Cricket

Indian cricket legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma shocked the cricketing world by announcing their retirement from T20 internationals after India's triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024. The unexpected news left fans and experts alike stunned.While Kohli made the announcement during the post-match presentation ceremony, Sharma shared his decision in a press conference after the game. Many speculated that the retirements were pre-planned, but India's former bowling coach Paras Mhambrey revealed that neither Kohli, Sharma, nor Ravindra Jadeja had hinted at their intentions to quit the shortest format.In an interview with Hindustan Times, Mhambrey expressed surprise at the trio's sudden decision. "I think no one was expecting that," he said. "If you had any conversation earlier, we would have known this would be coming. But none of them had this conversation."Mhambrey believes that the retirements were a fitting end to the illustrious careers of Kohli, Sharma, and Jadeja. "If you look at it from the players' perspective, there can't be a better end to one format, right?" he said. "We are talking about people who have been part of the dressing room for maybe more than a decade, 12-13 years."Kohli, who was part of the 2011 World Cup-winning team, had been desperate to add a T20 World Cup title to his resume. "Not to win a World Cup since 2011 must have been big," Mhambrey said. "He wanted that badly."Sharma, who led India to victory in the 2024 tournament, also felt that it was the right time to step away from T20 internationals. "After winning the T20 World Cup, especially the stage that their careers are in... they're no longer young," Mhambrey said. "You've got to sometimes choose. You have to decide what formats you're going to play and cut down the cricket to focus on a particular format because age is not on your side."The retirements of Kohli, Sharma, and Jadeja mark the end of an era for Indian cricket. However, Mhambrey believes that the team has a bright future ahead. "We have a lot of young players who are coming through," he said. "We have a lot of talent in the country. So, I think Indian cricket is in good hands."

MS Dhoni's Retirement: A Strategic ApproachMahendra Singh Dhoni, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter, has kept the cricket world guessing about his retirement plans. Despite retiring from international cricket in 2020, he continues to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).According to Dhoni's former India teammate Mohammed Shami, the player has a unique retirement strategy. "He says, 'Let's see,'" Shami revealed in an interview. "He believes that a player should retire when they lose their enjoyment for the game or when they realize they are no longer performing at their best."Dhoni's illustrious career has seen him amass 17,266 runs across all international formats, with 16 centuries and 108 fifties. As a captain, he led India to the number one Test ranking, the ICC T20 World Cup 2007, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, and the ICC Champions Trophy 2013.In the IPL, Dhoni has led the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to five titles. However, in the 2024 edition, the team failed to make the playoffs under the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad. Dhoni, batting down the order, scored 161 runs in 11 innings at an average of 53.66.Shami's insights into Dhoni's retirement strategy provide a glimpse into the mindset of one of the greatest players of all time. Dhoni's approach emphasizes the importance of enjoying the game and performing at a high level. When those factors diminish, it may be time for him to call it a day.

George Bailey, the chief selector for the Australian men's cricket team, has confirmed that David Warner, the seasoned left-handed opening batsman, will not be considered for selection in the Champions Trophy scheduled for 2025.Following Australia's exit from the Super Eights stage of the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, Warner had indicated his intention to retire from international cricket. However, he had expressed a willingness to make a final appearance in the 2025 Champions Trophy.Bailey has now put an end to any speculation, stating unequivocally that Warner has fully retired from representing Australia in international cricket. He emphasized the importance of recognizing and celebrating Warner's legacy as a crucial player across all formats of the game."Our understanding is that David is retired, and (he) should be commended on what has been an incredible career across all three formats. You never know when Bull's joking…think he's just stirring the pot a bit," Bailey said to reporters."He's had a wonderful career, can't celebrate it enough, and think as time goes by, his legacy of what he has done for Australia and we reflect back on that, the legend of a player is only going to continue to grow. But as far as this team goes and the journey to transition to some different players, in his case across all three formats, it's going to be exciting."Bailey also affirmed that Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc remain integral to the team's plans for the 2025 Champions Trophy and possibly the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup. This statement comes in the wake of the decision to rest the two players from the T20I matches against Scotland and England, respectively, in September."I don't think there's anyone who's not there that we've put a line through permanently besides David. This is the way we are going with this squad. If opportunities arise or there are gaps at different points there's nothing to say that Wadey might not come back, but certainly, at this point, we are excited about giving Josh (Inglis) a run," Bailey said."The next T20 World Cup is 2026, so I imagine there may be some more changes than what we are seeing in this squad but specifically to those guys (Starc and Maxwell), no we haven't had any conversations about where they think their T20 journey may finish. Certainly for Glenn and Mitch, the Champions Trophy is very much on the horizon, (and is a) very important tournament for those guys.""And Starcy in particular, I think he's going to have a huge summer. Clearly, some of the decisions made around this series are around prioritising and getting guys right for what will be a really big summer. As far as ending players, seeing where guys might finish up, we haven't had those conversations," he elaborated.Bailey commended Mitchell Marsh for his leadership of the Australian team during the T20 World Cup. Although Australia was eliminated in the Super Eights stage after losing to Afghanistan and India, Bailey recognized Marsh's captaincy skills."I loved the way he captained through the T20 World Cup. He was really clear on how he wanted to lead that team. He was as disappointed as anyone that we didn't get to the end goal that everyone was hoping to achieve, but if you look at his early success rate as a captain across T20 he's done a really great job."

