Cricket

Axar Patel's exceptional performance in the recently concluded T20 World Cup has solidified his status as a valuable asset to the Indian cricket team. His all-round abilities, particularly his wicket-taking prowess and crucial batting contributions, played a pivotal role in India's triumph.Axar's bowling skills were on full display throughout the tournament. He proved to be a reliable option in both the Powerplay and death overs, providing crucial breakthroughs and containing the opposition's scoring rate. His ability to bowl economical spells and pick up wickets at key moments was instrumental in India's success.However, it was Axar's batting that truly set him apart. In the final against South Africa, he played a vital knock of 47, helping India post a competitive total. His innings came at a crucial juncture, providing the team with much-needed momentum.Despite his impressive performance, Axar faced a setback in the final when Heinrich Klaasen launched a brutal assault on his bowling. The left-arm spinner conceded 49 runs in his allocated four overs, allowing South Africa to gain the upper hand.However, Axar's confidence remained unshaken thanks to the support of captain Rohit Sharma. In an exclusive interview with Cricbuzz, Axar revealed how Rohit's encouragement helped him overcome the setback. "Rohit approached me and reassured me, saying, 'It's alright. You bowled your best. If he hits a good shot, there's not much you can do. Just focus on the next ball.' His support and encouragement boosted my confidence," Axar said.Axar also praised Rohit's astute leadership during the tournament. He noted how Rohit effectively managed the team, extracting the best performances from each individual player. "Rohit Sharma is a brilliant captain. He understands each player's strengths and utilizes them according to the game's demands," Axar said.Axar's all-round contributions and the support of Rohit Sharma were key factors in India's T20 World Cup victory. His performance has cemented his place as a vital member of the team and a player to watch in the future.

Deepti Sharma, the Indian all-rounder, will return to the Hundred this year, signing for London Spirit as a replacement for the injured Grace Harris. Sharma previously played for Spirit in the inaugural season of the competition in 2021 and was an unused member of Birmingham Phoenix's squad the following summer.The Hundred, a 100-ball cricket tournament, commences on July 23. Spirit's opening fixture is scheduled for the following day against Southern Brave. However, Sharma will miss the start of the competition due to her participation in the Asia Cup in Dambulla. Erin Burns, who is currently playing for Northern Diamonds in England, will replace Sharma for the first two games.Sharma is one of three Indian players set to participate in the Hundred this season, alongside Richa Ghosh (Birmingham Phoenix) and Smriti Mandhana (Southern Brave). Like Sharma, both players are part of India's Asia Cup squad and will miss the first week of the competition.The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the latest tranche of replacement players on Thursday afternoon. Sophie Molineux (Manchester Originals) also withdrew from the Hundred, with no reason provided. Australia has a busy schedule ahead, including a short series against New Zealand and the T20 World Cup in September.Molineux has been replaced by Kim Garth, while Bethan Ellis will join her at the Originals after Mahika Gaur pulled out due to a side strain. Tash Farrant has been ruled out with a hamstring injury but is yet to be replaced at Oval Invincibles. Beth Langston will replace Claire Nicholas at Welsh Fire.As reported by ESPNcricinfo, England's Test batters will be released to play in the men's Hundred immediately after their third Test against West Indies at Edgbaston. However, their bowlers and all-rounders, including Ben Stokes, are likely to play only the second half of the group stages due to workload management.Other notable replacement deals include Leicestershire's Louis Kimber, who takes up the injured Will Smeed's spot at Phoenix, and Mohammad Amir, who has signed for the defending champions Oval Invincibles as short-term cover while Spencer Johnson concludes his commitments at Major League Cricket.

Virat Kohli, the legendary Indian cricketer, has been spotted in London with his family, enjoying a break from the hectic cricket schedule. The family outing, which included his wife Anushka Sharma, daughter Vamika, and son Akaay, marked the first public appearance of their seven-month-old son.Kohli's trip to London came after a successful T20 World Cup campaign, where he played a crucial role in India's victory. Despite a packed schedule, including a celebratory parade and a meeting with the Prime Minister, Kohli prioritized spending quality time with his family.The family was captured during a casual outing at a local flower shop. Kohli was seen cradling Akaay, while Anushka and Vamika stood by his side. The couple opted for casual attire, with Anushka in a white top and shorts, and Kohli in a relaxed outfit.Kohli's decision to take a break from cricket highlights his commitment to balancing his professional and personal life. The cricketer has often spoken about the importance of family and the need to create memories with his loved ones.Recent reports suggest that Kohli, along with teammate Rohit Sharma, may return for the upcoming one-day series against Sri Lanka. However, Kohli is expected to participate in the forthcoming home series, featuring Test matches against New Zealand and Bangladesh.Beyond cricket, Kohli and Anushka have also showcased their spiritual side. The couple attended a kirtan event led by Krishna Das at Union Chapel, demonstrating their involvement in spiritual practices.Kohli's family outing in London has garnered significant attention from fans and media alike. The cricketer's dedication to both his sport and his family has earned him widespread admiration. As he prepares for the upcoming cricket season, Kohli's fans will eagerly await his return to the field, while also celebrating his role as a loving husband and father.

