Cricket

India A's Appeal Denied in Controversial Catch DecisionIndia A's hopes of leveling the unofficial Test series against Australia A were dealt a blow on the second day of the second match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A contentious catch decision involving Australia A opener Marcus Harris left the Indian players and fans in disbelief.During the 22nd over of Australia A's innings, spinner Tanush Kotian delivered a delivery that drifted into Harris before spinning away. The ball appeared to clip the edge of Harris' bat and flew to the fielder at first slip, who claimed the catch cleanly.However, to the astonishment of the India A players, on-field umpire Mike Graham-Smith ruled Harris not out. The Indian players, including Kotian, were adamant that Harris had edged the ball, but their appeals were met with indifference.Harris, who was batting on 48 at the time, survived the appeal and went on to complete his half-century before being caught behind off Prasidh Krishna on 74. The incident sparked a heated exchange between the India A players and the umpire, with the Indians gesticulating and expressing their frustration.Harris, on the other hand, indicated that the sound had come from his bat clipping his pad. The commentators on air also expressed their disbelief, stating that it appeared to be a clear edge.The controversial decision has cast a shadow over the second unofficial Test, which is seen as an audition for players from both teams to earn a spot in the senior sides for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The first unofficial Test was won by Australia A by seven wickets, giving them a 1-0 lead in the series.The second match began on Thursday with Australia A opting to bowl and dismissing India A for 161. In reply, the hosts took a 62-run lead after being bowled out for 223. The match is set to resume on Saturday, with India A needing to find a way to break through Australia A's batting lineup and level the series.

Virat Kohli, India's star batter and former captain, recently shared an amusing anecdote from his early days in the Indian cricket team, involving his first encounter with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.The story, now viral in a video, took place in 2008, when Kohli was part of the Indian team that played against England in a series just before the tragic 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Kohli had previously played for India, but this was the first time he had the opportunity to meet and play alongside Tendulkar, who had missed the earlier tour of Sri Lanka.Kohli revealed that some of his teammates had planned a prank on him, although Tendulkar was not part of it. "He [Tendulkar] was not involved. We were playing against England in India before the Taj incident [Mumbai attack] in 2008. I have played for India before but Sachin paaji was not there in Sri Lanka. He had taken a rest, and I got an opportunity to be a member of the squad. And the only thing I was looking forward to in the next series was to play with him," Kohli said with a smile."So, the first time I met him and this happened, main toh pairon me gir gaya, maine kaha karna padta hoga. Toh woh piche hat rahe,'yeh kya kar raha he tu?'. Main unko bhi nahi bol pa raha hoon ki paaji bola gaya hai karna padta hai yahaan pe. Main kar raha hoon."Kohli went on to reveal the masterminds behind the prank, pointing out that Irfan Pathan and Munaf Patel were the key culprits, with Munaf enthusiastically encouraging him from the background. "Then he gave all these guys a little bit..I think Irfan bhai was there...ofcourse Munaf Patel. He [Munaf] used to be the one cheering from behind ki karo karo with his unique voice. So, unhone sabne mereko fasaya," Kohli laughed, reminiscing about the moment.The light-hearted prank was a memorable introduction for Kohli to the dressing room dynamics of the Indian cricket team.

Virat Kohli, the legendary Indian cricketer, celebrated his 36th birthday on Tuesday with a low-key celebration at home with his family. In a recent conversation with host Gaurav Kapoor during a promotional event in Mumbai, Kohli shared details of his intimate birthday celebration."This was probably the most chilled-out birthday I've had through all these years," Kohli said. "It was just Anushka (Sharma) and our two kids at home. It was very relaxed."Despite turning a year older, Kohli joked that he didn't feel any wiser. "I don't know about being wiser, but I'm older for sure," he quipped.Kohli's birthday celebration was primarily focused on his daughter, Vamika. "The birthday was basically for my daughter. Happens so when you have kids," he added.The Indian cricket team captain is now preparing to join the squad for their upcoming five-match Test series against Australia, which begins on November 22nd in Perth. Kohli has an impressive record in Australia, averaging 54.08 with 1352 runs from 13 matches, including six centuries and four half-centuries.However, Kohli's recent form has been a cause for concern. He faced criticism after a disappointing series against New Zealand, where he managed only 93 runs. With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the horizon, Kohli will be expected to rediscover his aggressive side and inspire India to bounce back from their whitewash against New Zealand.

