Cricket

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opening batsman, has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Rahul Dravid as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. Dravid's tenure is set to expire after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is actively seeking a suitable replacement.Gambhir has expressed his desire to take on the coaching role, stating that it would be an honor to guide the national team. He believes that the support of the entire nation can help India win the World Cup."I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians and more across the globe as well and when you represent India, how can it get bigger than that? It is not me that will help India win the World Cup, it is 140 crore Indians who will help India win the World Cup. If everyone starts praying for us and we start playing and representing them, India will win the World Cup. The most important thing is to be fearless," Gambhir said during an interaction with young sports enthusiasts in Abu Dhabi.Gambhir's credentials as a coach are impressive. He has led the Kolkata Knight Riders to two Indian Premier League (IPL) titles and has also been successful with the Delhi Capitals. He is known for his aggressive and fearless approach to the game, which could be a valuable asset to the Indian team.However, Gambhir's appointment is not without its challenges. He has been criticized for his outspoken nature and his lack of experience at the international level. Additionally, the BCCI may prefer a more experienced coach with a proven track record at the highest level.Despite these challenges, Gambhir remains a strong candidate for the coaching role. His passion for the game, his leadership skills, and his desire to succeed could make him the ideal person to lead India to future glory.

Despite Hardik Pandya's underwhelming performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL), former India cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Sanjay Bangar have defended his selection for the T20 World Cup 2024.Manjrekar highlighted Pandya's exceptional record in World Cups, particularly his performances in the 2019 World Cup. He emphasized Pandya's all-round contributions, including his match-winning knock in the India-Pakistan clash and his crucial innings in the semi-final against New Zealand."Hardik Pandya has consistently performed well in World Cups," Manjrekar said. "He has the ability to rise to the occasion and deliver on the big stage."Bangar echoed Manjrekar's sentiments, stating that Pandya's IPL performances should not overshadow his contributions to the Indian team. He pointed out Pandya's impressive record in all three formats of the game, including Test cricket, ODIs, and T20Is."Pandya's record in World Cup cricket is exceptional," Bangar said. "He has given fantastic performances whenever he has played for India."Bangar acknowledged that Pandya had faced some challenges due to injuries, but he expressed confidence that the all-rounder would regain his form and contribute significantly to the Indian team's success in the T20 World Cup."Pandya's presence improves the balance of the Indian team," Bangar said. "He is a valuable asset, and I am confident that he will deliver for India in the upcoming World Cup."

Team India's Concerns Over Nassau Stadium Conditions Ahead of T20 World CupTeam India's head coach Rahul Dravid has expressed concerns over the playing conditions at the Nassau Stadium in New York, where the team will play three of their four group stage matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup.After their only warm-up game against Bangladesh at the venue on Saturday, Dravid shared his assessment of the conditions, pointing out that the ground was a bit soft and the pitch a bit spongy. He feared injury concerns and asked players to be watchful while playing at the new venue."The ground is a little bit soft. So I think the guys will feel that a little bit tomorrow on the hamstring and calves, so it is an area we have to ensure we are working around and ensure that the guys are looking after themselves because it does feel a little bit heavy underneath," Dravid said in a video posted by BCCI."Little bit spongy at times but I thought we coped really well. I thought we managed that really well. We batted and put what we thought was an above par score on that wicket. Then came out and bowled really well," he added.India will play against Ireland, Pakistan, and the United States at the Nassau Stadium on June 5, 9, and 12, respectively, before moving to Florida for their final Group A game against Canada on June 15.In the warm-up game against Bangladesh, India batted really well on a tricky track to post 182 for five. While keeper-batter Rishabh Pant fired a 32-ball 53 before retiring, all-rounder Hardik Pandya hit an unbeaten 23-ball 40 to lift India to a solid total. Bowlers then fired in unison to stop Bangladesh at 122 for 9 in their 20 overs.Dravid's concerns stem from the fact that the Nassau Stadium is a newly built facility, and the playing surface may not have settled yet. He will be hoping that the conditions improve before India's first group stage match against Ireland on June 5.

