Cricket

India's Test squad for the upcoming series against Bangladesh has been announced, featuring the return of several key players. However, the absence of Mohammed Shami and Shreyas Iyer has raised questions.Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant are among the top stars who will be making their return to the Test team. Rookie pacer Yash Dayal has also earned his maiden call-up.Mohammed Shami, who was expected to be fit for the first Test, has been left out of the squad. The veteran pacer's fitness remains a concern, and he is unlikely to be selected for the second Test as well.Shreyas Iyer, despite his impressive performance in the first Duleep Trophy match, has also been overlooked by the selectors. Iyer's inconsistent performances in red-ball cricket and a poor 2024 season have reportedly played a role in his omission.Fitness concerns have also troubled Iyer recently. His removal from BCCI's central contracts, following his unavailability for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, has reportedly left the board's bosses and the selection committee unhappy.With Sarfaraz Khan and KL Rahul also competing for the middle-order spots, Iyer seems to be low in the pecking order at the moment.The BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar had earlier said that Shami could make his return for the Bangladesh series. However, the pacer doesn't seem to have ticked all the boxes for selection. He is likely to be picked in the Bengal team for the Ranji Trophy campaign, starting on October 11. If he manages to prove his fitness in the domestic tournament, Team India's return could only be a formality.

In a hilarious collaboration between sports and entertainment, Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant joined popular comedian and YouTuber Tanmay Bhat on his channel to react to cricket memes. One particular meme featuring India pacer Mohammed Siraj has gone viral, leaving Pant and Bhat in stitches.The meme, which has been circulating for some time, shows Siraj addressing his fans and clarifying his official Instagram account. "Mohammmed Siraj Official is the account I use, that's my only account. The rest are all fake IDs," Siraj says in the video.Pant, Bhat, and the others in the video could not contain their laughter as they watched Siraj's earnest declaration. The video, posted on Bhat's YouTube channel 'Tanmay Bhat,' has garnered over 1.5 million views and 120,000 likes within a day of being uploaded.Pant and Siraj were teammates during India's triumphant 2024 T20 World Cup campaign in the West Indies and USA. They are now set to reunite for India's upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh at home.Bangladesh, fresh from their stunning 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan, will pose a formidable challenge to India. The series will also mark the debut of new India head coach Gautam Gambhir in red-ball cricket.Despite the presence of experienced players like Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah in the squad, Gambhir and the BCCI have surprisingly not named a designated vice-captain for the tour.

India's upcoming Test series against Bangladesh presents a dilemma for the team management: prioritize immediate success or prepare for the crucial tour of Australia later this year. The choice between Sarfaraz Khan's flamboyant batting and KL Rahul's experience has become a focal point.Khan's impressive performances in the home series against England showcased his fearless approach and technical prowess. His twin half-centuries in Rajkot and another fifty in Dharamsala highlighted his precise footwork and ability to handle both pace and spin. However, Rahul's decade-long experience in the national setup and his role as former Test captain give him an edge.A BCCI source emphasized Rahul's recent performances and fitness as key factors. Despite missing two previous Test tours of Australia due to injuries, Rahul scored a century in Sydney in 2014. His knack for scoring at significant overseas venues, combined with his extensive range of strokes, keeps him ahead in the pecking order.The same principle of continuity applies to the wicketkeeper position, where Rishabh Pant's exceptional Test credentials make him the preferred choice over Dhruv Jurel. Jurel's impressive performance in the England series is acknowledged, but Pant's exceptional Test record remains unmatched.One position with notable competition is the third spinner's spot, where Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel are contenders. Axar's recent performances in the Duleep Trophy, where he showcased his all-round skills, have strengthened his case. However, Kuldeep's previous success against Bangladesh and his array of variations might give him an edge on favorable batting tracks.While Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel have proven their potential, the emphasis for now seems to be on experience and previously demonstrated success. India's team management is balancing immediate responsibilities with strategic preparations for the Australia tour, where continuity and experience will be crucial.

Musheer Khan, the younger brother of Indian cricketer Sarfaraz Khan, has emerged as a fielding sensation in the ongoing Duleep Trophy. His exceptional athleticism and quick reflexes have made him a formidable presence on the field.In a recent match between India A and India B at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Musheer showcased his brilliance with an incredible underarm throw from short leg. Akash Deep, the India A batsman, had fended off a bouncer but wandered out of his crease. Musheer, with lightning-fast reflexes, picked up the ball and unleashed a pinpoint throw that caught Akash well out of his crease. The dismissal proved pivotal in India A's eventual defeat, as they were bundled out for 198 while chasing 275.Musheer's fielding prowess has not gone unnoticed. His brother, Sarfaraz, proudly celebrated his younger sibling's brilliance by grabbing his hand and lifting it high in the air. Earlier in the match, Musheer had also impressed with the bat, scoring a composed 181 runs off 373 deliveries. His innings, which included a record-breaking 205-run partnership with Navdeep Saini, was crucial in lifting India B to a first-innings total of 321.Musheer's performance in the Duleep Trophy has further cemented his reputation as a rising star in Indian cricket. His fielding skills have drawn comparisons to some of the greatest fielders in the game, and his batting ability has shown that he is a complete cricketer. As he continues to develop, Musheer Khan is poised to become a key player for India in the years to come.

