Cricket

Rahul Dravid, India's former head coach, has shed light on the team's strategy to maintain a positive team dynamic throughout the 2023 ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup campaigns. Dravid emphasized the importance of consistency in approach, which he believes played a pivotal role in India's success in the T20 World Cup."We ran a fantastic campaign in the one-day World Cup," Dravid said. "We dominated, won the games we needed to, and played the way we wanted to."Despite the heartbreaking defeat to Australia in the ODI World Cup final, Dravid maintained that the team had done everything they could in terms of preparation and execution."We didn't want to change anything," Dravid said. "We wanted to create the same energy, the same vibe, and the same team atmosphere that we had in the ODI World Cup."Dravid also acknowledged the passion and support of the Indian fans during the World Cup."To travel all over this country and experience the joy and passion of the fans was phenomenal," he said. "I've never been a part of a World Cup as a player in India, but just the experience as a coach to go from city to city and see what this game meant to the people of this country was incredible."While Dravid acknowledged that Australia were the better team in the ODI World Cup final, he praised the team's overall performance in the tournament."We came unstuck in the final, but that can happen in sport," he said. "Australia played better cricket than us on the day, and congratulations to them."Dravid's strategic leadership and focus on maintaining a positive team environment were key factors in India's success in the T20 World Cup. His approach serves as a valuable lesson for teams looking to achieve success in major tournaments.

Dhruv Jurel, the young wicketkeeper-batter who made his India debut under Rohit Sharma's leadership, has praised the Indian skipper's approachable and relaxed demeanor. In an interview with Sports Tak, Jurel described Rohit as a "very chill" captain who makes it easy for junior players to feel comfortable in the team."To be honest, he is very chill. When you talk to him, it doesn't feel like he is a senior and you are a junior. He always talks very casually," Jurel said.The 23-year-old, who has represented India in three Tests and two T20Is so far, also revealed that Rohit goes out of his way to ensure that young players feel comfortable in the team."He always said, 'If you need any help just come over, I don't have any problem.' He makes you feel comfortable. When my name came up for Test cricket, Rohit bhaiya was the captain, so I spoke to him. It felt very good. Like everything is normal," Jurel added.Jurel's comments provide a glimpse into the team environment under Rohit Sharma's leadership, where the captain's down-to-earth nature and open communication style seem to be fostering a supportive atmosphere for young talents like him.Rohit Sharma, who took over the captaincy of the Indian team in all formats in 2021, has been praised for his leadership skills and ability to connect with players. Under his leadership, India has won several major tournaments, including the Asia Cup in 2022 and the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021.Jurel's praise for Rohit Sharma is a testament to the Indian skipper's ability to create a positive and supportive environment for his players. This is essential for the development of young players and the overall success of the team.

Umran Malik, the Jammu and Kashmir-based pacer, burst onto the scene in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 with his blistering speed. His impressive performances earned him a Team India debut against Ireland in June 2022. However, the 24-year-old's form has since taken a dip, leading to limited appearances in the IPL and domestic cricket.Malik's struggles in the IPL 2023 and 2024 seasons were attributed to his expensive bowling, as batters found ways to score runs against him. The pacer recently revealed that he missed the ongoing Buchi Babu tournament in Tamil Nadu due to dengue.Malik believes that his lack of domestic appearances has contributed to his poor form. He worked with former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan during the Ranji Trophy but faced challenges due to weather and injuries.Despite the setbacks, Malik remains optimistic and is working on improving his bowling. He is focusing on swing bowling with the new ball and developing a plan to execute his deliveries effectively.Malik acknowledges the importance of fitting into the bowling group and complementing their plans. He believes that by doing so, he can better handle the challenges he faces on the field.

