Cricket

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 concluded with the Kolkata Knight Riders emerging victorious, claiming their third title after defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai. However, the absence of Team India players in the final has sparked commentary from Pakistan legend Wasim Akram, who views it as a "blessing in disguise" for Indian cricket ahead of the T20 World Cup.Akram, speaking to Sportskeeda, emphasized that the lack of Indian players in the IPL final allows them to concentrate solely on their preparations for the World Cup, without the additional strain of a prolonged tournament. "Now, at least none of them will have to claim fatigue. They were thinking ahead, prioritizing India over reaching the final. It could be a blessing in disguise for India," Akram stated.Akram, who had previously expressed concerns about player fatigue due to the demanding IPL schedule, noted that the Indian contingent would benefit from the additional rest and preparation time. "We discussed in the previous show that I was worried about their potential fatigue, and they will be tired, no doubt. Even America is not their home ground. I think Pakistan's first match is in Dallas. Now they will go and play there, with one or two practice matches. It will be okay, I suppose. It is T20, the boys will recover, and nowadays fitness levels are very high," he added.The Indian squad has already arrived in New York to prepare for the T20 World Cup. They will play a warm-up match against Bangladesh on June 1 at Nassau County, providing crucial practice time before the tournament begins. The early focus on preparation is expected to give India a better chance this time around.The T20 World Cup is set to start on June 2, with Rohit Sharma's Team India beginning their campaign against Ireland on June 5 in New York. The absence of Indian players in the IPL final ensures they are well-rested and focused, an advantage that Akram believes could be pivotal.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has closed the application deadline for the position of Team India head coach, with Gautam Gambhir emerging as a leading candidate. However, both the BCCI and Gambhir have remained tight-lipped about the situation.Gambhir's name has gained significant traction, particularly after his successful stint as captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders, who won their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title on Sunday. However, the BCCI has not yet made any official statements, indicating that they may not have a wide range of high-caliber candidates to choose from.Notably, no notable foreign coach has applied for the post, as BCCI secretary Jay Shah has emphasized the board's preference for someone who has risen through the ranks and understands the domestic structure. The BCCI's primary target was reportedly VVS Laxman, the National Cricket Academy head, but he is believed to be uninterested in a full-time position that requires him to be available for 10 months a year.Sources within the BCCI have indicated that the board is not in a hurry to make a decision, as the team will be busy with the World T20 in June. Additionally, senior players will be rested from tours of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, allowing NCA-based senior coaches to accompany the team.Another factor to consider is Gambhir's close relationship with Kolkata Knight Riders principal owner Shah Rukh Khan. Leaving an IPL team that has been a part of his identity for the former India opener may not be an easy decision.Furthermore, the BCCI is reportedly seeking input from senior India players, who are currently in New York, on whether Gambhir would be a suitable replacement for Rahul Dravid.

Indian Cricket Team Arrives in New York for T20 World Cup 2024The Indian cricket team, led by captain Rohit Sharma, has arrived in New York to participate in the T20 World Cup 2024. The team, which includes pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and top-ranked T20I hitter Suryakumar Yadav, departed for the US on Saturday.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a video on its official social media account showing the players traveling to the United States. The footage captured the Indian cricketers boarding the team bus and arriving at the New York airport."Touchdown New York! #TeamIndia have arrived for the #T20WorldCup," BCCI tweeted.India's first match in the T20 World Cup will be against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan is scheduled for June 9. India will conclude their Group A matches on June 12 against the USA, the tournament co-host, and on June 15 against Canada.The Indian team is one of the favorites to win the T20 World Cup. They have a strong batting lineup led by Sharma, Yadav, and Virat Kohli. The bowling attack is equally impressive, with Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Yuzvendra Chahal leading the charge.India will be looking to improve on their performance in the previous T20 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the semi-finals by England. The team has been in good form in recent months, winning the Asia Cup and the T20I series against New Zealand.The T20 World Cup 2024 is expected to be a highly competitive tournament, with all the top teams in the world participating. India will be hoping to add to their two T20 World Cup titles and cement their status as one of the best cricket teams in the world.

