Cricket

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has made strategic decisions ahead of the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction, retaining three key players while releasing several others. The franchise has opted to retain Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal, while parting ways with captain Faf du Plessis, all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Will Jacks, and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj.The decision to retain Kohli, the former RCB captain and Indian batting legend, comes as no surprise. Kohli has been a cornerstone of the franchise since 2008, leading the team to the IPL final in 2016 and 2021. His experience, leadership, and batting prowess make him an invaluable asset.Patidar, a rising star in Indian cricket, has also earned his retention. The right-handed batter emerged as a key performer for RCB in the 2023 season, scoring 333 runs in 16 matches at an average of 25.62 and a strike rate of 152.78. His ability to play both as an opener and in the middle order adds versatility to the team.Yash Dayal, an uncapped left-arm pacer, has also been retained by RCB. The 25-year-old impressed with his performances in the 2023 season, taking 13 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 26.69 and an economy rate of 8.23. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace makes him a promising prospect for the future.The decision to release Siraj, a key member of the RCB bowling attack, was a difficult one. The right-arm pacer has been a consistent performer for the franchise since joining in 2018, taking 83 wickets in 87 matches. However, RCB's Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, explained that the team wanted to enter the auction with as many options open as possible, especially to build a balanced bowling attack.Bobat emphasized the importance of prioritizing a strong Indian core during the auction phase, which is reflected in the retention choices. He expressed confidence that the retained players will continue to make significant contributions to the team's success.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 retention window witnessed a flurry of high-value deals, with franchises shelling out record sums to secure the services of their star players. Among the most notable retentions were Virat Kohli and Heinrich Klaasen, who commanded the highest and second-highest retention amounts in IPL history, respectively.Kohli, the talismanic batter for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), was retained for a staggering Rs 21 crore. However, his record was eclipsed by Klaasen, the wicketkeeper-batter from South Africa, who was snapped up by SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) for a whopping Rs 23 crore. Klaasen's retention fee shattered the previous record held by Kohli, who was retained for Rs 17 crore in the 2023 IPL auction.Other players who commanded high retention amounts included Nicholas Pooran (Lucknow Super Giants), Pat Cummins (SRH), Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals), Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR), Rashid Khan (Gujarat Titans), Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians), Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings), and Ravindra Jadeja (CSK), all of whom were retained for Rs 18 crore each.Interestingly, Punjab Kings opted for a more conservative approach, retaining only two players: Shashank Singh for Rs 5.5 crore and Prabhsimran Singh for Rs 4 crore. They were the only franchise to pay less than Rs 10 crore for their first-choice retention.Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) retained six players, including Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh, who was surprisingly picked for Rs 13 crore.Each franchise had a combined purse of Rs 120 crore for retention and the mega auction. Teams could make a maximum of six retentions, including the Right To Match (RTM) card option. Alternatively, they could release all their players and enter the mega auction with six RTM cards, allowing them to buy back players at an unrestricted amount.

India's dominance at home is under threat as they face the prospect of a historic whitewash against New Zealand in the third and final Test in Mumbai. The Kiwis have already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead, putting India's top spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) table in jeopardy.The defeats in Bengaluru and Pune have exposed the fragility of India's batting lineup, with key players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma failing to deliver. This has raised concerns about India's ability to qualify for the WTC final, which requires a top-two finish in the 2023-25 cycle.Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali believes that the Indian batsmen need to step up and score runs in the Mumbai Test. He emphasized the importance of Kohli and Sharma finding form, as well as other batsmen like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, and KL Rahul.Ali also suggested that India should consider playing a spin-heavy lineup on a turning track at the Wankhede Stadium. He believes that this would test the New Zealand batting, especially if left-armer Mitchell Santner is able to exploit the conditions.While the New Zealand spinners have been impressive, Ali praised the performances of their left-handed batsmen, Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra, and Devon Conway. He believes that India will need to do their homework and come up with a plan to counter their threat.A win in the Mumbai Test is crucial for India's morale ahead of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. A 3-0 whitewash at home would put them in a difficult position when they travel Down Under.

