Cricket

India's Test cricket schedule for the next nine months is jam-packed, with a home series against Bangladesh, a tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and the World Test Championship (WTC) final in London.Currently, India leads the WTC standings with a win percentage of 68.52%, followed by Australia at 62.5%. New Zealand, the reigning WTC champions, are third with 50%.India's upcoming series against Bangladesh and New Zealand are crucial for their WTC aspirations. They need to win seven of their next 10 Tests to maintain their current win percentage. This is achievable if they sweep both series at home.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia will be a major test for India. They need to win at least two Tests Down Under to stay on top of the WTC table.According to calculations by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru website, India needs to add 63 points to their current tally of 74 to finish in the top two of the WTC. This means they need to win at least five Tests and draw one in their next 10 matches.Australia, who have seven Tests remaining, need 47 points to stay above 60% win percentage. They need four wins or three wins and a draw to achieve this.New Zealand, with five Tests remaining in Asia, need six wins or five wins and a draw to end up with a win percentage of above 60%.The WTC final will be played at Lord's Cricket Ground in London from June 11. The top two teams from the WTC points table will contest the final.

The World Test Championship (WTC) is heating up as teams vie for a spot in the Lord's final. With 12 series remaining, the race for the top two positions is intensifying.Sri Lanka:Sri Lanka's victory at The Oval has boosted their chances of a top-two finish. If they win all six remaining matches, they will reach 69.23%, likely securing their place in the final. Five wins would still keep them in contention with 61.54%.England:England's defeat to Sri Lanka has dashed their hopes of reaching 60%. Their maximum achievable percentage is now 57.95%, which could be enough if other results favor them. However, they will need help from other teams to finish second.India:India remains atop the standings with 68.52%. To maintain their percentage above 60%, they need 63 more points, which they can achieve with five wins and a draw. Six wins would increase their percentage to 64.03%, while seven wins would match their current score of 69.3%.Australia:Australia, currently in second place, needs 47 more points from their remaining seven Tests to stay above 60%. They can achieve this with four wins or three wins and three draws. Their final standing will largely depend on their performance in the five-Test home series against India.Bangladesh:Bangladesh's series win in Pakistan has propelled them to fourth place. If they win all six remaining Tests, they will reach 72.92%, while four wins would keep them at 56.25%.Pakistan:Pakistan's loss to Bangladesh and slow over-rate penalties have dropped their percentage to 19.05%. Their maximum achievable percentage is 59.52%, which requires them to win all seven remaining Tests.New Zealand:New Zealand has played only six of their 14 Tests. They need at least 65 points from their remaining eight Tests to reach 60%. However, three of those Tests will be in India, making it a challenging task.South Africa:South Africa can reach 69.44% if they win all six remaining Tests. They have home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, but a two-Test series in Bangladesh could prove tricky.West Indies:West Indies have only scored 20 points from four series. Even if they win their last four Tests, they can only finish on 43.59%.

India's Test cricketers will commence their preparations for the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai on September 12. The Bangladesh team is scheduled to arrive on September 15 for their own training session.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce the Indian squad for the series, which is expected to be named after the first round of the Duleep Trophy, scheduled from September 5 to 8. The Duleep Trophy will feature several Test hopefuls, including Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer.India's Test season, part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25, will begin with the Bangladesh series, followed by three Tests against New Zealand at home. The team will then embark on a tour of South Africa for five white-ball matches and later travel to Australia for five Tests.India's last Test assignment was a 4-1 home series victory over England in February-March. Since then, the team has participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the T20 World Cup, and white-ball series in Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.Bangladesh, on the other hand, is riding high on confidence after their historic 2-0 Test series sweep against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. The victory has propelled them to fourth place in the WTC standings with 45.83 percentage points. India, currently leading the table with 68.52 percentage points, will aim to consolidate their position in the upcoming series.

Rohit Sharma, the enigmatic Indian skipper, has expressed his unwavering commitment to white-ball cricket despite retiring from T20Is. His sights are firmly set on adding the coveted World Test Championship (WTC) trophy to India's illustrious cabinet.After India's triumph at the T20 World Cup in June, Rohit and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from the shortest format. However, BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed Rohit's appointment as India's captain for the Champions Trophy in 2023.In a recent interview, Rohit declared his intention to continue playing white-ball cricket. "I am not going to stop because I am looking forward to achieving more," he said. "When you get the taste of winning games, winning cups, you don't want to stop."Rohit's next challenge will be India's Test swing over the next five months. They will play 10 Tests against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia, all of which are part of the ongoing WTC cycle. India currently leads the WTC standings with six wins, two defeats, and a draw from nine Tests."It's an exciting time for Indian cricket moving forward," Rohit said. "There's some real excitement, good cricket being played as well. But like I said, the next couple of years are exciting ones as well. So hopefully we can go out there and enjoy the game at the same time and then try and make the most of what opportunity lies ahead for us."Rohit's leadership and experience will be crucial as India aims to secure the WTC title. His determination to continue playing white-ball cricket is a testament to his unwavering passion for the game.

Pakistan's slow over rate during the opening Test match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi has cost them dearly, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) docking six World Test Championship (WTC) points. The Shan Masood-led side was found guilty of being six overs short during the encounter, resulting in the penalty. Pakistan also lost 30% of their match fee after Masood pleaded guilty to the offenses and accepted the proposed sanctions.Bangladesh, too, faced consequences for their slow over rate, losing three WTC points and 15% of their match fee. Despite the setbacks, Pakistan remains in eighth place in the WTC standings, while Bangladesh has dropped to seventh. South Africa has moved up a spot to sixth.In a separate incident, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was fined 10% of his match fee and given a demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. Shakib threw the ball at Mohammad Rizwan during the 33rd over of the second innings.On the field, spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan played pivotal roles in securing Bangladesh's historic 10-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test. Mehidy claimed 4-21, while Shakib took 3-44, triggering a Pakistan collapse on the fifth day. The home side was dismissed for 146 runs in 55.5 overs, leaving Bangladesh with a modest target of 30 runs.Openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam chased down the target in just 6.3 overs, with Zakir hitting the winning boundary. The victory marked Bangladesh's first-ever Test win over Pakistan, a significant milestone for the team.

