Cricket

Virat Kohli's performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 has been a topic of discussion among cricket enthusiasts. Despite being a star batter, Kohli's scores so far have been underwhelming: 1, 4, 0, 24, 37, and 0.Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has analyzed Kohli's batting technique and identified an area for improvement. According to Gavaskar, Kohli's balance while stepping out needs to be enhanced."The way he batted in Barbados, made 24, but the ball was hitting the middle of the bat. The same thing happened in Antigua. One technical thing that I want to talk about is that during the IPL, when he used to step out and play, his balance was great. But here his balance is not that good. For that reason, the ball is going on to the stumps when he misses or the ball is not being middled," Gavaskar said on Star Sports before the India vs Australia match.Gavaskar emphasized the importance of balance in Kohli's batting. "If his balance is right, then there is nothing else to worry about. The amount of time he spends on the pitch will give him more confidence."Gavaskar's analysis comes after Kohli's dismissal against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup. Kohli was well set on 37 when he was clean bowled by a slower delivery from Tanzim Hasan Sakib.Gavaskar's reaction to Kohli's dismissal was in contrast to his praise for Rohit Sharma's aggressive approach. Rohit had scored a quickfire 11-ball 23 to get India off to a flying start in the powerplay."Someone who has hit 10 runs in two balls would not go for a big shot, but for Rohit Sharma, it is all about the team," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.The difference in reaction from Gavaskar to Rohit and Kohli's dismissals left several fans unhappy on social media. The former India batter was tagged "biased" and a "hypocrite" by fans.

Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar has sparked controversy on social media after his contrasting analysis of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's dismissals during India's 2024 T20 World Cup match against Bangladesh.Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, played a quickfire 11-ball 23 to give India a flying start in the powerplay. On the other hand, Kohli played a more measured innings, scoring 37 off 28 balls.Gavaskar praised Rohit's intent and aggressive approach, saying, "Someone who has hit 10 runs in two balls would not go for a big shot, but for Rohit Sharma, it is all about the team."However, Gavaskar was harsher in his criticism of Kohli's dismissal. "What was he thinking? Should have played inside out," Gavaskar said.The difference in reaction from Gavaskar to Rohit and Kohli's dismissals left several fans unhappy on social media. The former India batter was tagged "biased" and a "hypocrite" by fans."It's not fans but the commentators like Sunil Gavaskar who create the difference between the fans and players," said one user.Another user tweeted, "Sunil Gavaskar has become so annoying and is the biggest hypocrite rn 'What was he trying to do' - After Kohli got out 'Rohit is always for the team' - After Rohit got out."Despite the controversy, Rohit and Kohli's knocks, along with good contributions from Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, and Shivam Dube, took India to a daunting total of 196-5 in 20 overs. Chasing it, Bangladesh fell short by 50 runs.India has now almost certainly sealed a semi-final spot at the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup.

Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary Indian cricketer, has lauded Rishabh Pant's performance in India's emphatic victory over Afghanistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup. While acknowledging Pant's quickfire 20 runs off 11 balls, Gavaskar's praise extended beyond the immediate statistics, focusing on the wicketkeeper-batsman's improved fitness and growing maturity.Gavaskar's comments came after India secured a comfortable 47-run win, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the tournament. Suryakumar Yadav's blistering half-century and Jasprit Bumrah's three-wicket haul were instrumental in the victory, but it was Pant's overall contribution that caught Gavaskar's eye.Reflecting on Pant's journey back from a severe car accident, Gavaskar expressed relief and delight at the player's remarkable recovery. "It's a miracle, you know? I mean, we all were so concerned when we heard about the accident. We heard about the severity of the injuries and we were all praying for him just to be ok. But not only has he been ok, he's come back so strongly. He's lost a little bit of weight, which was probably needed and it looked at one stage that he was just maybe getting a little overweight. He's lost a bit of weight and he's looking so good, so fit," Gavaskar told Star Sports after the match.Gavaskar emphasized the significance of Pant's decision to prioritize wicketkeeping over relying on Rohit Sharma, despite the latter's renowned fielding prowess. "Look at his mobility. Those two catches that he took, he was. He ran about 20-30 yards. I know the ball was up in the air, but there was Rohit Sharma there, one of the safest pairs of hands in the game. But wicketkeeper's gloves are always much safer than ordinary hands, you know, plain hands. So he was there and again recognising the situation."Gavaskar drew parallels between Pant's development and Hardik Pandya's evolution as a cricketer, emphasizing the importance of maturity and situational awareness. "This is the maturity that is so important. We've seen it with Hardik Pandya, we are seeing it in Rishabh Pant's cricket. The maturity of understanding conditions. Yes, batting wise, he will still continue to play the game. That's exactly what you want because he's a naturally attacking player and he can upset the bowler totally. That's what he did. He didn't score too many runs. He got 20 in about 10 deliveries at a SR of 200 but that is exactly what you want at that stage," remarked the Indian batting icon.Unbeaten so far in the tournament, India next take on Bangladesh in the Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua on Saturday.

Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar has dismissed concerns over Virat Kohli's recent string of low scores in the T20 World Cup, emphasizing the need for patience and faith in the veteran batter.Kohli, who entered the tournament with an impressive Orange Cap-winning season in the IPL, has struggled to find his rhythm, registering scores of 1, 4, and a golden duck in the group stage. However, Gavaskar believes that these setbacks are not indicative of a decline in Kohli's form."There's nothing to worry about," Gavaskar said. "He has done so well for India over the years and won so many games. He recognizes that. We are in the early phases of the tournament. There's Super 8s, semi-finals, and hopefully the final. All he needs to do is show patience and faith in himself."Gavaskar pointed out that Kohli's dismissals have been due to good deliveries rather than poor form. "Any other day, the ball would've gone wide or over the slip for a boundary, today it didn't," he said. "So, there's nothing to worry about."With India safely into the next round of the tournament, Gavaskar believes that Kohli will have ample opportunities to regain his touch. "We have to show faith in him," he said. "Much believe that he is going to come good, sooner rather than later."Kohli's poor start to the tournament has extended to three matches, but Gavaskar remains confident that the Indian superstar will bounce back. "When you get three low scores, it doesn't mean he is not batting well," he said. "He is going to come good."

Sunil Gavaskar Slams Indian Batters for "Arrogant and Reckless" Display in T20 World Cup Loss to PakistanLegendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has launched a scathing attack on the Indian batting lineup after their dismal performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 match against Pakistan. India was bundled out for a paltry 119, losing their last seven wickets for just 30 runs.Gavaskar, speaking on Star Sports during the mid-innings show, expressed his disappointment with the Indian batters' approach. "The performance was disappointing. I think they were arrogant and reckless," he said. "There was an arrogance in the way they started as they were looking to hit every ball. This is not an Ireland attack. This is not an ordinary attack."Gavaskar criticized the Indian batters for failing to adapt to the match conditions. "There should have been just that little bit of respect given when the ball is moving quite a bit," he said. "And then, getting out with one over left tells you that you are probably not in the right kind of thinking."Pakistan's bowlers were relentless in their attack, with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf taking three wickets each and Mohammad Amir claiming two. Rishabh Pant was the only Indian batter to offer any resistance, scoring 42 off 31 deliveries.Gavaskar's criticism is a reflection of the growing frustration among Indian fans with the team's recent performances. India has struggled to find consistency in the T20 format, and their batting has been particularly vulnerable.The loss to Pakistan has put India in a precarious position in the tournament. They will need to win their remaining matches convincingly to have any chance of reaching the semi-finals.

Virat Kohli's uncharacteristic failure against Ireland in India's T20 World Cup 2024 opener has sparked a challenge from legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar. Despite India's eight-wicket victory, Kohli's rare poor show, scoring only 1 run from 5 balls, has raised concerns.Gavaskar, however, remains confident in Kohli's ability to bounce back, stating that great players like him tend to make up for lost opportunities in subsequent matches. "They want to score double the runs," Gavaskar said. "And who better to score double the runs than against Pakistan?"India's victory against Ireland marked their most successive wins against a single opponent in T20 cricket. Skipper Rohit Sharma's half-century, Rishabh Pant's finishing touches, and Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah's impressive spells were instrumental in the win.Pant's winning shot in the 13th over sealed the victory, giving India their eighth win against Ireland in T20Is. This victory also extended India's winning streak against Ireland to eight, equaling their record against Bangladesh from 2009 to 2018.India's dominance in T20 cricket is further evident in their seven wins each against Australia, Sri Lanka, and West Indies. The Rohit Sharma-led side has established itself as a formidable force in the shortest format of the game.

