Cricket

Pakistan's red-ball format head coach, Jason Gillespie, has expressed his concern over the negative impact of unwarranted criticism from former cricketers on the national team. Gillespie believes that such comments, often made on TV shows and YouTube channels, can deeply affect the players' morale and create a hostile environment.Gillespie emphasized the importance of creating a safe and supportive space for the players, where they can focus on their performance without the added pressure of external criticism. He urged former players to be more judicious in their opinions, especially on social media, as their words can have a significant impact on the players' confidence.Gillespie also acknowledged his frustration over his reduced role as head coach after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stripped him and Test skipper Shan Masood of their places in the selection committee and removed their say in pitch preparation. He admitted that this was not what he had signed up for, but emphasized his commitment to helping the Pakistan team succeed.Gillespie highlighted the challenges of working in a different environment, where things are done differently. He said that he had to adapt to the changing circumstances and focus on his primary goal of improving the team's performance.Despite the challenges, Gillespie remains optimistic about the future of Pakistan cricket. He believes that the team has the potential to achieve great things if they can create a positive and supportive environment. He urged all stakeholders, including former players, to work together to support the team and help them reach their full potential.

Ollie Pope, England's stand-in captain, has vowed to ignore criticism of his batting after a disappointing performance against Sri Lanka. Despite England's perfect record under his leadership, Pope has come under fire for failing to reach 20 in four innings.Pope's dismissals in the first Test at Lord's raised concerns about his ability to balance captaincy and batting. However, he insists that he will not use his new role as an excuse for his poor form."I'm not going to put down my average shot to the fact that I was captain," Pope said. "I'll learn from it and move on."Pope acknowledges that his nervous starts have been an issue, but he is working to improve them. "It's something that I'm still trying to improve in my game," he said. "I want to keep on improving, especially the way I start my innings."Despite the criticism, Pope remains confident in his abilities. He has sought advice from Joe Root, who has been in excellent form for England. "Any batter in England can learn a fair bit off him," Pope said.Pope is excited to play his first Test at The Oval, his home ground. "It's always special getting back to The Oval," he said. "Hopefully there will be a great crowd in."England are aiming for a summer sweep, having not won every Test in a home season since 2004. "It would be a pretty cool thing to look back on," Pope said. "We've played some really good cricket throughout this summer."

Virat Kohli's Resurgence: Fueled by Criticism, RCB's Orange Cap WinnerThe Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) endured a dismal start to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, losing seven of their first eight matches. Amidst the team's struggles, Virat Kohli emerged as a beacon of consistency, scoring runs at a steady pace. However, his strike rate and intent came under scrutiny from critics.Undeterred by the criticism, Kohli transformed his game in the second half of the season. He not only improved his strike rate but also played with a renewed sense of purpose. Dinesh Karthik, RCB's wicketkeeper-batter, attributed Kohli's resurgence to the criticism he faced."Experts" spurred Kohli on by targeting him, Karthik said. "And you don't want to see that side of Virat Kohli. He thrives on that. He's someone who inadvertently wants to hold on to certain things to do well."Kohli's determination to prove his detractors wrong was evident throughout the season. He finished as the Orange Cap winner with 741 runs in 15 innings, averaging 61.75 and striking at 154.69.Thanks to Kohli's resurgence, RCB recorded six consecutive wins to qualify for the playoffs. However, their campaign ended in the Eliminator against the Rajasthan Royals.Karthik believes Kohli's ability to channel criticism into motivation is a testament to his competitive spirit. "He loves proving people wrong," Karthik said. "He's fiery and you don't want to be anywhere close to it because you're going to get burnt for sure."Kohli's performance in IPL 2024 is a reminder of his unwavering determination and ability to overcome adversity. Fueled by criticism, he emerged as a force to be reckoned with, leading RCB to a remarkable turnaround in the second half of the season.