Cricket

The ongoing feud between India head coach Gautam Gambhir and former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has taken a new turn, with ex-cricketer Brad Haddin revealing the backstory behind the war of words.The conflict began when Gambhir responded to Ponting's comments on Virat Kohli's form, urging him to focus on Australian cricket. Ponting retorted by calling Gambhir a "prickly character."Haddin, who played under Ponting at Delhi Capitals in 2018, hinted at a deeper reason for the animosity. "Gambhir is a character that would use this as an us versus them mentality," he said. "His reaction was prickly, and you don't need your coach to get caught up in that sort of scenario unless his tactic is to build an us versus them."Haddin teased a forthcoming revelation about the backstory between Gambhir and Ponting. "I know what the backstory is. I'll tell you; just wait till later of the week. There was a little elbow, suspensions, and fines," he said.Haddin compared Gambhir's approach to that of Australian rugby coach Wayne Bennett, who often takes the spotlight to deflect pressure from his team. "It's out of the Wayne Bennett style of coaching," he said. "We're not talking about Rohit Sharma or Kohli now. We're talking about Gambhir and Ricky. He has bitten back, taken the pressure away from his team."While acknowledging Gambhir's "prickly" nature, Haddin questioned whether he was intentionally creating a distraction for his team, which is under pressure after losing the series to New Zealand. "Is he doing this now to take it away from his teammates?" he asked. "If it's an emotional reaction, then there's a problem. But if he's doing it to deflect things away and take it [attention] away from his team, that's a different thing."

India's stand-in head coach V.V.S. Laxman has praised his team's fearless approach in the ongoing T20I series against South Africa. India currently leads the four-match series 2-1, with the final match scheduled to be played later today at the Wanderers.Laxman believes that the team's fearless attitude has been a key factor in their success. "What we have seen in these three matches is the fearless approach of this team," he said during a reception hosted for the Indian team in Johannesburg.Laxman also emphasized the importance of entertaining the fans along with winning matches. "During any tours to any foreign country, we play and try to entertain the crowd. And we always feel that we are playing at home," he said.The Indian team has received tremendous support from the Indian community in South Africa. Laxman acknowledged this support, saying, "The reason for that is all the wonderful fans of the Indian cricket team – the diaspora of India who settled down in various countries but still love the Indian team and the Indian cricketers."Skipper Suryakumar Yadav echoed Laxman's sentiments, saying, "It's always good to meet the Indian community when we come away from home. It makes us feel like we are at home."Indian Consul General Mahesh Kumar highlighted the long-standing cricket relations between India and South Africa, dating back over a century. He expressed hope that the two countries would continue to collaborate in the future.Chairman of Cricket South Africa Pearl Maphoshe made a plea for the Indian squad to return to South Africa in 2025. "We cannot have enough of Indian teams in South Africa. We really love you," he said.

Former Australian all-rounder Brendon Julian has predicted a resounding victory for the hosts in the upcoming first Test against India, scheduled to commence on November 22 in Perth. Julian's bold prediction stems from India's recent struggles, particularly their humiliating defeat at the hands of New Zealand earlier this month.Julian believes that India's captaincy woes, with Rohit Sharma likely to miss the first Test due to personal reasons, could further hinder their chances. He suggests that Jasprit Bumrah, who is set to lead the team in Sharma's absence, may face additional pressure that could impact his bowling performance."The Aussies will clean up India in 4 days," Julian asserted. "There are worrying signs for India, straight at the top. Rohit Sharma is not playing the first Test; he has come out and said that. So Jasprit Bumrah will captain the side. Now that's a lot of pressure when you're the opening bowler. He is a wonderful bowler; no doubt about that. But all of a sudden when you're opening the bowling and captaining the side, that's a whole different ball game."Julian also expressed concerns about Virat Kohli's form, suggesting that the star batter is not in sync with Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir. "The way that Virat Kohli got out against New Zealand - for him to get out like that in that Test series was unbelievable. Kohli is not at his best. He is not gelling with the captain probably and the coach but having said that, he can quickly turn it around. But if they start pulling in Perth, I reckon it'll be all over," he added.Kohli's presence in Australia has always generated significant buzz, but this series holds immense importance for him. It is viewed as a make-or-break phase in his illustrious career, with the former Indian captain under pressure to regain his form and secure his spot in the Test team amid a potential transition phase.Kohli's current form is a cause for concern. In 19 international matches this year, the 80-time centurion has managed to score only 488 runs at an average of 20.33, with just two half-centuries in 25 innings and a highest score of 76. His struggles in Test cricket have been particularly troubling, given his past dominance in the format.

