Cricket

Ravichandran Ashwin, India's Test all-rounder, not only excelled on the field but also off it, after being challenged by skipper Rohit Sharma to keep his conversation with presenter Harsha Bhogle shorter than his.Ashwin was called up for a chat by Bhogle after being named Player of the Match for his 6-for and hundred in the Chepauk Test. The all-rounder had everyone laughing as he spoke of the challenge Sharma had given him.Sharma, who had a lengthy conversation with Bhogle during the post-match presentation ceremony, had challenged Ashwin to keep his shorter. The all-rounder cheekily reminded Bhogle of the challenge in an attempt to wrap up the conversation early."He updated me saying that we would have a long chat. He is waiting to see how long this will go on for. I am sure he has put the timer on. Now it's shorter than his (chat)," Ashwin said after the match as the TV cameras shifted focus towards Sharma, who burst into laughter upon hearing what the Tamil Nadu-born star had to say.Ashwin relished playing in front of his home crowd. The 37-year-old went on to score his second consecutive Test ton at Chepauk and 6th overall in the longest format of the game.Earlier in the presentation ceremony, Sharma had said on Ashwin: "He's next in line to talk to you, he's the right man to answer what he does. Every time we look up to him, he's always there for us whether with the bat or ball. I don't know if I speak here, it'll be enough of what he does for this team. Every time we see him come out and do the job, it's always so brilliant. He's never out of the game. The last competitive cricket he played was IPL and then he had some fun playing TNPL. We watched him bat up the order and that's what helped him as well to bat the way he did."Ashwin's performance in the Chepauk Test was a testament to his all-round abilities. He has established himself as one of India's most reliable players in the longest format of the game.

Ravichandran Ashwin, India's premier off-spinner, has faced skepticism throughout his Test career due to his initial prominence in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, with an impressive tally of 101 Tests and 522 wickets, Ashwin has silenced his critics.In the recent Test victory against Bangladesh in Chennai, Ashwin played a pivotal role, claiming seven wickets and scoring a crucial century in the first innings. His performance highlighted his versatility and cemented his status as one of the greatest Test bowlers of all time.Ashwin's journey began as a replacement for legendary off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. Despite initial doubts, Ashwin has surpassed Harbhajan's wicket tally and established himself as a formidable force in Test cricket."I had huge shoes to fill," Ashwin said after the match. "I used to replicate Harbhajan's action in junior cricket. Constantly people have doubted if I could deliver in red-ball as I came from IPL."Ashwin credits his success to his unwavering focus on bowling, while acknowledging his natural batting ability. He emphasizes the importance of compartmentalizing the two aspects of the game."I make a living by bowling, so bowling comes first," he said. "Batting is something that comes naturally but I have focused my thoughts with batting. Over the last few years, I have tried to compartmentalize."Ashwin's century in Chennai was a testament to his determination and resilience. "It was an opportunity to fight, dig in deep," he said. "I've seen so many teammates do it in the past. It was a special innings."With his exceptional performances, Ashwin has earned the respect of his peers and fans alike. He continues to inspire young cricketers and contribute to India's success in Test cricket.

India Retains Squad for Second Test Against BangladeshThe Indian cricket team will field the same squad for the second and final Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to begin in Kanpur on Friday, September 27th. The decision was made by the selection committee, as announced by BCCI honorary secretary Jay Shah.The squad remains unchanged from the first Test in Chennai, where India secured a dominant 280-run victory within four days. Ravichandran Ashwin was the star performer, claiming 6-88 and leading the Indian bowling attack to dismiss Bangladesh for 234. Ravindra Jadeja also contributed with figures of 3-58.India's squad for the second Test against Bangladesh:* Rohit Sharma (C)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Shubman Gill* Virat Kohli* KL Rahul* Sarfaraz Khan* Rishabh Pant (WK)* Dhruv Jurel (WK)* R Ashwin* R Jadeja* Axar Patel* Kuldeep Yadav* Mohd. Siraj* Akash Deep* Jasprit Bumrah* Yash DayalBangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, will be aiming to bounce back from their defeat in Chennai. Shanto showed some fight in the first Test with an innings of 82, but the Indian bowlers proved too strong.The second Test in Kanpur will be crucial for both teams. India will be looking to seal the series victory, while Bangladesh will be desperate to level the scores. The match promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched sides.

