Cricket

Rahul Dravid's Calm and Correct Coaching Style Leads India to T20 World Cup GloryFormer India head coach Lalchand Rajput has lauded Rahul Dravid's unique coaching style, attributing the team's recent T20 World Cup triumph to his calm and composed approach."Rahul Dravid's coaching is very silent and correct," Rajput told ANI. "We call him the Wall of Cricket. When one wins the World Cup, any person jumps up with joy. He danced yesterday and showed that he has another side also."India's victory in the summit clash against South Africa was a testament to Dravid's astute leadership. The team displayed remarkable resilience and composure under pressure, with Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya delivering exceptional performances in the death overs.Virat Kohli and Axar Patel also played crucial roles with the bat, guiding India to a competitive total. This win marks the end of India's 11-year ICC trophy drought, with their last triumph being the Champions Trophy in 2013.Dravid's calm and collected demeanor has been a key factor in India's success. He has instilled a sense of discipline and focus in the team, while also fostering a positive and supportive environment."He is a very calm and composed coach," Rajput said. "He doesn't get excited or angry. He always keeps his cool and that reflects in the team's performance."Under Dravid's guidance, India has developed a winning mentality and a never-say-die attitude. The team's ability to perform under pressure and execute their plans effectively has been a hallmark of their recent success.Dravid's coaching style has also been praised by former players and experts. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes that Dravid's calm and composed approach has helped the team to stay focused and disciplined."Rahul Dravid is a very calm and composed coach," Gavaskar said. "He doesn't get excited or angry. He always keeps his cool and that reflects in the team's performance."With Dravid at the helm, India will be looking to continue their winning ways and establish themselves as a dominant force in world cricket.

India's resounding victory in the one-off Test against South Africa was largely attributed to Sneh Rana's remarkable eight-wicket haul. India coach Amol Muzumdar praised Rana's performance, highlighting her sense of belonging within the team.Muzumdar emphasized that Rana's participation in the inter-zonal matches and the bowlers' camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) prior to the Test demonstrated her commitment and dedication. He stated, "The message is very clear to her that she is an integral part of this team, and she delivered at the right time in the morning. To pick up eight wickets, it's a sensational performance."Despite following on, the Proteas batters displayed impressive spin-handling skills, similar to their performance on day two. South Africa batting coach Baakier Abrahams attributed this improvement to a shift in mindset and a focus on developing the necessary skillset.Abrahams explained, "The first thing was really just around the mindset. Watched a lot of videos around people that have been successful in India and what tools they use. So, it was more about trying to transfer that information over to them."He also highlighted the importance of individual preferences and playing to strengths. "And then, it was really around the skillset required to be successful based on the successes of the previous batters. Then, it was just about them deciding on what their preferred options are and playing towards their strengths."Abrahams specifically praised Sune Luus' impressive batting, particularly against spin. He attributed her improvement to a combination of technical adjustments and a shift in mindset. "I think it's been a bit of a journey with Sune. I did the ODI series as a consultant in Sri Lanka. She didn't have the best series and was really hurt. So, she took a couple of weeks off from the game and just reflected."Abrahams continued, "We spoke a lot about her why. Like, what's the motivation? And she came up with some really strong information around that. And then, it was just ironing out one or two technical things. But the biggest shift has been the mindset."

India's Sneh Rana and South Africa's Sune Luus showcased exceptional performances in the one-off Test match at the MAC Stadium. Rana's devastating bowling in the first innings and Luus' gritty century in the second innings highlighted the third day's play.Rana's off-spin spell proved lethal as she claimed eight wickets for 77 runs, dismantling South Africa's batting lineup. Her superb delivery to dismiss Marizane Kapp and her quick dismissal of Sinalo Jafta completed her five-wicket haul. India's dominance continued as they bowled out the visitors for 253, securing a 337-run lead.However, South Africa showed resilience in the second innings. Despite losing opener Anneke Bosch early, Luus and skipper Laura Wolvaardt forged a formidable partnership. Luus played with determination and technique, countering the Indian spinners' turn and uneven bounce. Her maiden Test century, an innings of 109 runs off 203 balls, gave South Africa hope.The Indian spinners struggled with consistency and missed their lengths, allowing Luus and Wolvaardt to accumulate runs. Deepti Sharma dropped Kapp twice, further aiding South Africa's recovery. At stumps, the Proteas were 232 for two, still needing 105 runs to make India bat again.The match remains evenly poised, with South Africa aiming to salvage a draw and gain confidence ahead of the T20Is. India, on the other hand, will look to capitalize on their first-innings lead and secure a victory.

