Indian cricketer Mithali Raj announces retirement from all forms of cricket. The former captain of India's women's team has a career spanning 23 years. Raj announced her retirement through a Twitter post.

Mithali Raj announces retirement from international cricket

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has lavished praise on head coach Rahul Dravid ahead of the India-South Africa T20Is, which gets underway on June 09. Pathan, who has played under Dravid's captaincy, hailed The Wall for his knack for being crystal clear with his players in terms of what he wants from them.

In this regard, Pathan feels Dravid must have given role clarity to a new-looking Indian squad which is gearing up to face Temba Bavuma-led Proteas in the five-match T20I series at home and must have communicated what he wants from KL Rahul the batter and captain (in regular skipper Rohit Sharma's absence).

Speaking on Star Sports, Irfan said, "It is extremely necessary and the clarity would have been given. I have been saying that since Rahul Dravid has come as a coach, I have played under his captaincy, his biggest thing is the clarity of role.

“It is not that the earlier coaches have not done that, Ravi Shastri was there and Virat Kohli was captaining, but he (Dravid) will take it one step ahead. I have full belief the communication would have happened and KL Rahul would have been told that if he is the captain, it means he is the next in line,” he further added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-head-coach-rahul-dravid-gives-pep-talk-as-team-india-begin-training-for-south-africa-t20i-series-485649">WATCH: Head coach Rahul Dravid gives pep talk as Team India begin training for South Africa T20I series</a>

The Dravid-Rahul-led Indian team will be eager to get off to a winning start in the five T20Is as they are preparing hard for this year's T20 World Cup, set to be held in Australia in the second half of 2022. For the SA series, Rohit, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested.

India's T20I squad for South Africa series -&nbsp;KL Rahul (Capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(VC) (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has lavished praise on head coach Rahul Dravid ahead of the India-South Africa T20Is, which gets underway on June 09. Pathan, who has played under Dravid's captaincy, hailed The Wall for his knack for being crystal clear with his players in terms of what he wants from them.

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has lavished praise on head coach Rahul Dravid ahead of the India-South Africa T20Is, which gets underway on June 09. Pathan, who has played under Dravid's captaincy, hailed The Wall for his knack for being crystal clear with his players in terms of what he wants from them. In this regard, Pathan feels Dravid must have given role clarity to a new-looking Indian squad which is gearing up to face Temba Bavuma-led Proteas in the five-match T20I series at home and must have communicated what he wants from KL Rahul the batter and captain (in regular skipper Rohit Sharma's absence). Speaking on Star Sports, Irfan said, "It is extremely necessary and the clarity would have been given. I have been saying that since Rahul Dravid has come as a coach, I have played under his captaincy, his biggest thing is the clarity of role. “It is not that the earlier coaches have not done that, Ravi Shastri was there and Virat Kohli was captaining, but he (Dravid) will take it one step ahead. I have full belief the communication would have happened and KL Rahul would have been told that if he is the captain, it means he is the next in line,” he further added. ALSO READ | WATCH: Head coach Rahul Dravid gives pep talk as Team India begin training for South Africa T20I series The Dravid-Rahul-led Indian team will be eager to get off to a winning start in the five T20Is as they are preparing hard for this year's T20 World Cup, set to be held in Australia in the second half of 2022. For the SA series, Rohit, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested. India's T20I squad for South Africa series - KL Rahul (Capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(VC) (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik

KL Rahul would've been told he's next-in-line: Irfan Pathan on Rahul Dravid's communication with India captain

Pakistan batter Mohammad Rizwan recently recalled the time when he met Indian superstar Virat Kohli during the T20 World Cup in the UAE last year. India and Pakistan had locked horns in the group stages of the tournament where Babar Azam-led Men in Green thumped Kohli &amp; Co. by ten wickets to register their first-ever win in a World Cup match against their arch-rivals. Rizwan and captain Babar had taken Pakistan home while remaining unbeaten in the run-chase.

After Pakistan's victory in the high-pressure encounter, Rizwan and Babar had both met then Indian skipper Kohli on the ground. Kohli was seen embracing Rizwan while congratulating him for his match-winning knock. Rizwan said he was told by many that Kohli is aggressive on the field but it was a completely different experience for the Pakistan batter when he met the former India captain for the first time.

Rizwan also clarified his 'Virat Kohli is ours' comment and said he said it because cricketers are part of one big family and respect each other both on and off the field.&nbsp;

"It was the first time I had met Kohli. The kind of things I had heard about him like other players told me 'Virat is aggressive and all'. But the way he met me before and after the match was amazing. If I said 'he is our Virat Kohli', it's because we all are a family," Rizwan said on Pakistani journalist&nbsp;Waheed Khan's Youtube show Cricket Baaz.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-need-to-be-realistic-rahul-dravid-on-umran-maliks-potential-debut-for-india-in-south-africa-t20i-series-486033">'We need to be realistic': Dravid on Umran Malik's potential debut for India in South Africa T20I series</a>

Rizwan also spoke about his Pakistani teammates' meeting with the legendary MS Dhoni after the game and said there was only love and affection from both sides when the Pakistan players met their Indian counterparts. Dhoni was India's mentor during the T20 World Cup 2021.

"Obviously, when we enter the ground, no one is a star," said Rizwan.

"There we have no brotherhood or anything of that sort. But outside the field, when we met Kohli, and some of our players also met MS Dhoni, we met with a lot of love and affection. Nothing was different," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-speedster-stuart-broad-dismisses-speculations-of-rift-with-ex-test-captain-joe-root-485992">England speedster Stuart Broad dismisses speculations of rift with ex-Test captain Joe Root</a>

Rizwan also shared the dressing room with veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara while playing for Sussex in the county circuit in England. Rizwan developed a great bond with Pujara while playing alongside him and revealed the duo spend time together with love and he is the one who keeps bugging the Indian batter all the time.

"Even in County cricket, where Pujara is with me, believe me, we live with so much love. In fact, I am the one who keeps bugging him, call him out. He keeps laughing," said Rizwan.

"Similarly, it was same with Virat Kohli as well. When I met him the first time, it was with a lot of love and affection," he added.

Pakistan batter Mohammad Rizwan recently recalled the time when he met Indian superstar Virat Kohli during the T20 World Cup in the UAE last year. India and Pakistan had locked horns in the group stages of the tournament where Babar Azam-led Men in Green thumped Kohli & Co.

Pakistan batter Mohammad Rizwan recently recalled the time when he met Indian superstar Virat Kohli during the T20 World Cup in the UAE last year. India and Pakistan had locked horns in the group stages of the tournament where Babar Azam-led Men in Green thumped Kohli & Co. by ten wickets to register their first-ever win in a World Cup match against their arch-rivals. Rizwan and captain Babar had taken Pakistan home while remaining unbeaten in the run-chase. After Pakistan's victory in the high-pressure encounter, Rizwan and Babar had both met then Indian skipper Kohli on the ground. Kohli was seen embracing Rizwan while congratulating him for his match-winning knock. Rizwan said he was told by many that Kohli is aggressive on the field but it was a completely different experience for the Pakistan batter when he met the former India captain for the first time. Rizwan also clarified his 'Virat Kohli is ours' comment and said he said it because cricketers are part of one big family and respect each other both on and off the field. "It was the first time I had met Kohli. The kind of things I had heard about him like other players told me 'Virat is aggressive and all'. But the way he met me before and after the match was amazing. If I said 'he is our Virat Kohli', it's because we all are a family," Rizwan said on Pakistani journalist Waheed Khan's Youtube show Cricket Baaz. Also Read: 'We need to be realistic': Dravid on Umran Malik's potential debut for India in South Africa T20I series Rizwan also spoke about his Pakistani teammates' meeting with the legendary MS Dhoni after the game and said there was only love and affection from both sides when the Pakistan players met their Indian counterparts. Dhoni was India's mentor during the T20 World Cup 2021. "Obviously, when we enter the ground, no one is a star," said Rizwan. "There we have no brotherhood or anything of that sort. But outside the field, when we met Kohli, and some of our players also met MS Dhoni, we met with a lot of love and affection. Nothing was different," he added. Also Read: England speedster Stuart Broad dismisses speculations of rift with ex-Test captain Joe Root Rizwan also shared the dressing room with veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara while playing for Sussex in the county circuit in England. Rizwan developed a great bond with Pujara while playing alongside him and revealed the duo spend time together with love and he is the one who keeps bugging the Indian batter all the time. "Even in County cricket, where Pujara is with me, believe me, we live with so much love. In fact, I am the one who keeps bugging him, call him out. He keeps laughing," said Rizwan. "Similarly, it was same with Virat Kohli as well. When I met him the first time, it was with a lot of love and affection," he added.

There was love and affection when we met Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, says Pakistan star Mohammad Rizwan

Umran Malik earned his dream maiden call up in India's T20I squad after an exceptional season with the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Malik, who is gifted with natural pace, showcased his skills after being backed by the SRH team management and consistently clocked over 150 kmph to trouble the batters.&nbsp;

While he bowled with express pace, a rare commodity in Indian cricket, Umran also worked on his line and length to continue improving throughout the season. The 23-year-old finished as SRH's highest wicket-taker with 23 wickets to his name to be deservingly named in India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against the Proteas.

Ahead of the first ODI between the two sides at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday, India head coach Rahul Dravid spoke about the chances of Umran's potential debut in the South Africa series. Dravid believes Umran is learning and improving but they need to be realistic when it comes to giving the youngster some playing time during the series as he has a big squad at his disposal.

"Obviously, he is learning. He is a young boy and he is getting better, improving. The more he is able to play, the better he is going to get. From our perspective, (we are) very happy to have someone like him in the mix. We have to see how much playing time we can give him, we need to be realistic, we have a large squad, it is not possible to give everyone playing XI time," Dravid said at the pre-match presser in Delhi.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rahul-dravid-explains-karthiks-role-in-team-india-justifies-skipper-rohits-decision-to-skip-sa-series-485987">Rahul Dravid explains Karthik's role in Team India, justifies skipper Rohit's decision to skip SA series</a>

Apart from Umran, India have also roped in Arshdeep Singh, who has been impressing for Punjab Kings ovr the last few seasons in the IPL. The young left-arm pacer is known for his consistent yorkers and ability to hit the right areas under pressure in the death overs. Besides the duo, India also have the likes of Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan along with the experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar to carry the pace attack.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sachin-should-watch-out-michael-vaughan-makes-bold-claim-as-joe-root-breaches-10000-run-mark-in-tests-485960">'Sachin should watch out': Vaughan makes bold claim as Joe Root breaches 10,000-run mark in Tests</a>

Dravid said he would like to give game time to both Umran and Arshdeep while also ensuring that the likes of Harshal, Avesh and Bhuvneshwar are not in and out of the playing XI too much. Dravid said he would like to give his players time to settle down and not chop and change too much.

"I think I am certainly someone who likes to have that consistency, give people time and let him feel settled in position. It would be interesting to see how much playing time we give to Umran. We also have Arshdeep here, who is brilliant as well. We have experience in the form of guys who have been with us before; Harshal, Bhuvi, Avesh," said Dravid.&nbsp;

"There are certain things we need to look at but it is nice and exciting to have a couple of young guys in the mix as well. It has given an opportunity for us to broaden our pool and see what they can do," added the India head coach.

Umran Malik earned his dream maiden call up in India's T20I squad after an exceptional season with the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Umran Malik earned his dream maiden call up in India's T20I squad after an exceptional season with the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Malik, who is gifted with natural pace, showcased his skills after being backed by the SRH team management and consistently clocked over 150 kmph to trouble the batters. While he bowled with express pace, a rare commodity in Indian cricket, Umran also worked on his line and length to continue improving throughout the season. The 23-year-old finished as SRH's highest wicket-taker with 23 wickets to his name to be deservingly named in India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against the Proteas. Ahead of the first ODI between the two sides at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday, India head coach Rahul Dravid spoke about the chances of Umran's potential debut in the South Africa series. Dravid believes Umran is learning and improving but they need to be realistic when it comes to giving the youngster some playing time during the series as he has a big squad at his disposal. "Obviously, he is learning. He is a young boy and he is getting better, improving. The more he is able to play, the better he is going to get. From our perspective, (we are) very happy to have someone like him in the mix. We have to see how much playing time we can give him, we need to be realistic, we have a large squad, it is not possible to give everyone playing XI time," Dravid said at the pre-match presser in Delhi. Also Read: Rahul Dravid explains Karthik's role in Team India, justifies skipper Rohit's decision to skip SA series Apart from Umran, India have also roped in Arshdeep Singh, who has been impressing for Punjab Kings ovr the last few seasons in the IPL. The young left-arm pacer is known for his consistent yorkers and ability to hit the right areas under pressure in the death overs. Besides the duo, India also have the likes of Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan along with the experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar to carry the pace attack. Also Read: 'Sachin should watch out': Vaughan makes bold claim as Joe Root breaches 10,000-run mark in Tests Dravid said he would like to give game time to both Umran and Arshdeep while also ensuring that the likes of Harshal, Avesh and Bhuvneshwar are not in and out of the playing XI too much. Dravid said he would like to give his players time to settle down and not chop and change too much. "I think I am certainly someone who likes to have that consistency, give people time and let him feel settled in position. It would be interesting to see how much playing time we give to Umran. We also have Arshdeep here, who is brilliant as well. We have experience in the form of guys who have been with us before; Harshal, Bhuvi, Avesh," said Dravid. "There are certain things we need to look at but it is nice and exciting to have a couple of young guys in the mix as well. It has given an opportunity for us to broaden our pool and see what they can do," added the India head coach.

'We need to be realistic': Rahul Dravid on Umran Malik's potential debut for India in South Africa T20I series

Indian cricket team's head coach Rahul Dravid explained why it was important for captain Rohit Sharma to take a break from the team's upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home. Some experts felt Rohit should have continued playing following the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 and have led the side in the five T20Is against the Proteas. Rohit has been rested from the T20I series along with other senior players like&nbsp;Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.

The Indian players will be returning to action for the first time since the conclusion of IPL 2022 on May 29. The members of the squad got a short break in between before assembling in New Delhi for the series-opener at the Arun Jaitely Stadium on Thursday (June 09). In Rohit's absence, KL Rahul will be leading the side against Temba Bavuma's men.

Explaining why it was crucial for Rohit to get a break, Dravid said the Indian skipper is an all-format player and needs to be provided adequate rest to ensure he is fit and fresh for the challenges ahead. The Indian head coach insisted there will be times when the team will have to rest their best players for a particular series to manage their workload.

&nbsp;“Rohit is our all-format player. It would be unwise to expect everyone to be available all the time. We want them to be fit and fresh as well. There would be times where we would have to rest our big players," Dravid responded to a reporter's query on Rohit at the presser on Tuesday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-sachin-or-dhoni-hardik-pandya-names-his-favourite-cricketer-says-always-placed-him-above-other-legends-485969">Not Sachin or Dhoni! Hardik&nbsp;names his favourite cricketer, says always placed him above other legends</a>

Rahul Dravid on Dinesh Karthik's comeback:

Veteran wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik managed to make a comeback to the Indian team after a long gap of three years on the back of his performances for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the recently-concluded IPL 2022. Karthik was phenomenal as a finisher for his team and played a number of crucial knocks down the order.

The veteran batter went on to amass 330 runs in 16 matches at an average of 55 and a brilliant strike rate of 183.33 to impress the selectors and make his return to the Indian team. He last featured for India during the ODI World Cup in 2019. When asked about his return, Dravid said Karthik will have a very clear role in the team of finishing games while batting down the order.

