Cricket

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly has lauded Rohit Sharma's captaincy skills, attributing them to India's undefeated streak in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Ganguly urged the team to approach the final against South Africa with an unrestrained mindset, aiming to end an 11-year drought without an ICC title.Ganguly praised Rohit's leadership qualities, highlighting his record of winning five IPL titles and his ability to lead India to two World Cup finals while remaining unbeaten. He believes that Rohit's hesitation to assume the captaincy initially has been overcome, and he has now become a confident and effective leader.Ganguly acknowledged that winning the IPL can be more challenging due to its extended length, but emphasized that the honor of winning a World Cup is greater. He expressed confidence in India's ability to secure the title, citing their dominant performance throughout the tournament.Despite India's near misses in major tournaments since their 2013 Champions Trophy triumph, Ganguly remains optimistic. He believes that reaching the finals is a positive sign, and that India's consistent dominance in the competition makes them the favorites.Ganguly also commented on South Africa's historic achievement of reaching the World Cup final for the first time since their reintegration into international cricket. He acknowledged the significance of this moment for South African cricket.Regarding Virat Kohli's average performance in the tournament, Ganguly believes that he should continue opening the batting. He emphasized that Kohli's past achievements and status as an institution for Indian cricket should not be diminished by a few poor matches.Ganguly dismissed claims that the ICC has given India an advantage by selecting a spin-friendly venue for the semifinal in Guyana. He also rejected allegations that broadcasters have favored India with the 8pm IST time slot for their matches.Ganguly asserted that India's dominance in world cricket is due to their performance, broadcast reach, and financial contributions. He believes that India's strong position in the sport is justified and reflects their status as a major force in international cricket.

Inzamam-ul-Haq's allegations regarding India's reverse-swinging tactics in the T20 World Cup have sparked a heated debate. The former Pakistan captain questioned how India, particularly Arshdeep Singh, managed to reverse-swing the ball in the 16th over of Australia's innings.Rohit Sharma, India's skipper, dismissed Inzamam's claims, stating that reverse-swing is a natural occurrence in hot and dry conditions. However, Inzamam has retorted, cautioning Rohit not to lecture Pakistan, the originators of reverse-swing, on the technique.Inzamam clarified that he never accused India of ball-tampering, but rather intended to alert the umpires to the unusual reverse-swing. He emphasized that umpires should remain vigilant, as reverse-swing can occur even in the early overs.Meanwhile, India has advanced to the final of the T20 World Cup after defeating England by 68 runs in the second semifinal. South Africa, who defeated Afghanistan by nine wickets, will face India in the championship match.

As the sun sets on this Saturday afternoon in Barbados, Indian fans eagerly anticipate a memorable performance from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in what could be their final T20I appearance for India. The nation yearns to see these two cricketing greats unite in a triumphant dance, leaving behind the heartbreaking memories of the ODI World Cup loss last year.The BCCI and national selectors recognize that the time has come for a new era in Indian cricket, with the 2026 T20 World Cup on the horizon. The Zimbabwe series next month will likely mark the beginning of this transition, as the core team for the upcoming global event must be established well in advance. Rohit, Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, despite their immense contributions, may not fit into the long-term plans due to their age.While the sensitive topic of retirement looms, the focus remains firmly on the final. A victory against South Africa would serve as a fitting culmination to the illustrious careers of Rohit and Kohli in the shortest format. They will continue to be an integral part of the IPL, where they remain iconic figures alongside Mahendra Singh Dhoni.For Kohli, securing the T20 World Cup trophy would complete a remarkable cycle, having already won the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. The decision to bid farewell to the format may come swiftly, as it did for Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara following their 2014 T20 World Cup victory against India.Kohli and Rohit, with their combined 8334 T20I runs, six centuries, 69 fifties, and 119 catches, represent the last bridge between the old and new generations of Indian cricket. This trophy would be a fitting testament to their legacy, rightfully belonging to them as they stand tall among the greats who came before them.The anguish in Kohli's eyes after his dismissal against England was palpable, and those who dare to dismiss the 'King' from the final do so at their own risk. For Rohit, despite his assertions of moving on and healed wounds, he yearns for closure.Had India emerged victorious in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Rohit's desperation to participate in this T20 World Cup edition would have been significantly diminished. He seeks closure in terms of white-ball global triumph, and a T20 World Cup victory would provide him with that.Rohit's popularity is genuine and organic. While Dhoni was revered as 'Mahi bhai' by his juniors and Kohli earned respect through his immense on-field achievements, Rohit receives pure, unadulterated love from both peers and juniors alike.Together, Rohit and Virat have witnessed the highs and lows of Indian cricket for over a decade. And fortunately for Rohit and Kohli, they have nothing left to prove. If Saturday truly marks their last appearance in a T20 international, the void they leave behind will be challenging to fill, not only in terms of quality but also, and perhaps more significantly, on an emotional level.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has heaped praise on Indian captain Rohit Sharma, calling him a "selfless captain" who prioritizes the team's interests. Akhtar's comments came after India's convincing 68-run victory over England in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024.Sharma led from the front with a crucial 57-run innings off 39 balls, including 6 fours and 2 sixes. His knock helped India set a challenging target of 171/7. Other notable contributions came from Suryakumar Yadav (47 runs from 36 balls), Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja.Akhtar, in his analysis on his YouTube channel, expressed his support for the Indian team, suggesting they were deserving of the T20 World Cup title, especially under Sharma's captaincy."Rohit Sharma has repeatedly said he wants to make an impact and win the trophy and so, deserves to win the cup. He is a big player, and it should end on a big note. He is a selfless captain, plays for the team and is a complete batter," said Akhtar.Akhtar also shared his disappointment over India's failure to secure the ODI World Cup in 2023, indicating his ongoing support for the team in international tournaments."I was always in favour of India winning the tournament. I was hurt last year when India could not win the World Cup as they should not have lost it because they deserved to win," he added.England's chase was hampered by a lack of adaptation to the pitch conditions, culminating in a total of 103 all out in 16.4 overs. Harry Brook and Jos Buttler were the main contributors for England, but their efforts were insufficient against the Indian bowling lineup. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav were instrumental for India, each taking three wickets, with Jasprit Bumrah also adding two wickets to the tally.Akhtar's praise for Sharma is a testament to the Indian captain's leadership qualities and his ability to inspire his team to perform at their best. With Sharma at the helm, India will be confident of their chances of lifting the T20 World Cup trophy.

