Cricket

Steven Smith's decision to return to the No. 4 batting position for Australia in Test cricket has been influenced by the discontent expressed by his teammates, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, who preferred him to bat behind them.Smith clarified that he did not explicitly request the move but was asked by coach Andrew McDonald about his preferred batting spot. He emphasized that he is willing to bat anywhere but expressed his preference for No. 4.The conversations about Smith's batting position began after the New Zealand Test series, regardless of Cameron Green's injury. Khawaja and Labuschagne had expressed their discomfort with Smith opening the batting, stating that they preferred the "security" of having him behind them.Smith acknowledged that he could have continued opening given his average of 28.50 in the four Tests he played in that role, but he understood the concerns of his teammates. He believes that his return to No. 4 will allow him to make the best contribution to the team.In his first red-ball innings since the New Zealand series, Smith scored 3 off 29 balls for New South Wales against Victoria. Despite the low score, he felt positive about his performance and believes he is moving well and leaving the ball well.Smith also praised 19-year-old Sam Konstas, who was dismissed for 10 balls in the same match. He believes Konstas has a lot of time and is a bright prospect for the future.Regarding potential candidates to open the batting for Australia against India, Smith mentioned Nic Maddinson as a possible option. He believes Maddinson has a similar style to David Warner and could have a similar impact at the top of the order.

Virat Kohli's underwhelming performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 has reignited the debate surrounding his role in the Indian team. Despite being backed to open the innings alongside skipper Rohit Sharma, Kohli has managed a meager total of 5 runs in 3 matches, prompting calls for him to be shifted to the No. 3 position.Former Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate AB de Villiers has weighed in on the matter, expressing his belief that Kohli is best suited to bat at No. 3. De Villiers argues that this position allows Kohli to play both aggressively and conservatively, depending on the match situation."I have always said please bat Virat at number three. Especially in better wickets that they will play now, Virat is the go-to guy at number three. He can play the attacking game and also pull back and absorb the pressure if necessary. He is the best player in the world in the middle overs. I do not see any reasons (for opening)," De Villiers said in a video on his YouTube channel.De Villiers also urged India to adopt a more attacking approach in the tournament, having opted for a conservative strategy in previous World Cups. "Just make sure you throw the first punch. In the past World Cups, I think they have been a bit conservative, sort of feeling their way into a game. They are such a quality team that I feel they can take a bit of a risk early in the game to get the momentum because there is no looking back once they get the momentum," he added.India's next match in the Super 8s round of the T20 World Cup 2024 is against Afghanistan on Wednesday. The team will be hoping to improve their performance and secure a victory to boost their chances of reaching the semi-finals.

The upcoming T20 World Cup has sparked intense speculation regarding Virat Kohli's batting position for India. While the team's decision-makers have likely made their choice, the cricket community eagerly awaits Rohit Sharma's announcement in the pre-match press conference.Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and Australian legend Tim Paine advocate for Kohli opening the innings. Paine believes Kohli's exceptional form and experience warrant him facing as many deliveries as possible. Suresh Raina, on the other hand, supports Kohli remaining at No. 3, where he has traditionally excelled.Aaron Finch, another former Australian captain, also favors Kohli at No. 3. He highlights Kohli's impressive strike rate of 155 in the recent IPL season, suggesting that his stability at No. 3 provides a solid foundation for the team. Finch proposes Yashasvi Jaiswal as a suitable opening partner for Rohit Sharma, given his aggressive style.The debate centers around maximizing Kohli's impact on the game. Opening the innings would allow him to face more deliveries, while batting at No. 3 would provide stability and allow other players to play their natural game.As the T20 World Cup draws near, the decision over Kohli's batting position remains a crucial one. Fans and experts alike await the final verdict, hoping it will optimize India's chances of success on the global stage.

