Cricket

Zaheer Khan, the former Indian fast bowler, is poised to join the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise as their mentor, succeeding Gautam Gambhir, who departed after the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Gambhir has since assumed the role of mentor at Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2024 and has recently been appointed head coach of the Indian men's cricket team.Zaheer's potential appointment as LSG's mentor raises questions about whether he will also assume the role of bowling coach, a position vacated by Morne Morkel, who joined Gambhir's coaching staff with the Indian team. From 2018 to 2022, Zaheer held various positions with the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise, including director of cricket and head of global development.Prior to his administrative roles, Zaheer enjoyed a successful playing career in the IPL, representing three different teams: MI, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Delhi Daredevils. Over ten seasons, he amassed 102 wickets in 100 matches, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 7.58. His last IPL appearance came in 2017 while leading the Daredevils, before he retired from all forms of cricket.As reported by ESPNcricinfo, LSG intends to grant Zaheer a broader role beyond mentorship, involving him in scouting and player development programs during the off-season. The franchise's coaching setup is currently led by Justin Langer, who replaced Andy Flower as head coach ahead of IPL 2024. Lance Klusener and Adam Voges serve as his assistants.After securing playoff berths in their first two seasons, LSG narrowly missed out on a top-four finish in 2024 due to net run rate. Zaheer's potential return to the IPL coincides with teams preparing for a mega auction, with the IPL expected to announce retention rules by early September.

England opener Philip Salt has hailed the pivotal role of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Gautam Gambhir in his success during the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). Salt, who played a crucial role in KKR's title-winning campaign, credited Gambhir's mentorship for helping him adapt to the challenging conditions in India.Reflecting on his time with KKR, Salt praised Gambhir's competitive nature and relentless pursuit of improvement. "He's a competitor. I could really relate to him from that point of view. He's always looking for those one percenters that will get the individual and team better," Salt said.Salt's performance in the 2024 IPL was impressive. Despite leaving before the playoffs to join England's T20I series against Pakistan, he managed to score 435 runs in 12 matches at an average of 39.55 and a remarkable strike rate of 182.01.One specific piece of advice from Gambhir had a significant impact on Salt's batting strategy. "He told me to take the game deep, especially here in India. He said, 'I know you're going to score runs for us, but I want you to score the majority of your runs between overs ten and 20,'" Salt recalled.Gambhir's strategy aimed to ensure Salt could exploit the latter stages of the innings, particularly at KKR's home ground, Eden Gardens. "Even if it can be a little bit slow to start with, I want you to hang in there and make sure you're there from overs ten onwards and get the big overs," Gambhir advised.Salt acknowledged the value of Gambhir's guidance. "Of all the conversations I had, I think that's the best bit of coaching I had," he said.Salt's success with KKR is a testament to the impact of Gambhir's mentorship. The former India opener's competitive spirit and tactical acumen have helped Salt develop into a more effective batsman in Indian conditions.

Ravichandran Ashwin, India's premier off-spinner, is eagerly anticipating the upcoming 10-Test season, with the Bangladesh series next month marking his first under the guidance of new head coach Gautam Gambhir. Ashwin holds Gambhir in high regard, describing him as one of the "heroes" of Indian cricket."Gautam is someone I still share a very good relationship with," Ashwin said. "He's a very straightforward and honest guy. I think he's one of those guys that we should always be backing. He's a hero of Indian cricket."Ashwin's early cricketing journey was shaped by WV Raman, his first state team coach. Raman, who was also a contender for the India head coach role, played a pivotal role in Ashwin's development."People can give you a helping hand, but they cannot guide you through your career," Ashwin said. "You have to be open to fresh ideas. WV allowed me the freedom to express myself and try new things. He taught me how and on what path I need to travel, but he never said, 'This is the path you need to travel upon.'"Ashwin emphasized the importance of self-reliance in cricket. "If you don't have awareness of your own game and if you can't teach yourself, I think you are always going to be dependent on someone, which is a very dangerous part," he said. "I am not saying people with coaches don't do well in life, but there is a chance of selling yourself short."Ashwin believes that getting a second opinion is beneficial, but ultimately, cricket is a self-taught sport. "You have to be open to learning from others, but you also have to be able to trust your own instincts," he said.

