Cricket

India vs Australia T20 World Cup: India Eye Revenge and Semifinal BerthIndia and Australia will clash in a crucial T20 World Cup match on Monday, with both teams aiming for a semifinal berth. India is the favorite heading into the match, having won their first two games convincingly. Australia, on the other hand, suffered a shock defeat to Afghanistan in their previous match.India is expected to field an unchanged playing XI, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the bowling attack. Australia may consider bringing back Mitchell Starc, who was rested against Afghanistan.Australia captain Mitchell Marsh knows that his team must overcome the mental scars of their defeat to Afghanistan. He believes that the team's short history of success will bring out the best in his players.The Darren Sammy International Stadium in St Lucia has been a high-scoring venue, with scores ranging from 180-220. The weather forecast for Monday is partly sunny with a thunderstorm in parts of the area.India has a strong record against Australia in T20Is, winning 12 of their 22 encounters. However, Australia has won the last two matches between the two teams.A win for India will not only seal their place in the semifinals but also eliminate Australia from the tournament. It would also be a sweet revenge for India, who lost to Australia in the ODI World Cup final in November.

India vs Australia: Cummins on Team Morale, Aggressive Style, and ODI World Cup TriumphAs India and Australia prepare for their high-stakes T20 World Cup clash, Australian captain Pat Cummins has shared his insights on team morale, the team's aggressive style of play, and their journey to the ODI World Cup title last year.Team MoraleCummins emphasizes the importance of understanding individual needs within the team. He believes that senior players play a crucial role in boosting morale, whether through humor or serious discussions.Aggressive StyleCummins refrains from defining the Australian brand of cricket, preferring to focus on playing to the team's strengths. He acknowledges that different players have different approaches, but the common goal is to be relentless and enjoy the game.ODI World Cup TriumphReflecting on the ODI World Cup final, Cummins highlights the challenges the team faced throughout the tournament, including injuries and form issues. He credits the team's ability to overcome adversity and find ways to win as key factors in their success.Captaincy ApproachCummins describes his captaincy style as people-oriented. He values building strong relationships with his teammates and providing them with support. He believes in collaboration and working together to achieve common goals.'The Test' Docu-SeriesCummins acknowledges the positive reception of the 'The Test' docu-series, which has drawn both cricket fans and non-fans to the sport. He believes the series has a responsibility to continue providing insights into the game and attracting new viewers.

West Indies' T20 World Cup 2024 campaign ended in disappointment with a defeat to South Africa in Antigua, but captain Rovman Powell remained upbeat about the team's progress over the past year."We haven't won the World Cup, but the cricket we have played in the last 12 months or so is commendable," Powell said. "We've moved from number 9 to number 3 in the world, which is tremendous work."Powell acknowledged that the team's batting performance against South Africa was one they would like to forget, but he praised their bowling effort. "We lost wickets in clusters in the middle overs, which broke the back of our batting," he said. "But our bowlers gave it their all, and we believed we could win even with only 135 on the board."Despite the defeat, Powell believes the team is heading in the right direction. "There's a lot of buzz around the Caribbean again about West Indies cricket," he said. "We've done some very good things over the last 12 months, and we need to continue to work as a group and climb the rankings."Powell also expressed his gratitude for the support the team received during the home World Cup. "It's been fantastic," he said. "It's good to see that some buzz is back in the Caribbean for cricket. Now, when we hear the anthem play, as players we feel something. I think that is heading in the right direction."

Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm chinaman bowler, has emerged as a key player for India in the Super 8 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Despite missing the entire group stage, Kuldeep has made an immediate impact, picking up five wickets in two matches.After scalping three wickets against Bangladesh, Kuldeep drew a comparison between the pressure of playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the pressure of a World Cup. "IPL is completely different, boss. It's totally different," said Kuldeep. "What you experience in IPL is not what you're experiencing in T20 World Cup."Kuldeep enjoyed a brilliant season with Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, picking up 16 wickets in 11 games. However, he was surprisingly left out of India's XI in their first group game against Ireland.In the Super 8, Kuldeep has been on fire. After getting two wickets against Afghanistan, he picked up three crucial wickets against Bangladesh. The 29-year-old got the wickets of opener Tanzid Hasan, the experienced Shakib al-Hasan, and the in-form Towhid Hridoy. He finished with figures of 3-19 from his four overs.Kuldeep emphasized that spinners need to be aggressive to succeed in the shortest format. "In this format (T20), you have to read what the batters are trying to do, but be more aggressive. The length matters a lot. The aggression is helping me through the IPL and the T20 World Cup," he said.With wins over Afghanistan and Bangladesh, India boast a very healthy net run rate in their Super 8 group and are almost certainly going to make the semis of the 2024 T20 World Cup.

