Cricket

Sanju Samson, India's enigmatic wicketkeeper-batter, is once again vying for a permanent berth in the national cricket team. Despite making his international debut in 2015, Samson has struggled to cement his place in the star-studded Indian lineup. However, with the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from T20I cricket, a new era has dawned for the Indian team, and Samson is determined to seize the opportunity.In the recently concluded T20I series against Bangladesh, Samson was handed the opening role alongside Abhishek Sharma. While he displayed glimpses of his brilliance, scoring 29 runs off 19 balls in the first match, he failed to make a significant impact and was dismissed early.Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has emphasized the need for consistency from Samson in the upcoming matches. He warned that if Samson fails to perform, he could be dropped from the team. "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 early dismissal, Chopra praised Samson's elegant shot-making. "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's performance in the remaining matches of the series will be crucial for his future with the Indian T20I team. If he can maintain his consistency and make significant contributions, he could finally secure a permanent spot in the lineup.

Fielding has evolved from being a mere addendum to batting and bowling to a crucial discipline in modern cricket. The era of selecting extraordinary batters or exceptional bowlers alone, even if they were poor fielders, is long gone. The T20 format has further elevated fielding to a glorious spectacle, with boundary-line catches and acrobatic saves becoming commonplace.The Indian cricket team has had a series of exceptional fielding coaches over the last decade and a half. R. Sridhar and T. Dilip have played pivotal roles in changing attitudes, mindsets, and approaches to fielding and catching. Dilip is credited with introducing the "fielding medal," which has become a symbol of the importance of this discipline.The fielding medal is not just an acknowledgment of the crucial role fielding plays in the game, but also a recognition of the often-overlooked performances that can alter the balance of a match. India's recent Test victory against Bangladesh is a testament to the importance of fielding. The team's exceptional catching and ground fielding played a significant role in their seven-wicket triumph.As India prepares for the upcoming five-Test series in Australia, their fielding will be put to the test. The larger grounds and the propensity of Australian batters to take risks will challenge their fitness, agility, and throwing arms. The emergence of Shubman Gill as an excellent poucher at slip and the increasing assurance of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul in the slip cordon are encouraging developments.However, India's ground fielding must also step up. The bigger grounds Down Under and the Australian batters' tendency to look for extra runs will test their staying power and ability to cover ground quickly. While fielding may not be the sole determinant of India's success in Australia, it could prove to be a significant factor.

India's T20 World Cup Triumph: Rohit Sharma and Teammates Share Hilarious Moments on 'The Great Indian Kapil Show'India's triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 squad, led by skipper Rohit Sharma, recently graced the stage of 'The Great Indian Kapil Show,' bringing laughter and entertainment to their adoring fans. The team's thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa in the summit clash marked the end of India's 11-year ICC title drought, sparking nationwide celebrations.To commemorate this historic achievement, Rohit, Arshdeep Singh, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel joined host and renowned comedian Kapil Sharma for a series of hilarious activities. One memorable moment occurred when Dube attempted to impersonate star batter Virat Kohli, leaving Rohit to guess the player's identity.Despite Dube's comical performance, Rohit couldn't resist teasing the Chennai Super Kings batter for his lackluster acting skills. "Maaf karna bohot hi ghatiya acting kari," (I'm sorry, but your acting was terrible) Rohit quipped, sending the audience into fits of laughter.Beyond the lighthearted banter, Rohit also shed light on a clever ploy devised by wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant during the World Cup final. With South Africa needing 30 runs off 30 balls, Pant feigned a knee injury, prompting a pause in the game. This strategic move disrupted South Africa's rhythm and allowed India to regain control."Pant used his intelligence to pause the game," Rohit explained. "He had his knee taped, which helped slow down the game. At that moment, all a batter wants is the ball to be bowled quickly. But we had to break the rhythm."Rohit acknowledged that Pant's ploy may not have been the sole reason for India's victory, but it certainly played a role in turning the tide in their favor.

