Cricket

Amidst Abhishek Sharma's inconsistent start to his T20I career, former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Robin Uthappa has advocated for the team management to grant the young opener a free role. Despite scoring a century in just his second T20I match, Abhishek's recent performances have raised concerns. In nine T20I innings, he has managed only 166 runs at an underwhelming average of 20.75.Uthappa believes that the team should emulate the approach taken with Virender Sehwag in the early 2000s, where he was given the freedom to express himself. "I won't look for too much consistency with someone like him. I would like to leave him as free as possible, like a Virender Sehwag perhaps in the early 2000s, where people were like 'just go and enjoy yourself'," Uthappa told Jio Cinema.Uthappa emphasized that he is not overly concerned about Abhishek's consistency, as the team has assigned him a specific role of attacking the bowlers from the outset. "Because if it comes, it's a match-winning hundred or 80, if he gets a quick start, he is still serving the purpose towards the team. So the role is defined. I wouldn't worry too much about consistency when it comes to Abhishek," he added.Abhishek's breakthrough season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this year caught the attention of the selectors. He scored 484 runs in 16 matches at an average of 32.26, helping SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) reach the final.Meanwhile, Sanju Samson's second consecutive T20I century powered India to a 61-run victory in the first of four matches against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday. Opening batter Samson struck 10 sixes and seven fours in a spectacular innings of 107 off 50 balls, contributing to India's total of 202-8.Leg-spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi combined to take six wickets as South Africa crumbled to 141 all out.

Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka played a pivotal role in their hard-fought four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening T20I match in Dambulla. Chasing a modest target of 136, Sri Lanka's batsmen faced a stern test against New Zealand's second-string team.Asalanka's crucial 38-run partnership with Wanindu Hasaranga for the sixth wicket proved decisive in guiding Sri Lanka to victory. Asalanka remained unbeaten on a well-crafted 35 off 28 deliveries, while Hasaranga contributed 22 before being dismissed.Earlier, New Zealand's below-par total of 135 all out provided Sri Lanka with some breathing room. Kusal Perera etched his name in the record books by surpassing Tillakaratne Dilshan as Sri Lanka's highest run-scorer in T20s with a quickfire 23 off 17 balls.New Zealand's innings was anchored by Michael Bracewell's 27 off 24, while Ish Sodhi and Zakary Foulkes added a valuable 39 runs for the ninth wicket. However, Sri Lanka's bowlers, led by Dunith Wellalage's three wickets, kept the visitors in check.Wellalage sealed Sri Lanka's victory in style, pulling Jacob Duffy for a six over mid-wicket. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged the challenge of adjusting to the conditions and the impact of the dew on their bowling.Despite missing several key players, New Zealand showed resilience, particularly in their lower order. The second and final match of the series will be played at the same venue on Sunday, where Sri Lanka will aim to secure a series victory.

India's T20I Dominance vs. South Africa's Struggles: A Tale of Two TeamsSince the thrilling T20 World Cup 2024 final, the fortunes of India and South Africa have diverged significantly in the shortest format.India's Seamless TransitionDespite losing key players from the World Cup-winning XI, India has transitioned seamlessly. Suryakumar Yadav has emerged as a batting force, while youngsters have slotted in effortlessly. They are currently on an 11-match winning streak, including series victories over Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.South Africa's Post-World Cup SlumpIn contrast, South Africa has struggled since their World Cup defeat. They lost 3-0 to West Indies and drew 1-1 with Ireland. Their loss in Durban against India has further dented their confidence.Key Factors in the ContrastSouth Africa's struggles stem from a lack of cohesion and the absence of key players. India, on the other hand, has maintained a high level of consistency and has been able to win without their first-choice T20I players.Players to WatchGerald Coetzee, with his fiery bowling, and Arshdeep Singh, with his impressive wicket-taking ability, are players to watch in the second T20I.Team NewsIndia may consider debuting Ramandeep Singh as a finisher, while South Africa could replace Nqabayomzi Peter with Ottneil Baartman.Pitch and ConditionsThe Gqeberha pitch is expected to favor fast bowlers with good bounce and carry. Rain is unlikely to affect the match.Stats and Trivia* Hardik Pandya could move to second on India's all-time T20I wicket-takers list.* Sanju Samson has the highest strike rate among Full Member batters in 2024.* India has a strong T20I record against South Africa in South Africa.Quotes"We have to respect South Africa, but we have to play like world champions," said Sanju Samson."We need new blood and experience," said Gerald Coetzee about South Africa's rebuilding process.

