Cricket

In the second ODI between India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine elected to bat first. The visitors made two changes to their lineup, with left-arm spinner Fran Jonas replacing Amelia Kerr and right-arm pacer Lea Tahuhu replacing Molly Penfold.India welcomed back regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who replaced D Hemalatha. They also handed a debut to legspinner Priya Mishra, who took the place of Renuka Singh Thakur. Mishra has impressed in recent domestic tournaments and was part of the India A tour of Australia.India currently leads the three-match series 1-0 after a 59-run victory in the first ODI. New Zealand needs to win the second game to keep the series alive and earn crucial points in the Women's Championship. Only the top five teams and host India will qualify directly for next year's World Cup.

Pakistan's seasoned off-spinner Sajid Khan has employed a unique strategy to unsettle England players during the ongoing third Test in Rawalpindi. Beyond his trademark mustache twirling and thigh thumping, Sajid has leveraged his bilingualism to gain an edge.While Sajid's bowling prowess stems from his spin angle and delivery flight, his batting exploits are a different tale. During the 86th over, Sajid engaged in a conversation with vice-captain Saud Shakeel, oblivious to the stump mic capturing their exchange.Sajid's subsequent six over midwicket into the Javed Miandad stand was a deliberate ploy, as he revealed. The intended targets were Pakistan-origin spinners Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir."We were only doing that [speaking loudly in Urdu] to deceive the bowlers. Rehan and Shoaib understand Urdu, so to fool them, we wanted them to hear we were only looking for the single. When we did that, they brought the field up, and the bowlers flighted it. Saud told me once they do, no half measures: just go for the big shot as hard as you can," Sajid explained.In the following over, Sajid unleashed two sixes and a four against Bashir, again targeting the midwicket region. His unbeaten 48 off 48 balls propelled Pakistan to 344.Rehan acknowledged Sajid's impressive batting but denied being misled by the Urdu conversation."He didn't fool me at all. He just said it for the media. I didn't even hear him. He said something like he's going to run down this ball, and I knew he was going to try and scoop me, and it didn't really work. I think he batted well, and he hit some big blows, but he didn't really fool me or Bash," Rehan said.Sajid's tactics have added an intriguing dimension to the Test match, showcasing his ability to influence the game both on and off the field.

India Eyes Series Win in Second ODI Against New ZealandIndia will be aiming to seal the three-match ODI series against New Zealand when the two teams clash in the second match at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, October 27, 2024. The hosts will be buoyed by their comprehensive victory in the first ODI, where they dominated the visitors in all departments.New Zealand, who were riding high after their maiden T20 World Cup triumph, were brought down to earth with a thud in the series opener. India's debutants, Tejal Hasabnis and Saima Thakor, played starring roles in the win, with Hasabnis scoring a half-century and Thakor taking three wickets.India will be hoping to maintain their momentum in the second ODI. Skipper Smriti Mandhana will be keen to continue her good form, while the management will be monitoring the fitness of regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who missed the previous match due to an unspecified niggle.New Zealand, on the other hand, will be desperate to bounce back and level the series. They will need their senior players, such as Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr, to step up and lead the charge.The match is expected to be a close contest, with both teams evenly matched on paper. India will have the home advantage, but New Zealand will be determined to prove that their World Cup victory was no fluke.

India's recent Test series defeat to New Zealand has sparked a debate about the responsibility of senior players and the role of coach Gautam Gambhir. Former wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik believes the onus lies with the experienced players, while Sanjay Manjrekar defends Gambhir's minimal influence on the team's performance.Karthik emphasizes that senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should take ownership of the loss. He acknowledges their poor performance and expects them to introspect and identify areas for improvement. Karthik believes they have the courage to face criticism and will strive to rectify their mistakes.Manjrekar, on the other hand, argues that the coach has a limited impact on the team's performance. He credits Gambhir for selecting Washington Sundar, but questions the decision to send him ahead of Sarfaraz Khan. Manjrekar believes such tactical errors should be avoided and that Rohit Sharma should focus on the overall quality of players rather than match-ups.Former India captain Anil Kumble suggests that Kohli's absence from domestic matches may have hindered his preparation for the Test series. He believes that game situations provide a better advantage than practice and that Kohli could have benefited from playing earlier.The defeat has raised concerns about India's Test cricket future. Karthik urges the senior players to take responsibility and work towards improving the team's performance. Manjrekar emphasizes the need for tactical adjustments and a focus on player quality. Kumble highlights the importance of match practice for players like Kohli.

White Ferns Face Uphill Battle in India After Crushing ODI DefeatThe New Zealand White Ferns, fresh off their historic T20 World Cup triumph, have suffered a setback in their opening One-Day International (ODI) against India. Despite their remarkable achievement in South Africa, the White Ferns were unable to carry their momentum into the Indian leg of their tour.In the first ODI, played in Mumbai, the White Ferns were outplayed by a dominant Indian side. The hosts batted first and posted a formidable total of 274/7, with Tejal Hasabnis top-scoring with 74. The Indian bowlers then restricted New Zealand to 229/9, with no batter able to reach 40.The defeat was a blow to the White Ferns' hopes of keeping the three-match series alive. They now face an uphill battle to win the remaining two ODIs and secure points on the ICC Women's Championship table, which determines qualification for next year's World Cup.India, on the other hand, will be looking to wrap up the series with a game to spare. Despite failing to bat through their 50 overs in the first ODI, they showed their class with a solid batting performance. The likes of Shafali Verma, D. Hemalatha, and Smriti Mandhana will be eager to continue their good form in the upcoming matches.The White Ferns have been dealt a further blow with the news that Amelia Kerr, the player of the final and tournament at the T20 World Cup, is flying home with a grade one quadriceps tear. Kerr was New Zealand's best bowler in the opening ODI, taking 2/42.Despite the setbacks, the White Ferns have plenty of talent and experience in their ranks. Skipper Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, and Brooke Halliday will be key to their hopes of bouncing back in the second ODI.The second ODI will be played in Vadodara on Sunday, October 29. The White Ferns will need to put in a much-improved performance if they want to keep their series hopes alive.

