Cricket

Ahead of the Indian cricket team's crucial Tour of Australia, the recent loss to New Zealand at home has sparked concerns about the team's composition. One player who is likely to be omitted from the touring party is veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara.Pujara, known for his resilience and ability to grind out runs, has a proven track record in Australia. However, he has been overlooked for international matches since June 2023. Despite his absence, Pujara has continued to excel in domestic cricket, recently surpassing Brian Lara's tally of 65 first-class centuries.Australian captain Pat Cummins expressed his admiration for Pujara, acknowledging his ability to outlast opponents. Cummins also highlighted the growing rivalry between India and Australia, comparing it to the iconic Ashes series."It's going to be a shame that he (Pujara) is not there, but I'm sure they'll pick someone else who's in a similar kind of style," Cummins said. "It was always great playing (against) Pujara. He was one of those guys who never really felt like he was getting away from you. But then he would (just) bat, bat, bat and bat."Cummins also emphasized the significance of the India-Australia rivalry, stating that it is now on par with the Ashes. "I do think it is," he said. "Particularly, after the Indian team won the last couple of series at (our) home. We've had more success against England over the past decade. I think it's right up there."Pujara's absence from the Tour of Australia will be a significant loss for India. His experience and ability to anchor the innings would have been invaluable in the challenging conditions Down Under. However, the team management will have to make a decision based on current form and the need to inject fresh blood into the squad.

The Indian cricket team is facing a crucial decision as they prepare for the second Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on Friday in Kanpur. The team's playing XI remains uncertain, with the selection of spinners and pacers hinging on the pitch and weather conditions.Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir meticulously inspected two prepared pitches at Green Park Stadium. The team management is contemplating the inclusion of a third spinner, considering the possibility of rain on the first and third days of the match.Assistant coach Abhishek Nayar hinted that the final decision will likely be made just before the toss. "Both pitches look pretty good. Kanpur is often known to have good pitches. I am not sure about the bounce yet," Nayar said during Thursday's pre-match press conference.In the first Test in Chennai, India opted for a combination of two spinners and three pacers. However, Kanpur's conditions may favor spin, prompting the team to consider adding a third spinner. Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav could join Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja if this change is implemented.Nayar remained tight-lipped about Kuldeep's potential inclusion in his home state. "With the conditions and the forecast, it is going to be interesting when we turn up in the morning. A lot will depend on that because, as you know, in Test cricket, conditions can be a huge factor in how the pitch plays," Nayar explained.All players are fit and available for selection, Nayar confirmed. "It is too early for us to judge and decide or have any sort of thought process on the pitch or the conditions. But we are hoping we come in tomorrow to a sunny day and not an overcast Kanpur," he added.The Indian team will need to carefully assess the pitch and weather conditions before finalizing their playing XI. The decision will have a significant impact on their strategy and chances of securing a victory in the second Test.

As the Indian cricket team prepares for the opening Test against Bangladesh on September 19, head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma are considering a strategic shift. In a recent net session, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has impressed as an opener in Tests, was seen bowling leg spin.Jaiswal's spin bowling could enhance his versatility and strengthen his position in the team across formats. In a video shared by Jio Cinema, Jaiswal bowled to seasoned spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. While Jadeja and Ashwin remain the primary spin options, Jaiswal's emergence could provide additional support.Jaiswal has previously bowled only one over in Tests, conceding six runs against England in Ranchi. However, the Chennai pitch for the first Test is expected to favor pacers. Nevertheless, considering Bangladesh's impressive spin performance against Pakistan in their recent Test series, India may opt for a more balanced approach.The Bangladesh squad arrived in Chennai on Sunday, with captain Mominul Haque expressing confidence in his team's ability to challenge India. "It's definitely going to be a very challenging series for us," Haque said. "After a good series (vs Pakistan), there is definitely an extra confidence in the team."Despite India's dominance in the World Test Championship standings, Haque believes that the outcome will depend on the team's performance during the five days. "We will play to win both matches," he added. "The things that matter to win, the process matters... our aim will be to do the work properly."

The Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, has secured its place in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup. While India played its Group Stage matches in the USA, its Super 8 matches will be held in the West Indies. The pitches in the West Indies are expected to differ significantly from those in New York, where India played its first three matches.The variable bounce and unsettled pitch in New York made it challenging for teams to score big. However, in the West Indies, India is likely to encounter pitches similar to those they play on at home. This may mean that fielding four pacers (three specialists and one allrounder) may not always be the optimal strategy.In the New York leg of the tournament, India fielded three pacers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh. Former Indian captain Anil Kumble believes that Arshdeep Singh has emerged as a strong contender for the second seamer position."The way he (Arshdeep) bowled that last over against Pakistan, and also the way he can bowl in different areas in the T20 game, I think certainly puts him ahead of Mohammed Siraj," Kumble told ESPNCricinfo. "If at all India takes that option of going with just the two seamers and Hardik Pandya, then yes, in that sense, plus he also gives you an extra variety with his left-arm pace."If India opts for only two seamers, it may consider playing either Kuldeep Yadav or Yuzvendra Chahal in place of a dropped pacer. Shivam Dube, despite his performance against the USA, has not been in great form. The team management may consider bringing in Sanju Samson in his place. However, the Rohit Sharma-led team may be hesitant to disrupt a winning combination.Predicted XI:* Rohit Sharma* Virat Kohli* Rishabh Pant* Suryakumar Yadav* Shivam Dube* Hardik Pandya* Ravindra Jadeja* Axar Patel* Kuldeep Yadav* Jasprit Bumrah* Arshdeep Singh

Indian cricket team spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's daughters, Akhira and Aadhya, showcased their impressive cricket knowledge ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. In a video shared by Ashwin on Instagram, the girls participated in a quiz where they answered questions about the tournament.They correctly identified the host countries (USA and West Indies), the city hosting the India vs Pakistan match (New York), and the captain of West Indies (Nicholas Pooran). However, they mistakenly stated that New York would host the India vs Pakistan game, which is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles.Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team has begun practicing in New York ahead of their warm-up match against Bangladesh on Saturday. They will face Ireland in their tournament opener on June 5, followed by the highly anticipated clash against Pakistan on June 9.The search for India's next head coach is underway, as Rahul Dravid's tenure will conclude after the T20 World Cup 2024. Reports suggest that the BCCI has approached potential candidates, with a focus on domestic coaches familiar with the Indian cricket scene.Gautam Gambhir has emerged as the frontrunner for the role, with Ashish Nehra and VVS Laxman also being considered. However, the BCCI is reportedly not in a rush to appoint a head coach.India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 includes:* Rohit Sharma (c)* Hardik Pandya* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Virat Kohli* Suryakumar Yadav* Rishabh Pant* Sanju Samson* Shivam Dube* Ravindra Jadeja* Axar Patel* Kuldeep Yadav* Yuzvendra Chahal* Arshdeep Singh* Jasprit Bumrah* Mohammed Siraj