Cricket

The Indian cricket team's head coach position is up for grabs as Rahul Dravid's tenure concludes in June. With no clear indication of VVS Laxman's interest, the BCCI is exploring alternatives, including seasoned foreign coaches.Sources reveal that Stephen Fleming and Ricky Ponting have been informally approached, but their response has been lukewarm due to the year-round commitment required. Despite their extensive knowledge of Indian cricket through IPL stints, the prospect of a full-time role may deter them.Historically, India has had success with foreign coaches like John Wright and Gary Kirsten, who oversaw Test series victories abroad and a World Cup triumph. However, the preference shifted towards Indian coaches after an unsuccessful stint with Duncan Fletcher.Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli's partnership witnessed remarkable Test successes, but they failed to clinch an ICC trophy. Dravid and Rohit Sharma's partnership has also been commendable, but the quest for an ICC title remains unfulfilled.The upcoming coach's tenure, from July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2027, will face challenges like the Test series in Australia and the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. With the application deadline set for May 27, the BCCI is expected to make a decision soon, with foreign candidates emerging as the frontrunners.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has initiated the search for a new head coach for the Indian men's cricket team. The position will be open for a three-and-a-half-year term, commencing on July 1, 2024, and expiring on December 31, 2027.The incumbent head coach, Rahul Dravid, will conclude his tenure after the T20 World Cup in the Americas next month. Dravid has been at the helm since November 2021, and his contract was extended last year due to the lack of time to appoint a new coach before India's tour of South Africa and the T20 World Cup.To be eligible for the position, candidates must meet the following criteria:* Age below 60 years* Played a minimum of 30 Tests or 50 ODIs* Served as a head coach for a full member Test nation for at least two yearsThe selection process will involve a thorough review of applications, followed by personal interviews and assessments of shortlisted candidates. The deadline for submitting applications is May 27, 2024.The new coach will face several significant challenges during their tenure, including:* Managing the transition from batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who are in the latter stages of their careers* Handling important assignments such as the away white ball series in Sri Lanka, home Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, and the T20 and 50-over World CupsThe BCCI's decision to seek a long-term coach suggests that they are looking for stability and continuity in the team's leadership. The new coach will have the opportunity to shape the future of Indian cricket and guide the team to success in major tournaments.

The Indian cricket team's 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 has been announced, and all the selected players have since taken part in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Here's a detailed analysis of their performances since their selection:Rohit Sharma (Captain):Rohit Sharma has struggled with low scores, registering only 19 runs in three matches.Yashasvi Jaiswal:Jaiswal has impressed with a scintillating fifty against SunRisers Hyderabad, scoring 71 runs in two games.Virat Kohli:Kohli has been in excellent form, scoring a century and a half-century for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.Suryakumar Yadav:Yadav has produced outstanding knocks, including a match-winning century against SunRisers Hyderabad, amassing 168 runs in three games.Rishabh Pant (Wicket-Keeper):Pant has been a standout wicketkeeper-batter, scoring 413 runs in 12 games.Sanju Samson (Wicket-Keeper):Samson has bounced back from a duck against SunRisers Hyderabad with a brilliant 86 against Delhi Capitals.Hardik Pandya:Pandya has impressed with his bowling, taking seven wickets in three games, but has struggled with the bat.Shivam Dube:Dube has suffered a loss of form, scoring only 34 runs in three matches.Ravindra Jadeja:Jadeja has had a mixed bag, scoring 20 runs and claiming two wickets in three games.Axar Patel:Patel has contributed with both bat and ball, scoring 15 runs and taking one wicket in one game.Kuldeep Yadav:Yadav has been a standout bowler, taking 14 wickets in nine matches.Yuzvendra Chahal:Chahal has been expensive in both games since his selection, conceding 110 runs in eight overs.Jasprit Bumrah:Bumrah has continued his good form, taking six wickets in three games and holding the Purple Cap in IPL 2024.Mohammed Siraj:Siraj has impressed with his bowling, taking five wickets in two games.Arshdeep Singh:Singh has struggled with his performances, conceding 135 runs in three games.

