Cricket

India, the birthplace of cricket's most lucrative and popular league, the Indian Premier League (IPL), has yet to translate its domestic dominance into international success. Despite boasting the world's richest and most-watched T20 league, the Indian national team has struggled to replicate its IPL success on the global stage.As Rohit Sharma's India team embarks on the T20 World Cup in the United States and the Caribbean, the pressure is mounting to break a prolonged title drought. The IPL, with its vast financial resources and abundance of talent, attracts the world's top cricketers. However, since its inception, India has failed to win a major ICC tournament.India's last ICC title came in the 2013 Champions Trophy in England. In the 50-over format, they last won the Cricket World Cup in 2011. Last year, India suffered a double blow, losing to Australia in the World Test Championship final and the 50-over World Cup final.The T20 World Cup represents a chance for redemption for Sharma and his star batsman Virat Kohli, who are likely playing in their final T20 tournament for India. Sharma has been a member of every Indian squad at the T20 World Cup, while Kohli is making his sixth attempt at winning the championship.Both players missed all of India's T20 international matches between the 2022 World Cup semifinal loss in Australia and January of this year, raising doubts about their participation in the 2024 World Cup. However, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and BCCI secretary Jay Shah have dismissed such concerns.Kohli's strike rate has come under scrutiny, but Agarkar has defended his experience and ability to handle the pressure of a World Cup game. The batting order remains a topic of debate, with Kohli potentially opening the innings with Sharma or batting at number three.India's bowling arsenal is led by pace leader Jasprit Bumrah and includes four spinners, including Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzendra Chahal, and Kuldeep Yadav. Sharma has emphasized the importance of all-rounders and the variety of combinations available to the team.India's World Cup campaign begins on June 5 against Ireland, followed by a highly anticipated clash with Pakistan in New York on June 9. The pressure will intensify as the tournament progresses, with India aiming to overcome their title drought and cement their status as the world's leading cricket nation.

England's captain, Jos Buttler, remains optimistic about his team's chances of retaining the T20 World Cup despite their disappointing performance in the 50-over World Cup. Buttler acknowledges that England's failures in India were not solely due to a lack of clarity from the team management.Despite being considered favorites for the 2023 World Cup, England lost six of their first seven matches, including a humiliating defeat to South Africa. Buttler himself endured a poor campaign with the bat, leading to criticism that his own struggles had impacted his communication within the squad.However, Buttler defended his leadership, stating that England's problem was simply a lack of execution. He admitted that there could have been more communication at times, but emphasized that the team's performance was ultimately below par.Buttler believes that England has the experience and talent to bounce back from adversity, as they did after losing to Ireland in the 2022 T20 World Cup. He highlighted the importance of playing well in crunch moments and adapting to different conditions.England gained valuable experience in the tournament's likely conditions during their T20I series against the West Indies before Christmas. Phil Salt emerged as a key player, cementing his status as Buttler's opening partner with back-to-back centuries.Buttler praised Salt's insatiable appetite for learning and his improved off-side game. He believes that Salt can be a key player for England in the World Cup.England's campaign begins against Scotland on June 4 in Bridgetown. They have enlisted the help of Kieron Pollard as a batting consultant, and Buttler is confident that the team's preparations will enable them to perform well.

England vs Pakistan T20I Abandoned Due to Persistent RainThe highly anticipated first T20I between England and Pakistan was unfortunately called off before the scheduled start time due to incessant rain that drenched Leeds throughout the day. The ground was saturated with puddles, leaving the umpires with no choice but to abandon the match.This match was crucial for both teams as it was their last opportunity to assess their players before finalizing their squads for the upcoming T20 World Cup. England was particularly eager to give Jofra Archer a game before the squad announcement deadline on Saturday, but the rain dashed those hopes. England will now have to make a decision on Archer's inclusion without seeing him play a competitive match.Pakistan, on the other hand, remains the only team among the 20 World Cup participants to have not announced their provisional squad. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had intended to finalize the squad after the first T20I against England, but the rain prevented them from doing so.The inclement weather in Yorkshire also thwarted Pakistan's plans to give their players a final look before selecting the traveling party for North America. The two teams are scheduled to play three more games before departing for the World Cup: at Edgbaston on Saturday, Cardiff on Tuesday, and The Oval on June 2.

