Cricket

The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise retention deadline is fast approaching, with teams having until October 31 to submit their lists. Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has predicted the players that Delhi Capitals (DC) may retain ahead of the auction, which is likely to take place on November 25-26 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.According to Singh, Rishabh Pant is an automatic choice for retention. He believes that DC should also retain Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and potentially Mitchell Marsh. This would mean that DC would retain five capped players, which would cost them a minimum of Rs 75 crore.Singh does not believe that DC will opt for an uncapped player, as the price slabs for capped players are higher. He believes that DC should focus on retaining a strong core of players and then filling out the rest of their squad through the auction.

Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane has emerged as a beacon of resilience and determination on the cricket field, particularly when his team faces adversity. Throughout his illustrious career, he has consistently embraced challenges, delivering his best performances when the pressure mounts.Rahane's affinity for challenging conditions stems from his formative years playing at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The lively bounce and unpredictable nature of the pitch honed his skills against formidable bowling attacks. "I always loved challenges where the ball moves, seams, or bounces," he remarked in a Star Sports promo.His unwavering spirit has translated into remarkable achievements on the international stage. Since his debut in 2011, Rahane has amassed over 8,400 runs across all three formats, including 15 centuries and 51 fifties. His highest score of 188 stands as a testament to his ability to construct long and impactful innings.In Test cricket, Rahane has established himself as a dependable batsman, scoring over 5,000 runs at an average of 38.46. His 12 centuries and 26 fifties have played a pivotal role in India's success in the longest format. In ODIs, he has contributed over 2,900 runs, including three centuries and 24 fifties.Rahane's versatility extends to T20Is, where he has scored over 375 runs at an average of 20.83. His ability to adapt to different formats and conditions has made him an invaluable asset to the Indian team.Despite his impressive record, Rahane's last appearance for India came in a Test match against the West Indies in July 2022. However, his unwavering determination and love for the game suggest that he has much more to offer.

Ben Duckett's career took a dramatic turn in 2017-18 when he was sent home from the Ashes tour after an incident involving James Anderson. Now, seven years later, Duckett has revealed the full story behind the incident, shedding light on the events that led to his suspension.Duckett, then a promising young batsman, was part of the Lions tour at the time. The incident occurred at Perth's Avenue Bar, where England players were under intense scrutiny for their off-field behavior. Anderson, a senior member of the team, allegedly threw a drink on Duckett, who then retaliated by pouring a drink on Anderson's head.The incident was witnessed by an ECB security guard, who reported it to the management. Head coach Trevor Bayliss was furious, calling it "unacceptable" in the current climate. Anderson downplayed the incident in his Telegraph column, but the ECB took a hard stance, imposing a fine and suspension on Duckett.Duckett feared his England career was over. He was isolated in Australia, unable to train or play. The time difference and lack of support from home made it a difficult time for the 22-year-old. However, the incident also forced him to grow up quickly and develop resilience.Duckett's subsequent emergence as an England regular has allowed him to put a positive spin on that period of his career. He has become a mainstay across all three formats, with over 1980 Test runs since returning to the side in 2022. He is also set to play a vital role in the rejuvenation of England's limited overs set-up.While Duckett acknowledges that his actions were not ideal, he believes the experience made him a stronger and more determined player. He is grateful for the support he received from his teammates during that difficult time and is now focused on making the most of his opportunity to represent England.

