Cricket

With the Men's T20 World Cup fast approaching, the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season will serve as a crucial platform for teams worldwide to finalize their squads. However, for Team India, a bombshell report suggests that the BCCI selectors are contemplating the bold move of excluding Virat Kohli from the squad for the prestigious tournament.The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA, will take place from June 2 to 29. Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian team, as confirmed by BCCI secretary Jay Shah. However, Kohli's inclusion remains uncertain, according to a report in 'The Telegraph'.India's inability to secure an ICC trophy since the 2013 Champions Trophy has prompted the selectors to consider drastic measures, including the potential omission of former captain Kohli. The report indicates that the selectors have concerns about Kohli's recent performances in the T20 format.However, Kohli's performance in the upcoming IPL season could influence the selectors' decision. The batting icon recently took a break from the five-Test series against England to welcome the arrival of his second child.The report quotes a source stating that "it remains a very delicate matter and not many (in the BCCI) are willing to get involved," leaving the final decision to the board's selection committee led by former India pacer Ajit Agarkar.Agarkar has reportedly had discussions with Kohli, emphasizing the need for him to adapt his game to meet the demands of the team and the T20 format.

Hardik Pandya Inaugurates Mandir in Mumbai Indians Dressing RoomAhead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Mumbai Indians' newly appointed skipper Hardik Pandya has set up a mandir in the dressing room alongside coach Mark Boucher. In a brief ceremony, Pandya garlanded a portrait of a deity while Boucher performed the coconut-breaking ritual.Pandya takes over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, who led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles. After a successful stint with Gujarat Titans, where he guided the team to the finals twice and won the championship in their inaugural season, Pandya returned to Mumbai in a high-profile trade last year.Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are the most successful IPL franchises, each with five titles. Rohit, who recently led India to the ODI World Cup final, had been captaining Mumbai Indians since 2013, when they won their first IPL trophy. Under his leadership, the team also won titles in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.Pandya's appointment as captain marks a new era for Mumbai Indians. The all-rounder is known for his aggressive style of play and leadership qualities. He will be expected to lead the team to another IPL title and continue the franchise's legacy of success.The gesture of setting up a mandir in the dressing room reflects the importance of spirituality and tradition in Indian cricket. It is a reminder that even in the high-stakes world of professional sports, players find solace and inspiration in their faith.

Hardik Pandya's departure from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians has sparked discussions about its impact on both teams. Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg believes that Gujarat Titans may be better off without Pandya, citing their strong bowling depth and Pandya's limited role in that department.Hogg suggests that Pandya's absence in the top order could be beneficial for Gujarat, as it allows them to explore other options. He also believes that Mumbai Indians will benefit from Pandya's presence as an Indian all-rounder in the lower middle order.Pandya's return to Mumbai marks a significant shift for the franchise, which has been led by Rohit Sharma since 2013. Sharma, who recently captained India to the ODI World Cup final, has led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles.Mumbai Indians have been the most successful IPL franchise alongside Chennai Super Kings, with both teams winning five titles each. Under Sharma's leadership, Mumbai Indians won the IPL in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.Despite their success under Sharma, Mumbai Indians struggled in IPL 2023, failing to make the playoffs. Pandya's arrival is expected to bolster the team's all-round capabilities and provide a much-needed boost to their batting lineup.While Gujarat Titans may miss Pandya's all-round contributions, they have a strong core of players and a proven track record of success. The team reached the finals in both of their first two seasons, winning the title in 2022.With a talented squad and a clear strategy, Gujarat Titans are well-positioned to continue their success in the upcoming IPL season, even without Hardik Pandya.

