Cricket

India's T20 World Cup squad announcement is eagerly anticipated, with former Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake expressing his admiration for the depth of talent in Indian cricket. The tournament, co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies from June 2 to 29, will see India begin their campaign on June 5 in the United States.Blake, a known cricket enthusiast, believes that India's talent pool is so vast that the BCCI could potentially send three teams to the World Cup. "Currently, it is incredibly challenging to select the Indian T20 World Cup team due to the immense talent pool available," Blake wrote on Twitter.India's Group A opponents include Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and the United States. They will kick off their campaign against Ireland in New York on June 5, followed by a highly anticipated clash with Pakistan at the same venue on June 9. India will then face the co-hosts US on June 12 in New York before concluding their group stage against Canada in Lauderhill, Florida.The BCCI is expected to announce the Indian squad before the end of this month, and the selection process is likely to be a challenging one given the abundance of talent available. India will be aiming to add to their two T20 World Cup titles, won in 2007 and 2014.

West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara has lauded the maturity and composure displayed by young Indian batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal in his recent century for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Jaiswal, who had been struggling for form in the tournament, broke his drought with a magnificent 104 off just 60 balls against Mumbai Indians. His innings was characterized by a combination of power and finesse, with nine fours and seven sixes.Lara, who was commentating on the match, was impressed by Jaiswal's ability to balance aggression with patience. "He's taking his time, looking at the ball right from up at the back, and he's playing cricketing shots," Lara said. "He's got all the stuff, he doesn't have to worry about it."Jaiswal's knock was crucial in Rajasthan's nine-wicket victory, which consolidated their position at the top of the IPL standings. Lara believes that the youngster has shown great potential and maturity in his performance."He's shown a lot of responsibility, a lot of maturity, and I'm very happy to have him back," Lara said.Another standout performer for Rajasthan was medium pacer Sandeep Sharma, who took 5 for 18, the best bowling performance of the IPL season so far. Lara praised Sharma's professionalism and consistency."He's not express-paced, he's not one of the boys that everyone talks about, but he gets the job done every time he goes out in the middle," Lara said.Rajasthan's captain, Sanju Samson, also received praise from former Australia skipper Aaron Finch for his leadership skills. "He's leading the side unbelievably well," Finch said. "You can see how calm RR are when they're under pressure."With their victory over Mumbai, Rajasthan Royals have taken a significant step towards securing a playoff berth in the IPL. The team's strong performance is a testament to the talent and leadership within the squad.

Rajasthan Royals' medium pacer Sandeep Sharma has emphasized the importance of composure and execution when bowling at the death in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. After recording the best bowling performance of the season with a remarkable 5 for 18 against Mumbai Indians, Sharma shared his insights on the challenges of bowling in the final overs."In this year's IPL, batters are going big, and with the impact player rule, there's an extra batter, so the games are high-scoring. You have to have a big heart while bowling at the death and try to execute your plans and bowl good balls," Sharma said after RR's nine-wicket win over MI.Sharma, who initially started as a new-ball exponent in the IPL, has been entrusted with the responsibility of bowling the death overs by the Royals in the three games he has played this season. "Even today, you ask me where I feel comfortable, I'll say it's with the new ball. With the old ball, you have to adapt and evolve as a bowler," he said.Sharma returned to the RR playing XI after recovering from a side strain that kept him out for close to a month. "I was working hard towards my fitness for the last three weeks. I had two practice sessions before the game, my main focus was to execute the variations that I did tonight."Against MI, Sharma's scalps included the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, the big-hitting Tim David, Ishan Kishan, and Gerald Coetzee. He took three wickets in the final over, restricting MI to 179 despite a 99-run stand between Varma and Nehal Wadhera."If you're bowling at the death, it can go both ways. Sometimes, you go for runs, and when you're lucky enough, you end up getting a wicket. When we started, the wicket was low and slow. My plan was to keep bowling those cutters, and it came off nicely tonight," he said.Despite the loss to RR, Mumbai Indians remain optimistic about their chances of qualifying for the playoffs. Young batter Nehal Wadhera expressed confidence in the team's ability to turn things around."MI need to win all their games from here, and we need to tighten our socks. We need to raise our game and figure out where we have been going wrong or where we have been going right so that we can rectify our mistakes whenever we return," Wadhera said after the match.The 23-year-old, who smashed a splendid 24-ball 49, pointed out that MI are not new to being involved in a mid-table muddle, having risen from the proverbial ashes time and again."We have been in such a situation in earlier seasons as well, and we have, you know, upped our game from there and qualified. So, we are optimistic even right now. We will continue the process we are following and win the games for the team. We win as a team, and we lose as a team,” Wadhera added.

