Cricket

Harshit Rana, the promising all-rounder from Delhi, has been recalled to the Indian Test squad for the third Test against New Zealand, scheduled to commence on November 1 in Mumbai. Rana's inclusion comes after his impressive performance in the ongoing Ranji Trophy fixture between Delhi and Assam.Rana, who was part of the Indian squad for the first two Tests but was released to play the Ranji Trophy, has been a consistent performer for Delhi. In the match against Assam, he claimed a five-wicket haul in the first innings, followed by a crucial half-century and two more wickets in the second innings. His all-round contribution played a pivotal role in Delhi's comprehensive ten-wicket victory.The 22-year-old Rana has been on the radar of the Indian selectors for some time now. Despite his limited First Class experience, the selectors are impressed by his all-round abilities and believe he could be a valuable asset in Australian conditions. Rana's inclusion in the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia next month is a testament to the selectors' confidence in his potential.Rana's recall to the Test squad is a significant development for the young all-rounder. It provides him with an opportunity to gain valuable experience at the highest level and potentially make his Test debut. With New Zealand having already clinched the series 2-0, the third Test could serve as a platform for Rana to showcase his skills and stake a claim for a place in the team for the upcoming series against Australia.The Indian squad for the third Test against New Zealand includes: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, and Harshit Rana.

Rajat Patidar's scintillating century on Day 4 of the Ranji Trophy match against Haryana has sent a resounding message to his IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). With the IPL retention deadline looming on October 31, Patidar's blistering knock has put him firmly in contention for a place in RCB's retained squad.Patidar's unbeaten 100 came off just 68 balls, showcasing his exceptional batting prowess. His innings helped Madhya Pradesh recover from a 132-run deficit in the first innings. The knock has not only boosted MP's chances of victory but has also caught the attention of RCB, who are yet to finalize their list of retained players.RCB currently has only one confirmed retention in star batter Virat Kohli. The future of captain Faf du Plessis and other key players remains uncertain. With teams allowed to retain a maximum of six players, RCB has a crucial decision to make.Patidar's century has put him in a strong position to be one of RCB's retained players. His impressive performance in the Ranji Trophy, coupled with his consistent showings in the IPL, makes him a valuable asset for any team.The IPL retention rules allow teams to retain a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped Indian players. Patidar, who has yet to make his international debut, would be classified as an uncapped player for retention purposes.The purse for the mega auction has been increased to INR 120 crore, giving each franchise a larger budget to work with. The price for retaining uncapped players remains set at INR 4 crore.Patidar's century has not only boosted his chances of IPL retention but has also sent a clear message to RCB. The young batter is ready to take on a bigger role in the team and is determined to make a significant contribution to their success.

Deepti Sharma's exceptional bowling performances in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand have propelled her to a career-high ranking in the ICC ODI bowling charts. The Indian all-rounder has surged to the No. 2 spot, surpassing Kate Cross and Megan Schutt, with a rating of 687 points.Sharma's impressive display in the first two ODIs has earned her three wickets and an economical bowling average of 3.42. Her consistent performances have significantly boosted her ranking, although she remains 83 points behind the top-ranked Sophie Ecclestone.On the T20I bowling table, Sharma maintains her position at No. 3, trailing only Ecclestone and Sadia Iqbal. The Indian star's all-round abilities are also evident in the allrounders' rankings, where she has climbed to No. 4.From the New Zealand side, Lea Tahuhu has made significant progress, moving up three places to No. 12. Amelia Kerr, despite being ruled out of the series due to injury, has gained one spot to No. 13. Sophie Devine has also made a notable jump, rising nine positions to equal 30th among bowlers.Devine's all-round performance in the second ODI, where she scored 79 runs and claimed three wickets, has also elevated her to No. 8 in the ODI batters' rankings. Other New Zealand batters who have improved their positions include Kerr (No. 11), Suzie Bates (joint No. 15), and Maddy Green (No. 18).For India, Jemimah Rodrigues has made a significant gain among the batters, moving up to No. 35 after her crucial contribution in the first ODI victory.The ongoing ODI series between India and New Zealand has witnessed several notable performances, with Deepti Sharma and Sophie Devine emerging as key players for their respective teams. The final match of the series promises to be an exciting contest, with both sides aiming to secure the series victory.

