Cricket

With India's Test captain Rohit Sharma likely to miss the first one or two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the team is faced with the task of finding a suitable replacement. While Jasprit Bumrah is the frontrunner for the captaincy role, the search for an opening batter is still ongoing.Shubman Gill is a strong contender for the opening spot, but former Indian cricket legend Anil Kumble believes KL Rahul is a more versatile choice. Kumble praised Gill's talent and skills, but emphasized the need for a batter who can adapt to different roles, like Rahul."Rahul has played for India in various roles, from opening the batting to acting as a finisher at No. 6," Kumble said. "In the past, Cheteshwar Pujara has also batted at the top of the order when India needed someone to hold one end together. Rahul can do the same."Kumble highlighted the importance of having a batter who can control the first session and see off the new ball. "The Kookaburra Ball after the first 25 hours is best to bat between the 30th and 60th overs," he explained. "Rahul and Pujara have consistently done this throughout their careers, ensuring that the team is safe and the middle-order batters can come in later and score runs."While Gill is a talented young player, Kumble believes Rahul's experience and versatility make him a better choice to replace Rohit Sharma in the first Test. Rahul's ability to adapt to different roles and his proven track record at the top of the order make him a valuable asset to the Indian team.

Australia's captain, Pat Cummins, has emphasized the importance of neutralizing India's pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, in order to secure victory in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Cummins acknowledged Bumrah's exceptional bowling skills and recognized that silencing him would significantly enhance Australia's chances of winning the series.Cummins also expressed confidence in Australia's ability to draw inspiration from their recent triumphs in the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup finals against India. He believes that these victories will provide a psychological edge for the Australian team.Despite India's dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy over the past decade, Cummins remains optimistic about Australia's prospects. He highlighted the absence of Cheteshwar Pujara, India's former No. 3 batter, as a potential advantage for Australia. Cummins described Pujara as a "real Test cricketer" whose stoic resistance had been a formidable challenge in previous encounters.Cummins also acknowledged the growing rivalry between India and Australia, comparing it to the iconic Ashes series. He noted that the expansion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to a five-Test format further intensifies the competition.Cummins praised India's reputation for winning away from home, recognizing their exceptional ability to adapt to different conditions. He emphasized that defeating India in their own backyard would be a significant achievement for Australia.

The post-Rahul Dravid era in Indian cricket has witnessed a shift towards a more aggressive approach, spearheaded by head coach Gautam Gambhir. As the team prepares for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand, the focus has shifted to the bowling department, with Gambhir emphasizing the importance of bowlers in determining match outcomes.With Jasprit Bumrah appointed as vice-captain, India's priorities are clear. However, the absence of Mohammed Shami due to an ankle injury has created a void that the team is looking to fill. Akash Deep has emerged as a potential candidate, having displayed consistency and accuracy in his short Test career.Mohammed Siraj, once a rising star, has faced challenges in 2024, with his wicket-taking ability declining. The New Zealand series provides him with an opportunity to regain form and build momentum ahead of the crucial Australia tour.India has also named three pacers as reserves: Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna. While their inclusion in the starting XI is unlikely, they represent India's long-term strategy, particularly with the Australia tour in mind.The New Zealand series will serve as a valuable preparation ground for the reserves, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the team environment and prepare for the challenges of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Jasprit Bumrah as the official vice-captain of the Indian Test team, a testament to his growing stature within the squad. While Rohit Sharma remains the captain, Bumrah's elevation to the vice-captaincy is a significant recognition of his leadership qualities and his importance to the team.Despite his limited captaincy experience, Bumrah has been an integral part of India's leadership group for some time. His tactical acumen and understanding of the game have impressed his teammates and coaches alike. Rohit Sharma, in particular, has praised Bumrah's contributions to the team's decision-making process."Bumrah has played a lot of cricket. He understands the game pretty well. He's got a good head on his shoulder. When you talk to him, he understands the game," said Rohit.In addition to his leadership abilities, Bumrah is also expected to mentor the younger pacers in the team. As the most experienced fast bowler, he will provide guidance and support to the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna."Whether it is speaking to the bowlers who have just come into the squad, whether it is getting internally with the team to discuss about how to move forward as a team, he's always been part of that leadership group," said Rohit.While Bumrah's vice-captaincy is a positive development for the Indian team, there are concerns about the fitness of Mohammed Shami. The veteran pacer has been struggling with a knee injury and is unlikely to be fit for the upcoming tour of Australia."To be honest, right now, it's pretty difficult for us to make a call on him, whether he'll be fit for this series or the Australia series. He recently had swelling on his knee, which was quite unusual," said Rohit.Despite the injury concerns, the Indian team remains confident ahead of the Test series against New Zealand. With Rohit Sharma at the helm and Jasprit Bumrah as his deputy, the team will be looking to continue their dominance in the longest format of the game.

