Cricket

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) between India and Australia has emerged as a formidable rivalry in the cricketing world, rivaling the legendary Ashes series between Australia and England. While the Ashes boasts a rich history dating back to 1882, the BGT, established in 1996, has quickly gained prominence as one of the most fiercely contested and closely followed encounters in the sport.Historical Perspective: BGT vs Ashes (Since 1996)Since the inception of the BGT, India has emerged as a dominant force, winning 10 of the 16 series played. Australia has secured five victories, while one series ended in a draw. Notably, India has achieved two historic away series wins in Australia (2018-19, 2020-21) and is aiming for a third consecutive triumph on foreign soil.In contrast, the Ashes has been dominated by Australia, who have won eight of the 15 series played since 1996. England has secured five victories, and two series have ended in draws. Australia's traditional dominance in the Ashes remains evident.Match Statistics: BGT vs AshesThe Ashes has a significant advantage in terms of matches played due to its long history. However, the BGT has witnessed a remarkable 56 Tests since 1996, with India winning 24 matches and Australia claiming 20 victories. India's recent dominance reflects their evolution as a formidable force in Test cricket.Recent Trends: The Last Five SeriesIn the last decade, India has established a clear dominance in the BGT, winning four consecutive series (2016-17, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2022-23). Australia's last series win came in 2014-15 on home soil.The Ashes have been more evenly contested in recent years. Australia has won two of the last five series (2017-18, 2021-22), while two ended in draws (2019, 2023). Australia has retained the urn due to their dominance in home conditions.Dominance in Away SeriesAway victories are a testament to a team's strength and resilience. India's two away series wins in Australia (2018-19, 2020-21) are significant achievements. Australia, on the other hand, has won only one away series in India, in 2004-05.In the Ashes, Australia has not won a series in England since 2001. England has also struggled in Australia, with their last win there coming in 2010-11. Australia's hold over the Ashes urn has been strengthened by their dominance in home conditions.BGT's Rising StatureWhile the Ashes remains iconic due to its deep-rooted history, the BGT has risen to prominence as one of the most fiercely contested rivalries in world cricket. India's dominance in the BGT, especially with back-to-back series wins in Australia, has led some to argue that the BGT now rivals or even surpasses the Ashes in terms of competitiveness and importance.For Australia, the upcoming BGT series presents a chance to reclaim the trophy at home, while for India, the series is a crucial step towards securing a spot in the World Test Championship final.

Legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting has expressed concerns over the Indian batting lineup's vulnerability against quality spin bowling, citing their recent 3-0 series defeat to New Zealand. Ponting believes that the skill level of Indian batters in facing spin has declined compared to previous generations.India's dismal performance against New Zealand's spinners, Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, and Glenn Phillips, highlighted their weakness in this area. Ponting attributes this to several factors, including the changing nature of Indian pitches, the rise of fast bowlers in India, and the influence of the Indian Premier League (IPL)."It seems as though the skill of the modern Indian batsmen of playing spin is probably not what it used to be," Ponting said on The ICC Review show. "Maybe because they're playing on different wickets in India that are probably for the fast bowlers a bit more, maybe because there are more high-quality fast bowlers in India now that they're not playing as much spin bowling as they did."Ponting also praised New Zealand for their remarkable achievement, despite the absence of their star batter Kane Williamson. "That's a huge result. One that I wasn't expecting, to be honest, more so, when you look at it with Kane Williamson not being there," he said.While India's talismanic batter Virat Kohli has been struggling for form in Test cricket, Ponting remains confident in his ability to bounce back in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. "There's no doubt, he's a great of the game. He loves playing against Australia. And as I said, his record (in Australia) is very good. If there's a time for him to turn it around, it'd be this series," Ponting said.India needs to win at least four games in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to qualify for the 2025 World Test Championship final. Ponting believes that the series will be a crucial test for India's batting lineup and their ability to handle quality spin bowling.

India's Historic Humiliation: New Zealand's Unprecedented 3-0 WhitewashIndia's cricket team has suffered an unprecedented humiliation at home, as New Zealand became the first team to whitewash them 3-0 in a Test series on Indian soil. The Kiwis' historic victory in the Mumbai Test within three days exposed India's glaring weaknesses in all three departments, particularly in batting.The New Zealand spinners, led by Ajaz Patel and Michael Bracewell, wreaked havoc on Indian pitches, exploiting the hosts' vulnerability to spin. India's batting lineup, led by captain Rohit Sharma, failed to rise to the occasion, consistently falling short of expectations.Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has been a mainstay of the team for over a decade, expressed his devastation over the series loss. "It's a very shattering experience," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. "I didn't know how to react or respond to it for the last 2-3 days."Ashwin also took responsibility for his own lack of contributions with the bat, acknowledging that he could have done more to support the team. "I am a guy who says I am the reason for everything that went wrong," he said. "I am also a big reason and a big part of it (series loss)."The unexpected series loss has put India's chances of reaching the World Test Championship Final in jeopardy. They now need to win four out of five Tests in Australia to qualify for the summit clash without relying on the results of other teams.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia begins on November 22 in Perth, and India will be desperate to bounce back from this humiliating defeat. However, they will face a formidable challenge against a strong Australian team on their home turf.

Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq's recent comments have reignited memories of his infamous altercation with Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli during the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL). The on-field spat between the two players became a major talking point of the tournament.During a match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow, Kohli and Naveen engaged in a heated argument. The incident escalated when Gautam Gambhir, LSG's mentor at the time, intervened and clashed with Kohli.Following the incident, Naveen and Kohli met in Delhi during Afghanistan's ODI World Cup match against India in October 2023. The duo surprised fans by embracing and seemingly resolving their differences. However, the journey between the spat and the reunion was marked by Naveen's frequent digs at Kohli.In a recent interview with ESPNCricinfo, Naveen was asked a witty question: "Never eat a mango again or never take a five-for?" Naveen's amusing response was, "Never eat a mango again." He also expressed his preference to bat with Kohli rather than bowl to him.Naveen's comments come after he was released from LSG's squad ahead of the upcoming IPL season. LSG retained Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, and Ravi Bishnoi, along with uncapped stars Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni.It remains to be seen whether RCB will target Naveen in the upcoming mega auctions. The young Afghan pacer's performances and his history with Kohli could make him an intriguing prospect for the Bangalore-based franchise.

Shah Rukh Khan, the iconic Bollywood superstar and co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has been a constant presence at KKR matches, cheering on his team and inspiring fans. Under his ownership, KKR has experienced both triumphs and setbacks, but Khan's unwavering support has made him a symbol of loyalty for the franchise.Khan's global fame has also drawn a vast international fan base to KKR. Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins, who played for KKR from 2014 to 2022, recently revealed in a podcast that he was initially unaware of Khan's celebrity status."The first time I met Shah Rukh Khan, I had no idea who he was," Cummins admitted. "I had never watched a Bollywood film. But I could sense his aura and the respect he commanded from the other players."Cummins praised Khan's leadership style, describing him as "very funny, very cute, and always encouraging us to enjoy ourselves and play with freedom." He contrasted this with other owners who put pressure on their players.Despite his commitment to KKR, Cummins opted out of the 2023 IPL season to focus on national duties and manage his workload. However, he returned to the IPL in 2024, joining the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for a record-breaking Rs 20.5 crore.Under Cummins' leadership, SRH reached the final of the 2024 IPL, ultimately losing to KKR. Despite the defeat, Cummins' performance and the team's success showcased his value as a player and leader.Shah Rukh Khan's passion for KKR and his unwavering support for his players have made him an integral part of the franchise. His presence has not only inspired the team but has also drawn a global audience to the IPL, further solidifying the league's status as one of the most popular sporting events in the world.

Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi Suffers Thumb Injury, Babar Azam Provides First AidPakistan's star pacer Shaheen Afridi endured a painful blow to his left thumb during the third and final ODI against Australia in Perth on Sunday. The incident occurred in the 26th over when Sean Abbott's shot to deep mid-wicket resulted in a hard, flat throw on the bounce. As Afridi attempted to stop the ball at the non-striker's end, it grazed his thumb, causing visible discomfort.Captain Babar Azam swiftly intervened, pulling Afridi's thumb to alleviate the pain. Commentators initially feared a dislocation, but Azam's prompt action prevented further damage. The physio arrived shortly after, ruling out dislocation and administering magic spray to ease the pain.Despite the discomfort, Afridi resumed bowling, much to the relief of Pakistan fans. His resilience proved crucial as Pakistan's pacers dominated the Australian batting lineup, restricting the hosts to a mere 140 runs. Afridi and Naseem Shah claimed three wickets each, while Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain also contributed to the bowling effort.The injury scare added to the drama of the series-deciding match. Australia had won the series opener by two wickets, but Pakistan responded with a resounding nine-wicket victory in Adelaide to force a decider. The final ODI in Perth was a tense affair, with Pakistan ultimately emerging victorious by 11 runs.Afridi's injury is a concern for Pakistan, who are scheduled to face New Zealand in a two-match Test series starting on December 26. The extent of his injury remains unclear, but his determination to continue bowling despite the pain is a testament to his commitment to the team.

