Cricket

Virat Kohli and Babar Azam: A Shared Admiration Transcending RivalryIn a heartwarming display of sportsmanship, a Pakistani fan held up a unique poster featuring Virat Kohli and Babar Azam side by side during a Pakistan One Day Cup 2024 match in Faisalabad. The poster, depicting a scene from the T20 World Cup 2021 where Kohli and Babar interacted on the field, captured the mutual respect between the two cricketing giants.The image of the fan holding up the poster quickly went viral, underscoring the shared admiration for both players despite their competitive rivalry. The poster was spotted during the Stallions' innings in the seventh match, where Babar Azam was representing the Stallions. The fan's enthusiastic exhibition not only drew attention but also underlined the capacity of cricket fans to appreciate and celebrate each other's favorite players across national boundaries.In a similar vein, another notable moment occurred earlier in the tournament when a Pakistani fan was spotted waving an Indian team jersey with Virat Kohli's name at Babar Azam's home ground. These gestures highlight the growing camaraderie between cricket fans from both countries, who recognize the exceptional talent and sportsmanship of both Kohli and Babar.As things stand, Virat Kohli might make his way to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, setting the stage for an electrifying clash between him and Babar Azam. Pakistani fans could then have the rare opportunity to see these two cricketing titans face off on their home grounds, rekindling their long-standing rivalry and displaying their exceptional skills on one of cricket's grandest stages.The mutual admiration between Kohli and Babar is a testament to the spirit of sportsmanship that transcends national boundaries. It is a reminder that even in the midst of intense competition, respect and appreciation for one's opponents can prevail.

Rahul Dravid Backs Gautam Gambhir as India's New Head CoachFormer India head coach Rahul Dravid has expressed his confidence in Gautam Gambhir, who has taken over the reins of the national team. Dravid, who guided India to the T20 World Cup title in June, believes Gambhir's experience as a player and coach will serve him well in his new role."He (Gambhir) has got a lot of experience, as a player also he has played a lot, he obviously coached quite a bit. I am sure he will be great," said Dravid at the launch event of 'Roombr,' a 'Digital Classroom' provider.Gambhir, a former opening batsman for India, commenced his coaching stint by leading the team on their tour of Sri Lanka in July and August. Under his guidance, the Indian team will embark on a busy Test season, starting with two matches against Bangladesh, followed by a series of three matches against New Zealand. The team will then travel to Australia for a five-match Test series.Dravid, who coached India to the final of both the ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship, believes that Gambhir will bring his own unique experiences and knowledge to the team."In any situation everyone brings his own experience and knowledge to the table. I am sure the team will benefit from everything that Gautam brings to them with his team," he added.The Indian team, now led by Gambhir, will be looking to build on the success achieved under Dravid's tenure. With a challenging Test season ahead, Gambhir will have the opportunity to prove his mettle as a coach and guide India to further glory.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto is urging his team to remain focused on the present and not dwell on their recent series victory over Pakistan as they prepare to face a formidable Indian side in the opening Test starting Thursday.Despite their impressive 2-0 away win against Pakistan, Shanto emphasized the importance of adaptability and process in order to overcome a quality team like India. "We played very good cricket against Pakistan, but that's in the past," he said. "We're here to play a new series, and we believe we can play very good cricket. We're not thinking about the outcome, but just trying to follow our processes."While conditions may vary, Shanto believes that facing a team like India, with its world-class players, requires a focus on their own strengths rather than external factors. "They're a very quality side," he said. "We're not thinking about the condition or the opponents. We're just thinking about ourselves."One of Bangladesh's key players to watch will be pacer Nahid Rana, who impressed with a match-haul of five wickets in the second Rawalpindi Test against Pakistan. However, Shanto stressed that he will not rely solely on any individual player. "He's very exciting, but I won't put my entire focus on any individual player," he said. "All the fast bowlers did a great job in Pakistan, and I hope they'll do something good here."Bangladesh has often found themselves in winning positions in white-ball cricket and even in Test matches against India, but have failed to close out games. Shanto believes that the team has gained experience and emotional control in recent years. "We're not getting too emotional," he said. "We're thinking about our game, not what will happen if we lose or win. We're just trying to give 100% every single match."Despite the potential dominance of spin on the Chepauk pitch, Shanto expressed confidence in Bangladesh's spin and pace attack. "We have a very experienced spin-bowling attack," he said. "But we also have very good pace bowlers. I'm not thinking too much about spin or pace bowling."Ultimately, Shanto believes that adaptability will be key to success. "As far as the wicket is concerned, it will be a good wicket," he said. "We will try to adapt to the wicket as soon as possible."