Mumbai Indians (MI), the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, face a crucial challenge in the upcoming mega auction with a limited budget of Rs 45 crore. Despite retaining their core Indian stars, MI must fill their squad strategically.Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra predicts that MI will target an Indian spinner, particularly Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal, the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, was surprisingly released by Rajasthan Royals. His consistent performance, with 18 or more wickets in the last six IPL seasons, makes him a valuable asset.Another potential target for MI is Washington Sundar, who was released by Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sundar's impressive performances in T20Is and Test cricket for Team India could fetch him a high price in the auction.Chopra also suggests that MI may bid for Ishan Kishan, but his high price tag may be prohibitive. Instead, he recommends alternatives such as Quinton de Kock, Jitesh Sharma, or Phil Salt for the wicket-keeper batter role.MI's strategy will likely involve building an Indian batting lineup and an overseas bowling lineup, with a couple of Indian spinners. The IPL mega auction will be held in Jeddah on November 24 and 25, and MI's ability to fill their squad effectively with their limited budget will be crucial to their success in IPL 2025.

Rohit Sharma's captaincy has come under scrutiny following India's 3-0 Test series defeat to New Zealand. The loss has raised questions about his tactical acumen, particularly in the face of pressure to perform in the upcoming series against Australia.New Zealand star Will Young has shed light on how he successfully countered Rohit's tactics during the recent Test series. Young revealed that he and his teammates had learned to master their skills on spin-friendly surfaces during their 2021 tour of India.In the 2023 series, Rohit and Ravindra Jadeja attempted to put pressure on Young by blocking the mid-off region. However, Young devised a counter-strategy, targeting full deliveries and hitting them over the top straight."I just felt that if the ball was full enough, I could try to reach it and smother the spin and get it over the top straight," Young explained. "And I had a chat to Daryl Mitchell about it in between overs and he said, 'Yeah, mate, just back yourself.'"Young's success in countering Rohit's tactics forced the Indian captain to change his strategy. The New Zealand batter's adaptability and ability to exploit the opposition's weaknesses highlight the importance of tactical flexibility in modern cricket.As India prepares for the Australia series, Rohit will need to find ways to improve his team's performance and silence the critics. The upcoming tour will be a crucial test of his leadership and tactical acumen.

Former Australian Test captain Tim Paine has been appointed head coach of the Prime Minister's XI for their two-day pink-ball warm-up match against India A, ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Paine will be joined by assistant coaches Erin Osborne and Justin McNally.The match will take place from November 30 to December 1 in Canberra, providing India with crucial preparation for the second Test in Adelaide, which will be a day-night encounter. The warm-up fixture is part of India's larger effort to acclimatize to Australian conditions, as they aim to bounce back from a disappointing 0-3 home series defeat against New Zealand.India need a strong performance in the five-match series to stay in contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. India's main squad is set to arrive in Australia in two batches on November 10 and 11, while the India A team, featuring several Test squad members, is already playing unofficial matches against Australia A to adjust to local conditions.The pink-ball Test in Adelaide, scheduled as the second match of the Border-Gavaskar series, will be a key challenge for India, and this warm-up game against Paine's team will be vital preparation. India A's two-day match will provide their batters and bowlers valuable experience under lights, ahead of what is expected to be a tough Test series.The first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins on November 22 in Perth, and India will need to win the series to keep their hopes alive for a place in the WTC final, making this tour one of their most important in recent years.

