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Tag: Virat Kohli

  • IND vs BAN: Rohit Sharma’s Superstitious Bail Switching Act Goes Viral- WATCH | cricket news

    IND vs BAN: Indian captain Rohit Sharma, known for his entertaining antics on and off the field, was spotted in a rather superstitious mood during the first Test match against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The 37-year-old skipper, with a mischievous smile, was seen switching the bails at the striker’s end, seemingly casting a “spell” to influence the game’s outcome. Though it’s unclear whether this occurred during the first or second innings, the moment quickly went viral, drawing attention from fans and pundits alike.

    Rohit’s playful act is reminiscent of a similar moment involving former captain Virat Kohli, who switched bails during a match when India was struggling to take wickets. Such superstitions, though light-hearted, reflect the quirky traditions that cricketers often indulge in to alter the course of a game. The video of Rohit’s antics has spread rapidly on social media, with fans sharing their reactions to his light-hearted approach.

    The win you know, the juju you don’t pic.twitter.com/JPETlsRsGn — S(@Iwillhuntuhdown) September 22, 2024

    A Tough Test for Rohit Sharma

    While Rohit’s off-field antics brought some cheer, his on-field performance in the first Test was less than stellar. Coming into the match on the back of a solid ODI series against Sri Lanka, the Indian captain struggled with the bat, scoring just six runs in the first innings and five in the second. Despite his personal struggles, Rohit remained upbeat, rallying his team and making tactical decisions that kept India in control.

    Shubman Gill Shines as India Secures a Dominant Victory

    Despite Rohit and Kohli’s underwhelming performances, India’s younger stars and all-rounders stepped up to the challenge. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja provided crucial runs when India was under pressure in the first innings, with Ashwin scoring a century and Jadeja contributing 86 valuable runs. Their efforts helped India recover from early setbacks and build a commanding position in the match.

    In the second innings, it was the turn of the next generation to shine. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant showcased their class with sensational centuries that set the tone for India’s mammoth target of 515 runs. Gill, in particular, continued his impressive form, playing with a mix of aggression and composure that bodes well for India’s future in Test cricket. His century was a masterclass in stroke play, underlining his status as one of India’s most promising young talents.

    Looking Ahead: India vs Bangladesh 2nd Test

    With a comprehensive 280-run win in the first Test, India has taken a 1-0 lead in the series. Despite individual batting failures, the collective team effort, bolstered by the all-round performances of Ashwin, Jadeja, Pant, and Gill, ensured India’s dominance. The second Test is set to commence on September 27 at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that the squad will remain unchanged for the next match.

    India will look to continue their winning momentum, while Rohit Sharma will aim to bounce back and contribute with the bat. Fans will be eager to see if the captain’s superstitious rituals continue to play a role, and if India’s young guns, led by Shubman Gill, can once again rise to the occasion.

  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz Surpasses Babar Azam, Equals Virat Kohli’s Record with Seventh ODI Century | cricket news

    AFG vs SA: Afghanistan’s explosive opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz surpassed Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and equaled India stalwart Virat Kohli’s record for scoring most ODI centuries before turning 23. It was Gurbaz who laid a solid foundation for Afghanistan to seal a historic ODI series win over South Africa. . Their first series win against a top-five-ranked team in the ICC standings.

    Gurbaz added another dimension to the game and derailed South Africa’s bowling plan in the second ODI in Sharjah. He breezed past South African bowlers effortlessly while relying on his impeccable stroke play to pick up boundaries. He raced to his seventh ODI century for Afghanistan, the most scored by any batsman in the nation. He also surpassed Babar, who garnered six centuries before turning 23 in the ODI format.

    Gurbaz now stands level with Kohli, who also struck seven hundred in the 50-over format before turning 23.

    With the third ODI to be played on Sunday, Gurbaz will have the opportunity to go level with ‘Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar and South Africa’s Quinton de Kock. Both batsmen racked up a whopping eight centuries in the ODI format before turning 23.

    Apart from notching up his seventh ODI century, Gurbaz forged a crucial 88-run opening partnership with Riaz Hassan. Throughout his stay at the crease, Gurbaz scored boundaries according to his will and found the ideal support from his compatriots.

    Scoring at a strike rate of 95.45, Gurbaz amassed 105 runs off 110 deliveries, laced with 10 fours and three maximums. His flourishing time on the crease ended after Nandre Burger’s delivery breached past Gurbaz’s tired-looking shot and crashed onto the stumps.

