Cricket

As the sun dipped below the horizon in Barbados, the Indian cricket team emerged from their dressing room, their hearts filled with a mix of triumph and relief. They had just etched their names into history by winning the T20 World Cup, a trophy that had eluded them for so long.The victory was a culmination of years of planning and hard work. After the disappointment of losing the 2023 ODI World Cup final, the team management decided to make some bold changes. They promoted Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to open the batting, added four all-rounders to the squad, and included three left-arm spinners.These unconventional tactics proved to be a masterstroke. Kohli and Sharma provided a solid foundation at the top of the order, while the all-rounders gave the team flexibility and depth. The left-arm spinners, led by Axar Patel, proved to be a potent force, especially in the middle overs.The team's success was also due in no small part to the leadership of Rahul Dravid. The former India captain had never won a World Cup as a player, and he was determined to make amends as a coach. He instilled a sense of belief and unity in the team, and his tactical acumen proved to be invaluable.For some players, the victory was particularly meaningful. Dravid had finally won a World Cup, while Hardik Pandya had overcome personal and professional adversity to play a starring role. And for Kohli, it was a fitting end to his T20 international career.As the team celebrated their victory, they savored the moment, knowing that they had achieved something truly special. They had not only won a World Cup but had also redeemed themselves after the disappointment of the past.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is poised to appoint a new head coach for the Indian cricket team ahead of the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka later this month. Former opener Gautam Gambhir is widely tipped to replace Rahul Dravid, who stepped down after India's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup.BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed the news, revealing that the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) had interviewed and shortlisted two candidates. "Both coach and selector appointments will be made shortly," Shah said. "CAC has interviewed and shortlisted two names and after reaching Mumbai whatever they have decided we will go by that."The CAC shortlisted Gambhir and former India women's coach WV Raman for the high-profile position. The Indian cricket team will tour Sri Lanka for three T20Is and three ODIs, beginning on July 27.Shah praised key players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for their contributions to India's recent T20 World Cup victory. Both players played essential roles in the final against South Africa, leading India to a seven-run victory. Sharma and Kohli have since announced their retirement from T20 international cricket, with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja following suit a day later."It was the same captain last year and here in Barbados," Shah commented. "We won all games except the final in 2023 as Australia played better. This time we worked even harder and played better to win the title. If you look at other teams, experience counts. From Rohit to Virat, all excelled. Experience makes a lot of difference, in World Cups you can't experiment much also. A good player knows when to say goodbye to the game, we saw that yesterday. You look at Rohit's strike rate, it is better than a lot of young players."Shah noted that leadership decisions would be confirmed after discussions with the selectors. "Captaincy will be decided by the selectors and we will announce it after discussing with them. You asked about Hardik, there were a lot of questions over his form but we and selectors showed faith in him and he proved himself."Shah addressed the transition in the team following the retirement of such significant players. "Transition has already happened with three greats retiring," he added.India, which has faced a series of disappointments in big finals over the past decade, broke their title drought with the recent T20 World Cup victory. Jay Shah expressed optimism about maintaining this winning momentum."I would want India to win all the titles," Shah expressed. "We have the biggest bench strength, only three players from this team are going to Zimbabwe. We can field three teams if the need arises. The way this team is progressing, our target is to win the World Test Championship final and Champions Trophy. There will be a similar squad playing there. The seniors will be there."While plans for a felicitation ceremony for the victorious squad are underway, they have been delayed due to a hurricane warning that has shut down the airport in Barbados."Like you, we are also stuck here," Shah said. "Once the travel plans are clear, we will think about the felicitation."Shah also confirmed that an India A team would tour Australia later this year, in preparation for the five-Test series Down Under.

Lancashire's Keaton Jennings produced a masterful century to guide his team to a commanding position on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship clash against Nottinghamshire at Southport.Jennings, the Red Rose captain, anchored the Lancashire innings with an unbeaten 183 off 258 deliveries, laced with 26 fours and four sixes. His innings proved crucial as the visitors threatened to seize control after lunch.Despite the absence of James Anderson, who was rested, Lancashire's bowling attack, led by Dillon Pennington, kept Nottinghamshire in check. Pennington, who was recently selected for England's squad to face West Indies, claimed 2 for 70 from 23 overs.Dane Paterson broke the opening partnership, dismissing Luke Wells for 7. However, Jennings and Bohannon steadied the ship, guiding Lancashire to 59 for 1 at lunch.After the break, Nottinghamshire fought back with three quick wickets. Joe Clarke dropped Bohannon but made amends by catching him off Olly Stone's next delivery. Pennington then removed George Bell and Matty Hurst to leave Lancashire reeling at 120 for 4.Jennings remained unyielding, counterattacking with calculated aggression and solid defense. He reached his century off 179 balls and found support from George Balderson, who contributed 41. Their 88-run partnership swung the momentum back in Lancashire's favor.In the extended final session, Chris Green and Tom Bailey fell to Lyndon James, while Will Williams was dismissed by Pennington. However, Jennings continued to dominate, punishing a tiring Nottinghamshire attack. He reached 150 off 47 balls, hitting sixes off Stone and Paterson.Nottinghamshire's cause was further hindered by three dropped catches off Jennings. Lancashire ended the day on a strong 344 for 8, with Jennings poised to add to his tally on Monday.

