Cricket

Karnataka's Ranji Trophy hopes have received a significant boost with the return of experienced leg-spinning all-rounder Shreyas Gopal. After a brief stint with Kerala in the 2023-24 season, Gopal has rejoined his home state, eager to contribute to their elusive Ranji Trophy triumph since 2014-15.Gopal's return is a testament to his unwavering loyalty to Karnataka. Despite receiving offers from other states, he has chosen to prioritize his home team's success. This decision reflects his deep connection to Karnataka and his desire to make a meaningful impact on their cricketing fortunes.In the 2022-23 First Class season, Gopal's batting prowess came to the fore as he scored 360 runs at an average of 45. However, he is determined to regain his status as a formidable bowler. He has spent the last year honing his skills, focusing on improving his accuracy and consistency.Gopal's return is particularly crucial for Karnataka, who have struggled to find a reliable spinner in recent years. His experience and ability to control the game with his spin bowling will be invaluable to the team. He is confident of contributing with both bat and ball, aiming for a target of 30-35 wickets and 500 runs in the upcoming season.As a senior pro, Gopal also recognizes his responsibility to mentor the team's younger spinners, Hardik Raj and Mohsin Khan. He is eager to share his knowledge and experience, helping them develop their skills and reach their full potential.Karnataka will be hoping that Gopal's return will inspire the team to break their Ranji Trophy drought. With his experience, leadership, and all-round abilities, he is poised to play a pivotal role in their quest for glory.

Jonty Sidhu, the 26-year-old left-handed batsman, has made a strong start to the new Ranji Trophy season, echoing his impressive performance in the previous campaign. In the opening fixture against Chhattisgarh, Sidhu's unbeaten 103 played a crucial role in Delhi securing the first-innings lead and three points.Sidhu's innings was a testament to his ability to blend caution with aggression, particularly when the team was in a precarious position at 202 for five. He forged valuable partnerships with the lower order, demonstrating his composure and adaptability in challenging situations.Despite his impressive average of 49.1 after 23 First Class matches, this was surprisingly Sidhu's first selection for Delhi's opening game in three seasons. Buoyed by his strong start, he is optimistic about his prospects and aims to make the most of his opportunity.Sidhu's ideal batting position is at No. 4, and he believes that this will allow him to make a more significant impact on the team's performance. He is particularly excited about Delhi's upcoming match against Tamil Nadu, a team against which he has a strong record, having scored two fifties and a century in three previous encounters.Sidhu's resurgence is a welcome boost for Delhi, who have struggled in recent seasons. His ability to contribute consistently with the bat will be crucial to their hopes of improving their fortunes in the Ranji Trophy.

India's Test juggernaut rolls into Bengaluru for the first of three matches against New Zealand, starting Wednesday at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The hosts, riding high on a six-match winning streak, will be aiming to extend their dominance against a New Zealand side missing the services of star batter Kane Williamson.For Indian opener KL Rahul, this Test holds special significance as it marks a homecoming to the city where his cricketing dreams took flight. In an interview with BCCI TV, Rahul expressed his emotional connection to the Bengaluru ground, recalling his journey from an 11-year-old boy to an international cricketer."It's always special for me to come back here," Rahul said. "This is where I grew up, played all my cricket. The feeling for me as an eleven year old boy who came here first time, played a game, that feeling for me hasn't changed."Rahul described the overwhelming flood of memories that come rushing in whenever he steps onto the field at Chinnaswamy. "From the time you leave the dressing room and walk to the middle, so many emotions hit you. It's like a whole three-hour movie plays in your mind – from my early cricketing days at U13s, U15s, U19s, to Ranji Trophy and IPL matches, and finally, representing India internationally. It gives me goosebumps."He also fondly reminisced about his time in the clubhouse canteen, where breakfast routines became a cherished tradition. "From age-group cricket to Ranji Trophy, we'd have breakfast at the canteen, finish training, and return for lunch," Rahul recalled. "I haven't been there in the last year or so. I don't know if that place has changed now. But it used to be really delicious and our morning started really good with dosa and coffee."Rahul, who made his Test debut against Australia in 2014, has garnered 2969 runs in 52 Tests, averaging 34.52. In 2024, he has featured in four Tests, scoring 222 runs at an average of 44.40, with two fifties.Rahul also displayed his form in the Duleep Trophy, scoring 37 and 57 for India A. With one eye on the upcoming Australia tour, Rahul will be eager to prove his mettle and cement his spot in the team's starting eleven for the Border–Gavaskar Trophy.

