Cricket

The International Masters League (IML), a highly anticipated T20 franchise tournament, is set to ignite the cricketing world from November 17 to December 8. Six cricketing powerhouses—India, Sri Lanka, Australia, England, South Africa, and West Indies—will field legendary players in this thrilling competition.The inaugural edition will commence at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai with a blockbuster clash between India and Sri Lanka on November 17. Cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara will lead their respective teams, rekindling memories of their epic encounters.The tournament will then move to Lucknow, where India will face South Africa on November 21. Lucknow will host six matches before the league shifts to Raipur, which will stage eight games, including the semi-finals and the grand finale on December 8.Each team will be captained by an iconic player who has left an indelible mark on the sport. Sachin Tendulkar (India), Brian Lara (West Indies), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Shane Watson (Australia), Eoin Morgan (England), and Jacques Kallis (South Africa) will bring their unmatched experience and competitive spirit to the T20 format.The IML promises 18 action-packed matches that will blend nostalgia with high-energy cricket. Fans will witness legendary players showcase their skills and relive unforgettable moments.Sachin Tendulkar, the League Ambassador, expressed his excitement: "I am eager to lead India Masters in this league. The competition will be intense, and we aim to inspire the next generation while celebrating the sport we love."Brian Lara, captain of the West Indies team, added: "It's thrilling to return to the field with such a talented group. The IML format is fast-paced and exciting, just what the fans crave."Eoin Morgan, England's captain, said: "The IML combines cricketing legends with franchise competition. It will be an extraordinary experience for both players and fans."Jacques Kallis, South Africa's captain, remarked: "The chance to play in such a competitive environment again is exhilarating. The IML will showcase our talent and passion for the game."Shane Watson, Australia's captain, said: "It's incredible to see so many legends come together in one league. I'm excited to lead Australia and deliver top-notch cricket for the fans."Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka's captain, added: "Playing against the best in this format is special. Fans will witness competitive cricket and relive unforgettable moments."League Commissioner Sunil Gavaskar said: "Stalwarts from every country will participate in the IML. It's an opportunity for them to showcase their skills and prove that they are still formidable. The league will be exciting, with close contests. It will be a treat for fans both at the grounds and on television."

Rahul Dravid's appointment as coach of the Rajasthan Royals has triggered a significant shake-up within the franchise's management. Former Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour is reportedly set to join Dravid's support staff, prompting speculation that Director of Cricket Operations Kumar Sangakkara is seeking an exit.According to reports, Sangakkara has initiated talks with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the role of mentor, potentially replacing Gautam Gambhir, who recently became India's head coach. KKR is undergoing a major overhaul of its support staff, with Gambhir and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar joining the Indian team.Sangakkara has been instrumental in Rajasthan's recent success, helping the team reach the IPL final in 2022 and finish third in the 2023 season. His departure would mark a significant loss for the Royals.If Sangakkara joins KKR, it would complete a full circle of coaching changes involving him, Gambhir, and Dravid. Gambhir replaced Dravid as India's head coach, while Dravid is now replacing Gambhir at the Royals.Sangakkara's potential move to KKR would also align with the franchise's desire to strengthen its coaching setup. With Chandrakant Pandit as head coach and Bharat Arun as bowling coach, KKR is looking to add experience and expertise to its support staff.Sangakkara's decision is expected to be finalized in the coming days. His departure from Rajasthan would leave a void in the franchise's management, but it could also open up opportunities for other talented individuals to join the Royals.

Legendary Australian wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist has named India's Mahendra Singh Dhoni among the three greatest wicket-keeper batsmen of all time. Gilchrist, himself a renowned wicket-keeper batsman, placed fellow Australian Rodney Marsh ahead of Dhoni in his rankings.Gilchrist, who played 96 Tests for Australia, cited Marsh as his idol and role model. He praised Dhoni's calmness and composure, describing him as someone who "did it in his way, always calm." Gilchrist also included Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara in his top three, acknowledging his class and versatility as a batsman and wicket-keeper.Gilchrist's comments come as India prepares to tour Australia later in 2024 for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India has won the last two Test series between the two nations in Australia, and will be aiming for an unprecedented hattrick.Gilchrist believes Australia has the potential to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but acknowledges that it will be a close contest. "India know how to go away and win overseas," he said. "Naturally, I'm going to say Australia, hope they get there. But it's too close to call. It will be a close tussle."India's recent success in Australia has been a testament to their growing dominance in Test cricket. They have won the last four Border-Gavaskar Trophies, all by a margin of 2-1. Gilchrist's comments suggest that Australia will need to be at their best to prevent India from extending their winning streak.

