Cricket

India's Abhishek Sharma Faces Criticism from Mentor Yuvraj Singh After Run-Out BlunderIn the first T20I against Bangladesh, India's opening batsman Abhishek Sharma faced criticism from his mentor, former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh, after a disappointing run-out. Chasing a modest target of 128 runs, Sharma and Sanju Samson started well, but Sharma's dismissal for 16 runs off 7 balls left a sour taste.Despite India's comprehensive victory, Sharma's run-out drew criticism. Taking to Instagram, Sharma shared a post expressing his commitment to the team, but Yuvraj Singh left a pointed comment: "Only if we apply our brains properly."Sharma's dismissal was particularly disappointing given his recent maiden T20I century. In a video released by the BCCI, Sharma had revealed that Yuvraj Singh had been happy when he was dismissed for a duck in the previous match."I spoke to him (Yuvraj) yesterday and he said I don't know why but he was very happy when I was out on zero. He said that's a good start. I think he must be very proud of me just like my family," Sharma had said.The bond between Yuvraj Singh and Abhishek Sharma goes beyond the traditional relationship between a former and current cricketer. Sharma credits Yuvraj Singh for his success at the international level."I am playing at this level because of him. The hard work he has put on me. For the past two, three years he has really worked hard not only on my cricket even off the field as well," Sharma had said.Yuvraj Singh's criticism of Sharma's run-out highlights the importance of mental focus and decision-making in cricket. While Sharma's commitment to the team is commendable, he will need to improve his situational awareness and avoid such costly mistakes in the future.

India's No. 3 batting position in the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup has become a topic of discussion, with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana stating that the choice will be based on match conditions and situations.Initially, head coach Amol Muzumdar had indicated that captain Harmanpreet Kaur would occupy the crucial spot. However, after Kaur's injury scare, Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia have also been considered for the role.Mandhana emphasized that the conditions in the UAE have been challenging, but the difference between day and night games has not been significant. She noted that teams have struggled to score over 140 runs in the tournament, regardless of the time of day.Regarding India's cautious approach against Pakistan, Mandhana stressed the importance of securing points on the board. She acknowledged the need to balance the desire to improve net run rate with the priority of winning matches.Mandhana also addressed the perception that Asian teams would be more comfortable with the conditions in Dubai and Sharjah. She believes that all teams have faced challenges in adjusting to the pitches and that India's performance in the first match against New Zealand was an isolated incident.She emphasized that India's batting unit needs to be smarter and understand their limitations in these conditions. She expressed confidence that the team can improve their performance and play to their full potential in the remaining matches.

India's aggressive batting approach in the second Test against Bangladesh has garnered widespread praise, but former England captain Michael Vaughan's comparison to England's "Bazball" has sparked controversy.Despite rain washing out two and a half days of play, India secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory on the final day. Vaughan's comment, posted on social media, suggested that India was adopting England's ultra-aggressive approach under coach Brendon McCullum.However, Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has taken a sharp dig at certain former experts, without naming anyone, for trying to claim credit for India's current approach. Gavaskar argues that the Indian team has been playing in this manner for the past couple of years, led by captain Rohit Sharma.Gavaskar praised Sharma for his transformative impact on the team's playing style, noting that he has been batting aggressively and encouraging his teammates to do the same. He dismissed the suggestion that India's approach is due to the influence of coach Gautam Gambhir, who has only been in the role for a few months.Gavaskar emphasized that the credit for India's aggressive batting belongs solely to Sharma. He also criticized the tendency to label new approaches with names derived from scandals or other events, such as "this-ball" or "that-ball."

India's participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan remains uncertain, contingent upon approval from the Indian government. However, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed confidence that all teams, including India, will attend the tournament.During a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Naqvi provided updates on the ongoing renovations at the venue in preparation for the Champions Trophy. He emphasized the PCB's readiness to host the event and asserted that all teams would participate.When questioned about the potential visit of Jay Shah, the newly elected ICC Chairman, Naqvi stated that the details of his meetings were yet to be finalized. He reiterated his belief that there were no factors that would prevent the Indian team from participating.India has not yet confirmed its participation, with speculation that the tournament could adopt a hybrid format, with India's matches potentially being played at a venue outside Pakistan, similar to the Asia Cup.The PCB has reportedly expressed willingness to accommodate the logistical needs of the Indian team and fans by hosting all India matches in Lahore, which is conveniently located near Amritsar.The Champions Trophy, which returns to the ICC calendar after a seven-year hiatus, is scheduled to take place in February-March 2023. The tournament will feature the top eight ODI teams in the world, competing for the coveted trophy.

Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali expressed astonishment at the contrasting performances of the Bangladesh cricket team, which recently suffered a humiliating 2-0 Test series defeat against India after registering a historic Test series win in Pakistan.Ali questioned the Bangladesh team's lackluster display in the Test series against India, saying, "Is this the same Bangladesh team that whitewashed Pakistan (2-0)? You saw in the Test matches (against India). They lost the first one and then were defeated in virtually two days, even the rain could not save them."Ali attributed India's dominance to their exceptional depth, highlighting the performance of the young Indian Premier League (IPL) stars led by Suryakumar Yadav. "India have changed cricket (with their dominance). Bangladesh is just an appetizer (for them)," he said.The T20I retirement of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja has created opportunities for new players in the Indian team. Ali noted the absence of several key players from the playing XI in the match at Gwalior, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and Ravi Bishnoi."Yeh IPL eleven hai, India ki team nahi hai," said Ali, emphasizing the strength of the Indian team's bench. "And still they hammered them in just 11-something overs, finishing with a six from (Hardik) Pandya."Ali praised the performances of debutants Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who made their first international appearances in the match. He particularly lauded Yadav's impressive pace, saying, "There were two debuts, but it was a dream debut for Mayank Yadav. The first over was a maiden, including a 149.8 kmph delivery."Ali expressed hope that Yadav remains fit for India's upcoming tour of Australia, saying, "I pray that this kid remains fit and goes on the Australia tour."After the T20I series against Bangladesh, India will face New Zealand in a three-Test series before traveling to Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, which will be contested over five Test matches.

