Cricket

Wasim Jaffer Mocks Michael Vaughan's Test Cricket Division ProposalFormer Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has taken a playful jab at his English counterpart Michael Vaughan over the latter's suggestion to divide Test cricket into two tiers. Vaughan's proposal, made on Tuesday, aimed to address the declining popularity of the longest format and the disparity in financial resources among cricket boards.Jaffer's response came in the form of a screenshot of the World Test Championship (WTC) table from a month ago, when England languished at the bottom. He cheekily pointed out the timing of Vaughan's tweet, as England had recently climbed to fifth place in the WTC standings after securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series against Sri Lanka."Interesting timing from Michael Vaughan to suggest two divisions in Test cricket," Jaffer tweeted. "England were bottom of the table a month ago, now they're 5th after beating Sri Lanka."Vaughan's proposal had sparked a debate on social media, with some supporting the idea of a two-tier system to ensure more competitive matches and others arguing that it would further widen the gap between the top and bottom teams.Jaffer's playful dig at Vaughan highlights the ongoing banter between the two former cricketers, who have often engaged in friendly exchanges on social media. Their lighthearted rivalry adds a touch of humor to the serious discussions surrounding the future of Test cricket.

India's hopes of securing a historic third consecutive Test series win against Australia hinge heavily on the fitness of their pace trio, according to former opener Wasim Jaffer.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy commences on November 22 in Perth, with India aiming to extend their dominance over the Aussies on their home turf. Jaffer believes that the availability of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj throughout the series will be crucial to India's success."If Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj stay fit and are able to play most of the series, India have a great opportunity for a hat-trick down under," Jaffer said. "Arshdeep could bring the left-arm option. And Mayank Yadav is a dark horse provided he's fit and available."India's pace attack has been a formidable force in recent years, with Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj forming a potent combination. Their ability to generate pace, swing, and seam movement will be key to troubling the Australian batters.The series will feature five Tests, starting with the Perth Stadium opener. The second Test will be a day-night affair at the Adelaide Oval, followed by the Gabba Test in Brisbane. The iconic Boxing Day Test will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, while the series concludes at the Sydney Cricket Ground.India has a strong record in Australia, having won the last two series in 2018-19 and 2020-21. However, the Aussies will be eager to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on home soil. The fitness of their pace trio will be a major factor in determining the outcome of the series.

India's ODI Series Loss to Sri Lanka Sparks Banter Between Wasim Jaffer and Michael VaughanFormer Indian batter Wasim Jaffer and ex-England captain Michael Vaughan have engaged in a witty exchange on social media following India's defeat in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.Vaughan initiated the banter by inquiring about the series result, prompting Jaffer to respond with a tongue-in-cheek comparison to England's dismal Test record in Australia."I'll put it in Ashes terms for you Michael. Ind won as many games in that series as the Tests Eng have won in Aus in last 12 years," Jaffer tweeted.India had begun their tour of Sri Lanka with a dominant 3-0 victory in the T20I series. However, the ODI leg proved to be a different story, with Sri Lanka emerging victorious under the leadership of new captain Charith Asalanka and the guidance of coach Sanath Jayasuriya.The opening ODI ended in a thrilling tie, setting the stage for an exciting series. India suffered a 32-run defeat in the second ODI while chasing a target of 240.The decisive blow came in the final ODI, where Sri Lanka convincingly defeated India by 110 runs, successfully defending a total of 248. This marked a significant milestone for Sri Lanka, as it was their first ODI series triumph over India since 1997.Jaffer's witty response to Vaughan's initial query highlights the friendly rivalry between the two former cricketers. Their social media banter has become a source of entertainment for cricket fans, who appreciate the good-natured humor and camaraderie between the two legends.

India's ODI Woes: Limited Matches Before Champions Trophy Raise ConcernsIndia's recent ODI series loss to Sri Lanka has sparked concerns about the team's preparedness for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled for next year in Pakistan. With only three ODIs remaining before the tournament, former opener Wasim Jaffer has expressed his apprehension.In the third ODI of the series, Sri Lanka outplayed India by 110 runs, thanks to Avishka Fernando's 96-run knock and Dunith Wellalage's five-wicket haul. This defeat marked India's first ODI assignment since their disappointing loss to Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup final last year.Jaffer took to Twitter to voice his concerns, stating, "SL played better cricket and deserve the series win. It doesn't worry me that India lost a series. Wins and losses are part of the game. However, it's a point of concern that India has just 3 ODIs before the Champions Trophy. #SLvIND."India's next ODI assignment will be a three-match home series against England in February next year. However, the limited number of matches before the Champions Trophy has raised questions about the team's ability to adequately prepare.The Champions Trophy is a prestigious tournament that brings together the top eight ODI teams in the world. India has won the tournament twice, in 2002 and 2013. However, their recent ODI performances have been inconsistent, raising doubts about their chances of success in Pakistan.The team's batting has been particularly vulnerable, with the top order failing to provide consistent starts. The middle order has also struggled to convert starts into substantial scores. The bowling attack, too, has been inconsistent, with the pacers struggling to find rhythm and the spinners lacking control.With the Champions Trophy fast approaching, India needs to address these concerns and find a way to improve their ODI performances. The upcoming series against England will provide a crucial opportunity for the team to gain some momentum and build confidence ahead of the tournament.

