Cricket

Virat Kohli, the talismanic Indian batter, has been enduring a lean patch in recent times. His batting form has been a cause of concern, with the former Indian captain failing to accumulate 100 runs in six innings during the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand. However, as India embarks on the highly anticipated Test series against Australia, expectations are high that Kohli will rediscover his old self and lead the team to success.Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes that Kohli's "in-the-face" attitude will be crucial in the upcoming series. Shastri expects Kohli to be fired up and ready to take on the challenge of facing the formidable Australian bowling attack. He drew parallels between Kohli and Australian batter Steve Smith, suggesting that both players possess the ability to dominate a series if they get a couple of good knocks under their belt.Shastri also highlighted the importance of a strong start for Kohli. He believes that if Kohli can get off to a good start in the first two or three innings, he can set the tone for the series and help India gain an early advantage.However, the Indian team has faced criticism for its lack of organized warm-up matches ahead of the series. Shastri admitted that he would have preferred to see India's first XI take on a team in an organized contest. However, he also expressed satisfaction with the intra-squad three-day simulation game that the players were involved in.Despite the challenges, Shastri remains confident in India's chances of success in Australia. He believes that the team has the talent and experience to overcome the odds and emerge victorious.

Suryakumar Yadav, the flamboyant Indian batter, will lead the Men in Blue in a four-match T20I series against South Africa, commencing on November 8. Yadav, known for his exceptional batting prowess, has amassed four centuries in the shortest format, including a memorable ton against the Proteas during India's previous T20I tour to South Africa in December 2023.In his two previous T20I appearances in South Africa, Yadav has amassed 156 runs at an impressive average of 78 and a blistering strike rate of 169.56. While the first T20I in Durban was abandoned due to rain, India suffered a narrow defeat in the second match at Gqeberha, despite Yadav's valiant 36-ball 56.However, it was in the third and final T20I at Johannesburg that Yadav truly showcased his brilliance. Batting at number four, he reached his half-century off just 32 deliveries and went on to smash his fourth T20I century off a mere 55 balls. His blistering knock, adorned with eight sixes and seven fours, propelled India to a formidable total of 201/7.Kuldeep Yadav's exceptional bowling performance, claiming five wickets for just 17 runs, then helped India restrict South Africa to a paltry 95 runs, securing a 1-1 draw in the series.The South Africa tour was not initially included in India's schedule but was arranged following discussions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA). The T20I series will be played across four venues: Durban, Gqeberha, Centurion, and Johannesburg, with matches scheduled for November 8, 10, 13, and 15.

KKR CEO Reveals Reasons Behind Shreyas Iyer's Non-RetentionFollowing Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) dominant IPL 2024 title win under Shreyas Iyer's captaincy, the franchise's decision to not retain him ahead of the mega auction raised eyebrows. KKR CEO Venky Mysore has now shed light on the thought process behind this move.Mysore emphasized that Iyer was KKR's top retention priority, but the decision ultimately rested with the player. He hinted that Iyer's desire to test his market value in the auction played a role in his non-retention."He was No. 1 on our list (for retention). He's captain and we have to build everything around the leadership. We picked him for this specific reason in 2022," Mysore said.Mysore clarified that the retention process requires mutual agreement between the franchise and the player. In Iyer's case, this agreement could not be reached."What is fundamental to a retention is that it's a matter of mutually agreeing. It's not a one-sided right that the franchise has, the player has to consider various factors and agree," Mysore explained."Somewhere along the line, if that agreement doesn't happen because of factors like money or someone wants to test their value, then the decision is influenced," he added.Mysore expressed his support for Iyer's decision to explore his commercial value in the auction. He acknowledged that players have the right to prioritize their financial interests."In this case, it so happened that he felt it was best, and we're always supportive of the players when it comes to going to the auction and testing their value," Mysore said.With several teams in need of captains, including Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Iyer is expected to be a highly sought-after player in the IPL 2025 mega auction.

IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Retained Players and Purse DetailsAhead of the upcoming mega auction for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, the ten franchises have finalized their retained players. Here's a detailed breakdown of the retained players, purse remaining, and right-to-match (RTM) options for each team:Mumbai Indians* Retained Players: Jasprit Bumrah (INR 18 crore), Suryakumar Yadav (INR 16.35 crore), Hardik Pandya (INR 16.35 crore), Rohit Sharma (INR 16.30 crore), Tilak Varma (INR 8 crore)* Purse Remaining: INR 45 crore* RTM Options: 1 (uncapped player)Sunrisers Hyderabad* Retained Players: Heinrich Klaasen (INR 23 crore), Pat Cummins (INR 18 crore), Abhishek Sharma (INR 14 crore), Travis Head (INR 14 crore), Nitish Kumar Reddy (INR 6 crore)* Purse Remaining: INR 45 crore* RTM Options: 1 (uncapped player)Chennai Super Kings* Retained Players: Ruturaj Gaikwad (INR 18 crore), Matheesha Pathirana (INR 13 crore), Shivam Dube (INR 12 crore), Ravindra Jadeja (INR 18 crore), MS Dhoni (INR 4 crore)* Purse Remaining: INR 65 crore* RTM Options: 1 (capped or uncapped player)Royal Challengers Bengaluru* Retained Players: Virat Kohli (INR 21 crore), Rajat Patidar (INR 11 crore), Yash Dayal (INR 5 crore)* Purse Remaining: INR 83 crore* RTM Options: 3 (one uncapped and two capped players, or three capped players)Delhi Capitals* Retained Players: Axar Patel (INR 16.50 crore), Kuldeep Yadav (INR 13.25 crore), Tristan Stubbs (INR 10 crore), Abishek Porel (INR 4 crore)* Purse Remaining: INR 73 crore* RTM Options: 2 (one uncapped and one capped player, or two capped players)Kolkata Knight Riders* Retained Players: Rinku Singh (INR 13 crore), Varun Chakravarthy (INR 12 crore), Sunil Narine (INR 12 crore), Andre Russell (INR 12 crore), Harshit Rana (INR 4 crore), Ramandeep Singh (INR 4 crore)* Purse Remaining: INR 51 crore* RTM Options: NoneLucknow Super Giants* Retained Players: Nicholas Pooran (INR 21 crore), Ravi Bishnoi (INR 11 crore), Mayank Yadav (INR 11 crore), Mohsin Khan (INR 4 crore), Ayush Badoni (INR 4 crore)* Purse Remaining: INR 69 crore* RTM Options: 1 (capped player)Punjab Kings* Retained Players: Shashank Singh (INR 5.5 crore), Prabhsimran Singh (INR 4 crore)* Purse Remaining: INR 110.5 crore* RTM Options: 4 (capped players)Rajasthan Royals* Retained Players: Sanju Samson (INR 18 crore), Yashasvi Jaiswal (INR 18 crore), Riyan Parag (INR 14 crore), Dhruv Jurel (INR 14 crore), Shimron Hetmyer (INR 11 crore), Sandeep Sharma (INR 4 crore)* Purse Remaining: INR 41 crore* RTM Options: None

Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is in contention to make his Test debut as a specialist batter in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, according to chief selector George Bailey.Inglis has been in red-hot form in domestic cricket, scoring four centuries in his last seven Sheffield Shield matches. While he is Australia's incumbent keeper in ODIs and T20Is, his impressive batting performances have put him in the mix for a Test call-up."There's no doubt that the form is really fantastic at the moment... the ability to jump back into domestic cricket and dominate has been fantastic," Bailey said. "I think in different series at different times of the year, he would firmly come into the mix purely as a batter the way he's been going."However, with Australian Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey also in rich form, Inglis is unlikely to be considered for the wicketkeeping role. Instead, he is being eyed as a specialist middle-order batter."If the right opportunity opened up throughout the summer, in the spots where we think he's most capable of performing, I think he'd be firmly in that conversation as well," Bailey added.Inglis's emergence as a specialist batter comes at a time when Australia is looking to fill the vacant opening slot following David Warner's retirement. However, Bailey ruled out Inglis for the opener's role, saying that he is not being considered for that position in the short term."I've spoken to Josh on this. Not in the short term, I don't think that he's someone that we would be looking to place at the top of the order," Bailey said.Inglis is also a contender to lead Australia's T20I side in the upcoming three-match series against Pakistan. However, all-format players, including regular T20 skipper Mitchell Marsh, are sitting out of the Pakistan series to prepare for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Sanju Samson, the enigmatic Indian batter, has shed light on his relationship with captain Rohit Sharma and the events surrounding his omission from the playing XI in the 2022 T20 World Cup final.In an interview with journalist Vimal Kumar, Samson revealed that he was initially slated to play in the final against South Africa but was dropped at the last moment. "I had a chance to play the final. I was told to stay ready, and I was ready. But just before the toss, they decided to stick with the same XI," Samson said.Despite his disappointment, Samson praised Rohit's leadership and the manner in which he handled the situation. "During warm-ups, Rohit took me aside to explain the decision. He asked, 'You understood, na?'" Samson shared. "I told him, 'Let’s focus on winning the match first; we can talk later.'"Samson recalled Rohit returning shortly after, sensing his disappointment. "He said, 'I know you’re cursing me in your mind.' I told him that as a player, I wanted to play. It had been my dream to perform in moments like these. Rohit explained his pattern and the reasons behind the decision. I told him I respected his explanation, but I will always carry a regret—that I missed playing a World Cup final under a leader like him," Samson added.Samson admitted that the 10-minute conversation before the toss left a lasting impact. "I thought, in such a high-pressure moment like a World Cup final, the captain would usually focus on the game or the players who are playing. But Rohit took 10 minutes to explain his decision to me before the toss, and then he went for the toss. That gesture won him a place in my heart forever."While Samson has often found himself on the fringes of the national team, he was part of India's squad that won the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, he didn't get a chance to play in any of the eight matches, with Rishabh Pant being preferred as the first-choice wicket-keeper batter.Despite missing out during the World Cup, Samson made a resounding statement in the recent T20I series against Bangladesh. In the second T20I, he hammered a stunning 111 off just 47 balls, leading India to a record-breaking total of 297/6— the highest-ever T20I score by a full-member ICC nation. His blistering knock, featuring 11 fours and eight sixes, was the second-fastest T20I century by an Indian, achieved in just 40 balls.Samson's recent performances have reignited the debate about his place in the Indian team. With his exceptional talent and unwavering determination, he is poised to make a significant contribution to Indian cricket in the years to come.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has labeled the current Pakistan side as the "worst" he has seen in history. Vaughan's remark came after Pakistan became the first team to lose a Test after scoring 550 or more runs in the first innings. Despite posting 556 runs in the first innings, England outbatted them in Multan to declare on 823/7. The hosts collapsed for a meager 220 in the second innings, allowing England to seal the match by an innings and 47 runs.Vaughan's criticism of Pakistan was scathing, calling them "the worst Pakistan side I can remember." He attributed their poor performance to a lack of discipline and clarity in their bowling attack. In contrast, Vaughan praised England's approach, who scored well over five runs per over in the first innings and bowled with great discipline."This is the worst Pakistan side I can remember," Vaughan wrote in his column for The Telegraph. "But to make 823 for seven at 5.5 runs an over, while taking few risks and looking in total control, is very special. The most impressive thing for me was the way the bowling attack combined. You could tell what everyone's role was. And they stuck to their task gallantly and were right up for the challenge, which is exactly what Brendon McCullum wants to see."Vaughan's only area of concern for England was about Shoaib Bashir being their first choice spinner over Jack Leach, especially after the latter sparked Pakistan's collapse in the second innings."The one selection point I was not sure about at the start of the summer was opting for Shoaib Bashir over Leach as the front-line spinner," Vaughan added. "I can see Bashir's potential, but Leach outbowled him in Multan, and had a very good season for Somerset. I am a bit old school with spin bowling. Your finger spinner just needs to bowl, bowl, bowl. That is the way to learn, get used to conditions, make subtle variations to your release point, and angle of attack. Bashir just has not bowled that much this summer."Pakistan will now look to bounce back in the series with the second Test starting on October 15.

