Cricket

Amidst the fervor and excitement surrounding the T20 World Cup, Indian cricket fans rejoiced at the news of all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer's marriage to Shruti Raghunathan. The Kolkata Knight Riders star tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony on Sunday morning, surrounded by family and friends.Iyer, who had a stellar performance in IPL 2024, played a pivotal role in KKR's title victory. In 14 matches, he amassed 370 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 158.80, including four half-centuries. His highest score of 70 came in a crucial match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.In the IPL 2024 final, Iyer's magnificent half-century (52*) helped KKR chase down Sunrisers' paltry total of 113 in just 10.3 overs. The victory marked KKR's third IPL title, a testament to their dominance throughout the season."This is what we demanded from the team and every individual. They stood up to the right occasion and the feeling is hard to express," said KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer after lifting the trophy. "We played like invincibles throughout the season. There's so much to cherish right now."Iyer's marriage has been met with an outpouring of love and well wishes from fans and fellow cricketers alike. The couple's wedding photos have gone viral on social media, capturing the joy and happiness of their special day.

Hardik Pandya, the enigmatic Indian all-rounder, has endured a tumultuous few months. Since his transfer to the Mumbai Indians as captain, he has faced intense scrutiny, particularly after the team's dismal performance in the Indian Premier League 2024. However, Pandya's recent resurgence in form, including a blistering 23-ball 40 in India's T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up match against Bangladesh, has reignited hopes of a return to his former glory.In the aftermath of India's 50-run victory, Pandya candidly reflected on the "difficult" times he has navigated. "You have to stay in the battle," he emphasized. "If you leave the field, you won't get what you want."Despite the challenges, Pandya has remained steadfast in his approach. "I have tried to follow the same routines I used to follow earlier," he said. "These are phases that come and go. I have gone through these phases many times and I will come out of it as well."Pandya's resilience stems from his refusal to dwell on either success or failure. "I don't take my successes too seriously," he admitted. "I have forgotten about them immediately and moved forward. Same with difficult times."Instead, he focuses on embracing the challenges and working tirelessly to improve. "I don't run away from it," he said. "I face everything with [my] chin up."Pandya's message is one of perseverance and optimism. "Coming out [of these phases] is simple: just play the sport, accept that [you need to] maybe get better at your skillset, keep working hard - hard work never goes to waste - and keep smiling."As India embarks on its T20 World Cup campaign, Pandya's return to form is a welcome boost. His experience, versatility, and unwavering determination will be crucial if India is to lift the coveted trophy.

Dinesh Karthik, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter, has bid farewell to his illustrious playing career. The 39-year-old, who last represented India in the 2022 T20 World Cup, announced his retirement on his birthday, bringing an end to a journey that began in 2002-03.Karthik's career has been marked by both highs and lows. He made his international debut in 2004 and went on to play 26 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 32 T20Is for India. While he was never a regular in the Test team, he made significant contributions in the shorter formats, particularly in T20 cricket.In the IPL, Karthik has been a mainstay since its inception in 2008. He has represented six different franchises, including Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. With 4816 runs in 256 matches, he is one of the most successful batters in IPL history.Karthik's wicketkeeping skills have also been highly regarded. He is second only to MS Dhoni in overall dismissals (172) and stumpings (36) in the IPL. He has also captained Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket and led Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL for three seasons.Despite his success, Karthik's international career was often overshadowed by the presence of other talented wicketkeeper-batters. However, he remained a valuable member of the Indian team, providing experience and leadership.In recent years, Karthik has focused primarily on domestic cricket and the IPL. He played a key role in Royal Challengers Bangalore's run to the playoffs in IPL 2023, scoring 326 runs in 13 innings.Karthik's retirement marks the end of an era in Indian cricket. He was one of the last remaining players from the generation that won the 2011 World Cup. His contributions to the game will be remembered for years to come.

