Cricket

The Indian cricket team is on the lookout for a new T20I captain following Rohit Sharma's retirement from the format. Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav have emerged as the frontrunners for the role, with the latter gaining momentum in recent days.Hardik, the current vice-captain, was initially seen as the favorite to succeed Rohit. However, concerns over his injury record have raised questions about his suitability for the captaincy. Suryakumar, on the other hand, has impressed with his consistent performances and leadership qualities.According to media reports, Suryakumar is likely to be named captain for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka. The team management is reportedly concerned about Hardik's injury history and believes Suryakumar would be a more reliable option.Head coach Gautam Gambhir has reportedly expressed his preference for a captain who is not injury-prone and whose workload can be managed effectively. Gambhir's comments have further strengthened Suryakumar's case for the captaincy.Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav has climbed to the second spot in the ICC T20I batting rankings, while Yashasvi Jaiswal has moved up to sixth. Ruturaj Gaikwad has dropped to eighth, while Shubman Gill has made a significant jump to 37th.No Indian features in the top 10 of the T20I bowlers rankings. Axar Patel has dropped to 13th spot after being rested for the Zimbabwe series.The Indian cricket team is expected to announce its squad for the Sri Lanka series on Thursday. The captaincy decision will be closely watched, with Suryakumar Yadav emerging as a strong contender to lead the team.

Paras Mhambrey, a former Indian cricketer and bowling coach, recently concluded his 31-month stint with the Indian cricket team. In an exclusive interview, he shared his insights on his tenure, the team's strengths and weaknesses, and the challenges they faced.Mhambrey's association with the team began in 2021, when he was appointed as the bowling coach under head coach Rahul Dravid. He described his experience as "rewarding" and "satisfying," crediting Dravid for creating a positive and supportive environment.Reflecting on the team's performance, Mhambrey highlighted the importance of the 2023 World Cup, which India hosted. He acknowledged the pressure and expectations surrounding the tournament but emphasized the team's determination to overcome them."We knew what the pressures were," Mhambrey said. "We knew what we were about to encounter because when you interact with people, everyone wants to win the World Cup, right? You can't run away from it."To prepare for the World Cup, Mhambrey and the coaching staff analyzed the team's performance in the 2022 T20 World Cup, where they lost in the semifinals. They identified areas for improvement and worked on developing specific strategies for different venues."We learned our lessons from 2022, which culminated with the T20 World Cup," Mhambrey explained. "We sat down and said what do we need to do differently."Mhambrey also praised the individual contributions of several players, including R. Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh. He highlighted Ashwin's exceptional skills and his ability to reinvent himself as a white-ball bowler."I find Ash very unique," Mhambrey said. "Very few people who are at that stage of their career — someone with more than 500 Test wickets — who still come with the intensity of a rookie."Mhambrey also acknowledged the challenges faced by some bowlers, such as Umran Malik, who he believes needs more guidance and a structured state team environment.Overall, Mhambrey's tenure as bowling coach was marked by a focus on improvement, adaptability, and a strong team spirit. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with the Indian cricket team and wished them continued success in the future.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer and captain, has bid farewell to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise after being appointed as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. Under Gambhir's guidance, KKR clinched their third IPL title in 2023, ending a 10-year drought.Gambhir's tenure as KKR coach was marked by a complete overhaul of the team's approach. He brought in a new opening pair of Phil Salt and Sunil Narine, who became one of the most formidable in the tournament. The spin bowling combination of Varun Chakravarthy and Narine, along with the youthful exuberance of Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora, also played a crucial role in KKR's championship victory.Gambhir's success with KKR has raised expectations among Indian cricket fans, who are eager to see him replicate his winning formula with the national team. His aggressive, never-say-die attitude is expected to inspire the Indian players to greater heights.In a heartfelt video message, Gambhir expressed his gratitude to the KKR franchise and its fans. He acknowledged the special bond he shared with Kolkata and the city's passionate cricket culture. However, he also emphasized that it was time for him to move on to a new chapter in his career."I smile when you smile. I cry when you cry. I win when you win. I lose, when you lose. I dream when you dream. I achieve when you achieve. I believe with you and I become with you. I am you, Kolkata, I am just one of you," Gambhir said in his video message."And now the time has come when we have to create some legacies together. The time has come when we have to write some bigger and bolder scripts. The script not with purple ink but in that blue, the treasured India blue. As we both take our fresh card we promise each other that we will never walk alone. It will always be shoulder-to-shoulder, hand in hand. It will all be for the tricolor. It will all be about our India," he added.Gambhir's appointment as India coach is a testament to his success with KKR and his reputation as a shrewd tactician. Indian cricket fans will be hoping that he can guide the team to numerous victories with the same aggressive, winning, and never-give-up attitude that he instilled in KKR.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is actively considering former South African pacer Morne Morkel as a potential bowling coach for the Indian cricket team. This development comes after Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach, expressed his desire to include Morkel in the support staff.Morkel, who played 86 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 44 T20Is for the Proteas, has a wealth of experience and a proven track record as a successful bowler. He was Pakistan's bowling coach during the ODI World Cup in India last year but resigned before his contract expired.Gambhir and Morkel have a history of working together, having been part of Andy Flower's support staff at the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for two seasons. Gambhir has always been a vocal admirer of Morkel's bowling abilities, describing him as the "fiercest bowler he had ever faced."The BCCI has reportedly held talks with Morkel, who is currently living in Sydney with his family. One of the considerations for Morkel is the extensive travel required for the India job, given his young family.If Morkel accepts the role, he will replace Paras Mhambrey, who was part of Rahul Dravid's support staff for the past three years. Morkel could potentially join former KKR teammate Ryan ten Doeschate and Nayar in Gambhir's support staff.The BCCI is also keen on retaining fielding coach T Dilip from the outgoing Dravid regime. The final decision on the support staff is expected to be made soon.

