Cricket

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of the Indian cricket team, faces a daunting task as the team embarks on a grueling Test season. The season kicks off with a match against Bangladesh on September 19, followed by a series of back-to-back matches against New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia.Gambhir, who took charge after a brief tour of Sri Lanka last month, has a proven track record of success as a player and coach. He led the Kolkata Knight Riders to two Indian Premier League (IPL) titles and has a reputation for being a demanding and results-oriented coach.Ahead of the upcoming series, Gambhir participated in a fun interaction on the sidelines of the Delhi Premier League T20. He was asked to name cricketers based on one word, providing insights into his perceptions of some of the game's greatest players.Gambhir described Yuvraj Singh as "Badshah" (King), himself as "Angry Young Man," Sachin Tendulkar as "Dabang" (Fearless), Virat Kohli as "Shahenshah" (Emperor), Jasprit Bumrah as "Khiladi" (Player), Rahul Dravid as "Mr. Perfectionist," and Sourav Ganguly as "Tiger."South African cricket legend Jonty Rhodes, who is the fielding coach of the Lucknow Super Giants, expressed confidence in Gambhir's ability to make an immediate impact on the Indian team. He praised Gambhir's hands-on approach and his ability to speak his mind.Rhodes also lauded the appointment of Zaheer Khan as mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants, highlighting his calm head and technical expertise. He believes that Zaheer's presence will help the team navigate tense situations during matches.With a challenging Test season ahead, Gambhir will be eager to prove his mettle as head coach. His ability to motivate and inspire the team, as well as his tactical acumen, will be put to the test as India faces some of the world's top cricketing nations.

The Indian cricket team has announced its squad for the first Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on September 19. The squad features the return of Rishabh Pant and the inclusion of pacers Yash Dayal and Akash Deep.This two-Test series against Bangladesh marks the beginning of a busy season for India. Following the Bangladesh series, India will face New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia later this year. The performance of the team in the Bangladesh series will be crucial in preparing for these upcoming challenges.Brad Hogg, a member of Australia's 2003 and 2007 ODI World Cup-winning teams, has shared his thoughts on the likely playing XI for India in the first Test. Hogg believes that the team should field a lineup consisting of Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma as openers, followed by Gill, Kohli, and Jadeja. Sarfaraz Khan and Pant would then come in, with Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj, and Bumrah forming the bowling attack.Hogg believes that this team would also perform well in Australia, making the Bangladesh series an important warm-up for the upcoming summer. He also noted the absence of KL Rahul and Axar Patel in his proposed playing XI.The Indian squad for the first Test against Bangladesh is as follows:* Rohit Sharma (C)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Shubman Gill* Virat Kohli* KL Rahul* Sarfaraz Khan* Rishabh Pant (WK)* Dhruv Jurel (WK)* R Ashwin* R Jadeja* Axar Patel* Kuldeep Yadav* Mohd. Siraj* Akash Deep* Jasprit Bumrah* Yash Dayal

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach of the Indian men's cricket team has commenced with a T20I series victory and an ODI series defeat. While Gambhir has much to learn and implement in the coming weeks, his success or failure will ultimately be judged by the team's performance in ICC events.Despite concerns about certain aspects of Gambhir's coaching style, his former opening partner Virender Sehwag believes the challenges lie more with the players than the coach. "The players have won the T20 World Cup, they know their roles. Gambhir's arrival will provide clarity and support," Sehwag said.Sehwag emphasized that the players face greater challenges in executing their roles and delivering results on the field. "Gambhir is there to help them," he added.Gambhir's next assignment is the Test series against Bangladesh at home. While India has never lost a Test match to their neighbors, the recent Pakistan vs Bangladesh series serves as a reminder that the Bangla Tigers should not be underestimated.Gambhir's coaching philosophy emphasizes discipline, hard work, and a winning mentality. He has been known to be demanding and expects high standards from his players. However, he also believes in creating a positive and supportive environment.As Gambhir settles into his new role, he will need to find the right balance between discipline and motivation. He will also need to build strong relationships with his players and staff.The upcoming Test series against Bangladesh will provide an early indication of Gambhir's impact on the team. If India can maintain its dominance over its neighbor, it will be a positive sign for the future. However, if Bangladesh can pull off an upset, it will raise questions about Gambhir's coaching abilities.

India's Bowling Arsenal: Identifying and Nurturing Talent for the Border-Gavaskar TrophyWith the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy just around the corner, the Indian cricket team is meticulously preparing its bowling lineup to face the formidable Australian challenge. While the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj are already established stars, former India bowling coach Bharat Arun believes it's crucial to identify and nurture emerging talents from the Indian Premier League (IPL).Arun emphasizes the need to provide these promising bowlers with ample opportunities in red-ball cricket. "It's about identifying the right ones and giving them opportunities to be ready for the Australian trip," he said. "There are lots of bowlers who hit 140-150 kph in the IPL. So it is about nurturing and giving them the right exposure."Arun acknowledges that the transition from IPL to Test cricket requires time and experience. "Red ball cricket is something these bowlers must get used to," he said. "We have time but we need to prepare by giving them enough overs under their belt."Among the potential candidates, Arun singled out Mohammed Siraj for special praise. "Bowling in first-class cricket, you bowl on unresponsive pitches," he said. "You have to come out with some guile or you would need to learn how to reverse the ball because of the conditions that exist in our country.""I think it helped Siraj and Shami a great deal," Arun added. "That's why when the conditions are right and the ball is reversing, Siraj is probably one of the most dangerous bowlers in world cricket."As the Indian team finalizes its squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the focus will be on selecting a balanced bowling attack that can adapt to the challenging conditions in Australia. By identifying and nurturing emerging talents, India can bolster its bowling depth and increase its chances of success against the formidable Aussies.