KL Rahul's Injury Woes Continue Ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy OpenerIndian star batter KL Rahul's participation in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) opener against Australia is in doubt after he was forced to retire hurt during an intra-squad match simulation at the WACA.Rahul was struck by a rising delivery and was seen leaving the ground in discomfort, escorted by a physio. The incident has raised concerns about his fitness and form, which have been under scrutiny in recent times.The first Test of the BGT begins on November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Rahul is a candidate to partner Yashasvi Jaiswal in the opening Test, with skipper Rohit Sharma likely to be unavailable due to the impending birth of his second child.Rahul's recent performances have been underwhelming. In the home series against New Zealand, he was dismissed for scores of 0 and 12 in his only Test appearance, leading to his exclusion from the next two Tests. His struggles continued in a recent India A game against Australia A, where he scored only 4 and 10.The pressure is mounting on Rahul to regain his form as India looks to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the challenging Australian conditions. India are aiming for their third consecutive Test series victory in Australia, a feat that would cement their status as one of the world's leading Test teams.Rahul's injury is a setback for India, who are already dealing with the absence of several key players, including Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Shami. The team management will be hoping that Rahul recovers in time for the first Test, but his participation remains uncertain at this stage.

Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar believes that Virat Kohli has the experience and ability to overcome his recent batting struggles and perform well in the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia.Kohli has been in poor form with the bat, scoring just 93 runs in six innings during India's recent 0-3 Test series loss to New Zealand at home. However, Gavaskar is confident that Kohli will turn things around, especially considering his exceptional record in Australia."Yes, I do [believe he will turn things around]," Gavaskar said in an interview with Star Sports. "That's because he hasn't got runs against New Zealand. He'll be very, very hungry."Kohli has a strong record in Australia, having scored 1352 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 54.08. He has also scored six centuries and four fifties Down Under."Even in that Adelaide Test match, where in the second innings we got out for 36, in the first innings, Kohli had got 70 plus if I recall correctly," Gavaskar said. "So, all the times he has played in Adelaide, he has got runs."Gavaskar suggested that if Kohli can survive the initial few balls of his innings and calm his nerves, he will be able to score big runs."Before Adelaide, it's Perth. He got one of the finest centuries at Perth in 2018-19. Terrific, terrific 100," Gavaskar said. "So, when you have got runs under your belt on certain grounds, you just feel a little bit confident."The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series kicks off on November 22 with the first Test in Perth. The second Test, a day-night affair, is scheduled from December 6 to 10 at Adelaide Oval. The third Test will take place at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to 18.The traditional Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground is set for December 26 to 30, followed by the fifth and final Test at Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7.

Rinku Singh's recent batting performances have raised concerns for the Indian cricket team ahead of the crucial fourth T20I against South Africa. Despite centuries from Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma, India's batting has been inconsistent, and the team is seeking a more collective effort to clinch the series 3-1.Rinku, known for his exceptional T20 skills, has struggled in recent months. His batting position and use as a floater at numbers six and seven have not helped his cause. The Aligarh-born player has managed only 28 runs in three innings, with scores of 11, 9, and 8.While these scores may not seem alarming in isolation, the number of balls (34) Rinku has taken to score them is concerning. Even during the last IPL, he faced only 113 balls in 15 games for KKR, averaging 7.5 deliveries per game.As a specialist "finisher," Rinku is expected to face around 10 balls per innings. However, this strategy has eroded his confidence, leaving him caught between attacking and playing second fiddle.Most of Rinku's better performances have come when he has batted at number five. However, with Samson settling as an opener and Varma staking claim as a No. 3, it may be difficult for Rinku to be promoted ahead of Hardik Pandya.The team think-tank needs to address this issue promptly. India has used 12 out of their 15 players in the first three games, and it remains to be seen if one of the two uncapped pacers, Yash Dayal or Vysakh Vijaykumar, will make their debut if the pitch warrants an extra specialist speedster.For Samson, he will be eager to break his recent run of failures against Marco Jansen. In the final game, skipper Surya may consider Ramandeep Singh's steady medium pace as he offers multiple skills, including the ability to field at all positions except wicket-keeping.

