Cricket

As the Indian cricket team faces a potential whitewash against New Zealand, having lost the first two matches of the series, captain Rohit Sharma has received a bold suggestion to rest star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Despite being widely regarded as the country's finest pace bowler, Bumrah has struggled to make an impact on the spin-friendly pitches against New Zealand.Former India wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik has urged the Indian team management to give Bumrah a break ahead of the upcoming tour of Australia. "Jasprit Bumrah definitely needs a rest without a doubt," Karthik told Cricbuzz. "That is happening, and you will see Mohammed Siraj come in."Karthik believes that Bumrah's absence will not significantly alter India's batting lineup, despite their poor performance in the first two matches. However, he anticipates that Siraj will replace Bumrah in the bowling attack."I can't think of any other change unless someone has a niggle," Karthik added. "I don't see any reason why the batters who played this game or the bowlers should not get an opportunity."Washington Sundar emerged as India's top performer with the ball in the Pune Test, which was dominated by spinners. However, India failed to level the series, suffering a second consecutive loss to trail 0-2.While the Indian team is unlikely to make drastic changes ahead of the must-win Test in Wankhede, some adjustments are expected to be made to the XI, keeping the World Test Championship in mind.Karthik acknowledged the disappointment of the defeats but emphasized the need to remain focused on the upcoming match. "The loss and the disappointment of the defeat are still weighing very heavily on my mind," he said. "I am not able to think very clearly about what the XI will be. It's too short a notice to be honest. But if I had to think straight away, I would say rest Bumrah and bring back Siraj."

India's remarkable home dominance in Test cricket has been shattered by New Zealand, who are on the verge of inflicting a series whitewash on the hosts. This would mark the first time in over two decades that India has suffered a clean sweep at home.Since their last home series loss to South Africa in 2000, India has maintained an unblemished record, winning 18 consecutive series and going unbeaten for 12 years. However, New Zealand's emphatic victories in the first two Tests have put India's proud home record in jeopardy.The last time India was whitewashed in a Test series, home or away, was also against New Zealand in 2020. Since the 2000 home clean sweep by South Africa, India has endured four more series whitewashes, all away from home.South Africa's 2000 Home Whitewash of IndiaIn February 2000, South Africa became the last team to whitewash India at home. Led by Hansie Cronje, the Proteas won the two-match series convincingly.In the first Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India was bowled out for 225 despite Sachin Tendulkar's 97. South Africa responded with 176, giving India a slender 49-run lead. However, India's second innings collapsed to 113, setting South Africa a modest target of 163. The visitors chased down the target with four wickets in hand.In the second Test in Bengaluru, India was again dismissed for a low score of 158. South Africa then piled up 479, with five half-centuries. India's second innings was more competitive, with Mohammad Azharuddin scoring a century. However, South Africa's spinners proved too strong, and India was bowled out for 250, losing by an innings and 71 runs.New Zealand's Chance to Repeat HistoryNew Zealand has a golden opportunity to repeat South Africa's feat and become the first team to whitewash India at home since 2000. After winning the first two Tests by comfortable margins, the Black Caps need only a draw in the third and final Test to secure the series.If New Zealand can complete the whitewash, it will be a significant achievement and a testament to their growing dominance in Test cricket. For India, it will be a bitter pill to swallow, as they will lose their long-held home invincibility.

Left-arm spinners have consistently posed a formidable challenge to the Indian cricket team, particularly in recent years. Here are some notable instances where these bowlers have wreaked havoc on Indian batters:Monty Panesar (England):In 2012, Panesar tormented India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. After toiling for five wickets in the first innings, he found the pitch more conducive to his bowling in the second. He dismissed Sachin Tendulkar twice, once bowled and once lbw, and ripped through the rest of the Indian batting lineup to help England secure a famous 10-wicket victory.Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka):In 2015, Herath played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka's stunning victory over India at Galle. After going wicketless in the first innings, he produced a mesmerizing spell of 7-48 in the second, dismissing India for just 112 and securing a memorable Independence Day triumph for the hosts.Steve O'Keefe (Australia):In 2017, O'Keefe played a key role in Australia's 333-run victory over India in Pune. He exploited the dry pitch conditions to great effect, taking 6-35 in both innings and bowling India out for a paltry 105 in the first innings.Ajaz Patel (New Zealand):In 2021, Patel became only the third cricketer in Test history to take all 10 wickets in an innings when he dismissed India for 119 in Mumbai. He followed up with another four wickets in the second innings, giving him a match haul of 14 wickets, the most by an overseas bowler in India.Tom Hartley (England):In 2024, Hartley made a sensational debut for England in Hyderabad. With India chasing a modest target of 231, Hartley exploited the crumbling pitch conditions to take 7-62 and bowl England to a famous 28-run victory.Matt Kuhnemann (Australia):In 2023, Kuhnemann made a significant impact in Australia's victory over India in Indore. Bowling on a bald, dry track, he took 5-16 in the first innings, restricting India to just 109 runs.These instances highlight the effectiveness of left-arm spinners against India, particularly on pitches that offer assistance to their bowling style. Their ability to generate turn and bounce has consistently troubled Indian batters, making them a formidable force in Test cricket.

