Cricket

Gautam Gambhir's appointment as India's head coach has raised questions about his strained relationship with Virat Kohli. However, according to a report in Cricbuzz, Kohli has communicated to the BCCI that he is willing to move on, prioritizing the best interests of the team and Indian cricket.Kohli, who has been on a break since India's T20 World Cup victory, has been named in the ODI squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Earlier reports suggested that both Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma would skip the series, but they will now join the team for the 50-over leg. Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as the T20 captain following Rohit's retirement from the format.Despite past on-field disagreements and confrontations in the Indian Premier League, Kohli is believed to have stated that previous issues will not affect their professional relationship in the dressing room. He has reportedly communicated this clearly to BCCI officials. Discussions on the matter were likely held after the T20 World Cup final.The Sri Lanka tour will mark Gambhir's first assignment as India's head coach, replacing Rahul Dravid after the T20 World Cup. Both Gambhir and Kohli share a similar approach to cricket, wearing their hearts on their sleeves and expressing their emotions openly.Gambhir's intense patriotic fervor adds an extra dimension to his coaching style, a trait he shares with Kohli. When these qualities are combined for the common goal of winning matches and trophies for India, it has the potential to make the team invincible in all formats, especially with Kohli continuing to play in Tests and ODIs.

India's Squad for Sri Lanka Tour: Gambhir's Influence and Key TakeawaysWith Gautam Gambhir taking over as India's head coach, significant changes have been made to the squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. Gambhir's influence is evident in the selection process, with several key takeaways emerging:1. Hardik Pandya's Omission from Leadership GroupDespite being the vice-captain for the 2024 T20 World Cup, Hardik Pandya has been surprisingly omitted from any leadership role in the current squad. Instead, Shubman Gill has been named vice-captain in both the ODI and T20I formats. This decision raises questions about Pandya's future in the captaincy pecking order, potentially due to his injury concerns or his disappointing stint as Mumbai Indians captain.2. Shubman Gill's Promotion as Future CaptainGambhir appears to be grooming Shubman Gill as India's future captain in all formats. Gill's appointment as vice-captain in both squads, ahead of Pandya, suggests that Gambhir is looking towards the 2027 World Cup and beyond.3. Kuldeep Yadav and Abhishek Sharma Dropped from T20I SquadDespite his impressive performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Kuldeep Yadav has been left out of the T20I squad. This decision may be related to workload management, as Yadav remains in the ODI squad. Abhishek Sharma, who scored a century against Zimbabwe, has also been dropped, while Riyan Parag has been preferred over him.4. Gambhir's Faith in KKR PlayersSeveral players who have performed well under Gambhir's leadership at Kolkata Knight Riders have been included in the India squad. Shreyas Iyer, Harshit Rana (ODIs), and Rinku Singh (T20Is) have all been rewarded for their contributions to KKR's success.

Hardik Pandya has been appointed as the captain of the Indian cricket team for the upcoming three-match T20 International series against Sri Lanka, commencing on July 27. However, Pandya will not participate in the subsequent ODI series in August due to personal reasons.According to sources, Pandya has already informed regular skipper Rohit Sharma of his decision. Sharma is also taking a break from the series. An official confirmed Pandya's decision, emphasizing that his absence from the ODIs is solely due to personal reasons and not related to any fitness issues.With Pandya unavailable for the ODIs, the leadership role could be assigned to either KL Rahul or Shubman Gill. Rahul previously led India in the ODI series in South Africa, while Gill recently captained the team to a 4-1 series victory over Zimbabwe.A senior BCCI source stated, "Hardik Pandya was India's T20 vice-captain under Rohit Sharma. He is completely fit and available for the three-match T20I series and will lead the side."Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20 Internationals after the World Cup. The T20Is against Sri Lanka will be played from July 27 to 30 in Pallekele, while the ODIs are scheduled from August 2 to 7 in Colombo.The squad for the series is expected to be announced shortly. This series marks the beginning of the Gautam Gambhir era in Indian cricket, with the new head coach's input expected to influence the team's leadership and composition.

