Cricket

India's humiliating 0-3 Test series defeat against New Zealand has cast a shadow over their World Test Championship (WTC) aspirations. To qualify directly for the WTC final at Lord's in June 2025, India must now win four Tests in Australia.As India prepares for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a five-Test series against Australia, former batting legend Sunil Gavaskar and ex-cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar have expressed their views on India's chances.Gavaskar believes that India can turn the tables on Australia, as they have done in the past. He highlights the leadership of Rohit Sharma and the match-winning ability of Rishabh Pant. However, he acknowledges that beating Australia 4-0 is a distant dream.Manjrekar emphasizes the importance of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli performing well in the series. He also points out that India's bowling, which has been their strength in recent years, will be tested in the absence of Mohammed Shami.India's pace attack for the series includes Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Prasidh Krishna, who will support Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, and Khaleel Ahmed are in the reserves.The first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins in Perth on November 22. India will need to overcome the challenges of facing a strong Australian team and the absence of Shami to achieve their goal of winning four Tests and qualifying for the WTC final.

Virat Kohli's Attacking Mindset Draws Praise from Former India Spinner Laxman SivaramakrishnanFormer India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has lauded Virat Kohli's aggressive on-field approach, comparing it to the legendary Vivian Richards. In a recent interview on Sony Sport's Tamil Cricket Podcast - Cricket Petta, Sivaramakrishnan praised Kohli's ability to intimidate bowlers with his eyes and celebrate his emotions on the field."Kohli's attacking attitude is something that he himself enjoys and celebrates. You should show your emotions. You shouldn't be like a machine on the ground. You should have an attitude like Sir Vivian Richards who would intimidate bowlers with his eyes," Sivaramakrishnan said.Sivaramakrishnan also named Kohli and MS Dhoni as the best red and white ball captains respectively. "Kohli's attacking attitude and MS Dhoni's calm demeanour. For me, the red ball best captain is Virat and the white ball is Dhoni," he said.The veteran spinner also recalled his playing days under Sunil Gavaskar, whom he considers the best captain he played under. "Sunil Gavaskar was the best captain, I played under. He was very good with strategy and analytical in approach. Kapil Dev was a very instinctive captain. He will go with his gut instinct. He gave an extra over to Madan Lal in 1983, that's instinctive captaincy," Sivaramakrishnan said.Sivaramakrishnan further praised Gavaskar's ability to give players freedom and Venkataraghavan's excellent leadership skills. "With Sunil Gavaskar, you can ask for anything but you have to justify it, why you want to do it. If you do that he will give you the freedom to set your fields and plan your attack. Venkataraghavan was also an excellent captain, he was wonderful as captain," he added.

Team India's decision to cancel their practice match in Australia has drawn criticism from legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar. The team had initially planned to play a warm-up game against India A at the WACA ground before their opening Test match against Australia, which begins on November 22 at Perth Stadium.Gavaskar expressed his disbelief at the decision, stating that the batters needed the practice game, especially given their struggles against New Zealand at home. He pointed out that despite scoring over 400 in the second innings of the first Test in Bangalore, the Indian batters looked clueless in the subsequent innings against a spin attack that was not particularly dangerous.Gavaskar emphasized the importance of playing in real practice matches over just facing bowlers in net sessions. He acknowledged that some may argue that 'A' team bowlers might hold back against top players in practice games to avoid injuries, but he countered that in the nets, batters often face less prepared pitches and bowlers who sometimes bowl no-balls without penalty.He also highlighted the benefits for bowlers in playing proper matches, such as getting into a proper rhythm with their run-up and gaining confidence in not overstepping. He stressed that line and length are also aspects that can be learned in a proper game rather than in the nets.Gavaskar concluded by expressing his hope that the decision to cancel the warm-up game and reduce the match between the first and second Test against the Australian Prime Minister's XI to two days would prove to be the right one for Indian cricket. However, he emphasized that the batters and bowlers would have benefited greatly from the additional practice and match experience.