New Zealand's bowlers dominated the morning session on day four of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, setting the visitors a target of 275 to win. Ajaz Patel starred with a five-wicket haul, while William O'Rourke chipped in with three wickets.Sri Lanka resumed on 233 for 4, with Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva looking to build a solid partnership. However, Ajaz struck early, having de Silva stumped for 30. Kusal Mendis joined Mathews at the crease, and the pair put on a quick-fire 36-run stand.But the introduction of the second new ball proved decisive. Mendis was dismissed for 22, shouldering arms to an Ajaz delivery that deflected onto his stumps. Mathews reached his half-century but was soon dismissed for 50, edging an attempted forward defense to first slip.Ajaz continued to wreak havoc, trapping Ramesh Mendis in front for 14 and then getting Lahiru Kumara caught at mid-off for 1. Prabath Jayasuriya offered some resistance with a couple of boundaries, but Mitchell Santner ended his cameo with a caught-and-bowled dismissal.New Zealand lost the wicket of Devon Conway before lunch, but Tom Latham and Kane Williamson saw them through to the break without further damage. The visitors need 262 runs to win with two sessions remaining on day four.

Ravichandran Ashwin, India's premier spinner, has etched his name further into the annals of Test cricket history by claiming his 37th five-wicket haul. This remarkable achievement came in the second innings of the first Test against Bangladesh at his home ground, Chepauk.While the first innings proved less fruitful for Ashwin with the ball, he made a significant contribution with the bat, scoring a century that helped India post a formidable total of 376 runs. However, it was his bowling prowess in the second innings that proved decisive, earning India a comprehensive 280-run victory.Ashwin's exceptional performance highlights his status as one of the most prolific wicket-takers in Test cricket. He now holds the following records for India:* Second most wickets (522)* Most five-wicket hauls (37)* Joint most ten-wicket hauls (10)* Fastest to 250, 300, and 350 wickets in the world* Second most centuries at No. 8 or below in the world (4)* Only cricketer to have taken 30 five-fors and scored 20 50+ scoresAshwin's all-round brilliance was crucial in India's victory. His 113 off 133 balls in the first innings provided a solid foundation for the team's total, particularly after the top-order faltered. While the top-order struggled again in the second innings, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill stepped up with centuries to take India to a total of 287/4 before skipper Rohit Sharma declared.On Day 4, India wasted no time in dismissing the remaining six Bangladesh batters, securing a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. This victory also strengthens India's position in the World Test Championship points table.

Senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin orchestrated a dominant performance for India, leading them to a resounding 280-run victory over Bangladesh in the opening Test at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. The victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.Bangladesh, set an improbable target of 515, were bowled out for 234 in their second innings, with Ashwin wreaking havoc with a six-wicket haul. The off-spinner, who has a special affinity for the Chepauk pitch, finished with figures of 6/88, showcasing his mastery of spin bowling.Ravindra Jadeja provided valuable support, claiming 3/58, while skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored for Bangladesh with a valiant 82 off 127 deliveries. However, the visitors' batting lineup crumbled under the relentless pressure applied by the Indian bowlers.India's victory was set up by a commanding batting performance in their second innings. Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill both notched up centuries, scoring 109 and 119 not out respectively. Their twin tons helped India declare their innings at 287/4, setting Bangladesh an insurmountable target.The victory marks a significant milestone for Ashwin, who has now become the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket, surpassing Kapil Dev's tally of 434 wickets. Ashwin's exceptional performance has cemented his status as one of the greatest spinners of all time.India will now look to seal the series in the second and final Test, which will be played in Dhaka from December 14-18. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will need to regroup and find a way to counter India's formidable bowling attack.