India's recent Test failures in Bengaluru and Pune have exposed a fundamental flaw in their batting approach: a lack of understanding of the grammar of Test match batting. The team's reliance on white-ball cricket, where explosiveness is prioritized over technique and patience, has left them ill-prepared for the rigors of Test cricket.The absence of key players from domestic first-class cricket has exacerbated this issue. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the team's batting stalwarts, have not played a first-class game this season. While their reasons may be genuine, their lack of match practice has hindered their ability to hone their defensive techniques and increase their capacity to bat for extended periods.This lack of match readiness was evident in India's batting collapses in Bengaluru and Pune. The team's inability to read the pitch conditions and adjust their batting strategies accordingly led to their downfall. Rohit Sharma's incorrect assessment of the Bengaluru pitch and his decision to remove pacers from the game in Pune's second innings highlighted the team's tactical deficiencies.The Indian skipper's acknowledgment of the team's batting shortcomings is a positive sign. However, it remains to be seen whether the team can address these issues in time for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under. The troika of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul is expected to provide stability to the batting lineup, but their recent form and manner of dismissals raise concerns.To their credit, Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir have not shied away from acknowledging the team's shortcomings. They have emphasized the need for patience, technique, and the ability to handle pressure and bat out sessions consistently. This optimism is crucial for India's chances of success in Australia and qualification for the World Test Championship.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the legendary Indian cricketer, is renowned for his exceptional wicket-keeping skills, particularly his remarkable stumpings. His innovative techniques and lightning-fast reflexes have left batsmen bewildered and set a benchmark for wicketkeepers worldwide.In a recent viral video, Dhoni shared an amusing anecdote that highlights his wife Sakshi's limited understanding of cricket rules. While watching an ODI match together, a batsman was stumped off a wide delivery. Sakshi, unaware of the rule, insisted that the batsman could not be dismissed in such a manner.Dhoni patiently explained that stumpings are indeed possible off wide balls, but not off no balls. However, Sakshi remained unconvinced, claiming that Dhoni was mistaken. As the conversation continued, the batsman had already returned to the pavilion.Sakshi's initial skepticism turned into confusion when the next batsman entered the field. She realized that something was amiss and finally acknowledged that she might have been wrong. The audience erupted in laughter at Dhoni's humorous account.Dhoni's stumpings are not only celebrated for their brilliance but also for their impact on the outcome of matches. His quick thinking and anticipation have often turned the tide in India's favor. His techniques have inspired countless wicketkeepers, demonstrating the importance of agility, anticipation, and a deep understanding of the game.

India's Test dominance at home came to an abrupt end as New Zealand scripted history by defeating the hosts by 113 runs in the second Test in Pune, securing their first-ever series win on Indian soil. The loss marked India's first home Test series defeat since 2012, snapping an 18-series winning streak.Skipper Rohit Sharma, while acknowledging the disappointment, defended the performance of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who have been under scrutiny for their recent form. Rohit emphasized that the team's success or failure should not be solely attributed to two players."There's too much expectation on those two guys. Every game they play, they are expected to take wickets, run through the (opposition) team and win Test matches for us. I don't think that is fair. It's the responsibility of all of us to make sure that we get the Test wins, not just the two guys," Rohit said.He added that both Ashwin and Jadeja are allowed to have off days. "I'm not going to look into too much, especially with those two guys. They know exactly what happens and sometimes they are allowed to have some bad games here and there and not go by that expectation that 'okay, this is the opportunity for me to take wickets and run through the opposition'. That's not going to happen every time," he explained.In the Pune Test, Ashwin claimed five wickets and scored 22 runs, while Jadeja picked up three wickets and contributed 80 runs with the bat. However, their performances were overshadowed by New Zealand's impressive bowling attack, led by Mitchell Santner, who took 13 wickets in the match.India's batting also faltered, with only Yashasvi Jaiswal managing to score a half-century in the second innings. The hosts were bowled out for 245, handing New Zealand a comfortable victory.The series loss is a significant setback for India, who had been unbeaten in home Test series since 2012. It also raises questions about the team's ability to maintain their dominance in the longest format of the game.

