Cricket

India's Cricketers Escape Scrutiny Amidst Olympic FrenzyNew Delhi: In a rare occurrence, India's cricketers have found themselves out of the spotlight as the nation's attention has shifted towards the ongoing Olympics in Paris. With the Indian cricket team currently touring Sri Lanka under the leadership of newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir, the usual intense scrutiny of their performances has temporarily subsided.This respite from constant media attention is largely due to the captivating spectacle of the Olympics, which has captivated the imagination of sports enthusiasts across the country. The Indian contingent's impressive performances in various disciplines, including athletics, shooting, and wrestling, have further fueled the nation's Olympic fever.While the cricketers may be enjoying a brief respite from the relentless scrutiny, their absence from the headlines is not a sign of diminished importance. Cricket remains the most popular sport in India, and the team's performances are always a matter of national pride. However, the Olympics have provided a welcome distraction, allowing the cricketers to focus on their preparations without the added pressure of constant public scrutiny.For Gambhir, this tour of Sri Lanka marks his first assignment as head coach. The former India opener has been tasked with rebuilding the team after a disappointing performance in the recent T20 World Cup. While the results in Sri Lanka may not be as crucial as in major tournaments, they will provide valuable insights into the team's progress under Gambhir's leadership.As the Olympics draw to a close, the focus will inevitably shift back to cricket. The Indian team will face a challenging schedule in the coming months, including a home series against Australia and a tour of England. The performances of the team during these matches will be closely scrutinized, as they will provide a barometer of India's progress under Gambhir's guidance.

Former South African pace legend Morne Morkel has been appointed as the new bowling coach of the Indian cricket team, completing the support staff for newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir. Morkel, 39, replaces Paras Mhambrey and will take over from the Bangladesh series starting on September 19. He has been appointed until the end of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.Morkel was Gambhir's preferred choice, having worked with him at Lucknow Super Giants during the Indian's two IPL seasons as mentor of the franchise. The South African has played 86 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 44 T20Is for his country, taking a total of 544 international wickets.Morkel's appointment is seen as a significant move, given his experience and success as a fast bowler. He will be tasked with handling the transition phase as Mohammed Shami enters the latter stages of his career and Jasprit Bumrah needs more potent support, especially in red-ball cricket.Morkel's biggest challenge will be to nurture the next generation of Indian fast bowlers, including Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, and Yash Thakur. He is expected to work closely with VVS Laxman and Troy Cooley at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.The other members of Gambhir's support staff include assistant coach Abhishek Nayar and fielding coach Ryan Ten Doeschate. India has never had a dedicated spin bowling coach, but Sairaj Bahutule, who is part of Laxman's team at the NCA, has traveled with the senior team on occasion.

Morne Morkel Appointed Bowling Coach of Indian Men's Cricket TeamFormer South African fast bowler Morne Morkel has been appointed as the bowling coach of the Indian men's cricket team, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Wednesday. Morkel's tenure will commence from September 1, 2023.Morkel, 39, brings a wealth of experience to the role, having played 86 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 44 T20Is for South Africa. During his illustrious career, he claimed a total of 544 international wickets, establishing himself as one of the most formidable bowlers of his generation.Morkel's appointment reunites him with chief coach Gautam Gambhir, with whom he worked at the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The duo will be tasked with guiding the Indian team to success in upcoming tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.Morkel's appointment has been met with praise from the Indian cricket fraternity. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar hailed Morkel as "a great choice" for the role, citing his experience and knowledge of the game."Morne Morkel is a great choice for the bowling coach of the Indian team," Gavaskar said. "He has a lot of experience and knowledge of the game. He will be a great asset to the team."Morkel's appointment is expected to bolster the Indian team's bowling attack, which has been a concern in recent times. The team has struggled to find consistency in their bowling, particularly in the death overs. Morkel's expertise and experience will be invaluable in addressing these issues.The Indian team is currently preparing for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates from August 27 to September 11. Morkel's appointment is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the team's preparations for the tournament.

