Cricket

India's recent series loss to New Zealand has served as a wake-up call for the team, according to 1983 World Cup winner Sandeep Patil. Patil urged the team to leave the past behind and focus on the upcoming Australia tour, where they will face unique challenges.Patil emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes and adapting to the conditions in Australia, where the quality of the opposition and the nature of the pitches present significant hurdles. He believes that India's talented and resilient squad has the potential to bounce back from setbacks and achieve success in challenging conditions."They have to play against Australia in Australia, they will have to forget what happened there last time. They will also have to forget what happened in this series (against New Zealand) and look forward," Patil said.Patil drew parallels to India's historic World Cup victory in 1983, where the team overcame setbacks and played with a positive mindset. He believes that the current team can emulate that spirit and deliver a strong performance in Australia."We lost all practice games before winning the World Cup, so they should remember... you have to think positive and play positively only then you will get a positive result," he said.Patil acknowledged that the series loss to New Zealand was a wake-up call, but expressed confidence in India's ability to recover strongly. He pointed to the team's consistent pattern of resurgence after setbacks."After every defeat, you have always seen the Indian team bouncing back. Not because I am an Indian and we all are Indians, but they will bounce back because they are a very good side," he stated.Regarding the Perth pitch, Patil noted its evolution from its previous characteristics, whilst highlighting the generally favourable batting conditions in Australian grounds. He attributed the series loss against New Zealand to underwhelming batting performances rather than outright failure."We lost the series (against New Zealand) because the batting didn't do well. I will not use the word 'failed' because it is negative. We just did not do well in the batting department."Patil expressed confidence that the team would have analyzed their performance and made necessary adjustments. He believes that India has the potential to overcome recent setbacks and achieve success in Australia.

Indian Test captain Rohit Sharma's recent struggles have raised concerns among cricket pundits. Despite his impressive record in limited-overs cricket, Rohit's Test batting has been underwhelming, particularly in the recently concluded series against New Zealand.In the three-match series, Rohit managed only 91 runs across six innings, with three dismissals coming from fast bowlers on spin-friendly tracks. Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has attributed Rohit's poor form to his batting position and has suggested a change in order.Kaneria believes that Rohit should move down to the number three position, allowing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill to open the batting. He argues that Rohit has struggled against the moving ball in India and that the conditions in Australia, where India will tour later this year, will be even more challenging."Just see if Rohit Sharma is still comfortable opening or if he should come in one-down and change his order a little bit because he has been struggling with the track in India," Kaneria said. "The Indian top order should be Jaiswal and Shubman as openers, Rohit coming one-down, and Virat two-down."Kaneria's suggestion aligns with the growing consensus that Rohit's batting style is better suited to the middle order. As an opener, he faces the new ball and is more vulnerable to swing and seam bowling. By moving down the order, he would have the opportunity to settle in and play his shots more freely.Rohit's captaincy has also come under scrutiny following India's 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand. This is the first time India has been clean swept in a Test series of three or more matches at home. Kaneria believes that head coach Gautam Gambhir needs to manage the team's batting lineup more effectively, particularly in the absence of injured all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja."Gambhir needs to manage the long Indian batting line-up, as Ashwin and Jadeja are there, so they have a deep batting line-up," Kaneria said.Whether Rohit and Gambhir heed Kaneria's advice remains to be seen. However, it is clear that Rohit's Test form and captaincy are in need of improvement if India is to regain its status as a dominant force in the longest format of the game.

Mohammed Shami's return to competitive cricket has been further delayed due to a fresh injury setback. The Bengal pacer, who has been sidelined since November 2022 with an ankle injury, has now developed a side strain that has ruled him out of the next two Ranji Trophy matches.Shami's absence from the Bengal squad for the matches against Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh effectively ends his hopes of being included in India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting November 22. Despite showing positive signs of recovery from his ankle injury, Shami's side strain has extended his comeback timeline.The 32-year-old had resumed bowling at full intensity last month and expressed optimism about his recovery. However, the latest setback has dashed his hopes of a swift return to action.Shami's ankle injury had kept him out of action since the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy season, where he was the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets in just seven games. Despite the pain and fatigue, he had taken three five-wicket hauls in the tournament.The Bengal squad for the next two Ranji Trophy matches includes Anustup Majumdar (capt), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Sudip Chatterjee, Sudip Gharami, Shahbaz Ahmed, Writtick Chatterjee, Avilin Ghosh, Shuvam Dey, Shakir Habib Gandhi, Pradipta Pramanik, Aamir Gani, Ishan Porel, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mohammed Kaif, Rohit Kumar, and Rishav Vivek.India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy includes Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Ravichandran Ashwin, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, and Washington Sundar.

