Cricket

As the highly anticipated two-match Test series between Bangladesh and India draws near, Indian batsman Sarfaraz Khan has heaped praise upon captain Rohit Sharma, highlighting his exceptional leadership qualities.Khan, who made his Test debut against England earlier this year, has been impressed by Sharma's ability to foster a positive and inclusive environment within the team. "He's very different, makes you comfortable, and is like an elder brother to us," Khan said in an interview with Jio Cinema. "He never treats you like a junior. He's a positive guy. The way he speaks, it boosts your confidence."Khan's admiration for Sharma extends beyond his leadership style. He also draws inspiration from the captain's unwavering determination and belief in his teammates. "For me, he's Lagaan's Aamir Khan," Khan added, referring to the iconic Bollywood film. "It feels like he's part of your family."Sharma's leadership will be crucial as India aims to secure a series victory against Bangladesh. The team will be bolstered by the return of wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who has recovered from a potentially fatal accident in December 2022. Pacers Akash Deep and Yash Dayal have also received their maiden Test call-ups.The first Test match will commence on September 19 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, while the second will be played in Kanpur from September 27. Head coach Gautam Gambhir will be eager to make a winning start to his Test tenure.With Sharma at the helm and a talented squad at his disposal, India will be confident of extending their dominance over Bangladesh in the longest format of the game.

The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with both teams eager to prove their dominance. Aussie opener Travis Head has acknowledged the formidable challenge posed by the Rohit Sharma-led Indian side, but remains confident in his team's abilities.India has emerged as a formidable force in the series, having won the last four encounters against Australia, including two victories on Australian soil. This has shifted the balance of power in India's favor, with the team winning the BGT 10 times compared to Australia's five.Head, however, is not ready to label India as favorites. He believes that the Aussies have played against them enough to understand their strengths and weaknesses. The 30-year-old has been in impressive form in recent years and is eager to contribute to his team's success."I don't feel like they're my favorite. I just feel like we play them enough, play them lots. And, I guess the last couple of years I've been in nice form. So yeah, being able to, to play well, it's always nice. It's not hard to get up for the contest. It's hugely competitive. Yeah, it's easier to get up for the game. So I wouldn't say they're my favorites," Head said.Despite acknowledging India's strength, Head remains optimistic about Australia's chances. He believes that the team has the potential to perform well and is looking forward to a successful summer."They're extremely difficult but it's been nice to play well in a couple of games and looking forward to preparing well and being ready to go and...hope hopefully I can contribute to what's a successful summer for us," he added.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will commence on November 22 with the first Test at Perth. The series will feature a day-night Test at Adelaide Oval, a traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and a thrilling finale at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket team's captain, is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters of all time. His exceptional skills in both classical and aggressive batting have earned him a reputation as a modern-day batting maestro.Sharma's dominance in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) is evident in his impressive average of over 49 and nearly 11,000 runs scored. He has also established himself as a formidable force in Test cricket, averaging over 45 and showcasing his ability to open the innings with aplomb.In June 2023, Sharma announced his retirement from Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), but he remains the format's leading run-scorer with 4231 runs in 159 matches. His India teammate, Dhruv Jurel, has hailed Sharma as the "Greatest of All Time" (GOAT)."When I watched him on TV, we thought he had a lot of time, but when you watch him bat live, you realize that the deliveries you are struggling against, he's picking them nicely. Everybody knows about his famous pull shot," Jurel said.Sharma will lead the Indian team in a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting September 19. The squad includes several notable additions, such as pacers Akash Deep and Yash Dayal, and the return of wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant after his recovery from a life-threatening accident.Virat Kohli, India's former captain, will also make his Test comeback after missing the home series against England due to the birth of his son. KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah have also returned to the Test set-up after injuries.The spin quartet of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav will provide the team with both batting and bowling depth. Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Yash Dayal will form the pace attack.

