Cricket

India's upcoming T20I match against South Africa in Gqeberha has sparked speculation about potential changes to the playing XI. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra suggests that leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi may be dropped in favor of a two-spinner strategy.Chopra believes that Axar Patel's all-round abilities and Varun Chakaravarthy's recent performances make them indispensable. Chakaravarthy's ability to take key wickets, as evidenced in the first match, gives him an edge over Bishnoi.If India opts for two spinners, Chopra predicts that Chakaravarthy and Patel will be the chosen duo. However, the Gqeberha surface may favor a seam-bowling option, potentially opening the door for all-rounder Ramandeep Singh to make his debut.India's squad for the match includes:* Suryakumar Yadav (c)* Abhishek Sharma* Sanju Samson (wk)* Rinku Singh* Tilak Varma* Jitesh Sharma (wk)* Hardik Pandya* Axar Patel* Ramandeep Singh* Varun Chakravarthy* Ravi Bishnoi* Arshdeep Singh* Vijaykumar Vyshak* Avesh Khan* Yash Dayal

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed concern over the poor performance of Abhimanyu Easwaran and KL Rahul during the second match between India A and Australia A. He believes that their struggles highlight the challenges Indian batters face when playing in Australian conditions for the first time.Manjrekar noted that the dismissals of India A batters were typical of Indian batters playing in Australia for the first time. He attributed this to their instinctive playing style, which is not suited to the extra bounce and pace of Australian pitches."The dismissal that you saw of most Indian batters was typical of an Indian batter going to Australia and a pitch that has some juice in it where instinctively they are playing in a certain manner and are surprised by the the extra bounce and that happened to all of us," Manjrekar said.He advised Indian batters to adapt to Australian conditions and get rid of their "Indian instincts.""We went to Australia and that is why we needed time to get used to the bounce and instinctively sort of play a little higher than you would. So you have to get rid of the Indian instincts," he said.Manjrekar's comments come as India prepares for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting with the Perth Test on November 22. KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran are the frontrunners to open the batting for India, but their recent performances have raised doubts about their readiness.Easwaran has failed to reach the 20-run mark in all four innings he has played in Australia, while Rahul has scored just 4 and 10 in the second match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.Manjrekar's analysis suggests that both players may need more time to adjust to Australian conditions before they are ready to play in the Test series.

Former Australian Test captain Tim Paine has expressed his belief that Usman Khawaja can extend his international career for at least another two years, despite the left-handed batter turning 38 in December. Paine, who has witnessed Khawaja's recent resurgence firsthand, believes that the veteran opener's current form is a testament to his enduring quality.Since switching to the opening position at the conclusion of the 2021/22 Ashes series, Khawaja has been a revelation for Australia. He has averaged an impressive 54.04 as an opener, showcasing remarkable consistency and resilience. Paine, speaking on SEN Tassie, dismissed speculation surrounding Khawaja's retirement, stating that the left-hander has been "nearly the best player in the world" in recent times.Paine emphasized that age should not be a determining factor in assessing a player's ability, particularly in cricket, where experience often plays a crucial role. He pointed out that Khawaja's reflexes and eyesight remain sharp, and his batting technique is as polished as ever."With his age in cricket, in particular as a batter, is just a number," Paine said. "He doesn't look like he's lost reflex, his eyes are good and he's batting as well as he's ever batted. From what I'm seeing right now, I think Usman can play for another year or two at least."Khawaja's recent performances have silenced critics who questioned his longevity. He has been a key figure in Australia's batting lineup, providing stability and experience at the top of the order. His ability to adapt to the challenges of opening the batting has been particularly impressive, and he has shown no signs of slowing down.As Australia prepares for a busy international schedule in the coming months, Khawaja's experience and form will be invaluable. Paine's endorsement of his former teammate's longevity is a testament to the quality and determination that Khawaja continues to display.

Arshdeep Singh, India's star pacer, is on the cusp of etching his name in the record books as he stands just five wickets away from surpassing Bhuvneshwar Kumar's record for most wickets by an Indian bowler in T20Is during a single calendar year. With 33 wickets in 21 T20Is this year, Arshdeep has an average of 18.12 and best bowling figures of 4/37.Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the previous record holder, had taken 37 wickets in 32 matches at an average of 19.56, with best figures of 5/4 in 2022. Arshdeep will have the opportunity to break this record when India faces South Africa in the second T20I of the four-match series at Gqeberha on Sunday.In the first T20I, India emerged victorious by 61 runs, with Arshdeep playing a pivotal role. He bowled a spell of 1/25 in three overs, claiming the wicket of South African skipper Aiden Markram.The highest wickets taken by any bowler in T20Is during a calendar year belongs to Uganda's Alpesh Ramjani, who took 55 wickets in 30 matches at an average of 11.29 and best figures of 4/9 last year.

Amidst Abhishek Sharma's inconsistent start to his T20I career, former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Robin Uthappa has advocated for the team management to grant the young opener a free role. Despite scoring a century in just his second T20I match, Abhishek's recent performances have raised concerns. In nine T20I innings, he has managed only 166 runs at an underwhelming average of 20.75.Uthappa believes that the team should emulate the approach taken with Virender Sehwag in the early 2000s, where he was given the freedom to express himself. "I won't look for too much consistency with someone like him. I would like to leave him as free as possible, like a Virender Sehwag perhaps in the early 2000s, where people were like 'just go and enjoy yourself'," Uthappa told Jio Cinema.Uthappa emphasized that he is not overly concerned about Abhishek's consistency, as the team has assigned him a specific role of attacking the bowlers from the outset. "Because if it comes, it's a match-winning hundred or 80, if he gets a quick start, he is still serving the purpose towards the team. So the role is defined. I wouldn't worry too much about consistency when it comes to Abhishek," he added.Abhishek's breakthrough season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this year caught the attention of the selectors. He scored 484 runs in 16 matches at an average of 32.26, helping SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) reach the final.Meanwhile, Sanju Samson's second consecutive T20I century powered India to a 61-run victory in the first of four matches against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday. Opening batter Samson struck 10 sixes and seven fours in a spectacular innings of 107 off 50 balls, contributing to India's total of 202-8.Leg-spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi combined to take six wickets as South Africa crumbled to 141 all out.

