Cricket

Ravichandran Ashwin, India's premier off-spinner, has acknowledged the benefits of having a limited number of Test centers for players. However, he refrained from endorsing the idea for India, stating that it was beyond his purview to comment on such matters.The debate on Test centers resurfaced after Kanpur's Green Park stadium faced criticism for its poor drainage system, leading to the loss of two days in the second Test between India and Bangladesh. Virat Kohli, India's star batter, had previously suggested that India should adopt a system similar to Australia and England, which have a limited number of major Test centers.Ashwin acknowledged the advantages of having a select few Test centers, citing the familiarity with conditions and the ability to tailor preparations accordingly. He pointed out that Australia and England have a tradition of playing at specific venues, which allows players to develop a deep understanding of the conditions.However, Ashwin emphasized the importance of having a wide range of venues for Test cricket in India. He highlighted the benefits of fostering cricket talent across the country and the need to invest in essential facilities such as weather-proof infrastructure and proper drainage systems.Regarding the performances of young openers Yashaswi Jaiswal and Shubhman Gill, Ashwin expressed confidence in their potential. He praised their aggressive approach in the truncated second Test, which set the tone for the team's victory.Ashwin also discussed the team's strategy of adopting an ultra-aggressive approach in the second Test. He explained that the plan was to put pressure on the opposition from the outset, which proved successful in securing a quick victory.

The Indian cricket team showcased an exceptional batting performance on Day 4 of the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, breaking five records and establishing a commanding lead. Led by captain Rohit Sharma, the Indian batters dominated the proceedings, with several notable contributions.Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal all played quickfire knocks, setting the tone for India's aggressive approach. However, it was pacer Akash Deep who stole the spotlight with his audacious sixes off Shakib Al Hasan's bowling. Using the bat gifted to him by Virat Kohli, Deep smashed two consecutive sixes, sending the Indian dressing room into a frenzy.Star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin then took control of the Bangladesh innings, claiming two quick wickets to reduce the visitors to 26 for two. Ashwin's two-wicket haul (2/14) gave India complete command of the rain-hit Test match.Earlier, aggressive fifties by Yashasvi Jaiswal (71 off 52 balls) and KL Rahul (68 off 43 balls) had placed India in a strong position. The duo helped India declare their first innings at 285 for nine, securing a lead of 52 runs. Virat Kohli also contributed with a fluent 47 off 35 balls.For Bangladesh, veteran left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan picked up four wickets (4/78), while off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed four wickets (4/41) to restrict India's free-flowing batters.

Virat Kohli, the enigmatic Indian cricket star, has faced scrutiny over perceived changes in his demeanor. However, his long-time teammate, fast bowler Ishant Sharma, has vehemently refuted such claims, asserting that their bond remains unyielding.Sharma, who has shared a close friendship with Kohli since their youth, believes that the responsibilities of captaincy may have subtly altered Kohli's approach. However, he emphasizes that fame and time have not fundamentally transformed the star batter."I don't know who said that he [Kohli] has changed," Sharma said in an interview with MyKhel. "But with me, the kind of relationship we share, he never changed for me. We've been playing together since U-17, so, you know, we are 36 now, I think he'll be 36 soon. So, we've been playing together for, I don't know, for even, you know, more than 10 years, 15 years. So, he hasn't changed for me."Sharma acknowledges that the demands of captaincy can necessitate a shift in focus. "I think, obviously if you're a captain, there are certain responsibilities that come. You don't have to see him as a captain, you have to see him as an individual. So, if he's a captain, he has to look after 15 players. So, he can't only focus on one player who's not playing."Despite these adjustments, Sharma maintains that Kohli's core values remain intact. "When he was captain, whenever I was not playing, I could go to his room and talk about why I'm not playing, even why I'm playing, we strategized. So, I think it's all about communication. I had a very good communication level with him because I know that he's my friend at the same time, you know, been playing for so long. So, he hasn't changed for me."Sharma's unwavering support for Kohli underscores the enduring nature of their friendship. Despite the challenges and scrutiny that come with being a high-profile athlete, their bond has remained steadfast.