India's resounding victory in the one-off Test against South Africa was largely attributed to Sneh Rana's remarkable eight-wicket haul. India coach Amol Muzumdar praised Rana's performance, highlighting her sense of belonging within the team.Muzumdar emphasized that Rana's participation in the inter-zonal matches and the bowlers' camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) prior to the Test demonstrated her commitment and dedication. He stated, "The message is very clear to her that she is an integral part of this team, and she delivered at the right time in the morning. To pick up eight wickets, it's a sensational performance."Despite following on, the Proteas batters displayed impressive spin-handling skills, similar to their performance on day two. South Africa batting coach Baakier Abrahams attributed this improvement to a shift in mindset and a focus on developing the necessary skillset.Abrahams explained, "The first thing was really just around the mindset. Watched a lot of videos around people that have been successful in India and what tools they use. So, it was more about trying to transfer that information over to them."He also highlighted the importance of individual preferences and playing to strengths. "And then, it was really around the skillset required to be successful based on the successes of the previous batters. Then, it was just about them deciding on what their preferred options are and playing towards their strengths."Abrahams specifically praised Sune Luus' impressive batting, particularly against spin. He attributed her improvement to a combination of technical adjustments and a shift in mindset. "I think it's been a bit of a journey with Sune. I did the ODI series as a consultant in Sri Lanka. She didn't have the best series and was really hurt. So, she took a couple of weeks off from the game and just reflected."Abrahams continued, "We spoke a lot about her why. Like, what's the motivation? And she came up with some really strong information around that. And then, it was just ironing out one or two technical things. But the biggest shift has been the mindset."

India's Sneh Rana and South Africa's Sune Luus showcased exceptional performances in the one-off Test match at the MAC Stadium. Rana's devastating bowling in the first innings and Luus' gritty century in the second innings highlighted the third day's play.Rana's off-spin spell proved lethal as she claimed eight wickets for 77 runs, dismantling South Africa's batting lineup. Her superb delivery to dismiss Marizane Kapp and her quick dismissal of Sinalo Jafta completed her five-wicket haul. India's dominance continued as they bowled out the visitors for 253, securing a 337-run lead.However, South Africa showed resilience in the second innings. Despite losing opener Anneke Bosch early, Luus and skipper Laura Wolvaardt forged a formidable partnership. Luus played with determination and technique, countering the Indian spinners' turn and uneven bounce. Her maiden Test century, an innings of 109 runs off 203 balls, gave South Africa hope.The Indian spinners struggled with consistency and missed their lengths, allowing Luus and Wolvaardt to accumulate runs. Deepti Sharma dropped Kapp twice, further aiding South Africa's recovery. At stumps, the Proteas were 232 for two, still needing 105 runs to make India bat again.The match remains evenly poised, with South Africa aiming to salvage a draw and gain confidence ahead of the T20Is. India, on the other hand, will look to capitalize on their first-innings lead and secure a victory.

Surrey's Jamie Smith, poised for his England debut next week, showcased his prowess with a scintillating century on day one of their top-of-the-table clash against Essex at The Oval.Smith, named as the sole wicketkeeper in England's 14-man squad for the first Test against the West Indies, struck his second century of the season, reaching exactly 100 with two sixes and 14 fours. His heroics helped Surrey reach 248 for 8 on a rain-shortened day in south London.Despite Smith's brilliance, Surrey's batters faced a stern test against Essex's probing bowling attack. South African quick Eathan Bosch impressed in only his second appearance for the county, returning figures of 3 for 52.After a brief rain delay, Surrey opted to bat first under overcast skies. Former England opener Dominic Sibley started cautiously, mixing crisp drives with some loose shots outside off stump. He was fortunate to survive a dropped catch on 10, but his luck ran out when he edged one to Dean Elgar at first slip.Dan Lawrence, also included in the England squad, showed glimpses of his talent with a glorious cover drive, but he soon fell victim to Bosch's probing length, edging to Simon Harmer at second slip.Rory Burns, Surrey's skipper, was also dismissed cheaply, nicking one to Michael Pepper behind the stumps. His departure brought Ben Foakes to the crease, who has been overlooked by England in favor of Smith. Foakes was understandably deflated and soon edged through to Pepper, giving Bosch his third wicket.Smith, however, remained unfazed, demonstrating his all-round ability with a flurry of boundaries. He reached his half-century in 70 balls and shared a 70-run stand with Sai Sadharsan.The partnership was broken when Jamie Porter was forced off the field with a dislocated finger. Walter replaced Porter and found the edge of Sudharsan's bat, with Harmer taking a safe catch at slip.Smith continued his march towards a century, clearing the ropes twice before reaching the milestone with a quick single. He was eventually dismissed for 100, castled by Matt Critchley's straight delivery.Jordan Clark and Ryan Patel failed to make significant contributions, leaving Surrey on 248 for 8 at the close of play.

