Cricket

India's emphatic 24-run victory over Australia in the Super Eights of the ICC T20 World Cup was a testament to their collective brilliance. After Rohit Sharma's scintillating 92 propelled India to a formidable 205/5, the bowlers stepped up to restrict Australia to 181/7.Arshdeep Singh, who has emerged as a key cog in India's bowling attack, attributed his success to the pressure created by Jasprit Bumrah. "Jassi is bowling like a video game," Arshdeep said, referring to Bumrah's exceptional economy rate. "He puts pressure on the batters, forcing them to take risks, which gives me opportunities for wickets."Kuldeep Yadav, who played a crucial role with his spin, explained his strategy against Australia. "I tried to read the batsman and what he was expecting," Kuldeep said. "I started with a fuller ball, a flipper, to induce a sweep shot. Then I introduced the wrong'un, confusing the batters."The turning point of the match, according to Kuldeep, was Axar Patel's stunning one-handed catch in the second over. "That catch opened up the game for us," he said.Arshdeep, who has taken 15 wickets in the tournament so far, praised the entire bowling unit for their collective effort. "Everyone is clicking very well," he said. "The other bowlers stop runs from one end and get wickets from the other end."India's victory was a collective effort, with Rohit's batting brilliance, Bumrah's economical bowling, and the spin duo of Kuldeep and Axar playing pivotal roles. The team's confidence is soaring as they prepare to face England in the semifinals on Thursday.

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has faced a barrage of hate posts on social media, prompting him to engage in a heated exchange with trolls. The criticism stemmed from his commentary during the T20 World Cup 2024 and his political career as a Rajya Sabha MP.Harbhajan's commentary at the IPL drew criticism from a troll, to which he responded, "Yes plz leave .. u are listening to me waha and yaha so please leave." He also shared a tweet expressing gratitude for not facing similar criticism elsewhere.The trolls also questioned Harbhajan's attendance and contributions as a Rajya Sabha MP. In response, he stated, "Bhai mera sara salary goes for educating kids who can't afford it not a single penny goes for my own use. and I am also a tax payer like you.. itna gusaa nahi karte.. and if u do wanna get some education let me know I will take care of ur study too.. u need to learn TAMEEZ."Harbhajan's involvement as a pundit at the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 in USA and West Indies has also been a target of criticism. However, he has remained unfazed, continuing to provide his insights and analysis.The incident highlights the growing trend of online harassment faced by public figures, particularly on social media platforms. It also raises questions about the responsibility of social media companies in combating hate speech and cyberbullying.

India's formidable bowling attack, led by the spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja, is expected to give them an edge over England in the second semi-final of the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup. Former India all-rounder Robin Singh believes that India's current form and unbeaten record position them favorably against England, who have faced a challenging journey to the semi-finals.Singh highlights the depth and versatility of India's bowling attack, which suits the conditions at the Providence Stadium in Georgetown, Guyana. He emphasizes the importance of countering England's key bowlers, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid, to make inroads into their batting lineup.India's recent performance against Australia, where their spinners registered combined figures of 3-45, demonstrates the effectiveness of their spin attack. Kuldeep Yadav, initially excluded from the playing eleven, has excelled in the Super Eights, taking seven wickets in three games.Singh emphasizes the collective effort of the bowling unit, stating that it's not about individual bowlers but about putting pressure on the batsmen as a team. He also praises the fast-bowling pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, who have been formidable throughout the tournament.As the teams prepare for their high-stakes encounter, the focus will be on how India's versatile bowling attack measures up against England's strong batting lineup. With a spot in the final on the line, the match promises to be a thrilling contest.

Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary Indian cricketer, has expressed his displeasure with broadcaster Star Sports for displaying a graphic highlighting Rohit Sharma's weakness against left-arm seamers during India's Super 8 match against Australia in the 2024 T20 World Cup.Despite Rohit's well-known vulnerability against left-arm pacers, he showcased his prowess by smashing 29 runs off Mitchell Starc's over, contributing to his impressive 41-ball 92. However, after Starc dismissed Rohit, Star Sports displayed a graphic showcasing Rohit's dismissals against left-arm pacers, which irked Gavaskar."Thinking about Rohit Sharma once again, he got out to a left-hander (left-arm seamer). So before the next match, are we going to do another segment about his weakness to left-handers?" questioned a perplexed Gavaskar.Aaron Finch, who shared the commentary box with Gavaskar, attempted to justify the graphic by pointing out the increasing number of left-arm pacers in the game, including Starc, Trent Boult (New Zealand), and Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)."There are more left-armers playing now, and they are genuine swing bowlers. So that poses a challenge to the opening batter," said Finch.Gavaskar countered Finch's argument, stating that it was not a significant issue to highlight. "I don't think you should be looking much into that. If you're playing attacking shots when the ball is swinging in, you will be out LBW, you will be out bowled," said Gavaskar.While Rohit Sharma played one of the most remarkable innings of the 2024 T20 World Cup, his opening partner Virat Kohli suffered his second duck of the tournament. Gavaskar has recently faced criticism on social media for his perceived biased analysis towards the dismissals of the two batters."Commentators create divide between players and the fans," one user tweeted, after Gavaskar criticized Kohli's shot selection against Bangladesh while praising Rohit's approach as selfless.

The T20 World Cup semifinals face a significant weather threat, with the second semifinal between India and England in Guyana particularly vulnerable. Unlike the first semifinal between South Africa and Afghanistan, which has a reserve day, the India-England match does not.This discrepancy stems from the timing of the matches. The South Africa-Afghanistan game is a day-night affair, allowing for a reserve day if rain interrupts play. However, the India-England semifinal is a day match, and the travel day for the finalists on June 28 precludes a reserve day.To accommodate potential rain delays, the second semifinal has been allocated an additional four hours. However, if rain forces the abandonment of the match, the team that finished higher in the Super 8s will advance to the final.According to weather forecasts, there is an 88% chance of rain and an 18% chance of thunderstorms in Guyana on Thursday morning. If rain disrupts play, the umpires will have eight hours to complete the match.In the event that both semifinals are abandoned due to rain, India and South Africa, the top finishers in their respective groups, will advance to the title clash.

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has ignited a fresh controversy by accusing the Indian cricket team of ball tampering during their T20 World Cup 'Super 8s' match against Australia. Inzamam's allegations stem from the unusual reverse swing extracted by left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who was brought back for his second spell in the 16th over.Reverse swing typically occurs with an older ball, and Inzamam questioned how the Indian bowlers managed to achieve it with a ball that remains relatively new for the duration of an innings in a T20 game. "When Arshdeep Singh was bowling the 15th over (16th), he was getting reverse swing. With a (relatively) new ball, is it too early to get reverse swing? Was the ball ready for reverse swing by the 12th or 13th over? Because when he came to bowl, the ball started reversing. Umpires ko aanhein khuli rakhni chahiye (the umpires should keep their eyes open)," Inzamam said while talking on a Pakistani TV channel.Inzamam's claims have sparked a debate on the legality of India's bowling tactics. Reverse swing is a legitimate technique in cricket, but it requires the ball to be altered in some way, such as by scuffing it on the ground or applying a foreign substance. If the umpires believe that the ball has been tampered with, they can penalize the bowling team.The Indian team has denied any wrongdoing, and captain Rohit Sharma has dismissed Inzamam's allegations as "baseless." However, the controversy has cast a shadow over India's impressive performance in the tournament so far.India posted a formidable total of 205-5 in their 20 overs, thanks to captain Rohit Sharma's blistering 92 off 41 balls, and Suryakumar Yadav's rapid 31. Contributions from Shivam Dube (28) and Hardik Pandya (27 not out) further bolstered India's innings. Australia's bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc (2-45) and Marcus Stoinis (2-52), struggled to contain the Indian batsmen on a batting-friendly pitch.Chasing 206, Australia managed 181-7 in their 20 overs. Travis Head top-scored with 76. However, the Indian bowlers, particularly Arshdeep, who took 3-37, and Kuldeep Yadav, who claimed 2-24, kept the Australian batsmen in check. Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel also chipped in with crucial wickets, ensuring India maintained their grip on the match.With a strong all-round performance, India once again showcased their potential as tournament favourites and secured a place in the semi-finals, where they will take on defending champions England on Thursday at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.

