Cricket

MS Dhoni Recounts India's Triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 VictoryFormer Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni has shared his memories of India's dramatic T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the emotions he experienced while watching the final from home."We were at home, watching with some friends who came over," Dhoni recalled at a recent event. As the second innings unfolded, most of Dhoni's friends lost hope and left. "They said, 'It's over; come with us.' But I was like, 'In cricket, till it's over, it's not over.'"Even Dhoni admitted he wasn't entirely confident, but he held on to the belief that the opposition's batting depth was vulnerable under pressure. "When the stakes are high, the games are big, you get a chance and want to make the most of it," he explained.India's victory, secured at the Kensington Oval in Barbados against South Africa, marked the end of a 17-year wait for their second T20 World Cup title. Dhoni praised the team's relentless attitude in clutch moments. "Big big congratulations to the guys who were on the field, because that is the kind of energy, motivation, and belief that is needed."The final saw India pull off an improbable comeback against a formidable South African lineup. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma played pivotal roles in the victory, with both veterans announcing their retirements from T20Is after the match. Hardik Pandya's bowling brilliance and Jasprit Bumrah's pinpoint accuracy sealed the seven-run win, while Suryakumar Yadav's boundary-line catch became an instant highlight.Reflecting on the win, Dhoni summed up India's never-give-up attitude: "It doesn't matter whatever the result may be but till they don't win and it is not called that they have won the game, we need to keep pushing; and that was the attitude."With this victory, India ended their T20 World Cup drought, leaving fans euphoric and giving Rohit and Kohli a perfect farewell in the shortest format of the game.

India's Woes Mount in Second Test as Latham's Dropped Catch Haunts ThemTeam India's struggles continued in the second Test against New Zealand as they found themselves trailing by 103 runs after the first innings. Despite restricting New Zealand to 259, India's batters failed to deliver, collapsing to 156 all out.In the second innings, India's bowlers toiled hard, but a crucial dropped catch proved costly. In the 37th over, Ravindra Jadeja induced an edge from New Zealand captain Tom Latham, who was well-set on 68. However, the chance was low and difficult, and Indian captain Rohit Sharma was unable to reach it in the slip cordon.The dropped catch left India frustrated, and Virat Kohli was seen expressing his displeasure to Latham and Henry Nicholls. In a viral video, Kohli appeared to be asking them to avoid running down the middle of the pitch. Kohli also had a conversation with the on-field umpire.New Zealand went on to post 255 in their second innings, setting India a victory target of 359 runs. The hosts now face an uphill battle to avoid a series defeat, having lost the opening Test in Bengaluru by eight wickets.

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed concern over captain Rohit Sharma's defensive technique, particularly in the ongoing second Test against New Zealand. Rohit's nine-ball duck in the first innings, dismissed by Tim Southee, has raised questions about his approach while defending.Manjrekar highlighted Rohit's struggles against Southee, who has now dismissed him 14 times in international cricket, the joint-most by any bowler. He pointed out that Rohit's loose defense, which was a concern at the start of his international career, has resurfaced."He would not take a step forward and he would react just with the bat, that is starting to happen," Manjrekar said. "He was able to leave balls outside the off stump, but they have worked out a way to bowl to Rohit Sharma."Manjrekar believes that Rohit's vulnerability stems from his tendency to react with the bat rather than using his pad to defend. "That makes him a little vulnerable when there is a little bit in the pitch and the ball is hard," he said.However, Manjrekar praised Rohit's temperament and suggested that he needs to tighten up his defense. "He just maybe has to tighten up his defense a little more and things should be okay," he added.Rohit's dismissal in the first innings has put pressure on the Indian captain, who has been under scrutiny for his recent form. He will be looking to bounce back in the second innings and prove that he can overcome his defensive deficiencies.

