Cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has set May 1 as the deadline for teams to announce their squads for the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee is still deliberating over several key decisions, including the backup wicket-keeper, third opener, pace bowling unit, and power hitters.Backup Wicket-keeper:Rishabh Pant is expected to be the first-choice wicket-keeper, but the selectors are undecided between KL Rahul and Sanju Samson as his backup. Rahul has more experience, while Samson has been in excellent form in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Third Opener:Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are likely to open the batting for India, but the third opener's spot is up for grabs. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill have not been in good form, while Rahul and Samson could also be considered.Pace Bowling Unit:Jasprit Bumrah is the automatic choice as the lead pacer, with Mohammed Siraj likely to be his partner. However, Siraj's recent performances have been inconsistent, and Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, and Arshdeep Singh are also in contention.Power Hitters:Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja have struggled in the IPL this season, raising concerns about their form in the middle order. The selectors are considering Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, and Tilak Varma as potential replacements.The BCCI is facing a tough task in finalizing the squad, as there are several talented players vying for a limited number of spots. The team management is prioritizing players who have performed well in the IPL and have the potential to make an impact in the World Cup.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is contemplating a significant move to double the remuneration for domestic cricketers. This initiative aims to address the concerns of non-IPL players who may feel financially disadvantaged.Currently, the BCCI pays Rs 60,000 per day to players with over 40 Ranji Trophy appearances. Players with 21-40 matches and 20 matches receive Rs 50,000 and Rs 40,000 per day, respectively. Reserve players earn Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 per day in their respective categories.The BCCI is considering doubling these fees, with plans to increase the payment scale to between Rs 75 lakh and Rs 1 crore for players who feature in 10 Ranji Trophy matches. Additionally, players will receive higher earnings for participating in domestic white-ball tournaments like the Vijay Hazare and Mushtaq Ali.This move is intended to encourage domestic players to prioritize the Ranji Trophy and maximize the earnings of those not involved in the IPL. The BCCI is also considering implementing these changes as early as next season.Earlier this year, BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced increased match fees for Test players. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar welcomed the announcement and suggested that domestic cricketers' fees be doubled or tripled. He believes that higher fees would reduce player pullouts from the Ranji Trophy and attract more participation.The BCCI's decision to double domestic players' remuneration is a positive step towards recognizing their contributions and ensuring their financial well-being. It is expected to have a significant impact on the domestic cricket landscape in India.

