Cricket

India's T20 World Cup triumph was a moment to cherish, and the team's unique walk to the podium to receive the trophy added to the occasion's significance. Skipper Rohit Sharma revealed that the distinctive walk was suggested by spin duo Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.During an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rohit explained that the boys wanted to make the moment memorable. "It was such a huge moment for all of us. We all have been waiting for this for years. So, the boys told me 'Don't go just like that, do something different...'," Rohit said.Prime Minister Modi jokingly asked if it was Chahal's idea, to which Rohit replied with a laugh, "Chahal and Kuldeep." Interestingly, Rohit's walk up to the podium resembled the way Argentina legend Lionel Messi received the FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy.Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Jay Shah's vision and support played a crucial role in Team India's victory. Shah thanked Prime Minister Modi for his unwavering support, saying, "Prime Minister Sir has stood by #TeamIndia through ups and downs and has always encouraged the team to give its best irrespective of the result."Shah's efforts were instrumental in bringing the team back to India after they were stranded in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl. The squad, along with support staff and journalists, returned to the country on Thursday morning.Following their meeting with Prime Minister Modi, the team headed to Mumbai for an open-top bus parade and a presentation ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium.

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, has praised the exceptional performance of his spin duo, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, in their semi-final victory over England in the ongoing T20 World Cup.After England's Jos Buttler had aggressively hit Arshdeep Singh for three boundaries in the third over, Axar Patel turned the tide with his first delivery. Patel dismissed Buttler by spinning the ball away from his usual skidding style, forcing the English skipper to attempt a reverse sweep that resulted in a catch for Rishabh Pant.Patel continued to trouble the English batters, while Kuldeep Yadav joined the fray to further increase their woes. Patel's influential spell of 3/23 included the removal of the opening order, while Kuldeep provided excellent support with figures of 3/19, effectively neutralizing England's middle order.Rohit Sharma lauded the left-arm spin duo, revealing their strategy to counter England's aggressive approach. "They (Axar and Kuldeep) are gun spinners. When the conditions like that are in front of them, it's difficult to play some shots. The pressure is on them as well to come and execute those balls, but they were calm and knew what to bowl. We had a little chat after the first innings - try and hit the stumps as much as possible, keep the stumps in play," Rohit said in the post-match presentation.The spinners played a crucial role in England's downfall, with Jasprit Bumrah adding the finishing touches. England, aiming to replicate their 2022 World Cup semi-final triumph, fell short and saw their title defense crumble.The challenging nature of the pitch, with some deliveries staying low and others taking flight, further hindered England's chase of 172. Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of adapting to the conditions, which paved the way for India's first appearance in the final in ten years."Very satisfying to win this game. We worked really hard as a unit. To win this game like that was a great effort from everybody. We adapted to the conditions really well. The conditions were a little challenging, we had to adapt, and that's been the success story for us so far till this game. The bowlers and the batters, if they play according to the conditions, things fall in place, and that's exactly what happened for us today," Rohit said.After losing Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant early in their innings, India relied on Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav to build a competitive total. The duo's 73-run partnership took India to a respectable 171/7."Very pleasing to see how we came through this game. At one stage, we were feeling 140-150, and as the game went on, we got some runs in the middle, me and Surya. We got that partnership. I can set the target in my mind, but I don't want to let anyone know about it, to the batters ... because ... they are instinctive players, and I want them to go out there and play freely without thinking too much about what's the par score. We bat well, we understand the condition well, we will get to a good score, and that's exactly what happened. We got to 170, which I thought was a very good score on that pitch, and then the bowlers were fantastic," he added.England's failure to comprehend the pitch's nature led to their eventual collapse, with the team managing only 103 runs in 16.4 overs. The T20 World Cup final is now set to be a thrilling clash between the unbeaten sides, India and South Africa, in Barbados on Saturday.

