Cricket

India's T20 World Cup campaign got off to a flying start as they cruised to a 47-run victory over Afghanistan in their Super Eight opener. Despite a challenging pitch, Suryakumar Yadav's brilliance and Jasprit Bumrah's devastating bowling performance propelled India to a commanding total and a comfortable win.Suryakumar, batting at No. 4, played a masterful innings of 53 off 32 deliveries. His ability to adapt to the slow conditions and find gaps in the field was a testament to his exceptional skills. He played four sweeps for boundaries, smashed a six over the three Ws stand, and executed a stunning swipe shot to keep the scoreboard ticking.India's aggressive approach was evident from the start, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli looking to hit boundaries early on. Kohli's dismissal for 29 was a setback, but the middle order stepped up to maintain the momentum. Suryakumar's innings was crucial in setting up a competitive total of 181 for 8.Afghanistan's chase was derailed by Bumrah's brilliance. The Indian pace spearhead bowled a devastating spell of 3-7, including two wickets in his first over. He exploited the slow pitch by bowling wide and slow, denying the Afghan batsmen the opportunity to hit straight.Kuldeep Yadav also impressed with his spin bowling, picking up 2 for 32. Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja contributed with a wicket each, while Arshdeep Singh almost completed a hat-trick in the final over.India's victory was a testament to their adaptability and aggressive mindset. They have shed their conservative approach and are now willing to take risks to score runs and take wickets. With Suryakumar in top form and Bumrah leading the bowling attack, India will be a formidable force in the tournament.

Curtly Ambrose, the legendary fast bowler, holds Jasprit Bumrah in high regard, despite the Indian spearhead's history of stress fractures. Ambrose believes that Bumrah's unorthodox action should remain unchanged, maintaining that all fast bowlers face the risk of injury when they step onto the field."I'm a big fan of Jasprit Bumrah," said Ambrose in an interview with PTI. "He's so unconventional but highly effective, and that's what I like about him. When you look at traditional fast bowlers, you wouldn't look at Bumrah, he's so unorthodox."At 30 years old, Bumrah possesses the ability to take wickets at any stage of a limited-over match. In Test cricket, he is equally effective with both the new and old ball, particularly when the ball starts to reverse swing. Widely considered the best all-format pacer in the game currently, Bumrah has encountered his share of back issues and underwent surgery in March of the previous year. Following an extensive rehabilitation period, he made his comeback prior to the ODI World Cup in India in November and has been in top form since then.Ambrose emphasized that Bumrah should maintain his current approach and technique, making no alterations to his bowling style. "He has done a great job for India and still doing a great job in all formats," said Ambrose. "He's someone I've always enjoyed watching because he's so different."Bumrah's unique bowling action, with his chest open at the point of delivery, can potentially put extra strain on his back. However, Ambrose believes that every pace bowler has to cope with certain risks associated with their craft. "From my little experience, there are no two bowlers who are exactly alike," said Ambrose. "In terms of his longevity, in terms of injuries, (for) every fast bowler, there is always risk of being injured. But at the same time you can't go out there thinking that wa."Ambrose, a towering figure at 6 feet 7 inches, consistently challenged the world's elite batsmen with his ability to generate extra bounce. However, he doesn't attribute the strain on Bumrah's back solely to his bowling action. "I've never been through it (stress fracture)," said Ambrose. "So it would be unfair for me to even try to say what to do. I will leave that for the medical expert. I don't think Bumrah's stress comes totally from his action."Ambrose also expressed concern about the increasing workload on players due to the packed global cricket schedule. "Too much cricket is being played as well," he said. "Players are leaving from one series to the next, there is franchise cricket as well. Guys could get burnt out."Despite the challenges, Ambrose believes that Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the sport. "I've always preferred Test match cricket over anything else," he said. "I believe at the end of a career, if you've been judged, if you want to become a legend, you have to play Test cricket. You would not become a legend playing ODIs or T20s."Ambrose concluded by expressing his admiration for the current generation of players, including Virat Kohli. "To dismiss them gives me more pleasure than dismissing numbers 9, 10, 11," he said. "You talk about these guys, they are great players (Kohli & Co). It would be nice to play against them but having said that, I've played against some greats in my time as well."

