Cricket

As the Indian cricket team faces a potential whitewash against New Zealand, having lost the first two matches of the series, captain Rohit Sharma has received a bold suggestion to rest star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Despite being widely regarded as the country's finest pace bowler, Bumrah has struggled to make an impact on the spin-friendly pitches against New Zealand.Former India wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik has urged the Indian team management to give Bumrah a break ahead of the upcoming tour of Australia. "Jasprit Bumrah definitely needs a rest without a doubt," Karthik told Cricbuzz. "That is happening, and you will see Mohammed Siraj come in."Karthik believes that Bumrah's absence will not significantly alter India's batting lineup, despite their poor performance in the first two matches. However, he anticipates that Siraj will replace Bumrah in the bowling attack."I can't think of any other change unless someone has a niggle," Karthik added. "I don't see any reason why the batters who played this game or the bowlers should not get an opportunity."Washington Sundar emerged as India's top performer with the ball in the Pune Test, which was dominated by spinners. However, India failed to level the series, suffering a second consecutive loss to trail 0-2.While the Indian team is unlikely to make drastic changes ahead of the must-win Test in Wankhede, some adjustments are expected to be made to the XI, keeping the World Test Championship in mind.Karthik acknowledged the disappointment of the defeats but emphasized the need to remain focused on the upcoming match. "The loss and the disappointment of the defeat are still weighing very heavily on my mind," he said. "I am not able to think very clearly about what the XI will be. It's too short a notice to be honest. But if I had to think straight away, I would say rest Bumrah and bring back Siraj."

Bangladesh's star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has cast doubt over his participation in the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, scheduled for November 6-12 in the United Arab Emirates. Shakib's uncertainty stems from a lack of communication from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) regarding his inclusion in the squad.Speaking to Cricbuzz, Shakib expressed his confusion, stating, "How can I tell [whether I will play the ODIs against Afghanistan]? BCB should tell about it." Despite his willingness to represent Bangladesh if selected, sources within the board have raised concerns about his frequent absences from the country.The BCB's selection panel has also acknowledged the uncertainty, confirming that they have not received clear instructions from higher authorities regarding Shakib's availability. The final decision is expected to be made by the BCB's senior officials in the coming days.Shakib's participation in the ODI series has been a subject of speculation since his retirement from Test cricket and T20 Internationals in September. The all-rounder had hoped to play his final Test match at home against South Africa, but security concerns amid political unrest in Bangladesh forced him to withdraw.Despite being accused in a murder case related to the unrest, Shakib was allowed to continue playing in the Test series against India, with the BCB permitting him to remain with the national team until proven guilty. However, his absence from the subsequent South Africa series has raised questions about his future with the Bangladesh team.The BCB's decision on Shakib's inclusion in the ODI squad will be closely watched, as it could have implications for his long-term future with the national team. The all-rounder remains one of Bangladesh's most valuable players, and his absence would be a significant blow to their chances of success in the upcoming series against Afghanistan.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has clarified that Babar Azam's resignation from the white-ball captaincy was his own decision, dispelling rumors of pressure from the board.Babar, who took over the captaincy in 2019, announced his resignation on October 2, citing a desire to prioritize his performance. Under his leadership, Pakistan failed to win a major tournament, including the Asia Cup and ODI World Cup.Naqvi emphasized that Babar's decision was not influenced by the PCB. "Babar Azam told me himself that he did not want to continue as captain. No one from the PCB told him to leave the captaincy. He discussed it with the coaches and wanted to focus on his performances," Naqvi said.The PCB chief also explained the appointment of Mohammad Rizwan as the new white-ball skipper. "We spoke to the five mentors of the Champions Cup and the coaches, and the majority agreed that Mohammad Rizwan should be the captain, with Salman Ali Agha as vice-captain," he added.Rizwan, a star wicketkeeper-batter, replaces Babar as Pakistan's white-ball captain ahead of their upcoming tours of Australia and Zimbabwe.Babar's resignation has sparked discussions about the future of Pakistan's cricket team. Some experts believe that the move will allow him to focus on his batting and regain his form. Others argue that it could create instability within the team.The PCB is now tasked with rebuilding the team and finding a long-term solution for the captaincy. Rizwan's appointment is seen as a step in that direction, but it remains to be seen whether he can lead Pakistan to success in major tournaments.