Indian Cricketers Urged to Relax for T20 World Cup SuccessWith the T20 World Cup 2024 approaching, Indian cricketers face immense pressure to end their ICC trophy drought. Former captain Sourav Ganguly believes the team needs to adopt a more relaxed approach to achieve success.Ganguly observed that Indian players and their families often display visible signs of stress during World Cup matches. He emphasized the importance of playing with freedom and avoiding excessive pressure."We in India make this mistake of pushing too much," Ganguly said. "When I see Rohit's wife in the stands, it is evident how much pressure she is under. When I see Virat's wife, I see the kind of pressure she is feeling."Ganguly cited the 2003 World Cup final as an example of how pressure can hinder performance. "If anything, we need to relax when we are playing the big games," he said.He praised India's performance in the 2023 World Cup, where they reached the final but lost to Australia. "Despite losing the final, I will say India was the best team," Ganguly said. "We played some fantastic cricket right through the competition. If only we could be a little relaxed for the final."Ganguly urged coach Rahul Dravid to encourage a more relaxed mindset within the team. "It will be to relax a little," he said. "Just play with freedom, but also don't put too much pressure on ourselves."By embracing a relaxed approach, Ganguly believes India can overcome the pressure and achieve success in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Dinesh Karthik, the veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter, has announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) following Royal Challengers Bangalore's exit from the competition in 2024. Karthik, widely regarded as one of the finest Indian finishers in recent times, was once again a top performer for RCB, scoring 326 runs at a strike rate of 187.36.In an exclusive interview with Cricbuzz, Karthik revealed that his decision to retire was primarily driven by mental factors rather than physical limitations. Despite being physically fit to play for "another three years," Karthik admitted that he was doubtful about his ability to maintain the mental intensity required for such long tournaments."I think I am physically very much prepared to play for another three years. Especially with the Impact Player rule, it becomes that much easier. So in terms of playing the sport, easily I think I could've pushed for another cycle," Karthik said. "I don't have too many issues in my life. Touch wood, I have never missed a game because of an injury through my three decades. I've been blessed that way. I was never worried about my body or my fitness. It was all about the mental side of things, whether I'll be able to push as much in the lead-up to the tournament, whether if I don't play as many matches, will I be okay with it."Karthik further explained that he felt he was no longer able to push himself mentally to the same extent as before. The fact that he was unlikely to be selected for the Indian cricket team again also contributed to his decision."I am a big believer of whatever I look to do, I try to give it 100% commitment and do whatever I can to be the best in that. And I thought from hereon for me to play X amount of matches is going to be hard. Mentally pushing myself for so long in terms of doing everything in the lead-up, even if I falter a little bit I wouldn't be... even though from the outside people wouldn't know, but internally I would find it very hard and I would be living with guilt. I don't want that," he added."Taking all that into account, I thought this is the time [to retire]. And most importantly, the fact that no matter what I do, I cannot play for India again was very evident. So it was the last nail in the coffin."Karthik's retirement marks the end of an illustrious IPL career that spanned 16 seasons and saw him represent six different franchises. He played a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders' two IPL title triumphs in 2012 and 2014 and was also a member of the Mumbai Indians team that won the tournament in 2015.

The Indian cricket fraternity is eagerly awaiting the announcement of Rahul Dravid's successor as the head coach of the men's team. According to recent reports, Gautam Gambhir is the frontrunner for the coveted role.Gambhir's impressive stint as mentor for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has catapulted him into contention. Under his guidance, KKR emerged as the league stage toppers and eventually clinched the title.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had initially considered several high-profile Australian coaches and IPL mentors, including Stephen Fleming and Andy Flower. However, Gambhir's success with KKR seems to have swayed the board in his favor.Gambhir's name gained traction after KKR's dominant performance in the IPL 2024. The team's emphatic victory in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad further solidified his credentials. Notably, Gambhir had a lengthy conversation with BCCI secretary Jay Shah after the final, fueling speculation about his potential appointment.According to India Today, Gambhir is now poised to replace Dravid as Team India's head coach. Despite lacking experience as a head coach at the national or IPL level, his success in guiding KKR to the IPL title has reportedly convinced the BCCI of his capabilities.The BCCI had invited applications for the head coach's role by May 27 and received over 3000 responses. The board is expected to begin the process of interviewing shortlisted candidates soon, with the Cricket Advisory Committee leading the charge.

Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar has set a new challenge for Virat Kohli ahead of the T20 World Cup and India's upcoming Test series in Australia. Gavaskar, who has been critical of Kohli's batting approach in the past, believes the star batter has the potential to join an elite club of overseas players who have scored a Test century at all Australian venues.Kohli, who ended the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) season as the highest run-getter with an impressive average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69, has scored six Test centuries in Australia, the joint-highest by an Indian alongside Sachin Tendulkar. However, he has never scored a century at the Gabba in Brisbane."On an individual level, [my wish] maybe for Virat Kohli is that he becomes the third overseas player who's scored a Test century in all the Australian venues. I think he doesn't have one at the Gabba, so if he gets a century at The Gabba, that means he joins me and Alastair Cook," Gavaskar said at an event, as quoted by Hindustan Times.Gavaskar, who is the only Indian to have scored a Test century at all Australian venues, believes Kohli has the ability to achieve this feat. "He's got the ability, he's got the class, he's got the technique, he's got the temperament. So, I think he can do it," Gavaskar added.Kohli will have the opportunity to add to his tally of Test centuries in Australia when India tours the country later this year for a five-match Test series. India will be aiming to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which they won in 2020-21.

India's women's cricket team has announced its squads for the upcoming home series against South Africa, which will feature a three-match ODI series, a one-off Test, and three T20Is. The series will mark India's third Test in seven months, as they continue to promote the longer format of the game.The squads include several notable inclusions and exclusions. Batter Jemimah Rodrigues and allrounder Pooja Vastrakar have been named in all three squads, but their selection is subject to fitness. Rodrigues has been recovering from a back injury, while Vastrakar's injury status is unspecified.Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry has earned a call-up to all three squads, replacing Yastika Bhatia, who is out injured. Chetry was part of India's gold-medal winning team at the 2023 Asian Games.Top-order batter Priya Punia, who last played for India in July 2023, has been recalled to the Test side. Medium-pacer Arundhati Reddy has also been called up to the Test and ODI squads.Fast bowler Titas Sadhu, who played in the T20Is against Bangladesh and India's last ODI and Test assignments, has missed out on selection. Legspinner S Asha, who made her T20I debut in Bangladesh, has earned her maiden ODI call-up. D Hemalatha, who made her comeback in the Bangladesh series, could return to ODI action after almost two years.The series will begin with the ODI series in Bengaluru, followed by the Test in Chennai. The T20Is will also be played in Chennai. The one-off Test was not originally part of the ICC's FTP but was added as both the BCCI and CSA aim to promote women's Tests.

Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav has once again proven his dominance in the T20 format, securing his second consecutive ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year award. This prestigious accolade is a testament to Yadav's exceptional talent and unwavering contributions to the Indian team.Yadav's remarkable performances in T20 internationals during the past year have solidified his position as a key player. In 2023, he amassed an impressive 733 runs in 17 innings at a striking rate of 155.95 and an average of 48.86. His explosive batting prowess and ability to consistently deliver under pressure have made him a formidable force in the shortest format of the game.Despite facing challenges during the 2024 Indian Premier League season with the Mumbai Indians, Yadav showcased his resilience and determination. Despite injuries that sidelined him at the start of the tournament, he managed to score 345 runs at a striking rate of 167.47, including a remarkable unbeaten century off just 51 balls.Yadav's leadership abilities were also evident when he captained the Indian team during a T20I series in South Africa in December. However, an unfortunate ankle injury sustained during the series hampered his subsequent participation in matches, including Mumbai Indians' initial games in the 2024 IPL season.As Yadav prepares to represent India in the upcoming T20 World Cup, his ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year award serves as a source of motivation and inspiration. His exceptional talent, unwavering determination, and ability to perform under pressure make him a key player for the Indian team and a formidable opponent for any opposition.