Cricket

Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran Indian spinner, has criticized England's "Bazball" approach, calling it "defenseless cricket." Ashwin's comments come after India's 4-1 victory in the recently concluded five-match Test series against England.Ashwin took particular issue with James Anderson's claim ahead of Day 4 of the second Test that England would chase down the 399-run target within 60 overs. The result was quite different, as the visitors were bowled out and defeated comprehensively. Ashwin expressed surprise at the over-the-top statement, saying that although it was a show of positive mindset, it "went too far.""James Anderson went into a press conference in the second Test after winning the first considerably well. Much respect to them for winning that. He told the press that even if the 4th innings target was 500 or 600, we'll finish it in 60 overs. Even though it was an example of their positive mindset, it felt like they had gone too far," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.Ashwin also believes that Bazball leans more towards being a "defenseless cricket" and although Joe Root is a great player of spin, his game was also impacted due to the style of cricket."The one thing I understood after the first Test is that Bazball isn't just aggressive cricket. It is defenseless cricket. They aren't going to play a defensive shot at all. They are going to get out if they play defense. To my surprise, Joe Root also agreed to their game plan. Because if you take world cricket's vest defense rankings, Root is an easy number 1 on that list against spin. He also bought into their approach," he said.On the second day of the Rajkot Test match, Ashwin dismissed England's Zak Crawley to pocket his 500th Test scalp. Before him, only Anil Kumble reached the milestone among Indians. He became the ninth bowler worldwide to take 500 wickets. However, hours after the feat, Ashwin went through a traumatic experience for which he had to leave the squad on an immediate basis."Ravichandran Ashwin has withdrawn from the Test squad, effective immediately due to a family medical emergency. In these challenging times, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the team fully supports Ashwin," said BCCI in its release. Reports said Ashwin's mother Chitra had suffered a medical emergency.Now, Ashwin has revealed how exactly thing transpired. "We went to the dressing room for another debrief and then back to our rooms. Rohit, me, and others were just discussing some things about the match here and there.""That is when I realized I was not getting calls from my parents or wife. I thought they were busy attending calls and giving interviews. I called my wife around 7 PM, asking why my parents weren't answering my call. Her voice was a bit shaky. She asked me to come separately from the crowd and told me that my mother collapsed after a headache," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel."I blanked out. I did not know how to react or what questions to ask. I was crying but wanted to ensure nobody was watching me cry. It is unnecessary to think of it that way, but it was instinctive. I could not think. I was crying in my room for some time.""Then, the team physio checked on me as I was not picking up calls. Rahul Bhai and Rohit Bhai also came to check on me, and all I could tell them was that I could not think clearly," he added.

India's recent Test victory over England in Dharamshala marked a significant milestone in the team's history. For the first time, India's overall win-loss ratio in Test cricket reached 1.0, meaning the number of wins now matches the number of losses.This achievement highlights India's remarkable transformation from a team that struggled in overseas conditions to a formidable force in both home and away Tests. The team's success can be attributed to several factors, including the emergence of world-class spinners like Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, R. Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja.India's home record has been particularly impressive. Since the 1990s, the team has dominated at home, with a win-loss ratio of over 3.0. This dominance is largely due to the preparation of spin-friendly wickets, which have favored India's skilled spinners.In recent years, India has also made significant strides in away Tests. The team's win-loss ratio in away Tests has improved from 0.24 in the 1990s to 0.9 in the 2020s. This improvement is due to a combination of factors, including a more balanced bowling attack and a strong batting line-up.India's success in Test cricket is a testament to the team's hard work, dedication, and talent. The team's ability to adapt to different conditions and overcome challenges has made them one of the most respected and feared teams in the world.

India's dominance in the World Test Championship (WTC) continues unabated as they secured a comprehensive innings and 64-run victory over England in Dharamsala. This emphatic win sealed a resounding 4-1 series triumph, further solidifying their position at the summit of the WTC rankings.India's impressive performance in the ongoing WTC cycle has seen them accumulate 68.51 percentage points from nine matches, with six wins, two losses, and one draw. Their latest victory propelled them from 64.58 to their current standing.Captain Rohit Sharma celebrated the series triumph by acknowledging the contributions of promising young talents Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Sarfaraz Khan, and Dhruv Jurel. In a social media post, Sharma referred to them as "garden mein ghoomne wale bande," a phrase he had used during the Vizag Test to describe players who were not performing up to expectations.Sharma's post drew attention from India's T20 sensation Suryakumar Yadav, who singled out Jaiswal and Gill for praise. Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh clarified that the post specifically referred to Shubman.Rohit Sharma himself had an exceptional series with the bat, amassing 400 runs in five matches at an average of 44.44. He notched up two centuries and one fifty, showcasing his class and consistency.India's victory in Dharamsala was a testament to their all-round strength. The bowlers, led by Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami, wreaked havoc on the English batting lineup, while the batsmen, including Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant, provided valuable contributions.The series win against England has further boosted India's confidence as they prepare for the upcoming WTC final against New Zealand. With their impressive record and a formidable squad, India will be aiming to secure the inaugural WTC title and cement their status as the world's leading Test team.

