Cricket

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of the Indian cricket team, commenced his tenure with the team's first practice session in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, ahead of the upcoming T20I series against the hosts. The Indian contingent arrived in Colombo on Monday and subsequently traveled to Pallekele for the three-match T20I series, which will be followed by as many ODIs in Colombo.Following Rohit Sharma's retirement from the T20I format, Suryakumar Yadav has been entrusted with the captaincy for the series. Rohit will rejoin the team for the ODIs, along with Virat Kohli, who also announced his retirement from the shortest format of the game.During the practice session, Gambhir was observed closely monitoring the players and providing valuable batting advice to wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson. The BCCI shared a video of the session on their official Twitter account, highlighting Gambhir's active involvement in the team's preparations.Prior to the team's departure for Sri Lanka, Gambhir addressed his first press conference alongside chief selector Ajit Agarkar. Agarkar explained the rationale behind appointing Suryakumar as the T20I captain over all-rounder Hardik Pandya."Suryakumar is one of the deserving candidates. He is one of the best T20 batters in the world. We wanted a captain who was likely to play all the games. We will see how he will do," Agarkar stated.Regarding Hardik Pandya, Agarkar emphasized his continued importance to the team. "As far as Hardik is concerned, he is still a very important player. And that's what we want him to be. Fitness has been a challenge for him over the last few years...Then it becomes difficult for the coach or selectors. I think Surya has the necessary qualities to succeed as a captain," he added.The first T20I between India and Sri Lanka will be played in Pallekele on Saturday.

Sanath Jayasuriya, the interim head coach of Sri Lanka, has revealed that Zubin Bharucha, the high performance director of Rajasthan Royals, has assisted his batters in preparing for the upcoming Twenty20 series against India. Jayasuriya believes that his team can capitalize on the retirements of prominent Indian players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.Following India's World Cup victory last month, Rohit, Kohli, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirement from T20 International cricket. The Twenty20 series versus Sri Lanka will begin in Pallekele on July 27.Despite the fact that a few Sri Lankan players compete in the Lanka Premier League, Jayasuriya disclosed that they have trained with Bharucha for six days. "We just started the sessions just after the LPL. Most of the players are playing the LPL, so they were busy with cricket and what we wanted (for them) was to play cricket as much as possible," he said, as per PTI."We got Zubin from Rajasthan Royals and we had about six days of work and also with the other cricketers who finished with the LPL. I hope the players have learnt what you (management) wanted to do in terms of practice and their technique."The preparation was good, and we have two more days in Kandy before the T20 starts," he added.According to Jayasuriya, Bharucha's sessions with the players were intensive, and they learned a lot from him. "It is important to learn as international cricketers new techniques, new approaches and shot making to be effective," he said.In the Twenty20 Internationals, India has Suryakumar Yadav as their new captain. Jayasuriya, despite acknowledging his team's challenges, urged them to seize the opportunity. "Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are best players in the world. Looking at their talent and the kind of cricket they have played we all know where they belong, along with Jadeja," Jayasuriya was quoted as saying by Associated Press during a press meet."Their absence will be loss to the Indian team and we have to take maximum advantage out of that," he said.Following the disaster in the T20 World Cup, heads were rolled in the Sri Lankan team's upper management. Following Sri Lanka's elimination from the preliminary round, Wanindu Hasaranga, the captain of the squad, Chris Silverwood, the head coach, and Mahela Jayewardene, the high performance consultant, all tendered their resignations.Regarding Sri Lanka's current situation, Jayasuriya expressed his optimism that the players will be able to grow personally. "It is up to the players, we have been doing all the work in terms of practice, we have given training, we have got best coaches. I think Sri Lanka Cricket has provided most of the things and now it is up to the players," he said."For the present cricketers to come to that level, we have been doing all the necessary work and I hope in next two years there will be a lot of development in these boys," the batting great added."We need to give a little bit of time. I know, for the cricket-loving public it is frustrating sometimes but be patient, give us time, we are working on it. It is really hard work on it with the players and they will do well."While appreciating the angst of the supporters, the 1996 World Cup winner stated Sri Lanka has the quality in its ranks to emerge from difficult circumstances. "We have enough of talent. What we want (from them) is to go out in the middle and deliver -- it is not easy, we know that," he said."We have delivered when we were playing and now the time has come, people are waiting for this present team to perform and with what we are doing at the moment they will deliver very soon," he added.

