Cricket

SRH's Retention Conundrum: Moody's Picks for IPL 2025Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) coach Tom Moody has identified four key players he believes the franchise should retain: captain Pat Cummins, openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, and wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen.Moody, who guided SRH to the 2024 IPL final, emphasized the importance of retaining the team's core players. Head, Abhishek, and Klaasen were instrumental in SRH's success last season, finishing as the top three run-getters.Head, the Australian batter, amassed 567 runs, including a century and four fifties. Abhishek, the Indian opener, contributed 484 runs with three half-centuries. Klaasen, the South African wicketkeeper, accumulated 479 runs, including four half-centuries."SRH has a tough job during this retention period," Moody said. "At the top, I'd look to secure captain Pat Cummins, followed by Travis Head and then Abhishek Sharma."Moody also suggested considering all-rounders Nitish Reddy and Abdul Samad for retention. Reddy was the fourth-highest run-getter for SRH in 2024, while Samad impressed with his power-hitting, scoring 182 runs at a strike rate of 168.51."I'd extend it even further to retain Heinrich Klaasen," Moody added. "Nitish Reddy and Abdul Samad are also worth considering."IPL franchises can retain a maximum of six players, including a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players. The auction purse for IPL 2025 has been set at Rs 120 crore. The deadline for franchises to finalize their retention list is October 31.

Chhattisgarh, known for its gritty and determined approach, has taken a commanding lead in their third-round Ranji Trophy match against Tamil Nadu. On the second day of the contest at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground, Chhattisgarh posted a formidable total of 500 in their first innings, putting themselves in a strong position to secure a victory.The Chhattisgarh innings was anchored by a solid opening partnership between Ayush Pandey (124) and Rishabh Tiwari (46). However, it was the middle-order batters who truly shone, with Anuj Tiwari (84), Sanjeet Desai (82), and K.D. Eknath (52) all contributing substantial scores. Ajay Mandal's aggressive 64, which included two sixes, further boosted the team's total.Tamil Nadu's bowlers struggled to contain Chhattisgarh's relentless batting onslaught. Ajith Ram, the left-arm spinner, was the pick of the bowlers, claiming four wickets for 132 runs. However, his efforts were not enough to prevent Chhattisgarh from amassing a massive score.In reply, Tamil Nadu ended the day at 23 for one, with opener S. Lokeshwar falling cheaply to off-spinner Jeevesh Butte. The home team faces an uphill task in the remaining two days of the match, needing to score heavily and avoid a defeat.The pitch at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground has remained good for batting, but there were signs of the odd ball turning sharply in the final hour of play. This could provide some hope for Tamil Nadu's spinners as they look to restrict Chhattisgarh's lead.

MS Dhoni, the legendary Indian cricketer, has expressed his desire to savor the remaining years of his cricketing career. While his availability for IPL 2025 remains uncertain, Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan has expressed optimism about Dhoni's participation in the upcoming season."I just want to enjoy whatever last few years of cricket I'm able to play," Dhoni stated at a promotional event in Goa. "Like how during our childhood we used to go out and play at 4[pm], just enjoying the game. But when you play professional sport it becomes difficult to enjoy the game just like a game. So what I want to do is, there are emotions and commitments, but I want to enjoy the game for the next few years."Dhoni's eligibility for retention by CSK as an uncapped player stems from the IPL's reinstatement of a rule that considers players retired from international cricket for five years as uncapped. This rule change opens the door for Dhoni's retention, as he retired from international cricket in 2019.During IPL 2024, Dhoni batted lower down the order, facing only a limited number of deliveries. While workload management due to his knee surgery played a role in this decision, Dhoni also revealed that it was intended to provide game time to Indian players vying for a spot in the T20 World Cup."My thinking was simple, if others are doing their job well why do I need to come up the order," Dhoni explained. "If you're talking about last year (season) specifically, the T20 World Cup squad was going to be announced soon. So we have to give people who are fighting for a spot a chance. In our team (CSK) we had a few, [Ravindra] Jadeja was there, Shivam Dube was there so you give them an opportunity to prove themselves to get into the Indian team. There was nothing in it for me, no selection and other things. So I'm good behind [playing down the order] and my team was happy with what I was doing."Dhoni also expressed his admiration for the aggressive style of play known as "Bazball," which has become prevalent in Test cricket. He believes that the focus on results has made the format more exciting."You can give cricket any term that you want to, what we have seen is cricket has evolved," Dhoni said. "The way people are playing cricket is very different. There was a time when in ODIs something was considered a safe score, now that score is not safe in T20s too.""For me, the most difficult time during a Test match was the fifth day of a match which is the last day when you knew that 100% it is going to be a draw," he added. "I would still need to keep for nearly 2.5 sessions and that was the most tiring part. You see there is no result happening, you are just going through the motions. Yes, bowlers would like to take wickets, batters will try to score runs, [but] there is no result in the game. You think let's finish this and go, why do I have to be here. So I love the fact there's change in the way teams are playing Test cricket."