Sunil Gavaskar's fury erupted when Sarfaraz Khan recklessly threw away his wicket shortly after the tea break on day two of the fifth and final Test between India and England in Dharamsala. Making his third Test appearance, the 26-year-old Khan had settled into a promising 56 but opted for an ill-advised cut shot against spinner Shoaib Bashir. The ball found an edge and was gratefully accepted by Joe Root in the slips.Gavaskar, providing commentary during the live broadcast, was scathing in his criticism of Khan's shot selection. "The ball was pitched up, it wasn't short enough for that shot," Gavaskar lamented. "Goes for it and pays the price. I mean you are playing the first ball after tea. Give yourself a little sighter."Gavaskar's ire stemmed from a meeting with Khan the previous day, where he had emphasized the significance of shot selection. A crestfallen Khan later apologized to Gavaskar through Dubai-based businessman Shyam Bhatia, who had arranged their meeting. "Sir, please say sorry to Mr Gavaskar – I made a mistake! I won’t make that mistake again," Khan reportedly conveyed through Bhatia.Gavaskar's anger was not unfounded. Khan's dismissal was a glaring example of poor decision-making, especially considering the crucial stage of the match. India was looking to consolidate its position after a dominant first day, and Khan's wicket gave England a much-needed boost.The incident highlights the importance of shot selection in Test cricket. Batsmen must carefully assess the situation and play shots that are appropriate for the conditions and the match situation. Impulsive or reckless shots can have disastrous consequences, as Khan's dismissal demonstrated.Despite Khan's lapse, India went on to win the Dharamsala Test inside three days, securing a 4-1 series victory. However, the incident served as a reminder of the importance of discipline and shot selection in the longest format of the game.

India's Dominance Continues as England Collapses in DharamsalaIndia's remarkable dominance over England continued in the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala, as the visitors suffered a humiliating innings and 64-run defeat within three days. Despite being provided with ideal English conditions, England's batting lineup crumbled under pressure, leaving BCCI Treasurer and IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal expressing surprise at their performance.Dhumal praised India's exceptional performance throughout the series, highlighting the team's resilience and depth. Despite missing key players like Virat Kohli, K L Rahul, and Mohammed Shami, India's young talents stepped up to fill the void. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, and Sarfaraz Khan showcased their potential, demonstrating the strength of India's bench.Dhumal also defended the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) against criticism over the outfield conditions. He emphasized that the poor conditions were primarily due to weather factors and that the HPCA had worked tirelessly to prepare a world-class outfield.

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has criticized England's 'Bazball' approach in Test cricket following their defeat to India in Dharamsala. India secured a 4-1 series victory after hammering England by an innings and 64 runs in the fifth and final Test.Sehwag took to social media to express his views on England's aggressive batting style, which has been dubbed 'Bazball' after new coach Brendon McCullum. "Bazball, Batti Gull. There needs to be a method to madness. England simply didn't have the game to match and looked clueless particularly after the second Test match," Sehwag wrote.He added, "The captain failing miserably only added to their woes and they simply looked like living in an illusion. For this method to succeed, there needs to be a method to madness, which England severely lacked."England's James Anderson became only the third bowler to reach 700 Test wickets during the match, but the visitors were never in contention. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took a five-wicket haul in his landmark 100th Test, helping to bowl out England for 195 inside three days.Ashwin expressed his delight with his performance, saying, "Win the Test and take wickets, what more can a bowler ask for?" Joe Root top-scored for England with 84, but Kuldeep Yadav took seven wickets in the match to be named man of the match.India's victory was marred by an injury to skipper Rohit Sharma, who did not take the field due to a "stiff back." Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah led the team in Sharma's absence and took two wickets.

