Team India under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav is all set to lock horns with South Africa for the four-match T20I series with the IND vs SA 1st T20I set to be played at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Cricket Stadium. Ahead of the IND vs SA 1st T20I, the "Men in Blue" have included three uncapped players in the squad, Yash Dayal, Vyshak Vijaykumar and Ramandeep Singh. Additionally, throughout the T20I series, the Indian players will eye several records which will be exciting to watch. One of the major records which will be in people's sight will be of Arshdeep Singh. The pacer is quite a few wickets shy from becoming India's leading wicket-taker in the format. On the other hand, all-rounder Mihlali Mpongwana has received his maiden call-up to the South African squad. Along with him uncapped all-rounder Andile Simelane, who was previously a part of the squad that toured the United Arab Emirates in September. Also Read: Banning of cell phones in dressing room may have upset some players, says ex-coach Sandeep Patil in new book With the IND vs SA 1st T20I just a few hours shy, Team India will miss the services of their lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah. The veteran has been rested as later in the month, the side will travel to Australia for the iconic "Border-Gavaskar Trophy". After suffering a Test series whitewash against New Zealand at home, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir won't be travelling to South Africa. VVS Laxman has been appointed as the stand-in coach for the South Africa tour.Ahead of the T20I series against India, South Africa coach Rob Walter said, "It’s both an exciting and important series for us as we continue to build towards the T20 World Cup in 2026. The squad has a nice mix of youth and experience, and I am looking forward to seeing us deliver some quality performances against a very attacking Indian T20 outfit." Squads: India T20I squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal. South Africa T20I squad: Aiden Markram (c), Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Patrick Kruger, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Mihlali Mpongwana, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton.
08 November,2024 11:15 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBangladesh's veteran Mushfiqur Rahim is set to miss the remainder of the ODI series against Afghanistan as he sustained a finger injury in the opening match. Bangladesh lost the first ODI against Afghanistan by 92 runs as they failed to chase the total of 235 runs posted by the Afghans. Ahead of the second ODI match, Bangladesh's physio Delowar Hossain revealed that Mushfique Rahim fractured his left index finger towards the end of Afghanistan's batting. "Towards the end of Afghanistan's batting innings, Mushfiqur injured the tip of his left Index finger while keeping wickets," team physio Delowar Hossain said in a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) statement. "An X-ray after the match has confirmed a fracture on his left Index near the DIP joint. He is under conservative management and is not available for the second and third ODIs. Further updates on his condition and expected recovery period will be provided in due course," Hossain added. Also Read: Can India’s T20 fringe players step out of the shadows? Mushfiqur Rahim's thumb fracture was the reason for which he was forced to pull out of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in March. With Bangladesh trailing 1-0 in the three-match series, a replacement hasn't been named for the seasoned wicketkeeper. With Litton Das on the sidelines due to fever, Jaker Ali is expected to take the wicketkeeping duties. Mushfiqur Rahim's injury has also put him in doubt for the West Indies series. Once they conclude with the Afghanistan series, the "Bengal Tigers" will lock horns with the Caribbeans for a multi-format series. The multi-format tour, consisting of two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is later this month. With Mushfiqur retired from the T20I format in 2022, his availability in the Test and ODI series remains uncertain. After the ongoing series concludes on November 11, Bangladesh will fly to the Caribbean before the first Test kicking off in North Sound on November 22. Bangladesh are yet to name the squads for the multi-format tour. Before beginning a gruelling tour, Bangladesh will look to level the series in the second ODI, which will be played on Saturday with the Sharjah Cricket Stadium playing host to the enticing match. (With IANS Inputs)
08 November,2024 11:02 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