Sri Lanka, seeking to level the three-match T20I series against West Indies, won the toss and opted to bat first in the second game at Dambulla. The hosts trail 1-0 after losing the series opener by five wickets.Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka expressed hope for more spin-friendly conditions than in the first match, estimating a par score of around 170. West Indies skipper Rovman Powell, on the other hand, indicated his team's preference for chasing, despite the different surface from the previous game.Sri Lanka made two changes to their lineup, bringing in spin-bowling allrounder Dunith Wellalage for Chamindu Wickramasinghe and slinger Nuwan Thushara for Asitha Fernando. West Indies made a single change, with Andre Fletcher replacing the injured Shai Hope as wicketkeeper.The weather conditions remained favorable, with no rain interruptions expected throughout the evening.

The highly anticipated Women's T20 World Cup 2024 clash between England and West Indies is set to unfold, with both teams vying for a coveted semifinal spot.As the match commenced, West Indies captain Hayley Matthews won the toss and elected to bowl first. England openers Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Maia Bouchier took to the crease, determined to set the tone for their team. West Indies' Chinelle Henry opened the bowling, aiming to unsettle the English batters with her pace.The pitch analysis by Anjum Chopra and Lisa Sthalekar revealed a dry surface that could assist the pacers. The square boundaries were 53 and 63 meters, while the straight boundary stretched to 73 meters, requiring precise timing for successful clearances.England captain Heather Knight expressed her preference for bowling first, while Matthews emphasized West Indies' strength in chasing. Both teams made strategic changes to their playing XIs, with England bringing back Alice Capsey and West Indies adding Chedean Nation and Zaida James.The match promises to be an exciting battle between two formidable teams. Matthews and Dottin, who often face off in domestic cricket, are eager to outplay each other. England, with its recent momentum, aims to continue its winning streak, while West Indies seeks to prove its resilience after an early setback in the tournament.

Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket team's captain, has emphasized the importance of expanding the team's bench strength, particularly in the fast-bowling department. He believes that having eight or nine players ready to step into the first XI at any given moment will help injury-proof the team."We want to create a bench strength where tomorrow if anything happens to anyone, we are not worried, and we don't want to be worried or too heavily reliant on a few individuals," Rohit said. "We want to look at the future at the same time, try and make sure that we get the right guys in as well."Along with the 15-member squad for the three-match series against New Zealand, India are also carrying Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, and Nitish Kumar Reddy as traveling reserves. Mayank and Reddy recently made their international debuts in the T20Is against Bangladesh, while Rana was an unused member of that squad.Rohit explained that the reason for keeping these players close to the team is to assess their potential for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. "We just want to monitor them and see their workload. We have seen some talent in them. I understand that they have not played a lot of red-ball cricket, but when you see a talent, you want to try and groom them."Mayank Yadav, in particular, has impressed Rohit with his pace and accuracy. "Mayank obviously has shown what he can do, but we just want to be very careful with him, he has had a lot of injuries in the past," Rohit said. "So, we want to progress him, not rapidly, we want to just see every day how he feels."The most important cog in India's fast-bowling line-up is Jasprit Bumrah, who has been named vice-captain for the series against New Zealand. Rohit believes that Bumrah has the potential to step in as captain in the early Tests against Australia next month."He's always been part of that leadership group and one of the experienced players as well," Rohit said of Bumrah. "He's played a lot of cricket and I've played a lot of cricket with him. He understands the game pretty well. He's got a good head on his shoulders."Rohit remained tight-lipped about the India XI for the opening Test against New Zealand, stating that they will take a call once they reach the venue on match day.

