Cricket

Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull believes Australia has devised a cunning plan to neutralize Jasprit Bumrah's threat during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series. Doull, in a recent discussion on JioCinema, highlighted Bumrah as Australia's "biggest threat" and suggested that the hosts are attempting to "cook" him with their scheduling strategy.According to Doull, Australia's decision to start the series in the scorching heat of Perth, followed by a pink-ball Test in Adelaide, is a deliberate attempt to exhaust Bumrah. This strategy could force India to rest their star pacer in the middle of the series."Australia has been clever with their scheduling," Doull said. "They know that while batters will be crucial, their biggest threat is Jasprit Bumrah. So they've chosen the three hardest and fastest surfaces, plus the Pink-Ball Test. They're trying to cook Bumrah. They'll cook him in the heat of Perth, where he'll have to bowl a lot of overs. Then he's going to have to bowl a lot of overs in that second pink-ball Test match in Adelaide. And then you've got to go to Brisbane where generally, first up, the seamers are quite good as well."Doull believes Australia's plan is to tire out Bumrah in the first two or three Tests, forcing India to rely on other bowlers. "They're going to cook Bumrah in the first two, three Test matches, make sure he bowls a lot of overs. And then they're going to have to make a change. They're going to have to go to someone else. So I think the scheduling from Australia's point of view has been quite smart because very rarely do they start a series in Perth."Meanwhile, legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar has suggested that if Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the first Test, Jasprit Bumrah should lead the team for the entire tour. Gavaskar believes that Bumrah's leadership would provide stability and reduce pressure on the deputy captain."It is important for the captain to play the first Test match," Gavaskar said. "I have been reading that Rohit Sharma might not play the first two Tests of the Australia series. I feel that, in that case, the selection committee should appoint Jasprit Bumrah the captain of the side for the entire Australia tour, and tell Rohit Sharma that you will participate as a player in this series. For the first Test match, Rohit Sharma has to be there."

The Indian cricket team's hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) have taken a significant blow following their 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand. The defeat has raised concerns about the team's preparation and confidence ahead of their defense of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Australia.Adding to the team's woes is the possibility of captain Rohit Sharma missing the opening Test of the BGT due to personal reasons. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes it is crucial to have clarity about the leadership well before the start of such an important tour."Captain should play the opening Test. It would have been different had he been injured. But if a captain is not available right in the first Test match of the series, then it would put a lot of pressure on the deputy leader and that is not easy," Gavaskar said.Gavaskar suggested that the BCCI should appoint Rohit's deputy, Jasprit Bumrah, as the captain for the entire series if Rohit's availability remains uncertain. He emphasized the need for clear communication from the chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, to Rohit."We see reports saying Rohit won't play the opening Test, and we don't know yet about his availability for the second Test. If that is true, then Agarkar should right now tell him, 'Whatever you wish to do, you can, whether you want to take rest, you can, that is a personal reason; but for this tour you can only participate as a player. You can join the Indian squad whenever you want, but for this tour, we are naming the vice-captain as the leader'," Gavaskar said.Gavaskar stressed the importance of having a clear captaincy situation, especially after the disappointing loss to New Zealand. "There should be clarity because we lost 0-3 against New Zealand, so the captain has to be there. Indian cricket is the most important thing. Had India won the New Zealand series 3-0, it would have been a different case."The Indian team will be hoping to bounce back from their recent setbacks and put up a strong performance in the BGT. However, the absence of Rohit Sharma and the uncertainty surrounding the captaincy could pose significant challenges for the team.

India's Test captain, Rohit Sharma, has hinted at the possibility of missing the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia due to personal reasons. The series opener against Australia is scheduled to begin in Perth on November 22.Rohit expressed uncertainty about his participation, stating, "Not sure whether I will be going, fingers crossed." If he is unable to make it, Jasprit Bumrah, the vice-captain, will lead the team in the first Test.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has gained added significance as both India and Australia aim to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship (WTC). India's recent 3-0 Test series loss to New Zealand at home has put pressure on the team to perform well in Australia.Rohit acknowledged the need to recover from the defeats and focus on the upcoming tour. "We will focus on (upcoming) Australia series, and not look too far ahead," he said.After the first Test in Perth, which concludes on November 26, there will be a 10-day break before the Adelaide game, which starts on December 6. During this break, India will play a two-day warm-up match in Canberra.Rohit's absence, if confirmed, would be a significant blow to India's chances in the series. The team will be hoping that he recovers in time to lead them in the crucial opening Test.

