Cricket

Virat Kohli, India's batting mainstay, is determined to regain his form after a disappointing performance in the first Test against Bangladesh. Despite failing to score big in his Test return, Kohli has been spotted practicing diligently in the nets during the match.Kohli, who had played only one Test prior to this in 2024, managed scores of only 6 and 17 in the two innings against Bangladesh. In the second innings, he was given out LBW, a decision he chose not to review despite replays showing that the ball had hit his bat before his pads.Undeterred by this setback, Kohli is eager to make amends. With one more Test to go in the Bangladesh series before a three-match home series against New Zealand, he appears to want to get more practice in.During an extra net session, Kohli was seen leaving deliveries with precision and hitting shots with audible power. His determination is evident, as he seeks to regain his batting prowess.Kohli's teammates have also expressed confidence in his ability to bounce back. Captain Rohit Sharma said, "Virat is a world-class player. He has been through tough times before and has always come out stronger. I have no doubt that he will do the same this time."India's second innings in the first Test against Bangladesh ended on a high note, with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant registering magnificent hundreds. The declaration at 287/4 set Bangladesh a daunting target of 515.Bangladesh's openers made a promising start to the chase, but R Ashwin dismantled their middle order in the final session of Day 3. With nearly 400 runs still to get, Bangladesh face an uphill task to save the match.

The Indian cricket team's preparations for the upcoming first Test against Bangladesh, commencing on September 19, reached a fever pitch during an intensive practice session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday. Led by captain Rohit Sharma, the entire 16-man squad participated in the rigorous training session.Virat Kohli, one of the team's batting stalwarts, was among the first to enter the nets, facing the pace of Jasprit Bumrah and the spin of R Ashwin, who is set to make his 101st Test appearance. Yashasvi Jaiswal, the left-handed opener, joined Kohli in the adjacent net.Following them, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Sarfaraz Khan took their turns at the crease. Sarfaraz had recently arrived in Chennai after participating in the second round of the Duleep Trophy match in Anantapur. Rohit, known for his prowess against spin, focused on honing his skills against the Bangladeshi team's spin-heavy attack.Other team members, including all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, also had their share of batting practice against local bowlers and faced a significant number of throwdowns.The practice pitch on the main square provided a reasonable level of bounce, giving the batsmen a good workout. India has scheduled two additional practice sessions before the series opener against Bangladesh, who are brimming with confidence following their clean sweep in Pakistan.The playing eleven for the first Test is largely self-selecting. The Chennai pitch typically assists spinners, and there's a good chance India will field three spinners and two pacers for the match. Ashwin, Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav are the likely spinners, while Bumrah and Siraj will handle the pace-bowling duties. Despite his impressive all-round performances across formats, Axar Patel may have to sit out this game.In the batting department, Pant is anticipated to make his Test comeback after a nearly two-year absence. In that case, Dhruv Jurel, who impressed in his debut series against England, will be on the bench.

Virat Kohli, India's star batter, is intensifying his preparations for the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh. After a brief hiatus from cricket, Kohli is determined to regain his form and contribute to India's success.During a practice session at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium, Kohli showcased his exceptional batting skills. A video shared by Jio Cinema captured a moment when he unleashed a powerful six that shattered a wall near the Indian dressing room. The footage highlights Kohli's unwavering determination to excel in the upcoming series.Following his practice session, Kohli engaged in a lengthy discussion with head coach Gautam Gambhir, seeking guidance and feedback on his batting technique. Kohli's return to the Test format marks his first appearance since India's tour of South Africa in January. He missed the home Test series against England due to the birth of his son.Kohli's recent performances in the T20 World Cup and the tour of Sri Lanka have been underwhelming. However, he remains a key player for India and will be eager to prove his worth in the upcoming series.India will face a formidable challenge against Bangladesh, who recently defeated Pakistan 2-0 in a Test series. With crucial World Test Championship (WTC) points at stake, India is gearing up for a demanding 10-match Test season. This includes a three-Test home series against New Zealand and the five-match Border-Gavaskar series in Australia later this year.Currently, India leads the WTC table with 68.52 percentage points, closely followed by Australia at 62.50 percentage points. India's performance in the upcoming series will be crucial in maintaining their position at the top of the standings.