Jasprit Bumrah, India's premier fast bowler, has taken a well-deserved break after leading his team to a 2-0 Test series victory over Bangladesh. While Team India continues its T20I series against Bangladesh, Bumrah has been spotted at the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup 2024, supporting the Indian women's team.Bumrah, recently crowned as the No. 1 Test bowler in the ICC rankings, was present during the high-octane India-Pakistan match, where India emerged victorious with seven balls to spare. As India's women's team chased down a target of 106, Bumrah was seen in the crowd, giving an interview to broadcasters.Bumrah's presence at the Women's T20 World Cup highlights his commitment to the sport and his support for the Indian women's team. The 30-year-old pacer is expected to return to action in India's upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand, starting October 16. He is also likely to be a key member of the Indian team that will tour Australia for five Test matches later in 2024.India's women's team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, secured their first win of the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 against Pakistan. After restricting Pakistan to a modest total of 105, India's batting lineup struggled initially, losing Smriti Mandhana early. However, contributions from Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Kaur helped India cross the finish line.Despite the victory, India's qualification for the semi-finals remains an uphill battle. After a disappointing loss to New Zealand, India still has to face reigning champions Australia and a formidable Sri Lanka side. The team will need to perform consistently and improve their batting performance to secure a spot in the knockout stages.

Pakistan's Selection Committee Undergoes Further Restructuring as Mohammad Yousuf ResignsThe Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the resignation of Mohammad Yousuf from its restructured selection committee. Yousuf, a former Pakistan captain and batting legend, was one of the five remaining voting members on the committee.In a statement on social media, Yousuf cited "personal reasons" for his decision to step down. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Pakistan team and wished them well in their future endeavors.The PCB thanked Yousuf for his contributions and stated that he had "voluntarily stepped down...to focus on other key responsibilities within the cricket board." Yousuf remains a batting coach at the PCB's National High Performance Centre.Yousuf's departure follows a period of volatility within Pakistan's selection setup. Wahab Riaz was appointed chief selector late last year but was sacked along with Abdul Razzaq after Pakistan's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup in June.The current selection committee, which has no chief selector, now consists of the captains and coaches of the national team, as well as Asad Shafiq and Yousuf. With Yousuf's resignation, Shafiq is the only voting member outside of the captains and coaches remaining on the committee.The committee's next task will be to announce the squad for the remainder of Pakistan's Test series against England. The first Test of the series will begin on October 7 in Multan.