Cricket

Rohit Sharma Flaunts Lamborghini with Special Number Plate After Sri Lanka TourIndian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has been spotted driving his luxurious Lamborghini in Mumbai after returning from the tour of Sri Lanka. The video of Rohit behind the wheel of his blue-colored Lamborghini went viral on social media, showcasing the special number plate "0264." This number holds significance as it represents Rohit's highest ODI score.Despite India's 0-2 ODI series loss in Sri Lanka, Rohit had an impressive performance as a batter. He emerged as the top run-scorer with 157 runs at an average of 52.33 and a strike rate of 141.44. Rohit notched two half-centuries, with his highest score being 64.The Lamborghini is not the only luxury vehicle in Rohit's collection. He also owns a BMW M5, a Mercedes-Benz GLS, and a Range Rover Vogue. His passion for cars is evident in his social media posts, where he often shares pictures of his prized possessions.Rohit's Lamborghini is a testament to his success and status as one of the most celebrated cricketers in the world. The special number plate adds a personal touch to the vehicle, reflecting his achievements on the field.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has clarified its stance on the participation of senior Indian cricketers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the upcoming Duleep Trophy. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah stated that the board does not consider it necessary for the seasoned duo to participate in the domestic tournament.Shah emphasized the importance of workload management for established players like Sharma and Kohli, who are integral to India's plans across all formats. He highlighted that international players in Australia and England do not typically participate in domestic cricket, and the BCCI should treat its players with respect.The BCCI's decision reflects a growing trend in international cricket, where boards are prioritizing the fitness and availability of their senior players. This approach aims to balance the need for domestic players to gain match practice with the importance of safeguarding the health of established stars.Shah acknowledged the significance of the Duleep Trophy as a platform for emerging players, but stressed that the board's focus is on ensuring the long-term fitness of its key players. He noted that other senior players, such as Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, are participating in the Buchi Babu tournament.The BCCI's stance underscores the importance of strategic workload management in the context of a demanding international calendar. While the Duleep Trophy remains a valuable tournament for developing talent, the board's decision highlights the need to prioritize the fitness and longevity of its senior players.

Dinesh Karthik's All-Time India Playing XI: A Symphony of Cricket LegendsFormer Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has unveiled his dream India playing XI across formats, featuring an illustrious lineup of cricket icons. The team, handpicked by Karthik in a special video for Cricbuzz, showcases the unparalleled talent and dominance that Indian cricket has witnessed over the years.Explosive Openers and Batting StalwartsKarthik's opening pair is a formidable duo: Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma. Sehwag, known for his fearless aggression, and Sharma, a master of elegant strokeplay, provide an explosive start to the innings. At No. 3, the legendary Rahul Dravid brings his unwavering consistency and technical brilliance. The batting lineup reaches its zenith with Sachin Tendulkar at No. 4, a player who redefined batting excellence and holds numerous records.Virat Kohli and All-Rounder VersatilityVirat Kohli, widely regarded as one of the greatest batters of the modern era, slots in at No. 5, adding further firepower to the batting order. For the all-rounder roles, Karthik selects Yuvraj Singh and Ravindra Jadeja. Singh, a match-winner with both bat and ball, provides explosive batting and crucial wickets. Jadeja, a versatile all-rounder, offers balance with his left-arm spin and lower-order batting contributions.Pace and Spin DominanceThe pace attack is led by Jasprit Bumrah, India's premier fast bowler, known for his exceptional pace and accuracy. Alongside him is Zaheer Khan, one of India's most successful left-arm pacers, who brings experience and swing to the bowling lineup.In the spin department, Karthik opts for Ravichandran Ashwin and Anil Kumble. Ashwin, a master of variations, has tormented batters worldwide, while Kumble, a legendary leg-spinner, holds the record for the most wickets by an Indian bowler.Harbhajan Singh as 12th ManKarthik acknowledges the significant contributions of Harbhajan Singh by naming him as the 12th man. Singh, a prolific off-spinner, has played a pivotal role in India's cricketing success.ConclusionDinesh Karthik's all-time India playing XI is a testament to the depth and talent that Indian cricket has produced over the years. The team combines explosive openers, batting stalwarts, versatile all-rounders, and world-class bowlers, creating a formidable force that would challenge any opposition.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the legendary Indian cricketer, retired from international cricket on August 15, 2020. Despite his retirement, Dhoni's impact on the sport continues to resonate, particularly through his role in shaping the careers of numerous current Indian cricketers.Dhoni's leadership and cricketing acumen have earned him a legendary status in the sport. He has been instrumental in grooming players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shikhar Dhawan. Dhoni's belief in young players and his patience with them have allowed many to flourish under his guidance.Rohit Sharma, the current Indian captain, credits Dhoni for playing a pivotal role in his career. In a video shared by Star Sports, Rohit recalls Dhoni's ability to encourage and support young players, regardless of their performance. This unwavering support has been crucial in fostering a sense of confidence and security among the team members.Dhoni's deep understanding of the game and his ability to read match situations made him a master strategist. His field placements, bowling changes, and match tactics often caught the opposition off guard. His calmness allowed him to think ahead and plan for various scenarios.Dhoni's captaincy transformed the Indian team into a formidable unit, both at home and abroad. His leadership style has influenced a generation of cricketers, and he remains a role model for captains around the world. As one of India's most successful cricket captains, Dhoni led the team to victories in all three major ICC tournaments: the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup, the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.Dhoni's legacy as one of the greatest captains in the history of cricket is cemented by his success in international cricket and the IPL. His calm and composed approach, sharp decision-making, and ability to stay cool under pressure have earned him immense respect from his peers and fans alike.

