Cricket

Unicorn Balloon Interrupts England-West Indies Test MatchIn an unusual turn of events, a "unicorn balloon" briefly halted play during the second Test match between England and the West Indies at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. The incident occurred as England's Shoaib Bashir was bowling to West Indies batsman Nkrumah Bonner.As Bashir prepared to deliver the ball, a large, inflatable unicorn balloon drifted onto the field from the crowd. The balloon, which was approximately the size of a small car, caused a moment of confusion and laughter among the players and spectators.Ground staff quickly intervened and removed the balloon from the field, allowing play to resume. The incident was captured on video and shared on social media by England Cricket, sparking amusement among fans.The interruption, though brief, highlighted the unpredictable nature of cricket. Despite the unusual nature of the incident, England went on to secure a convincing victory, defeating the West Indies by 241 runs.Bashir, who made his Test debut for England in the first match of the series, played a pivotal role in the win. The 20-year-old off-spinner claimed 5-41, his third five-wicket haul in just five Tests. His impressive performance helped England bowl out the West Indies for 143 all out, securing a series victory with one match remaining.The third and final Test of the series will begin on Friday at Edgbaston. England will be looking to complete a 3-0 sweep, while the West Indies will be determined to salvage some pride.

Former Indian head coach Rahul Dravid is poised to make a sensational return to the Rajasthan Royals as their head coach, according to reliable sources. Negotiations between the franchise and Dravid are reportedly in advanced stages, with an official announcement expected soon.Dravid, 51, has a long-standing association with the Royals, having captained them to the Champions League T20 final and IPL playoffs in 2013. He subsequently served as their mentor in 2014 and 2015, guiding them to a third-place finish in the IPL.After his stint with the Royals, Dravid joined the BCCI in various capacities, including head coach of the India U-19 and India 'A' teams, chairman of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), and finally head coach of the senior team from October 2021.It remains unclear whether the Royals will retain Kumar Sangakkara, who has been their director of cricket since 2021, or release him once Dravid takes over.Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is seeking the assistance of an Indian expert to prepare for their upcoming white-ball series against India. Zubin Bharucha, the high-performance director of the Royals, is currently conducting a week-long "batting master class" for Sri Lankan players in Colombo. Bharucha is renowned for his rigorous training methods, which have played a crucial role in the development of young batsmen like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel."I'm assisting Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) coaches in how they are setting up practice -from the academy to the international players," Bharucha said. According to sources, it was Sangakkara who recommended Bharucha for this special training session.

Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, has appointed two new assistants to his coaching staff: Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate. Both individuals were part of Gambhir's successful stint as coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL)."This is going to be the crux of the support staff," Gambhir said. "I have worked with people like Ryan and Abhishek in the last two months in the IPL, enjoyed working with them, thorough professionals. Hopefully we can have a successful tenure as coaches."In addition to Nayar and ten Doeschate, T. Dilip has been reappointed as fielding coach, while Sairaj Bahutule, who was part of the support staff in Zimbabwe, will take over as bowling coach. Barring ten Doeschate, who will join the squad in Pallekele, the others traveled with the team to Colombo on Monday.Dilip is expected to be the lone survivor from Rahul Dravid's coaching staff, while Morne Morkel is the front-runner for the bowling coach's post.Gambhir, who played a key role in India's World T20 and World Cup triumphs in 2007 and 2011 respectively, emphasized the importance of winning and creating a positive team environment."My learning has been simple – it has been all about winning. I don’t deviate from something. We are in a profession where there can be only one winner. We try and play fair, we try and play hard and try and come back in a winning dressing room and a happy dressing room," he said."A happy dressing room is a winning dressing room. Ultimately it is the players’ team, support staff is there to try and get the maximum out of their potential. Some days international cricket can be tough, can be insecure as well because only 15 can keep. It is the job of support staff to keep them happy."

India, buoyed by two emphatic victories, will aim to secure a semifinal berth in the 2024 Women's T20 Asia Cup when they face Nepal in their final Group A match on Tuesday.India's dominance has been evident in both batting and bowling. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have provided explosive starts, while Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh have anchored the middle order. Ghosh's blistering 64 off 29 balls against the UAE propelled India to their highest-ever T20I total of 200+.The bowling unit has been equally impressive, with Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, and Deepti Sharma leading the charge. Tanuja Kanwar, a replacement for injured Shreyanka Patil, has also impressed with her economical bowling.Nepal, despite their historic win over the UAE, faces an uphill task against India. The Himalayan nation will need a monumental effort to challenge the tournament favorites.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer, has been appointed as the head coach of Team India, succeeding Rahul Dravid. Gambhir expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and acknowledged the legacy of his predecessors. He emphasized the importance of creating a positive and supportive dressing room environment.Gambhir will be assisted by Abhishek Nayar and Ryan Ten Doeschate. He praised their professionalism and expressed confidence in their ability to contribute to the team's success.The new head coach will face the challenge of managing a star-studded dressing room, including captain Rohit Sharma and star batsman Virat Kohli. Gambhir emphasized his strong relationship with Kohli and their shared commitment to the team's success.Gambhir outlined the team's upcoming schedule, including the Champions Trophy, Australia series, and the 2027 World Cup. He expressed his belief in the team's potential and his determination to make India proud.Gambhir's appointment has been met with mixed reactions. Some have questioned his experience as a coach, while others have praised his leadership qualities and his understanding of the game.Despite the challenges, Gambhir is confident in his ability to lead Team India to success. He believes in the team's talent and is eager to create a winning environment.

