Cricket

Vijaykumar Vyshak, a 27-year-old pacer from Bengaluru, has received his maiden call-up to the Indian cricket team for the upcoming T20 series in South Africa. The selection marks a significant milestone in Vyshak's career, which has been characterized by hard work, determination, and a remarkable transformation.Vyshak's journey to the national team began as a top-order batter. However, a decade ago, he switched to pace bowling, a decision that proved to be pivotal. Despite facing challenges due to his gluten allergy and weight, Vyshak remained steadfast in his pursuit of excellence.In 2019, Vyshak sought guidance from former international athlete BP Aiyappa and trainers Sai Prasanna and Puneeth. Under their tutelage, he underwent rigorous training sessions, focusing on stamina, endurance, and technique. Additionally, he worked with former India bowling coach Bharat Arun to refine his bowling action.Vyshak's impressive performances for Karnataka in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament caught the attention of the selectors. His ability to swing the ball both ways, vary his pace, and soak pressure makes him a valuable asset to the Indian team.Speaking about his selection, Vyshak expressed his disbelief and gratitude. "An India call-up is what every cricketer aspires for. It's a dream come true," he said.Vyshak's journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring cricketers. It demonstrates that with hard work, dedication, and a never-say-die attitude, anything is possible. As he prepares to don the Indian jersey, Vyshak is eager to prove his worth and contribute to the team's success.

Under the leadership of head coach Gautam Gambhir, the Indian cricket team has adopted an aggressive approach, prioritizing fearless play and strategic decision-making for the team's success. Gambhir believes that the advent of T20 cricket will reduce the frequency of draws in Test matches."Draws are boring. With T20 cricket around, I don't think we will see a lot of draws in Tests," Gambhir stated at a press conference ahead of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune.The Indian team has kept its playing XI for the second Test under wraps, as is customary for the home team. "In any Test match, picking up a playing XI is always tough. It is always good to have competition," Gambhir said.New Zealand currently holds a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after their eight-wicket victory in Bengaluru. The defeat was a humbling experience for India, who had previously swept Bangladesh 2-0, including a rain-affected victory in Kanpur."Cricket, sports are a big leveller. If we have enjoyed days like Kanpur we had to endure what happened in Bengaluru. We didn't show any intention to bat out the remainder of the two and a half days," Gambhir said of the Bengaluru loss, where India was dismissed for 46 in the first innings, their lowest-ever total at home.Winning the remaining two Tests is now the top priority for Rohit Sharma and his team before they embark on a five-Test series in Australia.

Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket team's captain, has emphasized the importance of expanding the team's bench strength, particularly in the fast-bowling department. He believes that having eight or nine players ready to step into the first XI at any given moment will help injury-proof the team."We want to create a bench strength where tomorrow if anything happens to anyone, we are not worried, and we don't want to be worried or too heavily reliant on a few individuals," Rohit said. "We want to look at the future at the same time, try and make sure that we get the right guys in as well."Along with the 15-member squad for the three-match series against New Zealand, India are also carrying Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, and Nitish Kumar Reddy as traveling reserves. Mayank and Reddy recently made their international debuts in the T20Is against Bangladesh, while Rana was an unused member of that squad.Rohit explained that the reason for keeping these players close to the team is to assess their potential for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. "We just want to monitor them and see their workload. We have seen some talent in them. I understand that they have not played a lot of red-ball cricket, but when you see a talent, you want to try and groom them."Mayank Yadav, in particular, has impressed Rohit with his pace and accuracy. "Mayank obviously has shown what he can do, but we just want to be very careful with him, he has had a lot of injuries in the past," Rohit said. "So, we want to progress him, not rapidly, we want to just see every day how he feels."The most important cog in India's fast-bowling line-up is Jasprit Bumrah, who has been named vice-captain for the series against New Zealand. Rohit believes that Bumrah has the potential to step in as captain in the early Tests against Australia next month."He's always been part of that leadership group and one of the experienced players as well," Rohit said of Bumrah. "He's played a lot of cricket and I've played a lot of cricket with him. He understands the game pretty well. He's got a good head on his shoulders."Rohit remained tight-lipped about the India XI for the opening Test against New Zealand, stating that they will take a call once they reach the venue on match day.