Sunil Gavaskar Raises Concerns Over Bowlers' Drink Breaks at Boundary LineLegendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his dissatisfaction with the modern practice of bowlers taking drink breaks at the boundary line after each over. He believes this habit provides an unfair advantage to bowlers compared to batters, who do not get the same opportunity to hydrate themselves during the game.In a column for Sportstar, Gavaskar pointed out that the current practice goes against the established rule of drinks intervals. He argued that if bowlers are allowed to hydrate themselves after every over, there is no need for the designated drinks interval."Why have the drinks interval then if bowlers are going to get themselves hydrated after going flat out for six deliveries?" Gavaskar questioned. "Mind you, the batter doesn't get the chance to have a drink after an over where they may have taken eight runs or so, which are all runs."Gavaskar believes that the ideal interval for drink breaks should be one hour of play. If there is a necessity for additional breaks, the umpire and the opposing team's captain should be consulted for their approval."Cricket is also a game where stamina and endurance matter no matter what the format is," he added. "So frankly, it should go back to the days when drinks were taken only after every hour of play and before that only with the permission of the opposition captain and umpires."Gavaskar also criticized the practice of reserve players stepping onto the field to offer drinks to their teammates. He believes this should be prohibited and that the reserve player should remain outside the boundary line."The third umpire and match referee should also ensure that the reserve player does not step onto the field to offer a drink to his teammate but stays outside the boundary line," he said.Gavaskar's concerns highlight the need for a fair and consistent approach to hydration breaks in cricket. By addressing this issue, the authorities can ensure that both bowlers and batters have equal opportunities to perform at their best.

The second Test match between England and West Indies commenced at Trent Bridge on Thursday, with West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite opting to field after winning the toss. The visitors were forced to make a late change to their playing XI, with spinner Gudakesh Motie ruled out due to illness and replaced by Kevin Sinclair.England's openers, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, faced the first over from Alzarri Joseph. Crawley was dismissed for a duck in the third over, caught at third slip by Alick Athanaze after edging a delivery that shaped away. Ollie Pope joined Duckett at the crease and the pair put on a 23-run partnership before Duckett was caught behind off Jayden Seales for 19.Pope continued to score freely, hitting four boundaries in his innings of 24 before he was dismissed by Joseph. Harry Brook and Joe Root then steadied the England innings, adding 45 runs for the fourth wicket. Brook was eventually dismissed for 25, caught at gully off Seales, while Root was out for 26, caught at short leg off Sinclair.Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith put on a brief partnership before Stokes was dismissed for 18, caught at mid-wicket off Sinclair. Smith and Chris Woakes then added 30 runs for the seventh wicket before Smith was dismissed for 20, caught at slip off Seales.Woakes and Gus Atkinson put on a further 25 runs before Woakes was dismissed for 24, caught at mid-wicket off Sinclair. Atkinson and Mark Wood then added 15 runs for the ninth wicket before Atkinson was dismissed for 12, caught at slip off Seales.Wood and Shoaib Bashir added a further 10 runs before Wood was dismissed for 15, caught at mid-wicket off Sinclair. Bashir remained unbeaten on 10 as England were bowled out for 219 in 64.3 overs.Seales was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, taking 4-55, while Sinclair claimed 3-33. Joseph and Shamar Joseph also took two wickets each.

