Cricket

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to host the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction in the last week of November, with November 30 emerging as the likely date. The venue is yet to be finalized, but Dubai is a potential option.The ten franchises are actively preparing for the auction, with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) leading the way in identifying their priorities. Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, and Abhishek Sharma are their top targets, while Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy are also under consideration.Delhi Capitals have retained Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav as their top picks, but the captaincy is still undecided. They have made significant changes to their support staff, appointing Hemang Badani as head coach and Venugopal Rao as Director of Cricket, replacing Sourav Ganguly. Munaf Patel has been roped in as the bowling coach.Mumbai Indians, the most successful IPL franchise, have retained Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah. Pandya will continue as captain, and the team will aim to regain their winning ways under coach Mahela Jayawardene.The upcoming mega auction promises to be highly competitive, with new rules designed to keep the franchises on their toes. The modified Right To Match (RTM) card will allow the highest bidder to raise their bid before the team holding the RTM card can exercise their right. This is expected to lead to intense bidding wars.The IPL mega auction is a crucial event in the Indian cricket calendar, as it shapes the teams for the upcoming season. With a host of talented players available, the auction is likely to attract significant attention from fans and experts alike.

Test cricket, the epitome of the sport, stands as a testament to the true essence of the game. Despite the surge in popularity of limited-overs formats like ODIs and T20s, Test cricket remains the format that embodies the complete spectrum of cricket.In India, Test cricket holds a profound significance, deeply rooted in history and culture. Even amidst the rise of shorter formats, especially with the advent of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Test cricket continues to be a cornerstone of Indian cricket.As Team India prepares for a three-match Test series against New Zealand, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released a video showcasing the team's practice session. The video features a voiceover by Ravichandran Ashwin, who eloquently articulates the significance of Test cricket."Test cricket is constantly about adaptability," Ashwin says. "You can't start Day 5 like how you start Day 1. Every day you need to be able to adapt along with the conditions. That's why they say Test cricket is the pinnacle of this particular sport!"The video concludes with a headshot of a Team India helmet and the caption, "WE ARE BACK!"New Zealand's first tour of India was in 1955-56, and their most recent tour was in 2021-22. However, the Kiwis have yet to secure a Test series victory in India.The second and third Tests of the series will be held in Pune and Mumbai, commencing on October 24 and November 1, respectively.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a surprising decision to eliminate the Impact Player rule from the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, despite its continuation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the next three seasons.The Impact Player rule, introduced in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on an experimental basis, allows teams to substitute a player during the match. However, it has faced criticism from players and coaches, including Indian captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who argue that it hinders the development of all-rounders and disadvantages bowlers.According to sources, the rule's removal from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is due to concerns about its impact on the competition. With teams fielding specialists, the game becomes a "12 vs 11" contest, reducing the opportunities for all-rounders.The BCCI's decision to retain the Impact Player rule in the IPL is reportedly influenced by pressure from broadcasters. The rule has been credited with adding excitement to the tournament, particularly in the last two editions, which witnessed high-scoring matches.However, the rule's critics argue that it undermines the traditional balance of T20 cricket, where teams rely on a combination of batting, bowling, and fielding skills. They contend that it favors specialist batsmen and makes it more difficult for bowlers to defend their totals.The BCCI's decision to remove the Impact Player rule from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is a significant development that could have implications for the future of T20 cricket in India. It remains to be seen whether the rule will be reintroduced in future editions of the tournament or if it will be permanently discontinued.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is approaching its 2025-27 cycle, and franchises are facing uncertainty in finalizing player retentions due to ambiguities in the IPL Player Regulations 2025-27 Key Points document released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).The document outlines the Retention/Right to Match (RTM) process, but a footnote has raised questions. It states that the overall retention deduction will be Rs 75 crore, regardless of the amount paid to individual players. However, if the total amount exceeds Rs 75 crore, the actual amount will be deducted.This has led to confusion among franchises. They are unsure whether they can retain players at different prices than those specified in the document (Player 1: Rs 18 crore, Player 2: Rs 14 crore, Player 3: Rs 11 crore, Player 4: Rs 18 crore, Player 5: Rs 14 crore)."What are they trying to say here? It has left us confused too. Does this mean that any price tag can be followed while retaining players? And if the total price of retentions exceeds Rs 75 crore then that would be deducted from the Salary Cap. If it's a free hand for the franchises to use their own prices for different retentions then what are the 18, 14 and 11 markers for?," questioned a senior official at a franchise.The footnote also states that if the total retention amount is less than Rs 75 crore, Rs 75 crore will still be deducted. This has further perplexed franchises."So they are trying to imply that one can retain Player 2 and 3 for a cheaper price than 14 and 11? A lot of clarity is needed because it is the most important piece of the puzzle and we have already asked for more clarification and explanation from the board," added the official.With the retention deadline approaching on October 31, franchises are eagerly awaiting a comprehensive Player Guidelines document that will provide detailed explanations of the regulations. They hope that the BCCI will release this document in the coming days to enable them to make informed decisions about player retentions.

