Cricket

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has finalized its core group for the upcoming 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season by retaining Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy as their final two capped players.Head, the Australian batter, is set to receive a hefty INR 14 crore, while Reddy, the Indian all-rounder, will earn INR 6 crore. These signings complete SRH's quota of five capped retained players, joining Heinrich Klaasen (INR 23 crore), Pat Cummins (INR 18 crore), and Abhishek Sharma (INR 14 crore).SRH's decision to retain Head is a testament to his impressive performance in the 2024 IPL season. The left-hander smashed 567 runs at a strike rate of 191.55, establishing himself as a key player at the top of the order. Head's ability to perform under pressure, as evidenced by his centuries in the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup finals, makes him a valuable asset for SRH.Reddy, on the other hand, has seen a significant increase in his value since joining SRH in 2023. The 21-year-old was named the Emerging Player of the Year in IPL 2024 for his all-round contributions. He scored 303 runs at a strike rate of 143 and took three wickets with his seam bowling. Reddy's international debut for India in October further enhances his value.With these retentions, SRH has secured the core group that led them to the IPL 2024 final. The franchise will now have INR 45 crore remaining in their auction purse, which they can use to acquire additional players.

Pat Cummins, the Australian Test captain, has set his sights on conquering the final frontier of his illustrious career: a Test series victory over India. With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) set to commence in Perth on November 22, Cummins is determined to fill the void in his impressive CV.Australia has enjoyed a golden era under Cummins' leadership, claiming the Ashes, World Test Championship, and ODI World Cup. However, a Test series win over India has eluded them, with India remaining undefeated in the BGT for the past decade."It's kind of the one big thing that I want to tick off," Cummins said at the launch of his book. "Particularly winning at home. Most Australians, me included, expect us to do well whenever we play at home."India's recent Test defeats at home against New Zealand have raised questions about their preparations for the Australia tour. However, Cummins remains wary of their formidable batting lineup."I think any time a team's under pressure, it's not a bad thing if you're playing against them," Cummins said. "But they've been out here before and performed well. Our job is to try and keep them quiet, see how we go."The BGT is also crucial for the World Test Championship, with India and Australia currently occupying the top two positions. A series win would strengthen their chances of qualifying for the final.Cummins is confident in his team's ability to perform well against India. "We feel like our team's in a really good place, so we've got no reason why we shouldn't perform really well," he said. "I just always expect us to do well against whoever we play. But India, particularly, is a big year, big season."

SRH's Retention Conundrum: Moody's Picks for IPL 2025Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) coach Tom Moody has identified four key players he believes the franchise should retain: captain Pat Cummins, openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, and wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen.Moody, who guided SRH to the 2024 IPL final, emphasized the importance of retaining the team's core players. Head, Abhishek, and Klaasen were instrumental in SRH's success last season, finishing as the top three run-getters.Head, the Australian batter, amassed 567 runs, including a century and four fifties. Abhishek, the Indian opener, contributed 484 runs with three half-centuries. Klaasen, the South African wicketkeeper, accumulated 479 runs, including four half-centuries."SRH has a tough job during this retention period," Moody said. "At the top, I'd look to secure captain Pat Cummins, followed by Travis Head and then Abhishek Sharma."Moody also suggested considering all-rounders Nitish Reddy and Abdul Samad for retention. Reddy was the fourth-highest run-getter for SRH in 2024, while Samad impressed with his power-hitting, scoring 182 runs at a strike rate of 168.51."I'd extend it even further to retain Heinrich Klaasen," Moody added. "Nitish Reddy and Abdul Samad are also worth considering."IPL franchises can retain a maximum of six players, including a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players. The auction purse for IPL 2025 has been set at Rs 120 crore. The deadline for franchises to finalize their retention list is October 31.

Australia's Test captain Pat Cummins has expressed his belief that the 2018-19 Test series loss to India was more painful than the 2020-21 debacle under his leadership. Cummins believes that the home team was simply outplayed in the 2018-19 series, while the 2020-21 series was more closely fought.Under Virat Kohli's captaincy, India defeated Australia 2-1 in the 2018-19 rubber with the skipper and Cheteshwar Pujara playing a pivotal role in the historic triumph against the Tim Paine-led side. During the 2020-2021 series, a hugely depleted Indian side again bagged the series 2-1, defeating the hosts at their stronghold Gabba for the first time in a Test match in 32 years."I actually thought the series before (2018-19) was worse because we got completely beaten whereas that series (in 2020-21) was quite (keenly) fought. I thought they (India) played like fantastically well to win at the Gabba," Cummins told The Grade Cricketer podcast."That (defeat) was annoying, but I felt like the series before, where we were like completely outplayed, that would hurt more for me," he said.Cummins, who will again be leading in a five-match Test series against India starting November 22 in Perth, said that if he had his way, he would welcome India with green tops to make life difficult for the visitors."I wish if I had it my way I would be looking like those bushes behind you. Unfortunately, I don’t have any sway (on the preparation of wickets), so we’ll wait and see," said Cummins in response to the host’s question on the amount of grass he would like to see on the pitches for the crucial series.David Warner has offered to come out of retirement to help the side if need be, but Cummins indicated that the team has moved on."Dave we are very interested, we’re taking it very seriously and we’ll be in touch, mate just watch that phone," said Cummins in jest before adding, "Uh, we love Davey (Warner) but he’s retired, sorry."