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid has heaped praise on skipper Rohit Sharma, describing him as a "fantastic leader" and a privilege to work with. Dravid's comments come after Rohit's successful tenure as India's T20I captain, during which he led the team to the ICC T20 World Cup title in 2022.Rohit's impressive record in white-ball cricket speaks volumes about his prowess as a batsman. With 14,846 runs, three double hundreds, 33 hundreds, and 87 fifties in ODIs and T20Is combined, he is one of the most prolific run-getters in limited-overs cricket.Beyond his batting prowess, Rohit has also proven to be an astute captain. He overtook MS Dhoni as the most successful T20I captain with 49 wins in 62 matches, leading India to the ICC T20 World Cup title after a thrilling win over South Africa in the final.Dravid believes that Rohit's leadership qualities have been instrumental in his success. "People really gravitated towards him, the team," Dravid said. "I think that makes a big difference."Dravid also praised the humility and work ethic of India's superstar players, including Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravichandran Ashwin. "A lot of these superstars are actually very humble about their preparation," Dravid said. "They are humble about their work ethic. And that is why they are superstars."Dravid's tenure as India head coach was marked by success, including the ICC T20 World Cup trophy and a runners-up finish in the 50-over World Cup. He also guided India to the final of the ICC World Test Championship.

Sanju Samson, the enigmatic wicketkeeper-batter from Rajasthan, has been a constant subject of debate among cricket enthusiasts. Despite his impressive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and sporadic appearances for the national team, Samson has often found himself on the sidelines of the Indian squad.Samson's international debut came in 2015, but he has since struggled to cement his place in the team. He was overlooked for the Asia Cup 2023 and ODI World Cup 2023 squads, despite his consistent performances in the IPL. He was eventually included in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad but did not feature in any matches.Recently, Samson played two matches in India's three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, but failed to score a single run. Despite these setbacks, the 29-year-old remains unfazed."I will just go and play whenever they select me. That's it! End of the day, our team is doing well. I am the kind of person who believes in higher purpose. I just try to take things positively under controllable circumstances and put up the efforts," Samson said at a recent event.Samson's resilience is evident in his performances for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. In the 2024 season, he emerged as the fifth highest run-scorer with 531 runs in 15 matches.Overall, Samson has played 30 T20Is for India, scoring 444 runs, and 16 ODIs, scoring 510 runs. He has also played 167 IPL matches, amassing 4419 runs.Despite his impressive record, Samson's omission from the Indian team has raised questions about the selection criteria. Some experts believe that his inconsistent performances in international cricket have cost him his place, while others argue that he deserves more opportunities.As the Indian team prepares for the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2024, Samson's form and selection will be closely monitored. If he can replicate his IPL performances on the international stage, he could prove to be a valuable asset for the team.

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as Team India's head coach has witnessed a contrasting start, marked by a dominant T20I series victory over Sri Lanka followed by a disappointing ODI series loss.In the T20I series, India under Gambhir's leadership showcased their prowess, securing a 3-0 sweep against Sri Lanka. Suryakumar Yadav emerged as a key performer, showcasing his exceptional batting skills. However, the euphoria was short-lived as Sri Lanka bounced back in the ODI series, claiming a 2-0 victory.The ODI series exposed India's batting frailties on turning pitches, despite the presence of star players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa attributed the team's struggles to the departure of Rahul Dravid as head coach, leaving a significant void to fill.Uthappa expressed confidence in Gambhir's ability to guide India to continued success, particularly in the T20 format. He highlighted Gambhir's leadership qualities, tactical acumen, and ability to create a positive team environment."He's always been someone who thrives under pressure and has consistently sought out big stages to deliver. As far as I'm concerned, I see the same qualities in him as a leader within this group," Uthappa said.India's next challenge lies in a series against Bangladesh, commencing on September 19. The tour will feature two Tests and three T20Is, providing Gambhir with an opportunity to further shape the team's performance and establish his coaching credentials.

