Cricket

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has advocated for Virat Kohli to open the batting alongside skipper Rohit Sharma in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. Ganguly believes that Kohli's exceptional performance as an opener for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2024 IPL season, where he won the Orange Cap, should be replicated in the international arena.Kohli's remarkable IPL campaign saw him amass 741 runs in 15 matches, averaging an impressive 61.75 with a century and five fifties. His highest score was an unbeaten 113, and his strike rate of 154.69 was the highest he has ever achieved in a single IPL season.Ganguly emphasized the importance of Kohli playing with the same freedom and aggression he displayed in the second half of the IPL. He believes that Kohli's ability to dominate the opposition and score at a rapid pace will be crucial for India's success in the T20 World Cup."I want Virat to bat the way he did for RCB in the second half of the IPL. He has to bat with freedom. Needless to say, he is a great player, but for India to do well, Virat will have to bat with freedom like he did in the IPL," Ganguly stated.Ganguly also praised wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who made a strong comeback to professional cricket after a serious car accident in December 2022. Pant's impressive performance in the IPL, where he scored 446 runs at an average of 40.54 and a strike rate of 155.40, has earned him Ganguly's admiration.Ganguly highlighted Pant's unique ability to find angles on the ground and expressed confidence in the 26-year-old's potential to make a significant impact in the T20 World Cup. "He is a very special talent. His keeping is good, but his batting really special. He is capable of picking some great angles in the ground, and that's his USP. Not every player will be able to do that, you see. And that's what makes Pant very important for India," Ganguly said.India will be eager to end their ICC trophy drought in the T20 World Cup, having last won an ICC event in 2013. The team has reached the finals and semifinals of various ICC tournaments since then but has failed to secure a major trophy. India will aim to win their first T20 World Cup title since their inaugural victory in 2007 in South Africa.

India's T20 World Cup Journey: A Saga of Triumphs and HeartbreaksSix months after the bittersweet ODI World Cup campaign, Indian cricket fans eagerly anticipate the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, hoping to end the country's 11-year ICC trophy drought. India's journey in the T20 World Cup has been a rollercoaster ride, marked by both triumphs and heartbreaks.Inaugural Triumph (2007)India etched its name in history as the inaugural T20 World Cup champions in 2007. Gautam Gambhir's heroic 75 in the final propelled India to a defendable total of 157 against Pakistan. Despite a late surge by Pakistan, Joginder Sharma's iconic catch sealed India's victory.Struggles to Reach KnockoutsIn the eight editions of the tournament played so far, India has failed to reach the knockouts in four. In 2009, the defending champions failed to win a single game in the Super Eight. The following year, they suffered another Super Eight elimination. In 2012, India missed out on the semifinals despite winning two matches in the Super 8.Knockout HeartbreakIndia has also experienced heartbreak in the knockout stages. In 2014, Virat Kohli's brilliant 319 runs in the tournament went in vain as India lost to Sri Lanka in the final. In 2016, India reached the semifinals but was defeated by West Indies. In 2022, England handed India a crushing 10-wicket defeat in the semifinals.Virat Kohli's DominanceVirat Kohli has been a force to reckon with in the T20 World Cup. In five editions, he has amassed 1141 runs, including 14 half-centuries. He is the only player to win the Player of the Tournament award twice.Spinners Lead the WayRavichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been India's most successful bowlers in the tournament. Ashwin has taken 32 wickets, while Jadeja has 21. Irfan Pathan is India's highest wicket-taking pacer with 16 wickets.Rohit Sharma's ConsistencyRohit Sharma is one of only two players to have played in every edition of the tournament. He has scored 963 runs in 39 matches, providing stability to the Indian batting lineup.As India gears up for the 2024 T20 World Cup, fans will be hoping for a repeat of the 2007 triumph. With a talented squad led by Rohit Sharma, India has the potential to end its ICC trophy drought and bring home the coveted title.

New Zealand's T20 World Cup campaign has faced a "chaotic start" due to logistical challenges, according to all-rounder Mitchell Santner. The team opted for extra training sessions instead of an official warm-up game, with players arriving in three batches because of IPL commitments.Despite the initial disruptions, Santner expressed confidence that New Zealand can "really settle in" now that they have moved to Guyana, where they will play their opening group match against Afghanistan on June 8."It's been a chaotic kind of start with people coming in at different times," Santner said. "But we are here now in Guyana, a good week or so to get some good prep done for our first game."The World Cup is being played across nine venues in the Caribbean and the USA, with New Zealand scheduled to play one of their Group C matches in Guyana and three in Tarouba. Santner acknowledged that there is a "little bit of the unknown" about the competition, especially with opponents such as Uganda and Papua New Guinea."It's obviously good to watch [the first few games]. I think that's going to be a common theme in the World Cup, you know, different places will play very differently," he said. "We obviously know what West Indies are capable of doing, but we are not really sure of the other guys."New Zealand is relying on their experienced players, including Kane Williamson, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, and Ish Sodhi, who have played in the Caribbean Premier League, to provide insights into the conditions."As a squad, we have guys who played a lot," Santner said. "And then there are few guys who know these conditions. Glenn has played a lot of CPL and a few other boys as well. Channelling that kind of information is going to be big to hit the ground running."

