Cricket

South Africa's Kagiso Rabada has ascended to the pinnacle of the ICC Test bowling rankings, dethroning India's Jasprit Bumrah. Rabada's exceptional performance in the first Test against Bangladesh, where he claimed nine wickets, propelled him to the top spot.Rabada's rise to the summit marks a significant milestone in his illustrious career. He first achieved the top ranking in January 2018 but relinquished it in February 2019. His return to the apex demonstrates his unwavering consistency and world-class ability.Bumrah, who had held the top spot for an extended period, has slipped to third place. Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood occupies the second position, while India's veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin remains at fourth. Australia's captain and fast bowler Pat Cummins rounds out the top five.Pakistan spinner Noman Ali has made a remarkable entry into the top 10, securing the ninth spot. His impressive performances in the home series against England, where he played a pivotal role in Pakistan's 2-1 victory, have earned him a career-high ranking.New Zealand's left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner has also achieved a personal best ranking. His outstanding performance in the Pune Test against India, where he claimed 13 wickets, has propelled him 30 positions to the 44th spot.Rabada's ascent to the top of the rankings is a testament to his exceptional skill and unwavering determination. His ability to generate pace, swing, and accuracy makes him a formidable force in Test cricket. As he continues to lead South Africa's bowling attack, Rabada will undoubtedly aim to maintain his dominance and cement his legacy as one of the greatest bowlers of his generation.

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has hailed India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as the best bowler he has ever faced and predicted that he will go down as the greatest all-format bowler of all time.Maxwell, who has faced Bumrah both for Australia and in the Indian Premier League (IPL), praised the Indian pacer's unique release point, slow ball, yorker, and ability to swing the ball both ways."I think Bumrah probably going to go down as the best all-format bowler of all time," Maxwell said in a video shared by ESPNcricinfo. "I think he's the best bowler I have faced."Maxwell highlighted Bumrah's ability to change his bowling angle at the last moment, making it difficult for batsmen to predict his delivery. He also praised Bumrah's wrist position and his ability to sniff out wickets."His release point, because he releases it from so far out in front of himself, almost feels like he can change where he's bowling right at the last moment," Maxwell said. "Unbelievable slow ball, great yorker, has the ability to swing it both ways; he's got a brilliant wrist, and he's got a good sniff. It feels like he's got all the tricks of a really good fast bowler."Bumrah, who is currently ranked as the No. 1 Test bowler in the world by the ICC, is expected to play a key role for India in their upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia in 2024. Maxwell, however, will not face Bumrah in the series as he is out of Australia's Test reckoning.Both Bumrah and Maxwell are also expected to be part of the IPL rumor mills, with the retention announcements set to come on October 31. Bumrah is expected to be retained by Mumbai Indians (MI), while Maxwell's future at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is uncertain.

As the Indian cricket team faces a potential whitewash against New Zealand, having lost the first two matches of the series, captain Rohit Sharma has received a bold suggestion to rest star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Despite being widely regarded as the country's finest pace bowler, Bumrah has struggled to make an impact on the spin-friendly pitches against New Zealand.Former India wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik has urged the Indian team management to give Bumrah a break ahead of the upcoming tour of Australia. "Jasprit Bumrah definitely needs a rest without a doubt," Karthik told Cricbuzz. "That is happening, and you will see Mohammed Siraj come in."Karthik believes that Bumrah's absence will not significantly alter India's batting lineup, despite their poor performance in the first two matches. However, he anticipates that Siraj will replace Bumrah in the bowling attack."I can't think of any other change unless someone has a niggle," Karthik added. "I don't see any reason why the batters who played this game or the bowlers should not get an opportunity."Washington Sundar emerged as India's top performer with the ball in the Pune Test, which was dominated by spinners. However, India failed to level the series, suffering a second consecutive loss to trail 0-2.While the Indian team is unlikely to make drastic changes ahead of the must-win Test in Wankhede, some adjustments are expected to be made to the XI, keeping the World Test Championship in mind.Karthik acknowledged the disappointment of the defeats but emphasized the need to remain focused on the upcoming match. "The loss and the disappointment of the defeat are still weighing very heavily on my mind," he said. "I am not able to think very clearly about what the XI will be. It's too short a notice to be honest. But if I had to think straight away, I would say rest Bumrah and bring back Siraj."