Virat Kohli's blistering 92 off 47 balls against Punjab Kings in IPL 2024 has reignited the debate over his ideal batting position for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes Kohli's exceptional form in the IPL makes him a prime candidate to open for India."Virat's phenomenal performances in the IPL suggest he's well-suited to open for India in the T20 World Cup," Ganguly said. "He's been in tremendous form, and his ability to score quickly and consistently at the top of the order would be a huge asset for the team."However, Australian batting legend Matthew Hayden initially expressed reservations about Kohli opening for India. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a right-left combination at the top of the order."No, they shouldn't do that," Hayden said. "You definitely need a left-right combination at the top."But Hayden quickly proposed an intriguing alternative: a reshuffle in the batting order."If you have to make a change in that combination, I would be very happy if you would tell me if I could open with Kohli and Jaiswal, I would have said absolutely yes," Hayden said.Hayden suggested Kohli open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Suryakumar Yadav at No. 3 and Rohit Sharma at No. 4. He highlighted Kohli's prowess in the powerplay overs and Rohit's success batting lower down the order."Look at his figures at No. 4, they are superb," Hayden said of Rohit. "Those are better than his opening numbers."As the T20 World Cup approaches, the debate surrounding Kohli's optimal batting position adds an intriguing dimension to India's strategy and selection discussions. With opinions divided among cricketing experts, it remains to be seen where Kohli will bat for India in the tournament.

MS Dhoni's Batting Position and Fitness: A Strategic Move or Injury Concern?Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach Stephen Fleming has addressed concerns regarding MS Dhoni's batting position and fitness after the former India captain batted at No. 9 in the team's last game against Punjab Kings.Fleming dismissed any injury concerns, stating that Dhoni's late entry was a strategic decision based on workload management. "We've seen earlier on, when he recovered from knee surgery last year, that there was a certain workload this year that he can manage," Fleming explained.The coach emphasized that CSK values Dhoni's experience and leadership, particularly in the latter stages of the innings. "We want to keep MS Dhoni on the field doing what he does best, which is the last two-three-four overs with the bat, and his keeping and his ability... the sheer technical advice for the new captain is really important."However, Fleming acknowledged that Dhoni's physical limitations require careful consideration. "Physically it's risky," he said. "We've seen early on in the season, a little bit of muscle injury - if he does bat too long, we run the risk of losing him."Fleming clarified that Dhoni's role is solely as a hitter in the death overs, with his batting number and number of balls faced dependent on the match situation. "There's no other reason - he had a side strain way back, game three, game four. And we've just been nursing that through," Fleming said.Despite concerns raised by former cricketers and images of Dhoni walking with an ice pack strapped to his leg, Fleming insisted that the veteran wicketkeeper-batter is fit to play. "He can run. It's just that he isn't going to bat for a long period of time," he said. "Keeping is fine. He's very economical with his movements, so he can keep in his... his hands, his hand-eye [coordination] and speed is as good as anyone."With three games remaining in the group stage of IPL 2024, CSK is well-positioned to qualify for the playoffs. Dhoni's strategic batting position and continued fitness will be crucial to the team's success.

Australian cricket legend Matthew Hayden has reignited the debate over Virat Kohli's batting position, particularly in the context of the upcoming T20 World Cup. Hayden's comments came in the wake of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar's criticism of Kohli's explosive response to critics questioning his scoring rate in IPL 2024.Kohli played a scintillating performance against Gujarat Titans, where he scored an unbeaten 70 off 44 balls, including a blistering display against spinners. Kohli's response to criticism regarding his scoring intent in the middle overs has sparked intense debate within the cricketing fraternity.In evaluating Kohli's potential role as an opener for India in the T20 World Cup, Hayden emphasized the significant improvement in Kohli's strike rate over the past four IPL seasons. "That strike rate is trending in the right direction, it's trending up," Hayden commented on Star Sports. "So 150 for me is kind of that sweet spot that starts in and everyone having conversation well where you bat? Is it three, is it open? You know those first six overs, it doesn't matter if Kohli is in those first six overs. You know that there's going to be fireworks."Hayden highlighted Kohli's adaptability and aggressive approach regardless of his batting position, particularly in the context of the explosive nature of the first six overs in T20 cricket. He expressed confidence in Kohli's ability to deliver fireworks irrespective of where he bats in the lineup.Reflecting on the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies, Hayden emphasized the favorable batting conditions and Kohli's proficiency in capitalizing on such surfaces. He cited Kohli's outstanding record as an opener in T20Is, including his sensational century in the Asia Cup last year, as evidence of his capability to excel in the role.However, Hayden also acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the conditions in New York, one of the venues for the T20 World Cup, while expressing confidence in Kohli's adaptability and the firepower of India's batting lineup. "They're not so sure about those conditions in New York. I've seen that overlaid venue and it looks magnificent. But certainly through the West Indies, they're going to be benign conditions and Kohli is going to come in and look to strike away knowing that he has a superb batting side that also has a great strike rate," Hayden added.