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of the Indian cricket team, has sparked a debate with his candid views on workload and injury management. In a video released by Star Sports, Gambhir expressed his firm belief that players should play across all three formats if they are good enough and in form."I am a very strong believer in one thing, that if you are good, you should be playing all the three formats. I have never been a big believer of 'injury management'. You got injured, you go and recover. As simple as it gets. You are playing international cricket, and you are good enough - you ask any of the top players - they want to play all the three formats. They don't want to be labelled as red-ball bowlers or white-ball bowlers," Gambhir said.The former India opener emphasized that injuries are a natural part of a sportsman's life and should be dealt with by recovery rather than through preemptive management. "Injuries are part of sportsmen's life. And if you are playing all the three formats, you get injured, you go back and get recovered but you should be playing all the three formats. I am not a big believer to identify people that okay we are going to keep him for Test matches and we are going to keep him and we are going to manage his injury and workload and stuff," Gambhir elaborated.Gambhir's no-nonsense approach and emphasis on playing through all formats is expected to bring a new dynamic to the Indian cricket team as they gear up for their series against Sri Lanka. At 42, Gambhir is the youngest coach to lead Team India, and he underscored the importance of professional players making the most of their careers by playing as much as possible, given the limited span of their professional life."Look, professional cricketers, you got a very small span. When you are playing for your country you want to play as much as you can. When you are in very good form, go ahead and play all the three formats," Gambhir explained.

Gautam Gambhir's appointment as the new Indian cricket team head coach has garnered significant attention and praise from the cricketing fraternity. Following Rahul Dravid's successful tenure, Gambhir will take over the reins after the T20 World Cup 2024 triumph.Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi hailed Gambhir's appointment, commending his positive and straightforward approach. "It's a big opportunity, and we need to see how he makes the most of it. I have seen his interviews, and he talks positively and is very straightforward," Afridi said.Legendary South African fast bowler Dale Steyn expressed his admiration for Gambhir's aggression and streetwise cricket acumen. "I'm a big fan of Gautam Gambhir. I love his aggression. He's one of the few Indians I ever played against who came back at you, and I like that," Steyn said.Steyn believes Gambhir's competitive spirit and cricket intelligence will benefit the Indian team. "Not just in India, but in world cricket, we need guys who are a little bit more aggressive and play the game a little bit harder. He's also streetwise, a very smart cricketer, and has a great cricket brain," Steyn added.Gambhir's appointment marks a new era for Indian cricket, with the former left-handed opener expected to bring a fresh perspective and a renewed sense of aggression to the team. He will start his tenure with the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka, where he will have the opportunity to implement his coaching philosophy and recruit a new support staff.