India's upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia has taken on heightened significance following their 3-0 loss to New Zealand. To qualify for the World Test Championship final without relying on other teams, India must defeat Australia in at least four of the five Tests.Amidst this crucial series, reports emerged that skipper Rohit Sharma might miss the first Test due to personal reasons. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar suggested that if Sharma is unavailable for the first two Tests, the team should appoint a new captain for the entire series.However, former Australian captain Aaron Finch disagreed with Gavaskar's opinion. Finch emphasized the importance of supporting Sharma during a significant personal moment, stating that he should take all the time he needs.Sharma's wife, Ritika Sajdeh, expressed her appreciation for Finch's stance. She reacted with a 'salute' emoji on an Instagram post highlighting both Gavaskar and Finch's comments.The debate over Sharma's potential absence has sparked discussions about the importance of leadership and team unity. Gavaskar believes that a captain is essential to guide the team, especially after a disappointing series loss. Finch, on the other hand, prioritizes personal well-being and believes that Sharma should not be penalized for attending to family matters.As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy approaches, the Indian team faces a crucial decision regarding Sharma's availability. The outcome of the series will have a significant impact on their chances of reaching the World Test Championship final.

India's humiliating 3-0 Test series whitewash at home against New Zealand has raised serious concerns about the team's preparation and approach. This is the first time India has suffered a clean sweep in a Test series of three or more matches on home soil.Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has slammed the team for its dismal performance, particularly the batters' inability to counter the New Zealand spinners. Gavaskar believes that the Indian team was not adequately prepared for the series and cited Sachin Tendulkar's meticulous preparation for an important series in 1998 as an example.In 1998, India was set to face Australia in a home Test series. Gavaskar revealed how Tendulkar prepared himself during warm-up games for Mumbai against Australia to counter Shane Warne during the Test matches."That's the reason why Sachin Tendulkar was Sachin Tendulkar. He was so fiercely proud of what he could do and what he wanted to do for the team," Gavaskar said. "He asked Laxman Sivaramakrishnan to come and go around the wicket, create a rough around that area so that he could practice that slog sweep and the inside out shot against Shane Warne."Gavaskar emphasized the importance of such preparation, stating that it is essential for players to be ready for the challenges they will face in international cricket. He believes that the Indian team's lack of preparation contributed to their poor performance against New Zealand."So, I think that is the kind of preparation that everybody needs to do. If you don't do it then with the gaps that are there will always be that little body speed and back speed situation, which takes a long time to get back," Gavaskar said.The Indian team's performance in the Test series against New Zealand has raised questions about their ability to compete at the highest level. The team's batters have struggled against spin bowling, and their bowlers have been unable to take wickets consistently.The Indian team will need to address these issues if they want to regain their status as one of the top Test teams in the world. They will have a chance to do so in their upcoming Test series against Australia, which begins on February 9.

Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull believes Australia has devised a cunning plan to neutralize Jasprit Bumrah's threat during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series. Doull, in a recent discussion on JioCinema, highlighted Bumrah as Australia's "biggest threat" and suggested that the hosts are attempting to "cook" him with their scheduling strategy.According to Doull, Australia's decision to start the series in the scorching heat of Perth, followed by a pink-ball Test in Adelaide, is a deliberate attempt to exhaust Bumrah. This strategy could force India to rest their star pacer in the middle of the series."Australia has been clever with their scheduling," Doull said. "They know that while batters will be crucial, their biggest threat is Jasprit Bumrah. So they've chosen the three hardest and fastest surfaces, plus the Pink-Ball Test. They're trying to cook Bumrah. They'll cook him in the heat of Perth, where he'll have to bowl a lot of overs. Then he's going to have to bowl a lot of overs in that second pink-ball Test match in Adelaide. And then you've got to go to Brisbane where generally, first up, the seamers are quite good as well."Doull believes Australia's plan is to tire out Bumrah in the first two or three Tests, forcing India to rely on other bowlers. "They're going to cook Bumrah in the first two, three Test matches, make sure he bowls a lot of overs. And then they're going to have to make a change. They're going to have to go to someone else. So I think the scheduling from Australia's point of view has been quite smart because very rarely do they start a series in Perth."Meanwhile, legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar has suggested that if Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the first Test, Jasprit Bumrah should lead the team for the entire tour. Gavaskar believes that Bumrah's leadership would provide stability and reduce pressure on the deputy captain."It is important for the captain to play the first Test match," Gavaskar said. "I have been reading that Rohit Sharma might not play the first two Tests of the Australia series. I feel that, in that case, the selection committee should appoint Jasprit Bumrah the captain of the side for the entire Australia tour, and tell Rohit Sharma that you will participate as a player in this series. For the first Test match, Rohit Sharma has to be there."