Piyush Chawla, the veteran Indian leg-spinner, believes left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav is in prime form and ready to make a substantial impact for the Rohit Sharma-led side in their 2024 Men's T20 World Cup semifinal clash against England at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Thursday night.After not featuring in Group A matches due to fast-bowling friendly conditions in New York, Kuldeep has yielded fruitful returns to be India's controller of proceedings in the middle overs, picking seven wickets at an average of 10.71, and economy rate of just 6.25 in India's Super Eights games in the Caribbean.With the venue in Guyana expected to aid spinners, Kuldeep is expected to bring his adaptability to the fore and lead India's charge against England through his subtle changes in pace, variations and using the crease well to bamboozle the batters."Kuldeep Yadav's resurgence has been one of the greatest comebacks in the history of Indian cricket. His absence in the 2022 semi-final was a significant miss for India, but this time, he's in prime form and ready to make a substantial impact. Kuldeep's unorthodox left-arm wrist spin and the ability to extract turn and bounce, coupled with his deceptive variations, can be a game-changer in the middle overs," said Chawla, an expert in 'Caught and Bold' show on Disney Hotstar, to IANS.Chawla also noted that Kuldeep has fared well against England on various occasions at the international level. He had also picked a six-fer against England in the Nottingham ODI in 2018, as well as five-fer in the Manchester T20I in the same tour. More recently, he took a five-fer in the final Test at Dharamshala, as India won the series 4-1.Kuldeep also has a good record against England skipper Jos Buttler, who he has dismissed three times in T20s. More recently, in IPL 2024, Kuldeep had trapped Buttler lbw on reverse-sweep during the Delhi Capitals-Rajasthan Royals game at Jaipur in March.In the 2023 Men's ODI World Cup game at Lucknow, the left-arm wrist spinner produced a magic moment when he pitched one outside the off-stump with a flatter trajectory and got the ball to turn sharply by nearly a mile to castle captain Jos Buttler through the gate with precision."He also has a good record playing against England. In the upcoming semi-final, Kuldeep will be crucial in disrupting England's aggressive batting mantra. He will be India's trump card against England's explosive batting order. Given his current form and confidence, Kuldeep Yadav is poised to be a significant threat, making the middle overs a challenging period for England batsmen," added Chawla, a member of India's 2011 ODI World Cup winning team.From England's bowling perspective, leg-spinner Adil Rashid shapes up as a crucial figure in controlling the middle overs. In the 2022 Men's T20 World Cup semi-final meet between England and India at Adelaide, Rashid picked 1-20 in his four overs, including taking out an in-form Suryakumar Yadav, as Buttler & Co won by ten wickets.Chawla reckons Rashid, who has picked nine wickets in the ongoing tournament with his immaculate control on pace and variations, will be an important bowler for England to control the middle overs and put the pressure on India in the highly-anticipated semi-final clash."Adil Rashid has been a crucial component for England in the middle overs. Rashid's variations, including his googly and subtle changes in pace, makes him a formidable threat on the West Indian pitches. In the upcoming semi-final against India, Rashid's role will be pivotal for England to win.""If he can maintain his discipline and keep the pressure on, he could very well be the key for England putting pressure on Indian batsmen. His knack for breaking partnerships is especially valuable in the middle overs, a phase where the game often shifts decisively. England will be counting on Rashid to deliver a spell that not only controls the run flow but also provides breakthroughs at crucial moments," he concluded.

India's emphatic 24-run victory over Australia in the Super Eights of the ICC T20 World Cup was a testament to their collective brilliance. After Rohit Sharma's scintillating 92 propelled India to a formidable 205/5, the bowlers stepped up to restrict Australia to 181/7.Arshdeep Singh, who has emerged as a key cog in India's bowling attack, attributed his success to the pressure created by Jasprit Bumrah. "Jassi is bowling like a video game," Arshdeep said, referring to Bumrah's exceptional economy rate. "He puts pressure on the batters, forcing them to take risks, which gives me opportunities for wickets."Kuldeep Yadav, who played a crucial role with his spin, explained his strategy against Australia. "I tried to read the batsman and what he was expecting," Kuldeep said. "I started with a fuller ball, a flipper, to induce a sweep shot. Then I introduced the wrong'un, confusing the batters."The turning point of the match, according to Kuldeep, was Axar Patel's stunning one-handed catch in the second over. "That catch opened up the game for us," he said.Arshdeep, who has taken 15 wickets in the tournament so far, praised the entire bowling unit for their collective effort. "Everyone is clicking very well," he said. "The other bowlers stop runs from one end and get wickets from the other end."India's victory was a collective effort, with Rohit's batting brilliance, Bumrah's economical bowling, and the spin duo of Kuldeep and Axar playing pivotal roles. The team's confidence is soaring as they prepare to face England in the semifinals on Thursday.