The Indian cricket team is on the lookout for a new T20I captain following Rohit Sharma's retirement from the format. Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav have emerged as the frontrunners for the role, with the latter gaining momentum in recent days.Hardik, the current vice-captain, was initially seen as the favorite to succeed Rohit. However, concerns over his injury record have raised questions about his suitability for the captaincy. Suryakumar, on the other hand, has impressed with his consistent performances and leadership qualities.According to media reports, Suryakumar is likely to be named captain for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka. The team management is reportedly concerned about Hardik's injury history and believes Suryakumar would be a more reliable option.Head coach Gautam Gambhir has reportedly expressed his preference for a captain who is not injury-prone and whose workload can be managed effectively. Gambhir's comments have further strengthened Suryakumar's case for the captaincy.Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav has climbed to the second spot in the ICC T20I batting rankings, while Yashasvi Jaiswal has moved up to sixth. Ruturaj Gaikwad has dropped to eighth, while Shubman Gill has made a significant jump to 37th.No Indian features in the top 10 of the T20I bowlers rankings. Axar Patel has dropped to 13th spot after being rested for the Zimbabwe series.The Indian cricket team is expected to announce its squad for the Sri Lanka series on Thursday. The captaincy decision will be closely watched, with Suryakumar Yadav emerging as a strong contender to lead the team.

Carmi le Roux Suffers Head Injury in Major League Cricket MatchCarmi le Roux, a bowler for the San Francisco Unicorns, sustained a severe head injury during a Major League Cricket (MLC) match against the Seattle Orcas on Wednesday. The incident occurred at Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina, during the third over of the second innings.Le Roux was bowling to Orcas batsman Ryan Rickleton when he delivered a full ball just outside the off-stump. Rickleton struck the ball powerfully straight back towards the bowler, who did not have time to react. The ball hit Le Roux in the head, causing him to bleed profusely.The on-field umpire immediately called for medical assistance, and Le Roux was taken off the field. Corey Anderson completed the over in his place.The extent of Le Roux's injury is still unknown, as no official statement has been released by the Unicorns franchise. However, the incident highlights the dangers of cricket, a sport where bowlers often face high-speed deliveries from batsmen.Head injuries are a serious concern in cricket, and players must take all necessary precautions to protect themselves. This includes wearing helmets and using proper bowling techniques.The MLC is a new professional cricket league in the United States, and it is hoped that the league will help to raise the profile of the sport in the country. However, the incident involving Le Roux serves as a reminder that cricket can be a dangerous game.

The upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) meetings in Colombo from July 19-22 are expected to witness a potential clash between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the Champions Trophy.India is likely to express its inability to tour Pakistan for the tournament, citing a lack of government clearance. This could lead to a heated discussion during the "any other business" category of the meetings. The Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held from February 19 to March 9, with India's matches planned for Lahore.If India refuses to travel to Pakistan, the ICC may consider a hybrid model for the tournament, with India playing their matches in the United Arab Emirates or Sri Lanka. However, the PCB is likely to strongly oppose such a move.Meanwhile, the suspense over India's next T20 captain continues. In an online meeting on Tuesday, new head coach Gautam Gambhir and the selectors discussed the possibility of appointing Suryakumar Yadav, the world's second-ranked T20 batsman, as the regular captain. However, no final decision has been made.The BCCI secretary, Jay Shah, is expected to attend the India vs Pakistan Women's Asia Cup match in Dambulla on Friday.

On July 13, 2002, Sourav Ganguly's young Indian team etched their names in cricket history by chasing down a daunting target of 326 against England in the NatWest Trophy final at Lord's. The victory was a testament to the team's resilience and the leadership of Ganguly, who learned a valuable lesson about man management from his opening partner, Virender Sehwag.As India chased the mammoth total, Sehwag and Ganguly put on a blistering opening stand of 106 in just 14.3 overs. Sehwag smashed a 49-ball 45, while Ganguly contributed a 43-ball 60. However, Ganguly was furious at lunch when England reached 325, a daunting target in those days.As they walked down the long room at Lord's, Ganguly confronted Sehwag, who was whistling behind him. Ganguly berated Sehwag for taking the chase lightly, but Sehwag calmly replied, "Skip, we're going to win this."Ganguly was skeptical, but Sehwag's confidence proved infectious. After a solid start, Ganguly advised Sehwag to play conservatively against the weaker bowler, Ronnie Irani. However, Sehwag had other plans. He smashed five boundaries in the next six balls, turning the game on its head.Ganguly was furious, but he realized that Sehwag's aggressive approach was the key to victory. He held back his criticism and allowed Sehwag to play his natural game. Sehwag went on to play a blinder, and India eventually won the match by two wickets with three balls to spare.After the game, Ganguly reflected on the lesson he had learned from Sehwag. He realized that as a leader, it was important to understand that different individuals have different ways of winning. Sehwag's unconventional approach had turned the game around, and Ganguly had to adjust his leadership style to accommodate his players' strengths.This experience taught Ganguly the importance of man management and the need to empower his players to make their own decisions. It also helped him become a more successful captain, leading India to numerous victories in the years to come.