Cricket

India's qualification for the World Test Championship final in June 2023 is uncertain, and even if they qualify, it would be surprising if skipper Rohit Sharma remains available for the next two-year WTC cycle. The same applies to Ravichandran Ashwin, who will be 41 by then. Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli, two exceptionally fit players, will be 39.The recent Test series defeat at home against New Zealand has sparked a debate about the effectiveness of some senior players. Former India coach Ravi Shastri expressed concern, stating that New Zealand's dominance in both Tests is a cause for reflection. He emphasized that it's early days for head coach Gautam Gambhir, but he will need to learn quickly.India faces a challenging transition as four world-class match-winners are expected to retire in the next few years. While there are options in batting, finding quality bowlers may be a struggle. Mohammed Shami, despite his return, is nearing the end of his illustrious career, and Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj, while decent bowlers, lack the impact of Shami when paired with Bumrah.The next generation of bowlers is also a concern. Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed are quick, but consistency and fitness have been issues. Navdeep Saini's pace has declined, and Umran Malik has lost his way. Mukesh Kumar, Vyshak Vijaykumar, and Vidwath Kaverappa lack the pace to unsettle batters.Bumrah and Shami are exceptional talents, and unless someone like Mayank Yadav becomes consistently available, India's bowling cupboard is bare. Seam bowling all-rounders are also a concern unless Hardik Pandya, now 30, changes his mind. Nitish Reddy is a work in progress, but his inclusion is due to a lack of alternatives.In batting, Yashasvi Jaiswal has established himself as an opener, and three candidates are vying for the other slot once Rohit retires: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and B Sai Sudharsan. Easwaran has the most prolific record, but concerns remain about his temperament in big games. Gaikwad is a talented white-ball cricketer, but his limited first-class experience may be a concern.Sudharsan, on the other hand, has a solid technique, temperament, and appetite for big runs. He can bat as an opener or at number three. Devdutt Padikkal, who scored a half-century on Test debut, is an exciting option for Kohli's slot.Rishabh Pant remains the undisputed keeper-batter, while Sarfaraz Khan has impressed in his first five Tests. Axar Patel is a valuable bowler on under-prepared surfaces but may struggle on surfaces that offer less assistance. Washington Sundar could be the single spin-all-rounder in the post-Ashwin-Jadeja era.

England's coach, Brendon McCullum, has expressed concern over Ben Stokes' struggles in Pakistan, but remains confident in his captain's ability to bounce back in New Zealand. Stokes, who returned from a hamstring injury, failed to make a significant impact in the 2-1 series defeat.McCullum attributed Stokes' performance to the lingering effects of his injury, which he believes may have affected his decision-making as both a batter and captain. He emphasized the importance of learning from these experiences and ensuring that Stokes remains clear-headed in future situations.Despite the series loss, McCullum praised Stokes' resilience and determination. He acknowledged that Stokes is disappointed but believes he will return stronger. The coach emphasized the need for the team to support Stokes and ensure that their messaging remains consistent.McCullum also acknowledged England's struggles in Asia, having lost six of their eight Tests this year. He stated that the team needs to improve their approach in spin-friendly conditions. He emphasized the importance of creating a confident and clear environment where the messaging is simple.The coach expressed optimism about the upcoming series in New Zealand, seeing it as an opportunity for England to learn from their mistakes and bounce back. He highlighted the need for a quick turnaround and the importance of applying the lessons learned in Pakistan.

India's recent Test series defeat to New Zealand has sparked a debate about the responsibility of senior players and the role of coach Gautam Gambhir. Former wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik believes the onus lies with the experienced players, while Sanjay Manjrekar defends Gambhir's minimal influence on the team's performance.Karthik emphasizes that senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should take ownership of the loss. He acknowledges their poor performance and expects them to introspect and identify areas for improvement. Karthik believes they have the courage to face criticism and will strive to rectify their mistakes.Manjrekar, on the other hand, argues that the coach has a limited impact on the team's performance. He credits Gambhir for selecting Washington Sundar, but questions the decision to send him ahead of Sarfaraz Khan. Manjrekar believes such tactical errors should be avoided and that Rohit Sharma should focus on the overall quality of players rather than match-ups.Former India captain Anil Kumble suggests that Kohli's absence from domestic matches may have hindered his preparation for the Test series. He believes that game situations provide a better advantage than practice and that Kohli could have benefited from playing earlier.The defeat has raised concerns about India's Test cricket future. Karthik urges the senior players to take responsibility and work towards improving the team's performance. Manjrekar emphasizes the need for tactical adjustments and a focus on player quality. Kumble highlights the importance of match practice for players like Kohli.