James Anderson, the legendary England paceman, has had some memorable duels with India's star batters during his illustrious career. One of the most iconic battles was with Virat Kohli, who discovered a way to counter Anderson's swing bowling by taking guard outside the crease. This forced Anderson to adapt his tactics, leading to a riveting contest that captivated cricket fans worldwide.In the 2018 Birmingham Test, Kohli played a magnificent century against Anderson, taking on the pacer and offering a couple of difficult chances that went begging. Anderson was visibly annoyed when asked about his strategy to counter Kohli's new approach, offering a unique job offer to the Indian star.Despite England's 4-1 series victory, Anderson failed to dismiss Kohli even once. However, he eventually got his revenge in 2021, dismissing Kohli twice. Overall, Anderson has dismissed Kohli seven times in 25 Tests, but he has a better record against Sachin Tendulkar, dismissing the Little Master nine times in 14 games.Anderson believes Tendulkar is the best batter he has ever bowled to, despite his greater success against Kohli. This is because Tendulkar never changed his game, playing late and with classical technique, even against Anderson's exceptional swing bowling.One of the most memorable battles between Anderson and Tendulkar occurred at Eden Gardens in 2012. In a crucial match, Tendulkar batted brilliantly in the first two sessions, dealing with Anderson's swing with ease. However, in the third session, Anderson produced a late-swinging delivery that kissed the outside edge of Tendulkar's bat, leading to his dismissal. This moment turned the match and the series in England's favor.Anderson's retirement marks the end of an era in English cricket. His duels with Kohli and Tendulkar will be remembered as some of the most captivating contests in the history of the game.

India's T20 World Cup Triumph: A Moment of Redemption for Rahul DravidFormer India cricketer VVS Laxman hailed the heartwarming gesture of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma handing over the T20 World Cup 2024 trophy to Rahul Dravid, a moment that encapsulated the significance of India's victory in Barbados.After a 13-year drought of an ICC World Cup, India's triumph was a cathartic experience for Dravid, who had captained the team in 2007 when they crashed out of the tournament in the West Indies. On the same soil, Dravid turned the nightmare into a day to remember, holding aloft the trophy for the first time in his illustrious career.Laxman praised the emotional outpouring from Dravid, known as "The Wall" for his stoic demeanor. "When he lifted the World Cup, I thought it was a great gesture by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to hand over that trophy, and the way he celebrated lifting that trophy showed how much it meant to each one of them," Laxman said.The victory was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team. Rohit Sharma collapsed to the ground as the last wicket fell, while Hardik Pandya, who defended 16 runs in the final over, was overcome with tears. Rohit kissed Hardik on the cheek, a poignant display of affection and gratitude."Everyone showed their emotions," Laxman observed. "It showed how much it meant to each and every player of that sport. It's not only the playing 11, but even the support staff, the coaching staff, emotions were really high."Laxman also highlighted the significance of the victory for India, which had come close to winning the 50-over World Cup just six months earlier. "It's a special feeling, keeping in mind that we have come close," he said. "The entire country is rejoicing with this result."

India's Women's Asia Cup campaign begins on July 19 with a highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur has emphasized the team's unwavering determination to secure victory in every match, regardless of the opponent.India's recent 3-0 ODI series sweep against South Africa and emphatic 10-wicket Test win have boosted their confidence. Despite a 1-1 draw in the subsequent T20I series, the team remains focused on their goal of winning the Asia Cup.Harmanpreet acknowledges the heightened atmosphere surrounding matches against Pakistan but stresses the importance of maintaining composure. "As a leader, it's my responsibility to make my team feel light in that environment," she said. "We have to focus on the main things and not think about the things we can't control."The team's positive mindset and unwavering belief in their abilities have been instrumental in their recent success. "We are giving equal importance to all matches," Harmanpreet added. "We all are very greedy to win every game."Batter Jemimah Rodrigues echoed her captain's sentiments, highlighting the team's unity and determination. "The enthusiasm is really high," she said. "We know we have the support of every single person backing us."All-rounder Deepti Sharma expressed her excitement for the tournament, emphasizing the team's collective goal of performing well. "Our only goal is to perform well as a team," she said. "We will back each other so that we perform well on the field for the further matches."India's Women's Asia Cup campaign promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with the team determined to showcase their skills and emerge victorious.