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, has revealed the tactical adjustments he made to overcome the challenging conditions and lead his team to a crucial victory against Australia in their final T20 World Cup Super Eight match.Despite losing his opening partner Virat Kohli early on, Rohit played a match-winning knock of 92 runs off just 41 deliveries, showcasing his skill with seven boundaries and eight sixes. His impressive performance helped India post a formidable total of 205/5, which proved to be a challenging target for Australia. The Indian bowlers then restricted Mitchell Marsh's team to 181/7, securing a 24-run victory and advancing to the semifinals.The persistent wind at the venue posed a significant challenge for the batsmen, prompting Rohit to adapt his batting style. He revealed that he had to play more strokes on the off side to minimize the wind's impact on his shots, ultimately leading to his match-winning contribution."I thought right from over number one, there was a strong breeze blowing across. They (Australia) changed their plan, bowling against the breeze, so I realized I had to open up the off side as well," Rohit said after the match. "You've got to factor in the breeze and understand that the bowlers are smart as well and open up all sides of the field. When you keep an open mind and not just think of one shot, you can access all areas of the field."Rohit also expressed his confidence in Kuldeep Yadav's ability to perform exceptionally well in the West Indies, following the wrist-spinner's experience with seamer-friendly conditions in the United States. Kuldeep returned excellent figures of 2/24 in his four overs."Kuldeep, we understand the strengths he has, but you have to use it when you need it. The pitches in New York were seamer-friendly, but we knew he would play a big role later," Rohit said.Rohit remained focused on the game's rhythm, asserting that his primary goal was to sustain the "tempo" of the match. He made it clear that personal milestones, such as reaching a century, were not his concern at that moment."It was a good wicket, and you want to try and back yourself to play those kinds of shots. I've been trying to do that for a few years now, and I'm glad it came off today. The fifties and hundreds don't matter, I wanted to bat with the same tempo and carry on," he added.Rohit expressed his desire for the Indian team to maintain their current style of play as they progress into the knockout stages of the tournament."We don't want to do anything different (in the knockouts). We want to play the same way, understand what the individuals need to do in a given situation, and play freely," Rohit said. "So far we've been doing that consistently, and semifinals, we have to try and do the same thing. It'll be nice (to play England in the semifinal). Nothing changes for us, we want to focus on what we can do as a team, and take the game on."

Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm chinaman bowler, has emerged as a key player for India in the Super 8 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Despite missing the entire group stage, Kuldeep has made an immediate impact, picking up five wickets in two matches.After scalping three wickets against Bangladesh, Kuldeep drew a comparison between the pressure of playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the pressure of a World Cup. "IPL is completely different, boss. It's totally different," said Kuldeep. "What you experience in IPL is not what you're experiencing in T20 World Cup."Kuldeep enjoyed a brilliant season with Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, picking up 16 wickets in 11 games. However, he was surprisingly left out of India's XI in their first group game against Ireland.In the Super 8, Kuldeep has been on fire. After getting two wickets against Afghanistan, he picked up three crucial wickets against Bangladesh. The 29-year-old got the wickets of opener Tanzid Hasan, the experienced Shakib al-Hasan, and the in-form Towhid Hridoy. He finished with figures of 3-19 from his four overs.Kuldeep emphasized that spinners need to be aggressive to succeed in the shortest format. "In this format (T20), you have to read what the batters are trying to do, but be more aggressive. The length matters a lot. The aggression is helping me through the IPL and the T20 World Cup," he said.With wins over Afghanistan and Bangladesh, India boast a very healthy net run rate in their Super 8 group and are almost certainly going to make the semis of the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Kuldeep Yadav, India's left-arm wristspinner, has emerged as a crucial cog in the team's Super Eight campaign at the T20 World Cup. After sitting out the group stage, Kuldeep has made an immediate impact, claiming five wickets in two matches.In India's comprehensive victory over Bangladesh, Kuldeep took 3 for 19, bamboozling the opposition batters with his variations. He dismissed Tanzid Hasan with a sharp googly, trapped Towhid Hridoy lbw with a straight delivery, and deceived Shakib Al Hasan with a slower, bouncing delivery.Kuldeep's success in the Caribbean is no coincidence. The pitches in Antigua and Barbados suit his style of bowling, providing assistance for spinners. Kuldeep's experience playing in the West Indies during India's 2017 tour also proved invaluable.Despite being brought into the side late, Kuldeep has not felt any added pressure. He approaches every game with the same mindset, focusing on maintaining his length and varying his pace.Kuldeep's ability to bowl in the middle phase has been particularly effective. He has been able to stem the flow of runs and create wicket-taking opportunities. His success has been a major factor in India's dominance in the Super Eight stage.Kuldeep's performance has highlighted the importance of having a specialist spinner in the team. His ability to control the middle overs and take wickets has given India a significant advantage. As India prepares to face Australia in the semi-finals, Kuldeep will be a key player in their quest for a place in the final.