"With Dinesh, it is clear with the role. At the backend of the game, he can make a difference. That's why he has been picked, to bat in those positions and deliver for India as well," said Dravid.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sachin-should-watch-out-michael-vaughan-makes-bold-claim-as-joe-root-breaches-10000-run-mark-in-tests-485960">'Sachin should watch out': Vaughan makes bold claim as Joe Root breaches 10,000-run mark in Tests</a>

India will lock horns with South Africa in the first T20I in Delhi on Thursday before moving to Cuttack for the second game on Sunday (June 12). The next three matches will be played in Vizag, Rajkot and Bengaluru respectively. India are currently on an 11-match unbeaten streak in T20Is and will hope to keep the winning streak intact on Thursday.

&nbsp;

Indian cricket team's head coach Rahul Dravid explained why it was important for captain Rohit Sharma to take a break from the team's upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home.

Indian cricket team's head coach Rahul Dravid explained why it was important for captain Rohit Sharma to take a break from the team's upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home. Some experts felt Rohit should have continued playing following the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 and have led the side in the five T20Is against the Proteas. Rohit has been rested from the T20I series along with other senior players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. The Indian players will be returning to action for the first time since the conclusion of IPL 2022 on May 29. The members of the squad got a short break in between before assembling in New Delhi for the series-opener at the Arun Jaitely Stadium on Thursday (June 09). In Rohit's absence, KL Rahul will be leading the side against Temba Bavuma's men. Explaining why it was crucial for Rohit to get a break, Dravid said the Indian skipper is an all-format player and needs to be provided adequate rest to ensure he is fit and fresh for the challenges ahead. The Indian head coach insisted there will be times when the team will have to rest their best players for a particular series to manage their workload. “Rohit is our all-format player. It would be unwise to expect everyone to be available all the time. We want them to be fit and fresh as well. There would be times where we would have to rest our big players," Dravid responded to a reporter's query on Rohit at the presser on Tuesday. Also Read: Not Sachin or Dhoni! Hardik names his favourite cricketer, says always placed him above other legends Rahul Dravid on Dinesh Karthik's comeback: Veteran wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik managed to make a comeback to the Indian team after a long gap of three years on the back of his performances for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the recently-concluded IPL 2022. Karthik was phenomenal as a finisher for his team and played a number of crucial knocks down the order. The veteran batter went on to amass 330 runs in 16 matches at an average of 55 and a brilliant strike rate of 183.33 to impress the selectors and make his return to the Indian team. He last featured for India during the ODI World Cup in 2019. When asked about his return, Dravid said Karthik will have a very clear role in the team of finishing games while batting down the order. "With Dinesh, it is clear with the role. At the backend of the game, he can make a difference. That's why he has been picked, to bat in those positions and deliver for India as well," said Dravid. Also Read: 'Sachin should watch out': Vaughan makes bold claim as Joe Root breaches 10,000-run mark in Tests India will lock horns with South Africa in the first T20I in Delhi on Thursday before moving to Cuttack for the second game on Sunday (June 12). The next three matches will be played in Vizag, Rajkot and Bengaluru respectively. India are currently on an 11-match unbeaten streak in T20Is and will hope to keep the winning streak intact on Thursday.

Rahul Dravid explains Karthik's role in Team India, justifies skipper Rohit's decision to skip SA series

Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to make his comeback to the Indian team after a stellar Indian Premier League (IPL) season with his new team Gujarat Titans (GT). IPL 2022 was a memorable season for Hardik and the Titans as he led the debutants to their maiden IPL title in their first-ever campaign in the league. Gujarat Titans defeated Rajasthan Royals comprehensively in the final to win the elusive trophy.

Hardik led from the front both as a player and a captain and played an instrumental role in his side's memorable triumph. He was the highest run-getter for the Titans last season with 487 runs in 15 matches at an average of 44.27 and a strike rate of 131.26. Hardik also stepped up with the ball when required and picked up 8 wickets for his team in IPL 2022.

Ahead of his comeback for Team India after a long spell on the sidelines, Hardik spoke about his love for cricket growing up and revealed who was his favourite cricketer. While he liked the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis and Virat Kohli among others, Hardik said his favourite was former India batter Wasim Jaffer.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sachin-should-watch-out-michael-vaughan-makes-bold-claim-as-joe-root-breaches-10000-run-mark-in-tests-485960">'Sachin should watch out': Vaughan makes bold claim as Joe Root breaches 10,000-run mark in Tests</a>

Known for his elegant batting, Jaffer played 31 Test matches for India and amassed 1944 runs at an average of 34.10, including 5 centuries and 11 fifties. He was a mainstay in the Indian top-order for a few years under Sourav Ganguly's captaincy. Hardik revealed he always placed Jaffer above the other legends and also tried to copy his technique.

"Like everyone, I had favourite cricketers. I liked Jacques Kallis, Virat, Sachin sir. There are so many greats that you can't pick. My favourite cricketer was actually Wasim Jaffer. I used to love watching him bat. Someone I always placed him above other legends. Somehow, I used to copy his batting, but I was never able to get his class," Hardik said speaking on the SG Podcast.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-told-me-i-will-be-in-world-cup-squad-after-3-matches-hardik-panda-recalls-his-team-india-debut-485703">Dhoni told me I will be in World Cup squad after 3 matches: Hardik Pandya recalls his Team India debut</a>

Hardik also revealed he grew up playing cricket with his brother Krunal Pandya and the duo always strived to help each other improve but never had any rivalry in between them. Hardik and Krunal also played cricket at different age levels. They joined Mumbai Indians in the IPL where they got much-deserved opportunities and recognition for their splendid performances.

"Krunal and I were completely different cricketers. He was a left-handed batter who could bowl while I used to bowl leg spin and bat right-handed. He used to bat at 4-5 and I used to bat at No. 3. We never had a rivalry because our roles were always different. I used to play Under-16, he played Under-19. But we were there for each other so make sure we improve in all departments," said Hardik.

Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to make his comeback to the Indian team after a stellar Indian Premier League (IPL) season with his new team Gujarat Titans (GT).

Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to make his comeback to the Indian team after a stellar Indian Premier League (IPL) season with his new team Gujarat Titans (GT). IPL 2022 was a memorable season for Hardik and the Titans as he led the debutants to their maiden IPL title in their first-ever campaign in the league. Gujarat Titans defeated Rajasthan Royals comprehensively in the final to win the elusive trophy. Hardik led from the front both as a player and a captain and played an instrumental role in his side's memorable triumph. He was the highest run-getter for the Titans last season with 487 runs in 15 matches at an average of 44.27 and a strike rate of 131.26. Hardik also stepped up with the ball when required and picked up 8 wickets for his team in IPL 2022. Ahead of his comeback for Team India after a long spell on the sidelines, Hardik spoke about his love for cricket growing up and revealed who was his favourite cricketer. While he liked the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis and Virat Kohli among others, Hardik said his favourite was former India batter Wasim Jaffer. Also Read: 'Sachin should watch out': Vaughan makes bold claim as Joe Root breaches 10,000-run mark in Tests Known for his elegant batting, Jaffer played 31 Test matches for India and amassed 1944 runs at an average of 34.10, including 5 centuries and 11 fifties. He was a mainstay in the Indian top-order for a few years under Sourav Ganguly's captaincy. Hardik revealed he always placed Jaffer above the other legends and also tried to copy his technique. "Like everyone, I had favourite cricketers. I liked Jacques Kallis, Virat, Sachin sir. There are so many greats that you can't pick. My favourite cricketer was actually Wasim Jaffer. I used to love watching him bat. Someone I always placed him above other legends. Somehow, I used to copy his batting, but I was never able to get his class," Hardik said speaking on the SG Podcast. Also Read: Dhoni told me I will be in World Cup squad after 3 matches: Hardik Pandya recalls his Team India debut Hardik also revealed he grew up playing cricket with his brother Krunal Pandya and the duo always strived to help each other improve but never had any rivalry in between them. Hardik and Krunal also played cricket at different age levels. They joined Mumbai Indians in the IPL where they got much-deserved opportunities and recognition for their splendid performances. "Krunal and I were completely different cricketers. He was a left-handed batter who could bowl while I used to bowl leg spin and bat right-handed. He used to bat at 4-5 and I used to bat at No. 3. We never had a rivalry because our roles were always different. I used to play Under-16, he played Under-19. But we were there for each other so make sure we improve in all departments," said Hardik.

Not Sachin or Dhoni! Hardik Pandya names his favourite cricketer, says always placed him above other legends

Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan continued his fine form with the bat in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2021-22 quarter-final against Uttarakhand. The explosive right-hander has been in enjoying a purple patch in domestic cricket over the last couple of seasons and has been absolutely unstoppable for Mumbai. The right-hander slammed a brilliant knock of 153 runs to set the stage for a big total for Mumbai in their first innings against Uttarakhand at the KSCA Cricket Ground in Alur on Tuesday (June 07).

Sarfaraz was in top-notch form for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy 2019-20 season where he amassed a staggering 928 runs in just six matches at an average of 154.66. He continued his purple patch as the premier domestic competition began last year after a long delay due to COVID-19.

The hard-hitting right-hander, who is known for his explosive stroke-making, started off his campaign with a mammoth 275-run knock against Saurashtra before carrying on his fine form throughout the league stage to help Mumbai reach the knockout stages of the tournament.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shreays-iyer-aims-to-surpass-rohit-sharma-in-elite-list-as-india-gear-up-for-south-africa-t20i-series-485729">Shreyas Iyer aims to surpass Rohit Sharma in elite list as India gear up for South Africa T20I series</a>

Sarfaraz was unstoppable as Mumbai locked horns with Uttarakhand in their first knockout game of the season. He brought up his seventh first-class hundred en route to a stunning 153 off 205 balls laced with 14 fours and 4 sixes. He added a huge 267-run stand for the 4th wicket double centurion Suved Parkar (239) to help Mumbai cross the 500-run mark comfortably in their first innings.

<h3>Sarfaraz Khan achieves historic feat:</h3>

With his 153-run knock, Sarfaraz achieved a historic feat as he became the first batter in the history of the Ranji Trophy to score in excess of 150 runs in his first seven centuries in the tournament. He is the only batter whose first seven centuries have all been scores of more than 150 runs.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-thought-dad-shouldve-been-here-md-siraj-recalls-memorable-test-debut-at-the-mcg-485898">'I thought 'dad should've been here': Md Siraj recalls memorable Test debut at the MCG</a>

He has so far managed to amass an impressive 704 runs in just four matches this season, including three hundreds. He is averaging over 80 in his first-class career at present but is yet to receive his maiden Test call-up for India despite his stellar show with the willow.

The youngster will be hopeful of continuing his terrific run if Mumbai manages to make it to the semi-finals and then the final of the season. Sarfaraz's form with the bat will remain the key to his side's success in the tournament.

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Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan continued his fine form with the bat in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2021-22 quarter-final against Uttarakhand. The explosive right-hander has been in enjoying a purple patch in domestic cricket over the last couple of seasons and has been absolutely unstoppable for Mumbai.

Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan continued his fine form with the bat in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2021-22 quarter-final against Uttarakhand. The explosive right-hander has been in enjoying a purple patch in domestic cricket over the last couple of seasons and has been absolutely unstoppable for Mumbai. The right-hander slammed a brilliant knock of 153 runs to set the stage for a big total for Mumbai in their first innings against Uttarakhand at the KSCA Cricket Ground in Alur on Tuesday (June 07). Sarfaraz was in top-notch form for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy 2019-20 season where he amassed a staggering 928 runs in just six matches at an average of 154.66. He continued his purple patch as the premier domestic competition began last year after a long delay due to COVID-19. The hard-hitting right-hander, who is known for his explosive stroke-making, started off his campaign with a mammoth 275-run knock against Saurashtra before carrying on his fine form throughout the league stage to help Mumbai reach the knockout stages of the tournament. Also Read: Shreyas Iyer aims to surpass Rohit Sharma in elite list as India gear up for South Africa T20I series Sarfaraz was unstoppable as Mumbai locked horns with Uttarakhand in their first knockout game of the season. He brought up his seventh first-class hundred en route to a stunning 153 off 205 balls laced with 14 fours and 4 sixes. He added a huge 267-run stand for the 4th wicket double centurion Suved Parkar (239) to help Mumbai cross the 500-run mark comfortably in their first innings. Sarfaraz Khan achieves historic feat: With his 153-run knock, Sarfaraz achieved a historic feat as he became the first batter in the history of the Ranji Trophy to score in excess of 150 runs in his first seven centuries in the tournament. He is the only batter whose first seven centuries have all been scores of more than 150 runs. Also Read: 'I thought 'dad should've been here': Md Siraj recalls memorable Test debut at the MCG He has so far managed to amass an impressive 704 runs in just four matches this season, including three hundreds. He is averaging over 80 in his first-class career at present but is yet to receive his maiden Test call-up for India despite his stellar show with the willow. The youngster will be hopeful of continuing his terrific run if Mumbai manages to make it to the semi-finals and then the final of the season. Sarfaraz's form with the bat will remain the key to his side's success in the tournament.

Sarfaraz Khan achieves historic feat with brilliant 153 run-knock for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy quarter-final

India are gearing up to take on South Africa in a five-match T20I series at home starting from Thursday (June 09). The first T20I of the series will be played at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi. The Indian players are back on national duty after the gruelling season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which concluded on May 29 last month. The players will be hoping to hit the ground running in the opening game on Thursday.

In the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma and the likes of Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, KL Rahul will be leading the team. While a number of youngsters have made the cut in the squad after an impressive IPL campaign, the likes of Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik are also back.

Star batter Suryakumar Yadav will also miss the series due to an injury and in his absence, the onus will be on Shreyas Iyer to play a key role for the Men in Blue in the top four. Iyer is likely to bat at number three and will be hoping to continue his fine form with the bat in the five-match T20I series.

Iyer will also be aiming to go past Indian skipper Rohit in an elite list of batters. Iyer is just 191 runs away from completing 1,000 runs in T2OIs for India and can become the 3rd fastest batter to achieve the feat after Virat Kohli (29) and KL Rahul (32). Iyer currently has 809 runs in 36 T20Is at an average of 36.77 and a brilliant strike rate of over 140.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-told-me-i-will-be-in-world-cup-squad-after-3-matches-hardik-panda-recalls-his-team-india-debut-485703">Dhoni told me I will be in World Cup squad after 3 matches: Hardik Pandya recalls his Team India debut</a>

He has a chance to go past Rohit and become the 3rd fastest Indian batter to complete 1,000 runs in T20Is. Rohit had achieved the feat in 47 matches for the Men in Blue.

Fastest Indian batters to 1,000 runs in T20Is:

Virat Kohli - 29 matches

KL Rahul - 32 matches&nbsp;

Rohit Sharma - 47 matches&nbsp;

Iyer is coming off a decent season with the bat for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2022. Leading the side, Iyer scored 401 runs in 14 games at an average of 30.85 and a strike rate of over 134 last season. While it was a decent campaign for him on the personal front, his team struggled and failed to make it to the playoffs.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-have-not-followed-waqar-younis-umran-malik-reveals-his-3-idols-after-comparisons-with-ex-pakistan-pacer-485563">'I have not followed Waqar': Umran Malik reveals his 3 idols after comparisons with ex-Pakistan pacer</a>

Iyer will now return to action for Team India and will hope to make an impact as head coach Rahul Dravid and the team management will be keeping an eye on the performances of each player considering the T20 World Cup 2022 is now just a few months away.

India are gearing up to take on South Africa in a five-match T20I series at home starting from Thursday (June 09). The first T20I of the series will be played at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi.

