Cricket

India's T20 World Cup Semifinal Fate: Guyana Bound on June 27India's quest for an elusive ICC trophy will take a crucial turn on June 27, as they are set to play the second semifinal of the T20 World Cup in Guyana if they qualify for the last four stage. According to the ICC's playing conditions for the tournament in the USA and Caribbean, a reserve day is only allocated for the final in Barbados on June 29.The decision to schedule India's potential semifinal in Guyana was made considering the timing of the semifinals in Trinidad and Guyana. The first semifinal in Trinidad on June 26 is a night affair, while the knock-out game in Guyana is a day game, which aligns better with the Indian TV audience's viewing preferences.The second semifinal will commence at 8.30 PM IST and will have an additional 250 minutes of playing time if the match is affected by weather. The added time for the first semifinal will be spread over two days."The Final on 29 June will have a reserve day on 30 June. The semi-finals will each have additional time added in order to complete the match which will total 250 minutes," the playing conditions state."For the first semi-final on 26 June, 60 minutes will be available at the end of the day's play with the remaining 190 minutes scheduled for 2pm on 27 June.""Whilst the additional 250 minutes for the second semi-final scheduled on 27 June will be utilised if needed through extended playing hours on the scheduled day," the playing conditions further explain.India will be eager to break their ICC trophy drought and will commence their campaign against Ireland in New York on June 5. They will then face arch-rivals Pakistan at the same venue on June 9.

India's T20 World Cup Semi-Final: Guyana Bound with No Reserve DayIndia's path to the T20 World Cup semi-finals has been laid out, with the team set to play in Providence, Guyana, on June 27 if they qualify for the knockout stage. This decision, confirmed by the ICC's playing conditions, is driven by the match timings and India's large television audience.The Guyana semi-final will commence at 10.30am local time, which translates to a more favorable 8pm in India, ensuring maximum viewership. In contrast, the first semi-final in Tarouba, Trinidad, is scheduled as a night game, starting at 8.30pm local time, which would be 6am in India.To accommodate the Guyana semi-final's timing, the ICC has allocated an additional 250 minutes of extra time to the match. This is in contrast to the 190 minutes allotted to the first semi-final and the final, which have reserve days. The tournament schedule does not allow for a reserve day for the second semi-final, hence the extended extra time.However, this extended extra time may not be sufficient in the event of persistent rain, as a decisive result requires both teams to bat for at least ten overs. In most T20 matches, the team batting second only needs to face five overs for a result to be achieved in weather-affected games. However, in the semi-finals and final, the team batting second must face a minimum of ten overs for a result.This rule was also in place for the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-finals and final in Australia. The ICC's decision to allocate the second semi-final to Guyana and provide additional extra time highlights the importance of India's television market and the desire to ensure a fair and decisive result in the event of weather interruptions.

South Africa's women's cricket team will embark on a comprehensive tour of India, featuring a three-match ODI series, a one-off Test, and a three-match T20I series. The tour will commence with a warm-up match against a Board President's XI side in Bengaluru on June 13.The ODI series will follow, with matches scheduled for June 16, 19, and 23, all to be played in Bengaluru. The one-off Test will take place in Chennai from June 28 to July 1, marking India's third Test match in seven months. The T20I series will conclude the tour, with matches scheduled for July 5, 7, and 9, also in Chennai.The inclusion of the one-off Test is a significant development, as it was not originally part of the ICC's Future Tours Programme (FTP). However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have been actively promoting women's Test cricket. This will be South Africa's second Test match since their return to the format in 2022, while India will be playing their third Test in the past year.The tour is strategically designed to provide continuity in formats ahead of the T20 World Cup, which will be held in Bangladesh in September-October. By playing the T20Is at the end of the tour, both teams can maintain their focus on the shortest format.In addition to the international matches, the BCCI has also reintroduced a red-ball tournament into the women's domestic calendar. The inter-zonal competition, featuring five matches, aims to provide more opportunities for women cricketers to develop their skills in the longer format.The South Africa-India women's tour promises to be an exciting and competitive series, showcasing the growing strength of women's cricket in both countries.