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, is on the road to recovery from an ankle injury that has kept him out of competitive cricket since the ODI World Cup 2023. The 33-year-old pacer has undergone surgery for Achilles tendon and has recently resumed bowling practice.Shami's return to fitness is a significant boost for Team India, who are preparing for a busy schedule of white-ball and Test matches. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has confirmed that Shami has started bowling and is targeting a return to the Indian team for the first Test against Bangladesh on September 19."We more or less know who the guys are, there are some injuries at the moment and hope they will be back. Shami has started to bowl, which is a good sign. September 19 is the first Test (against Bangladesh) and that was always the goal. I don't know if that is his timeline for recovery, will have to ask the guys at the NCA about that," Agarkar said in a press conference.Agarkar also emphasized the importance of building depth in the Test team, especially with the upcoming series against Bangladesh and Australia. "There are so many Tests coming. We will need some depth. Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj have been around for a while, these are the obvious ones. But there will be some conversation around it. Got a lot of first-class cricket coming up so we can build guys up like that," he said.Shami's return will provide a much-needed boost to India's bowling attack, which has been weakened by injuries to Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. The pacer's ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace will be crucial for India's success in the upcoming Test series.

Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli: A United Front Despite On-Field ClashesFormer India head coach Ashish Nehra has shed light on the relationship between new head coach Gautam Gambhir and superstar batter Virat Kohli, who have had a history of on-field confrontations.Despite their past clashes, Nehra believes that Gambhir and Kohli will work together harmoniously as they share a common goal of success for the Indian team. He emphasized that their on-field conflicts are not indicative of their relationship off the field."Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir are two very passionate individuals. Whenever they play for a team, they can turn up against the opposition. But, when they are together in a dressing room, they are together, united for the team," Nehra said.Nehra also highlighted the experience and maturity of both Gambhir and Kohli, which he believes will help them navigate any potential conflicts. "You're talking about Virat Kohli, who has an experience of over 16-17 years, Gautam Gambhir is also experienced. The things on the outside, people get an impression about it. It's not just Gambhir and Kohli, there are so many players who have had on-field spats in the past, but when they play together for a team, they have done well as a player, as a coach-captain, as a coach and senior player," he added.Nehra also commented on Gambhir's upfront and transparent personality, which he believes is a positive attribute for a coach. "Gautam Gambhir is upfront, transparent which is great. He keeps it clear and speaks his mind. That's very important. Yes, I agree, everybody has their own style (of coaching), to operate with the coach, captain and player. I don't see any problem with these two and where they are in their careers," Nehra said.While Gambhir's coaching style may differ from that of his predecessor Rahul Dravid, Nehra does not anticipate any major issues between Gambhir and Kohli. He believes that their shared passion for the game and their commitment to the team will ultimately prevail.

Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has expressed his belief that Hardik Pandya should not be disheartened by his exclusion from leadership roles in Team India. Uthappa believes that the decision was made with Pandya's long-term interests in mind."If I was in Hardik's place, I would feel taken care of to a certain extent," Uthappa said in an interview with NDTV. "If I am 34 or 35 years old, and I am someone who has been injury-prone throughout my career, and a certain responsibility has been taken away from me with the mindset of extending my career, it has given me the best chance of offering my service to my country, for as long as possible."Uthappa emphasized that the absence of captaincy responsibilities could prolong Pandya's international career. "Knowing Hardik Pandya on a certain level personally, I would say he'll be someone saying 'fine, their perspective is also right'. They want a player of my quality and caliber to serve the country for as long as possible, I would love to do that as well," Uthappa added."If you ask me between the two what would I pick, I would say representing my country and winning as many world cup championships, irrespective of the fact whether I am the captain or just a player," Uthappa continued.Pandya's exclusion from leadership roles was attributed to his fitness and availability concerns, according to chief selector Ajit Agarkar. However, Uthappa believes that the decision was ultimately made to protect Pandya's long-term health and performance."I think it's a great decision for Hardik Pandya," Uthappa said. "It's a great decision for Indian cricket. It's a great decision for the future of Indian cricket. I think it's a great decision for Hardik Pandya's career."Pandya is currently part of India's squad for the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of the Indian men's cricket team, commenced his tenure on Tuesday as the team initiated their first practice session in Pallekele, Sri Lanka. The session marked the beginning of preparations for the upcoming three-match T20I series against the host nation.Gambhir, who succeeded the esteemed Rahul Dravid, led the team onto the field and oversaw the training session. The session encompassed fielding drills, running exercises, and one-on-one interactions with the players. Suryakumar Yadav, the newly appointed T20I captain, also actively engaged with the team members.During the session, Gambhir was observed providing batting guidance to Sanju Samson and engaging in discussions with all-rounder Shivam Dube. Gambhir's coaching staff for the Sri Lanka tour includes former India all-rounder Abhishek Nayar and Dutch batter Ryan ten Doeschate. The trio recently collaborated to guide the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to victory in the IPL 2024.Their maiden assignment with the national team will commence on July 27 with the T20I series, followed by three ODIs. T Dilip, who was part of Dravid's support staff, will continue as the fielding coach. Sairaj Bahutule, affiliated with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, will serve as the interim bowling coach.Gambhir's appointment as head coach has generated significant anticipation among fans and experts alike. His proven track record as a successful player and his recent coaching success with KKR have raised expectations for the Indian team's performance under his leadership.The upcoming series against Sri Lanka will provide an early indication of Gambhir's coaching philosophy and the team's progress under his guidance. The series will also serve as a crucial preparation for the upcoming Asia Cup and the ICC T20 World Cup later this year.