South Africa and India are set to clash in a four-match T20I series starting on Friday in Durban, marking their first encounter since India's triumph in the T20 World Cup final four months ago.Both teams have undergone significant changes since that memorable match in Barbados. South Africa will be without key players like Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Quinton de Kock. India, too, has made alterations, with only four players from their World Cup-winning squad featuring in this series.South African coach Rob Walter acknowledges the challenges of balancing overlapping cricket schedules. He emphasizes the need to manage players carefully to ensure they perform at their best when representing their country.Despite the absences, South Africa has assembled a strong squad that includes franchise stars David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Marco Jansen, and Keshav Maharaj. India, on the other hand, will field a mix of experienced players and promising youngsters, including Ramandeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Yash Dayal.The series holds financial significance for Cricket South Africa, with substantial revenue expected from Indian television broadcasts. It also provides an opportunity for India's emerging talents to showcase their skills ahead of the upcoming IPL auction.The schedule for the series is as follows:* November 8: Durban* November 10: Gqeberha* November 13: Centurion* November 15: Johannesburg

Ricky Ponting, the former Australian captain, remains steadfast in his belief that Australia will emerge victorious in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against India. In an interview with the International Cricket Council (ICC), Ponting reiterated his earlier prediction of a 3-1 series win for Australia, citing the absence of veteran Indian pacer Mohammad Shami as a significant factor.Shami's side strain injury has cast doubt on his availability for the series, and Ponting believes that his absence will make it challenging for India to take 20 wickets in a Test match in Australia. "Shami just leaves such a big hole in that bowling group," Ponting told the ICC website. "Taking 20 wickets in a Test match for India is going to be the biggest challenge."Compounding India's concerns is their recent 0-3 whitewash at home by New Zealand. However, Ponting acknowledges that the visitors have the potential to win one of the five Tests. "I think India will win a Test match somewhere through the five Test matches," he predicted.Despite India's struggles, Ponting believes that Australia is the more settled and experienced team, making them difficult to beat at home. "Australia probably look a bit more settled, a bit more experienced and we know that they're a very hard team to beat at home," he said.Ponting also identified Steve Smith and Rishabh Pant as potential leading run-scorers in the series. "Leading run scorer, I'm going to go (with) Steve Smith or Rishabh Pant," he said.Pant has been in impressive form, scoring 261 runs in six innings against New Zealand, while Smith has moved back down to his preferred position at No. 4 in the batting order. "I think Smith, the fact that he's moved back down from opener to No. 4 probably makes it feel like he's got more of a point to prove," Ponting said.The first Test of the BGT series begins in Perth on November 22, and Ponting's predictions will be put to the test as Australia and India battle for supremacy in one of the most intense rivalries in cricket.

Indian cricket stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have come under intense scrutiny following India's humiliating Test series defeat against New Zealand. Both batters failed to deliver, contributing to India's clean sweep loss at home. As India prepares to face Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, questions linger about the duo's future.Former Australian cricketer David Warner, however, believes that age is irrelevant for Sharma and Kohli. He emphasized that their performance will be crucial for India's success in the series. "Age is just a number," Warner said. "But those two hold the key to how India are going to go."Sharma and Kohli's struggles have been evident throughout the home Test season. In the third and final Test against New Zealand, Sharma was dismissed for 11 runs, while Kohli managed only one run. Their poor form has raised concerns ahead of the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Sharma's home season has been particularly disappointing. In 10 innings, he has scored only 133 runs at an average of 13.30. Kohli, too, has struggled, averaging 29.40 in Tests this year.Despite their recent struggles, Warner believes that Sharma and Kohli remain formidable opponents. "Their attitude, if it's on, they are two guys who are hard to stop," he said. "It's going to be a big summer for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma."India's hopes of reaching the ICC World Test Championship final for the third consecutive time hinge on a strong performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A massive win in the series would secure their place at Lord's next year.