Former BCCI chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar believes India possesses one of the strongest teams heading into the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Despite the absence of key players like KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rinku Singh, Vengsarkar expressed confidence in the team's capabilities."The current Indian team is one of the best in the world," Vengsarkar stated. "If you could include Gill, Rahul, or Rinku Singh, it would be an even stronger team. I wish them all the success because they are among the best in the world right now."Vengsarkar acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the T20 format, emphasizing that any player can emerge as a match-winner on any given day. "It's difficult to say who the key players are in this format," he said. "Everybody is important. The first six overs are crucial, but anything can happen in this format."India is placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and co-hosts USA. Virat Kohli was absent from team training this week but is expected to join the squad before their warm-up match against Bangladesh on Saturday.Vengsarkar's comments highlight India's potential as they prepare for the T20 World Cup. The team boasts a balanced squad with experienced players and rising stars. While the absence of Rahul, Gill, and Singh may be a concern, Vengsarkar's confidence in the team's strength is a positive sign for Indian cricket fans.

The cricketing world is abuzz with speculation about whether Virat Kohli should open the batting with skipper Rohit Sharma in the upcoming T20 World Cup. This debate has intensified following Kohli's exceptional performance in the IPL 2024, where he emerged as the tournament's leading run-scorer with 741 runs in 15 innings.Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who had previously criticized Kohli for his slow strike rate during the first half of the IPL, has now joined the chorus of voices advocating for Kohli to open the innings alongside Rohit. "Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as openers. The way Kohli has batted, particularly the second half of the IPL, he deserves to open the batting with Rohit Sharma, the captain," Gavaskar said in an interview with Star Sports.Gavaskar emphasized that the team should not prioritize a left-right combination over selecting the most in-form players. "So no, I don't think. It's very good to talk on television about left hand-right hand combination, good players are good players. In Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, you have got 2 terrific and 2 fantastic batters. The kind of form Kohli has shown in the IPL, he has to open the batting."Gavaskar also highlighted the psychological advantage of having Kohli walk out to bat with a partner. "As he is in that flow, he is in that rhythm. You don't want Kohli to wait, even if it is for an over, or even 5 deliveries before he comes out to bat. It is a different feeling when you are walking out with someone to bat. There is a little bit of exchange that they will say let us get going, etc. Walking out alone is different than walking out with a partner," he added.Kohli's impressive performance in the IPL has reignited the debate about his ideal batting position in the Indian team. While some experts believe that he should continue to bat at number three, others argue that his aggressive style of play would be better suited to the opening slot.The decision of whether or not to open with Kohli will ultimately rest with the Indian team management. However, Gavaskar's endorsement of Kohli as an opener adds weight to the argument that the star batsman should be given the opportunity to lead the Indian batting charge in the T20 World Cup.

Australia's captain, Mitchell Marsh, aims to gradually return to bowling towards the latter stages of the T20 World Cup, initially focusing on his batting role. Marsh is still recovering from a hamstring injury that sidelined him from the Indian Premier League earlier this year.In the warm-up matches against Namibia and West Indies, Marsh did not bowl, but he is optimistic about his progress. "I won't be bowling early in the tournament," Marsh stated. "I hope I won't bowl late in the tournament either, but I'll gradually work on it over the next 10-12 days and hopefully be available at the back end."Australia faced a shortage of players in the warm-up matches, with only nine out of their 15-member squad available. They even resorted to using substitutes from the coaching staff, including head coach Andrew McDonald, batting coach Brad Hodge, fielding coach Andre Borovec, and national selector George Bailey.Marsh confirmed that Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, and Marcus Stoinis will soon join the squad, making all 15 players available for their opening match against Oman on June 5.Marsh emphasized the importance of family time for the players, especially after their involvement in the IPL playoffs. "We value family time," Marsh said. "The guys have been at the IPL, which is great preparation for the World Cup, but seeing their families and getting a good night's sleep is crucial."Regarding the warm-up matches, Marsh expressed satisfaction with the team's performance. "We got what we needed," he said. "Hodgey won't be available for selection, but for the guys who had time off, it was important to get some game time. We feel ready to go now."

