Cricket

Shivam Dube's inclusion in India's T20 World Cup squad has come under scrutiny following his underwhelming performances with both bat and ball. The all-rounder has failed to replicate his impressive IPL form for the Chennai Super Kings, raising questions about his place in the playing eleven.Dube's selection was based on his ability to hit spinners for sixes in the middle overs, a skill that impressed captain Rohit Sharma and the selectors. However, in four innings at the World Cup, he has managed only 44 runs, with a highest of 31 not out against USA.Compounding Dube's batting struggles is his limited use as a bowler. Rohit has only asked him to bowl one over in the tournament, which he conceded 11 runs in against USA. This reluctance to utilize Dube's bowling ability further weakens his case for inclusion.If India decide to drop Dube, middle-order batsman Sanju Samson is seen as a more suitable replacement than Yashasvi Jaiswal. Samson has a proven track record against spin, a key factor considering Bangladesh's likely use of spin-heavy bowling.However, some argue that Dube should be given one more game to prove his worth, especially against Bangladesh. They point to his potential to counter spin and his ability to provide depth to the batting lineup.Ultimately, the decision of whether to retain or replace Dube rests with Rohit and coach Rahul Dravid. They must weigh the pros and cons of each option, considering the team's overall balance and the specific challenges posed by Bangladesh.

Virat Kohli, the batting maestro, has yet to find his rhythm in the ongoing T20 World Cup. As India gears up for their crucial 'Super 8s' match against Bangladesh on Saturday, all eyes will be on Kohli to deliver a match-winning performance.In the group stage, Kohli's scores of 1, 4, and 0 raised concerns about his form. In India's first 'Super 8s' match against Afghanistan, he managed a run-a-ball 24. Former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu believes that Kohli's lack of dominance is a cause for concern."If a powerful person doesn't showcase his power, then that person does get hurt, and should get hurt," Sidhu said on Star Sports. "I will learn only after I fall," he added. "I feel Kohli is mentally so strong that he wants to overpower his mistakes through training. He wants to overcome those (mistakes)."The Indian team management has experimented by promoting Kohli to the opening slot alongside Rohit Sharma. However, this move has not yielded the desired results so far. Kohli's prolific run as an opener for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the recently concluded IPL season has not translated to the international stage.Despite Kohli's struggles, India remains unbeaten in the tournament. They defeated Ireland, Pakistan, and USA in the group stage, followed by their victory over Afghanistan in the 'Super 8s'. India is aiming for their second T20 World Cup triumph and their first ICC trophy in 11 years.Kohli's return to form is crucial for India's success. The team will need their batting talisman to fire on all cylinders if they are to lift the coveted trophy. The match against Bangladesh presents Kohli with another opportunity to prove his worth and silence his critics.

The highly anticipated 'Super 8s' match of the T20 World Cup between India and Bangladesh is set to take place in the North Sound region of Antigua on Saturday. While the weather forecast predicts a relatively favorable outlook, the possibility of interruptions due to thunderstorms cannot be discounted.India, who emerged victorious in their opening Group 1 match against Afghanistan, are considered the clear favorites. However, they would be unwise to underestimate the spirited Bangladesh side, who have proven their mettle in previous encounters.According to accuweather.com, the weather forecast for Saturday in Antigua indicates partly sunny conditions with isolated thunderstorms. The cloud cover is expected to be around 41%, with intermittent rain showers throughout the day.The match is scheduled to commence at 10:30 am local time, which corresponds to 8 pm IST. India has entered the 'Super 8s' stage with an unblemished record, having secured victories over Ireland, Pakistan, and USA in the group stage. Their match against Canada in Florida was unfortunately washed out due to inclement weather.India's quest for a second T20 World Cup title is fueled by their desire to end an 11-year drought without an ICC event triumph. Their last major title came in the form of the Champions Trophy in 2013 under the leadership of MS Dhoni.India's inaugural T20 World Cup victory in 2007, also under Dhoni's captaincy, remains a cherished memory for fans. The team will be eager to replicate that success and bring home the coveted trophy once again.

