Cricket

Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has raised concerns over Rohit Sharma's reluctance to utilize Ravindra Jadeja against left-handed batsmen early in matches. Manjrekar cited Jadeja's impressive record against former England captain Alastair Cook as evidence of his effectiveness against left-handers.During the rain-shortened opening day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, Jadeja, the only specialist spinner in the Indian team, was not called upon to bowl. Instead, pacer Akash Deep and veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shared the bowling duties.Manjrekar believes that Rohit should have introduced Jadeja earlier, especially after Bangladesh lost their third wicket at 80. He pointed out that Jadeja has a remarkable record against left-handers, having dismissed Cook six times in eight innings during the 2016 series."Rohit needs to be shown this stat- JADEJA vs COOK, 2016 series: In 8 innings, got him out 6 times, conceded just 75 runs. Rohit tends to not bowl Jadeja early when there are left-handers out there," Manjrekar posted on social media.Manjrekar elaborated on his point during an analysis on ESPNcricinfo. He acknowledged that captains have their own approaches and preferences, but he emphasized that match-ups should be considered as guidelines rather than strict rules."Remember, he dismissed Alastair Cook six times in eight innings. So not giving him the ball at all was baffling," he added.Manjrekar's comments highlight the importance of utilizing bowlers effectively based on their strengths and the opposition's weaknesses. Jadeja's proven record against left-handers suggests that he could be a valuable asset for India in such situations.

Mitchell Starc's nightmare at Lord's on Friday was a chilling reminder of the brutal onslaught he endured at the hands of Rohit Sharma during the T20 World Cup earlier this year. In the fourth ODI between Australia and England, Starc was subjected to a relentless assault by Liam Livingstone, who smashed 29 runs off his over, equaling the costliest over by an Australian bowler in ODIs.Starc's torment began in the final over of England's innings, with the home team needing 15 runs to win. Livingstone, who had already struck a blistering 67 off 27 balls, took aim at the Australian left-arm pacer, hitting four sixes in a row. The over, which read 6, 0, 6, 6, 6, 4, brought back haunting memories of Rohit's sensational knock in the T20 World Cup match.In that match, Rohit played arguably the best innings of the tournament, smashing eight sixes and seven fours in his 41-ball 92. The highlight of his innings was the third over bowled by Starc, in which the Indian captain plundered four sixes and a four off the pacer, making it a 29-run over.Starc's struggles against Livingstone and Rohit have exposed a vulnerability in his bowling that opposition batters are eager to exploit. The Australian pacer, who has been one of the most feared bowlers in world cricket, is now facing questions about his ability to handle the pressure in high-stakes matches.After the match, Starc admitted that he had bowled five bad balls and that Livingstone had punished him for them. "I've played a lot against him. He had a good tournament, especially in our game. I think he targeted that wind in St. Lucia as well. If you look at the runs from each end, one end went for a lot more than the other. I bowled from that end," Starc said on the LiSTNR Sport podcast.Starc's struggles are a concern for Australia, who are looking to regain their dominance in ODI cricket. The team has lost two of the first four matches in the series against England, and Starc's inability to contain the opposition's batters is a major factor.

Rohit Sharma's Disbelief as DRS Overturns Umpire's Decision in India vs. Bangladesh TestOn the opening day of the second Test between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur, Indian captain Rohit Sharma's reaction to a successful Decision Review System (DRS) call went viral on the internet.After pacer Akash Deep's initial LBW appeal against Shadman Islam was denied by the on-field umpire, Deep urged Sharma to review the decision. Despite initial hesitation, Sharma agreed, and the DRS confirmed the dismissal, much to his surprise.The delivery, angled in from around the wicket, straightened and hit Islam's pads. Deep's confident appeal was initially met with denial, but the DRS showed the ball hitting the leg stump, leading to Islam's departure for 24.Sharma's reaction, a mix of disbelief and amusement, captured the attention of viewers. The Indian players erupted in celebration, congratulating Deep for his persistence and the successful DRS call.The incident highlighted the importance of DRS in modern cricket, allowing umpires to rectify potential errors and ensure fair play. It also showcased the growing confidence of Indian bowlers in using technology to their advantage.Earlier in the day, Sharma won the toss and elected to bowl first on a Green Park Stadium track that offered bounce and carry. India lead the two-match series 1-0 after a comprehensive victory in Chennai.

