Cricket

Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional bowling prowess has left former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey in awe, acknowledging that the pacer's talent transcends the need for guidance. Widely regarded as the world's most complete bowler across all formats, Bumrah's recent 15-wicket haul in India's triumphant 2024 T20 World Cup campaign earned him the 'Player of the Tournament' accolade.Mhambrey candidly admits that while he would relish the opportunity to be known as Bumrah's coach, the reality is that the bowler is a "once-in-a-generation" talent. "What better than Bumrah bowling and I taking the credit? But I don't. He is a once-in-a-generation bowler," Mhambrey said in an interview with Vimal Kumar on the latter's YouTube channel.Bumrah's unwavering determination and meticulous attention to detail are key to his success. "He remembers when a batter hit him for a boundary two years ago. He is very competitive and constantly wants to improve. We have to be very smart in handling and preserving him," Mhambrey emphasized.During his tenure as bowling coach from November 2021 to the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup, Mhambrey witnessed the rise of other talented bowlers, including Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh. However, Bumrah's brilliance remains unmatched."When I talk to him, I realize that he has a very clear mindset and knows what he is going to do. He understands when a batter is uncomfortable facing him. He then tries to exploit the situation. He will pick up small nuances to guess what the batter is trying to do," Mhambrey explained.Bumrah's dominance extends across all formats, making him the undisputed No. 1 bowler in the world. His phenomenal performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he claimed 15 wickets at an astonishing economy of 4.17, showcased his ability to deliver under pressure.Whether against Pakistan in the group stage, Australia in the Super 8, or South Africa in the final, Bumrah's four overs consistently made a decisive impact. His exceptional skill and unwavering determination have established him as one of the greatest bowlers of all time.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to conduct an audit of the recently concluded T20 World Cup at its upcoming board meeting in Colombo. Concerns have been raised by board members regarding the organization of the tournament in the United States and West Indies.Amidst these concerns, ICC's head of events, Chris Tetley, has resigned. Sources indicate that member boards have expressed concerns over excessive expenses incurred during the tournament's USA leg. Questions have also been raised about the selection of New York as the central venue for marquee matches, given the construction of a temporary stadium."The audit is ongoing. There are assumptions that the ICC may have incurred losses in ticketing during the USA leg. The tournament appeared mismanaged, and the performance of the New York stadium fell short of expectations," an ICC source stated.The board will examine whether the organizing committee exceeded its allocated budget. While acknowledging the challenges of introducing cricket to the US market, the source emphasized the need to scrutinize expenses.Regarding Tetley's resignation, sources suggest that he had been discussing the matter with ICC officials for a year. With a series of ICC events, including the ODI World Cup last year, Tetley and another executive were requested to remain on board to ensure a smooth transition. They may be asked to continue until the Women's T20 World Cup in October or the Champions Trophy in February.

The Indian cricket team's triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup was a testament to their exceptional bowling prowess. Among the standout performers was young pacer Arshdeep Singh, who emerged as a joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi.Arshdeep's impressive tally of 17 wickets, coupled with his economical bowling average of 7.16, earned him high praise from former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja. Raja lauded Arshdeep's ability to thrive under pressure and his willingness to learn from his more experienced teammate, Jasprit Bumrah."Arshdeep is not getting pressured by Bumrah's presence," Raja said. "He's learning from him and not feeling the pressure. It's important for him to back himself and prove that he's at par with Bumrah, if not better than him."Raja highlighted Arshdeep's versatility and adaptability, noting his ability to bowl a variety of deliveries, including length balls, slower balls, and slower bouncers. This versatility allowed him to effectively navigate the challenging batting conditions on flat tracks."He comes on to bowl in do-or-die situations," Raja said. "But he bowls cleverly and to his field. He offers a lot of advantage to his team."Raja also praised the overall improvement in the skill level of Indian bowlers, attributing it to a willingness to learn and a competitive environment."The skill level is going up and there is a willingness to learn," Raja said. "That's an important element you see in Arshdeep's bowling."Arshdeep's performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup has solidified his status as a rising star in Indian cricket. His ability to complement Bumrah's brilliance and his unwavering determination to improve make him a valuable asset to the team.

