Cricket

Shubman Gill's return to the Indian Test squad for the second match against New Zealand has boosted the team's morale after their disappointing loss in the first Test. Gill, who missed the Bengaluru Test due to an injury, is expected to play a crucial role in India's batting lineup.India's batting woes were evident in the first Test, where they were bowled out for a mere 46 runs in their first innings. The absence of Gill, a talented opener, was keenly felt as the team struggled to build partnerships.However, with Gill back in the fold, India will be hoping for a much-improved performance in the second Test. The 23-year-old has been in impressive form in recent months, scoring a century in the first Test against Bangladesh and a half-century in the second.India's bowling coach, Ryan Ten Doeschate, confirmed Gill's availability, stating that he is "fine for this Test." This news will come as a relief to captain Rohit Sharma, who will be looking to his team to bounce back from their defeat in Bengaluru.The second Test will be played from October 24 to October 28 in Mumbai. India will be eager to level the series and gain momentum ahead of the third and final Test in Indore.

India's Test woes continued as they suffered a humiliating eight-wicket defeat to New Zealand in the first Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Despite a valiant fightback in their second innings, India's poor batting display in the first innings proved costly.After being bundled out for a paltry 46 in the first innings, India showed resilience in the second, posting a respectable 462. Young batter Sarfaraz Khan emerged as a beacon of hope, scoring a magnificent 150 off 195 balls, studded with 18 fours and three sixes.Khan's heroics raised questions about the team's selection dilemma. With Shubman Gill recovering from a stiff neck and expected to return, the Indian team management faces a tough decision. KL Rahul or Sarfaraz, who will make way for Gill?Former India batter Aakash Chopra weighed in on the debate, drawing parallels to Karun Nair's fate. Nair, the only other Indian to score a triple-century after Virender Sehwag, was dropped from the playing XI after his historic 303 not out against England in Chennai in 2016.Chopra suggested that a similar theory could see Sarfaraz being dropped, but he believes the team management will retain the young batter in the playing XI. "One more thing is important in Indian cricket - outside noise - and that favours Sarfaraz right now," Chopra said.India's batting woes were evident in the first innings, where they were bundled out for their lowest Test score against New Zealand. The top order failed to fire, with only Cheteshwar Pujara (11) and Virat Kohli (12) reaching double figures.In the second innings, India showed more fight, with Khan leading the charge. However, the loss of wickets at regular intervals prevented them from building a substantial lead.New Zealand, in contrast, displayed their batting prowess, chasing down the target of 122 with ease. Tom Latham (52) and Devon Conway (54) anchored the chase, ensuring a comfortable victory for the visitors.The defeat has raised concerns about India's batting depth and their ability to compete against top-quality opposition. The second Test of the series will be played in Mumbai from December 3-7, where India will be desperate to level the series.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins is determined to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from India in the upcoming five-match Test series, which begins on November 22 in Perth. Cummins acknowledges that Australia has struggled against India in recent Test series, but he is confident that his team can turn things around on home soil."We haven't had a lot of luck against India over the last few Test series, but we always pride ourselves on playing well here in Australia," Cummins said. "We have really high expectations when we play Test cricket in Australia, so anytime we don't win down here, of course, you look at those series a bit more closely."The last Test series between Australia and India in Australia was a particularly tough one for the hosts, with India winning 2-1. Rishabh Pant's heroics in the final Test at the Gabba sealed a historic three-wicket win for India."The last series, in particular, was a really tough one," Cummins said. "It went right down to that last session at the Gabba, and unfortunately, we couldn't pull it off. A lot of the guys in the team are the same as those who played in that series, and we're here to make amends."Cummins identified Pant as India's "X-factor," but stressed that his team is focused on rectifying the setbacks from four consecutive series defeats to India."Rishabh had a great series here in Australia last time," Cummins said. "He's always a bit of that X-factor in the middle order. You never quite know what you're going to get, which is exciting, even as the opposition."Australia will face Pakistan in a white-ball series before the much-anticipated Test series against India. It will be the first Test series between India and Australia comprising five matches since 1992.

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, is back in action after undergoing heel surgery earlier this year. The 34-year-old has been pain-free since the procedure and is eager to regain his sharpness ahead of the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy tour of Australia.Shami has not played for the national team since the 2019 World Cup final against Australia. He had almost returned to full fitness before being ruled out of the ongoing three-test series against New Zealand due to a separate knee injury.With the Border Gavaskar Trophy approaching, India is keen to have Shami back in their ranks. The pace bowler has been bowling during practice and is confident of being ready for the five-test series in Australia next month."I'm 100% pain-free," Shami said. "It felt great yesterday because I had been bowling with half a run-up on and off since I can't put too much stress on my body."Shami is aware of the importance of the upcoming series and is determined to be at his best. "I know what kind of an attack we want for that test series (against Australia), so it's better I spend some more time on the ground before going," he said.The fast bowler is also considering playing a couple of domestic matches to improve his sharpness. "If I get fit and I get a gap of eight to 10 days, then it's better I play one or two domestic matches before going to Australia," he added.India's tour of Australia begins in Perth on November 22. Shami's return to the team will be a major boost for India's chances of success in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Mitchell Starc, Australia's premier fast bowler, made a triumphant return to first-class cricket on Monday, claiming six wickets for New South Wales against Victoria in Melbourne. Starc's impressive performance marks his successful re-entry into the game after a brief hiatus and bodes well for Australian cricket.During the second innings, Starc showcased his exceptional bowling skills, capturing six wickets for 81 runs in 17.5 overs. His victims included Ashley Chandrasinghe, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Elliott, Fergus O'Neill, and Todd Murphy.Starc's return to form is particularly significant as he prepares to face India's formidable batting lineup in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series. The left-arm pacer is currently the third leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, with 48 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 28.37.In the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship cycle, Starc has taken four four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul, making him the joint third-highest wicket-taker alongside Pat Cummins. The leading bowlers in this WTC cycle are Ravichandran Ashwin with 59 wickets and Josh Hazlewood with 51 wickets.Starc's performance against Victoria is a testament to his unwavering determination and skill. He is now eyeing significant milestones in the upcoming Border Gavaskar series, including reaching 400 Test wickets and 700 international wickets. So far, he has claimed 358 wickets in 89 Test matches and a total of 678 wickets in 279 international matches.Starc's return to form is a major boost for Australia as they prepare to face India in a highly anticipated Test series. The Border-Gavaskar series, which begins on November 22, will be a crucial test for both teams as they aim to qualify for the World Test Championship final.

