Cricket

Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket team's captain, has been under immense scrutiny following India's humiliating 0-3 Test series loss to New Zealand. The defeat has raised questions about Rohit's leadership and his ability to inspire his team to perform at the highest level.Rohit's struggles with the bat have been particularly concerning. In six innings during the series, he managed only 91 runs, averaging a meager 13.30. This is a far cry from the prolific run-scorer he has been in recent years. Rohit's poor form has put pressure on the rest of the batting lineup, which has also failed to deliver consistently.Compounding Rohit's batting woes, his decision-making as captain has also been criticized. In the first Test in Kanpur, he opted to bat first on a pitch that was clearly more suited to bowling. This decision backfired spectacularly, as India was bowled out for just 124 runs in their first innings.Rohit's decision to field first in the second Test in Mumbai was also questionable. The pitch was expected to deteriorate over the course of the match, and batting first would have given India the advantage of setting a large total. However, New Zealand batted first and scored 325 runs, putting India under pressure from the outset.Rohit's captaincy has also been criticized for its lack of aggression. In the past, India has been known for its attacking style of play, but under Rohit's leadership, the team has appeared more cautious and conservative. This has led to accusations that Rohit is too risk-averse and that he is not inspiring his players to play to their full potential.Rohit's struggles have come at a time when India is facing a crucial period in its Test cricket history. The team is currently ranked fourth in the World Test Championship standings, and it needs to win the remaining four Tests in the series against Australia to qualify for the final.Rohit's form and leadership will be under intense scrutiny in the upcoming Tests. If he can rediscover his batting touch and inspire his team to victory, he will silence his critics and prove that he is still the right man to lead India. However, if he continues to struggle, India's chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final will be in jeopardy.

Australia's triumph over Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) marked a historic milestone, solidifying their position as the most successful team against Pakistan in the ODI format. With a thrilling 2-wicket victory, Australia extended their winning streak to 71 matches against Pakistan, equaling West Indies' record.This victory was particularly significant as Australia achieved it in 28 fewer matches than West Indies. Australia's 71 wins have come in 109 matches, while Pakistan has managed only 34 victories. West Indies, on the other hand, required 137 games to reach the same tally.Australia's dominance in ODI cricket was further highlighted by Mitchell Starc's remarkable achievement. The left-arm speedster became the fastest bowler to reach 100 ODI wickets in Australia, surpassing the legendary Brett Lee. Starc achieved this milestone in just 54 innings, while Lee took 55 innings.Starc's performance in the series opener was a testament to his exceptional skills. He claimed three wickets for 33 runs in his 10-over spell, including the dismissals of openers Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub. His blistering pace and pinpoint accuracy proved too much for the Pakistani batsmen.Australia's victory not only extended their winning streak against Pakistan but also showcased the depth and talent of their squad. The team's ability to overcome adversity and secure a narrow victory is a testament to their resilience and determination.As the series progresses, Australia will look to maintain their dominance and secure a series victory. Pakistan, on the other hand, will be eager to bounce back and prove their mettle against one of the world's top teams.

Cricket has taken a significant step in combating online harassment by conducting a comprehensive social media moderation trial during the Women's T20 World Cup. The trial, powered by GoBubble's AI tool, analyzed over 1.4 million comments across 60 player and eight team accounts, revealing that nearly 20% were harmful or generated by bots.The initiative was driven by the ICC's commitment to creating a safer environment for players, particularly in light of the growing attention on women's cricket. Earlier research by ESPNcricinfo highlighted the prevalence of abuse directed at female players, making the focus on women's accounts crucial.The GoBubble tool employs two strategies: identifying abusive language in multiple languages and personalizing filters for specific players or teams. It also detects bots promoting unrelated content.Sinalo Jafta, the South African wicketkeeper-batter, has been a vocal advocate for the initiative. Prior to the service, she relied on others to remove abusive comments from her social media accounts. She believes the AI tool will empower players to share content more freely.The ICC aims to inspire more women and girls to play cricket. Finn Bradshaw, the ICC's Head of Digital, emphasized that online abuse can deter young players from pursuing the sport. The moderation service aims to alleviate this concern.Currently, the service is available to women's players until 2025, with plans to extend it to male players based on demand. The ICC will evaluate the trial's effectiveness and produce a report.

