Cricket

Namibia's pursuit of a modest 110-run target in Bridgetown took a dramatic turn as Oman's bowlers staged a remarkable comeback. After Namibia had comfortably reached 92 for 3 with 18 balls remaining, Mehran Khan's wicket maiden sparked a collapse that nearly forced a Super Over.Khan's over began with a boundary off a miscued cut by Smit, but he then dismissed Smit with a top-edged catch at long on. Wiese and Frylinck steadied the ship with a few singles, but the pressure mounted as Namibia needed 14 runs off 12 balls.Bilal Khan's 18th over brought a glimmer of hope for Oman. Wiese cleared the boundary with a six over wide long on, but Khan responded with a series of yorkers that restricted Namibia to just two singles.With five runs needed off the final over, Frylinck was dismissed by Khan, who bowled a full ball that clipped his pad and ricocheted onto the stumps. Green's attempt at a leg-side scoop also failed, as he was trapped LBW.Kruger's single brought Wiese back on strike, and he smashed a straight drive that crashed into the stumps at the bowler's end. The ball ricocheted away for a couple of runs, leaving Namibia needing just one run off the final ball.Khan's delivery took extra bounce, and Wiese couldn't connect cleanly. The keeper fumbled the catch, allowing Wiese and Kruger to run a bye and force a Super Over.

Afghanistan's cricket team has emerged as a formidable force in recent years, with their bowlers, particularly their spinners, playing a pivotal role in their success. However, their captain, Rashid Khan, believes that their batting has now reached a level where they can confidently chase down targets of 200 in T20Is."In the past, we struggled a bit in batting," Rashid admitted ahead of Afghanistan's T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Uganda. "Our bowlers had to do a lot more to help us win games."However, the emergence of young batters from the Under-19 ranks has transformed Afghanistan's batting lineup. "They've worked hard and gained valuable experience playing in leagues around the world," Rashid explained. "Now, we have a batting lineup that can handle targets of 200 on any wicket."Rashid emphasized the importance of mindset in T20 cricket. "As long as you have the right mindset and believe you can do it, anything is possible," he said. "We've played enough cricket in recent years to improve our skills and challenge the opposition."Afghanistan and Uganda are placed in Group C alongside West Indies, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Experts predict that Afghanistan could be among the top two teams to advance to the Super 8s. But can they go even further and reach the semi-finals?"We've been mentioned as a potential semi-finalist," Rashid acknowledged. "We take that as a positive sign. It's a big thing for us to be considered among the top four."However, Rashid remains cautious. "We don't look too far ahead," he said. "We focus on one game at a time and see how it goes. We came close to reaching the semi-finals of the last ODI World Cup, and that's where we started to believe that nothing is impossible for us."Afghanistan arrived in the Caribbean early for a two-week preparatory camp ahead of the World Cup. Many of their players have experience playing on these pitches during the CPL."Our preparation has been great so far," Rashid said. "We had a domestic T20 competition that helped us prepare as a team. We also had two weeks here to acclimatize.""We have players who played in the CPL and shared their experiences," Rashid added. "But in ICC events, you always expect something different. You have to react to the wicket's behavior."

Virat Kohli, the talismanic Indian batter, joined the team a day before their warm-up clash against Bangladesh but missed all three practice sessions. He was also not selected for the warm-up game, with skipper Rohit Sharma citing his late arrival as the reason.However, a recent report claims that Kohli, along with other Indian team members, missed a practice session on Sunday due to rest following their match against Bangladesh. The report also states that Kohli will participate in India's training session on Monday.Kohli's late arrival for the warm-up game has raised questions about his fitness and preparation for the T20 World Cup. However, the report suggests that he is expected to be fully fit and available for India's first match of the tournament against Pakistan on October 23.Kohli finished the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign with 741 runs in 15 innings, winning the Orange Cap for the second time in his career. Despite concerns about his potential non-selection for the T20 World Cup, he enters the tournament as the top run-getter in history, having amassed 1141 runs in 27 appearances since 2012.The 35-year-old was also named the ODI Player of the Year by ICC ahead of the T20 World Cup. He had a remarkable 2023 season, scoring 1,377 runs in 27 ODIs at an average of 72.47 and a strike rate of 99.13, with six centuries and eight fifties. His best score was an unbeaten 166.Kohli played a crucial role in India's Asia Cup 2023 triumph, scoring an unbeaten 122* in 94 balls against Pakistan in a crucial Super Four stage game. He continued his impressive form in the ODI World Cup held last year at home, scoring 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62, with three centuries, six half-centuries, and a best score of 117.Kohli ended the tournament as the top-scorer, breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record of 673 runs in a single World Cup edition. He also surpassed Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI tons, scoring his 50th ODI ton against New Zealand in the semifinals.With his impressive recent form, Kohli will be a key player for India in the T20 World Cup. His experience, leadership, and ability to score runs in pressure situations will be invaluable to the team as they aim to win their second T20 World Cup title.