Sarfaraz Khan's astute observation and unwavering conviction played a pivotal role in India's successful review against New Zealand on Day 1 of the second Test in Pune. Despite initial skepticism from his teammates, Khan's insistence that the ball had brushed Will Young's glove prompted skipper Rohit Sharma to take a DRS, which ultimately resulted in Young's dismissal.Khan, fielding at backward short-leg, noticed a subtle noise as the ball passed Young's bat and glove. Sensing a possible contact, he approached Sharma and urged him to trust his instincts. "I knew there was contact, but there is always room for misjudgment," Khan explained. "But I heard a noise and hence, felt there was something involved."Khan's confidence stemmed from his close proximity to the action. "I was at backward short leg so when the ball was going past his bat and glove, I noticed that the bat was away from the pads. I heard a noise and that's when I went to Rohit bhai and told him, 'Rohit bhai, mere pe bharosa karo. Ball lagi hai, aap lo review. Main bol raha hu aapko, lo (Trust me. The ball has hit something, just take the review. I am telling you, take it),'" Khan said.Technical members of the broadcasting team initially expressed doubts about the contact, but the hawk-eye technology confirmed Khan's suspicions. "I did not hear the sound, as it is very feeble," said KN Srinivasa Rao, a sound supervisor. "But the hawk-eye has a different technology, which can identify the smallest of small sounds."Akanksha Pandey, the director's assistant, also admitted to being surprised by the outcome. "We were surprised when we saw the replays. We were watching the pictures that the director was cutting, and we were smiling because everybody is always convinced when they are trying to talk the captain into taking the DRS."Washington Sundar, one of India's star bowlers on the first day, praised Khan's persistence. "Honestly, I was a good 70-80 meters away from the middle, so I had no idea. I obviously didn't hear any sound, but Sarfaraz seemed to be very convinced with it. Really happy that Sarfaraz eventually convinced Rohit bhai," said Sundar.Khan's sharp observation and unwavering belief in his instincts not only contributed to Young's dismissal but also highlighted his growing influence within the Indian team. His ability to make crucial decisions under pressure is a testament to his maturity and leadership qualities.

India Announce T20I Squad for South Africa Series, Ramandeep Singh and Vijaykumar Vyshak Earn Maiden Call-upsThe Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming four-match T20I series against South Africa, which commences on November 8 in Durban. The squad features two notable inclusions: middle-order batter Ramandeep Singh and fast bowler Vijaykumar Vyshak, who have earned their maiden India call-ups.Ramandeep Singh, a 24-year-old right-handed batter, has been in impressive form for Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has consistently scored runs at a high strike rate, showcasing his ability to accelerate the innings in the middle overs.Vijaykumar Vyshak, a 23-year-old right-arm fast bowler, has also caught the attention of selectors with his performances for Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket. He has impressed with his pace and accuracy, consistently troubling batters with his ability to swing the ball both ways.However, the squad also includes three notable absentees due to injuries. Batting allrounder Riyan Parag is undergoing rehabilitation for a chronic right shoulder injury, while fast bowler Mayank Yadav and seam-bowling allrounder Shivam Dube are also unavailable due to unspecified injuries.Mayank Yadav, who made his international debut during the recent home T20Is against Bangladesh, has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. He missed the entire IPL 2024 season due to an abdominal muscle issue, which has raised concerns about his long-term fitness.The Indian squad for the T20I series against South Africa is as follows:* Suryakumar Yadav (capt)* Abhishek Sharma* Sanju Samson (wk)* Rinku Singh* Tilak Varma* Jitesh Sharma (wk)* Hardik Pandya* Axar Patel* Ramandeep Singh* Varun Chakaravarthy* Ravi Bishnoi* Arshdeep Singh* Vijaykumar Vyshak* Avesh Khan* Yash DayalThe series against South Africa will be a crucial test for India as they prepare for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Australia. The team will be looking to build momentum and fine-tune their combinations ahead of the global tournament.

Australia's Test captain Pat Cummins has expressed his belief that the 2018-19 Test series loss to India was more painful than the 2020-21 debacle under his leadership. Cummins believes that the home team was simply outplayed in the 2018-19 series, while the 2020-21 series was more closely fought.Under Virat Kohli's captaincy, India defeated Australia 2-1 in the 2018-19 rubber with the skipper and Cheteshwar Pujara playing a pivotal role in the historic triumph against the Tim Paine-led side. During the 2020-2021 series, a hugely depleted Indian side again bagged the series 2-1, defeating the hosts at their stronghold Gabba for the first time in a Test match in 32 years."I actually thought the series before (2018-19) was worse because we got completely beaten whereas that series (in 2020-21) was quite (keenly) fought. I thought they (India) played like fantastically well to win at the Gabba," Cummins told The Grade Cricketer podcast."That (defeat) was annoying, but I felt like the series before, where we were like completely outplayed, that would hurt more for me," he said.Cummins, who will again be leading in a five-match Test series against India starting November 22 in Perth, said that if he had his way, he would welcome India with green tops to make life difficult for the visitors."I wish if I had it my way I would be looking like those bushes behind you. Unfortunately, I don’t have any sway (on the preparation of wickets), so we’ll wait and see," said Cummins in response to the host’s question on the amount of grass he would like to see on the pitches for the crucial series.David Warner has offered to come out of retirement to help the side if need be, but Cummins indicated that the team has moved on."Dave we are very interested, we’re taking it very seriously and we’ll be in touch, mate just watch that phone," said Cummins in jest before adding, "Uh, we love Davey (Warner) but he’s retired, sorry."