Matthew Hayden Predicts Australian Victory in Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but Cautions of Indian ThreatFormer Australian batsman Matthew Hayden has predicted a home victory for Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series against India. However, he emphasized that the visiting Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, will pose a formidable challenge.India has emerged victorious in their last two Test tours of Australia, and they will aim to defend the BGT title in a five-match series starting with the first Test in Perth on November 24.Hayden believes that Australia's home advantage has diminished due to the widespread use of drop-in pitches by Cricket Australia. Of the five venues hosting the BGT, three will feature drop-in pitches: Perth, Adelaide, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)."I feel like there's less home advantage given the nature of the drop-in wickets than what had been previously there," Hayden said. "There are three drop-in venues -- Perth, Adelaide, and the MCG."Adelaide will host the day-night second Test from December 6, while the MCG will stage the fourth Test, beginning on Boxing Day (December 26). The fifth Test in Sydney will commence on January 3, 2025."So you've got your two home venues in Brisbane and Sydney; those just happen to be the third and fifth Test match, which is a very different combination to any series that's been played there," Hayden added. "I feel like at the moment there is probably not that much home advantage in the Australian summer anymore due to the wicket conditions."Before the start of the series, India will participate in a three-day warm-up match against India A, who will be touring Australia concurrently.

Nitish Kumar Reddy: Gautam Gambhir's Guidance Propels All-Rounder's RiseIn the realm of cricket, fast-bowling all-rounders are a rare breed. India has faced a dearth of quality batters who can also bowl pace, with Hardik Pandya being the standout exception. However, with Pandya's India career currently limited to white-ball cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has turned to Nitish Kumar Reddy for the upcoming Australia tour.Reddy has already made a mark with his batting in the T20I series against Bangladesh. As his stock rises in international cricket, he has revealed a valuable tip from coach Gautam Gambhir that has played a pivotal role in his success.In an interview with the Hindustan Times, Reddy shared the insights he gained from Gambhir and other members of the team management during the Bangladesh series. "They encouraged me to play aggressively, with the same approach I displayed in the IPL," Reddy said. "They emphasized playing according to the situation."During a drinks break, Gambhir approached Reddy after he played a reverse sweep that required a DRS review. "He told me, 'Nitish, you have good power. You can clear the boundary line easily. You have no need to play reverse sweep on these kind of wickets because the ball is keeping low,'" Reddy recalled.Reddy's 74-run knock against Bangladesh in the second T20I showcased his batting prowess. He credits Gambhir's guidance for his success during this phase of his career. "He told me to back my power, and I did just that," Reddy said. "The over bowled by the spinner turned out very well for me at that time."Gambhir also provided valuable advice on Reddy's bowling. The pacer typically bowls between 130-135 kmph, but he has the potential to reach speeds over 140 kmph. However, Reddy prioritizes consistency over pace."I feel like bowling 130-135 is good pace," Reddy said. "Rather than trying to bowl faster, I want to focus on consistency. I want to hit the top of the off stump. That's what Gautam sir also kept on mentioning to me."Reddy's all-round abilities have made him a valuable asset to the Indian team. With his batting prowess and developing bowling skills, he is poised to make a significant impact on the upcoming Australia tour.

In the series-deciding third ODI between India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine won the toss and elected to bat first, continuing the trend of the series. Both teams made minor adjustments to their lineups, with India introducing Renuka Singh in place of Arundhati Reddy and New Zealand replacing Jess Kerr with Hannah Rowe.The pitch in Ahmedabad appeared dry and hard under sunny skies, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius. The series is currently tied 1-1, with India winning the first match and New Zealand leveling the series in the second. Notably, the team batting first has emerged victorious in both ODIs thus far.In the first ODI, India was dismissed for 227 in 44.3 overs, but their bowlers rallied to restrict New Zealand to 168 in 40.4 overs. In the second ODI, Devine excelled with both bat and ball, leading New Zealand to a 76-run victory.India's batting lineup for this match consists of Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Renuka Singh, Saima Thakor, and Priya Mishra.New Zealand's batting order includes Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Lauren Down, Sophie Devine, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Gaze, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, and Fran Jonas.After this series, India will embark on a three-match ODI tour of Australia beginning on December 5th. New Zealand, on the other hand, will host Australia for a three-game ODI series starting on December 19th.

