Cricket

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to hold its highly anticipated auction in the vibrant capital city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the last week of November. This mega event will witness the participation of high-profile Indian cricket stars, including Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Arshdeep Singh, who will go under the hammer.The 10 IPL franchises will collectively have approximately ₹641.5 crore to spend on 204 available slots, with 70 of those slots earmarked for overseas players. As of now, 46 players have been retained by the franchises, with a cumulative expenditure of ₹558.5 crore.The IPL auction is a crucial event that shapes the composition of teams for the upcoming season. Franchises will be eager to acquire the services of top-performing players to bolster their squads and increase their chances of success. The auction will also provide opportunities for uncapped players to showcase their talent and earn lucrative contracts.The IPL has become a global cricketing phenomenon, attracting fans from all corners of the world. The tournament's high-octane matches, star-studded lineups, and passionate fan base have made it one of the most popular sporting events in the world.The upcoming auction in Riyadh is expected to generate significant interest and excitement among cricket enthusiasts. The presence of high-profile players and the potential for unexpected acquisitions will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

India's humiliating 3-0 series defeat at home against New Zealand has cast a shadow over their upcoming tour of Australia, which begins on November 22. The loss has raised concerns about the team's preparedness for the high-profile series, especially given the short turnaround time.Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has criticized India's spin-centric approach against New Zealand, arguing that it has compromised their ability to handle pace bowling. He has also questioned the decision to cancel the warm-up game ahead of the first Test in Perth.Gavaskar believes that the Australia tour will be a significant challenge for India, particularly for the younger players who are traveling Down Under for the first time. He has urged the team management to reconsider their decision and arrange some warm-up games, even if it means playing against state A teams.The Indian team has a daunting task ahead of them. To qualify for the World Test Championship Final, they must win four out of five matches in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The first Test against Australia is scheduled for November 22-26, followed by a two-day warm-up game in Canberra and the Adelaide Test. The remaining three Tests will be played in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.

Ian Chappell Slams Indian and English Batters for Poor Footwork, Criticizes Reverse SweepFormer Australian captain Ian Chappell has launched a scathing attack on the footwork of Indian and English batters in Test cricket, particularly Virat Kohli. Chappell's criticism comes in the wake of India's batting struggles in recent weeks, including their failure to chase down a modest target of 146 against New Zealand. England's batting also collapsed in spin-friendly conditions in Pakistan during the final two Tests.Chappell singled out Kohli's dismissal in the first innings of the third Test against New Zealand as an example of India's lack of decisive footwork. He argued that Kohli could have easily avoided being clean bowled by Santner if he had taken a small step out of his crease. However, Chappell also acknowledged that Kohli's shot selection was questionable.Chappell also expressed his disapproval of the reverse sweep shot in Test cricket. He questioned the logic of practicing the shot ahead of the third Test in Mumbai, given its inherent risks. He pointed to the dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Mumbai Test as a prime example of the dangers of the reverse sweep.Chappell went so far as to label the reverse sweep as an "illegal" shot, arguing that it violates the principles of fairness in the game. He believes that the shot should be banned because it gives batters an unfair advantage by allowing them to change the order of their hands or feet.The reverse sweep proved to be a costly shot for India on Day 3 of the third Test, with Ravichandran Ashwin becoming the eighth wicket to fall while attempting it. Chappell's criticism highlights the ongoing debate about the role of footwork and shot selection in Test cricket, and his views are likely to spark further discussion among players, coaches, and fans.