Bangladesh's T20I series opener against India on Sunday exposed their batting deficiencies, as they failed to provide their bowlers with a competitive total to defend. The visitors' struggles with the bat were evident from the outset, as they managed a meager 39/2 after the powerplay.Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto acknowledged the team's shortcomings, particularly in the powerplay. "We didn't start well. In T20, the first six overs are important, but we didn't do well," he said. "The plan was to play positive cricket, but we had to manage some overs and how we wanted to approach it. Looks like we didn't have much plan."Bangladesh's tepid batting performance was compounded by India's aggressive approach with the ball. Arshdeep Singh's early strikes put the visitors on the back foot, and the Indian bowlers maintained the pressure throughout the innings.Mehidy Hasan Miraz's late cameo of 35* runs provided some respite for Bangladesh, but it was not enough to propel them to a competitive total. India's openers, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, made light work of the chase, reaching the target with more than eight overs to spare.Shanto emphasized the need for a more proactive approach in the second T20I. "We need to focus on rotating the strike. T20 is not only about hitting. If we keep wickets in hand, we can get a good score," he said. "We didn't score many runs. Rishad bowled well, and Fizz was also good, but we didn't have enough runs."Bangladesh's batting woes have been a recurring theme in recent times, and they will need to find a solution quickly if they want to compete against India in the remaining matches of the series.

Renuka Singh's Inswinging Masterpiece Dismisses Pakistan's Feroza in T20 World Cup ThrillerIn a captivating display of swing bowling artistry, Indian seamer Renuka Singh unleashed a gem of a delivery to dismiss Pakistan's opener Gull Feroza in the Women's T20 World Cup match in Dubai on Sunday.Renuka, renowned for her exceptional ability to swing the ball both ways, executed a flawless inswinger that left Feroza utterly bewildered. The ball, pitched on a perfect length, swung in sharply, crashing into the stumps with a resounding thud.Feroza, caught off guard on the crease, could only watch helplessly as the bails were dislodged. Renuka's precision and control were evident in this classic delivery, providing India with a crucial breakthrough in the high-stakes contest.Earlier, Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana opted to bat after winning the toss. India made a strategic change in their playing XI, introducing off-spinner Sajeevan Sajana in place of injured medium pacer Pooja Vastrakar. Pakistan, on the other hand, brought in leg spinner Syeda Aroob Shahin to replace medium pacer Diana Baig.Renuka's dismissal of Feroza set the tone for India's bowling performance, as they restricted Pakistan to a modest total of 149/4. The Indian batters then chased down the target with relative ease, securing a comfortable victory.Renuka's exceptional bowling display has once again highlighted her status as one of the most formidable swing bowlers in women's cricket. Her ability to generate both inward and outward swing makes her a potent threat to batters of all styles.

Kamran Akmal Praises Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni, Congratulates Gambhir on Coaching SuccessFormer Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has expressed his admiration for current Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir and legendary Indian captain MS Dhoni. In an interview with CricBlog, Akmal shared his thoughts on his relationships with both players.Regarding Dhoni, Akmal said, "MS Dhoni is someone with a different mentality altogether. He's an absolute match-winner and super calm. The way he played was fantastic, and he had a fantastic career. We used to talk a lot about wicket-keeping and batting."Akmal also spoke highly of his friendship with Gambhir. "We share a good bond and are good friends. I mean me and Gautam are good friends too. I share a good relationship with him. He's like my brother," Akmal said.Akmal's comments highlight the camaraderie that exists between players from rival cricketing nations despite the intense competition on the field. He also congratulated Gambhir on his recent success as a coach."In fact, I'd like to congratulate Gautam on winning his first Test as a coach. I'm so happy for him," Akmal added.Gambhir recently guided India to a Test series victory over Bangladesh, marking a successful start to his coaching career. Before the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, Gambhir visited the Maa Pitambara Temple in Datia to seek blessings during the Shardiya Navratri festival.Following the Test series, India and Bangladesh will face off in a three-match T20I series, where both teams will aim to build momentum ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.

India's newly appointed bowling coach, Morne Morkel, has been actively involved in guiding the team's bowlers ahead of the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh. During a recent nets session, Morkel was observed closely monitoring the bowling technique of all-rounder Hardik Pandya.Morkel reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with Pandya's approach, particularly his tendency to bowl too close to the stumps. The two engaged in a lengthy discussion, with Morkel providing detailed instructions on the necessary corrections. Morkel's focus extended beyond Pandya, as he also worked on the run-up and release point of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh and rookies Harshit Rana and Mayank Yadav.The T20I series against Bangladesh marks the beginning of a new era for India's bowling unit under Morkel's guidance. The team will be eager to implement the lessons learned during the nets session and translate them into success on the field.India's T20 squad for the series includes a mix of experienced players and promising youngsters. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the team, while Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma will provide wicketkeeping options. Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, and Ravi Bishnoi bring experience and versatility to the bowling attack.Youngsters like Harshit Rana and Mayank Yadav will be keen to make their mark after impressive performances in the Indian Premier League. Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, and Nitish Kumar Reddy will also look to seize the opportunity to showcase their skills.The series against Bangladesh will also provide a second chance for mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who has been absent from India's T20I setup for an extended period.