Former Australian captain Tim Paine has revealed that David Warner's offer to come out of retirement for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was merely a joke. Warner had suggested his availability if Australia struggled to find an opening partner for Usman Khawaja, but Paine believes it was all in jest."He was not dead serious, that is Davey. How do I know? Because I spoke to him, that is how. Is that good enough for the people?" Paine told SEN.Warner's retirement from international cricket came after Australia's disappointing exit from the ICC T20 World Cup in the Super Eight stage. In his illustrious career, he amassed 8,786 runs in 112 Tests, 6,932 runs in 161 ODIs, and 3,277 runs in 110 T20Is.Warner's absence has left a significant void in Australia's batting lineup, particularly in the opening position. With Steve Smith moving down to number four and Cameron Green sidelined with a back injury, the team has been searching for a suitable partner for Khawaja.However, Paine's revelation suggests that Warner is not seriously considering a return. "He said, 'I got them good, haha'. Of course, that's Davey's thing. People say, 'You're not serious', I am dead serious, but he is not (about returning to cricket)," Paine added.Warner's retirement marks the end of an era for Australian cricket. He was a key member of the teams that won the 2015 and 2023 ICC Cricket World Cups, the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup, and the ICC World Test Championship 2023. His aggressive batting style and exceptional fielding made him one of the most feared and respected players in the world.

With the Sri Lanka Test tour looming in January, Cricket Australia (CA) faces a dilemma regarding the preparation of its spin candidates. Former Test spinner Steve O'Keefe believes that pulling spin bowlers out of the Big Bash League (BBL) early is crucial for their success on the subcontinent.O'Keefe cites his own experience in India in 2017, where he opted out of the BBL to focus on red-ball preparation. This decision paid dividends, as he bagged 12 wickets in the first Test in Pune. He argues that the BBL's focus on cross-seam bowling and yorkers is not ideal for spinners preparing for the challenges of subcontinent pitches.CA had initially planned for a clear window for Test players to feature in the BBL between the India series and the Sri Lanka tour. However, concerns have emerged about the workload and physical preparation of Test players, especially given the grueling nature of the India series.The selectors are particularly keen on finding a left-arm orthodox spinner for the Sri Lanka tour, as such bowlers have been highly successful in subcontinent conditions. However, there are currently few domestic players who specialize in this skill.O'Keefe recommends that CA pull spin candidates out of the BBL as early as possible, allowing them to focus on red-ball bowling and adjust to the specific challenges of subcontinent pitches. He believes that a month of preparation is ideal, with a couple of weeks spent bowling consistently in the subcontinent.The selectors have not yet picked a specialist left-arm orthodox spinner for the Australia A matches against India A, but Cooper Connolly will play as an allrounder. CA's chair of selectors, George Bailey, has emphasized the importance of finding players with this skill set for future subcontinent tours.

Ishan Kishan, the 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, has been away from the Indian cricket team for the past eleven months. After a T20I against Australia in Guwahati, Kishan took a break from the national side to focus on domestic cricket.During his time away, Kishan has played in various domestic tournaments, including the DY Patil T20, Buchi Babu multi-day tournament, Duleep Trophy, Irani Cup, and Ranji Trophy. His impressive performances in the Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy earned him a recall to the India A squad for the tour of Australia.Kishan credits his time away from the national team with helping him rediscover his hunger for the game. He spent a month in Baroda with Hardik Pandya, where he underwent a rigorous training regimen that included yoga, meditation, and early morning workouts."I had a reality check in Baroda about my hunger towards the game," Kishan said. "The process was just too good. It was like starting your life again, your cricket again."Kishan also received valuable advice from Pandya, who encouraged him to adopt a more practical mindset. "Hardik is a very practical guy," Kishan said. "He keeps sharing ideas with me. I am in a very practical zone right now."Despite the challenges he has faced, Kishan remains optimistic about his future. He is eager to return to the Indian team and make a significant contribution."I am very hungry to get an international match," Kishan said. "I know what happens in team meetings when someone makes a comeback to the team. How light banter happens and I am very excited about those things also. Whenever I get that opportunity, I am going to go all-in for sure."