Cricket

India's struggles in major ICC tournaments have been a persistent issue, and former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq believes the team lacks the ability to finish strong in the latter stages. Despite possessing a "skillful" team with a "powerful bowling lineup," India has failed to win an ICC title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.In the 2023 ODI World Cup, India remained undefeated until losing to Australia in the final. They also missed out on the World Test Championship title twice in three years. In the last T20 World Cup, they were defeated by England in the semifinals.Misbah praised India's current pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami, as well as the overall quality of Indian cricket. However, he highlighted that India's inability to handle pressure in ICC knockout matches has been a major factor in their recent failures."Teams like Pakistan, India, and other Asian teams face immense pressure from their huge populations and high expectations," Misbah said. "This pressure can affect performance significantly. It's something India has struggled with in the last few mega events, where they haven't been able to finish strong."Misbah believes that India needs to find ways to cope with pressure in ICC knockout matches. "For Australia, this isn't as big of an issue, but for Pakistan and India, playing under such intense pressure is a major challenge," he added. "It's interesting to see how these teams will manage it in the future. India, especially, will need to find ways to overcome this mounting pressure if they want to succeed in upcoming events."Regarding Mohammad Amir's inclusion in Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad, Misbah said, "We will definitely see a difference in Mohammad Amir from the one we witnessed previously. He may have less pace and swing, but he now has more experience."India will face Pakistan in their second T20 World Cup match in New York on June 9 after playing Ireland in the opening game on June 5.

The upcoming T20 World Cup has sparked intense speculation regarding Virat Kohli's batting position for India. While the team's decision-makers have likely made their choice, the cricket community eagerly awaits Rohit Sharma's announcement in the pre-match press conference.Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and Australian legend Tim Paine advocate for Kohli opening the innings. Paine believes Kohli's exceptional form and experience warrant him facing as many deliveries as possible. Suresh Raina, on the other hand, supports Kohli remaining at No. 3, where he has traditionally excelled.Aaron Finch, another former Australian captain, also favors Kohli at No. 3. He highlights Kohli's impressive strike rate of 155 in the recent IPL season, suggesting that his stability at No. 3 provides a solid foundation for the team. Finch proposes Yashasvi Jaiswal as a suitable opening partner for Rohit Sharma, given his aggressive style.The debate centers around maximizing Kohli's impact on the game. Opening the innings would allow him to face more deliveries, while batting at No. 3 would provide stability and allow other players to play their natural game.As the T20 World Cup draws near, the decision over Kohli's batting position remains a crucial one. Fans and experts alike await the final verdict, hoping it will optimize India's chances of success on the global stage.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the schedule for the warm-up matches ahead of the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the West Indies and the USA. India, the inaugural champions of the tournament in 2007, will face Bangladesh in a warm-up match on June 1 at a venue yet to be determined in the USA.The warm-up fixtures will be held across various venues in the USA and Trinidad and Tobago from May 27 to June 1. A total of 17 teams, including South Africa, who will play an intra-squad match on June 29 in Florida, will participate in the warm-up games. These matches will not carry international T20 status, allowing teams to utilize their entire 15-player squad.In a departure from previous cycles, teams now have the option to play up to two warm-up matches, depending on their arrival time for the main event. Notably, the warm-up match between the West Indies and Australia at Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago on May 30, will be open to fans.Tickets for the matches can be purchased from the official ticketing website or at designated box offices starting from May 16. The 2024 Men's T20 World Cup will kick off on June 1 with a match between co-hosts USA and neighboring Canada.The tournament will feature matches at iconic cricket venues like Kensington Oval in Barbados and Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad. This marks the first time the USA will host an ICC tournament.The tournament will begin with the 20 teams divided into four groups of five each for the initial round. The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super Eight stage, where they will be divided into two groups of four each. Teams maintaining their seeding from the first round will compete in the Super Eight, provided they qualify.The top two sides from each group in the Super Eight will advance to the semifinals, scheduled to be held in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago on June 26 and 27, respectively. The final showdown is set to take place in Barbados on June 29.

Rohit Sharma Reveals the Most Formidable Bowler He Has FacedIndian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has named South African pace legend Dale Steyn as the most formidable bowler he has encountered throughout his illustrious career. As India gears up for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Rohit's revelation has sparked intrigue among cricket enthusiasts worldwide.Rohit, who has amassed over 15,000 international runs across all formats, has faced some of the greatest bowlers in the game. However, it is Steyn who stands out as the most challenging opponent he has faced."I have gone and watched his videos like 100 times before I went in to bat. That was Dale Steyn. He is an absolute legend of the game. And what he has achieved in his career is just superb to watch. And I have faced him many times," Rohit said.Steyn, who retired from international cricket in 2020, was renowned for his express pace, lethal swing, and unwavering competitiveness. He claimed 699 wickets in 265 international matches for South Africa, establishing himself as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time."He is quick. He used to swing the ball at that pace, which is not easy. It is quite tough. And he was a fierce competitor. He just went out there wanting to do everything, to win every game and every session, so it was nice to come up against him," Rohit added.Rohit's admiration for Steyn is a testament to the South African's exceptional skills and the impact he had on the game. Steyn's ability to consistently bowl at high speeds with pinpoint accuracy made him a formidable opponent for even the most accomplished batsmen.As India prepares for the T20 World Cup, Rohit's experience in facing Steyn will undoubtedly be invaluable. The Indian skipper will be hoping to lead his team to glory in the tournament, and his insights into Steyn's bowling will be crucial in helping India overcome any challenges they may face.

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.