Cricket

Virat Kohli, the talismanic Indian batter, has endured a disappointing run in the ongoing T20 World Cup, with a string of single-digit scores in seven outings. This has raised concerns about his suitability for the shortest format of the game.Kohli, known for his dominance and consistency, has struggled to adapt to the bowler-friendly conditions in the United States and West Indies. The opening batsman has been uncharacteristically aggressive, attempting wild swings and failing to play late on sticky surfaces.His dismissal against England, where he was bowled after walking down the track and heaving across the line, highlighted his struggles. Kohli's inability to adjust his batting style has led to questions about his effectiveness in T20 cricket.However, head coach Rahul Dravid remains optimistic about Kohli's form. "I don't want to jinx it, but I think there's a big one coming up," Dravid said after India's semifinal victory over England.Kohli's return to form is crucial for India's chances in the final against Pakistan on Sunday. In the previous edition of the tournament, Kohli played a memorable knock against Pakistan, silencing critics who doubted his ability in T20 cricket.To regain his old form, Kohli needs to revert to his strengths of timing and neat batsmanship. These qualities were evident in his match-winning innings against Pakistan in the previous edition. Only a repeat performance can silence critics and prove his worth in the shortest format of the game.

India's T20 World Cup semi-final against England proved to be another disappointing outing for star batter Virat Kohli, who once again failed to deliver a substantial performance. Batting first, India made a promising start with skipper Rohit Sharma and Kohli showing some intent. However, England pacer Reece Topley quickly struck, dismissing Kohli for nine in the third over of the innings. This marked Kohli's fifth single-digit score at the ongoing T20 World Cup, setting a new career low for the right-handed batter.Kohli's dismissal was particularly significant as it was the first time he had failed to score a half-century in a T20 World Cup knockout match. In previous knockout matches, Kohli had scored 72* off 44 balls against South Africa in the 2014 semi-finals, 77* off 58 balls against Sri Lanka in the 2014 final, 89* against West Indies in the 2016 semi-finals, and 50 against England in the 2022 semi-finals.The match was eventually interrupted by rain, with India reaching 65 for two in eight overs. Skipper Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav were batting on 37 and 13 respectively when the heavens opened up. Sent into bat after the start of the match was delayed by more than an hour, India lost Kohli early and Rishabh Pant cheaply, but Rohit remained positive and kept England on their toes with regular boundaries.Kohli's dismissal came as a blow to India's hopes of posting a competitive total. The right-handed batter has been struggling for form throughout the tournament, and his latest failure will raise further questions about his place in the team. With India's hopes of reaching the final now hanging in the balance, the team will need to find a way to overcome Kohli's poor form and produce a strong performance in the second half of the innings.

T20 World Cup Final: Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth to Officiate India vs. South Africa ClashThe stage is set for a thrilling T20 World Cup final between India and South Africa, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the officiating team for the highly anticipated match. Chris Gaffaney of New Zealand and Richard Illingworth of England will take on the roles of on-field umpires, while Richard Kettleborough will serve as the TV umpire. Rod Tucker will be the fourth umpire, and Richie Richardson will act as the match referee.The final will be played at the iconic Kensington Oval in Barbados, which previously hosted the T20 World Cup final in 2010. India booked their place in the final with a commanding 68-run victory over defending champions England in the semifinal at Providence, Guyana. South Africa, on the other hand, secured their spot with a dominant nine-wicket triumph over Afghanistan at Tarouba, Trinidad.Chris Gaffaney is a highly experienced umpire with over 100 international matches to his credit. He has officiated in numerous high-profile matches, including the 2019 Cricket World Cup final. Richard Illingworth is another seasoned umpire with over 80 international matches under his belt. He has also officiated in several major tournaments, including the 2015 Cricket World Cup.Richard Kettleborough is a respected TV umpire with over 50 international matches to his name. He has been involved in some of the most controversial decisions in recent cricket history, including the infamous "Mankad" incident in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Rod Tucker is a former Australian cricketer who has transitioned into umpiring. He has officiated in over 40 international matches and is known for his calm and composed demeanor.Richie Richardson is a former West Indies cricketer who has served as a match referee in over 100 international matches. He is highly respected in the cricket community and is known for his fair and impartial approach.The officiating team for the T20 World Cup final is a testament to the ICC's commitment to ensuring a fair and competitive match. With experienced and respected umpires and match officials in place, both India and South Africa can be confident that the final will be officiated to the highest standards.

India's head coach Rahul Dravid has expressed optimism about the team's chances of winning the T20 World Cup, citing their consistent performance in reaching three ICC finals within the past year. Dravid believes that a combination of intelligent gameplay and good fortune will enable India to secure a long-awaited ICC championship.Throughout the current T20 World Cup, India has demonstrated their superiority, mirroring their performance in the ODI World Cup held in their home country the previous year. However, in that tournament, they stumbled at the final obstacle against Australia.Rohit Sharma and his team are now set to face South Africa in the final at Barbados' Kensington Oval. They are determined to clinch a ICC title, a feat they last achieved during the 2013 Champions Trophy."It is a good thing we have been consistently playing good cricket. We have been in finals in all three formats and credit goes to the players. If we play well and rub of the green goes (our way) we will surely win," Dravid said.Despite the swift journey from Guyana to Barbados following their semifinal victory against England, Dravid expressed confidence in the team's mental readiness for the upcoming contest."In terms of our preparation, we've just got one day in the middle, so it's unlikely we're going to be having practice. It's just about all the guys getting into ensuring that physically, mentally, tactically we are ready for the game."Dravid emphasized his team's readiness for the crucial encounter at the top. "Those are the things that we can control, that we are fresh, that we've looked after all our niggles, if there are any. We've done all our tactical preparation and we're mentally relaxed and excited and looking forward to the game."In 2023, India suffered two devastating losses in ICC finals. They were defeated by Australia in both the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the ODI World Cup final. Dravid believes that the team has learned from these heartbreaking experiences."No, nothing. I thought we were very well-prepared in Ahmedabad (ODI WC). We ticked all the boxes and, on that day, the other team played better. That's part of the sport. The other team that's coming there to play has also obviously reached the final because they're a good team and they're playing very good cricket as well. So, they have as much right to win it as we do, but we hope that we'll play better cricket on the day," he said.Dravid also praised the team's collective effort in preparing for this prestigious event, highlighting their ability to adapt to various situations. He acknowledged the hard work put in by the entire squad leading up to the tournament."I think what's really important is that we've done really well as a group. This whole tournament we have shown the ability to adapt, to recognize what is a good score. We played very differently in New York, then we played in St. Lucia, then we played even in Barbados when I thought that the game was quite slow.""I'm just hoping that whatever we come up against, we will have the ability to recognize it and be able to play accordingly, as we've done in the last three games," said Dravid.

South Africa's sloppy fielding on the opening day of the one-off Test against India in Chennai on Friday highlighted the team's lack of preparation and attention to detail. The Proteas committed several uncharacteristic errors, including misfields, an unnecessary overthrow, and wayward deliveries down the leg side.The most glaring mistake came from Masabata Klaas, who threw a wild overthrow after Smriti Mandhana knocked a full delivery back to her. The ball sailed over the keeper's head and to the boundary, gifting India four extra runs.Other fielding lapses included a dropped catch by Laura Wolvaardt at slip and a misfield by Anneke Bosch at mid-off. These errors allowed India to build partnerships and put pressure on the South African bowlers.The Proteas' sloppy fielding was compounded by some wayward bowling. Shabnim Ismail, who is known for her accuracy, bowled several deliveries down the leg side, giving India's batters easy scoring opportunities.South Africa's fielding coach, Delmi Tucker, admitted that the team's performance in the field was below par. "It was really hot out there and tough," she said. "Definitely, we could be better on the field. Seeing an overthrow in most fields is not the best. But it's happening. I think with the overthrow, it's just staying positive, keeping everyone alive, just getting it back to the keeper. It just keeps you sharp. But yes, we can be better at it."The Proteas' fielding woes are a major concern, especially considering that they are playing in India, where the conditions are known to be challenging for fielders. If South Africa wants to compete in this Test match, they will need to improve their fielding significantly.

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly has lauded Rohit Sharma's captaincy skills, attributing them to India's undefeated streak in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Ganguly urged the team to approach the final against South Africa with an unrestrained mindset, aiming to end an 11-year drought without an ICC title.Ganguly praised Rohit's leadership qualities, highlighting his record of winning five IPL titles and his ability to lead India to two World Cup finals while remaining unbeaten. He believes that Rohit's hesitation to assume the captaincy initially has been overcome, and he has now become a confident and effective leader.Ganguly acknowledged that winning the IPL can be more challenging due to its extended length, but emphasized that the honor of winning a World Cup is greater. He expressed confidence in India's ability to secure the title, citing their dominant performance throughout the tournament.Despite India's near misses in major tournaments since their 2013 Champions Trophy triumph, Ganguly remains optimistic. He believes that reaching the finals is a positive sign, and that India's consistent dominance in the competition makes them the favorites.Ganguly also commented on South Africa's historic achievement of reaching the World Cup final for the first time since their reintegration into international cricket. He acknowledged the significance of this moment for South African cricket.Regarding Virat Kohli's average performance in the tournament, Ganguly believes that he should continue opening the batting. He emphasized that Kohli's past achievements and status as an institution for Indian cricket should not be diminished by a few poor matches.Ganguly dismissed claims that the ICC has given India an advantage by selecting a spin-friendly venue for the semifinal in Guyana. He also rejected allegations that broadcasters have favored India with the 8pm IST time slot for their matches.Ganguly asserted that India's dominance in world cricket is due to their performance, broadcast reach, and financial contributions. He believes that India's strong position in the sport is justified and reflects their status as a major force in international cricket.

