Cricket

Despite retiring in 2013, Sachin Tendulkar remains the undisputed king of Test cricket, holding the record for most runs scored in the format. With 15,921 runs to his name, Tendulkar's legacy continues to inspire aspiring cricketers worldwide.Among active players, India's Virat Kohli, Australia's Steve Smith, and England's Joe Root stand as the top three batters with the most Test runs. Root leads the pack with 12,402 runs, followed by Smith (9685 runs) and Kohli (8871 runs).Kohli, Smith, and Root have been hailed as potential successors to Tendulkar's throne, with many experts predicting they could break his record. However, Smith and Kohli have recently experienced a significant dip in form.Former Australian star Brad Hogg has expressed doubts about Kohli's ability to reach Tendulkar's heights. "I just don't think Virat is going to get there," Hogg said. "He's lost his momentum, and he needs to turn it around in the next 10 Test matches or he's going to drop off."In contrast, Hogg believes Root has the potential to surpass Tendulkar's record. "Joe Root has 146 Test matches with 12,000 runs," Hogg said. "Sachin Tendulkar made nearly 16,000 runs in 200 Test matches. That's 4,000 runs in 66 Tests. I think Joe Root can go close to toppling that."Root's consistent performance in Test cricket has earned him widespread admiration. "Watch out, Joe Root is on the move to beat Sachin Tendulkar," Hogg added. "I think quietly he'll have that in the back of his mind to try and topple that little unique stat."

Yuvraj Singh, the legendary Indian all-rounder, recently graced the renowned podcast Club Prairie Fire, hosted by Michael Vaughan and Adam Gilchrist. During the engaging conversation, Yuvraj shared captivating stories and insights from his illustrious career and personal life.One of the most intriguing moments came when Yuvraj was asked to make a difficult choice: playing, selling, or benching three of India's most iconic cricketers - Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni. Vaughan had earlier expressed his preference for trading Kohli due to his lack of success in leading a team to an IPL title.Yuvraj, known for his quick wit and diplomatic nature, responded with a clever solution. "As a player, I would go for Rohit Sharma if it's T20 cricket. He is an outstanding captain and someone who can change the game with his batting for sure, he will be my first choice," Yuvraj said.When asked to choose between benching Dhoni or Kohli, Yuvraj opted for a humorous approach. "I would bench myself as naming one between Virat and Dhoni would be in the headlines. I don't want that to happen," he added.Yuvraj also recalled a memorable incident involving England's Andrew Flintoff during the 2007 T20 World Cup. Flintoff had provoked Yuvraj after he hit a couple of boundaries off his bowling. "Freddie bowled two good balls, he bowled a length ball, which went for a boundary, and a good yorker, which I was hit over the point. When I was walking after taking a single, he said, "F... shit shots," Yuvraj said.Flintoff's continued provocation led to an altercation between the two, forcing the umpire to intervene. "He repeated that on my face. I walked towards him; he kind of spat on me. I showed him my bat, saying that you know where it's going to go. It went worse after that. Then the umpire came in," Yuvraj added.Yuvraj's appearance on Club Prairie Fire provided a fascinating glimpse into the mind of one of cricket's most beloved and enigmatic figures. His candid stories and witty remarks showcased his unique personality and the enduring legacy he has left on the game.

Virat Kohli's recent batting struggles have raised concerns ahead of the second Test against Bangladesh, starting on Friday. In the first Test in Chennai, Kohli managed only 6 and 17 runs, sparking doubts about his current form.Kohli's difficulties were evident during a net session at Green Park Stadium, where he faced challenges against both pace and spin. Indian Express reported that Kohli struggled against India's top pacer Jasprit Bumrah in a 15-ball spell.Initially, Kohli appeared confident, hitting a few strokes. However, Bumrah soon gained the upper hand, beating Kohli four times, including forcing an edge and hitting his pads. Bumrah teased Kohli further, saying, "You are plumb" and "The last one would have been caught at short leg." Kohli responded with a smile, acknowledging his difficulties.Kohli's struggles were even more noticeable against India's spin trio — Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel. While facing Jadeja, Kohli tried to play inside-out but missed the ball three consecutive times, visibly showing his frustration. In his final practice session, Axar Patel bowled him out, indicating Kohli's ongoing difficulties with spin.Kohli's poor form has become a talking point, with fans and experts expressing concern. Some have attributed his struggles to a lack of match practice, as he missed the five-match series against England for personal reasons. Others have suggested that Kohli may be suffering from a technical flaw or a loss of confidence.As India gears up for the second Test, all eyes will be on Kohli to see how he adjusts and performs. Fans are eager to see if the talented batter can regain his form and make a significant contribution to the team in the long Test season ahead.

