Cricket

Rohit Sharma's Unfortunate Dismissal Mars India's Fightback in Bengaluru TestIndia's hopes of salvaging the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru suffered a setback on Friday as opener Rohit Sharma was dismissed in an unfortunate manner. After trailing by 356 runs in the first innings, India had made a promising start to their second innings, with Sharma leading the charge.However, the Indian captain's impressive stay at the crease was cut short by a moment of misfortune. Facing left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, Sharma attempted a defensive stroke to a ball on the off-stump. The ball, however, glanced off the inside edge and trickled onto the stumps before Sharma could react.The dismissal left Sharma and the Chinnaswamy crowd in disbelief. The Indian opener had looked solid in his innings, scoring 52 runs off 83 balls. His departure was a major blow to India's hopes of building a substantial lead.Earlier in the day, New Zealand had been dismissed for 402 in their first innings. Rachin Ravindra (134) and Tim Southee (65) had put together a brisk 134-run partnership for the eighth wicket to extend the visitors' advantage.India's bowlers, led by Ravindra Jadeja (3/72), had struck early to reduce New Zealand to 233 for seven. However, Ravindra and Southee's partnership helped the Kiwis add valuable runs to their total.With Sharma's dismissal, India's task became even more challenging. The hosts will need to bat with patience and determination to avoid a heavy defeat in the first Test.

Rishabh Pant's Return Boosts India's Hopes in Bengaluru TestRishabh Pant's return to training on Friday has provided a glimmer of hope for India in the ongoing first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. Despite conceding a massive 356-run lead, the hosts are pinning their hopes on the star wicketkeeper-batter to salvage the match.During the Tea break on Day 3, Pant emerged from the dressing room wearing a single pad and faced throw-downs under the watchful eye of assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. The Bengaluru crowd erupted in cheers as Pant, who missed the morning session due to a knee injury, began his preparations to bat.Pant's absence from the field on Friday saw Dhruv Jurel take over the wicketkeeping duties. However, as per ICC regulations, a substitute wicketkeeper cannot bat for the team. This means that Pant will be eligible to bat without serving any penalty time.India's hopes of saving the Test rest heavily on Pant's shoulders. The left-hander has a proven track record of rescuing the team from precarious situations. In the 2021 Sydney Test, Pant played a pivotal role in India's heroic draw, scoring a match-saving 97. He also played a crucial innings in India's historic victory in the Gabba Test.With India facing a daunting task in the second innings, Pant's return to the crease could prove to be a game-changer. His aggressive batting style and ability to score quickly could help India reduce the deficit and put pressure on New Zealand.The Indian team management will be closely monitoring Pant's progress in the coming hours. If he is deemed fit to bat, he is likely to come in at number six or seven in the batting order.

India's bowlers fought valiantly for over 90 minutes, but Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee's blistering partnership before lunch propelled New Zealand to a commanding lead in the ongoing Test match.After India's dismal first innings total of 46, they needed a strong start with the ball. Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah delivered, keeping the New Zealand batsmen in check with accurate bowling. They claimed the wickets of Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry, who appeared rattled and lacking confidence.However, Southee, known for his aggressive batting, provided stability for Ravindra. Despite the previous two batters falling to straight deliveries, Ravindra remained composed, trusting his partner. Southee's resilience allowed Ravindra to flourish, and he raced to his second Test century, his second international hundred in his hometown.From the 70th over onwards, Ravindra accelerated, scoring 56 runs off 38 balls. He lofted Kuldeep Yadav for a six to reach his fifty and continued to push the boundaries. Southee, initially cautious, also joined the attack, hitting an overpitched delivery from Ashwin for a six.Ravindra's confidence soared as he dictated the terms to the bowlers. Southee, too, found his rhythm, waiting patiently for the right deliveries to attack. By lunch, the duo had added an unbeaten 112 for the eighth wicket, giving New Zealand a lead of 299 runs.India's bowlers, who had toiled tirelessly, were left frustrated by the late onslaught. Ravindra and Southee's partnership, the second-quickest 100-plus stand against India, has put the visitors in a commanding position.

