Cricket

Sanju Samson's return to the Indian T20I team after being benched in the first match against Sri Lanka was short-lived, as he was dismissed for a golden duck while opening the innings. This move raised questions about Samson's role in the team, especially considering the prominence given to Riyan Parag.Parag has emerged as a key figure in the Indian team under new head coach Gambhir, occupying the middle-order batting spot that many expected Samson to fill. Parag's ability to bowl a few overs gives him an advantage over Samson, who is primarily a wicket-keeper batter.Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes that Parag's bowling ability will give him a long rope in the middle-order, especially in T20I cricket. "You will see Riyan Parag getting many chances due to his bowling ability. As a top-order batsman, not many in the country have the ability to roll their arm over. This is where Riyan Parag will get an extra advantage, and rightly so," Pathan said.Samson's situation in the Indian team has been puzzling, with the talented wicket-keeper batter being shuffled across different roles and positions since his debut. Despite his undeniable talent, Samson has struggled to cement his spot in the team, as he continues to be tried and tested in various roles.The first two matches under Gambhir's leadership have made it clear that Parag is part of his long-term plans. This raises questions about Samson's future in the team, as he may have to adapt to a different role or face the prospect of being overlooked for selection.

Gautam Gambhir's appointment as head coach of the Indian cricket team has been met with mixed reactions. Some have questioned his experience, while others have praised his leadership qualities.Gambhir, who replaced Rahul Dravid at the helm, is already in Sri Lanka with the Indian team for the upcoming white-ball tour. He was one of the two candidates interviewed for the role by BCCI's COC, following his successful stint as mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).The likes of Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer, Mahela Jayawardene, and Stephen Fleming, were also reportedly in the race. However, the BCCI's priority was always an Indian.While Gambhir's appointment was made official on July 9, after Rahul Dravid's contract came to an end, former India pacer Ashish Nehra was also floating in the media.During a recent interaction, Nehra has opened up about why he didn't apply. The 45-year-old insisted that his children are young, and he was not in the mood to travel for nine months."Meri abhi kabhi us tareh soch nahi gayi hai. My kids are young. GG ke bacche bhi abhi young hai par sabki soch alag alag hoti hai, toh I am very happy where I am. I am not in the mood to travel for nine months (I never thought about it. My children are still young. Gautam Gambhir also has young children, but everyone has different ideas. That's why I am happy where I am. I am not in the mood to travel for nine months)," Nehra told Sports Today.Meanwhile, Gambhir also confirmed the names of two assistant coaches that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approved. Though the complete list of coaches will be confirmed only after the Sri Lanka tour, Gambhir is happy to see the board agreeing to most of his demands as the head coach of the Indian team.During a media briefing, Gambhir revealed that his former Kolkata Knight Riders mates, Ryan Ten Doeschate and Abhishek Nayar have joined him as assistant coaches."This is going to be the crux of the support staff. As I said, we still have one month after the Sri Lanka tour. We will try and finalise after the Sri Lanka tour. But, I have worked with people like Abhishek Nayar, Ryan Ten Doeschate very closely. In the last two months, especially in the IPL, I have enjoyed working with them. They are thorough professionals. Hope Ryan and Abhishek can have a successful stint.""Hopefully, we can have a successful tenure as coaches. I am really looking forward to work with the rest of the other guys as well. I have had some really good feedback from the players about the other guys. I am really looking forward to working with them. My experience and learning have been been very simple," Gambhir said.