Virat Kohli, India's batting mainstay, will be under the spotlight as the team takes on Bangladesh in the second and final Test of their series. India, currently atop the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, will aim to secure a 2-0 series victory, while Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma will be eager to rediscover their batting form after a disappointing outing in the first Test.In the series opener at Chennai, India dominated Bangladesh, winning by 280 runs. However, Kohli and Rohit struggled, scoring only 6 and 5 in the first innings and 6 and 17 in the second, respectively. Since then, the duo has been working diligently in the nets at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium to regain their rhythm.Kohli, in particular, will be desperate to end his prolonged lean patch. In 15 matches across formats this year, he has managed just 319 runs, including a single half-century. His form is crucial for India's success in the upcoming season, which includes eight more Tests: three against New Zealand at home and five in Australia.Kanpur has been a happy hunting ground for India, with the team remaining unbeaten since 1983. Kohli and Rohit will be determined to join the list of centurions from the first Test, which includes Ravichandran Ashwin, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill.India's bowling attack, led by Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, will also be keen to continue their impressive performance. In the first Test, they dismissed Bangladesh for 150 and 231, respectively.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be looking to salvage some pride after their heavy defeat in Chennai. Skipper Mominul Haque and opener Tamim Iqbal will need to lead from the front and provide their team with a solid foundation.The second Test promises to be an intriguing contest, with India aiming to extend their dominance and Bangladesh determined to prove their mettle.

Virat Kohli's journey from an unknown figure to a global icon is a testament to his unwavering determination and exceptional talent. His rise to stardom began with his triumph as captain of the Indian U-19 team at the 2008 World Cup. Just months later, he made his senior India debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka, marking the start of an illustrious career that has spanned over a decade.Kohli's early days as a cricketer were filled with camaraderie and support from his teammates. A recently surfaced video on social media captures a lighthearted moment where his friends tease him about his newfound fame after a media interview. The video showcases the close bond between Kohli and his fellow cricketers, who have witnessed his transformation from a promising youngster to one of the greatest players of all time.Kohli's achievements on the field are nothing short of remarkable. In Test cricket, he has amassed 8871 runs at an impressive average of 48.74, including 29 centuries and 30 fifties. In ODIs, he holds the world record for the most centuries (50) and has scored 13,906 runs at an average of 58.18. Kohli's dominance in T20Is is equally impressive, with 4188 runs in 125 matches, including one century and 38 fifties.Beyond his statistical accomplishments, Kohli's leadership and influence on the Indian cricket team have been profound. He captained India to victory in the 2011 Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. His aggressive and passionate approach to the game has inspired a generation of young cricketers and cemented his status as a true legend of the sport.

The Indian cricket team is gearing up for the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, which commences on Friday. Having secured a comfortable victory in the first Test, India aims to replicate their success and strengthen their position in the race for the World Test Championship final.However, Virat Kohli's poor form in the first Test has raised concerns. Dismissed for 6 and 17 in the two innings, Kohli was dismissed twice in four overs by unheralded pacer Jamshed Alam during a net session on Wednesday. Alam, a 22-year-old from Lucknow, attributed his success to the out-swingers he bowled on a practice pitch that favored pacers.Despite Kohli's struggles, former Pakistan player Basit Ali believes the Indian star will regain his form in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting on November 22. Ali suggests that Kohli will thrive on the pacy wickets in Australia, where he has a proven track record of success."Virat will return to form against Australia," Ali said. "He will like the pacy wickets in Australia. Big players often lose concentration against weak teams but they do well against tougher oppositions."Ali also expressed confidence in India's ability to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. "People say India win at home but they have won two series in Australia as well," he said. "India won't allow Australia to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year as well."Kohli's return to form will be crucial for India's chances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Indian team will be eager to prove their dominance against a formidable Australian side and secure their place in the World Test Championship final.