India's Test Woes Continue as Pujara's Absence Looms LargeIndia's recent Test series defeat to New Zealand has raised concerns about the team's batting lineup, particularly the absence of Cheteshwar Pujara. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra believes Pujara's steady influence is sorely missed, as the current lineup lacks the ability to grind out sessions and withstand pressure.Pujara, known for his patient and defensive style of play, has often been a backbone for India in difficult conditions. His ability to hold the crease and absorb pressure has allowed other batsmen to play more freely. However, in his absence, the Indian lineup has struggled to cope with the New Zealand bowlers.Chopra highlights the team's shift towards an aggressive approach, questioning whether it is the right strategy for Test cricket. He argues that Pujara's defensive style, while often criticized as slow or unglamorous, played a crucial role in holding the team together during difficult sessions."It will happen repeatedly in Test cricket that you will be asked to play a session where a wicket shouldn't fall. You need to keep your head down and defend. There is a battle of attrition at times," Chopra said. "Cheteshwar Pujara's defensive cricket, that brand of cricket which is non-glamorous, hard-working, staying at the wicket from morning to evening, we are missing that brand of cricket, and we are repeatedly seeing the result of that in collapses."Chopra also emphasizes the benefits of Pujara's presence even when he is not scoring heavily. His ability to occupy the crease and delay the game allows the bowlers to tire and the ball to soften, creating opportunities for other batsmen to score runs."You need a guy to stand there to stop collapses even if the scoreboard moves or not. He keeps delaying the game. The bowlers get tired and the ball gets old and soft, and the others score runs. India are of course missing that game style of Pujara," Chopra added.The absence of Pujara has left a significant void in the Indian batting lineup, and it remains to be seen how the team will address this issue in future Test matches.

India's recent Test series defeat at home against New Zealand has raised concerns about the form of their senior spinners, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. However, captain Rohit Sharma has defended the duo, emphasizing that the responsibility for Test match wins lies with the entire team, not just two individuals.On a slow, dry Pune pitch, India's spin trio, including Washington Sundar, was outbowled by New Zealand's. Ashwin, in particular, struggled to provide the control he is known for, conceding runs at almost four an over in the third innings. Jadeja also faced challenges, with batters like Devon Conway employing aggressive sweeps and reverse-sweeps.Despite their recent struggles, Rohit believes that Ashwin and Jadeja remain key players for India. He acknowledged that they may have off days, but emphasized that they have made significant contributions to India's success in the past."They know exactly what happens and sometimes they are allowed to have some bad games here and there and not go by that expectation that this is the opportunity for me to take wickets and run through the opposition," Rohit said.Rohit also called for the responsibility to be shared among the other spinners. He pointed to Washington Sundar's impressive performance in Pune, where he took 11 wickets in the match."Like we keep talking about with the batters it is not the responsibility of a few individuals, it is the collective batting unit that needs to come together," Rohit said. "So it's the same with the bowling unit as well."Rohit's comments suggest that India will not make any drastic changes to their spin attack for the upcoming Test series in Australia. He believes that Ashwin and Jadeja remain valuable assets, but that the team needs to provide them with more support.

Pakistan's recent Test series against England has been a tale of dramatic twists and turns, with the home side orchestrating a remarkable turnaround after a disastrous start. The key to their resurgence lies in a controversial decision to reuse a heavily spin-friendly pitch from the first Test in Multan, a move that has sparked both praise and criticism.After a humiliating defeat in the first Test, Pakistan's selection panel, led by former fast bowler Aleem Dar, devised a plan to create conditions that would favor their spinners. They consulted with Aaqib Javed, a former coach and current selector, who became the driving force behind the decision to reuse the Multan pitch.Despite objections from captain Shan Masood and head coach Jason Gillespie, the selectors pressed ahead with their plan. They recalled veteran spinner Sajid Khan and brought in Noman Ali, a left-arm spinner who had been out of the national team for several years.The pitch preparation was meticulous, with giant fans and heaters used to dry out the surface and induce spin. The result was a pitch that resembled a "sheet of glass," according to Dar.The gamble paid off as Sajid and Noman ripped through England's batting lineup, taking 10 wickets between them in the second innings of the second Test. The series turned on a dime, and Pakistan went on to win the third Test in Rawalpindi, where they again prepared a heavily spin-friendly pitch.The decision to reuse the Multan pitch has been met with mixed reactions. Some have praised the selectors for their bold move, while others have criticized it as unfair to England. However, the results speak for themselves: Pakistan has won two consecutive Tests and is now level in the series.The turnaround has also highlighted the growing influence of Aaqib Javed, who has emerged as the de facto leader of Pakistan cricket. He has resigned from his role at Lahore Qalandars to focus on his new responsibilities as a selector and coach.Pakistan's success has been built on the individual brilliance of players like Sajid and Noman, but it has also been a team effort. The batters have shown resilience in difficult conditions, and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan has been outstanding.The series has been played in a positive spirit, with England refraining from complaining about the pitches. However, the controversy surrounding the Multan pitch is likely to continue as the series reaches its conclusion.

