Cricket

Yashasvi Jaiswal's impressive performances in international cricket have yet to translate into an ODI cap. According to former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, Jaiswal is likely to remain a "back-up opener" for India until the 2025 Champions Trophy, with Shubman Gill expected to continue opening alongside skipper Rohit Sharma.Karthik believes that Jaiswal has a great opportunity to be the backup opener and will get his chance if Gill does not perform as expected. He also highlighted India's solid middle order as a factor in Jaiswal's current status.Gill has been India's preferred opening partner for Rohit in ODIs since the beginning of last year, earning 47 caps so far. However, his inconsistent form has raised questions, especially with Jaiswal's strong performances in Tests and T20Is.Karthik predicts that Rohit and Gill will continue to open for India in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, with only three more ODIs scheduled against England at home in February.India's last ODI assignment was a 2-0 series loss to Sri Lanka. The eight-team Champions Trophy will return to the ICC calendar next year, hosted by Pakistan from February 19 to March 9.India's participation in the tournament remains uncertain due to political tensions between the two nations and the Indian government's reluctance to allow the team to travel to Pakistan since 2008.

Nathan Lyon, Australia's premier off-spinner, is eager to utilize the insights he gained from England's Tom Hartley during his stint with Lancashire to counter India's formidable batting lineup later this year. Australia has not claimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since 2014-15, and Lyon is determined to rectify that.Lyon acknowledges India's exceptional talent pool, highlighting opener Yashasvi Jaiswal as a rising star. However, he has also sought knowledge from Hartley, who has faced Jaiswal in county cricket. Lyon believes these conversations will provide valuable information on how to approach the Indian batters."I haven't come across him [Jaiswal] yet, but that will be a massive challenge for all us bowlers," Lyon said. "The way he played against England, I watched that quite closely and thought that was quite amazing. I had some really good chats with Tom Hartley about different ways he went about it to different guys which I found quite interesting."Lyon's county experience has not only benefited his preparation for India but also for next year's Ashes. He recognizes that the knowledge he has acquired could be reciprocated by Hartley, but he remains confident that the insights will prove valuable."If the plans we've spoken about come to true, then I think it will be," Lyon added.Josh Hazlewood, another survivor from the 2014-15 series, echoed Lyon's sentiments. He acknowledged Australia's recent struggles against India and emphasized the importance of winning at home."There are quite a few players who have never beaten India in a Test series. It's quite astounding to say that," Hazlewood said. "That's one we need to tick off, definitely, in particular at home - we should pretty much win every series here at home."The five Tests against India will also play a crucial role in shaping the race for the World Test Championship final at Lord's in June 2025. Australia is aiming to defend their title, and Hazlewood, who missed last year's final, is particularly motivated."It's always in the background, we have the table up [to see] where we are sitting and what we need to tick off," he said. "For me, it's a big one because I didn't get to play the last one in England so that's a burning one for me."

With the Tokyo Olympics captivating global attention, the upcoming India-Sri Lanka limited-overs series may have flown under the radar for some fans. However, Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka's interim head coach, emphasizes the "massive importance" of this series for young players from both sides.Jayasuriya, a legendary Sri Lankan cricketer, believes that the series provides a crucial platform for emerging talents to showcase their skills and gain valuable experience. He acknowledges the strength of the Indian team, which has been performing exceptionally well in recent tournaments. Despite the challenge, Jayasuriya expresses confidence in his team's ability to compete and potentially emerge victorious.Reflecting on Sri Lanka's recent performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the T20 World Cup, Jayasuriya identifies areas for improvement. He highlights the need for batters to convert their starts into substantial scores and for the team to address minor deficiencies. He emphasizes the importance of bowlers performing consistently to secure victories.Jayasuriya praises Yashasvi Jaiswal, a promising left-handed Indian batsman, for his aggressive style and dedication. He believes that Jaiswal's hard work and sacrifices have contributed to his success.When asked about countering a formidable bowler like Jasprit Bumrah, Jayasuriya acknowledges his exceptional skills. He advises respecting Bumrah's abilities but also capitalizing on his occasional off days. He emphasizes the importance of clear thinking and execution for bowlers to succeed at the highest level.Jayasuriya also discusses the unique bowling talents produced by Sri Lanka, including Pathirana, Theekshana, and Hasaranga. He attributes their success to maintaining their natural bowling styles while learning from their mistakes. He credits the IPL and Sri Lanka Cricket for providing these bowlers with opportunities to develop and gain confidence.The article concludes by mentioning the recent changes in the Indian team management, including the appointment of Gautam Gambhir as head coach and the elevation of Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill to leadership roles. Jayasuriya views these changes as a positive step towards the future, providing players with opportunities and responsibilities to foster their growth.