Australian skipper Pat Cummins has jokingly revealed his excuses for a potential loss in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. Speaking on The Grade Cricketer podcast, Cummins quipped, "I will find some (laughs). Cameron Green was going to open the batting and bowling."Green's absence due to back surgery has disrupted Australia's plans. The all-rounder was expected to bat at number four and provide pace bowling support. His injury has left a void in the team's balance, forcing the management to reconsider their strategy.Cummins acknowledged the importance of a balanced contest between bat and ball. "It feels like if someone has scored a hundred, they have batted the house down. Taken them a few sessions whereas my first couple of years, some of those wickets were so flat," he said.The skipper expressed his desire for wickets that challenge both batsmen and bowlers. "I think some of those Indian spinning wickets as well, I think that last tour, Delhi we should have won, it just get the teams close to each other if you get the wickets like that, but you do not listen to our players complaining about those types of wickets," he added.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will commence on November 22 at Perth. The series will feature five Tests, with the second Test in Adelaide played under lights. The third Test will be held at The Gabba in Brisbane, followed by the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The series will conclude with the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

David Warner's Comeback Offer for Border-Gavaskar Trophy Dismissed by Australia Skipper Pat CumminsAustralia's Test captain, Pat Cummins, has unequivocally ruled out the possibility of David Warner making a comeback for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. Warner, who retired from Test cricket earlier this year, recently expressed his willingness to return to the national team.Cummins, however, has put an end to any speculation, stating that the team "loves Davey" but will not consider him for the marquee series. He acknowledged Warner's offer but labeled it as a "bit of a wind-up.""Dave, we're very interested. We're taking it very seriously and we'll be in touch, mate," Cummins said on The Grade Cricketer podcast. "I did speak to Dave a couple of days ago. I can't remember if he reached out or I did... he's like, 'What do you think?', and I was like, 'Yeah, good luck with [Sydney] Thunder and I look forward to your comments on Fox.'"Cummins believes that Warner's offer was partly a joke but also a way for the former opener to stay in the limelight. "I think the truth's somewhere in the middle. I reckon it (offer) is a bit of a wind-up but I reckon he doesn't mind seeing himself in the back page. We love Davey but he is retired," Cummins added.In Warner's absence, Steve Smith has been opening the batting for Australia, but the move has not been entirely successful. The 5-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins on November 22 in Perth, with the second Test scheduled for Adelaide from December 6. The remaining Tests will be played in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, with the series concluding on January 8, 2025.

Cheteshwar Pujara, the seasoned Indian batsman, is a strong contender for a spot in the upcoming five-Test series against Australia. His impressive performances on the last two tours Down Under have made him a valuable asset for the Indian team.In the 2018-19 series, Pujara emerged as the leading run-getter with 521 runs off 1258 balls. His resilience and ability to wear down the opposition attack were crucial in India's success. Three years later, he once again played a pivotal role, accumulating 271 runs off 928 balls.Pujara's experience and ability to face a large number of deliveries could prove invaluable in the upcoming series. He has faced more balls than any other player in the two teams, tiring out the Australian bowlers comprising Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc.Despite not playing for India since the World Test Championship final in June 2022, Pujara has maintained his form. In the recent Ranji Trophy round, he scored a mammoth 234 off 383 balls against Chattisgarh.While Pujara's inclusion seems likely, the selectors may also consider other options. Nitish Reddy, who impressed in the Bangladesh series, has been picked in the India A squad for the shadow tour of Australia. Shardul Thakur, with his experience and all-rounder abilities, could also be in contention.In the bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep are likely to be included in the Test squad. Avesh Khan and Yash Dayal are also in the mix, while Mohammed Shami's fitness remains a concern.The Indian team will be hoping to continue their dominance in Australia, having won the series on their last two tours. Pujara's experience and resilience could play a key role in their quest for another historic victory.

Australia's Test captain Pat Cummins has identified Rishabh Pant as India's "X-factor" in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Cummins acknowledged Pant's exceptional performance in Australia during the previous series, highlighting his unpredictable nature and ability to entertain with his on-field antics.Cummins expressed his determination to rectify Australia's recent setbacks against India, having lost four consecutive Test series. He emphasized the team's high expectations when playing at home and their desire to make amends for the disappointing results in the past.The Australian captain also praised the young Indian talents Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, acknowledging their impressive performances in various formats. However, he admitted that the team had not yet devised specific plans to counter them.Cummins lamented the absence of Cameron Green, a key all-rounder who will miss the series due to a lower back stress fracture. He described Green as a significant loss, not only for his batting but also for his exceptional fielding and bowling abilities.Prior to the Test series, Australia will face Pakistan in a white-ball series. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series will commence on November 22 in Perth, marking the first five-match Test series between Australia and India since 1992.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins is determined to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from India in the upcoming five-match Test series, which begins on November 22 in Perth. Cummins acknowledges that Australia has struggled against India in recent Test series, but he is confident that his team can turn things around on home soil."We haven't had a lot of luck against India over the last few Test series, but we always pride ourselves on playing well here in Australia," Cummins said. "We have really high expectations when we play Test cricket in Australia, so anytime we don't win down here, of course, you look at those series a bit more closely."The last Test series between Australia and India in Australia was a particularly tough one for the hosts, with India winning 2-1. Rishabh Pant's heroics in the final Test at the Gabba sealed a historic three-wicket win for India."The last series, in particular, was a really tough one," Cummins said. "It went right down to that last session at the Gabba, and unfortunately, we couldn't pull it off. A lot of the guys in the team are the same as those who played in that series, and we're here to make amends."Cummins identified Pant as India's "X-factor," but stressed that his team is focused on rectifying the setbacks from four consecutive series defeats to India."Rishabh had a great series here in Australia last time," Cummins said. "He's always a bit of that X-factor in the middle order. You never quite know what you're going to get, which is exciting, even as the opposition."Australia will face Pakistan in a white-ball series before the much-anticipated Test series against India. It will be the first Test series between India and Australia comprising five matches since 1992.