USA Pacer Ali Khan: Pakistan Win Was No Fluke, We Planned to Beat ThemUSA pacer Ali Khan has asserted that their stunning victory over Pakistan in the group stage of the T20 World Cup was not a mere coincidence. The Pakistan-born Khan revealed that the USA team had specifically targeted Pakistan for a win due to their history.Khan explained that the USA team had gained immense confidence from their series win over Bangladesh prior to the World Cup. "That gave us a lot of confidence going forward," he said. "We knew we could easily beat Canada and Ireland. Then it was about picking one team between India and Pakistan that we could beat. We had confidence that we could beat Pakistan."The USA team executed their plan to perfection, dominating Pakistan from the outset. "We had planned accordingly and were all over them from the first ball," Khan said. "I think they had a good phase when Babar and Shadab were batting, other than that we dominated Pakistan."Khan acknowledged Pakistan's unpredictable nature, stating that they are capable of both brilliant and disastrous performances. "If you look at Pakistan's history, they will either destroy you or themselves," he said. "Thankfully, the latter happened. It was a lucky day for us and the win was important."The USA team finished second in Group A behind India, qualifying for the Super 8 stage. Khan's comments highlight the growing confidence and ambition of the USA cricket team, which is aiming to make a mark on the international stage.

WI vs SA Live Score: West Indies' Power-Hitters Aim to Tame South Africa in Must-Win ClashCo-hosts West Indies face a crucial Super Eight clash against South Africa today, with a victory securing their semifinal berth. After their only loss to England in their opening Super Eight game, the West Indies regrouped to smash co-hosts USA by nine wickets.West Indies' batting lineup boasts several big hitters who can provide the charge throughout the innings. Shai Hope, who smashed a belligerent 39-ball 82 against the USA, will be expected to produce fireworks in the powerplay. Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell are also capable of explosive innings, providing the Windies with a potent threat in the death overs.Kyle Mayers, who impressed in the SA20 and pre-World Cup series against South Africa, could be tempted to open the batting for the West Indies. His ability to rotate strike and hit boundaries could prove valuable against a strong South African bowling attack.South Africa, on the other hand, have won all six of their games so far but are not yet guaranteed a spot in the semifinals. They too need a win to seal their position; otherwise, their campaign will come to an end.The Proteas possess a formidable bowling attack led by Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Wayne Parnell. They will be looking to restrict the West Indies' big hitters and put pressure on their middle order.The match promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams desperate for a victory. The West Indies will need to bring their all-round firepower to tame a rampaging South Africa, while the Proteas will be determined to maintain their unbeaten record.

England's dominance in the 2024 T20 World Cup continued as they secured a place in the semifinals with a resounding 10-wicket victory over the United States in Barbados. The reigning champions showcased their prowess with a superb bowling performance led by Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan, followed by a Jos Buttler batting masterclass.Rashid's economical spell of 4-0-13-2 stifled the USA batters, while Jordan's sensational hat-trick in the 19th over sealed their fate. Jordan became the first Englishman to achieve this feat in the T20 World Cup, dismissing Corey Anderson, Ali Khan, Nosthush Kenjige, and Saurabh Netravalkar in quick succession.Buttler then took center stage, smashing an unbeaten 83 off just 38 balls, including seven sixes and six fours. His blistering knock featured a remarkable five sixes in one over off Harmeet Singh, leaving the USA bowling attack helpless. England raced to 117 for 0 in 9.4 overs, securing their place in the last four.Earlier, the USA had struggled to build partnerships, losing five wickets in six balls without adding any runs. Sam Curran's crucial wicket of Harmeet Singh in the final ball of the previous over triggered the collapse.Despite early nerves, Nitish Kumar provided some resistance for the USA, hitting two sixes. However, Rashid's tight bowling and googly deliveries proved too much for the American batters.England's victory marks their first in the Super Eights stage and guarantees their progression to the semifinals. They join New Zealand as the first two teams to secure a place in the last four.