    After his departure, Azmatullah Omarzai played an influential cameo of 86*(50) to propel Afghanistan’s score to 311/4.

    In reply, South Africa fell short in front of Rashid Khan’s spin magic and succumbed to a 177-run defeat. Rashid, who was dealing with a hamstring injury during his nine-over spell, picked up a five-wicket haul while giving away just 19 runs.

    After taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, Afghanistan and South Africa will play the third ODI on Sunday at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

  • Sarfaraz Khan Recalls Virat Kohli’s Famous Pre Match Ritual From 2015 Ahead Of IND vs BAN Test Series | cricket news

    Sarfaraz Khan has expressed his excitement about the prospect of sharing the Indian team’s dressing room with the legendary Virat Kohli during the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which begins on Thursday, September 19, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

    While Sarfaraz has previously shared a dressing room with Kohli during his stint with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), he is particularly thrilled about the opportunity to do so with the Indian national team. Kohli was not part of Sarfaraz’s debut international series earlier this year against England due to personal reasons. However, both players have been selected for the squad for the first Test against Bangladesh.

    “His passion and spirit are unmatched. Whenever I saw him, even in the pre-match meetings, he’d take charge and tell everyone how many runs he’d score off a particular bowler and break that down for everyone. To be gutsy enough to stand up and talk with such positivity in front of everyone and then deliver the next day is a very unique ability,” Sarfaraz told JioCinema. (‘Different Style But No…’: Rohit Sharma On Gautam Gambhir-Led Coaching Staff Compared To Rahul Dravid)

    “I met him at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for the first time. I had scored 45 runs in 21 balls here and he bowed to me. I had a lot of fun that day. It was a dream to share an Indian team dressing room. with him it will come true in the future if I get the opportunity,” he added.

    Sarfaraz made his international debut for India during the home Test series against England this year which Virat missed due to birth of his second child. In three matches, Sarfaraz has scored 200 runs at an average of 50.00, with three fifties in five innings and best score of 68*.

    The two-match series between India and Bangladesh will kick off on September 19 in Chennai at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The second long-format game will begin on September 27 in Kanpur. In his first Test assignment, head coach Gautam Gambhir will be keen on securing a series win.

    For Rohit Sharma’s side, this series against Bangladesh will be followed by New Zealand’s tour of India for three Tests starting from October 16, and then the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia from November 22.

    India’s squad for the 1st Test against Bangladesh: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel , Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal.

  • India vs Bangladesh: IND vs BAN Test Match Preview, Head To Head Stats, Full Squads, Records- Check Details Here | cricket news

    IND vs BAN: The stage is set for another exciting chapter in the India-Bangladesh cricket rivalry, as both teams gear up for a two-match Test series, starting on Thursday, September 19, at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This will be the third Test series between the two nations on Indian soil and the ninth overall. India’s dominance in this fixture has been evident over the years, and they will be keen to maintain their stronghold in the upcoming series.

    India vs Bangladesh Test: Head-to-Head

    Historically, India has been the superior team in the Test format against Bangladesh. Out of the 13 Test matches played between the two sides, India has claimed victory in 11, with two matches ending in a draw. Bangladesh, on the other hand, has yet to register a win in Test cricket against India, a record they will be eager to change.

    India has won seven out of the eight previous series between the two nations, with the other series ending in a draw. With India in pursuit of securing a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, this series holds significant importance for Rohit Sharma and his men. A convincing performance here could provide a boost to their WTC campaign.

    Bangladesh Thrashed Pakistan Recently

    Although Bangladesh is yet to taste victory in this fixture, they arrive with confidence, having secured a historic clean sweep series win over Pakistan recently. The visitors will be banking on the form of key players like Nahid Rana and Mehidy Hasan Raza, who played instrumental roles in their success against Pakistan. This young Bangladeshi team will look to carry that momentum into the series and push India to the limit.

    IND vs BAN: Key Stats And Records

    India and Bangladesh’s Test encounters have produced some memorable individual performances. Here’s a glance at the key stats that define the rivalry:

    Matches Played: 13 India Wins: 11 Bangladesh Wins: 0 Draws: 2 Ties: 0

    IND vs BAN: Top performers

    Leading Run-Scorer Sachin Tendulkar leads the charts with 820 runs against Bangladesh, a testament to his consistency and dominance over the years.

    Leading Wicket-Taker Zaheer Khan, with 31 wickets, remains India’s most successful bowler in this contest, having delivered some match-winning spells.