Suresh Raina Backs Shubman Gill as India's Future T20 CaptainFormer Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has thrown his support behind vice-captain Shubman Gill as the ideal candidate to lead India's T20 team in the future. Despite the recent appointment of Suryakumar Yadav as T20 captain, Raina believes Gill's exceptional performances and leadership qualities make him the standout choice.Raina highlighted Gill's composure under pressure and his aggressive yet strategic batting style as key attributes that position him as a natural leader. "Shubman Gill is a superstar," Raina said at an event. "He's the vice-captain, which means someone is thinking about him. If he performs well in the IPL and wins the trophy, he's the future (captaincy). He will be the next superstar."Raina also expressed his excitement about Rishabh Pant's impending return to Test cricket after nearly two years. "He's looking very good," Raina said. "He scored a fifty in the Duleep Trophy and has been keeping well. When you talk about a Test match, you play it session by session."Looking ahead to India's upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, Raina praised the visitors' spin attack. "Bangladesh has done well against Pakistan," he said. "They have got good spinners, so it will be interesting to see how the Indians bat against them."

Bangladesh's Historic Triumph: Stunning India in the 2015 ODI SeriesIn 2015, Bangladesh made history by defeating India in a three-match ODI series, marking a significant milestone in their cricketing journey. The series, held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, witnessed the emergence of a young pace sensation, Mustafizur Rahman, who played a pivotal role in Bangladesh's triumph.The first ODI on June 18 proved to be a nightmare for India. Mustafizur Rahman, making his international debut, wreaked havoc on the Indian batting lineup, claiming an impressive five-wicket haul. India was restricted to a mere 228 runs, which Bangladesh comfortably chased down, winning by a convincing 79 runs.Despite the setback, India remained hopeful of a comeback in the remaining two ODIs. However, Bangladesh had other plans. In the second ODI, Mustafizur once again proved his mettle, taking six wickets for just 43 runs. India, batting first, could only manage 200 runs, which Bangladesh chased with ease, winning by six wickets and sealing the series with one match to spare.This victory was a historic moment for Bangladesh, as it marked their first-ever ODI series win against India. It was a testament to the team's growing strength and determination. The series also secured Bangladesh's qualification for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, adding to the significance of their triumph.Although India managed to salvage some pride with a consolation win in the third ODI, the series will always be remembered for Bangladesh's dominance and Mustafizur Rahman's breakthrough performances. The young pacer's exceptional skills and ability to swing the ball both ways made him an instant sensation, and his performances in the series played a crucial role in Bangladesh's historic victory.

Bangladesh's recent triumph over Pakistan has instilled a renewed sense of confidence within the team as they prepare to face India in a two-match Test series. Having achieved a historic victory in Pakistan, Bangladesh is now aiming to conquer India and complete a remarkable South Asian double.Bangladesh's fighting spirit was evident in their Pakistan series, particularly in the second Test in Rawalpindi. After being reduced to 26-6, they staged a miraculous recovery to turn the tables on Pakistan. Their determination and resilience will be crucial in the upcoming Chennai Test.India's spin-friendly conditions could pose a challenge for Bangladesh, but the visitors boast a formidable spin attack of Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Taijul Islam. These three slow bowlers have the ability to exploit favorable conditions and pose a significant threat to India's batting lineup.While Bangladesh's pace attack may not be as experienced as India's, they gained confidence from their performance in the second Pakistan Test, where they claimed all 10 wickets in the second innings. The pace bowlers will be eager to prove their worth against India's formidable batting lineup.Bangladesh's experienced players, such as Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim, will provide guidance and leadership in pressure situations. The team's core group has accumulated a wealth of experience, which will be invaluable in handling crucial moments.Bangladesh's players are familiar with the conditions in Chennai, having played in the 2023 ODI World Cup against New Zealand. This familiarity will give them an advantage as they seek to challenge India on their home turf.With a potent spin attack, a fighting spirit, and experienced players, Bangladesh is confident of giving India a run for their money in the upcoming Test series. They are determined to make history and achieve their first Test victory on Indian soil.