Former Mumbai Indians fielding coach Jonty Rhodes has shared his observations on Rohit Sharma's batting style and demeanor during his time with the franchise. Rhodes noted that while Rohit's technical footwork may not be the most sound, his exceptional hand-eye coordination and relaxed approach at the crease have been key factors in his success as a batter.Rhodes emphasized that Rohit's practice habits differed from those of legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar. "He didn't practice as hard as Sachin Tendulkar. That's for sure," Rhodes said. However, he acknowledged that Rohit's natural talent and ability to execute his shots with ease have compensated for any perceived lack of technical perfection.Despite criticism for his limited foot movement, Rhodes believes that Rohit's relaxed stance and fluid hand movements have allowed him to overcome this perceived weakness. "He's being criticized for not having a lot of foot movement, but because he is so relaxed at the crease and those hands flow well, it's been great to see him," Rhodes said.Rhodes also praised Rohit's ability to stay true to himself, both on and off the field. He believes that Rohit's lighthearted and playful demeanor has helped create a relaxed and enjoyable team atmosphere. "He's really funny and people don't expect that from Rohit. He's quite the cheeky guy," Rhodes said.Rhodes concluded by highlighting Rohit's leadership qualities, noting that his ability to connect with his teammates and create a positive environment has been instrumental in his success as a captain. "As a captain, that takes the pressure away, the mindset you know, the players are not stressed under him," Rhodes said.

India's Test resurgence begins against Bangladesh, with Morne Morkel at the helmIndia's Test team returns to action after a six-month hiatus, facing Bangladesh in a two-match series starting September 19. The series marks the debut of former South African pacer Morne Morkel as India's new bowling coach.Under the guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir and Morkel, India's batters, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, experimented with different nets during their first practice session. The black soil pitch was allocated to spinners, while the pacers took the red soil pitch.The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is known for its spin-friendly conditions, prompting India to explore their options. The bowling lineup includes Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel as spin options, while Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Yash Dayal provide pace.India has also enlisted a group of promising net bowlers, including spinners S Ajith Ram, M Siddharth, and P Vignesh, and pacers Arpit Guleria, Gurnoon Brar, Yudhvir Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Simarjeet Singh, and Gurjapneet Singh.Bangladesh enters the series on a high after their 2-0 Test series win over Pakistan. The series carries significant importance in the World Test Championship (WTC), with India currently leading the table and Bangladesh rising to fourth spot.India faces a grueling 10-match Test season, including a three-Test series against New Zealand and the five-match Border-Gavaskar series in Australia later this year. The Bangladesh series will provide a crucial test for Rohit Sharma's side as they prepare for these challenges.

Rohit Sharma's exceptional leadership and batting prowess guided India to a historic T20 World Cup triumph in June, ending an 11-year title drought for the nation. Throughout the tournament, Sharma showcased his dominance, amassing 251 runs in eight matches with an impressive average of 36.71.In a recent "This or That" segment with Sportskeeda, former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh expressed his admiration for Sharma's batting style, which he believes mirrors his own. "My batting style, I don't know. Probably a big hitter. Probably Rohit Sharma," Singh remarked.Meanwhile, the Indian team under Sharma's captaincy arrived in Chennai on Friday to commence preparations for the first Test against Bangladesh. Star players Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul were among those spotted at the airport. Sharma and Virat Kohli also joined the team in Chennai early Friday morning. Kohli returned from London, where he had been spending time with his family.Pacers Akash Deep and Yash Dayal received their maiden Test call-ups, while wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant made his Test comeback after recovering from a life-threatening accident in December 2022. Kohli will also return to Test cricket for the first time since India's tour of South Africa in January. He missed the home Test series against England due to the birth of his son.The two-match Test series between India and Bangladesh will commence on September 19 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The second Test will be played in Kanpur from September 27. Head coach Gautam Gambhir will aim to secure a series victory in his first Test assignment.