West Indies' Hayley Matthews continued her remarkable form with a stunning 141-run knock to lead her team to a comprehensive 88-run victory over Pakistan in the third and final ODI in Karachi. The victory sealed a clean sweep for the Caribbean side, who had also won the first two matches of the series.Matthews, who had scored an unbeaten 140 in the series opener, once again dominated the Pakistan bowling attack. She struck 19 boundaries in her 130-ball innings, anchoring the West Indies innings and setting the platform for a formidable total.Pakistan's bowlers struggled to contain Matthews and her teammates on a slow and sluggish pitch. First-change spinner Nashra Sandhu was the pick of the attack with 3 for 54, but her efforts were not enough to prevent the West Indies from posting a challenging 278 for 6.In response, Pakistan's batting lineup failed to rise to the occasion. Muneeba Ali top-scored with a modest 38, but the rest of the team struggled to make significant contributions. West Indies bowlers Shamilia Connell, Chinelle Henry, and Karishma Ramharack shared the wickets, while Matthews chipped in with two crucial scalps.Matthews' all-round performance was a testament to her exceptional talent. She not only led the batting charge but also contributed with the ball, proving her worth as a genuine match-winner.The victory was a fitting end to a successful series for the West Indies, who will now turn their attention to the upcoming five-match T20I series against Pakistan. All five matches will be played in Karachi, giving the West Indies an opportunity to continue their winning ways.

Major sports have traditionally operated on two parallel tracks: nation-based competitions like the Olympics and World Cups, and club or non-nation events. However, the latter is gaining popularity. Formula One, the fourth most-watched sport globally, has been a pioneer in this regard, with competition centered around teams and mixed teams rather than countries since its inception in 1950.This trend towards mixed teams is evident in other sports as well. Cricket, for instance, has attempted to bridge the gap between nation-based and mixed team competitions with series like the 'Rest of the World' versus England or Australia. In 1966, England won both the football World Cup and a cricket 'world cup' featuring the West Indies, England, and a World XI chosen by readers of the Radio Times.The World XI concept continued in the 1970s, with a team assembled to play a five-match series against South Africa after their tour was canceled due to protests against apartheid. Led by Garry Sobers, the World XI won 4-1, with Sobers scoring the most runs and taking the most wickets.Despite the success of these mixed team events, some players expressed reservations. Mushtaq Mohammed noted the lack of a "feather in the cap" feeling when playing for the World XI compared to representing his country. John Benaud echoed this sentiment, stating that playing for the Rest of the World lacked the same emotional impact as playing for a nation.Kerry Packer's World Series cricket also featured a Rest of the World team, and the ICC organized a 'Super Test' between Australia and the Rest of the World in Sydney, which Australia won comfortably. However, the concept failed to gain traction, with crowds staying away.Despite these setbacks, the idea of mixed team competitions continues to be explored. Andrew Flintoff, however, expressed strong opposition to such events, stating that he found them unappealing.Nevertheless, the trend towards mixed teams in major sports is likely to continue as they offer a different perspective on competition and potentially reduce the emphasis on national pride.

MS Dhoni's enduring popularity in the cricketing world was once again evident during the Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) match against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The mere sight of the former CSK skipper in the dressing room during the 17th over of the innings sent waves of excitement and cheers through the crowd at Chepauk.The camera diligently captured every corner of the ground, ensuring not to miss a single moment featuring Dhoni. As the camera lingered on his extended appearance on the big screen, Dhoni couldn't help but notice, prompting the crowd to erupt into prolonged cheers. However, Dhoni humorously expressed his frustration at the extended screen time by pretending to throw a water bottle at the camera.The incident quickly caught the attention of social media users, leading to the viral spread of the video clip across various platforms. It served as a testament to Dhoni's enduring popularity and the immense joy that even the slightest glimpse of him brings to his fans.Meanwhile, on the field, Marcus Stoinis smashed an outstanding century to trump Ruturaj Gaikwad's effort as LSG beat CSK by six wickets. Stoinis remained unbeaten on 124 off 63 balls with 13 fours and six sixes, guiding LSG to a record run chase at the Chepauk in 19.3 overs. This was also the highest individual score in IPL in a run-chase.Earlier, skipper Gaikwad led from the front with a superb 60-ball unbeaten 108 as CSK posted a challenging 210 for 4. Gaikwad's knock, his second IPL hundred, was studded with 12 fours and three sixes. Shivam Dube muscled his way to a 27-ball-66, hitting seven sixes.Despite CSK's strong batting performance, LSG's bowlers managed to restrict them to a manageable total. Avesh Khan was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 for 33 in his four overs.In the chase, LSG got off to a flying start thanks to a 61-run opening partnership between KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock. Rahul was dismissed for 30, but de Kock continued to anchor the innings, scoring a valuable 45.Stoinis then took center stage, unleashing a barrage of boundaries to propel LSG towards victory. He was ably supported by Deepak Hooda, who scored a quickfire 34 off 20 balls.With this victory, LSG moved to the top of the IPL 2024 standings, while CSK slipped to the bottom.

