Cricket

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."

Legendary West Indian batsman Brian Lara has urged India to promote Suryakumar Yadav to the crucial number three position in their batting lineup for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Lara believes that Suryakumar's exceptional skills and abilities make him the ideal candidate to occupy this pivotal spot in the team's batting order.Lara, who is currently providing commentary for the Indian Premier League (IPL), emphasized the importance of getting Suryakumar to the crease as early as possible. He believes that the swashbuckling batsman can put India in an unassailable position if he bats first or win the game if he bats second."My one advice, and I don't know if you're going to like it or not, but Sky has to bat at three. He just has to bat at three. He is one of the greatest T20 players in the game," Lara said. "And you speak to players like Sir Viv, and he will tell you he used to want to get out there in the middle."Lara's suggestion would require a reshuffling of India's top order, with Suryakumar moving up to number three and Virat Kohli potentially opening the innings alongside Rohit Sharma. This would leave Yashasvi Jaiswal on the bench.Lara also expressed his hope for an India-West Indies final at the T20 World Cup, which would make up for the disappointment of India's early exit from the 2007 ODI World Cup in the Caribbean."India and West Indies final is going to make up for so much wrong that has happened in the past. India missing out in 2007 in the second round, that killed us in the Caribbean. We don't want that to happen again," Lara said.Regarding India's spin bowling options, Lara believes that only a couple of the four spinners selected in the squad, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, are likely to play in the starting eleven. He praised Chahal's intelligence and ability to out-think batters, as well as Kuldeep's wicket-taking prowess.Despite the ongoing debate surrounding Kohli's strike rate, Lara believes that players like him are essential to the team's success. "You have to have a player like Virat in the playing eleven," Lara added.

Yuvraj Singh, the iconic Indian cricketer and brand ambassador for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, has expressed his ardent desire to witness his close friend Rohit Sharma donning a World Cup medal as India's captain. Yuvraj, who played a pivotal role in India's T20 World Cup triumph in 2007 and ODI World Cup victory in 2011, believes Rohit possesses the leadership qualities necessary to guide India to glory in the upcoming tournament.Yuvraj emphasized the importance of a captain who can make sound decisions under pressure, and he believes Rohit fits the bill perfectly. "He's the one to take them," Yuvraj asserted. "He was the captain when we lost in the 50-over (2023 World Cup) final. He has won five IPL trophies (for Mumbai Indians) as a captain. I think we need somebody like him to captain India."Yuvraj's friendship with Rohit dates back to their early days in the Indian team. He fondly recalled Rohit's debut during the 2007 Ireland tour, when Yuvraj was already an established member of the white-ball squad. Their bond has only grown stronger over the years, and Yuvraj described Rohit as a "great guy at heart" who has remained humble despite his immense success."Fun-loving, always having fun with the guys. A great leader on the park and one of my closest friends from cricket," Yuvraj said of Rohit. "I really want to see Rohit Sharma with a World Cup trophy and a World Cup medal (as captain). He really deserves it."India will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5 in New York. Yuvraj's presence as brand ambassador and his unwavering support for Rohit Sharma will undoubtedly inspire the Indian team as they strive to bring home the coveted trophy.

India continued its dominance over Bangladesh in the fourth women's T20 match in Sylhet on May 6, securing a 56-run victory via the Duckworth-Lewis method. The match was shortened to 14 overs per side due to persistent rain and hail.Harmanpreet Kaur (38) and Richa Ghosh (24) shared a crucial 44-run partnership to help India post a competitive 122 for six. Bangladesh, chasing 125 in 14 overs, struggled to keep up with the required run rate.Opener Dilara Akter (21) provided some resistance, but the rest of the batters failed to reach double digits. India's bowlers, led by Asha Sobhana (2/18), Deepti Sharma (2/22), Radha Yadav (1/15), and Pooja Vastrakar (1/16), restricted Bangladesh to 68 for seven.India now leads the five-match series 4-0. The victory was particularly significant for Kaur, who played her 300th international game. She and Ghosh played key roles in boosting India's total after a rain break.Bangladesh's batters, on the other hand, were unable to cope with the pressure of chasing a revised target. The Indian bowlers maintained a tight line and length, making it difficult for the hosts to score boundaries.India's victory extends their impressive record against Bangladesh in women's T20 cricket. The team has now won 10 consecutive matches against their neighbors.

David Warner, the renowned Australian opener, has expressed his deep affection for India, a country that has showered him with immense love and admiration. Warner, who won the IPL title with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, has always been a fan favorite in India.In a recent interview with Ashwin, Warner revealed that he has been overwhelmed by the love he has received in India. He said, "I get a lot of people asking me if I want a house here. One day, maybe when I finish my cricket, I would like to come here and spend some time."Warner's popularity in India is such that he is often joked about owning a place in the country. However, he clarified that he does not currently have a house in India but has considered it in the past.Warner also spoke about his controversial exit from Sunrisers Hyderabad, a team he led to the IPL title in 2016. He said that he was hurt by the way he was treated by the franchise, especially the fact that he was blocked on social media."It did (hurt) because it was a sense of hurt for fans. The fans are the most important relationship you could have," Warner said. "Not sure why I was blocked. But, I did engage with a lot of fans on the social media side for SRH."Despite the acrimonious end to his time with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Warner remains grateful for the love and support he has received from Indian fans. He said, "I still got fans who come onto my page and talk to everyone. So it's great."Warner's love for India is evident in his frequent interactions with fans on social media and his willingness to embrace the country's culture. He said, "I go to the malls with my girls and I embrace everything."Warner's popularity in India is a testament to his charisma and his genuine love for the country. He is a true ambassador for the sport of cricket and a role model for aspiring cricketers around the world.

India's Test series triumph against England earlier this year was etched into the memories of cricket enthusiasts for its thrilling matches and memorable moments. One such moment was the witty remark by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who instructed his fielders to avoid "roaming around as if they're in a garden."This statement, captured by the stump microphone, went viral and amused fans. Recently, Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, who was part of the Test series, shared his humorous take on Rohit's comment."Rohit said not to roam around in the garden, and he's right. These guys really walk as if they're in a garden," Ashwin said during a promotional event.Ashwin also highlighted the importance of keeping the ball dry for reverse swing, a technique he employs effectively. He expressed his frustration with fielders who would apply saliva or sweat to the ball, hindering his ability to generate reverse swing."If you put sweat on the ball, how can I bowl reverse swing?" Ashwin said. "That's how he reacts."Ashwin also had a hilarious take on the size of boundaries in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season."The boundary in Jaipur is huge. When I saw that, I told Dhruv Jurel, 'At least let it be somewhere.' Watching that, I felt at this stage of my career, I would need a bicycle to reach the boundary," Ashwin said."Then in the next stadium, I felt I could walk and the next I could run. In one, I felt if I spit my chewing gum, it will cross the boundary rope for a six," he added.Rajasthan Royals will face Delhi Capitals in their next IPL match on Tuesday at the Arun Jaitely Stadium.