Cricket

Navjot Singh Sidhu's unexpected departure from India's tour of England in 1996 had a profound impact on the career of Sourav Ganguly. Sidhu, a senior member and established opening batsman, had a disagreement with then-captain Mohammad Azharuddin, leading to his abrupt exit.This sudden vacancy in the batting lineup forced the Indian team management to reconsider their strategy. Ganguly, who had been selected in the squad but was yet to make his debut, was brought into the playing XI as a replacement.Ganguly seized this opportunity with both hands, making a stunning debut at Lord's by scoring a century (131 runs). He followed it up with another century in the next Test at Trent Bridge, cementing his place in the Indian team.Sidhu's departure indirectly opened the door for Ganguly's Test career, allowing him to showcase his talent on the international stage. This turn of events marked the beginning of a legendary career. Ganguly went on to become one of India's most successful captains, known for his aggressive leadership style and his ability to build a fearless team.Ganguly's debut was a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite not being the first-choice opener, he grabbed the opportunity and made the most of it. His performance at Lord's and Trent Bridge not only earned him a permanent place in the Indian team but also set the stage for his future success as a captain.Sidhu's decision to leave the tour may have been controversial at the time, but it ultimately had a positive impact on Indian cricket. It paved the way for Ganguly's debut and the start of a remarkable career that would inspire generations of cricketers.

Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has taken a light-hearted jab at star pacer Arshdeep Singh ahead of the T20 World Cup final against South Africa. Arshdeep, who is India's leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 15 scalps, will have a chance to claim the top spot on Saturday when India takes on the Proteas in the T20 World Cup summit clash.Arshdeep needs two wickets to go past Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi (16) in the list of the tournament's leading wicket-takers. However, ahead of the final, Sidhu trolled Arshdeep over his batting skills.In a video posted on Instagram, Arshdeep can be seen shuffling across the stumps, trying to aim for a big shot. He left his stumps unguarded in order to oversmart the bowler, but ended up missing his pull. The video of the same was from the match against Pakistan in the group stage of the ongoing tournament.Sidhu shared a video on Instagram, which read: "Confidence 100 per cent, skills 0 per cent".Since Sidhu has been praising Arshdeep for his exploits with the ball throughout the tournament, there wasn't any malice intended at the player in the post shared by him.Arshdeep, who went wicketless in the semi-final against England, will look to return to wicket-taking ways in the all-important final.Arshdeep attributed much of his success to pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. "I guess a lot of credit goes to Jassi bhai (Jasprit Bumrah) because he puts a lot of pressure on the batters - he gives, what, three or four runs in an over - so batters are coming hard against me, and I just have to try and bowl my best ball and there are a lot of chances of getting wickets there," Arshdeep said."On the other end they see the runs are not coming and the asking rate is going high, so they take more risks against me. [There's a] chance always of getting a wicket there. So a lot of credit for my wickets goes to Jassi bhai," he added.

Suryakumar Yadav's Fine-Leg Dominance Earns Praise from Navjot Singh SidhuFormer Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has lauded Suryakumar Yadav for his unbeaten half-century against the United States in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Despite a slow start in the first two matches, Suryakumar bounced back with a 50-run knock off 49 balls, which included two fours and two sixes, at a strike rate of 102.04.Sidhu highlighted that a significant portion of Suryakumar's runs against the USA came in the fine-leg area. "He has made areas where playing shots was considered a crime. Almost 40 per cent of the runs in his innings were in the fine-leg area. He is playing in the reverse V. He is doing a 360-degree attack. So you cannot set a field. When you cannot set a field, you are left stunned," Sidhu said.The former Indian opener also emphasized Suryakumar's scoring pace, suggesting that if he surpasses the 50-run mark, he can lead his team to victory. "The pace at which he scores, if he scores more than 50, he will win the match. Very few players play at that pace. Maybe Hardik Pandya and Travis Head, that too with the new ball against the short ball. There are very few game-changers," the commentator added.India finished the first round atop Group A with seven points, having already secured their spot in the Super 8 after defeating the co-hosts USA. The Rohit Sharma-led team is set to face Afghanistan in their first Super 8 match on Thursday at Kensington Oval Barbados.