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, has expressed his disappointment on social media after being overlooked for the upcoming Test series against Australia. Shami has been sidelined since the ODI World Cup 2023 final due to an ankle injury and subsequent knee swelling.Despite recently declaring himself pain-free, the selectors opted to exclude him from the squad. Shami took to Instagram to share a video of his training, expressing his determination to regain match fitness and return to the red-ball format.Australia head coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged Shami's absence as a significant loss for India. However, he emphasized that his team will not underestimate the replacement pacers, citing India's victory in the Gabba Test in 2021.McDonald also hinted at the possibility of Shami joining the Indian team for the second half of the Australia tour if he proves his fitness in Bengal's upcoming Ranji Trophy matches. India has a strong record in Australia, having won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in their last two visits.Shami's injury has opened the door for other bowlers to stake their claim in the Test team. The likes of Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Jaydev Unadkat will be eager to impress and cement their places in the squad.The absence of Shami is a blow to India's bowling attack, but it also presents an opportunity for other bowlers to step up and prove their worth. The upcoming Test series against Australia promises to be a fiercely contested battle, and the outcome could hinge on the performances of the bowlers from both sides.

Delhi's batting woes continued on day two of their Ranji Trophy clash against Assam at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Despite several players getting starts, the home side found themselves trailing by 116 runs with four wickets remaining in their first innings.Skipper Himmat Singh top-scored with 55, while Yash Dhull and Sanat Sangwan contributed 47 each. However, none of them could convert their starts into substantial scores, unlike Sumit Ghadigaonkar, who had scored 162 for Assam.Delhi's innings began disastrously with Gagan Vats dismissed for a duck off the very first ball. Dhull and Sangwan steadied the ship with a 66-run partnership for the second wicket, but Dhull's dismissal just after lunch proved costly.Himmat and Sangwan looked assured at the crease, but their efforts were not enough to lift Delhi out of trouble. The frustration was evident as the home side failed to capitalize on their opportunities.Earlier in the day, Delhi's bowlers had done their job by taking the remaining four Assam wickets fairly quickly. Himmat's catch to dismiss Mukhtar Hussain was a highlight, as he ran back a few meters while following the trajectory of the ball and completed an excellent catch.Harshit Rana claimed his five-for with a full ball to Mrinmoy Dutta that clattered the stumps, wrapping up Assam's innings at 330.Delhi now faces an uphill battle to even claim first-innings honors when play resumes on Monday. Their batting has been underwhelming throughout the season, and they will need to find a way to turn things around if they want to avoid defeat.

India's batting woes continued in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune, leading to a humiliating 113-run defeat and their first home series loss in 12 years. Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his disappointment, highlighting the team's inability to handle spin.Manjrekar pointed out that Shubman Gill, despite his talent, lacks the "feel for spinners" and struggles on turning pitches. He also criticized Virat Kohli for misreading the length of Mitchell Santner's delivery and Rohit Sharma for lacking confidence against spin."The top three of India's top four are short of confidence against spin," Manjrekar said. "On pitches like these, it is difficult to bat vs spin in the first session and a half. India should have backed their defense more and not lost early wickets."New Zealand's spin attack, led by Santner, proved too strong for India. Santner took 13 wickets in the match, including 7/53 in India's second innings. Glenn Phillips also contributed with 2/26.India's batting woes were evident in both innings. In the first innings, they were bowled out for 156, with only Ravindra Jadeja (38) offering some resistance. In the second innings, they were bundled out for 245, despite a promising start from Yashasvi Jaiswal (77).The defeat marks a significant setback for India, who had won the first Test in Kanpur. It also raises questions about the team's ability to handle spin, a crucial factor in Indian conditions.

