Cricket

Former Indian cricketer and selector Jatin Paranjape has hailed skipper Rohit Sharma's aggressive approach in the recent Test series against Bangladesh, particularly in the Kanpur Test. Paranjape believes this match will be remembered as a turning point in Indian cricket history.Despite losing two days of play due to rain, India managed to secure a 2-0 series victory. In the Kanpur Test, Bangladesh was bowled out for 233 on day four, allowing India to post 285/9 and take two wickets. On the final day, India dismissed Bangladesh for 146 and chased down the target of 95 runs.Paranjape praised Rohit's leadership, stating that his attacking mindset has permeated the team. "Since Rohit has become the captain, the intent and DNA of the team have become attack-orientated," he said. "They have decided that their DNA is to attack, their natural instinct has become attacking, and they would not abandon it."Paranjape believes this aggressive approach will continue in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. "I think this is just a trailer of what we will see in Australia later this year," he said. "They will play such a way, irrespective of the opposition."Paranjape also highlighted the talent of Mumbai batter Prithvi Shaw, calling him "the most talented player in India." He expressed confidence that Shaw will have a successful season in the upcoming Ranji Trophy.Regarding spin all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, Paranjape believes his best years are ahead of him. "Nothing short of fantastic (his performances against Bangladesh)," he said. "He is a legend. He writes his name into the list of legends of Indian cricket. I think his best five years are ahead of us."Ashwin won the 'Player of the Series' award against Bangladesh, scoring 114 runs and taking 11 wickets. He became the joint-most 'Player of the Series' winner in Test cricket, alongside Muttiah Muralitharan.

The Irani Cup's fourth day witnessed a dramatic turn of events as Mumbai extended their lead over Rest of India, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.Resuming their overnight partnership, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Dhruv Jurel looked poised to challenge Mumbai's imposing first-innings total of 537. However, Shams Mulani's incisive bowling proved too much for the duo. In quick succession, Mulani dismissed Jurel (93) and Easwaran (191), extinguishing Rest of India's hopes of a substantial lead.With the fifth wicket falling, Rest of India's batting collapsed, losing their remaining wickets for just 23 runs. Tanush Kotian and Mulani shared the spoils, claiming three wickets each. Mumbai's lead swelled to a comfortable 121 runs.In their second innings, Mumbai's batting was anchored by Prithvi Shaw. Despite losing wickets at the other end, Shaw remained unfazed, scoring a fluent 76 off 105 deliveries. His innings included eight boundaries and a six.Saransh Jain and Manav Suthar provided the breakthroughs for Rest of India, claiming four and two wickets respectively. However, Mumbai's lead had already reached 274 runs by the end of the day's play.Rest of India face an uphill task on the fifth morning. They must quickly dismiss the remaining Mumbai batters and set themselves a manageable target. However, the presence of spinners in the game suggests that the chase could be a daunting one. Mumbai, on the other hand, will be confident of wrapping up the match and securing victory.

Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer and his mother have recently purchased a luxurious apartment in Mumbai's Worli area for a whopping Rs 2.9 crore. The 525-square-foot apartment is located on the second floor of Triveni Industrial CHSL in Adarsh Nagar. The transaction was registered on September 19, 2024, according to property registration documents accessed by Zapkey.Meanwhile, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has announced its squad for the upcoming Irani Cup 2024, which will be played from October 1 to 5 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Veteran batsman Ajinkya Rahane will lead the team against the Rest of India.Rahane, who played a crucial role in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy triumph, returns to captain the side after skipping the Duleep Trophy 2024. He will be joined by opener Prithvi Shaw, who is set to make an impact after a successful stint in the County Championship.The match will be crucial for both Shaw and Iyer, as they aim to revive their international careers with strong domestic performances. Shaw, eager to showcase his potential after impressing in county cricket, and Iyer, under scrutiny following recent struggles in red-ball cricket, are eyeing this game as a stepping stone back to the Indian national team.The Mumbai squad also includes young talents like Musheer Khan, who lit up the Duleep Trophy with his performances recently, and experienced campaigners like Siddhesh Lad and Shams Mulani. Hardik Tamore and Sidhaant Addhatrao have been selected as the two wicketkeepers, while the formidable bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur returns to red-ball cricket, likely eyeing a spot in India's plans for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.In a major boost, Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube could also join the team if they are released from their India duties. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that Sarfaraz, who is part of India's squad for the second Test against Bangladesh, will be released to play for Mumbai in the Irani Cup if he is not selected for the Test.The match will be especially significant for Rahane, who continues to be a reliable presence in domestic cricket and is instrumental in Mumbai's success. He will be hoping to lead the team to victory, with the experienced Iyer and promising Shaw providing key contributions.

