Friday, November 22
Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed confidence in KL Rahul's ability to open the batting in the first Test against Australia if Rohit Sharma is unavailable. Despite Rahul's recent struggles, Gambhir believes he is a versatile batsman who can perform in various positions. The coach also confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will lead the team in Rohit's absence.
Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has fiercely defended veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli amidst criticism of their recent form. Gambhir dismissed Ricky Ponting's concerns over Kohli's place in the team, stating Ponting should focus on Australian cricket. He expressed unwavering confidence in the senior players' ability to deliver in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz's brilliant century (101) and Azmatullah Omarzai's all-round heroics (70 runs and 4 wickets) powered Afghanistan to a five-wicket win over Bangladesh in the third ODI in Sharjah. The victory secured a 2-1 series win for Afghanistan.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashed a magnificent century (101 off 120 balls), becoming the second youngest player to achieve eight ODI tons. His knock, along with Azmatullah Omarzai's quickfire 70, steered Afghanistan to a five-wicket victory against Bangladesh in the third ODI at Sharjah. The win secured a 2-1 series triumph for Afghanistan.
Virat Kohli has arrived in Perth ahead of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, aiming to overcome a recent slump in form. The Indian team will face Australia in a five-Test series starting November 22nd, seeking to retain their title. Kohli's performance in the series is under scrutiny following a string of low scores in recent Test matches.
Indian spinner Varun Chakaravarthy attributed his recent success to domestic cricket and guidance from coach Gautam Gambhir. Despite his career-best figures of 5 for 17 against South Africa, India lost the second T20I. Chakaravarthy emphasized the importance of aggressive wicket-taking in low-scoring encounters and expressed confidence in his ability to perform against strong teams.
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar criticizes Team India's decision to skip their practice match in Australia, deeming it "beyond belief." He argues that the warm-up game was crucial for batters to acclimate to Australian conditions and find their rhythm before the Test series.
MS Dhoni is set to return to the Chennai Super Kings for the 2025 Indian Premier League season, despite speculation about his retirement. The CSK icon agreed to a salary cut and will play as an uncapped player. CSK CEO Kasi Vishwanathan hinted that Dhoni aims to end his IPL career in Chennai.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has criticized current head coach Gautam Gambhir's handling of media interactions. Manjrekar believes Gambhir lacks the appropriate demeanor and communication style for such engagements, citing recent instances of Gambhir's blunt responses to reporters' queries. Manjrekar suggests the BCCI should instead delegate media interactions to captain Rohit Sharma or chief selector Ajit Agarkar.
Pakistan's head coach Jason Gillespie criticized Cricket Australia for prioritizing the upcoming India Test series over the recent Pakistan ODI series. Despite Pakistan's historic 2-1 victory, Gillespie noted a lack of promotion from Cricket Australia, highlighting a clear focus on the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The series commences with the first Test in Perth on November 22.