India are gearing up to take on South Africa in a five-match T20I series at home starting from Thursday (June 09). The first T20I of the series will be played at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi. The Indian players are back on national duty after the gruelling season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which concluded on May 29 last month. The players will be hoping to hit the ground running in the opening game on Thursday. In the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma and the likes of Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, KL Rahul will be leading the team. While a number of youngsters have made the cut in the squad after an impressive IPL campaign, the likes of Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik are also back. Star batter Suryakumar Yadav will also miss the series due to an injury and in his absence, the onus will be on Shreyas Iyer to play a key role for the Men in Blue in the top four. Iyer is likely to bat at number three and will be hoping to continue his fine form with the bat in the five-match T20I series. Iyer will also be aiming to go past Indian skipper Rohit in an elite list of batters. Iyer is just 191 runs away from completing 1,000 runs in T2OIs for India and can become the 3rd fastest batter to achieve the feat after Virat Kohli (29) and KL Rahul (32). Iyer currently has 809 runs in 36 T20Is at an average of 36.77 and a brilliant strike rate of over 140. Also Read: Dhoni told me I will be in World Cup squad after 3 matches: Hardik Pandya recalls his Team India debut He has a chance to go past Rohit and become the 3rd fastest Indian batter to complete 1,000 runs in T20Is. Rohit had achieved the feat in 47 matches for the Men in Blue. Fastest Indian batters to 1,000 runs in T20Is: Virat Kohli - 29 matches KL Rahul - 32 matches Rohit Sharma - 47 matches Iyer is coming off a decent season with the bat for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2022. Leading the side, Iyer scored 401 runs in 14 games at an average of 30.85 and a strike rate of over 134 last season. While it was a decent campaign for him on the personal front, his team struggled and failed to make it to the playoffs. Also Read: 'I have not followed Waqar': Umran Malik reveals his 3 idols after comparisons with ex-Pakistan pacer Iyer will now return to action for Team India and will hope to make an impact as head coach Rahul Dravid and the team management will be keeping an eye on the performances of each player considering the T20 World Cup 2022 is now just a few months away.

Shreyas Iyer aims to surpass Rohit Sharma in elite list as India gear up for South Africa T20I series

Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to make his comeback to the Indian team after spending a long spell on the sidelines due to his recovery from a back injury. Hardik was absolutely fantastic as a captain and a player for Gujarat Titans (GT) in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as he led his side to their maiden title in their debut season in the competition.

Hardik had opted for a break from all forms of cricket post the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021 last year to focus on recovering fully from his back issue. He ended up missing a number of important series for the Indian team before returning to action in IPL 2022. While there were doubts about whether he will manage to be on top of his game after his comeback, Hardik shunned his critics in style.

He is now set to make his comeback to the Indian team for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa and will be looking to continue his fine form with the bat and the ball. Ahead of the start of the five-match T20I rubber, Hardik recalled an interesting anecdote from his intial days with the Indian team.

Hardik had made his debut for the Indian team in a T20I against Australia in January 2016 after impressing for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Hardik revealed he got ull backing from then captain MS Dhoni on his debut for the Indian team despite not bowling well in his very first over of the game.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-head-coach-rahul-dravid-gives-pep-talk-as-team-india-begin-training-for-south-africa-t20i-series-485649">WATCH - Rahul Dravid gives pep talk as Team India begins training for South Africa T20I series</a>

Recalling his debut, Hardik said he had thought his first over could be the last over of his career but Dhoni showed faith in him and helped him bounce back. Hardik revealed Dhoni had assured him of a spot in the Indian squad for T20 World Cup 2016 after watching him just in his first three games for India.

“When I joined the Indian team, I saw guys whom I had seen growing up – Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Ashish Nehra. Even before I played for India, they were the stars. For me, when I went there it was a big thing," Hardik told the SGTV podcast.

"So obviously the kind of debut I had – I think I am the first cricketer who had gone for 21 runs in his first over – I genuinely felt that ok, this might be my last over. But I was very blessed and lucky to play under Mahi bhai who showed lot of trust in us which has helped us reach where we did.

"Just after the third game of my international career, Mahi bhai told me you will be in the World Cup team. So for me, to play World Cup or to get to know that in the third game I just got to know about this. I did not even bat in that game but he assured me that you have expressed yourself. Yeah, it was just a dream come true,” he added.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-have-not-followed-waqar-younis-umran-malik-reveals-his-3-idols-after-comparisons-with-ex-pakistan-pacer-485563">&nbsp;'I have not followed Waqar': Umran Malik reveals his 3 idols after comparisons with ex-Pakistan pacer</a>

Hardik has since become a regular across all formats for the Indian team and is almost indispensable for the Men in Blue in white-ball cricket. The star all-rounder has played 11 Tests, 63 ODIs and 54 T20Is in his international career so far, amassing 532, 1286 and 553 runs in the three formats respectively. He has also picked up 116 wickets across all three formats for India.

Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to make his comeback to the Indian team after spending a long spell on the sidelines due to his recovery from a back injury.

Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to make his comeback to the Indian team after spending a long spell on the sidelines due to his recovery from a back injury. Hardik was absolutely fantastic as a captain and a player for Gujarat Titans (GT) in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as he led his side to their maiden title in their debut season in the competition. Hardik had opted for a break from all forms of cricket post the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021 last year to focus on recovering fully from his back issue. He ended up missing a number of important series for the Indian team before returning to action in IPL 2022. While there were doubts about whether he will manage to be on top of his game after his comeback, Hardik shunned his critics in style. He is now set to make his comeback to the Indian team for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa and will be looking to continue his fine form with the bat and the ball. Ahead of the start of the five-match T20I rubber, Hardik recalled an interesting anecdote from his intial days with the Indian team. Hardik had made his debut for the Indian team in a T20I against Australia in January 2016 after impressing for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Hardik revealed he got ull backing from then captain MS Dhoni on his debut for the Indian team despite not bowling well in his very first over of the game. Also Read: WATCH - Rahul Dravid gives pep talk as Team India begins training for South Africa T20I series Recalling his debut, Hardik said he had thought his first over could be the last over of his career but Dhoni showed faith in him and helped him bounce back. Hardik revealed Dhoni had assured him of a spot in the Indian squad for T20 World Cup 2016 after watching him just in his first three games for India. “When I joined the Indian team, I saw guys whom I had seen growing up – Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Ashish Nehra. Even before I played for India, they were the stars. For me, when I went there it was a big thing," Hardik told the SGTV podcast. "So obviously the kind of debut I had – I think I am the first cricketer who had gone for 21 runs in his first over – I genuinely felt that ok, this might be my last over. But I was very blessed and lucky to play under Mahi bhai who showed lot of trust in us which has helped us reach where we did. "Just after the third game of my international career, Mahi bhai told me you will be in the World Cup team. So for me, to play World Cup or to get to know that in the third game I just got to know about this. I did not even bat in that game but he assured me that you have expressed yourself. Yeah, it was just a dream come true,” he added. Also Read: 'I have not followed Waqar': Umran Malik reveals his 3 idols after comparisons with ex-Pakistan pacer Hardik has since become a regular across all formats for the Indian team and is almost indispensable for the Men in Blue in white-ball cricket. The star all-rounder has played 11 Tests, 63 ODIs and 54 T20Is in his international career so far, amassing 532, 1286 and 553 runs in the three formats respectively. He has also picked up 116 wickets across all three formats for India.

MS Dhoni told me I will be in World Cup squad after 3 matches: Hardik Pandya recalls his Team India debut

India have begun their preparations for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home. KL Rahul will lead the Indian team in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma in the five-match series against the Proteas. Several youngsters who impressed in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 have made the cut into the squad and will be eager to perform for the Men in Blue.

The five-match series against South Africa is scheduled to get underway from June 09 at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi. Each member of the Indian squad was in action during IPL 2022 which concluded on May 29 and got a much-deserved break before returning for national duty this month.

Apart from skipper Rohit, senior players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have also been rested from the squad and will return to action in the one-off Test against England next month. In their absence, it will be a litmus test for Rahul as captain in charge of a young team.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-will-go-miles-past-my-record-alastair-cook-lauds-joe-root-after-he-goes-past-10000-runs-in-test-cricket-485600">He will go miles past my record: Cook lauds Joe Root after he goes past 10,000 runs in Test cricket</a>

In a video shared by BCCI on Twitter, India head coach Rahul Dravid was seen giving a pep talk to the players as they stood in a huddle during their training session at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi on Monday. The likes of Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, Arshdeep Singh and others were seen listening with attention.

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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-have-not-followed-waqar-younis-umran-malik-reveals-his-3-idols-after-comparisons-with-ex-pakistan-pacer-485563">'I have not followed Waqar Younis': Umran reveals his 3 idols after comparisons with ex-Pakistan pacer</a>

While the likes of Umran and Arshdeep were selected in the squad after their exploits with the ball in the recently-concluded season, veteran Karthik also managed to make his comeback to the team after a gap of 3 years. Karthik, who last featured for India during the 2019 ODI World Cup, was phenomenal for RCB as a finisher in IPL 2022.

In the absence of Bumrah and Shami, Bhuvneshwar will spearhead India's pace attack and will have support from the likes of Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Umran and Arshdeep. India will be hoping to get off to a winning start in the T20I series and gain some momentum for the rest four games. It remains to be seen if Umran will be handed his debut after a stellar season in IPL 2022.

India have begun their preparations for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home. KL Rahul will lead the Indian team in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma in the five-match series against the Proteas.

India have begun their preparations for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home. KL Rahul will lead the Indian team in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma in the five-match series against the Proteas. Several youngsters who impressed in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 have made the cut into the squad and will be eager to perform for the Men in Blue. The five-match series against South Africa is scheduled to get underway from June 09 at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi. Each member of the Indian squad was in action during IPL 2022 which concluded on May 29 and got a much-deserved break before returning for national duty this month. Apart from skipper Rohit, senior players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have also been rested from the squad and will return to action in the one-off Test against England next month. In their absence, it will be a litmus test for Rahul as captain in charge of a young team. Also Read: He will go miles past my record: Cook lauds Joe Root after he goes past 10,000 runs in Test cricket In a video shared by BCCI on Twitter, India head coach Rahul Dravid was seen giving a pep talk to the players as they stood in a huddle during their training session at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi on Monday. The likes of Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, Arshdeep Singh and others were seen listening with attention. Back in Blue - Prep mode #TeamIndia begin training in Delhi ahead of the 1st T20I against South Africa.@Paytm #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/kOr8jsGJwL — BCCI (@BCCI) June 6, 2022 × Also Read: 'I have not followed Waqar Younis': Umran reveals his 3 idols after comparisons with ex-Pakistan pacer While the likes of Umran and Arshdeep were selected in the squad after their exploits with the ball in the recently-concluded season, veteran Karthik also managed to make his comeback to the team after a gap of 3 years. Karthik, who last featured for India during the 2019 ODI World Cup, was phenomenal for RCB as a finisher in IPL 2022. In the absence of Bumrah and Shami, Bhuvneshwar will spearhead India's pace attack and will have support from the likes of Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Umran and Arshdeep. India will be hoping to get off to a winning start in the T20I series and gain some momentum for the rest four games. It remains to be seen if Umran will be handed his debut after a stellar season in IPL 2022.

WATCH: Head coach Rahul Dravid gives pep talk as Team India begin training for South Africa T20I series

Joe Root has been enjoying a purple patch in Test cricket over the last couple of years. Despite being sacked as captain of the England Test team, Root's performances with the willow have remained unaffected in the longest format. Root slammed a match-winning unbeaten century in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's on Sunday (June 05) to help the hosts win the game by five wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

It was a brilliant knock from Root under pressure and helped England chase down the target of 277 runs comfortably at the end. Asked to chase 277 runs in their 2nd innings, England got off to a shaky start as the Kiwis reduced them to 69/4 inside 20 overs on Day 3.

However, Root combined with new captain Ben Stokes to steady the ship for the hosts and add a 90-run stand for the fifth wicket. Stokes scored a crucial 54 off 110 balls taking England closer to a win at Lord's. However, it still was not entirely in control of the hosts with New Zealand bowlers hoping to wreak havoc on Day 4.

Nonetheless, Root stood tall at the end and notched up a stunning 4th-innings century to take his team over the line comfortably. In the process, he also became only the second English batter to go past the 10,000 run-mark in Test cricket after the great Alastair Cook. Root also equalled Cook's record for being the youngest to achieve the feat.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/an-all-time-great-ganguly-vaughan-others-hail-joe-root-as-he-completes-10000-runs-in-test-cricket-485348">'An all-time great': Ganguly, Vaughan &amp; others hail Joe Root as he completes 10,000 runs in Test cricket</a>

Cook lauded Root for his tremendous achievement and said the 31-year-old is the most complete England batter he has seen. The former England skipper also backed Root to break his record and become England's all-time highest run-getter in Tests in the future. Cook is currently England's leading run-getter in the whites with 12472 runs in 161 matches.

"He is a pleasure to watch, the most complete England batsman I have seen. The person who could play the most incredible innings was Kevin Pietersen, but for the most complete batsmen in all three forms, it's Root. His consistency is incredible. He was a very good player of spin, as good as anyone," Cook said while speaking about Root's batting on BBC.

"He was ready to play international cricket. You knew he could handle the occasion. Barring injury, he'll go miles past my record," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-have-not-followed-waqar-younis-umran-malik-reveals-his-3-idols-after-comparisons-with-ex-pakistan-pacer-485563">'I have not followed Waqar': Umran Malik reveals his 3 idols after comparisons with ex-Pakistan pacer</a>

Cook, who decided to quit cricket at the age of 33, was once touted to break the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record for most runs in Test history. However, the former England captain decided to part ways from the game at an early age due to mental strain and the toll on his body from the pressure of scoring runs consistently. However, he believes Root might not face such issues and can certainly have a longer career.

"I would never have said I would finish at 33, but the time felt right for me. The mental strain I felt to score runs took a toll on me. I'm not saying it's easy for him, but he doesn't seem to have that problem," said Cook, who is 37 now.

"He is so hard to tie down. I had to grind my way to 30, it always took me what felt like two hours. Because Joe has got so many low-risk scoring options, pretty much through 360 degrees, he will often get to 30 off 40 balls," he added.

Joe Root has been enjoying a purple patch in Test cricket over the last couple of years. Despite being sacked as captain of the England Test team, Root's performances with the willow have remained unaffected in the longest format.

Joe Root has been enjoying a purple patch in Test cricket over the last couple of years. Despite being sacked as captain of the England Test team, Root's performances with the willow have remained unaffected in the longest format. Root slammed a match-winning unbeaten century in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's on Sunday (June 05) to help the hosts win the game by five wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. It was a brilliant knock from Root under pressure and helped England chase down the target of 277 runs comfortably at the end. Asked to chase 277 runs in their 2nd innings, England got off to a shaky start as the Kiwis reduced them to 69/4 inside 20 overs on Day 3. However, Root combined with new captain Ben Stokes to steady the ship for the hosts and add a 90-run stand for the fifth wicket. Stokes scored a crucial 54 off 110 balls taking England closer to a win at Lord's. However, it still was not entirely in control of the hosts with New Zealand bowlers hoping to wreak havoc on Day 4. Nonetheless, Root stood tall at the end and notched up a stunning 4th-innings century to take his team over the line comfortably. In the process, he also became only the second English batter to go past the 10,000 run-mark in Test cricket after the great Alastair Cook. Root also equalled Cook's record for being the youngest to achieve the feat. Also Read: 'An all-time great': Ganguly, Vaughan & others hail Joe Root as he completes 10,000 runs in Test cricket Cook lauded Root for his tremendous achievement and said the 31-year-old is the most complete England batter he has seen. The former England skipper also backed Root to break his record and become England's all-time highest run-getter in Tests in the future. Cook is currently England's leading run-getter in the whites with 12472 runs in 161 matches. "He is a pleasure to watch, the most complete England batsman I have seen. The person who could play the most incredible innings was Kevin Pietersen, but for the most complete batsmen in all three forms, it's Root. His consistency is incredible. He was a very good player of spin, as good as anyone," Cook said while speaking about Root's batting on BBC. "He was ready to play international cricket. You knew he could handle the occasion. Barring injury, he'll go miles past my record," he added. Also Read: 'I have not followed Waqar': Umran Malik reveals his 3 idols after comparisons with ex-Pakistan pacer Cook, who decided to quit cricket at the age of 33, was once touted to break the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record for most runs in Test history. However, the former England captain decided to part ways from the game at an early age due to mental strain and the toll on his body from the pressure of scoring runs consistently. However, he believes Root might not face such issues and can certainly have a longer career. "I would never have said I would finish at 33, but the time felt right for me. The mental strain I felt to score runs took a toll on me. I'm not saying it's easy for him, but he doesn't seem to have that problem," said Cook, who is 37 now. "He is so hard to tie down. I had to grind my way to 30, it always took me what felt like two hours. Because Joe has got so many low-risk scoring options, pretty much through 360 degrees, he will often get to 30 off 40 balls," he added.