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar believes that the upcoming Test series against Australia could be a watershed moment for senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Following India's humiliating 0-3 Test series defeat against New Zealand at home, questions have been raised about the future of these star players.In an interview with India Today, Gavaskar emphasized that there are numerous talented young players eager for opportunities, and the Australia series could be the last chance for some senior players to prove their worth. "I think it could be a tour which could decide a lot of futures," Gavaskar said. "They are at an age and stage in their careers where there will be a second ring of players looking to get an opportunity."According to a report by PTI, the BCCI is evaluating the shocking defeat against New Zealand and considering a structured phaseout policy for senior players before the start of the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The five-match Test series against Australia could be the final one for at least two of the four senior players: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin.An informal discussion is expected between BCCI officials, the chairman of selectors, the head coach, and the captain to determine the future of the aging team. "Stocks will be taken certainly," a senior BCCI source told PTI. "But with the Australia series round the corner and the squad already announced, there won't be any tinkering."However, if India fails to qualify for the WTC final in England, it is likely that all four senior players will not be part of the team for the subsequent five-Test series in the UK. "In any case, all four have likely played their final Test at home together," the source added.The upcoming Test series against Australia will be a crucial test for the Indian team and its senior players. The results could have a significant impact on the future of Indian cricket and the transition to a new generation of players.

India's humiliating clean sweep at home against New Zealand has sparked a heated debate over the quality of pitches and the form of the team's star batters. The historic loss has raised questions about the team's preparation for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.After dominating the Kiwis in the first Test, India suffered a shocking collapse in the second and third Tests. The visitors' spinners, led by Ajaz Patel, exploited the turning tracks to devastating effect, dismissing India for 121 in the third Test.Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has defended the team's batters, arguing that the pitches were designed to assist spinners and that any bowler could have achieved similar results. He pointed out that previous generations of batters never played on such challenging surfaces.However, fans and experts have criticized the Indian batters for their poor technique and lack of application against spin. They argue that the team's reliance on individual brilliance has cost them dearly.Captain Rohit Sharma has taken full responsibility for the team's debacle, acknowledging that they made several mistakes and were outplayed by New Zealand. He has vowed to address the team's shortcomings before the Australia tour.The clean sweep has raised concerns about India's chances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The team will need to find a way to counter Australia's formidable pace attack and adapt to the bouncy pitches Down Under.The loss has also highlighted the need for India to develop a more balanced batting lineup. While Rishabh Pant has been a consistent performer, the team needs other batters to step up and contribute.As India prepares for the Australia tour, the team will be under immense pressure to bounce back from this disappointing result. They will need to find a way to improve their batting, bowling, and fielding if they want to challenge the world's top-ranked Test team.

India's recent Test series loss to New Zealand has exposed a harsh reality: the team's aging stalwarts, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R. Ashwin, are on the decline. While they remain exceptional performers, their current form suggests they may no longer be indispensable in the national team.The selectors, reluctant to acknowledge the inevitable, have been slow to make the necessary changes. As a result, India's batting has suffered, with the team collapsing repeatedly in the series. The lack of red-ball practice due to the absence of the Ranji Trophy has further exacerbated the situation.Rohit Sharma, the captain, has admitted his struggles and is considering stepping down from the role. Jasprit Bumrah, the team's premier fast bowler, has been rested for the upcoming Test in Australia, raising concerns about India's bowling depth.The series loss has also highlighted the arrogance and complacency that has plagued the Indian team. Despite losing two Tests, they continued to display a sense of entitlement, resting their best bowler and preparing inadequately for the series.New Zealand, on the other hand, approached the series with a different mindset. They were better prepared, more humble, and played with a collective spirit. Their victory is a testament to the importance of teamwork and a strong work ethic.India's hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship final now rest on a series win against Australia. However, the odds are stacked against them. The team will need to perform at their best and hope for favorable results from other matches.The series loss to New Zealand has been a wake-up call for Indian cricket. It has exposed the need for introspection, a change in mindset, and a willingness to embrace the inevitable decline of its aging stars. Only then can India regain its former glory and become a force to be reckoned with in world cricket.