Cricket

Indian cricket team's star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have faced intense criticism following their team's dismal performance in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand. Both players failed to deliver with the bat, contributing to India's 0-3 series defeat.Rohit Sharma, who captained the side, managed only 91 runs in the series, averaging a meager 15.16. Virat Kohli, on the other hand, scored 93 runs at an average of 15.50. Their poor form has raised concerns among fans and experts alike.Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has been particularly critical of the duo, comparing their struggles to those of Pakistan's Babar Azam. "After Babar, Rohit and Virat are also in the same situation, poor form," Ali said on his YouTube channel.Ali pointed out specific instances where Rohit's footwork was lacking, such as when he missed two deliveries and then stepped out to hit a four. "This shows that his feet are not moving, form is not good," Ali said.Ali also emphasized the importance of domestic cricket for players like Kohli and Rohit, who have been exempted from playing in the Ranji Trophy. "Virat Kohli, out of touch, not in form at all. He needs to play domestically before flying to Australia, Rohit also. Test match practice cannot be seen," Ali said.He added that the mandate of making players available for domestic cricket to be eligible for India selection should be strictly enforced. "Everyone played, all of them performed in patches - Shubman Gill, Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal...but these two (Rohit and Virat) were given a free hand and allowed to exclude themselves," Ali said.The criticism of Kohli and Rohit comes at a crucial time, as India is set to tour Australia for a four-Test series later this year. The duo's poor form has raised doubts about their ability to perform in challenging conditions.

India's Test squad for the upcoming home series against New Zealand remains unchanged from the one that faced Bangladesh in September, indicating that Mohammed Shami's recovery from injury is still ongoing. This series will serve as India's final red-ball preparation before the crucial five-Test tour of Australia later this year.Jasprit Bumrah, India's premier fast bowler, has been appointed vice-captain for the three-match series against New Zealand. This is a significant recognition of his leadership qualities and his growing stature within the team.The squad features a blend of experienced and emerging players. Rohit Sharma will continue to lead the side, while Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant remain key figures in the batting lineup. Shubman Gill, who has impressed in recent outings, will be looking to cement his place in the Test team.The bowling attack will be spearheaded by Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Axar Patel. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, two of India's most experienced spinners, will also be crucial to the team's success. Kuldeep Yadav, who has been in impressive form in white-ball cricket, has been included as a potential spin option.The series against New Zealand will provide India with an opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for the Australia tour. The conditions in New Zealand are expected to be similar to those in Australia, making it an ideal test for the Indian team.India will be aiming to continue their impressive home record in Test cricket. They have not lost a Test series at home since 2012 and will be confident of extending that streak against New Zealand.

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, is poised to make a much-anticipated return to action in the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand. Shami has been sidelined since the World Cup final last year due to an ankle injury that required surgery.After undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Shami has been training diligently at the BCCI's newly inaugurated Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Sources within the BCCI have indicated that Shami's recovery is progressing well, and he is likely to be match-ready for the New Zealand series.The 30-year-old seamer is eager to prove his fitness and regain his place in the Indian team. He has dismissed rumors that he will miss the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia later this year, stating that he is working hard to recover and has not been ruled out by the BCCI.Shami's return will be a significant boost for India, who have missed his experience and skill in the bowling attack. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace makes him a formidable threat to opposition batsmen.The New Zealand series will provide Shami with an opportunity to demonstrate his fitness and form ahead of the crucial Australia tour. If he performs well, he is likely to be included in the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India will aim to retain the trophy they won in 2018-19.Shami's return to action is a positive sign for Indian cricket. His experience and skill will be invaluable as the team prepares for a challenging schedule in the coming months.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has predicted that Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli will return to form with "big centuries" in the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. Kohli, who missed the home Test series against England due to the birth of his son, will be eager to rediscover his prolific run-scoring form.Ali believes that Kohli will make a significant impact in the upcoming Tests, stating, "In the England series, Virat wasn't there. He didn't perform well in the Sri Lanka series. But in the Bangladesh and the New Zealand series, you will see big centuries (from Virat). Not 110 or 115, you may see a 200-run knock from him."Kohli's recent performances have been underwhelming, with a disappointing T20 World Cup and a poor showing in the ODI series against Sri Lanka. However, Ali is confident that the Indian batter will bounce back and regain his dominance in the Test format.India's Test squad for the Bangladesh series features a formidable batting lineup, including skipper Rohit Sharma, young openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, and the experienced KL Rahul. The spin quartet of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav will provide balance to the team.Ali has named his preferred playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh, opting for Kuldeep over Axar due to the presence of several left-handed batters in the opposition lineup. His team includes Rohit, Jaiswal, Gill, Kohli, Rahul, Pant, Jadeja, Ashwin, Kuldeep, Bumrah, and Siraj.With the Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand on the horizon, fans will be eagerly anticipating Kohli's return to form. If Ali's predictions hold true, the Indian batter could be set for a prolific run-scoring spree that will delight cricket enthusiasts worldwide.