Cricket

The upcoming Lord's Test between India and England has sparked controversy over its exorbitant ticket prices, despite a lukewarm response to the recent Test against Sri Lanka. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), owner of Lord's, has faced criticism for its pricing strategy, which has seen a significant increase compared to previous matches.The five-match Test series between India and England commences on June 20, with the third game scheduled at Lord's from July 10. The cheapest tickets for the Lord's Test are priced at £90, offering restricted views. For unrestricted views, fans will have to pay between £120 and £175, according to ESPNcricinfo.In contrast, tickets with restricted views for the Test against Sri Lanka last month ranged from £115 to £140. The match ended on day four with only 9,000 spectators in attendance, filling just one-third of the stadium's capacity.Former England cricketer David Lloyd has vehemently criticized the increased ticket prices. "No doubt Lord's will still be full, but increasing ticket prices to a whopping £175 for next July's third Test between England and India beggars belief," Lloyd wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.Lloyd expressed concern that Test cricket is becoming an "elite showpiece," inaccessible to a wider cross-section of society. He questioned the decision-making process behind the pricing, asking, "Who actually sets the price? Name names. Who says: I think it should be X? And who responds: Aye, seems about right."Lloyd emphasized that the high ticket prices are out of reach for many fans. "I'm the voice of the everyday fan. So, the face value cost of attending a single day of a Lord's Test is utterly preposterous to me," he said.Social media has been flooded with comments from fans expressing their inability to afford the tickets. "Times are tough at the minute. I'm retired, and I can't justify £120-175 pound. That doesn't fit my priorities," Lloyd concluded.The MCC has yet to respond to the criticism, but the issue of ticket pricing is likely to continue to be a topic of debate as the Test series approaches.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young Indian batter, made history during the five-match Test series against England in January 2023. The 22-year-old amassed a staggering 712 runs, including two double centuries and two tons, helping India secure a dominant 4-1 series victory. Jaiswal's aggressive batting earned him a place alongside Sunil Gavaskar as the only Indian batters to score 700-plus runs in a Test series.However, during the series, a comment from England batter Ben Duckett sparked controversy. Duckett claimed that Jaiswal's fiery technique was a result of the influence of English batters. This statement drew widespread criticism, with many former cricketers and pundits accusing Duckett of downplaying Jaiswal's talent.Eight months later, Duckett has clarified his remarks. "It was actually me paying him (Jaiswal) a nice compliment," Duckett told Daily Mail. "I'm pretty sure I said he was a world-class player, but no one spoke about that."Duckett also revealed the impact of red-ball coach Brendon McCullum's words on his approach to batting. "It was Baz (McCullum) who said: 'Why do you have to go and bat like these previous openers? Why can't you be the best version of yourself?' That's what I am," Duckett explained.Despite his success, Duckett remains driven to improve. "I'm the kind of guy who's never satisfied," he said. "I want the next two years to be even better. My batting has felt like it has gone to a different level."

India's legendary cricketer Yuvraj Singh ignited social media with a witty tweet following India's emphatic semi-final victory over England in the 2024 T20 World Cup. As India emerged as convincing winners by 68 runs, Yuvraj took to Twitter to post "Goodnight in-laws," a humorous reference to his wife Hazel Keech, who hails from Britain.Yuvraj, a key member of India's triumphant 2007 T20 World Cup squad, will now eagerly support Rohit Sharma and his team as they strive for a second title. After the semi-final, Yuvraj tweeted: "Well played boys. Goodnight in-laws."Batting first, India posted a competitive 171 runs on the board in 20 overs. England's batting lineup was then dismantled by India's bowlers, who restricted them to a mere 103 runs. Axar Patel emerged as the Player of the Match with three wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah also claimed three and two wickets, respectively.Earlier, Rohit Sharma's 57 off 39 balls and Suryakumar Yadav's 47 off 36 balls propelled India to a respectable total on a slow, spin-friendly pitch at Guyana's Providence Stadium. Despite rain interruptions, India managed to accumulate a substantial score.Yuvraj has a history of tormenting England in T20 World Cups. In the 2007 edition, he famously struck Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over, en route to a blistering 12-ball half-century.During the ongoing T20 World Cup, Yuvraj has been present in the USA and has participated in the commentary panel for some of India's matches.India will now face South Africa in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Similar to the 2023 ODI World Cup, India will enter the final with an unblemished record in the tournament. Notably, South Africa also boasts a 100% win rate, setting the stage for an intriguing final.The championship match will be held at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29.

India vs England: T20 World Cup 2024 Live Cricket Score, Live Score Of Today's Match on NDTV SportsThe highly anticipated T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and England is underway, with India currently at 113/3 after 14 overs. Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav have been the standout performers for India, with half-centuries to their names.England's bowlers have struggled to contain the Indian batsmen, with Adil Rashid being the only one to make a breakthrough. Rashid dismissed Virat Kohli for 24, while Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran have been economical but wicketless.India got off to a solid start, with Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul putting on a 50-run partnership for the first wicket. However, Rahul was dismissed for 28 by Curran, and Kohli soon followed.Suryakumar Yadav has been in excellent form, hitting a quickfire 50 off just 29 balls. He has been supported by Rohit Sharma, who has played a more measured innings.England will need to find a way to break the partnership between Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav if they want to get back into the game. India, on the other hand, will be looking to continue their momentum and post a challenging total.