Shreyas Iyer's Duleep Trophy Failure Draws Criticism from Former Pakistan Batter Basit AliIndia batter Shreyas Iyer's dismal performance in the first innings of the Duleep Trophy match against India A has sparked criticism from former Pakistan batter Basit Ali. Iyer, who captained India D, failed to make an impact, getting dismissed for a duck after facing just seven deliveries.Ali expressed disappointment over Iyer's lack of contribution, stating that he "should've scored 100-200 runs." He questioned Iyer's concentration and hunger for Test cricket, suggesting that the batter is more focused on boundaries than the longer format of the game."As a cricketer, it saddens me to see him. If you are getting out in front, your concentration isn't in the game. And especially the red-ball game. He has scored two centuries in the World Cup, he's an IPL-winning captain, he should've scored 100-200 runs here," Ali said on his YouTube channel.Ali further expressed doubts about Iyer's desire for Test cricket, stating that he lacks the determination required for the format. "Iyer doesn't have the hunger for red-ball cricket anymore. He's only hungry for boundaries. You should prioritize it. If he's thinking he is similar to Virat Kohli after hitting two centuries in World Cup, no, it doesn't happen that way," he added.Iyer's poor performance in the Duleep Trophy comes after a string of subpar performances in the Test format. He has failed to reach the 50-run mark in his previous 13 outings, leading to his exclusion from the Indian Test squad.Ali's criticism highlights the concerns surrounding Iyer's Test credentials. The batter will need to rediscover his form and demonstrate a greater hunger for the longer format if he wants to regain his place in the Indian Test team.

Bangladesh Pacer Shoriful Islam Ruled Out of India Test Series Due to Groin InjuryBangladesh's hopes of continuing their Test success in India have been dealt a blow with the news that pacer Shoriful Islam will miss the two-match series due to a groin injury.Shoriful, 23, played a key role in Bangladesh's historic Test series win in Pakistan, taking three wickets in the first Test in Rawalpindi. However, he sustained the injury during the match and was unable to feature in the second Test.The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed Shoriful's absence in a statement on Thursday, saying that he is still recovering from the injury and is unavailable for the series.The injury is a significant setback for Bangladesh, who are looking to build on their momentum after defeating Pakistan. The team will now have to rely on their other pacers, including Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, and Syed Khaled Ahmed, to provide the necessary firepower.Despite the absence of Shoriful, Bangladesh will still be confident of putting up a strong fight against India. The team has a number of experienced players, including Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Litton Das, who have all performed well in Test cricket.India, on the other hand, will be looking to maintain their dominance in Test cricket. The team is currently ranked seventh in the ICC Test rankings, seven places ahead of Bangladesh. India is also leading the World Test Championship standings.The first Test between India and Bangladesh will begin on September 19 in Chennai, while the second match will start on September 27 in Kanpur.

Bangladesh's upcoming two-match Test series against India presents a unique challenge for the team as they transition from the Kookaburra ball to the SG ball. The SG ball, used in India, possesses a prominent seam, unlike the Kookaburra ball, which poses different challenges for batters.Litton Das, a key batter for Bangladesh, acknowledged the need to adapt to the SG ball's behavior. He noted that the SG ball is harder to play against when it gets old, unlike the Kookaburra ball, which becomes easier to play with age.Das emphasized the importance of moving forward from Bangladesh's historic Test series win over Pakistan and focusing on the upcoming challenge against India. He stressed the need for media support in this regard, requesting them to refrain from dwelling on the past success.The first Test between Bangladesh and India will commence in Chennai on September 19, followed by the second Test in Kanpur from September 27. Bangladesh will aim to build on their recent success and adapt to the SG ball's unique characteristics to challenge India on their home turf.