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Live updates from India T20 World Cup squad press conference: Arriving now is Ajit Agarkar; press conference to start shortly.

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selection of the India T20 World Cup squad press conference LIVE News: Ajit Agarkar, the head selector for India, has arrived at the BCCI office in Mumbai in advance of Thursday’s press conference regarding the squad for the T20 World Cup.

India T20 World Cup squad press conference Live Updates: India chief selector Ajit Agarkar has arrived at BCCI’s office in Mumbai ahead of the T20 World Cup squad press conference on Thursday. Agarkar will be shortly joined by India captain Rohit Sharma, with both set to shed light on the squad selection that the BCCI announced on Tuesday. Hardik Pandya’s selection and appointment as vice-captain is one major topic Rohit and Agarkar will have to reflect on. The selectors picked a 15-member roster for the T20 World Cup 2024. Along with the 15-player list, the BCCI also named a reserve list consisting of 4 players.

India T20 World Squad Selection Press Conference:

BCCI Press Conference Live: Rohit is here! Rohit Sharma has also arrived at BCCI’s office. This means we are only a few minutes away from the start of the presser. Stay tuned for all the updates

Meet Comedian Shyam Rangeela, who mimics PM Modi, to contest against PM from Varanasi.

BCCI Press Conference Live: Calm before the storm! We are moments away from the start of the press conference. BCCI running slightly behind schedule.

BCCI Press Conference Live: MSK Prasad backs Rinku! Former chief selector MSK Prasad feels there is no better finisher than Rinku Singh after the latter’s omission from the T20 squad.

BCCI Press Conference Live: Agarkar is here! Ajit Agarkar just got out of his car and is on his way to the press room. We still await any update on Rohit’s arrival

BCCI Press Conference Live: Focus on Jaiswal! Yashasvi Jaiswal started the season on a forgetful note. But his century against Mumbai Indians saw him pip Shubman Gill for the opener’s slot. Rohit and Agarkar might have a few questions about him!

Bad weather returns to UAE, and several flights canceled amid heavy rains, and thunderstorms.

BCCI Press Conference Live: Will Virat Kohli open?

Despite criticism over his strike rate, Virat Kohli is sitting at the top of the Orange Cap list with 500 runs in 10 matches. While there have also been talks over him opening the innings for India, most of the experts have backed Jaiswal to open with Rohit. 

Will Rohit break his silence on the opening combination?

BCCI Press Conference LIVE: Canada announces squad for WC! Saad Bin Zafar, a player of Pakistani origin, is set to lead Canada in their maiden T20 World Cup campaign. 

Canada T20 World Cup Squad: Saad Bin Zafar (C), Aaron Johnson, Dillon Heyliger, Dilpreet Bajwa, Harsh Thaker, Jeremy Gordon, Junaid Siddiqui, Kaleem Sana, Kanwarpal Tathgur (wk), Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Pargat Singh, Ravinderpal Singh, Rayyankhan Pathan, Shreyas Movva (wk).

Reserves: Tajinder Singh, Aaditya Varadharajan, Ammar Khalid, Jatinder Matharu, Parveen Kumar

BCCI Press Conference LIVE: We have a slight delay! The press conference has been delayed by 15 minutes and will begin at 4:15 PM. We await Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar’s arrival.

IPL 2024 CSK vs PBKS Points table: Punjab Kings climb to seventh, Chennai Super Kings remain in fourth position.

BCCI Press Conference LIVE: Rishabh Pant opens up on his road to recovery!

India T20 WC Squad LIVE Updates: Balaji’s take on the team!

India T20 WC Squad LIVE Updates: Can Sanju take RR to playoffs? Sanju Samson is a man on a mission. Can he justify his selection with a top performance vs SRH today?

India T20 WC Squad LIVE Updates: Presser to start shortly! We are less than an hour away from the start of the presser with Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar. Plenty of doubts in the minds of the fans and experts. Will Rohit and Agarkar answer them all? Stay tuned in to find out!

  • India T20 WC Squad LIVE Updates: Pathan backs “captain” Rohit!

