Cricket

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed concern over captain Rohit Sharma's defensive technique, particularly in the ongoing second Test against New Zealand. Rohit's nine-ball duck in the first innings, dismissed by Tim Southee, has raised questions about his approach while defending.Manjrekar highlighted Rohit's struggles against Southee, who has now dismissed him 14 times in international cricket, the joint-most by any bowler. He pointed out that Rohit's loose defense, which was a concern at the start of his international career, has resurfaced."He would not take a step forward and he would react just with the bat, that is starting to happen," Manjrekar said. "He was able to leave balls outside the off stump, but they have worked out a way to bowl to Rohit Sharma."Manjrekar believes that Rohit's vulnerability stems from his tendency to react with the bat rather than using his pad to defend. "That makes him a little vulnerable when there is a little bit in the pitch and the ball is hard," he said.However, Manjrekar praised Rohit's temperament and suggested that he needs to tighten up his defense. "He just maybe has to tighten up his defense a little more and things should be okay," he added.Rohit's dismissal in the first innings has put pressure on the Indian captain, who has been under scrutiny for his recent form. He will be looking to bounce back in the second innings and prove that he can overcome his defensive deficiencies.

Sarfaraz Khan's astute observation and unwavering conviction played a pivotal role in India's successful review against New Zealand on Day 1 of the second Test in Pune. Despite initial skepticism from his teammates, Khan's insistence that the ball had brushed Will Young's glove prompted skipper Rohit Sharma to take a DRS, which ultimately resulted in Young's dismissal.Khan, fielding at backward short-leg, noticed a subtle noise as the ball passed Young's bat and glove. Sensing a possible contact, he approached Sharma and urged him to trust his instincts. "I knew there was contact, but there is always room for misjudgment," Khan explained. "But I heard a noise and hence, felt there was something involved."Khan's confidence stemmed from his close proximity to the action. "I was at backward short leg so when the ball was going past his bat and glove, I noticed that the bat was away from the pads. I heard a noise and that's when I went to Rohit bhai and told him, 'Rohit bhai, mere pe bharosa karo. Ball lagi hai, aap lo review. Main bol raha hu aapko, lo (Trust me. The ball has hit something, just take the review. I am telling you, take it),'" Khan said.Technical members of the broadcasting team initially expressed doubts about the contact, but the hawk-eye technology confirmed Khan's suspicions. "I did not hear the sound, as it is very feeble," said KN Srinivasa Rao, a sound supervisor. "But the hawk-eye has a different technology, which can identify the smallest of small sounds."Akanksha Pandey, the director's assistant, also admitted to being surprised by the outcome. "We were surprised when we saw the replays. We were watching the pictures that the director was cutting, and we were smiling because everybody is always convinced when they are trying to talk the captain into taking the DRS."Washington Sundar, one of India's star bowlers on the first day, praised Khan's persistence. "Honestly, I was a good 70-80 meters away from the middle, so I had no idea. I obviously didn't hear any sound, but Sarfaraz seemed to be very convinced with it. Really happy that Sarfaraz eventually convinced Rohit bhai," said Sundar.Khan's sharp observation and unwavering belief in his instincts not only contributed to Young's dismissal but also highlighted his growing influence within the Indian team. His ability to make crucial decisions under pressure is a testament to his maturity and leadership qualities.

India has announced its squad for the upcoming five-Test tour of Australia, which commences on November 22. The squad features three uncapped players: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Kumar Reddy.India's tour begins with a warm-up match against India A in Perth from November 15 to 17. The first Test against Australia will be held at Perth Stadium from November 22 to 26. The team will then travel to Canberra for a tour match against the Prime Minister's XI on November 30 and December 1.The second Test, a day-night fixture, will be played in Adelaide from December 6 to 10. The third Test will take place in Brisbane from December 14 to 18, followed by the traditional Boxing Day Test in Melbourne starting December 26. The tour concludes with the New Year's Test in Sydney from January 3.India is the current holder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having won their previous two tours of Australia by a 2-1 margin. The team will be led by Rohit Sharma, with Jasprit Bumrah serving as vice-captain.