Australia's legendary fast bowler Brett Lee has emphasized the crucial role of India's pace trio—Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami—in their quest to conquer the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.Bumrah and Siraj have been instrumental in India's recent success, while Shami has been sidelined since the 2023 ODI World Cup due to an Achilles tendon injury. However, Lee believes Shami's return to fitness is paramount for India's chances."Mohammed Shami has to be fit if India want to win over here," Lee asserted. "We all know how good a bowler Bumrah is. He can shape the ball both ways and will bowl extremely well. He's great with the old ball and a master of reverse swing."Lee also praised Siraj's ability to extract movement from the new ball. "Mohammed Siraj gets that new ball to talk and when he presents that seam upright, he gets it shape away, which can trouble Australia on wickets like Perth and Adelaide."Lee emphasized the importance of all three fast bowlers firing alongside Ravichandran Ashwin's spin. "For me, it is that combination. It is those three fast bowlers plus Ashwin, the spinner. Then they have guys who are part-time spinners to play a role. But you have to have those three quicks firing if India want to win."In case Shami is not ready for the Tests, Lee suggests India consider young speedster Mayank Yadav, who impressed in the IPL and made his T20I debut against Bangladesh. "The great thing about India is that they are not worried about how much cricket someone has played," Lee said. "If Mayank Yadav is ready to go, get him in there."Lee believes Yadav's raw pace and potential could be an asset on Australian wickets. "One thing I can promise you is that batsmen are OK around that 135km to 140km an hour mark. It is when they are bowling high 150s that no-one wants to face fast bowling over 150km/h. He looks as though he has the complete package. He is fresh and raw. But I would be inclined to go with him if Mohammed Shami is not ready."

Jasprit Bumrah's Workload Management: A Balancing Act for India's Pace SpearheadJasprit Bumrah, India's premier fast bowler, has been a subject of intense scrutiny regarding his workload management. His unique bowling action, blistering pace, and exceptional yorker-bowling ability have made him an indispensable asset to the team in all formats. However, injury concerns, particularly back issues, have plagued Bumrah in recent years, forcing him to miss crucial series.To ensure Bumrah's longevity, the Indian cricket management and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have adopted a cautious approach, carefully managing his participation across formats. Head coach Gautam Gambhir recently stated that the team will assess Bumrah's workload after the second Test against New Zealand, which begins on Thursday.India's decision to rest Bumrah after the second Test stems from his participation in all three home Tests this season and the impending tour of Australia, which is less than a month away. "Once the series is over, we still have around 10 or 12 days before the (first) Test starts in Australia. That is enough break for our fast bowlers as well," Gambhir explained.However, Gambhir emphasized that workload management extends beyond Bumrah, encompassing all fast bowlers. "We want to keep them fresh. We know that obviously we've got a long tour and an important tour of Australia," he said.Bumrah's return to action during the 2023 Asia Cup and subsequent participation in the World Cup demonstrated the importance of workload management and injury prevention. By prioritizing these aspects, India aims to ensure Bumrah's availability for key matches while mitigating the risk of future injuries.