New Zealand's historic 3-0 Test series sweep over India has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. Former Kiwi batter Ross Taylor expressed his astonishment at the team's remarkable achievement, stating that a clean sweep was beyond their wildest dreams.The visitors dominated the series from start to finish, showcasing their superiority in all departments. Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner wreaked havoc with the ball, while Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, and Devon Conway led the charge with the bat.Taylor hailed the team's performance as a testament to their hard work and determination. "I think the way they played throughout the whole series... I think we hoped more than thought we were going to win," he said. "But a clean sweep - I think it still hasn't quite sunk in among the New Zealand public, probably for the players as well."The series victory has provided a much-needed boost to cricket in New Zealand, a nation where rugby reigns supreme. "Cricket is fighting for an audience," Taylor noted. "After losing in Sri Lanka, the press after that has changed around completely. I don't think we've had scenes like this since winning the (last) World Test Championship."Taylor believes the team's success in India will inspire future generations of Kiwi cricketers. "It just tells you how high the New Zealand cricket public holds the Indian cricket team and what it's like to go and win over there," he said. "After winning the first Test, it gave the team as well as the public some belief, but I don't think even in our wildest dreams we imagined a clean sweep."New Zealand's triumph is a testament to their resilience and adaptability. They overcame challenging conditions, including India's spin-friendly pitches, to secure a historic victory. The series sweep will undoubtedly go down as one of the most memorable moments in New Zealand cricket history.

New Zealand's stunning 3-0 series sweep over India at home has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, leaving Australia wary ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under.Australia's pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood believes the embarrassing loss could serve as a wake-up call for India, who are now facing a confidence crisis. "It might awaken a sleeping giant, so to speak," Hazlewood told Sydney Morning Herald. "We will see that when they come out."The Kiwis' triumph marks India's first-ever 3-0 whitewash at home, exposing glaring weaknesses in their batting lineup. In the Bengaluru Test, India collapsed to a dismal 46 runs in the first innings, followed by another batting failure in the second innings.The second Test saw a similar pattern, with India's batsmen failing to capitalize on a strong bowling performance. Chasing 359 runs for victory, they were dismissed for 245 runs.The final Test in Mumbai was another low-scoring affair, with India set a target of 147 runs. Despite a fighting half-century from Rishabh Pant, the batting lineup crumbled once again, bowled out for 121 runs.Hazlewood acknowledged the Kiwis' exceptional performance, stating, "Credit to the Kiwi boys. They played outstanding cricket. To win 3-0 in India is unbelievable."The India vs Australia series commences on November 22 with the first Test taking place in Perth. Adelaide Oval will host the second Test from December 6th to 10th, featuring the captivating day-night format under lights. Brisbane's Gabba will be the venue for the third Test, scheduled from December 14th to 18th. The traditional Boxing Day Test, slated for December 26th to 30th at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, will mark the penultimate stage of the series. The series will culminate with the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3rd to 7th.India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Series includes Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, and Washington Sundar.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to hold its highly anticipated auction in the vibrant capital city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the last week of November. This mega event will witness the participation of high-profile Indian cricket stars, including Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Arshdeep Singh, who will go under the hammer.The 10 IPL franchises will collectively have approximately ₹641.5 crore to spend on 204 available slots, with 70 of those slots earmarked for overseas players. As of now, 46 players have been retained by the franchises, with a cumulative expenditure of ₹558.5 crore.The IPL auction is a crucial event that shapes the composition of teams for the upcoming season. Franchises will be eager to acquire the services of top-performing players to bolster their squads and increase their chances of success. The auction will also provide opportunities for uncapped players to showcase their talent and earn lucrative contracts.The IPL has become a global cricketing phenomenon, attracting fans from all corners of the world. The tournament's high-octane matches, star-studded lineups, and passionate fan base have made it one of the most popular sporting events in the world.The upcoming auction in Riyadh is expected to generate significant interest and excitement among cricket enthusiasts. The presence of high-profile players and the potential for unexpected acquisitions will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

