Cricket

Babar Azam remains the undisputed king of ODI batting, holding onto the top spot in the ICC rankings. However, Rohit Sharma has made significant strides, climbing to the second position after his impressive performance in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.Rohit's consistent batting in Sri Lanka, where he amassed 157 runs at an average of 52.33, has propelled him up the rankings. His scores of 58, 64, and 35 have earned him 765 points, just behind Babar's 824 points.Shubman Gill, who previously held the second spot, has dropped down to third, while Virat Kohli remains in fourth place. Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka has made a notable rise, moving up one spot to eighth.Sri Lanka's batting lineup also saw some impressive performances. Avishka Fernando (137 runs), Dunith Wellalage (108), Kusal Mendis (103), and Nissanka (101) were the key contributors. Nissanka's consistent performance has solidified his position in the top ten, while Mendis and Avishka have made significant gains in the rankings.Wellalage's bowling prowess was also on display, particularly his 5 for 27 in the final ODI. This performance has earned him a jump of 17 spots to 59th among bowlers.In the Test arena, South Africa's Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj have made notable progress. Bavuma's 86 in the first innings and 15 not out in the second have moved him up two spots to 16th on the batters' table. Tony de Zorzi's scores of 78 and 45 have also earned him a rise of 29 spots to 85th.Maharaj's exceptional bowling performance, with returns of 4 for 76 and 4 for 88, has earned him the Player-of-the-Match award and a jump of seven spots to joint 21st on the Test bowlers' table.

Umpires Admit Error in Not Enforcing Super Over in Sri Lanka-India ODIIn a surprising turn of events, match officials involved in the tied first ODI between Sri Lanka and India have acknowledged that they mistakenly failed to enforce a Super Over as per the International Cricket Council's (ICC) playing conditions.According to ESPNcricinfo, the on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Raveendra Wimalasiri, along with match referee Ranjan Madugalle, TV umpire Paul Reiffel, and fourth umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge, have internally admitted to misinterpreting the ODI playing conditions. The rules clearly state that in the event of a tie, teams must contest a Super Over to determine a winner.While there was initial confusion over whether the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the tour allowed for a Super Over, it has since been clarified that all tied ODIs will feature a Super Over, provided time and conditions permit.Despite the tie, neither team inquired about the absence of the Super Over, and the players immediately shook hands. However, questions quickly arose on social media, prompting the match officials to review their decision.The latest edition of the ODI playing conditions, released by the ICC in December 2023, explicitly states: "If the teams' scores are equal after both innings have been completed, then a Super Over shall be played. If the Super Over is a tie, then unless exceptional circumstances arise subsequent Super Overs shall be played until there is a winner. Should it not be possible to play or to complete the Super Overs needed to determine a winner, the match shall be tied."It is understood that Madugalle, Wilson, and Wimalasiri did not initially discuss any specific reason for not enforcing the Super Over. However, after further discussions, they decided to activate the Super Over in case of another tie in the remaining two ODIs of the three-match series, which Sri Lanka eventually won 2-0.In the match in question, India needed five runs from the final three overs, with two wickets in hand, to chase down the target of 231. Shivam Dube managed a four, but India lost consecutive wickets in the 48th over, resulting in the tie.The admission of error by the match officials highlights the importance of adhering to the established playing conditions to ensure fair and consistent outcomes in cricket matches.

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as Team India's head coach has witnessed a contrasting start, marked by a dominant T20I series victory over Sri Lanka followed by a disappointing ODI series loss.In the T20I series, India under Gambhir's leadership showcased their prowess, securing a 3-0 sweep against Sri Lanka. Suryakumar Yadav emerged as a key performer, showcasing his exceptional batting skills. However, the euphoria was short-lived as Sri Lanka bounced back in the ODI series, claiming a 2-0 victory.The ODI series exposed India's batting frailties on turning pitches, despite the presence of star players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa attributed the team's struggles to the departure of Rahul Dravid as head coach, leaving a significant void to fill.Uthappa expressed confidence in Gambhir's ability to guide India to continued success, particularly in the T20 format. He highlighted Gambhir's leadership qualities, tactical acumen, and ability to create a positive team environment."He's always been someone who thrives under pressure and has consistently sought out big stages to deliver. As far as I'm concerned, I see the same qualities in him as a leader within this group," Uthappa said.India's next challenge lies in a series against Bangladesh, commencing on September 19. The tour will feature two Tests and three T20Is, providing Gambhir with an opportunity to further shape the team's performance and establish his coaching credentials.