Marcus Stoinis' blistering unbeaten century propelled Lucknow Super Giants to a stunning six-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings in their IPL encounter on Tuesday. The Australian all-rounder's 124-run knock, studded with 13 fours and six sixes, helped LSG chase down a daunting target of 211 at the Chepauk.Stoinis' innings was a stark contrast to the elegant century scored by CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad. The Indian batter's 108-run knock, featuring 12 fours and three sixes, laid the foundation for CSK's competitive total. Shivam Dube's 66-run cameo further boosted the Super Kings' innings.Stoinis' power-hitting was on full display as he effortlessly dispatched the CSK bowlers to all parts of the ground. His six off Mustafizur Rahman, a straight drive over the bowler's head, was a testament to his brute force.At the other end, Nicholas Pooran provided valuable support with a 34-ball 51. The West Indian batter's quickfire innings, including two sixes and a four off Shardul Thakur in the 16th over, kept LSG in the hunt.Pooran's dismissal left Stoinis with the responsibility of guiding LSG home. The Australian responded with a flurry of boundaries in the 19th over, reducing the equation to 17 runs off the final over.Stoinis then smashed Mustafizur Rahman for three fours and a six in the last over, sealing the victory with three balls to spare.Earlier, Gaikwad and Dube had provided the impetus to CSK's innings after a slow start. Gaikwad's classic strokeplay, characterized by precise timing and gap placement, was a delight to watch. He reached his fifty off just 28 balls and went on to score his second IPL century.Dube's power-hitting added further momentum to the CSK innings. The left-hander smashed three consecutive sixes off Yash Thakur, helping CSK post a challenging total.

Mumbai Indians' (MI) dismal performance in the ongoing IPL 2024 season has reignited concerns over Hardik Pandya's effectiveness as both a player and captain. In their recent nine-wicket defeat to Rajasthan Royals, Pandya's underwhelming performance on the field has drawn criticism from fans and experts alike.Batting at an unfamiliar position of No. 7, Pandya managed a meager 10 runs. His bowling was equally unimpressive, conceding 37 runs in four wicketless overs. The decision to elevate Pandya as MI skipper over Rohit Sharma has also come under scrutiny, with many questioning his leadership abilities.Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has expressed his concerns about Pandya's form and decision-making. He believes that Pandya's tendency to seek easy solutions to regain his form could prove detrimental to his team."Mumbai Indians is still a strong team on paper, but they're being managed poorly," Pathan said. "If Hardik Pandya lacks form as a leader, he'll become a weak link. He's affecting his own hitting abilities and looking for easy ways to come back to form. That's how he'll lose the respect of his team."Pathan criticized Pandya's decision to bat at No. 7 despite his experience at No. 4 for Gujarat Titans. He also questioned Pandya's choice to bowl the opening over instead of relying on seasoned bowler Jasprit Bumrah."He doesn't come at a position where he needs to do the tough job," Pathan said. "If he wants to earn his teammates' respect, he's got to do the tough tasks. He bowls the first over thinking he'll escape, but he gets struck for fours and helps Buttler get in form."With MI languishing in seventh place in the points table, the pressure on Pandya is mounting. His ability to turn around the team's fortunes and prove his worth as a leader will be crucial in determining MI's success in the remaining matches of the season.

Deepu Ojha, a class 8 dropout from Bihar's Arrah district, has become an overnight millionaire after winning a staggering Rs 1.5 crore in an IPL fantasy gaming contest. The 25-year-old, who works as a car mechanic in a garage, struck gold by picking Andre Russell as his captain in the KKR vs RCB match on Sunday.Ojha, who confessed to having no knowledge about cricket, stumbled upon the winning combination by sheer luck. "I had no work and made the team. I saw it was a match between KKR and RCB. I had little knowledge about the players," he told PTI.Despite his lack of cricket expertise, Ojha's team performed exceptionally well, with Russell scoring a match-winning 70 runs off just 31 balls. The victory earned Ojha the top prize of Rs 1.5 crore, a life-changing amount for the young man.Ojha is yet to decide how he will use the windfall, but he is considering investing in his future and helping his family. "I am very happy. I never thought I would win such a big amount," he said.The KKR vs RCB match was a thrilling encounter, with KKR emerging victorious by a narrow margin of 1 run. However, the major talking point from the match was the controversial no-ball decision that led to the dismissal of Virat Kohli.The new Hawk-Eye technology to determine no-balls for height was used when TV umpire Michael Gough deemed a waist-high delivery from KKR's Harshit Rana fair. Kohli, who was in fine form, was caught off the very next ball, a pivotal moment in RCB's narrow loss.The no-ball decision sparked a debate about the use of technology in cricket. Some experts argued that the decision was correct, while others felt that it was a harsh call.Despite the controversy, the use of technology in cricket is generally seen as a positive development. It helps to ensure that decisions are made more accurately and consistently, which ultimately benefits the game.