India's Overconfidence Led to Historic Home Series Loss to New ZealandFormer Pakistan batter Basit Ali has attributed India's first home series loss in 12 years to overconfidence and a lack of preparation. After a convincing victory in the opening Test in Bengaluru, New Zealand stunned India with a three-day triumph in the second Test in Pune, securing their maiden series win in India.Ali believes that India's recent success against Bangladesh and New Zealand's struggles in Sri Lanka contributed to their complacency. However, the Kiwis meticulously studied India's weaknesses and exploited them ruthlessly in the first two Tests."India's batting was exposed," Ali said. "In the first match, Kiwi pacers took 17 wickets. In the second Test, spinners took 19 wickets. India players were neither able to play pacers well nor spinners."Ali also criticized India's management for not adequately preparing for the series. "The match India won against Bangladesh in two days and New Zealand's 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka, the team might have thought they would beat the Kiwis easily," he said. "This means, Indian management and Indian players were overconfident."Ali expressed concern over India's bowling attack for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. With Mohammed Shami absent from the squad, Ali believes India will face significant challenges Down Under."I am surprised why there is no Mohammed Shami in the squad for the Australia tour," Ali said. "You have put all the load on Bumrah. Without Shami, India might face problems in Australia."The first BGT Test commences from November 22 in Perth, and India will need to address their weaknesses and regain their focus if they hope to avoid another disappointing series loss.

The Indian cricket team's dismal performance in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand has raised serious concerns among fans and experts alike. After losing the first two Tests in Pune, India is on the brink of a humiliating clean sweep, a fate they haven't suffered at home in over a decade.The team's batting has been particularly disappointing, with the top order failing to provide a solid foundation. In the second Test, established batter Sarfaraz Khan was inexplicably sent in at No. 7, while all-rounder Washington Sundar was promoted ahead of him. This move drew criticism from former India star Sanjay Manjrekar, who called it "bizarre" and a sign of "T20 thinking."India's bowling, once a strength, has also been ineffective against the New Zealanders. The spinners, led by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, have failed to make consistent breakthroughs, while the pacers have been unable to contain the opposition's batsmen.The loss in Pune has also dented India's chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final. With only one Test remaining in the series, India needs to win convincingly in Mumbai to keep their hopes alive.Former India captain MS Dhoni, who was at the helm when India last lost a Test series at home in 2010, has expressed his disappointment with the team's performance. "It's not easy to lose a Test series at home," Dhoni said. "The team needs to introspect and find out what went wrong."With the upcoming tour of Australia looming, India's poor form is a major cause for concern. The Aussies are a formidable opponent on home soil, and India will need to make significant improvements if they want to avoid another embarrassing defeat.

England's Test series against Pakistan ended in disappointment as they suffered a 2-1 defeat, with a humiliating 112-all out in the second innings of the third Test. Captain Ben Stokes, who returned from injury in the second Test, endured a dismal series, culminating in an embarrassing dismissal in the final innings.Stokes, batting on three runs, opted to leave a delivery from Noman Ali in the 22nd over. However, the ball kept low and turned back in, trapping Stokes plumb on the pads. The dismissal left England reeling at 70/5, and they proceeded to lose their remaining wickets for just 42 runs.Pakistan's spinners, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, proved to be England's undoing, claiming 39 of the 40 English wickets in the second and third Tests. England's successive defeats have severely dented their hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle final.Stokes's return from injury has been far from impressive, with the all-rounder managing only 53 runs in four innings. Apart from a knock of 37 in the second Test, he has failed to cross 15 in an innings.England's batting woes have been compounded by the absence of key players such as Jonny Bairstow and Jofra Archer. The team's inability to adapt to the spin-friendly conditions in Pakistan has been a major factor in their downfall.Pakistan, on the other hand, have been buoyed by the performances of their spinners. Noman Ali and Sajid Khan have been virtually unplayable at times, and their ability to extract turn and bounce from the pitches has been a major advantage.The series win is a significant boost for Pakistan, who have been struggling in Test cricket in recent years. It also marks a disappointing end to England's tour of Pakistan, which began with a dramatic victory in the first Test in Multan.

India's recent Test series defeat at home against New Zealand has raised concerns about the form of their senior spinners, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. However, captain Rohit Sharma has defended the duo, emphasizing that the responsibility for Test match wins lies with the entire team, not just two individuals.On a slow, dry Pune pitch, India's spin trio, including Washington Sundar, was outbowled by New Zealand's. Ashwin, in particular, struggled to provide the control he is known for, conceding runs at almost four an over in the third innings. Jadeja also faced challenges, with batters like Devon Conway employing aggressive sweeps and reverse-sweeps.Despite their recent struggles, Rohit believes that Ashwin and Jadeja remain key players for India. He acknowledged that they may have off days, but emphasized that they have made significant contributions to India's success in the past."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 this is the opportunity for me to take wickets and run through the opposition," Rohit said.Rohit also called for the responsibility to be shared among the other spinners. He pointed to Washington Sundar's impressive performance in Pune, where he took 11 wickets in the match."Like we keep talking about with the batters it is not the responsibility of a few individuals, it is the collective batting unit that needs to come together," Rohit said. "So it's the same with the bowling unit as well."Rohit's comments suggest that India will not make any drastic changes to their spin attack for the upcoming Test series in Australia. He believes that Ashwin and Jadeja remain valuable assets, but that the team needs to provide them with more support.