Cricket

On July 13, 2002, Sourav Ganguly's young Indian team etched their names in cricket history by chasing down a daunting target of 326 against England in the NatWest Trophy final at Lord's. The victory was a testament to the team's resilience and the leadership of Ganguly, who learned a valuable lesson about man management from his opening partner, Virender Sehwag.As India chased the mammoth total, Sehwag and Ganguly put on a blistering opening stand of 106 in just 14.3 overs. Sehwag smashed a 49-ball 45, while Ganguly contributed a 43-ball 60. However, Ganguly was furious at lunch when England reached 325, a daunting target in those days.As they walked down the long room at Lord's, Ganguly confronted Sehwag, who was whistling behind him. Ganguly berated Sehwag for taking the chase lightly, but Sehwag calmly replied, "Skip, we're going to win this."Ganguly was skeptical, but Sehwag's confidence proved infectious. After a solid start, Ganguly advised Sehwag to play conservatively against the weaker bowler, Ronnie Irani. However, Sehwag had other plans. He smashed five boundaries in the next six balls, turning the game on its head.Ganguly was furious, but he realized that Sehwag's aggressive approach was the key to victory. He held back his criticism and allowed Sehwag to play his natural game. Sehwag went on to play a blinder, and India eventually won the match by two wickets with three balls to spare.After the game, Ganguly reflected on the lesson he had learned from Sehwag. He realized that as a leader, it was important to understand that different individuals have different ways of winning. Sehwag's unconventional approach had turned the game around, and Ganguly had to adjust his leadership style to accommodate his players' strengths.This experience taught Ganguly the importance of man management and the need to empower his players to make their own decisions. It also helped him become a more successful captain, leading India to numerous victories in the years to come.

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has endorsed the decision to appoint Shubman Gill as captain for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe. Sehwag believes Gill is the ideal candidate to eventually succeed Rohit Sharma as India's permanent captain.Gill, who has impressed in all three formats, will lead an inexperienced squad in Zimbabwe. The series will serve as a platform for young players to showcase their talent and stake a claim for future selection.Sehwag praised Gill's leadership qualities and suggested that he has the potential to become a long-term captain for India. "Shubman Gill is a player who plays all three formats. He's had a great last year. He was unlucky to miss out on the 2024 T20 World Cup. According to me, it is the right decision to make him the captain. When Rohit Sharma leaves tomorrow, Shubman Gill will be his right replacement for captaincy," Sehwag said.The squad for the Zimbabwe series includes a mix of experienced and uncapped players. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson are the only two players from the main T20 World Cup squad, while promising youngsters like Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, and Riyan Parag have received maiden call-ups.The series will provide an opportunity for these young players to gain valuable international experience and demonstrate their abilities. The first match will be played on July 6 at the Harare Sports Club, with the second and third matches scheduled for the same venue on July 7 and 14, respectively.

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has criticized Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan's batting approach during their T20 World Cup Super Eight match against India. Bangladesh suffered a 50-run loss in the encounter, with Shakib scoring only 11 runs off seven balls.Sehwag expressed his disapproval of Shakib's decision to attempt a boundary shot against Kuldeep Yadav, resulting in his dismissal. He believes that Shakib should have played a more supportive role to his batting partner and stayed at the crease for a longer duration."When you have a set batter with you at the crease, at least support him. At least stay out in the middle and spend some time, try to get something out of the match," Sehwag said. "Instead, only 11 runs were scored off seven deliveries and then he walked back. So, I did not understand that."Sehwag also suggested that Shakib consider retiring from the sport to make way for younger players. "He has so much experience. So, is he not making the most of it or does he simply not care? or was he thinking that the target is too big and I just scored a six, and now I will score a six off every ball," Sehwag added.Bangladesh's chances of reaching the semifinals have become slim after suffering two defeats in the Super Eight stage. Their last match will be against Afghanistan on June 25.