    Highest Team Total India’s highest team total in this fixture came in Hyderabad in 2017, when they posted a commanding 687/6 declared.

    Lowest Team Total Bangladesh’s lowest Test total against India is 91, recorded in Dhaka in 2000, reflecting India’s bowling superiority.

    Highest Individual Score Sachin Tendulkar also holds the record for the highest individual score in this contest, with his unbeaten 248 in Dhaka in 2004.

    Best Bowling Figures (Innings) Zaheer Khan’s 7/87 in Dhaka in 2010 remains the best individual bowling performance in an innings between the two sides.

    Best Bowling Figures (Match) Irfan Pathan’s impressive 11/96 in Dhaka in 2004 is the best match haul in the series.

    India vs Bangladesh: Test squads

    India (1st Test): Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant (Wicket-keeper), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Md. Siraj, Akash Deep, Yash Dayal

    Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicket-keeper), Litton Kumer Das (wk), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan. , Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Jaker Ali Anik

    Important Series For World Test Championship

    With the World Test Championship standings hanging in the balance, both teams will have more than just pride to play for. India will look to assert their dominance and secure maximum points, while Bangladesh will aim to make history by winning their first-ever Test match against India.

  • ‘Virat Kohli Played Under My Captaincy’: Tejashwi Yadav On Prashant Kishor’s ‘9th Fail’ Remark |

    RJD leader and former Deputy CM of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav often faces opposition flak for his educational qualification. Rivals like Prashant Kishor did not miss an opportunity to question Yadav’s credential that makes him fit to hold the post of Bihar Dy CM or future CM apart from the fact that he is son of former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav. Political analyst Kishor who has now launched a political outfit Jan Suraj has vigorously criticised Yadav from time to time. Now, in an interview with Zee News Bihar/Jharkhand, Tejashwi gave it back to Kishor.

    Speaking to the Zee media, Tejashwi Yadav said that when he was playing cricket, top players like Virat Kohli played under his captaincy. “I was a cricketer and no one talks about it. Virat Kohli played in my captaincy -did anyone ever talk about it? Why don’t they do so? As a professional, I played a good cricket. Many Team India players are my batchmates. I had to quit as my both ligaments were fractured. Let it be. There are many brokers of the BJP including political parties and leaders whom the party fields during election seasons against me,” said Yadav. Tejashwi Yadav had earlier said that when he was leading Delhi’s under-15 and under-17 team, Kohli was part of the team.

    Brushing asides Prashant Kishor’s allegations, Tejashwi Yadav said that such optics are not going to work in Bihar as people of the state are clever enough to ‘rub turmeric on flying bird’ – a popular slang to indicate that people of Bihar know true motives behind public statements. 

    Bihar has been witnessing an unstable political situation with CM Nitish Kumar often swtiching sides between the BJP and the RJD. This has significantly affected the Bihar’s growth and development work. The state will now go to the polls around October-November this year where the RJD-Congress will look to win a majority on their own so to avoid a dependence on Nitish Kumar. On the other hand, the BJP will look to maxmize its seats to gain the upper hand in the state.

  • Exclusive | Pakistan Voting Against Jay Shah Will Have Implications: Danish Kaneria | cricket news

    Bangladesh recently scripted test history by outplaying Pakistan 2-0 series, recording a comprehensive victory by restricting the hosts to 172 in the second innings of the second Test. The Bangla Tigers achieved the target of 185 with four wickets remaining, finishing their series victory in style. A lot of fans and former cricketers castigated the Pakistan team for their below-average performance against Bangladesh. In the list of unhappy former cricketers, one name that stood out the most was Danish Kaneria who has taken 261 wickets in Test for Pakistan and was one of the crafty leg spinners the world has ever seen.

    In an exclusive conversation with ZEE News, Kaneria highlighted the reasons why Pakistan lost against Bangladesh. He also spoke about the current scenario of the Pakistan team.

    “This discussion has been going on for the past fortnight the way Bangladesh defeated Pakistan on their home soil is very shameful. Pakistan has given so many star players over a while but the way they got outplayed by Bangladesh is disgraceful. Bangladesh batted well, bowled well and their team selection was also good. They came up with a proper plan and executed it in a sleek manner. Pakistan team failed to exploit their home conditions and they looked clueless against Bangladesh that too on their home soil. This is the sheer downfall of Pakistan cricket.”

    Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria did not mince his words and bluntly targeted the Pakistan Cricket Board for spoiling the cricketing ecosystem. He feels the system is responsible for everything.