Former Indian batting legend Rahul Dravid, who recently stepped down as India's head coach after guiding the team to the T20 World Cup 2024 title, is reportedly set to return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the coach of Rajasthan Royals.Dravid, who had a successful stint with the Royals as captain, mentor, and coach before joining the BCCI, is likely to replace current head coach Kumar Sangakkara, who is being considered for the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) white-ball coaching role.According to Cricbuzz, if Sangakkara leaves the Royals to join England, Dravid is the frontrunner to take over the vacant head coach position. The 51-year-old has a wealth of experience in coaching, having guided India to the T20 World Cup title and the Under-19 World Cup title in 2018.Sangakkara, when asked about the England coaching job, said, "I know my name has been mentioned, but there has been no approach. The England white-ball job is exciting, but I am happy at Rajasthan Royals."England's white-ball coach Matthew Mott recently stepped down after the team failed to defend their ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup titles. The ECB has appointed former England batter Marcus Trescothick as an interim coach for the upcoming one-day international and T20 series against Australia.Dravid's return to the IPL as a coach would be a significant development, as he is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters India has ever produced. His experience and leadership skills would be invaluable to the Royals, who are looking to improve on their recent performances.

Kumar Sangakkara, the legendary Sri Lankan cricketer, has expressed interest in the vacant England limited-overs coaching position but has not yet received a formal approach. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is seeking a new white-ball coach after sacking Matthew Mott following disappointing performances in the 2023 50-over World Cup and T20 World Cup.Sangakkara, who has worked with England captain Jos Buttler at the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, has been linked with the role. However, the 46-year-old has downplayed the speculation, stating that he has not been contacted by the ECB."I know my name has been mentioned, but there has not been any approach as such," Sangakkara told PA news agency. "The England white-ball job is an exciting prospect for anyone, but there are so many good candidates out there."Sangakkara praised Mott's tenure as England coach and expressed admiration for the leadership of Rob Key, the managing director of England men's cricket. He believes that England is on the right track and that the decision-making has been spot on."I think the decision making in the England camp has been spot on," Sangakkara said. "I really love the leadership that Rob Key has provided...I think he has been a really smart, practical man, very commonsensical in terms of how he makes decisions and very forward-thinking in how he has set the vision for England cricket."Sangakkara, who is currently a member of Sky Sports' commentary team for The Hundred, expressed contentment with his current role at the Rajasthan Royals. He also praised Sri Lankan cricketer Chamari Athapaththu for her inspiring leadership and her recent success in guiding the Sri Lanka women's team to Asia Cup glory.

The England cricket team is reportedly considering a major shake-up in its coaching department, with the departure of current white-ball head coach Matthew Mott expected next week. As England seeks to regain its dominance in limited-overs cricket, it is eyeing a high-profile addition to its coaching staff.Despite a disappointing 2023 ODI World Cup and failure to reach the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, England is reportedly set to retain Jos Buttler as captain. However, Buttler's Rajasthan Royals boss, Kumar Sangakkara, has emerged as a leading candidate for the head coach role.According to The Telegraph UK, Sangakkara is among the favorites to replace Mott. The former Sri Lankan captain has served as Director of Cricket for Rajasthan Royals since 2021, guiding the franchise to the IPL final during his tenure.Buttler has flourished under Sangakkara's leadership at the Royals, and their familiarity could foster a strong bond at the helm of the England team. Other candidates reportedly in the running include former Australia batsman Michael Hussey and Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott.Trott has led Afghanistan to significant achievements during his one-and-a-half-year tenure, including sixth place in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Hussey, meanwhile, is already familiar with the English dressing room, having served as their batting coach from 2022 to 2023.Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is reportedly unlikely to remain in contention for the head coach role. England has enjoyed success and adopted an aggressive approach in Test cricket under the coaching of Brendon McCullum. The new appointment will aim to replicate that success in white-ball cricket and restore England to the top of the limited-overs rankings.

