Cricket

India's resounding 4-1 series victory over England in the recently concluded five-match Test series was a testament to the team's resilience and the exceptional leadership of Rohit Sharma. After losing the opening Test in Hyderabad, India staged a remarkable comeback, winning the remaining four matches to clinch the series.Rohit Sharma, who took over the captaincy from Virat Kohli, played a pivotal role in India's triumph. Not only did he lead from the front with his batting, scoring 400 runs in five Tests, but he also displayed astute leadership qualities.In the crucial Rajkot Test, where India were struggling at 33/3 in the first innings, Rohit played a captain's knock, scoring a magnificent 133 off 196 deliveries. His partnership of 204 runs with Ravindra Jadeja rescued India from a precarious position.India's head coach, Rahul Dravid, praised Rohit's contribution, saying, "It has been a pleasure watching him bat since I saw him as an 18-year-old. It is always pleasing to the eye. But I think he has added a lot of steel and grit to that. Sometimes, we forget that a little bit. Look at his numbers. He was shy enough not to mention the critical situation where he won the toss in Rajkot, and we were 3 down in the first hour. You need somebody to step up and get a hundred, and the captain does that for you."Rohit's leadership was also evident in his ability to motivate his team and create a positive atmosphere within the squad. Despite the challenges they faced, India remained focused and determined throughout the series.India's victory was a collective effort, with contributions from all members of the team. However, Rohit Sharma's leadership and batting prowess were undoubtedly key factors in their success.

England's Bazball Approach Falters in India, Hussain Calls for Individual FocusFormer England captain Nasser Hussain has criticized the team's over-reliance on the "Bazball" approach, following their 4-1 series defeat to India. Hussain believes that individual performances must take precedence over the aggressive style of play advocated by Test coach Brendon McCullum."We just get lost with this term Bazball," Hussain wrote in his column for Sky Sports. "The team, the management does not like the term Bazball. They need to look at their own individual performances."Hussain pointed to the team's frequent batting collapses as a major concern. "Look at the opposition. Like in anything in life, try and learn. Why did we collapse? Why Crawley keeps getting starts and keeps getting out? Ben Duckett, got a brilliant 150, gave a charge when the ball was too new."Skipper Ben Stokes also came under fire for his poor batting performance in the series. "Ben Stokes had a poor series with the bat. Maybe because he is playing only with the bat. Just look at your own game and improve," said Hussain.Hussain praised James Anderson for reaching 700 Test wickets and R Ashwin for crossing 100 Test matches and 500 wickets. "The reason they end up as greats of the game is because they are constantly looking at improving in the game. Trying to improve," he said.Despite winning the first Test, England lost the plot in subsequent matches, often squandering their advantage. "In the third Test, England were in a position to try and get close to India but didn't and once you give them a lead then you are chasing the game. They had their chances in the fourth Test as well," Hussain noted."The batting collapses will be the main issue from this tour. There have been so many occasions where they have got off to decent starts and the middle order has then collapsed."This is England's first series loss under the McCullum-Stokes era. They last won a series in India in 2012. "It can happen in India but the pitches in this series have been brilliant so England can have no complaints about that. Plus, they won three tosses out of five," Hussain said."They will look at those collapses and say, 'what could we have done differently in those positions to make sure it doesn't happen again?' because it did happen again."

India's dominance in Test cricket has reached new heights as they reclaim the top spot in the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings after a resounding 4-1 series victory over England. This triumph marks a remarkable comeback for the Indian team, who had suffered a narrow defeat in the opening Test in Hyderabad.However, India's resilience and determination shone through in the subsequent matches. They displayed their prowess in Vizag, Rajkot, Ranchi, and Dharamsala, securing a series win and reclaiming the top spot in the ICC Test Team Rankings with 122 rating points.Australia, the previous holders of the top position, now occupy the second spot with 117 rating points, while England sits in third place with 111 rating points. India's dominance extends beyond Test cricket, as they also lead the ODI rankings with 121 rating points and the T20I rankings with 266 rating points.This comprehensive success across all three formats underscores India's consistent excellence in cricket. Their ability to adapt to different conditions and overcome challenges has been a hallmark of their recent performances.The Indian team's resurgence has been driven by a combination of factors, including the emergence of young talent, the experience of senior players, and the astute leadership of Virat Kohli. The team's depth and versatility have allowed them to overcome injuries and setbacks, maintaining their position as one of the most formidable teams in world cricket.India's dominance is expected to continue in the upcoming series against New Zealand, where they will aim to further consolidate their position at the top of the ICC Test Team Rankings. The team's success is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