Khaleel Ahmed, the Delhi Capitals pacer, has made a triumphant return to the Indian cricket team after a four-and-a-half-year absence. The 26-year-old left-arm pacer has been named as a standby for the upcoming T20 World Cup, a testament to his impressive performances for DC in the ongoing IPL.Ahmed has been in scintillating form this season, claiming 14 wickets in 12 matches. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace has made him a formidable force in the DC bowling attack.Speaking on the DC Podcast, Ahmed expressed his delight at being recalled to the national team. "The way the past few months were going and the way the IPL started, I had the intuition that something good would happen," he said. "As the IPL matches progressed, my confidence continued to grow. I realized I was bowling well, and it has always been about moving one step ahead. Finally, when the name came, I was so happy, and it's a step ahead for me."Ahmed's last appearance for India was in a T20 match against Bangladesh in Nagpur in November 2019. Since then, he has endured a challenging period, missing out on selection for the national team."2019 was a long time ago. Every day, at the back of my mind, I missed that feeling of playing for the country," Ahmed said. "Every time I used to watch India play, I used to imagine what I would have done if I was there in the team. So, every day was like a battle and these kinds of conversations were going on inside my head."Despite the setbacks, Ahmed remained determined to regain his place in the Indian team. He took just a week's break after the last IPL and played all the domestic matches."It's tough as a fast bowler, but I made up my mind that irrespective of what happens to me, I'm going to play all the matches. I pushed myself mentally in the past year and have grown with it," he said.Ahmed believes that the current IPL season, which has been a nightmare for bowlers, is the perfect opportunity for fast bowlers to shine."If a bowler performs in tough situations like these, he will be considered a King, and I want to be that King. So, this is what my mentality has been about the current scenario," he said.Ahmed's return to the Indian team is a testament to his resilience and determination. He has overcome adversity to reclaim his place in the national setup and is now poised to make a significant contribution to India's T20 World Cup campaign.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the departure arrangements for the Indian team players participating in the upcoming T20 World Cup. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that players whose IPL teams fail to qualify for the playoffs will depart for the World Cup in two stages.The first batch, consisting of players and coaching staff, will leave on May 24. The remaining contingent will depart after the IPL final on May 26. Shah emphasized that the IPL serves as a valuable platform for players to hone their skills, even for those whose teams do not make the playoffs."Look at how well Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma played the other day. If [Jasprit] Bumrah gets to bowl to Head, what better opportunity is there to practice?" Shah said during a media interaction.Shah also provided an update on Lucknow Super Giants' Mayank Yadav, who is currently sidelined with an injury. Shah acknowledged Yadav's impressive performance earlier in the IPL season and revealed that the speedster will be under BCCI supervision.Yadav joins a group of emerging pace bowlers without annual retainers, including Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal, and Vidwath Kaverappa. These bowlers will receive continuous monitoring and support from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) medical staff, reflecting the BCCI's commitment to nurturing young bowling talent in India.

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson has emerged as a strong contender for India's first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman at the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup, according to his IPL coach Kumar Sangakkara. Samson's impressive performance in the ongoing IPL season has caught the attention of the Indian selectors, who included him in the 15-man squad for the June 1-29 tournament in the United States and the West Indies.Samson's inclusion in the squad is a testament to his consistent performances in the IPL. He is currently ranked third in the tournament's run-scoring charts with 471 runs in 11 games, behind only Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Samson's impressive form has been a key factor in Rajasthan Royals' success this season, as they currently sit second in the points table.While Rishabh Pant is also a strong contender for the wicketkeeper-batsman role in the Indian team, Samson's recent performances have put him in a strong position. In Rajasthan Royals' match against Pant's Delhi Capitals on Tuesday, Samson struck a blistering 86 off 46 balls, while Pant managed only 15 off 13 balls.Sangakkara believes that Samson has made a strong case for himself to be included in the Indian team's starting lineup for the World Cup. "It's really up to Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma and how they see the combination. But he (Samson) has made his case, so hopefully he'll have a good run in the World Cup," Sangakkara said.Samson's excellent form this season is a result of his improved clarity about his batting approach, according to Sangakkara. "With Sanju, the biggest thing about this season for him is having a lot of clarity about the way he should bat," Sangakkara said. "There are certain stages of the game that he seems to lose a bit of concentration, which we've addressed from past seasons."Sangakkara also praised Samson's dedication to his fitness and recovery. "He's changed his mindset about the importance of rest and recovery, rather than just training all the time and being tired mentally and physically. The rest is his exceptional ability," Sangakkara said.Samson, who has been on the fringes of the Indian team in recent years, has the potential to excel at the World Cup, according to Sangakkara. "He's a special player and when he's fresh and focused there's nothing he can't do," Sangakkara said. "He's a humble, grounded guy... not much on social media. He tends to like a lot of privacy, cares for the rest of the group."

