Cricket

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer and current mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has recently shared his struggles and triumphs during his playing days. In a candid conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin on a YouTube show, Gambhir revealed the challenges he faced in his early cricket career.Growing up, Gambhir was not selected for his first under-14 tournament due to his refusal to touch the selector's feet. This incident left a lasting impact on him, and he vowed never to engage in such practices.Despite his affluent family background, Gambhir faced criticism and skepticism throughout his career. People often questioned his motivation, suggesting that he did not need to play cricket due to his family's wealth. However, Gambhir was determined to prove his worth and overcome these perceptions."I wanted to beat that perception," Gambhir said. "So when I was able to do that, no other perception ever bothers me. The toughest perception for me to beat in my life was that I didn't want it that hard. I wanted it harder than any of them."Gambhir's determination and hard work paid off. He played a pivotal role in India's victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup. He also led KKR to its first IPL title in 2012.In the same interview, Gambhir also spoke about his relationship with KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan. He praised Khan for his trust and support, noting that they had never discussed cricket strategy in their seven years of working together."He had never asked me a single question on cricket in those seven years. Can you imagine?" Gambhir said.Gambhir's journey is a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite facing adversity, he never gave up on his dream of becoming a successful cricketer. His story serves as an inspiration to young athletes and anyone who faces challenges in their pursuit of their goals.

Jake Fraser-McGurk's exceptional performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has sparked discussions among Australian selectors about potential changes to their T20 World Cup squad. However, despite his impressive run, Fraser-McGurk has not been included in the final 15-man squad and will instead serve as one of two traveling reserves alongside Matthew Short.Fraser-McGurk's IPL campaign was nothing short of remarkable. As a replacement player for Delhi Capitals, he amassed 330 runs at a staggering strike rate of 234.04, including two blistering 15-ball half-centuries. His performances raised eyebrows and prompted selectors to consider his inclusion in the World Cup squad.However, Australia's well-established top three of David Warner, Travis Head, and Mitchell Marsh, along with the lack of an all-round option, ultimately led to Fraser-McGurk's exclusion. Head coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged Fraser-McGurk's impact but emphasized the need to cover all bases in the squad's composition.Despite the setback, Fraser-McGurk remains optimistic about his future prospects. He has expressed his understanding of the decision and believes that his time will come. The 23-year-old is expected to feature prominently in Australia's white-ball sides after the T20 World Cup, potentially partnering Head as an opening batsman in the post-Warner era.McDonald hinted at this possibility, stating that Fraser-McGurk could play a role in the top three or even the middle order. Matthew Short is also in contention for these positions, highlighting the depth of talent within Australia's batting lineup.Meanwhile, David Warner, who will retire from international cricket after the T20 World Cup, has recovered from a hand injury sustained during the IPL. McDonald confirmed that Warner is fully fit and ready to play. However, Mitchell Marsh is unlikely to bowl early in the tournament due to a hamstring injury.Australia will have only 10 players available for their warm-up matches in Trinidad, with the five players participating in the IPL finals joining the squad in Barbados before the opening match against Oman on June 5.

England Players' Early IPL Exit Sparks DebateLegendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar and all-rounder Irfan Pathan have criticized England players for leaving the Indian Premier League (IPL) early this season. With the T20 World Cup approaching, England captain Jos Buttler and several other players returned home to prepare for the tournament.Gavaskar has called for penalties against the players, while Pathan believes they should either commit to the full season or not participate at all. However, former England captain Michael Vaughan has defended the players, stating that representing their country takes precedence.Vaughan pointed out that the England players left to play a five-match series against Pakistan, which was scheduled on the calendar. He believes that the players' absence from the IPL will give them a better chance to prepare for the T20 World Cup.This year's IPL schedule has been criticized for not having enough double-headers on Saturdays, which has led to the season being stretched. Vaughan believes that if the schedule had been more compact, the England players would not have left early.Buttler, Liam Livingstone, Will Jacks, and Reece Topley are among the England players who have left the IPL to join the national squad. Their departure has raised questions about the commitment of foreign players to the tournament.The debate over the England players' early exit highlights the tension between national and franchise cricket. While players have a responsibility to represent their countries, they also have contractual obligations to their IPL teams. Finding a balance between these commitments is crucial for the long-term health of both international and domestic cricket.

Phil Simmons, the former West Indies coach who guided the team to the 2016 T20 World Cup title, has joined Papua New Guinea (PNG) as a 'specialist coach' ahead of the 2024 edition of the tournament.Simmons' appointment comes after his second stint as West Indies coach ended following their group-stage elimination at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. Since then, he has worked extensively in franchise cricket, coaching Trinbago Knight Riders, LA Knight Riders, and Karachi Kings.In his new role, Simmons will support head coach Tatenda Taibu, the former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper. Cricket PNG stated that Simmons was recruited due to his extensive experience of local conditions."My role here is as a consultant coach and [will be about] how I put across my experience, not just playing in World Cups but playing in the Caribbean and the things that we should be looking at to make sure we do it right in the Caribbean and especially the venues that we play at," Simmons said."As a player internationally, for fourteen years and then as an international coach for eighteen years, it's been a long time in the game. It's always brilliant to come home, always brilliant to come back to any part of the West Indies. You know how beautiful it is here. I'm looking forward to getting home, which is Trinidad."PNG arrived in St Kitts last week after a four-day journey from Port Moresby. They will train and play various unofficial warm-up matches before facing Oman and Namibia in official warm-up fixtures in Trinidad and Tobago next week.They have been drawn in Group C of the World Cup itself. They will face co-hosts West Indies in their opening match in Guyana on June 2, then play Uganda four days later at the same venue. They will then travel back to Trinidad to face Afghanistan on June 14 and New Zealand on June 17.Simmons praised the energy and enthusiasm of the PNG team. "Their energy is unbelievable: their warm-up alone yesterday got me tired. The guys look like they have settled in really well… I've known the head coach for a long time and he's always energetic. There is always a lot of energy, but the players seem to be pushing him where that is not so, and I like that atmosphere in the team."Batter Assad Vala will lead PNG, who will be playing their second T20 World Cup, after a winless campaign in 2021.

Bangladesh and the United States will engage in a three-match T20I series from May 21, providing both teams with an opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup. This series marks the first time these two nations will face off in a T20I encounter.Tuning Up for the T20 World CupThe series will serve as a valuable warm-up for both teams ahead of the T20 World Cup. Bangladesh will begin their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka in Grand Prairie on June 7, while the USA will play their first two matches in the same venue against Canada and Pakistan.Bangladesh Batting in FocusBangladesh's batting performance against Zimbabwe earlier this month raised concerns, with Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto blaming the pitches in Chattogram and Dhaka. The team's highest score while batting first was 165, and they will be eager to improve their batting in Texas.Stuart Law's ImpactStuart Law, the former Bangladesh head coach, will be in the opposing camp as the USA head coach. Law's experience and knowledge of Bangladesh's players could prove valuable for the USA.Catching ConcernsBangladesh will also be looking to address their catching issues. They have dropped eight out of 42 chances in bilateral series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe this year. Improving their catching will be crucial for their success in the T20 World Cup.A Familiar FoeAlthough Bangladesh will face the USA for the first time in international cricket, they are familiar with Corey Anderson, who made his USA debut last month. Anderson's destructive batting against Bangladesh in 2015 will be a concern for the Tigers.

Pakistan's white-ball cricket team has welcomed Gary Kirsten as their new head coach ahead of the T20I series against England. Kirsten's arrival in Leeds was marked by a warm reception from captain Babar Azam and the support staff, a moment that has since gone viral on social media.Kirsten, a 56-year-old South African, brings extensive coaching experience, having previously led both India and South Africa. His appointment as the white-ball coach, along with Jason Gillespie as the red-ball coach, was confirmed last month.Under Kirsten's guidance, Pakistan aim to build on their recent successes in T20 World Cups, having reached the semifinals in 2021 and the final in 2022 against England.Kirsten's first challenge will be the four-match T20I series against England, a critical preparation phase for the T20 World Cup next month in the Caribbean and the United States. Pakistan's final 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup will be announced following the first T20 against England next Tuesday in Leeds.In addition to Kirsten, the PCB has made strategic appointments to strengthen the coaching staff. Simon Helmot has been appointed as the fielding coach, and David Reid will serve as the mental performance coach. Reid is set to join the team next Monday, while Helmot will team up with the squad on May 31 after the T20 series against England.Kirsten expressed his enthusiasm for returning to international coaching. "I've missed the experience of coaching at the international level and nurturing talented players to reach their full potential," Kirsten said in a press release from the PCB. "I'm committed to working closely with the (Pakistan) team to elevate their game and bring joy to fans around the world."The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared a photo on its official social media handle, capturing Kirsten with the captain and other members of the support staff. The video of the welcome has generated significant buzz, highlighting the excitement around Kirsten's two-year assignment with the team.

