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Jadeja Advocates Kohli as Opener, Rohit at Number Three for India's T20 World Cup Campaign

Jadeja Advocates Kohli as Opener, Rohit at Number Three for India’s T20 World Cup Campaign

By May 3, 2024 0

India’s T20 World Cup Strategy: Jadeja Advocates Kohli as Opener, Rohit at Number Three

Former Indian all-rounder Ajay Jadeja has proposed a tactical shift for Team India in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Americas. Jadeja believes that captain Rohit Sharma should move down to the number three position, allowing Virat Kohli to open the innings.

Jadeja argues that Kohli’s consistency and ability to anchor the innings make him the ideal candidate for the opening slot. “If you have Virat in your side, you know consistency is the one thing you will get, so, might as well use him,” he said. “He’s best at the top and the powerplay allows him to settle in.”

By moving Rohit down to number three, Jadeja believes he will have more time to assess the game and make informed decisions as captain. “He gets a little cushion and gets to understand the game, he has so much going on, in his mind as a captain,” Jadeja explained.

Jadeja also defended the inclusion of Hardik Pandya in the squad, despite his recent struggles in the IPL. “He’s a special player, a rare commodity you find in our country where somebody bowls seam-up and can make it to the side with his batting,” Jadeja said.

However, Jadeja acknowledged that Pandya’s selection was not based on current form. “The selection has not been on form, there’s no doubt about it,” he said. “It depends on how you want to play. It’s one of the things I look at this team and think they don’t have many options.”

Jadeja emphasized that the team’s strategy will ultimately depend on Rohit’s vision. “It will all depend on what Rohit thinks,” he said.

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Rohit Sharma's Batting Woes Against Left-Arm Seamers Raise Concerns Ahead of T20 World Cup

Rohit Sharma’s Batting Woes Against Left-Arm Seamers Raise Concerns Ahead of T20 World Cup

By May 3, 2024 0

Rohit Sharma’s recent batting struggles have raised concerns ahead of the T20 World Cup. Despite a promising start to IPL 2024, including a century against Chennai Super Kings, Rohit has failed to reach double figures in his last three innings.

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has identified Rohit’s vulnerability against left-arm seamers as a potential chink in his armor. “He had his problems against left-arm seamers. The way he plants his front leg, you could always feel that anything that’s coming in will trouble him,” Jaffer said.

This weakness could be particularly problematic for Rohit in the T20 World Cup, where India is likely to face Pakistan and its star left-arm pacer, Shaheen Afridi. Other skilled left-armers in the tournament will also be closely monitoring Rohit’s batting form.

Jaffer suggests that Rohit should adopt a more cautious approach against left-armers, avoiding aggressive shots early in his innings. “I think he’s got decent numbers against Mitchell Starc. And Starc’s form is a concern, Rohit knows that. Rohit also hasn’t scored the runs in his last four matches, so he will be keen to get into the World Cup with a bit of form,” Jaffer said.

“I feel Rohit needs to take a little bit more time; he’s trying to muscle the ball too early in his innings. He can take a couple of overs to get himself in and look to time the ball rather than trying to hit it too hard. It’s going to be an interesting match-up, as any left-handers for Rohit Sharma is a little bit of worry,” Jaffer added.

Rohit’s struggles against left-arm seamers will be a key area to watch in the remaining IPL matches and the upcoming T20 World Cup. If he can overcome this weakness, he will be a crucial asset for India in their quest for the title.

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Real Madrid on Cusp of La Liga Title, Girona Holds the Key

Real Madrid on Cusp of La Liga Title, Girona Holds the Key

By May 3, 2024 0

Real Madrid, the current leaders of La Liga, have a chance to secure their 36th Spanish title this weekend. However, they need a helping hand from Girona, this season’s surprise challengers.

Madrid will host Cadiz on Saturday, and if they win, they will need Girona to take points off Barcelona, the defending champions, in the following match. If both conditions are met, Los Blancos will extend their record-breaking title count.

Girona, in their fourth season in La Liga, have been a revelation this season. They were Madrid’s main rivals for the top spot for much of the campaign, but their momentum stalled after a 4-0 defeat to Ancelotti’s side in February.

Despite the setback, Girona have regrouped and are now on the verge of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history. A victory over Barcelona in the Catalan derby would not only secure their place in the top four but also make club history.

Even though the title could be within their grasp this weekend, Madrid’s focus is divided as they prepare for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich. Los Blancos earned a creditable 2-2 draw in Munich and will host the German giants on Wednesday.

Ancelotti is likely to rotate his squad, as he did in their narrow win over Real Sociedad last week. The likes of Luka Modric, Joselu, Nacho, and Lucas Vazquez have proven to be reliable options when called upon.

Aurelien Tchouameni is set to miss the game with a knock, while Thibaut Courtois could make his first appearance of the season. Ancelotti has indicated that the Belgian goalkeeper is ready to return after two knee injuries kept him sidelined since pre-season.

Jude Bellingham, Madrid’s top scorer, may also be rested as he has struggled with various physical issues in the second half of the season. “He hasn’t been at his best, but he’ll be back very soon and by Wednesday he’ll be at 100 percent,” said Ancelotti.

Cadiz travel to the Bernabeu with slim hopes of survival. The Andalucians are 18th, five points from safety behind Celta Vigo. “The situation is very tricky and I understand the tension… but there are five games to go,” said Cadiz goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma.

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Marseille and Atalanta Draw 1-1 in Europa League Semi-Final First Leg

Marseille and Atalanta Draw 1-1 in Europa League Semi-Final First Leg

By May 3, 2024 0

Marseille and Atalanta played to a thrilling 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final, setting up an intriguing second leg in Bergamo next Thursday.

Atalanta, who stunned Liverpool in the quarter-finals, took an early lead through Gianluca Scamacca, who capitalized on a defensive lapse to fire past Pau Lopez. However, Marseille responded swiftly, with Chancel Mbemba unleashing a stunning strike from outside the box to level the scores.

The draw leaves the tie finely poised, with Atalanta holding a slight advantage as they seek to reach their first European final. The Italian side has been impressive in this season’s competition, showcasing their attacking prowess and resilience.

Marseille, on the other hand, have been formidable at home, with Paris Saint-Germain being the only visiting team to defeat them at the Velodrome in 90 minutes this season. However, their struggles on the road have been evident, making their semi-final appearance a commendable achievement.

Despite the draw, Marseille coach Jean-Louis Gasset expressed some disappointment, believing his team had chances to secure a victory. “I am not completely satisfied because we had two or three chances to win the match 2-1,” he said. “But it is only half-time in the tie, and we are going to go and give everything in Italy.”

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini was pleased with his team’s performance, acknowledging Marseille’s strength. “It is a very positive result for us because Marseille were strong,” he said. “They have only lost once here all season, and we found out why that is tonight.”

The second leg in Bergamo promises to be a captivating affair, with both teams aiming to secure a place in the final in Dublin later this month. Atalanta will be favored, but Marseille will be determined to overcome their travel woes and make history.

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Virat Kohli's Role in India's T20 World Cup Squad Debated

Virat Kohli’s Role in India’s T20 World Cup Squad Debated

By May 3, 2024 0

Virat Kohli’s inclusion in India’s T20 World Cup squad has sparked debates about his role in the team. While some believe he should open the batting, others suggest he should play as an anchor. However, former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody believes there is no such thing as an anchor in T20s.

Kohli has been in impressive form for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, scoring 500 runs at a strike rate of 147.49. This has led to suggestions that he could open the batting for India at the T20 World Cup, alongside Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

However, Moody believes that Kohli should not be pigeonholed into a specific role. “He’s got many gears. He needs to work through those. He’s smart enough and experienced enough to adjust to 11-an-over or 9-an-over required rate,” said Moody.

Kohli has a proven track record in T20 internationals, having played some sublime knocks for India. His 82 against Australia in Mohali during the 2016 T20 World Cup and his 82 not out against Pakistan in Melbourne during the 2022 T20 World Cup are just two examples.

Former India pacer Irfan Pathan believes that Kohli will have a major impact on the upcoming T20 World Cup. “Jab waqt aata hai, yehi player akela khada hota hai, Virat Kohli (when it’s required, he is the player who stands alone),” said Pathan.

India will open their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5 in New York, followed by the big game against Pakistan on June 9 at the same venue.

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Olympiakos Stuns Aston Villa in Europa Conference League Semi-Final

Olympiakos Stuns Aston Villa in Europa Conference League Semi-Final

By May 3, 2024 0

Olympiakos stunned Aston Villa 4-2 in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final, putting themselves in a commanding position ahead of the return fixture in Athens.

Despite being in their first European semi-final in over four decades, Olympiakos showed no signs of nerves. Ayoub El Kaabi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, capitalizing on a VAR-assisted offside check. The Moroccan striker doubled his tally just before the half-hour mark, exploiting Villa’s defensive frailties.

Villa, who were favorites to lift the trophy, managed to pull one back through Ollie Watkins in stoppage time. However, their hopes of a comeback were short-lived as El Kaabi completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 55th minute. Santiago Hezze’s deflected strike further extended Olympiakos’ lead.

Villa’s misery was compounded by Douglas Luiz’s missed penalty in the 84th minute. The Brazilian’s effort hit the post, leaving Unai Emery’s side with a mountain to climb in the second leg.

In the other semi-final, Fiorentina secured a narrow 3-2 victory over 10-man Club Brugge. Riccardo Sottil’s early goal was canceled out by Hans Vanaken’s penalty, but Andrea Belotti restored Fiorentina’s lead before halftime.

Raphael Onyedika’s red card for two quickfire yellow cards gave Brugge an uphill battle. However, Igor Thiago equalized for the Belgians, only for M’Bala Nzola to snatch a late winner for Fiorentina.

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Chelsea Crush Tottenham's Champions League Hopes

Chelsea Crush Tottenham’s Champions League Hopes

By May 3, 2024 0

Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday dealt a significant blow to the latter’s Champions League aspirations. Trevoh Chalobah’s first goal since March 2022 gave Chelsea the lead in the first half, while Nicolas Jackson sealed the win in the closing stages.

Tottenham’s third consecutive defeat leaves them seven points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa with four games remaining. The north Londoners are now considered outsiders to finish in the Premier League’s top four.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou expressed disappointment with his team’s performance, citing a lack of belief and conviction. “We are not playing with the mindset we need,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino enjoyed a second win over his former club this season. “The first half was fantastic,” he said. “All credit to the players. They really showed the way we want to build this.”

Chelsea’s victory keeps alive their hopes of qualifying for Europe, while Tottenham’s defeat further damages their Champions League ambitions.

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KL Rahul Dropped from India's T20 World Cup Squad: Agarkar Explains

KL Rahul Dropped from India’s T20 World Cup Squad: Agarkar Explains

By May 3, 2024 0

KL Rahul Omitted from India’s T20 World Cup Squad: BCCI Chief Selector Explains

The Indian cricket team’s wicket-keeping position for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 has been a subject of much debate. The selectors have ultimately opted for Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson, leaving out KL Rahul from the 15-member squad and reserves.

This decision has raised eyebrows, considering Rahul’s impressive form in the ongoing IPL 2024. He became the first wicket-keeper batter to score 400 runs in the competition this year. However, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar has shed light on the rationale behind Rahul’s exclusion.

Agarkar explained that the selectors were prioritizing players who can bat in the middle order. Rahul, on the other hand, has primarily played as an opener for his IPL team, Lucknow Super Giants.

“KL’s a terrific player. But we were looking for guys who bat in the middle. We feel Sanju has the ability to come down the order if need be. Rishabh is batting at No. 5 for DC. It wasn’t whether KL is better or these guys are better. It’s about the slots we needed, and we felt that these two are better equipped at this point in the latter half of the innings,” Agarkar said.

Agarkar also acknowledged the influence of IPL performances on team selection. However, he emphasized that the selectors do not solely rely on three months of cricket.

“It’s a little bit of a challenge. You try and plan before the IPL starts. We had conversations in the last few months anyway. You keep a track of performances and fitness of players, but if you get swayed by three months of cricket, then there’s something wrong in the way you pick players. We were pretty clear in our thinking,” Agarkar added.

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Riyan Parag Acknowledges Areas for Improvement After Royals' Narrow Defeat

Riyan Parag Acknowledges Areas for Improvement After Royals’ Narrow Defeat

By May 3, 2024 0

Riyan Parag, the rising star of Rajasthan Royals, has been a standout performer this season. However, in the team’s recent one-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad, Parag acknowledged areas for improvement.

“I have a lot of areas to improve. I am not in my best form, I would have finished the game otherwise… I try to learn from my mistakes and not repeat them,” Parag said after the match.

In their chase of Sunrisers’ 202, Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal put up a spirited fightback. However, Pat Cummins and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s death bowling brilliance proved too much for the Royals.

“It is never good to end on the losing side. We did a lot of things right. We will focus on more rather than dwelling on our mistakes… We made a few errors in two-three overs and it cost us the game. That is how T20 is, IPL is,” Parag reflected.

Parag’s shift to batting at number four has paid dividends this season, with 409 runs in 10 matches, including four half-centuries. He attributed his dismissal and Jaiswal’s to execution errors against SRH’s formidable bowling attack.

“I do not think any of us threw our wickets… Probably an error in execution. We would have liked to stay till the end,” Parag said.

He praised SRH’s bowling, particularly Cummins’ pivotal 19th over, and lauded Nitish Kumar Reddy’s standout performance, labeling his sixes against Yuzvendra Chahal as “pure skill.”

Despite the defeat, Parag remains optimistic about the Royals’ prospects. “We have a good team. We have a lot of potential. We just need to keep working hard and keep improving,” he said.

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