Cricket

Siddhesh Lad's return to the Mumbai cricket team has been a resounding success, culminating in a match-winning century against Odisha in the Ranji Trophy. After a brief stint as a regional broadcaster, Lad was forced to reconsider his retirement due to Mumbai's need for experience in the middle order.Lad's second-innings fifty on a turning track in Vadodara against Baroda hinted at his continued reliability as Mumbai's "crisis man," a title he earned with his numerous rescue acts in the past. However, Lad's aspirations extend beyond individual accolades to another Mumbai title."I just want to keep enjoying for as long as possible and help Mumbai win another Ranji title," said Lad. "Mumbai regained the Ranji Trophy last season, now I want to be a part of a winning squad again."Lad's return has been a testament to the support and encouragement he received from head coach Omkar Salvi and the rest of the support staff. Despite initially feeling demotivated, Lad was pushed to the hilt and is now grateful for the opportunity to make a difference.Lad's resurgence is a reminder of the importance of experience and resilience in cricket. His ability to adapt to different conditions and perform under pressure is a valuable asset to any team. As Mumbai continues its quest for another Ranji Trophy title, Lad's contributions will be crucial.

Former Australian opening batter Matthew Hayden has expressed his disapproval of the idea of Steven Smith opening the batting in Tests. Hayden believes that Smith should continue to bat in the middle order, where he has been most successful.Hayden, who was Australia's most prolific Test opener before David Warner surpassed him in 2023, emphasized the importance of protecting the top three batting positions in Test cricket. He argued that opening the batting is a specialized role that requires different skills and experience than batting in the middle order.Smith's brief stint as an opener earlier this year yielded disappointing results. In eight innings, he was dismissed for 12 or less on five occasions and averaged only 28.50. In contrast, he averages 67.07 at No. 3 and 61.50 at No. 4.Hayden believes that moving Smith to the opening slot would be a mistake. He pointed out that Smith is one of the world's best batters in his current position and that changing his role would send the wrong message to the first-class system.If Australia decides to move Smith back down the order, they will need to find a new opening partner for Usman Khawaja. Hayden acknowledged that Warner's departure has left a void in the opening slot, but he expressed confidence that Australia has talented players in the pipeline who can fill the role.Smith himself has stated that he is open to batting anywhere for the team. However, both captain Pat Cummins and national selector George Bailey have indicated that Australia is likely to stick with the same top six for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India.

Aiden Markram, the current South African captain, has a unique perspective on his early experience as captain in 2018. Despite a disappointing series loss to India, Markram views that time as a valuable learning opportunity."I'd never regret taking captaincy for your national team," Markram said. "I learned quite a bit through that series and had some really awesome senior players guiding me."One of the key lessons Markram learned was to separate his batting from his captaincy. "Back then I was quite young, so [not] being able to tell the difference between being a batter and a captain," he said. "So, when you're a batter, you're just a batter for the team. You can't captain in any way while you're batting."Markram has since developed into a versatile middle-order batter who can adapt to different situations. His ability to hit hard lengths and high pace, combined with Heinrich Klaasen's demolition of spin, makes South Africa a formidable force in limited-overs cricket.As captain, Markram is not seeking to make a clean break from the past. He is focused on keeping the batting and the captaining separate. "For the time being, we're trying to achieve something we haven't achieved before," Markram said. "So, I don't think that brings too much extra pressure. I think it brings a bit more excitement and energy to the team."Markram's calm and collected demeanor is a reflection of his personality. He is not one for tall promises or stern words. Instead, he leads by example and trusts in the abilities of his team.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has found a new batting hero in Rajat Patidar, who has transformed the team's fortunes in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. After a dismal start, RCB has won five consecutive matches, largely due to Patidar's explosive batting at No. 4.Patidar's rise has been a revelation for RCB, which has long struggled with a weak middle order. In the past, the team relied heavily on its star-studded top order of Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and A.B. de Villiers. However, with these players no longer in the lineup, RCB needed a new source of runs.Patidar has stepped up to the plate in spectacular fashion. In his five half-centuries this season, he has displayed a combination of power and elegance. He has also shown a remarkable ability to handle spin bowling, which has been a major weakness for RCB in the past.In Sunday's win over Delhi Capitals, Patidar scored 52 runs from 32 balls, including three sixes against India's frontline spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. His innings was a testament to his ability to read spinners off the hand and pick the length early.Patidar's success has been a result of hard work and determination. After missing the entire 2023 IPL season due to injury, he returned this year with a renewed sense of purpose. He has also benefited from the guidance of RCB's coaching staff, which has helped him develop his game.Patidar's resurgence has been a major boost for RCB, which is now in contention for a playoff spot. His ability to score runs consistently at a high strike rate has given the team a much-needed boost in confidence.