Gautam Gambhir's appointment as the Indian cricket team's head coach has sparked mixed reactions. While many experts and fans welcomed the move, former Pakistan cricketer Tanveer Ahmed believes Gambhir did not deserve the role.Gambhir was appointed after Rahul Dravid's tenure ended following India's triumph at the T20 World Cup 2024. The appointment came as a surprise to some, as the names of WV Raman and National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman were also in contention.Tanveer took to social media to express his disappointment with Gambhir's appointment, calling it a "parchi" case. He argued that Laxman should have been appointed due to his work with the youngsters."VVS Laxman should have become the head coach of the Indian team because he has been with the India B team as coach for a long time. It seems as if Gautam Gambhir's appointment is a 'parchi' case," Tanveer posted on X.However, Gambhir's appointment has been welcomed by many. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar praised Gambhir's leadership qualities and his ability to get the best out of his players."Gautam Gambhir is a proven leader. He has captained India to victory in the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. He is also a very good tactician and knows how to get the best out of his players," Gavaskar said.Gambhir has already begun his tenure as head coach, leading the team in their first practice session ahead of the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. The new T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, was also involved in the session.Gambhir was seen giving batting tips to Sanju Samson and had a chat with all-rounder Shivam Dube. The training session focused on running, catching, and one-on-one interactions.

The Indian men's cricket team, led by newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, embarked on their tour of Sri Lanka with a warm welcome in Pallekele. The team, comprising 15 members and support staff, arrived via Colombo after a pre-departure press conference in Mumbai.India will engage in a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, who are yet to announce their squad. The first T20I will be played on July 27, followed by matches on July 28 and 30. The team will then proceed to Colombo for three One-day Internationals scheduled for August 2, 4, and 7.The Suryakumar-led side features several young players, including vice-captain Shubman Gill. However, it lacks the experience of stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, who retired from T20Is after India's triumph in the T20 World Cup.Suryakumar's appointment as T20 captain over Hardik Pandya was based on his fitness and feedback from the dressing room. The team also boasts experienced players such as Sanju Samson, Pandya, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh.Gambhir, who took over from Rahul Dravid as national coach, expressed his excitement about the tour. "We are looking forward to the challenge of playing in Sri Lanka," he said. "We have a young and talented team, and we are confident that we can perform well."Yadav, the newly appointed captain, echoed Gambhir's sentiments. "It is an honor to lead the Indian team," he said. "We have a great team, and we are ready to give our best."The Indian team's arrival in Sri Lanka has generated significant buzz among fans. The players were greeted with enthusiasm and warmth, and they took the opportunity to interact with their supporters.

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of the Indian cricket team, has dismissed rumors of a strained relationship with star batter Virat Kohli. Gambhir, known for his fiery on-field altercations with Kohli, emphasized that their personal differences will not affect their professional collaboration."What kind of relationship I share with Virat Kohli is between two mature individuals," Gambhir stated. "On the field, everyone has the right to fight for their team, but when representing India, we are on the same page."Gambhir expressed admiration for Kohli's professionalism and athleticism, recalling the time he awarded him the Man of the Match award after Kohli's maiden international century in 2009. "I have huge respect for him as a player, and it will continue," Gambhir said.Another key player Gambhir will work closely with is Rohit Sharma, who has retired from T20Is but remains captain in Tests and ODIs. Gambhir expressed confidence in both Kohli and Sharma's longevity in the game."They have both shown they can deliver on the big stage," Gambhir said. "They have a lot of cricket left in them, especially with the Champions Trophy and a big tour of Australia coming up. If they can keep their fitness, the 2027 ODI World Cup is also a possibility."Gambhir's appointment has sparked speculation about a potential rift in the dressing room, but he dismissed such concerns. "We are going to be on the same page and try and make India proud," he said.

Former India pacer Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of the BCCI selection committee, faced scrutiny at a press conference on Monday regarding the exclusion of several players from the team's tour of Sri Lanka.Agarkar defended the committee's decisions, emphasizing the limited roster size and the need to prioritize balance. He acknowledged the strong performances of Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Abhishek Sharma in Zimbabwe but maintained that not everyone could be accommodated in the 15-man squad."Every player who's left out feels hard done by," Agarkar said. "Our challenge is to pick only 15. You try and get the best balance possible. So someone's likely to miss out."Agarkar cited the example of Rinku Singh, who was omitted from India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad despite his impressive form. He stressed that such exclusions are sometimes unavoidable due to the competitive nature of team selection."We had an opportunity to give some of those guys a go in the Zimbabwe series, which was good," Agarkar added. "So, we have enough depth if tomorrow there is loss of form for the players that are playing or there are injuries."Agarkar emphasized the difficulty of balancing individual performances with team dynamics. He explained that while players may have had strong recent showings, the selectors must consider the overall composition of the squad and the suitability of each player for specific roles."But it's tough," Agarkar said. "I mean Rinku for no fault of his missed out from the World Cup, it's an example. He had a terrific [run in the] T20 leading up to the World Cup. But sometimes it's just the way it goes. Unfortunately for us as well, it is difficult to fit everyone in the fifteen."

