Cricket

Shubman Gill, India's rising batting star, continued his meticulous preparations for the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur by honing his technique against spin bowling. During India's practice session at Green Park, Gill engaged in intense cover drive drills with Rishabh Pant, who took on the role of a spinner."I'm going to hit a lot of drives against Jaddu (Jadeja) bhai," Gill declared in a video shared by the BCCI.Pant's brief stint with the ball drew a playful reaction from KL Rahul, who reminded the wicketkeeper-batter of his bowling exploits in the Delhi Premier League. Pant managed to outwit Gill once, prompting the latter to exclaim, "What a way to beat the batter!""You had a great practice session, Rishabh," Gill remarked in the video.The practice session also featured the presence of skipper Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, the spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav, and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.Team India arrived in Kanpur on Tuesday, eager to build on their impressive victory in the first Test in Chennai. Under the guidance of new head coach Gautam Gambhir, India cruised to a dominant 280-run win, with Gill playing a pivotal role.In the second innings, Gill remained unbeaten on 119, forging a crucial 167-run partnership with Pant to keep Bangladesh at bay. Ravichandran Ashwin was named 'Player of the Match' for his all-round performance, scoring a vital 113 in the first innings and claiming a six-wicket haul in the second.Ashwin's six-wicket haul marked his 37th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, equaling the legendary Shane Warne for the second-most five-wicket hauls in Test history. Only Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan, with 67 five-wicket hauls, stands ahead of Ashwin.

Sri Lanka Dominate Day One of Second Test Against New ZealandGalle, Sri Lanka - Dinesh Chandimal's masterful century propelled Sri Lanka to a commanding position on the opening day of the second Test against New Zealand in Galle. The left-handed batsman notched up his 16th Test century, his sixth at the picturesque venue, guiding the hosts to a formidable 306-3 at stumps.Chandimal's innings was a testament to his patience and shot-making prowess. He capitalized on loose deliveries, hitting 15 boundaries in his knock of 116. His partnership with Dimuth Karunaratne (46) laid the foundation for Sri Lanka's strong start.Angelo Mathews (78) and Kamindu Mendis (51) continued the momentum, hitting half-centuries to further bolster Sri Lanka's position. Mendis' fifty marked a world record eighth consecutive fifty since his debut two years ago. Mathews became the sixth cricketer to score 2,000 Test runs at a single venue, joining an elite group that includes Joe Root and Graham Gooch.New Zealand's bowlers struggled to contain Sri Lanka's batsmen, missing crucial chances that could have halted their progress. Daryl Mitchell dropped two catches, including a sitter to dismiss Chandimal early on. Tom Blundell also missed a stumping opportunity off Karunaratne.Sri Lanka's dominance was a continuation of their impressive performance in the first Test, which they won by 63 runs. New Zealand, on the other hand, have yet to win any of their five previous Tests at Galle.The Black Caps paid tribute to their late manager, Ian Taylor, by wearing black armbands. Taylor managed the New Zealand team from 1980 to 1990.

Star Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant has vehemently denounced the spread of false news regarding his potential transfer to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season.Pant took to social media to express his frustration and anger towards an individual who had disseminated baseless information on the platform. The user had alleged that Pant's management had inquired about the possibility of him becoming the captain of the RCB team, but Pant had ultimately declined the offer.The user further insinuated that this decision was influenced by a political agenda, taking a swipe at senior batsman Virat Kohli in the process.In response, Pant strongly condemned these claims, emphasizing the importance of responsible reporting and the need to verify facts before making such statements. He urged the individual to exercise more caution when sharing information on social media."Fake news. Why do you guys spread so much fake news on social media? Be sensible guys so bad. Don't create untrustworthy environment for no reason. It's not the first time and won't be last but I had to put this out. Please always re-check with your so-called sources. Everyday it's becoming worst. Rest it's up to you guys. It's wasn't just for you it's for a lot for people who is spreading misinformation. Tc," Pant tweeted.Pant's outburst comes amidst a sensational Test comeback in the opening game of the two-Test series against Bangladesh in Chennai. He scored a magnificent century, re-entering the ICC rankings at an impressive sixth position.The spread of false news and misinformation on social media has become a growing concern, with individuals often sharing unverified information without considering its potential consequences. Pant's response highlights the importance of responsible reporting and the need for individuals to be more discerning when consuming information online.