Rishabh Pant's Hilarious Banter with Kuldeep Yadav Lights Up Duleep TrophyIn a lighthearted moment during the Duleep Trophy match between India A and India B in Bengaluru, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant engaged in a playful banter with teammate Kuldeep Yadav.As India B sought to dismiss India A in their second innings, Pant's voice was captured on the stump microphone teasing Kuldeep. After Kuldeep hit a boundary off the fifth ball of the 41st over, Pant anticipated that he would attempt a single off the final ball."Close in, close in," Pant urged his teammates. "He's going to take a single."Kuldeep responded, "No, I won't."Undeterred, Pant persisted, "Swear on your mother."The exchange drew laughter from the players and spectators alike.Despite the lighthearted banter, India B emerged victorious in the contest by 79 runs. Musheer Khan's impressive 181 in the first innings and Pant's quickfire 61 in the second were key contributions to their success.Musheer was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance. India B will next face India C in Anantapur from September 12.

England's Revenge Tour: Botham's Record-Breaking Performance and Gavaskar's InjuryIn 1982, the England cricket team embarked on a tour of India, seeking redemption after their disappointing performance in the previous series. Despite losing both Tests and ODIs, England was determined to turn the tables.The first Test at Lord's proved to be a close contest, with Dilip Vengsarkar scoring a century for India. However, England's pace duo of Bob Willis and Ian Botham proved too strong, leading their team to victory.The second Test in Manchester ended in a high-scoring draw, curtailed by rain. The third Test at the Oval witnessed a remarkable performance by Botham, who set a new record for the fastest double century, reaching the milestone in just 220 balls. Kapil Dev also impressed with a blistering 97 off 93 balls, but the match ultimately ended in a draw.Beyond his record-breaking performance, Botham also made headlines for an unfortunate incident. While fielding at silly point, he smashed a drive off Ravi Shastri into the left leg of Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, breaking his tibia. Gavaskar was immediately taken off the field and later diagnosed with a broken tibia above the left ankle."I knew I'd hit it hard. I'm sorry to have put Sunny out of the Test," Botham reportedly said at the close of play.The injury to Gavaskar was a major blow to India, and England capitalized on the opportunity to win the series 1-0. Botham's all-round performance, including his record-breaking double century and the unfortunate injury to Gavaskar, made this series a memorable one in the annals of cricket history.

Shubman Gill's remarkable turnaround in Test cricket during the England series earlier this year can be attributed to his meticulous work on defensive batting, the 24-year-old has revealed.Gill, who has an average of 35.52 after 25 Tests, amassed 452 runs in the home series against England, showcasing a significant improvement in his ability to withstand the rigors of Test cricket."I worked on my defense a little bit more, especially against the spinners," Gill told ESPNCricinfo, as quoted by the ICC. "If you're playing on a turning track, you should be able to defend a lot more, then you play your scoring shots."Gill's focus on defensive batting stemmed from his realization that batting-friendly tracks in white-ball games can erode a player's defensive skills over time. "I feel it [batting-friendly tracks in white-ball games] takes away a little bit of your defensive game over a period of time," he said. "So that was my focus in the England series."Gill's defensive improvements were evident in his crucial hundred in the second Test in Vizag, where he played a patient and composed innings on a challenging pitch. He finished the series with an average of 56.5, a testament to his newfound defensive prowess.Gill's resurgence in Test cricket is a positive sign for India, who will be looking to him to play a key role in their upcoming series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. These series will serve as crucial preparation for the Border Gavaskar Trophy later this year, where India will face their arch-rivals Australia in a four-match Test series.With his improved defensive technique and growing experience, Gill is poised to become a mainstay in India's Test batting lineup for years to come.

India's Test cricketers will commence their preparations for the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai on September 12. The Bangladesh team is scheduled to arrive on September 15 for their own training session.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce the Indian squad for the series, which is expected to be named after the first round of the Duleep Trophy, scheduled from September 5 to 8. The Duleep Trophy will feature several Test hopefuls, including Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer.India's Test season, part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25, will begin with the Bangladesh series, followed by three Tests against New Zealand at home. The team will then embark on a tour of South Africa for five white-ball matches and later travel to Australia for five Tests.India's last Test assignment was a 4-1 home series victory over England in February-March. Since then, the team has participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the T20 World Cup, and white-ball series in Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.Bangladesh, on the other hand, is riding high on confidence after their historic 2-0 Test series sweep against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. The victory has propelled them to fourth place in the WTC standings with 45.83 percentage points. India, currently leading the table with 68.52 percentage points, will aim to consolidate their position in the upcoming series.

Pakistan is set to host the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, marking the return of an ICC event to the country after nearly three decades. However, speculation has been rife regarding India's reluctance to travel to Pakistan for the tournament.Despite the election of BCCI Secretary Jay Shah as the new ICC Chairman, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif believes India's participation in Pakistan is still possible. Latif suggests that Shah's unopposed election indicates support from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and that he is unlikely to approve a decision for India to play at a neutral venue."I think we have received 50% confirmation that India is coming to Pakistan," Latif stated.Latif also praised Shah's contributions to cricket, both at the BCCI and ICC levels.Pakistan has not hosted a major ICC event since co-hosting the 1996 Cricket World Cup. While they hosted the 2023 Asia Cup, India opted to play their matches in Sri Lanka. India's last visit to Pakistan for a cricket match was in 2008 for the Asia Cup.India-Pakistan matches are highly anticipated in ICC tournaments, often drawing massive viewership. After Pakistan's visit to India for the 2023 Cricket World Cup, India's potential return to Pakistan in 2025 would be a significant development.Interestingly, Pakistan and India are the two most recent winners of the Champions Trophy. Pakistan defeated India in the final of the 2017 edition, while India won the title in 2013 under MS Dhoni's leadership.