Delhi's Harshit Rana Shines with Bat and Ball, Earns Maiden India Call-UpDelhi all-rounder Harshit Rana celebrated his maiden India call-up for the upcoming tour of Australia with an impressive performance in the ongoing Ranji Trophy match against Assam.Rana, who was named in India's 18-member squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, showcased his versatility with a five-wicket haul followed by a half-century for Delhi.After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Delhi restricted Assam to 330, thanks in large part to Rana's bowling brilliance. The 22-year-old spinner claimed 5 for 80 in 19.3 overs, including the crucial wicket of wicketkeeper-batsman Sumit Ghadigaonkar, who scored a valiant 162.In reply, Delhi found themselves in a spot of bother at 182 for 6 on day three. However, Rana joined forces with Pranav Rajuvanshi to revive the innings. Rana played a pivotal role in Delhi's recovery, scoring a fluent half-century off just 66 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes.At the time of writing, Rana and Rajuvanshi had added 87 runs for the seventh wicket, taking Delhi to 269 for 6. Rana's performance has further cemented his place in the Indian squad for the tour of Australia, where he will be eager to make his Test debut.Rana's selection is a testament to his consistent performances in domestic cricket. He has been a key member of the Delhi team for several seasons, contributing with both bat and ball. His all-round abilities make him a valuable asset to any team.Rana's dream of playing Test cricket against England at Lord's may have to wait, but he is thrilled to have been selected for the tour of Australia. He believes that his competitive spirit and aggressive style of play will suit the Australian conditions.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have finalized their retention plans for the upcoming IPL 2025 season, with Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, and Ayush Badoni set to remain with the franchise.Pooran, the explosive West Indian batter, is expected to be the highest-paid retention, followed by Mayank and Bishnoi. Pooran has been a key contributor for LSG, scoring 306 runs in 14 matches in 2024 and leading the team as interim captain during KL Rahul's absence.Mayank, a promising young fast bowler, has impressed with his pace and accuracy. Despite playing only four matches in 2024 due to injury, he has earned a national call-up and is considered a potential future star.Bishnoi, a leg-spinner, has been a consistent performer for LSG, taking 16 wickets in 2023 and playing a crucial role in the team's playoff run.Badoni, a middle-order batter, has shown his potential with aggressive performances, scoring 238 runs in 12 innings in 2023. Mohsin, a left-arm fast bowler, has also been impressive, taking 14 wickets in nine matches in his debut IPL season in 2022.With these five players retained, LSG will have one right-to-match (RTM) card at the auction. The exact amount paid to the retained players is not yet known, but it is estimated to be around INR 51 crore, which will be deducted from LSG's purse.

India's batting stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, have endured a disappointing run in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand. Their struggles have raised concerns among fans ahead of the crucial tour of Australia.Kohli, who has been grappling with form in Test cricket for the past few years, has managed only 88 runs in four innings, with a solitary half-century. Rohit, the team's opening batsman, has fared slightly better with 62 runs, including a knock of 52.The duo's inconsistent form has contributed to India's consecutive defeats, handing New Zealand a historic 2-0 series lead. Their absence from the season-opening domestic red-ball tournament, the Duleep Trophy, has also drawn criticism.Former India spinner and selector Sunil Joshi has emphasized the importance of domestic cricket for top players. He believes that playing in domestic tournaments helps batters improve their skills against spin bowling, a crucial aspect in Indian conditions."When will we see our top-order batters go back to play domestic cricket?" Joshi questioned. "If you don't play domestic cricket, you won't be able to play spinners."A comparison statistic on social media has highlighted the contrast between Kohli and Rohit's recent domestic appearances and that of legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar last played in the Ranji Trophy in 2013, the same year he retired from international cricket. Kohli's last Ranji Trophy appearance was in 2012, while Rohit's was in the 2015-16 season.Fans have questioned why Kohli and Rohit cannot follow Tendulkar's example and participate in domestic cricket to prepare for international assignments. They argue that playing in domestic tournaments would help them regain form and improve their skills against spin bowling.As India gears up for the challenging tour of Australia, the performance of Kohli and Rohit will be crucial. Their ability to rediscover their form and contribute significantly to the team's success will be a key factor in determining India's chances of success Down Under.

VVS Laxman to Coach India for South Africa T20I TourFormer Indian cricketer VVS Laxman has been appointed as the head coach for the Indian team during their upcoming four-match Twenty20 International (T20I) tour of South Africa in November. Laxman will take over from Gautam Gambhir, who will be accompanying the Test squad to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.The South Africa tour was not initially part of India's schedule but was recently arranged following discussions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA). The T20I series will be played across four venues: Durban, Gqeberha, Centurion, and Johannesburg, with matches scheduled for November 8, 10, 13, and 15.Laxman, who has previously coached India during other short white-ball series, will be supported by staff from the National Cricket Academy (NCA), including Sairaj Bahutule, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh. These coaches have recently worked with the India Emerging team at the Asia Emerging Cup in Oman.On October 25, the BCCI announced the 15-member squad for the T20I series, which will be led by Suryakumar Yadav. The series comes just ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, providing a valuable opportunity for players to showcase their talent and potentially boost their demand among IPL franchises.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, one of India's most promising young batters, continues to face a puzzling lack of opportunities in the national team. Despite consistently scoring runs in domestic cricket, Gaikwad has been overlooked for selection in all three formats.His absence from the recent Bangladesh T20I series raised eyebrows, with suggestions that the selectors were prioritizing his red-ball prospects. However, Gaikwad's name was also missing from the squad announced for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.This snub has sparked outrage from former Indian cricketer Krisnamachari Srikkanth, who criticized the selection committee for its treatment of Gaikwad. Srikkanth questioned the logic behind overlooking a player who has been one of the top performers in domestic cricket."I don't understand it at all," Srikkanth said. "He scored two first-class centuries, but still didn't get a chance. He got scores to back him up. Where should that guy be going now?"Srikkanth also pointed out that Abhimanyu Easwaran, another domestic stalwart, had been selected for the Australia tour despite not having the same level of recent form as Gaikwad."Abhimanyu Easwaran's performance has been brilliant. I'm not questioning that," Srikkanth said. "But what are you doing with Ruturaj? Why aren't they twirling around with him? What's the plan?"The selection committee has instead named Gaikwad as the captain of the India A squad for the upcoming tour of Australia. It remains to be seen whether a strong performance in the India A side will earn Gaikwad a recall to the senior team.

The ICC World Test Championship standings are heating up, with India and Australia neck-and-neck at the top. India currently holds a slim lead with 62.82% of possible points, while Australia trails closely behind with 62.50%.India's remaining schedule includes a home Test against New Zealand and a five-Test series in Australia. Despite recent setbacks against New Zealand, India can still finish with a maximum of 74.56% of points. The upcoming series against Australia will be crucial for their chances of reaching a third consecutive World Test Championship final.Australia, the reigning champions, need to win at least four of their remaining seven Tests to defend their title. They have the advantage of playing two Tests in Sri Lanka next year, which could potentially allow them to draw 2-2 with India and still remain in contention for the final. However, their immediate focus will be on regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home, where they have struggled against India in recent years.Sri Lanka, South Africa, and New Zealand are also in the mix for a top-two finish. Sri Lanka's victory over England has given them hope, but they face challenging series against South Africa and Australia. New Zealand's historic series win in India has put them back in contention, but they will likely need to win all four of their remaining Tests. South Africa's success in the sub-continent has boosted their chances, and they have the advantage of playing four matches at home.England, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the West Indies are currently out of contention for the final, but they will be looking to finish the cycle on a positive note with strong performances in their remaining matches.