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has launched a scathing attack on Pakistan cricket, accusing chief selector Wahab Riaz of bias and favoritism. Riaz, a former Pakistan pacer, was appointed to the role in November 2022, coinciding with the return of veteran pacer Mohammad Amir to the national squad.Amir, who played alongside Riaz, was part of Pakistan's squad for the ongoing T20 World Cup but failed to impress, leading to widespread criticism of the team's performance and selection decisions. Sehwag believes that Riaz's personal connection with Amir has influenced his selection."Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir, these are two names who criticized Pakistan team on the same TV channel, giving their comments...Today, one of them is a selector (Riaz) and one is in the playing eleven (Amir)," Sehwag said on a Cricbuzz show."So the same persons who were criticizing, if today they have power, became the selector, what have they done first up? 'Mohammad Amir was with me, let's select him'. It's like if Ajit Agarkar is chairman (of BCCI selection committee) today, he will say 'come Viru, come Zak (Zahir Khan)', I will facilitate your comeback'," he added.Sehwag urged Pakistan selectors to prioritize the future of the team rather than personal connections. "You have become a selector, you have to look at the future. You have a job, make the right use of it, don't do favours. That hard step selectors will have to take," he said.Pakistan's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup has raised questions about the team's fitness and selection policies. Sehwag's comments have added fuel to the fire, highlighting the need for transparency and objectivity in the selection process.

Pakistan's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup 2024 has raised questions about the team's leadership and tactics. After unimpressive displays against Ireland and England in the lead-up to the tournament, Pakistan's form was far from ideal.Despite their history of surprising performances, Pakistan's campaign began with a shock defeat to debutants USA. They then lost to India despite being in a commanding position. In their third match, they managed to beat Canada, but their fourth match against Ireland was a close call, with Pakistan nearly losing after being seven wickets down in pursuit of a modest target.Babar Azam's captaincy and batting have come under scrutiny. Indian cricket legend Virender Sehwag believes that Azam should step down as captain and even be dropped from the T20I team. Sehwag criticized Azam's lack of six-hitting ability and his conservative approach."Babar Azam is not a player who will hit sixes. He only hits sixes when he is set and spinners are operating," Sehwag said. "I have never seen him using his feet to fast bowlers or hitting sixes over the covers; it's not his game as he plays safe cricket by hitting down the ground."Sehwag believes that Pakistan needs a captain who can provide more firepower in the powerplay overs. "As a leader, you have to think whether this game is useful for his team. If not, then demote yourself and send someone who can play big shots in the six overs and get the team 50-60 runs," he said.Pakistan's struggles have also been attributed to their lack of depth in the batting lineup. The team has relied heavily on Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, but they have not received enough support from the middle order.With the T20 World Cup 2024 now over, Pakistan must reassess their approach and make changes if they want to be competitive in future tournaments.

Pakistan's disappointing exit from the ICC T20 World Cup has prompted former Indian opener Virender Sehwag to call for a strategic overhaul in their approach to the format. Sehwag believes that Pakistan's over-reliance on anchor batters like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan has hindered their competitiveness in T20 cricket."They have to play differently from the way that Babar Azam plays if they want to play in the next T20 World Cup," Sehwag emphasized. "There are a few players who play with the same strike rate which is not good enough for T20. They have to find those players with high strike rates."Sehwag pointed out that Pakistan's batters often struggle to accelerate the scoring rate, which puts pressure on the team in the latter stages of the innings. He suggested that the team needs to identify and develop players who can play an aggressive game and maintain a high strike rate."They have to give someone enough time," Sehwag said. "It's not like Babar became the player he is today on his first day itself, he also took time to give consistent performances."Sehwag also expressed concern about Pakistan's narrow victory over Ireland in their final group game. He questioned the team's tactics and execution, suggesting that internal issues may be affecting their performance."This is why we call them unpredictable, you can never tell if they will play well or poorly," Sehwag said. "I don't know what their dressing room is like. If things are fine between the players. That also plays a role."Sehwag's comments highlight the need for Pakistan to reassess their strategy in T20 cricket. They must identify and nurture talent that can play an aggressive game and maintain a high strike rate. Additionally, addressing any internal issues within the team could also improve their performance.