India-Pakistan T20 World Cup Match: Navjot Singh Sidhu Analyzes Team Composition and Game-ChangersFormer Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has shared his insights on India's team composition and the concept of "game-changers" in T20 cricket, following the thrilling India-Pakistan match in the T20 World Cup.Sidhu believes that while he would have preferred Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal to open the innings, he understands the rationale behind Virat Kohli's decision to pair with the captain. He explains that this combination allows Shivam Dube and Axar Patel to play, creating a balanced team with Axar batting at number 8 on a pitch that favors bowlers.However, Sidhu emphasizes that the term "game-changer" should be used judiciously in T20 cricket. He believes that only players who can consistently score at least two runs per ball deserve this designation. He points out that while strike rates of 1.5 or 1.7 are respectable, true game-changers are those who can score 2.5 or even three runs per ball.Sidhu identifies Shivam Dube and Axar Patel as potential game-changers for India, citing their ability to score at a high pace. He also highlights the importance of a high strike rate in T20 cricket, particularly in low-scoring matches like the ones witnessed in the ongoing T20 World Cup.Sidhu further explains that game-changers in T20 cricket possess a unique skill to clear the ground and score quickly. He compares this to the exceptional finishing abilities of MS Dhoni, who has a strike rate of 2.5 or even 4 per ball.In conclusion, Navjot Singh Sidhu believes that India's team composition for the India-Pakistan match was well-balanced, considering the pitch conditions. He also emphasizes the importance of identifying true game-changers in T20 cricket, who can consistently score at a high pace and make a significant impact on the outcome of matches.

Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu believes that India holds a significant advantage over Pakistan in their upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup clash on Sunday. Sidhu, who played 51 Tests and 136 ODIs for India, cited several factors that give India the edge.Firstly, Sidhu highlighted Pakistan's recent loss to the United States in a warm-up match. "Pakistan has lost to the USA. The mental scars will remain," he said. This defeat could have a psychological impact on the Pakistani team, especially considering that the USA is a relatively inexperienced side in international cricket.Secondly, Sidhu pointed out that Pakistan will have to adjust to the conditions at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, where the match will be played. "Pakistan has not played here yet. Adjusting to this track will not be easy," he said. The pitch at the stadium is known for its undulations, which can make it challenging for batters to score runs consistently.Thirdly, Sidhu believes that the Indian team has a better understanding of the conditions in the United States. "The Indian team has already played two matches here (including the warm-up game), but Pakistan is yet to play here," he said. This familiarity with the pitch and the surrounding environment could give India a slight advantage.However, Sidhu also acknowledged that Pakistan has the potential to upset India on their day. "On their day, Pakistan can beat the best in the world," he said. Pakistan has a talented squad with experienced players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi.Despite these factors, Sidhu remains confident that India will emerge victorious in the highly anticipated clash. "India holds the edge over Pakistan in this match," he said. "The Indian team is more experienced, has a better understanding of the conditions, and has a stronger mental state."