Star Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has acknowledged the formidable challenge of touring India for Test matches, emphasizing that the quality of the hosts makes the pitches less significant. Bangladesh has yet to secure a Test victory against India since their first encounter in Dhaka in 2000.Shakib, who has been a pivotal figure in Bangladesh's cricket success, expressed his admiration for India's dominance in Test cricket. "If you look at other countries, every now and then they will lose one or two games. But in India, you hardly see them losing in Test matches. So yes, I would say you are right," Shakib told reporters.Despite Bangladesh's recent Test series victory against Pakistan, Shakib drew a distinction between the two teams. "Pakistan is a relatively new team. In experience, I would say, if you look at the matches they played and if you look at our team and the matches we have played, we have got more experience than them. And in Test cricket I think that is a massive factor."However, Shakib acknowledged India's exceptional status in the cricketing world. "They are the number one team in the World Championship at this moment. They are probably unbeatable at home. I saw a stat somewhere where for some 4000 days they have been unbeaten in India. So, that shows how good they are in India."Shakib emphasized that Bangladesh must perform exceptionally well to compete against India. "We have to play really well against them to be able to show the fight that we feel like we can put on," he said.Regarding the potential impact of a spin-friendly pitch in Kanpur, Shakib downplayed its significance. "When you play against a team like India, Australia, England, pitches don't matter much because they will obviously have their weapon with which they can attack us."Shakib urged Bangladesh's young batters to step up and score big. "If I talk about batting only, I think there has been an improvement. If you see from the first innings to the second innings. First innings we bowled out for about 150. In the second innings, we scored about 250. If we can score 350, somewhere there, I think that will be a huge improvement. And 350 to 400 on first innings will give us a lot of confidence and the dressing room will feel a lot more comfortable," he said.

Bangladesh faces another formidable challenge in Kanpur as they take on India in the second Test of the series. Despite their impressive 2-0 victory in Pakistan, Bangladesh was outplayed by India in Chennai, losing by 280 runs.India's batting depth was on full display in Chennai, with three centurions and two half-centurions despite Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's modest contributions. Their bowling attack also proved formidable, with the seamers and spinners sharing 17 wickets.Kanpur presents a different challenge for Bangladesh. The pitch is expected to be flatter and slower, favoring spinners in the latter stages of the match. However, rain is forecast for the first three days, which could impact the pitch and team compositions.Despite the odds, Bangladesh has shown signs of promise. Their openers provided a solid start in the second innings in Chennai, and Najmul Hossain Shanto returned to form with an 82. Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz also made starts in the first innings.India will be keen to fine-tune their game ahead of tougher opponents in the coming months. Shubman Gill, who scored an unbeaten 119 in the second innings in Chennai, will be eager to prove his worth at No. 3.Shakib Al Hasan remains a key figure for Bangladesh. Despite concerns about his workload and effectiveness, he is expected to play a significant role in Kanpur.India may consider playing three spinners, with Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja all in contention. Bangladesh could also opt for three spinners, with Taijul Islam potentially replacing Nahid Rana.The pitch in Kanpur is expected to be slow and low-bouncing, with the possibility of rain affecting the match. India has a strong record at home, with more wins than losses in Test history. Ravindra Jadeja is one wicket away from becoming the seventh Indian to take 300 Test wickets.

India's senior batsman KL Rahul is facing pressure to regain his run-scoring form ahead of a demanding schedule of nine Tests in four months. The team is backing him to rediscover his touch, starting with the ongoing Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur.Rahul's return to the side after an injury layoff has been underwhelming, with scores of 16 and 22 not out in the first Test. His last century came in December 2023, a drought that has lasted almost three years.Assistant coach Abhishek Nayar expressed confidence in Rahul's ability to turn things around. "KL is someone who understands his game very well," Nayar said. "There are times when a player is finding his feet. Hopefully, we can have a turnaround in KL as well."India's upcoming schedule includes three Tests against New Zealand at home, followed by a five-Test tour of Australia. Nayar noted that Rahul showed glimpses of form in the first Test against Bangladesh, particularly in the second innings when he scored 22 off 19 balls."The way he was batting in the second innings is the kind of cricket we are expecting and hoping for," Nayar said. "I am pretty sure going forward you will see the expectations and the performances that you have from him."India's victory against Bangladesh marked a significant milestone, as it pushed their Test win rate above 50 percent for the first time in history. The team has now won 179 Tests and lost 178.