Prithvi Shaw's susceptibility to incoming deliveries has once again been exposed, leading to his dismissal in the ongoing Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha. The Mumbai opener has been clean bowled numerous times by deliveries that come back in, a weakness that has plagued him throughout his career.In the Day-night Test against Australia at Adelaide in December 2020, Shaw was dismissed by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in the first and second innings respectively with deliveries that came back in. And in the ongoing Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Shaw was dismissed in a similar manner in the seventh over of Mumbai's second innings.The bowler this time was Yash Thakur, who bowled an in-seam delivery at 133.4kph pitched at good length. Shaw (11) looked to defend from the crease without accounting for the movement off the deck, but the ball sneaked through the bat-pad gap to crash into the stumps.Shaw couldn't believe it and walked off shaking his head. The domestic handle of the Indian cricket board (BCCI) shared a video of the dismissal on Twitter.Shaw's weakness against incoming deliveries is a major concern for the Indian team, especially with the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The left-hander is expected to play a key role in India's batting lineup, but his susceptibility to incoming deliveries could be a major liability.The Indian team management will need to find a way to address Shaw's weakness before the start of the series. One possible solution could be to have him practice more against incoming deliveries in the nets. Another option could be to have him bat at a lower position in the order, where he would be less likely to face incoming deliveries.Whatever the solution, the Indian team management will need to find a way to address Shaw's weakness before the start of the series. Otherwise, it could be a major liability for the team.

Former Australian captain Ian Chappell has launched a scathing critique of England skipper Ben Stokes' captaincy, attributing India's series-sealing victory in the fourth Test to a critical lapse in strategy at a pivotal juncture.Chappell's criticism stems from Stokes' decision to utilize part-time spinner Joe Root instead of deploying the experienced Jimmy Anderson on the third evening of the Test. According to Chappell, this allowed India to gain momentum, ultimately shifting the balance of the match in their favor."On the third evening, Stokes desperately needed to start India's chase with his best two bowlers and try to claim at least one wicket," Chappell said. "Incredibly, he gave the ball to a part-timer, Joe Root, and ignored the experienced, probing bowling of Jimmy Anderson."Chappell also criticized Stokes' approach on the final day, suggesting that his cautious field placings allowed India's batsmen to accumulate easy singles, thereby making the chase more manageable for the hosts."The second innings should have been a time to force the Indian batters into taking a risk, but by allowing easy singles, Stokes gave his opponents the upper hand," Chappell remarked.Chappell emphasized the need for instinctive decision-making in captaincy, suggesting that Stokes could benefit from studying the leadership style of seasoned captains like Pakistan's Javed Miandad in demanding situations."Effective captaincy often relies on gut instincts rather than rigid adherence to statistical analysis or theoretical frameworks," Chappell said. "Stokes needs to develop that intuitive sense of leadership."Chappell's critique highlights the importance of bold and decisive captaincy, particularly in high-pressure situations. Stokes' failure to make the right calls at crucial moments ultimately cost England the series.

India's resounding 4-1 series victory over England in the recently concluded Test series was a testament to their unwavering dominance in the longest format of the game. Despite injuries and the absence of key players, the Indian team showcased their resilience and adaptability, reaffirming their supremacy on home soil.The series witnessed the emergence of several young talents, including opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Jaiswal emerged as the standout performer, amassing a staggering 712 runs, becoming only the second Indian batter after Sunil Gavaskar to cross the 700-run mark in a series. His back-to-back double centuries in Vizag and Rajkot played a pivotal role in keeping England at bay.Kuldeep Yadav's resurgence added another dimension to India's lethal spin attack. Operating at his best, he claimed 19 wickets in the last four Tests, including a five-wicket haul in Dharamsala. His improved fitness and straightened run-up have significantly enhanced his pace and effectiveness.The debutants also made their mark, with wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan impressing in their first Test appearances. Jurel's handy contributions and Sarfaraz's sublime play against spin showcased their potential. Pacer Akash Deep and Devdutt Padikkal also displayed their class, providing glimpses of their future promise.India's victory was not without its challenges. The shock loss in the series opener raised concerns about their dominance, but the team rallied together to regain control. The likes of Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and R Ashwin played crucial roles, delivering timely performances to maintain India's upper hand.Head coach Rahul Dravid praised the team's resilience and the impact of the young players. He highlighted the importance of the A team as a bridge between domestic cricket and international cricket, providing a platform for players to showcase their abilities.