Cricket

India's final group match in the T20 World Cup against Canada on Saturday will be a crucial test for star batsman Virat Kohli, who has struggled for form in the tournament so far. Despite India's three consecutive victories, Kohli's poor performance has raised concerns.Kohli entered the T20 World Cup after a stellar Indian Premier League season, where he amassed over 700 runs for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, in three matches, he has managed only five runs, including a "Golden Duck" against the USA.The match against Canada provides an opportunity for Kohli to regain his form, but it is also a meaningless game for India, who have already qualified for the Super Eight stage. The team's focus will be on preparing for the more challenging matches ahead.Despite Kohli's struggles, India's batting has been strong, with Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant stepping up. Pant has scored crucial runs in the victories over Pakistan and Ireland, while Suryakumar overcame a slow start to make a vital fifty against the USA.India's bowling has also been impressive, with Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah leading the attack. Pandya and Arshdeep have been particularly impressive, silencing their critics after poor IPL seasons.While India is expected to defeat Canada, the match could provide an opportunity for the team to experiment with their lineup. They may consider inserting Yashasvi Jaiswal as an opener and moving Kohli down to No. 3. They may also give Yuzvendra Chahal or Kuldeep Yadav a chance to bowl.Canada, despite being a tournament newcomer, has shown some tenacity. Players like Aaron Johnson can surprise on their day. However, the Canadians will need to rely on the anticipated rain to stop India's momentum.

Pakistan's dismal performance in their T20 World Cup clash against India has drawn sharp criticism from former fast-bowler Waqar Younis. Pakistan, despite bowling out India for a mere 119, failed to chase down the target, losing by six runs.Younis expressed his frustration, stating that Pakistan had been handed a golden opportunity to win but squandered it. He attributed the defeat to the team's poor batting, particularly the dismissal of wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan against Jasprit Bumrah."The game was in their hands, it was run-a-ball," Younis said. "That shot from Mohammad Rizwan was very ordinary... I knew something special was going to happen because we know Bumrah and Siraj's capabilities."Legendary left-arm fast-bowler Wasim Akram echoed Younis's sentiments, criticizing Rizwan's lack of game awareness and the overall performance of batters Fakhar Zaman and Iftikhar Ahmed."They have been playing cricket for 10 years, and I can't teach them," Akram said. "Rizwan has no game awareness... Iftikhar Ahmed knows one shot on the leg side... Pakistani players think that if they don't perform well, the coaches will be sacked, and nothing will happen to them."Akram also revealed a rift between captain Babar Azam and left-arm fast-bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, claiming that they are not on speaking terms since the change of captaincy earlier this year."There are players who don't want to talk to each other," Akram said. "This is international cricket, and you play for your country. Make these players sit at home."Pakistan's defeat has put them on the brink of an early exit from the tournament. The team's batting woes and lack of game awareness have been highlighted as major concerns, and it remains to be seen if they can turn things around in their remaining matches.

The T20 World Cup 2024 in Florida faces a potential weather disruption as a tropical disturbance brings heavy rainfall to the region. The first match at the Lauderhill venue, between Nepal and Sri Lanka, was washed out due to flooding. Three more fixtures—USA vs. Ireland, Canada vs. India, and Ireland vs. Pakistan—are scheduled over the next three days and could also be affected by the inclement weather.The US National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a "flood watch" for southern Florida through Friday evening. The matches are scheduled to begin at 10.30am local time, but heavy rain is forecast throughout the day.India has already secured a spot in the Super Eight after defeating USA on Wednesday. The remaining teams in Group A—USA, Canada, Ireland, and Pakistan—are vying for the other spot. All four teams still have a mathematical chance of qualifying.Pakistan, the 2022 T20 World Cup finalists, have won only one of their three games so far. They can advance to the next round if they defeat Ireland and USA loses to them. If either of these matches is washed out, USA, with two wins, will qualify. Canada (one win from three) and Ireland (no wins from two) are lower in the standings.The washout on June 11 also impacted Group D, leaving Sri Lanka and Nepal on the brink of elimination. A minimum of five overs is required to constitute a match, and there are no reserve days for the group-stage matches. The first semi-final and the final have reserve days, but the second semi-final does not, as there is only a day's gap between that match and the final.The weather conditions could significantly impact the outcome of Group A and potentially affect the tournament's overall trajectory.