Prithvi Shaw, hailed as India's next cricketing prodigy, made a grand entrance into international Test cricket with a scintillating century on debut. However, his promising start was marred by a puzzling decline in form, leaving fans and experts alike baffled.Shaw's early career was marked by remarkable achievements. He joined an elite group of Indian players to score a century on their Test debut, alongside legends like Rohit Sharma and Sourav Ganguly. He also held the record for the highest individual score in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for several years.Despite these early accolades, Shaw struggled to maintain consistency at the highest level. His form dipped inexplicably, raising questions about his technique and mental fortitude.India's return to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 was highly anticipated. However, Shaw's performance in the first match was a major disappointment. He was dismissed for a duck by Mitchell Starc on the second delivery, setting a challenging tone for the series.Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting analyzed Shaw's batting technique, identifying a weakness against inswinging deliveries. Shaw's lack of front foot movement created a gap between his bat and pad, which the Australian bowlers exploited ruthlessly.Shaw's struggles continued in the second innings, where he was dismissed by Pat Cummins in a similar fashion. His technical flaw was exposed, and he was subsequently dropped from the Indian Test team.Despite his early promise, Shaw's career has been marked by inconsistency and technical deficiencies. His inability to overcome these challenges has prevented him from fulfilling his potential and becoming the star that many had predicted.

Piyush Chawla Hints at Retirement, Jokes About Playing with Prithvi Shaw's SonVeteran Indian cricketer Piyush Chawla has playfully hinted at his retirement plans, suggesting that he might hang up his boots after former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.Chawla, 35, remains an active player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and has expressed his desire to continue playing for several more years. In a recent interview on The Shubhankar Mishra Show, Chawla engaged in a light-hearted conversation with fellow cricketer Prithvi Shaw about his retirement plans."A while ago, Prithvi Shaw told me, 'Bas karo yaar ab PC bhai.' I said, I've played with Sachin paaji, and now playing with his son. I am playing with you, and after playing with your son, I will retire," Chawla said with a smile.Chawla's remarks underscore his enduring passion for cricket. Despite no longer being a part of the Indian national team, the two-time World Cup winner continues to make a significant impact in the IPL.When asked who might retire first, Chawla humorously pointed to his former India captain, MS Dhoni, saying, "Mahi bhai." Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020, also continues to play in the IPL like Chawla.Both players are known for their longevity in cricket, continuing to perform at a high level despite their age. Chawla's comments suggest that he plans to stay in the game for a while longer, entertaining cricket fans for more seasons to come.

Durham's Colin Ackermann notched his maiden List A century to guide his team to a thrilling four-wicket victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup at the Riverside.Ackermann's unbeaten 108 anchored Durham's chase of Northamptonshire's 260, which they achieved with 11 balls to spare. The Steelbacks' innings had been propelled by Prithvi Shaw's 71-ball 97, but Durham's spinners stifled the run rate to set up their second win of the competition.Northamptonshire's innings started with a flurry of boundaries, but Bas de Leede's wicket-maiden halted their momentum. Shaw continued to dominate, reaching his fifty in 31 balls, but his innings was cut short by a top-edged sweep to Mitch Killeen.George Drissell and Paul Coughlin claimed further wickets to leave Northamptonshire on 162 for three. Ackermann and Borthwick's spin duo then took control, restricting the visitors to 260 all out.Durham's chase began cautiously, with Michael Jones and Ben McKinney dismissed early. However, Ackermann and Alex Lees formed a crucial partnership, adding 133 runs for the third wicket. Lees departed for 55, but Ackermann continued his assault, reaching his century in 95 balls.Ackermann's dismissal triggered a mini-collapse, with Borthwick and Haydon Mustard also falling cheaply. However, de Leede's unbeaten 15 ensured Durham crossed the finish line with ease.Ackermann's match-winning knock and the spinners' impressive performance were key factors in Durham's victory. Northamptonshire, on the other hand, must win their remaining four matches to qualify for the knockout stages.

