Cricket

Khar Gymkhana Revokes Jemimah Rodrigues' Membership Over Misuse of PrivilegesKhar Gymkhana, a prestigious sports club in Mumbai, has unanimously revoked the membership of Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues. The decision was made during the club's Annual General Meeting (AGM) following complaints from members regarding the misuse of membership privileges by her father, Ivan Rodrigues.According to Shiv Malhotra, a member of the managing committee, Ivan Rodrigues had been booking the Presidential Hall at concessional rates using Jemimah's membership. These bookings were allegedly for organizing religious activities, which is a violation of Article 4 of the Gymkhana's by-laws. Malhotra and other members noticed these activities and, upon investigation, discovered that around 35 such events had taken place over the past year and a half."As far as her membership is concerned, absolutely she (Jemimah) is the pride of the country. We wish her well and wish she brings more accolades to the country. There is no issue about that," said Malhotra. "However, the membership was given to her...The privilege was misused by her father using her membership and booking the presidential hall. The booking was for 1.5 years, our members were not getting the space...To misuse that privilege is an issue..."Madhvi Ashar, Vice President of Khar Gymkhana, added, "When the motion came up for hearing and when it was explained to the members, our President was charing the meeting the house was really upset to hear all this. Spontaneously it happened that her membership should be cancelled..."The Gymkhana's decision underscores the importance of adhering to the institution's by-laws and maintaining fairness in the usage of its facilities. While Jemimah's contributions to Indian cricket are celebrated, the Gymkhana deemed it necessary to take action against the misuse of membership benefits.Rodrigues has played so far three Tests, thirty ODIs, and 104 T20Is for India, and accumulated 3087 runs and six wickets.

Bangladesh's hopes of avoiding an innings defeat in the first Test against South Africa dwindled on Tuesday as they reached stumps at 101-3, still needing 101 runs to survive. Mahmudul Hasan Joy (38) and Mushfiqur Rahim (31) were unbeaten at the crease, with their 42-run stand for the fourth wicket helping Mushfiqur become the first Bangladeshi to surpass 6,000 career Test runs.The hosts' batting woes began early as Kagiso Rabada dismissed Shadman Islam for one in the third over, followed by Mominul Haque for naught three balls later. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto fell lbw to Keshav Maharaj for 23 off 49 deliveries, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 19-3 before tea.South Africa had earlier declared their first innings on 308, securing a 202-run lead thanks to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne's century. Verreynne scored 114, including eight fours and two sixes, and shared a 119-run stand for the seventh wicket with Wiaan Mulder (54).Bangladesh's bowlers had struggled to make inroads on Monday, with Rabada becoming the fastest to reach 300 Test wickets. However, Hasan Mahmud provided a glimmer of hope in the morning session, taking two wickets in two balls to dismiss Mulder and Maharaj.Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam also passed 200 Test wickets, finishing with 5-122. He became only the second Bangladeshi to achieve the feat after Shakib Al Hasan.Bangladesh have never beaten South Africa in a Test match, and the second of the two-match series begins in Chattogram on October 29.

The highly anticipated Test series between India and New Zealand shifts to Pune for the second match, commencing on Thursday, October 24. The hosts, led by Rohit Sharma, will be eager to redeem themselves after their disappointing defeat in the first Test in Bengaluru.In the opening match, New Zealand emerged victorious by a commanding 8 wickets, largely due to India's disastrous first innings collapse, where they were bundled out for a mere 46 runs. Despite a valiant fightback in the second innings, the Indian batsmen were unable to salvage the match.Both teams have now set up camp in Pune, hoping for favorable weather conditions that will allow for a full five days of play. According to the latest weather forecast, the opening day of the match is expected to be partly cloudy, with temperatures hovering around the early 30s. The cloud cover is predicted to be 58% in the morning, reducing to 43% in the afternoon.India's victory in Pune would significantly strengthen their position at the top of the World Test Championship 2023-25 table. To bolster their squad, they have added spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar. New Zealand, on the other hand, will continue to be without their regular skipper Kane Williamson, who is still undergoing rehabilitation.The second Test promises to be an intriguing contest, with both teams determined to prove their mettle. India will be looking to bounce back from their Bengaluru setback, while New Zealand will aim to maintain their momentum and secure a series victory.