KL Rahul's struggles have continued unabated, raising concerns about his place in India's Test squad. The veteran batter has failed to make a significant impact in recent outings, prompting a warning from the team management.In the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai, Rahul managed only 16 off 52 deliveries in the first innings and 22 not out off 19 in the second. His performance was particularly disappointing given the presence of Sarfaraz Khan, a proven performer in subcontinent conditions, waiting in the wings.Rahul's struggles extend beyond the Chennai Test. In his sole Duleep Trophy outing before that, he scored 37 off 111 and 57 off 121 deliveries, raising eyebrows with his labored approach.A BCCI official has reportedly stated that Rahul has been in "kind of a shell," with his performance in both the Duleep Trophy and the Chennai Test being a cause for concern.Former India left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi believes that Rahul can redeem himself by spending more time at the crease. "His numbers in Tests abroad speak for themselves," Joshi said. "He just needs to spend more time at the crease which will lead to runs, whoever the opposition is, because he has every shot in his armoury."Joshi emphasized the importance of Rahul consuming more deliveries to develop the necessary red-ball intent. "He needs to consume more number of balls just to feel the red-ball intent because red-ball cricket is played session-wise," Joshi explained.With the second Test against Bangladesh approaching, Rahul's place in the XI is under threat. If he fails to improve his performance, he could face the prospect of being dropped from the squad.

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh recently shared a captivating personal anecdote from the infamous 2007/08 Border-Gavaskar series, shedding light on a humorous incident that occurred amidst the controversy surrounding the 'Monkeygate' scandal.During an appearance on the Club Prairie Fire podcast, Yuvraj revealed that he was romantically involved with an actress who happened to be working in Australia at the time. Despite his request for her to refrain from visiting him due to his focus on the crucial series, she surprised him by following him to Canberra.Yuvraj's performance in the first two Tests was underwhelming, and he couldn't help but wonder if his girlfriend's presence was a distraction. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when she decided to pack his suitcase, leaving him with only her pink slip-ons."In the morning, I was like 'where are my shoes?' She said, 'I packed them.' I asked, 'How would I go on the bus'? And she said, 'Wear mine,'" Yuvraj recalled.With no other options available, Yuvraj was forced to wear the pink slip-ons to the airport, much to the amusement of his teammates. "I had to wear pink slip-ons to the airport until I bought flip-flops there," he added.Yuvraj's revelation has sparked curiosity among cricket fans, who are eager to know the identity of the actress. However, the World Cup winner has chosen to keep her name a secret.

Sri Lanka and New Zealand locked horns in the second Test match in Galle, with the visitors opting to bowl first after winning the toss. The pitch, number 7, offered less grass and a firmer surface, providing a challenge for the batsmen.New Zealand's Tim Southee struck early, dismissing Pathum Nissanka for a duck in the first over. Nissanka nicked a delivery that nipped away from him, giving Tom Blundell a simple catch. Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal steadied the Sri Lankan innings, but the hosts struggled to build partnerships.William O'Rourke, sharing the new ball with Southee, bowled a maiden over to Karunaratne. However, he spilled a chance to dismiss the left-hander in his next over, with Daryl Mitchell dropping a catch at first slip.Chandimal, who came in at number 3, showed some aggression, hitting a boundary off Southee. However, he was dismissed for 41 by Ajaz Patel, who bowled a flatter delivery that Chandimal could only tap towards cover-point.Karunaratne, who had been watchful throughout his innings, was eventually dismissed for 28 by O'Rourke. The left-hander was caught behind after edging a delivery that swung away from him.Sri Lanka's middle order failed to make significant contributions, with Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, and Dhananjaya de Silva all falling cheaply. Kusal Mendis, the wicket-keeper, provided some resistance with a 25-ball 20, but he was eventually dismissed by Patel.At the end of the day's play, Sri Lanka were struggling at 122/7, with Prabath Jayasuriya and Nishan Peiris at the crease. New Zealand's bowlers had been disciplined and accurate, with Southee, Patel, and O'Rourke sharing the wickets.