Australia's T20I squad for the upcoming series against Pakistan has been announced, with Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, and Spencer Johnson returning from injury. However, a new captain is yet to be confirmed, as Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, and Pat Cummins are all unavailable.Bartlett, Ellis, and Johnson were all ruled out of Australia's recent tour of the UK with various injuries. Johnson made his return to domestic cricket last Friday, while Bartlett and Ellis are expected to be fit for the three-match series against Pakistan, which begins on November 14.The 13-man squad is largely unchanged from the one that toured the UK in September, with Glenn Maxwell returning to the T20I fold after being rested for the T20I portion of that tour. Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk are expected to open the batting, as they likely will in the ODI series that precedes the T20Is against Pakistan.With the series finishing just four days before the opening Test against India in Perth, none of the Test players were made available. Marsh and Head are also missing the ODI series while on paternity leave.Australia will have a different coaching staff for the T20I series as well, with head coach Andrew McDonald, batting coach Michael Di Venuto, and bowling coach Daniel Vettori all resting ahead of the Test series. Assistant coach Andre Borovec will take charge, as he did for Australia's five-match T20I series against India in India last October. Former Australia batter Brad Hodge is also set to join the group as an assistant coach after touring with Australia's T20 World Cup squad as a coaching consultant in June. Matthew Wade, who is yet to retire from international cricket and captained Australia's T20I side in February, is reportedly set to join the squad as well in a coaching role.

India's star batters have suffered a significant decline in confidence due to the excessive use of rank turners in home matches, according to former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. This has adversely affected their home averages and overall careers.Harbhajan cited Ajinkya Rahane as a prime example, highlighting that his career has been hindered by these challenging surfaces. In the recent Test series against New Zealand, India lost on a Pune turner after managing only 156 and 245 runs, with New Zealand's Mitchell Santner taking 13 wickets.Harbhajan questioned the Indian team's strategy of relying heavily on turners, arguing that it has proven counterproductive. He pointed out that batters have lost confidence playing on these tracks, as they are unable to predict the ball's behavior."Our batters have lost a lot of confidence playing on these tracks. The biggest example is Ajinkya Rahane, a fine player. His career suffered because of these kind of surfaces," Harbhajan emphasized.He further explained that batters lose confidence when they are unsure whether to attack or defend on pitches where the ball turns excessively. This has led to a decline in their performance, even in overseas matches where the conditions are more favorable.Harbhajan also criticized the Indian team management's preference for bowlers who are accurate but lack the ability to turn the ball on flat decks. He suggested that bowlers like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who possess exceptional spin skills, should be utilized more effectively.Despite the challenges, Harbhajan believes that India has the talent to produce replacements for its aging players. He emphasized the importance of providing opportunities to young players at the right time, citing the examples of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma."The game will move on and we will get replacements," Harbhajan asserted. "It is about getting right opportunities at right time."However, he acknowledged that the upcoming Australia series and the World Test Championship final will be crucial for many players in the team.

Team India's recent Test series loss to New Zealand has sparked a wave of criticism, with former South Africa captain AB de Villiers weighing in on the matter. De Villiers believes that the perception of Indian players as exceptional spin players is outdated and that other teams have caught up.In the second Test, New Zealand's left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner exploited the Indian batters' weaknesses on a turning Pune track, taking 13 wickets in the match and handing India a 113-run defeat. This marked India's first Test series loss at home since 2012.De Villiers suggests that the belief in Indian players' spin prowess is a perception rather than a fact. He emphasizes that even the best batters can struggle against quality spin bowling on turning wickets. However, he also acknowledges the talent of Indian players, stating that they are "incredible players" who can play spin.De Villiers believes that India took a significant risk by preparing a turning track, which played into New Zealand's hands. He notes that New Zealand's bowlers, including part-timer Glenn Phillips, were able to exploit the conditions effectively."They lost the toss in the second Test. I think they took a big risk by really making sure that the wicket turns a lot from start to finish," said de Villiers. "With that, when you play against a street-smart team, guys like Glenn Phillips, no one thought of him as a spinner, but fiery spin right at the wickets quick, doesn't matter if you are a part-time spinner, you are in the match."De Villiers concludes that India's loss highlights the need for teams to adapt to different conditions and that the perception of Indian players as invincible spin players is no longer valid.