Cricket

Shubman Gill's peculiar batting statistic has left cricket pundits scratching their heads. Since 2020, Gill has boasted the highest average among Indian Test batters in the second innings, but his overall Test average remains a modest 35. This glaring disparity suggests a consistent underperformance in the first innings.In the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh, Gill's pattern repeated itself. After a disappointing duck in the first innings, he rebounded with a magnificent 119 in the second. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his bewilderment at this recurring phenomenon."I have no idea. I just cannot apply a cricketing reason to this," Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo. "His Test career went off the rails slightly. He started very well against Australia in Australia - got a 90. After that, he had a few opportunities against not-so-great oppositions in India and didn't quite cash in, didn't get the big scores, and then had the tough tours."Gill's struggles in the first innings have hindered his overall Test average. Despite his impressive second-innings performances, his career average remains below par. This inconsistency has raised questions about his ability to perform consistently at the highest level.Meanwhile, Bangladesh ended Day 3 of the Chennai Test at 158/4, trailing India by 357 runs. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (51*) and Shakib Al Hasan (5*) remained unbeaten at the crease. India's bowlers, led by Ravichandran Ashwin, picked up four wickets in the post-Tea session to keep Bangladesh in check.

Joe Root has reclaimed the top spot in the ICC Test batting rankings, marking his ninth stint at the summit. The England batter's match-winning 87 in the first innings of the Birmingham Test against West Indies propelled him to the top, surpassing Kane Williamson.Root's rise is a testament to his consistent performances, as he became the seventh-highest run-getter in Test history during the match, surpassing Brian Lara's tally of 11,953. With 12,207 runs, Root is now the highest-scoring active Test cricketer, ahead of Steven Smith (9685) and Virat Kohli (8848).England's Jamie Smith also made significant strides in the rankings, rising 31 places to No. 64 after his impressive performance as a wicketkeeper-batter. His near-century in the first innings showcased his potential.Mark Wood's Player-of-the-Match performance of 7 for 92 in the Birmingham Test lifted him into the top 20 of the bowling rankings for the first time. His impressive display highlighted his ability to take wickets in challenging conditions.In the men's T20I Rankings, India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal returned to No. 4 after a strong performance in the three-match series against Sri Lanka. Shubman Gill also moved up 16 places to a career-best 21st position. Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera also made notable gains in the batting rankings.India legspinner Ravi Bishnoi, who has previously held the No. 1 T20I bowler ranking, re-entered the top 10 after impressive performances in the series against Sri Lanka.