    “I think we should not blame players, it is the system that has been failing time and again and as a result, Pakistan cricket is going down. Pakistan Cricket Board is only focusing towards PSL rather they should take domestic cricket seriously. They have made Test cricket secondary. Their downfall started when they removed Sarfaraz Ahmed from captaincy, he was a perfect skipper. There has been a lot of politics going on in the Pakistan Cricket Board and as a result, the aura, and the ambiance of the team have been pathetic”, Kaneria said.

    Kaneria said that the ongoing politics and people with vested interests have spoiled Pakistan cricket. “They told Shaheen that he is the biggest bowler and without him, it’s not possible for them to win matches. Talking about Shan Masood, as a player it’s difficult for him to get a place in the playing XI. He has not been consistent with the bat over the years and you made him the captain. They asked Shaheen to take up the captaincy and later removed him. If we lose a series then we will make a pure playing XI captain, Shaan Masood needs to go back to domestic cricket, learn how to do captaincy and then come back to play for the national side. Kaneria added.

    Kaneria also shared his school of thoughts on the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi. According to Kaneria, Naqvi does not deserve to hold the post. He dissected his statements by referring to former PCB chairmen.

    “The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Mohsin Naqvi does not deserve to hold the post. When I used to play for Pakistan, I saw chairmen who had a great vision of uplifting Pakistan cricket. Arif Ali Khan Abbasi who used to head the Pakistan Cricket Board was a great administrator. He used to handle the team in a smooth manner. You should select someone as the chairman who at least knows about cricket”, the 43-year-old told ZEE News.

    The former Pakistan spinner reckons that the Indian team will not go to Pakistan to take part in the upcoming Champions Trophy. He said there are a lot of security concerns plus the infrastructure and facilities are not there to organize the Champions Trophy.

    “The Indian team will not go to Pakistan and they should not. There are a lot of security concerns. As per the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, the grounds are getting ready for the Champions Trophy which clearly states that currently, Pakistan does not have that infrastructure. See, the Indian team is one of the top tier teams across the world, why would they come to such a country that does not have even peeper international facilities?”

    Over a while, a lot of news and reports have surfaced which said that the Hindus of Pakistan are forced to convert to Islam. A lot of temples have been destroyed by the locals in Pakistan to torment Hindus. After being asked about the same, Kaneria agreed and said, “Yes, it happens. These are the reasons why India does not go to Pakistan. The conversion rate is way too high there. Pakistan needs to respect Hindus and other religions. A lot of temples in Pakistan have been sabotaged. If Pakistan wants to do well, they will have to get rid of their egos, they need to talk to BCCI on a friendly note. As of now, Pakistan always looks for topics to fight with India and this is not healthy at all.”

    Danish Kaneria praised BCCI Secretary and the newly made ICC Chairman, Jay Shah for his impeccable work with the Indian cricket. “Jay Shah has been doing a tremendous job with Indian cricket. The way he has evolved domestic cricket is commendable and this is the reason why he has been made the ICC chairman. There are a total of 16 members and 15 of them have voted for Jay Shah. Pakistan did not vote in Jay Shah’s favor and it will not make any difference to him. Pakistan should have voted for him in order to show that they want to have a healthy relationship with India. They are egoistic and this will have a major impact on Pakistan cricket. The BCCI produces 90% of revenue when it comes to cricket, and IPL is one of the richest franchise leagues in the world. Pakistan should have learned something and should have supported Jay Shah if they wanted to do well or host bigger events”, Kaneria stated.

    One of the major concerns why the Pakistan cricket team is consistently failing is Babar Azam’s poor form. The star batter has been going through a rough patch for quite some time now. According to Kaneria, “If Babar Azam wants to do well, he should keep aside that feeling that he is the best. People should not compare Babar with Virat. I mean there is no comparison. Virat is the legend of the game and he has been consistent for so many years now. Babar is nowhere in the race to get compared to Babar. Virat is the king of cricket. The system and administration of Pakistan cricket have spoiled Babar as he was constantly told by them that he is a legend and without him the team cannot function.”

    “Pakistan management should tell Babar to go, take a break start playing domestic cricket and then come back. I remember, when Inzi Bhai (Inzamam-ul-Haq) was going through a poor form, he went back to play domestic cricket, scored runs there and then came back to play for Pakistan”, he said.