He will go miles past my record: Alastair Cook lauds Joe Root after he goes past 10,000 runs in Test cricket

Young Umran Malik took the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 by storm with his impressive show for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Umran was awarded the Emerging Player of the Tournament award after troubling the batters with his raw pace throughout the tournament. The 22-year-old clocked over 150 kmph consistently and also bowled the second fastest delivery in the tournament at 157 kmph behind only Lockie Ferguson, who produced a 157.3 kmph thunderbolt against Jos Buttler in the IPL 2022 final.

Umran was roped in by Sunrisers Hyderabad as a replacement for injured T Natarajan in IPL 2021 last year after impressing the team management as a net bowler for the franchise. He managed to play only a handful games in the IPL last year but did enough to convince the coaches of his extraordinary skills and talent.

The young fast bowler was retained by SRH ahead of the mega auction this year and went on to become a regular member of the playing XI this season. Umran rattled batters with his express pace and finished as the highest wicket-taker for SRH with 22 wickets from 14 matches. He also managed to earn his maiden call-up in the Indian team on the back of his impressive show in IPL 2022.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/when-we-need-them-to-score-runs-they-get-out-kapil-dev-on-indias-top-orders-t20-batting-approach-485465">When we need them to score runs, they get out: Kapil Dev on India's top order's T20 batting approach</a>

The 22-year-old has often been compared with former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis with many believing his action is quite similar to that of the Pakistan pace legend. However, Umran recently revealed he has never followed Waqar and that his pace-bowling idols are three Indian pacers.

“I have not followed Waqar Younis. I have a natural action. My idols include (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Shami and Bhuvneshwar (Kumar) bhai. I used to follow them when I was playing while coming through the ranks,” Umran said during Indian Express Idea Exchange.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/had-sourav-ganguly-not-backed-me-in-2001-he-would-have-been-sacked-from-captaincy-harbhajan-singh-485359">Had Ganguly not backed me in 2001, he would have been sacked from captaincy: Harbhajan Singh</a>

While Umran shares the dressing room with Bhuvneshwar at Sunrisers Hyderabad and shares a great rapport with the senior Indian pacer, he might soon get a chance to play with both Shami and Bumrah for the Indian team. Umran has already set his sight on impressing for India in the upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home and wants to win games for his country.

“There’s no point getting carried away. If it is destined to happen, it will Inshallah. I want to do my best for my country. I have got an opportunity in these five (T20I) matches (against South Africa). My goal will be that we win all five matches, I perform well and single-handedly win those games for India," said the young pacer.

“Firstly, I am really grateful for all the love and respect that I have been getting from all over India. Relatives and other people keep coming home, it feels very good. I have been a bit busy after the IPL, but have not missed training and practice," he added.

 
&nbsp;

Young Umran Malik took the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 by storm with his impressive show for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Umran was awarded the Emerging Player of the Tournament award after troubling the batters with his raw pace throughout the tournament.

Young Umran Malik took the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 by storm with his impressive show for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Umran was awarded the Emerging Player of the Tournament award after troubling the batters with his raw pace throughout the tournament. The 22-year-old clocked over 150 kmph consistently and also bowled the second fastest delivery in the tournament at 157 kmph behind only Lockie Ferguson, who produced a 157.3 kmph thunderbolt against Jos Buttler in the IPL 2022 final. Umran was roped in by Sunrisers Hyderabad as a replacement for injured T Natarajan in IPL 2021 last year after impressing the team management as a net bowler for the franchise. He managed to play only a handful games in the IPL last year but did enough to convince the coaches of his extraordinary skills and talent. The young fast bowler was retained by SRH ahead of the mega auction this year and went on to become a regular member of the playing XI this season. Umran rattled batters with his express pace and finished as the highest wicket-taker for SRH with 22 wickets from 14 matches. He also managed to earn his maiden call-up in the Indian team on the back of his impressive show in IPL 2022. Also Read: When we need them to score runs, they get out: Kapil Dev on India's top order's T20 batting approach The 22-year-old has often been compared with former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis with many believing his action is quite similar to that of the Pakistan pace legend. However, Umran recently revealed he has never followed Waqar and that his pace-bowling idols are three Indian pacers. “I have not followed Waqar Younis. I have a natural action. My idols include (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Shami and Bhuvneshwar (Kumar) bhai. I used to follow them when I was playing while coming through the ranks,” Umran said during Indian Express Idea Exchange. Also Read: Had Ganguly not backed me in 2001, he would have been sacked from captaincy: Harbhajan Singh While Umran shares the dressing room with Bhuvneshwar at Sunrisers Hyderabad and shares a great rapport with the senior Indian pacer, he might soon get a chance to play with both Shami and Bumrah for the Indian team. Umran has already set his sight on impressing for India in the upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home and wants to win games for his country. “There’s no point getting carried away. If it is destined to happen, it will Inshallah. I want to do my best for my country. I have got an opportunity in these five (T20I) matches (against South Africa). My goal will be that we win all five matches, I perform well and single-handedly win those games for India," said the young pacer. “Firstly, I am really grateful for all the love and respect that I have been getting from all over India. Relatives and other people keep coming home, it feels very good. I have been a bit busy after the IPL, but have not missed training and practice," he added.

'I have not followed Waqar Younis': Umran Malik reveals his 3 idols after comparisons with ex-Pakistan pacer

A 'one in 15 million' event, as described UK's air traffic control provider NATS, caused the air traffic meltdown last week. The chief of NATS cited a flight plan with two identically named markers as reason for the air-traffic chaos.

On August 28, 1500 flights were cancelled as a result of which thousands of passengers were stranded abroad for days. The disturbance came during one of the busiest travel periods of the summer.

"This was a one in 15 million chance," NATS CEO Martin Rolfe told the BBC.

"We've processed 15 million flight plans with this system up until this point and never seen this before."

A few days ago Rolfe said that the problem would not be repeated.

On Wednesday, NATS published a report that said that the flight plan included two identically named but separate waypoint markers outside UK airspace, which forced the system to enter fail-safe mode.

"In these circumstances, the system could not reject the flight plan without a clear understanding of what possible impact it may have had. Nor could it be allowed through and risk presenting air traffic controllers with incorrect safety-critical information," NATS said.

It said that the flight plan was complying with Eurocontrol's flight planning distribution system.

UK's Civil Aviation Regulator (CAA) has said that it will review circumstances surrounding the failure.

"If there is evidence to suggest NATS may have breached its statutory and licensing obligations we will consider whether any further action is necessary," Rob Bishton, Joint-Interim Chief Executive at the UK's CAA, said in a statement.

This may mean that NATS would end up footing some of the bill for the chaos that ensued last week.

According IATA, the global airline group, the episode is likely to cost airlines up to 100 million pounds ($126 million) as travellers whose flights were cancelled would claim back expenses for the hotels or the tickets.

Britain-based airline easyJet said the NATS report left some questions unanswered. It added that though it welcomed the review, it believed a more wide-ranging examination of resources and IT systems was necessary.

"A full independent and wide-ranging review of NATS is needed to ensure it is fit for purpose today and in the future," easyJet said.

(With input from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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A 'one in 15 million' event, as described UK's air traffic control provider NATS, caused the air traffic meltdown last week. The chief of NATS cited a flight plan with two identically named markers as reason for the air-traffic chaos.

A 'one in 15 million' event, as described UK's air traffic control provider NATS, caused the air traffic meltdown last week. The chief of NATS cited a flight plan with two identically named markers as reason for the air-traffic chaos. On August 28, 1500 flights were cancelled as a result of which thousands of passengers were stranded abroad for days. The disturbance came during one of the busiest travel periods of the summer. "This was a one in 15 million chance," NATS CEO Martin Rolfe told the BBC. "We've processed 15 million flight plans with this system up until this point and never seen this before." A few days ago Rolfe said that the problem would not be repeated. On Wednesday, NATS published a report that said that the flight plan included two identically named but separate waypoint markers outside UK airspace, which forced the system to enter fail-safe mode. "In these circumstances, the system could not reject the flight plan without a clear understanding of what possible impact it may have had. Nor could it be allowed through and risk presenting air traffic controllers with incorrect safety-critical information," NATS said. It said that the flight plan was complying with Eurocontrol's flight planning distribution system. UK's Civil Aviation Regulator (CAA) has said that it will review circumstances surrounding the failure. "If there is evidence to suggest NATS may have breached its statutory and licensing obligations we will consider whether any further action is necessary," Rob Bishton, Joint-Interim Chief Executive at the UK's CAA, said in a statement. This may mean that NATS would end up footing some of the bill for the chaos that ensued last week. According IATA, the global airline group, the episode is likely to cost airlines up to 100 million pounds ($126 million) as travellers whose flights were cancelled would claim back expenses for the hotels or the tickets. Britain-based airline easyJet said the NATS report left some questions unanswered. It added that though it welcomed the review, it believed a more wide-ranging examination of resources and IT systems was necessary. "A full independent and wide-ranging review of NATS is needed to ensure it is fit for purpose today and in the future," easyJet said. (With input from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

India vs SA, T20Is: 'He'll do very well' - Suresh Raina makes bold prediction for star Indian batter

Former Indian opener-turned-commentator feels that nobody really remembers the 50-over matches anymore and called for changes to be made in the ODI format. Before him, ex-Indian team head coach Ravi Shastri had called up for the discontinuation of T20I matches and restricting the format to only World Cups. Now, Chopra feels it is the shorter format which is 'most boring contest and meaningless'.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, the 44-year-old cricket expert Chopra pointed out,&nbsp;"If you see the interest levels, keeping the Tests aside as everything is not commercialization, I feel ODI cricket is the most boring contest. It is the most meaningless, it is the format that no one remembers."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/when-we-need-them-to-score-runs-they-get-out-kapil-dev-on-indias-top-orders-t20-batting-approach-485465">When we need them to score runs, they get out: Kapil Dev on India's top order's T20 batting approach</a>

"It is the format where neither the broadcasters nor the fans enjoy it. That's ODI cricket and there are multiple reasons for that. In 50-over cricket, the 30 overs in the middle are neither a Test nor a T20. ODI is not a format that is going to keep you engaged for too long," he opined.

Chopra further added, "I think ODI cricket is struggling. It is not T20I cricket that is struggling. Let the T20 internationals continue because the broadcasters will need them, or else they won't give you the money. Every country's broadcast rights will take a major hit."

Ever since the T20 cricket rose to prominence, it has affected both Test and ODI format. While a lot is being done to keep the purest format relevant in current times, with the introduction of a WTC, and many Test series have lived upto expectations as well recently -- with less number of draws -- ODI cricket has taken a hit, especially when it comes to bilaterals involving lowly-ranked sides.

Former Indian opener-turned-commentator feels that nobody really remembers the 50-over matches anymore and called for changes to be made in the ODI format. Before him, ex-Indian team head coach Ravi Shastri had called up for the discontinuation of T20I matches and restricting the format to only World Cups.

Former Indian opener-turned-commentator feels that nobody really remembers the 50-over matches anymore and called for changes to be made in the ODI format. Before him, ex-Indian team head coach Ravi Shastri had called up for the discontinuation of T20I matches and restricting the format to only World Cups. Now, Chopra feels it is the shorter format which is 'most boring contest and meaningless'. In a video shared on his YouTube channel, the 44-year-old cricket expert Chopra pointed out, "If you see the interest levels, keeping the Tests aside as everything is not commercialization, I feel ODI cricket is the most boring contest. It is the most meaningless, it is the format that no one remembers." ALSO READ | When we need them to score runs, they get out: Kapil Dev on India's top order's T20 batting approach "It is the format where neither the broadcasters nor the fans enjoy it. That's ODI cricket and there are multiple reasons for that. In 50-over cricket, the 30 overs in the middle are neither a Test nor a T20. ODI is not a format that is going to keep you engaged for too long," he opined. Chopra further added, "I think ODI cricket is struggling. It is not T20I cricket that is struggling. Let the T20 internationals continue because the broadcasters will need them, or else they won't give you the money. Every country's broadcast rights will take a major hit." Ever since the T20 cricket rose to prominence, it has affected both Test and ODI format. While a lot is being done to keep the purest format relevant in current times, with the introduction of a WTC, and many Test series have lived upto expectations as well recently -- with less number of draws -- ODI cricket has taken a hit, especially when it comes to bilaterals involving lowly-ranked sides.

Tests, ODIs or T20Is? Former Indian opener picks the format which is 'most boring and meaningless'

Former England captain Nasser Hussain lauded Joe Root after his unbeaten century helped the hosts thrash New Zealand by five wickets in the first Test at the Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday (June 05). Root slammed his 26th Test century to help England chase down the target of 277 runs on Day 4&nbsp;of the Lord's Test and secure a comfortable win to go 1-0 up in the three-match Test series.

It was Ben Stokes' first Test as the new captain of England in the whites and Root's first after stepping down as the Test skipper of the team earlier this year. The duo combined to help their side get over the line after being left reeling on 69/4 in their second innings.

Stokes slammed 54 off 110 balls and added 90 runs for the 5th wicket with Root on Day 3 before Ben Foakes joined the former England skipper in the middle. Root took control of the run-chase along wth Foakes on Day 4 and the duo helped England chase down 277 runs in 78.5 overs without losing a single wicket on the penultimate day.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/an-all-time-great-ganguly-vaughan-others-hail-joe-root-as-he-completes-10000-runs-in-test-cricket-485348">'An all time great': Ganguly, Vaughan &amp; others hail Joe Root as he completes 10,000 runs in Test cricket</a>

Root also went past 10,000 runs with his 26th Test hundred and became the joint-youngest to achieve the feat along with England great Alastair Cook. Heaping praise on him, Hussain said if there was one player the England fans wanted to step up and perform, it was Root.

"It was brilliant, right from the first ball to the scenes at the end. There was no drama on Sunday - but there was one individual that the country and English cricket fans wanted to stand to and that was Root.

"They love him and it was such a joyous moment for him to get to 10,000 Test runs and get England over the line,” Hussain was quoted as saying on Sky Sports.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/joe-root-slams-ton-to-help-england-thrash-new-zealand-by-5-wickets-in-1st-test-at-lords-485325">Joe Root slams ton to help England thrash New Zealand by 5 wickets in 1st Test at Lord's</a>

Hussain further added that it was absolutely vital for England to start with a win as it was the beginning of a new era for them under new captain Stokes and Test head coach Brendon McCullum. Hussian feels the win will definitely boost the morale of the dressing room.

