Cricket

India Announce T20I Squad for South Africa Series, Ramandeep Singh and Vijaykumar Vyshak Earn Maiden Call-upsThe Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming four-match T20I series against South Africa, which commences on November 8 in Durban. The squad features two notable inclusions: middle-order batter Ramandeep Singh and fast bowler Vijaykumar Vyshak, who have earned their maiden India call-ups.Ramandeep Singh, a 24-year-old right-handed batter, has been in impressive form for Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has consistently scored runs at a high strike rate, showcasing his ability to accelerate the innings in the middle overs.Vijaykumar Vyshak, a 23-year-old right-arm fast bowler, has also caught the attention of selectors with his performances for Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket. He has impressed with his pace and accuracy, consistently troubling batters with his ability to swing the ball both ways.However, the squad also includes three notable absentees due to injuries. Batting allrounder Riyan Parag is undergoing rehabilitation for a chronic right shoulder injury, while fast bowler Mayank Yadav and seam-bowling allrounder Shivam Dube are also unavailable due to unspecified injuries.Mayank Yadav, who made his international debut during the recent home T20Is against Bangladesh, has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. He missed the entire IPL 2024 season due to an abdominal muscle issue, which has raised concerns about his long-term fitness.The Indian squad for the T20I series against South Africa is as follows:* Suryakumar Yadav (capt)* Abhishek Sharma* Sanju Samson (wk)* Rinku Singh* Tilak Varma* Jitesh Sharma (wk)* Hardik Pandya* Axar Patel* Ramandeep Singh* Varun Chakaravarthy* Ravi Bishnoi* Arshdeep Singh* Vijaykumar Vyshak* Avesh Khan* Yash DayalThe series against South Africa will be a crucial test for India as they prepare for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Australia. The team will be looking to build momentum and fine-tune their combinations ahead of the global tournament.

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has lifted the lid on the internal turmoil that plagued the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) franchise during his tenure from 2014 to 2017. In his recently released book, Maxwell reveals the power struggle between himself and then-mentor Virender Sehwag, which ultimately led to his departure from the team.Maxwell's arrival in Punjab coincided with a successful 2014 season, where he amassed 552 runs at a strike rate of over 187. However, his fortunes took a downturn in 2017, and his role within the team came under scrutiny. The appointment of Sehwag as mentor marked a shift in power dynamics, with Sehwag asserting his authority over team selection and other decisions.Maxwell's frustration grew as Sehwag's decisions often seemed illogical. In one instance, Sehwag excluded Maxwell from a WhatsApp group used for team selection. Maxwell's public criticism of Sehwag further strained their relationship, leading to a public outburst from Sehwag after a poor performance against Pune.Maxwell was removed from the main WhatsApp group and publicly criticized by Sehwag, who blamed him for the team's failures. Maxwell responded by expressing his disappointment and stating that he had lost respect for Sehwag. The rift between the two deepened, and Maxwell ultimately informed the owners that he would not continue with the team if Sehwag remained.Sehwag's tenure at Punjab lasted only one more season, while Maxwell moved on to other franchises. In his book, Maxwell reflects on the challenges he faced during his time at Punjab and the lessons he learned from the experience.

Pakistan's offspinner Sajid Khan has emerged as a thorn in England's side, not only with his on-field antics but also with his cunning tactics. Beyond his signature mustache twirls and thigh thumps, Khan has found a novel way to unsettle the English: exploiting the bilingualism of their spin bowlers.During the fourth ball of the 86th over, Khan and teammate Saud Shakeel engaged in a seemingly innocuous conversation in Urdu, unaware that the stump mic was capturing their words. However, Khan's true intentions were far from innocent."We were only doing that [speaking loudly in Urdu] to deceive the bowlers," Khan revealed. "Rehan and Shoaib understand Urdu, so to fool them, we wanted them to hear we were only looking for the single."The strategy worked to perfection. The English bowlers, assuming Pakistan was playing defensively, adjusted their field accordingly. This gave Khan the opportunity to unleash his power, launching Shoaib Bashir over midwicket for a six.Khan's deception continued in the following over, where he plundered two more sixes and a boundary off Bashir. The English bowlers, now thoroughly bamboozled, spread the field out, only to see Khan clear the rope with ease.England's spin bowler Rehan Ahmed, while acknowledging Khan's impressive innings, dismissed the claims of deception. "He didn't fool me at all, he just said it for the media," Ahmed said. "I didn't even hear him."Despite Ahmed's denial, Khan's tactics have undoubtedly played a role in Pakistan's growing lead. By exploiting the language barrier, Khan has created confusion and doubt in the minds of the English bowlers, giving Pakistan a significant advantage.