Dwayne Bravo, the bowling consultant for the Afghanistan cricket team, has played a pivotal role in the team's recent success at the T20 World Cup. Despite Afghanistan's rollercoaster ride in the tournament, Bravo's quiet presence has been a constant, guiding the team's pace-bowling unit to new heights.Captain Rashid Khan, a white-ball legend, may not require much coaching, but Bravo's expertise has been invaluable to the team's bowlers. Left-arm pacer Fazhalhaq Farooqi remains the tournament's leading wicket-taker, but it was medium pacer Gulbadin Naib's 4-20 against Australia that sealed Afghanistan's victory. Naveen-ul-Haq's 4-26 against Bangladesh, including the crucial wickets of Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, also bore Bravo's signature.Bravo's influence is evident in the subtle changes of pace, the deceptive short-ball bluff followed by a full delivery, and the ability to bowl the wide yorker. These are techniques that Bravo mastered throughout his illustrious career with the West Indies and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.Now retired from the IPL, Bravo continues to impart his knowledge to the Afghan bowlers, drawing on his deep understanding of West Indian conditions. Head coach Jonathan Trott provides the team with passion and insider knowledge, while Bravo's input complements their efforts.Afghanistan's bowling unit, once lacking the experience to close out games, has benefited immensely from Bravo's guidance. In the past, their inexperience led to their downfall, as evidenced by Glenn Maxwell's 201 not out against them in the ODI World Cup."You need to have those people who remind you of the things you need to do," said Rashid Khan. "In the heat of the game, they forget the things that were planned for a specific batsman and DJ is always there to remind them what we had planned and what we are doing."As Afghanistan prepares to face South Africa in the semifinal in Bravo's home ground of Trinidad and Tobago, his knowledge of the conditions will be invaluable. The team's success in the tournament is a testament to Bravo's coaching prowess and the impact he has had on the Afghan bowlers.

Pakistan's dismal performance at the T20 World Cup 2024 has sparked a major shake-up within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). According to a report in the 'Jang' newspaper, some Pakistani players accepted appearance fees as low as USD 2500 per person to attend a meet-and-greet function in Dallas on the sidelines of the tournament. The report also revealed that another event, 'A Night with Stars,' was canceled due to payment discrepancies between captain Babar Azam and other players.These revelations have prompted PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to hold senior management officials responsible for the team's indiscipline and poor performance. Sources within the PCB have confirmed that Naqvi is considering dismissing senior officials and implementing stricter policies for players.One of the key issues identified is the presence of players' families at the World Cup. The PCB is expected to announce a policy prohibiting players from bringing their families to major events. The source said that some senior officials had allowed players to bring their families, which contributed to the team's lack of focus.Another issue is the alleged rift between Babar Azam and pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi over captaincy. The source said that the team is divided, with some players supporting Azam and others backing Afridi.The PCB is also facing criticism for its handling of central contracts. Sources claim that some senior management officials have been patronizing players, leading to indiscipline and a lack of accountability.The PCB is now conducting a performance assessment of all senior management officials. The board is also considering enforcing a code of conduct for players to prevent future incidents of indiscipline and unprofessionalism.

In the lead-up to India's T20 World Cup opener against Ireland, captain Rohit Sharma displayed an uncharacteristic candor, shedding the burden of past defeats. He boldly declared that the opening partnership would remain unchanged throughout the tournament, signaling a shift in his approach.Rohit's newfound freedom was evident in his blistering 92 off 41 balls against Australia in St. Lucia. His onslaught, particularly the 28 runs he plundered off Mitchell Starc in the third over, set the tone for India's victory."He's a world-class player," said Josh Hazlewood, Starc's pace-bowling partner. "He targeted the boundary with the wind and then hit a few on the other side as well. He's a class act."Rohit's uninhibited style of play, a hallmark of his early career, has resurfaced in his twilight years. "The idea is to be not just one-dimensional," he explained. "I was thinking to hit the ball everywhere possible."Despite the challenging conditions in St. Lucia, Rohit's effortless batting kept the Indian dugout relaxed. "When he hits those long sixes, it doesn't feel like he is hitting the ball," said pacer Arshdeep Singh. "He handles the ball with love, yet it goes far."Rohit's relaxed demeanor and positive attitude have permeated the Indian team. "We just enjoyed it a lot," said Singh. "The pressure-cooker situation of opening and leading India in an ICC tournament hasn't bothered him."As India prepares for its final two matches, Rohit's leadership and batting prowess will be crucial. The team will look to him to continue his inspired form and guide them to a perfect ending to this World Cup drama.