Cricket

KL Rahul's batting performance in the upcoming second unofficial Test against Australia A will be closely scrutinized by the Indian national selection committee as he prepares to showcase his skills ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Rahul, who was dropped midway through the home Tests against New Zealand, has been sent to the 'A' Test along with reserve keeper Dhruv Jurel to gain match practice before joining the senior team in Perth on January 11.The India A team will face a stern test against Australia A, which includes seasoned pacer Scott Boland. Boland's presence will provide a challenging environment for the Indian batters, including Rahul, who will likely bat at No. 5 or 6. Rahul's ability to handle quality fast bowling in bouncy conditions will be crucial, as he aims to prove his worth for a spot in the Test series.During the practice session at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Rahul looked in good touch. With Abhimanyu Easwaran and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad expected to open, Rahul's batting position will be similar to what it would be in the Indian Test XI.The Indian selectors believe that Rahul's experience and success in overseas conditions, including centuries at Lord's, Oval, Sydney, and Centurion, make him a more suitable choice than domestic doyen Sarfaraz Khan, despite Khan's impressive 150 against New Zealand in Bengaluru.The India A team will make four changes to the squad that played the first 'unofficial Test' at Mackay, which they lost by seven wickets. Rahul will replace Baba Indrajith, while Jurel will take the place of Ishan Kishan. Navdeep Saini will make way for left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed, and off-spinner all-rounder Tanush Kotian will replace slow left-arm orthodox Manav Suthar.

Shubman Gill's technical prowess and unwavering determination were on full display as he crafted a magnificent 90-run knock on a challenging Indore pitch, giving India a crucial advantage in the third and final Test against New Zealand.Gill's innings was a testament to his meticulous preparation, as he revisited the technical work he had done before the five-Test series against England earlier this year. This allowed him to rediscover his rhythm and confidence against spinners, who were expected to dominate on the rank turner."I was just trying to have fun," Gill said after the day's play. "I love batting, and I wanted to enjoy the opportunity to bat for as long as possible."Gill's partnership with Rishabh Pant, who contributed a quickfire 60, gave India a 28-run lead. New Zealand ended the second day at 171 for 9, still trailing by 143 runs.Gill emphasized the importance of having a clear mindset while batting on a turning track. "I was trying to have fun and enjoy the moment, even if it was difficult," he said. "I wasn't putting too much pressure on myself."He also credited his partnership with Pant for releasing pressure on him. "The way Rishabh came in and started hitting those boundaries, it made it difficult for the bowlers to bowl consistently in that area," Gill said.Gill's innings was particularly impressive given the "bit of panic" that India experienced at the end of the opening day. However, he believes that "one good partnership" of 70-80 runs on the third morning should see the hosts through."It's all about one good partnership," Gill said. "When you are chasing a total which is around 150-160, if you have one good partnership of 70-80 runs, the match is done and dusted."Gill's performance has been a bright spot for India in a series that has been marred by inconsistent batting. His ability to adapt to different conditions and his unwavering belief in his abilities make him a valuable asset to the team.

KL Rahul's Touching Gesture Sparks Retirement Speculation After India's Test LossTeam India's recent defeat to New Zealand in the first Test at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium has ignited speculation about KL Rahul's future in Test cricket. Following India's eight-wicket loss, a video emerged on social media showing Rahul touching the pitch, a gesture reminiscent of Sachin Tendulkar's farewell moment during his final Test.Rahul's recent form has been under scrutiny, with disappointing scores of 0 and 12 in the match against New Zealand. His second-innings failure was particularly crucial as it came after a promising partnership between Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant.With Shubman Gill likely to return for the upcoming Test in Pune and Sarfaraz Khan's impressive 150-run performance in Bengaluru, speculation is mounting that Rahul may be dropped for the critical match. The viral clip of Rahul touching the pitch has further fueled these rumors, with some fans suggesting the right-hander could be considering retirement from Test cricket.Rahul's struggles have been evident in his last five innings, where he has managed just one fifty during India's recent series against Bangladesh. Despite scoring a half-century against England and a century in South Africa earlier this year, his inconsistency has raised questions about his place in the Test squad.The gesture in Bengaluru has only intensified the speculation surrounding Rahul's future in the format. While some fans believe it could be a sign of his impending retirement, others suggest it may simply be a moment of reflection after a disappointing performance.The Indian team management has not yet commented on Rahul's future, but the speculation is likely to continue until he addresses the issue or his performance improves significantly.

