Cricket

Punjab Kings, under the guidance of newly appointed head coach Ricky Ponting, have decided to retain the majority of their support staff for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. The only anticipated addition is fast bowling coach James Hopes, who previously worked with Ponting at Delhi Capitals.Ponting, who signed a four-year contract, aims to transform the team's fortunes. Punjab has yet to win an IPL title, with their only final appearance coming in 2014. They have struggled in recent years, failing to finish in the top five for the past seven seasons and placing ninth out of 10 teams in 2023.Despite the team's struggles, Ponting has retained spin bowling coach Sunil Joshi, batting and fielding coach Brad Haddin, and Trevor Gonsalves, who were all part of Trevor Bayliss' coaching staff. Bayliss and Sanjay Bangar, the former head coach and head of cricket development, respectively, have departed."Brad Haddin and Sunil have been retained. James Hopes is likely to be the fast bowling coach," an IPL source revealed.Ponting has yet to determine the number of players to retain ahead of the mega auction, with the deadline set for October 31. However, lead pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has been with the team for six seasons, is expected to be retained. Uncapped player Shashank Singh, who impressed last season, could also be retained."Ricky and his team will decide on the player retention soon," the source added.Punjab, who were led by Shikhar Dhawan for the past two seasons, will be looking to appoint a new captain, likely through the auction process.

Rahul Dravid's Noble Gesture and Rohit Sharma's Leadership in T20 World Cup TriumphFormer Indian cricket team head coach Rahul Dravid's decision to forego half of his prize money from the T20 World Cup 2024 victory has garnered widespread admiration. However, a recent report has revealed that it was India captain Rohit Sharma who initiated the move to ensure fair compensation for the support staff.Initially, the prize money distribution plan of Rs 125 crore allocated Rs 5 crore to Dravid and Rs 2.5 crore to other coaches. However, Rohit expressed his dissatisfaction with the disparity and offered to give up his own share to bridge the gap."Rohit was unhappy with the disparity in the prize money and was willing to give up his own share to make sure everyone got paid well," said a team member on the chartered flight back from Barbados to India.Dravid, known for his humility and leadership qualities, followed Rohit's lead and decided to take the same amount as his support staff, including bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, fielding coach T Dilip, and batting coach Vikram Rathore.The BCCI subsequently revised the distribution plan, allocating Rs 2 crore each to strength and conditioning coaches, physios, analysts, and other support staff.Rohit's gesture not only ensured fair compensation for the support staff but also highlighted his exceptional leadership skills. Under his captaincy, India became the first team to win the T20 World Cup without losing a single game, showcasing their dominance and resilience.Dravid's decision to match the support staff's prize money further cemented his reputation as a coach who values teamwork and recognizes the contributions of all members of the team.

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of the Indian cricket team, is prioritizing the formation of a support staff that aligns with his vision. While the financial details of his contract are still being finalized, Gambhir has emphasized that this is not his primary concern at this stage.Gambhir's appointment was officially announced by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah on Tuesday. His salary is expected to be in the same range as his predecessors, Rahul Dravid and Ravi Shastri. However, the finer details are still being worked out.Gambhir will be provided with his own team of coaches, who will closely coordinate with the NCA (National Cricket Academy) coaches. The NCA coaches oversee the pathways teams (India A and U-19) as well as targeted players.Gambhir has expressed his eagerness to work with the BCCI, Head of Cricket VVS Laxman, the support staff, and the players to achieve success in upcoming tournaments. Laxman, who is currently with the T20 squad in Zimbabwe, is expected to engage in discussions about the future course of action upon his return.There is significant anticipation regarding the composition of Gambhir's core support staff. Abhishek Nayar, a former Mumbai stalwart and head of KKR's academy, is a potential candidate for assistant coach due to his close friendship with captain Rohit Sharma.L Balaji and Zaheer Khan have been proposed as contenders for the bowling coach role, while R Vinay Kumar is rumored to be Gambhir's preference. However, the BCCI has reportedly turned down this suggestion.Jonty Rhodes' name has surfaced for the fielding coach position, but the BCCI has historically favored nurturing its own talent. Munish Bali, with his familiarity with emerging players, could be considered for this role.Gambhir's first major challenge will be India's upcoming Test series against Australia, a pivotal contest considering India's recent successes under Ravi Shastri. The series, marking the first five-Test encounter between the two nations since 1991-92, begins at the Optus Stadium in Perth, known for its challenging pitches.Gambhir's credibility as a red-ball coach will be closely scrutinized, especially with India's World Test Championship qualification on the line. The schedule also includes the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, pending BCCI approval. Gambhir, known for his outspoken support of the Indian Army, has consistently opposed cricketing engagements in Pakistan. It remains to be seen how he navigates this stance, especially if India's participation in a major ICC event hinges on it.

Rahul Dravid, India's outgoing head coach, has declined the additional Rs 2.5 crore bonus offered by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for leading the team to its second T20 World Cup title. Dravid's decision stems from his commitment to equality and team spirit, ensuring that all members of the support staff receive the same bonus.Initially, the BCCI had decided to award Dravid a Rs 5 crore bonus, the same amount given to the playing squad members. However, Dravid requested a reduction in his bonus to align it with the Rs 2.5 crore given to the other support staff, including bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, fielding coach T. Dilip, and batting coach Vikram Rathore."Rahul wanted the same bonus money (Rs. 2.5 crore) as the rest of his support staff. We respect his sentiments," a BCCI source disclosed.This is not the first instance of Dravid advocating for equal distribution of rewards. In 2018, as the head coach of India's U-19 World Cup-winning team, Dravid also refused a higher bonus for himself. At that time, the BCCI had initially decided to award him Rs 50 lakh while other support staff members would receive Rs 20 lakh each and the players Rs 30 lakh each. Dravid requested an equal distribution, resulting in a revised list where every member of the coaching staff, including Dravid, received Rs 25 lakh each.Dravid's actions reflect his unwavering commitment to equality and team spirit, hallmarks of his coaching tenure that have set a high standard for integrity and leadership in Indian cricket. His decision to decline the additional bonus ensures that all members of the support staff are recognized and rewarded equally for their contributions to the team's success.