India Opts to Bowl First in Kanpur Test Against BangladeshIndia captain Rohit Sharma elected to bowl first after winning the toss in the first Test against Bangladesh at Green Park in Kanpur. The decision marked a departure from India's recent home Test strategy, as they had not chosen to bowl first since 2015.The toss was delayed by an hour due to a wet outfield caused by overnight rain. Rohit explained that the pitch had a slight softness and more grass than usual, which influenced his decision to bowl. He anticipated that India's three seamers, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep, would exploit the conditions.Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed a preference for batting first, despite the overcast conditions. Their team opted for a spin-heavy attack, including Taijul Islam and Khaled Ahmed, who replaced Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana.The contrasting approaches highlighted the different interpretations of the pitch conditions. India believed the seamers would have an advantage, while Bangladesh favored their spinners.Team Lineups:India:* Rohit Sharma (c)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Shubman Gill* Virat Kohli* Rishabh Pant (wk)* KL Rahul* Ravindra Jadeja* R Ashwin* Akash Deep* Jasprit Bumrah* Mohammed SirajBangladesh:* Shadman Islam* Zakir Hasan* Najmul Hossain Shanto (c)* Mominul Haque* Mushfiqur Rahim* Shakib Al Hasan* Litton Das (wk)* Mehidy Hasan Miraz* Taijul Islam* Hasan Mahmud* Khaled Ahmed

Shafali Verma Draws Inspiration from Rohit Sharma's Powerplay Dominance for ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024As the Indian women's cricket team prepares for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024, star opener Shafali Verma has revealed her admiration for Indian men's team captain Rohit Sharma's explosive batting in the powerplay.Verma, known for her aggressive batting style, believes that Sharma's ability to maximize scoring opportunities during the first six overs is a key learning point for her. "I would choose India's Rohit Sharma because the way he utilizes the Powerplay is memorable to watch," she told Star Sports. "Even in the World Cup, there are 2-3 innings I can recall. I always feel good watching how he makes the most of the Powerplay."Sharma's impressive T20I career, with 4231 runs at a strike rate exceeding 140, serves as a testament to his dominance in the shortest format. His ability to dominate the powerplay overs has been instrumental in India's success in T20 cricket.Verma herself has emerged as a vital cog in the Indian batting lineup. Her career statistics across formats reflect her aggressive approach and ability to score quickly. In T20Is, she averages 25.63 with a strike rate of over 130, showcasing her potential to be a game-changer in the powerplay.The Indian women's team will be hoping to leverage Verma's aggressive batting to their advantage as they aim for their maiden T20 World Cup title. However, consistency remains a key area of improvement, as evidenced by their series losses against Australia and England earlier in the year and their recent Asia Cup final defeat to Sri Lanka.Verma's admiration for Sharma's batting is a reflection of the growing influence of the men's game on the women's game. As the women's game continues to evolve, players like Verma are looking to the best in the men's game for inspiration and guidance.

Gautam Gambhir's maiden assignment as India's Test head coach has commenced with a resounding victory, as the Rohit Sharma-led team crushed Bangladesh by 280 runs in the opening Test in Chennai. The Indian squad has now arrived in Kanpur for the series-deciding second Test at the Green Park Stadium.During their journey from Chennai to Kanpur, the Indian players engaged in lighthearted banter and camaraderie. Mohammed Siraj and Axar Patel bonded over their shared love for "filter coffee" and "chocolate," while R Ashwin playfully complained of being "bullied" by his teammates, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja.The amusing interactions were captured in a video shared by the BCCI on social media. The video begins with Akash Deep and Axar teasing Siraj, who sported a bucket hat and sunglasses. Sarfaraz Khan then enthusiastically chanted "Jassu, Jassu" for Yashasvi Jaiswal, who responded by comparing his fan following to that of Sachin Tendulkar.As the flight approached Kanpur, Bumrah and Jadeja playfully addressed Ashwin as "Ash anna" and "Ash anna for a reason." "They are just bullying me," Ashwin remarked in the video.Meanwhile, the selection committee has retained an unchanged squad for the second Test in Kanpur.