Rajasthan Royals' season ended in disappointment as they fell short of reaching the IPL final, losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2. Despite the setback, team director Kumar Sangakkara hailed the campaign as a "great season."Rajasthan's early dominance in the tournament, winning eight of their first nine matches, was a testament to their strong performance. However, a late-season slump, including four losses in their last five games, ultimately cost them a place in the final.Sangakkara attributed the Qualifier 2 loss to a "little bit of panic" during the chase, which saw Rajasthan collapse from a promising start. Trent Boult's early breakthroughs had given them a strong foundation, but they failed to build partnerships and lost wickets in clusters.The absence of star opener Jos Buttler, who returned home for England's T20 World Cup preparations, was a significant blow. Buttler's two centuries and key role in chases had been crucial to Rajasthan's success.Despite the setback, Sangakkara remained positive about the team's overall performance. "All the guys, throughout the season played really phenomenal cricket," he said. "We always say that the best ability is availability and unfortunately we lost Jos. He is a big loss without a doubt."Sangakkara emphasized that reaching the play-offs and being in contention for the finals was a significant achievement. "All we can do is put ourselves in positions of play-offs and vying for finals, which we did," he said.Rajasthan's campaign may have ended in disappointment, but they can take pride in a strong season that showcased their potential. With a talented squad and a positive mindset, they will aim to build on this experience and challenge for the title in the future.

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson has emerged as a strong contender for India's first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman at the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup, according to his IPL coach Kumar Sangakkara. Samson's impressive performance in the ongoing IPL season has caught the attention of the Indian selectors, who included him in the 15-man squad for the June 1-29 tournament in the United States and the West Indies.Samson's inclusion in the squad is a testament to his consistent performances in the IPL. He is currently ranked third in the tournament's run-scoring charts with 471 runs in 11 games, behind only Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Samson's impressive form has been a key factor in Rajasthan Royals' success this season, as they currently sit second in the points table.While Rishabh Pant is also a strong contender for the wicketkeeper-batsman role in the Indian team, Samson's recent performances have put him in a strong position. In Rajasthan Royals' match against Pant's Delhi Capitals on Tuesday, Samson struck a blistering 86 off 46 balls, while Pant managed only 15 off 13 balls.Sangakkara believes that Samson has made a strong case for himself to be included in the Indian team's starting lineup for the World Cup. "It's really up to Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma and how they see the combination. But he (Samson) has made his case, so hopefully he'll have a good run in the World Cup," Sangakkara said.Samson's excellent form this season is a result of his improved clarity about his batting approach, according to Sangakkara. "With Sanju, the biggest thing about this season for him is having a lot of clarity about the way he should bat," Sangakkara said. "There are certain stages of the game that he seems to lose a bit of concentration, which we've addressed from past seasons."Sangakkara also praised Samson's dedication to his fitness and recovery. "He's changed his mindset about the importance of rest and recovery, rather than just training all the time and being tired mentally and physically. The rest is his exceptional ability," Sangakkara said.Samson, who has been on the fringes of the Indian team in recent years, has the potential to excel at the World Cup, according to Sangakkara. "He's a special player and when he's fresh and focused there's nothing he can't do," Sangakkara said. "He's a humble, grounded guy... not much on social media. He tends to like a lot of privacy, cares for the rest of the group."

India's T20 World Cup 2024 Squad: A Force to Reckon WithFormer Sri Lankan cricketer and Rajasthan Royals Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara has lauded India's 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, describing it as "extremely strong." India will kick off their campaign against Ireland on June 5, 2024, followed by a highly anticipated clash against Pakistan on June 9, 2024.Sangakkara, speaking at a pre-match press conference, highlighted the team's exceptional spin attack. "They've got very high-quality spin and very good combinations that they can play," he said. The squad boasts experienced spinners like Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal.The former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter also praised the team's overall balance. "It's a well-balanced squad, a very strong squad," he said. "India's always been very strong in international tournaments."India's squad includes a mix of experienced players and rising stars. Rohit Sharma will lead the team, with Hardik Pandya serving as vice-captain. Virat Kohli, who has been in impressive form in the ongoing IPL 2024, is also part of the squad.The team has added two wicket-keepers, Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson, to provide depth. Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan have been named as reserve players.India is placed in Group A of the ICC tournament alongside Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and co-hosts USA. The team will be aiming to improve upon their performance in the previous T20 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the semi-finals.With a strong squad and a wealth of experience, India will be one of the favorites to lift the trophy in 2024.