Cricket

Former Australian captain Tim Paine has expressed his delight in witnessing England's struggles against India, particularly considering the absence of several key Indian players. Paine believes that the current Indian team, despite missing stars like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant, is still a formidable force.In a recent podcast conversation with former Australia batter Simon Katich, Paine discussed the ongoing Test series between India and England. Katich praised India's depth, highlighting the performances of young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel."They have been playing against the Indian B team because there has been no Kohli, no Shami, Bumrah got rested last Test, KL Rahul is out, and Rishabh Pant is still making his way back from that accident," Katich said. "They are not their strongest team, but it just goes to show that the depth in Indian cricket is huge."Paine echoed Katich's sentiments, recalling Australia's defeat to India in the 2018-19 Test series at home when the visitors were also missing several senior players."I know what it's like to be beaten by an Indian B team. Unfortunately, it happened to us on our home soil," Paine said. "But yes, some huge names out for India, which should have certainly helped the English. I thoroughly enjoy watching England play the game, I love the way they are going about it. I love watching them lose. Don't get me wrong, but they are entertaining and exciting."Paine's comments reflect the growing recognition of India's strength in depth, which has allowed them to maintain their competitiveness even in the absence of their star players. The performances of Jaiswal and Jurel in the ongoing Test series have further underlined the depth of Indian cricket.

Sunil Gavaskar Slams Sarfaraz Khan's Shot Selection, Triggers Indian CollapseFormer Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his disappointment with the shot selection of young Sarfaraz Khan, which ultimately led to his dismissal on the first ball after tea during the second day of the fifth and final Test against England in Dharamsala.Sarfaraz, who was well settled at 56 and had forged a promising 97-run partnership with debutant Devdutt Padikkal, squandered a golden opportunity to transform his innings into a potential century. Unfortunately, his innings concluded in a somewhat anti-climactic fashion when a late cut, executed on the first ball after tea, led to his dismissal. He was caught at slip off Shoaib Bashir.Gavaskar couldn't stop himself from reacting as he instantly recalled cricketing great Sir Don Bradman's million-dollar advice on never to get complacent even if you are batting on 200. "The ball was pitched up; it wasn't short enough for that shot. Goes for it and pays the price. I mean you are playing the first ball after tea. Give yourself a little sighter. Don Bradman said to me 'Every ball that I face, even if I am on 200, I think I am on 0.' And here is [Sarfaraz] is… playing such a shot first ball of the session," Gavaskar shared his opinion during the commentary.Sarfaraz's dismissal proved to be a turning point as it triggered a collapse for India. From a position of strength at 376/3, the team stumbled to 428/8, losing quick five wickets in a span of 54 runs, allowing England to make a significant comeback.Both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill struck their second hundred of the series to fetch India a handy first innings lead. Each of India's top five batters, including debutant Devdutt Padikkal, managed 50-plus scores to power the hosts to a commanding 473-8 for a lead of 255.

Shubman Gill's recent resurgence in Test cricket has been attributed to his return to stepping out to bowlers, according to his father and first coach, Lakhwinder. Despite not agreeing with his son's decision to bat at number three, Lakhwinder believes that Gill's aggressive approach has been instrumental in his success.After a disappointing series opener against England, Gill faced mounting pressure to perform. He had failed to score a fifty in 12 innings and was criticized for not playing his natural attacking game. However, his maiden Test century in the second innings of the Vizag Test silenced his critics.Lakhwinder, who witnessed Gill's second hundred of the series on Friday, highlighted the importance of his son's aggressive approach. "Stepping out has made a big difference," he said. "He had stopped doing that and that created pressure. Since his U-16 days, he has been stepping out to spinners and pacers to cut the movement."Gill's willingness to take on both spinners and pacers was evident on Friday, as he charged down the track to hit James Anderson for a six. Lakhwinder also praised his son's square cut and cover drive, which were on display at the HPCA Stadium.Despite his admiration for Gill's aggressive style, Lakhwinder believes that he should have continued to open the batting. "He should have continued to open," he said. "It is not right at all I feel. When you sit in the dressing room for longer, the pressure tends to increase. Number 3 is not opening neither it is a middle-order spot."However, Lakhwinder respects his son's decisions and is proud of his achievements. He also lauded the BCCI's decision to make Ranji Trophy appearances mandatory for India players when they are not on national duty. "The calendar is so busy that he hardly trains for red ball," he said. "It is good that BCCI has taken this step."