In a thrilling display of fast bowling prowess, England's Chris Jordan etched his name into the annals of T20 World Cup history by claiming a remarkable hat-trick against the USA in their Super Eights clash at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.Jordan, who hails from Barbados and is familiar with the conditions, showcased his skill and experience by taking four wickets in just five balls, including an elusive hat-trick. The Barbados-born bowler's incredible feat not only highlighted his capabilities but also marked the third hat-trick of the tournament, placing him in elite company with Australia's Pat Cummins, who had achieved the milestone twice.England opted to bowl first, a decision that quickly paid dividends. Reece Topley set the tone by removing Gous in the very first over. Despite a promising start by the USA, who scored 48/2 during the powerplay, Rashid's cunning googlies and Livingstone's wily spin reduced the scoring rate, setting the stage for Jordan's spectacular spell.At the start of the 19th over, the USA innings, which looked modest at 115/6, dramatically unraveled due to Jordan's devastating burst. His first scalp was Corey Anderson, caught brilliantly by Harry Brook, initiating the collapse. What followed was a display of clinical fast bowling: Ali Khan was clean-bowled by a searing delivery, followed by Nosthush Kenjige trapped lbw by a pinpoint yorker. The crowning moment came when Jordan shattered Saurabh Netravalkar's stumps to complete his hat-trick, reducing the USA from 115/6 to 115 all out.Jordan's hat-trick ball was a thing of beauty – a 141kph delivery that beat Netravalkar's attempted drive and crashed into the stumps, sparking wild celebrations among his teammates. This spell not only etched Jordan's name in the record books but also made him the first England bowler to achieve a hat-trick in T20 Internationals.His remarkable over joins the pages of T20 World Cup history, echoing similar feats by Curtis Campher, who also took four wickets in an over in 2021.

India's explosive batter Suryakumar Yadav's childhood coach, Ashok Aswalkar, has advised the Men in Blue to play their natural game when they face Australia in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Aswalkar believes that India should not experiment too much against the Aussies, who are coming into the game after a humbling defeat by Afghanistan.As India prepare to take on Australia in a clash of cricketing heavyweights, Aswalkar said that the Men in Blue need to play their normal game as they have been playing in their last six matches. He also hailed the performance of India's ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who has been in outstanding form in the T20 World Cup. The pacer has picked 10 wickets in just five games."Our openers are slowly starting to pick up the pace. If they can step up their game in a match against Australia, then nothing could be better than this for India. Try to play normal cricket, don't do too many experiments. They have to play the way they did in the last five to six matches. They just have to play a normal game against the Australian bowling lineup. Bumrah is special," Aswalkar told ANI.India selected four spinners for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, but pace was the major component of their assault in the first stage of the tournament. Talking about India's decision to take four spinners in the T20 WC, Aswalkar said, "Rohit Sharma answered this question. Rohit knows which combination to take. Kuldeep Yadav is a perfect option for India, his slow bowling on the slow wicket works wonders."Suryakumar has been the stalwart for India's two most recent wins at the marquee event, as he smashed a half-century against Afghanistan. Aswalkar wants Suryakumar to play without pressure as he has been playing in the last matches and advises wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant "not to play the reverse shot.""He needs some time. He has hitting power and India have to utilize it somewhere. Rishabh Pant is playing the wrong shots and losing his wicket. Suryakumar, Rishabh and all are performing well. I just advise the wicketkeeper-batter to not play the reverse shot. I want Suryakumar to play without any pressure," Aswalkar said.Meanwhile, a spirited Afghanistan humbled the 2021 champions Australia to collect their first-ever win over the cricketing powerhouse. Aswalkar said Afghanistan have the best bowling variations in cricket, Australia took them lightly and they lost the match."Underdogs always think to win the match against the big teams. Afghanistan have the best bowlers for variation. Afghanistan bowling can defeat any team in the World Cup, don't underestimate them in future matches. Australia have a long batting line-up but Afghanistan have their day and they won the match," he added.Australia will face the India challenge in their pursuit of a semi-final berth, following their loss against Afghanistan where they suffered a shocking 21-run loss in their penultimate Super Eights fixture, on Monday in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.Currently, India sit at the top of the Group 1 standings with four points while Australia (second) and Afghanistan (third) share two points each with Bangladesh yet to win a Super Eight match.