Rohit Sharma's Stump Mic Banter: "Uppar Dega Toh Deta Hoon Na"Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has once again provided entertainment for fans with his candid stump mic conversations. In a recent match against England, Rohit was caught on camera engaging in a playful exchange with his batting partner Suryakumar Yadav.As England bowler Liam Livingstone prepared to deliver the last ball of the 11th over, Rohit turned to SKY and said, "Uppar dega toh deta hoon na" (If he pitches it up, I'll hit him for a six). True to his word, Livingstone obliged, and Rohit duly dispatched the ball over the long-on boundary.The video of the exchange quickly went viral on social media, showcasing Rohit's relaxed and confident approach to batting. It also highlighted the camaraderie between the Indian players, who have been in impressive form throughout the tournament.Rohit's six not only entertained the crowd but also helped him reach his half-century and bring up India's 100th run. He eventually fell for 57, but his contribution played a crucial role in India's victory.The Indian team will now face South Africa in the final of the tournament on Saturday. The Proteas have also been in excellent form, having crushed Afghanistan by nine wickets in their semifinal. The final promises to be a thrilling encounter between two evenly matched teams.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has hailed Indian skipper Rohit Sharma as a "brutal elegance at its best" for his explosive knocks in the ICC T20 World Cup. Hussain believes that a shift in India's game and mentality in T20Is occurred after their ten-wicket loss to England in the 2022 T20 World Cup semis.Rohit's 92 against Australia in the Super Eights match was a testament to this change. He smashed Pat Cummins for a 100m six on the first ball of the fifth over and took 29 runs off Mitchell Starc in the third over, including four sixes.Hussain praised Rohit's focus on the team's score and strike rate rather than a potential maiden T20 WC century. He also admired Rohit's takedown of Australian pacers, calling it "elegant, absolute brutal elegance at its best."Rohit's 92 helped India post 205/5 and restrict Australia to 181/7, despite Travis Head's counter-attacking 76. Australia's elimination from the tournament after Bangladesh's loss to Afghanistan highlights the impact of Rohit's leadership and the team's newfound aggression.In six matches of the tournament, Rohit has scored 191 runs at an average of 38.20, with a strike rate of 159.16 and two half-centuries. His best score is 92.