India's recent Test series defeat against New Zealand has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. For the first time in 12 years, the Indian team has lost a Test series at home, succumbing to the Kiwis in the first two matches of the three-match series.Former India wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik has been critical of skipper Rohit Sharma's captaincy in the Pune Test, which India lost by seven wickets. Karthik believes that Sharma was not proactive enough as a captain and failed to match New Zealand's intensity and clarity."Not at his best. I thought he had a very tough Test match, he did all he could. I could see there was a lot of pressure on him, add to the fact, that he did not get many runs as well. So overall, it was not a great Test match. He will reflect and think, 'what could I have done better? Was I a reactive captain or a pro-active captain?'" Karthik said on Cricbuzz.Sharma's struggles with the bat have also been a concern. He has been among India's worst performers with the bat in the first two matches."There is a fine line, this Test match was one where he was chasing the ball a little bit. He tried his best with whatever he could, but you have to say it wasn't the best game for either him or Team India," Karthik added.After the two losses, Sharma took a rather lighthearted stance in the press conference, saying that the team is allowed such a performance after being on top for the last 12 years."We are allowed one such performance in 12 years. If we were collapsing like this on a regular basis then we would not have been winning at home. We have a lot of expectations. We are expected to win every game at our home, and it is because of our performances," he said.However, Karthik believes that Sharma needs to be more proactive as a captain and take more responsibility for the team's performance."He needs to be more proactive. He needs to be more clear in his communication. He needs to be more clear in his plans. He needs to be more clear in his execution. He needs to be more clear in his decision-making," Karthik said.

With the IPL 2025 mega auction retention deadline approaching on October 31, all 10 IPL teams are gearing up to announce their retained and released players. Franchises are permitted to retain up to six players, including at least one uncapped Indian player. Rumors have circulated that prominent names like KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant may enter the auction pool, prompting franchises to consider lucrative contracts to secure their services.Five Players Likely to be Retained for Rs 20 Crore:1. Virat Kohli:The former India captain has been a loyal member of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) since the inaugural IPL season in 2008. As the tournament's all-time leading run-scorer, Kohli could make history by being retained for Rs 20 crore. RCB may reward his loyalty with an improved deal, surpassing his previous retention amount of Rs 18 crore in 2018.2. Rishabh Pant:Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant has hinted at leaving his team and entering the auction through a social media post. Pant has been with DC (formerly Delhi Daredevils) since his debut in 2016. To prevent him from entering the auction, DC may retain him for a record sum of Rs 20 crore.3. Shreyas Iyer:Despite losing his BCCI central contract earlier this year, IPL-winning captain Shreyas Iyer remains a highly sought-after player. After leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the IPL title last year, Iyer's retention should be a priority. With several teams seeking a new captain, KKR could offer Rs 20 crore to retain his services.4. Hardik Pandya:After acquiring him last season in a mega trade deal, Mumbai Indians (MI) are likely to retain their captain Hardik Pandya ahead of the mega auction. However, they may offer him an improved contract worth Rs 20 crore.5. Rohit Sharma:Rohit Sharma's future with MI has been the subject of speculation, with reports suggesting he may leave the franchise. However, a recent report claims that MI is set to retain Rohit, despite stripping him of captaincy duties last season. They may offer him Rs 20 crore to prevent him from entering the auction.

MS Dhoni, the legendary Indian cricketer, recently shared his insights into the challenges of playing Test cricket, particularly during the fifth day when a draw is inevitable. Dhoni, who retired from Test cricket in 2014, revealed that the monotony of playing through long sessions without a clear result was mentally draining."The most difficult time during a Test match was the fifth day, when there's 100% surety that it will be a draw and you still need to keep wickets for maybe two and a half sessions," Dhoni said. "That was most tiring."Dhoni, who played 90 Tests for India, explained that the lack of a clear outcome in such situations made it difficult to stay motivated. "You see there is no result that is happening, you are just going through the motion," he said. "Bowlers will try to take wickets, batsmen will try to score runs. But if there is no result in the nearest future, then you are like 'yaar, yeh khatam karke chalte hain na'. Why do we need to be here?'"Dhoni's comments highlight the challenges of playing Test cricket, which is often criticized for its slow pace and lack of decisive results. However, Dhoni also expressed his appreciation for the recent trend towards more result-oriented Tests, even if it means home teams preparing pitches that suit their strengths."I love the fact that there is a big change in the way people have started playing Test cricket," he said. "Imagine telling someone who doesn't know about cricket, 'we play over five days, we start at 9:30 and 4:30 is the scheduled end of day's play but we play till 5 o'clock; and after five days sometimes we don't get a result'. For the game it is not very nice. So I love how there are more results in today's world."Dhoni's insights provide a valuable perspective on the challenges and rewards of playing Test cricket. His comments also highlight the importance of finding ways to make the format more engaging and result-oriented for both players and fans.