Ryan ten Doeschate, the former Netherlands allrounder, has joined the Indian coaching staff as an assistant coach. He will be working alongside Abhishek Nayar under the leadership of head coach Gautam Gambhir. Ten Doeschate's primary focus will be on improving India's batting against spin bowling, an area that has been a concern for the team in recent times.India lost 27 wickets to spin in the recently concluded three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka, the most any team has lost to this variety of bowling in a three-match series. Captain Rohit Sharma admitted that this was an area that needed to be addressed.Ten Doeschate believes that India's focus on performing well overseas has led to a decline in their ability to play spin, which was once a strength of the team. He aims to help India regain their status as the best players of spin in the world.The 44-year-old ten Doeschate has been active in the coaching circuit since his retirement in 2021. He has worked with Kent, Kolkata Knight Riders, and LA Knight Riders in Major League Cricket. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Indian team.Ten Doeschate emphasizes that his focus will be on preparation and mindset rather than technical aspects. He believes that the Indian players have the technical skills but need to improve their situational awareness and mental approach to playing spin.Ten Doeschate is excited about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the Indian team. He is confident that he can make a positive contribution to the team's success in the upcoming home season and beyond.

Zaheer Khan, the former Indian fast bowler, is reportedly in talks with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise for a mentorship role. LSG is keen on bringing in a seasoned Indian player with extensive T20 experience to bolster their coaching setup following the departure of Gautam Gambhir.Zaheer, who recently stepped down as Mumbai Indians' head of global development, has been approached by two other franchises as well. Prior to his role at MI, he served as the franchise's director of cricket from 2018 to 2022.LSG has been without a mentor since Gambhir's departure late last year. Gambhir, who played a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders' third IPL title triumph in 2024, has since taken over as India's head coach. Morne Morkel, the former South African pacer who was LSG's bowling coach, has joined Gambhir's team as the bowling coach.In addition to the mentorship role, LSG is also considering giving Zaheer a broader profile that would involve scouting and player development during the off-season. The franchise's backroom staff is currently led by Justin Langer, who replaced Andy Flower as head coach ahead of IPL 2024. Lance Klusener and Adam Voges serve as his assistants.After securing playoff berths in their first two seasons, LSG narrowly missed out on a top-four finish in 2024 due to net run rate. Zaheer's potential return to the IPL comes at a time when teams are preparing for a mega auction. The IPL is expected to announce the retention rules by early September.Zaheer represented three franchises during his playing career: Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Delhi Daredevils. He played 100 matches across ten seasons, claiming 102 wickets at an economy rate of 7.59. His last IPL appearance was in 2017, when he led the Daredevils before retiring from all forms of cricket.Meanwhile, Punjab Kings is also searching for an Indian head coach to replace Trevor Bayliss. They were reportedly interested in VVS Laxman, but that option is no longer available as Laxman has extended his tenure as head of the BCCI's National Cricket Academy. Sanjay Bangar currently serves as Punjab Kings' head of cricket development.