Sri Lanka will face a formidable challenge in their T20 World Cup opener against South Africa on June 3 in New York. The Proteas boast a star-studded batting lineup featuring Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock, David Miller, and Tristan Stubbs. Klaasen and Stubbs have been in exceptional form, averaging over 40 and striking at over 180 in recent matches.Sri Lanka's bowling attack will need to be at its best to contain South Africa's explosive batting. Captain Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana are key spinners, but they will face a stern test against Klaasen, who has averaged 59 against spin in the run-up to the World Cup.Sri Lanka may consider using pacers Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madhushanka to target Klaasen and Stubbs during the middle overs. However, South Africa's batting depth is a concern for the Lankans.Despite South Africa's strength, Sri Lanka has a chance to upset the odds. They have won six of their last nine T20Is and have a balanced team with experienced players like Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, and Dhananjaya de Silva.The Proteas' bowling attack lacks variety, relying heavily on Kagiso Rabada and Tabraiz Shamsi. Anrich Nortje is still finding his rhythm after an injury and had an underwhelming IPL.Sri Lanka will hope to exploit South Africa's bowling weaknesses and get off to a winning start in the tournament. They will also need to be wary of the New York pitch, which has been known to offer assistance to bowlers.

India's T20 World Cup Squad: Spinners Take Center StageFormer Indian opener WV Raman has endorsed the selection of four spinners in India's T20 World Cup squad, citing the nature of pitches in the West Indies and the recent performances in the IPL as key factors.India's squad for the ICC marquee event includes Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Raman believes that the inclusion of these spinners is a well-thought-out decision based on the conditions in the West Indies."The pitches in the West Indies are more conducive to spinners these days," Raman said. "The spinners have also done well in the IPL on good hard-flat tracks in India. This has prompted the selectors to think that you are better off with spinners rather than fast bowlers."In the IPL, Chahal took 18 wickets from 15 matches with an economy of 9.41, Kuldeep claimed 16 wickets with an economy of 8.65, Axar took 11 wickets at 7.65, and Jadeja secured 8 wickets at 7.85.Raman is optimistic about India's chances in the T20 World Cup. "We have a lot of brilliant cricketers who can be match-winners on their days," he said. "T20 is such a format where you need a bit of luck as well, especially in the knockouts, and that's where experience also counts, which we have aplenty in the side."Despite concerns over the narrow gap between the IPL and the T20 World Cup, Raman believes it will not affect the players. "Today's cricketers are fit enough and more or less used to playing non-stop. So, they will manage," he noted.India's campaign begins on Wednesday against Ireland in New York at the Nassau County Stadium. Raman supports the idea of expanding cricket to new destinations. "I think that is something that the ICC will consider. They will look at as many cost-effective measures and innovations to get more teams into the fold and venues under their bracket."

Pakistan Skipper Babar Azam Meets Indian Legend Sunil Gavaskar in DallasIn a heartwarming display of sportsmanship, Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam recently met with legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar in Dallas, USA. The encounter took place as the Pakistan team arrived in Dallas to begin preparations for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Gavaskar was also present in Dallas as a commentator for the tournament's broadcast team.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared a video on its official Twitter handle, providing fans with a glimpse of the meeting between the two cricketing icons. The video shows Babar and Gavaskar shaking hands and engaging in a friendly conversation, demonstrating the mutual respect and sportsmanship between players from the two rival nations.The interaction between Babar and Gavaskar is seen as a positive moment for the Pakistan team as they gear up for the World Cup. Despite a disappointing T20I series against England, the meeting with Gavaskar has provided a boost to the team's morale.Pakistan will open their T20 World Cup campaign against co-hosts USA on June 6 in Dallas. This will be followed by a highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals India in New York on June 9, a match that promises to be one of the highlights of the tournament. The Pakistan team and their fans are hopeful for a strong performance, looking to make a significant impact in the global cricketing event.