India's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has refuted claims that the team requests tailor-made pitches for Test matches. He also expressed support for out-of-form legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, emphasizing the need for patience and backing.After suffering their first-ever Test series loss at home in 12 years, India will face New Zealand in the third and final Test from Friday. The Pune Test, played on a spinner-friendly track, resulted in India's 113-run defeat. Speculations have arisen that the Wankhede Stadium pitch in Mumbai could also favor spinners.However, Nayar denied these allegations, stating that the team does not have any influence over pitch preparation. "We don't curate pitches. The curators do. Whatever we're provided with, we go on and play," he said. "As cricketers and as a team, we try and play what we're provided with."Regarding Kohli and Sharma's poor form, Nayar expressed confidence in their abilities. "I've seen nothing but love for them all over. When a top player goes through a lull, it's about giving them their space and trusting that they will come back," he said. "They will put in the work."Nayar emphasized the importance of patience, especially with experienced players. "Everyone's worked really hard, everyone wants to do well. The effort is there. The approach is great. I feel they're putting in the hard yards. Sometimes, you've got to be a little patient, even with the greatest of players," he said.India will be eager to salvage their pride in the final Test. The team's performance has been under scrutiny, and they will be determined to end the series on a positive note.

Virat Kohli's recent struggles in Test cricket have raised concerns among fans and experts alike. Legendary Australian spinner Brad Hogg believes that Kohli's inability to control his emotions while batting is a major factor behind his poor form.Hogg's comments come after Kohli's dismal performance in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand. In five Tests so far in 2024, Kohli has scored only 245 runs at an average of 27.22, with just one fifty and a top score of 70.However, Hogg pointed out that Kohli has shown greater consistency in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (2023-25), amassing 556 runs in eight Tests at an average of 42.76. This includes a century and three fifties across 14 innings, with a best score of 121.Hogg believes that Kohli's struggles in the New Zealand series stem from his tendency to overanalyze his performance. "He was more aggressive, the way he strolled out there, the way that he was trying to attack the bowling. He just looked like he was overanalyzing," Hogg said.Hogg also criticized Kohli's shot selection, particularly in the second Test against New Zealand. "He looked as if he wasn't in control of his emotions and it showed in the shot that he played when he got out," Hogg said.The second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be played under lights at the Adelaide Oval from December 6-10. Hogg believes that Kohli needs to switch on from ball one and focus on controlling his emotions if he wants to succeed in Australia."Virat Kohli has to switch on from ball one," Hogg said. "He has to be a little bit tighter. He has to be in control of his emotions."

Virat Kohli, the former Indian cricket captain, is set to make a grand return as the skipper of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). This decision comes after extensive discussions between Kohli and the RCB management, who believe that his leadership is crucial at a time when the team is facing a leadership vacuum.Faf du Plessis, who led RCB in the previous cycle (2022-24), is now 40 years old, and the franchise has decided to hand over the reins to Kohli, who is still considered one of the best batsmen in the world. Kohli led RCB from 2013 to 2021, guiding the team to the playoffs on four occasions. They came agonizingly close to winning the title in 2016, losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final.Kohli stepped down from RCB captaincy in 2021, but he has remained an integral part of the team. He has consistently been involved in the decision-making process and has provided valuable guidance to the younger players. RCB has never won an IPL trophy, and they hope that Kohli's return as captain will bring them the elusive title.The franchise has already begun preparations for the upcoming mega auction, which is less than a month away. They have identified Kohli as the leader and will now focus on filling the remaining gaps in the squad. Kohli has expressed his commitment to RCB, stating that he will play his last IPL game for the franchise.Even without the official captaincy, Kohli has been the de facto leader of RCB in recent years. He has always been fully engaged in the game, providing support and guidance to his teammates. RCB considered other captaincy options, including Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, but ultimately decided that Kohli was the best choice to lead the team forward.Kohli's return as RCB captain is a significant development for the franchise. He is a proven leader with a wealth of experience. His passion and commitment to the team are undeniable. With Kohli at the helm, RCB will be hoping to finally break their IPL title drought in 2025.