Jasprit Bumrah Retained by Mumbai Indians as Top Pick for IPL 2025Amidst the flurry of player retentions ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, India's premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has emerged as the top retention pick for five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI). The ace speedster, who has been retained for a whopping Rs 18 crore, expressed his delight at continuing his journey with the franchise for another three years."It feels good. I came here as a 19-year-old teenager. Now I'm going to turn 31 and have a son, so it's been a complete journey. I'm happy that the journey is continuing and no better feeling," said Bumrah in a video released by the franchise on Thursday.Bumrah, who has been an integral part of MI's success over the years, reflected on his growth within the team. "When I came, all the legends of the game were here, and I used to ask a lot of questions. So now, slowly the role is changing, and a lot of youngsters are coming into our team who are eight-nine years younger than me," he said."So, I always feel happy to help, because I got a lot of help when I started. So, always willing to help, and always trying my best to contribute in whatever way I can, and whenever I can," he added.MI had a disappointing IPL 2024 campaign, finishing at the bottom of the league under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, who replaced Rohit Sharma as the captain after being traded in from Gujarat Titans. However, Bumrah remains optimistic about the team's future."We have been successful in the past, and we know how to win championships. So, instead of looking at championships now, look at yourself, rectify the mistakes, and try to take on the positives. So that is what has always worked for us, and I think that is something that we will focus on, and hopefully with a positive stride, we'll get good results," he said.Bumrah also spoke about the special atmosphere at Wankhede Stadium, MI's home ground. "It feels good whenever the crowd is behind you, that experience of playing in Wankhede is always great. That energy, and vibe is a sight to see if you've never experienced it before. It's an interesting atmosphere to experience, as you'll not get that in most places," he said.The ace fast-bowler, who was named Player of the Tournament in India's triumph at the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, has taken 165 wickets for MI in 133 games since 2013. He is currently their second-highest wicket-taker after Lasith Malinga, who is now the bowling coach.Bumrah concluded by emphasizing the importance of a winning mentality. "The winning mentality is always there, because you're playing the sport to win. If you are just there to participate, it doesn't really land up well, according to me. So for me, I have a lot of belief in my ability, and that's always been the case since the time I was a child," he said."I didn't want to be just any cricketer, I wanted to contribute more and do special things. So I don't look at my overs as gold, I look at them as a responsibility. So you have to accept good with the bad, and whenever you win, you accept and start from zero. Whenever you lose, you start from zero, that's the beauty of this sport," he added.

Mumbai Indians (MI), the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, have retained their core group of Indian players ahead of the 2025 season. The franchise secured the services of Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Tilak Varma.Bumrah, the star pacer, emerged as the highest-paid player with a salary of Rs 18 crore. Skipper Pandya, who led MI to a disappointing last-place finish in IPL 2024, will earn Rs 16.35 crore. Suryakumar Yadav, the prolific batter, will also receive Rs 16.35 crore. Rohit Sharma, the former captain, will earn Rs 16.30 crore, while young all-rounder Tilak Varma will receive Rs 8 crore.The retention process involved extensive discussions within the MI management. According to sources, Rohit Sharma played a key role in determining the salaries of his teammates. He reportedly suggested that Bumrah, Pandya, and Suryakumar should be paid more than him, as they are still active members of the Indian T20I team.All three batters agreed that Bumrah deserved the highest salary among the retained players. Sources attributed this decision to the respect and importance Bumrah holds within the team.Another topic of debate within MI was the captaincy. Pandya's performance as captain in IPL 2024 drew criticism, and some members of the management considered a change. However, the franchise ultimately decided against it, believing that three captains in three years would be detrimental to the team's stability.

India, seeking to salvage some pride after losing the first two Tests of the series, made a solitary change to their playing XI for the third and final Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.With the World Test Championship (WTC) points and a place in the final on the line, India opted to field first after losing the toss to the visiting Black Caps. The only change for the hosts was the inclusion of seamer Mohammed Siraj in place of Jasprit Bumrah, who was ruled out due to a viral illness.India captain Rohit Sharma acknowledged the team's poor performance in the first two Tests, stating, "We accept that we didn't play well this series. But this is an opportunity to correct that. Hopefully we can restrict them quickly."Meanwhile, New Zealand made two changes to their lineup, with Mitchell Santner and Tim Southee missing out due to injury. Matt Henry and Ish Sodhi replaced them in the playing XI.New Zealand skipper Tom Latham explained their decision to bat first, saying, "Reasonably good surface. Want to put runs on the board and put pressure later on. Focusing on this game. That's what we did in Pune after Bengaluru win too. But last week was last week. New opportunity this game."New Zealand ended India's 12-year unbeaten run in home Test series, which had stretched back to 2012. India had won 18 consecutive Test series at home before the defeats in October.