India's dominance in the T20 World Cup Super 8s continued as they secured a convincing 50-run victory over Bangladesh in their second match. Hardik Pandya's all-round brilliance and Kuldeep Yadav's astute bowling played pivotal roles in India's triumph.India's batting lineup fired on all cylinders, posting a formidable total of 196 for five. Virat Kohli (37), Shivam Dube (34), and Hardik Pandya (50*) contributed valuable runs. Pandya's blistering knock, which included four boundaries and three sixes, propelled India to their highest total at the venue.Bangladesh's chase faltered from the outset as Kuldeep Yadav's guile and deception proved too much to handle. The left-arm spinner claimed three crucial wickets, including that of opener Tanzid Hasan and the dangerous Towhid Hridoy. Jasprit Bumrah also chipped in with two economical wickets, restricting Bangladesh to a mere 146 for eight.India's innings got off to a flying start thanks to Rohit Sharma (23) and Virat Kohli. They played with freedom and aggression, setting the tone for the innings. However, Bangladesh's unusual strategy of opening with spinners from both ends paid dividends as Rohit was dismissed after a mistimed shot.Kohli continued to impress, hitting a towering six off Mustafizur Rahman. However, he fell prey to a slow off-cutter from Tanzim Hasan. Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant also departed in quick succession, leaving India at 83 for three.Undeterred, Dube and Hardik forged a crucial 53-run partnership to revive India's innings. Dube targeted the deep midwicket boundary, while Hardik showcased his power-hitting prowess.Bangladesh's batting woes continued despite Najmul Shanto's valiant effort (40). Litton Das's brief cameo was followed by a string of dismissals, as India's bowlers maintained a tight grip on the game.Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya emerged as the heroes for India. Kuldeep's introduction in the Caribbean leg of the tournament has been a game-changer, while Hardik's all-round skills proved invaluable.India's victory against Bangladesh strengthens their position in the Super 8s. They will face Australia, the only other unbeaten team, in their final Super 8 fixture on Monday.

The Indian cricket team's bowling attack in the Super 8 fixture against Afghanistan on Thursday was a unique one. It is not often that you see three left-arm spinners in the eleven. Kuldeep Yadav offers variety as a wrist spinner, while Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja come on with a stifling line and length. Axar, in particular, is adept at changing it up according to the match situation. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is waiting in the wings.The trio formed an effective combination on a slow, dry Kensington Oval pitch. Kuldeep, playing his first match of the tournament, took two wickets. Axar (1/15 in 3 overs) and Jadeja gave nothing away and applied the choke on the Afghan chase.Axar believes that active communication makes for a good partnership. "Having three left-arm spinners is an advantage on the wickets here. Our combination is very good. We communicate well. For example, whoever comes on to bowl first will communicate to the others on what is working and what is not. This is important when you bowl as a unit," Axar said at the press conference after India eased past Afghanistan by 47 runs.Being versatile to satisfy the needs of the team is crucial, Axar added. "I can bowl in the PowerPlay, middle or towards the end. I can be called by the captain in any situation. If I feel that I need to attack, then I plan accordingly. In the Pakistan match, when I came to bowl the 16th over, I felt that if I give less runs it will be very good for the team," said Axar.Axar described pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as a "world class bowler", and that the quality of the Indian attack can "get us out of a tough situation".