The beleaguered Indian team could get the Mohammed Shami boost during the challenging Australia tour after the pace-bowling stalwart made an impressive comeback from injury by grabbing four wickets in a Ranji Trophy match on Thursday. Playing his first red-ball game in more than a year, Shami, who represents Bengal, bowled four spells across 57 overs in Madhya Pradesh’s first innings and returned with figures of 19-4-54-4. His victims included MP skipper Shubham Sharma, all-rounder Saransh Jain and two tail-enders, with three of the four batters being bowled while one edged to keeper Wriddhiman Saha. While this is great news for the Indian team, it is understood that the national selection committee will look at how his body holds up in the second innings as well and whether there is any swelling or pain at the end of the game. Boost for Bumrah & Co? If he ticks all the boxes, it is almost assured that he will join forces with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah before the second Test, which will be a day-night affair. The Ranji Trophy match ends on November 16 and he could join the squad before the first Test, beginning in Perth on November 22, but that could be cutting it too fine. Also Read: Gambhir to team: You’ll leave Oz as better cricketers In case Shami goes, he will get to play a two-day day-night practice game against Prime Minister’s XI. More than the wickets he took on Thursday, the team management and national selection committee along with the BCCI’s Sports Science & Medical Team want to check how his body holds up. Shami, who has not played a competitive game after the ODI World Cup final on November 19 last year, had undergone an ankle surgery. Just when he was about to return for the three-Test series against New Zealand, the senior fast bowler developed a swelling in his knee. It is understood that despite naming an 18-member squad for Australia, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee and the team management would include Shami the moment the BCCI’s head of Medical and Sports Science team, Dr Nitin Patel, declares him fit. A Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) source told PTI that national selection committee member Ajay Ratra had specifically come along with NCA medical team head Patel to watch Shami bowl. Their feedback will be sent to chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir before a final call is taken. Vital game for Shami A BCCI source said, “Obviously, Shami was asked to play this game keeping in mind that the next round of Ranji Trophy will only start on January 23 after the Test season is over. “He [Shami] has bowled 19 overs in multiple spells and fielded for most part of the 57 overs. He bowled 90 dot balls. But he will again have to bowl and field [in the second innings]. Suppose he bowls another 15 to 18 overs in the second innings, that’s a very decent amount of overs bowled. “But the biggest test would be whether he again feels any pain after four days. If the NCA medical team green-lights his fitness, obviously he will join before the second Test,” the BCCI source added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 November,2024 07:42 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIA Test series against Australia is a transformative experience after which an individual “goes back a better cricketer” is what head coach Gautam Gambhir and some of the senior players have shared with the younger members of the team on their first tour ‘Down Under’. It will be a baptism by fire for several young Indian players, with the visitors naming as many as eight members in the squad who have never played a Test match on Australian soil. The likes of Yashaswi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sarfaraz Khan, Nitish Reddy, Harshit Rana, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna, all of them on their maiden tours will have plenty to prove during the marquee series, starting here from November 22. Also Read: ATP: Sinner dope case needed better communication And who better than the troika of Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah to share their invaluable learnings from the past series. While Kohli and Ashwin are on their fifth Test tour (2011-12, 14-15, 18-19, 20-21) Down Under, Bumrah will play his third red-ball series (2018-19, 20-21) in Australia. “Gauti bhai [Gambhir] had a chat with the boys just before we started, we had some of the senior boys as well,” India batting coach Abhishek Nayar said in video posted by bcci.tv. on Thursday. “Booms [Bumrah], Virat, Ash [Ashwin] having a chat with the guys how first they came here as youngsters with a lot of seniors around and how they sort of felt that once you finish an Australia series you go back a better cricketer.” “I think the young boys are very keen, raring to go and hopefully make a name for themselves by the end of this tour. It’s one of the toughest challenges for an Indian cricketer coming here and overcoming it,” Nayar added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 November,2024 07:40 AM IST | Perth | PTIFormer India coach Ravi Shastri believes Virat Kohli has the potential to turn around his poor form and prosper during the upcoming five-Test Border-Gavaskar series in Australia. Kohli has been going through a rough run across all formats over the last few months. Also Read: "It was for SKY": Tilak Varma after match-winning century The 36-year-old star batter has scored just one half-century and averaged only 21.33 across five Test matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand since the start of the year. But Shastri has warned Australia and said Kohli is back in the country where he loves to bat and score runs. “Well, the King is back in his territory. That’s all I will tell them,” Shastri said on The ICC Review. “When you’ve earned that title after your exploits in Australia, it will be on your [opponent’s] mind when you go out to bat.” Shastri was referring to Kohli’s phenomenal performances in Australia, which include a fighting century in Adelaide in his first-ever Test tour in 2011-12. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 November,2024 07:26 AM IST | Dubai | PTITilak Varma did not want to become a source of chagrin for his skipper Suryakumar Yadav after requesting him for the No. 3 slot in the batting order in the third T20I against South Africa. And he didn’t. Varma had batted at No. 4 in Durban and Gqueberha, scoring 33 and 20. Surya, who himself batted at No. 3, after giving it a thought, obliged his young teammate. Tilak’s initial request “In Gqeberha, he [Tilak] came to my room and said, ‘Give me the opportunity to bat at No. 3. Let me express myself’,” said Suryakumar. Now it was for Varma to make the most of the opportunity and responded with a match-winning century. After reaching his 51-ball-century, second fifty coming in just 19 balls, Varma pointed towards the dug-out and blew a flying kiss to acknowledge his captain. Also Read: Rinku’s form and batting position in focus as India eye series win v SA Suryakumar Yadav “It was for SKY, our skipper because he gave me a chance to bat at No. 3,” Varma told reporters after India’s 11-run win on Wednesday night. “I love batting at No. 3, but in the last two matches, I played at No. 4. Last night [Tuesday], he came to my room and said, ‘You will bat at No. 3’. He told me it’s a good opportunity, go and express yourself. “I told him, ‘You have given me an opportunity, I will show you on the ground’,” said the second youngest Indian centurion in T20 Internationals. Making it count His innings of 107 off 56 balls had seven sixes apart from eight fours including a straight and a flicked six off the opposition’s fastest bowler and his former Mumbai Indians teammate Gerald Coetzee. Varma added 107 runs with another youngster Abhishek Sharma, who scored a half-century after a string of failures. “The team backed us even when we flopped. They told us to play the brand of cricket the Indian team is known for and the skipper and the management [interim head coach VVS Laxman] said, “Bindaas khelna. Agar wicket gire tab bhi [play freely even if you lose a wicket].” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 November,2024 07:22 AM IST | Centurion | PTIRinku Singh’s batting slot and circumspect approach must be a cause of concern for the India team going into the deciding fourth T20I against South Africa as the side aim for another bilateral series victory here on Friday. Centuries by Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma on either side of an inept batting performance has kept India’s nose ahead in the series and the team would want a more collective batting effort to clinch it 3-1. Rinku, one of the finest exponents of T20 cricket has suddenly gone off the boil in the past few months, reasons of which aren’t exactly clear and it wouldn’t be lost on the skipper and interim head coach VVS Laxman. Also Read: "Watching Tilak, Abhishek, Samson score runs, must be pleasing for Virat and Rohit": Mohammad Kaif In the current series, Rinku came in at No. 6 in two games and No. 7 in another and has managed just 28 runs. The scores 11, 9 and 8 shouldn’t be taken in isolation looking at where he is coming in to bat, but when the number of balls (34) he has taken to score runs is taken into consideration, it becomes worrisome. Most of Rinku’s better efforts have come when he has batted at No. 5, but in a line-up where Samson is settling as an opener and Varma has staked claim as a No. 3, it might be difficult for Rinku to be promoted ahead of Hardik Pandya. It is an issue that the team think-tank would do better to solve at the earliest. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 November,2024 07:17 AM IST | Johannesburg | PTIFormer India batter Mohammad Kaif feels that senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli must be happy after watching youngsters performing well in the T20Is following their retirements from the format. Rohit led India to the T20 World Cup title in June earlier this year and announced his retirement from the format along with Kohli, who played a knock of 76 runs in the final against South Africa in Bridgetown. On the other hand, Rohit was the second-highest run-getter in the tournament with a total of 257 including three half-centuries. After the duo’s retirement, the likes of Abhishek Varma, Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma stepped up to the occasion and made the transition look very smooth under the new captain Suryakumar Yadav. Also Read: "I am not going to lose. Did you hear what I said?": Mike Tyson on fight with Jake Paul Kaif’s remark came after Tilak smashed his maiden T20I century in the third T20I against South Africa on Wednesday, while Abhishek blasted a 25-ball half-century to guide India to 219-6 and went on to win the match by 11 runs in Centurion. Earlier in the series opener, Samson hammered his second consecutive T20I century to become the first Indian batter to do so. “Watching Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson score runs in South Africa’s tough batting conditions must be pleasing for Virat and Rohit. When it comes to T20, they have left Indian cricket in safe hands. #SAvIND,” Kaif wrote on X. India’s T20I transition after Rohit and Kohli’s retirement has been buttery smooth with no major obstacle hindering them from defending their title in 2026. After the T20 World Cup title, Shubman Gill-led India defeated Zimbabwe 4-1 in the five-match T20I series before Suryakumar was appointed as Men in Blue’s shortest format captain. Under his leadership, India decimated Sri Lanka and Bangladesh by an identical margin of 3-0 before heading to the Rainbow Nation. In the ongoing series against South Africa, India head to Johannesburg with a 2-1 lead for the final T20I on Friday. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 November,2024 07:13 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSTeam India rising star Rinku Singh recently shared a video on his official social media handle in which he is giving his viewers a quick tour of his newly bought house. According to the sources and social media, the cricketer's new bungalow is located in Aligarh and is worth Rs. 3.5 crore. Taking to X 🚨Tour to Rinku Singh new house🚀 🏠 pic.twitter.com/eerFwrXg4x — KKR Vibe (@KnightsVibe) November 13, 2024 In the 2017 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Kings XI Punjab (KXIP)has the services of Rinku Singh. Later Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bought him for Rs. 80 lakhs. The explosive left-handed batsman was retained by KKR from 2019 to 2021. After IPL 2022, the left-hander showcased his prowess in the next season. In the IPL 2023 match against Gujarat Titans (GT), Rinku Singh played an unbeaten knock of 48 runs off just 21 deliveries. During his knock, he blasted 1 fours and 6 sixes. Five of those 6 sixes were smashed in a single over, following which he led the side to victory. Also Read: "Surya gave me an opportunity to bat at No 3 so wanted to repay his faith": Tilak Varma Yash Dayal was the bowler who conceded the most runs from Gujarat's dugout. Completing his quota of four overs, Dayal conceded 69 runs without claiming any wickets. Rinku Singh (474) ended the 2023 season as the highest run-scorer for Kolkata Knight Riders. Following his aggressive style of batting, the batter was retained by the franchise for a whopping Rs. 13 crore for the 2024 edition. The batsman is also a part of Team India for the ongoing four-match T20I series against South Africa. So far, the "Men in Blue" are leading the series by 2-1 against the Proteas with one match scheduled to play on November 15. In all the concluded three games, Rinku has departed early on low scores. In the first match, the left-hander returned to the pavilion after scoring 11 runs, followed by nine and eight runs, respectively in the second and third T20Is.
14 November,2024 01:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWhen Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav knocked on Tilak Varma's hotel room door to tell him that he would be batting at number three in the third T20I match against South Africa, the youngster was filled with gratitude and promised his skipper to make it big. Once he reached his 51-ball-century, second fifty coming in just 19 balls, Tilak Varma pointed towards the dug-out and blew a flying kiss to acknowledge his captain, who sacrificed his own batting position for the youngster. "It was for 'SKY', our skipper because he gave me a chance to bat at number three," Varma told reporters after India's 11-run win in the third T20I against South Africa. "I love batting at number three, but in last two matches, I played at number four. Last night he came to my room and said that 'You will bat No. 3' and he said it's a good opportunity. Go and express yourself. I told him, 'You have given me an opportunity, I will show you on the ground'", said the second youngest Indian centurion in T20 Internationals. Also Read: Hardik Pandya joins elite list of Indian cricketers Tilak Varma's unbeaten knock of 107 runs saw him smash 8 fours and 7 sixes. His knock came in 56 deliveries in which he also flicked six off the opposition's fastest bowler and his former Mumbai Indians teammate Gerald Coetzee. Varma was shouldered by Abhishek Sharma, who smashed a half-century. "The team backed us even when we flopped. They told us to play the brand of cricket Indian team is known for and the skipper and management (interim head coach VVS Laxman) said, "Bindaas khelna Agar wicket gire tab bhi (Play freely even if you lose a wicket)." Tilak Varma also opened up about missing out on two international tours of Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka due to back finger injuries but said that he knew he would score when his time came. "During the last IPL game, I had a finger dislocation and was ruled out for two months. Then during nets post recovery, I sustained another fracture. So I missed two back-to-back series, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. I was feeling bad that I missed out on two series and good opportunities. But I had to remain patient, focus on the process and keep working hard. I knew my time would come and when right time comes, I will score runs." Persistence of team management at times when going gets tough helps and Varma is reaping rewards for that. "I was waiting for this opportunity and unfortunately in the last match it didn't happen but captain and management also supported a lot, and the results I am getting now is because of their complete backing."He is a handy off-spinner and feels that he has worked hard on his bowling as he wants to be seen as an all-rounder. "The ball is really coming out well and I have worked hard on my bowling. I want to contribute as an all-rounder." (With PTI Inputs)
14 November,2024 11:55 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIndia wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul has opened up on the animated chat between Lucknow Super Giants’ owner Sanjiv Goenka and him during the 2024 IPL when LSG were hammered by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). LSG were in a need of a big win over SRH to qualfiy for the playoffs, but the team suffered a humiliating 10-wicket loss. The LSG owner appeared visibly displeased after the match’s outcome and was seen engaged in an intense discussion with skipper Rahul along the boundary line at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Also Read: "I don’t expect him to shake hands": Ponting on Gautam Gambhir “As a team, we were all in shock because we were at the stage in that tournament where every game was very important. We had to win, I think, three out of five games or two out of the last four games. When this happened, it was just a big shock for all of us,” said Rahul on Star Sports. “Whatever happened on the field after the game wasn’t the nicest thing to be part of or something that anyone wants to see on the cricket field. I think it did affect the entire group. We still had a chance to make it into the playoffs. We had a chat as a team and tried to regroup, put everything aside, and try to put our best foot forward. We tried our best, but unfortunately, our best wasn’t good enough always. It was a bummer that we couldn’t really make the playoffs or win the season as we had hoped,” he added. Before the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India's KL Rahul recollected the days when he used to smash big sixes to prove himself as a big hitter. "I think I grew as an individual and as a player. As a youngster, I tried really hard to be someone I wasn't, trying to hit big sixes to prove I could. It just wasn't coming naturally. What changed for me was watching Rahul Dravid in one of the IPL seasons around 2011 or 2012. He stayed true to his technique, and he was one of the best batsmen," Rahul said on Star Sports. Further, KL Rahul stated that watching Team India's Rahul Dravid and New Zealand's Kane Williamson bat, made him realize that he doesn't need to try so hard. "Seeing him do well in one-day and T20 cricket without changing his game changed something in me. I also spent time with Kane Williamson at SRH. He didn't get many chances, but he'd still go back and play amazing white-ball innings for New Zealand. Watching Dravid and Williamson, I realized I didn't need to try so hard. I had certain gifts I could use in T20 cricket to find success", added KL. (With Agencies Inputs)
14 November,2024 10:38 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs Australia grapples with a tight international schedule, cricket legend Mark Waugh foresees a future where One-Day International (ODI) cricket is largely reserved for major tournaments like the ICC World Cup and Champions Trophy. Also Read: Pakistan should stop playing cricket with India: Rashid Latif Waugh, reflecting on Australia’s recent 1-2 ODI series loss to Pakistan with a second-string side, has voiced a realistic yet bittersweet prediction: “Given the scheduling of all these T20 tournaments around now and with scheduling, it’s squeezing out 50-over bilateral series. Obviously, it’s a great thing to play for your country, you don’t want to disrespect that. But by the same token, you want to be playing for something that’s a bit more than just a three-game series thrown in the middle of all these other tournaments and series. I think it will get phased out. I think that’s probably the way to go,” said Waugh. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 November,2024 08:07 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSFormer wicket-keeper batter Rashid Latif says if had the power he would not let Pakistan play against India in any tournament and also suggested that ICC should not grant the hosting rights of global events to both countries until they resolve their issues. Also Read: "Carey, Rishabh is aggressive, game will go on one or two ways quickly": Aaron Finch The BCCI has refused to send its team to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy and there speculation that the entire tournament could be moved out of the country. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) asking for a written confirmation from the BCCI for India’s inability to travel to Pakistan for the tournament. “There’s a big possibility that Pakistan can stop playing cricket against India. Had I been in power, then, yes, I may have taken this strong step. I would not blame anyone for this. If you don’t want to play [in Pakistan], then don’t play against us [at all],” Latif, known for his plain speak, told PTI Videos. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 November,2024 08:04 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
