Cricket

The Indian cricket team's wicket-keeping conundrum for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 has been resolved, with the selectors opting for specialist wicket-keeper batters Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson. However, with the team's composition, it's likely that only one of them will make the playing XI.Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh weighed in on the selection, expressing his admiration for Pant's return from a near-fatal car accident. However, he ultimately chose Samson as his pick due to his exceptional form in the ongoing IPL 2024."Rishabh Pant played well in the IPL. He has come out of his injuries. He looked fit, batted well, and did some nice wicketkeeping. But Sanju played really well. I would like to see him get a chance. He has been performing consistently. He has been scoring 60s and 70s and is not the old Sanju anymore who would score just 30s and 40s," Harbhajan said.Another notable exclusion from the 15-member squad was Rinku Singh, who was named in the reserves list. Harbhajan believes Singh should be added in place of a spin option."The World Cup team has been selected. The batting is good. I think we are one fast bowler short. One player that I think we will miss is Rinku Singh, because he is someone who can win the match single-handedly for us. He can chase down 60 runs in 20 balls. I think selecting four spinners is a bit too much. Three would have been enough. I wish Team India all the best, hope they bring the cup," Harbhajan said.Regarding the spin options, Harbhajan believes India will likely field three spinners in a game, with Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal being the most likely candidates.Harbhajan expressed confidence in India's chances against Pakistan in their highly-anticipated T20 World Cup match on June 9. "I am sure we will win against Pakistan, we have a great track record against them and have a better team," he concluded.

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has proposed a bold strategy for India's batting lineup in the upcoming T20 World Cup. He suggests that the team should field Rishabh Pant as the preferred wicketkeeper and pair him with Yashasvi Jaiswal as skipper Rohit Sharma's opening partner. This move would introduce left-handed variation into the batting order, making it more challenging for opposing bowlers.Yuvraj's proposal stems from the impressive performances of both Pant and Jaiswal in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Pant has been in scintillating form for Delhi Capitals, while Jaiswal has emerged as a promising opener for Rajasthan Royals. Yuvraj believes that their left-handed batting style would complement the right-handed Rohit, creating a more balanced and unpredictable lineup.The former World Cup winner also emphasizes the importance of maintaining Virat Kohli at number three, where he has been in exceptional form for Royal Challengers Bangalore. With Suryakumar Yadav likely to occupy the number four spot, Yuvraj suggests that India should aim for a combination of left-handed and right-handed batters throughout the order.Yuvraj's preference for Pant over Sanju Samson as wicketkeeper is based on the former's left-handed batting and his ability to win matches for India. While Samson has also been in impressive form for Rajasthan Royals, Yuvraj believes that Pant's left-handedness gives him an edge in the T20 format.India's T20 World Cup campaign begins on June 9 against Ireland in New York. They will then face arch-rivals Pakistan four days later. Yuvraj's proposed batting lineup could provide India with the flexibility and firepower needed to navigate the tournament's challenges and emerge victorious.

Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant expressed his gratitude to the home fans after the team's elimination from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs. Despite a valiant effort, Delhi Capitals fell short of qualifying for the knockout stages, finishing fifth in the points table with seven wins and seven losses.Pant, who made a remarkable return to cricket after a 14-month recovery from a horrific car accident, was one of the standout performers for Delhi Capitals. The 26-year-old amassed 446 runs in 13 matches, showcasing his exceptional batting prowess. His impressive form earned him a spot in India's main 15-man squad for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup.In a heartfelt message on Instagram, Pant thanked the fans for their unwavering support throughout the season. "Felt amazing to be back on the pitch after so long! Cannot be grateful enough for everyone who played a part in this! None of this would be possible without the constant love and affection from the fans," he wrote."The energy was unreal, and I'm thrilled to be doing what I love again. Excited for what's ahead and looking forward to giving my best and making more memories," Pant added.Despite the disappointment of missing out on the playoffs, Delhi Capitals showed resilience and determination throughout the season. The team's final league game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) was a testament to their fighting spirit, as they secured a thrilling victory.The Delhi Capitals squad featured a mix of experienced and emerging players, including David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. The team's performance was a reflection of their collective efforts and the guidance of head coach Ricky Ponting.As the IPL 2024 season draws to a close, Rishabh Pant and the Delhi Capitals will look to build on their positive performances and return stronger next year. The team's passionate fan base will undoubtedly continue to provide unwavering support as they strive for success in the future.