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has weighed in on Virat Kohli's performance in the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka, which India lost 2-0. Karthik believes that there is no cause for concern about Kohli's form, considering the challenging conditions faced by all Indian batsmen on pitches that heavily favored spinners.The Indian batting lineup encountered significant difficulties while playing at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The Sri Lankan spinners dominated the proceedings, exploiting the conducive conditions to their advantage. Out of the 30 Indian wickets that fell during the three-match series, an astonishing 27 were claimed by the hosts' spin bowlers, highlighting their effectiveness on the turning tracks.This series loss marks the first time in 27 years that India has been defeated by Sri Lanka in a bilateral ODI series. Karthik, however, believes that the team can take some positives from the experience."It's been a tough pitch to play spin in this series, let's admit that first. Be it Virat Kohli, be it Rohit Sharma, or be it anyone else. With the slightly semi-new ball between overs about 8 to 30, it's been hard work (for batters)," Karthik said in a video on Cricbuzz."It's nothing to worry about. Not too many pitches work that way, but it's been a tough pitch to play spinners. I'm not going to defend Virat Kohli here, but I can tell you that playing spin was very hard," he added.Karthik also emphasized the positives for India from the series, which they can leverage in the future, particularly in the lead-up to the 2025 Champions Trophy."The biggest positive is the fact that India played all-rounders and bravely attacked. So that is something I really like, that is one. Number two, Riyan Parag, in his limited opportunities, is showing what he can do with the ball, which is again a small plus for us," Karthik said."Other than that, I think Rohit's batting is itself. The way he starts in powerplay. He is making batting look too easy in the series. Batted beautifully. These were the positives for me from this series," he added.Karthik also discussed why Indian batters struggle when facing spin on slow pitches."When you first end up playing international cricket, you end up playing a lot more quality fast-bowling. But the truth is, when every team ends up playing three fast-bowlers, and at times, four of them with just one spinner or sometimes two, we play on slow turning pitches, which doesn't happen too often," Karthik said."So, when you come from domestic cricket and go into international cricket, you focus on playing fast-bowling and hence, it is understandable of players losing their quality to play spin bowling over a period of time," he added.Karthik concluded by suggesting changes to the IPL mega auction system ahead of the 2025 season."I feel four to five (retentions) is a good number, but one or two Right to Match is also a very good option. But one small change in the Right to Match option is, once the player is bid for and the right to match option is used, I think bidding can still go on," Karthik said."If the team which has won the first bid believe they have something in their kitty to bid for that player, in that way, the player will get fair money, and the bidding has to happen between the team which has used the Right to match, and the team which has bid for him until then to get that player," he added.

Sri Lanka, led by Charith Asalanka, has opted to bat first in the decisive third ODI against India in Colombo. The hosts, who lead the series 1-0, are aiming to secure their first bilateral ODI series victory over India since 1997.Asalanka expressed confidence in his decision to bat, citing the success of this strategy in the previous matches. Sri Lanka has made one change to their lineup, with Maheesh Theekshana replacing Akila Dhananjaya.India, on the other hand, has made two changes. Riyan Parag, who impressed in the T20Is, makes his ODI debut in place of Arshdeep Singh, bolstering India's batting and adding an extra spinner. Rishabh Pant, who has recovered from a car crash, replaces KL Rahul as wicketkeeper.India's lineup now features two seam bowlers and four spinners, while Sri Lanka will rely on a single seamer, Janith Liyanage, and five spinners. The dry pitch is expected to favor spin bowling as the match progresses.Both teams have struggled to convert starts into substantial scores, and Asalanka hopes to see a century on this pitch. The weather forecast predicts clear skies at the start of the game, with a possibility of rain later in the afternoon.

The third and final ODI between India and Sri Lanka is set to commence, with the match referee Ranjan Madugalle officiating his 400th ODI. India, led by Rohit Sharma, has made two changes to their lineup, bringing in Rishabh Pant and Riyan Parag for KL Rahul and Arshdeep Singh. Sri Lanka, captained by Charith Asalanka, has opted to bat first after winning the toss.The match is expected to be a low-scoring encounter, with assistance for spinners. In the previous ODI, a leggie who was not even in the original squad troubled the Indian batsmen, dismissing five batters LBW. India is facing the prospect of its first bilateral ODI series defeat against Sri Lanka in 27 years after losing the second ODI by 32 runs.India's batting performance has been lackluster, failing to tackle the Lankan spin attack. The team has addressed the need for improvement and is determined to perform better in the final match. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has been in good form and will look to continue their winning ways.The match will be played under pleasant weather conditions, with slight cloudy cover. The outcome of the match will be crucial for both teams, as India seeks to avoid a series defeat and Sri Lanka aims to secure a series victory.