India's chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, has shed light on the rationale behind the recent leadership appointments in the Indian cricket team. Suryakumar Yadav has been named as the full-time T20I captain, while Shubman Gill has been handed the vice-captaincy in the limited-overs formats.Agarkar emphasized that the decision to appoint Yadav as captain was based on his exceptional batting skills and leadership qualities. He highlighted Yadav's consistent performance as one of the world's top T20 batters and his ability to lead the team effectively.Regarding the decision to not appoint Hardik Pandya as vice-captain, Agarkar explained that the team management wants to manage his workload better. Pandya's fitness has been a concern in recent years, and the selectors believe that giving him additional leadership responsibilities could exacerbate this issue.Agarkar also discussed the grooming of Shubman Gill as a potential future captain. Gill has shown promising leadership qualities and is seen as a three-format player with the potential to succeed in all formats of the game.The selection panel also addressed the absence of Sanju Samson from the ODI squad for the Sri Lanka tour. Agarkar explained that KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant were preferred as wicketkeepers due to their recent performances and experience.Agarkar clarified that Ravindra Jadeja was not dropped from the ODI set-up but was rested to give opportunities to Axar Patel. He also mentioned that some Test players are likely to participate in the first Duleep Trophy game to prepare for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.

Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as the captain of the Indian T20 team for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, which will feature three T20 Internationals and three ODIs starting on July 27. The decision was made based on Yadav's fitness, consistent availability, and positive feedback from the dressing room, according to chief selector Ajit Agarkar.Agarkar emphasized the importance of having a captain who can participate in all games, especially considering the team's recent struggles with injuries. Yadav's fitness and reliability made him the ideal choice, as he is one of the most consistent T20 batters in the world."He is one of the best T20 batters, and as captain, he is likely to play all the games," Agarkar explained. "We think he is a deserving captain and we will see how he fits into the role."The decision to appoint Yadav over Hardik Pandya was also influenced by Pandya's ongoing fitness concerns. While Pandya possesses unique skills, his availability has been limited due to injuries."Hardik's skill-sets are difficult to find, and fitness is difficult to find," Agarkar said. "We have got a bit more time, and we can look at a few things."Agarkar also revealed that feedback from the dressing room played a role in the decision-making process. The team's overall sentiment was considered, indicating that Yadav has the support of his teammates.The T20 series against Sri Lanka will provide Yadav with an opportunity to prove his leadership abilities. He will lead a 15-member squad that includes several experienced players, such as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Dinesh Karthik.Rohit Sharma, who retired from T20 internationals after leading India to the World Cup triumph in the West Indies, will return as the skipper of the one-day international team. The ODIs will be held on August 2, 4, and 7 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel is reportedly set to become the next bowling coach of the Indian cricket team. The news comes after discussions between Morkel and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), following a recommendation from new head coach Gautam Gambhir.Morkel, who played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and was part of the title-winning team under Gambhir's captaincy in 2014, is expected to join the Indian team after the upcoming Sri Lanka series.However, Cricbuzz reports that Morkel will not travel to Sri Lanka for the T20I and ODI series, with former India spinner Sairaj Bahutule serving as the interim bowling coach.Morkel's appointment as bowling coach is seen as a significant move, given his experience as a player and coach. He has previously served as the bowling coach of the Pakistan cricket team and has worked alongside Gambhir as the bowling coach of the Lucknow Super Giants.In addition to Morkel, Gautam Gambhir has also appointed Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coaches for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. Nayar, who played three ODIs for India, and Ten Doeschate were part of Gambhir's coaching staff at the Kolkata Knight Riders when they won the IPL in 2024.T Dilip will continue as the fielding coach for the Indian team.