"It is a change in era for English cricket and it was absolutely vital they started with a win. You can imagine the confidence in that dressing room now,” said the former England skipper.

"All the young lads will be hanging on every word from McCullum and Stokes and want to improve. It's only a start and they can't get giddy about it but it's the start England needed," he added.

&nbsp;

Former England captain Nasser Hussain lauded Joe Root after his unbeaten century helped the hosts thrash New Zealand by five wickets in the first Test at the Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday (June 05).

Former England captain Nasser Hussain lauded Joe Root after his unbeaten century helped the hosts thrash New Zealand by five wickets in the first Test at the Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday (June 05). Root slammed his 26th Test century to help England chase down the target of 277 runs on Day 4 of the Lord's Test and secure a comfortable win to go 1-0 up in the three-match Test series. It was Ben Stokes' first Test as the new captain of England in the whites and Root's first after stepping down as the Test skipper of the team earlier this year. The duo combined to help their side get over the line after being left reeling on 69/4 in their second innings. Stokes slammed 54 off 110 balls and added 90 runs for the 5th wicket with Root on Day 3 before Ben Foakes joined the former England skipper in the middle. Root took control of the run-chase along wth Foakes on Day 4 and the duo helped England chase down 277 runs in 78.5 overs without losing a single wicket on the penultimate day. Also Read: 'An all time great': Ganguly, Vaughan & others hail Joe Root as he completes 10,000 runs in Test cricket Root also went past 10,000 runs with his 26th Test hundred and became the joint-youngest to achieve the feat along with England great Alastair Cook. Heaping praise on him, Hussain said if there was one player the England fans wanted to step up and perform, it was Root. "It was brilliant, right from the first ball to the scenes at the end. There was no drama on Sunday - but there was one individual that the country and English cricket fans wanted to stand to and that was Root. "They love him and it was such a joyous moment for him to get to 10,000 Test runs and get England over the line,” Hussain was quoted as saying on Sky Sports. Also Read: Joe Root slams ton to help England thrash New Zealand by 5 wickets in 1st Test at Lord's Hussain further added that it was absolutely vital for England to start with a win as it was the beginning of a new era for them under new captain Stokes and Test head coach Brendon McCullum. Hussian feels the win will definitely boost the morale of the dressing room. "It is a change in era for English cricket and it was absolutely vital they started with a win. You can imagine the confidence in that dressing room now,” said the former England skipper. "All the young lads will be hanging on every word from McCullum and Stokes and want to improve. It's only a start and they can't get giddy about it but it's the start England needed," he added.

'It's a change in era for English cricket': Nasser Hussain lauds Joe Root as England thrash New Zealand

Sourav Ganguly is regarded as one of the finest Indian captains of all time. Ganguly is often credited for backing the youngsters during his time as captain of the Indian side and several players have over the years thanked Ganguly for playing a role in shaping their careers. The likes of Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag and MS Dhoni among others were all backed by Ganguly as youngsters and went on to become greats of the game.

Ganguly's ability to trust his players and back them even at their worst often paid rich dividends for the Indian team as they registered come memorable victories both at home and away from home. Former India spinner Harbhajan, who also shone under Ganguly's captaincy, recently revealed how he once saved the former captain from getting sacked.

Harbhajan made his international debut for India in March 1998 and quickly became one of the mainstays of India's bowling attack under Ganguly. However, while he had talent, he was too young to be trusted in a Test series against Australia in 2001 and there were question marks over his place in the Indian squad.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harbhajan-singh-recalls-infamous-sreesanth-slapgate-row-i-made-a-mistake-it-should-not-have-happened-485244">Harbhajan&nbsp;recalls infamous Sreesanth slapgate row: 'I made a mistake, It should not have happened'</a>

Harbhajan claimed&nbsp;had Ganguly not backed him and kept him in the squad for the 2001 Australia Test series at home, India might not have won and Ganguly could have been sacked as captain. Harbhajan made the revelation while speaking on Sportskeeda recently.

“Had Ganguly not backed me, he wouldn't have won that series (2001 vs Australia) and would have been sacked from captaincy. He came like God for me and held my hand and I went on with my job. It helped both my career and his as a captain as he got the extension. He did help me in giving a chance, but then it's up to the player to make it count," said the former India spinner.

Harbhajan turned out to be India's hero in the 2001 Test against Australia after making the cut into the playing XI following an injury to Anil Kumble. He went on to pick up 32 wickets in the series, including a hat-trick at the Eden Gardens as India won 2-1.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/an-all-time-great-ganguly-vaughan-others-hail-joe-root-as-he-completes-10000-runs-in-test-cricket-485348">'An all time great': Ganguly, Vaughan &amp; others hail Joe Root as he completes 10,000 runs in Test cricket</a>

There was no looking back for Harbhajan from there on as he became an integral member of the Indian bowling attack across formats. The former spinner was part of India's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup-winning teams under MS Dhoni. He finished his international career with 417 Test wickets and 269 wickets in ODIs.

&nbsp;

Sourav Ganguly is regarded as one of the finest Indian captains of all time. Ganguly is often credited for backing the youngsters during his time as captain of the Indian side and several players have over the years thanked Ganguly for playing a role in shaping their careers.

Sourav Ganguly is regarded as one of the finest Indian captains of all time. Ganguly is often credited for backing the youngsters during his time as captain of the Indian side and several players have over the years thanked Ganguly for playing a role in shaping their careers. The likes of Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag and MS Dhoni among others were all backed by Ganguly as youngsters and went on to become greats of the game. Ganguly's ability to trust his players and back them even at their worst often paid rich dividends for the Indian team as they registered come memorable victories both at home and away from home. Former India spinner Harbhajan, who also shone under Ganguly's captaincy, recently revealed how he once saved the former captain from getting sacked. Harbhajan made his international debut for India in March 1998 and quickly became one of the mainstays of India's bowling attack under Ganguly. However, while he had talent, he was too young to be trusted in a Test series against Australia in 2001 and there were question marks over his place in the Indian squad. Also Read: Harbhajan recalls infamous Sreesanth slapgate row: 'I made a mistake, It should not have happened' Harbhajan claimed had Ganguly not backed him and kept him in the squad for the 2001 Australia Test series at home, India might not have won and Ganguly could have been sacked as captain. Harbhajan made the revelation while speaking on Sportskeeda recently. “Had Ganguly not backed me, he wouldn't have won that series (2001 vs Australia) and would have been sacked from captaincy. He came like God for me and held my hand and I went on with my job. It helped both my career and his as a captain as he got the extension. He did help me in giving a chance, but then it's up to the player to make it count," said the former India spinner. Harbhajan turned out to be India's hero in the 2001 Test against Australia after making the cut into the playing XI following an injury to Anil Kumble. He went on to pick up 32 wickets in the series, including a hat-trick at the Eden Gardens as India won 2-1. Also Read: 'An all time great': Ganguly, Vaughan & others hail Joe Root as he completes 10,000 runs in Test cricket There was no looking back for Harbhajan from there on as he became an integral member of the Indian bowling attack across formats. The former spinner was part of India's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup-winning teams under MS Dhoni. He finished his international career with 417 Test wickets and 269 wickets in ODIs.

Had Sourav Ganguly not backed me in 2001, he would have been sacked from captaincy: Harbhajan Singh

Joe Root slammed an unbeaten century to help England chase down the target of 277 runs on Day 4 of the first Test against New Zealand at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London and take a 1-0 lead in the series. The former England captain also became only the second batter from his country to complete the milestone of 10,000 runs in Test cricket with his stupendous ton. Root has now become the join-youngest to reach the milestone of 10,000 runs in the longest format of the game.

Asked to chase 277 runs in their second innings, England were in a spot of bother on Day 3 having lost four wickets inside 70 runs with the likes of Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Jonny Bairstow all back in the hut cheaply. Root combined with captain Ben Stokes to add 90 runs for the 5th wicket before taking the hosts over the line on Day 4.

Root completed his century in the morning session on Day 4 and added an unbeaten partnership of 120 runs with wicket-keeper batter Ben Foakes (32) to help England chase down the target comfortably and win the game by five wickets.

En route to his knock, Root became the second England batter after the legendary Alastair Cook to complete 10,000 runs in Test cricket. He also joined Cook in becoming the joint-youngest to the feat. Root, who was born on December 30, 1990, has completed the feat of 10,000 runs at the age of 31 years, 5 months and 5 days. Cook was also 31 years, 5 months and 5 days old when he went past the 10,000 run mark in Tests.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/joe-root-slams-ton-to-help-england-thrash-new-zealand-by-5-wickets-in-1st-test-at-lords-485325">Joe Root slams ton to help England thrash New Zealand by 5 wickets in 1st Test at Lord's</a>

Root was hailed by many on social media for his illustrious feat as the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Michael Vaughan, VVS Laxman and others lauded the England batter for his brilliant knock and terrific achievement. Ganguly also labelled Root as an all-time great.

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Joe Roooooooot ..what a player what a knock under pressure ..an all time great ..<a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bcci</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@icc</a>
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) <a href="https://twitter.com/SGanguly99/status/1533402268124336128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
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No better feeling than a match-winning 100 in a pressure run chase. Many congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/root66?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@root66</a> on an incredible 100 and on reaching 10000 Test runs, massive achievement. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvNZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/1mvfdwrtyv">pic.twitter.com/1mvfdwrtyv</a>
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) <a href="https://twitter.com/VVSLaxman281/status/1533406299374858240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Englands most complete all round Batter of all time .. 10000 runs &amp; to do it with a match winning 100 is incredible .. Well done <a href="https://twitter.com/root66?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@root66</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lords?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lords</a>
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan/status/1533402302761123842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Joe Root has 10,000 Test runs. And he's just 31 Well played and congratulations <a href="https://twitter.com/root66?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@root66</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvNZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/l5dDL5v7Iz">pic.twitter.com/l5dDL5v7Iz</a>
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) <a href="https://twitter.com/WasimJaffer14/status/1533404056235954186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
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At 31, Root has been absolutely phenomenal in Test cricket and has been churning out runs consistently for England in the whites. He has already breached the 10,000 run mark and is among the few active batters in the world at present who can eaye Sachin Tendulkar's record of most runs in Test cricket history.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/intentionally-wanted-to-hit-sachin-shoaib-akhtar-recalls-his-fiery-spell-vs-tendulkar-in-2006-karachi-test-485266">'Intentionally wanted to hit Sachin': Akhtar recalls his fiery spell vs Tendulkar in 2006 Karachi Test</a>

Tendulkar scored a whopping 15,921 runs in 200 Test matches in his illustrious career. Root currently has&nbsp;10015&nbsp; runs to his name in 118 Tests for England. He needs another 5,907 runs to go past the Master Blaster and create history. Root has now scored 26 centuries in his Test career so far.

Joe Root slammed an unbeaten century to help England chase down the target of 277 runs on Day 4 of the first Test against New Zealand at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Joe Root slammed an unbeaten century to help England chase down the target of 277 runs on Day 4 of the first Test against New Zealand at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London and take a 1-0 lead in the series. The former England captain also became only the second batter from his country to complete the milestone of 10,000 runs in Test cricket with his stupendous ton. Root has now become the join-youngest to reach the milestone of 10,000 runs in the longest format of the game. Asked to chase 277 runs in their second innings, England were in a spot of bother on Day 3 having lost four wickets inside 70 runs with the likes of Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Jonny Bairstow all back in the hut cheaply. Root combined with captain Ben Stokes to add 90 runs for the 5th wicket before taking the hosts over the line on Day 4. Root completed his century in the morning session on Day 4 and added an unbeaten partnership of 120 runs with wicket-keeper batter Ben Foakes (32) to help England chase down the target comfortably and win the game by five wickets. En route to his knock, Root became the second England batter after the legendary Alastair Cook to complete 10,000 runs in Test cricket. He also joined Cook in becoming the joint-youngest to the feat. Root, who was born on December 30, 1990, has completed the feat of 10,000 runs at the age of 31 years, 5 months and 5 days. Cook was also 31 years, 5 months and 5 days old when he went past the 10,000 run mark in Tests. Also Read: Joe Root slams ton to help England thrash New Zealand by 5 wickets in 1st Test at Lord's Root was hailed by many on social media for his illustrious feat as the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Michael Vaughan, VVS Laxman and others lauded the England batter for his brilliant knock and terrific achievement. Ganguly also labelled Root as an all-time great. Joe Roooooooot ..what a player what a knock under pressure ..an all time great ..@bcci @icc — Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) June 5, 2022 × No better feeling than a match-winning 100 in a pressure run chase. Many congratulations to @root66 on an incredible 100 and on reaching 10000 Test runs, massive achievement. #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/1mvfdwrtyv — VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) June 5, 2022 × Englands most complete all round Batter of all time .. 10000 runs & to do it with a match winning 100 is incredible .. Well done @root66 #Lords — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 5, 2022 × Joe Root has 10,000 Test runs. And he's just 31 Well played and congratulations @root66 #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/l5dDL5v7Iz — Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) June 5, 2022 × At 31, Root has been absolutely phenomenal in Test cricket and has been churning out runs consistently for England in the whites. He has already breached the 10,000 run mark and is among the few active batters in the world at present who can eaye Sachin Tendulkar's record of most runs in Test cricket history. Also Read: 'Intentionally wanted to hit Sachin': Akhtar recalls his fiery spell vs Tendulkar in 2006 Karachi Test Tendulkar scored a whopping 15,921 runs in 200 Test matches in his illustrious career. Root currently has 10015 runs to his name in 118 Tests for England. He needs another 5,907 runs to go past the Master Blaster and create history. Root has now scored 26 centuries in his Test career so far.

'An all time great': Ganguly, Vaughan & others hail Joe Root as he completes 10,000 runs in Test cricket

Joe Root made a superb unbeaten century to guide England to an impressive five-wicket victory over New Zealand on a gloomy fourth morning of the first test at Lord’s on Sunday. Former captain Root became the 14th batsman to pass 10,000 test runs and finished on 115 not out after sharing a sixth-wicket partnership of 120 with Ben Foakes, whose 32 not out was also crucial for England to reach their victory target of 277.

New Zealand’s seamers, previously so potent through the test, found no swing on a cold morning and failed to test the batsmen as the pair picked off the runs with little alarm after England had resumed at 216 for five, needing 61 for victory.

England captain Ben Stokes celebrated victory in his first test in charge and will be targeting a series win when the second of three matches gets underway at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Friday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/intentionally-wanted-to-hit-sachin-shoaib-akhtar-recalls-his-fiery-spell-vs-tendulkar-in-2006-karachi-test-485266">'Intentionally wanted to hit Sachin': Shoaib Akhtar recalls his fiery spell vs Tendulkar in 2006 Karachi Test</a>

Root compiled his 26th test century, and first in the fourth innings, a reminder of the crucial role he still has to play for the side after reluctantly resigning the captaincy this year.

"Scoring a hundred and 10,000 runs, what a player, what a man," Stokes said at the post-match presentation, before cautioning that the side will not be getting carried away with their success having won only one of their previous 17 tests before this one.

"We`re happy leaving here with a win but one thing that everyone needs to take into account is that it`s a change of mindset for everyone and it`s not something that`s going to happen overnight," Stoles added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harbhajan-singh-recalls-infamous-sreesanth-slapgate-row-i-made-a-mistake-it-should-not-have-happened-485244">Harbhajan&nbsp;recalls infamous Sreesanth slapgate row: 'I made a mistake, It should not have happened'</a>

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had hoped the overcast conditions would provide movement for his seamers, but was disappointed by the lack of swing.