Irfan Pathan feels Rohit Sharma is currently the best individual to lead the team into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

“As far as captaincy is concerned, he is the best leader you have. We always talk about the players, but leadership is a different thing. We saw what happened in this IPL with quite a few captains; it’s not easy. Captaining a side in cricket still holds great value and this is why we always talk highly about Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He has been rated highly by the entire world for the reason that it’s such a tough job, and he made it very simple. And after Mahendra Singh Dhoni, when test matches came, Virat was your best captain ever, the way he took the team in front. So the leadership was there for the world to see how he was making an impact in test cricket. But when it comes to recent white ball cricket, you can’t look beyond Rohit Sharma. He is your best leader, even with the bench strength considered. In the future, they will be keeping an eye on Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah as far as captaincy is concerned. Now we have Hardik Pandya as the Vice Captain, Rishabh Pant is also there in your leadership role group if he gets going because he was there in the leadership role before he got injured. So there are three or four ready guys, but Rohit is the number one.”

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India T20 WC Squad LIVE Updates: Sangakkara backs selectors! Amid criticism over the squad selection, former Sri Lanka captain and Rajasthan Royals Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara feels India’s squad is strong and balanced.

“It’s an extremely strong squad. They’ve got their batting covered, they’ve got their all-rounders in. They’ve got very high-quality spin and they’ve got very good combinations that they can play. Knowing the conditions there, I’m sure Rahul (Dravid) and Rohit (Sharma) have a good idea of what the squad should be to play the cricket they want in the World Cup. And they’ll be having two or three different combinations, depending on whether they want a deeper batting line-up or more strength in their bowling. But it’s a well-balanced squad, a very strong squad, and India’s always been very strong in international tournaments,” Sangakarra said ahead of the SRH vs RR IPL 2024 match.

BCCI Press Conference LIVE updates: Hello! Hello and welcome to our live blog of BCCI’s T20 World Cup 2024 press conference.

Happy Birthday, Rohit Sharma: A look at the Indian captain glittering career as ‘Hitman’ turns 37.

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Rohit Sharma, who is regarded as one of the greatest of his time, is still an outstanding batsman for India, especially when playing white-ball cricket.

Today marks Rohit Sharma’s 37th birthday in the cricket world. As a smart captain and a prolific batter, Rohit’s name connotes class, strength, and leadership. Rohit, who is largely seen as one of the best of his generation, really shows off his skills in white-ball cricket. He has unparalleled composure under duress and displays amazing strokeplay that is elegant, measured, and explosive. Whether he is leading from the front or using the willow, he never fails to captivate the crowd.

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His go-to shot is the vicious pull shot, especially in powerplay situations. However, Rohit’s real strength is his capacity to adapt. In Test matches, he effortlessly switches into a patient accumulator, proving that he is a true all-format great. Let’s take a closer look at Rohit’s incredible journey as he approaches his birthday.

UCL 2024: To begin the German great summer of football, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will compete for glory in the UEFA Champions League.

Rohit remarkable career commenced with his 2007 international debut. That same year, he made his first notable impression at the ICC T20 World Cup. His debut on the big stage was signaled by an undefeated thirty off just sixteen balls in the final against arch-rivals Pakistan after he had earlier scored fifty against South Africa. This young artist with the cutest face had so much potential.

Rohit was mainly featured in the middle-order over the next six years. But the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013 turned out to be a game-changer. Alongside Shikhar Dhawan at the top of the order, he scored 177 runs at an average of 35.40 during India’s winning campaign, including two significant fifties. This change gave his batting a new dimension.

When will India announce T20 World Cup 2024 squad? The suspense intensifies as BCCI takes time to reveal the Final 15

The role of an opener unleashed Rohit’s true potential. In ODIs, he has amassed a staggering 10,709 runs in 262 matches at a phenomenal average of 49.12. His record-breaking 264 against Sri Lanka stands tall as the highest individual score in ODI history. He has notched up a staggering 31 centuries and 55 fifties, solidifying his place among the batting elite. Remarkably, he sits as the 15th-highest run-scorer in ODIs overall and the sixth-highest amongst Indians, only behind legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.

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Rohit’s brilliance extends beyond limited-overs cricket. Despite a slow start, he established himself as a dependable opener in Test matches as well, scoring 4137 runs at an average of 45.46 in 59 matches. His technique and temperament at the crease have been instrumental in India’s success in the longer format.

The IPL and India behemoth

Rohit’s leadership qualities have shone brightly in the T20 arena. He holds the record for winning the most IPL titles (6), leading the Mumbai Indians to an unprecedented five championships, and clinching one with the now-defunct Deccan Chargers. With 6522 runs, he’s also the fourth-highest run-scorer in IPL history, a reflection of consistency across formats. Fans fondly call him the ‘Hitman,’ a testament to his ability to single-handedly dismantle bowling attacks.