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team began with a promising 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka in the T20Is. However, the team suffered a setback in the subsequent 50-over format, losing the three-match series 2-0.The conditions in the one-dayers were challenging, with spin-friendly surfaces making batting progressively difficult. While some argue that such pitches are outliers and should not be overanalyzed, the reverses in the ODIs may serve as a timely wake-up call for the team management.Gambhir's vision for the team emphasizes the development of all-rounders and the ability of batters to bowl. Players like Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma have been given opportunities to roll their arms over. In last year's 50-over World Cup, India's lack of genuine all-rounders, aside from Ravindra Jadeja, left them with a long tail. In this series, India's batting depth extended to eight and even nine in the final one-dayer, with the inclusion of all-rounders Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, and Riyan Parag.Another notable aspect of the tour was the preference for having a left-handed and right-handed batter in the middle as much as possible. However, it remains to be seen whether this strategy will be maintained in the future.Individually, Washington and Parag impressed with their bowling. Parag was effective in the T20s and on his one-day debut, mixing his off- and leg-breaks well. Washington, the Player-of-the-Series in Zimbabwe, continued his fine form, providing vital breakthroughs in the one-dayers.Shivam Dube was given a sustained run in this series to assess his potential as a backup for Hardik Pandya. While his bowling was decent, his inability to close out games with the bat was a disappointment. Known for his ability to hit spinners, Dube failed to do so in the challenging conditions.Rishabh Pant's return to the one-day set-up in the final game came two years after his life-threatening accident but lasted only nine deliveries. For now, it seems that K.L. Rahul, who has been impressive as a middle-order batter in recent years, will continue to don the wicketkeeping gloves.A major concern for the coaching staff is the team's inability to find a reliable third seamer. Arshdeep Singh was unimpressive in the two games, and the team could not try out Khaleel Ahmed or Harshit Rana.India would have wanted to shore up its resources for a few slots in an otherwise settled one-day set-up. The results, though, were mixed, and management will have plenty to ponder in the near future.

Rahul Dravid, the former head coach of the Indian cricket team, recently reflected on his tenure, highlighting the 2021-22 Test series defeat against South Africa as the most challenging moment.In the series, India, led by Virat Kohli, had a golden opportunity to secure their maiden series victory on South African soil. They began with a resounding 113-run victory in the opening Test at Centurion, but the Proteas staged a remarkable comeback, winning the following two Tests by seven wickets each.Dravid attributed the defeat to the absence of several senior players, including Rohit Sharma, and South Africa's resilience. "We were very close, and in both the second and third Test matches, we had a big opportunity," he said. "But South Africa played well and chased back in the fourth innings."Despite the setback, Dravid had an impressive tenure as India's coach. He led the team to an ICC T20 World Cup victory in 2022, a runner-up finish in the 2023 50-over World Cup, and the runner-up spot in the ICC World Test Championship.Dravid's tenure was marked by a focus on player development and a commitment to building a strong team culture. He emphasized the importance of mental toughness and resilience, qualities that were evident in India's performances under his guidance.

With the ODI series against Sri Lanka hanging in the balance, the Indian cricket team intensified their preparations on Tuesday ahead of the crucial third and final ODI in Colombo on Wednesday. The first ODI ended in a thrilling tie last Friday, while Sri Lanka emerged victorious in the second ODI by 32 runs on Sunday.Under the guidance of new head coach Gautam Gambhir, India is determined to avoid their first series loss to Sri Lanka in 27 years. The Indian cricket board (BCCI) shared a video on their official Twitter handle showcasing the Rohit Sharma-led team practicing diligently under the watchful eyes of interim bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, assistant coaches Ryan ten Doeschate, and Abhishek Nayar.Bahutule emphasized the team's focus on addressing areas of improvement, particularly in bowling. "We've been working on certain areas that we need to improve on, and the bowlers have been trying to implement a specific pattern of bowling," he said. "We're trying to find solutions to match that and overcome the challenges."According to reports, Rohit Sharma participated in practice but did not bat. Rishabh Pant showcased his aggressive batting against the spinners in the nets, while Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul had extended batting sessions. Notably, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh did not bowl during the practice session.Ryan ten Doeschate highlighted the team's efforts to learn from their mistakes in the first two games. "We're trying to be specific and learn from the mistakes we made in the first couple of games," he said. "The conditions have been tough, but the guys have come up with their own plans. We're trying to create a positive environment where the players can express themselves and showcase their abilities."With the second match ending in a loss, India faces a dilemma between fielding their strongest XI or experimenting ahead of the next major ICC tournament, which is scheduled to take place in just six months.Abhishek Nayar expressed confidence in the team's ability to bounce back from the setback. "As Indians, we are emotional people," he said. "When we don't get the results we want, it brings out the passion and integrity of each individual. Every cricketer in that dressing room knows what's at stake, and that often brings out the best in the team."A loss in the third ODI would be a disappointing outcome for the newly appointed Gautam Gambhir-led coaching staff, who took over a team that had been performing exceptionally well in ODI cricket less than a year ago. Despite their early success, they would be eager to avoid ending their two-week tour of Sri Lanka with more questions than answers.