India's impending Test series against Bangladesh presents a historic opportunity for the team to surpass its losses in the format for the first time ever. With 178 wins and 178 defeats in 579 Tests, a victory in Chennai would mark a significant milestone.The shift in India's Test fortunes can be traced back to the leadership of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. Dhoni's tenure as captain saw a marked improvement in India's overseas performance, while Kohli's reign ushered in an era of dominance with a focus on pace bowling.Kohli's decision to prioritize fast bowlers, alongside former coach Ravi Shastri, transformed India's Test aspirations. The emergence of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Ishant Sharma as a formidable pace trio gave India the edge in conditions that were once considered unfavorable.Under Kohli's captaincy, India achieved its first Test series win on Australian soil, a testament to the impact of his pace-bowling strategy. His win percentage of 58.82% may fall short of Rohit Sharma's current 62.5%, but his contribution to India's Test resurgence cannot be overstated.While Rohit Sharma's brief tenure as captain has yielded impressive results, it is the legacy of Dhoni and Kohli that has laid the foundation for India's current success in Test cricket. The upcoming series against Bangladesh offers an opportunity to further cement India's dominance and etch their name in the annals of Test history.

Australia's veteran spinner Nathan Lyon has identified the three Indian batsmen he believes will pose the greatest threat in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy series. The series will kick off with the first Test in Perth on November 22, followed by the second Test in Adelaide from December 6, the third Test in Brisbane from December 14, the fourth Test (Boxing Day Test) in Melbourne from December 26, and the fifth and final Test in Sydney from January 3.According to Lyon, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant are the top three batsmen to watch out for in the series against Australia. Lyon acknowledged that facing the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja, who will follow the trio, will be a significant challenge for the Australian team.In an interview with Star Sports, Lyon said: "Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant are probably going to be the three really big ones. But then you've still got Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Jadeja, and who else will come out—another five, I'm not sure."Lyon emphasized the formidable nature of the Indian lineup. "But it's a pretty amazing line-up they've got, so it's going to be a massive challenge. As I said, if we, as a bowling group, are good enough for long periods, hopefully, we can challenge their defense," he said.The Indian team will embark on a challenging tour of Australia for a five-match Test series, commencing in November. Lyon's comments highlight the respect he has for the Indian batting lineup and the challenges that Australia will face in the upcoming series.

Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad: The Future of Indian Cricket Post-Kohli and RohitAs the legendary duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma approach the twilight of their illustrious careers, Indian cricket fans are eagerly looking towards the next generation of stars to carry the torch. Veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla believes that Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad possess the talent and potential to fill the void left by the departing greats.Chawla, who has shared the dressing room with both Kohli and Rohit, recently expressed his admiration for Gill and Gaikwad on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast. He hailed Gill's exceptional technique as a key factor in his success. "Shubman Gill—because of his technique. Whenever one goes through poor form, a batter who is technically strong can come out of it. Any batter who has a good technique cannot stay out of form for too long," Chawla said.Gill, 25, has already established himself as a vital cog in the Indian batting lineup. With 25 Tests, 47 ODIs, and 21 T20Is under his belt, he has amassed over 4,400 international runs, including 11 centuries. His ability to adapt to different formats and conditions has made him a reliable performer for India.While Gaikwad, 27, has faced some setbacks due to injuries and selection issues, Chawla remains confident in his abilities. "It [getting dropped or injured] is part and parcel of the game. It will keep happening. But, whenever he has got the opportunity, he has looked different. For me, these two players (Gill and Gaikwad) are special," Chawla added.Gaikwad has shown glimpses of his brilliance in the limited opportunities he has received. In six ODIs and 23 T20Is, he has scored over 750 runs, including a T20I century. His aggressive batting style and ability to clear the boundary with ease make him a valuable asset to any team.With Kohli and Rohit nearing retirement, the onus will fall on Gill and Gaikwad to lead the Indian batting charge in the years to come. Their talent, determination, and experience make them the ideal candidates to carry the legacy of their illustrious predecessors.