Rohit Sharma, the former Indian T20I captain, and his teammates from the victorious World Cup campaign will grace the second season of Netflix's 'The Great Indian Kapil Show.' In a promotional clip, Rohit's infamous forgetfulness became the subject of a hilarious question.Archana Puran Singh, an actress on the show, posed the question, "Team India ka Ghajini kaun hai?" (Who is Team India's Ghajini?). The reference to the Bollywood film 'Ghajini,' where the protagonist suffers from short-term memory loss, drew laughter from Rohit's teammates.Rohit, known for his forgetful nature, replied with a chuckle, "Yeh asli title hai mera" (That's my real title). The audience erupted in laughter at the witty response.Rohit's teammates have often shared anecdotes about his forgetfulness, including incidents where he has left behind his phone, iPad, wallet, and even his passport.In the promo, Rohit is joined by Suryakumar Yadav, who succeeded him as India's T20I captain, as well as Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel. The players appear to be having a jovial time on the comedy show.Rohit is currently leading India in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which India leads 1-0.

With the highly anticipated five-Test tour of Australia looming, the Indian team management faces the daunting task of finalizing its pace attack amidst uncertainty surrounding the fitness of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami.Akash Deep, despite his limited Test experience, has emerged as a beacon of assurance for the team. His impressive debut against England earlier this year showcased his ability to provide seam movement and control. Former bowling coach Paras Mhambrey believes Akash possesses the attributes necessary to succeed in Australia's challenging conditions.The selectors face the challenge of selecting five pacers for the tour, with workload management playing a crucial role. Even if Shami regains fitness, the team will require an additional pacer alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash.The team management is keen on including a left-arm option, with Yash Dayal currently in contention. Khaleel Ahmed and Arshdeep Singh are also potential candidates. Dayal appears to be the frontrunner, as his ability to create rough outside the off-stump could prove valuable in conjunction with Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav.Prasidh Krishna, with his height and seam-extracting capabilities, is another potential inclusion. The team management has invested heavily in his development, and his experience with the Kookaburra ball could be an asset.The success of India's pace attack in the previous Australia tour was largely attributed to the rigorous preparation provided by Rahul Dravid and Paras Mhambrey at the NCA. While the current crop of pacers may not have the same level of experience, they have been exposed to Kookaburra balls in India to familiarize themselves with the conditions.The upcoming three Tests against New Zealand and Shami's potential return to domestic cricket next month will provide further clarity on the team's pace resources. The selectors must carefully consider the workload management of their key bowlers and make strategic selections to ensure a balanced and effective attack for the all-important tour of Australia.

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has expressed his cautious optimism regarding Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team. Gambhir, who took over the reins from Rahul Dravid in July, has overseen India's emphatic 280-run victory over Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai. However, Tamim believes it is premature to fully assess Gambhir's impact."When you're winning, you don't know the real character of the man," Tamim said. "It's only when you lose a series, then you lose another, that the real character comes out."Tamim acknowledged Gambhir's capabilities but emphasized the need for time to evaluate his performance. "No doubt, he is a capable man, but it's too early," he said. "Let India have a bad game, then we will see what comes out."Meanwhile, India captain Rohit Sharma opted to bowl first in the second Test in Kanpur. India, who lead the two-match series 1-0, have fielded an unchanged side. Bangladesh, on the other hand, have made two changes, with Khaled Ahmed and Taijul Islam replacing Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana.The start of the match was delayed due to a wet outfield. India had won the opening Test by a commanding margin of 280 runs.

