Cricket

Jasprit Bumrah Appointed Vice-Captain for India's Test Series Against New ZealandNew Delhi: India's premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, has been elevated to the role of vice-captain for the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand, commencing on October 16 in Bengaluru. This strategic move signals a potential shift in leadership dynamics within the Indian team.Bumrah's appointment as vice-captain suggests that he is being groomed to assume a more prominent leadership role in the future. Notably, no vice-captain was named during the recently concluded two-match Test series against Bangladesh.The Indian squad for the New Zealand series remains largely unchanged from the one that faced Bangladesh, with the exception of left-arm pacer Yash Dayal being dropped. Rising pace sensations Mayank Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna have been added as traveling reserves.Mohammed Shami continues to be absent as he recovers from an injury sustained during the World Cup final against Australia last year. Shami's return to the team remains uncertain.The second Test of the series will be played in Pune from October 24, while the third and final Test will take place in Mumbai from November 1.India's Squad for the Three Tests Against New Zealand:* Rohit Sharma (Captain)* Jasprit Bumrah (Vice-Captain)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Shubman Gill* Virat Kohli* KL Rahul* Sarfaraz Khan* Rishabh Pant (Wicket-keeper)* Dhruv Jurel (Wicket-keeper)* Ravichandran Ashwin* Ravindra Jadeja* Axar Patel* Kuldeep Yadav* Mohd. Siraj* Akash DeepTraveling Reserves:* Harshit Rana* Nitish Kumar Reddy* Mayank Yadav* Prasidh Krishna

Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma recently displayed his playful side as he engaged in a comical chase with enthusiastic fans. After a training session, Rohit attempted to evade the adoring crowd by sprinting towards his blue Lamborghini. The incident highlighted the skipper's ability to maintain his privacy while interacting with his fans.Rohit's playful antics come amidst preparations for the upcoming three-Test series against New Zealand, starting on October 16. The Indian team is riding high on a 2-0 clean sweep against Bangladesh in the recently concluded Test series.However, speculation is rife that Rohit may miss one of the first two Test matches in Australia's upcoming five-match series due to personal reasons. The series kicks off on November 22 in Perth, and there is a chance Rohit could skip either the first game or the second Test in Adelaide, scheduled from December 6-10."There isn't any complete clarity about the situation. It is understood that Rohit has intimated to the BCCI that there is a possibility that due to a pressing personal matter, he might have to skip one of the two Tests at the beginning of the series," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.Despite the uncertainty surrounding his availability, Rohit remains a key figure in the Indian team. His leadership and batting prowess have been instrumental in India's recent successes. Fans will be eagerly awaiting updates on his availability for the Australia series, which is expected to be a highly competitive affair.

Rohit Sharma Prepares for New Zealand Test Series with VigorIndian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has commenced his preparations for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand, scheduled to begin on October 16 in Bengaluru. The Kiwis will play a three-match Test series in India, with the second Test starting in Pune on October 24 and the third in Mumbai on November 1.Sharma, who led India to a triumphant series victory against Bangladesh, is eager to continue his team's winning momentum. In a viral video, the Indian skipper can be seen engaging in stretching and running exercises on a ground, cheered on by onlookers and fans.Sharma has a solid track record against New Zealand, particularly at home. In six Tests against the Kiwis, he has scored a highest of 82 at an average of 53.00. His performances in India have been particularly impressive, as the conditions tend to favor his attacking style of play.Another viral video captures the enthusiasm of fans who thronged to click pictures of Sharma as he returned from practice. The Indian captain's popularity and the anticipation surrounding the Test series are evident in these videos.New Zealand has suffered a setback ahead of the series, with former captain Kane Williamson ruled out of the start due to a groin strain. However, the Kiwis remain a formidable opponent, and Sharma is determined to lead India to victory.The Test series against New Zealand will be a crucial test for Sharma and his team. A strong performance will boost their confidence and solidify their position as one of the top Test nations in the world.