In the third Test of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, former Australia captain Tim Paine engaged in a verbal altercation with Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Paine's sledging stemmed from his frustration with Ashwin's consistent dismissals of him.Despite India's eventual 2-1 series victory, Paine's comments have sparked controversy. In a recent podcast, Paine defended his actions, stating that he was not targeting the Indian team as a whole but rather Ashwin specifically."I wasn't talking to the Indians, I was talking to him," Paine said. "I said we cannot wait to get you to the Gabba...because he was annoying us, fair to say."Ashwin responded to Paine's sledging in kind, saying: "Just like we wanna get you to India. That will be your last series."Paine acknowledged that his comments were directed solely at Ashwin, who ultimately withdrew from the fourth Test due to a back spasm. However, Paine questioned the severity of Ashwin's injury, noting that he had been seen jogging laps on the first day of the Test."Did I had a great game in that match? No, but I fronted up," Paine said. "Actually day one of the Test match he (Ashwin) was jogging laps. Those back spasms couldn't have been that bad."Paine's sledging has reignited the debate over the role of verbal aggression in cricket. While some argue that it can be a legitimate tactic to unsettle opponents, others believe it crosses the line of sportsmanship.Regardless of one's stance on sledging, it is clear that Paine's comments have added an extra layer of intrigue to the already intense rivalry between Australia and India.

Virat Kohli's recent form has raised concerns among cricket experts, particularly ahead of India's upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Despite his impressive record against the Aussies, Kohli has struggled in recent matches, failing to score a century in his last 10 innings.Former BCCI selection committee chief MSK Prasad expressed his concern, stating that India will miss the stability provided by Cheteshwar Pujara in Australia. Prasad highlighted the complementary roles played by Kohli and Pujara in the 2018 series, with Kohli providing aggression and Pujara anchoring the innings.Kohli's poor form is a cause for concern, especially considering India's World Test Championship qualification chances. The team needs to perform well in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to secure a place in the final.Kohli's return to form is crucial for India's success in Australia. His ability to score runs consistently and inspire his teammates is essential for the team's chances of victory.In addition to Kohli's form, the article also discusses the importance of Pujara's role in the Indian batting lineup. Pujara's ability to occupy the crease and grind out runs provides a solid foundation for the team.The article concludes by emphasizing the need for Kohli to regain his form and for India to find a way to replace Pujara's contributions in Australia.

MS Dhoni's Masterclass on Tactics: A Guide for Future Skippers and CoachesIn a recent promotional event, legendary Indian cricketer and captain MS Dhoni shared his insights on the evolving tactics in Test cricket, particularly the aggressive approach adopted by England under coach Brendon McCullum. Dhoni's response was a valuable lesson for aspiring leaders and coaches.Dhoni emphasized the importance of considering the strengths of the team before implementing any tactic. He believes that players need time to adapt to new strategies and should not be expected to produce immediate results."You can give cricket any term you want to," Dhoni said. "But at the end of the day, what is it? It's a way to play cricket. Some people want to play aggressive cricket, some people want to play authentic cricket. A lot of that depends on the kind of team you have got."Dhoni cited the example of Jasprit Bumrah, a bowler known for his exceptional yorkers. He argued that not every bowler can replicate Bumrah's skill, and forcing them to do so could lead to costly mistakes."So what is important is to realize the strength of your team, and according to that you decide which is the way you want to play your cricket," Dhoni explained. "It takes time. It doesn't happen overnight."Dhoni's advice highlights the need for a balanced approach to tactics. While it is important to innovate and adapt to changing trends, it is equally crucial to recognize the limitations of the team and allow players to adjust gradually.By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of their players, coaches and captains can develop strategies that maximize their potential and lead to success on the field.