Joe Root's remarkable batting form since stepping down as England captain will face a stern test in the upcoming series against India and Australia, where his skills against both pace and spin will be thoroughly scrutinized, according to Australian cricket legend Ian Chappell.With 10 centuries in just 54 innings over the past two and a half years, Root has surpassed Sir Alastair Cook as England's highest Test run-scorer. However, Chappell believes that Root's true mettle will be tested in the upcoming challenges against India and Australia."Root's phenomenal run-making will again be tested when first he faces India at home and then Australia away. In those two series, Root will be facing the best attacks in Test cricket, and his technique against both pace and spin will again be fully scrutinised," Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo.India is scheduled to tour England for a four-match Test series next summer, while the Three Lions will face the daunting task of regaining the Ashes later next year in Australia."Those are difficult challenges that Root and England will face in the future. Currently, they're desperately involved in a bid to win after Pakistan levelled their three-game series with a spin-revolution victory against a clueless England," Chappell added.The Ben Stokes-led side is currently under pressure after Pakistan leveled the three-match series 1-1. The third Test begins on October 24."As the most technically gifted, Root will have the task of convincing his fellow team-mates that numerous versions of the sweep shot aren't the ideal way to combat good spinners. Despite Root's proven talent, that will be a very difficult task," Chappell noted.Since his remarkable 73 on debut Test versus England, Root has emerged as the England batting mainstay, but he has yet to score a century in Australia. Chappell feels his vulnerability to being caught behind suggests a need to reassess his approach to extra bounce on Australian pitches."Root was born to make runs. He's a joy to watch, as he balances a solid technique with the desire to score at every opportunity," Chappell wrote. "One of the few anomalies in Root's record is his failure to score a Test century in Australia despite having played 27 innings there. His last chance to rectify that statistic will likely come in 2025-26, when - barring injury or retirement - he will play another Ashes series.""It's not as though Root has performed poorly in Australia, as his average of around 35 is respectable. However, the lack of a century despite making nine scores in excess of 50 is most unlike Root.""In Australia, the four main bowlers have dismissed Root a number of times and this could be pointed to as a weakness. Nevertheless there's an easy answer: if you're going to be dismissed, it's preferable to get out to a good bowler.""The more worrying Root statistic in Australia is the number of times he's been caught behind. Keepers have had a bonanza as ten times they've clasped Root's edges in just 27 innings. While he could counter with "you've got to be good enough to nick 'em", it does suggest he needs to re-assess the extra bounce Australian pitches provide," Chappell added.

Pakistan's frontline spinners, led by Noman Ali's eight-wicket haul, orchestrated a resounding 152-run victory over England in the second Test in Multan, leveling the three-match series at 1-1.Chasing a challenging target of 297 on a turning Multan Cricket Stadium pitch, England's batting lineup crumbled under the relentless pressure of Pakistan's spin attack. Skipper Ben Stokes, who has often played match-defining knocks, top-scored for England with 37, but his efforts proved futile.Noman Ali emerged as the star performer for Pakistan, claiming 8-46 in a devastating spell. His victims included England's top-order batters, including Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Jamie Smith. Off-spinner Sajid Khan also contributed with the wicket of Ollie Pope.England's batting woes began early on the fourth day's morning session, as they resumed on 36-2. Pope's dismissal in the second over set the tone for a collapse. Noman Ali then ran amok, trapping Root lbw and Brook in similar fashion.Stokes, known for his aggressive batting, attempted to revive England's hopes with a counterattacking approach. However, his dismissal, caught at midwicket while attempting a big shot, proved to be the final nail in the coffin.Pakistan's victory was a testament to the effectiveness of their spin attack on a turning track. The hosts' bowlers exploited the conditions to their advantage, making it difficult for England's batters to negotiate the spin and bounce.The result leaves the series evenly poised heading into the final Test in Karachi. Pakistan will be confident of securing a series win on home soil, while England will be determined to bounce back and claim the series.

Bangladesh's head coach, Chandika Hathurusinghe, expressed his disappointment after his team's defeat in the second Test against India. The match, which was affected by rain, saw India adopt an aggressive batting approach that forced a result.Hathurusinghe acknowledged that India's strategy caught Bangladesh off guard. "This approach was not seen before and we did not react quickly," he said. "Credit to Rohit (Sharma) and his team for taking such an approach and making a game out of it."The defeat was particularly painful for Bangladesh, who had recently defeated Pakistan 2-0. "This defeat is really hurting us," Hathurusinghe said. "Batting has been disappointing. We have not been performing to our potential in the last few series."Hathurusinghe refused to compare his bowlers and batters, stating that both are his players. He also acknowledged the high quality of the opposition, saying, "We are learning a lot from here."The series has highlighted areas where Bangladesh needs to improve. "Going forward, we will know what the top standard is, since this is the best team," Hathurusinghe said. "Playing India is the toughest assignment at this stage, so we know how much we need to improve."Hathurusinghe remained uncertain about whether Litton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim should be promoted up the order. He also expressed concern about veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan's future in Test cricket.

