Cricket

India's T20 World Cup Batting Order: Hayden Advocates for Kohli as OpenerAs India prepares for their T20 World Cup opener against Ireland, former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has sparked a debate over the team's batting order. Hayden believes that Virat Kohli should open the innings, while Rohit Sharma would be more effective batting at number four.Hayden's suggestion stems from the importance of having a left-right combination at the top of the order to counter opposition leg-spinners. He argues that Kohli's exceptional record as an opener and his recent Orange Cap win in IPL 2024 make him the ideal candidate for the role."You have to have a left-right combination. You can't have five right-handers in a row. Australia would just say hello to Zampa," Hayden said. "Kohli has to open or he does not play in my team. He is in absolute red-hot form."Hayden also believes that Rohit Sharma's versatility and experience make him a better fit for the middle order. "Rohit is a versatile player and does not shy away from batting in that middle order. He has a successful record in T20I cricket batting at No. 4 and he can lead the batting group from the early middle order," he explained.Kohli's record in T20 World Cups is exceptional. He is the tournament's highest run-getter with 1141 runs in 27 matches at an average of 81.50. His inclusion as an opener would provide India with a solid foundation and allow him to set the tone for the innings.However, there is speculation that India might opt for the opening pair of Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal. This would leave Kohli at number three, a position he has also excelled in.Ultimately, the decision of India's batting order will rest with the team management. They will need to weigh the pros and cons of each option and determine the lineup that gives them the best chance of success in the T20 World Cup.

India's T20 World Cup preparations culminated in a resounding 60-run victory over Bangladesh at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York. In the absence of Virat Kohli, who arrived in New York shortly before the match, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya shone with the bat.Pant, making his first India appearance in over 18 months, top-scored with a blistering 53 off 32 deliveries, including four boundaries and four sixes. Hardik, silencing critics about his form, smashed an unbeaten 40 off just 23 balls.During Bangladesh's chase of 183, a photoshopped image of India captain Rohit Sharma sparked controversy. The image, which depicted Sharma as out of shape, was later debunked by fans who shared genuine screenshots of his physique.Sharma, who had participated in an official photoshoot for the T20 World Cup a few days prior, appeared in good shape in those pictures. However, he struggled to time the ball on a two-paced track, scoring only 23 off 19 balls.India surprised by opting to bat first, with Sanju Samson opening alongside Sharma. Pant, returning from a horrific car accident in December 2022, retired after scoring 53.India's bowlers dominated Bangladesh's chase, with left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh leading the charge. Bangladesh was restricted to 122 for nine, despite a brief fightback from Mahmudullah Riyaz (40 retired out) and Shakib Al Hasan (28).

Gary Kirsten, the former South African opener, has made a significant impact on Indian cricket as the coach of the Indian national team from 2008 to 2011. During his tenure, India won the 2011 World Cup, and Kirsten was widely praised for his calm demeanor and man-management skills.After a successful stint with Gujarat Titans in the IPL, Kirsten has now taken on the role of Pakistan's white-ball coach. This move has raised questions about whether he could provide Pakistan with an advantage over India in their upcoming T20 World Cup clash.However, experts believe that Kirsten's knowledge of Indian players is unlikely to give Pakistan a significant edge. Paddy Upton, who worked with Kirsten as part of the Indian team's support staff, believes that video analysis and data on all players are readily available to all opponents.Instead, Kirsten's strengths lie in his man-management skills and his ability to build strong relationships with players. He is known for his process-driven approach, focusing on the fundamentals and avoiding aimless practice.Kirsten is also not afraid to have tough conversations when necessary. He famously told Yuvraj Singh that he was fitter than the left-hander at the age of 41, which motivated Singh to improve his off-field choices and ultimately led to his man-of-the-series performance in the 2011 World Cup.Upton believes that Kirsten's experience of working in a foreign culture and his ability to understand the emotions and fanaticism of fans and media will be valuable assets for Pakistan. Agoram highlights Kirsten's ability to invest time and energy in player-coach relationships, which will be crucial in building trust and getting players to buy into his plans.Overall, while Kirsten's knowledge of Indian players may not provide Pakistan with a significant advantage, his man-management skills and his ability to create a positive and supportive environment will be invaluable to the team.

Riyan Parag, the outspoken young cricketer, has sparked controversy with his bold response to a question about the top four teams in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Known for his candor, Parag declared that he has no interest in watching the tournament and will only pay attention to the winner."It will be a biased answer (prediction on top four teams), but to be very honest, I don't even want to watch the World Cup," Parag said in a chat with The Bharat Army. "I'll just see who is winning it at the end and I'll be happy. When I will play the World Cup, I will think about top four and all of that."Parag's comments have drawn mixed reactions. Some have praised his honesty and refusal to conform to expectations, while others have criticized him for being arrogant and disrespectful. However, Parag has remained unapologetic, reiterating his belief that he will eventually play for India and make his own mark on the world stage."At some point, you'll have to take me, right? So that is my belief, I'm going to play for India. I don't really care when," Parag told PTI in an interview.Parag's confidence stems from his impressive performance in this year's IPL season. Batting at No.4 for the Rajasthan Royals, he scored 573 runs at a strike rate close to 150. This breakout season has put him in contention for a spot on the Indian team for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe.If selected, Parag will join Abhishek Sharma and Harshit Rana as potential future stars of Indian cricket. All three players have shown great promise in recent months and could play a significant role in the team's success in the years to come.

Former BCCI chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar believes India possesses one of the strongest teams heading into the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Despite the absence of key players like KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rinku Singh, Vengsarkar expressed confidence in the team's capabilities."The current Indian team is one of the best in the world," Vengsarkar stated. "If you could include Gill, Rahul, or Rinku Singh, it would be an even stronger team. I wish them all the success because they are among the best in the world right now."Vengsarkar acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the T20 format, emphasizing that any player can emerge as a match-winner on any given day. "It's difficult to say who the key players are in this format," he said. "Everybody is important. The first six overs are crucial, but anything can happen in this format."India is placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and co-hosts USA. Virat Kohli was absent from team training this week but is expected to join the squad before their warm-up match against Bangladesh on Saturday.Vengsarkar's comments highlight India's potential as they prepare for the T20 World Cup. The team boasts a balanced squad with experienced players and rising stars. While the absence of Rahul, Gill, and Singh may be a concern, Vengsarkar's confidence in the team's strength is a positive sign for Indian cricket fans.

India's T20 World Cup Squad: Spinners Take Center StageFormer Indian opener WV Raman has endorsed the selection of four spinners in India's T20 World Cup squad, citing the nature of pitches in the West Indies and the recent performances in the IPL as key factors.India's squad for the ICC marquee event includes Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Raman believes that the inclusion of these spinners is a well-thought-out decision based on the conditions in the West Indies."The pitches in the West Indies are more conducive to spinners these days," Raman said. "The spinners have also done well in the IPL on good hard-flat tracks in India. This has prompted the selectors to think that you are better off with spinners rather than fast bowlers."In the IPL, Chahal took 18 wickets from 15 matches with an economy of 9.41, Kuldeep claimed 16 wickets with an economy of 8.65, Axar took 11 wickets at 7.65, and Jadeja secured 8 wickets at 7.85.Raman is optimistic about India's chances in the T20 World Cup. "We have a lot of brilliant cricketers who can be match-winners on their days," he said. "T20 is such a format where you need a bit of luck as well, especially in the knockouts, and that's where experience also counts, which we have aplenty in the side."Despite concerns over the narrow gap between the IPL and the T20 World Cup, Raman believes it will not affect the players. "Today's cricketers are fit enough and more or less used to playing non-stop. So, they will manage," he noted.India's campaign begins on Wednesday against Ireland in New York at the Nassau County Stadium. Raman supports the idea of expanding cricket to new destinations. "I think that is something that the ICC will consider. They will look at as many cost-effective measures and innovations to get more teams into the fold and venues under their bracket."