India's formidable fast-bowling duo, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, have established themselves as one of the most potent partnerships in world cricket. Their contrasting yet complementary skills have proven highly effective, particularly in Test matches.Bumrah, known for his unorthodox action and ability to generate high speeds, excels in bowling yorkers and seam movement. His accuracy and control make him a lethal force, especially at the death. Shami, on the other hand, focuses on seam position and swing, both conventional and reverse. His ability to maintain accuracy with both new and old balls makes him dangerous across all formats.In India's historic Test series triumph in Australia in 2018-19, Bumrah and Shami played pivotal roles. Bumrah emerged as the bowling mainstay, taking 21 wickets at an average of 17.00. His career-best figures of 9/86 in the Boxing Day Test cemented his status as a world-class bowler.Shami, too, made significant contributions, taking 16 wickets at an average of 26.18. His career-best haul of 6/56 in the second Test in Perth helped India bowl out Australia for 243 runs in their second innings.The ability of Bumrah and Shami to bowl in tandem makes them a formidable duo. Their contrasting styles complement each other, creating a challenging proposition for opposing batsmen. They have consistently delivered for India both at home and abroad, making them one of the most feared fast-bowling partnerships in modern cricket.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) sparked outrage among Indian fans after posting an inaccurate map of India on social media. The map, which was part of an announcement about the Kiwis' travel plans to Pune for the second Test against India, depicted incorrect borders of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh regions.The now-deleted post drew widespread criticism across platforms, with many fans expressing anger over the misrepresentation of India's northern borders. Users took to social media to demand corrections, tagging India's External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, and calling for action."Please look at this map, posted by New Zealand Cricket handle. They are showing the wrong map of India," wrote one fan.Another user commented, "We can't imagine how you could post an incorrect map. Please correct this."A different fan added, "Do not post an incorrect map of India's northern border."Following the uproar, NZC promptly deleted the post, but the controversy continued to brew online. The incident comes after New Zealand's memorable eight-wicket win over India in the first Test at Bengaluru. The victory was New Zealand's first Test win on Indian soil since 1988.Rachin Ravindra, who was a standout performer in the match, anchored the chase with 39 not out, alongside Will Young's unbeaten 48. India's bowlers had briefly raised hopes on the final day after dismissing Tom Latham for a duck and trapping Devon Conway for 17, but the 75-run stand between Ravindra and Young sealed the game for the Kiwis.With the second Test starting in Pune on October 24, India will look to bounce back and level the series.

India's Emerging Team continued their impressive run in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup, securing a dominant seven-wicket victory over UAE in Al Amerat, Oman. This triumph marks their second consecutive win in the tournament, following their narrow seven-run victory over Pakistan in the opener.Opener Abhishek Sharma played a pivotal role in India's success, smashing a scintillating half-century in just 24 deliveries. His blistering knock included five fours and four sixes, setting the tone for India's chase. Skipper Tilak Varma also contributed with a steady 21 off 18 balls.UAE, opting to bat first, struggled to gain momentum against India's formidable bowling attack. Seamer Rasikh Salam emerged as the star performer, claiming three wickets in his opening over. Ramandeep Singh also chipped in with two strikes, as India bundled out UAE for a meager 107 in 16.5 overs.UAE skipper Basil Hameed and Rahul Chopra provided some resistance with a 41-run partnership, but Abhishek's brilliance broke the alliance. Chopra's valiant 50 off 50 balls proved to be a lone bright spot for UAE.With a target of 108, India's chase was a mere formality. Ayush Badoni sealed the victory with a six and a four, completing the chase with 55 balls remaining.India's dominance in the tournament is evident, as they currently top Group B with four points. They will face hosts Oman in their final group game on Wednesday, aiming to maintain their winning streak and secure a place in the semifinals.

The 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle is nearing its conclusion, with India and Australia emerging as the frontrunners for a rematch of the previous WTC final, which Australia won. Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali believes that the final will once again feature India and Australia, but he has a suggestion for the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding future WTC cycles.Ali suggests that the ICC consider hosting India-Pakistan Test matches at neutral venues such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi to include these two teams in the WTC cycle. He emphasizes that India and Pakistan should be part of the competition, as they are the only teams that do not play bilateral series against each other."The Indian government always says no, but they play in ICC events like the World Cup," Ali said. "If PCB gives a suggestion, then they (ICC and BCCI) don't take it seriously, which is wrong."Currently, India leads the WTC table, followed by Australia and Sri Lanka. New Zealand's recent victory over India in the first Test of their series in Bengaluru has kept their hopes of finishing in the top two alive. India will face Australia in a five-Test series after their three-Test series against New Zealand.Ali believes that the WTC final will likely be between India and Australia, given their current form. "Four teams are in the top half (of WTC table) -- India, Australia, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. But according to me, there are only three -- India, Australia, and Sri Lanka. But the kind of cricket India and Australia are playing, the WTC final should be between these two teams," he said.