Gautam Gambhir's Coaching Staff: BCCI Considers Ryan ten DoeschateFollowing his appointment as India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir has reportedly requested the inclusion of former Netherlands international Ryan ten Doeschate in his support staff. This move would mark a slight deviation from the BCCI's recent emphasis on Indian coaches.Ten Doeschate has been a vocal supporter of Gambhir, describing him as a "thorough professional" dedicated to team goals. The Dutchman previously served as Gambhir's assistant during the latter's tenure as mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where they won the 2024 Indian Premier League title. Ten Doeschate held the role of fielding coach for KKR and is also involved with the franchise's teams in the Caribbean Premier League and Major League Cricket.According to Cricbuzz, the BCCI is currently discussing ten Doeschate's potential appointment. However, the board is keen to retain T Dilip as the fielding coach. This could lead to ten Doeschate being considered for a different role within the coaching setup.Another member of Gambhir's KKR coaching staff, Abhishek Nayar, is also being considered for the role of India's assistant coach. Nayar served as KKR's batting coach during the 2024 IPL season.If Gambhir and the BCCI are successful in securing both Nayar and ten Doeschate, it would create a significant void in KKR's coaching setup. Gambhir replaced Rahul Dravid as India's head coach last week after Dravid's tenure ended with India's victory in the T20 World Cup.

Former India all-rounder Abhishek Nayar is reportedly set to become India's new assistant coach under newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir, who mentored Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the 2024 IPL title, is said to be impressed with Nayar's work as an assistant coach at the franchise since 2018.Nayar's strong relationship with India's ODI and Test captain Rohit Sharma is also seen as a factor in his potential appointment. In the past, wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik and leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy have praised Nayar's coaching methods.KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit has lauded Nayar's contribution to the team's IPL triumph, highlighting his work with domestic players throughout the year. Nayar has also played a mentoring role for youngsters like Shreyas Iyer, both in the Mumbai team and at KKR.Meanwhile, reports suggest that the BCCI is considering India's pace bowling great Zaheer Khan as the men's team's new bowling coach. Gambhir is believed to have proposed former India speedster Vinay Kumar for the role, with L Balaji also being an option.One member of Rahul Dravid's outgoing staff, fielding coach T Dilip, could be retained under Gambhir's leadership.

Pakistan's Cricket Woes: A Tale of Missed OpportunitiesFormer Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has lamented the stark contrast between the cricketing landscapes of India and Pakistan, highlighting the missed opportunities that have hindered Pakistan's progress.Latif's comments stem from India's recent dominance in white-ball cricket, including their undefeated triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup. In contrast, Pakistan suffered an early exit in the group stages, exposing the deep-rooted issues plaguing their cricket system.Latif attributed India's success to their strategic approach, which has transformed cricket into a lucrative industry. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has become a global powerhouse, attracting top players and generating immense revenue. In comparison, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has struggled to evolve, with a limited salary cap and a lack of international appeal."India, just like their film industry, developed a cricket industry. We treat cricket as a hobby that's why we couldn't turn it into a business," Latif said. "PSL is still there from where it had started. The highest salary cap is $1.40 lakh. Why can't they push it further? Why can't we have players like Mitchell Starc or Pat Cummins? Because we don't have the money so there's no business."Latif also emphasized the importance of learning from foreign coaches and investing in grassroots development. India has benefited from the expertise of renowned coaches like John Wright and Gary Kirsten, while Pakistan has often relied on homegrown coaches with limited international experience."It's not that India became a reckoning force in world cricket recently, after the World Cup. Go back to 2007, 2011, 2015. They have gained so much knowledge from the foreign coaches and at the same time, they are working at the grassroots level without being noticed. And then IPL came into play. And now, they have all the best minds with them. They have Ponting with DC, Hussey, and Bravo. But hum kya kar rahe hain," Latif added.Pakistan's recent struggles in major cricket tournaments underscore the need for a comprehensive overhaul of their cricketing infrastructure. Latif's remarks serve as a wake-up call, highlighting the challenges that Pakistan cricket faces in creating a sustainable business model and achieving international success.