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The 2023 ODI World Cup witnessed another masterclass from Rohit. He finished as the second-highest run-scorer with a phenomenal 597 runs, proving his dominance on the biggest stage. Currently, Rohit is playing for Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024 and even though he is no longer the captain, the veteran continues to don the leadership hat at MI, inspiring his teammates with his experience and skill.

Rohit’s cricketing journey is far from over. As he celebrates another year, his legacy as a batting great and inspiring captain is already firmly cemented. His ability to adapt, dominate, and lead makes him a true legend of the game. The cricketing world eagerly awaits his next chapter, filled with the promise of more records, more moments of sheer brilliance, and most importantly – more trophies, starting with the T20 World Cup as Rohit gets ready to lead India in his third ICC tournament, really hoping to end the 11-year-long jinx.

IPL 2024, MI vs CSK: Chennai Super Kings Halt Mumbai Indians’ Winning Streak at Home

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Chennai Super Kings defeated the Mumbai Indians by 20 runs at home, ending the team’s winning streak. Prior to this, CSK had only triumphed at home in the IPL2024; this was their first away victory.

IPL 2024: Highlights of the Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kings match

This match will be remembered for many things, but if there is one thing that stands out, it is MS Dhoni’s three straight sixes in the final over. Throughout the innings, the audience did not stop screaming Dhoni’s name, calling for the former Indian captain to take the field and bat. With four balls remaining in the inning, MS finally decided to end it, doing what he does best: finishing.

With each passing game, the Mumbai Indians’ chances of making the playoffs are getting smaller, therefore this loss would be quite hurtful. Mumbai will now take a lengthy break from playing at home as they will once more be traveling, beginning with Mohali, until the first week of May.

Ajinkya Rahane and Rachin Ravindra opened for CSK as an experiment to start their batting innings.

Coetzee removed Ajinkya Rahane in the match’s second over, underlining the failure of the experiment. When Rahane attempted to clear the mid-on, he was unable to connect the ball well and gave the opposition captain, Hardik Pandya, an easy catch.

In Coetzee’s second over, Gaikwad hit two fours and one six to hammer home 14 runs and turn the tide in his team’s favor.

CSK was 48/1 at the conclusion of the powerplay, with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad batting at 29 and Rachin Ravindra at 12.

Skipper Hardik Pandya took the ball in hand for the 10th over and started the over with a four. Hardik conceded 15 runs in his first over which included three boundaries by Shivam Dube.

At the end of the 10 over mark, CSK were 80/2 with Shivam Dube on 15 off 10 balls and Ruturaj Gaikwad on 36 off 26 balls. Gaikwad was dropped by Rohit on 39.

It was a tough chance, Rohit had to run to his right and dive to take a low catch. He did everything right but couldn’t hold onto the ball. Skipper Gaikwad completed his half-century in 33 balls with a six in the 13th over. This was his second consecutive half-century of the season.

Romario Shepherd conceded 22 runs in his second over with 2 sixes and 2 fours, and each of them was followed by the chants of ‘CSK..CSK’. At the end of 15 overs, CSK were 149/2 with Gaikwad on 69 and Dube on 49.

In the sixteenth over, Shivam Dube hit a single to Pandya to reach his fifty in twenty-eight balls. The very next ball, Nabi made a high catch running in from the long-on boundary after Gaikwad attempted to clear the straight boundary but mistimed it.

All the spectators in the stadium had come to see the final over of that particular innings. With four balls left, MS Dhoni came out and hit Hardik Pandya with three straight sixes.

Follow all the action during IPL 2024, including the leading candidates for the Orange and Purple Caps. View the IPL 2024 Schedule in its entirety, as well as the players who have the most sixes, fours, and fifty-six runs in the IPL.

MI was 63/0 after six overs, with Rohit Sharma at 42(25) and Ishan Kishan at 21(11).

In his opening over, Matheesa Pathirana entered the game and gave CSK a breakthrough. Ishan attempted to flick one towards mid-wicket, but was unable to keep it grounded, and Shardul Thakur caught it squarely at short mid-wicket.

In the same over, Pathirana struck once more, and this time it was a significant scalp. Suryakumar Yadav attempted to score a six with an uppercut over the third man, but Mustafizur made an outstanding catch on the boundary.

