While India is in a strong position to win the first Test, thanks to centuries from Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, Kohli's contributions cannot be overlooked. His experience and leadership will be crucial as the series progresses.