South African cricket star David Miller and his longtime girlfriend, Camilla Harris, tied the knot in a picturesque ceremony in Cape Town on Sunday. The explosive batter, who represents Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and Camilla shared heartwarming pictures and videos of their special day on social media.The intimate event was attended by close friends and family, including several of Miller's teammates like Aiden Markram, Quinton De Kock, and Mark Boucher. Camilla, a professional polo player, was seen cheering for Miller during his stint with GT in the IPL 2023 season.Meanwhile, Australian wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade will miss Gujarat Titans' first match of the upcoming IPL 2024 to participate in the Sheffield Shield final for Tasmania. The Sheffield Shield final will take place from March 21st to 25th, and Wade will miss GT's first game against Mumbai Indians on March 25.However, his presence in GT's second game against Chennai Super Kings on March 27 "could be tight," according to ESPNcricinfo. GT's third game of the tournament will take place on March 31 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.Tasmania head coach Jeff Vaughan confirmed that Wade has spoken to GT, and the IPL franchise has allowed him to take part in the Sheffield Shield final. "He's spoken with his IPL franchise and they're happy to allow him to stay here, which probably equates to him potentially missing their first game. We feel very fortunate to have someone of Matt's ilk coming back into our group, and his experience and his performances at the back end of our season," Vaughan said.

Rishabh Pant's much-anticipated return to cricket is imminent, with BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirming that the wicketkeeper-batter will participate in the upcoming IPL. Shah expressed optimism that Pant could also feature in the T20 World Cup later this year, provided he can maintain his fitness and wicketkeeping abilities.Pant has been sidelined since a horrific car accident in December 2022, which left him with severe injuries. However, he has made remarkable progress in his recovery and is now batting and keeping well. Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has already confirmed Pant's participation in the IPL, while co-owner Parth Jindal expects him to be fully fit and lead the team from the start.Meanwhile, India's premier pacer Mohammed Shami is also expected to make his comeback later this year. Shah revealed that Shami's ankle surgery was successful, and he is likely to return for the home Test series against Bangladesh in September. Shami missed the Test series against England and will also sit out of the IPL due to his injury.KL Rahul, who missed the last four Tests of the England series due to a quadriceps injury, is also expected to return for the IPL. He has undergone treatment in London and is currently undergoing rehab at the NCA. However, it is understood that Rahul is still awaiting clearance to join his IPL franchise, Lucknow Super Giants.The return of Pant and Shami will be a major boost for India, who are aiming to win the T20 World Cup on home soil later this year. Pant's wicketkeeping skills and explosive batting will be crucial for the team, while Shami's experience and pace will strengthen the bowling attack.

Virat Kohli, the prolific run-scorer in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has yet to conquer the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai while representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Despite amassing 7263 runs in 237 IPL matches, Kohli's average at the Chepauk is a modest 30, with a strike rate of 111.10.Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh believes Kohli needs to step up his performance at the Chepauk, especially against the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL opener on March 22. "The greatness of Virat has been reduced in terms of his overall performance at that venue," Harbhajan said. "It's a tricky venue to bat, especially as an opening batsman against a sort of weird tennis ball type bounce."Kohli has been dismissed in the Powerplays three times in his last five innings against CSK, and Harbhajan emphasized the importance of extending his time at the crease. "If he's actually prepared to bat about 20 overs, then he can put together a match-winning performance," he said.Kohli has yet to score an IPL century at Chepauk, and his record against CSK is also underwhelming. In 30 matches against CSK, he has scored 985 runs, with a highest score of 90. Harbhajan believes Kohli needs to rediscover his 2016 form for RCB to challenge for the IPL title. "It's important for him to have a season like 2016, because if Virat goes on to score runs, the team will go forward," he said.In 2016, Kohli had an exceptional IPL season, amassing 973 runs from 16 matches, featuring four centuries and seven fifties. This remarkable performance still stands as the highest run-aggregate in a single IPL season.