New Zealand's dominance over India continued in the second Test in Pune, as they extended their lead to a commanding 301 runs on the back of a brilliant batting performance led by captain Tom Latham.Mitchell Santner, who had wreaked havoc with the ball in the first innings, claiming seven wickets, continued his impressive form with the bat. He scored a crucial 45, providing stability to the New Zealand innings.Latham, however, was the star of the show. He played a captain's knock, anchoring the innings with a composed 86. His innings was characterized by patience and determination, as he weathered the Indian bowling attack and guided his team to a position of strength.Tom Blundell, who remained unbeaten on 30, provided valuable support to Latham. The duo shared a crucial 65-run partnership, further consolidating New Zealand's lead.India's bowlers, led by Washington Sundar, fought back in the second innings, claiming four wickets. However, the damage had already been done, as New Zealand's batsmen had built a substantial lead.With just one day remaining in the Test, India faces an uphill task to salvage a draw. New Zealand, on the other hand, is on the cusp of a historic series win in India.

India's batting woes have been laid bare in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, with two embarrassing collapses highlighting the team's struggles on challenging surfaces.In the series opener in Bengaluru, India were bundled out for a paltry 46 on an overcast morning, their lowest total on home soil in Tests. Captain Rohit Sharma admitted that the team "misread" the pitch, with the ball doing tricks in the air and off the surface. However, the batters showed little intent to battle it out, with five ducks and only two batters reaching double digits.The visitors would have felt at home in the Bengaluru setting, but the Indian batters lacked a plan and collapsed like a pack of cards. Even a fightback in the second innings couldn't cover up for the horror morning, and India found themselves 0-1 down in the three-Test series.In the second Test in Pune, India's batting woes continued. Despite the opposition winning the toss and opting to bat, the Indian spinners ran through the New Zealanders, making it India's day. However, the second morning in Pune was a different story.With the sun out in full glory, the Kiwi spinners spun into action and the Indian batters underwent another trial by spin. The mischief of the surface started the moment Tom Latham introduced spin, but it was the recklessness of the batters that came as a rude shock.Not one player trusted their defense and were shockingly wild in their shot-selection. They played across the line, off the backfoot, and slogged mindlessly, despite the pitch not being conducive to such shots.The batters' approach has come under scanner twice this series. Twice, India have capitulated in contrasting conditions, highlighting their struggles on challenging surfaces. With one more innings in Pune and one more Test before they head off to Australia for the five-match series, the batters need to up their game to avoid further embarrassment.

Virat Kohli's ongoing struggles against spin bowling continued to haunt him in the second Test against New Zealand at the MCA Stadium in Pune. On Friday, the Indian batting maestro was dismissed for a mere 1 by New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner.Kohli's dismissal came when he misjudged a low full toss, failing to connect as the ball slipped under his bat and crashed into the stumps. The dismissal left Kohli visibly frustrated and marked the 21st time since 2021 that he has fallen to spin in Asia.Kohli's struggles against spin have become a recurring theme, particularly in Asian conditions. Earlier in the series, during the first Test in Bengaluru, Kohli was dismissed in similar fashion by New Zealand spinner Glenn Phillips. India went on to lose that match by 8 wickets, trailing the three-match series 0-1.Kohli's troubles against spin, especially left-arm orthodox spinners like Santner, have become a glaring concern. Since 2021, out of his 21 dismissals to spinners, 10 have been at the hands of left-arm orthodox bowlers, against whom he averages a meager 27.10.In total, Kohli has managed just 606 runs against spinners during this period in Asian conditions, with an average of 28.85 - far below the high standards he set in his career.As India battled to recover from New Zealand's first-innings score of 259, Kohli's early exit put the team in a difficult position. By lunch on the second day, India had slumped to 107/7, with the visitors' spinners tightening their grip on the match. Kohli's dismissal, in particular, exacerbated India's struggles, as they sought to gain momentum in the series following their loss in the first Test.Kohli's struggles against spin have raised questions about his technique and adaptability to changing conditions. The Indian team management will be hoping that he can find a way to overcome this challenge and regain his dominance against spin bowling.

