Cricket

Australian pace spearhead Pat Cummins is brimming with confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup, believing his game is in its best shape in a decade. Fresh from a successful stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Cummins has joined the Australian squad in Barbados, ready to make his mark.Cummins' confidence stems from his impressive performances in the IPL, where he led the Sunrisers Hyderabad to the playoffs. He finished the tournament with 17 wickets in 17 matches, showcasing his ability to adapt to the demands of T20 cricket."Probably as well as I have for the last 10 years really," Cummins told cricket.com.au of his T20 bowling. "We played 17 games straight (at the IPL). For the most part, international T20s are after the Test series, and you've got to try and hit a yorker or a slower ball, and then go back to a Test series.""So just getting the pace of the game and executing some of those balls that you need more in T20 cricket than in other formats, I feel really well placed," he added.Cummins emphasized the importance of playing consistently in the same format, which he believes makes a "huge difference" to the tactical side of bowling."A lot of T20 bowling in particular is about thinking through your sequencing of which ball to bowl or when, and I think over the course of the season you get to learn pretty quickly what's working and what isn't.""Even if it doesn't work first game, and you feel like it's never going to work every game, but you know that if you zoom out over the course of the tournament it's going to work for you. So it's nice coming in here with that confidence."Cummins' tenure as captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad not only polished his bowling skills but also enhanced his leadership credentials. However, he is content to take a backseat in leadership with Mitchell Marsh stepping up as captain for the T20 World Cup."I'm obviously there to help him if he needs me but it's Mitch's show. I'm certainly there to help ... as are a lot of the senior guys, so he won't be short of help if he needs it," Cummins said.

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has advocated for Rishabh Pant to bat at No. 3 in India's T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Ireland. Pathan believes this strategy, which proved successful in the warm-up match against Bangladesh, would provide India with a left-handed batter in the powerplay, making it difficult for opponents to trap him on the off-side.Pathan's proposed playing XI includes Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as openers, followed by Pant at No. 3. He also suggests including Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Hardik Pandya in the batting lineup. For the bowling department, Pathan selects Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav as spinners, along with three pacers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Siraj.However, Pathan acknowledges that the team composition may need to be adjusted when India plays in the West Indies. He proposes replacing one of the pacers with Axar Patel, who provides a solid all-rounder option at No. 8.

India's vice-captain Hardik Pandya has silenced his critics with a match-winning knock against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup warm-up fixture. Pandya's unbeaten 40 off just 23 balls helped India post a total of 182/5, striking two fours and four sixes.There had been a lot of talk surrounding Pandya's form in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, as the star all-rounder had a below-par season in the IPL. His selection became a major talking point when India announced its squad for the T20 World Cup during the league stage of the cash-rich league.However, Pandya's knock against Bangladesh has shown that he is still a force to be reckoned with. Former India batter Navjot Singh Sidhu said, "There were many question marks over Hardik Pandya and they have been erased. The more you try to put Hardik Pandya down, the more he emerges and shines, just like a diamond shines after being continuously rubbed. Hardik Pandya is a great takeaway."Pandya has endured a tough couple of months in the IPL after returning to Mumbai Indians before the start of the season. He replaced Rohit Sharma as captain of the franchise, a decision which wasn't taken well by the fans. He was attacked by fans across the IPL venues with constant booing, including by the MI supporters.Since coming into the Indian team in 2016, Pandya excelled in his all-round roles in all formats, till a back injury in the 2018 Asia Cup and surgery post the 2019 World Cup stopped him from being back at his absolute best, resulting in him playing only as a batter in the 2021 T20 World Cup, where India didn't even enter the semifinals.In 92 T2OIs that he has played, Pandya has picked 73 wickets and has scored 1348 runs. India will lock horns against Ireland in their opening match in New York on Wednesday before playing arch-rivals Pakistan at the same venue on June 9.