Rohit Sharma blasted a boundary to Ravindra Jadeja to reach his half-century in 30 balls.

MI was 90/2 after ten overs, with Rohit Sharma batting at 55(36).

Read Also: IPL 2024 RCB vs. MI: Watch how social media responds after Glenn Maxwell is out for the third time this season.

“T20 World Cup mein select hona hai isko”: Rohit Sharma was overheard making fun of Dinesh Karthik as MI was playing RCB.`

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When Jasprit Bumrah was tearing apart the Royal Challengers Bengaluru middle-order, Dinesh Karthik was at the non-striker’s end. When Bumrah removed Mahipal Lomror and RCB skipper Faf du Plessis off consecutive balls in the 17th over, he was on a hat-trick. In the 19th over, he removed Saurav Chauhan and Vijaykumar Vyshak. Both times, Bumrah was unable to secure the third.

When Karthik eventually got the opportunity to bat, he quickly struck Bumrah for a six, only the second boundary Bumrah had given up that day after witnessing all the mayhem from the other end. It covered a lot of ground regarding Karthik and Bumrah.

Rajat Patidar (50) and Faf du Plessis (61), in particular, were crucial in ensuring that RCB approached the 200-run threshold. Towards the close of the innings, Karthik (53 not out off 23 balls) gave RCB exactly the kind of knock they needed.

Bumrah was able to regain control of the match thanks to his precision and command of variety in a match when his opponents made frequent mistakes.

Bumrah extended his average run at the Wankhede Stadium during the IPL by catching the in-form Virat Kohli (3) early on. He did this by expertly combining his ferocious yorkers with pinpoint bouncers.

With their respective half-centuries, Du Plessis and Patidar ended their dismal run and added 82 runs for the third wicket, but Bumrah, who bowled three overs after the midway point, appeared to have broken the back of RCB’s fight with an outstanding spell.

But Karthik concluded with five fours and four sixes, taking a liking to Akash Madhwal (1/57) and amassing 38 runs off his two overs.

Former MI captain Rohit Sharma decides to have some fun after witnessing Karthik provide another outstanding finishing performance. Using the stump mic, Rohit was heard making fun of Karthik’s T20 World Cup joke.

“DK, shake it! This World Cup’s selection process is more competitive than ever. We are going to win this World Cup, I promise. (Excellent work, DK!

During the MI vs. RCB IPL 2024 match, Rohit Sharma makes fun of Dinesh Karthik. Karthik’s strong IPL performance earned him a position as wicketkeeper during India’s most recent T20 World Cup campaign in Australia. The seasoned cricket player isn’t slowing down this time either. However, given that Karthik has already declared that this IPL will be his final, winning another T20 World Cup may be extremely difficult.

Speaking after MI’s win vs RCB, Ishan Kishan opened up on his Ranji Trophy absence which led to him missing out on a BCCI contract.

Ishan Kishan was in the news prior to IPL 2024 because the batsman-wickekeeper for the BCCI lost his central contract after failing to win the Ranji Trophy. The incident occurred when the board warned centrally contracted players not to put the Indian Premier League ahead of domestic cricket. Kishan and Shreyas Iyer disregarded the letter, and as a result, they waere punished severely by the BCCI.

Read Also:Rohit Sharma (Indian Cricketer) Biography

Rohit Sharma puts Sarfaraz Khan ‘in his place’ after DRS drama in India vs England 5th Test in Dharamsala!

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Shortly after the DRS drama, Rohit Sharma was seen showing Sarfaraz Khan and Yashasvi Jaiswal their fielding position in a manner that left them laughing.

India vs England

Being one of the senior-most members of the squad, in the absence of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma has been more than just a captain for the Indian team in the ongoing series against England. Leading a gang of novices, which only includes the batting line-up, Rohit has played the role of a mentor for the young players, whether guiding them during their knocks or while fielding. On Thursday, shortly after the DRS drama, Rohit was seen showing Sarfaraz Khan and Yashasvi Jaiswal their fielding positions in a manner that left them laughing.

It happened in the 39th over when Jonny Bairstow took guard against Kuldeep Yadav. Rohit wanted a fielder closer on the leg side. Sarfaraz has been stationed at the forward short leg for the better part of the series since his debut in Rajkot in the third match. However, the youngster was moved to a much finer position, somewhere between leg slip and short leg. And Rohit did that in the most Rohit Sharma way possible. He called Sarfaraz, lifted him up and then placed him in that position before marking it with his shoe.

