Cricket

India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has acknowledged the potential of express pacer Mayank Yadav, but emphasizes the need for careful management amidst the demanding cricket schedule. Mayank's impressive 155kph pace during IPL 2024 caught attention, earning him Player-of-the-Match awards in his first two games before an abdominal injury sidelined him.Despite his absence from competitive cricket since then, Suryakumar confirms Mayank's full recovery and his addition to the Indian team. "He has the X factor, as seen in franchise cricket," Suryakumar said. "His extra pace can make a difference. I haven't faced him in the nets, but I've witnessed his potential. He's a valuable addition, and I expect him to perform well."However, Suryakumar stresses the importance of managing Mayank's workload due to the intense cricket calendar. "It's crucial to manage him well, considering the amount of cricket being played," he said. "We need to pay proper attention, and the BCCI is doing that."Regarding the upcoming T20I against Bangladesh at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, Suryakumar expressed optimism about the pitch conditions. "The pitch looks good," he said. "We practiced on the center wicket and didn't find it too slow or low. It should be a good wicket for T20 cricket, with a balance between bat and ball."Despite the venue's lack of previous domestic or international matches, Suryakumar believes the team is well-prepared. "We've practiced here for three days and know the conditions," he said. "We'll play our usual style, and if everyone contributes, we'll get the desired results."Suryakumar also highlighted the growing trend of batters contributing with the ball in white-ball cricket. "It's beneficial if batters can bowl an over or two," he said. "Almost everyone in this squad can bowl, giving us more options. As seen in Sri Lanka, Riyan [Parag] bowled four overs. If someone is confident in bowling under pressure, why not?"

India and Bangladesh Clash in T20I Series Amidst Test SeasonAs the Test season rages on, India and Bangladesh will engage in a three-match T20I series commencing in Gwalior on Sunday. While India has rested its star players, the fringe players will strive to establish themselves as backups and enhance their IPL value.Suryakumar Yadav leads a relatively inexperienced Indian side, but his players possess exceptional skills and versatility in the T20 format. Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh add experience, while newcomers Mayank Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harshit Rana seek to make their mark. Abhishek Sharma, with five T20I caps, aims to increase his tally.India's fast-bowling department is depleted, potentially opening doors for debuts for Mayank Yadav, who impressed with his pace in the IPL, and Rana, a Kolkata Knight Riders title winner. Hardik and Shivam Dube provide seam-bowling support, while Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, and Varun Chakravarthy form the spin trio.For Bangladesh, this series presents a golden opportunity to develop their game against a formidable opponent and potentially attract IPL scouts. Mahmudullah, Mustafizur Rahman, Litton Das, Taskin Ahmed, and Mahedi Hasan, all seasoned T20I campaigners, must perform at their best for Bangladesh to challenge India.With Shakib Al Hasan's retirement from Tests and T20Is, Bangladesh's lineup has undergone a transformation. Sanju Samson, with his impressive IPL form, is likely to open the batting for India alongside Abhishek. Legspinner Rishad Hossain, who emerged as Bangladesh's top wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup, will aim to impress IPL scouts.The Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium will host its first international match, with teams batting first in night games in India averaging over 190 runs in the past year. The weather is expected to be slightly cooler than usual on Sunday evening.

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed his surprise and disappointment over the BCCI's decision to overlook Hardik Pandya as captain of the T20I team. Pandya was widely expected to take over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, who recently retired from the format. However, the BCCI opted to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as the new skipper.Harbhajan believes that Pandya's experience and leadership qualities made him the ideal candidate for the captaincy. "He was your vice-captain...when Rohit Sharma is not the captain, your vice-captain becomes the captain," Harbhajan told Sports Yaari. "But if you tell him on fitness ground that you will not be the captain - there's no T20I cricket round the year."Harbhajan added that losing the captaincy must have been a significant setback for Pandya. "He came after winning the T20 World Cup and suddenly, it's a big setback for him. It's not right," he said. "I have great respect for Suryakumar Yadav. Phenomenal player, great guy...very selfless. Even he wouldn't have thought that this would happen."The BCCI's decision has also raised questions about Pandya's fitness. The all-rounder has been struggling with injuries in recent months, and there are concerns that he may not be able to handle the rigors of captaincy.However, Harbhajan believes that Pandya's fitness is not a major issue. "He's a young guy, he's fit," Harbhajan said. "He's been playing for India for a long time now. He knows how to manage his body."The BCCI has named a 15-man squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, with Yadav leading the team. The matches will be played on October 6 (Gwalior), October 9 (New Delhi), and October 12 (Hyderabad).