Steve Smith Hails Rohit Sharma as Opener in His World Test XI, Praises Aggressive StyleAustralian batting maestro Steve Smith has heaped praise on Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, selecting him as the opener in his World Test XI. Smith lauded Sharma's aggressive approach and ability to dominate bowlers, making him a formidable force in the longest format of the game."He is so dangerous, takes the game on with the new ball," Smith said in an interview with Fox Cricket. "He plays his shots but also has solid defense when the situation demands it. He puts the bowler under a lot of pressure."Smith's comments come amidst India's recent Test series defeat at home against New Zealand. However, Sharma is set to lead India in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting on November 22 in Perth.The 18-member squad announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) includes several fresh faces but also has key omissions due to injury concerns. Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav will miss the tour due to knee and groin issues, respectively.Despite the setbacks, Smith believes Sharma has the leadership and batting skills to prove his faith and maintain India's dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy."He's a world-class player, there's no doubt about that," Smith added. "He's been in great form for a long time now, and I'm sure he'll be looking to continue that in Australia."Sharma's aggressive style and ability to adapt to different conditions make him a nightmare for bowlers. He has a wide range of shots and can score runs at a rapid pace, putting pressure on the opposition from the outset.With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the horizon, Sharma will be eager to lead India to victory and prove his status as one of the world's best batsmen.

Sri Lanka's resurgence in limited-overs cricket has given captain Charith Asalanka a "good headache" as he faces a wealth of batting talent vying for spots in the top order. The team's recent 2-1 ODI series victory over the West Indies marked their third consecutive white-ball series triumph, following wins against the Windies in T20Is and India in ODIs.Nishan Madushka's impressive form has been a revelation for Sri Lanka. The opener scored 38 and 69 in the two ODIs he played, replacing the injured Pathum Nissanka. Nissanka returned to the side in the final ODI and struck a half-century.With Madushka, Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, and Kusal Perera all in solid form, there is intense competition for the top three batting positions. Asalanka believes this will make it difficult for the team management to select the squad for upcoming matches."I'm very happy about Nishan Madushka's form. If we have a player in that kind of form on the bench, that's a big win for us. Now when we go into a selection meeting, we've got good headaches. The selectors, coach, and I have a tough time choosing a team," Asalanka said.The captain also praised the National Super League (NSL) for helping him regain his form. "In the last series, against India, I wasn't in form. But I played the NSL tournament and got an excellent result out of that. We've got to thank the board for holding the NSL. It's a tournament that has a competitive level of cricket," he said.Sri Lanka will next face New Zealand in two T20Is and three ODIs, starting on November 9 in Dambulla. After that, the team will travel to South Africa for two Tests from November 27.

Virat Kohli's dismissal on Day 3 of the second Test against New Zealand proved to be a pivotal moment in India's eventual 113-run defeat in Pune. The batting maestro was visibly heartbroken after being dismissed for 17 by Mitchell Santner, a dismissal that sparked an India batting collapse.With a mammoth target of 359 in front of them, India needed Kohli to stand tall with Rohit Sharma and others already back in the hut. While Kohli did get a decent start, he was undone by a beautiful delivery from Santer, who got it to zip quickly off the surface. The ball hit him straight in front of the leg stump and umpire Richard Illingworth raised his finger.Kohli was quick to review the call, but the ball tracking showed that the ball would've gone on to clip the leg stump, meaning the decision couldn't be overturned. Kohli, of course, did not like the decision one bit. He was visibly disappointed at the call and hurled a mouthful after hesitating to walk back to the dressing room.Now, a day after India's loss, a fresh video of Kohli's reaction following his dismissal has gone viral. In the video, Kohli looked visibly dejected as New Zealand players were celebrating his wicket.Chasing 359, India started strongly with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who shared a 62-run partnership with Shubman Gill (23 off 31 balls, four boundaries). However, after Jaiswal's dismissal for 77 off 65 balls (nine fours, three sixes), India couldn't recover, succumbing to the Kiwi spinners and being bowled out for 245, resulting in a 113-run defeat. This series loss marks India's first home series defeat in 12 years.Santner, with a remarkable 13 wickets in the match (6/104 in the second innings), emerged as the star of the game, with Phillips and Ajaz Patel chipping in to wrap up the Test two days early.Rohit and his men will aim to bounce back in the third and final Test, starting November 1, before the all-important tour of Australia next month. India will play five Tests Down Under, with the series likely to decide their fate as far as the World Test Championship (WTC) final is concerned.