P.R. Man Singh, the manager of the 1983 World Cup-winning Indian team, has urged the Telangana Government to recognize the contributions of T. Dilip, the fielding coach of the Indian team that recently triumphed in the T20 World Cup in the West Indies.Man Singh, who was the chief guest at a felicitation function for Dilip organized by Coaching Beyond, emphasized that Dilip's efforts, along with those of other support staff, played a crucial role in the team's victory. He highlighted that while players like Mohamed Siraj have been felicitated, it is equally important to acknowledge the behind-the-scenes contributions of support staff like Dilip.Reflecting on his own experience as the manager of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, Man Singh clarified that the iconic catch taken by Kapil Dev to dismiss Sir Viv Richards in the final was primarily due to the captain's efforts and not his own. He emphasized that in modern cricket, brilliant catches taken by players like Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav are the result of the collective hard work of the entire squad, especially the support staff.Dilip expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating that it was a great feeling to be on the winning side after years of hard work and passion. He acknowledged the support of John Manoj, R. Sridhar, and his fellow coaches and players throughout his journey.R. Sridhar, the former India fielding coach, revealed that Dilip had initially declined an offer to join the Andhra Ranji team as a fielding coach despite a lucrative salary package. Sridhar stated that Dilip's focus was solely on joining the National Cricket Academy (NCA) one day. Later, when Sridhar informed Dilip about the Indian fielding coach position, he initially thought it was a joke. However, Dilip eventually applied and outperformed Jhonty Rhodes, joining the India-A team under Rahul Dravid's mentorship.

ICC Official Resigns Amid Scrutiny of T20 World Cup PitchesA senior official of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has resigned following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup, which was marred by concerns over the quality of pitches used at the Nassau County stadium in New York.The resignation comes just a week before the ICC's annual conference in Colombo, where members were expected to raise the issue. The exact reason for the official's departure remains unclear, but it is believed to be related to the scrutiny of the matches hosted in the US.The pop-up stadium in New York, which was demolished after the group stage, drew criticism for its uneven and difficult-to-bat-on drop-in pitches. The highest total scored at the venue was a mere 137 for 7, while the highest successful chase was 111 for 3.The Nassau County International stadium hosted eight matches in total, including the high-profile India vs Pakistan clash. After the match, the ICC issued a statement acknowledging the poor quality of the pitches and promising to improve the surfaces for the remaining games.The T20 World Cup, which was held from June 1 to 29, was jointly hosted by the US and the West Indies. The tournament was won by Australia, who defeated New Zealand in the final.

Mohammad Nabi, the veteran Afghanistan all-rounder, has set his sights on continuing his international career until the 2026 T20 World Cup. The 39-year-old, who is currently leading the Dambulla Sixers in the Lanka Premier League (LPL), believes his body is still capable of performing at the highest level.Nabi has been a key figure in Afghanistan's rise as a cricketing force since making his debut in 2009. He has played a pivotal role in the team's success in limited-overs cricket, particularly in T20Is.While Nabi plans to continue playing T20Is for the foreseeable future, he is considering retiring from ODIs after the Champions Trophy. He believes that the next T20 World Cup will be a fitting end to his illustrious international career."I am still running fast, fielding well, and bowling well," Nabi said. "I am trying to keep myself fit for as long as possible. The Afghanistan team needs me at this stage, but the Champions Trophy may be my last 50-over tournament."Nabi's longevity in the game is a testament to his dedication and commitment to fitness. He follows a strict diet and training regimen to maintain his peak performance.The all-rounder also credits franchise cricket for helping Afghanistan players improve their skills and gain valuable experience. He believes that the exposure to different leagues has contributed to the team's recent success in the T20 World Cup."Franchise cricket gives us a lot of experience that we can bring to the national team," Nabi said. "Afghanistan's performance in the World Cup was really good. We beat big teams and reached the semi-finals for the first time."Nabi's experience and leadership will be crucial for Afghanistan as they look to build on their recent success. He remains a vital cog in the team's plans and is determined to continue contributing to his country's cricketing journey.

Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq, former Pakistan Test cricketers, have vehemently denied allegations of favoritism and coercion in the selection process for the T20 World Cup. The duo was dismissed as selectors by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday, sparking controversy.Wahab, who was perceived to be close to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, had held various roles within the board, including chief selector and senior team manager. However, allegations emerged that he had overlooked misconduct by pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi during the World Cup.In a statement, Wahab refuted these claims, emphasizing that decisions were made collectively by the seven-member selection panel. "Everyone's vote carries equal weight," he said. "We made selection decisions as a team and shared the responsibility equally."Razzaq echoed Wahab's sentiments, stating that the selectors reached consensus through majority votes. "How can I sway the other selectors while selecting the team?" he questioned.The PCB had appointed the selection committee in March without a designated chief selector. It comprised former cricketers Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq, along with Wahab, Razzaq, the head coach, captain, and data analyst Bilal Afzal.The board's analyst Hasan Cheema and director of international cricket operations Usman Wahla also attended selection committee meetings.The allegations against Wahab and Razzaq have raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the selection process. The PCB has not yet commented on the matter, but it is expected to investigate the claims.

After leading Team India to a historic T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, skipper Rohit Sharma has embarked on a well-deserved vacation with his family in London. The victory marked an end to India's 11-year ICC title drought, with the team defeating South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling summit clash.Following the triumph, Rohit, along with star batter Virat Kohli and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, announced their retirements from T20 cricket. The India skipper is now enjoying his time off in London, where he was spotted attending the Wimbledon men's singles semi-final match between Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev.Rohit's presence at Wimbledon was met with admiration and excitement. The official Wimbledon Twitter account welcomed him, while cricket fans shared images of the World Cup-winning captain soaking up the atmosphere.Meanwhile, former India cricketer and National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman expressed his belief that Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja will continue to make significant contributions to Indian cricket in the longer formats."I'm sure that they will continue to prepare the way they did so far in their career and continue to bring laurels to the country," Laxman said. "So big congratulations for excellent T20I career, but I'm sure that they're going to contribute in the longer version of the game and the 50-year format of the game."Rohit's vacation in London is a testament to the team's hard work and dedication that led to their T20 World Cup victory. The skipper's presence at Wimbledon further highlights the growing popularity of cricket and its global reach.

The India vs Australia T20 World Cup 2024 match at St Lucia will be etched in the annals of cricket history for Rohit Sharma's extraordinary batting display. In a Super Eight encounter, Rohit unleashed a barrage of boundaries against the Australian bowlers, amassing a blistering 92 runs off just 41 deliveries.Rohit's onslaught was particularly relentless against Mitchell Starc, the left-arm pacer brought into the Australian lineup to exploit the Indian captain's perceived weakness against left-armers. However, Rohit turned the tables on Starc, smashing him for four sixes and a four in the third over of India's innings. The over yielded a staggering 29 runs, including a wide.Rohit's first two sixes off Starc were exquisite aerial drives over extra cover, followed by a powerful blow into the cow corner region. The fourth maximum was a mishit that soared over the wicketkeeper's head.Starc, who has faced Rohit on numerous occasions, acknowledged the Indian's dominance in that match. "I've played a lot against him. He had a good tournament, especially in our game. I think he targeted that wind in St. Lucia as well. If you look at the runs from each end, one end went for a lot more than the other. I bowled from that end. I bowled five bad balls and he hit them all for six," Starc said on the LiSTNR Sport podcast.Australia had opted to field first, but Rohit's sublime knock, featuring seven fours and eight sixes, propelled India to a formidable total. The Indian captain also became the first player to score 200 sixes in T20 cricket.India ultimately emerged victorious by 24 runs, with Rohit's innings playing a pivotal role in their triumph. The match showcased the Indian captain's exceptional batting prowess and his ability to dominate even the most formidable bowlers.