Robin Uthappa to Lead Star-Studded Indian Team in Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2024Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Robin Uthappa will captain a formidable Indian squad in the upcoming Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2024. The tournament, set to take place from November 1-4, will feature 12 teams vying for the coveted title.Joining Uthappa in the Indian team are experienced all-rounders Kedar Jadhav and Stuart Binny, elegant batsman Manoj Tiwary, left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, aggressive batter Bharat Chipli, and wicketkeeper-batsman Shreevats Goswami. This well-rounded squad boasts a blend of batting prowess and bowling versatility.India will aim to reclaim the title they last won in 2005. The tournament, which began in 1992, has witnessed legendary cricketers such as Brian Lara, Wasim Akram, Shane Warne, Sachin Tendulkar, M.S. Dhoni, and Anil Kumble grace its grounds. England and South Africa hold the record for most titles with five each.The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes follows a unique format. Matches are played between two teams of six players, with each side batting for a maximum of five overs. However, the final match will see teams bowl five overs of eight balls each. All fielders except the wicket-keeper must bowl one over, and wides and no-balls count as two runs. Batsmen retire at 31 runs but can re-enter once all other batters have been dismissed or retired.India's opening match will be against arch-rivals Pakistan on November 1. Other participating teams include Australia, Bangladesh, England, Hong Kong, Nepal, New Zealand, Oman, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Indian cricket team is embracing a fearless approach under the leadership of coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav. This aggressive mindset is part of a strategic plan to prepare the team for the upcoming challenges of the Champions Trophy, Asia Cup, and T20 World Cup in the next 18 months.Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate emphasized the team's commitment to pushing the limits of their abilities. This was evident in the recent Test match in Kanpur, where India's attacking batting approach led to a decisive victory despite challenging weather conditions.The team's fearless approach extends to their batting, where they aim to expand their game and move cricket forward. Players like Sanju Samson are encouraged to take risks and push the boundaries, even in high-pressure situations.Another key aspect of India's strategy is the emphasis on multi-skilled players. In the second T20I against Bangladesh, India used seven bowlers, with each taking at least one wicket. This versatility provides the team with greater flexibility and depth in their bowling attack.With the T20I series against Bangladesh already sealed, India is expected to rotate their squad and give opportunities to players on the bench. This will allow them to assess their depth and prepare for the upcoming challenges.Despite the high-scoring nature of the pitch in Hyderabad, where the third T20I will be played, ten Doeschate cautioned against relying solely on data. The team will carefully assess the wicket and adjust their approach accordingly.

Mayank Yadav's impressive performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 earned him a call-up to the Indian cricket team for the T20I series against Bangladesh. The fast bowler made an immediate impact, consistently bowling at speeds above 150kmph and maintaining exceptional accuracy.In his debut match against Bangladesh in Gwalior, Yadav bowled a maiden over and claimed his first international wicket in Mahmudullah. However, he has yet to reach 150kmph in international cricket, despite exceeding 149 kmph in the first T20I and clocking 146-147 on a few occasions in the second T20I.Yadav's performance has sparked a debate among fans about India's pace setup ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series against Australia. Former Bangladesh cricketer Tamim Iqbal commented that Yadav had not touched 150kmph in the series, to which Murali Kartik replied, "Neither has Bangladesh."Yadav's recovery from an abdominal strain at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru has been crucial to his return to form. He spent time at the NCA bowling eight to ten overs daily to regain match fitness.As the BGT series approaches, Yadav's performance will be closely watched as India seeks to strengthen its pace attack. His ability to bowl at high speeds and maintain accuracy could prove invaluable in the upcoming Test matches against Australia.