As the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup kicks off in the USA, Indian cricket fans are eagerly anticipating whether Team India can finally end their long-standing ICC trophy drought. The team has commenced their preparations with an emphatic victory over Bangladesh in their sole warm-up match in New York.Former cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Navjot Singh Sidhu have emphasized the importance of backing experienced players to triumph in the tournament's crucial matches. Manjrekar expressed confidence that the time is ripe for Team India to break their ICC trophy drought, highlighting Virat Kohli's exceptional record in the tournament. However, he lamented the lack of a trophy to show for it."The expectations have shifted from merely playing well to winning pivotal matches," Manjrekar remarked. "It's time for India to back experience and win the big matches."Sidhu echoed Manjrekar's sentiments, stating that the ending of the story is most important. "You don't read a book to reach the middle," he said. "It's the ending that matters. We need to finish strong."As the tournament unfolds, Indian fans hope their team will not only make it to the semi-finals but also clinch the trophy, ending a dry spell that has lasted since their 2013 Champions Trophy win. The focus is clear: it's time for India to win the big matches and bring home the coveted ICC trophy.

India's T20 World Cup preparations culminated in a resounding 60-run victory over Bangladesh at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York. In the absence of Virat Kohli, who arrived in New York shortly before the match, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya shone with the bat.Pant, making his first India appearance in over 18 months, top-scored with a blistering 53 off 32 deliveries, including four boundaries and four sixes. Hardik, silencing critics about his form, smashed an unbeaten 40 off just 23 balls.During Bangladesh's chase of 183, a photoshopped image of India captain Rohit Sharma sparked controversy. The image, which depicted Sharma as out of shape, was later debunked by fans who shared genuine screenshots of his physique.Sharma, who had participated in an official photoshoot for the T20 World Cup a few days prior, appeared in good shape in those pictures. However, he struggled to time the ball on a two-paced track, scoring only 23 off 19 balls.India surprised by opting to bat first, with Sanju Samson opening alongside Sharma. Pant, returning from a horrific car accident in December 2022, retired after scoring 53.India's bowlers dominated Bangladesh's chase, with left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh leading the charge. Bangladesh was restricted to 122 for nine, despite a brief fightback from Mahmudullah Riyaz (40 retired out) and Shakib Al Hasan (28).

Gary Kirsten, the former South African opener, has made a significant impact on Indian cricket as the coach of the Indian national team from 2008 to 2011. During his tenure, India won the 2011 World Cup, and Kirsten was widely praised for his calm demeanor and man-management skills.After a successful stint with Gujarat Titans in the IPL, Kirsten has now taken on the role of Pakistan's white-ball coach. This move has raised questions about whether he could provide Pakistan with an advantage over India in their upcoming T20 World Cup clash.However, experts believe that Kirsten's knowledge of Indian players is unlikely to give Pakistan a significant edge. Paddy Upton, who worked with Kirsten as part of the Indian team's support staff, believes that video analysis and data on all players are readily available to all opponents.Instead, Kirsten's strengths lie in his man-management skills and his ability to build strong relationships with players. He is known for his process-driven approach, focusing on the fundamentals and avoiding aimless practice.Kirsten is also not afraid to have tough conversations when necessary. He famously told Yuvraj Singh that he was fitter than the left-hander at the age of 41, which motivated Singh to improve his off-field choices and ultimately led to his man-of-the-series performance in the 2011 World Cup.Upton believes that Kirsten's experience of working in a foreign culture and his ability to understand the emotions and fanaticism of fans and media will be valuable assets for Pakistan. Agoram highlights Kirsten's ability to invest time and energy in player-coach relationships, which will be crucial in building trust and getting players to buy into his plans.Overall, while Kirsten's knowledge of Indian players may not provide Pakistan with a significant advantage, his man-management skills and his ability to create a positive and supportive environment will be invaluable to the team.

