Cricket

Virat Kohli, the former Indian captain and batting maestro, has been facing a prolonged slump in form, raising concerns about his aura and impact on the opposition. Former India batsman Akaash Chopra believes that Kohli no longer possesses the intimidating presence that once characterized the likes of Vivian Richards and Sachin Tendulkar.Kohli's struggles have been evident in recent Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, where he managed only 99 runs in four innings and 93 runs in six innings, respectively. His overall record in the last 10 Test innings stands at a meager one fifty.Chopra attributes Kohli's decline to a combination of factors, including technical flaws and a lack of confidence. He points out that Kohli's body language and the reactions of opposing teams suggest that he is no longer the feared batsman he once was."Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, or Sir Vivian Richards, these players have an aura that once they come to bat, they would dictate," Chopra said. "That sort of aura used to be there when Kohli used to come in. When Kohli comes in now, it seems like he can be dismissed without any issues."Chopra also highlights Kohli's repeated errors in judgment, such as missing full tosses and taking unnecessary risks. He believes that these mistakes indicate a lack of focus and concentration.Despite his struggles, Kohli remains a key player for India, and his half-century in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa earlier this year was a reminder of his class. However, Chopra warns that Kohli's overall performance in 2023 has been disappointing, and he needs to rediscover his form to regain his status as one of the world's best batsmen.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of India's most celebrated cricketers, are approaching the twilight of their careers. As they enter their mid-30s, questions are being raised about their continued presence in the national team.Following India's recent Test series loss to New Zealand, former captain Sunil Gavaskar has called for introspection regarding the team management's approach to the senior duo. Gavaskar believes that if Kohli and Sharma fail to perform in the upcoming series against Australia, the pressure for a team overhaul will intensify."It's ticking for everybody," Gavaskar said. "But because they are in their 30s, mid-30s, it will be tougher for them than the guys in the early 20s or early 30s."Gavaskar acknowledged that Kohli and Sharma have been through a rare period of poor form, but emphasized that their performance in Australia will be crucial. "What we are going to see in Australia is really going to be interesting," he said. "What we are going to see in Australia will determine the future of the Test team."Gavaskar also believes that the early announcement of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad was not a mistake. He argued that the selection committee had already considered potential replacements and included them in the team."I don't think that there would have been too many changes," Gavaskar said. "I don't think, you know, announcing the team earlier was was an issue at all."The upcoming series against Australia will be a defining moment for Kohli and Sharma. If they fail to perform, the calls for a new-look Indian team will only grow louder. The future of the Test team hangs in the balance, and the performances of its two most experienced players will play a pivotal role in shaping its destiny.

Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian cricketer and renowned commentator, has once again emphasized the importance of domestic cricket for India's top batsmen, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. In the wake of India's 3-0 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand in the recently concluded Test series, Manjrekar has reiterated his belief that Kohli and Sharma would have benefited from playing in the Indian domestic competitions.During the series, both Kohli and Sharma struggled against the New Zealand seamers and spinners. The seam-friendly surface in Bengaluru gave way to rank turners in Pune and Mumbai, exposing the Indian batsmen's vulnerabilities. Rohit, who has played 64 Tests in his career, scored just 91 runs across the three Tests, with a highest of 52 runs in Bengaluru. Kohli, with 118 Tests under his belt, fared no better, scoring just 93 runs across the six innings.Manjrekar believes that the selectors should not rest well-rested players like Kohli and Sharma simply because of their stature. He argues that both players would have only benefited from playing in the Duleep Trophy at the start of the season. Across the home season, which included two Tests against Bangladesh and three against New Zealand, Rohit scored 133 runs and Kohli mustered 192 runs.Manjrekar has consistently urged the selectors and the two stalwarts of Indian cricket to play in the Duleep Trophy competition to prepare for the home season and the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. In August, he wrote on X, "India has played 249 international matches in the last 5 years. Rohit has played only 59% of those. Virat 61 % & Bumrah 34%. I see them as well rested India players. Could have been selected for the Duleep trophy."During the Bangladesh series, Manjrekar had commented, "... considering the amount of international matches Rohit and Virat played in the last five years, they could have been picked for the Duleep Trophy and I’m sure the time out there would have just held them at least in the first innings where they suddenly came out cold and having had to bat first," he had said on ESPNCricinfo.Kohli and Rohit will be under immense pressure going into the five-match Test series against Australia, which begins in Perth on November 22. Manjrekar's comments serve as a timely reminder of the importance of domestic cricket in preparing for international challenges.