Virat Kohli's batting woes in Test cricket have reached alarming proportions, with the former Indian captain enduring a torrid time at the crease. In the recently concluded second Test against New Zealand, Kohli managed scores of 1 and 17, contributing to India's 113-run defeat.Kohli's struggles have become a major concern for the Indian team, as his presence in the middle order is crucial to their success. The 34-year-old has not scored a Test century since November 2019, and his average has plummeted to 26.50 in the last 10 innings.In a video that went viral on social media, Kohli was seen losing his temper and smashing his bat against a water box while walking back to the pavilion after his dismissal in the second innings. This incident highlights the frustration and pressure that Kohli is currently facing.India's defeat in the second Test marked their first Test series loss on home soil in over a decade. New Zealand's victory was largely due to the brilliance of left-arm spinner Mitchel Santner, who took 13 wickets in the match, including seven in the first innings.Santner's performance exposed India's vulnerability against high-quality spin bowling. The Indian batsmen, once regarded as the finest players of spin in the world, were outfoxed by Santner's variations and accuracy.The defeat ended India's run of 18 consecutive Test series wins at home. It was only the fourth time since 2000 that India had lost a Test series in their own territory.Kohli's poor form and India's Test series loss have raised questions about the team's future. The Indian team management will need to find a way to address Kohli's batting woes and improve their performance against spin bowling if they want to regain their dominance in Test cricket.

New Zealand's historic Test series victory in India, their first-ever on Indian soil, is a testament to their resilience, adaptability, and exceptional bowling performance. Led by captain Tom Latham, the Kiwis overcame challenging conditions and a formidable Indian team to secure a decisive 113-run triumph in the second Test in Pune.Latham's leadership was crucial throughout the series. He emphasized the importance of putting up runs early in the innings, a strategy that proved effective as New Zealand consistently set competitive totals. He also praised the exceptional bowling of Mitchell Santner, who claimed 13 wickets in the match and played a vital role in restricting India's batting.The varied conditions across the two Tests required New Zealand to adapt their approach. Latham commended his team's ability to adjust, saying, "Both surfaces were different, and we had to adapt, which we did very well."In the second Test, New Zealand's aggressive play on the third day allowed them to control the game. Latham explained, "The method we played with last night to put ourselves on the front foot was terrific."India, led by Rohit Sharma, presented a tough challenge, especially in the final session. However, New Zealand's bowlers remained disciplined and patient, eventually breaking through. Latham recounted the intensity of the final moments, saying, "Those last two wickets seemed to take forever, but when Tim took that catch, we were thrilled."This victory underscores a collective team effort, smart tactics, and adaptability, securing New Zealand's place in the record books with a series win in one of the most challenging cricketing environments worldwide.

India's Test dominance at home has been shattered by New Zealand, who secured their first-ever series victory on Indian soil in nearly 70 years. The crushing 113-run defeat in the second Test in Mumbai has exposed India's vulnerability against quality spin bowling, particularly against Mitchell Santner.Rohit Sharma, India's captain, expressed disappointment after the loss, acknowledging that his team failed to respond to the challenges posed by New Zealand. "We failed to capitalize on certain moments and respond to those challenges," Sharma said. "We didn't bat well enough to get runs on the board."Santner's dominance was evident throughout the match, as he claimed 13 wickets, including seven in the first innings. India's batters, once considered the best players of spin bowling, struggled against Santner's variations.In pursuit of 359, India's batting collapsed once again. Only Yashasvi Jaiswal (77) and Ravindra Jadeja (42) offered any resistance, as the hosts were bowled out for 245.This defeat marks India's first Test series loss at home since 2012-13, when England vanquished them. It is also only their fourth Test series defeat in their own backyard since the turn of the century.The Kiwis' victory has broken India's string of 18 consecutive Test series wins at home. It is a significant achievement for New Zealand, who have been touring India since 1955 but had never been able to break the Indian citadel.India will now look to salvage some pride in the third and final Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. However, they will need to address their batting frailties and find a way to counter Santner's spin if they want to avoid a series whitewash.