India's humiliating 3-0 series defeat at home against New Zealand has cast a shadow over their upcoming tour of Australia, which begins on November 22. The loss has raised concerns about the team's preparedness for the high-profile series, especially given the short turnaround time.Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has criticized India's spin-centric approach against New Zealand, arguing that it has compromised their ability to handle pace bowling. He has also questioned the decision to cancel the warm-up game ahead of the first Test in Perth.Gavaskar believes that the Australia tour will be a significant challenge for India, particularly for the younger players who are traveling Down Under for the first time. He has urged the team management to reconsider their decision and arrange some warm-up games, even if it means playing against state A teams.The Indian team has a daunting task ahead of them. To qualify for the World Test Championship Final, they must win four out of five matches in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The first Test against Australia is scheduled for November 22-26, followed by a two-day warm-up game in Canberra and the Adelaide Test. The remaining three Tests will be played in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach of the Indian men's cricket team has hit a rough patch, with the team suffering a humiliating whitewash in a home Test series against New Zealand. This setback comes after a disappointing ODI series loss to the same opposition.Gambhir, who took over from the highly successful Rahul Dravid in July, was expected to continue the team's winning ways. However, the team's recent performances have raised concerns about his coaching abilities.One of the main challenges facing Gambhir is the lack of experience in coaching at the First Class or international level. Despite this, he was given a long-term contract and allowed to handpick his coaching staff.The team's poor performance has led to murmurs of discontent within the squad, with some players reportedly unhappy with the coaching staff's methods. However, captain Rohit Sharma has defended Gambhir and his team, emphasizing the need for players to support the coaching staff."The coaching staff have been good. They have just come in. It's not been a lot of time for them. They are also understanding how this team operates, and how the player operates," Sharma said after India's loss in the third Test."It's the players' responsibility to make their job or make their life easier because it's never easy for anyone to come in and start doing what they are doing because there are a lot of different individuals here and they operate slightly differently."Gambhir has admitted that the team's recent losses are a setback, but he remains confident in his ability to turn things around."I never expected a very easy run for me because international cricket is never easy and I believe that. I know that we lost in Sri Lanka, we have lost at home as well against New Zealand. It's not a great place to be in but all we can do is be honest to ourselves and keep working hard."Gambhir's coaching staff includes Paras Mhambrey, who was an integral member of Dravid's coaching team. Mhambrey has said that it took him and his colleagues almost a year to get used to the methods of the various individuals in the Indian team.With the team set to tour Australia for a two-month Test series, Gambhir will be under immense pressure to deliver results. The Border Gavaskar Trophy will be followed by a limited overs leg culminating with the ICC Champions Trophy.

The India vs Australia rivalry is one of the most intense in cricket, and the upcoming series is already heating up. India A, currently touring Australia, has been accused of ball tampering during a practice match against Australia A.Ahead of the start of play on Sunday, match officials informed India A players that the ball had been changed due to tampering. Umpire Shawn Craig told the Indian players, "When you scratch it, we change the ball. No more discussion, let's play."India A's wicket-keeper batter for the match, Ishan Kishan, was furious at the umpire's call, calling it a "stupid decision."Cricket Australia released a statement saying that the ball had to be changed "due to deterioration," and that both managers and captains were informed of the decision before the start of play.However, an anonymous India A player has denied the tampering allegations, suggesting that a "nail from the sideboards may have brushed the ball."According to Cricket Australia's code of conduct, players involved in ball tampering could face bans if the team is found to have intentionally changed the condition of the ball."Any action(s) likely to alter the condition of the ball which are not specifically permitted under Law 41.3.2 may be regarded as unfair," the code of conduct states.Cricket Australia has since issued a statement saying that the ball change happened "due to deterioration."The incident has sparked controversy, with some accusing India A of cheating. However, the team has denied the allegations, and Cricket Australia has stated that the ball change was due to natural wear and tear.