Team India's preparations for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia are in full swing, with the team set to face New Zealand in a three-match Test series starting on October 16. The series against New Zealand will serve as a crucial test for India, as they aim to resolve the middle-order puzzle and fine-tune their strategy ahead of the highly anticipated clash with Australia.One of the key questions surrounding India's middle order is the selection between KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan. Rahul, a seasoned campaigner with 52 Tests under his belt, has been preferred over Khan in recent matches. However, Khan's impressive debut series against England, where he scored three fifties, has raised questions about Rahul's place in the team.Rahul's experience and familiarity with Australian conditions could give him an edge over Khan. Rahul has played in two previous Border-Gavaskar series, scoring a century in Sydney in 2014-15. However, his performance in the 2018-19 tour was less impressive, averaging only 11.40 in three Tests.On the other hand, Khan's recent form has been exceptional. In the series against England, he scored 153 runs in three innings, including a century in the second Test. His ability to play spin effectively could be a valuable asset for India in the upcoming series against Australia.The opening Test against New Zealand will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, which has been a happy hunting ground for Rahul. In two previous Tests at the venue, he has scored 195 runs at an average of 65.00. A strong performance against New Zealand could bolster Rahul's case for a place in the middle order for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Ultimately, the decision between Rahul and Khan will depend on the team management's assessment of their current form and suitability for the conditions in Australia. With the series against New Zealand providing a crucial opportunity to test both players, India will be hoping for a clear indication of who will be their preferred choice for the middle order in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Jasprit Bumrah as the official vice-captain of the Indian Test team, a testament to his growing stature within the squad. While Rohit Sharma remains the captain, Bumrah's elevation to the vice-captaincy is a significant recognition of his leadership qualities and his importance to the team.Despite his limited captaincy experience, Bumrah has been an integral part of India's leadership group for some time. His tactical acumen and understanding of the game have impressed his teammates and coaches alike. Rohit Sharma, in particular, has praised Bumrah's contributions to the team's decision-making process."Bumrah has played a lot of cricket. He understands the game pretty well. He's got a good head on his shoulder. When you talk to him, he understands the game," said Rohit.In addition to his leadership abilities, Bumrah is also expected to mentor the younger pacers in the team. As the most experienced fast bowler, he will provide guidance and support to the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna."Whether it is speaking to the bowlers who have just come into the squad, whether it is getting internally with the team to discuss about how to move forward as a team, he's always been part of that leadership group," said Rohit.While Bumrah's vice-captaincy is a positive development for the Indian team, there are concerns about the fitness of Mohammed Shami. The veteran pacer has been struggling with a knee injury and is unlikely to be fit for the upcoming tour of Australia."To be honest, right now, it's pretty difficult for us to make a call on him, whether he'll be fit for this series or the Australia series. He recently had swelling on his knee, which was quite unusual," said Rohit.Despite the injury concerns, the Indian team remains confident ahead of the Test series against New Zealand. With Rohit Sharma at the helm and Jasprit Bumrah as his deputy, the team will be looking to continue their dominance in the longest format of the game.

The Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) is set to witness a significant technological upgrade in its tenth season, with the introduction of a third umpire in every game and an increase in matches utilizing the Decision Review System (DRS).To enhance the accuracy of on-field decisions, the WBBL will implement a third umpire for the first time. This additional official will be responsible for reviewing close calls and providing assistance to the on-field umpires.Furthermore, the league will expand the use of DRS to 33 out of the 43 matches. DRS allows teams to challenge umpiring decisions related to dismissals, such as leg before wicket (LBW), caught behind, and run outs. The TV umpire will have the authority to overturn or uphold the on-field decision based on video replays.In addition to the expanded DRS coverage, the WBBL will introduce an innings timer. Similar to the Big Bash League (BBL), teams will have 73 minutes to be ready to bowl the first ball of the 20th over. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a fielding penalty, requiring an extra fielder inside the circle.The implementation of these technological advancements aims to improve the fairness and accuracy of the game. Alistair Dobson, the head of Big Bash Leagues, emphasized the importance of world-class technology in a world-class competition. He believes that the expanded DRS coverage, TV umpire availability, and innings timer will enhance the viewing experience and provide a more consistent and fair playing field for the players.The tenth season of the WBBL kicks off on October 27 with a triple-header day. Defending champions Adelaide Strikers will face Brisbane Heat in a rematch of last season's final, followed by Melbourne Renegades against Sydney Sixers at the same venue. Perth Scorchers will then host Melbourne Stars at the WACA.