Pakistan's dismal performance at the Twenty20 World Cup has resulted in their earliest-ever elimination from the tournament. The 2009 champions suffered a humiliating first-round exit after the USA-Ireland match was abandoned due to rain.Pakistan's campaign began with a shocking defeat against the debutant USA team, leaving fans and experts in disbelief. Their struggles continued as they succumbed to a loss against arch-rivals India.Former India opener Virender Sehwag has criticized Pakistan's performance, highlighting their inability to win against first-timers and chase down 120 against India. "You can't blame the rain. Even if you had won, you didn't deserve to go ahead," Sehwag said.Sehwag also questioned the ICC's strategy of keeping India and Pakistan in the same group during World Cups. "In 2007, neither India nor Pakistan qualified for the second round. We were in different groups back then. Now, ICC will rethink on keeping India and Pakistan in a group," he said.The ICC's decision to group India and Pakistan together is influenced by the massive television audience that tunes in to watch these high-stakes matches. However, Sehwag believes that the ICC needs to reconsider this strategy to ensure that teams that perform well are not eliminated early.Pakistan's early exit from the tournament has raised questions about the team's preparation and strategy. The team's inability to adapt to different conditions and play consistently has been a major factor in their poor performance.As Pakistan looks ahead to the next T20 World Cup in 2024, they will need to address these issues and make significant improvements to their team if they want to avoid a similar fate.

Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan silenced his critics with a match-winning knock against the Netherlands in their T20 World Cup group game on Thursday. Shakib's unbeaten 64 off 46 deliveries, studded with nine fours, propelled Bangladesh to a comfortable victory.However, Shakib's recent form had come under scrutiny, with former India batting great Virender Sehwag questioning his place in the current team. Sehwag had criticized Shakib's numbers in the shortest format, calling them "shameful" and suggesting that he should have retired from T20 cricket long ago.In response to Sehwag's comments, Shakib initially appeared to dismiss them, asking "who?" when asked about the former India opener. However, a subsequent video clarified that Shakib had misunderstood the question and was not intentionally disrespecting Sehwag.Instead, Shakib acknowledged that criticism is part of a player's life when they are not performing well. "When a player can't contribute, then naturally there would be discussions," he said. "I don't think it is a bad thing."Shakib's performance against the Netherlands was a timely reminder of his class and experience. His innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, as he paced his innings perfectly and found the boundaries with ease.The victory was crucial for Bangladesh, who are aiming to reach the Super 12 stage of the tournament. Shakib's knock not only helped his team secure two valuable points but also silenced his critics and proved that he still has plenty to offer at the international level.

Former Bangladesh cricketer Imrul Kayes has strongly condemned Virender Sehwag's recent criticism of Shakib Al Hasan, calling it disrespectful and unwarranted. Sehwag had criticized Shakib's performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, suggesting that he should retire and remember his Bangladeshi identity.Kayes, in an interview with CricFrenzy, expressed his disappointment with Sehwag's comments. He pointed out that legendary cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid would never make such disrespectful remarks. Kayes believes that Sehwag's lack of respect stems from his own experiences during his playing career."I don't know how a legendary cricketer like him thinks when he says such things," Kayes said. "You won't see Sachin-Dravid talking like this because they give that respect to players. Since he didn't get that respect in his career, he doesn't know how to give that respect to other players."Kayes also criticized Sehwag's previous comments about Bangladesh cricket, saying that he has consistently made disparaging remarks about the country's cricket environment and ability. However, Kayes pointed out that Bangladesh has proven Sehwag wrong by taking 20 wickets in Test cricket.Kayes praised Shakib Al Hasan for his achievements, emphasizing that he is a respected and accomplished cricketer. He believes that such players deserve to be treated with respect, regardless of their recent form."Shakib did not become Shakib Al Hasan in one or two days," Kayes said. "If you look at his career, you will see many achievements. He has been the number one all-rounder in all three formats for a long time. I think such cricketers should be spoken about with respect."Kayes' comments highlight the importance of respect and sportsmanship in cricket. He believes that legendary players should set a positive example for younger generations and avoid making disrespectful remarks about other players.