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction guidelines have sparked discussions among fans and former cricketers. Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja has expressed his opinion on Mumbai Indians' retention strategy, suggesting that they should prioritize retaining Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah.Jadeja believes that these three players are indispensable to Mumbai Indians and should be retained without hesitation. He also suggests that the franchise should use their Right to Match (RTM) card on Hardik Pandya, despite his injury concerns."I'd say, players like Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah, are undoubtedly the three players who will be retained by MI. It is impossible to get these players if put up for auction," Jadeja said.However, Jadeja acknowledges that using the RTM on Pandya could be risky. "The kind of player he is, you might not get him either (in the auction). But there is a chance that his injury tendencies might make the other franchises not be able to open up their banks for him," he added.Jadeja believes that sacrificing one of the other three players for Pandya would be a mistake. "If you have an RTM, they you can use to their advantage. I am not saying that this decides the player's caliber or power, but if you look at a player like Bumrah and his value and then Hardik Pandya on the market, it will be a difficult business," he said.Mumbai Indians have a number of other key players to consider, including Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Tim David, and Dewald Brevis. The franchise will have to make some tough decisions before the mega auction.

Rohit Sharma Explains Decision to Retire from T20Is: 'Time for Me to Move On'After leading India to victory in the T20 World Cup earlier this year, Rohit Sharma made the surprising decision to retire from the format in international cricket. While many believed he was still fit enough to play both white-ball formats and Test cricket, Sharma felt it was the right time to step aside.In a recent podcast, Sharma, who was also part of MS Dhoni's team that won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, shed light on his reasons for retiring from T20Is."The only reason I retired from T20Is is because I have had my time," Sharma said. "I enjoyed playing the format, I played for 17 years, I did well and all of that. Then, you won the (2024) World Cup. This was the best time for me to decide that 'okay, this is now time for me to move on and look after the other things'. There are a lot of good players who can do well for India."Sharma emphasized that his decision was not based on any physical limitations. "It (decision to quit T20Is) was not because I felt anything. I just felt this was the right time. I could still play all three formats easily. That's why I say fitness is in your mind, how you train your mind.""I believe everything is in the mind. I am a person who has got a lot of self-belief because I know that I can control my mind when I have to. Sometimes it's not easy. I know most of the time I can do that. If you tell your body that you are young, you can do this, you can do that, (then) of course you can," Sharma added.Sharma's retirement from T20Is has paved the way for Suryakumar Yadav to take over the role. Yadav has been in impressive form in recent months and is expected to play a key role in India's future T20I campaigns.

Suryakumar Yadav, India's T20I captain, has been cleared to play in the final round of the 2024-25 Duleep Trophy, beginning on Thursday in Anantapur. He will replace Sarfaraz Khan in the Abhimanyu Easwaran-led India B team, which will face the Shreyas Iyer-led India D.Yadav had been withdrawn from the squad prior to the first round as a precautionary measure to nurse a thumb injury. He had complained of discomfort while gripping the bat after sustaining a blow on his right thumb while fielding at the pre-season Buchi Babu Invitational in Coimbatore.Yadav, who hasn't featured in any form of first-class cricket since last year's Duleep Trophy, has expressed a desire to compete for a spot in India's Test team. "There are a lot of people who have worked really hard to earn their place and even I want to earn that spot again," he said last month.Going forward, Yadav is likely to be in action next during the home T20Is against Bangladesh in October, which could mean his unavailability for at least the first round of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season that's set to kick off on October 11.India B, who opened the tournament with a thumping win over India A, are currently second in the four-team table. An outright win in their final game will give them a good chance of clinching the title.