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, is reportedly in negotiations with former Indian pace bowler Zaheer Khan for the role of mentor. This move comes after the departure of Gautam Gambhir, who left the franchise in 2023 to join the Kolkata Knight Riders.Zaheer, 45, is a highly respected figure in Indian cricket, having played 92 Tests, 200 ODIs, and 17 T20Is for the national team. He was known for his exceptional bowling skills and his ability to mentor young fast bowlers.If the negotiations are successful, Zaheer will fill the void created by the departures of Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel, who has joined Team India in the same capacity. Sources within the IPL indicate that Zaheer is being considered for the role previously held by Gambhir.Zaheer was initially considered for the bowling coach position under Gambhir's new set-up in Team India, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly preferred Morkel on Gambhir's recommendation.During his playing career, Zaheer was recognized for his role in mentoring young fast bowlers within the Indian team. If he joins LSG, he will be collaborating with head coach Justin Langer and a robust coaching team, including Adam Voges, Lance Klusener, and Jonty Rhodes.The report also indicates that another notable coach may be added to the Sanjiv Goenka-owned franchise, though details are not yet clear.LSG, which came into existence in 2022, reached the play-offs in their first two seasons. However, they missed out on a top-four spot in the 2023 edition due to an inferior Net Run Rate (NRR).Meanwhile, the BCCI is expected to announce the retention rules by the month's end. Teams are projected to be allowed around six retentions, including the Right to Match (RTM) option. Despite calls from some franchises to discontinue the Big Auction, the BCCI plans to retain it for now.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squads for the first round of the Duleep Trophy 2024-25, scheduled to commence on September 5. Notably, India's wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will make his return to red-ball cricket in the tournament.Pant has been included in 'Team B' but surprisingly, he has not been appointed as the captain. Instead, Abhimanyu Easwaran has been entrusted with the leadership role. This decision has raised questions from former India cricketer Aakash Chopra, who believes Pant should be considered for the Test captaincy."Rishabh Pant is not a captain. He has been selected in Abhimanyu Easwaran's team. He is playing under Abhimanyu Easwaran's captaincy, which is absolutely okay. However, is Rishabh Pant not even a candidate for Test captaincy? I am a little surprised," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.Chopra emphasized Pant's exceptional performance in Test cricket, highlighting his centuries in South Africa, England, and Australia. He believes Pant's consistency and aggressive style of play make him a suitable candidate for the captaincy."I am not aligned with this personally because the best avatar of Rishabh Pant you have seen is as a Test cricketer. He is the only wicketkeeper in the history of Indian cricket who has scored centuries in South Africa, England, and Australia in Test matches. The way he plays in Test cricket and the consistency with which he scores, he was the captaincy candidate in my opinion," Chopra added.Chopra also expressed curiosity about India's head coach Gautam Gambhir's views on Pant's captaincy potential. "However, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, and even Abhimanyu Easwaran are captains, but Pant is not a captain, and that is a huge takeaway in my opinion," he said."A new era has started. So I will be very curious to know what Gautam's opinion is with regards to Rishabh Pant the captain," added the ex-India batter.

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as India's head coach commenced with a mixed bag of results during the Sri Lanka tour. While the team emerged victorious in the T20I series, they succumbed to defeat in the ODIs despite fielding star players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.Gambhir's appointment on July 9, 2024, marked a departure from Rahul Dravid's tenure, which concluded after the T20 World Cup in June. Prior to the official announcement, rumors circulated about a potential hybrid coaching model, with different coaches assigned to different formats.However, the BCCI opted for a traditional approach. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah explained the rationale behind Gambhir's appointment as all-format coach: "We must respect the coach we hire. If Gautam Gambhir expresses interest in coaching in all three formats, who am I to restrict him? Approximately 70% of the players remain consistent across all formats."Shah also emphasized the availability of capable backups for the head coach role: "We have coaches from the NCA. VVS Laxman stepped in when Rahul Dravid took a break."Gambhir's maiden Test assignment as head coach will be a two-match series against Bangladesh next month. Notably, key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah will not participate in the Duleep Trophy.With the Border Gavaskar Trophy approaching later this year, selectors will closely monitor the performances of players competing in the tournament.

India's Cricketers Escape Scrutiny Amidst Olympic FrenzyNew Delhi: In a rare occurrence, India's cricketers have found themselves out of the spotlight as the nation's attention has shifted towards the ongoing Olympics in Paris. With the Indian cricket team currently touring Sri Lanka under the leadership of newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir, the usual intense scrutiny of their performances has temporarily subsided.This respite from constant media attention is largely due to the captivating spectacle of the Olympics, which has captivated the imagination of sports enthusiasts across the country. The Indian contingent's impressive performances in various disciplines, including athletics, shooting, and wrestling, have further fueled the nation's Olympic fever.While the cricketers may be enjoying a brief respite from the relentless scrutiny, their absence from the headlines is not a sign of diminished importance. Cricket remains the most popular sport in India, and the team's performances are always a matter of national pride. However, the Olympics have provided a welcome distraction, allowing the cricketers to focus on their preparations without the added pressure of constant public scrutiny.For Gambhir, this tour of Sri Lanka marks his first assignment as head coach. The former India opener has been tasked with rebuilding the team after a disappointing performance in the recent T20 World Cup. While the results in Sri Lanka may not be as crucial as in major tournaments, they will provide valuable insights into the team's progress under Gambhir's leadership.As the Olympics draw to a close, the focus will inevitably shift back to cricket. The Indian team will face a challenging schedule in the coming months, including a home series against Australia and a tour of England. The performances of the team during these matches will be closely scrutinized, as they will provide a barometer of India's progress under Gambhir's guidance.