India's batting woes have been laid bare in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, with two embarrassing collapses highlighting the team's struggles on challenging surfaces.In the series opener in Bengaluru, India were bundled out for a paltry 46 on an overcast morning, their lowest total on home soil in Tests. Captain Rohit Sharma admitted that the team "misread" the pitch, with the ball doing tricks in the air and off the surface. However, the batters showed little intent to battle it out, with five ducks and only two batters reaching double digits.The visitors would have felt at home in the Bengaluru setting, but the Indian batters lacked a plan and collapsed like a pack of cards. Even a fightback in the second innings couldn't cover up for the horror morning, and India found themselves 0-1 down in the three-Test series.In the second Test in Pune, India's batting woes continued. Despite the opposition winning the toss and opting to bat, the Indian spinners ran through the New Zealanders, making it India's day. However, the second morning in Pune was a different story.With the sun out in full glory, the Kiwi spinners spun into action and the Indian batters underwent another trial by spin. The mischief of the surface started the moment Tom Latham introduced spin, but it was the recklessness of the batters that came as a rude shock.Not one player trusted their defense and were shockingly wild in their shot-selection. They played across the line, off the backfoot, and slogged mindlessly, despite the pitch not being conducive to such shots.The batters' approach has come under scanner twice this series. Twice, India have capitulated in contrasting conditions, highlighting their struggles on challenging surfaces. With one more innings in Pune and one more Test before they head off to Australia for the five-match series, the batters need to up their game to avoid further embarrassment.

Former India coach Ravi Shastri has criticized captain Rohit Sharma's tactics on Day 2 of the ongoing second Test against New Zealand in Pune. India were bowled out for 156 in the first innings, conceding a lead of 103 runs to the Kiwis, who consolidated their position by reaching 85/2 at tea in the second innings.Shastri, who was on commentary duty, felt Rohit didn't make aggressive field placements, especially with India already chasing New Zealand in the match after conceding a big lead. During the second session on Day 2, Shastri and former India spinner Murali Kartik had a detailed discussion on Rohit's tactics."New Zealand have managed to scatter away all the men around the bat," Kartik pointed out. "Also tells you, tactically how you should be thinking. India should be thinking how to bowl out New Zealand for 120. For that to happen, you need to think wickets, you need people in attacking positions. Yes, if the side gets to 60 for no loss, you can start to think differently. It also makes the bowl think that he wants wickets, not with a spread out field like this," Shastri responded.Tom Latham and Will Young batted with confidence in the second innings as New Zealand consolidated their position in the second Test, reaching 85/2 at tea to take an overall lead of 188 runs. Latham (37 not out) and Young (23) overcame the early hiccup of losing Devon Conway by stitching together a 42-run partnership after Kiwi spinner Mitchell Santner had demolished the Indian batting line-up for 156 in the first innings with career-best figures of 7/53 in 19.3 overs.New Zealand had made 259 in the first innings. India started the day on a positive note with Shubman Gill (30) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (30) adding 49 for the second wicket before six wickets fell for the addition of 53 runs as the hosts were left tottering at 107 for 7 at lunch. Virat Kohli played the most forgettable shot of the morning to be clean bowled for 1. Santner then returned in the post-lunch session to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja and Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah cheaply.

India's dominance on home soil has been challenged in recent times, as visiting teams have exploited the spin-friendly conditions to their advantage. In the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, the hosts found themselves on the receiving end of Mitchell Santner's spin wizardry.After dismissing New Zealand for 259, India's batting lineup crumbled to a mere 156 runs, conceding a substantial 103-run lead. The dismissals of key players Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja highlighted India's vulnerability against spin.This is not an isolated incident. In the past, India has fallen into its own trap by preparing turning tracks for opponents. Here are some notable examples:India vs Australia, 3rd Test, 2023, Indore:Australia secured a nine-wicket victory on a spinning track at Indore's Holkar Stadium. Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann exploited the conditions, bowling India out for just 109 in their first innings. Despite a fightback from India's spinners, Lyon's eight wickets in the second innings sealed the match for Australia.India vs England, 1st Test, 2024, Hyderabad:England clinched a 28-run victory at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Tom Hartley's spin proved too much for India, who collapsed for just 202 runs in their chase. Earlier, Ollie Pope's brilliant 196 had set India a challenging target.India vs England, 1st Test, 2021, Chennai:England secured a comprehensive 227-run victory in Chennai. Joe Root's double-century helped England post a formidable 578 in their first innings. India's batting struggled against Dom Bess and Jack Leach, who spun the hosts out for 337 and 192 runs, respectively.These instances demonstrate that India's reliance on spin-friendly tracks can backfire. Opponents have adapted to the conditions and exploited India's weaknesses against spin. The team needs to find a balance between preparing pitches that favor their spinners while also ensuring that their batters can cope with the turning ball.