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of Team India, has acknowledged the inevitable retirement of veteran players and the need for the team to navigate transition phases. Gambhir's appointment follows the retirement of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja from T20Is after India's triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup.In a press conference, Gambhir addressed the question of whether he would encourage players to develop versatility across formats and maintain consistency in selection. He emphasized the natural progression of retirements and the importance of adapting to these transitions."Eventually, these things happen. But we can't say right now that there will be three different teams," Gambhir stated. "We will go through a transition in T20s because Virat, Rohit, and Ravindra are not there."Gambhir stressed the value of consistency in 50-over and Test cricket, highlighting the benefits of players who can perform effectively in multiple formats. "The more consistent we can be, the better. The more players that can play both formats, the better for the team," he said.Chief selector Agarkar echoed Gambhir's sentiments, stating that the team does not intend to create three distinct squads. "You don't decide on three different teams," Agarkar said. "We try to find the best balance depending on the format, whether it's the same players or different. Nothing is pre-decided. We try to pick the best 15."The speculation about three separate teams arose from noticeable differences in the T20I and ODI squads selected for India's tour of Sri Lanka. Notably, T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav was omitted from the ODI setup.Agarkar explained that Yadav was not considered for ODIs due to the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. "Shreyas is back, KL is back, they had great World Cups. Rishabh is back as well. So there is some real quality through the middle order," Agarkar said. "At this point, Surya is a T20 player."India's tour of Sri Lanka, comprising three T20Is and three ODIs, commences on July 27.

Team India embarked on their journey to Sri Lanka on Monday for the upcoming white-ball series, commencing on July 27. The tour features three T20Is and three ODIs, with Suryakumar Yadav leading the T20I squad and Rohit Sharma captaining the ODI team.The appointment of Shubman Gill as vice-captain in both formats raised eyebrows, as many expected Hardik Pandya to assume the role. However, chairman of the selection committee Ajit Agarkar explained the decision, citing Gill's all-format capabilities and leadership qualities."Shubman is a three-format player who has shown quality over the last year or so," Agarkar said. "We want someone who can learn from senior players like Surya and Rohit, so we don't face challenges in finding a captain in case of injuries or loss of form."The series marks the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who were overlooked in recent series. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant also made the squad, despite his recent injury layoff.Agarkar emphasized that the door remains open for former deputies like Rahul, Pant, and Pandya to assume leadership roles in the future. "We need to get Pant playing again," he said. "KL has not been part of T20s for a while, so we'll see what he can do."The Indian team will be eager to perform well in Sri Lanka, as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia later this year. The series will provide valuable experience and help the team fine-tune their strategies.

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of the Indian cricket team, has refuted rumors that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rejected his requests for coaching staff personnel. In a press conference, Gambhir expressed satisfaction with the BCCI's acceptance of his proposals.Gambhir announced the appointment of Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coaches. Nayar, who served as assistant coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during their IPL 2024 triumph, will join the Indian team. Ten Doeschate, the former Netherlands international, will serve as fielding coach, a role he also held at KKR.Gambhir emphasized the continuity of the support staff, with T Dilip continuing as fielding coach. He explained that the addition of two assistant coaches will allow for a more comprehensive focus on all three departments of the game."I feel there could be assistant coaches working and focusing on all three departments rather than one specific department," said Gambhir. "That's the reason we now have two assistant coaches. That's the way we will go forward as well."Gambhir confirmed that Nayar, Dilip, and former India leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule will accompany the team to Sri Lanka for the upcoming tour. Ten Doeschate will join the squad directly in Colombo.The head coach stated that the finalization of the entire support staff will occur after the Sri Lanka tour. He highlighted his positive experiences working with Nayar and ten Doeschate during the IPL."We still have one month after the Sri Lanka tour, and we can finalize after the tour," said Gambhir. "Importantly, I've worked with Ryan and Abhishek closely during the IPL. I enjoyed working with them, they are thorough professionals, and there can't be a bigger and better opportunity now."Reports have emerged that Gambhir has also requested the inclusion of South African pacer Morne Morkel in the coaching staff. However, this has not been officially confirmed.