The T20 World Cup, scheduled to commence on June 1 in the United States and West Indies, presents a golden opportunity for Team India to break their prolonged ICC title drought. Led by Rohit Sharma, the Indian squad is determined to rectify their near-miss in the ODI World Cup last year, where they succumbed to Australia in the final.However, former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull has identified a glaring weakness in the Indian team's composition. Doull emphasizes the absence of top-order batsmen who can contribute with a few overs of bowling in the T20 format."That's one thing India have been missing massively. Players in their top-five, six, who can bowl a couple of overs in T20 cricket," Doull stated.Doull also speculates on the potential changes to the Indian squad after the T20 World Cup. He envisions a future lineup that includes Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top, along with Shivam Dube, who can provide bowling depth in the top five."You might have a couple of guys, Shivam Dube stays, couple guys who can bowl two or three overs in that top five. That then becomes crucial and then you can bat deeper and pick four genuine bowlers, and then you have 2-3 all-rounders who can do the job, two of whom are in your top-five," Doull explained.As the T20 World Cup draws near, expectations are soaring for Team India. Fans are optimistic that the combination of experienced players and emerging talent will propel the team to the elusive ICC trophy and end their title drought.

The Indian cricket team has embarked on its journey to the United States for the ICC T20 World Cup, which commences on June 1. The first group of players, including captain Rohit Sharma, pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah, and top-ranked T20I batsman Suryakumar Yadav, departed from Mumbai airport.Accompanying the players were head coach Rahul Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour. Young batting talent Shubman Gill, all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube, along with pacers Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Khaleel Ahmed, were also part of the contingent.The spin department was represented by Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rinku Singh, and Virat Kohli are yet to join the team.India's T20 World Cup campaign begins on June 5 against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. The highly anticipated India versus Pakistan clash will take place on June 9. India will then face tournament co-hosts USA (June 12) and Canada (June 15) to wrap up their Group A matches.India will be aiming to end their ICC trophy drought, having last won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. Since then, India has reached the 50-over World Cup final in 2023, semifinal in 2015 and 2019, the title clash of the ICC World Test Championship in 2021 and 2023, T20 WC final in 2014, semifinals in 2016 and 2022 but failed to secure a major ICC trophy.India will be aiming to win their first T20 WC title since they won the inaugural edition of the tournament back in 2007 in South Africa. In the last edition held in Australia in 2022, India lost to England by 10 wickets in the semifinals.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has denied reports that former Australian cricketers Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer were approached for the position of head coach of the Indian senior men's team. BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated that the board has not contacted any former Australian cricketer for the coaching role.Shah emphasized the significance of the head coach position for Team India, which boasts a massive global fan base and a rich cricketing history. He stressed the need for a highly professional coach who can nurture the team's talented players and elevate Indian cricket to new heights.Shah clarified that the BCCI is focused on identifying candidates with a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and who have risen through the ranks. He believes that an in-depth knowledge of the domestic cricket framework is crucial for the coach to effectively guide Team India.Ponting had previously revealed that he was contacted about the head coach position but declined due to lifestyle considerations. He expressed his desire to coach a national team but acknowledged that the time commitment and conflict with his IPL involvement made it unsuitable for him at present.Langer, who was reportedly interested in the role, also withdrew his candidacy after receiving advice from Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul. Rahul cautioned Langer about the immense pressure and political dynamics involved in coaching Team India, which he described as significantly more challenging than managing an IPL franchise.The BCCI has set a deadline of May 27 for applications for the head coach position. The board is expected to conduct a thorough selection process to identify the most suitable candidate to lead Team India into the future.