Hanuma Vihari, a key member of India's back-to-back Test series victories in Australia, believes the absence of veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara will be a significant loss when the team aims for a hat-trick Down Under later this year. The five-match series begins in Perth on November 22.Pujara, who was out of favor, was the leading run-getter in the 2018-19 series with 521 runs off 1258 balls and was once again the backbone of Indian batting three years later when he accumulated 271 runs off 928 balls. Across both teams, the 103-Test veteran faced the most number of balls to wear out the opposition attack comprising Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc.As another Border-Gavaskar Trophy is on the horizon, Vihari wonders who can play Pujara's role this time around. "Pujara will be a big miss. He was the backbone of the batting line-up in the last two series for Team India. He took blows, he batted time, he stayed there for a long time, he saw the new ball, he got runs. He made the job easier for the other batters coming in," Vihari told PTI."So that kind of role... who will play is a question mark for me. Currently, I would say we have an attacking mode of a batting line-up (the top six). All like to play their shots. Virat is the only one I feel in that batting line-up who can be like a glue to the other batters. He can stay on and bat the most number of overs and you know batting in Australia is all about time. If you see off the new ball, it gets a little easier with the older Kookaburra ball," added Vihari, who played the last of his 16 Tests in July 2022.In the absence of Pujara, he also sees a significant role for K L Rahul at number six. He feels Rishabh Pant is best suited at number five. Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli form the top four."That's where KL Rahul's role also will be important because he is someone who's got the experience in playing in SENA countries and he can bat long. He has done well in SENA countries. I feel they are looking at KL Rahul at number 6 as well. By playing Rahul ahead of Sarfaraz in the current series (against Bangladesh), they are looking at a bigger picture. They want experience in number 6 when we tour Australia. Because in Australia playing at 6 you need to have good technique whether it's facing the second new ball or batting after an early collapse," he said.Vihari also thinks playing Australia in their own backyard will be the biggest test thus far for Jaiswal, who has done well at home but is yet to prove himself in overseas conditions. "It's his biggest test. But he's a very confident guy. Overall facing Australia in Australia, the mental preparation is key. This time we are playing five Test matches in Australia compared to four earlier. So it's even more mentally draining Down Under because everything is against you. The media is against you, the people are against you, and you are away from home facing Australian attack in Australia," added Vihari, who stitched a match-saving stand with R Ashwin in the Sydney Test on the previous tour.

KL Rahul, the talented Indian opener, has showcased his exceptional batting prowess with sublime centuries across various Test venues. Despite his impressive achievements, his career statistics have not fully reflected his potential.Rahul's journey has been marked by both brilliance and inconsistency. He holds the distinction of being the only Indian opener to score Test hundreds in England, South Africa, and Australia. He is also the only visiting batter to achieve two Test centuries at Supersport Park, Centurion, a notoriously challenging ground for non-South African batters. Additionally, Rahul is the only Indian batter to score seven consecutive Test 50s.However, Rahul's overall Test average of under 35 has left fans and critics questioning his consistency. Factors such as a "confused approach," "over-thinking," and "scoreboard inertia" have been cited as potential reasons for his modest figures.Despite these challenges, Rahul has received significant support from successive captain-coach combinations. He was appointed as India's 34th Test captain in 2022, but his form suffered during his tenure. However, he has regained the backing of current captain Rohit Sharma, who has expressed confidence in Rahul's ability to flourish in Test cricket.Rahul's versatility has been a key factor in his longevity. He has seamlessly transitioned from opener to wicketkeeper and middle-order enforcer in ODIs, delivering notable performances such as his match-winning century against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023.As India prepares for the upcoming tour of Australia, Rahul's presence as a backup wicketkeeper to Rishabh Pant could prove invaluable. His ability to bat at various positions, including No. 6, provides the team with flexibility and depth.Rahul's career has been a tale of both promise and frustration. With the support of his captain and the team management, he has the opportunity to overcome his inconsistencies and establish himself as a consistent performer in Test cricket.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto has expressed his unwavering support for the struggling Shakib Al Hasan, emphasizing that the all-rounder is working tirelessly to regain his bowling form. In the opening Test against India at Chepauk, Shakib endured his most expensive bowling figures in his Test career, conceding 129 runs in 21 overs without taking a wicket.Despite Shakib's poor performance, Shanto remains confident in his abilities. "He (Shakib) is doing everything possible to get his form back," Shanto said at the post-match press conference. "I look at how much hard work a player is putting into his game."Shanto believes that Shakib's intentions and willingness to contribute to the team are more important than his current form. "I look at these things mainly," he said. "I try to look at everyone in the same way, whether it is, from Nahid Rana to Mushfiq bhai."Shanto also justified his decision to not bowl Shakib enough in the first innings, explaining that the pacers were performing well. "I didn't really need him (Shakib) in the first innings, seeing how the three pace bowlers were doing," he said.Former India left-arm spinner Murali Kartik revealed that Shakib had discomfort on his spinning finger and shoulder, having undergone surgery on his bowling finger. Shanto confirmed that Shakib's finger was taped and that he was bleeding from it.Despite the heavy defeat in the first Test, Shanto expressed confidence in a comeback in the second game in Kanpur. "We have to really focus on our strengths and believe in ourselves about how we can contribute to the team," he said.Shanto acknowledged the importance of the top-order firing in the second innings, but admitted that the batters caved in in the first innings. "I think it was very important learning wise," he said. "In first innings batting, especially top of the order, we must be a little careful as we need to put in some runs."Shanto believes that the team can bounce back from this setback. "I hope they will come back stronger," he said.