Suryakumar Yadav's gravity-defying catch in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa remains an iconic moment in cricket history. His athleticism and skill turned the tide of the match, propelling India to victory. Inspired by Yadav's brilliance, Pakistani cricketer Saim Ayub attempted a similar catch in the Champions One Day Cup. However, his efforts ended in a comical blunder that has become a viral sensation.During the 18th over of the Dolphins Pakistan innings, Muhammad Akhlaq launched a towering shot towards long off. Ayub, positioned at the boundary, initially secured the catch but then, in an attempt to emulate Yadav's style, fumbled the ball over the ropes, gifting six runs to the opposition.The video of Ayub's misfielding quickly spread across social media, sparking a wave of amusement and mockery. Netizens couldn't resist comparing his failed attempt to Yadav's effortless grace. Ayub's blunder became a trending topic, with users sharing memes and humorous comments.Prior to this incident, Ayub had already gained notoriety for his unsuccessful attempt at a no-look shot, which resulted in his dismissal. His recent catching blunder has further cemented his status as a source of online entertainment.While Ayub's failed catch may have provided a moment of levity, it also highlights the immense skill and athleticism required to execute such spectacular plays. Suryakumar Yadav's catch remains a testament to his exceptional abilities and will continue to inspire aspiring cricketers worldwide.

Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), extended his birthday wishes to India's T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, on Saturday. Shah expressed his excitement to witness Yadav lead the team to further victories in the shortest format of the game."Happy Birthday to our T20I skipper and Mr. 360 with the bat, @surya_14kumar! I'm excited to see you lead the Men in Blue to many victories in the shortest format. Best wishes for the year ahead!" Shah wrote on his 'X' account.Suryakumar, who also held the top ranking in the men's T20I rankings, etched himself into cricketing history with his stunning relay catch at long-off of David Miller in this year's T20 World Cup final at Kensington Oval in Barbados. This catch paved the way for India to end an 11-year drought of winning a global title.Devisha Shetty, Suryakumar's wife, also posted a heartfelt note on her Instagram account on the right-handed batter's birthday. "Happy happy birthday to my best friend, husband, lover, my world and the best decision of my life! Thankful for you every single day. You make this world a better place and I don't know what I'd do without you. love you now and forever," she wrote.Since his international debut in 2021, Suryakumar has firmly established himself as one of the greats of T20I batting. However, his ODI and Test career has yet to reach the same heights.Suryakumar has been out of action after sustaining a hand injury during Mumbai's match against TNCA XI at the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament in Coimbatore, leading him to miss the ongoing Duleep Trophy.On the international cricket front, Suryakumar will be back in action to captain India in three T20Is against Bangladesh to be held in Gwalior, New Delhi, and Hyderabad on October 6, 9, and 12 respectively. The last time Bangladesh toured India was in 2019, where they lost the three-match T20I series 2-1.

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction approaches, the future of Mumbai Indians (MI) stalwart Rohit Sharma remains uncertain. After being removed as captain ahead of the previous season, reports suggest a strained relationship between Rohit and the franchise, leading to speculation about his departure.Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes Rohit may be traded to a new team during the trade window. "I feel he will not stay. Whoever is retained will be with the thinking that he will remain with you for three years, unless your name is MS Dhoni," Chopra said. "Rohit Sharma at MI, I feel he might himself leave or MI might leave him."Chopra also discussed the future of Suryakumar Yadav, who has also been linked with a move away from MI. However, Chopra believes Surya is unlikely to leave the franchise at this stage of his career. "I don't think Suryakumar Yadav will be traded. The Mumbai Indians won't leave Suryakumar Yadav and I feel Surya also won't leave either," he said.Rohit Sharma's departure would mark a significant change for MI, who have been led by the Indian opener since 2013. Under his captaincy, MI won five IPL titles, making them the most successful franchise in the tournament's history.If Rohit does leave, MI will need to find a new captain and a replacement for his opening batting position. Potential candidates for the captaincy include Hardik Pandya, who led the team in 2022, and Ishan Kishan, who has impressed as an opener for India.The IPL 2025 mega auction is expected to be held in December 2024. All teams will have the opportunity to retain a maximum of four players, with the remaining players entering the auction pool.