The Indian cricket team unveiled its official jersey for the 2024 T20 World Cup, marking a significant departure from the design worn at the 2023 ODI World Cup. The new jersey features a vibrant blue and orange hue, symbolizing the team's determination to break its drought at ICC events.Since their last ICC trophy victory in 2013 under MS Dhoni's captaincy, India has come tantalizingly close to success but has ultimately fallen short in the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy, and World Test Championship.The jersey, priced at Rs 5999 for regular size, is available for purchase on Adidas' official website. Interestingly, the price of the jersey is comparable to the cost of a flight from Delhi to Goa, which currently hovers around Rs 5500.Adidas released a sneak peek of the jersey on social media, featuring Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma and teammates Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. Despite rumors of a possible leak, fans expressed excitement and anticipation for the tournament.India's squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup includes:* Rohit Sharma (C)* Hardik Pandya (VC)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Virat Kohli* Suryakumar Yadav* Rishabh Pant* Sanju Samson* Shivam Dube* Ravindra Jadeja* Axar Patel* Kuldeep Yadav* Yuzvendra Chahal* Arshdeep Singh* Mohammed Siraj* Jasprit BumrahReserves:* Shubman Gill* Rinku Singh* Khaleel Ahmed* Avesh Khan

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has expressed his astonishment over the exclusion of SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer T Natarajan from India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad. Natarajan, with his impressive performance in the ongoing IPL season, has emerged as a strong contender for the Purple Cap, having claimed 13 wickets in just seven matches.Watson highlighted Natarajan's exceptional ability to consistently deliver yorkers, a skill that could have significantly benefited the Indian team. "His ability to put that yorker in, his variations of speed when he needs to bowl that, it's something he continues to produce over and over again," Watson said. "That's why I was surprised that he wasn't in the Indian T20 squad because of his consistency of performances, especially when he's bowling in crucial times of the game when batters are going strong."Watson's sentiments were echoed by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who also praised Natarajan's performances in IPL 2024. "I was thinking more like T Natarajan, the left-arm pacer bowler. He has been bowling extremely well. So, I thought maybe he could have been in the team," Gavaskar said.Despite the exclusion of Natarajan, India's T20 World Cup squad boasts a formidable pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah. Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh are expected to compete for the second spot in the playing XI, while Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan have been included in the list of travelling reserves.India's squad for T20 World Cup 2024:* Rohit Sharma (C)* Hardik Pandya (VC)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Virat Kohli* Suryakumar Yadav* Rishabh Pant* Sanju Samson* Shivam Dube* Ravindra Jadeja* Axar Patel* Kuldeep Yadav* Yuzvendra Chahal* Arshdeep Singh* Mohammed Siraj* Jasprit BumrahReserves:* Shubman Gill* Rinku Singh* Khaleel Ahmed* Avesh Khan

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed confidence in the Indian team's chances at the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the USA and West Indies from June 2 to 29.Assessing the 15-member Indian squad, Ganguly praised the team's depth and match-winning capabilities. "They are a very strong team. All the 15 were good enough to be selected," he said.Ganguly highlighted the presence of star players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Sanju Samson, emphasizing their ability to turn matches in India's favor. He also commended the inclusion of Shivam Dubey, a promising all-rounder.The former captain acknowledged the importance of spinners in the West Indies, where the pitches are typically slow and low. "They are playing in the West Indies, where the pitches will spin and will be slow and (will keep) low and big grounds. Spinners will be important," he said.Ganguly explained the decision to select an additional spinner over finisher Rinku Singh, stating that the team wanted to prioritize spin bowling. "They wanted to go with another spinner. He has not got a place, but it's just the beginning for Rinku."Regarding the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), Ganguly, who is the team director of Delhi Capitals, acknowledged the intense competition among teams for playoff berths. "Everybody is on the same boat," he said.