Virat Kohli's experience and adaptability will be crucial for India's success in the Caribbean leg of the T20 World Cup 2024, according to former Australian opener Matthew Hayden. Despite Kohli's modest run tally so far, Hayden believes his ability to assess surfaces and adjust to different conditions will be invaluable.Kohli has scored just 5 runs in three innings during the group stage, but Hayden emphasizes that his recent form in the IPL, where he was the leading run-getter, is a testament to his class. Hayden highlights the importance of constructing innings in the Caribbean, where par scores are typically lower than in other venues.Hayden also advocates for Kohli to continue opening alongside Rohit Sharma, arguing that it allows him to maximize his impact. He points to David Warner's performance in the World Cup as an example of how experienced batters can adapt to challenging conditions.However, Hayden cautions Kohli about maintaining a high strike rate, particularly in the powerplay overs. He emphasizes the importance of being proactive in the early stages of the innings to avoid falling behind.Meanwhile, Ian Bishop praises Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional bowling performance in the tournament. Bishop attributes Bumrah's success to his intelligence, variations, and unique action. He believes that Bumrah's reputation as a generational bowler has made batters wary of attacking him.

Jasprit Bumrah Shines in England Legends' T20 World Cup 'Team of the Tournament'In a surprising turn of events, Jasprit Bumrah emerged as the sole Indian representative in a 'Team of the Tournament' selected by renowned English cricket commentators Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain. The team, compiled based on performances in the group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup, notably excluded star Indian players Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Arshdeep Singh.Atherton and Hussain, now respected commentators, meticulously analyzed and justified their choices on Sky Sports Cricket. Despite Virat Kohli's status as the all-time leading run-scorer in T20 World Cup history, his meager five runs in the tournament thus far have left him on the outside looking in."We had Bumrah, obviously. He had to be in," Hussain remarked. Bumrah's exceptional performance in India's first three matches, including two Player of the Match awards against Ireland and Pakistan, earned him a well-deserved spot.The English duo also recognized the contributions of several unsung heroes of the tournament. Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Scotland's Brandon McMullen, and USA's Aaron Jones all made the cut.Gurbaz, fresh off his IPL 2024 triumph, has been a revelation, amassing 167 runs in four innings at a blistering strike rate of over 150. McMullen has been even more explosive, boasting a strike rate of 170.Australia's Marcus Stoinis was the lone all-rounder selected by Atherton and Hussain. Stoinis ranks third in the tournament's run-scoring charts with a remarkable strike rate of 190. His versatility extends to bowling, where he has claimed six wickets in four games at an economical rate of 5.77.The Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup commences on Wednesday, June 19, with hosts USA facing South Africa in Group II.

India's exceptional bowling performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup has garnered widespread acclaim, with former spinner Piyush Chawla hailing the current lineup as "one of the all-time greats." Chawla emphasized the remarkable transformation of India's bowling attack in recent years, attributing its success to the formidable pace quartet of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya, complemented by the skillful spinners Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Axar Patel.Chawla highlighted the bowlers' resilience in low-scoring encounters, particularly in the crucial clash against Pakistan. "Over the past few years, India's bowling attack has truly transformed," he said. "We now have one of the most complete and formidable bowling units in the world that has provided balance to the side allowing the batsmen with more freedom to play their natural game."Chawla praised the bowlers' ability to step up in crucial moments, citing instances where they outperformed the batters. "There have been many such occasions where our bowlers stepped up and contributed more than our batters," he said. "With the lethal pace quad of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh and top-notch spinners like Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel this is surely one of all time great bowling attack of India."India's dominance in Group A, with three wins and a washout against Canada, has earned them a spot in the Super Eight, where they will face Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Australia. Their first Super Eight clash will be against Afghanistan in Barbados on Thursday, June 20.