New Zealand Dominate Day 2 of Bengaluru Test, India Collapse to Dismal 46New Zealand seized control of the rain-affected opening Test against India in Bengaluru, finishing Day 2 with a commanding 134-run lead. Opener Devon Conway's brilliant 91 anchored the Kiwis' response to India's disastrous 46 all out, the hosts' lowest-ever Test score at home.India's batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of Matt Henry's five-wicket haul and William O'Rourke's four wickets. Only Rishabh Pant (20) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) managed double figures as the Indian innings folded in just 31.2 overs.In response, New Zealand openers Conway and Tom Latham (22) forged a solid partnership, putting on 78 runs for the first wicket. Conway reached his half-century off just 54 balls, showcasing his excellent footwork against the Indian spinners.However, Conway's dismissal to Ravichandran Ashwin's reverse sweep left New Zealand at 105/2. Will Young (29) and Daryl Mitchell (14) then steadied the innings, taking the Kiwis to 180/3 at stumps.Earlier, India's decision to bat first under overcast conditions backfired spectacularly. Henry and O'Rourke exploited the bounce and seam movement to dismantle the Indian batting order. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Sarfaraz Khan all fell cheaply, leaving India reeling at 10/3.Pant's counter-attacking innings was cut short, and Jaiswal's patient knock ended with a stunning catch by Ajaz Patel. The dismissals of Rahul and Jadeja left India reeling at 34/6 at lunch, and the innings concluded just minutes into the second session.New Zealand's bowlers set the tone for the day, with Henry and O'Rourke generating troublesome bounce and Southee's wobble seam accounting for Rohit's wicket. The Kiwis will look to extend their lead on Day 3 and put India under further pressure.

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli's struggles continued on Day 2 of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, as he was dismissed for a duck, equaling an embarrassing record. Kohli's dismissal marked his 38th international duck, tying him with New Zealand's Tim Southee for the most ducks among active cricketers. India skipper Rohit Sharma is third on the list with 33 ducks.Kohli's dismissal came off a short-length delivery from fast bowler Will O'Rourke. The ball flew off Kohli's gloves, and Glenn Phillips completed a good catch at leg gully. Kohli's poor form has been a concern for India, as he has failed to score a century in his last 10 Test innings.Earlier, India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat against New Zealand in the rain-truncated opening Test. India made two changes to their team, with Sarfaraz Khan replacing an injured Shubman Gill and Kuldeep Yadav replacing seamer Akash Deep.The first day's play was washed out due to persistent rain. India and New Zealand will play two more Tests, at Pune from October 24-28 and at Mumbai from November 1-5.

Australia's captain, Pat Cummins, has emphasized the importance of neutralizing India's pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, in order to secure victory in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Cummins acknowledged Bumrah's exceptional bowling skills and recognized that silencing him would significantly enhance Australia's chances of winning the series.Cummins also expressed confidence in Australia's ability to draw inspiration from their recent triumphs in the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup finals against India. He believes that these victories will provide a psychological edge for the Australian team.Despite India's dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy over the past decade, Cummins remains optimistic about Australia's prospects. He highlighted the absence of Cheteshwar Pujara, India's former No. 3 batter, as a potential advantage for Australia. Cummins described Pujara as a "real Test cricketer" whose stoic resistance had been a formidable challenge in previous encounters.Cummins also acknowledged the growing rivalry between India and Australia, comparing it to the iconic Ashes series. He noted that the expansion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to a five-Test format further intensifies the competition.Cummins praised India's reputation for winning away from home, recognizing their exceptional ability to adapt to different conditions. He emphasized that defeating India in their own backyard would be a significant achievement for Australia.