Afghanistan's head coach Jonathan Trott has hailed the appointment of Dwayne Bravo as the team's bowling coach for the ongoing T20 World Cup. Trott believes that Bravo's extensive experience in franchise cricket has significantly impacted the approach of Afghanistan's bowlers, making his job easier and enhancing the overall coaching experience.In their opening match, Afghanistan showcased their bowling prowess as left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi claimed an impressive 5/9, while openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (76) and Ibrahim Zadran (70) laid a solid foundation with the bat. The Afghans ultimately defeated tournament debutants Uganda by a commanding margin of 125 runs."DJ (Dwayne Bravo) coming into the side, fantastic. Having quality coaches also with huge experience as players (is great), but also vast franchise experience in this format of the game," Trott said in the post-match press conference."(It's) only a brilliant thing to have a player like him coming to the side as coach and it makes your job a lot easier but it also makes the coaching more enhanced, especially with the bowlers.""We've seen the start of his first game with us and we saw the bowlers bowl really well, so credit to Dwayne. So (a) nice start for the boys," he added.Despite the heavy defeat, Uganda captain Brian Masaba chose to focus on the positives, describing the experience of hearing their national anthem and seeing their flag at the World Cup as a "pretty special moment." Masaba acknowledged the nerves that came with playing their first-ever T20 World Cup match and commended his team's fighting spirit in the face of a strong Afghan side."Pretty special moment for us, hearing our national anthem and seeing our flag at the World Cup," Masaba said after the match."First game at the World Cup, (a) lot of nerves, so good to get that out of the way.""Something I will cherish for the rest of my life. We will look to come out and play better next game. They got off to a pretty good start and then it was about fighting back. It was very important how we fought back and full credit to the boys for that," he added.Uganda will next face Papua New Guinea in their second Group C match on Thursday. Afghanistan, on the other hand, will take on New Zealand at the same venue on Saturday.

India's T20 World Cup Team Balance Raises Concerns, Says Scott StyrisFormer New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris has expressed concerns about the balance of the Indian team participating in the ongoing T20 World Cup. While acknowledging the talent within the squad, Styris highlighted weaknesses that could hinder their progress."India has got a lot of talent, but they have holes as well," Styris said. "They don't field really well. The balance of the team could be a problem."Styris's comments come as India prepares for their tournament opener against Ireland on June 5. The team has been criticized for its lack of all-rounders and its reliance on spin bowling in conditions that may not favor them.Former Australian captain Shane Watson, however, believes that Indian skipper Rohit Sharma can overcome concerns surrounding his form and lead the team to success. Watson drew a comparison between Rohit and David Warner, who was named Player of the Tournament in 2021."Great players find a way to step up and get things together at the right time," Watson said. "Rohit Sharma knows how to turn it on when he needs to."Watson also acknowledged the potential threat posed by India, depending on the playing conditions. "If things come about nicely and their spinners have the impact they think they'll have in the conditions, there's no question they can go on a big run," Watson added.India's team balance will be put to the test in their opening match against Ireland. A strong performance could silence critics and boost their confidence, while a disappointing result could raise further questions about their chances of success in the tournament.

India's star-studded cricket team embarks on a quest to break their ICC trophy drought at the T20 World Cup, facing a spirited Ireland in their Group A opener on Wednesday. Despite being slightly underprepared and facing uncertainties about their optimal lineup, the "Men in Blue" are determined to shed their outdated approach.The team acknowledges the challenges of playing on an untested drop-in pitch, where scoring has been more difficult than in the recent Indian Premier League. However, their biggest concern lies in the burden of being favorites who have often failed to deliver under pressure.India's squad boasts experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have won global silverware, but other talented individuals like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are eager to lift a major trophy. The team's performance at last year's ODI World Cup was a reminder of their struggles to form a cohesive unit despite having exceptional players.Ireland, on the other hand, poses a significant threat with talented players like Paul Stirling, Josh Little, Harry Tector, and Andy Balbirnie. The condition of the Nassau County ground, with its slow track and subpar outfield, adds intrigue to how India will handle Irish left-arm spinner George Dockrell.India's spinners give them an edge over Ireland, but their pace attack seems weakened without Mohammed Shami. The team may need to sacrifice Yashasvi Jaiswal to accommodate Rohit and Kohli, while Rishabh Pant's performance at No.3 in a practice game has injected vitality. Hardik Pandya's bowling form could also impact India's prospects.Ireland's recent victory over Pakistan highlights their growing prowess in T20 cricket. Players like Little, Balbirnie, Stirling, and Tector pose a threat, and India will need to be at their best to overcome the challenge.