This happened just a couple of overs after the DRS drama that unfolded over India’s missed opportunity to get Zak Crawley out early.

It happened in the 26th over of the innings when Crawley, on 61, looked to glance the delivery towards the leg side after it turned. The ball took the faintest edge of the bat and Sarfaraz dived to complete the catch. He began celebrating immediately, but there was a major confusion among the players on whether it was a legit dismissal.

Rohit quickly walked towards wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who did not seem convinced at all, but Sarfaraz kept pleading his case. Eventually, following a long discussion, Rohit opted not to review. The replay later showed spikes on the UltraEdge, leaving Sarfaraz with an ‘I told you’ smile at the Indian skipper, who then acknowledged the mistake and gave a thumbs up to the player.

India dominate Day 1 in Dharamsala

As far as the proceedings of Day 1 were concerned, it was India all the way. Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav ran through England’s top and middle-order with a record-breaking spell of bowling before Ravichandran Ashwin, in his 100th Test, made light work of the lower order. India bowled England out for 218 after Ben Stokes opted to bat.

In reply, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma gave India a rollicking start, which they have done so often in this series. Jaiswal became the second Indian batter after Sunil Gavaskar to score more than 700 runs in a series. The left-hander was out for 57 off 58 balls while trying to hit Shoaib Bashir for a lofted shot. Rohit (52*) and Shubam Gill (26*) made sure there were no further losses as India reached 135/1 at stumps, trailing England by just 83 runs.

This article is originally published on Hindustantimes.News!

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Live score of India vs England, First Test Day 1: England openers off to a fast start, India looking for quick wickets!

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Live score and updates for the first test between India and England can be found here. The match is taking place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Day 1.

England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday. In a surprising move, England decided to include three spinners in their lineup. On the other hand, India, led by Rohit Sharma, stuck with their tried and tested combination.

This match marks the first time the two teams have met in India since 2021, when the hosts made a remarkable comeback after losing the first Test in Chennai, ultimately winning the series 3-1. Axar Patel, who made his debut in that series, impressed everyone by taking 27 wickets in just three Tests.

While India will be without the services of Virat Kohli for the first two Test matches, England will also be missing 19-year-old Shoaib Bashir, who only received his visa on Wednesday and is expected to join the team over the weekend.

India vs England Live Score: ENG 9/0 in 2 overs

FOUR! The bowler overpitched on the stumps, allowing Crawley to effortlessly drive the ball through midwicket, securing the first boundary of the day. Another FOUR! Although not as full as the previous delivery, Crawley confidently drives the ball straight down the ground, adding four more runs to the scoreboard.

10:14 AM

India vs England Live Score: 

Bumrah will commence the proceedings for India. He delivers a precise first ball to Crawley, a length ball just outside the off stump. Crawley decides to leave it, shouldering arms.

Crawley attempts a punch drive on the third ball, but unfortunately, it goes straight to the fielder at cover.

10:13 AM

India vs England Live Score: Teams

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikar Bharat(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes(c), Ben Foakes(w), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, Jack Leach

Also Read : Under-19 World Cup: The hunt begins for India’s next Virat Kohli!

10:11 AM

India vs England Live Score: ENG opt to bat

Ben Stokes: We are gonna have a bat. It’s typical conditions in India, you are not quite sure what you are going to get. We will try to post a big score on the board. The preparation has been really good. We know the challenge that India presents, not only to us but every team that comes here. They are an incredibly successful side. We have got Hartley making his debut, Rehan is playing his second Test, but they have got a great leader in Jack Leach to lead them. I have got full confidence in everyone. We picked a XI that we thought is going to give us the best chance of winning. Woody is that X-factor bowler.

Rohit Sharma: We would have batted as well. Looks dry. Whether we bowl or bat first, we have the skills and we got the guys to do the job for us. Hopefully we can turn out well. A good series, I am playing for the first time – five Test matches. The guys are excited. It’ll be challenging but we are up for it. We have played in these conditions before. We know what to expect and what we need to do, it’s all about executing your skills, backing yourself and being brave enough to take the opportunity. We’ve got three spinners and two seamers – Bumrah, Siraj, Axar, Ashwin and Jadeja. It was a tough one (to leave out Kuldeep Yadav), we thought a lot about it. Axar, whenever he had played, he has done well and bats really well in these conditions. He got some really good score the last time we played against Australia. Probably the reason we went with Axar.