Former Australian pacer Brett Lee has urged Indian batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to reset their approach and focus on technical refinement ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia.Lee emphasized the importance of introspection and a return to basics for the two batters, who have struggled for form in recent Tests. "When you have a couple of bad runs back to back, that's when the pressure gets set in," Lee said. "They've just got to go back to the drawing board."Lee believes that Rohit and Kohli's tendency to be overly aggressive may have contributed to their poor performances. "I can't say there's a technical fault there because I've seen him play for the last decade," Lee said of Rohit. "But maybe he's a little bit too aggressive."Lee also warned that the Australian pacers would be targeting Rohit and Kohli with the new ball. "I can promise you the Australian fast bowlers will be attacking Rohit Sharma with that brand-new ball," he said.Lee advised the Indian batters to work on their technique, freshen up mentally, and hit the ground running in Australia. "They are champions because they do the basics better than anybody else," Lee said. "Then, just hit the reset button, almost."Rohit has managed only 588 runs in 11 Tests this year, while Kohli has accumulated 250 runs in six Tests. Both batters will be under immense scrutiny during the Border-Gavaskar series, which begins in Perth on December 17.

Mohammed Shami, the Indian fast bowler, made a triumphant return to competitive cricket after a year-long injury layoff, taking four wickets for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy.Shami, who last played in the World Cup final in Ahmedabad in 2024, had raised concerns about his fitness after going wicketless in ten overs on the opening day. However, he dispelled those doubts with a superb performance on the second day, helping Bengal take a commanding lead.Despite being advised to tread cautiously, Shami bowled with intensity and accuracy, troubling the Madhya Pradesh batsmen with his trademark swing and seam. He bowled a total of 19 overs, taking four wickets for 54 runs.Bengal captain Anustup Majumdar praised Shami's determination to return to the field. "He has proven how desperate he was to return to the field," Majumdar said. "It didn't seem to me that he was returning from an injury."Shami's performance has raised hopes that he will be fit for India's upcoming tour of Australia. The Ranji Trophy is the only competitive red-ball cricket Shami will play before the tour, so his performance in Indore will be closely monitored by the national selectors.If Shami can maintain his fitness and form, he will be a valuable asset to the Indian team in Australia. His experience and skill will be crucial in the challenging conditions Down Under.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has embarked on a trophy tour of Pakistan, despite the uncertainty surrounding the hosting of the Champions Trophy in the country. The trophy arrived in Islamabad on Thursday and will embark on a tour of major Pakistani cities, including Skardu, Lahore, and Karachi.The tour is intended to generate excitement for the tournament, which is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9 next year. However, the ICC is yet to announce the final schedule or comment on India's refusal to travel to Pakistan for the event.The trophy tour has been met with mixed reactions. Some cricket fans have welcomed the opportunity to see the trophy up close, while others have questioned the purpose of the tour given the uncertainty surrounding the tournament.Former Test captain Moin Khan expressed his skepticism, saying, "What is the purpose of this trophy tour when no one really knows at which venues the tournament will be held and whether Pakistan and India will play against each other in the event?"The ICC is expected to make a decision on the hosting of the Champions Trophy in the coming weeks. If India does not agree to travel to Pakistan, the tournament could be moved to a neutral venue or even canceled altogether.The trophy tour is part of the ICC's efforts to promote the Champions Trophy and build excitement for the event. The tournament will feature the top eight ODI teams in the world, including Pakistan, India, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.The Champions Trophy is one of the most prestigious events in international cricket. It was first held in 1998 and has been won by India, Pakistan, Australia, and South Africa.