The Netherlands cricket team has suffered a setback ahead of the T20 World Cup with the withdrawal of Fred Klaassen and Daniel Doram due to injuries. The duo has been replaced by Kyle Klein and Saqib Zulfiqar, who were initially named as traveling reserves.Klaassen, a fast bowler, has not featured in the ongoing tri-series against Scotland and Ireland, while Doram, a left-arm spinner, has played both matches but failed to make a significant impact.Zulfiqar, a legspinning allrounder, has played six T20Is and 15 ODIs for the Netherlands, while Klein, a right-arm medium pacer, has only one T20I and two ODIs to his name.The Netherlands are preparing for the T20 World Cup with the tri-series, where they have beaten Scotland comprehensively but lost to Ireland by a narrow margin. The team is still without the experienced duo of Colin Ackermann and Roelof van der Merwe, who are committed to their English county sides.Despite the injuries, the Netherlands squad still boasts a left-arm spinner in Tim Pringle. However, Brandon Glover and Timm van der Gugten have been ruled out due to injury and comeback concerns, respectively.Scott Edwards will continue to lead the Netherlands at the T20 World Cup, which begins on June 1. The team has been drawn in Group D alongside Bangladesh, Nepal, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. They will open their campaign against Nepal on June 4 in Dallas.

Nepal's star cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane has suffered a major setback in his bid to make a comeback at the upcoming T20 World Cup. The United States embassy has denied him a visa, dashing his hopes of representing his country in the tournament.Lamichhane, the only Nepalese cricketer to have played in the Indian Premier League (IPL), was arrested in September 2022 on allegations of raping an 18-year-old girl. He was later released on bail and remained suspended from domestic and international cricket.Just a week ago, the 23-year-old leg-spinner was acquitted by an appeals court, prompting the International Cricket Council (ICC) to allow the Nepal cricket board to add him to the World Cup squad. However, the US embassy's visa denial has put a spanner in the works."The @USEmbassyNepal did it again, just like in 2019, denying my visa for the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies. Unfortunate. I am sorry to all the well-wishers of Nepal Cricket," Lamichhane posted on Twitter.Nepal, gearing up for their second T20 World Cup, are placed in Group D alongside South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands. In Lamichhane's absence, the team has been led by batting all-rounder Rohit Paudel.Cricket Association of Nepal president Chatur Bahadur Chand had recently mentioned that they were looking to add Lamichhane to the World Cup squad. In his career, Lamichhane has taken 112 wickets in 51 ODIs and is close to achieving the 100-wicket milestone in T20 internationals, having taken 98 wickets in 52 T20Is.The visa denial is a significant blow to Nepal's hopes of making an impact at the T20 World Cup. Lamichhane is a key player for the team and his absence will be a major loss.

Ricky Ponting, the legendary Australian cricketer, has expressed his bewilderment at the Indian selectors' apparent reluctance to select Virat Kohli for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Ponting believes that Kohli, with his exceptional class and experience, should be an automatic pick for the tournament.Kohli's impressive performance in the ongoing IPL, where he leads the run table with 708 runs from 14 innings, has further strengthened Ponting's belief in his abilities. Despite concerns about his strike rate at the top of the order, Ponting argues that Kohli's overall value to the Indian team cannot be underestimated."He (Kohli) is the first pick for me for India. So, class and experience like that, you can't replace," Ponting told ICC. "It's funny with Virat. I think people in India just always try to find a reason not to pick him or a reason why he's maybe not as good as some of these other guys in the T20 game."Ponting suggests that Kohli should open the innings with skipper Rohit Sharma, allowing players like Suryakumar Yadav to accelerate the run rate later in the innings. He also highlights the importance of having left-handed batters in the team, which could influence the selectors' decision regarding Yashasvi Jaiswal's batting position.Kohli's adaptability and willingness to improve are evident in his improved strike rate this season, which is the highest in his 17 years with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Ponting acknowledges that while strike rates have gained prominence in recent years, Kohli's ability to anchor the innings and play according to the situation remains invaluable."The mantra I think for the teams three or four years ago, was making sure that someone at the top of the order made 80 or 100, even if it took them 60 balls, it didn't really matter," Ponting said. "I think it's sort of shifting now to be more of a strike rate based game where you can have a massive impact on a game with a 40 off 15 balls rather than getting an 80 off 55 balls sort of thing."Kohli's crucial contributions in high-pressure matches, such as his unbeaten 82 against Pakistan and half-century against England in the 2022 T20 World Cup, further demonstrate his reliability in crunch situations. Ponting believes that Kohli's experience and ability to perform under pressure make him an indispensable asset for the Indian team.