India's triumph over England in the ongoing Test series has cast a shadow over the much-hyped "Bazball" era, spearheaded by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. As the teams prepare for the final Test in Dharamsala, England faces the daunting task of salvaging a 2-3 series result.Former England captain Nasser Hussain has expressed concern over the team's performance, despite the entertainment value provided by their aggressive approach. He emphasizes that results remain paramount, and England's current position near the bottom of the World Test Championship table is a cause for worry.Hussain believes that England's win-loss ratio is the most crucial metric, and they must strive to improve it in Dharamsala. He acknowledges that the team has shown competitiveness throughout the series, but their inability to capitalize on opportunities has cost them dearly.The gulf between India and England, according to Hussain, is significant. A 4-1 defeat would only widen this gap and reinforce the perception of England's struggles in India. He urges the team to field their strongest XI in Dharamsala, regardless of future considerations, and to approach the match with the same intensity as if it were a series decider.Hussain's comments highlight the importance of results in cricket, even amidst the excitement generated by England's attacking style. As the series concludes, England will be determined to prove that they can compete with the world's best and that the "Bazball" era is not merely a flash in the pan.

England skipper Ben Stokes opted to bat first in the fifth and final Test against India at Dharamsala's Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Despite India's 3-1 series victory, England is determined to salvage some pride and earn valuable ICC World Test Championship points.This match marks a significant milestone for both Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin and England batter Jonny Bairstow, who are playing their 100th Test. England has made one change to their playing eleven, bringing in Mark Wood, while India has replaced Akash Deep with Jasprit Bumrah.During the toss, Stokes expressed his team's desire to bat first, citing the pitch's appearance. He also praised Bairstow's achievement, calling him "one of our best-ever all-format players."Indian skipper Rohit Sharma echoed Stokes' sentiments, stating that India would have also chosen to bat first. He acknowledged Ashwin's remarkable career and expressed his support for the all-rounder.England's playing eleven consists of Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes (w), Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, Mark Wood, and James Anderson.India's playing eleven includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravindra Jadeja, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah.With the series already decided, both teams will be eager to end on a high note and secure the remaining 12 ICC World Test Championship points. The match promises to be an exciting contest between two talented sides.

Ahead of the fifth and final Test of the five-match series against England in Dharamsala, India captain Rohit Sharma expressed uncertainty about the meaning of "Bazball." The term, coined by English cricket commentator Simon Hughes, refers to England's aggressive batting approach under new coach Brendon McCullum."I honestly don't know what [Bazball] means, whether it is to go and strike, whether it is to go and defend and wait for the loose ball," Rohit said in the pre-match press conference.Rohit questioned the significance of the term, stating that he had not witnessed any excessive swinging from England's batters. "I have not seen any wild swinging from anyone, so I don't know exactly what this term means," he added.Despite his uncertainty about the term, Rohit acknowledged England's improved performance since McCullum's appointment. "But, yeah, clearly they have played better cricket from what they played the last time they were here," he said. "And you got to give credit to two of their batters who got big hundreds there and played well."Rohit also responded to England opener Ben Duckett's comment that Yashasvi Jaiswal's aggressive batting was influenced by Bazball. "There was a guy called Rishabh Pant in our team, probably Ben Duckett hasn't seen him play," Rohit said.England have faced three consecutive losses in the series, unable to capitalize on their early 1-0 advantage. The visitors had their chances, notably in Rajkot and Ranchi, but India came back strong on both occasions to win.The fifth and final Test match will begin on March 7 at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala and conclude on March 11, 2024. India and England still have World Test Championship points to gain in Dharamsala, even though the series is decided. India is on top of the World Test Championship standings while England is eighth on the points table.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the Indian off-spinner, is set to become the 12th Indian cricketer to play 100 Tests when he takes the field against England in the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala on Thursday. The match is inconsequential to the final outcome of the series, as India has already taken an unbeatable 3-1 lead. However, it has become significant due to Ashwin's impending milestone.Ashwin's captain, Rohit Sharma, has heaped praise on the off-spinner ahead of his 100th Test, calling him a "rare" talent who has been critical to the team's success. "His performances over the last five-seven years, every series he has contributed. It is rare to have players like him," Rohit said.Ashwin has taken 507 Test wickets, making him only the second Indian bowler after Anil Kumble (619) to go past the 500-wicket mark. He has also scored over 2,500 runs in Tests, including five centuries.Ashwin's journey to 100 Tests has been a long and winding one. He made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies and has since become one of the most successful bowlers in the world. He is known for his ability to bowl with accuracy and control, and he has a wide range of deliveries that he can use to deceive batsmen.Ashwin has also been a key member of the Indian team that has won the World Cup, the Champions Trophy, and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in recent years. He is a respected figure in the dressing room and is known for his intelligence and his ability to read the game.As Ashwin prepares to play his 100th Test, he will be hoping to add to his already impressive tally of wickets. He will also be hoping to help India win the series against England and cement his place as one of the greatest bowlers of all time.