Virat Kohli Lauds Glenn Maxwell's Historic Double Century in 2023 Cricket World CupIn the foreword of Glenn Maxwell's autobiography, "The Showman," Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli has heaped praise on the Australian all-rounder for his remarkable double century against Afghanistan in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.Chasing a daunting target of 292 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Australia found themselves in dire straits at 91 for 7. However, Maxwell's heroic 201 not out turned the tide and secured an improbable victory for the Aussies.Kohli, who witnessed the extraordinary innings firsthand, described it as "compelling drama." He marveled at Maxwell's ability to hit sixes on one leg despite battling cramps. "Going down time and again with cramp, limping for singles - it was compelling drama and so Maxi," Kohli wrote.The Indian captain also acknowledged Maxwell's unique talent and his ability to single-handedly change the course of a match. "In my view, he is the only player in the world capable of doing what he did," Kohli stated.Maxwell's double century not only sealed Australia's victory but also capped an unparalleled knock. "Concluding with such a milestone was perfect, capping an unparalleled knock," Kohli wrote.Kohli also shared an anecdote from the World Cup final, where Maxwell's competitive spirit and camaraderie were on full display. "Twelve days later, in the final, when Maxi threw the ball back in, I instinctively stuck up a hand and blocked it," Kohli recalled. "Earlier in our careers, with so much on the line, you can guarantee there would have been an altercation. But now? We pretended to fight for a second before starting to laugh."Kohli's praise for Maxwell is a testament to the Australian's exceptional talent and his ability to inspire and entertain cricket fans worldwide.

Ahead of the highly anticipated five-match Test series between India and Australia, Pakistan's interim head coach Jason Gillespie has drawn comparisons between star pacers Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah. Gillespie, a former Australia pacer, emphasized the similarities in their relentless approach and ability to create wickets when others struggle.Gillespie highlighted the relentless nature of Cummins and Bumrah, who consistently attack batters with challenging lines and lengths. He praised their ability to ask questions of batsmen's technique and force them into making mistakes."Their major strength is they are pretty relentless in attacking the batters," Gillespie said. "They have a good pace, bowl challenging lines and lengths. They are always asking questions about batsmen's technique. They are always making sure that the batsman has to make good decisions or they will get themselves out."Gillespie also acknowledged the unique ability of Cummins and Bumrah to produce unplayable deliveries, whether through late swing, extra pace, or unpredictable movement off the surface. He described their knack for creating wickets out of seemingly nothing as a rare and valuable asset."They just have a knack for creating a wicket when there doesn't seem to be a wicket," Gillespie said. "They just create opportunities seemingly out of nowhere."With India missing the services of injured pacer Mohammed Shami, Gillespie believes Bumrah holds the key for the visitors. He praised Bumrah's importance in the current Indian Test set-up and highlighted his ability to lead the bowling attack."Mohammed Siraj is a nice bowler, he bowled some pretty good spells the last time he was here," Gillespie said. "But I still think the key bowler for India is Bumrah."Gillespie also commented on the venue for the series opener in Perth, describing it as a fast and bouncy track that will challenge batters early on but play well as the match progresses.

Prithvi Shaw, the prodigious Indian opener, has faced a series of setbacks in recent times, including being dropped from the Mumbai Ranji Trophy squad due to fitness and conduct issues. However, former Australia captain and India coach Greg Chappell has extended his support to Shaw, urging him to embark on a journey of self-reflection and prioritize processes over results.Chappell, who witnessed Shaw's exceptional talent as India's Under-19 captain in 2018, believes that the 24-year-old is still in his prime and has the potential to overcome these challenges. He emphasized the importance of shifting from a result-oriented mindset to a process-oriented one, focusing on improving technique and consistency rather than chasing immediate success.Shaw's recent struggles include a disappointing IPL 2024 campaign with Delhi Capitals, where he managed only 198 runs in eight games. He has also been plagued by injuries and disciplinary issues, which have hindered his progress. However, Chappell believes that these setbacks can serve as turning points in Shaw's career, helping him to develop resilience and a stronger work ethic.Chappell advised Shaw to surround himself with positive influences, take care of his physical and mental well-being, and visualize the player he aspires to become. He emphasized that the door back to the Indian team remains open, but it requires a commitment to growth and change.Shaw's journey has been marked by both brilliance and adversity. He burst onto the international scene with a century on debut against the West Indies in 2018, but has since struggled to maintain consistency. Chappell's guidance and support could prove invaluable as Shaw navigates the challenges ahead and strives to fulfill his immense potential.