India's dominance in the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) continues as they extend their lead at the top of the points table after defeating England in Dharamsala. The 4-1 series victory solidifies India's position as the number one Test team, regardless of the outcome of the ongoing Christchurch Test between New Zealand and Australia.India's resurgence in the WTC began after a disappointing start to the series against England. After losing the first Test in Hyderabad, they rallied to win the next three matches, climbing back to the top of the standings. The innings victory in Dharamsala further cemented their position, boosting their percentage points to 68.51%.The WTC points system awards 12 points for a Test win, six for a tie, four for a draw, and zero for a defeat. Teams are ranked based on the percentage of points won, as each team plays a varying number of Tests in the WTC cycle.India's success in the WTC is attributed to their consistent performances and ability to win matches in different conditions. They have now won six out of nine matches in the ongoing cycle, with only two defeats and one draw.Meanwhile, England's slow over-rate penalties have hindered their progress in the WTC. Despite winning three Tests in this cycle, they have lost 19 points for slow over-rate penalties, dropping them to eighth place with only 17.5 percentage points.New Zealand and Australia remain in contention for the top two spots. If New Zealand wins the Christchurch Test, they will increase their percentage points to 66.67%, while an Australian victory would move them ahead of New Zealand on 62.5%.With only a Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Test series remaining before the IPL season begins, India is set to maintain their number one ranking for the foreseeable future. The top two teams at the end of the WTC cycle will qualify for the final at Lord's in June 2025. India has previously qualified for both WTC finals but lost to New Zealand in 2021 and Australia in 2023.

Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma's leadership style has earned him immense admiration from his teammates. His jovial nature and camaraderie with the younger players are often captured in viral videos on social media.Following India's emphatic 4-1 Test series victory over England in Dharamsala, Rohit took some of the team's rising stars out for a casual outing. He shared a picture of the gathering on Instagram, featuring Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.Rohit's witty caption, "Garden mein ghoomne wale bande," drew laughter from former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh and current star Suryakumar Yadav. Yuvraj reacted with a laughing emoji, while Suryakumar quipped, "Gill and Jaiswal definitely."Beyond the lighthearted moments, Rohit also addressed his future in cricket. He stated that he would retire the moment he felt he could no longer contribute to the team. "One day, when I wake up and feel, I am not good enough then I will retire straightaway," Rohit said.He praised the team's performance against England, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and the resilience of the young players. "When you win a Test like this, everything has to fall in place. At some stage people are gonna (go) and people are gonna come and we know that," Rohit said."These (young) guys are maybe short of experience, they have played a lot of cricket and I can stand here and see that these guys responded pretty well under pressure. The credit goes to the entire team and it was pleasing to see."Rohit will now shift his focus to the upcoming IPL 2024 season with the Mumbai Indians. His leadership and experience will be crucial as the team aims to regain its past glory.

Former England spinner Graeme Swann has lauded the Indian batters for their exceptional performance in the fifth Test match in Dharamsala, drawing comparisons to England's aggressive approach under Ben Stokes.On Day 2, Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma struck centuries, laying the foundation for Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal to further torment the visitors. Swann remarked that India had adopted their own version of "Bazball," England's attacking batting style, and had executed it brilliantly throughout the series."India have come out and are playing England at their own 'Bazball' game - and they're doing very, very well," Swann said during commentary.Ravichandran Ashwin, in his landmark 100th Test, claimed a five-wicket haul as India crushed England by an innings and 64 runs, sealing the series 4-1.England's James Anderson became the third bowler to reach 700 Test wickets, but the tourists were outplayed from the start. Ashwin's off-spin proved devastating, dismissing England's top and middle order as they collapsed to 195 all out.After the match, Ashwin expressed his delight with his performance. "Win the Test and take wickets, what more can a bowler ask for?" he said.India's dominance in the series was a testament to their superior batting and bowling. Gill, Sharma, and Khan all scored centuries, while Ashwin and Mohammed Shami led the bowling attack with 18 and 16 wickets respectively.England's aggressive approach, dubbed "Bazball," had been successful in their recent victories, but India proved that they could match and even surpass their opponents' attacking style.