Former Pakistan cricket star Basit Ali has heaped praise on Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant, suggesting that he should be sold for a staggering Rs 50 crore in the upcoming IPL 2025 Auction. Pant's exceptional performance in the third Test against New Zealand, despite India's massive loss, has impressed Ali.Ali noted that Pant made the pitch appear "flat" during his innings, showcasing his exceptional shot selection. While media reports have estimated Pant's value at Rs 25 crore, Ali believes his abilities warrant a much higher price tag."Rishabh Pant scored 60 in the first innings and 64 in the second. What can I say about this kid? People say he should go for INR 25 crore in the IPL auction. However, I think he should be sold for INR 50 crore. When he batted on this pitch, it seemed like a flat track. He hit wherever he wanted to but his shot selection was good," Ali said on his YouTube channel.With the likes of Pant, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami available in the auction pool, IPL team owners are eagerly anticipating the event. Pant, in particular, is expected to be the cynosure of all eyes.The Rs 75 crore retention cap on international players and the availability of Right To Match cards will make the auction intriguing. Teams with exhausted retention quotas will need to recruit at least 15 more players for a lesser sum. However, teams like Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have ample funds to make significant bids.Unprecedentedly, three IPL captains - Pant of Delhi Capitals, Iyer of Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rahul of Lucknow Super Giants - will be back in the auction pool. In Pant's case, it is believed that he was unhappy with the curtailment of his powers by the co-owners and the appointment of Hemang Badani as head coach and Y Venugopal Rao as Team Director.

In the era of modern cricket, workload management has become a crucial aspect of player longevity and performance. However, the recent decision by senior Indian players to skip the Duleep Trophy has raised questions about the balance between international commitments and domestic responsibilities.In 2007, despite a grueling Test tour of South Africa and an upcoming World Cup, Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, and Sourav Ganguly prioritized the Ranji Trophy final for Mumbai. Within 48 hours, they were back in action for an ODI series against Sri Lanka.In contrast, senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja opted out of the Duleep Trophy despite a significant break after the T20 World Cup. This decision has sparked debate about the importance of domestic cricket for elite players.Former India opener Devang Gandhi believes that playing domestic cricket is essential for batters to regain form. He cites Tendulkar's double century in the Ranji Trophy semi-final and century in the final in 2000, just days after playing ODIs.Kohli and Rohit have played significantly fewer first-class matches than Tendulkar, with 32 and 61 games respectively. While workload management is crucial, Gandhi argues that one Duleep Trophy game could have been beneficial.Former chairman of selectors MSK Prasad acknowledges the increased volume of cricket but suggests making the Irani Cup mandatory for star players. He also advocates for a structured rotation policy to manage workloads.Another former selector, Jatin Paranjpe, emphasizes the need for clear expectations from stakeholders to avoid awkward situations. He suggests making it mandatory for Indian team members to play at least one or two domestic games before major Test series.The BCCI has emphasized the importance of big players participating in domestic engagements but allowed them to skip the Duleep Trophy. Prasad believes that scheduling home Test series in a way that allows for Ranji Trophy rounds to precede them could be a solution.

Ian Chappell Slams Indian and English Batters for Poor Footwork, Criticizes Reverse SweepFormer Australian captain Ian Chappell has launched a scathing attack on the footwork of Indian and English batters in Test cricket, particularly Virat Kohli. Chappell's criticism comes in the wake of India's batting struggles in recent weeks, including their failure to chase down a modest target of 146 against New Zealand. England's batting also collapsed in spin-friendly conditions in Pakistan during the final two Tests.Chappell singled out Kohli's dismissal in the first innings of the third Test against New Zealand as an example of India's lack of decisive footwork. He argued that Kohli could have easily avoided being clean bowled by Santner if he had taken a small step out of his crease. However, Chappell also acknowledged that Kohli's shot selection was questionable.Chappell also expressed his disapproval of the reverse sweep shot in Test cricket. He questioned the logic of practicing the shot ahead of the third Test in Mumbai, given its inherent risks. He pointed to the dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Mumbai Test as a prime example of the dangers of the reverse sweep.Chappell went so far as to label the reverse sweep as an "illegal" shot, arguing that it violates the principles of fairness in the game. He believes that the shot should be banned because it gives batters an unfair advantage by allowing them to change the order of their hands or feet.The reverse sweep proved to be a costly shot for India on Day 3 of the third Test, with Ravichandran Ashwin becoming the eighth wicket to fall while attempting it. Chappell's criticism highlights the ongoing debate about the role of footwork and shot selection in Test cricket, and his views are likely to spark further discussion among players, coaches, and fans.

Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull's prediction from 2018 that Shubman Gill would have a more successful career than Prithvi Shaw has proven accurate. Gill's composed 90 in India's first innings of the ongoing third Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai has further solidified his position as a key player for India across all formats.Doull's initial observation of Gill's technical superiority over Shaw during the 2018 U19 World Cup has been borne out. While Shaw made a century on Test debut against West Indies in Rajkot later that year, Gill has since established himself as a consistent performer in the longest format.Gill's ability to adapt and make subtle changes to his game has impressed Doull. "He's able to take in information and process that and has the ability to make those subtle changes," Doull said. "Because I think he just wants to score runs."Gill's hunger for big runs, particularly in Test cricket, is evident in his performances. He has surpassed the 800-run mark in Tests in 2024, while Shaw has struggled for form and fitness.Doull believes that Gill, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant, represents the future of Indian batting. "He's got a huge role to play in years to come," Doull said. "So to make little improvements in between Test matches, absolute class."Gill's consistent performances have justified Doull's bold prediction from 2018. His technical prowess, adaptability, and hunger for runs have made him a vital cog in India's batting lineup.

Wriddhiman Saha, the seasoned wicketkeeper-batsman, has announced his retirement from cricket after the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. The 38-year-old has had a distinguished career, representing India in 40 Test matches and 9 ODIs.Saha's journey began in 2007 when he made his First-Class debut for Bengal. He spent 15 years with the state team before moving to Tripura. His consistent performances earned him a national call-up in 2010, and he made his Test debut against South Africa.Over the next decade, Saha established himself as a reliable wicketkeeper and a valuable lower-order batsman. He played a crucial role in India's Test victories, including the historic series win in Australia in 2018-19.In the IPL, Saha represented several teams, including Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Titans. He was part of the Gujarat Titans squad that won the inaugural IPL title in 2022.Saha's international career came to an end in December 2021 when he was informed by then India head coach Rahul Dravid that he was no longer in the team's plans. However, he continued to play in the IPL and made significant contributions to Gujarat Titans' championship victory.Throughout his career, Saha scored over 1300 runs in Tests, including three centuries and six half-centuries. He also took 92 catches and effected 12 stumpings. His exceptional wicketkeeping skills and ability to bat under pressure made him a valuable asset to any team.Saha's retirement marks the end of an era for Indian cricket. He was one of the most respected and experienced players in the team, and his absence will be felt. However, his legacy will continue to inspire young cricketers across the country.

Indian cricket is at a crossroads, facing an inevitable transition that will likely result in a period of indifferent results both at home and overseas. The team's batting lineup, once a formidable force, now struggles against spin bowling, even on home soil. Key players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have been the backbone of the team for years, are showing signs of decline and seem reluctant to acknowledge their limitations.Despite the alarming signs, the Indian team management remains optimistic, with coach Gautam Gambhir claiming that the team's skill against spin has not diminished. However, the evidence on the field suggests otherwise. In the recent Test series against New Zealand, India's batters were repeatedly outplayed by the visiting spinners, resulting in a historic clean sweep on home soil.The team's struggles are not limited to the batting department. The bowling attack, once a potent force, is also showing signs of aging and inconsistency. The absence of experienced pacers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami has left a void that has yet to be filled.The upcoming tour of Australia will be a major test for the Indian team. The Aussies are known for their aggressive and relentless style of play, and they will be looking to exploit India's weaknesses. The series could be a watershed moment for the Indian team, either marking the beginning of a new era or exposing the extent of their decline.The Indian cricket board has a difficult task ahead of them. They need to make bold decisions and invest in young talent. Players like B Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Mukesh Kumar have shown promise and could be the future of Indian cricket. However, they need to be given opportunities to prove themselves at the highest level.The transition period will be painful for Indian fans, who have become accustomed to success. However, it is a necessary step for the team to rebuild and regain its former glory. The future of Indian cricket depends on the ability of the team management to make the right decisions and embrace the challenges ahead.