After a well-deserved break following the Sri Lanka series, the Indian cricket team will reconvene next month for a two-Test series against Bangladesh. This extended break is a rarity for Indian cricketers, providing much-needed respite after a grueling schedule.However, according to reports, India's premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah may be rested for the Bangladesh series. The decision stems from the team's hectic upcoming schedule and the spin-friendly conditions expected in Bangladesh. With Mohammed Shami likely to make a comeback, the BCCI selectors may opt to give Bumrah additional rest.Bumrah has a history of injury-related breaks, including a stress fracture surgery in March 2023. To ensure his fitness for the upcoming tour of Australia, the selectors may prioritize his recovery.Meanwhile, the BCCI has shifted one of the opening matches of the Duleep Trophy from Anantapur to Bengaluru to accommodate top players who are likely to feature in the Bangladesh series. Senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma may be exempted from the tournament, while others like Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and KL Rahul are expected to participate partially or fully.The Duleep Trophy, scheduled to begin on September 5, will provide an opportunity for players to prepare for the Bangladesh series. The two Tests will be played in Chennai (September 19) and Kanpur (September 27).

The recent ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka marked a significant transition for the Indian cricket team under the leadership of new head coach Gautam Gambhir. While the tour provided an opportunity to experiment with young talent, Gambhir's decision to include experienced veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has sparked debate among cricket experts.Former India fast bowler Ashish Nehra believes that the inclusion of Kohli and Sharma was not the optimal strategy. He argues that the series presented an ideal chance to give opportunities to emerging players, especially considering the extended break before India's next assignment."This was a good chance to give chances to young talents," Nehra said. "The presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma was not required for this series."Nehra acknowledges that Gambhir, as a new coach, may have wanted to spend time with experienced players. However, he believes that Gambhir is well-acquainted with Kohli and Sharma and could have afforded to give other players a chance."I know Gambhir is a new coach, and he wants to spend some time with the experienced players, but it isn't like he doesn't know the two of them," Nehra said. "He is not a foreign coach who wants to get his equation right with Kohli and Rohit."Nehra suggests that the series could have been an opportunity to experiment with new combinations and give young players valuable experience. He believes that Kohli and Sharma could have been rested for the Sri Lanka tour and brought back for the upcoming home season."It was a good opportunity for him to try out the new players, and Rohit and Kohli could play when the home season begins," Nehra said. "I'm not saying it is a wrong approach, but it could have been one of the strategies in this series."Gambhir's decision to include Kohli and Sharma has raised questions about his long-term vision for the Indian team. While the experienced duo remains vital to India's success, it is crucial to develop and nurture young talent to ensure a smooth transition in the future.

Indian Cricket Team Prepares for ODI Series in Sri Lanka Amidst Rain ConcernsAfter securing a resounding 3-0 victory in the T20I series against Sri Lanka, the Indian cricket team, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, has shifted its focus to the upcoming ODI series, which commences in Colombo on Friday.On Sunday, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer arrived in Sri Lanka and immediately commenced practice sessions on Wednesday in preparation for the ODIs. However, a recently surfaced video has captured a moment before the practice session, revealing a brief exchange between KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma.In the video, Rahul appears to express concerns about the threat of rain, attempting to convey his worries to Rohit Sharma, who arrives for the nets session with Iyer. Despite the lack of audio in the video, Rohit's response seems to be a nonchalant smile, dismissing Rahul's concerns in his characteristic style. Rohit's reaction elicits smiles from his teammates present at the practice session.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) subsequently shared images from the training session on its official Twitter handle, showcasing the team's preparations for the ODI series.The Indian team will be eager to maintain its winning momentum in the ODI series, having dominated the T20I leg of the tour. The ODI series presents a different set of challenges, and the team will need to adapt quickly to the longer format.Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, will be crucial to the team's success in the ODIs. His leadership and batting prowess will be vital in guiding the team to victory. Virat Kohli, the former captain, will also be expected to play a significant role, with his experience and ability to score runs consistently.The ODI series against Sri Lanka will be a valuable opportunity for the Indian team to fine-tune its preparations for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be held in India later this year. The team will be keen to build on its recent successes and establish itself as a formidable force in the 50-over format.