Shubman Gill, India's vice-captain in ODIs and T20Is, has set his sights on improving his performance in the shortest format as the team embarks on its journey towards defending their T20 World Cup title in 2026.Gill, who was a reserve player during India's triumphant T20 World Cup campaign in 2024, acknowledged that his performance in the lead-up to the tournament fell short of expectations. "My performance in T20Is before the World Cup this year wasn't how I had expected it to be," he said.With senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli now retired from T20Is, Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal have emerged as India's first-choice opening pair. Gill expressed his excitement about batting alongside Jaiswal, highlighting their complementary styles and strong understanding."We really enjoy batting with each other. Especially the kind of shots we play, we kind of complement each other," Gill said. "Being a right-left combination, we have had good partnerships in whatever T20Is we have played before; two partnerships have been 150-plus [too]. So we have a great understanding and communication between us, and I have fun batting with him."Gill's impressive performances in the T20Is against Zimbabwe after the World Cup, where he top-scored with 170 runs at a strike rate of 125.92, earned him the vice-captaincy for the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka.The series in Sri Lanka marks the first assignment for Gautam Gambhir as India's coach. Gill praised Gambhir's clear communication and intent, saying, "He knows what he wants from which player, and what he thinks will work for each player."India will play three T20Is against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on July 27, 28, and 30, followed by three ODIs in Colombo on August 2, 4, and 7.

India's recent T20I series triumph over Zimbabwe has brought to light the impressive performances of Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Former chief selector Saba Karim has urged the team management to consider these two young batters as opening options for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.Karim believes that Gill and Jaiswal have demonstrated exceptional form and should be given the opportunity to lead the Indian batting lineup. He also suggests including Abhishek Sharma in the squad, considering the expected presence of Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav in the middle order."The most crucial positions are in the top order," Karim emphasized. "I believe the selectors should opt for Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. Abhishek Sharma deserves a place in the 15-man squad, given that Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav are likely to bat at No. 3 and No. 4."The selection of the opening pair will be a key decision for head coach Gautam Gambhir, who will be leading the team for the first time. The captaincy role is also yet to be determined, with Hardik Pandya not expected to be available."The captain's choice in T20Is will also influence the selection," Karim added. "Gambhir and the captain will need to determine their vision for the team and select players accordingly. Ruturaj Gaikwad is another player who has been performing well in the top order."India's victory in Zimbabwe was a testament to the depth of their squad, with only three players from the T20 World Cup-winning team featuring in the series. Captain Shubman Gill praised his team's adaptability and determination after losing the opening match."It was an excellent series," Gill said. "The hunger we showed after the first loss was phenomenal. Many players had long flights and were not accustomed to the conditions, but they adapted remarkably."

Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Indian opener, has etched his name in the annals of men's T20I cricket by becoming only the second batsman to hit sixes off the first two deliveries of a match. This remarkable feat was achieved during the fifth and final T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare on Sunday.Jaiswal's historic achievement began with a slog sweep over midwicket off Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza's first ball, which was later deemed a no-ball for overstepping. Undeterred, Jaiswal took full advantage of the free-hit and launched the next delivery straight down the ground for another maximum. India's score soared to 13 off just one ball, setting the tone for an aggressive innings.However, Jaiswal's momentum was short-lived as Raza's yorker-length ball targeted his toes, resulting in his leg stump being dislodged. Despite his dismissal, Jaiswal's sixes off the first two deliveries will forever be etched in the history books.Tanzania's Ivan Selemani holds the distinction of being the first batter to achieve this feat in 2022 against Rwanda's Martin Akayezu. England's Phil Salt also showcased his power-hitting prowess by launching two consecutive sixes off the first two deliveries of an innings, albeit while chasing a target set by the opposition.Jaiswal's achievement highlights the growing trend of aggressive batting in T20 cricket, where batsmen are increasingly looking to score boundaries from the outset. His sixes off the first two deliveries not only set the tone for India's innings but also sent a clear message to the opposition that they were not going to be intimidated.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has lauded the Indian cricket team's emphatic series victory over Zimbabwe in the five-match T20I series. The young Indian team, led by Shubman Gill, clinched the series with a dominant 10-wicket win in the fourth T20I at the Harare Sports Club.Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill were the stars of the show for India, smashing unbeaten fifties to guide their team to a comfortable victory. Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 93, while Gill scored 58 not out as India chased down the target of 156 in just 15.2 overs.The Indian team had a disappointing start to the series, losing the first T20I by 14 runs. However, they bounced back strongly in the second T20I, winning by 100 runs thanks to a century from opener Abhishek Sharma. India then took a 2-1 lead in the third T20I, riding on a superb bowling performance by Washington Sundar.The fourth T20I was a one-sided affair, with India dominating from the start. The Indian bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to 152/7 in 20 overs, with Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav picking up two wickets each. In reply, Jaiswal and Gill put on an unbeaten 156-run partnership to seal the series victory for India.BCCI secretary Jay Shah congratulated the Indian team on their impressive performance. "What a way to clinch the T20I series! Top stuff from our young guns! @ybj_19 (Yashasvi) and @ShubmanGill were spectacular with the bat in the run chase. Congratulations to the entire team and support staff on a fantastic series win. @BCCI #ZIMvIND," Shah wrote on Twitter.The Indian team, which is missing several key players who helped India win the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, has shown great promise in the Zimbabwe series. The young players have stepped up and performed admirably, giving the Indian cricket fans plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future.

India's new opening pair in cricket, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, are rising stars who are embracing the challenge of replacing legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in T20 Internationals. Jaiswal, who scored an unbeaten 93 in India's 10-wicket victory against Zimbabwe on Saturday, believes that focusing on the process and taking it one game at a time is crucial."We (him and Gill) are trying to take it match-by-match and one day at a time, focusing on the process," Jaiswal said. "I think what they (Kohli and Sharma) have done for Indian cricket is just incredible and being a part of that dressing room is a blessing."Jaiswal, who has scored 631 runs at a strike rate of over 161 in 19 T20Is, attributes his success to hard work and a determined mindset. "I think it's not easy and I work hard on my practice, try to prepare a lot, and try to execute and express myself and enjoy the game," he said.Gill, who has scored 1,326 runs at a strike rate of over 145 in 31 T20Is, is also a product of India's domestic cricket system. He made his international debut in 2019 and has quickly established himself as one of the most promising young batsmen in the world.Both Jaiswal and Gill are excited about the opportunity to lead India's batting in the post-Kohli and Sharma era. They are confident that they can build on the solid foundation laid by their predecessors and help India continue to be a force in T20 cricket.

India's dominance in the ongoing T20I series against Zimbabwe continued as they secured an unassailable 3-1 lead with a comprehensive 10-wicket victory in the fourth match in Harare on Saturday.Opting to bowl first, India's bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to a modest 152 for seven. Part-time bowlers Shivam Dube and Abhishek Sharma played pivotal roles in the middle overs, dismantling Zimbabwe's dangerous opening partnership.Wesley Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani had provided Zimbabwe with their best opening stand of the series, putting on 63 runs. However, Sharma broke the partnership by inducing Marumani into a mistimed pull-shot, while Dube dismissed Madhevere with a short ball.Zimbabwe's captain Sikandar Raza top-scored with a brisk 46 off 28 balls, but the Indian bowlers kept the overall scoring in check. Tushar Deshpande, making his debut, had a mixed outing but managed to dismiss Raza in the slog overs, preventing Zimbabwe from setting a more challenging target.In reply, India's openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill made light work of the chase, reaching the target in just 15.2 overs without losing a wicket. Jaiswal, who missed out on the T20 World Cup, showcased his skills with an unbeaten 93, including nine boundaries and a six. Gill played the supporting role perfectly, remaining unbeaten on 58.Jaiswal's aggressive approach contrasted with Gill's composed batting, as they ensured Zimbabwe had no chance to halt the run-chase. India's dominant performance in this match highlighted the effective contributions from part-time bowlers and commanding batting displays from Jaiswal and Gill, securing the series win with one match remaining.