Cricket

Rishabh Pant's Hilarious Banter with Jasprit Bumrah Lights Up Indian Cricket Team's Perth PracticeAs the Indian cricket team gears up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth, the atmosphere in the nets has been filled with both hard work and lighthearted banter. At the heart of the fun has been wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant, who has been engaging in a hilarious exchange with fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.Pant, known for his aggressive batting and infectious enthusiasm, has been trying his hand at bowling during the team's practice sessions. From overpitched deliveries to bouncers, Pant has thrown everything at Bumrah, hoping to claim the prized wicket of the Indian pace spearhead.In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Pant can be seen claiming to have dismissed Bumrah with a bouncer. "Jasprit Bumrah ko pel diya hai maine, net pe out kara hai 1 wicket mila hai. Morkel se puch skte ho (I've dismissed Jasprit Bumrah and got 1 wicket. You can ask Morkel)," Pant said in the video.Bumrah, however, was quick to counter Pant's claim, calling his bowling action illegal. "His bowling action is illegal. It's not out, it's a four or it's a two, I've connected a pull shot. He thinks he has 7 fielders there. He should not be allowed to bowl," Bumrah said.The banter between Pant and Bumrah continued as the wicket-keeper batter tried to convince India's fast bowling coach Morne Morkel that Bumrah was out. Morkel, caught in the middle of the friendly rivalry, found himself in a conundrum.Despite the lighthearted atmosphere, the Indian team is taking their preparations for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy seriously. After their net session, the team engaged in a warm-up match against India A, starting Friday. However, some of India's top stars, including Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah, failed to cross the 20-run mark on the opening day of the practice match.While these are still early days in the preparations, the Indian team will be hoping to find their form and build momentum ahead of the first Test against Australia on December 17.

Tasmania's Jake Weatherald dominated the Queensland bowlers on day one of their Sheffield Shield clash, closing in on his highest first-class score with an unbeaten 185. The 31-year-old opener, along with fellow left-hander Jake Doran (89*), guided Tasmania to a commanding 358 for 3 at the end of the day's play.Weatherald and Doran forged an unbroken 161-run partnership for the fourth wicket, showcasing their class and resilience against a lackluster Queensland bowling attack. Tim Ward had earlier contributed a valuable 51 at No. 3.Queensland captain Mitchell Swepson's decision to bowl first under overcast conditions backfired as Weatherald and Doran seized control of the innings. The visitors' batsmen capitalized on the poor line and length of the Queensland bowlers, who also committed fielding errors.Weatherald, known for his aggressive batting style, maintained a strike rate of 91.58, sending the ball to the boundary with ease. He expressed satisfaction with his approach, stating that he had learned from his previous match where he had been more cautious.Despite his impressive performance, Weatherald acknowledged that he may have missed his chance to earn a Test call-up. However, he praised the depth of quality opening batters in the Australian domestic scene, highlighting the recent success of Nathan McSweeney, Sam Whiteman, and Caleb Jewel.Queensland's bowling attack, missing strike bowler Michael Neser due to injury, struggled to contain the Tasmanian batsmen. Swepson's attempts to rotate bowlers proved ineffective as none of the six bowlers used could make a significant impact.Tasmania's strong start is a stark contrast to their previous Shield clash against Western Australia, where they were bowled out for 98 in the second innings. The visitors will look to continue their dominance on day two and build a substantial lead.

Cameron Bancroft's struggles continued on the opening day of Western Australia's Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria, as the former Test opener was dismissed for just 12. Bancroft's dismissal was part of a tough day for WA's batters, who were bowled out for 167. Victoria, in response, reached 100 for 2 at stumps, with Marcus Harris unbeaten on 40.Bancroft's poor form this summer has been a major concern for the 30-year-old, who was the leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield over the past two summers. However, his form has deserted him at the worst possible time, with the Australian Test team set to tour Sri Lanka later this month.Todd Murphy, on the other hand, had a day to remember on his 24th birthday. The Victorian spinner took 4 for 37, including the wickets of Sam Fanning, Joel Paris, Cameron Gannon, and Brody Couch. Murphy's performance will put him in contention for a spot on the Sri Lanka tour, where he could provide support to Nathan Lyon.Victoria's other wicket-taker was Corey Rocchiccioli, who had Campbell Kellaway caught at cover for 26. Harris and Travis Dean (22) put on a 50-run partnership for the second wicket before Dean was dismissed by Rocchiccioli.At stumps, Victoria were well-placed to take control of the match. Harris looked in good touch, while Dean and Kellaway had also made solid contributions. WA, on the other hand, will need to bat much better in their second innings if they are to avoid defeat.