India's formidable fast-bowling duo, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, have established themselves as one of the most potent partnerships in world cricket. Their contrasting yet complementary skills have proven highly effective, particularly in Test matches.Bumrah, known for his unorthodox action and ability to generate high speeds, excels in bowling yorkers and seam movement. His accuracy and control make him a lethal force, especially at the death. Shami, on the other hand, focuses on seam position and swing, both conventional and reverse. His ability to maintain accuracy with both new and old balls makes him dangerous across all formats.In India's historic Test series triumph in Australia in 2018-19, Bumrah and Shami played pivotal roles. Bumrah emerged as the bowling mainstay, taking 21 wickets at an average of 17.00. His career-best figures of 9/86 in the Boxing Day Test cemented his status as a world-class bowler.Shami, too, made significant contributions, taking 16 wickets at an average of 26.18. His career-best haul of 6/56 in the second Test in Perth helped India bowl out Australia for 243 runs in their second innings.The ability of Bumrah and Shami to bowl in tandem makes them a formidable duo. Their contrasting styles complement each other, creating a challenging proposition for opposing batsmen. They have consistently delivered for India both at home and abroad, making them one of the most feared fast-bowling partnerships in modern cricket.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has identified a significant weakness in the Indian cricket team following their 8-wicket defeat to New Zealand. Ali highlighted concerns not only with the batting lineup but also with the bowling attack.Ali praised Jasprit Bumrah's bowling, comparing him to legendary Pakistani pacers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. However, he emphasized the need for a strong pace bowling partner to complement Bumrah."Bumrah's eight-over spell reminded me of Akram and Younis," said Ali. "But India needs to consider having two pace bowlers alongside him when they tour Australia. Currently, he lacks a reliable pace bowling partner."Ali pointed out the absence of Mohammed Shami, who has been a key member of India's pace attack in recent years. "Shami's fitness ahead of the Australia tour is crucial for India," he added.While Akash Deep has emerged as a potential option, India has also included Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna in their reserves for the New Zealand Test series.Ali also expressed curiosity about how newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir will handle such a defeat, especially after India's lowest-ever total at home."Now that India has lost a Test, all eyes will be on KL Rahul," said Ali. "Let's see how Gambhir tackles this. Rahul Dravid handled it well. This defeat serves as an eye-opener for Gambhir ahead of the Australia tour."Despite the setback, India still has a chance to salvage the series against New Zealand with two Tests remaining. However, the defeat has raised questions about the team's batting and bowling capabilities, particularly the lack of a reliable pace bowling partner for Bumrah.

Pakistan's Ihsanullah Sparks Debate: Naseem Shah Better Than Jasprit Bumrah?Pakistan's rising fast bowler Ihsanullah has ignited a heated debate by boldly claiming that his compatriot Naseem Shah is a superior bowler to India's star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. In a recent interview on the Public Digital News podcast, Ihsanullah asserted, "If you look at it, Naseem Shah is a better bowler than Jasprit Bumrah."Despite the host's argument that Bumrah's statistics on paper suggest otherwise, Ihsanullah remained unwavering in his stance. He defended his opinion by highlighting Naseem Shah's impressive performance in the 2022 World Cup, stating that even though players may experience occasional slumps, Naseem's overall ability surpasses Bumrah's.This bold statement has sparked comparisons between two of the most talented pacers in world cricket today. Bumrah, renowned for his pinpoint yorkers and ability to perform under pressure, has been a cornerstone of India's success across all formats. Naseem Shah, on the other hand, has showcased his raw pace and swing, establishing himself as a key figure for Pakistan at a young age.Interestingly, Ihsanullah's preference for Naseem Shah over Bumrah is not an isolated opinion among Pakistani players. In a previous podcast appearance, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed his trust in Naseem Shah to deliver in high-pressure situations, stating that he would entrust him with the final over in a T20 match with 10 runs to defend.However, Bumrah's track record speaks volumes. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, he emerged as the third-highest wicket-taker with 15 scalps and was named Player of the Tournament for the title-winning Team India. His exceptional two-wicket haul in the final against South Africa played a pivotal role in securing India's first major ICC trophy in 11 years.The debate over who is the better bowler between Naseem Shah and Jasprit Bumrah is likely to continue, with both players possessing unique strengths and abilities. However, Ihsanullah's bold statement has certainly added fuel to the fire, sparking discussions and comparisons among cricket enthusiasts worldwide.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 retention list is highly anticipated, especially considering the upcoming mega auction. Among the most intriguing questions is whether Rohit Sharma will remain with the Mumbai Indians (MI), a team he has led to five IPL titles.According to a report by the Indian Express, MI is likely to retain Rohit along with three other star cricketers: Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav. This move would ensure the continuity of MI's core leadership group.Rohit Sharma, currently leading the Indian cricket team in the first Test against New Zealand, has been the subject of much speculation regarding his IPL future. Last year, he was replaced as MI captain by Hardik Pandya, sparking rumors of a rift within the team. However, the report suggests that MI remains committed to Rohit's leadership.In a recent incident, a fan approached Rohit Sharma during the Test match and asked him which IPL team he would be playing for. The fan's plea for Rohit to join the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) went viral on social media. Rohit responded with a smile but did not provide a direct answer.Meanwhile, MI has appointed Paras Mhambrey as their bowling coach. Mhambrey, who previously served as India's bowling coach, will work alongside current bowling coach Lasith Malinga under head coach Mahela Jayawardene. This appointment strengthens MI's coaching staff and signals their commitment to improving their bowling performance.