Indian cricket team's star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai due to a viral illness. The decision was announced by India skipper Rohit Sharma at the toss, with Mohammed Siraj replacing Bumrah in the playing XI."We understand that we haven't played well in this series. Looks like a good pitch. Hopefully we can restrict them as quickly as possible. Our focus is on this Test match. Bumrah is not well, Siraj comes in for him," Rohit said.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also confirmed Bumrah's absence on social media. "Mr Jasprit Bumrah has not fully recovered from his viral illness. He was unavailable for selection for the third Test in Mumbai," the BCCI tweeted.New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and elected to bat first. "We are gonna have a bat. Looks a reasonably good surface, hopefully put some runs on the board again and put a little bit of pressure later on. Definitely focusing on this game," Latham said.Latham also announced two changes to his team, with Ish Sodhi replacing the injured Mitch Santner and Matt Henry coming in for Tim Southee.The teams for the third Test are as follows:New Zealand: Tom Latham(c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(w), Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, William O'Rourke.India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj.The third Test between India and New Zealand is crucial for both teams, with India looking to avoid a series defeat and New Zealand aiming to clinch the series. The match is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams boasting strong batting and bowling lineups.

Mumbai Indians (MI), the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, are gearing up for the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction by retaining their core group of Indian players. The franchise has decided to retain Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma.With these five capped players retained, MI will have limited options at the auction. They can only use their one right-to-match option on an uncapped player. The individual amounts for each retained player are yet to be disclosed, but MI is expected to lose at least INR 75 crore from their purse of INR 120 crore.MI had a disappointing IPL 2024 season, finishing at the bottom of the league under the leadership of Hardik Pandya. However, Hardik bounced back from poor personal form with significant contributions during India's successful 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. Despite his strong performance, Suryakumar Yadav was preferred as India's T20I captain after Rohit Sharma retired from the format.The MI management recently held discussions with their senior players to finalize the retention plan. The deadline for franchises to submit their lists of retained players is October 31. Teams are allowed to retain up to six players ahead of the mega auction, with a maximum of five capped internationals and two uncapped players.The IPL has set minimum deductions from the auction purse for each player retained, but franchises are free to pay more or less than those amounts. MI is expected to pay a significant amount to retain their star players, which will impact their spending at the auction.

India's Test squad remains unchanged ahead of the third and final Test against New Zealand in Mumbai. Despite the series being out of reach for India, the team management has decided against resting pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.Assistant coach Abhishek Nayar confirmed that no additional players have been added to the squad. He also clarified that Bumrah will not be rested, despite concerns about his workload. Nayar explained that Bumrah has not bowled a significant number of overs in the first two Tests, which were both curtailed due to rain."I think in the two Test matches he's (Bumrah) bowled around 20, 25 overs. So he's not bowled a lot," Nayar said. "Yes, there'll always be a thought process about his workload. Also, we played two games where we not at 5k cricket, it's been more three, three-and-a-half days, so he could have rest."Nayar also highlighted the importance of Bumrah to the team, especially considering the upcoming five-Test series against Australia. However, he acknowledged that the team management is aware of Bumrah's workload and will monitor it closely.Another factor influencing the decision to not rest Bumrah is the expected conditions at the Wankhede Stadium. Nayar believes that the pitch will offer assistance to seamers, especially in the early stages of each day."I always believe that Wankhede will always give pace a chance no matter what, especially when Mumbai winter doesn't feel like it," Nayar said. "But in the morning there will be a bit of moisture, there will be a bit of dew around. So you will expect the first sessions to have a bit of swing."Nayar also emphasized the need for self-reflection within the Indian team after losing a home series for the first time in over a decade. He urged the players to assess their game plans and improve their performances."I feel that though the conditions will be different with a red-soil pitch. The last time we played on a red soil, which was in Chennai, a lot of the guys have been a lot of local cricketers and they understand what these conditions are and how the pitch is going to pan out," he said. "I think it's more about, at this level, self reflection for every player to go in and understand their game plans."