Cricket

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma's poor form continued on Day 2 of the first Test match against New Zealand in Bengaluru on Thursday. Sharma was dismissed for just 2 runs, failing to cross the 30-run mark in both Test matches against Bangladesh and the ongoing series against New Zealand.Sharma's dismissal came after he was completely beaten by the swing of a delivery from New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee. The ball crashed into the stumps, ending Sharma's short stay at the crease.Sharma's poor form has led to a lot of criticism on social media, with many calling for him to retire. However, Sharma has the backing of the team management, who believe that he is still the best batsman in the world.In the absence of Shubman Gill, who is not 100% fit due to neck stiffness, Sarfaraz Khan came into India's playing eleven. Kuldeep Yadav was also included in the team as the third spinner alongside Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.New Zealand skipper Tom Latham said Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips are the spin-bowling allrounders for the visitors alongside left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel. They will be complemented by three pacers in Matt Henry, Tim Southee, and William O'Rourke.

Delhi Capitals have undergone a significant overhaul, with Sourav Ganguly stepping down as Director of Cricket and Venugopal Rao taking his place. This move comes amidst speculation about Rishabh Pant's future as captain.Ganguly, a former India captain and BCCI President, will now focus on the Women's Premier League team and the Pretoria Capitals in SA20. He had reportedly expressed interest in doubling up as the men's team head coach and Director of Cricket, but this did not materialize.The Capitals have also finalized their three retentions in Pant, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. They are expected to use the Right-to-Match (RTM) card to buy back other players. Abhishek Porel, who showed promise last season, is a potential uncapped retention.Ahead of the mega auction, the Capitals will hold trials next week to identify potential targets. They have already identified three venues and will finalize them based on availability.The ongoing Ranji Trophy could hamper their plans, as most players are busy with their respective states. However, the franchise is short on time and will need to reach out to their targets before the auction, likely in the last week of November.The Capitals' captaincy picture remains unclear, with Pant's future in the role uncertain. The franchise is expected to make a decision in the coming days.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to host the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction in the last week of November, with November 30 emerging as the likely date. The venue is yet to be finalized, but Dubai is a potential option.The ten franchises are actively preparing for the auction, with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) leading the way in identifying their priorities. Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, and Abhishek Sharma are their top targets, while Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy are also under consideration.Delhi Capitals have retained Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav as their top picks, but the captaincy is still undecided. They have made significant changes to their support staff, appointing Hemang Badani as head coach and Venugopal Rao as Director of Cricket, replacing Sourav Ganguly. Munaf Patel has been roped in as the bowling coach.Mumbai Indians, the most successful IPL franchise, have retained Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah. Pandya will continue as captain, and the team will aim to regain their winning ways under coach Mahela Jayawardene.The upcoming mega auction promises to be highly competitive, with new rules designed to keep the franchises on their toes. The modified Right To Match (RTM) card will allow the highest bidder to raise their bid before the team holding the RTM card can exercise their right. This is expected to lead to intense bidding wars.The IPL mega auction is a crucial event in the Indian cricket calendar, as it shapes the teams for the upcoming season. With a host of talented players available, the auction is likely to attract significant attention from fans and experts alike.

Virat Kohli, the prolific Indian batter, has etched his name in the annals of cricket history by becoming the second-most-capped international cricketer for India across all formats. During the first Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kohli marked his 536th international appearance, surpassing former captain MS Dhoni's tally of 535 matches.Kohli's illustrious international career began in 2008 with an ODI debut in Sri Lanka. Since then, he has amassed an astonishing 27,041 runs across 115 Tests, 295 ODIs, and 125 T20Is. His exceptional leadership skills have also been evident, as he has captained India in 213 matches, including 68 Tests, 95 ODIs, and 50 T20Is.Kohli's remarkable achievement places him behind only the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who holds the record for the most international caps (664) for India. Among active cricketers, Kohli is followed by India captain Rohit Sharma (486 caps) and Ravindra Jadeja (346 caps).In terms of Test appearances for India, Kohli is tied for eighth with 116 caps. He has accumulated 8947 runs in the longer format, just 53 runs shy of becoming the fourth Indian to complete 9000 Test runs after Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.Kohli's consistency and longevity have been remarkable. He became the fastest player to reach 27,000 international runs during the second Test against Bangladesh last month, surpassing Tendulkar's record of 623 innings. Kohli achieved this feat in just 594 innings, making him the only cricketer to reach 27,000 international runs in under 600 outings.Kohli's achievements are a testament to his unwavering dedication, exceptional talent, and unwavering determination. He continues to inspire generations of cricketers and fans alike, and his legacy as one of the greatest batsmen of all time is secure.