10:11 AM

India vs England Live Score: Hello and Welcome!

Hello and welcome to our live blog for the highly anticipated first Test between India and England. Stay with us as we provide comprehensive match analysis throughout the day, covering every aspect of this thrilling Test match.

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This article is sourced from dnaindia!

Under-19 World Cup: The hunt begins for India’s next Virat Kohli!

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Can the India Under-19 batch of 2024 join the prestigious class of 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2022?

Earlier this week, a young man from Karnataka grabbed the consciousness of the average Indian cricket fan, upstaging even Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Not yet 19, Prakhar Chaturvedi ripped the record books to shreds, scoring a monumental unbeaten 404 in the final of the all-India Under-19 tournament for the Cooch Behar Trophy. That his exploits came in the title clash, and against Mumbai who received a dose of their own medicine, brought it into starker focus.

Chaturvedi might be the current Under-19 flavour, but don’t be surprised if more names grab the limelight in the next three weeks. Names like Uday Saharan. Arshin Kulkarni. Aravelly Avinash. Musheer Khan. Raj Limbani. Saumy Pandey.

These are among the young men tasked with leading India’s charge at the Under-19 World Cup, starting in South Africa today (January 19). Saharan is the skipper, Kulkarni and Avinash have already bagged IPL contracts, the others have gradually made their presence felt over the last few months, ready to take on the world even as Chaturvedi, who missed out on World Cup selection, eyes a graduation to a more senior level in domestic cricket – he has already been picked in the Under-23 side and could make his Ranji Trophy debut in the next few weeks.

The World Cup is the showpiece event at the Under-19 level, but as Rahul Dravid took great pains to point out during his four-year stint as the India Under-19 and ‘A’ coach between 2015 and 2019, it is no more than a means to an end. “I am not a big fan of judging these boys on the basis of results alone,” he told this writer not long into his tenure. “A few years down the road, few will remember whether someone was a part of the Under-19 World Cup-winning squad. They will only truly be recognised when they make the senior side and perform; that must be the ultimate goal, not just winning the Under-19 World Cup.”

It’s hard to fault Dravid’s philosophy but try telling an Under-19 kid approaching the biggest tournament of his life that it doesn’t really matter if he comes home victorious or not.

Like they have for the last several editions, India will approach this latest World Cup as among the strong favourites to go all the way. Perhaps not as strong as in the past, primarily because the pandemic scuttled domestic age-group cricket for two full seasons and therefore prevented the natural progression of the Under-16 cricketers who would have organically advanced to the Under-19 team, but still strong enough that other teams will cast a wary eye on them. India have made the finals in each of the last four editions, winning in 2018 and 2022, and while the pressure of history might weigh on Saharan and his boys, it shouldn’t really impact their performances when they get out on the park.

One of the reasons why India remain a dominant force at the junior level too is the quantum, and quality, of cricket they are exposed to from Under-16s upwards. There is so much organised cricket, much of it by the BCCI itself, that one would have to be extraordinarily unlucky to not get enough opportunities or to slip through the cracks. Greg Chappell, the Australian legend, once told me that India’s Under-19 lads are ‘almost finished products’ by the time they play for the country at that level because they have played so much so regularly compared to players in other countries, not least his own. It speaks to the robustness and vibrancy of the system which, contrary to popular public opinion, doesn’t merely pander to the high and the mighty.

This season alone, in the lead-up to the Under-19 World Cup, the inter-state one-day Vinoo Mankad Trophy was followed by a Challenger Series, then a quadrangular tournament featuring two Indian teams alongside Bangladesh and England. The boys then travelled to the UAE for the Asia Cup, where they lost in the semifinals to Bangladesh, and arrived in South Africa more than three weeks before their first World Cup encounter, playing the hosts and Afghanistan in a tri-series in which they remained unbeaten.

The quality of opportunities, therefore, better prepares them to tackle the challenges a tournament like the World Cup will throw up. None of these is a guarantee for success, needless to say – one need not look beyond the senior team for validation of that assertion – but if Saharan’s boys emulate Yash Dhull’s Class of ’22 and hold the trophy aloft on February 11 in Benoni, it won’t be by accident, you know.

This article was originally published on Hindustantimes news!

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India vs. Afghanistan: Virat Kohli’s cameo in Indore suggests that he intends to avoid waiting around!