    Kaneria believes if Pakistan cricket wants to do well, they should bring in veteran player Sarfaraz Ahmed back in the squad. “Pakistan should bring in Sarfaraz Ahmed as the skipper rather than opting for a new captain. Sarfaraz has made Pakistan win a lot of series, he knows how to lead the team. Shaan should be made Sarfaraz’s deputy so that he can be groomed by him. This is how Pakistan cricket can get some benefit”, Kaneria opined.

  • Virat Kohli, Babar Azam To Play For Same Team? Here’s What Top Official Says | cricket news

    In the mid-2000s, a series of charity matches was played called the Afro-Asia Cup. It was played between the Asian XI and African XI with the first cup being held in 2005 while the second was played in 2007. The likes of Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Zaheer Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Anil Kumble, and Shahid Afridi got to play in the same team for Asia. On the other hand, for Africa big names like Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, and Tatenda Taibu played for the same team.

    As per a report in Forbes, the Afro-Asia Cup is likely to be revived as “it is being looked at again”. “Personally, I am very hurt that it (Afro-Asia Cup) didn’t happen,” Damodar told me.

    “There was not adequate momentum through the ACA, but it is being looked at again. I think it was basically a lack of understanding and not buying into the concept,” ex-African Cricket Association chair Sumod Damodar told Forbes.

    “Our members are regretting it. It needed to be pushed by Africa.”

    If at all the tournament resumes, there’s a chance that Virat Kohli and Babar Azam can play together or Shaheen Afridi and Jasprit Bumrah can partner in the middle while bowling. It was back in 2012-13 when India played a bilateral series against Pakistan. The two teams have not taken part in Tests against each other since 2007.

    “These matches could break down barriers that are there politically,” Damodar said.

    “Cricket can help build the bridges rather than burn it up. I don’t personally believe that players are antagonistic against each other, so I’m sure they would be up for it.”

    One of the reports that emerged in 2022 said that there was a proposal between Jay Shah, the Asian Cricket Council chair, and then African Cricket Association chair Sumod Damodar to resume the tournament.

    “With Mahinda now on the ICC board and Jay Shah running the ICC, that could bring a bit more momentum to this cause,” Damodar said.

    “Both of them have always been proactive in trying to make this happen.”

  • Usman Khawaja On India Australia Rivalry: ‘Indians Love Beating Australians In Any Form Of Cricket’ | cricket news

    IND vs AUS: As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) approaches, the cricketing world is abuzz with anticipation of what is widely regarded as one of the sport’s most intense rivalries, India versus Australia. The series, set to commence on November 22, features the top two teams in Test cricket, adding an extra layer of excitement. Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has shared his thoughts on the significance of the rivalry.

    “We’re the world number one and number two teams really over the last two years. We were there at the last World Test Championship together. The rivalry has always been huge. I take it as a sign of respect, and I know that Indians love beating Australia in any form of cricket,” Khawaja said, according to Star Sports.

    “The tradition that Australia has had over so many years as being one of the dominating teams in world cricket has staked that reputation,” he added. He emphasized the tradition of excellence that Australia has maintained over the years which has cemented its reputation as a dominant force in world cricket.

    “I think for Indians it’s always been the case to beat Australia,” Khawaja noted. Khawaja also pointed out that the rise of Indian cricket, particularly through the Indian Premier League (IPL), has added another dimension to this rivalry.

    The recent success of the Indian team, including back-to-back series wins in Australia, has intensified the competition. “More recently, you know, since the rise of India and IPL and everything else that happened, it’s the same way with Australia against India. And particularly since India’s beaten Australia in Australia the last two times…. It just means a little. bit more,” he added.

    The second Test, scheduled for December 6 to 10 at Adelaide Oval, will feature the exciting day-night format under the stadium’s lights. After that, fans will turn their attention to The Gabba in Brisbane for the third Test, which will be held from December 14 to 18.

    The customary Boxing Day Test, set for December 26 to 30 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, will bring the series to its penultimate stage. The fifth and final Test, taking place at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7, will serve as the series climax, promising a dramatic conclusion to an exciting contest.

  • Fact Check: Did Virat Kohli Criticise Shubman Gill In Recent Podcast? Here’s The Truth Behind Viral Video | cricket news

    In the ever-evolving world of cricket, rumors and sensational headlines often take center stage. Recently, a purported video of Virat Kohli criticizing Shubman Gill sparked widespread debate and concern among fans and pundits alike. The video, which quickly went viral, featured a voice eerily similar to Kohli’s, suggesting that Gill might struggle to achieve the same heights Kohli has reached. However, this footage has been exposed as a fake, generated by artificial intelligence. Here’s a closer look at the situation and the key developments in Indian cricket.