After suffering a 32-run defeat in the second ODI against Sri Lanka, India's all-rounder Washington Sundar has emphasized the significance of the upcoming third and final ODI. This match presents a crucial opportunity for the team to adapt and overcome the challenges posed by spin bowling in difficult conditions, an experience that will be invaluable in preparation for the forthcoming Champions Trophy next year.Sundar acknowledged the team's struggles against Sri Lanka's spinners, which have put India on the brink of its first bilateral ODI series loss to the island nation in 27 years. However, he expressed optimism about the team's ability to navigate through critical situations and learn from the series to improve performance."It is an opportunity for us to go out there and put our hands up and win those critical situations," Sundar said. "Obviously, with the big tournaments coming up, we will be in similar situations and it will be important to find ways as to what we can do to win those critical situations especially in similar conditions against quality spin attack."Sundar defended the team's batting against spin, asserting that the players are adept at playing in such conditions, given their extensive experience in domestic and international cricket. He also mentioned the tactical adjustments the team has made following input from new head coach Gautam Gambhir, who is renowned for his proficiency against spin."We are quality players of spin. We've always played in these kinds of wickets, even at home, in Test matches, and in different formats," Sundar said. "Even domestic cricket, we play a lot of games in such wickets. And we know a lot of our players have done really well, especially in the middle order, batting against spin. So it's just a matter of finding a way, their own individual self and trying to get the job done."Sundar, who has previously delivered a match-winning performance in a T20I against Sri Lanka, expressed his eagerness to capitalize on opportunities to contribute to the team, particularly with the bat during crucial moments of the game."I am someone who works hard and tries to find ways to be successful and to be an asset to the team," Sundar said. "That way when I was thinking about my bowling, I had to do certain things, slightly different, not huge changes, but just to add a couple of more things and do certain things more often and more efficiently."

India's batting woes have put them on the brink of a series defeat against Sri Lanka in the ongoing ODI series. The onus is on the Indian batters, particularly Virat Kohli, to step up and counter the spin challenge posed by the Lankan bowlers.Kohli, who has been subdued in the first two matches, needs to rediscover his form to provide stability to the Indian middle order. His dismissals to leg-spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Jeffrey Vandersay have raised concerns about his ability to handle the turning ball.Other Indian batters have also struggled against the Lankan spinners. Shivam Dube, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul have failed to rotate the strike effectively and have been trapped in front of the wicket.In contrast, Rohit Sharma has shown how to tackle the spin challenge. His well-calculated strokes have allowed him to score runs at a brisk pace. His colleagues need to take a cue from his approach and play with more confidence and planning.From a combination perspective, the Indian team management may consider replacing Dube with Riyan Parag. Parag's spin bowling could be more effective than Dube's medium pace on the turning tracks in Colombo.The Indian bowlers also need to improve their performance in the death overs. They have failed to apply finishing touches to the Lankan innings after reducing them to precarious positions.If India is to avoid their first ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka in 27 years, they need to find a way to counter the spin challenge and improve their batting and bowling performances.

India's Tied ODI Against Sri Lanka: Why No Super Over?The Indian cricket team's recent tied ODI against Sri Lanka has raised questions about the absence of a Super Over. Despite the scores being level at the end of regulation play, the match was declared a tie, sparking confusion among fans and experts alike.According to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) playing conditions, a Super Over is mandatory in case of a tie in 50-over matches. However, in the first ODI against Sri Lanka, on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Raveendra Wimalasiri opted against a Super Over, leaving the match as a tie.The ICC has not yet commented on the matter, nor has the Indian team management. However, a report in Cricbuzz suggests that the umpires made the decision based on the playing conditions, which state that a Super Over may be omitted if "exceptional circumstances" arise.The absence of a Super Over has been met with mixed reactions. Some argue that it deprived India of a potential victory, while others believe that the tie was a fair result given the challenging conditions.The match itself was a low-scoring thriller, with India chasing a target of 231. Skipper Rohit Sharma played a brilliant knock of 58 off 47 balls, but the rest of the Indian batting lineup struggled against Sri Lanka's spin attack.Charith Asalanka played a crucial role for Sri Lanka, taking two wickets in quick succession to level the scores. The match eventually ended in a tie, marking the 44th such occurrence in ODI history.The absence of a Super Over in the first ODI against Sri Lanka has highlighted the need for clarity in the ICC's playing conditions. It remains to be seen whether the ICC will address this issue in the future to ensure consistency in the application of the rules.