Yuvraj Singh Introduces Cricket to America on 'Good Morning America'Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh graced the popular TV show 'Good Morning America' to shed light on the intricacies of cricket for the American audience. Joining host Michael Anthony Strahan and weathercaster Sam Champion, Yuvraj highlighted the key differences between cricket and baseball, a beloved sport in the United States.As the T20 World Cup ambassador, Yuvraj expressed his surprise at the presence of cricket in America and predicted its growing popularity in the years to come. "Never imagined that cricket would be played in America. It's very exciting. The ICC has built a couple of new stadiums, I would like to see the Americans watching the sport," said Yuvraj, who played a pivotal role in India's inaugural T20 World Cup triumph.Yuvraj drew parallels between cricket and baseball, explaining the similarities in the swing and the concept of hitting the ball out of the park. However, he emphasized the differences in the number of strikes and the ability to hit the ball behind square in cricket."In baseball, you can swing at everything. In cricket, you keep your bat down because the ball bounces and comes to you," Yuvraj said. "In baseball, there is less time -- after three strikes, you are out. In cricket, you have got to think probably quicker. In baseball, you have to hit everything straight, in cricket you can hit behind square."Yuvraj's appearance on 'Good Morning America' serves as a testament to the growing global appeal of cricket. As the sport continues to gain traction in new territories, Yuvraj's insights and enthusiasm will undoubtedly contribute to its popularity in America.

Team India engaged in an extensive three-hour practice session in New York on the eve of their T20 World Cup warm-up match against Bangladesh. The session witnessed the participation of key players, including captain Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya, who honed their batting skills in the nets. Star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and pacer Jasprit Bumrah also took to the nets to sharpen their bowling techniques.Shubman Gill, one of the four traveling reserves, showcased his batting prowess alongside Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube, who fulfilled bowling duties. Dube, who faced challenges with his batting form during the latter stages of the IPL, received guidance from Rohit Sharma on bowling strategies.Hardik Pandya, who endured a disappointing IPL season, engaged in discussions with batting coach Vikram Rathour. Pandya's performance in the IPL was marked by a modest 211 runs in 14 matches and an economy rate exceeding 10 runs per over.Meanwhile, star batter Virat Kohli was notably absent from the practice session due to his delayed arrival in New York. Kohli reportedly requested a break from the BCCI and may miss the warm-up match.The warm-up game against Bangladesh is expected to provide an opportunity for all players, excluding Kohli, to showcase their skills. Kohli is anticipated to arrive before the practice game, but jet lag may prevent him from participating.

The highly anticipated first-round clash between archrivals India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup is set to take place on June 9 at the newly constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Both teams are considered favorites to advance to the Super 8 stage from Group A, which also includes Ireland.India, led by experienced captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli, is aiming to reclaim the title they won at the inaugural tournament in South Africa in 2007. Former Indian captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly believes that India has a strong chance of winning the World Cup, but he cautions that Pakistan will pose a formidable challenge in the Twenty20 format."Our record against Pakistan has been very good over a long period of time," Ganguly said. "In the T20 format, probably Pakistan is more dangerous compared to 50-overs (format). We beat them in Ahmedabad when they came to India and we beat them easily."However, Ganguly emphasized that India must play with freedom and without fear to maximize their chances of success. "Just put all the cobwebs behind. Don't worry about winning or losing. Don't think about winning the World Cup. Just go and play every game," he advised.Ganguly also praised India's talented squad, which includes Kohli, Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dubey, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, and Sanju Samson. "That's why I say everyone is capable of winning it for India and the only way they will do it is (if they) just play with freedom," he said.Regarding the drop-in pitches that will be used in the USA leg of the World Cup, Ganguly expressed optimism that they will be batting-friendly. "I am very keen to see how the conditions are in the US. (The Nassau County Cricket Stadium is a) new ground, new stadium. I know there have been drop in pitches from Adelaide," he said."The ICC has spent a lot of money to bring in the drop-in pitches to America," he added. "(The) drop-in pitches are normally very good, very batting friendly. And they don't change much over a period of time because they are different from natural pitches. So we are expecting the pitches to be very good."