Rohit Sharma, the charismatic captain of the Indian cricket team, has quashed rumors of his imminent retirement from international cricket. In a recent public appearance, Rohit addressed a question from the crowd regarding his retirement plans, eliciting a thunderous cheer from the audience.Rohit's emphatic response, "I don't look that far ahead," has put to rest speculation that he may be considering retiring from One-Day Internationals (ODIs) after his decision to step down from T20I cricket. "So clearly you will see me playing at least for a while," he added, reassuring fans of his continued presence on the international stage.Rohit's decision to retire from T20Is came after India's triumph at the T20 World Cup in Barbados in June 2023. The victory marked a historic moment for Indian cricket, and Rohit expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to have led the team to such a prestigious title."This was my last (T20I) game as well," Rohit had said after the thrilling seven-run win over South Africa in the final. "No better time to say goodbye to this format. I've loved every moment of this. I started my India career playing this format. This is what I wanted, I wanted to win the Cup. I wanted this badly. Very hard to put in words. It was a very emotional moment for me. I was very desperate for this title in my life. Happy that we eventually crossed the line."Rohit's legacy in T20I cricket is unparalleled. He holds the record for the most runs scored in the format, with an impressive tally of 4231 runs in 159 appearances. His exceptional batting prowess is further evidenced by his record-breaking achievement of scoring the most centuries (five) in T20 internationals.As Rohit continues his illustrious career in ODIs and Test cricket, fans can expect to witness more of his exceptional leadership and match-winning performances. His unwavering determination and passion for the game will undoubtedly inspire generations of cricketers to come.

James Anderson Retires: Cricketing Fraternity Pays Tribute to England LegendLegendary cricketer James Anderson has bid farewell to international cricket after a remarkable 22-year career. The 41-year-old pacer ended his illustrious journey with an impressive 704 wickets in 188 Tests, including 32 five-wicket hauls.Anderson's retirement has sparked an outpouring of tributes from the cricketing fraternity, including former Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar. "Hey Jimmy! You've bowled the fans over with that incredible 22-year spell," Tendulkar wrote on his social media account. "It has been a joy to watch you bowl - with that action, speed, accuracy, swing, and fitness. You've inspired generations with your game."Tendulkar, who retired in 2013, wished Anderson a fulfilling life beyond cricket. "Wish you a wonderful life ahead with good health and happiness as you put those new shoes on for the most important spell of your life - the time with family," he added.Anderson's respect for Tendulkar was evident in his earlier comments, where he hailed the Indian as the "best batter" he had ever bowled against. "I don't remember having a specific game plan against Sachin Tendulkar. Once he came on, I would just think that I cannot bowl a bad ball here, he was that kind of player," Anderson had said.The Lancastrian claimed 149 wickets in 39 Tests against India, while Tendulkar amassed 2,535 runs in 32 Tests against England. Their rivalry was one of the most captivating in cricket history.Other cricketers who paid tribute to Anderson included ICC, Rich Kettleborough, Ajay Jadeja, Rajasthan Royals, and Punjab Kings. They all acknowledged his exceptional skills, longevity, and impact on the game.James Anderson's retirement marks the end of an era in English cricket. His legacy as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time will continue to inspire future generations of cricketers.