Suryakumar Yadav, the newly appointed permanent T20I captain of the Indian cricket team, has embarked on a journey to become a true leader, inspiring and guiding his team beyond the responsibilities of a captain. In his first series as captain, Suryakumar showcased his exceptional skills, earning the prestigious 'Player of The Series' title with two outstanding performances in the initial matches.However, his contribution extended further when he claimed two crucial wickets with his off-spin bowling during a nail-biting Super Over victory, adding an extra layer of satisfaction to his achievements. "Like I said before the series, I don't want to be the captain, I want to be the leader," Suryakumar said at the post-match presentation ceremony.He expressed endless admiration for his fellow players, who demonstrated immense courage and determination while safeguarding a humble total of 137 runs. "The amount of skill they have, self-confidence, it makes my job easy. The positivity, the care for each other is unbelievable. After the last game, I told few boys will be rested and they were ready to sit out."The Indian skipper said that just as people enjoy high scores of 220 or 230, they should also start appreciating low-scoring games, as it brings balance to the sport. "More than the last over, I feel when we were around 30/4 and 48 for 5, how the boys showed character, 140 was a par score on that track. I told, if we put our heart in it, we could pull it off."Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka couldn't explain what went wrong with the middle-order in all three games. "Definitely, really disappointed, especially the middle-order and lower-middle order. Very bad shot selection. The thinking was spinners were bowling and that's why Wanindu Hasaranga came up the order and we gave him the license to hit one or two boundaries," Asalanka said."I think especially we played some wrong shots and when the ball gets old, the shot selection has to be spot on. We can't give excuses and we have to do more than this."I want to see good batting performance in ODIs and I think the boys will do better," the dejected Lankan skipper added.

The appointment of Gautam Gambhir as the Indian cricket team coach has sparked anticipation and debate within the cricketing fraternity. Gambhir, known for his aggressive leadership and tactical acumen, has a proven track record of success as a mentor. Under his guidance, Kolkata Knight Riders won the IPL 2023 title, and Lucknow Super Giants reached two consecutive IPL playoffs.As the Indian team enters a crucial phase, with senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja retiring from T20Is, Gambhir's role becomes even more significant. However, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has downplayed the importance of the coach's role, stating that it is ultimately the players who determine the team's success.Manjrekar's comments, though intended as a general observation, have been interpreted by some as a veiled attack on Gambhir. This has led to a heated debate on social media, with fans and experts weighing in on the matter.Despite Manjrekar's skepticism, Gambhir's appointment has been met with optimism by many. His ability to inspire and motivate players, coupled with his tactical nous, is seen as a valuable asset for the Indian team.India's recent history in ICC tournaments has been a mixed bag. They won the ODI World Cup in 1983 without a designated head coach. In 2007 and 2011, MS Dhoni led the team to World Cup victories under different coaches. Under Ravi Shastri's mentorship, India came close to winning the World Test Championship final and the ODI World Cup final in 2023.Rahul Dravid's tenure as coach culminated in India's triumph at the T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados, ending their 11-year-long ICC title drought.As Gambhir takes charge of the Indian team, he will be tasked with building a cohesive unit capable of challenging for major trophies. His experience and leadership qualities will be crucial in guiding the team through this transition period.

Former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel is set to join the Indian cricket team's coaching staff as their new bowling coach. The appointment, made under head coach Gautam Gambhir, comes at a crucial juncture as the team prepares for a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka and the upcoming home series against Bangladesh in September.Morkel's addition to the coaching staff is part of an ongoing assessment by Gambhir and the management to refine the team's coaching framework ahead of future competitions. The strategic move casts uncertainty on the position of the interim bowling coach, Sairaj Bahutule, given Morkel's specialization in fast bowling.The decision on whether to maintain a dedicated spin bowling coach to work alongside Morkel remains pending. Should Bahutule continue in his role, the coaching staff would include two assistant coaches, Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate, a bowling coach (Morkel), a fielding coach (T Dilip), and potentially a spin bowling coach, under the direction of head coach Gambhir.Morkel's appointment is expected to bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the Indian team. The former Proteas pacer played 86 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 44 T20Is for South Africa, taking a total of 544 international wickets. He was known for his accuracy, pace, and ability to swing the ball both ways.The Indian team is currently in Sri Lanka for a limited-overs series, which includes three T20Is and three ODIs. The T20I series has already been won by India, with the ODIs set to commence on August 2.