Former India captain Anil Kumble has opined that KL Rahul should open the batting for India in the first Test of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia if Rohit Sharma is unavailable due to personal reasons. Kumble believes that Rahul's adaptability and experience make him the ideal candidate for the role, while Shubman Gill should continue to excel at the No. 3 position.Kumble suggests that Yashasvi Jaiswal could partner Rahul at the top of the order, maintaining a balanced batting lineup. He emphasizes Gill's versatility and ability to adapt to different batting positions, including his successful stint as an opener in the past.Kumble acknowledges that Gill's batting style differs from traditional No. 3 stalwarts like Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara, but believes that his dynamic strokeplay and adaptability could provide India with an edge in challenging Australian conditions.The former India head coach notes that the No. 3 batsman often faces the new ball and must control the first session of play. He believes that Gill has the ability to fulfill this role effectively, ensuring that the middle-order batsmen can come in later and score runs comfortably.Kumble emphasizes that Gill may need to adjust his approach based on the conditions in Australia, but he has the ability to do so. He believes that India can benefit from Gill's adaptability and versatility in the upcoming series.

Persistent rain has washed out the opening session of the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru, casting a shadow over India's hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final.India, currently atop the WTC standings, are aiming for their third consecutive appearance in the final. However, the inclement weather in Bengaluru has disrupted their plans. With no play possible on the first day, the teams took lunch without a ball being bowled or the coin being flipped.India's quest for a smooth qualification has been hindered by the rain, as weather forecasts predict further disruptions in the coming days. A start-stop approach is expected for the first three days at the least, which does not bode well for Team India.India's position at the summit of the WTC standings is precarious, with Australia and Sri Lanka lurking behind. India has accumulated 74.24 percentage points after 8 wins, 2 losses, and a draw from 11 matches in the 2023-25 cycle. Australia (62.50 percentage points) and Sri Lanka (55.56 percentage points) are eager to challenge India for a place in the WTC Final.India's recent 2-0 series victory against Bangladesh had boosted their hopes of securing a WTC Final berth. A clean sweep against New Zealand would have guaranteed their qualification even before the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia from November 22.However, the rain in Bengaluru has thrown a spanner in the works. India will need to make the most of the remaining days of the Test series to secure a positive result and maintain their position at the top of the WTC standings. The World Test Championship final will be played at Lord's next June, and India will be determined to make their third consecutive appearance.

India's Test juggernaut rolls into Bengaluru for the first of three matches against New Zealand, starting Wednesday at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The hosts, riding high on a six-match winning streak, will be aiming to extend their dominance against a New Zealand side missing the services of star batter Kane Williamson.For Indian opener KL Rahul, this Test holds special significance as it marks a homecoming to the city where his cricketing dreams took flight. In an interview with BCCI TV, Rahul expressed his emotional connection to the Bengaluru ground, recalling his journey from an 11-year-old boy to an international cricketer."It's always special for me to come back here," Rahul said. "This is where I grew up, played all my cricket. The feeling for me as an eleven year old boy who came here first time, played a game, that feeling for me hasn't changed."Rahul described the overwhelming flood of memories that come rushing in whenever he steps onto the field at Chinnaswamy. "From the time you leave the dressing room and walk to the middle, so many emotions hit you. It's like a whole three-hour movie plays in your mind – from my early cricketing days at U13s, U15s, U19s, to Ranji Trophy and IPL matches, and finally, representing India internationally. It gives me goosebumps."He also fondly reminisced about his time in the clubhouse canteen, where breakfast routines became a cherished tradition. "From age-group cricket to Ranji Trophy, we'd have breakfast at the canteen, finish training, and return for lunch," Rahul recalled. "I haven't been there in the last year or so. I don't know if that place has changed now. But it used to be really delicious and our morning started really good with dosa and coffee."Rahul, who made his Test debut against Australia in 2014, has garnered 2969 runs in 52 Tests, averaging 34.52. In 2024, he has featured in four Tests, scoring 222 runs at an average of 44.40, with two fifties.Rahul also displayed his form in the Duleep Trophy, scoring 37 and 57 for India A. With one eye on the upcoming Australia tour, Rahul will be eager to prove his mettle and cement his spot in the team's starting eleven for the Border–Gavaskar Trophy.