The Indian cricket team is set to embark on a crucial tour of Australia, with the first Test match scheduled to commence on November 22 in Perth. To prepare for the highly anticipated series, the team is expected to depart for Australia at least two weeks prior to the opening fixture.During their stay in Australia, the Indian team will engage in one or two intra-squad matches against their 'A' team counterparts. These matches will serve as a valuable tune-up for the Test series, providing the players with an opportunity to acclimatize to the Australian conditions and test their skills against a competitive opposition.The Indian senior team's home Test series against New Zealand will conclude on November 5 in Mumbai. Following the series, the Test squad is expected to depart from Mumbai within a few days. Similar to their previous tour of South Africa, the BCCI is considering organizing a four-day game between India and India A. This match is expected to provide Rohit Sharma's men with a high-quality match simulation.The India A team is also scheduled to play a couple of A Tests during their tour of Australia. The squad, comprising the country's bench strength, is expected to leave India by October 25.In recent years, the BCCI has observed a decline in the quality of practice matches. During Mahendra Singh Dhoni's tenure as Test captain, many of these tour games were granted unofficial status to allow all 15 members of the squad to bat and bowl.However, the senior team reintroduced the concept of intra-squad games during the 2021 World Test Championship final in England. These matches are played in proper whites and officiated by umpires, providing a more realistic match experience.During the 2023-24 series in South Africa, both India A and India were present in the country simultaneously. In between the two 'A' Tests, the second-string team faced off against the main team before the latter's opening game at the Centurion."Normally, home countries nowadays don't want to provide their best domestic talent for practice. It always helps in quality match practice if a bunch of India hopefuls are pitted against the stars. These are players knocking on the doors and eager to perform," said a BCCI insider.In preparation for the second Test in Adelaide, which will be played under lights with a pink ball, the Indian senior team will participate in a two-day day/night pink ball game at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on November 30 and December 1 against Prime Minister's XI.During the Test series, two separate Indian teams will be competing in different countries simultaneously. While the Test team gears up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a World Test Championship final at stake, the Suryakumar Yadav-led T20 team will play four matches in South Africa between November 8-15.The India 'A' team for Australia will be selected after the first round of Ranji Trophy games (from October 11-14). The senior national selection committee will also pick an India U-25 squad next week for the Emerging Asia Cup, which will be held in Muscat this year.

Temba Bavuma's injury woes continue to haunt South Africa as the Proteas captain is now in doubt for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. Bavuma was ruled out of the third ODI against Ireland with an elbow injury, raising concerns about his availability for the Test matches starting on October 21.The injury is a recurrence of the same elbow problem that sidelined Bavuma during South Africa's T20 tour of India in 2022. It forced him to miss the subsequent tour of England and has plagued him ever since. Despite making a comeback ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup, Bavuma has been hampered by a series of injuries, including hamstring niggles and a left hamstring injury sustained during the Boxing Day Test against India last year.Bavuma's absence from the Test series against Bangladesh is a significant blow to South Africa's hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The Proteas have six Tests remaining in the cycle, and they need to win at least five of them to have a chance of reaching the final.In Bavuma's absence, Rassie van der Dussen will lead South Africa in the Test series. T20I captain Aiden Markram has been rested for this series.South Africa are also without allrounder Wiaan Mulder for the white-ball series against Ireland. Mulder has left the tour for personal reasons. The Proteas have already taken a 2-0 lead in the ODI series and will play the third and final match on Monday. The preceding T20I series finished level at 1-1.

Pakistan's cricket team is facing a dilemma as they prepare for their upcoming Test series against England. The batters have reportedly requested coach Jason Gillespie to instruct groundsmen to prepare a flat pitch, while former cricketer Basit Ali claims Gillespie has rejected this request.Pakistan's batting unit has struggled in recent times, particularly in their 0-2 whitewash against Bangladesh at home. The batters believe a flat pitch would increase their chances of scoring runs against England's formidable bowling attack.However, Gillespie is reportedly not in favor of completely removing grass from the pitch. He believes a grassy surface would provide more assistance to Pakistan's bowlers, who have also been underperforming."I will give you an inside story. Jason Gillespie has handed a shut-up call to Pakistan batters. He wants the pitch to remain the same that has been prepared by the groundsman," Ali said on his YouTube channel."Pakistan batters wanted to cut off the grass to make it a flat pitch. The pitch curator and Gillespie want to play on the same pitch. I would be really happy if the match took place on a grassy surface and our bowlers took wickets," he added.England, who swept aside Pakistan 3-0 in their previous visit in 2022, will be looking to replicate their success. Veteran batsman Joe Root believes the team's previous experience in Pakistan will be beneficial."Yes, that series has helped us prepare for the coming matches and we have a plan on how to play here. But this is a new series and we have to play well again to win again in Pakistan," Root said."We learned a few things from that series, but (playing against) Pakistan at home is a challenge. Pakistan can definitely take advantage of their home conditions and we also have a couple of new young players eager to establish themselves. It should be an interesting series," he added.Pakistan's cricket team is under pressure to perform after their recent struggles. The Test series against England will be a crucial test for the team and their coach, Jason Gillespie.