India's transformation from a spin-reliant nation to a pace-bowling powerhouse is a testament to the country's unwavering commitment to cricketing excellence. During his illustrious Test career, Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary "Little Master," opened the batting in all but nine of his 214 innings. However, lesser known is the fact that Gavaskar also took the new ball in five innings, not because he possessed blistering pace, but rather to provide a brief respite before introducing India's formidable spinners.Fast forward to the present day, and India boasts a glittering array of pace-bowling riches, spearheaded by the "Kohinoor of fast bowling," Jasprit Bumrah. The rise of India's pace stocks began long before Bumrah's international debut in 2016. Mohammad Nissar and Amar Singh, two early pace pioneers, played pivotal roles in India's inaugural Test victory against England at Lord's in 1932. However, the dominance of spin bowling in India, coupled with the emergence of a succession of high-class spinners, overshadowed the importance of fast bowling.It wasn't until Kapil Dev's sensational arrival in the late 1970s that a growing tribe of young aspirants began to harbor ambitions of running in hard and attacking the bowling crease. Kapil's understanding that he needed to recalibrate his bowling and sacrifice some pace for longevity proved crucial. His arrival coincided with the decline of the spin foursome, bringing fast bowling back into focus.Kapil's success inspired a generation of young bowlers, including Javagal Srinath, who became the first true fast bowler in modern-day Indian cricket. Srinath's tall, lithe frame and whippy action enabled him to hurry and harry batters, especially with his ability to bring the ball into the right-handers and generate considerable bounce.Despite the emergence of Srinath and a few other promising pacers, India's fast-bowling stocks remained fragmented. There were only a handful of bowlers who could consistently top 140 kmph, and while there was no shortage of skill, raw pace was a different matter altogether.The arrival of Mohammed Shami in 2013 and Bumrah two and a half years later marked a turning point. Shami's sensational burst of reverse swing on his debut against West Indies ignited the latest revolution, while Bumrah's unconventional speed and accuracy convinced Virat Kohli and team director Ravi Shastri that he would be a huge success in the five-day format.The BCCI's mandate for a certain amount of grass on pitches for domestic cricket, along with the tireless efforts of Bharat Arun, the national team's long-serving bowling coach, bore fruit in the assemblage of an attack for the ages. Today, teams that once didn't think twice about laying out green carpets or bouncy decks when India came calling are caught in a dilemma. India's batters are skilled enough to come through demanding tests, but India's bowlers also possess sufficient quality and are numerically adequate to pay back in kind.The embarrassment of riches has spilled over to white-ball cricket as well. At the ongoing T20 World Cup, Bumrah and Siraj are being backed up by Arshdeep Singh, a left-arm swing exponent with a mean yorker and clever changes of pace, and vice-captain Hardik Pandya, who has a penchant for testing out the bounce in the surface.India's graduation from the land of spin to a nation with outstanding fast-bowling talent has been a remarkable journey. Quality has been backed up by depth, not just quantity, and even when Bumrah was out for a year with a stress fracture of the back, India didn't suffer hugely. Of course, they missed their spearhead, but they found ways to fill the giant void. In fact, such was their depth that they left Shami out of their World Cup XI until Pandya's ankle injury forced them to rejig their combination. Shami responded by picking up five-fors for fun.For all of Shami's virtuosity and Siraj's fire, it's Bumrah who is the unquestioned leader. His hyperextension of his right elbow gives him an advantage that he has made the most of. As Balaji said recently, Bumrah is a great example, like Wasim Akram, of using sport to bowl fast, not athleticism. "Most great fast bowlers build up momentum in their run-up, but Wasim bhai and Bumrah rely more on their upper bodies and do everything with their bowling arm, their wrist. That's why they are able to succeed on even docile tracks; they take the pitch out of the equation."There is a reason why India is No. 1 in the world in both limited-overs versions and No. 2 in Test cricket. It's not hard to see what that is.