Gautam Gambhir's maiden assignment as India's Test head coach has commenced with a resounding victory, as the Rohit Sharma-led team crushed Bangladesh by 280 runs in the opening Test in Chennai. The Indian squad has now arrived in Kanpur for the series-deciding second Test at the Green Park Stadium.During their journey from Chennai to Kanpur, the Indian players engaged in lighthearted banter and camaraderie. Mohammed Siraj and Axar Patel bonded over their shared love for "filter coffee" and "chocolate," while R Ashwin playfully complained of being "bullied" by his teammates, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja.The amusing interactions were captured in a video shared by the BCCI on social media. The video begins with Akash Deep and Axar teasing Siraj, who sported a bucket hat and sunglasses. Sarfaraz Khan then enthusiastically chanted "Jassu, Jassu" for Yashasvi Jaiswal, who responded by comparing his fan following to that of Sachin Tendulkar.As the flight approached Kanpur, Bumrah and Jadeja playfully addressed Ashwin as "Ash anna" and "Ash anna for a reason." "They are just bullying me," Ashwin remarked in the video.Meanwhile, the selection committee has retained an unchanged squad for the second Test in Kanpur.

Kuldeep Yadav, the Kanpur-born left-arm wrist spinner, has been a constant presence in the Indian cricket team as a backup to the formidable duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Despite his impressive record of 53 wickets in just 12 Tests, Kuldeep has often found himself on the sidelines, waiting for his chance to shine.However, with the second Test against Bangladesh set to be played on the slow-turning Green Park Stadium, Kuldeep's home ground, the 29-year-old spinner is hoping to finally get a start in the XI. Kuldeep has been a prolific wicket-taker at Green Park throughout his career, and he will be eager to make the most of the opportunity to play in front of his home crowd.Kuldeep's journey to the Indian team has been marked by both success and setbacks. He made his Test debut in 2014, but has only played 12 matches since then. Despite his limited opportunities, Kuldeep has consistently impressed with his ability to take wickets and control the flow of runs.However, Kuldeep has also faced criticism for his inconsistency and lack of control at times. In recent years, he has worked hard to improve his technique and fitness, and he believes he is now ready to take on a more prominent role in the Indian team."There will always be competition among spinners in India, irrespective of the format," Kuldeep said recently. "There will always be four spinners ready to take the field. Now, I focus on continuously bettering myself and being ready to pounce on the opportunity when it comes."With the Indian team management expressing reservations about the Kanpur pitch, it remains to be seen whether Kuldeep will get his chance to play in the second Test. However, the spinner is confident that he is ready to make an impact whenever he is called upon."It was tough to change something that you have been doing for 15 years," Kuldeep said about his recent technical changes. "There were doubts when I was coming back from injury and going through these changes a couple of years back. I was not sure how it would turn out. But I decided to give myself more time to perfect it and then come back."Kuldeep's patience and hard work have paid off, and he is now one of the most dangerous spinners in the world. If he gets his chance to play in the second Test, he will be determined to prove that he is ready to be a regular member of the Indian team.

With the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, the Indian cricket team is expected to announce its squad this week. While Rishabh Pant remains the primary wicketkeeper, Sanju Samson is set to take over as the No. 1 glovesman in the shortest format. However, the race for the second wicketkeeper's slot is heating up, with Jitesh Sharma emerging as the frontrunner ahead of Ishan Kishan.Sharma's impressive performances for Vidarbha have caught the attention of the selectors, and he is believed to have an edge over Kishan, who is currently part of the Rest of India squad. Kishan's selection in the Rest of India team suggests that his international comeback may be slightly delayed.With the Test series against New Zealand starting on October 16, several top players, including Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah, are likely to be rested as part of the workload management program. This opens up opportunities for players who have been in good form recently.Abhishek Sharma, the hard-hitting Punjab left-hander, is expected to return to the mix in the absence of Shubman Gill. However, it remains unclear who will partner him at the top of the order if both Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are rested.Ruturaj Gaikwad, the captain of the Rest of India team, is also in a tight spot as he will likely be busy with the Irani Cup until October 5, leaving little time before the Bangladesh T20Is begin. There is speculation that Jaiswal might play the first match, while Gaikwad could join the squad for the last two games.Hardik Pandya is set to return to the national side, along with Shivam Dube. Other players who were part of the Zimbabwe series, such as Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Tushar Deshpande, and Ravi Bishnoi, are also expected to be included in the squad. Harshit Rana, who was in Zimbabwe as a backup pacer, could also get a chance.