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli's struggles continued on Day 2 of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, as he was dismissed for a duck, equaling an embarrassing record. Kohli's dismissal marked his 38th international duck, tying him with New Zealand's Tim Southee for the most ducks among active cricketers. India skipper Rohit Sharma is third on the list with 33 ducks.Kohli's dismissal came off a short-length delivery from fast bowler Will O'Rourke. The ball flew off Kohli's gloves, and Glenn Phillips completed a good catch at leg gully. Kohli's poor form has been a concern for India, as he has failed to score a century in his last 10 Test innings.Earlier, India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat against New Zealand in the rain-truncated opening Test. India made two changes to their team, with Sarfaraz Khan replacing an injured Shubman Gill and Kuldeep Yadav replacing seamer Akash Deep.The first day's play was washed out due to persistent rain. India and New Zealand will play two more Tests, at Pune from October 24-28 and at Mumbai from November 1-5.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction dynamics have taken a new turn, with reports suggesting that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are set to retain South African wicket-keeper batter Heinrich Klaasen for a whopping Rs 23 crore. This move highlights a crucial aspect of the IPL retention rules: franchises have the flexibility to distribute the retention fee among players as they deem fit, as long as the total amount remains within the designated Rs 75 crore retained purse.According to ESPN Cricinfo and Cricbuzz, the IPL rules stipulate that the first retention should be Rs 18 crore, the second Rs 14 crore, the third Rs 11 crore, the fourth Rs 18 crore, the fifth Rs 14 crore, and the uncapped Rs 4 crore. However, franchises are not bound to adhere strictly to these slabs. They can allocate the money among players in any way they choose, provided the total budget does not exceed the designated amount.This flexibility gives franchises significant leverage in negotiating retention fees with players. For instance, a franchise could opt to pay more than Rs 18 crore to their first retention and less than Rs 11 crore to their third retention, as long as the total budget adds up to Rs 43 crore (18 + 14 + 11), the designated amount for three retentions.Even if a franchise retains fewer than five players for an amount less than the designated Rs 75 crore, the designated amount will still be deducted from their overall purse. As per the retention rule quoted by Cricbuzz, "Retention deduction of overall amount instead of fee per player, in this case of 75 Crs irrespective of what amount is paid to 5 players. If the total amount exceeds 75 Crs then actual amount to be deducted. In case the amount is less than 75 Crs then 75 Crs to be deducted."This flexibility in distributing the retention fee provides franchises with greater flexibility in managing their budgets and retaining the players they value most. It also allows them to negotiate higher or lower fees for players they are keen on retaining, without disrupting the overall designated amount.

Cricket Australia (CA) is taking its time in appointing Nick Hockley's successor, with the outgoing CEO's March exit date remaining flexible. Hockley addressed his final AGM as the sport's boss on Thursday, as CA reported a better-than-expected AU$31.9 million loss for the financial year.A global search is underway for Hockley's replacement, following his announcement of his impending departure last August. Players' union boss and former NRL CEO Todd Greenberg remains the frontrunner for the role, while other CA executives have also expressed interest.Hockley had initially indicated a March exit, but is open to staying beyond that if a suitable replacement is not found. "The process is under way," said CA chairman Mike Baird. "There is a huge amount of interest in the role. We will run through that in a considered way as a board, there is no rush."CA's annual loss was expected, given the absence of tours from England and India last summer. The deficit was also larger than in the previous year, which benefited from hosting the men's T20 World Cup. The annual result left CA with cash reserves of $25.7 million, despite an estimated $100 million hit from the COVID-19 pandemic."We expect to have reserves in excess of $70 million by the end of the next two years," said Baird. "We're very bullish about the next two summers and it's reflected in the forecast."Hockley emphasized that CA has taken steps to make its budget more resilient against summers without India or England, through new content, investments, cost-efficiency measures, and increased digital assets.Baird also indicated that Australia is pursuing plans for a Test fund with the ICC, aimed at supporting nations outside the "big three" and safeguarding the red-ball game.Meanwhile, CA directors Lachlan Henderson, Greg Rowell, and Clea Smith were re-elected at Thursday's meeting, while Paul Green announced his upcoming departure.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, the rising star of Indian cricket, has quickly ascended the ranks with his exceptional adaptability and versatility. His impressive performances have earned him high praise from his captain, Rohit Sharma, who believes he possesses the potential to succeed at the highest level.Jaiswal's ability to switch gears seamlessly between attacking and defensive play has been a key factor in his success. Despite his aggressive approach, he maintains a cool head and executes his shots with finesse. This adaptability has allowed him to excel in both home and away conditions.In his debut Test against the West Indies, Jaiswal showcased his patience and resilience by spending over 500 minutes at the crease to score a 387-ball 171. However, in the following match, he displayed his versatility by scoring a quick-fire 74 off just 57 balls.Jaiswal's consistency has been remarkable, with at least a half-century in each of his seven home Tests. He has also notched up two double centuries, including a staggering 901 runs in seven matches.Rohit Sharma has been a staunch supporter of Jaiswal, recognizing his talent and potential. "He has the game to suit any conditions," Rohit said. "He is new to international cricket, but he has all the ingredients for success."Jaiswal's adaptability and versatility make him a valuable asset to the Indian team. As he continues to learn and develop, he is poised to become a key player in India's quest for success in the upcoming Test series in Australia.

Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, has predicted that Pakistan may face another collapse in the second Test against England at Multan, similar to their embarrassing defeat in the first Test. Vaughan's comments came after Pakistan's spinner Sajid Khan pegged back England on Day 2, reducing them to 239 for 6 despite opener Ben Duckett's century.Vaughan believes that if England takes a first-innings lead, it could lead to a similar finish as the first Test, where Pakistan collapsed in the second innings. However, Pakistan is currently 127 runs behind at stumps on Day 2 with four wickets in hand, leaving open the possibility of them taking a first-innings lead and building on it.Vaughan's comments follow his earlier criticism of Pakistan's decision to drop Babar Azam from the Test squad, calling it a "stupid decision." However, Babar's replacement, Kamran Ghulam, proved Vaughan wrong by scoring a century on debut.Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali responded to Vaughan's comments, saying that "Vaughan should be shown the picture of Kamran Ghulam."The second Test between Pakistan and England is poised for an exciting finish, with Pakistan needing to bat well in the second innings to avoid another collapse and level the series.