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach of the Indian men's cricket team has hit a rough patch, with the team suffering a humiliating whitewash in a home Test series against New Zealand. This setback comes after a disappointing ODI series loss to the same opposition.Gambhir, who took over from the highly successful Rahul Dravid in July, was expected to continue the team's winning ways. However, the team's recent performances have raised concerns about his coaching abilities.One of the main challenges facing Gambhir is the lack of experience in coaching at the First Class or international level. Despite this, he was given a long-term contract and allowed to handpick his coaching staff.The team's poor performance has led to murmurs of discontent within the squad, with some players reportedly unhappy with the coaching staff's methods. However, captain Rohit Sharma has defended Gambhir and his team, emphasizing the need for players to support the coaching staff."The coaching staff have been good. They have just come in. It's not been a lot of time for them. They are also understanding how this team operates, and how the player operates," Sharma said after India's loss in the third Test."It's the players' responsibility to make their job or make their life easier because it's never easy for anyone to come in and start doing what they are doing because there are a lot of different individuals here and they operate slightly differently."Gambhir has admitted that the team's recent losses are a setback, but he remains confident in his ability to turn things around."I never expected a very easy run for me because international cricket is never easy and I believe that. I know that we lost in Sri Lanka, we have lost at home as well against New Zealand. It's not a great place to be in but all we can do is be honest to ourselves and keep working hard."Gambhir's coaching staff includes Paras Mhambrey, who was an integral member of Dravid's coaching team. Mhambrey has said that it took him and his colleagues almost a year to get used to the methods of the various individuals in the Indian team.With the team set to tour Australia for a two-month Test series, Gambhir will be under immense pressure to deliver results. The Border Gavaskar Trophy will be followed by a limited overs leg culminating with the ICC Champions Trophy.

The India vs Australia rivalry is one of the most intense in cricket, and the upcoming series is already heating up. India A, currently touring Australia, has been accused of ball tampering during a practice match against Australia A.Ahead of the start of play on Sunday, match officials informed India A players that the ball had been changed due to tampering. Umpire Shawn Craig told the Indian players, "When you scratch it, we change the ball. No more discussion, let's play."India A's wicket-keeper batter for the match, Ishan Kishan, was furious at the umpire's call, calling it a "stupid decision."Cricket Australia released a statement saying that the ball had to be changed "due to deterioration," and that both managers and captains were informed of the decision before the start of play.However, an anonymous India A player has denied the tampering allegations, suggesting that a "nail from the sideboards may have brushed the ball."According to Cricket Australia's code of conduct, players involved in ball tampering could face bans if the team is found to have intentionally changed the condition of the ball."Any action(s) likely to alter the condition of the ball which are not specifically permitted under Law 41.3.2 may be regarded as unfair," the code of conduct states.Cricket Australia has since issued a statement saying that the ball change happened "due to deterioration."The incident has sparked controversy, with some accusing India A of cheating. However, the team has denied the allegations, and Cricket Australia has stated that the ball change was due to natural wear and tear.

Mitchell Starc's electrifying performance in the first ODI against Pakistan has reignited the excitement surrounding the Australian paceman. After a stellar Sheffield Shield performance, Starc's blistering pace and pinpoint accuracy left both opponents and observers in awe.On a lively MCG pitch, Starc tormented the Pakistani openers, beating them for pace and leaving them in his wake. He then proceeded to demolish the tail, lighting up the stumps with a thunderous delivery. His three maidens in the match marked a return to his dominant form.Starc's resurgence is a welcome sight for Australian cricket, especially after a challenging World Cup campaign last year. The physical issues that plagued him then seem to have subsided, as evidenced by his uninhibited training session at the MCG."I feel like the body is in a good space," Starc said. "I'm not really tweaking anything, but just focusing on a few things technically."The 32-year-old confirmed his participation in the next ODI in Adelaide but remained noncommittal about the Perth match. Josh Hazlewood is expected to join the squad for the second game, while a decision on Hazlewood's availability for both matches in Adelaide and Perth will be made later.Starc's return to form is a timely boost for Australia as they prepare for the upcoming Test series against India. His ability to generate pace and swing will be crucial in the challenging conditions of the subcontinent.