Virat Kohli, India's batting mainstay, has endured a disappointing start to the T20 World Cup 2024, failing to deliver in both matches. Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has urged Kohli to revert to his previous batting style, arguing that it would be more effective on the current pitches.Manjrekar believes that Kohli's attempt to increase his strike rate during the IPL 2024 has backfired in the T20 World Cup. "He probably must have come to the T20 World Cup with that same mindset, but given the pitches, the old Virat Kohli would have been much better," Manjrekar said.Kohli's strike rate has been a subject of debate in recent years, with some critics arguing that he needs to be more aggressive. However, Manjrekar believes that Kohli's strength lies in his ability to anchor the innings and play calculated shots."The problem with Virat Kohli is that there has been a lot of talk about his strike rate over the last two years, and he completely changed that during this IPL season," Manjrekar said. "But that is a different topic. He probably must have come to the T20 World Cup with that same mindset, but given the pitches, the old Virat Kohli would have been much better."Manjrekar's advice echoes the sentiments of many fans and experts who believe that Kohli's best batting comes when he is playing within himself and not trying to force the issue. Kohli has been known for his ability to rotate the strike, find gaps, and build partnerships.If Kohli can rediscover his old form, it would be a major boost for India's chances in the T20 World Cup. The team is heavily reliant on Kohli's experience and leadership, and his return to form would provide a much-needed spark to the batting lineup.

Shivam Dube, the big-hitting all-rounder from India, has struggled to adapt to the two-paced tracks at the T20 World Cup in New York. Accustomed to the belters in India, Dube found the conditions in Nassau County so challenging that he likened it to playing a Ranji Trophy game.Despite his initial struggles, Dube regained some form with a composed 35-ball 31 in India's seven-wicket win over the USA. The victory propelled India into the Super Eight stage of the tournament, which will be played entirely in the West Indies."I was struggling with my form and focusing on my process," Dube said about his previous failures against Ireland and Pakistan. "But here, there was no pressure. All the support staff and coaches backed me and told me, 'It's difficult, but you have the ability to hit sixes, so apply it.'"Dube acknowledged that the conditions in New York require a different approach than what he is used to in the Indian Premier League (IPL). "These conditions do not demand what I've done at CSK. These conditions require a different approach, so I was batting differently today," he said.Despite his struggles with the bat, Dube has enjoyed bowling on these tracks. "It's definitely better to bowl here," he said. "I would have bowled more but was hit for a six and didn't get the opportunity."Dube also commented on the difficult conditions for batting in the makeshift stadium without proper stands for spectators. "Because of the backdrop, it's a bit difficult. Moreover, there is a lot of light, so it's a bit difficult to judge the ball," he said.Regarding Virat Kohli's poor form, Dube said, "There is nothing I can say about Virat Kohli because I'm not Virat Kohli. His bad patch means he got out cheaply a couple of times but will come back scoring hundreds in the next three matches. We all know his game and how he plays."

Virat Kohli's struggles in the ongoing T20 World Cup continued on Wednesday as he fell for a golden duck against USA in New York. This marked his second consecutive duck in the tournament, following his dismissal for 1 against Ireland and 4 against Pakistan. Kohli's poor form has raised concerns about his place in the Indian team, especially considering his recent struggles in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Kohli's golden duck against USA was his second-ever in T20Is and his first in a T20 World Cup. It was also the sixth time he has been dismissed for a duck in the shortest format of the game. The Indian batting maestro has not managed to reach double figures in his last four T20I innings, a worrying sign for a player of his caliber.Despite Kohli's struggles, India managed to restrict USA to a modest total of 110/8 in their Group A match. Arshdeep Singh was the star performer for India, claiming impressive figures of 4-9. Hardik Pandya also chipped in with two wickets, while Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah picked up one wicket each.In response, India chased down the target with relative ease, thanks to a solid opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Sharma scored 41 off 34 balls, while Rahul contributed 30 off 29 deliveries. Suryakumar Yadav provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 26 off 18 balls, guiding India to a comfortable victory.Kohli's poor form remains a concern for India, but the team will be hoping that he can rediscover his touch in the upcoming matches. With the knockout stages approaching, India will need their star batsman to fire if they are to lift the T20 World Cup trophy.