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India vs. Afghanistan: On Sunday, in his first T20I since the 10-wicket semifinal loss to England at the 2022 World Cup in Adelaide, Virat Kohli seems determined to prove there are more strings to his bow.

India’s Virat Kohli walks off the ground after his dismissal during the 2nd T20I cricket match between Afghanistan and India, at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. (PTI)

The scorecard will show 29 off 16 balls, hardly much for a player of Virat Kohli pedigree, but how he batted and got out seemed to suggest he was willing to go against his nature to fit into the new brand of T20 batting that India is trying to embrace.

Kohli, even in the shortest international format, is known more as an accumulator at the start of his innings, before he showcases his rich repertoire of strokes and going into overdrive as the innings reaches its climax. When he first comes in, the most characteristic feature of his batting is his speed between the wickets that keeps the scoreboard moving and gets him into the rhythm of the game.

On Sunday, in his first T20I since the 10-wicket semifinal loss to England at the 2022 World Cup in Adelaide, Kohli wasn’t going to play the waiting game. He was in the middle in the first over itself, replacing Rohit Sharma, and was back before the Powerplay got over. But the former captain, for once, wasn’t playing the situation or the target but trying to prove that there were more gears to his batting which can be activated even early on in a race.

The first ball Kohli faced, from left-armer Fazalhaq Farooqi, was driven firmly to mid-on. The second, from mystery spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman, was a length ball outside off, which was lofted over mid-off for a boundary. No need for the niceties of having a look or rotating strike. The last ball of the same over was met by an uncharacteristic slog-sweep wide of long-on. That it was a full ball well outside off-stump indicated that the shot might well have been a premeditated one.

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Whenever Kohli’s prowess in the T20 format is discussed, the straight six he hit off a hard-length ball from Pakistan speedster Haris Rauf during the World Cup game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground comes up. Now, Naveen-ul-Haq is no Rauf, but there’s history between him and Kohli, and the latter rekindled memories with a flat-bat shot over the bowler’s head off a much wider ball that landed just inside the boundary.

There were a few ungainly hoicks and aerial shots that one doesn’t associate with the batting technician that Kohli is, but it reflected the message he was trying to send about his utility in the format.

Mujeeb was handsomely cover-driven to the fence, bisecting the off-side ring, when the bowler offered width on a full ball. There was not much of asking-rate pressure at this moment, when Kohli set his sights on Naveen again. The medium pacer was slog-swept across the line, as if he was a spinner, to the long-on boundary. The next ball, Kohli tried to clear mid-off but failed.

All this while, Yashasvi Jaiswal was going full throttle at the other end, and Kohli seemed intent on showing that he could keep pace. Much talk about the return of Kohli and Rohit to the T20 fold surrounds their strike rates, but he seems determined to prove there are more strings to his bow.

This Article was originally published on Indian Express!

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IND vs. AFG: Why does India need to reserve a seat at the top for Yashasvi Jaiswal!

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IND vs. AFG : Even with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma back, India should be able to use Jaiswal’s 158.69 strike rate.

IND vs. AFG

When India brought back Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back into the fold for the Afghanistan series, there was this inevitable question as to where they would bat. With Kohli unavailable for Thursday’s T20I because of personal reasons, India are set to open with Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal. But going forward, India head coach hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Rohit and Kohli partnering at the top, a move that totally deviates from the blueprint they have followed for the past 14 months. It also puts a question mark over the place of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the XI, who has by far been their best opening batsman in T20s.

Speaking ahead of the first T20I against Afghanistan in Mohali, Dravid revealed where India stood in terms of the openers, especially when Kohli joins the team in Indore. “Nothing is closed (Kohli opening with Rohit). We have no doubt that the kind of ability and skill sets players like Rohit and Kohli possess, they will be able to find answers against different kinds of bowling,” said Dravid.

If India do put this plan to work, they will once again be without enough ammunition at the top. Sans an X-factor batsman in the top three, the batting powerplay was one of the problematic areas for India in successive T20 World Cups. It is with this aspect in mind that India, post the last T20 World Cup debacle in Australia, adopted a more aggressive, bolder approach by employing Jaiswal at the top. It is a move that has not just worked but has also put less pressure on the middle-order. Now, if India partner Rohit and Kohli at the top, they may have to compromise on this aspect. In the coming days, India have a huge decision to make as to who among Rohit, Kohli and Shubman Gill misses out if they are keen on playing Jaiswal.