Pakistan's relentless pursuit of a turning track for the final Test against England in Rawalpindi has reached unprecedented levels. With the second Test in Multan concluding in a predictable manner, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has spared no effort in preparing a surface that will favor their spinners.Before the second Test ended, officials were already dispatched to Rawalpindi to oversee the pitch preparation. Post-match, Shan Masood expressed his desire for a turning surface. Giant heaters and windbreakers were strategically placed around the pitch to accelerate the deterioration process.England, on the other hand, has taken note of Pakistan's tactics. Harry Brook believes the Pindi surface has been "raked" to hasten its breakdown. In response, England has named a playing XI with only one specialist seamer, Gus Atkinson, and legspinner Rehan Ahmed.Pakistan's extreme measures stem from the fact that the Pindi pitch naturally favors fast bowlers. Unlike in Multan, where a used surface was available, the PCB is attempting to alter the surface's behavior. Masood and Saud Shakeel have acknowledged that Pindi has historically not been conducive to spin.However, Pakistan's recent success on a crumbling track in Multan has emboldened them to seek a similar advantage in Rawalpindi. Shakeel emphasized the importance of adapting pitch preparation to the opposition and series.Pakistan's shift towards spin-friendly pitches is a departure from their previous strategy of preparing seam-friendly surfaces to develop their young fast bowlers. However, a prolonged winless streak at home has forced a rethink.The PCB now recognizes the need to tailor pitches to specific series and opponents. Shakeel believes that preparing for SENA conditions can be done through practice and first-class cricket, while home pitches should be designed to exploit the opposition's weaknesses.Pakistan has yet to name their XI for the final Test, but the inclusion of three spinners remains a possibility. Legspinner Zahid Mahmood's ineffectiveness in Multan could slightly increase the chances of a specialist seamer being selected.

Parthiv Patel, the former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, is set to join the Gujarat Titans as their batting mentor for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This move comes after Gary Kirsten, the previous batting coach and mentor, left the franchise to become the white-ball head coach of the Pakistan cricket team.Patel's appointment is a significant addition to the Gujarat Titans' support staff, which is led by former India cricketer Ashish Nehra. Patel brings a wealth of experience to the role, having played 25 Tests, 38 ODIs, and 2 T20Is for India. He also has extensive experience in the IPL, having played for teams such as the Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Chennai Super Kings.As batting mentor, Patel will be responsible for guiding and developing the Titans' batting unit, which includes the likes of Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, and David Miller. His experience and knowledge will be invaluable to the team, especially considering the Titans' disappointing performance in the previous IPL season.Patel's appointment is a clear indication of the Gujarat Titans' ambition to improve their performance in the upcoming IPL season. With a strong support staff and a talented squad, the Titans will be hoping to make a significant impact in the tournament.

The Indian cricket team's home dominance was shattered in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, as they were humbled by a humiliating 10-wicket defeat. The Rohit Sharma-led side was dismissed for a paltry 46 in the first innings, their lowest Test score at home. New Zealand responded with a commanding 402, putting India on the back foot.Despite valiant efforts from Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant, India managed to surpass New Zealand's total. However, a lower-order collapse left them with a meager target of 107 runs. Surprisingly, Ravichandran Ashwin, the most prolific wicket-taker among active cricketers, was introduced late into the attack.Former India opener Aakash Chopra expressed astonishment at the decision. "We didn't get Ashwin to bowl at all. I'm not saying we would have won if he had bowled, but we didn't even give him a chance," Chopra said. "That was surprising and inexplicable."Chopra questioned the logic behind using Ashwin as the fifth bowling option. "You can understand Bumrah's long spell because he took both wickets. But Siraj was bowling well with the new ball. You could have brought in Jadeja or Ashwin earlier," he said."The match was over. There was no life left in it. You called Ashwin to bowl when only 15 or 20 runs were left. It would have been better not to bowl him at all," Chopra added. "This question should have been asked in the post-match press conference - 'Rohit bhai, what did you do?' India definitely missed a trick, and it's beyond my understanding why Ashwin wasn't bowled."

Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne has thrown down a playful challenge to Indian captain Virat Kohli ahead of the upcoming Test series between the two nations. Labuschagne, known for his exceptional batting skills, has hinted that he may surprise Kohli with his bowling prowess.In an interview with Australian channel Channel 7, Labuschagne revealed that he believes he can bowl bouncers up to 135 kmph. While he admitted to never reaching that mark, he claimed to have come close."I'd love to hit a little 135 bouncer. I've got that in me, I reckon," Labuschagne said jokingly. "My highest recorded is 132. So 3 kmph."Labuschagne's playful banter has sparked curiosity among cricket fans, who are eager to see if he can back up his words against one of the world's best batsmen. Kohli, who has struggled in recent Test matches, will be keen to prove his mettle against Australia, especially after missing three of the four Tests Down Under in the previous series.Labuschagne's bowling aspirations may seem surprising, given that he has primarily focused on his batting throughout his career. However, he has occasionally bowled legbreaks in Test matches, claiming 13 wickets in 50 games.The upcoming Test series between Australia and India promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams eager to claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Labuschagne is expected to play a crucial role in Australia's middle order, while Kohli will be determined to lead India to victory.

Former England captain Alastair Cook believes that New Zealand's Kane Williamson is the only player who can match the exceptional form of Joe Root at present. Root, along with Virat Kohli and Steven Smith, forms the 'Fab Four' of Test cricket. However, Root has consistently outperformed his rivals in recent years.With 12,716 Test runs, Root is just 3,206 runs behind Sachin Tendulkar's record of 15,921 runs. Root's remarkable consistency has made him a formidable force in Test cricket.Cook, who played alongside Root for England, is impressed by his friend's unwavering hunger for runs. "I think at this precise moment in time, I find it hard to see anyone playing as well as Joe Root," Cook said. "Over the last year or so of the so-called 'Big Four', I think Williamson and him are probably in the best form at the moment."Williamson, who is also part of the 'Fab Four', has been in excellent form himself. However, a groin strain has ruled him out of the first two Tests of New Zealand's series against India.Cook believes that both Root and Williamson possess a unique combination of talent and determination. "They're all wonderful, wonderful players, all very different, actually, in their methods and ways of playing," Cook said. "But one thing which, kind of unites them is that hunger and desire to keep improving and keep churning out the runs."Root is currently playing in the three-match Test series against Pakistan, while Williamson is expected to return for the third Test against India. The battle between these two exceptional batsmen will be one of the highlights of the upcoming Test matches.

Ahead of the crucial second Test against New Zealand in Pune, India's assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate has provided an update on the fitness of star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. Doeschate expressed optimism that Pant will be fit to keep wickets in the upcoming match."He was having slight discomfort while running towards the end range of the movement of his knee while running. Fingers crossed he will be fine to keep wickets in the second Test," said Doeschate.Pant's fitness has been a concern for the Indian team after he suffered a knee injury during the first Test in Bengaluru. The injury forced him to miss the final day of the match and raised doubts about his availability for the second Test.However, the BCCI's medical team is confident that Pant will be ready to take the field in Pune. "He was in some pain after getting hit on the right knee during New Zealand's first innings. He was given injections. The limp while running between the wickets came from numbness in the affected region. He just has a bruise now and should be fit in a day or two," a BCCI source told TOI.Pant's return to the team after a year-and-a-half absence due to a near-fatal car accident has been a welcome boost for India. His gritty comeback has earned him the support of the team management, which is carefully managing his workload.Despite his injury, Pant played a crucial role in India's victory in the first Test. He scored a dazzling 99 in the second innings, helping India set a challenging target for New Zealand.With Pant expected to be fit for the second Test, India will be hoping to continue their winning ways and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.