Punjab Kings (PBKS), the perennial underachievers of the Indian Premier League (IPL), are poised to appoint former India batter Wasim Jaffer as their new head coach for the upcoming season. Jaffer, who previously served as PBKS' batting consultant and batting coach, will succeed Trevor Bayliss, whose two-year contract expired.Jaffer's appointment marks his third stint with the Punjab franchise. He was released as the batting consultant ahead of the 2023 IPL season. The 46-year-old, who played 31 Tests and 2 ODIs for India, was the batting coach of PBKS from 2019-2021.PBKS, who have not reached the playoffs since 2014, endured a disappointing IPL 2023 campaign, finishing ninth in the points table. Despite recording the highest successful run-chase in T20 cricket earlier this year, chasing down 262 at the Eden Gardens to beat Kolkata Knight Riders, the team struggled for consistency.Bayliss, a World Cup-winning coach who also guided Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL trophies, failed to transform PBKS into a consistent outfit. His three-year tenure ended with the team finishing in the bottom half of the table.Jaffer's appointment is expected to bring a fresh approach to the franchise. His experience as a player and coach, coupled with his knowledge of the IPL, could prove invaluable for PBKS.Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to meet with all 10 IPL teams on July 31 to discuss the number of retentions teams can make and the Right to Match (RTM) options ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.

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.

Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has urged the team management to retain the opening batting combination of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the Super Eight phase of the ongoing T20 World Cup. Despite their underwhelming performances in the tournament so far, Jaffer believes the experienced duo will bounce back and find their rhythm in the crucial matches ahead.Kohli, who entered the World Cup in impressive form after a stellar IPL 2024, has struggled to make an impact, scoring only five runs in three innings. Rohit, too, has been inconsistent, accumulating 68 runs in three matches with a solitary half-century against Ireland.However, Jaffer emphasized the importance of sticking with the experienced pair, even though they have encountered difficulties in their recent performances. He explained that altering the batting lineup could create additional issues and hinder the effectiveness of crucial players such as Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav."Now that you are stuck with both of them, I don't think it's gonna make sense because you're gonna split both of them up," Jaffer said. "You might probably think of playing Yashasvi Jaiswal. That's probably what you're thinking, and then Rishabh Pant, who has done so well at number three, he has to bat even lower down the order, probably at number four. Then where does Suryakumar Yadav bat? So it's going to mess up the whole batting order, so I think they'll probably stick with that."Jaffer stressed that Pant has excelled at the number three position, while Yadav performs best when batting higher in the order. He believes that altering the batting lineup could disrupt the team's rhythm and hinder the performance of key players."Rishabh has done well at number three. Suryakumar, you don't want to bat him any lower than that, so I think they'll stick with that. But yeah, they have to go really hard in the powerplay. We've seen when Australia have done that against England, they were so ahead in the powerplay, getting that 74 runs. That's where you can make a mark. So Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the way they are batting, you could see that happen in the powerplay in West Indies."India secured their spot in the Super Eight with a resounding seven-wicket victory against co-hosts USA. As they gear up for their Caribbean clash with a formidable Afghanistan side, the Men in Blue will heavily rely on the resilience and skill of Kohli and Rohit to regain their form and lead the team to success.

Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has expressed confidence in Virat Kohli's ability to deliver in the crucial stages of the Men's T20 World Cup. Despite a slow start to the tournament, Jaffer believes Kohli will showcase his greatness as the competition progresses.Kohli, who entered the World Cup as the leading run-getter in IPL 2024, has struggled on the challenging pitches in New York, scoring just 5 runs in three innings. However, Jaffer believes this is a temporary setback and that Kohli will bounce back."Rohit and Virat have been playing on the tough New York pitch, so they aren't among the top run-scorers," Jaffer said. "But do not write off Virat Kohli. As the tournament gets to its business end, he will show his true colors and he will show his greatness."Jaffer also dismissed suggestions that Kohli should revert to batting at number three, citing Rishabh Pant's success in that position. "I don't think Virat Kohli should bat at No. 3. He should continue to open because now you have got Rishabh Pant at No. 3 and now it has been working out really well."Jaffer emphasized the importance of proactive batting in the powerplay, especially on challenging pitches. "You will need to be proactive in the powerplay. You will reach nowhere if you play cautiously on such pitches because the bowler knows he has to bowl on a spot and let the pitch do the rest."With India's final Group A game against Canada approaching, Jaffer believes there could be a case for Sanju Samson to bat at number four. "There might be a case for Sanju Samson at No. 4. But then Shivam Dube has got just a couple of games and the team management will want to give him a longer run."

India vs Pakistan: A Clash of Titans with High StakesThe highly anticipated clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup is set to take place on Sunday, promising an electrifying encounter that will captivate cricket enthusiasts worldwide.Pakistan's recent upset defeat against the United States has heightened the stakes for this match, as they now face a must-win situation to maintain their hopes of advancing to the Super 8s stage. India, on the other hand, secured a comfortable victory against Ireland, but concerns linger over the challenging batting conditions at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.Former India opener Wasim Jaffer emphasizes the importance of selecting the right combination for both teams. India's decision to open with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma against Ireland left Yashasvi Jaiswal on the sidelines, while Axar Patel was preferred over Kuldeep Yadav for his lower-order batting abilities.Jaffer believes India may stick with the same playing eleven against Pakistan, despite the possibility of Jaiswal opening. He highlights the need for Axar's batting skills, given the unpredictable nature of the pitch and the likelihood of increased fast bowling usage."You also want Kuldeep to play, but the kind of pitch it is, according to me, you will need Axar's batting because here you will see fast bowlers being used more," Jaffer said. "So Kuldeep won't have much effect. It will be the fast bowlers doing the damage."Jaffer anticipates that the pitch may improve slightly for the India-Pakistan encounter, but he predicts that fast bowlers will continue to dominate.