    AI is Dangerous pic.twitter.com/njUvwiwc4t

    — Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) August 27, 2024

    The Viral Video: Fact or Fiction?

    The video in question was shared widely across social media platforms, causing an uproar among cricket enthusiasts. In it, the voice, purportedly Kohli’s, comments on the vast gap between “showing promise and becoming a legend” and draws comparisons between Kohli and the great Sachin Tendulkar. The content seemed to suggest that Gill, despite his promising career, would find it challenging to match Kohli’s accomplishments.

    However, it has since been confirmed that the video was not genuine. The voice in the video was an AI-generated imitation of Kohli’s. This incident underscores a growing concern about the potential misuse of AI technology to spread misinformation. Many users have expressed their frustration with how easily such content can deceive people, highlighting the broader implications of artificial intelligence in media.

    Kohli’s Relationship with Gill

    Virat Kohli has long been a supporter of young talents like Shubman Gill. Known for his leadership and experience, Kohli has often spoken about the potential he sees in Gill and other emerging players. The recent incident involving the fake video seems to be a deliberate attempt to create discord between these two cricketers, but it’s crucial to remember that Kohli’s public statements and past actions have consistently demonstrated his support for Gill.

    Kohli’s Absence from Duleep Trophy Raises Eyebrows

    Amidst this controversy, Kohli’s absence from the Duleep Trophy has also been a topic of discussion. Alongside Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, Kohli chose not to participate in the domestic red-ball tournament, leading to speculation and debate within the cricketing community.

    The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee had encouraged all Indian regulars to make themselves available for the Duleep Trophy, which marks the start of the domestic season. The absence of these key players, especially Kohli and Rohit, has led to varied reactions. While some argue that these players could have contributed valuable experience to the tournament, others understand the decision given their extensive international commitments.

    Managing Player Workloads

    Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar criticized the players’ absence by pointing out that despite their heavy international schedules, Kohli, Rohit, and Bumrah have played a significant number of matches. Manjrekar’s data showed that while Rohit and Kohli have participated in over 50% of India’s international fixtures in the past five years, Bumrah’s participation was lower, attributed to his ongoing fitness concerns.

    In response to these criticisms, former BCCI secretary Jay Shah defended the decision, emphasizing the need to protect players from potential injuries ahead of crucial Test series. Shah noted that not all international players participate in domestic cricket in countries like Australia and England, and similar considerations should apply to Indian players.

    The Bigger Picture: Balancing Expectations and Reality

    The controversy surrounding the fake video and the debate over player participation in domestic tournaments highlight the complex dynamics of modern cricket. While the excitement and drama of cricket continue to captivate audiences, it’s essential to approach sensational news with a critical eye and understand the broader context of player management and media ethics.

  • Yashasvi Jaiswal Rises To 7th Position As Virat Kohli Moves Up In ICC Test Rankings 2024 | cricket news

    Senior India batsman Virat Kohli moved up two runs to eighth place while his captain Rohit Sharma dropped a spot to sixth in the latest ICC Test rankings released on Wednesday. Joining Rohit and Kohli in the top 10 is young Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has moved up a spot to seventh. Veteran England batsman Joe Root maintained his place as the top ranked Test batsman in the world following their success in the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Manchester. But Root’s teammate Harry Brook has made a massive jump on the back of scores of 56 and 32 during that Old Trafford contest.

    The 25-year-old has risen three places to fourth overall, leaping past Pakistan’s Babar Azam, Australia’s Steve Smith and Rohit. Babar has dropped a whopping six places to fall from shared third to ninth following a rare failure in the first innings of Pakistan’s Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.

    But teammate Mohammad Rizwan gained seven spots, achieving a new career-high rating by moving inside the top 10 at a shared 10th following his century in the same match.

    Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim has achieved a career-high rating as he climbed seven spots to move to 17th.

    Seasoned India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin continues to hold the top spot among bowlers while pacer Jasprit Bumrah and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja have maintained their third and seventh spots respectively.

    England seamer Chris Woakes, who is up four runs to 16th, and Sri Lanka’s Asitha Fernando (up 10 spots to 17th) have gained some ground while Pakistan’s right-arm pacer Naseem Shah (up four spots to 33rd) and England’s Gus Atkinson (up four places to 42nd) have attained career-best ratings following good returns from their recent appearances.

    Among all-rounders, Jadeja and Ashwin continue to occupy the top two spots while Axar Patel is ranked sixth.