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, has praised his team's composure under pressure after their emphatic 68-run victory over England in the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final. This victory marks India's third consecutive ICC final across formats, and they will now face South Africa on Saturday in an attempt to end their 11-year trophy drought at a world event."We've been very calm as a team," Rohit said after the match. "We understand the occasion, but for us, it's important to keep calm and composed. That helps us make good decisions. We need to make good decisions through the 40 overs. In this game too, we were steady and calm, and didn't panic too much. That has been the key for us. Yes, we do understand the occasion is important, but we need to play good cricket as well."Rohit described the semi-final win over England as "very satisfying," especially given that it was a repeat of the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final. In that match, India suffered a humiliating ten-wicket defeat as Jos Buttler and Alex Hales chased down England's target of 169 with ease.This time, however, it was India's spinners who turned the tables on England on a slow, low turner. Rohit set the tone with a well-paced 57 off 39 balls, helping India post a competitive total of 171 for 7."Yeah, it's very satisfying to win this game," Rohit said. "We've worked really hard to come to this stage, and to win the game like that was a great effort from everyone. I thought we played to the conditions really well; that's been the success story for us so far. If bowlers and batters understand and play according to the conditions, things fall in place. It's very pleasing how we came through."Rohit was particularly impressed with the performance of India's spinners, who applied relentless pressure on England's batsmen. Axar Patel started England's slide by dismissing Buttler off his very first delivery, and then had Jonny Bairstow with an arm-ball in his second. He finished with 3 for 23 off his four overs to walk away with the Player-of-the-Match award.Axar was complemented by Kuldeep Yadav, who also was magnificent. His dismissal of Harry Brook after being reverse swept was particularly noteworthy because of the subtle change in his line of attack. Kuldeep, like Axar, also picked up three wickets."They are gun spinners," Rohit said. "When conditions are like that in front of them, it's very difficult to play some shots. Yes, the pressure is on them to execute those balls, but they were very calm and knew what to bowl. We had a chat after the first innings: the plan was to hit the stumps as much as possible and keep the stumps in play, [and] that's what they did."Amid the cheer, Rohit also backed Virat Kohli to come out of his string of low scores in this T20 World Cup. Kohli was dismissed for 9 on Thursday as he was clean bowled by Reece Topley looking to slog one over the leg-side boundary. Kohli has so far aggregated 75 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 100 this World Cup."Look, he's a quality player, and you can go through that," Rohit said. "We understand his class and importance in big games. Form is never a player when you've played for 15 years. He's looking good, the intent is there, [and] probably he's saving himself for the final."

India's quest for a T20 World Cup title remains alive after a dominant 68-run victory over defending champions England in the semi-final. On a challenging pitch in Providence, Guyana, India's disciplined bowling attack restricted England to a paltry 103, while their batters had earlier posted a competitive 171 for 7.Rohit Sharma led the Indian charge with a blistering 57 off 39 deliveries, setting the tone for an aggressive approach. Despite the slow and low conditions, India's batters found ways to score boundaries, with Suryakumar Yadav contributing 47.England's bowlers struggled to contain India's attacking intent, with Chris Jordan conceding 37 runs in his four overs. The introduction of Adil Rashid provided some respite, but India's batters continued to move around the crease and force the issue.After the second rain break, Rashid regained control by bowling a tighter line and dismissing Rohit. However, India's spin-bowling all-rounders, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, proved equally effective, taking three wickets each.In the chase, England's batters were unable to cope with India's spin-heavy attack. Liam Livingstone, bowling part-time, conceded just 24 runs in four overs, while Axar and Kuldeep shared six wickets between them.India's victory sets up a tantalizing final against South Africa, who defeated Australia in the other semi-final. The match will be a rematch of the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final, which South Africa won by five wickets.

Rohit Sharma Joins Elite Group of Indian Captains with 5,000 Runs Across FormatsIndian skipper Rohit Sharma has etched his name into the annals of Indian cricket history by becoming only the fifth Indian captain to surpass 5,000 runs across all formats of the game. This significant milestone was achieved during the semi-final match against England in the ongoing T20 World Cup at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.Rohit's impressive batting performance, which earned him the nickname 'Hitman,' was on full display as he dominated England's bowling attack during the powerplay. With his influential 57-run innings, Rohit became only the fifth Indian captain to surpass 5,000 runs across all formats of the game.As he walked back to the pavilion, Rohit's total run tally as the Indian skipper stood at 5,033 runs, cementing his place among the greats. However, he still has a long way to go to catch up with Virat Kohli, who leads the chart with an impressive 12,883 runs as the Indian captain in all three formats.Following Kohli is MS Dhoni, renowned for his exceptional leadership and captaincy skills, with 11,207 runs to his name as the Indian skipper across all formats. Mohammad Azharuddin and Sourav Ganguly also feature on this prestigious list, having scored 8,095 and 7,643 runs, respectively, during their tenures as Indian captains.Rohit's achievement is a testament to his consistent performance and leadership abilities. As the Indian team prepares for the final of the T20 World Cup, Rohit will be looking to add to his tally and lead his team to victory.