Cricket

India's recent 0-3 Test series defeat at home to New Zealand has raised concerns about the team's preparation and approach. Former Australian pacer Brett Lee believes India underestimated their opponents, leading to their disappointing performance.Lee pointed out that India's batters struggled against New Zealand's spinners, Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel, who exploited the subcontinent's turning pitches. He suggested that India may have entered the series with overconfidence due to their strong home record."They went into the series thinking that we'll just whitewash the Kiwis, thinking that's going to be an easy series," Lee said on his YouTube channel. "And that's no disrespect to the Kiwis. It's just that India are so powerful, so strong on home soil. The Kiwis caught India off-guard."Lee also highlighted a concerning pattern in India's batting approach, which lacked patience. He suggested that India's aggressive mindset may have backfired as they forced their game against the disciplined Kiwi bowlers."They were trying to hit boundaries every ball," Lee said. "They weren't prepared to grind it out, to bat for long periods of time. And that's what the Kiwis did. They were prepared to bat for long periods of time, they were prepared to grind it out."With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the horizon, starting on November 22 in Perth, Lee remains confident that India can bounce back and prepare themselves for the crucial series against Australia."This is a great learning curve for all out there," Lee added. "They are going to come in strong. They would have got a kick up the backside from their coach, Gautam Gambhir. This is atrocious, the way they played but they are still a team of champions."Lee also weighed in on the poor form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom have struggled with the bat this year. He advised the duo to take time off, refresh, and focus on refining their techniques ahead of the Australian series."When you have a couple of bad runs back-to-back, that's when the pressure could set in," Lee said. "I guess the thing now is someone like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma just have to go back to the drawing board. Work on that technique, freshen up, get away from cricket as much as they can and then hit the ground running when they go to Australia."With a spot in the World Test Championship final up for grabs, Lee believes India will come back stronger and well-prepared for the upcoming series against Australia.

Lockie Ferguson's Hat-Trick Seals New Zealand's Victory in Low-Scoring ThrillerNew Zealand's Lockie Ferguson unleashed a devastating spell on Sunday, claiming a hat-trick to help his team defend their lowest-ever target in men's T20I cricket. Facing a modest total of 108 against Sri Lanka in Dambulla, Ferguson's fiery bowling proved decisive in securing a thrilling five-run victory.After the Kiwis were dismissed for a paltry 108, Ferguson stepped up with a two-over spell that turned the tide of the match. His first victim was Kusal Perera, who edged a yorker to wicketkeeper Mitch Hay on the final ball of the Powerplay.In the following over, Ferguson struck twice in quick succession. Kamindu Mendis was trapped lbw by a 143kph delivery, while Charith Asalanka was caught down the leg side, handing Ferguson a hat-trick. The 33-year-old became the sixth Kiwi bowler to achieve the feat in T20Is.Ferguson's hat-trick shattered Sri Lanka's hopes of chasing down the target. Only three Lankan batters managed double-digit scores, as New Zealand's bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the innings. Off-spinner Glenn Phillips also chipped in with three wickets for the BlackCaps.Ferguson's exceptional performance earned him figures of 2-0-7-3, while Phillips finished with 3-1-13-3. The victory marked New Zealand's first in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.

Legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting has expressed concerns over the Indian batting lineup's vulnerability against quality spin bowling, citing their recent 3-0 series defeat to New Zealand. Ponting believes that the skill level of Indian batters in facing spin has declined compared to previous generations.India's dismal performance against New Zealand's spinners, Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, and Glenn Phillips, highlighted their weakness in this area. Ponting attributes this to several factors, including the changing nature of Indian pitches, the rise of fast bowlers in India, and the influence of the Indian Premier League (IPL)."It seems as though the skill of the modern Indian batsmen of playing spin is probably not what it used to be," Ponting said on The ICC Review show. "Maybe because they're playing on different wickets in India that are probably for the fast bowlers a bit more, maybe because there are more high-quality fast bowlers in India now that they're not playing as much spin bowling as they did."Ponting also praised New Zealand for their remarkable achievement, despite the absence of their star batter Kane Williamson. "That's a huge result. One that I wasn't expecting, to be honest, more so, when you look at it with Kane Williamson not being there," he said.While India's talismanic batter Virat Kohli has been struggling for form in Test cricket, Ponting remains confident in his ability to bounce back in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. "There's no doubt, he's a great of the game. He loves playing against Australia. And as I said, his record (in Australia) is very good. If there's a time for him to turn it around, it'd be this series," Ponting said.India needs to win at least four games in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to qualify for the 2025 World Test Championship final. Ponting believes that the series will be a crucial test for India's batting lineup and their ability to handle quality spin bowling.

India's Historic Humiliation: New Zealand's Unprecedented 3-0 WhitewashIndia's cricket team has suffered an unprecedented humiliation at home, as New Zealand became the first team to whitewash them 3-0 in a Test series on Indian soil. The Kiwis' historic victory in the Mumbai Test within three days exposed India's glaring weaknesses in all three departments, particularly in batting.The New Zealand spinners, led by Ajaz Patel and Michael Bracewell, wreaked havoc on Indian pitches, exploiting the hosts' vulnerability to spin. India's batting lineup, led by captain Rohit Sharma, failed to rise to the occasion, consistently falling short of expectations.Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has been a mainstay of the team for over a decade, expressed his devastation over the series loss. "It's a very shattering experience," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. "I didn't know how to react or respond to it for the last 2-3 days."Ashwin also took responsibility for his own lack of contributions with the bat, acknowledging that he could have done more to support the team. "I am a guy who says I am the reason for everything that went wrong," he said. "I am also a big reason and a big part of it (series loss)."The unexpected series loss has put India's chances of reaching the World Test Championship Final in jeopardy. They now need to win four out of five Tests in Australia to qualify for the summit clash without relying on the results of other teams.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia begins on November 22 in Perth, and India will be desperate to bounce back from this humiliating defeat. However, they will face a formidable challenge against a strong Australian team on their home turf.

Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka played a pivotal role in their hard-fought four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening T20I match in Dambulla. Chasing a modest target of 136, Sri Lanka's batsmen faced a stern test against New Zealand's second-string team.Asalanka's crucial 38-run partnership with Wanindu Hasaranga for the sixth wicket proved decisive in guiding Sri Lanka to victory. Asalanka remained unbeaten on a well-crafted 35 off 28 deliveries, while Hasaranga contributed 22 before being dismissed.Earlier, New Zealand's below-par total of 135 all out provided Sri Lanka with some breathing room. Kusal Perera etched his name in the record books by surpassing Tillakaratne Dilshan as Sri Lanka's highest run-scorer in T20s with a quickfire 23 off 17 balls.New Zealand's innings was anchored by Michael Bracewell's 27 off 24, while Ish Sodhi and Zakary Foulkes added a valuable 39 runs for the ninth wicket. However, Sri Lanka's bowlers, led by Dunith Wellalage's three wickets, kept the visitors in check.Wellalage sealed Sri Lanka's victory in style, pulling Jacob Duffy for a six over mid-wicket. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged the challenge of adjusting to the conditions and the impact of the dew on their bowling.Despite missing several key players, New Zealand showed resilience, particularly in their lower order. The second and final match of the series will be played at the same venue on Sunday, where Sri Lanka will aim to secure a series victory.

New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, have opted to bat first in the opening T20I against Sri Lanka in Kandy. Santner expressed confidence in the pitch, describing it as "a good surface, maybe a touch on the slower side." With no rain expected, he felt comfortable batting first. Sri Lanka's captain, Charith Asalanka, also indicated that he would have chosen to bat first.Sri Lanka have retained the same XI that defeated West Indies in their previous T20I. Their bowling attack features fast bowlers Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara, along with spinners Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Dunith Wellalage.New Zealand, on the other hand, are fielding a depleted team due to the ongoing South Asian tour. Wicketkeeper-batter Mitch Hay is set to make his debut, while other lesser-known players include seamers Zakary Foulkes and Jacob Duffy, and allrounder Josh Clarkson.