India's Captaincy Conundrum: Who Will Lead if Rohit Sharma is Unavailable?With the second Test against Bangladesh looming, the question of who will captain India if Rohit Sharma is injured or unavailable remains unanswered. Traditionally, the team's vice-captain would assume the leadership role, but no vice-captain has been named for this series.Assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has clarified that the team does not require a designated vice-captain. He highlighted the presence of several players with leadership qualities and captaincy experience at the highest level."We have got a lot of IPL captains in this team," Nayar said. "Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal have all led their franchises. I wouldn't look at them as youngsters anymore. They have the leadership qualities that are required."Nayar also emphasized that the team's decision-making regarding the playing XI will be influenced by the pitch conditions and weather forecast."We don't know which surface we are going to play on yet," Nayar said. "Kanpur is often known to have good pitches, but we are not sure about the bounce. The conditions and forecast will be a huge factor in how the pitch plays."All players are currently fit and available for selection, according to Nayar.

Yuvraj Singh, the legendary Indian all-rounder, recently graced the renowned podcast Club Prairie Fire, hosted by Michael Vaughan and Adam Gilchrist. During the engaging conversation, Yuvraj shared captivating stories and insights from his illustrious career and personal life.One of the most intriguing moments came when Yuvraj was asked to make a difficult choice: playing, selling, or benching three of India's most iconic cricketers - Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni. Vaughan had earlier expressed his preference for trading Kohli due to his lack of success in leading a team to an IPL title.Yuvraj, known for his quick wit and diplomatic nature, responded with a clever solution. "As a player, I would go for Rohit Sharma if it's T20 cricket. He is an outstanding captain and someone who can change the game with his batting for sure, he will be my first choice," Yuvraj said.When asked to choose between benching Dhoni or Kohli, Yuvraj opted for a humorous approach. "I would bench myself as naming one between Virat and Dhoni would be in the headlines. I don't want that to happen," he added.Yuvraj also recalled a memorable incident involving England's Andrew Flintoff during the 2007 T20 World Cup. Flintoff had provoked Yuvraj after he hit a couple of boundaries off his bowling. "Freddie bowled two good balls, he bowled a length ball, which went for a boundary, and a good yorker, which I was hit over the point. When I was walking after taking a single, he said, "F... shit shots," Yuvraj said.Flintoff's continued provocation led to an altercation between the two, forcing the umpire to intervene. "He repeated that on my face. I walked towards him; he kind of spat on me. I showed him my bat, saying that you know where it's going to go. It went worse after that. Then the umpire came in," Yuvraj added.Yuvraj's appearance on Club Prairie Fire provided a fascinating glimpse into the mind of one of cricket's most beloved and enigmatic figures. His candid stories and witty remarks showcased his unique personality and the enduring legacy he has left on the game.

Virat Kohli, India's batting mainstay, will be under the spotlight as the team takes on Bangladesh in the second and final Test of their series. India, currently atop the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, will aim to secure a 2-0 series victory, while Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma will be eager to rediscover their batting form after a disappointing outing in the first Test.In the series opener at Chennai, India dominated Bangladesh, winning by 280 runs. However, Kohli and Rohit struggled, scoring only 6 and 5 in the first innings and 6 and 17 in the second, respectively. Since then, the duo has been working diligently in the nets at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium to regain their rhythm.Kohli, in particular, will be desperate to end his prolonged lean patch. In 15 matches across formats this year, he has managed just 319 runs, including a single half-century. His form is crucial for India's success in the upcoming season, which includes eight more Tests: three against New Zealand at home and five in Australia.Kanpur has been a happy hunting ground for India, with the team remaining unbeaten since 1983. Kohli and Rohit will be determined to join the list of centurions from the first Test, which includes Ravichandran Ashwin, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill.India's bowling attack, led by Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, will also be keen to continue their impressive performance. In the first Test, they dismissed Bangladesh for 150 and 231, respectively.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be looking to salvage some pride after their heavy defeat in Chennai. Skipper Mominul Haque and opener Tamim Iqbal will need to lead from the front and provide their team with a solid foundation.The second Test promises to be an intriguing contest, with India aiming to extend their dominance and Bangladesh determined to prove their mettle.