The T20 World Cup semifinals face a significant weather threat, with the second semifinal between India and England in Guyana particularly vulnerable. Unlike the first semifinal between South Africa and Afghanistan, which has a reserve day, the India-England match does not.This discrepancy stems from the timing of the matches. The South Africa-Afghanistan game is a day-night affair, allowing for a reserve day if rain interrupts play. However, the India-England semifinal is a day match, and the travel day for the finalists on June 28 precludes a reserve day.To accommodate potential rain delays, the second semifinal has been allocated an additional four hours. However, if rain forces the abandonment of the match, the team that finished higher in the Super 8s will advance to the final.According to weather forecasts, there is an 88% chance of rain and an 18% chance of thunderstorms in Guyana on Thursday morning. If rain disrupts play, the umpires will have eight hours to complete the match.In the event that both semifinals are abandoned due to rain, India and South Africa, the top finishers in their respective groups, will advance to the title clash.

India's resounding 4-1 victory over England in the Test series has sparked a scathing attack from former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar. Despite missing key players and losing the first Test, India's young team led by Rohit Sharma displayed exceptional resilience and dominance.Gavaskar's criticism centers on England's perceived arrogance and condescending attitude towards India. He contrasts this with the more affable and adaptable nature of Australian players, who have embraced the Indian culture and the lucrative opportunities offered by the Indian Premier League (IPL).Gavaskar argues that the Aussies' willingness to integrate and respect Indian culture has fostered a positive relationship between the two teams, despite the intense rivalry on the field. In contrast, he believes England's "supercilious attitude" has created a sense of animosity.Gavaskar's comments come after he expressed disappointment with Sarfaraz Khan's reckless shot selection in the fifth Test. He emphasized the importance of patience and discipline, even for experienced batsmen.India's victory has solidified their position at the top of the World Test Championship points table, while England languishes near the bottom. The series has highlighted the depth and talent of India's young players, who have stepped up in the absence of senior stars.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Player-of-the-Series in the recently concluded five-Test rubber against England, attributed his remarkable success to his fearless approach as an opener. Jaiswal amassed 712 runs, including two centuries and three fifties, averaging 89 and striking at 80."My mindset was to attack the bowlers and not back down," Jaiswal stated during the post-series presentation. "I wanted to put pressure on them from the outset."Despite his historic achievement, Jaiswal remains grounded. "I'm trying to take it one game at a time and focus on contributing to the team's success," he said.Skipper Rohit Sharma echoed the need for humility and focus. "Yashasvi has a long way to go, but his talent is undeniable," Sharma said. "He's a tough competitor who thrives on challenges."Kuldeep Yadav, who was named Player of the Match for his seven-wicket haul and a crucial 30 down the order, emphasized the importance of maintaining a good length. "I focused on keeping the ball on a good length, which is essential for a spinner in this format," he explained.Yadav singled out his dismissals of Ben Stokes and Zak Crawley as his favorites from the series. "I bowled well in Ranchi, and the Stokes wicket was a highlight," he said. "I also enjoyed the Crawley wicket in Dharamsala, where I bowled a beautiful ball."Sharma praised Kuldeep's work ethic. "He's a player with immense potential," Sharma said. "He's put in a lot of effort, and his improved batting is a testament to his dedication."

Akash Deep's Heartwarming Gesture for Thirsty Fan Wins Hearts at Dharamsala TestDuring the recently concluded fifth and final Test match between India and England at the HPCA International Stadium in Dharamsala, pacer Akash Deep captured attention with a heartwarming gesture towards a thirsty fan.In a viral video, two fans can be heard requesting Akash for a bottle of water. After a moment of hesitation, the pacer decided to throw a bottle into the crowd, much to the delight of the fans. This incident occurred on the second day of the game.Akash's gesture received widespread applause from fans and commentators alike. It showcased his compassion and willingness to go the extra mile for his supporters. The video of the incident has been widely shared on social media, garnering praise for the young pacer.India Dominates England in Dharamsala TestIn the match itself, India emerged victorious by an innings and 64 runs, claiming the series 4-1. Ravichandran Ashwin was the star performer, picking up a match haul of nine wickets. The veteran spinner added five wickets in the second innings to his tally of four in the first, ensuring a memorable 100th Test appearance.England's batters struggled throughout the match, failing to cope with the Indian bowling attack. They were bowled out for 218 and 195 in their two innings, while India posted a formidable 477 on the same track.Openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill scored centuries, while debutant Devdutt Padikkal, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sarfaraz Khan all contributed fifties. England's only bright spot was veteran seamer James Anderson, who became the first fast bowler in cricket history to claim 700 Test wickets.

As the fifth and final Test between India and England reached its third day at the picturesque Dharamsala stadium, the outcome seemed inevitable for the visitors. With half of their team dismissed and the target still distant, a triumph for India appeared imminent. Amidst the bleak situation, England's seasoned campaigner, Joe Root, led the resistance.However, an intriguing exchange between young Sarfaraz Khan, stationed at short-leg, and England's young off-spinner Shoaib Bashir added a touch of levity to the unfolding drama. Overheard on the stump microphone, Sarfaraz quipped, "Hit it quickly and finish the game, we will go up on the snow for a walk." His sentiment resonated with players and spectators alike, eager to explore the tourist destination nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas.Before the tea interval, England's resistance crumbled, culminating in a comprehensive innings-and-64-run victory for India in just two-and-a-half days. This triumph sealed a 4-1 series win for India, granting fans a weekend to indulge in the scenic beauty of the region.Following England's impressive comeback victory in the first Test at Hyderabad, India's dominance at home appeared to be under threat. However, over the next six weeks, India showcased their prowess by winning four Tests and unearthing a cadre of young match-winners.India's coach, Rahul Dravid, acknowledged the absence of key players like Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami but lauded the contributions of the younger generation. Dravid praised Rohit Sharma's leadership and the team's collective effort, emphasizing their ability to play aggressive and entertaining cricket even on fair pitches.