Virat Kohli's fiery aggression has been a defining characteristic of his illustrious career, particularly in the intense rivalry between India and Australia. His confrontational nature, coupled with his exceptional batting prowess, has elevated the India-Australia rivalry to new heights.Kohli's aggression manifests both on and off the field. He has engaged in verbal spats with Australian players like Mitchell Johnson, Tim Paine, and others. His combative attitude has set the tone for many India-Australia series, where both sides engage in fierce mental and physical battles.During the 2014 Border-Gavaskar series in Australia, Kohli had several heated exchanges with Johnson and Australian fielders. He stood his ground, responding to sledging with aggressive batting and words. The series marked the peak of the Kohli-Johnson rivalry, where tempers flared between the two.Kohli was in exceptional form, scoring multiple centuries. Johnson, one of the most aggressive fast bowlers, tried to unsettle Kohli with his pace and verbal aggression. During the third Test in Melbourne, Johnson's throw hit Kohli on the body, sparking a heated exchange.Kohli responded with a magnificent 169, leading the Boxing Day Test to a draw. Johnson, known for his hostility, often bowled aggressive short-pitched deliveries aimed at Kohli. However, Kohli thrived under pressure, countering Johnson's bowling with attacking strokes and engaging in verbal battles.Kohli consistently dominated Johnson with the bat, particularly in the 2014 series, where he amassed over 600 runs, including four centuries. His confidence and fearlessness made the rivalry even more intense, as Kohli often gave it back verbally to Johnson.The Kohli vs Johnson rivalry is remembered for its sheer intensity, with both players being highly competitive. It encapsulates the classic India-Australia cricketing rivalry, where both nations bring out their best and play with aggression.Kohli's aggression has elevated the intensity of the India-Australia rivalry, bringing out the best in both teams. His confrontational approach, combined with his match-winning abilities, has made him a central figure in this modern-day rivalry. Kohli's presence and leadership made India believe they could beat Australia in any condition, be it home or away.Kohli's confrontations with Australian players, captains, and even the media added drama and spice to every series, making Kohli vs Australia one of the most compelling narratives in cricket.

Pakistan's Test captain, Shan Masood, has defended his team's selection and performance, particularly in light of comparisons between Abdullah Shafique and Indian batting legend Virat Kohli.Masood faced a barrage of questions at a press conference on Monday, where he was grilled about his captaincy and the selection of underperforming players. Despite retaining Masood as captain for the upcoming home series against England, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and selectors have faced criticism, leading to the resignation of selector Mohammad Yousuf.Addressing the media, Masood acknowledged Pakistan's poor performance in 2024 but emphasized the need for objectivity in assessing the team. He pointed out that Shafique's statistics in his first 19 Tests are superior to Kohli's at the same stage of his career."I don't think your question is accurate," Masood said in response to a query about inconsistent players. "I agree that Pakistan hasn't played good cricket in 2024, but we shouldn't mix and compare Tests with T20Is."Masood's comparison of Shafique's record to Kohli's drew attention, although Shafique has played four more innings than Kohli did in his first 19 Tests.

Virat Kohli's Close Call and India's Dominant Display in Kanpur TestOn the fourth day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, Indian captain Virat Kohli narrowly escaped a run-out after a miscommunication with wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. The incident occurred when Kohli attempted a drive off Khaled Ahmed and got an inside edge. Pant called for a single, but Kohli quickly realized the danger and retreated, leaving him stranded far from the crease. Fortunately for India, Khaled missed the opportunity to complete the run-out.Despite the close call, India remained in control of the match. Earlier in the day, they had declared their first innings at 285 for nine, giving them a 52-run lead. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul played aggressive knocks, scoring 72 off 52 balls and 68 off 43 balls respectively. Virat Kohli also contributed with a fluent 47 off 35 balls.Bangladesh's bowlers struggled to contain India's batsmen, with veteran left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan taking 4/78 and off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz claiming 4/41.In response, Bangladesh were bowled out for 233 in their first innings. India's bowlers, led by Mohammed Siraj (3/30) and Umesh Yadav (3/40), kept the Bangladeshi batsmen in check.With a substantial lead, India will be confident of securing a victory in the second Test and taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket legend, has etched his name deeper into the annals of cricket history by becoming the fastest player to score 27,000 runs in international cricket. Kohli achieved this remarkable feat in just 594 innings, breaking the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar, who reached the milestone in 623 innings.Kohli's journey to 27,000 runs has been a testament to his consistency and dominance across all formats of the game. He has amassed an impressive 13,906 runs in 295 ODIs, along with 8918 runs in Test cricket. In T20Is, he amassed 4,188 runs before announcing his retirement from the shortest format after India's triumphant campaign in the T20 World Cup.Kohli's achievement is even more remarkable when compared to other cricketing greats. Sachin Tendulkar, who held the record prior to Kohli, is regarded as one of the most complete batsmen to have ever played the game. His 27,000 runs came in a glittering career that spanned over 24 years, including 100 international centuries.Following Tendulkar on the list is Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, who took 648 innings to reach the milestone. Sangakkara's elegance and precision with the bat made him one of the finest players of his generation.Ricky Ponting, the legendary Australian captain and one of the fiercest competitors, completed his 27,000 runs in 650 innings, further proving that this feat is a hallmark of cricket's elite players.For Kohli, surpassing these greats is yet another reminder of his unparalleled ability to rise to the occasion when the spotlight is brightest. From his early days as a prodigy in Indian cricket to becoming one of the most celebrated figures globally, Kohli's journey has been one of discipline, fitness, and an uncompromising desire for excellence.This milestone comes at a time when Kohli is in the latter stages of his career, yet continues to be a key pillar for Team India. Fans and analysts alike believe that there are still several more records for Kohli to break, with the legendary cricketer showing no signs of slowing down.

