Cricket

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer known for his gritty batting style, has embarked on a new chapter in his career as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. Despite lacking formal coaching experience, Gambhir's appointment is seen as a bold move that could potentially reshape Indian cricket.In his playing days, Gambhir was a fierce competitor who played with a chip on his shoulder. Unlike many left-handers known for their elegance, Gambhir was a no-nonsense batsman focused on getting the job done. His determination and resilience were evident in his performances, particularly in high-pressure situations.As a coach, Gambhir is expected to bring the same intensity and determination to the Indian team. He has already made his mark by appointing Suryakumar Yadav as the captain of the T20I side, a decision that reflects his pragmatic approach.Gambhir's appointment comes at a time when the Indian Test team is facing a transition. Several key players are in their 30s, and the team needs to identify and groom their replacements. Gambhir's experience as a Test cricketer and his ability to nurture young talent will be crucial in this process.One of the biggest challenges facing Gambhir is the impending retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin, India's second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. Ashwin's absence will leave a significant void in the team, and Gambhir will need to find a suitable replacement.Despite the challenges, Gambhir has a long-term vision for Indian cricket. His contract extends beyond the 2027 50-over World Cup, giving him ample time to implement his plans and build a team that can compete at the highest level.Gambhir's appointment is a testament to his reputation as a hard worker and a leader. He has a point to prove, and he is determined to make a lasting impact on Indian cricket.

Viv Richards and Carl Hooper have vehemently denounced Brian Lara's "gross misrepresentations" in his autobiography, "Lara: The England Chronicles." In a joint statement, the former West Indies captains refuted Lara's claim that Richards made Hooper "cry once a week," labeling it "categorically false."Richards and Hooper expressed deep dismay over the allegations, which they believe distort their relationship and damage their reputations. They emphasized that Richards has always been a supportive mentor to Hooper, providing encouragement and unwavering support throughout their nearly 40-year friendship.Lara's assertion that Richards' words in the dressing room could "intimidate" players was also challenged by Hooper. He stated that Richards' tone of voice was never intended to cause distress and that he always had the best interests of the team at heart.The duo condemned Lara's attempt to profit from "such deceit," considering it "inconceivable" given his stature in cricket. They demanded a public retraction of the false claims and a sincere apology for the harm caused.Richards and Hooper's statement highlights the importance of integrity in public discourse and the need to protect personal and professional reputations. They emphasized that the truth must be set right to ensure the well-being of all parties involved.

Legendary England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott has been readmitted to the hospital with pneumonia, just days after undergoing surgery for throat cancer. The 81-year-old was released from the hospital after the surgery, but his condition has since deteriorated.Boycott's family released a statement on social media, saying that he has developed pneumonia and is unable to eat or drink. He is now back in the hospital on oxygen and a feeding tube."Thank you all for the well wishes, we've been blown away by the sheer number of them! Unfortunately things have taken a turn for the worse and my Father has developed pneumonia and is unable to eat or drink so is back in hospital on oxygen and a feeding tube for the foreseeable," the statement read.Boycott is one of England's greatest ever batsmen. He scored 8,114 runs in 108 Tests from 1964 to 1982, and captained England on four occasions. He also scored 48,426 runs in first-class cricket for Yorkshire, the fifth highest of all time.After retiring from playing, Boycott became a successful commentator and writer. He worked for the BBC Test Match Special commentary team for 14 years, and has also written several books on cricket.Boycott's illness has shocked the cricket world. Many of his former teammates and opponents have sent messages of support, wishing him a speedy recovery.

India's squad announcements for the Sri Lanka tour have raised several questions beyond the headlines of Suryakumar Yadav's T20I captaincy and Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's ODI participation.Ravindra Jadeja's Status:Despite his T20I retirement, Jadeja remains India's primary spin-bowling allrounder in ODIs. He has been rested for the Sri Lanka series to give Axar Patel an opportunity and preserve Jadeja for the upcoming Test matches.Mohammed Shami's Return:Shami is recovering from Achilles surgery and is expected to return for the home Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. He could be considered for the 2025 Champions Trophy if he remains fit.Kuldeep Yadav's T20I Break:Kuldeep has been rested from T20Is to give Ravi Bishnoi more experience. He remains India's frontline spinner in that format.Yuzvendra Chahal's Future:Chahal is still considered a backup spinner, but his limited utility as a bowler only may hinder his chances of regular selection.Hardik Pandya's ODI Absence:Pandya has requested a break from ODIs due to concerns over his bowling workload. The selectors are focusing on developing other seam-bowling allrounders in his absence.KL Rahul's All-Format Status:Rahul remains a key player in Tests and ODIs, despite his exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad. He is expected to return as a wicketkeeper in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan's Injuries:Mayank Yadav has suffered a side injury and a separate injury while bowling at the NCA. Mohsin Khan has a lower-back injury. Both players are expected to prove their fitness in domestic cricket before being considered for international selection.Tilak Varma's Absence:Varma has missed out on the T20I squad due to a hand injury. He is expected to return to action once he recovers.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has vehemently condemned Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami's derogatory remarks about Inzamam-ul-Haq's allegations of reverse swing manipulation. Ali, in a YouTube video, expressed his disapproval of Shami's choice of words, labeling them as "indecent" and disrespectful.Ali emphasized the importance of respecting senior players, stating that Shami's comments were unbecoming of a professional cricketer. He urged Shami to exercise caution in his public statements, particularly when addressing respected figures like Inzamam."When Shami talks about Inzi bhai and calls him a cartoon, that's not right. Inzamam has led this country and captained it. Shami, your choice of words isn't good. We praise your bowling, but you should have chosen your words better. You didn't pick your words well, and that hurt me," Ali said.Ali's criticism stems from Shami's previous dismissal of Inzamam's claims that Team India was involved in ball-tampering during the T20 World Cup. Shami had labeled such allegations as "cartoonish" and accused Inzamam of attempting to deceive the public.Ali believes that Shami's response was disrespectful and undermined the dignity of cricketing discourse. He stressed that senior players deserve respect and that Shami's comments were inappropriate."Be a bit more careful, you can't just say anything anywhere. Whatever question is asked, you keep giving 'behuda' (indecent) answers. I'm using the right word, 'behuda (indecent)'. Aapne behuda zabaan use kiya hai (You've used indecent language). Your elders probably never taught you this," Ali said.Ali's comments highlight the importance of maintaining a respectful and professional tone in cricketing discussions. He believes that Shami's remarks were uncalled for and that they have damaged the reputation of the sport.