Pakistan's cricket landscape has undergone significant transformations in the lead-up to the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup. Despite the presence of seasoned captain Babar Azam, the team has witnessed a series of changes in leadership, selection, and coaching.Since the 2022 T20 World Cup final loss to England, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed four chairmen and overhauled the selection panel. The experiment with Shaheen Shah Afridi as captain was short-lived, and a new limited-overs head coach, South African Gary Kirsten, joined the team just weeks before the World Cup.Pakistan's preparations have been marked by inconsistent performances. They suffered a heavy defeat in the away series against New Zealand, drew the home series 2-2, and lost the T20 series against Afghanistan 1-2. A shock defeat to Ireland was followed by two victories, resulting in a 2-1 series outcome.Despite the off-field turmoil, Pakistan remains a formidable force in the T20 World Cup. They have reached the semifinals three times and won the title in 2009. Kirsten's coaching has emphasized team unity and playing for the badge rather than individual glory.Pakistan's bowling depth is a major asset, with Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Amir all in good form. However, the top-order batting remains a concern, with Saim Ayub yet to establish himself as a reliable opener alongside Babar Azam.The India-Pakistan match on June 9 in New York is highly anticipated, with both teams expected to progress to the Super 8 round. Babar Azam will become the first player to captain a nation in three consecutive T20 World Cups. He will be hoping to lead Pakistan to their second title, having come close in 2021 and 2022.

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has expressed his unwavering support for Hardik Pandya, who has faced recent struggles, predicting that Pandya will deliver an exceptional performance for Team India in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. Yuvraj emphasized the crucial role of Pandya's fitness and bowling prowess in the team's success.As the ambassador of the T20 World Cup, Yuvraj shared his insights on the Indian team's prospects. India has announced a formidable 15-member squad led by Rohit Sharma, along with four traveling reserves, for the tournament. The team aims to reclaim the T20 World Cup title, having triumphed in the inaugural edition in 2007.Yuvraj, a pivotal member of that victorious 2007 team, expressed his eagerness to witness India lift the trophy once again. Despite showing signs of regaining his bowling form in the IPL, Pandya, the captain of the Mumbai Indians, endured a disappointing batting performance, scoring only 216 runs in 14 matches. This slump followed his return from a prolonged injury layoff that forced him to withdraw from the ODI World Cup last year.However, Yuvraj remains steadfast in his belief that Pandya will shine in the tournament, expressing confidence that the all-rounder will deliver something extraordinary. "The selection has been made based on players' performances in international cricket and the IPL," Yuvraj said. "While Hardik's IPL form has not been impressive, his past contributions to India cannot be overlooked. His bowling and fitness will be crucial, and I believe he has the potential to make a significant impact in this World Cup."Yuvraj's endorsement of Pandya highlights the importance of experience and versatility in the T20 format. Pandya's ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a valuable asset to the Indian team. His return to form will be a major boost for India's title aspirations.

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has proposed a bold strategy for India's batting lineup in the upcoming T20 World Cup. He suggests that the team should field Rishabh Pant as the preferred wicketkeeper and pair him with Yashasvi Jaiswal as skipper Rohit Sharma's opening partner. This move would introduce left-handed variation into the batting order, making it more challenging for opposing bowlers.Yuvraj's proposal stems from the impressive performances of both Pant and Jaiswal in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Pant has been in scintillating form for Delhi Capitals, while Jaiswal has emerged as a promising opener for Rajasthan Royals. Yuvraj believes that their left-handed batting style would complement the right-handed Rohit, creating a more balanced and unpredictable lineup.The former World Cup winner also emphasizes the importance of maintaining Virat Kohli at number three, where he has been in exceptional form for Royal Challengers Bangalore. With Suryakumar Yadav likely to occupy the number four spot, Yuvraj suggests that India should aim for a combination of left-handed and right-handed batters throughout the order.Yuvraj's preference for Pant over Sanju Samson as wicketkeeper is based on the former's left-handed batting and his ability to win matches for India. While Samson has also been in impressive form for Rajasthan Royals, Yuvraj believes that Pant's left-handedness gives him an edge in the T20 format.India's T20 World Cup campaign begins on June 9 against Ireland in New York. They will then face arch-rivals Pakistan four days later. Yuvraj's proposed batting lineup could provide India with the flexibility and firepower needed to navigate the tournament's challenges and emerge victorious.