Suryakumar Yadav Eyes Milestone as India Gear Up for South Africa T20I SeriesIndia's swashbuckling batter Suryakumar Yadav is poised to etch his name in the record books as he prepares to lead the team in a four-match Twenty20 International series against South Africa. Yadav, who has been in scintillating form, is on the cusp of surpassing Rohit Sharma as the highest-scoring Indian batter against the Proteas in T20Is.Currently ranked third among Indian batters with 346 runs in seven T20Is against South Africa, Yadav needs just 84 more runs to eclipse Sharma's tally of 429 runs. The Mumbai Indians star has been a consistent performer against the Proteas, averaging an impressive 57.66.Sharma, who led India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, has amassed 429 runs in 18 T20I matches against South Africa, averaging 26.81. Virat Kohli, India's run machine, is second on the list with 394 runs in 14 matches, averaging 39.40.The upcoming series will provide Yadav with an ideal opportunity to cement his status as one of India's most prolific T20I batters. The first T20I will be played on November 8 at Kingsmead in Durban, followed by the second on November 10 in Gqeberha, the third on November 13 in Centurion, and the fourth and final T20I on November 15 in Johannesburg.

As the curtain falls on India's home Test series against New Zealand, questions linger about the future of four stalwarts: Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rohit Sharma. With the next home series not scheduled until 2025, concerns arise over whether these veterans will still be donning the whites for India.Since 2012, India has dominated home soil, winning 42 out of 55 Tests. This quartet has played a pivotal role in this success, featuring in 22 of those victories. However, recent performances have raised doubts about their continued dominance.Kohli, once a batting colossus, has struggled against spin in Asia since 2020, averaging a mere 28.3. His dismissals in Pune to Mitch Santner exposed a perceived length issue. Rohit Sharma, too, has abandoned his dependable Test approach, opting for a more aggressive style that has often led to his downfall.Ashwin, despite his remarkable consistency, has shown signs of decline. His lengths have been inconsistent, allowing opposition batters to attack him. Jadeja, known for his nagging accuracy, has also seen his economy rate rise in recent home Tests.The team management's decision to move on from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, who were also part of India's golden home run, highlights the changing landscape. The quartet's contributions have been immense, but their longevity remains uncertain.As fans gather at the Wankhede Stadium for the final Test, they should take the opportunity to acknowledge the quartet's achievements. Their dominance at home has been a testament to their skill and dedication. Whether they continue to grace the Indian Test team beyond 2025 remains to be seen, but their legacy will undoubtedly endure.

Ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia, former Indian cricketer M. S. K. Prasad has expressed confidence in Virat Kohli's ability to regain his form. Despite a challenging start to the decade in Test cricket, Prasad believes Kohli's love for Australian conditions will ignite his batting prowess.In 2024, Kohli's Test performance has been inconsistent, with an average of 27.22 in five Tests. However, in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25, he has shown signs of improvement, scoring 556 runs at an average of 42.76.Prasad, who served as a BCCI selector, emphasized Kohli's affinity for Australian pitches. "Virat Kohli is like a duck getting into the water when he goes to Australia. He loves these conditions and probably he must be eagerly itching to just finish off this Wankhede Test match and then go and play in Australia because he loves that," Prasad said on Star Sports.The Border-Gavaskar series will commence on November 22 in Perth, with the second Test scheduled for Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10. The third Test will be held at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to 18, followed by the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The series will culminate with the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7.India's squad for the series includes Rohit Sharma as captain, Jasprit Bumrah as vice-captain, and a mix of experienced and emerging players. Notably, Mohammed Shami was not included in the squad.