Sourav Ganguly, the Director of Cricket for Delhi Capitals, has expressed his confidence in Rishabh Pant's leadership abilities, stating that the young captain will continue to refine his skills with time and experience.Pant, who recently returned to competitive cricket after a severe car accident in December 2022, has resumed his duties as the Delhi Capitals captain. Ganguly believes that Pant's instinctive decision-making and ability to adapt on the field are valuable assets."Pant is a young captain, he'll learn with time," Ganguly said. "The way he returned from injury to play a full season; we had our doubts during the off season."Ganguly also highlighted the importance of Indian players in the TATA IPL, especially with the expansion to 10 teams. He expressed his admiration for Pant's resilience and determination to return to form after his injury."Indian players are crucial, especially since the TATA IPL shifted to 10 teams. I am very happy for him that he returned to play so well over a full season. He has all my well wishes for whatever is next," Ganguly added.While acknowledging that Pant has made some mistakes as a captain, Ganguly believes that he will continue to improve with experience. "With time, he'll become a better captain. Nobody is a great captain from day one, but he is an instinctual captain, he makes decisions on the ground. With more time, he'll get better."Ganguly also praised the performances of young pacers Mukesh Kumar and Rasikh Dar Salam, who have impressed for Delhi Capitals this season."You've seen Rasikh's development over time. The more matches he played, the better he got. It's not easy to bowl on the Delhi wicket. This wicket is great, and the ground isn't that big, so I think for any bowler, it isn't easy to bowl here. Rasikh has improved a lot."Mukesh has been our best bowler this season. He bowls all the difficult overs, whether at the start or at the death. There has been no match this season where we didn't need his bowling in the death," he said."We knew that conceding sixes would lead to more losses, so he has consistently delivered there. Our Indian bowlers have been great this season."

India's T20 World Cup Wicketkeeper Dilemma: Gambhir Backs Pant Over SamsonFormer Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding India's first-choice wicketkeeper for the upcoming T20 World Cup, expressing his preference for Rishabh Pant over Sanju Samson. Gambhir's decision is based on two key factors: Pant's batting position and left-handedness.Batting PositionGambhir highlights the contrasting batting positions of Pant and Samson in the Indian Premier League (IPL). While Pant has primarily batted in the middle order, Samson has been a top-order batsman. Given India's established top three of Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Virat Kohli, Gambhir believes Pant's presence in the middle order is crucial.Left-HandednessAnother factor influencing Gambhir's choice is Pant's left-handed batting style. He emphasizes that Pant's left-handedness brings variety to India's middle order, creating a strategic advantage with a left-hand-right-hand combination.Samson's RoleWhile acknowledging the quality of both Pant and Samson, Gambhir suggests that Samson could be considered for the finisher's role if the team management deems him more suitable. However, he reiterates his preference for Pant as the natural middle-order batsman who aligns better with the team's requirements.Support and PatienceGambhir stresses the importance of supporting whichever player is chosen for the wicketkeeper role. He urges the team management and fans to provide patience and encouragement, rather than undue criticism, in the event of a player's temporary dip in form.ConclusionGambhir's analysis provides valuable insights into the factors that should influence India's wicketkeeper selection for the T20 World Cup. While both Pant and Samson possess exceptional abilities, Gambhir's preference for Pant is based on his suitability for the middle order and the strategic advantage of his left-handedness.

Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant believes his one-match suspension for a slow-over rate offense may have cost his team a spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs. Pant missed the crucial match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, which DC lost by 47 runs, impacting their net run rate."I wouldn't say we would have definitely won the game if I had played, but we had a better chance of qualifying if I had played in the last game," Pant said after DC's 19-run win over Lucknow Super Giants.DC's inconsistent start to the season was compounded by injuries to key players like Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, and David Warner. "We started the season with a lot of hope, but there were injuries and ups and downs," Pant said. "But as a franchise, you can't complain all the time; you have to make use of what you have."Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul attributed his team's struggles to losing wickets in the powerplay. "This has been a problem right through the season - we keep losing a lot of wickets in the powerplay, we never get a solid start to get the likes of Stoinis and Pooran in," Rahul said. "That is the big reason why we are in this position."DC's fate now depends on the results of other matches. If they qualify for the playoffs, they will face a tough challenge against the top teams.