Despite India's resounding victory in the first Test against Bangladesh, concerns have been raised over the underwhelming performances of skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli. While the team secured a 280-run triumph, the two senior players failed to make a significant impact.Former India opener Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned whether Rohit and Kohli are receiving preferential treatment based on their reputation. He believes that their absence from the Duleep Trophy, a domestic first-class tournament, has hindered their preparation for the Test series."There was the option of picking them in the Duleep Trophy. So one has to be careful about treating certain players differently and do what's best for Indian cricket and for the player," Manjrekar said. "Virat and Rohit not playing (Duleep Trophy) was not good for Indian cricket, nor was it good for the two players."Manjrekar expressed confidence in Kohli and Rohit's abilities to regain their form, but he emphasized the need to address the issue of preferential treatment within the Indian cricket team."But they have the class and experience to make a comeback later in the series, and I don't see them, for that reason, not being in form," he said. "But something that one must make a quiet note of, and that has been a problem with Indian cricket for a long time now, is that certain players get picked out for special treatment because of their status, which eventually hurts that player more than anyone else."The Indian team's success in the first Test was largely due to the standout performances of Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja. However, the struggles of Rohit and Kohli have raised questions about the team's batting depth and the need for a more consistent performance from its senior players.

Rishabh Pant's remarkable return to Test cricket has propelled him back into the ICC Test batting rankings at No. 6. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter, who missed nearly two years of Test action due to a horrific car crash, showcased his class with a 39 and a blistering 109 in India's victory over Bangladesh in Chennai.Yashasvi Jaiswal, another Indian opener, also made significant strides, moving up to fifth place with a half-century in the same match. Prabath Jayasuriya, the Sri Lankan left-arm spinner, was the biggest mover in the bowling rankings, climbing five positions to No. 8 after his match-winning performance in Galle against New Zealand.Rohit Sharma, however, endured a disappointing outing in Chennai, dropping from No. 5 to No. 10 in the batting rankings. Virat Kohli also slipped down five spots to No. 12, while Shubman Gill moved up five places to No. 14.In the ODI rankings, Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Travis Head made impressive gains. Gurbaz became the first Afghan batter to enter the top ten, rising to No. 8 after a series of impressive performances against South Africa. Head, the Australian all-rounder, jumped seven spots to No. 9 after his century in the first ODI against England.Rashid Khan, the Afghan leg-spinner, also made a significant impact in the ODI bowling rankings, moving up eight spots to No. 3. He was instrumental in Afghanistan's series win over South Africa, claiming seven wickets in two matches.

Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant Return to Delhi's Ranji Trophy Probables ListStar Indian batsmen Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant have been included in Delhi's probables list for the upcoming Ranji Trophy, scheduled to commence on October 11, 2024. The premier domestic red-ball event in Indian cricket has produced numerous Indian stars, including Kohli and Pant.Delhi will face Chhattisgarh in their Elite Plate Group D encounter on the opening day of the tournament. Other notable players on the probables list include Ayush Badoni, Anuj Rawat, Yash Dhull, and Navdeep Saini.Pant recently made a comeback to the Test team in the Duleep Trophy, where he scored a century in the opening match against Bangladesh. His return to form has been a welcome boost for the Indian team ahead of the home series against Bangladesh.The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) announced the list of 84 probables, stating that a fitness test for the selected players will be held on September 26, 2024. Players on international duty are exempted from the fitness test.The Ranji Trophy match on October 11 precedes India's first Test match against New Zealand in Bengaluru, which begins on October 16. This match provides Kohli with an opportunity to gain valuable game time in home conditions before the international series.