Ricky Ponting, the former head coach of the Delhi Capitals, has shed light on his decision to move on from Prithvi Shaw, citing the latter's inability to meet team expectations. Shaw, once a promising talent in Indian cricket, has struggled to maintain his form, leading to his omission from the Delhi Capitals' playing eleven during the IPL 2024 season.Ponting expressed his disappointment in Shaw's situation, acknowledging his exceptional skills and potential. However, he emphasized that despite multiple discussions and efforts to improve Shaw's cricketing abilities, the player had not met the team's expectations. Ponting stated, "When you feel like you're not making players better and they're not doing what you need for the team, then you've got to look for other players that can do it for you."Ponting's comments highlight the challenges faced by coaches in developing players and the limitations of their influence. He acknowledged that Shaw is still a young and talented player, expressing hope that he will eventually realize his potential.As the Delhi Capitals prepare for the IPL 2025 season, speculation about Shaw's future with the team has arisen. It remains uncertain whether he will be retained, given the strategic planning underway ahead of the mega auction.

Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain and current director of cricket for the Delhi Capitals, has expressed his support for retaining the impact-player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he believes that teams should make their decisions regarding the impact player before the toss.The impact-player rule allows teams to substitute a player from their bench into the playing XI during the match. This rule has been a topic of discussion after the recent IPL season, which saw a significant increase in high-scoring matches. Ganguly believes that the rule adds an element of strategy and skill to the game."I like the impact player rule. My only thing with IPL is that I just want the grounds to be a bit bigger. The fences should go a little behind," Ganguly said. "It is a great tournament. The only thing you can do with the impact player is decide before the toss, so it's a bit of skill there."Ganguly also commented on the performance of Prithvi Shaw, who had a disappointing IPL season. He emphasized that Shaw is still a young player and needs time to adjust to the demands of T20 cricket."He (Prithvi Shaw) is a young kid. He is just 23. He is still learning how to play T20 cricket. He is a very fine talent and he will get better. Sometimes, we expect too much too early from everyone and I am sure Prithvi, with the skills he has, he will do well," he added.Ganguly praised Rishabh Pant for his return to form after his car accident in 2022. He believes that Pant has worked hard to regain his fitness and skills."He was superb for us (DC) in the IPL. I was so happy to see the way he came back, because I have always said that he is a special player," Ganguly said. "Even earlier, I have said that he is exceptional. You don't want such talent to be lost for such disastrous reasons (accident). He has really worked hard to get back to where he is and he is the Rishabh Pant of old."Ganguly also expressed his hope that Wriddhiman Saha, the wicketkeeper-batter, will be selected by the Bengal selectors. Saha has expressed his desire to return to Bengal after playing for Tripura for two years."He wants to play for Bengal and rightfully so. He is a Bengal boy," Ganguly said. "He went away to Tripura for two years because he was playing there as a professional. He has finished that and he wants to be in Bengal. I am sure the selectors will pick him for Bengal."

Delhi Capitals' assistant coach Pravin Amre has shed light on the exclusion of Prithvi Shaw from the playing XI in recent matches, citing the team's need to prioritize form and performance. Shaw, a retained player for the Capitals, initially impressed with a 43-run knock against Chennai Super Kings and a 66-run innings against Mumbai Indians. However, his form subsequently declined.In contrast, Abhishek Porel has seized the opportunity, amassing 327 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 159.51. Porel's standout performance came in the Capitals' final group stage match against Lucknow Super Giants, where he smashed 58 runs off 33 deliveries, contributing to the team's 19-run victory."Shaw was our retained player, but if you're not in form, you can't keep your place," Amre explained. "We had to win games, and Porel grabbed the opportunities."Shaw has made eight appearances for the Capitals this season, scoring 198 runs at an average of 24.75 and a strike rate of 163.64. Porel, on the other hand, has played in various positions, including opener, where he has accumulated 159 runs at a strike rate of 165.62 in three matches.Amre's comments highlight the competitive nature of the Indian Premier League, where players must consistently perform to retain their place in the team. The Capitals' decision to bench Shaw and promote Porel demonstrates their commitment to fielding the strongest possible lineup to secure victories.