Cricket

India's Pace Spearhead Dilemma: Who Will Partner Jasprit Bumrah?As India prepares for their T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Ireland, the team management faces a crucial decision: who will partner pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah? While the debate surrounding India's opener combination has dominated headlines, the choice of Bumrah's bowling partner is equally important.Former Australia pacer Glenn McGrath believes that Mitchell Starc and Bumrah will be the players to watch out for in the tournament. Australia boasts an experienced pace attack with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood alongside Starc, while Mitchell Marsh provides additional bowling depth.India, on the other hand, has Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh as the other two frontline pacers in their squad. Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube offer pace-bowling all-round options. McGrath suggests that while Bumrah will be instrumental to India's chances, someone must contribute with the ball to ease the load on him."Bumrah just seems to be the one bowler that batters find it hard, even in T20s, to get on top of," McGrath said. "So, I think if Australia is to win this World Cup, Starc has to bowl well. A lot of it relies on him. And Bumrah for India, but then it is who's going to take wickets around Bumrah and who's going to bowl well around him."McGrath believes that Arshdeep is a better partner for Bumrah than Siraj. "You got Jasprit Bumrah. He showed just how good he is throughout the IPL. But it is like having a left-right opening combination for batters. It also depends on how they are bowling. In T20s, you do not have much time to be ready. If you take an over or two to warm up, the game is already over. If you have got a good opening-bowling combination, that is where you are going to win matches."Bumrah was the standout performer for Mumbai Indians in their IPL 2024 campaign, despite the franchise's poor performance. India will need Bumrah to continue his impressive form and for someone to step up as his reliable partner in the T20 World Cup.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has expressed concerns about Babar Azam's leadership abilities and Pakistan's preparedness for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Latif believes that Azam lacks the experience and composure to handle the pressure of high-stakes matches, particularly against India.Latif also highlighted India's superior bowling attack, led by Kuldeep Yadav, as a key factor in their favor. He pointed out that Pakistan's bowling unit has been weakened by injuries and fitness issues, leaving them vulnerable in the middle overs.Latif criticized the timing of Gary Kirsten's appointment as Pakistan's head coach, arguing that he has not had enough time to build a rapport with the players. He also expressed admiration for Virat Kohli's popularity and his ability to inspire his teammates.Latif emphasized that Azam's growth as a captain depends on having a stronger supporting cast. He noted that Azam often lacks the support of his teammates, unlike Kohli, who has a more experienced and talented squad around him.Latif's comments raise questions about Pakistan's chances in the T20 World Cup. While they have a talented team, their lack of preparation and leadership concerns could hinder their progress. India, on the other hand, appears to be a more balanced and confident unit, making them the favorites in the upcoming clash between the two arch-rivals.

Virat Kohli's uncharacteristic failure against Ireland in India's T20 World Cup 2024 opener has sparked a challenge from legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar. Despite India's eight-wicket victory, Kohli's rare poor show, scoring only 1 run from 5 balls, has raised concerns.Gavaskar, however, remains confident in Kohli's ability to bounce back, stating that great players like him tend to make up for lost opportunities in subsequent matches. "They want to score double the runs," Gavaskar said. "And who better to score double the runs than against Pakistan?"India's victory against Ireland marked their most successive wins against a single opponent in T20 cricket. Skipper Rohit Sharma's half-century, Rishabh Pant's finishing touches, and Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah's impressive spells were instrumental in the win.Pant's winning shot in the 13th over sealed the victory, giving India their eighth win against Ireland in T20Is. This victory also extended India's winning streak against Ireland to eight, equaling their record against Bangladesh from 2009 to 2018.India's dominance in T20 cricket is further evident in their seven wins each against Australia, Sri Lanka, and West Indies. The Rohit Sharma-led side has established itself as a formidable force in the shortest format of the game.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign kicks off on Friday against USA, but the match that has captured the attention of players and fans alike is the highly anticipated clash against archrivals India on June 9."The whole world waits for this," declared Pakistan skipper Babar Azam in an interview with Star Sports. Pakistan has a less-than-stellar record against India in T20 World Cup history, having lost six of the seven matches they have played. However, Azam believes that the outcome will ultimately depend on which team can control their nerves better on the day."It's a different kind of pressure, to control the nerves," Azam said. "You learn that from experience, the more you play...especially in Pakistan-India matches. That's a different vibe."India, meanwhile, made a strong start to their campaign, crushing Ireland by eight wickets in their opening group match. The two teams are joined in Group A by Ireland, USA, and Canada, with the top two teams advancing to the 'Super 8s'.Azam acknowledged the significance of the match against India, saying, "It's a big match and we always enjoy it." He also expressed his admiration for the Indian team, saying, "They are a very good team and we respect them a lot."The Pakistan skipper emphasized the importance of staying focused and executing their plans on the field. "We have to play our best cricket and not worry about the pressure," he said. "We have a good team and we believe in ourselves."The Pakistan-India match is expected to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams eager to prove their superiority. The outcome could have a significant impact on the tournament standings and the path to the final.