"The game ebbed and flowed, both teams came out and fought hard," he said. "We saw how difficult it was when the ball was hard. We came here today with high hopes.

"Definitely a lot of learnings. We`ll reflect on this and look forward to the next one."

Joe Root made a superb unbeaten century to guide England to an impressive five-wicket victory over New Zealand on a gloomy fourth morning of the first test at Lord’s on Sunday.

Joe Root made a superb unbeaten century to guide England to an impressive five-wicket victory over New Zealand on a gloomy fourth morning of the first test at Lord’s on Sunday. Former captain Root became the 14th batsman to pass 10,000 test runs and finished on 115 not out after sharing a sixth-wicket partnership of 120 with Ben Foakes, whose 32 not out was also crucial for England to reach their victory target of 277. New Zealand’s seamers, previously so potent through the test, found no swing on a cold morning and failed to test the batsmen as the pair picked off the runs with little alarm after England had resumed at 216 for five, needing 61 for victory. England captain Ben Stokes celebrated victory in his first test in charge and will be targeting a series win when the second of three matches gets underway at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Friday. Also Read: 'Intentionally wanted to hit Sachin': Shoaib Akhtar recalls his fiery spell vs Tendulkar in 2006 Karachi Test Root compiled his 26th test century, and first in the fourth innings, a reminder of the crucial role he still has to play for the side after reluctantly resigning the captaincy this year. "Scoring a hundred and 10,000 runs, what a player, what a man," Stokes said at the post-match presentation, before cautioning that the side will not be getting carried away with their success having won only one of their previous 17 tests before this one. "We`re happy leaving here with a win but one thing that everyone needs to take into account is that it`s a change of mindset for everyone and it`s not something that`s going to happen overnight," Stoles added. Also Read: Harbhajan recalls infamous Sreesanth slapgate row: 'I made a mistake, It should not have happened' New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had hoped the overcast conditions would provide movement for his seamers, but was disappointed by the lack of swing. "The game ebbed and flowed, both teams came out and fought hard," he said. "We saw how difficult it was when the ball was hard. We came here today with high hopes. "Definitely a lot of learnings. We`ll reflect on this and look forward to the next one."

Joe Root slams ton to help England thrash New Zealand by 5 wickets in 1st Test at Lord's

Dinesh Karthik was phenomenal as a finisher for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The veteran batter, who hasn't played much competitive cricket in the lead up to IPL 2022, shone with the willow and stood up for his team to bail them under pressure while batting in the lower-middle order. Karthik also managed to earn a call up in the Indian team with his sensational performances for RCB.

The 36-year-old wicket-keeper batter enjoyed a stunning season for RCB amassing 330 runs in 16 matches at an average of 55 and a stunning strike rate of 183.33. Karthik will be making his comeback to the Indian team after a gap of three years as he last played for the Men in Blue in the 2019 ODI World Cup in England.

He was dropped from the side following the conclusion of the World Cup and was not able to make his comeback into the national side. However, his splendid touch in IPL 2022 forced the selectors to recall him in India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri recently spoke about Karthik's return to the Indian team and explained how the veteran wicket-keeper batter can cement his spot in the side. Shastri believes India needs someone like MS Dhoni, who can finish games for the team in the lower middle-order.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harbhajan-singh-recalls-infamous-sreesanth-slapgate-row-i-made-a-mistake-it-should-not-have-happened-485244">Harbhajan recalls infamous Sreesanth slapgate row: 'I made a mistake, It should not have happened'</a>

“This is his opportunity. If and when he gets an opportunity in these games, he has to do it with India colours on. We know he has got the experience, so this becomes extremely vital,” Shastri said on Star Sports.

“You have to see from the team’s point of view, what are they looking for? Do they want a keeper who will bat at the top of the order or do they want a keeper who will be the finisher? I will go for the latter. You need a keeper who will do MS Dhoni’s role, let’s put it that way.

“There is already Rishabh Pant who can bat in the top four or five in T20 cricket, but you want someone who can keep and finish a game because there aren’t too many finishers now with MS (Dhoni) having quit. So, I think that’s where his chances are very very good,” the former India head coach added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/intentionally-wanted-to-hit-sachin-shoaib-akhtar-recalls-his-fiery-spell-vs-tendulkar-in-2006-karachi-test-485266">'Intentionally wanted to hit Sachin': Shoaib Akhtar recalls his fiery spell vs Tendulkar in 2006 Karachi Test</a>

India will take on South Africa in a three-match T20I series starting on Thursday (June 09). The opener will be played at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi. In the absence of both captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, KL Rahul will be leading the side.

Dinesh Karthik was phenomenal as a finisher for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The veteran batter, who hasn't played much competitive cricket in the lead up to IPL 2022, shone with the willow and stood up for his team to bail them under pressure while batting in the lower-middle order.

Dinesh Karthik was phenomenal as a finisher for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The veteran batter, who hasn't played much competitive cricket in the lead up to IPL 2022, shone with the willow and stood up for his team to bail them under pressure while batting in the lower-middle order. Karthik also managed to earn a call up in the Indian team with his sensational performances for RCB. The 36-year-old wicket-keeper batter enjoyed a stunning season for RCB amassing 330 runs in 16 matches at an average of 55 and a stunning strike rate of 183.33. Karthik will be making his comeback to the Indian team after a gap of three years as he last played for the Men in Blue in the 2019 ODI World Cup in England. He was dropped from the side following the conclusion of the World Cup and was not able to make his comeback into the national side. However, his splendid touch in IPL 2022 forced the selectors to recall him in India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri recently spoke about Karthik's return to the Indian team and explained how the veteran wicket-keeper batter can cement his spot in the side. Shastri believes India needs someone like MS Dhoni, who can finish games for the team in the lower middle-order. Also Read: Harbhajan recalls infamous Sreesanth slapgate row: 'I made a mistake, It should not have happened' “This is his opportunity. If and when he gets an opportunity in these games, he has to do it with India colours on. We know he has got the experience, so this becomes extremely vital,” Shastri said on Star Sports. “You have to see from the team’s point of view, what are they looking for? Do they want a keeper who will bat at the top of the order or do they want a keeper who will be the finisher? I will go for the latter. You need a keeper who will do MS Dhoni’s role, let’s put it that way. “There is already Rishabh Pant who can bat in the top four or five in T20 cricket, but you want someone who can keep and finish a game because there aren’t too many finishers now with MS (Dhoni) having quit. So, I think that’s where his chances are very very good,” the former India head coach added. Also Read: 'Intentionally wanted to hit Sachin': Shoaib Akhtar recalls his fiery spell vs Tendulkar in 2006 Karachi Test India will take on South Africa in a three-match T20I series starting on Thursday (June 09). The opener will be played at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi. In the absence of both captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, KL Rahul will be leading the side.

Need a wicketkeeper who will play Dhoni’s role: Shastri on how Karthik can cement his place in Indian team

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar recently revealed he intentionally wanted to hit Sachin Tendulkar during the Karachi Test between India and Pakistan in 2006. It was a memorable encounter between the two arch-rivals at the National Stadium in Karachi where Akhtar breathed fire with the ball against the Indian batters. Recalling the game, Akhtar said he was determined to wound Tendulkar at any cost during the match.

One of the fastest bowlers to have graced the game, Akhtar used to be a nightmare to face for the best of bowlers during his playing days. Famously known as the Rawalpindi express for his raw pace, Akhtar enjoyed some intense duels with Tendulkar on the field and Karachi Test was one of those.

Recalling the Test match, Akhtar said his intention was to hit Tendulkar and he even managed to rock his helmet with one of the deliveries which he thought would be enough to stop the Master Blaster, however, the batting legend managed to survive and batted well.

"I'm revealing this for the first time. I intentionally wanted to hit Sachin in that Test match. I was determined that I had to wound Sachin in that Test at any cost. Inzamam kept saying that bowl in front of the wickets, but I wanted to hit Sachin. So, I hit him on his helmet, and I felt he was done. But when I watched the video, I saw Sachin had managed to save his head," Akhtar said on Sportskeeda.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harbhajan-singh-recalls-infamous-sreesanth-slapgate-row-i-made-a-mistake-it-should-not-have-happened-485244">Harbhajan recalls infamous Sreesanth slapgate row: 'I made a mistake, It should not have happened'</a>

Akhtar then went on to reveal that he tried to injure Tendulkar once again after the batting maestro got away despite being hit on the helmet. The former Pakistan pacer also praised Mohammad Asif, who bowled exceedingly well in the game and troubled the Indian batters continuously.

"I again tried to injure him. But on the other hand, Indian batting was facing music in the shape of Asif. I had rarely seen anyone bowl as well as the way Asif bowled on that particular day," Akhtar added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/want-virat-kohli-to-break-sachins-record-of-100-international-centuries-says-rohits-childhood-coach-485099">Want Virat Kohli to break Sachin's record of 100 international centuries, says Rohit's childhood coach</a>

The match is famously known for Irfan Pathan's stunning hat-trick in the very first over of Pakistan's first innings. Irfan claimed a hat-trick in the first over to help India bundle out the hosts for 245 runs in their first innings.

However, India could manage only 238 runs in reply before Pakistan scored a mammoth 599 runs in their second innings and won the game comfortably by 341 runs. Asif was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with seven wickets across the two innings. 
&nbsp;

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar recently revealed he intentionally wanted to hit Sachin Tendulkar during the Karachi Test between India and Pakistan in 2006.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar recently revealed he intentionally wanted to hit Sachin Tendulkar during the Karachi Test between India and Pakistan in 2006. It was a memorable encounter between the two arch-rivals at the National Stadium in Karachi where Akhtar breathed fire with the ball against the Indian batters. Recalling the game, Akhtar said he was determined to wound Tendulkar at any cost during the match. One of the fastest bowlers to have graced the game, Akhtar used to be a nightmare to face for the best of bowlers during his playing days. Famously known as the Rawalpindi express for his raw pace, Akhtar enjoyed some intense duels with Tendulkar on the field and Karachi Test was one of those. Recalling the Test match, Akhtar said his intention was to hit Tendulkar and he even managed to rock his helmet with one of the deliveries which he thought would be enough to stop the Master Blaster, however, the batting legend managed to survive and batted well. "I'm revealing this for the first time. I intentionally wanted to hit Sachin in that Test match. I was determined that I had to wound Sachin in that Test at any cost. Inzamam kept saying that bowl in front of the wickets, but I wanted to hit Sachin. So, I hit him on his helmet, and I felt he was done. But when I watched the video, I saw Sachin had managed to save his head," Akhtar said on Sportskeeda. Also Read: Harbhajan recalls infamous Sreesanth slapgate row: 'I made a mistake, It should not have happened' Akhtar then went on to reveal that he tried to injure Tendulkar once again after the batting maestro got away despite being hit on the helmet. The former Pakistan pacer also praised Mohammad Asif, who bowled exceedingly well in the game and troubled the Indian batters continuously. "I again tried to injure him. But on the other hand, Indian batting was facing music in the shape of Asif. I had rarely seen anyone bowl as well as the way Asif bowled on that particular day," Akhtar added. Also Read: Want Virat Kohli to break Sachin's record of 100 international centuries, says Rohit's childhood coach The match is famously known for Irfan Pathan's stunning hat-trick in the very first over of Pakistan's first innings. Irfan claimed a hat-trick in the first over to help India bundle out the hosts for 245 runs in their first innings. However, India could manage only 238 runs in reply before Pakistan scored a mammoth 599 runs in their second innings and won the game comfortably by 341 runs. Asif was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with seven wickets across the two innings.

'Intentionally wanted to hit Sachin': Shoaib Akhtar recalls his fiery spell vs Tendulkar in 2006 Karachi Test

Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh regrets slapping his former teammate S Sreesanth and said what happened between them was wrong and was a mistake on his part. The infamous slapgate row unfolded during the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 and took the season by a storm. The infamous episode involved Harbhajan and Sreesanth, who were playing for Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) respectively.

The incident happened during a game between Punjab and Mumbai at the PCA Stadium in Mohali in IPL 2008. Mumbai Indians lost the game by 66 runs. Harbhajan was leading MI in the absence of regular skipper Sachin Tendulkar. He reportedly slapped Sreesanth after getting annoyed by his comments during the routine handshake between the two teams.

While the incident was not caught on camera and not aired by the official broadcaster, Sreesanth was later seen sobbing on the field. Harbhajan was handed a ban for five ODIs by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The board also launched an investigation into the matter.

Harbhajan had already apologised to Sreesanth on a few occasions in the past and recently opened up on the infamous incident once again during a chat with renowned cricketer presenter Vikram Sathaye and Sreesanth himself on Glance LIVE.

Recalling the controversial incident, Harbhajan said if he had the chance to correct one mistake from the past it would be how he treated Sreesanth on the field. The former India spinner admitted that his actions were not right and that he made a mistake by slapping his former India teammate.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/want-virat-kohli-to-break-sachins-record-of-100-international-centuries-says-rohits-childhood-coach-485099">Want Virat Kohli to break Sachin's record of 100 international centuries, says Rohit's childhood coach</a>

“What happened was wrong. I made a mistake. Because of me, my teammate had to face embarrassment. I was embarrassed. If I had to correct one mistake, it was how I treated Sreesanth on the field. It should not have happened. When I think about it, I feel there was no need,” Harbhajan said.

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Glance LIVE Fest brought together <a href="https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@harbhajan_singh</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/sreesanth36?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sreesanth36</a> and OMG look what happened Drop your reaction to this in the comments! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GlanceLiveFest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GlanceLiveFest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cricket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BhajjiBoleSorrySree?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BhajjiBoleSorrySree</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AbIndiaLIVEKarega?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AbIndiaLIVEKarega</a> <a href="https://t.co/oG9qChZxbk">pic.twitter.com/oG9qChZxbk</a>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gautam-gambhir-on-working-in-ipl-despite-being-an-mp-i-feed-5000-people-every-month-from-my-own-pocket-485062">Gautam Gambhir on working in IPL despite being an MP: I feed 5,000 people every month from my own pocket</a>

Harbhajan and Sreesanth shared the Indian dressing room for a number of years. After the infamous slap gate row, the duo went on to become a part of India's 2011 ODI World Cup-winning team under MS Dhoni. Both were important members of the Indian bowling attack in the tournament.

While Harbhajan announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in December 2021 with 417 Test and 269 ODI wickets to his name, Sreesanth retired from cricket in March earlier this year. The fast bowler played 27 Tests, 53 ODIs and 10 T20Is in his international career picking up a total of 169 wickets across formats.

Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh regrets slapping his former teammate S Sreesanth and said what happened between them was wrong and was a mistake on his part.

Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh regrets slapping his former teammate S Sreesanth and said what happened between them was wrong and was a mistake on his part. The infamous slapgate row unfolded during the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 and took the season by a storm. The infamous episode involved Harbhajan and Sreesanth, who were playing for Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) respectively. The incident happened during a game between Punjab and Mumbai at the PCA Stadium in Mohali in IPL 2008. Mumbai Indians lost the game by 66 runs. Harbhajan was leading MI in the absence of regular skipper Sachin Tendulkar. He reportedly slapped Sreesanth after getting annoyed by his comments during the routine handshake between the two teams. While the incident was not caught on camera and not aired by the official broadcaster, Sreesanth was later seen sobbing on the field. Harbhajan was handed a ban for five ODIs by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The board also launched an investigation into the matter. Harbhajan had already apologised to Sreesanth on a few occasions in the past and recently opened up on the infamous incident once again during a chat with renowned cricketer presenter Vikram Sathaye and Sreesanth himself on Glance LIVE. Recalling the controversial incident, Harbhajan said if he had the chance to correct one mistake from the past it would be how he treated Sreesanth on the field. The former India spinner admitted that his actions were not right and that he made a mistake by slapping his former India teammate. Also Read: Want Virat Kohli to break Sachin's record of 100 international centuries, says Rohit's childhood coach “What happened was wrong. I made a mistake. Because of me, my teammate had to face embarrassment. I was embarrassed. If I had to correct one mistake, it was how I treated Sreesanth on the field. It should not have happened. When I think about it, I feel there was no need,” Harbhajan said. Glance LIVE Fest brought together @harbhajan_singh and @sreesanth36 and OMG look what happened Drop your reaction to this in the comments! #GlanceLiveFest #cricket #BhajjiBoleSorrySree #AbIndiaLIVEKarega pic.twitter.com/oG9qChZxbk — Glance (@glancescreen) June 5, 2022 × Also Read: Gautam Gambhir on working in IPL despite being an MP: I feed 5,000 people every month from my own pocket Harbhajan and Sreesanth shared the Indian dressing room for a number of years. After the infamous slap gate row, the duo went on to become a part of India's 2011 ODI World Cup-winning team under MS Dhoni. Both were important members of the Indian bowling attack in the tournament. While Harbhajan announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in December 2021 with 417 Test and 269 ODI wickets to his name, Sreesanth retired from cricket in March earlier this year. The fast bowler played 27 Tests, 53 ODIs and 10 T20Is in his international career picking up a total of 169 wickets across formats.

Harbhajan Singh recalls infamous Sreesanth slapgate row: 'I made a mistake, It should not have happened'

Rohit Sharma's childhood coach wants Virat Kohli to break the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100 centuries in international cricket. Tendulkar holds the record for scoring the most number of centuries in international cricket and is the only batter to have achieved the feat of 100 centuries across formats at the highest level. Regarded as one of the greatest of all time, Tendulkar is also the leading run-getter in international cricket.

India's batting maestro Virat Kohli is the only active batter who is close to breaching Tendulkar's record of 100 tons in international cricket. At one stage in his career, Kohli was absolutely unstoppable with the bat and was slamming centuries for fun. However, he has had to endure a rough patch in the last couple of years.

Kohli, who scored his last century in November 2019, currently has 71 international hundreds to his name. He has scored 27 centuries in Tests and 43 hundreds in ODIs and needs 30 more centuries across all three formats to go past Tendulkar.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gautam-gambhir-on-working-in-ipl-despite-being-an-mp-i-feed-5000-people-every-month-from-my-own-pocket-485062">Gambhir on working in IPL despite being an MP: I feed 5,000 people every month from my own pocket</a>

Despite Kohli's ongoing rough patch, Rohit's childhood coach Dinesh Lad has backed Kohli to go on and break Tendulkar's record of 100 international centuries. Lad said almost all batters have to go through rough patches in their career while backing Kohli to bounce back from his bad form.

"Virat is a wonderful batsman, and I feel he'll make a strong comeback. Almost every cricketer has had to go through a bad patch - even Vivian Richards and Sunil Gavaskar went through a bad patch. I think it's more about mental strength rather than form. He should concentrate on that. Rest he'll bat well, we can't talk much about that. I want him to break Sachin's century record," Dinesh told India TV.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/don-bradmans-son-changed-his-name-legendary-kapil-dev-on-burden-of-expectations-on-arjun-tendulkar-485012">'Don Bradman's son changed his name': Kapil Dev on burden of expectations on Arjun Tendulkar</a>

Kohli, who has been enduring a rough patch with the bat for the last couple of years, is currently on a break after being rested from India's upcoming T20I series against South Africa. The batting maestro will return to action during the one-off Test against England next month.

Rohit Sharma's childhood coach wants Virat Kohli to break the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100 centuries in international cricket. Tendulkar holds the record for scoring the most number of centuries in international cricket and is the only batter to have achieved the feat of 100 centuries across formats at the highest level.

Rohit Sharma's childhood coach wants Virat Kohli to break the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100 centuries in international cricket. Tendulkar holds the record for scoring the most number of centuries in international cricket and is the only batter to have achieved the feat of 100 centuries across formats at the highest level. Regarded as one of the greatest of all time, Tendulkar is also the leading run-getter in international cricket. India's batting maestro Virat Kohli is the only active batter who is close to breaching Tendulkar's record of 100 tons in international cricket. At one stage in his career, Kohli was absolutely unstoppable with the bat and was slamming centuries for fun. However, he has had to endure a rough patch in the last couple of years. Kohli, who scored his last century in November 2019, currently has 71 international hundreds to his name. He has scored 27 centuries in Tests and 43 hundreds in ODIs and needs 30 more centuries across all three formats to go past Tendulkar. Also Read: Gambhir on working in IPL despite being an MP: I feed 5,000 people every month from my own pocket Despite Kohli's ongoing rough patch, Rohit's childhood coach Dinesh Lad has backed Kohli to go on and break Tendulkar's record of 100 international centuries. Lad said almost all batters have to go through rough patches in their career while backing Kohli to bounce back from his bad form. "Virat is a wonderful batsman, and I feel he'll make a strong comeback. Almost every cricketer has had to go through a bad patch - even Vivian Richards and Sunil Gavaskar went through a bad patch. I think it's more about mental strength rather than form. He should concentrate on that. Rest he'll bat well, we can't talk much about that. I want him to break Sachin's century record," Dinesh told India TV. Also Read: 'Don Bradman's son changed his name': Kapil Dev on burden of expectations on Arjun Tendulkar Kohli, who has been enduring a rough patch with the bat for the last couple of years, is currently on a break after being rested from India's upcoming T20I series against South Africa. The batting maestro will return to action during the one-off Test against England next month.

Want Virat Kohli to break Sachin's record of 100 international centuries, says Rohit's childhood coach

Umran Mailk turned out to be one of the finds of the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as he impressed with his stunning pace. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) youngster clocked over 150 kmph consistently throughout the tournament and troubled some of the best batters in the world with his speed and skills. Umran also bowled the second-fastest delivery in IPL 2020 at 157 kmph.

He would have held the record for the fastest delivery bowled in the 15th edition of the tournament, however, his feat was surpassed by Gujarat Titans (GT) pacer Lockie Ferguson in the IPL 2022 final against Rajasthan Royals. Ferguson went past Umran with a sensational 157.3 kmph yorker against Jos Buttler.

Not just Umran and Lockie but there were several other Indian and overseas fast bowlers who displayed great pace throughout the tournament and clocked good speed consistently. Recently, Pakistan's pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi was asked about the stunning pace of the likes of Umran and Lockie in IPL 2022.

One of the finest fast bowlers in the world at present, Afridi had a very interesting response. The Pakistan pacer said speed is nothing if a bowler doesn't have proper line and length along with variations.

“Speed can’t help you if you don’t have line and length and swing,” Shaheen told reporters during a press conference ahead of Pakistan's ODI series against West Indies at home.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/my-wife-and-kids-helped-me-to-stand-r-ashwin-recalls-indias-miraculous-escape-in-scg-test-484780">My wife and kids helped me to stand: R Ashwin recalls India's miraculous escape in SCG Test</a>

Shaheen has also had a remarkable rise in international cricket over the years. From a young prodigious talent, the pacer has grown into one of the best in the world at present and was awarded the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for being the Men's Cricketer of the Year in 2021. He has been Pakistan's best performer with the ball across formats.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pak-captain-babar-azam-reacts-to-dks-he-has-potential-to-become-no-1-batter-across-formats-remark-484448">Pak captain Babar Azam reacts to DK's 'he has potential to become No. 1 batter across formats' remark</a>

Shaheen was the destructor-in-chief for Pakistan in their home series against Australia earlier this year and will be hoping to continue his fine form against West Indies. The Pakistan pacer believes it will be challenging for the fast bowlers to bowl long spells in intense heat but they are ready for the challenge.

“The weather is hot but we are looking forward to playing good cricket in it. It would be a tough challenge for the fast bowlers to bowl long spells in summer but as a professional, we are ready to face it,” said Shaheen.

&nbsp;

Umran Mailk turned out to be one of the finds of the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as he impressed with his stunning pace. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) youngster clocked over 150 kmph consistently throughout the tournament and troubled some of the best batters in the world with his speed and skills.

Umran Mailk turned out to be one of the finds of the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as he impressed with his stunning pace. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) youngster clocked over 150 kmph consistently throughout the tournament and troubled some of the best batters in the world with his speed and skills. Umran also bowled the second-fastest delivery in IPL 2020 at 157 kmph. He would have held the record for the fastest delivery bowled in the 15th edition of the tournament, however, his feat was surpassed by Gujarat Titans (GT) pacer Lockie Ferguson in the IPL 2022 final against Rajasthan Royals. Ferguson went past Umran with a sensational 157.3 kmph yorker against Jos Buttler. Not just Umran and Lockie but there were several other Indian and overseas fast bowlers who displayed great pace throughout the tournament and clocked good speed consistently. Recently, Pakistan's pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi was asked about the stunning pace of the likes of Umran and Lockie in IPL 2022. One of the finest fast bowlers in the world at present, Afridi had a very interesting response. The Pakistan pacer said speed is nothing if a bowler doesn't have proper line and length along with variations. “Speed can’t help you if you don’t have line and length and swing,” Shaheen told reporters during a press conference ahead of Pakistan's ODI series against West Indies at home. Also Read: My wife and kids helped me to stand: R Ashwin recalls India's miraculous escape in SCG Test Shaheen has also had a remarkable rise in international cricket over the years. From a young prodigious talent, the pacer has grown into one of the best in the world at present and was awarded the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for being the Men's Cricketer of the Year in 2021. He has been Pakistan's best performer with the ball across formats. Also Read: Pak captain Babar Azam reacts to DK's 'he has potential to become No. 1 batter across formats' remark Shaheen was the destructor-in-chief for Pakistan in their home series against Australia earlier this year and will be hoping to continue his fine form against West Indies. The Pakistan pacer believes it will be challenging for the fast bowlers to bowl long spells in intense heat but they are ready for the challenge. “The weather is hot but we are looking forward to playing good cricket in it. It would be a tough challenge for the fast bowlers to bowl long spells in summer but as a professional, we are ready to face it,” said Shaheen.

'Speed can't help you...': Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi reacts to Umran Mailk's stunning pace in IPL 2022

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh recently opened up on his initial struggles with the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Marsh played a key role for DC with the bat and the ball and almost helped the Rishabh Pant-led side qualify for the playoffs. However, it was not an easy start for the Aussie star as he had to battle an injury and COVID-19 before cementing his spot in the side.

Marsh joined the Delhi Capitals squad later than some of the other overseas players due to international duty with Australia. He was still recovering from a hip flexor injury when he joined the rest of the squad and had to miss the first few games. Marsh later tested positive for COVID-19 and his comeback was further delayed.

However, the Aussie all-rounder was quick to bounce back from the early hiccups and never looked back once he got going. Marsh played some important knocks for his side and looked in solid touch throughout the tournament.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-chairman-greg-barclay-warns-of-reduction-in-volume-of-test-cricket-in-future-485071">ICC chairman Greg Barclay warns of reduction in volume of Test cricket in future</a>

He recently opened on his initial struggles in IPL 2022 and said he felt he was cursed when playing in India but enjoyed his time in the IPL 2022 once he returned to the squad after recovering from COVID-19.

"After my first couple of weeks there I thought that I was cursed in India," Marsh told reporters on Saturday.

"I got through my initial injury which was very minor but then to play one game and get COVID, it was a bit of a shaky start but once I got going it was nice to put a few consistent performances on the board. I absolutely loved my time there," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gautam-gambhir-on-working-in-ipl-despite-being-an-mp-i-feed-5000-people-every-month-from-my-own-pocket-485062">Gambhir on working in IPL despite being an MP: I feed 5,000 people every month from my own pocket</a>

Marsh is currently in Sri Lanka with the rest of the Australian squad for their upcoming series against the hosts. Australia are scheduled to play a full-fledged series consisting of 3 T20Is, 5 ODIs and 2 Tests. Marsh will be hoping to continue his fine form against Sri Lanka after scoring 251 runs and picking up 4 wickets for DC in IPL 2022.

&nbsp;

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh recently opened up on his initial struggles with the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh recently opened up on his initial struggles with the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Marsh played a key role for DC with the bat and the ball and almost helped the Rishabh Pant-led side qualify for the playoffs. However, it was not an easy start for the Aussie star as he had to battle an injury and COVID-19 before cementing his spot in the side. Marsh joined the Delhi Capitals squad later than some of the other overseas players due to international duty with Australia. He was still recovering from a hip flexor injury when he joined the rest of the squad and had to miss the first few games. Marsh later tested positive for COVID-19 and his comeback was further delayed. However, the Aussie all-rounder was quick to bounce back from the early hiccups and never looked back once he got going. Marsh played some important knocks for his side and looked in solid touch throughout the tournament. Also Read: ICC chairman Greg Barclay warns of reduction in volume of Test cricket in future He recently opened on his initial struggles in IPL 2022 and said he felt he was cursed when playing in India but enjoyed his time in the IPL 2022 once he returned to the squad after recovering from COVID-19. "After my first couple of weeks there I thought that I was cursed in India," Marsh told reporters on Saturday. "I got through my initial injury which was very minor but then to play one game and get COVID, it was a bit of a shaky start but once I got going it was nice to put a few consistent performances on the board. I absolutely loved my time there," he added. Also Read: Gambhir on working in IPL despite being an MP: I feed 5,000 people every month from my own pocket Marsh is currently in Sri Lanka with the rest of the Australian squad for their upcoming series against the hosts. Australia are scheduled to play a full-fledged series consisting of 3 T20Is, 5 ODIs and 2 Tests. Marsh will be hoping to continue his fine form against Sri Lanka after scoring 251 runs and picking up 4 wickets for DC in IPL 2022.

'Thought I was cursed in India': Australian star Mitchell Marsh opens up on initial struggles in IPL 2022

The ever-increasing domestic T20 leagues are squeezing bilateral ties and Test cricket runs the risk of witnessing a reduction in its volume in a decade's time, warns ICC chairman Greg Barclay. Barclay, who was appointed as ICC chair in November 2020, said the world body will face a serious challenge in deciding the next Future Tours Program starting next year.

"There is a men's and women's event every year and the growth of domestic leagues are forcing things from the bottom and ... What is getting squeezed is bilateral cricket and so we are trying to fit everything in," Barclay told BBC's Test Match Special during the ongoing first game of the three-match series between England and New Zealand at Lord's.

"There will be some unfortunate consequences from a playing experience and a revenue point of view for some of those countries who won't get the amount of cricket they might hope to have and they won't get exposure, particularly against India and to a lesser extent Australia and England. So we will see a squeeze.

"In 10-15 years time I still see Test cricket being an integral part (of the game), it may be that there is less of it," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gautam-gambhir-on-working-in-ipl-despite-being-an-mp-i-feed-5000-people-every-month-from-my-own-pocket-485062">Gambhir on working in IPL despite being an MP: I feed 5,000 people every month from my own pocket</a>

Barclay hinted that the "big three" of world cricket -- India, Australia and England -- will be largely unaffected by the adjustments in Test cricket.

"Some countries may have to make room and play less Test cricket. Some of the smaller full members will have to accept that they can't play the amount of Test cricket that they wanted to, so we may see a lessening of that - four or five a year - whereas England, Australia and India, I think, will be playing Test cricket as they are now."

The ICC chair, however, doesn't see the longer format evolving in women's cricket at a significant pace.

"To play Test cricket, you've got to have structures domestically that allow you to play long-form cricket and they don't really exist in any of the countries at the moment, so I can't really see women's Test cricket or long-form cricket evolving at any particular speed at all," he said.

