Cricket

Indian cricket team batter Virat Kohli's struggles continued in the T20 World Cup 2024 as he was dismissed for just 4 during the match against Pakistan on Sunday. Kohli's poor form has become a major concern for the Indian team, as he has now failed to score a half-century in his last 10 international innings.Kohli's dismissal against Pakistan was particularly disappointing, as he played a loose shot to gift his wicket to Naseem Shah. During the second over of the match, a delivery from Naseem was well wide off the off stump, but Kohli decided to chase it and his ill-timed shot went straight into Usman Khan's hands.Kohli's dismissal left India reeling at 4/2, and they eventually went on to lose the match by 10 wickets. The defeat was a major setback for India, as it leaves them with a lot of work to do if they want to qualify for the semi-finals.Kohli's poor form has been a major talking point in recent months, and there have been calls for him to be dropped from the team. However, the Indian team management has continued to back Kohli, and they will be hoping that he can rediscover his form soon.

Legendary West Indian cricketer Chris Gayle has predicted India as the favorites ahead of their highly anticipated T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan on Sunday. India began their campaign with a victory over Ireland, while Pakistan suffered a setback in a Super Over defeat to co-hosts USA.Gayle acknowledged that Pakistan faces a significant challenge, stating, "Their backs are up against the wall, and coming off a loss like that straight into playing a team like India, who traditionally have the upper hand in these games, is a huge challenge."However, Gayle emphasized that underestimating the rivalry between the two nations would be a mistake. "India are in the driver's seat, definitely a more relaxed seat. But this is India versus Pakistan at a World Cup, so you can take nothing for granted," he added.Gayle believes Pakistan must regroup quickly to pose a threat to India. "As for Pakistan, they have no time to waste. They have to re-group for the biggest game of the tournament against India in New York City – that's just got even bigger," he said.Despite India's perceived advantage, Gayle believes the USA's victory over Pakistan is a positive development for cricket. "Like the rest of the cricketing world, I was gripped by the USA's victory over Pakistan. It is a huge result which is not only incredible for them but massive for cricket as a whole," he said."You always expect a few upsets at World Cups, and having started well by beating Canada, USA put Pakistan under the pump for pretty much the whole game. I think it marks the day the World Cup really started," he noted.Gayle highlighted the importance of this tournament for the West Indies, which failed to qualify for last year's 50-over World Cup in India. "Having not qualified for the last ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, this tournament is so important for cricket in the Caribbean," he said. "This is a huge thing for the players to step up and be counted."

India vs Pakistan: A Rivalry for the AgesThe upcoming T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan on Sunday promises to be an electrifying clash between two of cricket's fiercest rivals. India holds a commanding 6-1 record over Pakistan in T20 World Cup encounters, but the latter will be eager to level the playing field.The match will take place at the 34,000-capacity pop-up stadium in New York's Nassau County, where fans will witness a battle for supremacy. India, led by Rohit Sharma, enters the game as the favorite after an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Ireland. Pakistan, on the other hand, suffered a shocking defeat to the United States in a Super Over finish.Despite Pakistan's recent setback, experts and former players from both countries caution against underestimating their potential. The India-Pakistan rivalry is considered the greatest in cricket, surpassing even the Ashes. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has described it as a "war without weapons."The match will be a test of both teams' strengths and weaknesses. India boasts a formidable batting lineup led by Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav, while Pakistan relies on the explosive batting of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. The bowling attacks of both teams will also play a crucial role, with India's Jasprit Bumrah and Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi expected to lead the charge.The match is scheduled to begin at 8 pm IST on June 9 (Sunday). It promises to be a thrilling encounter that will captivate cricket fans worldwide.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly planning to revive the Champions Trophy in 2023, with a 20-day window from February 19 to March 9 being proposed. The tournament, which features the top eight teams in the ICC's ODI rankings, was last held in 2017, with Pakistan emerging victorious.According to a report on Cricbuzz, the ICC has informed its member boards about the proposed dates. Pakistan is the official host of the tournament, but due to the Indian government's reluctance to allow its team to travel to Pakistan, the event may adopt a hybrid model similar to the recent Asia Cup, where India played all their matches in Sri Lanka.Pakistan has reportedly designated Lahore as the venue for all India matches to minimize travel time and facilitate fan attendance from the Wagah border near Amritsar. However, a final decision on the tournament's format and venues will depend on the Indian government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).The ICC's annual conference in Colombo in July is expected to provide clarity on the Indian government and BCCI's stance. If the Champions Trophy does take place in 2023, it will mark the return of a prestigious tournament that has been on hiatus for six years.

