Cricket

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has expressed his support for Indian skipper Rohit Sharma's decision to miss the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to the birth of his second child.Clarke, who is known for his unwavering commitment to cricket, believes that family should always come first. He recalled the birth of his daughter as the most special moment of his life, emphasizing that he would have prioritized his family over any cricket match."To be honest, the greatest day of my life over any cricket event, over any Test match victory, over captaining Australia. The greatest day of my life was the day when my daughter was born, and being there for that moment was the most special moment of my life," Clarke said.Clarke acknowledged Rohit's passion for playing for India, but he believes that the Indian skipper's decision to be present for the birth of his child is a testament to his priorities."I have no doubt that in an ideal world, it would have been great if his second child came a week early or two weeks early so he could play every Test match. Rohit loves playing for India as much as I love playing for Australia. He is a great player and a wonderful captain. He will be missed. But every single person must respect that decision of any man," Clarke noted.Clarke's comments echo the sentiments of many cricket fans and experts who have come out in support of Rohit's decision. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, however, had suggested that Rohit should feature in the opening Test, sparking a debate on social media.Despite the absence of Rohit, Clarke believes that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be a fiercely contested series. He praised the quality of both teams and predicted that the matches would be close and exciting."I think it's going to be a great series. India is a very good team, and Australia is a very good team. I think it's going to be a very close series. I think it's going to be a very exciting series," Clarke said.

Jason Roy Withdraws from IPL 2024 to Prioritize FamilyEngland opener Jason Roy has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season to reunite with his family. The 33-year-old has been away from home since January and feels the need to take a break before a demanding year ahead.In a statement to his franchise, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Roy expressed his regret at having to miss the tournament. "After much deliberation, I have made the tough decision to miss this year's IPL. Having been away since the start of January, I need to get back to my family and have a refresh before a very busy year ahead," he said.KKR acknowledged Roy's decision with understanding and support. "You'll be missed Jason. But we understand," the franchise tweeted.In Roy's absence, KKR has announced Phil Salt as his replacement for the forthcoming IPL season. The franchise boasts a strong squad with a mix of star overseas players and a solid Indian core, including Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and skipper Shreyas Iyer. KKR will be aiming to improve upon their seventh-place finish in the previous season.Roy's decision highlights the importance of family and mental well-being for athletes. While the IPL offers immense financial rewards and opportunities, it also requires players to spend extended periods away from their loved ones. Roy's choice to prioritize his family over the tournament is a reminder that there are more important things in life than cricket.