Tamil Nadu, buoyed by its impressive start to the Ranji Trophy campaign, will face Chhattisgarh in a crucial third-round match (Elite Group D) at the Sri Ramakrishna College Ground on Saturday.After crushing Saurashtra by an innings in the season opener, TN came within two wickets of another innings victory against Delhi. Only fading light and some questionable time-wasting tactics by the Delhi lower-order prevented N. Jagadeesan's men from securing seven points.The southern side has established Coimbatore as its fortress, winning its last four encounters at this venue by an innings. It will aim to extend this successful run against Chhattisgarh.However, the home team will face some forced changes due to the departure of Washington Sundar (India), B. Sai Sudharsan, and B. Indrajith (both India-A) for national duties. The management must find an opening partner for skipper Jagadeesan, while all-rounder Vijay Shankar and M. Boopathi Vaishna Kumar could slot into the middle-order.With the pitch expected to favor spinners, TN may consider resting one of its pacers and playing an extra tweaker. "We are extremely proud of the brand of cricket we played. Even in the last match, we bowled nearly 190 overs over two days and maintaining the same energy was a task, but everyone did it," said Jagadeesan.Chhattisgarh, on the other hand, will be eager to earn some points after managing just two so far. The Amandeep Khare-led side has the depth in its lineup to challenge the hosts. Most of the batters have runs under their belt, and the outfit boasts a decent spin attack led by Ajay Mandal.In the previous game against Saurashtra, Khare slammed a brilliant double-century while Sanjeet Desai scored a ton. However, the in-form TN bowlers in their backyard will pose a sterner test, and how the visitor's batters tackle them could determine the course of the contest.

Ishan Kishan, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter, has made a triumphant return to the national setup after being named in the 15-member India A squad for the upcoming tour of Australia. The selection marks a significant milestone in Kishan's career, as he aims to reclaim his place in the Indian team.Kishan's journey back to the national fold has been marked by both highs and lows. Earlier this year, he was dropped from the BCCI central contracts due to concerns over his prioritization of the Indian Premier League (IPL) over domestic cricket. However, his impressive performances in the IPL and domestic tournaments have earned him a recall to the India A squad.The upcoming tour of Australia will provide Kishan with an ideal platform to showcase his skills and prove his worth to the national selectors. India A is scheduled to play two first-class matches against Australia A in Mackay and Melbourne, followed by a three-day intra-squad game against the senior India team in Perth.Kishan's return to the national setup has been met with joy and excitement by his family and fans. A heartwarming video that went viral on social media captured the moment Kishan's mother and grandmother showered him with love as he left for the Australia tour from his hometown.The India A tour of Australia is a crucial step in Kishan's quest to regain his place in the Indian team. With his exceptional talent and determination, he has the potential to become a key player for India in the years to come.

Australia's Test captain Pat Cummins has expressed his belief that the 2018-19 Test series loss to India was more painful than the 2020-21 debacle under his leadership. Cummins believes that the home team was simply outplayed in the 2018-19 series, while the 2020-21 series was more closely fought.Under Virat Kohli's captaincy, India defeated Australia 2-1 in the 2018-19 rubber with the skipper and Cheteshwar Pujara playing a pivotal role in the historic triumph against the Tim Paine-led side. During the 2020-2021 series, a hugely depleted Indian side again bagged the series 2-1, defeating the hosts at their stronghold Gabba for the first time in a Test match in 32 years."I actually thought the series before (2018-19) was worse because we got completely beaten whereas that series (in 2020-21) was quite (keenly) fought. I thought they (India) played like fantastically well to win at the Gabba," Cummins told The Grade Cricketer podcast."That (defeat) was annoying, but I felt like the series before, where we were like completely outplayed, that would hurt more for me," he said.Cummins, who will again be leading in a five-match Test series against India starting November 22 in Perth, said that if he had his way, he would welcome India with green tops to make life difficult for the visitors."I wish if I had it my way I would be looking like those bushes behind you. Unfortunately, I don’t have any sway (on the preparation of wickets), so we’ll wait and see," said Cummins in response to the host’s question on the amount of grass he would like to see on the pitches for the crucial series.David Warner has offered to come out of retirement to help the side if need be, but Cummins indicated that the team has moved on."Dave we are very interested, we’re taking it very seriously and we’ll be in touch, mate just watch that phone," said Cummins in jest before adding, "Uh, we love Davey (Warner) but he’s retired, sorry."