Sanju Samson's blistering century in the first T20I against South Africa has propelled him into the record books as the seventh-fastest Indian batter to reach 7,000 T20 runs. The wicketkeeper-batter's 107 off 50 balls in Durban not only gave India a 1-0 lead in the series but also marked a significant milestone in his career.Samson's achievement is even more impressive considering he reached the landmark in just 269 innings, equaling Robin Uthappa's record. He surpassed former India captain MS Dhoni, who took 305 innings to reach the same milestone. KL Rahul remains the fastest Indian to reach 7,000 T20 runs, having done so in just 191 innings.Samson's century was a display of his exceptional batting prowess. He smashed seven fours and 10 sixes at a strike rate of 214.00, leaving the Proteas bowlers helpless. Speaking after the match, Samson attributed his success to adjustments made before the tour."There's been some adjustment," Samson said. "With experience in India A tours and traveling with the Indian team, I understand South African conditions. I practice on different pitches with various balls to replicate conditions and scenarios. It gives me an advantage."Samson's preparation paid off as he looked comfortable from the outset. He played with confidence and aggression, taking the South African bowlers to task. His innings was a testament to his hard work and dedication.India will now look to build on their series lead in the second T20I in Gqeberha on Sunday. Samson will be a key player for the visitors as they aim to secure another victory and take a commanding position in the series.

Lizelle Lee's record-breaking innings propelled the Hobart Hurricanes to a resounding 72-run victory over the Perth Scorchers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL).Lee, the South African opener, smashed an astonishing 150 runs off just 75 deliveries, setting a new WBBL record for the highest individual score. Her innings included a blistering 51-ball century and a world record 12 sixes, eclipsing the previous marks set by Grace Harris.Lee's dominance was evident from the outset as she single-handedly contributed 73% of the Hurricanes' total of 203 for 3. Her innings featured a 114-run partnership with Elyse Villani and an unbroken 73-run stand with Heather Graham.The Scorchers' bowlers struggled to contain Lee's onslaught, with Chloe Ainsworth's 2 for 17 being the only bright spot. Ebony Hoskin, who had been the hero for the Scorchers in their previous match, conceded 53 runs from four overs without taking a wicket.The Scorchers' chase got off to a disastrous start as they lost Sophie Devine for a golden duck and Chloe Piparo run out in the opening over. Despite a valiant effort from Ainsworth (41), the Scorchers were bowled out for 131, falling well short of the target.Lee's record-breaking performance not only secured a crucial victory for the Hurricanes but also highlighted her status as one of the most destructive batters in the world. Her innings will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest in WBBL history.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has canceled a significant event connected to the upcoming Champions Trophy, originally set to take place on November 11 in Lahore. The cancellation stems from ongoing disagreements over the tournament's schedule, particularly regarding India's participation.The ICC had intended to use the November 11 event to kick-off the tournament, marking 100 days until the championship began. However, these plans have been put on hold due to uncertainty surrounding India's willingness to travel to Pakistan.Sources indicate that scheduling conflicts, exacerbated by India's reluctance to play in Pakistan, are the primary reasons for the cancellation. There are also suggestions that the ICC might cite Lahore's severe smog as a contributing factor.The Champions Trophy was initially planned to be held across multiple cities in Pakistan, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. However, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informing the ICC that it hasn't received government approval to send its team to Pakistan, a hybrid model for the tournament is looking increasingly likely. This arrangement would involve moving some matches, especially those featuring India, to the UAE.Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman, has expressed his frustration over the lack of official communication regarding India's participation. He has stated that the PCB is ready to discuss a hybrid model but has not received any formal communication from the BCCI.India's original schedule had them facing Bangladesh on February 20, New Zealand on February 23, and Pakistan on March 1, all in Lahore. Adjustments to the tournament venues, if not the dates, seem unavoidable.The ICC is still in discussions with Pakistan, the host nation, and other participating countries on the Champions Trophy schedule. Once confirmed, the ICC will announce the schedule through its normal channels.

Amidst India's batting struggles, two wicketkeeper-batsmen, Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel, have emerged as beacons of hope. Samson's blistering 107 in the T20I opener against South Africa and Jurel's twin half-centuries in the India A match against Australia A have showcased their exceptional talent.Both players share a common bond with Rajasthan Royals, where Samson serves as captain and Jurel was retained for a hefty sum. Their success can be attributed to the extensive training they receive at the Royals' training center in Talegaon under the guidance of high-performance director Zubin Bharucha.Bharucha emphasizes the importance of high variability in their training regimen. "We try to cover high variability in our preparation," he says. This approach has prepared Jurel for the challenging conditions at the MCG, where he thrived despite the thick grass cover.The Royals also played a crucial role in preparing Samson for the bouncy pitches in South Africa. Bharucha reveals that they had a two-day session with Samson in Dubai, where the pitches are more similar to those in South Africa.Bharucha praises the Royals' commitment to player development, highlighting their investment in Samson's preparation for the South Africa tour. "They flew the bowlers and me from India to Dubai for Samson's practice sessions," he says.The Royals' philosophy is to transform the space between success and failure into a freedom of opportunity for their players. By providing an environment based on high variability and meticulous preparation, they aim to empower their players to overcome challenges and reach their full potential.