India's transition phase continues, and with it comes a fresh batch of hopefuls, all scrambling for a piece of the limelight. Their second-string players like Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, who have been on the fringes for a while, will now be given their golden opportunity in the South Africa T20I series starting Friday. This will be their chance to shed the label of being mere sidekicks and elevate themselves to the ranks of first-choice players in the Indian T20I setup. Naturally, this will be an important series—though, for the most part, it could feel like a few promising players hoping to make some noise before everyone forgets about them again. Let’s start with Sanju Samson, the man who’s been a part of India’s T20I plans for what feels like an eternity but never truly cemented a permanent spot. The most recent T20I series against Bangladesh was supposed to be a sign of things to come. It was in that series, after a lifetime of false starts, that Samson was allowed to open the batting consistently. And, of course, Samson did what Samson does best—flashes brilliance when it’s most needed. Case in point: a scintillating 111 from 47 balls against Bangladesh, which made everyone sit up and take notice. Now, in the post-Rohit Sharma era, Samson finds himself in a position where he has to prove his worth again. A string of solid performances against South Africa would help him solidify his claim for a permanent opening spot in the T20Is. But then again, we’ve heard this story before. Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma, the explosive left-hander who has made a name for himself in domestic circles, is equally desperate to break free from the ‘promising but inconsistent’ tag. Also Read: Spin curse struck India Sure, he tore into Zimbabwe in July with a sparkling 47-ball century, but let’s not get carried away. His other six international innings—0, 10, 14, 16, 15, and 4—barely inspire confidence. Sharma, who has been inconsistent at best, must now strive to prove that he can do more than just a one-off standout performance. He needs to show that he has the mental fortitude and consistency to be a fixture on the T20I side. It’s not like consistency has ever been the calling card of this team anyway. Perhaps, a few decent runs against South Africa and a more penetrative performance with his left-arm spin might just do the trick. Then, there is Tilak Varma, who had a somewhat promising start to his T20I career but has since faded into the background like a forgotten note in a concert. His early performances against the West Indies last year created a bit of a buzz, but since then, it has been a string of underwhelming outings. After 12 appearances, including one half-century, Varma has barely been able to spark any real momentum. Now, even though he has started to experiment with his off-spin, his place in the T20I squad is as uncertain as ever. This series against South Africa, then, represents a last-chance saloon for him. If he doesn’t make an impression here, we might be looking at another lost talent, languishing in the periphery of Indian cricket. Jitesh Sharma, the wicketkeeper-batter who once seemed to have an outside chance of making it big in the T20I squad, now finds himself several rungs down the pecking order. He has been passed over in favour of others, and the IPL has been no help either. But this series, once again, presents him with the opportunity to make a statement. If he manages to string together a few good performances, he might just find himself back in the selectors' good books. Similarly, Varun Chakravarthy, the mystery spinner who once had the cricketing world on edge with his 'mystical' deliveries, will need to prove that his recent spell against Bangladesh—where he took five wickets—was not just a flash in the pan. Chakravarthy, who has always been known for his enigmatic bowling, will now face a litmus test: Can he back up his occasional brilliance with sustained performances? While the second-stringers are frantically trying to make their mark, the new-look pace attack—featuring Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Vyshak Vijaykumar, and Yash Dayal—will also be under the spotlight. Arshdeep and Avesh have had their moments at the international level, but they have also shown that they are prone to the occasional bout of mediocrity. On the other hand, Vyshak and Dayal are largely unknown quantities at the international level, despite their decent performances in domestic cricket and the IPL. They will now be expected to carry that form forward and prove that they can handle the pressure of the big stage. If they do well, it will be seen as a triumph for Indian fast bowling. And let's not forget Ramandeep Singh, the all-rounder who made waves in IPL 2024 and was promptly retained by Kolkata Knight Riders. He is being billed as someone with multiple skill sets—an aggressive batter, a medium pacer, and a gun outfield fielder. But all he needs now is to prove that he can deliver under pressure. He might look impressive in the domestic circuit, but translating that success to the international stage is a whole different ballgame. Then there are the veterans—Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel—who will be hoping for a strong series after India’s disappointing home defeat to New Zealand. The focus will inevitably be on the emerging players, but these seasoned campaigners know the stakes are high, and a slip-up here would only deepen the wounds from the recent series loss. On a personal level, there are four players—Arshdeep, Avesh, Jitesh, and Vyshak—who will be eyeing big performances here after failing to get retained by their respective IPL franchises ahead of the 2024 mega auction. With the IPL auction just around the corner, these players know that their future in the franchise-based format depends on their international performances. This series, therefore, represents not just an opportunity for national glory, but also a chance to secure lucrative contracts in the upcoming IPL season. The pressure is on, but can they handle it? Or will they crumble under the weight of expectations?