India vs. Canada: A Clash of Titans in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024Match 33 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 promises to be a captivating encounter as India, the tournament favorites, face off against Canada at the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida.India, boasting an unblemished record in the tournament, will be eager to extend their winning streak. Their bowling attack has been exceptional, led by the lethal pace duo of Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah. Singh, with his pinpoint accuracy and ability to generate swing, has emerged as a key wicket-taker, while Bumrah's pace and yorkers have proved equally devastating.Axar Patel, the all-rounder, has also been a valuable contributor, providing both batting and bowling depth. His slow left-arm orthodox bowling has been effective in containing opposition batters, while his ability to strike boundaries with the bat adds another dimension to the Indian lineup.Canada, despite facing tougher opponents, has shown glimpses of their potential. Aaron Johnson, the top fantasy player in their last match, has been a consistent performer with both bat and ball. Kaleem Sana, the left-arm medium-fast bowler, has provided stability to the bowling attack, while Nicholas Kirton, the top-order batter, has been in good form.As India aims to maintain their dominance and Canada seeks to upset the odds, this match promises to be a thrilling contest. India's superior experience and depth will be tested against Canada's determination and home advantage. Fans can expect a blend of strategic gameplay, individual brilliance, and competitive spirit as both teams showcase their talents on the global stage.

Former Indian cricketer Laxmipathy Balaji has drawn comparisons between current Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and the legendary Wasim Akram, hailing Bumrah as Asia's next best pacer after Akram.Balaji highlighted the striking similarities between the two bowlers, emphasizing their exceptional accuracy, mastery of yorkers, deceptive pace, and ability to change angles. "Wasim bhai, the ultimate. They both have identical traits, they have changed the dynamics of fast bowling," Balaji remarked.He attributed their success to their strong upper bodies, minimal follow-through, and dominant bowling arms. "They do everything with the bowling arm alone -- the accuracy, the yorker, the pace and changes of pace, the changes in angle -- which is why they are able to take the pitch and the conditions out of the equation," Balaji explained.Balaji believes Bumrah is poised to achieve greatness, particularly if he can lead India to victory in the ongoing T20 World Cup. "Bumrah is the next best in our continent only after him. Akram sprang into consciousness with some unplayable balls and three wickets in the 1992 World Cup final. It was after that, until 2003, that he chased and courted greatness. I feel this is the right time for Bumrah to chase greatness over the next decade," he said.Balaji also lauded Bumrah's remarkable comeback from back surgery, noting that he has returned as a more formidable bowler. "I mean, guys lose pace, they lose a bit of confidence when they return from any surgery. But this man, he has become even better than before, which is saying quite a bit," Balaji observed.He pointed out Bumrah's addition of a late away-swinger to his repertoire, making him even more dangerous. "Earlier, his stock delivery was the one that came back in. But clearly, during the rehab process, he didn’t allow the grass to grow under his feet. He thought about his bowling, he thought about what he needed to do to become even more lethal," Balaji said.In Balaji's view, Bumrah is currently the most complete fast bowler in the game, excelling in all formats. "He is just the most complete fast bowler right now. Look at him -- Test cricket, white-ball cricket, doesn’t matter. New ball, he will get the job done. Old ball, he can reverse it phenomenally. Middle-overs in limited-overs games, his variations and his repertoire make him a wicket-taker, not someone who just contains the flow of runs," Balaji concluded.Balaji's insights underscore the high expectations placed on Bumrah as a pivotal player in Indian cricket, with his exceptional skills and versatility making him a formidable force in the world of fast bowling.

India Triumphs Over Pakistan in Thrilling Low-Scoring EncounterIn a captivating clash between arch-rivals, Team India emerged victorious over Pakistan in a nail-biting low-scoring encounter at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Despite being bowled out for a modest 119 on a challenging track, India's bowlers displayed exceptional resilience to restrict Pakistan to 113 for 7, securing a narrow six-run victory.Jasprit Bumrah emerged as the hero for India, delivering a fiery spell of 3 for 14 in four overs. His incisive bowling turned the tide in India's favor, leaving Pakistan's batsmen frustrated and unable to chase down the target.Amidst the intense on-field battle, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, wife of Indian captain Virat Kohli, became a topic of discussion. A video of her expressing displeasure in the stands during the match went viral on social media, sparking speculation about the reason for her apparent anger.Following their opening victory over Ireland by 8 wickets, India's six-run win against Pakistan was followed by a convincing seven-wicket triumph over the USA, securing their place in the Super 8s of the tournament. India will next face Canada in their fourth and final group match at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida on Saturday.