Former South African captain AB de Villiers has expressed his admiration for Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, who has been excelling in his new role as opener in the national T20I set-up. De Villiers revealed that he and Samson have been in touch for a while, and suggested that something has changed in the latter's game.Samson has smashed two centuries in as many games in the format, including a 50-ball 107 with the help of 10 sixes and 7 fours in the series opener against South Africa on Friday. De Villiers believes that Samson has discovered "another gear" in his game."He scored a 100 once at the Chinnaswamy Stadium against RCB, I was on the park and I realized that day, that this guy is something special and he is proving me right," de Villiers said in a video on his YouTube channel. "For those of you who have followed Sanju Samson, I haven't often seen him bat at a strike rate of more than 200, he is generally more conservative, he is usually between 140-160 and both these hundreds he has scored back-to-back have been very very fast and especially this last hundred."De Villiers doesn't feel that the current Indian team management has had any influence in Samson's redemption. Instead, he believes that Samson has reached a point in his career where he can only improve and take his batting to another level."Something has triggered there, something has clicked in his game which is absolutely great to watch," de Villiers said. "The thing about him is that he makes it effortless out there. I don't see much experimentation going out there. Not a lot of creativity in terms of funny shots, doesn't seem that he wants to entertain the crowd and please someone, he just sticks in his little bubble and he just is easy on the eye.""Sanju has upped the gear in his game. I hope the selectors are watching this for all the formats. I want to see this guy play all the formats. I think he is someone who is really really special, someone who can play all the formats, in all conditions around the world. Something has clicked in the Sanju Samson world, whether it's the coaching staff, I doubt it. No disrespect to VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Ryan ten Doeschate and Morne Morkel, whoever is a part of the coaching group. I just feel that this guy has reached the maturity point, he has realized something. It is exciting to all of us Samson fans. I think there is another gear, a sixth gear, I want to see it unfold."

The ongoing standoff between India and Pakistan over the hosting of the Champions Trophy has taken a new turn, with reports emerging that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that it will not send the Indian team to Pakistan for the tournament. Instead, the BCCI has proposed playing its matches in Dubai. However, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has denied receiving any formal communication from the BCCI.As per protocol, the BCCI must obtain clearance from the Indian government before making any decision on the team's travel to Pakistan. Amidst this impasse, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has suggested that other cricket boards may also decline to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.In a YouTube video, Ali stated that the BCCI will officially decline on the 11th of November, and he will observe which other cricket boards follow suit. He attributed this potential reluctance to the significant influence of the Indian Premier League (IPL).Ali praised PCB chief Naqvi for his handling of the situation, noting that the public discourse in both Pakistan and India has subsided, leaving the matter to be resolved through official channels. He emphasized that the decision will ultimately rest with the BCCI, PCB, and ICC.Ali expressed concern that the standoff could have negative consequences for cricket, as it pits the love of the game against financial considerations. He questioned which boards would support Pakistan and which would favor the BCCI due to IPL pressure.In 2023, the PCB adopted a hybrid model for the Asia Cup, with India playing all their matches in Sri Lanka. Pakistan also agreed to play India in Ahmedabad during the ODI World Cup. If the BCCI maintains its stance, the PCB may escalate the matter to the ICC, where BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who will assume the role of ICC chairman on December 1, will have to make a decision.Sources indicate that the BCCI wants a resolution before Shah takes charge as ICC chairman. If the PCB agrees to the hybrid model, it remains to be seen which venue the ICC will designate for the final.The PCB had reportedly proposed that the Indian team establish a base in Chandigarh and travel to Lahore only on match days. However, this idea has been deemed logistically impractical.

Sanju Samson's scintillating century propelled India to a resounding 61-run victory in the series opener against South Africa in Durban. However, the lack of contributions from other key batters remains a concern heading into the second game in Gqeberha.Samson's 107-run knock from 50 balls, studded with seven fours and 10 sixes, powered India to a formidable 211/4. The Proteas, missing several key players, struggled to keep up with the pace and were restricted to 150/9.Despite the emphatic win, India's batting lineup has raised questions. Apart from Samson, only Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (29) made significant contributions. The likes of Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, and Tilak Varma failed to make an impact.The weather forecast for the second T20I in Gqeberha is not promising. Rain is expected to arrive after the start of the match, around 6 PM local time (9:30 PM IST). The forecast predicts high chances of afternoon and evening showers, which could lead to interruptions and delays.Even if the overs are reduced, there is a high possibility that rain might return later in the day, which could eventually lead to the match being washed out. The temperature will fluctuate between 15 to 21 degree celsius throughout the day.For South Africa, the loss was a hard blow, marking their second consecutive defeat to India after their loss in the T20 World Cup final in June. With key players such as Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Tabraiz Shamsi all missing from the squad, the Proteas are already struggling without some of their most experienced campaigners.The absence of these senior players will make the second T20I an uphill battle for South Africa, particularly with their recent form. Having lost 0-3 to the West Indies and drawn a series against Ireland, the Proteas will need improved performances from their senior players, including captain Aiden Markram, David Miller, and Heinrich Klaasen.