Captain Wanindu Hasaranga's Kandy Falcons are poised to face Jaffna Kings in the Qualifier 2 of the Lanka Premier League 2024, riding on a wave of confidence and camaraderie. Last year's champions, Kandy Falcons, have once again demonstrated their playoff prowess, winning their opening playoff match against Colombo Strikers in the Eliminator.Hasaranga, the Sri Lankan all-rounder, attributes the team's success to its positive and supportive atmosphere. "We have a great bunch of players," he said. "Our overseas players are very friendly and have been with us for two years, so they have built strong relationships with the staff and local players. Our local players are also experienced and share their knowledge with the younger players."The team's recent success in the playoffs has instilled a belief that they can repeat their triumph from last year. In the Eliminator, Kandy Falcons' bowlers restricted Colombo Strikers to a manageable target of 160, with Hasaranga himself taking two wickets for 21 runs."Credit goes to the bowlers, they took the wickets and restricted them," Hasaranga said.Looking ahead to Qualifier 2, Hasaranga emphasized the importance of consistency. "As players and as a team, we have to be consistent. We need to have consistency to win the tournament. Anyone can win matches, but to win tournaments, you need experience, confidence, and consistency. That is the main thing," he said.Kandy Falcons will face a formidable challenge in Jaffna Kings, who finished second in the league stage. However, with their winning momentum and the support of their loyal fans, Kandy Falcons will be determined to secure a place in the final.

Sanjay Bangar, former India cricketer and batting coach, has expressed his disappointment over the decision to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as India's T20I captain for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, instead of Hardik Pandya. Bangar believes that Pandya, who played a crucial role in India's recent T20 successes, has been unfairly overlooked.Bangar expressed surprise that Pandya was not given the captaincy, considering his strong leadership record. Pandya has led the Indian team to 10 victories in 16 T20Is, while Yadav has captained Team India in seven T20Is, winning five of them."I am a bit surprised as far as Hardik not being the captain of the T20 team is concerned because even before the previous T20 World Cup it seemed like if Rohit hadn't become the captain and Hardik hadn't gotten injured at that time, Hardik only would have become the captain," Bangar said on Star Sports.Bangar acknowledged that Yadav has a lot of experience and has led Mumbai in domestic cricket, but he still feels that Pandya has been treated unfairly. "I fully believe that he [Yadav] will do a good job, but I still feel a little injustice has been meted out to Hardik," Bangar said.While acknowledging that selectors and coach Gautam Gambhir might have explained their reasons to Pandya, Bangar opined that the all-rounder would still feel hurt by the decision. "As a player, you are always understanding what the selectors are trying to do, what the new coach is trying to do but deep within himself, I am pretty sure that Hardik will be deeply hurt that he is not being considered for T20 captaincy," Bangar stated.

India Dominates UAE in Asia Cup, Eyes Semifinal BerthDefending champions India continued their impressive run in the Women's Asia Cup, crushing the United Arab Emirates by 104 runs in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana provided a blistering start, amassing 85 runs in just 9.3 overs. Despite losing three wickets in quick succession, India's batters remained relentless.India's dominance was evident in their ruthless pursuit of Pakistan's modest target in their previous match. The Indian batters chased down the total with 35 balls to spare, showcasing their clinical efficiency.Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, who recently returned to the Indian fold, will be eager to contribute to the wicket-taking tally. India's bowlers, including Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh, and Pooja Vastrakar, impressed against Pakistan with their economical spells.India's focus will be on refining their tactics against the UAE, rather than dwelling on their opponents' weaknesses. A victory over the Emirates will boost India's points tally to four and improve their Net Run Rate, which currently stands at +2.29.India's supremacy was on full display in their seven-wicket triumph over Pakistan. The UAE faces an uphill battle to overcome Harmanpreet Kaur's formidable side. India's dominance in the tournament has positioned them as strong contenders for a semifinal berth.

MS Dhoni's Retirement: A Strategic ApproachMahendra Singh Dhoni, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter, has kept the cricket world guessing about his retirement plans. Despite retiring from international cricket in 2020, he continues to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).According to Dhoni's former India teammate Mohammed Shami, the player has a unique retirement strategy. "He says, 'Let's see,'" Shami revealed in an interview. "He believes that a player should retire when they lose their enjoyment for the game or when they realize they are no longer performing at their best."Dhoni's illustrious career has seen him amass 17,266 runs across all international formats, with 16 centuries and 108 fifties. As a captain, he led India to the number one Test ranking, the ICC T20 World Cup 2007, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, and the ICC Champions Trophy 2013.In the IPL, Dhoni has led the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to five titles. However, in the 2024 edition, the team failed to make the playoffs under the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad. Dhoni, batting down the order, scored 161 runs in 11 innings at an average of 53.66.Shami's insights into Dhoni's retirement strategy provide a glimpse into the mindset of one of the greatest players of all time. Dhoni's approach emphasizes the importance of enjoying the game and performing at a high level. When those factors diminish, it may be time for him to call it a day.