Rishabh Pant's remarkable return to cricket after his life-threatening accident has been a testament to his resilience and determination. Having played for the first time since December 2022, Pant has eased into the rigors of top-flight cricket without major physical discomfort. He finished the league phase of IPL 2024 as Delhi Capitals' highest run-scorer with 446 runs in 13 games at a strike rate of 155.40. His performances have earned him a place in India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.Pant expressed his gratitude for the support he received during his recovery and return to the field. "The kind of support I got from whole India I would say was heartening to see," he said. "Wherever I went to play, I got support from each and every person. That was really good to see."Despite the challenges faced by Delhi Capitals throughout the season, including injuries and suspensions, Pant remained positive. "We had a few injuries here and there, few ups and downs, illnesses, but as a franchise you can't complain all the time," he said. "You've got to make the best use of whatever you have in your hand."Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul lamented his team's poor start in their loss to Delhi Capitals. "This has been the problem for us through the season, that we keep losing a lot of wickets in the powerplay," Rahul said. "We've never been able to get off to a really solid start to bring in players like [Marcus] Stoinis and [Nicholas] Pooran into the game, and get them to walk in at the 7th or 8th over mark with a solid start."Despite their disappointing performance, Rahul remained optimistic about the future. "We did well in the back end, and 200 [208] was a par score. We should have chased it down," he said. "We'll take the positives from this game and try to finish the season on a high."

Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant Engage in Playful Banter During IPL 2024 MatchIn a lighthearted moment amidst the intense rivalry between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC), batting maestro Virat Kohli and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant engaged in some playful banter during the IPL 2024 match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday.Pant, who was serving a one-match suspension for a slow over-rate violation, watched the game from the sidelines. Despite the competitive nature of the match, Kohli and Pant's friendly interaction showcased the camaraderie that exists among players off the field.While at the crease, Kohli noticed Pant standing in the dressing room just over the sightscreen. In a playful gesture, the RCB batsman pointed at Pant that he would hit him with the bat, signaling him to take a seat. This unexpected interaction from Kohli elicited an amusing response from the DC captain, who couldn't help but react with laughter at the situation.The banter between Kohli and Pant added an entertaining element to the match, highlighting the friendly rivalry between the two players. Despite the competitive nature of the IPL, it's refreshing to see players engaging in lighthearted moments that showcase the camaraderie and sportsmanship that exists within the game.RCB continued their momentum with a 47-run thrashing of DC, extending their winning streak to five games and bolstering their chances of securing a playoffs berth. The victory propelled RCB to the fifth position in the points table, surpassing DC. Although both teams have accumulated an equal number of points, RCB hold the advantage due to a superior net run rate.

Ravi Shastri's Unconventional Advice to Rishabh Pant: A Masterstroke in CoachingDuring India's Test match against England in Chennai, then-head coach Ravi Shastri witnessed Rishabh Pant's relentless assault on England spinner Jack Leach. Instead of the conventional advice to "grind it out," Shastri surprised Pant with an unconventional suggestion: "Don't hit there, play the reverse sweep."This unconventional advice caught the attention of Ravichandran Ashwin, who later sought an explanation from Shastri on his YouTube show. Shastri explained that he understood Pant's unique character and knew that telling him not to play the shot would only make him more determined to do so."I knew if I tell him don't play it, that's against his nature and he might play it even more," Shastri said. "So, I gave him an alternative option that would still allow him to be aggressive but in a more controlled manner."Shastri's unconventional advice proved to be a masterstroke. Pant, known for his fearless batting, embraced the reverse sweep and used it to great effect against Leach. The shot allowed him to continue his aggressive approach while minimizing the risk of getting out.Shastri's ability to adapt his coaching style to the unique characteristics of each player is a testament to his astute understanding of the game and his players. By recognizing Pant's strengths and weaknesses, Shastri was able to provide him with advice that not only allowed him to express his natural talent but also helped him become a more effective batsman.This incident highlights the importance of coaches who are willing to think outside the box and tailor their advice to the individual needs of their players. By embracing unconventional approaches, coaches can empower their players to reach their full potential and achieve success on the field.