So on Thursday, the stakes are high for Jaiswal, who will get another opportunity to remind India what he is capable of. Unlike Rohit and Gill, Jaiswal has better returns in the powerplay and is single-handedly responsible for putting the opposition under pressure from the word go in recent times. Sample these numbers: In 13 innings, Gill’s strike rate in the powerplays is only 114.61. In 109 innings, Rohit’s strike rate in the first six overs is 134.24, and Kohli’s is 116.75.

But in 14 innings, Jaiswal has scored 292 runs in the powerplay at a strike-rate of 158.69. And India has never lost in eight games, where he has crossed the 20-run mark. Out of those eight matches, India has scored 50 or more six times in the powerplay, with Jaiswal himself scoring a fifty once.

When a top-order batsman gives such a start in the powerplay, nearly half the battle is won with the bat, and it only allows the middle-order to play with much more freedom without worrying about run-rate. The brand of T20 cricket that the Indian team has been aspiring to master for the past couple of years comes naturally to Jaiswal who is capable of providing the knockout punch in the first six overs.

Why Jaiswal should be in the playing XI?

One significant change that came with India’s aggressive approach was they believed 200-plus totals should be the norm when batting first. For such module to work, it is essential for India to bat in the top gear from first over till the last as against pressing the accelerator only in the last five overs. The same holds true when they are chasing big totals as well. For India to go all the way in T20 World Cup, they cannot afford to have any weak links.

However, should they go in with Rohit, Gill and Kohli — who are anchor material in T20s — as their top three, they will be short on firepower and will be without a left-hander at the top. Apart from making the most out of the fielding restrictions, Jaiswal has also shown he can also manipulate the field easily ond find the gaps onec the powerplay is over.

In the last T20I they played against South Africa, despite losing Gill and Tilak Varma cheaply, Jaiswal ensured India ended up with 62/2 in the powerplay. In the first T20Is against Australia that was played just after the ODI World Cup, chasing 209, India got home with one ball to spare. Although it was Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav and then Rinku Singh in the backend who played a pivotal role in India’s win, the kick-start was given by Jaiswal with his blazing 8-ball 21 at the top.

IND vs. AFG

In the second match of the same series, while batting first, Jaiswal scored fifty (53 runs in 25 balls), with India scoring 77 for 1 inside the powerplay.

Since the next T20 World Cup will be played in the Caribbean and the USA, let’s go back to India’s tour of the West Indies in July. Playing only his second match, Jaiswal smoked an unbeaten 84 off 51 balls as India chased down the target of 179 runs in 17 overs.

In IPL 2023, Jaiswal scored 625 runs in 14 innings. It was the most by an uncapped Indian player in an IPL season, bettering Ishan Kishan’s 516 runs in 2020. Jaiswal’s tally is also the most for uncapped batsmen overall, as he pipped Shaun Marsh’s 616 runs in the inaugural edition. During the season, he scored one century and five fifties, including one where he took only 13 balls, the fastest in the history of the IPL.

This article was originally published on: indianexpress

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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are ready to participate in T20 Internationals!

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After the 2022 World Cup, neither has Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma participated in T20 Internationals; selectors will convene to choose the team for the T20 match against Afghanistan.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma T20

Since the 2022 World Cup, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have not participated in T20 International matches.

The Indian Express believes that even though Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli haven’t played in T20 Internationals since the 2022 T20 World Cup, they have notified the BCCI that they are eligible for selection in the shortest format.

To choose the side for the first two Test matches against England and the three Twenty20 matches against Afghanistan, the selection committee will convene on Friday. January 11 marks the commencement of the series against Afghanistan, while January 25 marks the start of the five-match Test series against England.

Before the World Cup in June, the Indian team will only play three Twenty20 International matches against Afghanistan.

Hardik Pandya and Surya kumar Yadav’s injuries prevent them from being selected, hence the selection committee will have to choose a new T20 skipper.

The selection committee may also decide to bench Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, two fast bowlers, for the team’s next match against Afghanistan.

India defeated South Africa handily on Thursday in Cape Town, thanks in large part to the contributions of Siraj and Bumrah. India tied the series after two games.

The two pacers will now participate in the Test matches against England, as far as The Indian Express is aware.

The management of the Indian team wants their two top-scoring pacers to be fully fit for the lengthy home series against England.

In Cape Town are three selectors: chief selector Ajit Agarkar, SS Das, and Salil Ankola.

This article was orginally published on indianexpress!

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