The Mumbai Indians (MI), a powerhouse in the Indian Premier League (IPL), are gearing up for the 2025 mega auction with a strategic plan and a substantial auction purse. The auction, scheduled for November 24-25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will be a battleground for teams seeking to revamp their squads for the upcoming season.MI, after a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw them finish last in the 10-team league, will enter the auction with Rs 45 crore remaining in their purse. The five-time IPL champions aim to bolster their squad by acquiring key players across various departments. They also possess one strategic Right to Match (RTM) card, allowing them to potentially retain a player by matching the highest bid during the auction.In preparation for the mega auction, MI has retained five key players who form the backbone of their team. These retentions have consumed a significant portion of their total auction budget of Rs 120 crore. The retained players and their respective salaries are as follows:* Jasprit Bumrah: Rs 18 crore* Suryakumar Yadav: Rs 16.35 crore* Hardik Pandya: Rs 16.35 crore* Rohit Sharma: Rs 16.30 crore* Tilak Varma: Rs 8 croreThese retentions have cost MI a total of Rs 75 crore, leaving them with Rs 45 crore to spend at the auction. These players bring a wealth of experience and talent, with Bumrah as the bowling spearhead and Suryakumar Yadav, India's T20I captain, leading their dynamic batting lineup. Notably, Rohit Sharma, who recently retired from T20 Internationals after leading India to a T20 World Cup win, remains a pivotal figure for MI despite stepping down as captain. His leadership duties have been handed over to Hardik Pandya, who returned to MI after a stint as Gujarat Titans' captain.With Rs 45 crore in hand, MI will target crucial areas in their squad. They will aim to rebuild after a poor 2024 season, focusing on reinforcing both their batting depth and bowling attack. The presence of an RTM card gives them added flexibility to bring back a former player who might attract high bids.After five retentions, MI have a minimum of 13 slots and a maximum of 20 slots available to fill. Mumbai Indians will have several important slots to fill during the auction, with a focus likely on securing few world-class overseas talents and uncapped Indian cricketers. Additionally, MI could look to bolster their bowling unit to support Jasprit Bumrah, particularly with spinners and pacers who can adapt to different conditions.Having retained their core group of stars, including their new skipper Hardik Pandya and the explosive Suryakumar Yadav, MI now have the challenge of finding the right balance in the rest of their squad to return to their winning ways in 2025.

India, with an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match T20I series against South Africa, is poised to secure a historic series victory. The Proteas, despite being unable to win the series, will aim to salvage a 2-2 draw.For the fourth and final match, India may consider handing debuts to pacers Vijakumar Vyshak and Yash Dayal. All-rounder Ramandeep Singh made his T20I debut in the third match, and the management may opt to give more players their first caps.India has utilized 12 of its 15 players in the series, and it remains to be seen if either Dayal or Vyshak will be given a chance to showcase their skills. Sanju Samson, who has struggled against Marco Jansen in recent matches, will be eager to break out of his slump.Skipper Surya Kumar Yadav may consider using Ramandeep Singh's medium pace in the final game, as he offers versatility and can field anywhere except as a wicketkeeper.Centuries from Samson and Tilak Varma have been crucial for India's success in the series, but the team will need a more collective batting effort to clinch a 3-1 victory.The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg has been a favorable venue for India, where they won the 2007 T20 World Cup final. Yadav, who has an impressive victory percentage of 81.25 as captain, will aim to improve upon the 1-1 draw in the previous series in South Africa.

India's Test captain Rohit Sharma faces a crucial decision as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) approaches in Australia. With the birth of his second child imminent, Rohit has remained in India and is likely to miss the opening Test in Perth.Rohit's recent red-ball form has been underwhelming, with a string of low scores in his last 10 innings against New Zealand and Bangladesh. Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has advised Rohit to exercise caution against Australia's formidable pace attack, led by Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood."At the start, he can be troubled by Mitchell Starc's lengths and lines," Gavaskar said. "He needs to get the shot-selection right. That's not just for Rohit Sharma, but for any batter."Gavaskar emphasized the importance of restraint on Australian pitches, despite their reputation for being batter-friendly. "Australian pitches are good for batters, and they use the Kookaburra ball. It doesn't swing or seam much after the first 15 overs...If you show some restraint in the first session, then you can score runs," he said.Regarding Rohit's availability for the series opener, head coach Gautam Gambhir has stated that there is no clarity yet. Rohit continues to train in Mumbai, and his participation in the Perth Test will be determined closer to the match.If Rohit misses the opening Test, India will have to rely on vice-captain KL Rahul or Shubman Gill to lead the batting charge. Rahul has been in impressive form in recent Tests, while Gill has shown promise in his limited opportunities.The BGT is a prestigious series between India and Australia, and Rohit's absence would be a significant blow to the Indian team. However, with a talented squad at his disposal, head coach Rahul Dravid will be confident of defending India's title.