Pakistan cricket legend Zaheer Abbas has dismissed comparisons between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, asserting that Kohli's unmatched consistency sets him apart from the underperforming Pakistani batter.Abbas, once hailed as part of the "Fab Five" alongside Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson, expressed his disappointment with Babar's recent slump in form. "These comparisons are pointless," Abbas stated. "Virat Kohli scores in every match, while the other player (Babar) doesn't score in any match. So how can you compare them? The person who scores is the bigger player."Kohli boasts an impressive 80 international centuries, while the younger Babar has scored 31 centuries across formats. Abbas also praised India's overall consistency, predicting that the Rohit Sharma-led team will be a strong contender for the upcoming Champions Trophy."The Indian team is very good," Abbas said. "Their batters are doing well, and the bowlers are both good. It's a very balanced team that plays thoughtfully.""They have a very good captain who understands cricket very well," he added. "When everything is going in your favor, it's smooth sailing. That's the case with India right now."Abbas believes that Test cricket remains the true test of a player's character, resilience, mental strength, technique, and consistency. "Test cricket is real cricket," he emphasized. "It's the real test of any player, bowler. At one point, India and Pakistan's Test teams used to be good. And now the boards are realizing that we can't go on without Test cricket.""How many T20s can you play? How many white-ball tournaments can the ICC organize? Maybe 2 or 3, but in the end, you have to return to ODI or Tests," Abbas said. "If you continue Test cricket, the cricket will last longer. I know people like to get results fast, but slowly they will get bored of T20s, and we need Tests and ODIs."Abbas expressed concern over the increasing number of players turning down central contracts to focus on T20 franchise leagues. "Test cricket is ultimate," he said. "Anyone can win in T20. Teams can win by fluke. But that's not the case in Test cricket as it has two innings. You have the scope to do well in one innings. Test cricket teaches you a lot.""I know a lot of the players don't want to play Test cricket and play T20 instead. That needs to be stopped," Abbas urged. "They need to come up with something... Something like you have to play at least 5 or 6 Test matches a year, then you can play ODI or T20s. Every year, a minimum number of Test matches need to be allotted."Pakistan's recent Test series loss to Bangladesh was a major setback, according to Abbas. "It was a huge setback that Pakistan lost to Bangladesh," he said. "We never thought that not only Pakistan will lose but it will lose so bad.""Pakistan cricket is not doing great," Abbas admitted. "The performance has dropped. I am hopeful that it will get better. The reasons behind this are many.""It happens, the West Indies used to be the best in the world, that's not the case now," Abbas said. "But I'm hopeful that Pakistan cricket returns to the top, the boys are working hard."Abbas also urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to address the growing rivalry between Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi. "Yes, there have been rivalries in the Pakistan teams in the past, but the board should take note of the rivalry between Babar and Shaheen fast," he said. "The faster the better because it will keep on escalating.""Rivalry is good, but it should not become serious, if it does, it harms the team," Abbas warned.

Harry Brook, England's rising star, has etched his name into the record books by surpassing Indian cricket legends Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia. Brook's exceptional performance as captain has propelled him to the top of the list for most runs in a bilateral ODI series against Australia.In the fifth and final ODI, Brook's blistering knock of 72 runs off 52 balls not only helped England set a respectable total of 308 (all out) but also propelled him to the top of the list for most runs as captain in a bilateral ODI series against Australia. Brook's aggregate of 312 runs in the series is now the highest by any captain in such a contest, surpassing Kohli's 310 runs during India's 2019 series against Australia and MS Dhoni's 285 from 2009. England's Eoin Morgan (278 in 2015) and Pakistan's Babar Azam (276 in 2022) also trail Brook's remarkable feat.Brook's 312-run tally is also the second-highest by an English batter in a bilateral series against Australia, only behind Jonathan Trott's mammoth 375 runs from the seven-match series in 2010/11. The 25-year-old England skipper's impressive performance is a testament to his leadership skills and batting prowess.In the match, Australia won the toss and opted to bowl first, but England's batting lineup responded robustly. While opener Philip Salt set a fiery tone with 45 off 27 balls, Ben Duckett anchored the innings with a brilliant 107 off 91 deliveries. However, it was Brook's authoritative 72 that stood out, as his aggressive stroke play and leadership under pressure allowed England to go past 300 runs.Brook fell to Adam Zampa, caught by Glenn Maxwell, but not before leaving a significant mark on the series. Australia's bowlers, led by Travis Head (3/27) and Maxwell (2/49), kept England's middle and lower order in check, ensuring a challenging chase awaited the visitors in what promised to be a thrilling decider.