08 November,2024 10:46 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWithin six months of being appointed coach of the Indian team, I lost my job. My 1983 World Cup colleague S Madan Lal took over from me. I kept wondering what I had done wrong. I discharged my duties honestly, and to the best of my abilities. One day, the penny dropped. I realised that I was coaching the Indian team, and not Madhya Pradesh, whose players were trying to establish themselves. Got a little carried away Here, there were big stars. I was a hard coach, which was a mistake. Clearly, I faltered while handling established players, because my stand was wrong. I got a little carried away by my success with MP, India A, and India U-19. The Indian national team is a totally different proposition. You have to handle each senior player differently. The side I had to coach comprised seniors like skipper (Mohammed) Azharuddin, (Sachin) Tendulkar, (Anil) Kumble and (Javagal) Srinath, along with several youngsters. Also Read: "Indian cricket in general is really special": New Zealand captain Tom Latham C Nagaraj, the manager on the 1996 tour of England, also accused me of not handling the team properly. I accept that charge, as it is a fair one to make. I deserved to be censured for not discharging my duties as a coach effectively. The manager has the right to make these charges, but accusing me of something that I hadn’t done (serving refreshments to the players’ wives) was nonsense. That came back to haunt me in a sense when Farokh Engineer accused the selectors of serving tea to Virat Kohli’s wife Anushka (Sharma) during the 2019 World Cup in England. Back in 1996 Back to our 1996 tour. We then travelled to the Netherlands and won both the one-dayers. The Sahara Cup at Toronto was our next assignment, and we lost 2-3. In some ways, it was a joke. Some players would discuss strange things, and even drink my alcohol. l banned the use of mobile phones in England because there were things that could not be explained. What we used to discuss in the team meetings was totally different from what actually happened during play. The batting order would be reshuffled for no reason, without discussion. Azhar would go down the order, and a lower-order batsman would be promoted. I told him that I was the coach, and he ought to at least discuss his thoughts with me, so that I could make some suggestions. I tried to assure him that I was not there to oppose his decisions. I think the banning of mobile phones in the dressing rooms did not go down well with the team. Mr. JY Lele (BCCI Joint Secretary) informed me about my sacking, and said that I had failed to manage the team properly. They took the decision going by Nagaraj’s England tour report; probably giving that more importance than the disappointing one-day performances in Sri Lanka and Canada. I hear six to seven players signed a letter to the BCCI, calling for my removal. Lele told me this on the phone, and I know who signed that letter. Excepted with permission from Beyond Boundaries by Sandeep Patil with Clayton Murzello, edited by Sonali Velinker Kamat, published by Global Cricket School.
08 November,2024 10:25 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentMumbai's promising opener Prithvi Shaw, 24, who lost his place in the Ranji Trophy squad after the Maharashtra game last month, looked determined to get his fitness back. Also Read: Shreyas Iyer makes strong statement with double ton When Mumbai were fielding against Odisha in the afternoon session in their Elite Group ‘A’ Ranji Trophy match on Day Two at MCA-BKC ground on Thursday, Shaw was seen utilising his time by running on a track near the ground. He spent over half an hour doing sprints and running drills under the observation of Mumbai Cricket Association’s trainer Amogh Pandit. He was even seen acknowledging Mumbai players who were fielding near the boundary ropes. The Sanjay Patil-led selection committee left Shaw out of the 16-member team picked for their third league match against Tripura.Also Read: Ranji Trophy 2024-25 | 'Little overweight, disciplinary issues': Prithvi Shaw's omission from Mumbai squad involves factors beyond just fitness As quoted by Times of India (TOI), Greg Chappell wrote a letter to Prithvi Shaw by saying the Mumbai's squad snub could become Shaw career's turning point. "Hi Prithvi, I understand you're facing a challenging time right now, being out of the Mumbai team. It;s natural to feel frustrated and perhaps a bit uncertain, but I want you to know that these moments are often the turning points for athletes, helping to shape both their careers and their character. I remember watching you play for India;s under-19 team, where you showcased an extraordinary talent and a spark that made it clear you were among the most exciting young cricketers of your time. Those of us who recognize your potential are still kneely watching your journey, knowing that the best is yet to