Virat Kohli, the legendary Indian batsman, has expressed his deep affection for the Indian Premier League (IPL), attributing its success to the strong bond between players and fans. Kohli, who is currently on a break from the ongoing Test series against England due to personal reasons, is expected to return for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in their IPL opener against Chennai Super Kings on March 22.Kohli emphasized the unique camaraderie that develops among players in the IPL, which sets it apart from other cricket tournaments. "I absolutely love IPL, also because of the camaraderie you share, so many new players you play with, so many players that you've known for a long time who are not from your own country, whom you don't see often," he said.He further explained that in other cricket tournaments, players from different teams have limited interactions. "You do play all your tournaments which is one team versus another. ICC tournaments come every now and then, but even in ICC tournaments, you don't interact with other players or see the other team, so often," he said.In contrast, the IPL provides a platform for players to connect with each other frequently. "But in IPL, you're probably meeting every team just every second or third day, and that's the beauty of IPL. You are playing in different conditions in a different city with a different team. Everybody has a different kind of determination at various stages of the tournament and such magical moments are being created," he added.Kohli's comments highlight the IPL's ability to foster a sense of community and camaraderie among players, which contributes to its immense popularity among fans. The tournament provides a unique opportunity for players from different backgrounds and nationalities to come together and showcase their skills, creating unforgettable moments that resonate with audiences worldwide.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has revolutionized the cricketing landscape, not only fostering talent identification but also enhancing the competitiveness of all three formats of the game, according to league chairman Arun Dhumal.Since its inception in 2008, the IPL has witnessed an explosion in T20 cricket's popularity. Players like Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rinku Singh have earned India caps after impressive performances in the lucrative league."The IPL has been phenomenal in identifying new talent," Dhumal said. "Every season, we see highly skilled youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rinku Singh emerge. They have gone on to represent India, demonstrating the IPL's significance in nurturing young talent."The IPL has become the world's second-richest sports league in terms of per-match value, trailing only the NFL. Dhumal believes the league has positively impacted Test and ODI cricket as well."The IPL has become the second most important league globally in the past 15 years," Dhumal said. "It has significantly altered cricket. We have seen more results in Test matches and increased competitiveness in ODIs.""Two decades ago, 250-300 runs were considered a good score in ODIs. Now, we regularly witness scores of 400. The T20 format and the IPL have played a crucial role in this evolution," he added.The upcoming IPL season will commence on March 22 and will be held entirely in India despite the coinciding general elections. The schedule will be finalized once the election dates are announced."We have released the schedule for the first two weeks," Dhumal said. "We are awaiting the election commission's announcement. We will adjust the schedule accordingly and hope to host a significant number of matches in Dharamshala."The final Test of the India-England series is currently underway in Ahmedabad. It marks a milestone for Ravichandran Ashwin and Jonny Bairstow, who are playing their 100th Tests."This Test is historic," Dhumal said. "It's Ashwin's 100th, Bairstow's 100th, and Anderson is likely to take his 700th wicket. It also coincides with the anniversary of Sunil Gavaskar scoring 10,000 runs."

Dinesh Karthik, the veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter, is set to bid farewell to the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season, marking the end of an illustrious career in the tournament. Karthik, who turns 39 in June, will also make a decision on his international future soon.Karthik, who began his IPL journey with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), is one of only seven players to have featured in every season of the IPL since its inception in 2008. He has missed just two matches in 16 seasons, a testament to his durability and commitment.Despite a disappointing 2023 IPL season with the bat, Karthik enjoyed a stellar campaign in 2022 with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Playing the role of a finisher, he scored 330 runs at an average of 55 and a strike rate of 183.33, helping RCB reach the playoffs.Karthik's IPL form earned him a berth in the 2022 T20 World Cup, but he struggled to make an impact. He has represented six IPL teams throughout his career, including Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, Kolkata Knight Riders, and RCB.In 240 IPL matches, Karthik has amassed 4516 runs at an average of 26 and a strike rate of 132, with 20 half-centuries. As a keeper, he is second only to MS Dhoni in overall dismissals (133) and stumpings (36).Karthik has also captained in the IPL, leading Daredevils on six occasions and Knight Riders for 37 matches. He has a captaincy record of 21 wins, 21 losses, and one tie.As he prepares to retire from playing, Karthik has already embarked on a second career in broadcasting. He has worked as a pundit for the World Test Championship final and the Hundred, and is currently commentating on the India-England Test series.RCB will open their IPL campaign against defending champions Chennai Super Kings on March 23 at Karthik's home ground in Chepauk.