James Anderson, the legendary English fast bowler, is set to retire from international cricket after the fifth Test against India at Lord's. The 40-year-old has been a mainstay of the England team for over two decades, taking a record 700 Test wickets.Anderson's career has been marked by his exceptional skill and longevity. He has the ability to swing the ball both ways at high speeds, making him a formidable threat to batsmen. He has also been a master of reverse swing, a technique that allows him to make the ball swing in the opposite direction of its natural swing.Anderson's most memorable moments include dismissing Michael Clarke with a perfect yorker at Lord's in 2015, and VVS Laxman with a devastating inswinger at The Oval in 2011. He also played a key role in England's famous victory over India at Eden Gardens in 2012, taking five wickets in the first innings.Despite his age, Anderson has remained in excellent physical condition and has continued to perform at the highest level. However, the England management has decided that it is time for him to retire, in order to give younger bowlers a chance to establish themselves.Anderson has expressed his disappointment at being forced to retire, but he understands the decision. He is now looking forward to mentoring the next generation of England bowlers and helping them to achieve success.Anderson's retirement marks the end of an era for English cricket. He has been one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, and his legacy will live on for many years to come.

David Warner, the legendary Australian cricketer, has bid farewell to international cricket after a remarkable 15-year career. The 37-year-old announced his retirement via an emotional Instagram post, following Australia's disappointing exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup.Warner's international career has been a testament to his exceptional talent and unwavering determination. He has played over 100 matches in all three formats, amassing an impressive 18,995 runs. His 49 centuries place him second only to Ricky Ponting among Australian batters.In his final international appearances, Warner showcased his trademark aggression and power-hitting, scoring 178 runs in seven innings. Despite the anticlimactic end to his international career, Warner's legacy will endure.In his Instagram post, Warner expressed his gratitude to his family, teammates, and fans. He acknowledged the sacrifices made by his wife and daughters, and thanked the cricket community for their support.Warner also reflected on his impact on the game, particularly in Test cricket. He believes his aggressive approach has helped to revolutionize the format, making it more exciting and fast-paced.While Warner's international career has come to an end, he intends to continue playing franchise cricket. He has also left the door open for a potential return to the Australian team for the 2025 Champions Trophy.Warner's retirement marks the end of an era for Australian cricket. His dynamic playing style and infectious enthusiasm will be sorely missed. However, his contributions to the game will continue to inspire future generations of cricketers.

Jasprit Bumrah's stellar performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 propelled Team India to victory, earning him the Player of the Tournament award. Despite finishing second in the wicket-takers' list with 15 scalps in 8 games, Bumrah's impact with the ball was undeniable. His exceptional economy rate of 4.17 further highlighted his dominance.Following India's triumph, speculation arose about the retirement plans of senior players Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja. However, Bumrah swiftly dispelled any concerns about his own future in the T20I format."Retirement is a long way away. I have just started. I am very happy that I have done well. Hopefully, it is far away now," Bumrah declared during Team India's felicitation ceremony at Wankhede Stadium.The Indian team received a rousing welcome from fans upon their return with the T20 World Cup trophy. Bumrah expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support."It feels amazing. This ground is really special in my life. I came as an U19 kid. What I have seen today on the ground, on the streets, and the people over here, I have never seen anything like that. To experience this and the emotions that we felt after the game is unreal. I will never ever forget them and the memories I have with me now," Bumrah said.Bumrah also lauded his team's collective effort and the vision set by the senior players."I will count myself as a young lad as well. The experienced players and the variety that we have, the confidence that we have, that all the players are so confident to take the game by the scruff of the neck. All of that is as special as that get. And like Rohit and Virat just said, that all our aim is to take Indian cricket forward and try to help the team as much as we can and bring more glory to the country. We have never won a World Cup before. This gives us more motivation," he added.

India's star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has quashed rumors of his impending retirement from T20I cricket, declaring that he has no plans to step away from the shortest format anytime soon.Bumrah's announcement comes after a triumphant T20 World Cup campaign for India, where he played a pivotal role in their victory over South Africa in the final. His exceptional bowling throughout the tournament, with an impressive economy rate of just 4.17, earned him the well-deserved accolade of Player of the Tournament.Despite the recent retirements of senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja from T20I cricket, Bumrah remains committed to representing India in the format. "It's (my retirement) is a long way away. I have just started. Hopefully, it is far away now," he said during a felicitation ceremony at Wankhede Stadium.Bumrah's decision to continue playing T20Is is a testament to his passion for the game and his belief in India's potential to dominate the format. His exceptional skills and experience will be invaluable to the team as they look to build on their World Cup success.The pacer's emotional reaction to India's victory, sharing the moment with his son Angad, highlighted the significance of the achievement for him. "It was unreal. Usually, I am not the one who is at a loss of words, but seeing my son, the emotions that came in. I never cry after the game, but I started crying, and I cried two, three times," he said.Bumrah's commitment to T20I cricket is a positive sign for Indian cricket, as the team looks to maintain its dominance in the shortest format. His experience and leadership will be crucial in guiding the next generation of players and ensuring India's continued success on the international stage.