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid has heaped praise on skipper Rohit Sharma, describing him as a "fantastic leader" and a privilege to work with. Dravid's comments come after Rohit's successful tenure as India's T20I captain, during which he led the team to the ICC T20 World Cup title in 2022.Rohit's impressive record in white-ball cricket speaks volumes about his prowess as a batsman. With 14,846 runs, three double hundreds, 33 hundreds, and 87 fifties in ODIs and T20Is combined, he is one of the most prolific run-getters in limited-overs cricket.Beyond his batting prowess, Rohit has also proven to be an astute captain. He overtook MS Dhoni as the most successful T20I captain with 49 wins in 62 matches, leading India to the ICC T20 World Cup title after a thrilling win over South Africa in the final.Dravid believes that Rohit's leadership qualities have been instrumental in his success. "People really gravitated towards him, the team," Dravid said. "I think that makes a big difference."Dravid also praised the humility and work ethic of India's superstar players, including Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravichandran Ashwin. "A lot of these superstars are actually very humble about their preparation," Dravid said. "They are humble about their work ethic. And that is why they are superstars."Dravid's tenure as India head coach was marked by success, including the ICC T20 World Cup trophy and a runners-up finish in the 50-over World Cup. He also guided India to the final of the ICC World Test Championship.

Former Indian cricket legend Harbhajan Singh believes that Virat Kohli's exceptional physical condition will allow him to continue playing international cricket for another five years. He also expressed his opinion that Rohit Sharma, the current captain of the Indian team in both Test and ODI formats, can continue playing for at least two more years.Harbhajan emphasized Kohli's remarkable fitness, stating that he is "probably the fittest guy in the team." He believes that Kohli's fitness will enable him to withstand the rigors of international cricket for an extended period.Regarding Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan said, "Rohit can easily play for two more years." He highlighted the importance of experience in Test cricket, stating that both Kohli and Sharma are crucial players in this format.Harbhajan stressed the need for selectors to balance experience with performance. He said, "If someone is not performing well, they should be dropped, whether they are senior players or juniors." However, he emphasized that as long as players are fit and contributing, they should continue to be selected.Harbhajan also acknowledged the hunger and determination of younger players, saying, "Youngsters have much more hunger than the seniors." He praised the opportunities being given to Riyan Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill.Despite India's recent 0-2 defeat against Sri Lanka in the ODI series, Harbhajan downplayed its significance. He said, "It was one of those things. Sometimes you win it, sometimes you lose it. It's sports after all." He commended Sri Lanka for playing better than India.