Team India's future under Gautam Gambhir's leadership has come under scrutiny following the disappointing 0-3 Test series loss to New Zealand. The lack of clarity within the coaching setup has raised concerns, particularly regarding the roles of Abhishek Nayar and Ryan Ten Doeschate.Sunil Gavaskar, a legendary Indian cricketer, expressed his amusement at the ambiguity surrounding the coaching team. He questioned Nayar's designation and the dual roles of both Nayar and Ten Doeschate as assistant and batting coaches.Gavaskar urged Gambhir to take a more proactive role in guiding the Indian batters, given his extensive experience in Australian conditions. He emphasized that Gambhir's knowledge could prove invaluable in helping the team overcome the challenges they will face Down Under."For batting...what is the role of Abhishek Nayar in the team? Is he a batting coach or an assistant coach? Gambhir has scored a lot more runs than the two, so if he can step in and guide the players on how to bat in Australian conditions and the type of approach they should take, then we can probably perform better," Gavaskar said.Gavaskar also warned Gambhir that his honeymoon period is over and that he now needs to deliver results. He stressed that the team's performance in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be crucial in determining Gambhir's future as head coach.Some of Gambhir's decisions have been publicly criticized by experts and former cricketers. His decision to drop Shubman Gill for the third Test against New Zealand was met with particular disapproval.The Indian team's preparations for the Australia tour have been overshadowed by the uncertainty surrounding the coaching setup. The lack of clarity and the absence of a clear leadership structure could hinder the team's progress and affect their chances of success in the upcoming series.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of India's most celebrated cricketers, are approaching the twilight of their careers. As they enter their mid-30s, questions are being raised about their continued presence in the national team.Following India's recent Test series loss to New Zealand, former captain Sunil Gavaskar has called for introspection regarding the team management's approach to the senior duo. Gavaskar believes that if Kohli and Sharma fail to perform in the upcoming series against Australia, the pressure for a team overhaul will intensify."It's ticking for everybody," Gavaskar said. "But because they are in their 30s, mid-30s, it will be tougher for them than the guys in the early 20s or early 30s."Gavaskar acknowledged that Kohli and Sharma have been through a rare period of poor form, but emphasized that their performance in Australia will be crucial. "What we are going to see in Australia is really going to be interesting," he said. "What we are going to see in Australia will determine the future of the Test team."Gavaskar also believes that the early announcement of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad was not a mistake. He argued that the selection committee had already considered potential replacements and included them in the team."I don't think that there would have been too many changes," Gavaskar said. "I don't think, you know, announcing the team earlier was was an issue at all."The upcoming series against Australia will be a defining moment for Kohli and Sharma. If they fail to perform, the calls for a new-look Indian team will only grow louder. The future of the Test team hangs in the balance, and the performances of its two most experienced players will play a pivotal role in shaping its destiny.

India's Test captain, Rohit Sharma, has endured a dismal series against New Zealand, with his poor form contributing significantly to the team's 3-0 defeat. Rohit's aggressive approach on challenging pitches has backfired, leading to six dismissals that have been criticized as "casual."However, legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has defended Rohit's approach, attributing it to his elegant style of play. Gavaskar drew parallels to David Gower, another batsman who faced similar misinterpretations. "People tend to misinterpret his approach because his style is easy on the eye," Gavaskar said. "They care about their wickets and want to score runs, but their batting looks simple, and their dismissals reflect that."Rohit acknowledged his poor shot selection in the series but expressed no regrets over his aggressive approach. "I played a bad shot, but I don't regret it because it has given me success in the past," he said. "I will continue to do that."Rohit's struggles have raised questions about his suitability as Test captain. Some critics argue that his attacking style is not suited to the longer format of the game. However, Gavaskar believes that Rohit's leadership qualities should not be judged solely on his batting performance."He is a very good captain," Gavaskar said. "He has the ability to motivate his team and get the best out of them. He is also a very good tactician. I think he will be a successful Test captain."Despite Rohit's struggles, India's batting lineup has shown promise in the series. Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara have both scored centuries, while Rishabh Pant has played some impressive innings. The team's bowling attack has also performed well, with Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin taking wickets consistently.India will be hoping to bounce back from their Test series defeat when they face New Zealand in a three-match ODI series starting on January 18. Rohit will be keen to prove his worth as a Test captain and lead his team to victory.