Cricket

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant's Animated Chat Sparks ConcernIndian cricket icons Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant have sparked a heated debate on social media after an animated conversation on the bench during India's match against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup.A video surfaced online showing Kohli and Sharma discussing Pant's dismissal, which came after he attempted a risky reverse sweep. Kohli appeared visibly displeased, and the conversation continued as Pant joined them in the dugout.Kohli, who has been a mentor to Pant, expressed his frustration over the young wicket-keeper batter's repeated mistakes. Pant has been a revelation for India at the No. 3 spot in this tournament, but his tendency to play reckless shots has raised concerns."If he commits the same mistake twice - right now it's fine - but in big matches he can face problems because big teams don't let these opportunities slip," said former India spinner Piyush Chawla.Commentators also weighed in on the conversation, suggesting that Kohli and Sharma were discussing Pant's dismissal. "Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in agreement there. Because they know what Pant is capable of," said Chawla."You could see Kohli talking to him now. He was playing really well, Rishabh. Was there a need to play such a shot in that situation?" said Deep Dasgupta.Sanjay Manjrekar added: "If you noticed Virat Kohli's reaction... when Rishabh Pant got out, Kohli didn't know that the camera was on him. He immediately reacted and then hid his face with a towel. The way fans would have reacted to his dismissal, Kohli did the same way."With India set to face Australia in their next match and potentially the semi-finals, the team will be hoping to address these concerns and improve their overall performance.

Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has predicted that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will retire from T20Is after the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. This speculation stems from the struggles both star batters have faced in the tournament, with Rohit scoring 99 runs in 5 matches and Virat managing just 66 runs.Jaffer believes that this could be the last T20I competition for both Rohit and Virat, but he insists that they will continue to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he emphasizes that the final decision lies with the players and the selectors."I think they both (Virat and Rohit) will retire from T20Is after the T20 World Cup. It is their call eventually and also the call of the selectors. While they will continue to play in the IPL, I believe we are seeing them for the last time in T20Is at the T20 World Cup," Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.Despite their recent struggles, Jaffer remains confident in Kohli's ability to score 100 international centuries. Currently, Kohli has 29 Test centuries, 50 ODI centuries, and one century in T20 Internationals."Yes, I think Virat Kohli will score hundred international hundreds. He has a lot of time left and the way his fitness is and the way he scores his runs with consistency, I hundred percent expect him to cross hundred hundreds," Jaffer added.Meanwhile, Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, and Nitish Reddy have received maiden India call-ups for the upcoming white-ball tour of Zimbabwe under the captaincy of Shubman Gill. This opportunity is a reward for their impressive performances in the last IPL.Senior players competing in the ongoing T20 World Cup in the Americas, including captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah, have been rested ahead of a grueling season.The Zimbabwe tour comprises five T20 Internationals, beginning July 6.