Virat Kohli, the batting maestro, is the cynosure of all eyes at the T20 World Cup in the United States and the Caribbean. Fans are eagerly capturing every moment of their beloved star, and a recent video circulating on social media has become a testament to Kohli's unwavering focus.In the video, Kohli is seen sitting in the team's dugout, preparing to eat. However, despite the cheers of fans and a plate of food laid out before him, Kohli remains laser-focused, oblivious to the distractions. His unwavering determination is a testament to his unwavering commitment to the game.India's victory over Bangladesh in their warm-up match has signaled their readiness to challenge for their second T20 World Cup title. Kohli, who recently won the Orange Cap as the top run-getter in the IPL, did not bat in the practice match, allowing the team to test other batting options.India's campaign in Group A begins on June 5 with a match against Ireland in New York. The highly anticipated clash against Pakistan follows on June 9 at the same venue. Co-hosts USA and Canada complete the group.Kohli's presence in the Indian team is a major boost to their title aspirations. His experience, skill, and leadership will be invaluable as India aims to reclaim the T20 World Cup trophy they last won in 2007.

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has lauded Rishabh Pant for his exceptional performance in challenging conditions during India's T20 World Cup warm-up game against Bangladesh on Saturday. The wicketkeeper-batter scored a rapid 53 off 32 balls, helping India set a competitive target of 183. India subsequently restricted Bangladesh to 122/9, securing a comprehensive 60-run victory in New York.Manjrekar praised Pant for his ability to quickly assess the conditions and adapt his game accordingly. "The pitch was slightly difficult when he came to bat. We saw Sanju Samson getting out after scoring only one run off six balls. After that, he (Pant) came and his specialty is that he is extremely street-smart and assesses very quickly what needs to be done," Manjrekar said on Star Sports.Pant's explosive innings included four fours and four sixes. Manjrekar highlighted Pant's impressive strike rate of nearly 200 on a difficult pitch, which underscored his ability to perform under pressure. "He is a batter who scored runs at a strike rate of almost 200 on a difficult pitch. This is Rishabh Pant's specialty. His record in T20Is is very ordinary, an average close to 20 and a strike rate of 120 or lower, but we saw today what this guy can do," Manjrekar added.Former India all-rounder Sanjay Bangar also commended Pant for his approach, noting his initial caution before launching into big shots. "Everyone will talk about the four fours and four sixes he hit, but he scored only one run off his first six or seven deliveries. So the best thing was that he gave himself time, especially against the spinners. We have the notion that he plays a lot of shots against spinners," Bangar said.Bangar further observed Pant's comfort against both pace and spin. "Actually, his best shots are against the pacers and he gets out many times against spinners. Today he batted well against both pacers and spinners. So I feel a stability has come into his mind considering the way he batted," Bangar noted.Pant's performance against Bangladesh demonstrated his potential to be a game-changer. Despite his modest T20I record, his ability to adapt to challenging conditions and perform under pressure makes him a valuable asset to the Indian team.

The T20 World Cup is set to commence, and the anticipation is palpable. Several teams are vying for the coveted title, each boasting unique strengths and strategies.India:India, led by the formidable Rohit Sharma, is a formidable contender. Their squad boasts a harmonious blend of technical prowess, power-hitting capabilities, exceptional spinners, and the indomitable Jasprit Bumrah. This well-rounded team is equipped to excel in diverse conditions, making them a force to be reckoned with.Australia:Australia, brimming with confidence, has a proven track record of success. Their explosive batting lineup, anchored by the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Adam Zampa, is complemented by a formidable bowling attack. The absence of external pressure can further enhance their threat level.South Africa:Despite recent controversies, South Africa is quietly assembling a formidable limited-overs team. Inspired by Australia's template, they have assembled a squad of power-hitters and skilled bowlers. Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Tristan Stubbs possess the destructive potential to dismantle any opposition.England:England, eager to redeem themselves after a disappointing ODI World Cup campaign, is determined to make amends. Led by the experienced Jos Buttler, they have a balanced squad featuring a blend of youth and experience. Their big-hitters and reliable white-ball bowlers are capable of delivering on the grandest stage. The return of Jofra Archer to peak form could elevate England to the status of a top contender.Dark Horse: West Indies:On paper, the West Indies may not appear as the most formidable team. However, home advantage and their inherent unpredictability make them a force to be reckoned with. With power hitters like Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, and Shimron Hetmyer in their ranks, they possess the firepower to challenge any opponent.