Arshdeep Singh's performance in India's opening match of the 2024 T20 World Cup against Ireland was a tale of two halves. The left-arm pacer started brilliantly, dismissing Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie with his first two deliveries. However, his subsequent overs were less impressive, as he conceded 13 runs in his second over and a costly 16 runs in his final over.Arshdeep's wayward bowling allowed Ireland to post a respectable total of 97, despite being reduced to 50-8 at one stage. The Punjab Kings pacer's figures of 4-0-35-2 drew mixed reactions from fans on social media, with many questioning his ability to maintain his early momentum.Despite his inconsistent performance, Arshdeep remains India's highest wicket-taker in T20I cricket over the last 12 months. He also picked up 19 wickets for Punjab Kings in the recently-concluded IPL 2024, albeit with an economy rate of over 10.Experts have emphasized the importance of Arshdeep's variety in India's bowling attack, particularly given the slow nature of the pitches in the T20 World Cup so far. However, his ability to control his pace and accuracy will be crucial in India's upcoming matches, especially against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 9.Arshdeep will face a formidable challenge in Pakistan's own left-arm pacemen, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Amir. If he can replicate his early brilliance and minimize his waywardness, he could play a pivotal role in India's quest for T20 World Cup glory.

Rishabh Pant's triumphant return to the Indian cricket team after a harrowing car accident in December 2022 was marked by a stellar performance in India's emphatic victory over Ireland in their T20 World Cup opener.Batting at number three, Pant showcased his resilience and skill, smashing an unbeaten 36 off 26 deliveries on a challenging pitch at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. His innings played a crucial role in India's comfortable eight-wicket win.Earlier, Hardik Pandya led India's bowling attack with an impressive 3/27, dismissing Ireland for a mere 96 runs in 16 overs. Rohit Sharma's half-century (52 off 37 balls) set the tone for India's chase, which was completed in just 12.2 overs.Despite Jasprit Bumrah being named 'Player of the Match' for his economical spell of 2/6, Pant's contribution was equally significant. He took over the reins from Rohit, who retired hurt after being struck on the arm, and guided India to victory.Pant's return to international cricket was a testament to his unwavering determination and the support of his teammates and fans. He had previously made a comeback in the warm-up game against Bangladesh, but the Ireland match marked his first official international appearance since the accident.India's next challenge will be a highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in their second Group A game on June 9 at the same venue. Besides Ireland and Pakistan, co-hosts USA and Canada complete India's group.

Rohit Sharma Shatters Records in India's T20 World Cup OpenerIndian skipper Rohit Sharma etched his name into the annals of cricket history on Wednesday, becoming the first batter to smash 600 sixes in international cricket. The prolific opener also achieved several other milestones in India's T20 World Cup tournament opener against Ireland.Chasing a modest target of 97, Rohit crossed the 4000-run mark in T20Is, becoming only the third batter after Virat Kohli and Babar Azam to reach the milestone. He then notched up 1000 T20 World Cup runs, joining Kohli and Mahela Jayawardhane as the only players to achieve this feat.Rohit's three sixes against Ireland propelled him to the unprecedented milestone of 600 sixes in international cricket. The Indian opener now boasts 4137 sixes in Tests, 10709 in ODIs, and 4001 in T20Is.The 35-year-old also joined Kohli as the only players to score 4000 runs across all three formats in international cricket. Rohit has amassed 8848 runs in Tests, 13848 in ODIs, and 4038 in T20Is.Rohit's superb knock of 52 was cut short when he retired hurt in the 11th over. However, India went on to win their tournament opener by 8 wickets, thanks to a solid all-round performance.

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the arm during their opening match of the T20 World Cup 2024 against Ireland in New York. The incident occurred in the ninth over of India's chase, with Rohit having already scored a half-century. Despite the setback, India went on to win the match comfortably, thanks to their fast bowlers' impressive performance.Rohit was struck on the upper arm by a delivery from Ireland's Josh Little. He managed to hit the next two balls for sixes before walking off the field with India well on their way to victory. Rishabh Pant was also struck by Little in the 11th over, but he was able to continue batting after receiving medical attention.The pitch in New York proved to be a challenging one for batters, with the ball bouncing unpredictably. Former Zimbabwe batter and England head coach Andy Flower described the surface as "bordering on dangerous." He noted that the ball was bouncing both ways from a length, making it difficult for batsmen to play their shots.India's fast bowlers took advantage of the conditions to restrict Ireland to a total of 96 runs in 16 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh were the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets each.Despite the victory, India will be concerned about Rohit's injury. The captain is a key player for the team, and his absence would be a major blow. The extent of his injury is not yet known, but he is expected to undergo further assessment.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has criticized the pitch at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, calling it a "sub-standard surface" after India's dominant performance against Ireland in the T20 World Cup.On a pitch that offered excessive bounce and seam movement, India's pace attack, led by Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh, bundled out Ireland for a paltry 96. Vaughan expressed his disapproval on Twitter, stating that it was unacceptable for players to have to play on such a poor surface after working hard to qualify for the World Cup.Vaughan's criticism was echoed by former India opener Wasim Jaffer, who sarcastically suggested that the pitch was designed to introduce American audiences to Test cricket disguised as T20.The drop-in deck at the venue has been heavily criticized for favoring the pacers, as evidenced by South Africa's demolition of Sri Lanka for 77 in their previous match. Anrich Nortje's four-wicket haul for just seven runs in that match highlighted the excessive assistance the pitch provided to the bowlers.India will play their next two matches at the same venue, against Pakistan on June 9 and against co-hosts USA on June 12. The team's quartet of fast bowlers, who were in menacing form against Ireland, will be hoping for a more balanced surface in those matches.Despite the criticism of the pitch, India's performance was impressive. Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya combined to restrict Ireland to a low total, with only Gareth Delany managing to reach 26 runs.