Gautam Gambhir's appointment as the new Indian cricket team head coach has triggered a chain reaction in the coaching landscape of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). With Gambhir's departure, KKR is actively seeking a replacement, and legendary South African cricketer Jacques Kallis has emerged as a potential candidate.Kallis, who was part of KKR's playing squad during his illustrious career, has a deep understanding of the franchise and its culture. He played a pivotal role in KKR's IPL triumphs in 2012 and 2014 under Gambhir's captaincy.After retiring from playing, Kallis served as KKR's batting consultant in 2015 and was subsequently appointed head coach in 2016. He held the position for four seasons until 2019, when he stepped down to join the South Africa cricket team as their batting consultant.With Gambhir's move to the Indian team, KKR is keen on bringing Kallis back into the fold. His experience and familiarity with the franchise make him an ideal candidate to lead KKR's coaching staff.According to a report by The Telegraph, Kallis's name is "doing the rounds" as a potential replacement for Gambhir. The report states that KKR is "on the lookout for a replacement for Gambhir, who was key to its third IPL crown this year."If Kallis does return to KKR, he will be tasked with building on the success achieved under Gambhir's leadership. KKR won the IPL title in 2024 under Gambhir's guidance, and the franchise will be hoping that Kallis can continue that winning momentum.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the senior men's cricket team. Gambhir's appointment comes after Rahul Dravid's tenure ended with the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024.Since Gambhir's appointment, there have been speculations about the coaching support staff. According to reports, Gambhir requested the inclusion of Jonty Rhodes as fielding coach, but the BCCI declined the request. The board reportedly wants to maintain an all-Indian support staff.The current support staff, including batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T Dilip, saw their tenures end with Dravid's departure. However, the BCCI's plan to keep an all-Indian support staff suggests that Dilip may continue as India's fielding coach.Gambhir inherits a formidable Indian team that recently won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and finished as runners-up in the 2023 ODI World Cup and World Test Championship. He faces several challenges, including building camaraderie with former teammates like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.Gambhir's path to the head coach position has involved mentorship roles in the IPL, despite his lack of substantial coaching experience. This was also the case for Ravi Shastri and Anil Kumble when they were appointed to the top job in the Indian team.Under Gambhir's mentorship, Lucknow Super Giants reached the playoffs in consecutive seasons. He then moved to Kolkata Knight Riders, the team he led to two IPL titles, and guided them to the trophy in May.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 witnessed a heartwarming display of camaraderie between former rivals Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli. The two, who had a heated on-field altercation in IPL 2023, were seen embracing and joking about their past feuds.Gambhir's recent appointment as the head coach of the Indian national cricket team has reignited the spotlight on his relationship with Kohli, a senior player and former captain. Reports suggest that Kohli was not consulted before Gambhir's appointment, raising questions about the dynamics between the two.However, a BCCI official has stated that there is ample time for discussions between Gambhir and Kohli. The official emphasized the need to focus on the bigger picture, as the team prepares to integrate young talents in the coming years.The decision to appoint Gambhir was made by the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which consulted several players, including Hardik Pandya. The CAC unanimously recommended Gambhir for his aggressive approach and strategic mindset, which they believe will benefit the team's future.Gambhir's appointment is seen as a forward-looking move by the BCCI, aimed at fostering a competitive and aggressive playing style. His tenure as head coach will be crucial in shaping the future of Indian cricket, particularly with the integration of many young talents into the national squad.