The T20 World Cup final between India and South Africa on Saturday, November 26, 2023, drew a peak viewership of 5.3 crore on the Disney Hotstar OTT platform. While this fell short of the record 5.9 crore peak viewership set by the ODI final between India and Australia in November 2022, it still marked a significant milestone for the tournament.The India-Australia ODI final last year remains the most-watched live cricket match on any streaming platform. However, the T20 World Cup final's peak viewership of 5.3 crore indicates the growing popularity of the shorter format of the game.The knockout match between India and Australia in the T20 World Cup on June 24 had a peak concurrency of 3.9 crore, highlighting the intense interest in the tournament. Disney Star holds the exclusive broadcast and media rights for both linear and digital platforms.While the final match may not have reached the record-breaking viewership of the ODI final, it maintained a consistently high viewership throughout the match. According to Karan Taurani, SVP of Elara Capital, 4 to 4.5 crore viewers watched the match constantly due to its nail-biting finish.Even the post-match ceremony sustained a viewership of 2.5 to 3 crore, indicating the audience's engagement with the event. The T20 World Cup final's high viewership demonstrates the continued popularity of cricket in India and the growing importance of OTT platforms in delivering live sports content to fans.

Arshdeep Singh, the unassuming left-arm pacer, has emerged as a pivotal figure in India's T20 World Cup triumph. His ability to swing the new ball and bowl pinpoint yorkers in the death overs has been instrumental in India's success.Arshdeep's 17 wickets in the tournament, equal to Bangladesh's Fazalhaq Farooqi, placed him as the joint-highest wicket-taker. His composure under pressure was evident in the final against South Africa, where he delivered a crucial spell of 2 for 20.In a heartwarming moment, Arshdeep honored his parents by placing his winners' medal around their necks after the victory. India's competitive total of 176 for 7 was largely due to Virat Kohli's brilliant 76 and Axar Patel's valuable 47.South Africa's chase began with early setbacks, but Heinrich Klaasen and Quinton de Kock threatened to turn the tide. However, Hardik Pandya's dismissal of Klaasen and Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional 18th over swung the momentum back in India's favor.Arshdeep's penultimate over kept the pressure on South Africa, allowing only four runs. The defining moment came in the 20th over when Suryakumar Yadav took a spectacular catch at the boundary off Pandya's bowling. Pandya's impressive figures of 3 for 20 sealed the victory for India, who finished with a thrilling 169 for 8.Arshdeep's evolution as India's premier left-arm pacer in white-ball cricket has been remarkable. His ability to control the new ball and execute yorkers under pressure has made him an indispensable asset to the team.

Jasprit Bumrah's stellar performance at the T20 World Cup culminated in him being crowned the Player of the Tournament. The Indian pace spearhead finished as the third highest wicket-taker with 15 scalps, playing a pivotal role in his team's undefeated run.In the thrilling final against South Africa, Bumrah claimed two crucial wickets as India restricted their opponents to 169/8. This victory marked an end to India's 11-year-long global trophy drought.In a heartwarming moment captured on camera, Bumrah shared his joy with his wife, Sanjana Ganesan, who was representing ICC Digital. He expressed his gratitude for the team's exceptional performance and the unwavering support they provided throughout the tournament.Bumrah praised his fellow bowlers, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, for their confidence and execution on the big stage. He emphasized the importance of maintaining composure even in challenging situations, a trait that proved crucial in India's success.Bumrah's remarkable achievement is a testament to his skill, determination, and the unwavering support of his teammates. His performance has cemented his status as one of the world's leading fast bowlers and has inspired a new generation of cricketers.