Indian Cricket Team Faces Challenges in Intra-Squad Match SimulationAs the Indian cricket team prepares for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, they faced a stern test in an intra-squad match simulation at the WACA in Perth. The intense session highlighted the challenges the team will encounter on Australian soil.The top-order batters faced a barrage of impressive bowling, with several falling victim to the bouncy Perth surfaces. Virat Kohli, who has been struggling for form, was caught behind for 15 after nicking a good-length delivery. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul also departed early, with Jaiswal caught behind for 15 and Rahul forced to leave the field after being struck on the elbow by a rising delivery from Prasidh Krishna.The conditions proved challenging for the Indian batters, with Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, and Nitish Reddy exploiting the bounce to trouble them. Shubman Gill was caught at gully, while Rishabh Pant was clean-bowled for 19.The match simulation served as a wake-up call for the Indian team, highlighting the need for them to adapt quickly to the Australian conditions. The pitch at the WACA provided enough movement to unsettle the batters, giving them a taste of what they can expect in the upcoming Test series.With the first Test set to begin on November 22, the Indian team will need to find a way to overcome the challenges posed by the bouncy Australian pitches. The intra-squad match simulation has provided them with valuable insights and will help them prepare for the tough battles ahead.

The ongoing feud between India head coach Gautam Gambhir and former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has taken a new turn, with ex-cricketer Brad Haddin revealing the backstory behind the war of words.The conflict began when Gambhir responded to Ponting's comments on Virat Kohli's form, urging him to focus on Australian cricket. Ponting retorted by calling Gambhir a "prickly character."Haddin, who played under Ponting at Delhi Capitals in 2018, hinted at a deeper reason for the animosity. "Gambhir is a character that would use this as an us versus them mentality," he said. "His reaction was prickly, and you don't need your coach to get caught up in that sort of scenario unless his tactic is to build an us versus them."Haddin teased a forthcoming revelation about the backstory between Gambhir and Ponting. "I know what the backstory is. I'll tell you; just wait till later of the week. There was a little elbow, suspensions, and fines," he said.Haddin compared Gambhir's approach to that of Australian rugby coach Wayne Bennett, who often takes the spotlight to deflect pressure from his team. "It's out of the Wayne Bennett style of coaching," he said. "We're not talking about Rohit Sharma or Kohli now. We're talking about Gambhir and Ricky. He has bitten back, taken the pressure away from his team."While acknowledging Gambhir's "prickly" nature, Haddin questioned whether he was intentionally creating a distraction for his team, which is under pressure after losing the series to New Zealand. "Is he doing this now to take it away from his teammates?" he asked. "If it's an emotional reaction, then there's a problem. But if he's doing it to deflect things away and take it [attention] away from his team, that's a different thing."

Cricket's Olympic Return Faces Venue Challenges, May Move Outside Los AngelesCricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has hit a snag, with organizers struggling to find a suitable venue within the city limits. LA28 Chairman Casey Wasserman announced that if a viable location in Los Angeles cannot be secured, the sport may be staged outside the city.Wasserman emphasized the need for a large footprint to accommodate cricket's requirements. He stated that organizers are exploring all options to find the best possible venue that will maximize the sport's success.Recent reports suggest that New York is a potential candidate to host cricket at Nassau County Stadium on Long Island. The venue successfully hosted matches during the 2022 T20 Cricket World Cup, impressing Olympic officials.Staging cricket in New York would also enhance its commercial appeal, as daytime matches would coincide with prime time in major cricket markets like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.LA28 has already decided to relocate softball and canoe slalom to Oklahoma, demonstrating their willingness to move events outside of California.The International Olympic Committee's coordination commission is currently visiting Los Angeles to assess the city's preparations for the 2028 Games. The commission will provide feedback and recommendations to help organizers finalize venue plans.Cricket's inclusion in the Olympics marks a significant milestone for the sport, which last appeared at the Games in 1900. Its return is expected to generate excitement and attract a global audience.