Virat Kohli, the star Indian batter, has expressed his admiration for American basketball legend Michael Jordan, citing his on-court intensity and unwavering determination as sources of inspiration. Kohli, who is currently participating in the ICC T20 World Cup, recalled his childhood fascination with Jordan's matches in the National Basketball Association (NBA)."I used to love watching Kobe Bryant play as well," Kohli said, "but the time that I saw Michael Jordan play, I clearly remember there used to be the early morning basketball games that used to be aired on ESPN in India. And I used to be up quite early to go to cricket practice. So I would always catch all of those games."Kohli was particularly drawn to Jordan's body language and competitive spirit. "Just watching him play, it was just a real natural connect with his body language, with the way he moved on the court and just his personality," he said. "And that, you know, you could see on his face the intensity and the will to win. And I just immediately connected."Kohli's admiration for Jordan extended beyond his on-court performances. He recalled marking the Chicago Bulls' game schedule in the newspaper and making sure he was awake to watch them play. "There was magic in every game that he played," Kohli said. "There was something or the other happening. So for me, that was a very strong core memory and something that I still hold very dearly."Jordan, who played for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards during his illustrious career, is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He won six NBA Championship titles, six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards, and five NBA MVP awards.Kohli's admiration for Jordan is a testament to the global reach and impact of sports icons. Despite playing different sports in different countries, Kohli and Jordan share a common passion for excellence and a relentless pursuit of victory.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib's Fiery Send-Off to Virat Kohli Sparks Social Media BuzzBangladesh fast bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib's aggressive celebration after dismissing Indian cricket star Virat Kohli during their T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 encounter has ignited a social media storm. Sakib's fiery send-off, which included a pointed stare and a few choice words, has drawn mixed reactions from fans and fellow cricketers alike.While some have praised Sakib's passion and competitive spirit, others have criticized his behavior as disrespectful and unsportsmanlike. The incident has also reignited memories of a similar send-off given to Kohli by West Indies fast bowler Kesrick Williams in 2017.Williams, who used to celebrate dismissals by writing the names of batters in an imaginary notebook, gave Kohli the infamous "notebook" send-off during a limited-overs series in West Indies. However, Kohli responded with a blistering knock of 32 off just 12 deliveries, including a mocking "notebook" celebration of his own.In the wake of Sakib's send-off, Williams took to social media to react to a meme that depicted him advising Sakib to brace himself for a similar onslaught from Kohli. "Kez 2-1 Kohli," Williams wrote on his Instagram story, referring to his previous encounter with the Indian star.Meanwhile, Australia opener David Warner has come to Kohli's defense, criticizing the excessive criticism he faces for his strike rate. "It's just his passion for the game," Warner said. "He's got a knack for determination and a hunger to score runs. He cops a lot of criticism, which is not right."Warner praised Kohli's consistency, team spirit, and competitive nature, emphasizing that he is a respected opponent.The incident has sparked a wider debate about the role of aggression and sportsmanship in cricket. While some argue that a certain level of aggression is necessary to maintain intensity and competitiveness, others believe that it should be tempered with respect for opponents.As the T20 World Cup progresses, it remains to be seen whether Sakib's send-off will have any impact on Kohli's performance. However, it has undoubtedly added an extra layer of intrigue to the already intense rivalry between India and Bangladesh.

Virat Kohli's performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 has been a topic of discussion among cricket enthusiasts. Despite being a star batter, Kohli's scores so far have been underwhelming: 1, 4, 0, 24, 37, and 0.Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has analyzed Kohli's batting technique and identified an area for improvement. According to Gavaskar, Kohli's balance while stepping out needs to be enhanced."The way he batted in Barbados, made 24, but the ball was hitting the middle of the bat. The same thing happened in Antigua. One technical thing that I want to talk about is that during the IPL, when he used to step out and play, his balance was great. But here his balance is not that good. For that reason, the ball is going on to the stumps when he misses or the ball is not being middled," Gavaskar said on Star Sports before the India vs Australia match.Gavaskar emphasized the importance of balance in Kohli's batting. "If his balance is right, then there is nothing else to worry about. The amount of time he spends on the pitch will give him more confidence."Gavaskar's analysis comes after Kohli's dismissal against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup. Kohli was well set on 37 when he was clean bowled by a slower delivery from Tanzim Hasan Sakib.Gavaskar's reaction to Kohli's dismissal was in contrast to his praise for Rohit Sharma's aggressive approach. Rohit had scored a quickfire 11-ball 23 to get India off to a flying start in the powerplay."Someone who has hit 10 runs in two balls would not go for a big shot, but for Rohit Sharma, it is all about the team," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.The difference in reaction from Gavaskar to Rohit and Kohli's dismissals left several fans unhappy on social media. The former India batter was tagged "biased" and a "hypocrite" by fans.

Indian cricket team's star batter Virat Kohli's dismal form at the T20 World Cup 2024 continued on Monday as he was dismissed for a duck during the Super 8 match against Australia. Kohli faced just five deliveries before he completely miscued a shot off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood and the catch was comfortably taken by Tim David at wide mid-on.Kohli's dismissal sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many fans expressing their disappointment and frustration. Some even called for him to be dropped from the team."Someone send him back to 3," tweeted Waqiullah Budye."TV Off," wrote Lokesh Saini."Pull is not everyone's cup of tea," added Jaunism.Kohli's poor form in the tournament has been a major concern for India. He has scored just 66 runs in six matches, with four single-digit scores.Earlier, Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and opted to field."We are going to bowl first. Looks a belter, it looks lovely. It's a quarter final, looking forward to it, big challenge against India. We have had ourselves in this situation before, every game is a must-win now. We got an experienced group, a great staff. Starc comes in for Agar," Marsh said at the toss.India skipper Rohit Sharma said that he would have fielded if India won the toss."We would have fielded first as well, looks a bit sticky. We wanted to chase. We know what exactly we are doing, will try to do our best. I hope it doesn't change much. The overhead conditions also matter in this part of the world. We have adapted well, hopefully another game where we put up a show. Every game matters in this tournament, nothing changes. We are playing the same team," Rohit said.