Star Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah has etched his name in the history books of the T20 World Cup by becoming the second-highest wicket-taker for India in a single edition of the tournament. Bumrah's remarkable performance against England in the semi-final match of the 2024 T20 World Cup propelled him to this milestone.With two wickets against Jos Buttler's side, Bumrah now has 13 wickets in the ongoing marquee event. He trails only left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has 15 wickets and holds the distinction of being the highest wicket-taker for India in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.Bumrah's achievement is a testament to his exceptional bowling skills and consistency throughout the tournament. He has been a key cog in India's bowling attack, providing crucial breakthroughs and economical spells.Former India cricketer RP Singh holds the third place in the chart with 12 wickets in the 2007 T20 World Cup.In the semi-final clash against England, India posted a competitive total of 171/7, thanks to half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja also made valuable contributions.England's chase faltered as they struggled to adapt to the surface, eventually being bowled out for 103 in 16.4 overs. Harry Brook and Jos Buttler were the only notable performers for the Three Lions.Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav were the stars of India's bowling attack, each claiming three wickets. Bumrah chipped in with two wickets, while defending the 172-run target.India's victory sets up a tantalizing final against South Africa, who have also remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. The two sides will clash in Barbados on Saturday for the coveted T20 World Cup trophy.

The stage is set for an epic clash between India and South Africa in the final of the Men's T20 World Cup 2024. This will be the first time these two teams have met in the final of an ICC tournament, making it a historic occasion for both sides.India and South Africa have both been in impressive form throughout the tournament, remaining unbeaten and topping their respective groups. South Africa has faced tougher opposition, including a nail-biting win over West Indies in the Super Eight, while India has overcome challenges from Pakistan, Australia, and England.For South Africa, this final represents a chance to make history by winning their first-ever men's World Cup title. They have come close in the past, reaching the semi-finals of five ODI World Cups and two T20 World Cups, but have never reached the final.India, on the other hand, is looking to end a title drought that has lasted since 2013. They won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 but have not won an ICC trophy since then. They came close in 2014, reaching the final of the T20 World Cup, but fell short.The match will be played at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, which has hosted eight matches in the tournament so far. The pitch has been favorable to teams batting first, with three of the first four completed matches won by the chasing team. However, the last two matches have seen comfortable chases by West Indies and England.Wind could be a factor in the final, with gusts predicted at up to 45 kmph. However, it is unlikely to have as much of an impact as it did in Gros Islet during India's match against Australia.Rain is also a possibility, with showers expected throughout the day. There is a 50% chance of precipitation in the morning, decreasing to 30% around the scheduled toss time. However, the forecast improves later in the day, with a 20% chance of rain during match hours.If the match is interrupted by rain, there is a reserve day scheduled for Sunday. However, if the match cannot be completed on either day, both teams will be declared joint-winners.

Inzamam-ul-Haq's allegations regarding India's reverse-swinging tactics in the T20 World Cup have sparked a heated debate. The former Pakistan captain questioned how India, particularly Arshdeep Singh, managed to reverse-swing the ball in the 16th over of Australia's innings.Rohit Sharma, India's skipper, dismissed Inzamam's claims, stating that reverse-swing is a natural occurrence in hot and dry conditions. However, Inzamam has retorted, cautioning Rohit not to lecture Pakistan, the originators of reverse-swing, on the technique.Inzamam clarified that he never accused India of ball-tampering, but rather intended to alert the umpires to the unusual reverse-swing. He emphasized that umpires should remain vigilant, as reverse-swing can occur even in the early overs.Meanwhile, India has advanced to the final of the T20 World Cup after defeating England by 68 runs in the second semifinal. South Africa, who defeated Afghanistan by nine wickets, will face India in the championship match.