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has emphasized the crucial role of all-rounder Hardik Pandya in India's quest for Test supremacy and success in Australia. Gavaskar believes Pandya's return to the Test team could be a game-changer, especially after his pivotal contribution to India's T20 World Cup triumph.Pandya, who has played only 11 Tests due to persistent injuries, has a promising Test record with a batting average of 31.29 and a bowling average of 31.05. He has scored 532 runs, including a century and four fifties, and taken 17 wickets with a best bowling performance of 5 for 28.Gavaskar, in an interview with Revsportz, expressed his optimism about India's potential to dominate Test cricket with Pandya in the team. "If he bowls ten overs a day to go with his batting, this Indian team could become invincible, and they can surely go on and win the WTC and beat Australia in Australia," Gavaskar stated.India has twice reached the WTC final but has fallen short both times. The upcoming five-match Test series in Australia later this year provides another opportunity for India to assert their dominance and chase their first WTC title.Gavaskar's call for Pandya's return underscores the strategic importance of his all-round abilities. Pandya's batting prowess and bowling versatility could significantly enhance India's chances of success in Test cricket, both at home and abroad.

Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has expressed his unwavering commitment to the sport and his burning desire to lead India to a coveted World Cup victory. In a recent interview, Rohit dismissed any immediate retirement plans, stating that he intends to continue playing for several more years.Rohit's ultimate goal remains the elusive World Cup trophy. He emphasized his determination to secure the title for India, particularly in the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final in 2025. "I really want to win the World Cup and there is a WTC final in 2025, hopefully India makes it," he declared.Reflecting on India's journey to the 2023 ODI World Cup final, Rohit acknowledged the disappointment of losing to Australia but praised his team's performance. "We played so well up until that final. When we won the semi-finals, I thought, now we're just a step away. We're doing all the things right," he recalled.Despite the setback, Rohit remains optimistic about India's chances in the upcoming T20 World Cup in June. He will lead the team in their quest for glory, hoping to add another major trophy to his illustrious career.Rohit's dedication to cricket is evident in his unwavering determination to achieve success at the highest level. His leadership and experience will be crucial as India aims to conquer the world stage once again.

India's dominance in the World Test Championship (WTC) continues unabated as they secured a comprehensive innings and 64-run victory over England in Dharamsala. This emphatic win sealed a resounding 4-1 series triumph, further solidifying their position at the summit of the WTC rankings.India's impressive performance in the ongoing WTC cycle has seen them accumulate 68.51 percentage points from nine matches, with six wins, two losses, and one draw. Their latest victory propelled them from 64.58 to their current standing.Captain Rohit Sharma celebrated the series triumph by acknowledging the contributions of promising young talents Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Sarfaraz Khan, and Dhruv Jurel. In a social media post, Sharma referred to them as "garden mein ghoomne wale bande," a phrase he had used during the Vizag Test to describe players who were not performing up to expectations.Sharma's post drew attention from India's T20 sensation Suryakumar Yadav, who singled out Jaiswal and Gill for praise. Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh clarified that the post specifically referred to Shubman.Rohit Sharma himself had an exceptional series with the bat, amassing 400 runs in five matches at an average of 44.44. He notched up two centuries and one fifty, showcasing his class and consistency.India's victory in Dharamsala was a testament to their all-round strength. The bowlers, led by Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami, wreaked havoc on the English batting lineup, while the batsmen, including Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant, provided valuable contributions.The series win against England has further boosted India's confidence as they prepare for the upcoming WTC final against New Zealand. With their impressive record and a formidable squad, India will be aiming to secure the inaugural WTC title and cement their status as the world's leading Test team.

India's dominance in the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) continues as they extend their lead at the top of the points table after defeating England in Dharamsala. The 4-1 series victory solidifies India's position as the number one Test team, regardless of the outcome of the ongoing Christchurch Test between New Zealand and Australia.India's resurgence in the WTC began after a disappointing start to the series against England. After losing the first Test in Hyderabad, they rallied to win the next three matches, climbing back to the top of the standings. The innings victory in Dharamsala further cemented their position, boosting their percentage points to 68.51%.The WTC points system awards 12 points for a Test win, six for a tie, four for a draw, and zero for a defeat. Teams are ranked based on the percentage of points won, as each team plays a varying number of Tests in the WTC cycle.India's success in the WTC is attributed to their consistent performances and ability to win matches in different conditions. They have now won six out of nine matches in the ongoing cycle, with only two defeats and one draw.Meanwhile, England's slow over-rate penalties have hindered their progress in the WTC. Despite winning three Tests in this cycle, they have lost 19 points for slow over-rate penalties, dropping them to eighth place with only 17.5 percentage points.New Zealand and Australia remain in contention for the top two spots. If New Zealand wins the Christchurch Test, they will increase their percentage points to 66.67%, while an Australian victory would move them ahead of New Zealand on 62.5%.With only a Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Test series remaining before the IPL season begins, India is set to maintain their number one ranking for the foreseeable future. The top two teams at the end of the WTC cycle will qualify for the final at Lord's in June 2025. India has previously qualified for both WTC finals but lost to New Zealand in 2021 and Australia in 2023.