Navjot Singh Sidhu, the former cricketer and commentator, has praised Abhishek Sharma's performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Sidhu believes that Sharma has the potential to make a significant impact on the international stage.In Qualifier 2 of the IPL 2024, Sharma played a crucial role in Sunrisers Hyderabad's victory over Rajasthan Royals. The left-arm spin all-rounder took two wickets for 24 runs in four overs, helping to restrict Rajasthan to 164/7.Sharma's performance was particularly impressive considering that he had only bowled three overs in the entire tournament prior to the match. However, he showed remarkable control and accuracy, generating significant dip and turn with his deliveries.Sidhu was full of praise for Sharma after the match. "Yeh baccha taiyaar hai," he said on Star Sports. "He has the temperament to play in international cricket and he feels he belongs to the area. He is ready to make India proud."Sharma's performance in the IPL has been a breakout season for the 22-year-old. He has scored three fifties and amassed 482 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 207.76. He has also taken seven wickets with his left-arm spin.Sharma's all-round ability has made him a valuable asset for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has been used as a floater in the batting order, and his ability to bowl both spin and medium pace gives the team flexibility.If Sharma continues to perform at this level, he could soon be in contention for a place in the Indian team. He has the potential to be a valuable all-rounder for India in all three formats of the game.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir expressed immense relief after the team secured a berth in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs with a thrilling victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) on Saturday.KKR's resurgence this season has been attributed to Gambhir's astute guidance. After finishing seventh in the previous two seasons, the team has displayed remarkable improvement under his leadership.Former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu lauded Gambhir's impact on KKR's turnaround. "Gautam Gambhir gets inspired when the situation gets tough. He starts advising, and that's how it should be," Sidhu said.Sidhu highlighted KKR's exceptional bowling performance, with five players claiming 10 or more wickets. "KKR is the only team with six bowlers who have taken 60 wickets between them," he emphasized.Sidhu questioned the decision to acquire Australian pacer Mitchell Starc for a hefty sum, instead praising Sunil Narine as the "MVP" of the tournament. "The most valuable player is Sunil Narine. Who got Starc? Everybody was talking about Rs 23 crore. The cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. It is the value addition, boss!" Sidhu exclaimed.KKR's victory over MI was a testament to their newfound resilience. Despite MI's aggressive chase, Harshit Rana's dismissal of Tilak Varma in the final over sealed the deal for KKR.Gambhir's presence in the dugout has instilled a sense of belief and determination in the team. With KKR sitting atop the standings with 19 points from 13 matches, they are poised to make a strong run in the playoffs.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the legendary Indian cricketer, continues to captivate the hearts of fans in Chennai, the home of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). As CSK concluded their home league stage in IPL 2024 with a triumphant five-wicket victory against Rajasthan Royals, speculation intensified regarding Dhoni's potential retirement.However, Dhoni remains enigmatic, keeping his plans close to his chest. The official broadcaster of the tournament shared a poignant video featuring Navjot Singh Sidhu, who hailed Dhoni's unparalleled status in the cricketing world."The world bows to the strong, not to the weak," Sidhu proclaimed. "It's the thoughts that count. Thoughts can make humans god or demon. All the miracles in the world are of thoughts. Your thoughts are the real interpreters of your actions."Sidhu continued, "And this embodiment of positive thinking, this Himalayan mountain, is a man of an era. When he retires from the game, an era will end. It's rare that mothers give birth to a great man, and the stature of that great man grows and spreads like a cult, the legend grows, it happens every second. And the world always remembers great people like an institution."Dhoni's legendary status in Chennai is undeniable. The city reveres him as a demi-god, and his presence on the field electrifies the atmosphere. CSK's recent home leg was a testament to their dominance, winning five out of their seven matches at the Chepauk.With the victory over the Royals, CSK ascended to the third spot in the standings, bolstering their chances of reaching the playoffs. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Dhoni, the enigmatic leader who continues to inspire generations of cricketers and fans alike.

Former Indian cricket star Navjot Singh Sidhu has provided an update on his wife Navjot Kaur's recovery from breast cancer surgery. Kaur underwent a second surgery last month, and Sidhu has been sharing her progress with fans on social media.In an update on Saturday, Sidhu said that 70 stitches have been removed from Kaur's wound, which is healing well. However, there is still a 2.5-inch area that requires daily dressing under the supervision of Dr. Manpreet Thind. Sidhu is waiting for the wound to fully heal before beginning the necessary radiation therapy."Keeping fingers crossed..... hopeful for a full recovery within 2 weeks to start the radiation treatment as planned," Sidhu wrote on Twitter.Sidhu also posted a couple of pictures with his wife and the doctor who has been treating her. In one of the pictures, Kaur is seen standing on her own two feet, a sign of her progress."Back on her feet ... discharged from Hospital ... one month recovery time before 25 radiation sessions ... Big thank you to Dr Rupinder and the staff ... indebted forever," Sidhu wrote.Earlier, Sidhu had revealed that his wife had undergone an operation for Metastasis, a rare condition that prompted the doctors to remove her affected skin and reconstruct it."Operation for rarest of rare Metastasis - lasted three and a half hours. Affected skin removed and reconstruction done with flaps. Her resolve is steadfast, the smile never leaves her face - courage thy name is Noni. Dr Rupinder hoping for a speedy recovery," Sidhu had written.While his wife's health and recovery remain a priority, Sidhu is expected to continue entertaining fans with his commentary in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign.