Cricket

South Africa, a team historically known for crumbling under pressure in major tournaments, has shown remarkable resilience in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Their captain, Aiden Markram, attributes this newfound confidence to their ability to pull off close wins, instilling a belief that victory is possible in any situation.Ahead of the highly anticipated final against India, Markram acknowledged the team's past struggles but emphasized their determination to break free from that burden. He highlighted the team's recent victories over Nepal, Bangladesh, and West Indies, which were all decided by narrow margins."To have done them two, three, maybe four times throughout the competition so far has sort of given the team the belief that you can win from any position," Markram said. "I think that's quite important for a team to have."While India remains the overwhelming favorite, South Africa has several factors in their favor. They are eager to create a new chapter in their cricketing history and are not letting the pressure of the occasion overwhelm them."We're kind of used to it now," Markram said of the team's frequent travel and schedule disruptions. "There's no point sulking around and making it more miserable than what it might already seem to be."Markram also emphasized the team's hunger to win the title, regardless of the result. "I think there's still a massive hunger for us to go out and win tomorrow's game," he said. "We'd love to get to our first final and be able to win that first final."South Africa's newfound confidence and resilience will be put to the ultimate test against a formidable Indian team. However, the Proteas are determined to prove that they are no longer the team that crumbles under pressure and are ready to make history in Barbados.

The Indian cricket team has secured its progression into the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-finals, with a resounding victory against the mighty Australians. Riding on Rohit Sharma's 92 off 41 balls, India bagged a 24-run win to set up semi-finals date with England.While there were plenty of positives from the game against Australia, there were some negatives too, especially the poor form of Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja. India great Sunil Gavaskar, who has given his 2 cents on Virat time and again, suggested that Jadeja's place in the team shouldn't even be questioned.Jadeja, who is a marquee all-rounder, with ability to deliver with the bat, the ball and in field, has been going through a barren run for a while. However, Gavaskar feels that the fact that Jadeja saved 20-30 runs in the field, shouldn't be overlooked just because he hasn't been able to deliver with the bat and the ball."I am not at all concerned as he is very experienced. For whatever opportunities he's got, he's done well. And don't forget, in the field itself, he saved 20 to 30 runs with his fielding ability, taking catches, and getting the run out. So don't forget those 20-30 plus runs. Then he enters the field, with anything that he does with the bat and ball is an added value to his ability.""So I don't think we should even think about questioning (Jadeja). The problem with India and Indian fans is, 2 bad games and you go 'what to do with him, what to do with him?'," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.Gavaskar gave a sharp reply to fans asking whether the all-rounder deserves a place in India's XI, suggesting questions aren't raised of people make a couple of errors in other professions."You know that is the worry. Nobody who asks these questions even thinks about their own professions, whether they have made 2 errors and whether people are questioning their place in their own profession, whichever profession they are. This is just simply a good topic for television, you don't question Jadeja's place in the playing XI. He's a rock star," Gavaskar further added.Against Australia, Jadeja scored an unbeaten 9 off 5 balls. With the ball, he bowled only 1 over as Glenn Maxwell looked to take him to the cleaners.

The Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, is poised to make history as it faces South Africa in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 on Saturday. This marks the second World Cup final for India in just eight months, following their heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed his confidence in Rohit's leadership, stating that he has "gone into the final unbeaten" in both World Cup finals he has played. Ganguly credits Rohit's captaincy and leadership qualities for India's success, highlighting his role in guiding the team to the summit clash.Ganguly also acknowledged the challenges of winning an IPL title, emphasizing that it can sometimes be more difficult due to the tournament's duration. However, he stressed that the honor of winning a World Cup is greater, and he hopes Rohit can lead India to victory."I don't think he can lose two World Cup finals in seven months," Ganguly said. "He will probably jump into the Barbados ocean if he loses two finals under his captaincy in seven months."Ganguly praised Rohit's batting prowess and leadership from the front, expressing his hope that India will play with freedom and finish on the right side. He also acknowledged the importance of luck in winning big tournaments and wished the team well.India has been the dominant force in the T20 World Cup 2024, winning all their matches in the tournament. They will be aiming to extend their unbeaten streak and claim their first ICC title since 2013.

India's T20 World Cup campaign has been a resounding success, with the team remaining undefeated heading into the final against South Africa. Captain Rohit Sharma has been a key contributor with 248 runs, while pacers Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah have been equally impressive with 15 and 13 wickets respectively.However, one area of concern for India has been the form of Virat Kohli, who has managed just 75 runs in seven matches. Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes that Kohli has the potential to turn his fortunes around in the final.Kaif drew parallels between Kohli's current situation and that of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the 2011 ODI World Cup. Dhoni had also struggled for form during the tournament but played a match-winning knock in the final."Virat Kohli needs to remember that even Dhoni didn't have a great World Cup in 2011 but he found form in the final," Kaif said. "He is too good a player to slog, he can play ball on merit and dominate any bowling attack."Kaif suggested that Kohli should focus on playing the ball on merit and avoid slogging. He also emphasized the importance of Kohli playing until the end of the innings."He should play the ball on merit with proper cricket shots, he should not slog by exposing his wickets," Kaif said. "He's a great player. Players like Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav should play fast and Virat Kohli should play till the end the full 20 overs and play the ball on merit."Kohli has been dismissed without scoring twice in this tournament, his worst-ever performance in six T20 World Cups. India will be hoping that he can rediscover his form in the final and help them end their 11-year trophy drought in global cricket competitions.

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.