The Indian cricket team's bowling attack in the Super 8 fixture against Afghanistan on Thursday was a unique one. It is not often that you see three left-arm spinners in the eleven. Kuldeep Yadav offers variety as a wrist spinner, while Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja come on with a stifling line and length. Axar, in particular, is adept at changing it up according to the match situation. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is waiting in the wings.The trio formed an effective combination on a slow, dry Kensington Oval pitch. Kuldeep, playing his first match of the tournament, took two wickets. Axar (1/15 in 3 overs) and Jadeja gave nothing away and applied the choke on the Afghan chase.Axar believes that active communication makes for a good partnership. "Having three left-arm spinners is an advantage on the wickets here. Our combination is very good. We communicate well. For example, whoever comes on to bowl first will communicate to the others on what is working and what is not. This is important when you bowl as a unit," Axar said at the press conference after India eased past Afghanistan by 47 runs.Being versatile to satisfy the needs of the team is crucial, Axar added. "I can bowl in the PowerPlay, middle or towards the end. I can be called by the captain in any situation. If I feel that I need to attack, then I plan accordingly. In the Pakistan match, when I came to bowl the 16th over, I felt that if I give less runs it will be very good for the team," said Axar.Axar described pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as a "world class bowler", and that the quality of the Indian attack can "get us out of a tough situation".

India's batting coach, Vikram Rathour, has acknowledged the challenges faced by star batsman Virat Kohli during the ongoing T20 World Cup. However, Rathour believes that Kohli's struggles have provided an opportunity for the team's less experienced players to step up and make valuable contributions.Despite India's unbeaten run in the tournament, Kohli has struggled to find his rhythm, particularly during the powerplay. In the match against Afghanistan, he managed only 24 runs off 24 balls."I'm not happy. I would love it if he gets going and scores more runs," Rathour said. "But yeah, it is good when you are challenged at times."Rathour pointed out that the team's success has been due to the contributions of other players, such as Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav. Pant played a key role in the victory over Afghanistan, while Yadav's half-century proved to be the turning point in the match."The guys who are not getting too much of batting in India sometimes, they are the ones who put up scores today and our middle-order came to play," Rathour said.India is set to face Bangladesh in Antigua on Saturday. Rathour believes that the team's depth and the conditions in the Caribbean will give them an edge in the upcoming encounter."We've always had depth as a team," Rathour said. "But yeah, these conditions maybe suit us more because we can afford to play two or three spinners at times."Rathour also emphasized that India will not take Bangladesh lightly."They're a good unit. They have a lot of guys who can spin the ball and they are good in certain conditions," Rathour said. "But again, in this format I think every team is a tough team."

India's Hardik Pandya Provides Balance, Bangladesh Faces Uphill BattleIndia's resurgence in the T20 World Cup 2024 continues as they prepare to face Bangladesh in a crucial Super Eight clash. The turnaround time from their victory over Afghanistan is short, but India's newfound balance, thanks to Hardik Pandya's all-around contributions, gives them an edge.Suryakumar Yadav has emerged as India's savior in recent matches, bailing them out of precarious situations. However, the pressure mounts on Shivam Dube to deliver as the team's spin enforcer. Against Bangladesh's formidable spin attack, Dube's performance will be crucial.Bangladesh, known for their left-arm spinners, now boasts a more versatile attack with Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad Hossain as trump cards. However, their batters have struggled to provide a solid foundation for their bowlers.India's bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, poses a significant threat to Bangladesh's batting lineup. Pandya's return to full fitness has given India the flexibility to field either a third seamer or a third spinner in Kuldeep Yadav.Beyond the on-field battle, this rivalry has gained an extra edge in recent years, fueled by controversial incidents and passionate fans. The match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium promises to be another intense encounter.

Virat Kohli's struggles in the ongoing T20 World Cup have been a major talking point, with the star batter managing just five runs in his first three matches. However, his performance against Afghanistan, where he scored 24 off 24 balls, has given hope that he is finding his form.Kohli, who was the leading run-scorer in the 2022 IPL with 741 runs, has been criticized for his lack of impact in the tournament. His scores in the group stage matches were underwhelming, with knocks of 1, 4, and 0.Despite the criticism, batting legend Brian Lara has come to Kohli's defense. Lara believes that the time Kohli spent at the crease against Afghanistan, despite not scoring big, will serve as a confidence booster for the Indian batsman."24 off 24, you can say that's not great but the most important thing is that he spent some time out there. India has got one step closer to winning this trophy. I believe that Virat Kohli is just gonna go from strength to strength as he comes down to the Caribbean. He's going to Antigua next, you're gonna see him go out there and plough and plough, he's gonna get runs," Lara said on Star Sports.The Indian team management's decision to persist with Kohli as Rohit Sharma's opening partner has backfired badly and drawn significant criticism, with many questioning the wisdom of Kohli's current batting position.However, Lara holds a contrasting viewpoint on the matter. He believes that patience is crucial when dealing with a player of Kohli's caliber, given his reputation as a big match performer."When he gets into full swing, it's a different story. We just have to be very patient with him, we're gonna see a lot of him there's still a lot of games left in this World Cup," he added.Kohli's performance in the remaining matches of the tournament will be crucial for India's chances of winning the T20 World Cup. If he can find his form and start scoring runs, India will be a formidable force.

Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary Indian cricketer, has lauded Rishabh Pant's performance in India's emphatic victory over Afghanistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup. While acknowledging Pant's quickfire 20 runs off 11 balls, Gavaskar's praise extended beyond the immediate statistics, focusing on the wicketkeeper-batsman's improved fitness and growing maturity.Gavaskar's comments came after India secured a comfortable 47-run win, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the tournament. Suryakumar Yadav's blistering half-century and Jasprit Bumrah's three-wicket haul were instrumental in the victory, but it was Pant's overall contribution that caught Gavaskar's eye.Reflecting on Pant's journey back from a severe car accident, Gavaskar expressed relief and delight at the player's remarkable recovery. "It's a miracle, you know? I mean, we all were so concerned when we heard about the accident. We heard about the severity of the injuries and we were all praying for him just to be ok. But not only has he been ok, he's come back so strongly. He's lost a little bit of weight, which was probably needed and it looked at one stage that he was just maybe getting a little overweight. He's lost a bit of weight and he's looking so good, so fit," Gavaskar told Star Sports after the match.Gavaskar emphasized the significance of Pant's decision to prioritize wicketkeeping over relying on Rohit Sharma, despite the latter's renowned fielding prowess. "Look at his mobility. Those two catches that he took, he was. He ran about 20-30 yards. I know the ball was up in the air, but there was Rohit Sharma there, one of the safest pairs of hands in the game. But wicketkeeper's gloves are always much safer than ordinary hands, you know, plain hands. So he was there and again recognising the situation."Gavaskar drew parallels between Pant's development and Hardik Pandya's evolution as a cricketer, emphasizing the importance of maturity and situational awareness. "This is the maturity that is so important. We've seen it with Hardik Pandya, we are seeing it in Rishabh Pant's cricket. The maturity of understanding conditions. Yes, batting wise, he will still continue to play the game. That's exactly what you want because he's a naturally attacking player and he can upset the bowler totally. That's what he did. He didn't score too many runs. He got 20 in about 10 deliveries at a SR of 200 but that is exactly what you want at that stage," remarked the Indian batting icon.Unbeaten so far in the tournament, India next take on Bangladesh in the Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua on Saturday.

India's tour of South Africa in November 2023 will feature four T20 Internationals, marking the resumption of a series postponed in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The matches will be played in Durban, Gqeberha, Centurion, and Johannesburg between November 8 and 13.The original series was scheduled for 2021 but was postponed after a surge in COVID-19 cases in South Africa. India played only three Tests and three ODIs during that tour, with South Africa emerging victorious in both series.The teams agreed to reschedule the T20Is but were unable to find a suitable window until now. India's subsequent tour of South Africa in December 2023 included three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests, with the T20I and Test series ending in 1-1 draws and India winning the ODIs 2-1.Hosting India is a significant financial boost for the Cricket South Africa (CSA), with broadcast revenues from a single T20 match estimated at over R150 million (US $8.4 million). CSA reported a loss of R119 million for the previous financial year."We are grateful to the BCCI for their unwavering support of South African cricket and world cricket in general," said CSA chairperson Lawson Naidoo. "Indian cricket team tours are always filled with camaraderie and thrilling cricket, and our fans eagerly anticipate this series, which will showcase the exceptional talent of both teams."