India's women's cricket team has made significant strides in the latest ICC Women's T20I rankings, reflecting their impressive performance in the recently concluded series against Bangladesh. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has climbed three places to 13th in the batters' list, while Richa Ghosh has moved up two spots to 23rd.Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav has also made a notable jump, rising seven places to 23rd in the bowlers' rankings. Titas Sadhu has also improved her position, moving up 18 spots to 60th. These rankings come just months before the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, where India will be hoping to make a strong impact.England's players have also made progress in the rankings. Heather Knight has risen four places to 18th in the batters' list, while Amy Jones has moved up three places to 26th. All-rounder Sarah Glenn has climbed two spots to fourth in the bowlers' rankings, behind teammate Sophie Ecclestone.Sri Lanka's players have also been rewarded for their success in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier event. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu, who was the leading run-scorer at the tournament, has risen two places to equal seventh on the batters' list. She has also moved up one place to fifth in the all-rounders' rankings.Inoshi Fernando and Udeshika Prabodhani have also made gains in the bowlers' rankings, moving up five spots each to 19th and 30th respectively. These rankings reflect the growing strength of women's cricket around the world, with players from various nations making their mark on the international stage.

Brian Lara, the legendary West Indian cricketer, has expressed his deep affection for India, citing the warmth and adulation he receives in the country. Despite not being a Bollywood enthusiast, Lara finds solace in the unconditional love and positive energy he experiences in India.Lara's love for India stems from the welcoming nature of its people. He believes that the smiles and affection he encounters at every turn create a refreshing and positive atmosphere. This is in stark contrast to his experiences in other countries, where he often feels pushed aside.Lara's fondness for India extends beyond the cricket field. He has a particular affinity for the popular street food dish, chhole bhature, which he finds similar to a dish he enjoys in his home country of Trinidad.While Lara is currently enjoying his commentary stint for Star Sports in the ongoing IPL, he admits that it comes with its challenges. He finds it difficult to generate excitement for average plays, but he cherishes the moments when he can witness and call exceptional performances.Despite his success as a commentator, Lara's true passion lies in coaching young players. He believes that working with young talent and witnessing their growth is an incredibly rewarding experience.Lara's coaching experience includes a stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad, which ended on a sour note. However, he still holds the team in high regard and hopes to see them succeed in this year's IPL. His other picks for the playoffs include Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Chennai Super Kings.

India's women's cricket team completed a comprehensive 5-0 series sweep against Bangladesh with a 21-run victory in the fifth and final T20I in Sylhet on Thursday.After posting a competitive 156 for five, India's bowlers, led by Radha Yadav's three-wicket haul, restricted Bangladesh to 136 for six.Richa Ghosh's quickfire unbeaten 28 off 17 balls provided the impetus for India's total. The wicketkeeper-batter struck three fours and a six to help India recover from a mid-innings wobble.Smriti Mandhana (33) and Dayalan Hemalatha (37) had earlier laid the foundation with a 60-run partnership for the third wicket.Bangladesh's chase began promisingly, with Sobhana Mostary hitting three fours in the first over. However, Yadav's athletic catch to dismiss Mostary set the tone for India's bowling performance.Yadav then removed Dilara Akter, Nigar Sultana, and Rubya Haider in quick succession to leave Bangladesh reeling at 52 for five.Ritu Moni (37) and Shorifa Khatun (28 not out) staged a brief fightback with a 57-run stand for the sixth wicket. However, Asha Sobhana broke the partnership by dismissing Moni in the 17th over.Despite the rearguard action, Bangladesh fell short of the target, handing India a comfortable victory.Yadav finished as the series' leading wicket-taker with 10 dismissals, while Mandhana was the leading run-scorer with 116 runs.