India-Pakistan Rivalry Set to Reignite in T20 World CupThe highly anticipated India-Pakistan rivalry will once again take center stage in the ongoing T20 World Cup, with the two arch-rivals set to clash on June 9 in New York. The last two T20 World Cup encounters between the two sides have produced contrasting results, with Pakistan emerging victorious by 10 wickets in 2021 and India claiming a four-wicket triumph in 2022.While the India-Pakistan matches always generate immense excitement, former India batter Mohammed Kaif has downplayed the hype surrounding this particular encounter. According to Kaif, Pakistan's team is relatively weak this time around, with only a few match-winners standing out."Pakistan's batting is weak. Fakhar Zaman can be dangerous if he gets going, but other than that, their batters have a strike rate of around 120-125. We're not as concerned about their batting as we are about their bowling," Kaif said.However, Kaif warned India to be wary of Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah, who was a key performer for Pakistan in their previous T20 World Cup meeting."They have Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah. Naseem Shah is a very good bowler. In the Melbourne match that India won, Naseem Shah's first spell was impressive. He got a nick that was dropped at slip," Kaif added.India Squad:* Rohit Sharma (c)* Hardik Pandya (vc)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Virat Kohli* Suryakumar Yadav* Rishabh Pant (wk)* Sanju Samson (wk)* Shivam Dube* Ravindra Jadeja* Axar Patel* Kuldeep Yadav* Yuzvendra Chahal* Arshdeep Singh* Jasprit Bumrah* Mohd. SirajPakistan Squad:* Babar Azam (c)* Abrar Ahmed* Azam Khan* Fakhar Zaman* Haris Rauf* Iftikhar Ahmed* Imad Wasim* Mohammad Abbas Afridi* Mohammad Amir* Mohammad Rizwan* Naseem Shah* Saim Ayub* Shadab Khan* Shaheen Shah Afridi* Usman Khan

Rahul Dravid, India's head coach, has expressed dissatisfaction with the practice facilities provided for the T20 World Cup in New York. The teams are practicing at Cantiague Park, a public park, while the matches will be played at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium, located five miles away.Dravid criticized the unusual practice arrangements, saying, "It's a bit strange to be practicing in a park. Obviously at the World Cups you'd be in big stadiums or you'd be at cricket stadiums traditionally."The use of drop-in pitches at the Nassau County stadium has also raised concerns. Sri Lanka was bowled out for their lowest T20I total of 77 on one of these pitches, fueling the debate about their suitability.Dravid also noted the lack of excitement surrounding the tournament in the United States, where cricket is not a major sport. "It's obviously slightly different. It's obviously exciting that it's coming to a new country, it's coming to a new place. (It) feels slightly different in terms of, I guess, typically the buzz that you have around these events, with cricket not being one of the major sports in this country," he said.Despite these challenges, Dravid emphasized that the team's preparations and focus remain unaffected. "But I think from a preparation perspective and from what we want to get out of it, I don't think that's changed. Our preparation, our professionalism, the way we are trying to approach things, it's pretty, pretty similar to what we would normally do," he said.India will play three of their four group matches at the Nassau County stadium, including the highly anticipated clash against Pakistan on June 9. Dravid will be hoping to end his tenure as head coach on a high note by guiding India to their first ICC trophy since the 2013 Champions Trophy.

USA's Aaron Jones has emerged as a cricketing sensation after his explosive performance in the T20 World Cup match against Canada. His unbeaten 94 off just 40 deliveries propelled the co-hosts to a remarkable seven-wicket victory, etching his name in the tournament's record books.Jones's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, featuring four boundaries and an astonishing 10 sixes. His strike rate of 235.00 left the cricket world in awe. The knock enabled USA to chase down a daunting target of 195, marking the third-highest successful run chase in T20 World Cup history.The 29-year-old batter's heroics also brought to light an old tweet from 2012, where he expressed surprise at MS Dhoni not having scored a T20 half-century. Ironically, Dhoni retired a few years later with two T20I fifties to his name, with his highest score being 52.Jones's partnership with Andries Gous (55 off 33) was equally impressive, yielding 131 runs at a run rate of 14.29 per over. This partnership stands as the highest fourth-wicket or below stand in T20 World Cup history.The USA's victory was a significant achievement for an associate member of the ICC. Their total of 197/3 is the highest ever by an associate member in T20 World Cup history.Jones's performance has not only earned him plaudits but has also raised hopes for the future of cricket in the United States. His ability to clear the boundary with ease and his aggressive approach have made him a fan favorite.As the T20 World Cup progresses, Jones will undoubtedly be one to watch. His explosive batting and fearless attitude could lead USA to further success and inspire a new generation of cricketers in the country.