Indian Cricket Team's Form Concerns Ahead of T20 World Cup 2024As the Indian cricket team gears up for the T20 World Cup 2024, concerns have been raised about the form of key players Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya. While Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have been in impressive form, Sharma and Pandya have struggled in recent matches.Rohit Sharma, the team's captain, has been criticized for his poor run of form in the IPL 2024. Despite scoring 417 runs in 14 matches, he has had a string of low scores as an opener. This has raised questions about his ability to lead the team to victory in the upcoming World Cup.Hardik Pandya, who is considered a vital all-rounder, has also been inconsistent in the IPL 2024. While he has performed well with the ball in the latter stages, his overall performance has been below par. This has led to concerns about his fitness and ability to contribute effectively in the World Cup.Former BCCI president and ex-Indian cricket team coach Sourav Ganguly has expressed his concerns about the duo's form. However, he remains confident in Rohit Sharma's ability to perform at the highest level."Rohit is a great of the game, and if you see what he did in the 50-over World Cup, I am confident he will do that again. At this level, form is about a couple of games when you have that kind of quality," Ganguly said.Ganguly also highlighted the importance of Hardik Pandya playing more cricket to regain his form."Hardik is different because he doesn't play that much cricket, and that's a worry. I want him to consistently play cricket, for only then can he hit a rich vein of form," Ganguly said.Ganguly also addressed concerns about the form of Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh, two fast bowlers who have been inconsistent in the IPL 2024."I am not really worried. Again, you have to take into account the nature of pitches in the IPL, the ground dimensions, and the conditions on offer for the fast bowlers. The World Cup will be very different, and the conditions in the West Indies will not be anywhere near the IPL. Our bowlers shouldn't have an issue in the World Cup is my assumption," Ganguly said.As the T20 World Cup 2024 approaches, the Indian cricket team will need to address the concerns surrounding the form of Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya. If they can regain their form and perform at their best, India will have a strong chance of winning the tournament.

Ashton Agar, the Australian left-arm spinner, is ready to venture beyond the confines of international cricket and explore the lucrative world of franchise cricket. With a decade-long career in the Australian setup, Agar believes it's time to seek new challenges and opportunities.Agar, 30, is currently part of Australia's T20 World Cup squad but has only played three international matches across all formats in the past 1.5 years. He has realized that relying solely on national contracts can hinder his growth as a cricketer."I've made that mistake before and your cricket skills fall away, if you're clinging on to safety and security," Agar said in an interview with cricket.com.au.Agar's decision to explore franchise cricket follows the trend set by his Australian counterparts, such as David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Glen Maxwell, and Pat Cummins, who have become household names in leagues worldwide."I think a lot of people are going to do what I've just done in the coming years. We'll see it a lot more next year, more the year after -- and that's just going to be the way cricket works," Agar said.Agar, who has played in the T20 World Cup warm-up game against Namibia, hopes to be a part of the playing XI in the tournament and bowl alongside his close friend Adam Zampa."It had been really positive (messaging from national selectors) the whole time that if we were going to take two spinners I was going to go," Agar said.Agar's decision to seek opportunities outside of the Australian cricket establishment is a reflection of the changing landscape of the sport. With the proliferation of T20 leagues around the world, players are increasingly looking to maximize their earning potential and gain experience in different conditions.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricket captain, has been endorsed by Sourav Ganguly as a potential candidate for the role of head coach of the Indian cricket team. Ganguly, who led India to numerous victories during his tenure as captain, believes that Gambhir possesses the necessary qualities to guide the team to success.Gambhir, who retired from international cricket in 2018, has a proven track record as a successful coach. After a decade-long hiatus, he returned to the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2022 and led his former team, Kolkata Knight Riders, to their third IPL championship. His ability to motivate and inspire players, coupled with his tactical acumen, has made him a sought-after coach.Ganguly's support for an Indian coach aligns with the recent statement made by BCCI secretary Jay Shah. Shah emphasized the importance of appointing a coach who has a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and has risen through the ranks. This understanding, he believes, is crucial for elevating Team India to the next level.India's chances of winning the upcoming T20 World Cup have also been discussed by Ganguly. He believes that India has a strong team with immense talent and is a serious contender for the title. The tournament, which will be co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies, begins on Saturday.The appointment of a new head coach for the Indian cricket team is a significant decision that will shape the future of the team. Gautam Gambhir, with his experience as a player and coach, emerges as a strong candidate for the role. His ability to inspire players, coupled with his understanding of the Indian cricket system, makes him a suitable choice to lead the team to success.