Former Indian cricketer and renowned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has drawn an intriguing parallel between batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. Manjrekar observed that Kohli, like Tendulkar, appears to perform better away from home.Kohli's recent return to Test cricket against Bangladesh was underwhelming, with scores of 6 and 17. Manjrekar attributed this to Kohli's discomfort batting in India. "He's not enjoying batting in India as much. Like (Sachin) Tendulkar, I think he feels more at home away from home," Manjrekar said on the ESPNCricinfo YouTube channel.Manjrekar pointed to Kohli's impressive performance in South Africa, where he was India's standout batter. "We saw in South Africa how well he played. He was by far India's best batter," Manjrekar added.In the second innings of the Bangladesh Test, Kohli was controversially given out LBW despite replays showing the ball had hit his bat. However, Kohli declined to review the decision, a move that Manjrekar found puzzling. "Felt bad for Virat today. He obviously didn't think he had hit it. Just wanted to know from Gill if the ball was hitting stumps. Despite Gill encouraging him to go for the review anyway, he walked away dejected wanting to keep the 3 reviews for his team," Manjrekar tweeted.Kohli's absence from Test cricket since January 2024 may have contributed to his struggles. He missed the home series against England due to the birth of his second child. Despite his low scores, Kohli reached a significant milestone, becoming the second Indian to score 12,000 runs on home soil, behind only Tendulkar.Manjrekar's comparison between Kohli and Tendulkar highlights the unique challenges faced by elite batters. While Tendulkar was known for his exceptional performances overseas, Kohli has also shown a remarkable ability to adapt to different conditions. However, Manjrekar's observation that Kohli may be more comfortable batting away from home raises questions about his mindset and the pressure he faces when playing in India.

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has praised wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for his century in the first Test against Bangladesh, highlighting his defensive technique that resembles that of legendary former skipper MS Dhoni.Pant's century, along with Shubman Gill's, helped India set a massive 515-run target for Bangladesh. Manjrekar noted that Pant's innings showcased his willingness to play defensively, a trait often overlooked due to his aggressive batting style."It is a misleading package we see with Rishabh Pant," Manjrekar said. "Underneath that, you will see as many dot balls in his innings as Shubman Gill's, so he is willing to also play the defensive game that we have seen many times in the past."Manjrekar compared Pant's defensive technique to Dhoni's, who was known for his solid defense despite his reputation as a big-hitter. "He has got a pretty good defensive technique, bit like Dhoni, whose defensive technique was quite good," Manjrekar said.Manjrekar also noted Pant's ability to adapt his batting to the situation, similar to former opener Virender Sehwag. "He is that kind of player who has his own way of getting runs and has his own agenda - a bit like Virender Sehwag," Manjrekar said.In the match, India posted a total of 515 runs, with Ashwin and Jadeja contributing significant innings. Bangladesh was bowled out for 149 in their first innings, trailing by 227 runs. In their second innings, India declared at 287/4, setting Bangladesh a target of 515.At the end of day three, Bangladesh was 158/4, with Najmul Hossain Shanto leading the resistance.

Rishabh Pant's remarkable comeback in Test cricket has been a testament to his resilience and determination. After a life-threatening car accident in 2022, many doubted whether he would ever return to the highest level of the sport. However, Pant has defied all odds, returning to the Indian team with a vengeance.In just 34 Tests, Pant has matched MS Dhoni's feat of scoring six centuries, a remarkable achievement considering Dhoni played over 90 Tests. Pant's return to form has been particularly impressive given the challenges he faced after his accident.His comeback story began with a determined performance in the last IPL, where he played as a No. 3 batter on some of the most difficult pitches in the T20 World Cup. Despite concerns about his body's ability to withstand the rigors of five-day cricket, Pant has proven his fitness and skill in the ongoing Test against Bangladesh.His comfort against the Bangladesh bowlers has shown that he has overcome any mental hurdles that may have lingered after his accident. Shubman Gill, who shared a 167-run partnership with Pant, praised his teammate's resilience."I've seen him work so hard for it when he was coming back from the injury and I think he also must be feeling really good," Gill said.Pant's hard work and dedication have been evident in his training sessions. In New York, he faced short-pitched deliveries on a pitch with variable bounce, testing his pain threshold and preparing himself for the challenges of Test cricket.Former coach Rahul Dravid and current boss Gautam Gambhir have both praised Pant's abilities as a batter and wicketkeeper. Gambhir highlighted Pant's consistent performances in red-ball cricket and his ability to impact the game."He's got runs everywhere around the world, and not many wicket-keepers of that age have done it so consistently in red-ball cricket," Gambhir said.Pant's glovework has also been impressive in this Test, showcasing his all-around skills. Gambhir believes that Pant's batting often overshadows his keeping abilities, but he has been remarkable behind the stumps on Indian pitches.As Pant continues his comeback, the best is yet to come. His resilience and determination have inspired many, and he is poised to become one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batters in the history of the game.