Sanju Samson's inconsistent performances have sparked a debate about his treatment in the Indian national team. Despite his undeniable talent, Samson has struggled to cement his place in the side, leading to questions about whether he has been unfairly overlooked.In the recent T20I series against Bangladesh, Samson's struggles continued. He managed just 29 runs in the first match and failed to make an impact in the second. This lack of form has frustrated fans, who have taken to social media to express their disappointment.Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has emphasized the need for consistency from Samson. He warned that the Kerala batter could be dropped if he does not improve his performances. "He is good. He scored 29 runs. My only thing was that since he had reached here, he should go slightly further ahead. He should score a few more runs because, otherwise, they would drop him," Chopra said.Despite his recent struggles, Samson has shown glimpses of his brilliance. Chopra praised his elegant shot-making during the match in Gwalior. "You need to talk about Sanju Samson. Abhishek Sharma was playing amazingly well until he got run out, but how well did Sanju play? Gautam Gambhir said long back that if Sanju Samson doesn't play for India, it's India's loss. He was made to open. The silken touch was seen. He wasn't hitting the ball hard; it seemed like he didn't want to hurt the ball, and he was hitting one four after another."Samson made his international debut in 2015, but has yet to become a regular in the Indian team. He will need to step up his performance in the upcoming matches to prove that he deserves a permanent place in the side.

Suryakumar Yadav's Hilarious Hindi Interrogation of Bowling Coach Morne MorkelAhead of the second ODI between India and Bangladesh, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a lighthearted video on Twitter featuring a comical exchange between captain Suryakumar Yadav and bowling coach Morne Morkel.In the video, Yadav playfully teases Morkel by peppering him with questions in Hindi, much to the amusement of the team. Yadav's persistent inquiries leave Morkel struggling to form coherent responses, resulting in a burst of laughter from both men."Kya hua? Bolo. (What happened? Tell me,)" Yadav asks repeatedly, while Morkel attempts to compose a suitable reply. The moment culminates in Morkel turning to the camera with a grin and jokingly saying, "You cut that out," as Yadav continues to chuckle in the background.Morkel's appointment as India's bowling coach marks a significant milestone in his coaching career. After a successful stint as a player for South Africa, he has now transitioned into a coaching role, guiding the Indian team's bowling attack.Morkel's expertise and experience have been instrumental in India's recent success in the shortest format of the game. He has played a pivotal role in developing the team's bowling strategies and nurturing the skills of young bowlers.The video shared by the BCCI provides a glimpse into the camaraderie and lighthearted atmosphere within the Indian team. It highlights the bond between Yadav and Morkel, who have quickly established a strong working relationship.As India prepares for the second ODI against Bangladesh, the team will undoubtedly draw inspiration from the positive and supportive environment that has been fostered within the squad. The video serves as a reminder that even in the midst of intense competition, there is always room for laughter and camaraderie.

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya's impressive performance in the first T20I against Bangladesh has sparked discussions about his progress. While Pandya's 39-run knock and 1/26 bowling figures earned him praise, former India fast bowler RP Singh believes Bangladesh may not be the ideal benchmark to assess his form.Singh emphasized that Bangladesh's current form is not at the highest level, making it difficult to accurately gauge Pandya's progress. He suggested that a better assessment could be made against stronger opposition or in more competitive tournaments.Despite his reservations about using Bangladesh as a measure, Singh acknowledged Pandya's capabilities and praised his ability to contribute with both bat and ball. He highlighted Pandya's consistent bowling of four overs as a positive sign for the Indian team.Singh cautioned against overexcitement based solely on Pandya's performance against Bangladesh, emphasizing that tougher tests lie ahead. He believes that Pandya's true form will be revealed in more challenging matches.Pandya's performance has been a topic of discussion since his return from injury. His ability to bowl his full quota of overs and contribute with the bat has been seen as a significant improvement in his fitness and overall game.However, Singh's comments serve as a reminder that while Pandya's performance against Bangladesh is encouraging, it should not be taken as a definitive measure of his progress. Only time and tougher opposition will truly reveal the extent of his recovery and his ability to perform at the highest level.