India's 17-year wait for T20 World Cup glory came to an end in emphatic fashion as they defeated South Africa in the final of the 2024 edition in Barbados. The victory marked a historic moment for Indian cricket, with veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma playing pivotal roles in the triumph.Kohli, who had announced his retirement from T20I cricket after the tournament, anchored India's innings in the final with a match-winning knock. His 82 runs off 53 balls provided the foundation for India's total of 195/6. Rohit Sharma, who had also stepped down as T20I captain after the tournament, contributed with a crucial 47 runs.South Africa's chase faltered in the face of India's disciplined bowling attack. Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Yuzvendra Chahal shared seven wickets between them to restrict South Africa to 168/8.The victory sparked jubilation across India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the chorus of congratulations. In a telephonic conversation with Kohli, Sharma, and head coach Rahul Dravid, Modi praised their contributions to Indian cricket."You are excellence personified. Your aggressive mindset, batting, and captaincy have given a new dimension to the Indian team. Your T20 career will be remembered fondly," Modi said to Rohit Sharma.To Kohli, Modi hailed his anchoring role in the final. "Like the innings in the Finals, you have anchored Indian batting splendidly. You've shone in all forms of the game. T20 Cricket will miss you, but I am confident you'll continue to motivate the new generation of players," he said.Modi also acknowledged Dravid's guidance as head coach, saying, "Rahul Dravid's incredible coaching journey has shaped the success of Indian cricket. His unwavering dedication, strategic insights, and nurturing the right talent have transformed the team."The Indian team will now take a short break before regrouping for the Zimbabwe T20I series, which will feature a young crop of stars.

Hardik Pandya's journey to the pinnacle of cricket has been marked by both triumph and adversity. Coming into the T20 World Cup, he had endured a challenging period both on and off the field. However, in the tournament's grand finale, Pandya rose to the occasion, delivering a match-winning performance that etched his name in the annals of Indian cricket history.In the thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa, Pandya's all-around brilliance shone through. He bowled a miserly spell of 3 for 20, including a nerve-wracking final over where he defended 13 runs. His wickets included the crucial dismissal of Heinrich Klaasen, who had threatened to snatch victory from India's grasp.Pandya's emotions were evident after the triumph, as tears of joy streamed down his face. In a heartfelt social media post, he shared a video from his childhood, where a young Hardik expressed his dream of playing for India alongside his brother Krunal. "Playing for my country will always be the greatest honor," he wrote.The T20 World Cup victory marked a redemption for Pandya, who had faced criticism and setbacks in recent months. After being appointed captain of the Mumbai Indians, he endured a difficult season, with the team finishing at the bottom of the table. His own form also suffered, but he found his rhythm at the World Cup.In six innings, Pandya scored 144 runs at a strike rate of 151.57, including a half-century. With the ball, he took 11 wickets in eight matches, with an economy rate of 7.64. His performance earned him widespread praise, including the Player of the Match award in the final."It's very emotional," Pandya said after the match. "Especially for me, after six months, I haven't spoken a word, things have been unfair, but I knew there'd be a time I could shine."Pandya's match-winning performance not only brought India its second T20 World Cup trophy but also cemented his status as one of the most versatile and impactful players in the game today. His journey from a young boy in Baroda to a global cricket icon is a testament to his resilience, determination, and unwavering belief in his dreams.

India's historic T20 World Cup triumph in Barbados marked a bittersweet moment as it signaled the end of Rahul Dravid's tenure as head coach. Dravid, a legendary figure in Indian cricket, was given a fitting farewell with the team's maiden World Cup trophy under his guidance.Dravid, who played a pivotal role in India's 2003 ODI World Cup final appearance, heaped praise on skipper Rohit Sharma, who announced his retirement from T20 internationals after the victory. "I will miss him as a person," said Dravid. "The kind of respect he has shown me, the care and commitment he has had for the team, the energy he has spent...it's the person in Rohit that I will remember the most."Under Dravid's coaching, India reached three ICC trophy finals in a year, losing to Australia in the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup finals. However, the team was determined to break the jinx at the T20 World Cup.In the final against South Africa, India posted a competitive 176 for 7, thanks to Virat Kohli's Player of the Match performance (76 off 59). Axar Patel's valuable 47 off 31 also contributed to the total.South Africa made a strong start but lost early wickets. Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27) and Quinton de Kock (39 off 31) brought the Proteas back into contention, reducing the required run rate to one per ball.However, Hardik Pandya's dismissal of Klaasen swung the momentum back in India's favor. Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional 18th over, conceding only two runs and taking a wicket, further tilted the balance.The defining moment came in the 20th over when Suryakumar Yadav took a spectacular catch at the boundary off Pandya's bowling. Pandya's impressive figures of 3 for 20 proved crucial as South Africa fell short, finishing at 169 for 8.Dravid's departure marks the end of an era for Indian cricket. His legacy as a coach will be defined by his ability to guide the team to the brink of glory in multiple ICC tournaments. As India looks to the future, they will undoubtedly draw inspiration from Dravid's leadership and the lessons he imparted during his tenure.