Virat Kohli's Unparalleled Popularity in Pakistan: A Testament to His Global StardomFormer Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has expressed his astonishment at the immense love and admiration that Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli enjoys among Pakistani fans. Despite not having played in Pakistan for over a decade, Kohli's fan base in the country remains unwavering and continues to grow.Latif draws parallels between Kohli's popularity and that of legendary figures like Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni. He believes that Kohli commands a level of respect on par with cricket greats like Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, as well as Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan."Virat's popularity in Pakistan is on par with Dilip sahab, Mr. Bachchan, and Shah Rukh," Latif said. "Like in India, you guys loved our bowlers – Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar became household names. Here in Pakistan, we adored Gavaskar sahab, Tendulkar, then Dhoni and now Kohli – they are all icons."Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali, who has played against Kohli, echoed Latif's sentiments. He believes that if India were to play a match in Pakistan, Kohli alone would attract a massive crowd."The day Virat plays in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, or Multan, only then you guys will understand his craze in Pakistan," Ali said. "The stadium will be filled with green jerseys, but the name on the backs won't be Babar Azam or Shaheen Shah Afridi, it will be Virat Kohli's along with his jersey No 18."As India and Pakistan prepare for their highly anticipated T20 World Cup encounter in New York, the fervor surrounding Kohli continues to grow. His status as a cricketing icon is undeniable, revered by fans on both sides of the border.

The highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 is set to take place on June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. This high-stakes encounter is crucial for both teams as they aim to secure a spot in the knockout stages.India, having won their opening game against Ireland, are likely to field an unchanged playing XI. However, there are suggestions that Sanju Samson could replace Shivam Dube in the team, given his strong performance against pacers.Pakistan, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back after a loss in their first match. Their bowling attack, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, will be key to their success.In the head-to-head record, India holds a slight edge over Pakistan in T20 clashes, having won 8 out of 12 encounters. However, Pakistan's bowlers have been the top fantasy point earners for their side in these matches.Some of the key players to watch out for in this match include:* Shaheen Shah Afridi (PAK): A formidable left-arm fast bowler who can strike early and put pressure on the opposition.* Axar Patel (IND): A valuable all-rounder who can contribute with both bat and ball.* Virat Kohli (IND): A top-order batter who provides stability and experience at the crease.* Babar Azam (PAK): Pakistan's captain and a top-order batter who has been in excellent form.* Jasprit Bumrah (IND): A right-arm fast bowler known for his lethal yorkers and pace.* Mohammad Rizwan (PAK): A top-order batter and wicketkeeper who has been consistent with the bat.This clash promises to be a thrilling contest between two cricketing giants, with both teams eager to claim bragging rights and crucial points in their World Cup campaign.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup hopes hang in the balance as they prepare to face arch-rivals India on Sunday. The Babar Azam-led side suffered a shocking defeat to the USA in their tournament opener, putting their qualification for the Super 8 in jeopardy.India, on the other hand, began their campaign with a convincing victory over Ireland. With the USA also boasting a 100% record, Pakistan cannot afford another setback.As it stands, Ireland lead Group A with four points from two matches, followed by India with two points from one game. Canada and Pakistan are tied on zero points, with Canada having a superior Net Run Rate.Pakistan's qualification scenarios are complex. Even if they win all their remaining games, they could still miss out on the Super 8 if India and the USA also finish with six points. In such a scenario, the Net Run Rate would come into play.Pakistan's current NRR is inferior to both the USA and India. They would need to not only win their matches but also improve their NRR significantly to have a chance of advancing.If Pakistan lose to India, they would need the USA to lose both their remaining matches to have any hope of qualifying.Meanwhile, Canada also has a chance of reaching the Super 8. They would need to win all their games and hope for favorable results in other matches.Pakistan's match against India is crucial for their World Cup aspirations. A defeat would make their qualification extremely difficult, while a victory would keep their hopes alive.