India's recent Test series whitewash against New Zealand has raised concerns over the poor form of senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Rohit has managed only 133 runs in his last 10 Test innings, while Kohli has scored 192.Former India cricketer Pragyan Ojha has emphasized the need for these experienced players to take responsibility. "They need to take full responsibility because they are senior players. They are in bad form at the moment, and because of that India's collapse looks worse," Ojha said.Ojha, who played alongside both Rohit and Kohli, believes their poor form is particularly concerning given the young age of the rest of India's top 6. Kohli and Rohit are the only two players over 30 in the lineup, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (22), Shubman Gil (25), Rishabh Pant (27), and Sarfaraz Khan (27) completing the batting order.Ojha warned that Australia will not make it easy for Rohit and Kohli during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. "The Australia series will be crucial for both of them. If they find form there, India will feel a little bit comfortable. Down Under, Australia will know that India are coming after losing a home series, and that too a whitewash. Australia will be ahead in mind games and make good use of it," he said.While India has won the last two Test series in Australia, their experienced batters have separate issues to deal with. Kohli did not play in three of the four Tests in 2020/21, while Rohit Sharma may miss the first Test at Perth due to an unconfirmed personal reason.

In a thrilling series opener at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia's Pat Cummins once again proved his mettle in a batting crisis, guiding the world champions to a tense two-wicket victory over Pakistan.Cummins, playing his first ODI since the 2023 World Cup, displayed nerves of steel with a crucial knock of 32 from 31 balls. His innings pushed Australia past Pakistan's modest total of 203 with 16.3 overs to spare.The hosts were in a precarious position at 155 for seven when Cummins arrived at the crease. Pakistan, energized by a three-wicket burst from Haris Rauf, sensed an opportunity for their first ODI win in Australia in nearly eight years.However, Cummins, who also claimed two wickets with the ball, rose to the occasion. He smashed a four past Mohammad Hasnain to level the scores and then punched a single to seal the victory.Mitchell Starc, who took three wickets, was named man-of-the-match for his impressive bowling performance.Pakistan's top batter, Babar Azam, returned to the lineup after being dropped for the second and third tests against England. He made 37 before being dismissed by Adam Zampa.Debutant Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique failed to impress as openers, both falling cheaply to Starc. Mohammad Rizwan top-scored for Pakistan with 44, while Irfan Khan made 22.Tail-enders Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan provided some late resistance with their slogging, but it was not enough to prevent Australia from securing the win.Australia were without four players from their World Cup-winning team, including David Warner, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, and Mitchell Marsh.Openers Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk failed to make a significant impact, while Steve Smith and Josh Inglis put on a brief partnership before falling to Pakistan's pacemen.Haris Rauf's spell, which included the dismissals of Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell, gave Pakistan hope. However, Cummins' heroics ultimately proved too much for the visitors.

Rishabh Pant's valiant half-century in the third and final Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai was a beacon of hope for Team India, but his controversial dismissal left a bitter taste in the mouths of fans and pundits alike.With India reeling at 29/5 in pursuit of 147 runs for victory, Pant entered the fray and played a counterattacking knock, reaching his fifty in just 48 balls. His aggressive approach gave India a glimmer of hope, but his innings was cut short in the 22nd over.Ajaz Patel's delivery initially appeared to miss Pant's bat, but replays indicated a spike on UltraEdge as the ball passed. The on-field umpire initially ruled not out, but New Zealand captain Tom Latham and Patel convinced him to review the decision.After a tense wait, the third umpire ruled in favor of the fielding team, much to the dismay of Pant and the Indian team. Pant briefly contested the decision with the on-field umpire before expressing his disappointment in the dressing room.Despite the setback, Pant finished the three-match series as the top run-scorer with 261 runs at an average of 43.50 and a strike rate of 89.38. His impressive performance included three half-centuries, with a highest score of 99.Pant's dismissal sparked a heated debate on social media, with many fans and experts questioning the decision. Some argued that the sound on UltraEdge could have been caused by Pant's bat hitting his pads, while others maintained that the ball had clearly nicked the bat.The incident highlighted the challenges of using technology in cricket and the fine line between a legitimate dismissal and an unfortunate error. It also served as a reminder of the immense pressure that players face in high-stakes matches.Despite the loss, Pant's fighting spirit and determination left a lasting impression on fans. His performance in the series showcased his ability to counterattack on challenging pitches and his unwavering belief in his team.