USA Captain Aaron Jones Reflects on Narrow Loss to India in T20 World CupIn the wake of a 7-wicket defeat to India in the ICC T20 World Cup, USA stand-in captain Aaron Jones expressed his belief that a total of 130 would have posed a significant challenge for the "Men in Blue."Despite a valiant bowling effort that saw India struggle to chase down a modest target of 111, Jones acknowledged that his team fell short in the batting department. "10-15 runs short. If we got 130 then it would have been a tough total," he said.Jones praised his bowlers for their discipline and determination, particularly in the early stages of India's chase. However, he lamented the missed opportunities that prevented them from capitalizing on the early dismissals of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma."We were very disciplined and really proud of the bowling unit," Jones said. "Ali Khan came in and dismissed Rishabh Pant with a magnificent delivery, but we couldn't build on that."Looking ahead, Jones emphasized the need for restructuring and recalibration before their crucial match against Ireland on Friday. "We will have a few meetings and come back strong," he added.Jones also provided an update on captain Monank Patel, who missed the India clash due to a niggle. "Mostly he should be fit for the last game," he said.In their final group stage match, the USA will face Ireland with the aim of securing a berth in the Super 8.

India's skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged the challenges of playing on a newly-laid drop-in pitch at Nassau County ground during the ongoing T20 World Cup. Despite the difficulties, India managed to secure victories in all three of their matches, including the highest successful chase at the venue against USA.Rohit praised the efforts of Arshdeep Singh, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shivam Dube for their key roles in the team's success. He highlighted Suryakumar's ability to adapt his aggressive approach to anchor the chase, while commending Arshdeep's impressive bowling performance.The Indian captain also expressed relief at qualifying for the Super Eight stage, acknowledging the tough competition they faced. He emphasized the importance of sticking together and taking confidence from their wins.Rohit praised the USA cricketers for their progress and hard work. He noted that the team had played together previously and was impressed by their dedication.Arshdeep Singh, who recorded the best T20I figures for India, explained his bowling strategy. He aimed to make the most of the seam-friendly surface, pitching the ball in the wicket and letting it do the talking.USA's stand-in skipper Aaron Jones expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, despite falling short of a competitive total. He praised the bowling unit's discipline and expressed optimism for the future of USA cricket.

USA's Saurabh Netravalkar, the left-arm pacer who rose to fame with his Super Over heroics against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, continued his impressive run against India by claiming the crucial wickets of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.Netravalkar's ability to take important wickets has made him a formidable force in international cricket. His success against top-tier opposition has showcased his talent and potential on the global stage.In the Group A clash at the Nassau Stadium in New York, Netravalkar left the crowd in awe as he sent star India batter Kohli for a golden duck. Kohli attempted to navigate a delivery that curved towards the off side but ended up reaching for it, making contact with the ball away from his body. The outside edge carried the ball directly into the gloves of wicketkeeper Andries Gous.Netravalkar gave India another big jolt in his next over with the dismissal of captain Rohit for 3, leaving India 10/2 in their pursuit of 111. It was a full-length delivery that gripped the pitch slightly, causing Rohit to close his bat face too early. The ball took a leading edge and ballooned into the air, with Harmeet Singh running back from mid-off to secure the catch.Mumbai-born Netravalkar played a pivotal role in the USA's stunning victory over former champions Pakistan last week. The 32-year-old delivered a superb performance in the Super Over, securing his side's unexpected win against Pakistan.An alumnus of the prestigious Cornell University and a senior techie (coder) at Oracle, Netravalkar has been juggling academics and cricket with aplomb. Netravalkar, who played for India in the 2010 U-19 World Cup, has shared the dressing room with the likes of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, even playing the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai.