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Category: Cricket

Boland Eyes Rahul Challenge as Test Batting Auditions Continue

Boland Eyes Rahul Challenge as Test Batting Auditions Continue

By November 5, 2024 0

The upcoming four-day A-team encounter at the MCG will once again be a crucial stage for Australian batters vying for the vacant spot in the Test side. However, the arrival of Indian Test squad member KL Rahul has added an intriguing subplot to the match.

Rahul, who played the first Test against New Zealand before being dropped, has joined India A to gain match practice ahead of the first Test in Perth. Despite averaging just 20.77 in Australia from five Tests, Rahul could be in contention if Rohit Sharma misses the game due to personal reasons.

Australian quick bowler Scott Boland is eager to make an impression against Rahul, having previously bowled to him in a Test over in India. Boland believes that Rahul is a world-class player but is confident that Australia can get on top of him.

“He’s a world-class player but someone I think we can get on top of pretty early and hopefully stay on top of him for the majority of the summer,” Boland said.

Boland also cautioned against reading too much into India’s 3-0 loss against New Zealand, noting the different conditions in Australia.

“There’s so much more bounce here, more seam,” Boland said. “The way they’ll structure their team will be completely different to what you see over in India.”

While the majority of India’s Test squad will not have a full game in Australia before the first Test, Rohit Sharma explained that the team opted for match simulation instead of a practice match to allow batters and bowlers more time in the middle.

Boland is expected to be the reserve quick in the Test squad and is likely to feature at some point, given the belief that the durability of the “big three” bowlers last season was an outlier.

Boland has been working his way back from injury and is eager to make an impact.

“It felt like a long six months between games,” he said. “Remember being out on the ground in the Shield game and was just really happy to be back playing cricket.”

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Kohli, Rohit's Duleep Trophy Absence Contributed to India's Test Series Loss

Kohli, Rohit’s Duleep Trophy Absence Contributed to India’s Test Series Loss

By November 5, 2024 0

Team India’s disastrous 0-3 Test series defeat against New Zealand has sparked a torrent of criticism, with former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar pinpointing the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the Duleep Trophy as a contributing factor.

Kohli and Sharma had initially agreed to participate in the domestic red-ball event but withdrew at the last moment, citing a “lack of motivation.” Manjrekar believes this decision was a mistake, arguing that the duo would have benefited from the match practice.

“The big learning for the selectors from this home season is that do not rest the already well-rested players because of their stature,” Manjrekar wrote on social media. “I say this again, both Rohit & Virat would only have benefited from playing the Duleep Trophy start of the season.”

The Indian team’s middle-order fragility, Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, and Gautam Gambhir’s insistence on turning tracks have also been identified as potential reasons for the series loss. However, Manjrekar’s comments highlight the importance of match readiness, especially for senior players.

Kohli and Sharma will have a significant responsibility when India travels to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, particularly in the absence of experienced batsmen like Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara. Some experts believe that this could be the last Test series at home for Kohli, Rohit, and the spin duo of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

The Indian team must address these issues and find a way to regain their form if they want to avoid a similar fate in Australia. The Duleep Trophy could provide an opportunity for players to prove their worth and earn a place in the Test squad.

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Rohit Sharma's Casual Approach Defended by Sunil Gavaskar

Rohit Sharma’s Casual Approach Defended by Sunil Gavaskar

By November 5, 2024 0

India’s Test captain, Rohit Sharma, has endured a dismal series against New Zealand, with his poor form contributing significantly to the team’s 3-0 defeat. Rohit’s aggressive approach on challenging pitches has backfired, leading to six dismissals that have been criticized as “casual.”

However, legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has defended Rohit’s approach, attributing it to his elegant style of play. Gavaskar drew parallels to David Gower, another batsman who faced similar misinterpretations. “People tend to misinterpret his approach because his style is easy on the eye,” Gavaskar said. “They care about their wickets and want to score runs, but their batting looks simple, and their dismissals reflect that.”

Rohit acknowledged his poor shot selection in the series but expressed no regrets over his aggressive approach. “I played a bad shot, but I don’t regret it because it has given me success in the past,” he said. “I will continue to do that.”

Rohit’s struggles have raised questions about his suitability as Test captain. Some critics argue that his attacking style is not suited to the longer format of the game. However, Gavaskar believes that Rohit’s leadership qualities should not be judged solely on his batting performance.

“He is a very good captain,” Gavaskar said. “He has the ability to motivate his team and get the best out of them. He is also a very good tactician. I think he will be a successful Test captain.”

Despite Rohit’s struggles, India’s batting lineup has shown promise in the series. Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara have both scored centuries, while Rishabh Pant has played some impressive innings. The team’s bowling attack has also performed well, with Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin taking wickets consistently.

India will be hoping to bounce back from their Test series defeat when they face New Zealand in a three-match ODI series starting on January 18. Rohit will be keen to prove his worth as a Test captain and lead his team to victory.

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India Eyes Hat-Trick of Test Series Wins in Australia Despite New Zealand Setback

India Eyes Hat-Trick of Test Series Wins in Australia Despite New Zealand Setback

By November 5, 2024 0

India’s recent 0-3 Test series defeat against New Zealand at home has raised concerns about their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship Final. Despite the setback, former opener Shikhar Dhawan remains optimistic about India’s prospects in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.

Dhawan believes that India has a strong chance of completing a hat-trick of series wins in Australia, having triumphed in the previous two tours under Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. He highlights the experience of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah, who have played extensively in Australia and can guide the younger players.

Dhawan also praises the confidence and motivation of the current Indian team, which includes a mix of experienced and emerging stars. He believes that the batters are well-prepared to handle the pace and bounce of Australian pitches.

Regarding Rishabh Pant, Dhawan notes that the wicketkeeper-batter has returned to the field with renewed gratitude and positivity after his car accident in 2022. He commends Pant’s mental strength and his ability to bring joy to fans with his fearless batting.

Despite the recent loss to New Zealand, Dhawan remains confident in India’s ability to bounce back and secure a historic victory in Australia. He believes that the team has the talent, experience, and determination to overcome the challenges and emerge victorious.

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Kaneria Calls for Rohit Sharma Batting Position Change to Address India's WTC Struggles

Kaneria Calls for Rohit Sharma Batting Position Change to Address India’s WTC Struggles

By November 5, 2024 0

India’s recent loss to New Zealand in the World Test Championship (WTC) has raised concerns about the team’s batting performance. Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria believes that India captain Rohit Sharma should consider changing his batting position to address the team’s struggles.

Kaneria, in an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com, expressed his concern over the form of India’s top order, particularly Rohit and Virat Kohli. He suggested that Rohit should move down to the middle order, possibly at number three, to improve his performance.

“Rohit has been struggling with the track in India. In the recent series, Southee got him out twice, and the ball will move more over there in Australia, so you have to see how you go with that,” said Kaneria.

Kaneria believes that the Indian top order should consist of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill as openers, followed by Rohit at number three and Kohli at number four. He emphasized that the success of the team depends on the performance of the top order.

“Indian batters need to click; that’s the only concern. If the bowlers take wickets, then the batters need to click. A Test is won by bowlers, so Indian batting needs to click as their top order, where Rohit and Kohli are struggling with runs,” explained Kaneria.

Kaneria also pointed out that the rise of T20 cricket has negatively impacted Indian batters’ ability to face spin bowling. He believes that the team needs to address this issue to improve their performance in Test cricket.

India’s loss to New Zealand has dropped them to second place in the WTC standings. To secure a spot in the next WTC final, India will need to win at least four matches in their upcoming five-match Test series against Australia.

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BCCI's Decision to Cancel Practice Game Surprises Kumble

BCCI’s Decision to Cancel Practice Game Surprises Kumble

By November 5, 2024 0

Former Indian cricket team spinner Anil Kumble has expressed surprise over the BCCI’s decision to cancel the practice game ahead of the first Test match against Australia in Perth starting November 22. The Indian cricket team was going to play a practice match against India A, but following the Test series whitewash against New Zealand, the BCCI decided to scrap the encounter.

Kumble, during a discussion on JioCinema, said that the practice match would have been ideal preparation for Rohit Sharma and Co. He added that such match practice cannot be achieved by just net sessions.

“I’m a bit surprised that India don’t have a practice match going into the first Test because that would have been an ideal preparation. No matter how much you practice in the nets, going out in the middle and facing a few bowlers in the match is totally different,” he said.

Right-handed batter KL Rahul and wicketkeeper-batter Dhurv Jurel are on their way to link up with the India A squad ahead of their second four-day game against Australia A, set to begin at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from November 7.

Sources told IANS that Rahul and Jurel left for Melbourne on Sunday night after the third Test ended at the Wankhede Stadium, which India lost by 25 runs to New Zealand and suffered a 3-0 series defeat.

As per the sources, Rahul and Jurel will join the India ‘A’ squad by Tuesday and get to play in the second four-day game, with an eye to give them some game time before linking up with the main Test team to prepare for the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, starting on November 22 in Perth. It will be followed by games in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney till January 7, 2025.

Rahul played three Tests in the Indian home season, with his last game coming via the hosts’ series opener against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. After making scores of 0 and 12 in that game, where India lost by eight wickets, he didn’t feature in the remainder of the series.

On the other hand, Jurel didn’t get a game to play in the five Tests India played at home, though he did get to feature as a substitute wicketkeeper in the first Test at Bengaluru after Rishabh Pant hurt his knee while being on keeping duties.

The first four-day game saw India A, captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad, suffer a heavy seven-wicket defeat at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, Queensland, with left-handed batters B Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal along with pacer Mukesh Kumar being the standout performers.

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Manjrekar Urges Kohli, Sharma to Play Domestic Cricket for Test Success

Manjrekar Urges Kohli, Sharma to Play Domestic Cricket for Test Success

By November 5, 2024 0

Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian cricketer and renowned commentator, has once again emphasized the importance of domestic cricket for India’s top batsmen, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. In the wake of India’s 3-0 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand in the recently concluded Test series, Manjrekar has reiterated his belief that Kohli and Sharma would have benefited from playing in the Indian domestic competitions.

During the series, both Kohli and Sharma struggled against the New Zealand seamers and spinners. The seam-friendly surface in Bengaluru gave way to rank turners in Pune and Mumbai, exposing the Indian batsmen’s vulnerabilities. Rohit, who has played 64 Tests in his career, scored just 91 runs across the three Tests, with a highest of 52 runs in Bengaluru. Kohli, with 118 Tests under his belt, fared no better, scoring just 93 runs across the six innings.

Manjrekar believes that the selectors should not rest well-rested players like Kohli and Sharma simply because of their stature. He argues that both players would have only benefited from playing in the Duleep Trophy at the start of the season. Across the home season, which included two Tests against Bangladesh and three against New Zealand, Rohit scored 133 runs and Kohli mustered 192 runs.

Manjrekar has consistently urged the selectors and the two stalwarts of Indian cricket to play in the Duleep Trophy competition to prepare for the home season and the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. In August, he wrote on X, “India has played 249 international matches in the last 5 years. Rohit has played only 59% of those. Virat 61 % & Bumrah 34%. I see them as well rested India players. Could have been selected for the Duleep trophy.”

During the Bangladesh series, Manjrekar had commented, “… considering the amount of international matches Rohit and Virat played in the last five years, they could have been picked for the Duleep Trophy and I’m sure the time out there would have just held them at least in the first innings where they suddenly came out cold and having had to bat first,” he had said on ESPNCricinfo.

Kohli and Rohit will be under immense pressure going into the five-match Test series against Australia, which begins in Perth on November 22. Manjrekar’s comments serve as a timely reminder of the importance of domestic cricket in preparing for international challenges.

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Virat Kohli's Lean Patch: Srikkanth Believes in Australia Comeback

Virat Kohli’s Lean Patch: Srikkanth Believes in Australia Comeback

By November 5, 2024 0

Virat Kohli, the talismanic Indian batter, is enduring a prolonged lean patch that has raised concerns ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. In the recent three-Test series against New Zealand, Kohli managed a paltry 93 runs, averaging a mere 15.50. His struggles extended to six Tests, where he has accumulated only 250 runs at an average of 22.72.

Despite Kohli’s recent struggles, former World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes it is premature to write him off. Srikkanth highlighted Kohli’s exceptional record against Australia, where he has amassed 2042 runs in 25 Tests at an average of 47.48, including eight centuries.

On Australian soil, Kohli’s numbers are even more impressive, with 1352 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 54.08, including six centuries. Under Kohli’s leadership, India became the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia during the 2018-19 tour.

The upcoming India-Australia series, commencing on November 22, will provide Kohli with an opportunity to rediscover his form. The series will feature five Tests, starting with the first Test in Perth, followed by a day-night encounter in Adelaide, a Test at The Gabba in Brisbane, the iconic Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, and the final Test in Sydney.

Kohli’s return to form is crucial for India’s chances of retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His experience and leadership will be invaluable as the team aims to overcome the challenges of playing in Australian conditions.

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Gavaskar Predicts India's Chances in Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Gavaskar Predicts India’s Chances in Border-Gavaskar Trophy

By November 5, 2024 0

Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his views on India’s chances in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. While acknowledging India’s recent dominance over Australia in Test cricket, Gavaskar believes that a 4-0 victory for India in Australia is unlikely.

Gavaskar emphasized that India’s focus should be solely on winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, rather than on qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. He stated, “Don’t talk about the World Test Championship final. Now just focus on trying to win the series in Australia.”

Gavaskar’s prediction is based on the formidable nature of the Australian team in their home conditions. He believes that India can realistically aim for a 3-1 victory, but a 4-0 sweep is an ambitious target.

India has won the previous four Test series against Australia, all by a margin of 2-1. However, Gavaskar believes that Australia will be a different proposition in their own backyard.

Despite Gavaskar’s cautious optimism, India’s recent record against Australia provides some hope. India has won two Test series in Australia in the past decade, including a historic 2-1 victory in 2018/19.

The WTC scenario is also complex. While India needs four wins to guarantee qualification for the final, it is unlikely that they will need to win all. Other nations in contention for the WTC final, such as Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and New Zealand, will face each other and potentially hamper each other’s results.

Overall, Gavaskar’s prediction reflects a realistic assessment of India’s chances in Australia. While a 4-0 victory may be a stretch, India has the potential to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and continue their recent dominance over Australia in Test cricket.

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Virat Kohli's Future in Doubt After Poor Form

Virat Kohli’s Future in Doubt After Poor Form

By November 5, 2024 0

Virat Kohli’s recent decision to stay in New Zealand after India’s Test series loss has sparked speculation about his future with the team. Despite India’s humiliating 0-3 whitewash, Kohli appeared in good spirits as he celebrated his 36th birthday with wife Anushka Sharma.

Kohli’s form has been a major concern for fans and experts alike. Despite India’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, Kohli has struggled for runs in all formats. In the recent Test series against New Zealand, he failed to cross the 100-run mark cumulatively.

Questions have been raised about Kohli’s continuity in the team, particularly in the Test format. While he has already retired from T20 internationals, some wonder if his days in India’s Test team could be numbered.

Kohli has been selected for India’s upcoming tour of Australia, where he will have a chance to prove his worth. However, his recent form has raised doubts about his ability to lead India’s batting charge Down Under.

Experts believe that Kohli has the potential to turn things around, but others worry that a Test retirement could be on the horizon if he fails to improve his performance.

Kohli’s future with the Indian team remains uncertain. His performance in Australia will be crucial in determining his fate. If he can regain his form and lead India to success, he will silence his critics. However, if he continues to struggle, his days in the Test team could be numbered.

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