The Indian cricket team's provisional squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup will be announced on May 1st. According to sources, the BCCI selectors are likely to opt for a conservative approach, relying on experienced players rather than experimenting with new faces.Ten players are considered automatic choices for the squad: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav.However, there is some uncertainty surrounding the backup opener's role. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill are the frontrunners for the spot, but if both are selected, one of the finishers, Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh, may be left out.Dube has been in impressive form for Lucknow Super Giants in the ongoing IPL, scoring 245 runs in seven games at an average of 49 and a strike rate of 157.05. Rinku Singh, on the other hand, has scored 83 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 162.75 and an average of 27.67.However, Dube's recent dismissal against Chennai Super Kings raised concerns about a flaw in his batting technique. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan pointed out that Dube's tendency to play shots outside the off stump line could be exploited by bowlers.In the IPL match between Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings, openers KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock played a crucial role in LSG's comfortable eight-wicket victory. The duo put on a match-winning partnership of 134, the highest for any wicket at the Ekana Stadium.Ravindra Jadeja top-scored for CSK with an unbeaten 57, while Moeen Ali and MS Dhoni provided late fireworks with their six-hitting. However, CSK's total of 176 for six proved insufficient as Rahul and De Kock chased down the target with ease.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has imposed fines on Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings for maintaining a slow over rate during their Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter on Friday. The captains of both teams, KL Rahul and Ruturaj Gaikwad, have been penalized with fines amounting to INR 12 Lakh each.The BCCI, in an official statement, announced that KL Rahul, captain of Lucknow Super Giants, has been fined for his team's slow over rate during Match 34 of the IPL 2024 against Chennai Super Kings. Similarly, Ruturaj Gaikwad, captain of Chennai Super Kings, has also been fined for his team's slow over rate.Both the captains were fined a minimum amount as it was their first offence of the season.KL Rahul's fine comes despite his stellar performance in the match, where he claimed the Player of the Match award for his outstanding knock of 82 off 53 balls. His partnership with Quinton de Kock steered Lucknow Super Giants to a commanding 8-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings, amassing the highest opening partnership of the season in the process.Contrastingly, Ruturaj Gaikwad's situation is less favorable, as his team faced defeat, and his personal contribution with the bat remained modest, scoring 17 off 13 deliveries.After the match, Lucknow Super Giants, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Sunrisers Hyderabad all currently tied at 8 points each. The race for playoff berths tightens further with KKR and SRH having played one match less, setting the stage for a thrilling culmination to the tournament.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has implemented strict guidelines prohibiting commentators, players, IPL owners, and social media teams from posting images or videos from the stadium on match days. This move aims to prevent individuals or teams from gaining social media followers by exploiting exclusive content rights held by broadcasters.The decision was prompted by an incident where a former India batter posted a picture of himself commentating during an IPL game on social media. The broadcast-rights holders objected, and the BCCI staff member asked him to delete the post.To ensure compliance, the BCCI has notified all parties involved that violations will result in consequences. "The broadcasters have paid big money for IPL rights. So commentators cannot post videos or photographs on match day on social media," a BCCI official stated.Even IPL teams are restricted from posting live game videos. They can only share a limited number of photographs and provide live match updates on their social media platforms. A franchise was recently fined Rs 9 lakh for sharing a video clip of a live game.The BCCI also monitors players' social media posts on match days. "Even players have been told to be mindful of social media posts on match days. All posts by players are being monitored," an official said.The broadcast rights holders, Star India for television and Viacom 18 for digital, have exclusive control over content related to "live matches" and the "field of play." Designated BCCI staff members closely monitor posts made by commentators, IPL teams, players, and individuals present at the ground in an official capacity to enforce adherence to the rules.

MS Dhoni's Nostalgic Visit to BCCI Headquarters and Heartfelt Moments at Wankhede StadiumLegendary Indian cricketer MS Dhoni made a heartwarming return to Mumbai for Chennai Super Kings' IPL 2024 match against Mumbai Indians at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. The former India captain's visit to the BCCI headquarters on Saturday and his emotional moments at the stadium on Sunday were captured in a series of heartwarming videos and photographs.At the BCCI headquarters, Dhoni was greeted with a nostalgic display of his iconic achievements. He signed a photograph of himself hitting the unforgettable six that clinched the ODI World Cup for India in 2011 at the same stadium. Dhoni also signed a photograph of himself playing a Test match and admired the 2007 T20 World Cup trophy that propelled him to stardom.On Sunday, after the MI-CSK match, the BCCI released a heartwarming video that showcased Dhoni's emotional journey at the headquarters. With a smile on his face, Dhoni roamed about the room filled with memorabilia, reminiscing about his glorious past.In the match against Mumbai Indians, Dhoni's brief but impactful innings of 20 runs off four balls proved to be the decisive factor in Chennai Super Kings' victory. His contribution highlighted his enduring impact on the game and the respect he commands from both fans and fellow players.Dhoni's visit to the BCCI headquarters and his emotional moments at the Wankhede Stadium served as a reminder of his legendary status in Indian cricket. His achievements and contributions to the sport continue to inspire generations of cricketers and fans alike.