come", Greg Chappell wrote in a letter to Prithvi Shaw. "Remember, setbacks are a part of every great athlete's story Even legends like Don Bradman experienced being dropped and having to fight their way back. What made them great was not avoiding challenges, but how they responded to them. In my own career, being dropped was one of the most humbling yet valuable experiences. It forced me to review every aspect of my game and, more importantly, my approach. I learned that my attitude, resilience, and willingness to improve mattered more than raw talent alone. I realized that I often got myself out by letting distractions or self-doubt interfere, and that wasn't going to change unless I took full responsibility", Chappell wrote in his letter. "So I made a commitment to myself. I'd focus on one ball at a time, really seeing each delivery and responding in the moment. I trained not just for skill, but to strengthen my mindset, learning to judge my practice sessions by how well I stayed present and focused on each ball. That shift from results-focused to process-focused transformed my approach to both practice and games. I encourage you to take a similar journey of self-reflection. It's easy to blame circumstances, but ultimately, your response to these challenges will define your path. Elite athletes know that discipline and sacrifice are essential. It's about honing not just your physical game, but your lifestyle, from diet to fitness, with the understanding that the pain of discipline is far less than the pain of regret," Greg Chappell wrote. "The past doesn't define you. Prithvi. It's what you do from here that matters. You're still in your prime, with so many years ahead to make your mark. Take this time to visualize the cricketer and person you want to become. Surround yourself with people who inspire you to improve. "Take care of your body, get the right amount of rest, and build the strength and focus you need. The door back to the Indian team is open if you're willing to walk through it, but it takes a commitment to growth and change," the former Australian added in the letter. "Know that I and many others believe in you and are here to support your journey back to the top. If there's ever a way I can help or if you have questions, don't hesitate to reach out. You have everything within you to reach your full potential. Wishing you all the best on this journey. Regards, Greg".
08 November,2024 10:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureThe 1983 World Cup-winning Team India player Sandeep Patil feels that John Wright's approach of giving a free hand to players led to his successful coaching stint with India, which his successors Anil Kumble and Greg Chappell failed to reproduce. In his autobiography, "Beyond Boundaries" launched on Wednesday, Sandeep Patil has given deep insights about the reason behind John Wright's success as India's coach versus that of Chappell and Kumble. The book has been co-authored by Mid-Day's senior journalist Clayton Murzello. Patil was privy to several developments of the tumultuous Chappell era as he used to attend selection and board meetings in his capacity as the then India A coach. "Since 2000, India have had an array of international coaches and support staff. This has paid rich dividends, because India's overseas record has improved steadily. It all started with John Wright becoming India's first foreign coach. "I think John was the ideal coach for India. He was soft spoken, polite, well-mannered, always kept to himself, and was happy to be in Sourav Ganguly's shadow. "In addition to all that, he kept a distance from the Press. He managed that so well, that he was hardly in the news " unlike what happened in the Greg Chappell years," Sandeep Patil wrote in his book. Also Read: IND vs SA 1st T20I: Team India eye positive start in Durban "With Chappell, he was in the news every day. It is very important for a coach to first understand the policy of that particular board, the thinking of the board members, and the President. He should have a good rapport with the President and the Secretary, and of course the captain and the team. John did that wonderfully." Patil observed that every player was equal and the team came first for Wright. "...during his tenure, there was no 'seniors' and juniors' business. It was one team. He believed all seniors were leaders in some way, He gave them respect, and a free hand, which l feel Anil Kumble didn't do. Greg Chappell too," he wrote. Further, Sandeep Patil stated that Greg Chappell's aggressive approach did not suit Team India's dressing room. "Greg is a very strong personality; very aggressive. The moment Jagmohan Dalmiya said you have a free hand, he thought that he can change everything overnight. John waited, and learnt the system. Greg wanted to change the entire system, the entire thinking, and the selection process," Patil elaborated. "He introduced flexibility in the Indian team, and he spoiled things for Rahul Dravid, who took over from Ganguly as captain. Irfan (Pathan) was asked to move up the order. Seniors don't like to change numbers, whether it is Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid, or Virender Sehwag." "The other issue in the Greg Chappell saga was the presence of Ian Fraser as Assistant Coach. Most players didn't like his presence." Patil said Chappell was in a hurry to introduce the Australian culture in the Indian system. "Greg wanted to introduce the Australian culture, the Australian way of playing cricket, and the Australian way of thinking. He could've done it, but he didn't bide his time. That's where I think the rift started, and he was against a few seniors who were not toeing the line." "Sourav is not a guy who will get up and start running and doing stretches. You need to give him time. I think Greg rubbed seniors the wrong way, though a few seniors didn't speak openly about him - some like Kumble still haven't. It's the same with Dravid. Ironically, Ganguly got him in, but was instrumental in his exit," he wrote. Sandeep Patil in his book wrote that Gary Kirsten turned out to be the most successful Indian coach because of his closeness with the players. "Gary Kirsten was very successful - you could say most successful because his squad won the 2011 World Cup. Gary, again, was well-respected and soft-spoken. He had played against the same players and got runs. This counts, in a way. "Having played in India, he knew what to expect. He also stayed away from the Press, and gave all his 24 hours to the team," he wrote. (With PTI Inputs)
08 November,2024 09:32 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDhruv Jurel showcased his sound technique and cool temperament while wickets fell like ninepins at the other end in another shoddy batting display by India ‘A’ on the opening day of the second unofficial Test against Australia ‘A’ here on Thursday. Also Read: King, Carty help WI win ODI series v England Jurel (80 off 186 balls), who came to bat in the third over scored nearly half of India A’s paltry first innings total of 161 in 57.1 overs with only other batter to cross the 20-run mark was Devdutt Padikkal (26). Veteran KL Rahul (4), opening the batting, done in by a peach of a delivery from Scott Boland (1-51 in 15 overs). At stumps, Australia ‘A’ were 53-2. 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
08 November,2024 07:32 AM IST | Melbourne | PTIBrandon King and Keacy Carty blasted centuries as the West Indies scored a series-clinching eight-wicket win over England in the third ODI here on Wednesday. Also Read: Prithvi Shaw's fitness work in progress Replying to the visitors’ 263-8, King fell for 102 with victory in sight, but Carty finished on an unbeaten 128 as WI coasted home with seven overs to spare. 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
08 November,2024 07:31 AM IST | Bridgetown | AP | PTIOut of favour Test batsman Shreyas Iyer did just what is needed to send out a reminder that he can score big daddy hundreds. On Day Two of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group ‘A’ match on Thursday, Mumbai’s Iyer smashed 233 off 228 balls (24x4, 9x6) against Odisha at the Mumbai Cricket Association-Bandra Kurla Complex ground.Mumbai piled up a mammoth 602-4 declared to which in Odisha responded by scoring 146-5 at stumps. One-drop Siddhesh Lad, stayed unbeaten on 169, batting for over nine hours. It was Iyer’s second successive first-class century after scoring 142 against Maharashtra at the same ground last month. Lad, who resumed his innings on 116, hit his first four of the day after facing 47 balls when, Iyer had already hit four sixes and three fours. Iyer’s two effortless sixes over the cover fence off pacer Sunil Roul (0-125) were just a treat to watch. Also Read: "Farokh Engineer's accusation of selectors serving tea to Virat Kohli's wife Anushka haunted me": Sandeep Patil The right-handed Test batsman began his innings on 152, cautiously defending the first five balls of the day’s very first over bowled by pacer Debabrata Pradhan (0-85). He got his first runs with a huge six over the point boundary to finish the over. He reached 200 after facing just 37 balls on Thursday morning. Iyer’s double century came with a classic well-timed straight driven four off pacer Debabrata. Iyer and Lad, who shared a 231-run unbeaten stand for the fourth wicket on Wednesday, continued their dominance to register Mumbai’s highest fourth wicket partnership of 354 runs on Thursday. Current India Test captain Rohit Sharma was involved in Mumbai’s previous best fourth wicket stand when he and Sushant Marathe scored 342 against Gujarat at the Cricket Club of India in 2009-10. The visitors enjoyed some relief around 30 minutes before lunch, when left-arm spinner Harshit Rathod (1-136) succeeded in getting Iyer stumped through wicketkeeper Aasirwad Swain to break the partnership. “It feels amazing. Shreyas is back in form. We expect a lot from him. We all know about his talent. It’s good for Mumbai and him that he’s knocking on the door of the Indian team again,” said Lad. Brief scoresMumbai 602-4d (S Iyer 233, S Lad 169*, A Raghuvanshi 92, S Shedge 79*; B Samantray 2-57) v Odisha 146-5 (S Pattnaik 73*, A Sarangi 39; H Singh 2-22, S Mulani 2-52)
08 November,2024 07:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureNew Zealand skipper Tom Latham remained considerate even after the historic 3-0 Test series clean sweep against India recently, asserting that Rohit Sharma’s “quality” side have the ability to make a resounding comeback soon. The Kiwis, under Latham, became the first visiting side to whitewash India in a three-match home series, winning the Bangalore, Pune and Mumbai Tests. Also Read: "I have learnt from Rohit that in life, balance is important": Suryakumar Yadav “Indian cricket in general is really special. We’ve played against them a lot. The guys play with them at the IPL. They were certainly gracious in defeat and they’re still a quality side,” Latham said after arriving here from India. “They certainly don’t become a bad team overnight and I’m sure they’ll turn things around in time,” he added. Latham said the series victory became much sweeter because New Zealand suffered a 0-2 defeat against Sri Lanka before landing in India. “When we were in Sri Lanka a few weeks, where things didn’t necessarily go our way, so, I think it makes these times extra special when you’re able to achieve something that hasn’t been achieved before. “It is just about enjoying everyone’s company, celebrating together. We had a couple of extra days to recover over there, so that was great,” he said. 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
08 November,2024 07:16 AM IST | Wellington | PTISuryakumar Yadav is a big fan of Rohit Sharma’s leadership philosophy that inspires him to keep his flock together by understanding his players’ psyche and find balance when the chips are down. Surya, who took over as India’s shortest format skipper after the victorious T20 World Cup campaign, admitted that he followed “Rohit’s captaincy route” of spending a lot of time with his team off the field, which then reflects in their on-field performance. Obviously, he has “customised” it as per his leadership needs. ‘Balance is important in life’ “I have learnt from him [Rohit] that in life, balance is important, after doing well, even if you lose, your character should not change. This is one quality a sportsman should have,” Suryakumar said on the eve of the first T20I against South Africa when asked about India’s 0-3 defeat to New Zealand. For Suryakumar, Rohit is not just a captain, but a leader too. “A leader is one who decides how his team plays a particular format,” said the world’s premier T20 batter. Also Read: "Indian batters not training enough against spin": Herschelle Gibbs They have played together — for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy and for Mumbai Indians in the IPL — for close to a decade and Rohit’s captaincy style has grown on him. “When I am on the ground, I keep noticing him. How his body language is and how he keeps calm and how he treats his bowlers, how he speaks to everyone on and off the field. I know how he treats his players, what he wants from them. That route I have also taken as he has been successful. Obviously, I have put my own masala in it [his own ideas]. It’s been going smooth,” he said with a laughed. Meanwhile, as Team India firmly embraces a transition phase, a clutch of second line stars such as Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma will be hoping for a breakaway series in the four T20Is against South Africa, starting with the first contest here on Friday. It is imperative for them to shed the tag of sidekicks and establish themselves as first-choice players in this format. The recent home T20I series against Bangladesh was like a precursor. Samson got the chance to open consistently against the neighbours, and made the most of it, slamming a 47-ball 111. In the post-Rohit era in T20Is, Samson would like to further buttress his claim for a regular opening slot with a few fruitful outings against the Proteas. Abhishek needs to shine This is an important series for Abhishek as well. The dashing left-hander showed his impressive skills while hammering a 47-ball hundred against Zimbabwe at Harare in July, but his other six international innings have produced 0, 10, 14, 16, 15, 4. The selectors will also closely monitor how a new-look pace bowling unit — Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Vyshak Vijaykumar and Yash Dayal — fare against South Africa. South Africa will be looking to add a touch of revenge to the series after losing to India in the T20 World Cup final in June, the last time these two sides met. 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
08 November,2024 07:13 AM IST | Durban | PTIADVERTISEMENT