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, expressed uncertainty about the pitch conditions at the Nassau County ground ahead of their crucial T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan. The ground has witnessed inconsistent scores, including India's low total against Ireland."New York is not our home ground, and we don't have much awareness about its nature," said Rohit. "It behaves differently on different days, so even the curator is confused."The slow outfield has added to the challenges, with some shots bouncing high and others struggling to roll. Rohit emphasized the importance of adapting to the conditions and playing smart cricket.Despite the unpredictable pitch, Rohit remained confident in his team's ability to overcome adversity. "Playing good cricket holds the key, not opposition, not pitch," he said. "We have experience in playing in pace-friendly countries like Australia and South Africa, and we thrive in these difficult moments."Rohit hinted that Rishabh Pant would continue to bat at No. 3, as he did against Ireland. He also downplayed the pressure of playing against Pakistan, stating that "nothing changes" and that "T20 is unpredictable."India has a historical edge over Pakistan in World Cups, but Rohit refused to rely on past records. "On your day, anyone can beat anyone," he said.

Virat Kohli's Strike Rate Adjustment Crucial for India's T20 World Cup SuccessFormer Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has emphasized the need for star batter Virat Kohli to adjust his strike rate during India's highly anticipated ICC T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan on Sunday.After a comprehensive victory over Ireland, India is brimming with confidence and momentum. Pakistan, on the other hand, will be looking to rebound from their defeat to co-hosts and World Cup debutants USA by triumphing over their biggest rival in the sport.Kaif believes that while Kohli is a threat to every team, he will need to moderate his aggression against Pakistan. In the last match against Ireland, Kohli stepped out of his crease to play a big shot but was dismissed for just one run off five balls."Forget Pakistan, Virat Kohli is a danger for every team. Any team that plays against him would not find it that easy to get him out. However, I feel he will have to tone down his aggression a little. He could score only one run off five balls in the last match, stepped down the wicket, got a top edge, and got out," Kaif said.Kaif noted that Kohli is in excellent form, entering the tournament after a remarkable IPL season with the bat for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He scored 741 runs in 15 innings at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69, including a century and five fifties. Kohli registered his highest-ever strike rate in his IPL career and was exceptional against spinners, adopting a more aggressive approach against them.Kaif urged Kohli to aim for a strike rate of around 130, instead of 140-150, and to be patient, waiting for bad balls to capitalize on."Virat Kohli has form and is coming after playing exceptionally well in the IPL. He scored close to 700 runs. We saw the domination where he was attacking in the powerplay and hitting boundaries, playing slog sweeps, and hitting sixes against spin," Kaif said."He is able to play every shot but I feel he needs to tone down his strike rate slightly. Go at a strike rate of around 130 and do not run close to 140-150. His role will be to bat 15 to 20 overs and score 60-70 runs. 70 runs from Virat Kohli's bat will be a very good knock. Take a little time at the start, wait for the bad balls, and then play your shots," he added.Kaif also suggested that Virat Kohli could bat at number three, as it is his ideal position on a tricky surface."I feel he can probably play at No. 3 as well. He opened and I can understand that he will open tomorrow as well, but I feel No. 3 is Virat Kohli's right position on such a pitch where the ball is moving. He can play till the end, run in the middle overs, and punish the bad balls," he said.At number three in T20Is, Virat has scored 3,076 runs at an average of 53.96 and a strike rate of 135.26, with 32 half-centuries. His best score is 94*.