India's Quest for ICC Glory: Rohit Sharma Leads Team into T20 World CupAs the ICC T20 World Cup approaches, Indian cricket fans are eagerly anticipating the performance of their team under the leadership of captain Rohit Sharma. The tournament, scheduled to take place in the US and West Indies from June 5, presents India with an opportunity to redeem themselves after the disappointment of losing the ODI World Cup title at home last year.India's T20 World Cup campaign will begin on June 5 against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. The 36-year-old Rohit will be aiming to secure an ICC trophy that has eluded India since 2013. India's last T20 World Cup victory came in the inaugural edition in 2007, when the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team defeated Pakistan by five runs in the final.Since their 2007 triumph, India have reached the final just once in eight editions, finishing as runners-up in the 2014 tournament in Bangladesh after losing to Sri Lanka by six wickets.Despite the challenges, India's star batsman Shikhar Dhawan is confident in Rohit's ability to lead the team to victory. "Of course, there is lots of pressure playing for India in World Cups and Rohit is an experienced guy. I am sure his experience will come in handy, he knows how to soak the pressure and definitely, India will come out with flying colours," Dhawan told TimesofIndia.com.Another key player for India will be Virat Kohli, who has been in exceptional form in recent ICC events. In the 2022 T20 World Cup, Kohli amassed 296 runs in 6 matches at an impressive average of 98.66, including four half-centuries. He also maintained his prolific form in the ICC ODI World Cup, hosted by India, earning the Man of the Series award with 765 runs in 11 matches.Dhawan believes that Kohli will once again rise to the occasion as Team India seeks an ICC title. "Apart from Rohit, I feel Virat (Kohli) and Jassi (Jasprit Bumrah) will be crucial for Team India’s success in the T20 World Cup," Dhawan said. "Virat is the chase master and his mere presence in the field demoralises the opposition. Jasprit is the world’s best bowler at the moment in all 3 formats and if India are to win the World Cup, he will play a vital role in it."The IPL has also showcased emerging stars who could potentially make an impact in the T20 World Cup. Punjab Kings batsmen Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma have impressed with their breathtaking batting and ability to clear the boundary with ease.With a balanced squad and experienced leadership, India will be hoping to end their ICC title drought and bring home the T20 World Cup trophy.

Australia's T20 World Cup squad is set to include two traveling reserves, with Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short likely to join the 15-man squad as cover for potential injuries.Initially, Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey suggested carrying only one reserve, but the in-form Fraser-McGurk's impressive IPL performances have prompted the addition of a second. The decision not to include a third frontline spinner as a reserve is based on the inclusion of Ashton Agar in the main squad.Fraser-McGurk's omission from the main squad raised eyebrows, given his exceptional IPL form. However, Australia's established top three of David Warner, Travis Head, and Mitchell Marsh, along with the need for versatile players, led to his exclusion. Fraser-McGurk is expected to provide cover for the top three in case of injuries.Short, who has featured in nine of Australia's last 14 T20Is, also missed out on a spot in the final 15. His versatility, having played in multiple batting roles, makes him a valuable reserve option. He is likely to provide cover for various roles within the squad.Australia has opted against carrying an additional fast bowler as reserves, as they may only field two of the four selected in the squad at times. The team has the flexibility to play two spinners or an extra all-rounder in Cameron Green to extend the batting lineup.Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett, and Sean Abbott will be available in the UK during the World Cup, making it easier to fly them to the Caribbean if needed.Australia's squad members not involved in the IPL finals will depart for the Caribbean on Thursday for a training camp in Trinidad. Two practice matches against Namibia and West Indies are scheduled on May 28 and 30, respectively.Despite logistical challenges, Australia is committed to playing these warm-up games, even with limited players available. Several players, including Marsh, Warner, and Agar, have had limited cricket since the end of the Australian domestic summer.

Brandon King will lead the West Indies in the upcoming T20I series against South Africa, which serves as a crucial preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The series will provide an opportunity for players to showcase their skills and secure their place in the final squad or reserve pool.Full-time captain Rovman Powell will be absent due to his commitments with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Several other key players, including Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Alzarri Joseph, and Sherfane Rutherford, will also miss the series due to IPL involvement or rest following the tournament.Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope, who represented Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals in the IPL, have been rested. However, Joseph and Rutherford will join the T20I squad if their IPL teams fail to reach the final.Matthew Forde and Kyle Mayers, who were on the cusp of selection for the T20 World Cup, will feature against South Africa. Their performances in the series could determine their status as first reserves in case of injuries during the tournament.King was initially set to lead West Indies A on their recent tour of Nepal but was ruled out due to injury. Roston Chase took over the captaincy in his absence."These matches are crucial for our preparation ahead of the World Cup," said lead selector Desmond Haynes. "Players have the chance to refine their skills and ensure they are ready for the tournament."Head coach Daren Sammy emphasized the importance of team cohesion and momentum heading into the World Cup. "We haven't played together since the Australia series, but we've had an intense training camp in Antigua," he said. "Now we can integrate our IPL players and build momentum as a group."The series could mark the T20I debut of fast bowler Shamar Joseph, who has been included in the World Cup squad. He made only one appearance for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL.After facing South Africa, West Indies will play a warm-up match against Australia on May 30.