India's Strategic Spin Quartet for T20 World CupWest Indies pace legend Courtney Walsh has endorsed India's decision to include four spinners in their T20 World Cup squad, recognizing it as a strategic alignment with their strengths.India's selectors have opted for Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja in their 15-man squad, a move that has raised eyebrows. However, Walsh believes it is a wise choice given India's historical reliance on spin bowling."India picking four spinners I'm not surprised... it seems to be their strength," Walsh said. "West Indies have picked three spinners. It's going to be different conditions and everybody has to balance the team."India's captain Rohit Sharma has hinted that the slow and sluggish wickets expected in the West Indies, as well as the unusually early starts, may have influenced their decision. Walsh agrees that these factors could favor spinners."India still have quality fast bowlers, most of the teams do, so it will be a very competitive tournament. The majority of the teams have good-quality fast bowlers and spinners," Walsh said. "It's (the tournament) going to be dominated by the bat possibly. But it is difficult to predict who is going to win it, difficult to predict which bowler is going to be a standout. The teams that execute well will be successful."Walsh also expressed optimism about the West Indies' chances in the tournament, which they will co-host. "I'm expecting them to do very well. It's a nice balanced team and I am very optimistic that they'll play quality cricket. The group is not the easiest but once we reach the super sixes, there's a really good chance."Walsh, who holds the record for the most Test wickets (519), offered advice to India's star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. "Stay fit, have fun. The more you play the more experienced you get," he said. "It's all about managing the injuries well. That will help him become fitter, stronger and better. You can only play if you are fit enough."Walsh also emphasized the importance of protecting young West Indies pace sensation Shamar Joseph, who played a key role in their recent Test victory in Australia. "West Indies have to (protect him), he's got to protect himself. When I watch his interviews he has a very level head, which is very, very good to see. He loves the game, has passion for the game," Walsh said. "I think the West Indies have to make sure to look after him. Keep him injury-free for longevity. It's early days yet but I'm very excited to see what he does."

India's quest for an ICC trophy has been elusive since their 2013 Champions Trophy triumph. Despite coming close at the 2019 ODI World Cup, they fell short in the final against Australia. Former opener Virender Sehwag believes that India's lack of fearlessness contributed to their defeat.In the 2019 World Cup final, India's batting faltered after a promising start by Rohit Sharma. Sehwag emphasizes that India needs to adopt a fearless approach, especially between the 11th and 40th overs. He cites his own experience from 2007-08 to 2011, where India treated every match as a knockout game."We used to treat every match as a knockout match, a World Cup semifinal; if we lose, we are out (of the tournament)," Sehwag explains. "So from 2007-08 to 2011, we won a lot of tournaments and prepared for the World Cup."Sehwag believes that India should adopt this mindset and play every match as if it were a knockout game. "That mindset is needed in that (Indian) dressing room when you go into a knockout match, you play fearlessly, with bravery, play with some risk. That, I think is lacking."India's bowlers started well in the 2019 World Cup final, but Travis Head's match-winning century turned the tide in Australia's favor. Sehwag believes that India needs to be more aggressive in their approach and take calculated risks."I think that mindset is needed in that (Indian) dressing room when you go into a knockout match, you play fearlessly, with bravery, play with some risk. That, I think is lacking."

India's T20 World Cup Strategy: Balancing Superstars and PlanningFormer West Indies captain Brian Lara has emphasized the importance of a tailored strategy for India's head coach Rahul Dravid to optimize the performance of superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma during the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Americas.Lara believes that while the team's experience is valuable, it's crucial to avoid relying solely on individual brilliance. "Sometimes when you have a team with a lot of superstars, you forget the plan and you believe that the superstars can do it," he said. "They just have to turn up."Lara cited the example of the West Indies team during the 1987 ODI World Cup, which despite being led by the legendary Sir Vivian Richards, failed to reach the semifinals. "Obviously when you have such great players, you want to stick to that experience because you feel that they can do it," he said.Lara advised Dravid to ensure a clear plan is in place, especially given the big names in the Indian squad. "You've got a lot of exciting young players coming out and you also have that sort of conundrum," he said. "India have gone with a team that has experience. My advice, and it's not my criticism, it's my advice to Rahul Dravid is to make sure and have a plan."While acknowledging the omission of Rinku Singh as unfortunate, Lara expressed confidence in the team's ability to win the World Cup. "The team is capable of winning the World Cup," he said. "Yes, it's a team that have maybe a couple of youngsters missing because of the situation. But I still believe that if they plan properly. India could win the World Cup."