Team India's dominance continued as they secured a historic 2-0 clean sweep against Bangladesh in the two-match Test series. After a resounding 280-run victory in Chennai, Rohit Sharma's men maintained their momentum with a comprehensive seven-wicket triumph in the rain-hit second Test in Kanpur.Despite losing two and a half days of play due to inclement weather, Team India adopted an aggressive approach and forced a result within three days. Skipper Rohit Sharma, who guided his team to victory, is currently enjoying a well-deserved break with his family.During a recent trip to Abu Dhabi, Rohit and his wife Ritika Sajdeh attended the NBA Abu Dhabi Games, where they met social media sensation Abdu Rozik and legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas. The couple's interactions with these celebrities sparked viral moments on social media.Reflecting on the Test series triumph, Rohit emphasized the importance of adapting to changing circumstances. "We had to start working with different personnel. Gautam Gambhir's mindset allows players to express themselves. It's been a good start," he said.With the Test series victory, India's focus now shifts to the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, commencing on Sunday in Gwalior. Rohit, along with Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, recently announced their retirement from the T20I format after India's triumph at the T20 World Cup 2024.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), a Test series between India and Australia, has emerged as one of the most captivating rivalries in cricket history, rivaling the legendary Ashes. Since its inception in 1996, the BGT has produced countless unforgettable moments and intense battles between two cricketing powerhouses.Statistically, the teams have faced off in 56 Test matches as part of the BGT. India holds a slight advantage with 24 victories, while Australia has won 20. Twelve matches have ended in draws.Home advantage plays a significant role in the BGT. Australia has dominated on home soil, winning the majority of their matches Down Under. Similarly, India has been formidable at home, securing 18 victories in 29 matches.However, both teams have also shown resilience in away matches. Australia and India have each recorded six away wins in the BGT. India's overall superiority stems from their impressive home record.Beyond match victories, India has also won more series than Australia. Out of 16 BGT series, India has triumphed in 10, both home and away. Australia has won five series, while only one has ended in a draw.The upcoming BGT series, scheduled for November, promises to be another thrilling chapter in this epic rivalry. India will aim to extend their dominance by securing a fifth consecutive series win. They will also be eyeing a hat-trick of away series victories in Australia.The BGT has captivated cricket fans worldwide with its high-stakes matches, intense competition, and memorable moments. It has become a symbol of the fierce rivalry between two of the world's top cricketing nations.

The Indian cricket team embarks on a grueling Test season, with a packed schedule that includes a three-Test series against New Zealand, a tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and a five-match series against England in 2025.India's last Test series victory in England came in 2007, and the Rohit Sharma-led side is determined to break the drought. Former England paceman Stuart Broad believes this could be Virat Kohli's final tour of England."This could be Virat's last tour of England," Broad said. "They've got so much talent and depth, and England are slightly more youthful and less experienced but have a huge amount of talent and play this front-foot style of cricket."Broad predicts a close series, with both teams possessing formidable strengths. "I don't think it will be a five-nil or a four-nil, it will probably be going down to the last Test. If the weather plays ball, I think it will be 2-2."He emphasizes the significance of India's victory at Lord's in 2021, which left a lasting impact on the England team. "It was an aggressive test match, Mohammed Siraj bowled fantastically well on the final day, a drier pitch and just getting that bit of movement.""It was an amazing, emotional Test match to watch, and I know how much that hurt the England dressing room. Equally, it was very joyous for India to come here - we saw the joy on Kohli's face and how much that meant to him. I think it's going to be an absolute crackerjack of a series."