West Indies Maintain Winning Mentality in T20 World Cup OpenerWest Indies all-rounder Roston Chase has emphasized the team's unwavering commitment to maintaining a winning mentality regardless of the opponent, following their hard-fought five-wicket victory against Papua New Guinea in their opening match of the 2024 T20 World Cup.Chase played a pivotal role in salvaging the win for the co-hosts, rescuing them from a precarious position with a match-winning unbeaten knock of 42 runs. Papua New Guinea, despite not being considered a top-tier team, posed a significant challenge while defending their total of 137 with disciplined bowling and fielding.The West Indies struggled to rotate the strike throughout their innings, relying heavily on boundaries to keep up with the required run rate. Recognizing the need for a shift in approach, Chase emphasized the team's commitment to treating every opponent with the same level of respect and intensity."They're not an A-List team but we don't want to take any team lightly in the World Cup. We came out with the mentality that we were playing Australia or India," Chase stated in the post-match presentation.He further explained that the team had a crucial discussion at the halfway stage, recognizing the need to elevate their performance and secure the victory. This led to a more aggressive approach in the latter half of the innings, with Chase and Andre Russell combining to unleash a flurry of boundaries and steer the team home.Chase, reflecting on his match-winning performance, credited his preparation and the confidence gained from a recent training camp in Antigua. He acknowledged the challenging batting conditions, stating, "I knew that it was hard for the batters coming in, gave myself time and backed my skills."He further elaborated on his observations of the Papua New Guinea batsmen, noting, "I watched the PNG batters, they took their time and once they got in it was easy to score."This unwavering commitment to a winning mentality will be crucial for the co-hosts as they navigate the challenges of the tournament and strive for World Cup glory. While the Windies play Uganda on June 9, PNG will look to turn the tides against the same opposition on June 6.

Aiden Markram, the current South African captain, has a unique perspective on his early experience as captain in 2018. Despite a disappointing series loss to India, Markram views that time as a valuable learning opportunity."I'd never regret taking captaincy for your national team," Markram said. "I learned quite a bit through that series and had some really awesome senior players guiding me."One of the key lessons Markram learned was to separate his batting from his captaincy. "Back then I was quite young, so [not] being able to tell the difference between being a batter and a captain," he said. "So, when you're a batter, you're just a batter for the team. You can't captain in any way while you're batting."Markram has since developed into a versatile middle-order batter who can adapt to different situations. His ability to hit hard lengths and high pace, combined with Heinrich Klaasen's demolition of spin, makes South Africa a formidable force in limited-overs cricket.As captain, Markram is not seeking to make a clean break from the past. He is focused on keeping the batting and the captaining separate. "For the time being, we're trying to achieve something we haven't achieved before," Markram said. "So, I don't think that brings too much extra pressure. I think it brings a bit more excitement and energy to the team."Markram's calm and collected demeanor is a reflection of his personality. He is not one for tall promises or stern words. Instead, he leads by example and trusts in the abilities of his team.

Riyan Parag, the outspoken young cricketer, has sparked controversy with his bold response to a question about the top four teams in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Known for his candor, Parag declared that he has no interest in watching the tournament and will only pay attention to the winner."It will be a biased answer (prediction on top four teams), but to be very honest, I don't even want to watch the World Cup," Parag said in a chat with The Bharat Army. "I'll just see who is winning it at the end and I'll be happy. When I will play the World Cup, I will think about top four and all of that."Parag's comments have drawn mixed reactions. Some have praised his honesty and refusal to conform to expectations, while others have criticized him for being arrogant and disrespectful. However, Parag has remained unapologetic, reiterating his belief that he will eventually play for India and make his own mark on the world stage."At some point, you'll have to take me, right? So that is my belief, I'm going to play for India. I don't really care when," Parag told PTI in an interview.Parag's confidence stems from his impressive performance in this year's IPL season. Batting at No.4 for the Rajasthan Royals, he scored 573 runs at a strike rate close to 150. This breakout season has put him in contention for a spot on the Indian team for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe.If selected, Parag will join Abhishek Sharma and Harshit Rana as potential future stars of Indian cricket. All three players have shown great promise in recent months and could play a significant role in the team's success in the years to come.