India's explosive left-handed batter Ishan Kishan has made a triumphant return to the Jharkhand Ranji team as its captain, following a controversial pullout last season that led to his exclusion from the BCCI central contract.Kishan's absence from domestic cricket during the previous season, coupled with his participation in privately organized T20 tournaments, raised eyebrows within the BCCI. However, the 26-year-old has since worked his way back into the board's good books with strong performances in domestic cricket, including a century for India C in the Duleep Trophy.As captain of Jharkhand's 16-member squad, Kishan will lead a young team with last season's designated skipper Virat Singh as his deputy and Kumar Kushagra as the wicketkeeper. Jharkhand begins their Ranji Trophy campaign against Assam in Guwahati in Elite Group D.Kishan's return to the Jharkhand team is a significant development for the state side, which finished third from the bottom in Group A last season. The team's chairman of the selection committee, Subroto Das, expressed confidence in Kishan's leadership abilities, stating that he is capable of guiding the young squad to success this Ranji season.Kishan's journey back to the BCCI's good graces is a testament to his determination and resilience. After being dropped from the central contract, he worked tirelessly to regain his form and prove his worth. His strong performances in domestic cricket have earned him a second chance, and he will be eager to make the most of it.

India's premier domestic cricket tournament, the Ranji Trophy, is set to undergo a significant overhaul in its 90th season, which begins on October 10. The tournament will now be played in two phases, with an extra day's gap between matches to prioritize player well-being.Phase 1:The first phase of the Ranji Trophy will take place from October 11 to November 13, with each team playing five league games. This phase will be followed by the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20s) and Vijay Hazare Trophy (50 overs).Phase 2:The second phase of the Ranji Trophy will resume on January 23, 2025, with the last two group fixtures. The knockout phase will begin on February 8, with the final scheduled for February 26 to March 2.Format Changes:The tournament will feature 38 teams divided into five groups: Elite A, Elite B, Elite C, Elite D, and Plate. Teams will face all other teams in their respective groups, with the top two teams from each Elite group qualifying for the knockouts. The finalists from the Plate group knockout matches will earn promotion to the Elite groups for the following season, while the bottom two teams in the combined Elite group table will be relegated to the Plate group.Rationale for Changes:The changes to the Ranji Trophy structure were proposed by a working group led by former India men's head coach Rahul Dravid. The group recognized the lack of game time during the winter season in north India and the need for an extra day's gap between matches to allow players sufficient recovery time.Impact on Players:The new format is expected to provide players with more opportunities to showcase their skills and improve their fitness. The extra day's gap between matches will reduce the risk of injuries and allow players to perform at their best.Conclusion:The overhaul of the Ranji Trophy structure is a significant step towards revitalizing India's domestic cricket landscape. The changes are designed to enhance player well-being, provide more competitive opportunities, and ultimately elevate the standard of domestic cricket in India.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for its next season in 2025, and the highly anticipated "Big Auction" is set to take place in late November. While Dubai has been the traditional venue for overseas auctions, the BCCI is considering a move to Saudi Arabia for this edition.According to a report by Cricbuzz, Riyadh and Jeddah are the two Saudi cities being considered as potential hosts. While Dubai remains in the running, it is not the preferred option. The report suggests that the higher costs associated with hosting the auction in Saudi Arabia could be a factor in the final decision.Despite the potential financial implications, the BCCI, as the world's richest cricket board, is unlikely