Rohit Sharma's exceptional leadership and batting prowess guided India to a historic T20 World Cup triumph in June, ending an 11-year title drought for the nation. Throughout the tournament, Sharma showcased his dominance, amassing 251 runs in eight matches with an impressive average of 36.71.In a recent "This or That" segment with Sportskeeda, former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh expressed his admiration for Sharma's batting style, which he believes mirrors his own. "My batting style, I don't know. Probably a big hitter. Probably Rohit Sharma," Singh remarked.Meanwhile, the Indian team under Sharma's captaincy arrived in Chennai on Friday to commence preparations for the first Test against Bangladesh. Star players Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul were among those spotted at the airport. Sharma and Virat Kohli also joined the team in Chennai early Friday morning. Kohli returned from London, where he had been spending time with his family.Pacers Akash Deep and Yash Dayal received their maiden Test call-ups, while wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant made his Test comeback after recovering from a life-threatening accident in December 2022. Kohli will also return to Test cricket for the first time since India's tour of South Africa in January. He missed the home Test series against England due to the birth of his son.The two-match Test series between India and Bangladesh will commence on September 19 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The second Test will be played in Kanpur from September 27. Head coach Gautam Gambhir will aim to secure a series victory in his first Test assignment.

The Indian cricket team's preparations for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh have taken a significant turn, with several key players being rested for the second round of the Duleep Trophy. The decision was made to ensure that the players are fully fit and ready for the international assignment.Among the players who have been granted exemption from the Duleep Trophy are Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Yadav, and Akash Deep. These players were all part of the Indian team that was selected for the opening Test match against Bangladesh.The BCCI has named replacements for the rested players. Pratham Singh will replace Gill, Akshay Wadkar will replace Rahul, and SK Rasheed will replace Jurel. Left-arm spinner Shams Mulani will replace Kuldeep, while Aaqib Khan will replace Akashdeep.Mayank Agarwal has been appointed as the new captain of India A, replacing Gill. Suyash Prabhudessai and Rinku Singh have been brought in to replace Jaiswal and Pant, respectively. Axar Patel has been replaced by Nishant Sandhu in the India D team.The India C team, captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad, remains unchanged.The decision to rest key players for the Duleep Trophy has raised some eyebrows, as it could potentially affect their match fitness ahead of the Test series. However, the BCCI has stated that the players' well-being is paramount and that they will be closely monitored during their break.The Duleep Trophy is a first-class cricket tournament in India, which serves as a platform for players to showcase their skills and earn selection for the national team. The tournament is currently in its second round, with the final scheduled to be played in September.