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir and selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar held a press conference ahead of the team's departure to Sri Lanka for a white-ball series. Here are the key takeaways:Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's ODI Future:Gambhir did not rule out the possibility of selecting Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the 2027 ODI World Cup, but emphasized the importance of fitness. He stated that both players could be part of the side if they maintain their fitness levels.Suryakumar Yadav's T20I Captaincy and ODI Future:Agarkar confirmed that Hardik Pandya's fitness issues led to Suryakumar Yadav being appointed as T20I captain. However, Yadav is not currently in the ODI squad due to competition from Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer.Ravindra Jadeja's Absence From Sri Lanka ODIs:Agarkar clarified that Jadeja was not dropped from the team but rested due to the upcoming Test schedule.Shubman Gill As Vice-Captain:Gill has been elevated as vice-captain in ODIs and T20Is, reflecting the BCCI's long-term plans for him as a player in all three formats.Hardik Pandya's Fitness:Agarkar admitted that Pandya's fitness is a concern for the selectors. With Pandya no longer captain, the team management hopes to manage his workload and skillset better.Mohammed Shami's Return:Agarkar revealed that Shami has resumed bowling in the nets and could be available for the Bangladesh Test series.Relationship With Virat Kohli:Gambhir dismissed rumors of a rift with Kohli, stating that they are both committed to representing India. He declined to comment on their personal relationship.

India's newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir has addressed the much-discussed relationship between himself and batting mainstay Virat Kohli, stating that it is a private matter. Gambhir and Kohli have had a history of confrontations in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but they will now be working together for the upcoming T20 and ODI tour of Sri Lanka."My relationship with Virat Kohli is between the two of us and not for TRPs," Gambhir said. He added that they have had "lots of discussions" and that "everyone has the right fight for their jersey."With the departure of Rohit Sharma and Kohli from the T20 International scene, workload management of players like Jasprit Bumrah becomes crucial. Gambhir emphasized the importance of managing Bumrah's workload, especially since Sharma and Kohli will now only play two formats."Workload for someone like Jasprit Bumrah is important," Gambhir said. "Now that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play only two formats, I expect them to be available for most games."Gambhir also discussed the team's preparations for the Sri Lanka tour, highlighting the need for adaptability and flexibility. He believes that the team has the potential to perform well, but they must be prepared for the challenges ahead."We have a good team, but we need to be adaptable and flexible," Gambhir said. "We need to be able to play in different conditions and against different teams. We have the potential to do well, but we need to be prepared for the challenges ahead."

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer, will make his debut as India's head coach with a limited overs series in Sri Lanka. The tour will commence with three T20I matches scheduled for July 27, 28, and 30 in Pallekele. The three-match T20I series will be followed by three ODI matches on August 2, 4, and 7 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.Gambhir, who was appointed as India's head coach in June 2023, will be tasked with guiding the team to success in the upcoming series. India will be looking to build on their recent success in white-ball cricket, having won the 2023 Cricket World Cup and the 2023 Asia Cup.Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing performance in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, where they failed to qualify for the knockout stages. The hosts will be led by Dasun Shanaka, who will be looking to make a statement against a strong Indian team.The series is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams boasting a number of talented players. India will be relying on the experience of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul, while Sri Lanka will be looking to their young stars, such as Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga, to make an impact.The series will also be an opportunity for Gambhir to assess his team's strengths and weaknesses ahead of the 2023 T20 World Cup, which will be held in Australia later this year. India will be hoping to perform well in the series and build momentum ahead of the global tournament.

Major League Cricket: MI New York Triumphs in Toss, Elects to Field Against Los Angeles Knight RidersIn a highly anticipated Major League Cricket match at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, MI New York emerged victorious in the toss and opted to field against the Los Angeles Knight Riders.The match commenced with Rushil Ugarkar of MI New York bowling to Jason Roy of the Knight Riders. Roy managed to score a leg bye in the first over, followed by a flurry of singles in the subsequent overs. However, it was Trent Boult of MI New York who made the first significant impact, bowling a six to Roy in the second over.The Knight Riders continued to accumulate runs steadily, with Sunil Narine hitting a four off Boult in the fourth over. However, MI New York's bowlers maintained a tight grip on the game, restricting the Knight Riders to 14 runs in the first six overs.The Knight Riders' innings was characterized by a mix of aggressive batting and cautious play. Roy, in particular, displayed his power-hitting abilities, while Narine played a more anchoring role.Meanwhile, MI New York's bowling attack proved to be a formidable force. Boult, in particular, was in excellent form, bowling with pace and accuracy. Ugarkar also impressed with his economical bowling, conceding just 10 runs in his first three overs.As the match progressed, the Knight Riders looked to up the ante, with David Miller and Andre Russell coming to the crease. However, MI New York's bowlers continued to hold their own, preventing the Knight Riders from breaking free.With the Knight Riders' innings drawing to a close, the match remained evenly poised. MI New York will now look to capitalize on their advantage in the field and chase down the target set by the Knight Riders.