to be deterred by the increased expenses. However, the logistical requirements of the auction, including accommodating officials from the 10 teams and the two broadcasters, Disney Star and Jio, will need to be carefully considered.London was initially considered as a potential venue, but the onset of winter in the UK ruled it out. The auction is expected to be a two-day event, and the BCCI is keen to finalize the venue soon.The "Big Auction" is a crucial event in the IPL calendar, as it allows teams to bolster their squads ahead of the upcoming season. With a number of high-profile players expected to be available, the auction is likely to attract significant attention from fans and media alike.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has recently introduced revised retention rules for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, sparking concerns among franchises over the Right to Match (RTM) process.The new rules grant the highest bidder an additional opportunity to increase their bid before the team holding the RTM card can exercise their right. This has raised concerns that the RTM's purpose of determining a player's market value is being undermined.According to a report by Cricbuzz, franchises are apprehensive about the potential for arbitrary bids by the highest bidder. The new rule allows the highest bidder to increase their bid by any amount, which the team with the RTM must then match."The highest bidder will be given one final opportunity to raise their bid for a player before the team holding the RTM card can exercise their right," states the new rule circulated by the BCCI.For instance, if Team 1 holds the RTM for Player X and Team 2 has placed the highest bid of Rs. 6 Cr, Team 1 will be asked if they will exercise RTM. If Team 1 agrees, Team 2 will have the chance to increase their bid. If Team 2 raises their bid to Rs. 9 Cr, Team 1 can use the RTM and acquire Player X for Rs. 9 Cr. However, if Team 2 chooses not to raise the bid and keeps it at Rs. 6 Cr, Team 1 can use the RTM and get Player X for Rs. 6 Cr.Franchises argue that this new rule may discourage them from using the RTM option and push them towards more retentions. They believe that the RTM's aim is to determine a player's market value, but the new rule makes them match potentially arbitrary bids.Some franchises have formally written to the BCCI expressing their concerns, while others have discussed them with BCCI officials. Critics also suggest that the new rule may counteract the BCCI's goal to attract star players to the auction.

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed his surprise and disappointment over the BCCI's decision to overlook Hardik Pandya as captain of the T20I team. Pandya was widely expected to take over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, who recently retired from the format. However, the BCCI opted to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as the new skipper.Harbhajan believes that Pandya's experience and leadership qualities made him the ideal candidate for the captaincy. "He was your vice-captain...when Rohit Sharma is not the captain, your vice-captain becomes the captain," Harbhajan told Sports Yaari. "But if you tell him on fitness ground that you will not be the captain - there's no T20I cricket round the year."Harbhajan added that losing the captaincy must have been a significant setback for Pandya. "He came after winning the T20 World Cup and suddenly, it's a big setback for him. It's not right," he said. "I have great respect for Suryakumar Yadav. Phenomenal player, great guy...very selfless. Even he wouldn't have thought that this would happen."The BCCI's decision has also raised questions about Pandya's fitness. The all-rounder has been struggling with injuries in recent months, and there are concerns that he may not be able to handle the rigors of captaincy.However, Harbhajan believes that Pandya's fitness is not a major issue. "He's a young guy, he's fit," Harbhajan said. "He's been playing for India for a long time now. He knows how to manage his body."The BCCI has named a 15-man squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, with Yadav leading the team. The matches will be played on October 6 (Gwalior), October 9 (New Delhi), and October 12 (Hyderabad).