As the T20 World Cup 2024 looms on the horizon, Team India embarks on a quest to break their ICC trophy drought. The tournament, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies, commences on June 1, with India aiming to reclaim the title they last won in 2007.Despite impressive performances in recent years, India has endured disappointing exits in the past two editions of the T20 World Cup, crashing out in the league stage in 2021 and the semi-finals in 2022. Ahead of the upcoming event, former England cricketer David Lloyd has sparked controversy with his assessment of India's chances.Speaking to talkSPORT, Lloyd labeled India as a "predictable team" that lacks the necessary threat to challenge for the title. "The shackles are not off," he remarked. "I would think the opposition would accept the quality... But they ain't taking a risk with bat or ball."India's preparations for the tournament will begin with a warm-up match against Bangladesh in the USA on June 1. The venue and timing for this match are yet to be confirmed. The ICC has scheduled warm-up games from May 27 to June 1 across the USA and Trinidad and Tobago, involving 17 of the 20 participating teams. These matches will not carry T20I status, allowing teams to field all members of their 15-player squads. Teams can opt to play up to two warm-up matches, depending on their arrival schedule.India's path to the title will be a challenging one, with the tournament featuring some of the world's top T20 teams. The team will need to find a way to overcome their recent struggles in ICC events and play with the freedom and aggression that has characterized their best performances.

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has expressed his unwavering support for Hardik Pandya, who has faced recent struggles, predicting that Pandya will deliver an exceptional performance for Team India in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. Yuvraj emphasized the crucial role of Pandya's fitness and bowling prowess in the team's success.As the ambassador of the T20 World Cup, Yuvraj shared his insights on the Indian team's prospects. India has announced a formidable 15-member squad led by Rohit Sharma, along with four traveling reserves, for the tournament. The team aims to reclaim the T20 World Cup title, having triumphed in the inaugural edition in 2007.Yuvraj, a pivotal member of that victorious 2007 team, expressed his eagerness to witness India lift the trophy once again. Despite showing signs of regaining his bowling form in the IPL, Pandya, the captain of the Mumbai Indians, endured a disappointing batting performance, scoring only 216 runs in 14 matches. This slump followed his return from a prolonged injury layoff that forced him to withdraw from the ODI World Cup last year.However, Yuvraj remains steadfast in his belief that Pandya will shine in the tournament, expressing confidence that the all-rounder will deliver something extraordinary. "The selection has been made based on players' performances in international cricket and the IPL," Yuvraj said. "While Hardik's IPL form has not been impressive, his past contributions to India cannot be overlooked. His bowling and fitness will be crucial, and I believe he has the potential to make a significant impact in this World Cup."Yuvraj's endorsement of Pandya highlights the importance of experience and versatility in the T20 format. Pandya's ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a valuable asset to the Indian team. His return to form will be a major boost for India's title aspirations.

Harbhajan Singh, the legendary Indian spinner, has expressed his interest in potentially taking on the role of head coach for Team India in the future. In an interview with ANI, Harbhajan emphasized that coaching the Men in Blue is primarily about managing the team effectively rather than teaching players technical skills."Coaching India is about man management, not about teaching players how to drive and pull. They know it very well. You can give some guidance to them," said Harbhajan.Harbhajan's statement comes amidst the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) inviting applications for the position of men's national team head coach. The tenure for the role will commence on July 1, 2024, and conclude on December 31, 2027, coinciding with the next 50-over Cricket World Cup.The BCCI has set a deadline of May 27, 6 PM for interested candidates to submit their applications. The selection process will involve a thorough review of applications, followed by personal interviews and assessments of shortlisted candidates.Harbhajan, who retired from international cricket in 2016, has been involved in coaching roles in the past. He served as the head coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a brief period in 2022.The former spinner acknowledged that he has not yet decided whether to apply for the Team India head coach position. However, he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to give back to the sport that has given him so much."Cricket has given me so much and if I get a chance to give it back, I would be more than happy," said Harbhajan.The BCCI has outlined specific qualifications for potential head coach candidates. Applicants must have played a minimum of 30 Test matches or 50 ODIs, or have served as the head coach of a full member Test-playing nation for at least two years. Alternatively, they must have been the head coach of an Associate member/IPL team or equivalent international league/first-class teams/national A teams for a minimum of three years.India's current head coach, Rahul Dravid, was given an extension until June 2024 after the team failed to win the ICC Cricket World Cup at home in November 2023. Dravid's tenure will conclude during the ICC T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA, which will take place from June 1 to 29.