MS Dhoni's Unprecedented Batting Position in IPL 2024In a surprising turn of events, former Indian captain MS Dhoni came out to bat at an unfamiliar position of No. 9 for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their IPL 2024 match against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday. This marked the first time in Dhoni's illustrious T20 career that he had batted so low in the order.Throughout his career, Dhoni has predominantly batted between No. 3 and No. 7, with occasional stints at No. 8. However, his move to No. 9 raised eyebrows among fans and experts alike. The decision was even more puzzling considering that Dhoni had recently been batting at No. 8 during IPL 2023.Despite the unusual batting position, Dhoni's stay at the crease was short-lived. He was dismissed for a golden duck by Harshal Patel, who deceived him with a slower delivery that dipped rapidly and crashed into the off-stump.Dhoni's dismissal left CSK fans shell-shocked, as it was the first time he had been dismissed by a bowler in IPL 2024. His previous dismissal in the last match against PBKS was a run-out.Speaking about his wicket celebration, Patel expressed his respect for Dhoni and explained the strategy behind his slower delivery. "I have too much respect for him to celebrate when I get him out," Patel said. "The ball starts reversing, and it's all about the feel of that delivery. Most batters don't pick it."Dhoni's batting position has been a topic of discussion among cricket pundits. Some believe that it is a sign of his declining batting abilities, while others argue that it is a tactical move by CSK to protect their star player from facing the new ball.Regardless of the reasons behind his batting position, Dhoni's dismissal at No. 9 serves as a reminder that even the greatest players can be vulnerable to unexpected setbacks.

Sanju Samson's exceptional performance in the ongoing IPL 2024 has earned him a spot in India's T20 World Cup squad as the second wicket-keeping option. This selection has sparked discussions about his potential batting position in the team.Samson, who consistently bats at No. 3 for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, may have to adjust to a different role in the national team. Experts and fans speculate that he could bat at No. 5 due to the presence of established batters Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav, who have occupied the No. 3 and No. 4 positions respectively.When asked about his preferred batting position, Samson emphasized the importance of team success over individual preferences. "Winning the IPL is more important," he stated. "The players should focus on that goal only."Samson's impressive form in the IPL has been a key factor in his World Cup selection. With 385 runs at a strike rate of 161.08, he has been a top performer for Rajasthan Royals. His contributions have helped the team secure 16 points from 9 matches, putting them on the verge of IPL playoff qualification.While Samson will compete with Rishabh Pant for the wicket-keeping role in the Indian team, his versatility allows him to be considered as a specialist batter as well. His ability to adapt to different positions and contribute effectively makes him a valuable asset to the team.Samson's inclusion in the World Cup squad is a testament to his hard work and dedication. His performances in the IPL have showcased his exceptional talent and potential. As the team prepares for the global tournament, Samson's versatility and adaptability will be crucial in India's quest for success.

Indian cricket team batter Shubman Gill has revealed that he never considered returning to the opening position during his recent batting slump. Gill, who scored a magnificent century on Day 2 of the fifth Test against England in Dharamsala, had struggled for runs prior to the ongoing series.With Yashasvi Jaiswal partnering Rohit Sharma at the top of the order, Gill was assigned the No. 3 position, a role he initially found challenging. However, he has since bounced back in spectacular fashion, amassing over 400 runs in the five-match Test series against England."When you don't score, you tend to overthink, which I was doing. But going back to opening was not something that crossed my mind," Gill told broadcasters.Gill also discussed his superior batting average in the third and fourth innings compared to the first two innings in Test matches, explaining how he adjusts his approach based on the situation."When I go out to bat in the second innings, I have a clear target to chase. I know how to pace my innings and how to go about it," he said.Meanwhile, Gill's father and first coach, Lakhwinder, believes that his son's decision to step out to the bowlers more often has contributed to his resurgence in Test cricket. However, he disagrees with Gill's decision to bat at No. 3."He should have continued to open. It's not right at all. When you sit in the dressing room for longer, the pressure tends to increase. Number 3 is not opening, neither is it a middle-order spot," Lakhwinder said."Plus, his game is not like that. It suits the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, who has a defensive game. When the ball is new, you get more loose balls. When you come in after 5-7 overs, the ball is still shiny, and the bowler is settled with his length."