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has launched a scathing attack on England's "Bazball" approach, which he believes led to their dismal performance in the recently concluded Test series against India. England began the series with a resounding victory in Hyderabad, but their fortunes took a nosedive thereafter, as they lost the next four Tests to concede the series 1-4.Sehwag, known for his forthright opinions, took to social media to express his dismay at England's tactics. "Bazball, Batti Gull," he wrote. "There needs to be a method to madness. England simply didn't have the game to match and looked clueless particularly after the second test match."The former opener pointed out that England's captain, Ben Stokes, failed to lead by example, which compounded their problems. "The captain failing miserably only added to their woes and they simply looked like living in an illusion," Sehwag added.Sehwag believes that England's "Bazball" approach, which emphasizes aggressive batting, is flawed. "For this method to succeed, there needs to be a method to madness, which England severely lacked," he wrote.Stokes, however, defended England's approach, arguing that it is necessary to take risks in order to score runs against India's formidable bowling attack. "When India get on top, especially with the ball, they get a lot of men around the bat and with the quality of their (spin) bowlers...you've got to find ways of getting rid of those close fielders," Stokes explained."And that comes with risk, and risks don't always pay off. You've just got to be positive enough to take that risk, accept that it may lead to your downfall. But when the intent is there and you have a clear reason as to why you are playing that shot, you can hold your hands up and accept it."Despite Stokes's defense, Sehwag remains unconvinced. He believes that England's approach is unsustainable and will ultimately lead to more failures. "England need to go back to the drawing board and reassess their strategy," he said. "They need to find a way to balance aggression with caution, and they need to be more consistent with their batting."

India's young batting brigade has emerged as a beacon of hope for the team, showcasing their resilience and talent in the recently concluded Test series against England. Despite the absence of seasoned veterans Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, the next-generation stars stepped up to the plate, delivering exceptional performances that secured a resounding 4-1 series victory.Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Player of the Series, led the charge with a remarkable 712 runs, while Shubman Gill contributed 452 runs. Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel also made significant contributions, showcasing their all-round abilities.India's head coach, Rahul Dravid, expressed his pride in the team's performance, particularly the youngsters' ability to handle pressure and deliver under challenging circumstances. "We have always found people to step up," Dravid said. "We missed a few key players, but we believe there is an incredible amount of talent in India."Dravid also acknowledged the role of the selectors, who have been instrumental in identifying and nurturing these young talents. "Shout out to Ajit (Agarkar) and his team (selection panel) as well," Dravid added. "They picked the right ones, and they have come here and performed."The series victory against England marks a significant turning point for Indian cricket, as it signals the emergence of a new generation of players who are ready to carry the torch forward. Their performances have instilled confidence in the team and raised expectations for the future.

England's 4-1 series defeat to India was a result of being outplayed by the superior team, according to captain Ben Stokes. Despite winning the first Test, England struggled to maintain momentum and were outclassed in the subsequent matches.In the final Test in Dharamsala, England faced a first-innings deficit of 259 and were bowled out for 195 in their second, resulting in an innings and 64-run defeat. R Ashwin's five-wicket haul in the second innings sealed the victory for India, who had earlier posted an imposing 477 thanks to centuries from Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma.Stokes acknowledged England's shortcomings, stating that they had been "outplayed by the better team in the series." However, he emphasized the importance of taking positives from the experience and looking ahead to future challenges."We've got so much cricket coming up in our summer, and then Pakistan and New Zealand," Stokes said. "Taking the positives that we've got from the series is something that I'm really looking forward to. I'm excited to be a part of driving this team even further forward."Despite the disappointing result, Stokes remained committed to England's aggressive "Bazball" approach. He believes that the team's intent and application were evident, even if the results did not always follow."When you look at the game as a whole, and the series as a whole, there's been really small moments throughout every Test match where we wrestled a bit of momentum back towards us, but we've not just been able to maintain and keep that going," Stokes said."And in Test-match cricket, especially out here where the game can turn really fast on you, it's about understanding that and trying to understand those moments and being a bit more relentless with it."Stokes also highlighted the contributions of several young players, including spinner Shoaib Bashir, who took his second five-wicket haul in as many Tests. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett continued to develop their partnership at the top of the batting order, while veteran James Anderson reached the milestone of 700 Test wickets."I've been lucky enough to be on the field with some of the lads there, the milestones that Jimmy's got to, but being there for 700 wickets as a seamer, it is quite phenomenal," Stokes said."Everything that he has done from the day he first started being a cricketer, let alone international cricketer, to where he is now ... 41 years old, he's as fit as I've ever seen him, and I honestly just don't know when he's going to stop, because the desire to commit is still there. It's great to watch."