Indian cricket team's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is facing a potential setback as he may miss the upcoming Duleep Trophy due to an injury concern. According to a report by Times Of India, Yadav has checked into the National Cricket Academy (NCA) after suffering an injury to his right thumb during a match against TNCA XI on Thursday.The injury comes at an unfortunate time, with the Duleep Trophy scheduled to begin in less than a week. Yadav's absence would be a significant blow to the tournament, as he is one of the most in-form batters in the country.The injury also raises concerns for the Indian cricket team, who will be facing Bangladesh in a two-match Test series in September. Yadav has expressed his desire to earn a spot in the Test team, and his absence from the Duleep Trophy could hinder his chances.Yadav has played only one Test match for India, against Australia in February 2023, where he scored eight runs. However, he has an impressive record in first-class cricket, having scored 5,628 runs in 82 matches with an average of 43.62.With Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, KL Rahul, and Rajat Patidar also vying for a spot in the Test team, Yadav acknowledges the challenge ahead of him. "There are a lot of people who have worked really hard to earn their place and even I want to earn that spot again," Yadav said.The extent of Yadav's injury is not yet known, and it remains to be seen whether he will be fit enough to participate in the Duleep Trophy or the Test series against Bangladesh.

MS Dhoni Captures Rohit Sharma's Hilarious Bodyguard Act for Kedar JadhavIn a lighthearted moment captured on camera, former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni filmed a comical scene involving Rohit Sharma and Kedar Jadhav. The video, which has gone viral on social media, showcases the playful camaraderie among the Indian cricket team members.The incident occurred during a team stay at a hotel. Dhoni, armed with his phone, began recording as Kedar Jadhav walked down a corridor. Rohit Sharma, standing nearby, instructed a team support staff member to pretend to be a fan. Another support staff member positioned himself to the right of Jadhav, acting as his bodyguard.As the trio walked down the corridor, Dhoni's voice can be heard saying, "Start kar diya hai" (It has started). Suddenly, the "fan" approached Jadhav for a selfie, but Rohit swiftly intervened, pushing him aside with a nonchalant gesture. The entire scene erupted in laughter, with Jadhav collapsing on the floor in amusement.The video highlights the close bond and playful nature of the Indian cricket team. It also showcases the lighter side of the players, who often engage in fun activities to relieve the pressure of international cricket.

The Indian cricket team is gearing up for a busy Test season, with a two-match series against Bangladesh in September, followed by a three-match series against New Zealand and a five-match series against Australia.Captain Rohit Sharma has already begun his preparations for the upcoming challenges. Videos on social media show Sharma engaged in intense training sessions with India's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. The sessions include rigorous cardio exercises in a park.Nayar, who joined the Indian support staff last month, has been working closely with Sharma. The skipper's last Test appearance for India was in March 2024 against England, where he scored a century in the first innings.The Bangladesh series will be a good warm-up for India before they face New Zealand and Australia. Bangladesh has improved significantly in recent years and will pose a tough challenge.The New Zealand series will be a stern test for India. The Kiwis are one of the top Test teams in the world and will be looking to avenge their defeat in the World Test Championship final last year.The Australia series will be the ultimate challenge for India. The Aussies are the current World Test champions and have a formidable record at home. India will need to be at their best to win the series.The upcoming Test season will be a crucial one for India. They will be looking to build on their success in the World Test Championship and establish themselves as the best Test team in the world.

Ishan Kishan's rollercoaster year continues as he earns a spot in the Duleep Trophy squad, reigniting hopes of a national team return. Despite being omitted from the BCCI's central contracts, Kishan's impressive century in the Buchi Babu tournament has caught the attention of selectors.However, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali believes Kishan's chances of a comeback are slim, advising him to focus on the IPL instead. Ali suggests that Kishan's return is unlikely until the Australia series or even the Champions Trophy.Meanwhile, Ali expresses concerns about India's upcoming Test series against Australia, highlighting the absence of Cheteshwar Pujara. He emphasizes Pujara's ability to tire bowlers and create scoring opportunities for his teammates.Pujara played a pivotal role in India's Test series triumph in Australia in 2021-22, but has since lost his place due to poor form. Ali believes that despite India's potential to win the series, Pujara's absence will be felt.Kishan's inclusion in the Duleep Trophy squad indicates that the BCCI is willing to give him another chance to prove his worth. However, with the national team's focus on the upcoming Test series and the IPL, Kishan's path back to the Indian side remains uncertain.

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as India's head coach commenced with a mixed bag of results during the Sri Lanka tour. While the team emerged victorious in the T20I series, they succumbed to defeat in the ODIs despite fielding star players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.Gambhir's appointment on July 9, 2024, marked a departure from Rahul Dravid's tenure, which concluded after the T20 World Cup in June. Prior to the official announcement, rumors circulated about a potential hybrid coaching model, with different coaches assigned to different formats.However, the BCCI opted for a traditional approach. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah explained the rationale behind Gambhir's appointment as all-format coach: "We must respect the coach we hire. If Gautam Gambhir expresses interest in coaching in all three formats, who am I to restrict him? Approximately 70% of the players remain consistent across all formats."Shah also emphasized the availability of capable backups for the head coach role: "We have coaches from the NCA. VVS Laxman stepped in when Rahul Dravid took a break."Gambhir's maiden Test assignment as head coach will be a two-match series against Bangladesh next month. Notably, key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah will not participate in the Duleep Trophy.With the Border Gavaskar Trophy approaching later this year, selectors will closely monitor the performances of players competing in the tournament.