India's upcoming Test match against England in Dharamsala faces potential disruptions due to inclement weather, according to a report by The Telegraph. The match, scheduled to begin on March 7, could experience chilly temperatures, rainfall, and even sleet. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 1 Degree Celsius, while the minimum could drop below -4 Degree Celsius.Despite the weather concerns, India remains in a strong position in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. The team recently replaced New Zealand at the top of the rankings after defeating England in the fourth Test in Ranchi. India now has a points percentage of 64.58, ahead of New Zealand's 60.00.Australia, currently in third place, has closed the gap on New Zealand after gaining 12 points in the Wellington Test. The Aussies now have 78 points from 11 matches and a points percentage of 59.09. They have the opportunity to move up to second place if they win the second and final Test against New Zealand in Christchurch from March 8.India, meanwhile, will face England in the final match of the five-Test series in Dharamsala. If England wins this match, Australia could climb to the top spot in the WTC standings.

India's Test captain, Rohit Sharma, has emerged as a more astute leader during the fiercely contested series against England. The demanding nature of the tour forced him to reflect on his shortcomings and make necessary adjustments.Despite England's victory in the opening Test, India rallied to secure an insurmountable 3-1 lead heading into the final encounter in Dharamsala. Rohit, who took over as Test captain from Virat Kohli in 2022, has maintained an unbeaten record in five series, excluding India's defeat in the World Test Championship final last year.Under Ben Stokes' leadership, England adopted an aggressive "Bazball" style of play, winning the opening match by a margin of 28 runs and challenging India. However, India managed to counter despite the absence of key players, including Kohli, who opted to skip the series following the birth of his second child.The series witnessed the emergence of young talent, exemplified by 22-year-old opener Yashasvi Jaiswal's remarkable double centuries in the second and third matches. In the bowling department, Indian players excelled, with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and veteran spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja each accumulating 17 wickets in the series."Since I became captain, I haven't played with a full team. It's no excuse... work with what you have, keep a good atmosphere and play with freedom," Rohit told reporters."Basically it has been a series of comebacks. So throughout the series you must have seen that we have absorbed pressure and put it back on the opposition.""It was a great series for me to learn as a captain and there are a lot of different challenges that came across our way," added Rohit."As a captain, I got to learn a lot about how to utilise the players and obviously, when the pressure is put back on you, how to respond to certain situations of the game and things like that. I think it was a great series to be part of.""I am glad that I was captaining this series, it made me understand where I have lacked as a captain and what are the things I need to do differently."Stokes agreed that India had outclassed England during moments in the series when the game was in the balance."India have been better than us in those moments on more than one occasion. It's skill versus skill and in the moments that have mattered, since the first game, India have been better," he said.But when asked about being outsmarted by Rohit in the series, a visibly flustered Stokes said, "I will let you decide".The final Test will be a landmark 100th for Ashwin, and Rohit was all praise for his veteran "match-winner", who left the third match midway to be with his ailing mother and returned a day later."The biggest thing is that he is a big team player and we saw that in the Rajkot Test when it was a difficult situation for him but he called and said 'I want to come back and do something for the team'," said Rohit."When you have players like this then your head is held high."