New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, have opted to bat first in the opening T20I against Sri Lanka in Kandy. Santner expressed confidence in the pitch, describing it as "a good surface, maybe a touch on the slower side." With no rain expected, he felt comfortable batting first. Sri Lanka's captain, Charith Asalanka, also indicated that he would have chosen to bat first.Sri Lanka have retained the same XI that defeated West Indies in their previous T20I. Their bowling attack features fast bowlers Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara, along with spinners Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Dunith Wellalage.New Zealand, on the other hand, are fielding a depleted team due to the ongoing South Asian tour. Wicketkeeper-batter Mitch Hay is set to make his debut, while other lesser-known players include seamers Zakary Foulkes and Jacob Duffy, and allrounder Josh Clarkson.

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand T20I Series: A Clash of Titans in DambullaSri Lanka and New Zealand are set to lock horns in a highly anticipated two-match T20I series, commencing on Saturday at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. The series marks the first encounter between the two sides since Sri Lanka's 2-0 Test series triumph over the Kiwis.Sri Lanka, buoyed by their recent 2-1 T20I series victory against West Indies, have retained the same squad for this encounter. The team will be led by experienced all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, who has been in impressive form with both bat and ball. Other key players to watch out for include opener Pathum Nissanka, middle-order batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and pace bowler Dushmantha Chameera.New Zealand, on the other hand, will be eager to avenge their Test series defeat and prove their mettle in the shorter format. The Kiwis have a formidable T20I squad, led by the experienced Kane Williamson. Other notable players include opener Martin Guptill, all-rounder Mitchell Santner, and pace bowler Trent Boult.The shift to white-ball cricket presents both teams with unique challenges and opportunities. Sri Lanka will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage and the familiarity of the conditions. New Zealand, however, will be confident in their ability to adapt quickly and impose their style of play.The series is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams possessing a wealth of talent and experience. Sri Lanka will be aiming to continue their winning momentum, while New Zealand will be determined to make a statement and prove their dominance in the T20I format.

Former South African wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher has expressed concern over David Miller's struggles against spin bowling, which contributed to the Proteas' 61-run defeat to India in the first T20I. Boucher also highlighted the South African bowlers' inability to exploit the pitch conditions.During the middle overs, Miller and Heinrich Klaasen struggled to find boundaries while chasing a 203-run target. Both batters were dismissed in the same over by Varun Chakravarthy, dealing a significant blow to their team's chances.Boucher particularly highlighted the 11th over bowled by Ravi Bishnoi, where Miller played five consecutive dot balls before finally managing a single. "David Miller wasn't picking a thing at all. I mean, there's one over there where I think he missed four out of the six deliveries he faced. So yeah, he was bowled really well tonight, and it just goes to show two quality spinners. There was something there for the bowlers on that wicket. Something that South African bowlers could not exploit," Boucher said.In the subsequent over, Klaasen hit a six on the second delivery. However, Chakravarthy soon had Klaasen caught at long-on and then dismissed Miller for 18, who mistimed a shot to deep square leg.Boucher further pointed out how Bishnoi cleverly used his seam to extract help from the surface. "I was watching a couple of his (Ravi Bishnoi) balls come out a little bit different and I think what he did really well tonight, especially in the dark, is he changed the seam up. Sometimes you look at the ball, especially as a wicket-keeper as well. You look at the ball and see if you can see it spinning different ways. But he muddled his seam up very nicely," he added.In the match, India batted first and posted a challenging 202/8, thanks to Sanju Samson's blitz. South Africa's bowlers struggled to contain the Indian batters, with Gerald Coetzee being the only exception with three wickets.In the run chase, South Africa's batters failed to put up a decent performance. No Proteas batters could cross the 30-run mark. Heinrich Klaasen (25 runs) and Gerald Coetzee (23 runs) were the highest run scorers for the hosts.The Indian bowling attack was led by Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, who bundled out the hosts at 141 with two overs remaining. Both Varun and Bishnoi picked up three wickets in the game.Samson was named the Player of the Match following his stellar show with the bat. India will take on South Africa in the second T20I match of the series on Sunday in Gqeberha.