Australian opener David Warner has come to the defense of Indian batter Virat Kohli, who has faced criticism for his strike rate in recent T20 World Cup matches. Warner believes that Kohli's passion and determination make him a formidable opponent and that the criticism he receives is unwarranted."He's got a knack for indetermination just for scoring runs and hunger to score runs," Warner said of Kohli. "You know, he cops a lot of criticism, which is not right. I don't know why he cops it, but there are a lot of people out there who are big Virat supporters, like all of us."Warner also highlighted Kohli's competitive spirit, which he believes adds an extra dimension to matches between India and Australia. "He consistently goes about his business how he does. You know, he scores a lot of runs. He's a good team man and he competes hard. And that's what we like about coming up against the Indian cricket team."Australian spinner Adam Zampa echoed Warner's sentiments, acknowledging the challenge of facing a batting lineup that includes Kohli and Rohit Sharma. "You look down the India's line up, Virat, Rohit. All those guys were obvious names who've been around for a long time," Zampa said.Tim David, another Australian player, praised Rohit's batting prowess and his determination to win a world championship. "Something about Rohit is that naturally, he's so good to watch how he plays. He's effortless the way he bats," David said. "But I think he's got to care about his teammates, which obviously he's in that role as India's captain. And I know that he's pretty hungry for a world title as well."Despite the challenges posed by India's batting lineup, the Australian team remains confident in their abilities. They believe that their own batting strength and bowling depth will give them a competitive edge in the Super Eight matches.

India's emphatic 50-run victory over Bangladesh has propelled them towards a semifinal berth in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. The team's batting has finally found its rhythm, complementing the exceptional bowling unit led by Jasprit Bumrah.Skipper Rohit Sharma, despite a brief stay at the crease against Bangladesh, remains a key player for India. His 99 runs in five innings, including an unbeaten 52 against Ireland, highlight his dominance over Australia in T20Is. Virat Kohli, despite a slow start, has shown signs of improvement with 61 runs in the last two matches.Rishabh Pant, with 152 runs in five innings, has emerged as a reliable wicketkeeper-batter. Suryakumar Yadav's back-to-back fifties have solidified India's middle order, while Shivam Dube's inclusion has added depth to the batting lineup.Hardik Pandya's resurgence has been a major boost for India. His 89 runs and eight wickets have showcased his all-round abilities. Ravindra Jadeja, despite limited opportunities, remains a valuable asset with his all-round skills.Axar Patel's contributions with both bat and ball have been crucial, while Kuldeep Yadav's five wickets in two matches have strengthened India's spin attack. Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional economy rate and 10 wickets make him a formidable force, and Arshdeep Singh's 12 wickets have established him as a reliable wicket-taker.As India prepares to face Australia in their final Super Eight fixture, skipper Rohit Sharma faces a crucial decision regarding the team's composition. The overcast conditions and likelihood of rain in Antigua could influence his choices.

Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar has sparked controversy on social media after his contrasting analysis of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's dismissals during India's 2024 T20 World Cup match against Bangladesh.Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, played a quickfire 11-ball 23 to give India a flying start in the powerplay. On the other hand, Kohli played a more measured innings, scoring 37 off 28 balls.Gavaskar praised Rohit's intent and aggressive approach, saying, "Someone who has hit 10 runs in two balls would not go for a big shot, but for Rohit Sharma, it is all about the team."However, Gavaskar was harsher in his criticism of Kohli's dismissal. "What was he thinking? Should have played inside out," Gavaskar said.The difference in reaction from Gavaskar to Rohit and Kohli's dismissals left several fans unhappy on social media. The former India batter was tagged "biased" and a "hypocrite" by fans."It's not fans but the commentators like Sunil Gavaskar who create the difference between the fans and players," said one user.Another user tweeted, "Sunil Gavaskar has become so annoying and is the biggest hypocrite rn 'What was he trying to do' - After Kohli got out 'Rohit is always for the team' - After Rohit got out."Despite the controversy, Rohit and Kohli's knocks, along with good contributions from Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, and Shivam Dube, took India to a daunting total of 196-5 in 20 overs. Chasing it, Bangladesh fell short by 50 runs.India has now almost certainly sealed a semi-final spot at the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup.