Cricket

Ishan Kishan, the dynamic Indian wicketkeeper-batter, is determined to reclaim his place in the national team after a challenging six-month period. Having lost his spot in all three formats and his central contract, Kishan is eager to prove his worth once again.In an interview with the Indian Express, Kishan expressed his admiration for Rishabh Pant's recent return to the Indian side. He acknowledged the intense competition within the team, particularly with the impressive performances of Pant and Sanju Samson. However, Kishan remains unfazed and welcomes the challenge."It was heartening to see Rishabh back in action," said Kishan. "As far as competition goes, you love challenges. When you compete with quality cricketers, it enhances your game. I know it's not going to be easy, but competition gives you that feeling of satisfaction."Kishan's ambitions extend beyond the T20 format. He envisions himself as a key player in all three formats, as he was before his hiatus. "I see myself playing in all three formats," he stated. "I want to be part of all three formats."To achieve his goals, Kishan is focused on improving his fitness and preparing for upcoming tournaments. He is determined to stay in the present and not dwell on past setbacks or future uncertainties."I am not thinking too much about the future," said Kishan. "I want to stay in the present. I am only focused on how to become a better and different player from what I was six months ago. I will work on a few innovative shots and on my wicket-keeping."Kishan is eagerly awaiting the start of the domestic season, where he hopes to showcase his skills for Jharkhand. He believes that strong performances at the domestic level will pave the way for his return to the national team.

Ishan Kishan, the prodigious wicket-keeper batter, has endured a challenging period in recent months, losing his place in the Indian team across all formats and the BCCI central contract. In an exclusive interview with the Indian Express, Kishan candidly shared his experiences and aspirations.Kishan's absence from the Indian team stemmed from a combination of factors, including travel fatigue and mental exhaustion. He sought a break from the tour of South Africa in December 2023, a decision that was met with mixed reactions."I don't want to be sad about anything. I'll keep giving my best," Kishan said, reflecting on the setbacks. He acknowledged the emotional toll of the past few months, questioning why such adversity had befallen him."It was depressing. I don't want to say that everything was fine. It was not easy for me at all. You go through a lot. Questions like what happened, why me, with me. All these things happened when I was performing," he confided.Kishan emphasized that his break was primarily due to travel fatigue, but he also recognized that his mental well-being was compromised. He lamented that his decision was not fully understood by many."I was scoring runs and then I found myself on the bench. These things do happen in a team sport. But I experienced travel fatigue. It meant there was something wrong, I was not feeling well or right and so I decided to take a break. However, sadly, barring my family and few close people no one understood that," he said.Kishan believes that his break was necessary and that he is now ready to make a comeback. He understands the importance of performing in domestic cricket to earn a recall to the national team."I took a break and I think it was normal. There is a rule that if you want to make a comeback you must perform in domestic cricket. It is as simple as that. Now, it was very different for me to play domestic cricket as it was not making any sense. I was not in a frame of mind to play and that is why I took a break from international cricket. It doesn't make sense that you take a break from international cricket and then you go and play domestic matches. Then I could have continued playing for India," he asserted.Kishan remains determined to regain his place in the Indian team and is confident that he can overcome the challenges he has faced. His resilience and unwavering belief in his abilities will undoubtedly serve him well in his pursuit of excellence.

Former New Zealand cricketer Ian Smith has high praise for Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, comparing him to Australian legend Adam Gilchrist. Smith believes that Pant has the potential to match Gilchrist's achievements if he maintains his current form.Pant has impressed Smith with his performances since returning from a car accident earlier this year. He has been in excellent form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the ongoing T20 World Cup."Rishabh Pant since his accident has come back very strong and he looks in terrific form. He is dynamic. He's aggressive, he's dangerous," Smith said.Like Gilchrist, Pant has shown his versatility by batting in various positions across different formats. Smith believes this makes him a valuable asset in white-ball cricket."He can compliment who's with him, whether he comes in to support Kohli or whether he comes in to support... Rohit Sharma, so three is a good spot for him because I firmly believe that in white-ball cricket your best players should have the opportunity to face the most deliveries. And so that's what makes him valuable.""He can hit the first ball he faces out of the ground and he's got other bailout options as well if it doesn't work out that way. I mean, you know, he's replaced a very good player in KL Rahul. KL Rahul is a world-class cricketer. That says it all for me," Smith added.Pant, 26, is seen as a similar type of cricketer to Gilchrist, who could bat down the order in Test cricket and up the order in white-ball formats. However, Smith cautions that Pant still has a long way to go to reach Gilchrist's records, who scored over 15,000 runs in international cricket and took over 800 catches behind the stumps."Ah yeah, well, he's got a bit to go. But yes, similar type of cricketer who can, in Test cricket, bat down the order. And in white-ball cricket can be back at the top of the order. So there's that similarity with Gilchrist there. But if he continues in the same vein for a few more years, then people will say Gilchrist and Pant, yeah, very close," Smith said.

Rishabh Pant, India's star wicket-keeper batter, is determined to make a strong comeback after his horrific accident. During a practice session in New York ahead of the World Cup opener, Pant displayed an unwavering commitment to perfecting his hook shot.Despite the unpredictable pitch and uneven bounce, Pant spent over an hour practicing the hook, relentlessly requesting the throwdown expert to deliver bouncers. This meticulous preparation suggests that Pant may be promoted to the No. 3 position to maintain the left-right batting combination.Pant's determination was evident as he faced several bouncers that whizzed past his face. While top batters typically avoid such risks so close to a major tournament, Pant's unwavering spirit drove him to push his limits."Get it right, brother, I have to play bouncers," Pant demanded, even as the throwdown expert showed signs of fatigue. Despite being hit a few times, Pant remained undeterred.Pant's spectacular performance against Bangladesh on Saturday hinted at his readiness for the World Cup. His intense practice session on Tuesday further underscores his commitment to delivering a memorable performance for India.

Team India's wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson exudes confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, expressing his belief in his preparation for the tournament. Samson, who has endured a decade of ups and downs in his career, feels that he is now at his most experienced and prepared for the global event.Samson's impressive performance in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) as captain of the Rajasthan Royals has bolstered his confidence. He amassed 531 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 153.47, finishing fifth in the Orange Cap standings.Despite the intense pressure of the IPL, Samson admits that he couldn't help but think about his chances of being selected for the World Cup. He acknowledges that his aggressive batting style, which aims to make every ball count, may have played a role in earning him a spot in the squad.However, Samson remains cautious and aware of potential selection issues. He understands that the team's needs and the combination sought by the selectors and management will ultimately determine his playing time.With in-form Rishabh Pant also in the side, it remains uncertain whether Samson will get the opportunity to play in any of the games during the T20 World Cup. Nonetheless, Samson remains optimistic and believes that his preparation and experience will serve him well if given the chance.

Dinesh Karthik, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter, has bid farewell to his illustrious playing career. The 39-year-old, who last represented India in the 2022 T20 World Cup, announced his retirement on his birthday, bringing an end to a journey that began in 2002-03.Karthik's career has been marked by both highs and lows. He made his international debut in 2004 and went on to play 26 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 32 T20Is for India. While he was never a regular in the Test team, he made significant contributions in the shorter formats, particularly in T20 cricket.In the IPL, Karthik has been a mainstay since its inception in 2008. He has represented six different franchises, including Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. With 4816 runs in 256 matches, he is one of the most successful batters in IPL history.Karthik's wicketkeeping skills have also been highly regarded. He is second only to MS Dhoni in overall dismissals (172) and stumpings (36) in the IPL. He has also captained Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket and led Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL for three seasons.Despite his success, Karthik's international career was often overshadowed by the presence of other talented wicketkeeper-batters. However, he remained a valuable member of the Indian team, providing experience and leadership.In recent years, Karthik has focused primarily on domestic cricket and the IPL. He played a key role in Royal Challengers Bangalore's run to the playoffs in IPL 2023, scoring 326 runs in 13 innings.Karthik's retirement marks the end of an era in Indian cricket. He was one of the last remaining players from the generation that won the 2011 World Cup. His contributions to the game will be remembered for years to come.

Dinesh Karthik, the veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter, has announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) following Royal Challengers Bangalore's exit from the competition in 2024. Karthik, widely regarded as one of the finest Indian finishers in recent times, was once again a top performer for RCB, scoring 326 runs at a strike rate of 187.36.In an exclusive interview with Cricbuzz, Karthik revealed that his decision to retire was primarily driven by mental factors rather than physical limitations. Despite being physically fit to play for "another three years," Karthik admitted that he was doubtful about his ability to maintain the mental intensity required for such long tournaments."I think I am physically very much prepared to play for another three years. Especially with the Impact Player rule, it becomes that much easier. So in terms of playing the sport, easily I think I could've pushed for another cycle," Karthik said. "I don't have too many issues in my life. Touch wood, I have never missed a game because of an injury through my three decades. I've been blessed that way. I was never worried about my body or my fitness. It was all about the mental side of things, whether I'll be able to push as much in the lead-up to the tournament, whether if I don't play as many matches, will I be okay with it."Karthik further explained that he felt he was no longer able to push himself mentally to the same extent as before. The fact that he was unlikely to be selected for the Indian cricket team again also contributed to his decision."I am a big believer of whatever I look to do, I try to give it 100% commitment and do whatever I can to be the best in that. And I thought from hereon for me to play X amount of matches is going to be hard. Mentally pushing myself for so long in terms of doing everything in the lead-up, even if I falter a little bit I wouldn't be... even though from the outside people wouldn't know, but internally I would find it very hard and I would be living with guilt. I don't want that," he added."Taking all that into account, I thought this is the time [to retire]. And most importantly, the fact that no matter what I do, I cannot play for India again was very evident. So it was the last nail in the coffin."Karthik's retirement marks the end of an illustrious IPL career that spanned 16 seasons and saw him represent six different franchises. He played a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders' two IPL title triumphs in 2012 and 2014 and was also a member of the Mumbai Indians team that won the tournament in 2015.

Dinesh Karthik, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter, has announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), citing mental fatigue as the primary reason. Despite being in peak physical condition, Karthik believes that the mental demands of the game have taken their toll.Karthik, 38, has been a constant presence in the IPL since its inception in 2008, playing 257 matches and becoming the joint second-most capped player in IPL history alongside Rohit Sharma. However, despite his physical fitness, Karthik admits that the mental aspect of the game has become increasingly challenging."I think I am physically very much prepared to play for another three years," Karthik said. "But it was all about the mental side of things, whether I'll be able to push as much in the lead-up to the tournament, whether if I don't play as many matches, will I be okay with it."Karthik's decision to retire comes after a challenging IPL season last year. However, he remained motivated by his intrinsic drive and the belief that if he got one chance, he would make the most of it."I am internally very, very motivated," Karthik said. "I just believed if I get one chance, I should make the most of it. I never cribbed. I was always thinking like I got a chance but I missed it. I got a tournament here, but I probably could have done better in this match. And that kept me going."As he navigates retirement, Karthik is keeping himself occupied with family functions and reflecting on his illustrious career. He admits that the emotions leading up to his final match were a mix of relief and sadness."I don't think it's sunk in yet," Karthik said. "It's a tad bit emotional, a tad bit relief. In a way, I was mentally prepared for whenever it had to happen. But I was so much more prepared for 18th May."

Dinesh Karthik's resurgence has been a pivotal factor in Royal Challengers Bangalore's remarkable turnaround in IPL 2023. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter has amassed 315 runs at a blistering strike rate of 195.65, his best performance in 17 seasons.Karthik attributes the team's success to a shift in mindset after a disappointing start. "The SRH game was a turning point," he said. "We came back strongly with the bat, which gave us confidence."The freedom to play without pressure has also been a key factor. "We had nothing to lose, so why not do things differently?" Karthik explained. "But you have to back that up with skill."Karthik's off-field efforts have also contributed to his success. "I've gotten fitter and stronger," he said. "I also had to overcome the skepticism surrounding my return as a commentator."Commentary has had a positive impact on Karthik's cricket. "It's taught me not to take criticism too seriously," he said. "It's also increased my worldly knowledge and self-esteem."Karthik's motivation stems from a desire to prove himself. "I wanted to respond to the questions that were asked," he said. "I've done what I've done today."Despite his success, Karthik remains uncertain about his future. "I don't want to think too far ahead," he said. "But if RCB goes all the way, I might play one more year."