Yashasvi Jaiswal Enters Test Cricket History Books with 1,000 Runs in a Calendar YearNew Delhi, India - Yashasvi Jaiswal, the prodigious Indian opener, has etched his name into the annals of Test cricket history by becoming the first Indian batter to amass 1,000 runs in a calendar year before turning 23. This remarkable achievement was accomplished during the second Test against New Zealand at Pune's MCA Stadium, where Jaiswal contributed 30 runs before being dismissed by Glenn Phillips.Jaiswal's historic feat places him among an elite group of Test cricket legends who have reached the 1,000-run milestone in a year at such a young age. He joins West Indies great Garfield Sobers (1958), South Africa's Graeme Smith (2003), AB de Villiers (2005), and England's Alastair Cook (2006) as the only batters to achieve this rare distinction.Jaiswal's journey to this milestone has been nothing short of extraordinary. The 22-year-old made his Test debut in December 2021 and has since established himself as a key member of the Indian batting lineup. His consistent performances throughout the year, including a century against Sri Lanka in March, have propelled him to the forefront of Indian cricket.Despite Jaiswal's historic achievement, India found themselves in a precarious position on the second day of the Test. Jaiswal's wicket left India struggling at 70/4 in the morning session, trailing New Zealand's first-innings total of 259. However, the young opener's record-breaking performance serves as a testament to his immense talent and potential as one of India's most promising young stars.

The ongoing Test matches between India and New Zealand in Pune and Pakistan and England in Rawalpindi have witnessed the dominance of spin bowling, with tweakers etching their names in the record books.In Pune, India's decision to field three frontline spinners—Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin—proved fruitful on a spin-friendly surface. Sundar, playing his first Test in over three years, silenced critics by taking seven wickets in a row, triggering New Zealand's collapse from 197/3 to 259 all out. His career-best Test figures and maiden fifer, along with Ashwin's three wickets, marked the sixth instance of spinners claiming all ten wickets on day one of a Test in India.Sundar's five bowled dismissals placed him among the elite group of Indian players to achieve this feat in a Test innings. His figures were the third-best by an Indian against New Zealand in Tests and the joint-best with Ashwin in the 21st century. Ashwin, meanwhile, surpassed Nathan Lyon as the leading wicket-taker in the ICC World Test Championship with 189 scalps and became Test's seventh-highest wicket-taker with 531 scalps.In Rawalpindi, the pitch also favored spinners. England, who had scored over 500 runs in a day at the same venue in 2022, faced a different scenario this time. Sajid Khan's six-wicket haul, the third-best spell by a spinner at the venue, led Pakistan's spin attack to dismiss England for 267. All the overs in the innings were bowled by spinners, marking the first such instance in 142 years of Test cricket.Pakistan's spinners continued their dominance, taking all ten wickets in the first innings of a Test for the sixth time, including four against England. At the end of the day, Pakistan had reduced England to 73/3, with spinners Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed claiming two wickets each.The ongoing matches highlight the resurgence of spin bowling in Test cricket. Whether spinners will continue to dominate and single-handedly win matches for their teams remains to be seen.

Virat Kohli's Practice Session Electrifies Pune Crowd After Day 1 of India-New Zealand TestAfter a thrilling first day of the second Test between India and New Zealand in Pune, a significant portion of the crowd remained at the stadium to witness Virat Kohli's extended practice session. The atmosphere crackled with excitement as fans eagerly observed Kohli's meticulous technique and fine-tuning of his skills in the nets.Kohli's dedication and focus captivated the spectators, who cheered him on enthusiastically. The routine practice transformed into a memorable experience for those present, especially after Kohli's recent struggles with the bat. In the two-match Test series against Bangladesh and the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, he had failed to make a significant impact. However, in the second innings of the Bengaluru Test, he bounced back with a solid 70, hinting at a return to form.Earlier in the day, Washington Sundar delivered a career-best performance, claiming seven wickets to dismantle New Zealand's batting lineup. Spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin chipped in with three wickets, bowling out the visitors for 259. India ended the day at 16 for 1, losing captain Rohit Sharma early to a Tim Southee delivery. Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 10, while Yashasvi Jaiswal was not out on six at stumps.Sundar's inclusion in the side proved to be a masterstroke, as he justified his selection by ripping through New Zealand's middle and lower order. His impressive figures of 7 for 59 played a crucial role in India's strong position at the end of Day 1.