Jasprit Bumrah Appointed Vice-Captain for India's Test Series Against New ZealandNew Delhi: India's premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, has been elevated to the role of vice-captain for the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand, commencing on October 16 in Bengaluru. This strategic move signals a potential shift in leadership dynamics within the Indian team.Bumrah's appointment as vice-captain suggests that he is being groomed to assume a more prominent leadership role in the future. Notably, no vice-captain was named during the recently concluded two-match Test series against Bangladesh.The Indian squad for the New Zealand series remains largely unchanged from the one that faced Bangladesh, with the exception of left-arm pacer Yash Dayal being dropped. Rising pace sensations Mayank Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna have been added as traveling reserves.Mohammed Shami continues to be absent as he recovers from an injury sustained during the World Cup final against Australia last year. Shami's return to the team remains uncertain.The second Test of the series will be played in Pune from October 24, while the third and final Test will take place in Mumbai from November 1.India's Squad for the Three Tests Against New Zealand:* Rohit Sharma (Captain)* Jasprit Bumrah (Vice-Captain)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Shubman Gill* Virat Kohli* KL Rahul* Sarfaraz Khan* Rishabh Pant (Wicket-keeper)* Dhruv Jurel (Wicket-keeper)* Ravichandran Ashwin* Ravindra Jadeja* Axar Patel* Kuldeep Yadav* Mohd. Siraj* Akash DeepTraveling Reserves:* Harshit Rana* Nitish Kumar Reddy* Mayank Yadav* Prasidh Krishna

India's Test squad for the upcoming home series against New Zealand remains unchanged from the one that faced Bangladesh in September, indicating that Mohammed Shami's recovery from injury is still ongoing. This series will serve as India's final red-ball preparation before the crucial five-Test tour of Australia later this year.Jasprit Bumrah, India's premier fast bowler, has been appointed vice-captain for the three-match series against New Zealand. This is a significant recognition of his leadership qualities and his growing stature within the team.The squad features a blend of experienced and emerging players. Rohit Sharma will continue to lead the side, while Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant remain key figures in the batting lineup. Shubman Gill, who has impressed in recent outings, will be looking to cement his place in the Test team.The bowling attack will be spearheaded by Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Axar Patel. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, two of India's most experienced spinners, will also be crucial to the team's success. Kuldeep Yadav, who has been in impressive form in white-ball cricket, has been included as a potential spin option.The series against New Zealand will provide India with an opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for the Australia tour. The conditions in New Zealand are expected to be similar to those in Australia, making it an ideal test for the Indian team.India will be aiming to continue their impressive home record in Test cricket. They have not lost a Test series at home since 2012 and will be confident of extending that streak against New Zealand.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has heaped praise on Joe Root after the latter scored his 35th Test century, surpassing the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara. However, despite Root's remarkable consistency, Vaughan believes he has a weakness against one particular bowler: India's Jasprit Bumrah.Vaughan acknowledged that Bumrah is the "only" bowler who poses a significant challenge to Root. "The only bowler he does not quite line up is Jasprit Bumrah, I reckon, but who does?" Vaughan wrote in his column for The Telegraph UK.Vaughan attributed Root's difficulty against Bumrah to the latter's exceptional pace and ability to release the ball quickly. "To be as good as he is you have to pick up the ball so quickly out of the hand, which gives him that extra bit of time," Vaughan explained.Despite this weakness, Vaughan emphasized that Root has no major flaws in his technique. "There is no obvious way to get him out, against pace or spin. At the moment, bowlers are waiting for him to make a mistake," Vaughan said.Root's 35th Test century came in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan, where he remained unbeaten on 176 at the end of Day 3. He is now eyeing his sixth double century on Day 4.Bumrah and Root are likely to face off again in June 2025 when India tours England for a five-match Test series. This series will be part of the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle (2025-27).

Jasprit Bumrah, India's premier fast bowler, has taken a well-deserved break after leading his team to a 2-0 Test series victory over Bangladesh. While Team India continues its T20I series against Bangladesh, Bumrah has been spotted at the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup 2024, supporting the Indian women's team.Bumrah, recently crowned as the No. 1 Test bowler in the ICC rankings, was present during the high-octane India-Pakistan match, where India emerged victorious with seven balls to spare. As India's women's team chased down a target of 106, Bumrah was seen in the crowd, giving an interview to broadcasters.Bumrah's presence at the Women's T20 World Cup highlights his commitment to the sport and his support for the Indian women's team. The 30-year-old pacer is expected to return to action in India's upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand, starting October 16. He is also likely to be a key member of the Indian team that will tour Australia for five Test matches later in 2024.India's women's team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, secured their first win of the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 against Pakistan. After restricting Pakistan to a modest total of 105, India's batting lineup struggled initially, losing Smriti Mandhana early. However, contributions from Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Kaur helped India cross the finish line.Despite the victory, India's qualification for the semi-finals remains an uphill battle. After a disappointing loss to New Zealand, India still has to face reigning champions Australia and a formidable Sri Lanka side. The team will need to perform consistently and improve their batting performance to secure a spot in the knockout stages.

Jasprit Bumrah's Surprise Appearance Steals Spotlight in India's T20 World Cup Victory Over PakistanThe Indian women's cricket team's T20 World Cup match against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday witnessed an unexpected guest appearance from pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. As India chased the target at 54/1 in 10.5 overs, Bumrah made a brief but memorable appearance on camera during an interview with Star Sports.The unexpected cameo drew the attention of fans and spectators alike, momentarily shifting the focus away from the gripping on-field action. Bumrah's presence on the sidelines served as a reminder of the immense support and camaraderie within the Indian cricket fraternity.On the field, India secured a cautious six-wicket victory over Pakistan, earning their first points in the Women's T20 World Cup. Pakistan struggled to 105-8 on a slow wicket at the Dubai International Stadium, with seasoned batter Nida Dar top-scoring with 28 off 34 balls. India's bowlers, led by fast bowler Arundhati Reddy (3-19) and off-spinner Shreyanka Patil (2-12), kept Pakistan in check.Chasing a modest target, India reached 108-4 in 18.5 overs. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed a steady 29 off 24 balls before retiring hurt late in the innings. Despite the win, India remained fourth in Group A with a net run-rate of -1.217, trailing third-placed Pakistan, who defeated Sri Lanka in their opener and have a net run-rate of 0.555. New Zealand and Australia hold the top two spots after winning their opening group games.