Sanju Samson's blistering century against South Africa in Durban has propelled India to a commanding 1-0 lead in the four-match T20I series. The wicketkeeper-batsman's stunning 107 off 50 balls, featuring seven fours and 10 towering sixes, was the highest individual score in a T20I between India and South Africa.Samson's aggressive knock helped India reach an imposing total of 202/8 in the first innings, earning him the Player of the Match award. Reflecting on the victory, Samson credited the senior members of the team for helping him overcome the mental challenges of representing India."When you have a supporting captain like Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam bhai and VVS Laxman sir, they all support you during failures," Samson said at the post-match conference. "The way they communicate with you in your failures is very important. Everyone knows that if we are going through a negative phase, then the player can get lost there."Samson's 107 surpassed David Miller's unbeaten 106 in Guwahati in 2022 as the highest individual score in a T20I between India and South Africa. His powerful innings helped India reach an imposing total of 202/8 in the first innings, earning him the Player of the Match award.Despite a rocky start under Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach, Samson has rebounded strongly with impressive performances against Bangladesh and now South Africa. "So at that time, I received a lot of phone calls from Gautam bhai and Surya, telling me what to work on," Samson shared. "Your spin is a little bit like that. You collect all the spinners in Kerala and practice on rough wickets there. You do this, you do that. So if your Indian team's captain is calling you and telling you how to practice after a duck, then you have confidence that the captain is trusting you," he said."He wants you to do well. So I think all those small, small things play a huge role, I think, coming back here," added Samson.India and South Africa are set to clash again in the second T20I on Sunday in Gqeberha.

Sanju Samson's T20 Heroics Earn Praise from Pakistan's Ahmad ShahzadIndian wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson's scintillating performance in the first T20I against South Africa has garnered widespread admiration, including from Pakistan's Ahmad Shahzad. Shahzad, a former Pakistani opener, took to his YouTube channel to express his awe at Samson's match-winning knock.Samson's blistering innings of 107 runs off just 50 balls, featuring 10 towering sixes and seven boundaries, left an indelible mark on the match. His relentless aggression kept the South African bowlers at bay, with Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee struggling to contain his onslaught.Shahzad was particularly impressed by Samson's consistency, highlighting his consecutive centuries in international matches. "Scoring two consecutive centuries in international matches is no small feat," Shahzad remarked. "If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it. But Sanju has set this record for himself, and that's a huge deal for his career."The Pakistani batter believes that Samson's recent performances warrant greater recognition and regular opportunities. "He now deserves all the respect from India," Shahzad asserted. "Scoring two centuries in two matches is not easy, and by doing it, he's pretty much saying, 'Kyun hila dala na (Hey, ain't you surprised?)'"Samson's innings propelled India to a commanding 61-run victory in the opening T20I. South Africa, chasing a daunting target of 203, were unable to match India's firepower, managing only 141 all out in under 18 overs.Samson's record-breaking knock has placed him among the elite in T20I cricket. He joins the likes of Gustav McKeon, Rilee Rossouw, and Phil Salt as players to have scored consecutive hundreds in the format. Additionally, with his three 50+ scores, Samson now stands alongside top Indian wicket-keepers in T20 history, outpacing even MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant in this regard.As India prepare for the second T20I against South Africa on Sunday, Samson's performance has raised expectations and cemented his status as a key player in the team's T20 setup.

India and South Africa will clash in the second T20I on Sunday, with the hosts aiming to extend their winning streak in the format. Sanju Samson's blistering century in the series opener has given India a significant advantage, but they will be seeking more consistency from their top-order batsmen.Abhishek Sharma's string of low scores has raised concerns, and the team management may consider alternative options for the opening slot. Tilak Varma's promising start in the first match will also be under scrutiny as he looks to cement his place in the middle order.Despite a strong bowling performance in the first T20I, India's middle and lower order exposed a vulnerability. The team will be eager to address this weakness and build more substantial partnerships.South Africa, on the other hand, will be desperate to bounce back from their loss. Missing key players like Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada, the Proteas will rely on their senior players to step up. Aiden Markram, David Miller, and Heinrich Klaasen will need to deliver if South Africa is to level the series.The match promises to be a thrilling contest between two evenly matched teams. India will be aiming to take a 2-0 lead, while South Africa will be determined to avoid a series defeat.