The Indian Premier League (IPL), under the stewardship of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has witnessed remarkable growth and success, according to former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi. Modi lauded the BCCI's efforts in expanding the league's reach to new cities and markets, effectively opening up the tournament to the entire country."The IPL has become the world's best sports league, with a valuation second to none," Modi said. "The BCCI has done a fantastic job in taking the games to newer cities and markets, bringing the IPL to the entire country."Modi emphasized the importance of innovation, particularly from team owners, in areas such as merchandising and ticketing. He suggested the creation of a centralized IPL store and collective efforts by team owners to enhance the fan experience."For the BCCI, they should consider a secondary league in tier two or tier three cities," Modi added. "This would cater to the growing appetite for cricket in these areas and could potentially promote the winner to the IPL for the next season."Modi attributed the IPL's success to its ability to nurture Indian players and inspire them to achieve their aspirations. He highlighted the performances of Anuj Rawat and Harshit Rana, who made significant contributions to their respective teams despite the presence of international stars."The tournament is no longer reliant on foreign stars," Modi said. "It is the Indian core that drives it. The success of the South African League (SA20) and the Caribbean League (CPL) is also due to the involvement of local stars."Regarding the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies/US and cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Modi expressed skepticism. He believes that the T20 World Cup in New York will be driven by expats and that cricket's inclusion in the Olympics would have been more impactful if it had occurred in countries with a strong cricket culture.

Ishan Kishan, the talented wicketkeeper-batter from Jharkhand, has found himself in a precarious position after being excluded from the BCCI's central contract list. However, a recent conversation with BCCI secretary Jay Shah has sparked hope for a potential comeback.Kishan's exclusion from the contract list was a result of his reluctance to play first-class cricket. Despite repeated attempts by the Indian team management to involve him, he did not participate in any Ranji Trophy games this season. Instead, he opted to practice with his Mumbai Indians skipper, Hardik Pandya, in preparation for the IPL.This decision ultimately cost him his contract, but Shah's gesture of engaging in conversation with Kishan and national captain Rohit Sharma could be a sign of a potential thaw. While the contents of the discussion remain unknown, the fact that Shah, an influential figure in Indian cricket, is showing interest in Kishan is a positive development.Kishan's chances of a comeback in the T20 World Cup have dwindled in recent months, with Rishabh Pant back in contention and KL Rahul also expressing his desire to keep wickets. However, the IPL provides him with a massive opportunity to make a case for himself with consistent performances.The presence of national captain Rohit during Shah's conversation with Kishan is significant. It suggests that Kishan's performance will be the primary factor in determining his future with the Indian team, despite his past attitude issues.Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard has also expressed confidence in Kishan, stating that he is an "experienced" player within the setup and expects big things from him. With the selectors traveling to select IPL games to check on World Cup hopefuls, Kishan has a golden opportunity to prove his worth.

Ravichandran Ashwin's 100th Test, a milestone in his illustrious career, was marred by a personal crisis. The veteran spinner had to leave the India vs England Test series abruptly due to a medical emergency involving his mother, Chitra.Ashwin's 500th Test wicket, a landmark achievement, was overshadowed by the news of his mother's condition. Hours after claiming the scalp of England's Zak Crawley, Ashwin received the distressing news and immediately departed from the team camp.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a statement expressing support for Ashwin during this difficult time. "Ravichandran Ashwin has withdrawn from the Test squad, effective immediately due to a family medical emergency. In these challenging times, the BCCI and the team fully supports Ashwin," the statement read.Ashwin later recounted the harrowing experience on his YouTube channel. "I realized I was not getting calls from my parents or wife. I called my wife around 7 PM, asking why my parents weren't answering my call. Her voice was a bit shaky. She asked me to come separately from the crowd and told me that my mother collapsed after a headache," he said.Ashwin's emotional state was evident in his social media posts. In a humorous tweet, he shared a comparison of his match figures in his debut Test and his 100th Test, both of which were identical. "No improvement after all these years of playing the game. 'Only my mom can say things like this,'" he wrote.Despite the personal setback, Ashwin's commitment to the team remained unwavering. He returned to the squad after his mother's condition stabilized and played a crucial role in India's victory in the series.Ashwin's experience highlights the challenges that athletes face in balancing their professional and personal lives. The support of the BCCI and his teammates during this difficult time is a testament to the importance of human connection and empathy in the world of sports.