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar expressed surprise over the omission of Kuldeep Yadav from India's playing XI in their opening match of the 2024 T20 World Cup against Ireland. Gavaskar, speaking on Star Sports' pre-match coverage, said, "I'm surprised. Kuldeep bowled really well in the IPL. His exclusion came as a little surprise."Kuldeep, a left-arm wrist spinner, had been widely expected to start for India in the tournament. However, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid opted for Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel as their two regular spinners.Kuldeep has impressive T20I statistics, with 59 wickets in 35 matches at an average of 14.1 and an economy rate of 6.75. He has also taken two five-wicket hauls, one against England in England and the other against South Africa in South Africa.In the recently concluded IPL 2024, Kuldeep picked up 16 wickets in 11 games for Delhi Capitals. His exclusion from the Indian team raised eyebrows on social media, with many fans and experts questioning the decision.Former India opener Wasim Jaffer tweeted, "No Kuldeep? #INDvIRE #T20WorldCup." Another fan account, @Delphy06, wrote, "Kuldeep Yadav dropped today by Team India. Axar Patel given chance to prolong batting line up vs Ireland."India's decision to leave out Kuldeep may have been influenced by the warm-up game against Bangladesh, where he failed to pick up a wicket in two overs. However, his IPL form and overall record suggest that he is a valuable asset to the team.Despite Kuldeep's absence, India fielded a strong team against Ireland. All three frontline seamers - Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammad Siraj - were included, while Rishabh Pant edged out Sanju Samson as the wicket-keeper batsman. Virat Kohli returned to the opening slot alongside Rohit Sharma, while Yashasvi Jaiswal missed out.India began their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign with a match against Ireland on June 5, aiming to win their second World T20 title.

Virat Kohli Should Open with Rohit Sharma in T20 World Cup, Says Sunil GavaskarLegendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has suggested that Virat Kohli should open the batting alongside skipper Rohit Sharma in India's T20 World Cup match against Ireland on Wednesday. Gavaskar believes that this move would allow Kohli to utilize his aggressive style of play and provide a solid foundation for the team's innings.Kohli has been India's designated number three batter in the white-ball format for a long time. However, he has been in excellent form lately, scoring 741 runs in 15 matches for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the recent IPL season. Gavaskar believes that Kohli's current form warrants a promotion to the opening slot."Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to open the batting along with Yashasvi Jaiswal at three," Gavaskar said on 'Star Sports' while giving his preferred line-up for the game.Gavaskar also picked Rishabh Pant ahead of Sanju Samson for wicketkeeping duties and Mohammed Siraj ahead of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. He believes that Pant's aggressive batting style and Siraj's ability to swing the ball both ways make them better options for the team."Suryakumar Yadav at four, Rishabh Pant at five. At number six, I would have Hardik Pandya, number seven would be Ravindra Jadeja, number eight, not necessarily in that batting order, Shivam Dube. Number nine Kuldeep Yadav, number 10 Jasprit Bumrah and number 11 will be Siraj," he said.India will face Ireland in their opening match of the T20 World Cup on Wednesday. They will then take on arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday.

The cricketing world is abuzz with speculation about whether Virat Kohli should open the batting with skipper Rohit Sharma in the upcoming T20 World Cup. This debate has intensified following Kohli's exceptional performance in the IPL 2024, where he emerged as the tournament's leading run-scorer with 741 runs in 15 innings.Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who had previously criticized Kohli for his slow strike rate during the first half of the IPL, has now joined the chorus of voices advocating for Kohli to open the innings alongside Rohit. "Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as openers. The way Kohli has batted, particularly the second half of the IPL, he deserves to open the batting with Rohit Sharma, the captain," Gavaskar said in an interview with Star Sports.Gavaskar emphasized that the team should not prioritize a left-right combination over selecting the most in-form players. "So no, I don't think. It's very good to talk on television about left hand-right hand combination, good players are good players. In Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, you have got 2 terrific and 2 fantastic batters. The kind of form Kohli has shown in the IPL, he has to open the batting."Gavaskar also highlighted the psychological advantage of having Kohli walk out to bat with a partner. "As he is in that flow, he is in that rhythm. You don't want Kohli to wait, even if it is for an over, or even 5 deliveries before he comes out to bat. It is a different feeling when you are walking out with someone to bat. There is a little bit of exchange that they will say let us get going, etc. Walking out alone is different than walking out with a partner," he added.Kohli's impressive performance in the IPL has reignited the debate about his ideal batting position in the Indian team. While some experts believe that he should continue to bat at number three, others argue that his aggressive style of play would be better suited to the opening slot.The decision of whether or not to open with Kohli will ultimately rest with the Indian team management. However, Gavaskar's endorsement of Kohli as an opener adds weight to the argument that the star batsman should be given the opportunity to lead the Indian batting charge in the T20 World Cup.