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand T20I Series: A Clash of Titans in DambullaSri Lanka and New Zealand are set to lock horns in a highly anticipated two-match T20I series, commencing on Saturday at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. The series marks the first encounter between the two sides since Sri Lanka's 2-0 Test series triumph over the Kiwis.Sri Lanka, buoyed by their recent 2-1 T20I series victory against West Indies, have retained the same squad for this encounter. The team will be led by experienced all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, who has been in impressive form with both bat and ball. Other key players to watch out for include opener Pathum Nissanka, middle-order batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and pace bowler Dushmantha Chameera.New Zealand, on the other hand, will be eager to avenge their Test series defeat and prove their mettle in the shorter format. The Kiwis have a formidable T20I squad, led by the experienced Kane Williamson. Other notable players include opener Martin Guptill, all-rounder Mitchell Santner, and pace bowler Trent Boult.The shift to white-ball cricket presents both teams with unique challenges and opportunities. Sri Lanka will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage and the familiarity of the conditions. New Zealand, however, will be confident in their ability to adapt quickly and impose their style of play.The series is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams possessing a wealth of talent and experience. Sri Lanka will be aiming to continue their winning momentum, while New Zealand will be determined to make a statement and prove their dominance in the T20I format.

India's remarkable 12-year winning streak on home soil came to an abrupt end with a clean sweep by New Zealand in the recently concluded Test series. This unprecedented defeat has sent shockwaves through the Indian cricket fraternity and raised questions about the team's future.The streak, which began in 2013, saw India dominate visiting teams at home, winning 42 and losing just four of 53 Tests. This dominance was built on a formidable spin attack led by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who exploited the turning tracks prepared for home matches.However, the New Zealand series exposed some weaknesses in India's approach. The pitches, which were once considered fortresses for the spinners, failed to provide the same level of assistance, allowing the Kiwi batters to score freely. Additionally, India's batting lineup, which had been the backbone of their success, struggled against the disciplined bowling of the visitors.The defeat has raised concerns about the transition that India is facing. Ashwin and Jadeja, both in their late 30s, are nearing the end of their careers. The team's search for their successors has not yet yielded promising results. Similarly, the batting lineup, which has relied heavily on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, needs to find new stars to carry the mantle.The New Zealand series has served as a wake-up call for India. The team must now reassess its strategies and identify the areas that need improvement. The transition to a new generation of players will be challenging, but it is essential for India to maintain its status as a cricketing powerhouse.

Rohit Sharma's captaincy has come under scrutiny following India's 3-0 Test series defeat to New Zealand. The loss has raised questions about his tactical acumen, particularly in the face of pressure to perform in the upcoming series against Australia.New Zealand star Will Young has shed light on how he successfully countered Rohit's tactics during the recent Test series. Young revealed that he and his teammates had learned to master their skills on spin-friendly surfaces during their 2021 tour of India.In the 2023 series, Rohit and Ravindra Jadeja attempted to put pressure on Young by blocking the mid-off region. However, Young devised a counter-strategy, targeting full deliveries and hitting them over the top straight."I just felt that if the ball was full enough, I could try to reach it and smother the spin and get it over the top straight," Young explained. "And I had a chat to Daryl Mitchell about it in between overs and he said, 'Yeah, mate, just back yourself.'"Young's success in countering Rohit's tactics forced the Indian captain to change his strategy. The New Zealand batter's adaptability and ability to exploit the opposition's weaknesses highlight the importance of tactical flexibility in modern cricket.As India prepares for the Australia series, Rohit will need to find ways to improve his team's performance and silence the critics. The upcoming tour will be a crucial test of his leadership and tactical acumen.