Pakistan's humiliating Test series defeat to Bangladesh has sparked widespread criticism, with former fast bowler Yasir Arafat launching a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).Arafat slammed the PCB for prioritizing one-day matches over red-ball preparation ahead of the crucial Test series against England. He pointed out that Pakistan's bowlers were severely lacking in fitness and technique, and that the team had not played first-class cricket in over a year."This series is ending, and your grey areas have been highlighted," Arafat said. "Fitness issues, technique issues, and pitches. Today I heard Jason Gillespie and the high-performance coach are going back to Australia. You are conducting an ODI tournament. These decisions I don't understand. The PCB is a circus."Arafat's comments come as the PCB considers alternative venues for the Test series against England, with Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) being potential options. The original venue, Karachi National Stadium, is undergoing renovations for next year's Champions Trophy.The PCB's decision to shift the second Test to Rawalpindi was also met with criticism, as the pitch was deemed to be too flat and conducive to high-scoring draws.Pakistan's Test team has now lost four consecutive series, including a 3-0 whitewash against England last year. The team's poor form has put them almost out of contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Pakistan's cricket team continues to face adversity both on and off the field. Amidst ongoing changes in leadership and coaching staff, the team's performance has taken a nosedive, culminating in a humiliating defeat against Bangladesh in the first Test. The second Test in Rawalpindi has brought further embarrassment, with skipper Shan Masood drawing heavy criticism for his abysmal fielding.On Day 3 of the second Test, Masood dropped a straightforward catch that gifted batter Hasan Mahmud a second life. The incident occurred during the 75th over of Bangladesh's first innings, when Mahmud mistimed a shot off Khuram Shahzad's delivery. The low shot went straight to Masood at cover, but the Pakistan skipper fumbled the catch, allowing the ball to drop to the ground.This blunder left Masood's teammates visibly stunned, and the video quickly went viral on social media, sparking a barrage of criticism from fans. The incident marked the second fielding error by Pakistan in the match, following Saud Shakeel's dropped catch of Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam on Saturday.The disappointment was evident on Masood's face as Shakeel missed the catch, and even the commentators expressed disbelief at the "regulation catch" being dropped. Umpire Richard Kettleborough could not conceal his reaction to the missed opportunity.Despite the fielding blunders, Bangladesh fought back on Sunday, with Litton Das scoring a valiant century to lift his team from a precarious 26-6 to a respectable 262 all out. The remarkable turnaround has left the second Test in Rawalpindi evenly poised.At close on the third day, Bangladesh struck back to leave Pakistan on a sluggish 9-2, with opener Abdullah Shafique dismissed for three and nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad falling without scoring, both to pacer Hasan Mahmud.Pakistan's poor performance has raised serious concerns about the team's future prospects. The constant changes in leadership and coaching staff have created instability, while the players' lack of form and discipline has contributed to the team's downfall.Unless Pakistan can address these issues and find a way to improve their performance, they face the prospect of further setbacks and a decline in their international standing.

Pakistan's decision to drop star pacer Shaheen Afridi for the second Test against Bangladesh has sparked controversy, with former batter Ahmed Shehzad questioning the team's logic.While acknowledging Afridi's recent struggles, Shehzad argued that he cannot be solely blamed for Pakistan's poor performances. He pointed out that the team has suffered defeats against Zimbabwe, Ireland, the USA, India, and now Bangladesh."Is Shaheen Afridi only responsible for all of this?" Shehzad asked in a video posted on social media. "Shaheen Afridi won't be solely responsible for all of this. So, bring all those people who were involved in all of this. Tell this country."Shehzad also criticized the performances of other players, including Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, and Babar Azam. He emphasized that dropping Afridi alone will not solve Pakistan's problems."There are some decisions that will have to be taken. And those people who are involved in all of this, whose performances are low, they will also have to be held accountable," he said.The first day of the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh was washed out due to heavy rain. The toss could not even take place, leaving the match in limbo.Pakistan's decision to drop Afridi has raised questions about the team's strategy and the future of its bowling attack. The team has struggled to find consistency in recent months, and the loss to Bangladesh has further highlighted their weaknesses.

Pakistan's star pacer Shaheen Afridi has been omitted from the team for the second Test against Bangladesh, raising concerns about his form and effectiveness. Head coach Jason Gillespie confirmed that Afridi is "working on some things" to improve his bowling, hinting at a potential drop rather than a rest.Afridi's recent performances have been underwhelming, particularly in Test cricket. In Australia, he averaged over 41 in pace-friendly conditions, and in the first Test against Bangladesh, he took only two lower-order wickets for 96 runs. His pace, once consistently in the mid-140 kph range, has also declined since his injury last year.Gillespie acknowledged that Afridi has been given feedback and is working with bowling coach Azhar Mahmood to address his technical issues. "We want to see Shaheen at his best because we've got a lot of cricket in all formats and Shaheen's going to play a really big role in that," Gillespie said.While Afridi's absence from the team is a significant blow, Pakistan has named a 12-man squad for the second Test, including legspinner Abrar Ahmed and fast bowler Mir Hamza. The inclusion of Abrar is likely, as Pakistan's decision to field an all-pace attack in the first Test backfired.Gillespie emphasized that the team's selection is based on weather conditions in Rawalpindi, which have been unfavorable for the past three days. "We're looking at what our best combination is this game," Gillespie said. "We'll look at conditions and decide what the best makeup of our bowling attack looks like."Pakistan must win the second Test to draw the series, after suffering their first-ever Test defeat to Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. The team will be hoping to bounce back with a strong performance, but Afridi's absence will be a major challenge.