Marchant de Lange's all-round brilliance propelled Gloucestershire to a spirited fightback on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship Second Division clash against Glamorgan at Cheltenham.The South African all-rounder's unbeaten 46 and record-breaking 75-run stand with Ajeet Singh Dale rescued Gloucestershire from a precarious 88 for 8 at lunch to a respectable 179 all out. De Lange then returned with the ball to claim 2 for 21, leaving Glamorgan trailing by 46 runs with three first-innings wickets remaining.Timm van der Gugten was the star performer for Glamorgan, claiming season-best figures of 5 for 59. However, his efforts were matched by Gloucestershire's Beau Webster, who produced a stunning three-wicket burst in 12 balls.Kiran Carlson top-scored for Glamorgan with 37, but the Welsh county still faces an uphill battle to avoid defeat.Gloucestershire's batting woes continued after their heavy defeat to Yorkshire earlier in the week. Cameron Bancroft, Ollie Price, Ben Charlesworth, and Graeme van Buuren all fell cheaply, leaving the home side reeling at 49 for 5.Miles Hammond and Webster provided a brief respite, adding 36 for the sixth wicket. But van der Gugten's return triggered a collapse, removing Hammond and Webster in quick succession.Marnus Labuschagne's introduction with the ball gave Gloucestershire a glimmer of hope, but Matt Taylor's dismissal left them on the brink of disaster.However, de Lange and Singh Dale had other ideas. The last wicket pair unleashed a flurry of boundaries, posting a quickfire 50 in 47 balls to give Glamorgan's bowlers a headache.Singh Dale eventually departed for 32, but de Lange remained unbeaten on 46, his aggressive approach lifting the spirits of the Gloucestershire crowd.Buoyed by their lower order's heroics, Gloucestershire kept plugging away with the ball. Taylor had Eddie Byrom caught at mid-on, Akhter claimed the prized wicket of Labuschagne, and de Lange induced Billy Root to edge behind.Gloucestershire then passed up an opportunity to dismiss Carlson on 11, but Webster made amends by removing Northeast and Cooke in quick succession.De Lange struck a crucial blow shortly before the close, persuading Carlson to hook a delivery straight to Hammond at deep fine leg. Glamorgan still trail by 46 runs, but Gloucestershire will be confident of completing a victory on day two.

Indian Cricket Team's Return Delayed by Hurricane BerylThe Indian cricket team's triumphant return to India has been temporarily halted due to the impact of Hurricane Beryl. The team, led by Rohit Sharma, recently emerged victorious in the T20 World Cup, bringing an end to an 11-year drought for an ICC championship.Hurricane Beryl, which originated in the Atlantic, has intensified into a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds reaching 210 kmph. The hurricane is currently located approximately 570km east-southeast of Barbados and is expected to strengthen further. As a result, the airport in Bridgetown, where the Indian team is currently based, is expected to cease operations in the evening.The Indian team's original travel itinerary involved taking an Emirates flight from New York, with a stopover in Dubai. However, given the current circumstances, a source informed PTI that the revised plan is to arrange a charter flight to bring the team back to India."The team was supposed to leave from here (Bridgetown) to New York and then reach India via Dubai. But now the plan is to get a charter flight straight from here to Delhi. A meeting with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also being considered," a source said.The Indian delegation, comprising players, coaching staff, family members, and officials, totals around 70 individuals. The team's return to India is eagerly anticipated by fans and officials alike, who are keen to celebrate their historic victory.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a generous bonus of INR 125 crore (approximately USD 15 million) for the victorious Indian squad that triumphed in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. The announcement was made by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah in a post on social media, a day after India's thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa in the final in Barbados."I am delighted to announce prize money of INR 125 Crores for Team India for winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024," Shah wrote. "The team has showcased exceptional talent, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the tournament. Congratulations to all the players, coaches, and support staff for this outstanding achievement!"In addition to the BCCI's bonus, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has also awarded a cash prize of USD 2.45 million to the World Cup winners. Each team that won a match in the tournament (excluding the semi-finals and finals) received an additional $31,154. The ICC's cash prize is the highest in the history of the men's T20 World Cup, representing an increase of USD 850,000 from the USD 1.6 million won by England in 2022.Overall, all participating teams received more prize money from this tournament than in previous editions. The total prize money for the tournament has more than doubled from USD 5.6 million in 2022 to USD 11.25 million this year, resulting in increased awards for all 20 teams.South Africa, as runners-up, received USD 1.28 million (up from USD 800,000 in 2022), while the losing semi-finalists, Afghanistan and England, each received USD 787,500 (up from USD 400,000 in 2022).The Indian team's victory in the T20 World Cup is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and exceptional talent. The team's performance throughout the tournament has been a source of pride for the nation and has further cemented India's status as a cricketing powerhouse.