India's Test Stalwarts Set to Grace Duleep Trophy in Preparation for Bangladesh SeriesIn anticipation of India's upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, the Duleep Trophy, scheduled to commence on September 5 in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, is set to feature a star-studded lineup. India captain Rohit Sharma and former skipper Virat Kohli are expected to lead the charge, alongside a host of other prominent players.The tournament will serve as a crucial platform for the Indian selectors to assess the form and readiness of key players ahead of the Bangladesh series. The Indian Express reports that the Duleep Trophy will showcase the talents of Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, and Kuldeep Yadav.However, ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah will not participate in the Duleep Trophy due to an extended rest period. The senior selection committee will deliberate on Bumrah's availability for the two-Test series against Bangladesh.With India facing a demanding schedule of 10 Test matches over the next four months, including five against Australia, the Duleep Trophy will provide invaluable match practice for the players. The tournament will run from September 5 to September 24, offering ample opportunity for the players to showcase their skills and prepare for the challenges ahead.The inclusion of top players is expected to enhance the competitiveness and appeal of the Duleep Trophy. The tournament will provide a glimpse of India's Test team in the making, as the players strive to prove their worth and secure their place in the squad for the Bangladesh series.The first Test between India and Bangladesh will commence in Chennai on September 19. The Duleep Trophy will serve as a crucial stepping stone for the Indian team as they gear up for this important series.

India's recent ODI series loss to Sri Lanka has raised concerns about their vulnerability to spin bowling on dry surfaces. Captain Rohit Sharma acknowledged the issue, stating that it requires serious attention and individual game plan adjustments.Despite Rohit's impressive batting performance, India's middle-order struggled to cope with the increasing turn and slower tempo of the ball. In the series opener, they collapsed from 75/0 to 132/5, while in the second ODI, they went from 97/0 to 147/6.Rohit dismissed suggestions of complacency, emphasizing that the team remains committed to winning every game. However, he acknowledged that Sri Lanka outplayed India and deserved credit.India's decision to chase in all three matches, due to losing the toss, exposed them to the challenging conditions under lights. In the final ODI, they opted for an extra batter in Riyan Parag, who made his ODI debut and impressed with 3/54.Rohit explained that the bowling changes were influenced by the conditions and the need to provide opportunities to younger players. He praised the performance of India's spinners but stressed the need to address the team's overall weaknesses.India's next ODI series is scheduled for January against England, followed by the Champions Trophy in 2025. Rohit expressed confidence in the team's ability to bounce back from this setback and improve in challenging conditions.

The recent ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka marked a significant transition for the Indian cricket team under the leadership of new head coach Gautam Gambhir. While the tour provided an opportunity to experiment with young talent, Gambhir's decision to include experienced veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has sparked debate among cricket experts.Former India fast bowler Ashish Nehra believes that the inclusion of Kohli and Sharma was not the optimal strategy. He argues that the series presented an ideal chance to give opportunities to emerging players, especially considering the extended break before India's next assignment."This was a good chance to give chances to young talents," Nehra said. "The presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma was not required for this series."Nehra acknowledges that Gambhir, as a new coach, may have wanted to spend time with experienced players. However, he believes that Gambhir is well-acquainted with Kohli and Sharma and could have afforded to give other players a chance."I know Gambhir is a new coach, and he wants to spend some time with the experienced players, but it isn't like he doesn't know the two of them," Nehra said. "He is not a foreign coach who wants to get his equation right with Kohli and Rohit."Nehra suggests that the series could have been an opportunity to experiment with new combinations and give young players valuable experience. He believes that Kohli and Sharma could have been rested for the Sri Lanka tour and brought back for the upcoming home season."It was a good opportunity for him to try out the new players, and Rohit and Kohli could play when the home season begins," Nehra said. "I'm not saying it is a wrong approach, but it could have been one of the strategies in this series."Gambhir's decision to include Kohli and Sharma has raised questions about his long-term vision for the Indian team. While the experienced duo remains vital to India's success, it is crucial to develop and nurture young talent to ensure a smooth transition in the future.