Former India coach Ravi Shastri has criticized captain Rohit Sharma's tactics on Day 2 of the ongoing second Test against New Zealand in Pune. India were bowled out for 156 in the first innings, conceding a lead of 103 runs to the Kiwis, who consolidated their position by reaching 85/2 at tea in the second innings.Shastri, who was on commentary duty, felt Rohit didn't make aggressive field placements, especially with India already chasing New Zealand in the match after conceding a big lead. During the second session on Day 2, Shastri and former India spinner Murali Kartik had a detailed discussion on Rohit's tactics."New Zealand have managed to scatter away all the men around the bat," Kartik pointed out. "Also tells you, tactically how you should be thinking. India should be thinking how to bowl out New Zealand for 120. For that to happen, you need to think wickets, you need people in attacking positions. Yes, if the side gets to 60 for no loss, you can start to think differently. It also makes the bowl think that he wants wickets, not with a spread out field like this," Shastri responded.Tom Latham and Will Young batted with confidence in the second innings as New Zealand consolidated their position in the second Test, reaching 85/2 at tea to take an overall lead of 188 runs. Latham (37 not out) and Young (23) overcame the early hiccup of losing Devon Conway by stitching together a 42-run partnership after Kiwi spinner Mitchell Santner had demolished the Indian batting line-up for 156 in the first innings with career-best figures of 7/53 in 19.3 overs.New Zealand had made 259 in the first innings. India started the day on a positive note with Shubman Gill (30) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (30) adding 49 for the second wicket before six wickets fell for the addition of 53 runs as the hosts were left tottering at 107 for 7 at lunch. Virat Kohli played the most forgettable shot of the morning to be clean bowled for 1. Santner then returned in the post-lunch session to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja and Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah cheaply.

India's dominance on home soil has been challenged in recent times, as visiting teams have exploited the spin-friendly conditions to their advantage. In the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, the hosts found themselves on the receiving end of Mitchell Santner's spin wizardry.After dismissing New Zealand for 259, India's batting lineup crumbled to a mere 156 runs, conceding a substantial 103-run lead. The dismissals of key players Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja highlighted India's vulnerability against spin.This is not an isolated incident. In the past, India has fallen into its own trap by preparing turning tracks for opponents. Here are some notable examples:India vs Australia, 3rd Test, 2023, Indore:Australia secured a nine-wicket victory on a spinning track at Indore's Holkar Stadium. Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann exploited the conditions, bowling India out for just 109 in their first innings. Despite a fightback from India's spinners, Lyon's eight wickets in the second innings sealed the match for Australia.India vs England, 1st Test, 2024, Hyderabad:England clinched a 28-run victory at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Tom Hartley's spin proved too much for India, who collapsed for just 202 runs in their chase. Earlier, Ollie Pope's brilliant 196 had set India a challenging target.India vs England, 1st Test, 2021, Chennai:England secured a comprehensive 227-run victory in Chennai. Joe Root's double-century helped England post a formidable 578 in their first innings. India's batting struggled against Dom Bess and Jack Leach, who spun the hosts out for 337 and 192 runs, respectively.These instances demonstrate that India's reliance on spin-friendly tracks can backfire. Opponents have adapted to the conditions and exploited India's weaknesses against spin. The team needs to find a balance between preparing pitches that favor their spinners while also ensuring that their batters can cope with the turning ball.

Virat Kohli's ongoing struggles against spin bowling continued to haunt him in the second Test against New Zealand at the MCA Stadium in Pune. On Friday, the Indian batting maestro was dismissed for a mere 1 by New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner.Kohli's dismissal came when he misjudged a low full toss, failing to connect as the ball slipped under his bat and crashed into the stumps. The dismissal left Kohli visibly frustrated and marked the 21st time since 2021 that he has fallen to spin in Asia.Kohli's struggles against spin have become a recurring theme, particularly in Asian conditions. Earlier in the series, during the first Test in Bengaluru, Kohli was dismissed in similar fashion by New Zealand spinner Glenn Phillips. India went on to lose that match by 8 wickets, trailing the three-match series 0-1.Kohli's troubles against spin, especially left-arm orthodox spinners like Santner, have become a glaring concern. Since 2021, out of his 21 dismissals to spinners, 10 have been at the hands of left-arm orthodox bowlers, against whom he averages a meager 27.10.In total, Kohli has managed just 606 runs against spinners during this period in Asian conditions, with an average of 28.85 - far below the high standards he set in his career.As India battled to recover from New Zealand's first-innings score of 259, Kohli's early exit put the team in a difficult position. By lunch on the second day, India had slumped to 107/7, with the visitors' spinners tightening their grip on the match. Kohli's dismissal, in particular, exacerbated India's struggles, as they sought to gain momentum in the series following their loss in the first Test.Kohli's struggles against spin have raised questions about his technique and adaptability to changing conditions. The Indian team management will be hoping that he can find a way to overcome this challenge and regain his dominance against spin bowling.