"That's not to say that those countries that choose to play Test cricket - Australia and England - who provide that to the women can't do so, but I don't see it as part of the landscape moving forward to any real extent at all."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/don-bradmans-son-changed-his-name-legendary-kapil-dev-on-burden-of-expectations-on-arjun-tendulkar-485012">'Don Bradman's son changed his name': Kapil Dev on burden of expectations on Arjun Tendulkar</a>

The Kiwi feels white-ball cricket is the future due to its popularity among fans and broadcasters.

"If you look at strategically the way that cricket is going, there's no doubt that white-ball cricket, short-form cricket, is the way of the future.

"That's the game that's sought after by fans, that's where the broadcasters are putting their resource, it's what's driving the money," Barclay concluded.&nbsp;

The ever-increasing domestic T20 leagues are squeezing bilateral ties and Test cricket runs the risk of witnessing a reduction in its volume in a decade's time, warns ICC chairman Greg Barclay.

The ever-increasing domestic T20 leagues are squeezing bilateral ties and Test cricket runs the risk of witnessing a reduction in its volume in a decade's time, warns ICC chairman Greg Barclay. Barclay, who was appointed as ICC chair in November 2020, said the world body will face a serious challenge in deciding the next Future Tours Program starting next year. "There is a men's and women's event every year and the growth of domestic leagues are forcing things from the bottom and ... What is getting squeezed is bilateral cricket and so we are trying to fit everything in," Barclay told BBC's Test Match Special during the ongoing first game of the three-match series between England and New Zealand at Lord's. "There will be some unfortunate consequences from a playing experience and a revenue point of view for some of those countries who won't get the amount of cricket they might hope to have and they won't get exposure, particularly against India and to a lesser extent Australia and England. So we will see a squeeze. "In 10-15 years time I still see Test cricket being an integral part (of the game), it may be that there is less of it," he added. Also Read: Gambhir on working in IPL despite being an MP: I feed 5,000 people every month from my own pocket Barclay hinted that the "big three" of world cricket -- India, Australia and England -- will be largely unaffected by the adjustments in Test cricket. "Some countries may have to make room and play less Test cricket. Some of the smaller full members will have to accept that they can't play the amount of Test cricket that they wanted to, so we may see a lessening of that - four or five a year - whereas England, Australia and India, I think, will be playing Test cricket as they are now." The ICC chair, however, doesn't see the longer format evolving in women's cricket at a significant pace. "To play Test cricket, you've got to have structures domestically that allow you to play long-form cricket and they don't really exist in any of the countries at the moment, so I can't really see women's Test cricket or long-form cricket evolving at any particular speed at all," he said. "That's not to say that those countries that choose to play Test cricket - Australia and England - who provide that to the women can't do so, but I don't see it as part of the landscape moving forward to any real extent at all." Also Read: 'Don Bradman's son changed his name': Kapil Dev on burden of expectations on Arjun Tendulkar The Kiwi feels white-ball cricket is the future due to its popularity among fans and broadcasters. "If you look at strategically the way that cricket is going, there's no doubt that white-ball cricket, short-form cricket, is the way of the future. "That's the game that's sought after by fans, that's where the broadcasters are putting their resource, it's what's driving the money," Barclay concluded.

ICC chairman Greg Barclay warns of reduction in volume of Test cricket in future

Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir came up with a befitting reply after he was asked about working in the Indian Premier League (IPL) despite being an acting MP (Member of Parliament). The cricketer-turned-politician is a Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from the East Delhi constituency and has been working for the welfare of the people in his constituency by providing them with several facilities. However, Gambhir has often been questioned for juggling between politics and cricket.

Despite switching his career to politics and being an acting MP, Gambhir has not entirely stayed away from cricket. He has worked as a commentator and an expert in various tournaments in the past and was Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)'s mentor during the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

During a press conference on BJP's 8 years in power in India, Gambhir was asked about his jobs in cricket despite being an active politician now. The former India cricketer came up with a befitting reply and pointed out how he feeds 5,000 people every month through his NGO in Delhi and has also set up a library worth Rs 25 lakh (INR 2.5 million) in his constituency.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/don-bradmans-son-changed-his-name-legendary-kapil-dev-on-burden-of-expectations-on-arjun-tendulkar-485012">'Don Bradman's son changed his name': Legendary Kapil Dev on burden of expectations on Arjun Tendulkar</a>

Gambhir has set up a kitchen in Delhi's Gandhi Nagar where the poor and needy can get meals at the cost of just Rs 1. Thousands of people get affordable meals from his kitchen every month. Gambhir said he pays for all of it from his own pocket and is not ashamed of working despite being a politician.

“Why I commentate in IPL or work in it is because I spend INR 25 lakh (INR 2.5 million) every month to feed 5000 people. This translates to roughly 2.75 crore (INR 27.5 million) per year. I've also spent INR 25 lakh to build a library," Gambhir said during the press conference.

“I spend all of this money from my own pocket and not from the MPLAD fund. The MPLAD fund doesn't run my kitchen or other things that I do. I don't have a tree in my house from where I can pluck money either.

Only because I work, am I able to feed those 5000 people or establish that library. I have no shame in saying that I do commentary and work in the IPL. All of this that I do has an ultimate goal,” he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/speed-cant-help-you-pakistan-pacer-shaheen-afridi-reacts-to-umran-mailks-stunning-pace-in-ipl-2022-484957">'Speed can't help you...': Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi reacts to Umran Mailk's stunning pace in IPL 2022</a>

One of the most successful cricketers to have played for India, Gambhir was part of India's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup-winning teams. He served as a mentor for debutants Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022 this year and helped the team reach the playoffs in their debut campaign.

Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir came up with a befitting reply after he was asked about working in the Indian Premier League (IPL) despite being an acting MP (Member of Parliament).

Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir came up with a befitting reply after he was asked about working in the Indian Premier League (IPL) despite being an acting MP (Member of Parliament). The cricketer-turned-politician is a Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from the East Delhi constituency and has been working for the welfare of the people in his constituency by providing them with several facilities. However, Gambhir has often been questioned for juggling between politics and cricket. Despite switching his career to politics and being an acting MP, Gambhir has not entirely stayed away from cricket. He has worked as a commentator and an expert in various tournaments in the past and was Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)'s mentor during the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. During a press conference on BJP's 8 years in power in India, Gambhir was asked about his jobs in cricket despite being an active politician now. The former India cricketer came up with a befitting reply and pointed out how he feeds 5,000 people every month through his NGO in Delhi and has also set up a library worth Rs 25 lakh (INR 2.5 million) in his constituency. Also Read: 'Don Bradman's son changed his name': Legendary Kapil Dev on burden of expectations on Arjun Tendulkar Gambhir has set up a kitchen in Delhi's Gandhi Nagar where the poor and needy can get meals at the cost of just Rs 1. Thousands of people get affordable meals from his kitchen every month. Gambhir said he pays for all of it from his own pocket and is not ashamed of working despite being a politician. “Why I commentate in IPL or work in it is because I spend INR 25 lakh (INR 2.5 million) every month to feed 5000 people. This translates to roughly 2.75 crore (INR 27.5 million) per year. I've also spent INR 25 lakh to build a library," Gambhir said during the press conference. “I spend all of this money from my own pocket and not from the MPLAD fund. The MPLAD fund doesn't run my kitchen or other things that I do. I don't have a tree in my house from where I can pluck money either. Only because I work, am I able to feed those 5000 people or establish that library. I have no shame in saying that I do commentary and work in the IPL. All of this that I do has an ultimate goal,” he added. Also Read: 'Speed can't help you...': Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi reacts to Umran Mailk's stunning pace in IPL 2022 One of the most successful cricketers to have played for India, Gambhir was part of India's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup-winning teams. He served as a mentor for debutants Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022 this year and helped the team reach the playoffs in their debut campaign.

Gautam Gambhir on working in IPL despite being an MP: I feed 5,000 people every month from my own pocket

The legendary Kapil Dev recently shared his views on the burden of expectations on Sachin Tendulkar's son Arjun Tendulkar. Kapil&nbsp;believes Arjun carries an extra burden of expectations on his shoulders because of his surname and that he should not be compared to his father, who is one of the greatest cricketers of all time. The 1983 World Cup-winning captain urged everyone to allow Arjun to play his cricket freely.

Arjun has been part of the Mumbai Indians (MI) for the last couple of seasons in the Indian Premier League (IPL) but has failed to make his debut for the five-time champions. The left-arm all-rounder was left to warm the bench for the entire season once again this year as he failed to get even one game for the Rohit Sharma-led side.

Mumbai Indians handed out debuts to several young players this season after bowing out of the race for the playoffs early due to a disastrous start with a record 8 defeats in their first eight games. They played as many as 21 out of the total 24 players in the squad but Arjun failed to make the cut.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/speed-cant-help-you-pakistan-pacer-shaheen-afridi-reacts-to-umran-mailks-stunning-pace-in-ipl-2022-484957">'Speed can't help you...': Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi reacts to Umran Mailk's stunning pace in IPL 2022</a>

Fans were expecting Sachin's son to make his IPL debut in the recently-concluded season but the MI management kept him waiting on the sidelines. Sharing his views on the young all-all-rounder, Kapil said being Sachin's son has its own perks and disadvantages. He also pointed out how Australian legend Sir Don Bradman's son changed his name due to the burden of expectations from others.

"Why is everyone talking about him? because he is Sachin Tendulkar's son. Allow him to play his own cricket and avoid comparing him to Sachin. Having a Tendulkar name has perks and disadvantages as well. Don Bradman's son changed his name because he could not soak that kind of pressure. He removed the surname Bradman because everyone expected him to turn out like his father," Kapil was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times on Uncut.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pak-captain-babar-azam-reacts-to-dks-he-has-potential-to-become-no-1-batter-across-formats-remark-484448">Pak captain Babar Azam reacts to DK's 'he has potential to become No. 1 batter across formats' remark</a>

The 1983 World Cup-winning captain said people should not expect too much and add pressure on Arjun. Kapil&nbsp;asserted if the youngster can even become half of the player that his father was, he should consider himself successful in his career.

"Don't put pressure on Arjun. He is a young boy. Who are we to say anything to him when he has the great Sachin as his father? But I would still just like to tell him one thing… Go and enjoy yourself. No need to prove anything. If you can become even 50 percent like your father… there is nothing better. When the name Tendulkar comes up, our expectations rise because Sachin was such a great," Kapil added.

The legendary Kapil Dev recently shared his views on the burden of expectations on Sachin Tendulkar's son Arjun Tendulkar. Kapil believes Arjun carries an extra burden of expectations on his shoulders because of his surname and that he should not be compared to his father, who is one of the greatest cricketers of all time.

The legendary Kapil Dev recently shared his views on the burden of expectations on Sachin Tendulkar's son Arjun Tendulkar. Kapil believes Arjun carries an extra burden of expectations on his shoulders because of his surname and that he should not be compared to his father, who is one of the greatest cricketers of all time. The 1983 World Cup-winning captain urged everyone to allow Arjun to play his cricket freely. Arjun has been part of the Mumbai Indians (MI) for the last couple of seasons in the Indian Premier League (IPL) but has failed to make his debut for the five-time champions. The left-arm all-rounder was left to warm the bench for the entire season once again this year as he failed to get even one game for the Rohit Sharma-led side. Mumbai Indians handed out debuts to several young players this season after bowing out of the race for the playoffs early due to a disastrous start with a record 8 defeats in their first eight games. They played as many as 21 out of the total 24 players in the squad but Arjun failed to make the cut. Also Read: 'Speed can't help you...': Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi reacts to Umran Mailk's stunning pace in IPL 2022 Fans were expecting Sachin's son to make his IPL debut in the recently-concluded season but the MI management kept him waiting on the sidelines. Sharing his views on the young all-all-rounder, Kapil said being Sachin's son has its own perks and disadvantages. He also pointed out how Australian legend Sir Don Bradman's son changed his name due to the burden of expectations from others. "Why is everyone talking about him? because he is Sachin Tendulkar's son. Allow him to play his own cricket and avoid comparing him to Sachin. Having a Tendulkar name has perks and disadvantages as well. Don Bradman's son changed his name because he could not soak that kind of pressure. He removed the surname Bradman because everyone expected him to turn out like his father," Kapil was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times on Uncut. Also Read: Pak captain Babar Azam reacts to DK's 'he has potential to become No. 1 batter across formats' remark The 1983 World Cup-winning captain said people should not expect too much and add pressure on Arjun. Kapil asserted if the youngster can even become half of the player that his father was, he should consider himself successful in his career. "Don't put pressure on Arjun. He is a young boy. Who are we to say anything to him when he has the great Sachin as his father? But I would still just like to tell him one thing… Go and enjoy yourself. No need to prove anything. If you can become even 50 percent like your father… there is nothing better. When the name Tendulkar comes up, our expectations rise because Sachin was such a great," Kapil added.

'Don Bradman's son changed his name': Legendary Kapil Dev on burden of expectations on Arjun Tendulkar

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly hinted at starting a new chapter in life in a cryptic post on Twitter that went viral on Wednesday (June 01). Ganguly thanked all his fans for the continuous support since the start of his cricketing career and urged them to continue pouring in their best wishes for him as he plans to start something new which he claimed will help a lot of people.

The former India captain had taken over as the president of BCCI in October 2019 after serving as the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) for five years from 2015 to 2019. He has since worked closely with BCCI secretary Jay Shah and other members of the board to take Indian cricket to greater heights.

While there had been no indication from Ganguly about stepping down from his role as BCCI president, his tweet was quick to spark speculations about the former Indian cricket team captain resigning. While some falsely claimed he had resigned as BCCI president, some netizens also speculated about Ganguly joining politics.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-bilateral-t20-cricket-former-india-head-coach-ravi-shastri-urges-icc-to-go-the-football-way-484140">No bilateral T20 cricket? Former India head coach Ravi Shastri urges ICC to go the football way</a>

"2022 marks the 30th year since the start of my journey with cricket in 1992. Since then, cricket has given me a lot. Most importantly, it had given me the support of all of you. I want to thank every single person who has been a part of the journey, supported me, and helped me reach where I am today," Ganguly wrote in his cryptic tweet.

"Today, I am planning to start something that I feel will probably help a lot of people. I hope you continue your support as I enter this chapter of my life," he added.

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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/thought-of-quitting-odi-cricket-after-ms-dhoni-dropped-me-reveals-former-indian-opener-virender-sehwag-484124">Thought of quitting ODI cricket after&nbsp;Dhoni dropped me, reveals former Indian opener&nbsp;Sehwag</a>

Sourav Ganguly not resigning as BCCI president: Secretary Jay Shah

Amid speculations that he has decided to resign from his&nbsp;post in the BCCI, chief secretary Jay Shah was quick to rubbish the rumours and clarified that Ganguly will not step down as president of the Indian cricket board.

"The rumours doing rounds about Mr Sourav Ganguly stepping down from the post of BCCI President are factually incorrect," Shah told news agency PTI on Wednesday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly hinted at starting a new chapter in life in a cryptic post on Twitter that went viral on Wednesday (June 01).

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly hinted at starting a new chapter in life in a cryptic post on Twitter that went viral on Wednesday (June 01). Ganguly thanked all his fans for the continuous support since the start of his cricketing career and urged them to continue pouring in their best wishes for him as he plans to start something new which he claimed will help a lot of people. The former India captain had taken over as the president of BCCI in October 2019 after serving as the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) for five years from 2015 to 2019. He has since worked closely with BCCI secretary Jay Shah and other members of the board to take Indian cricket to greater heights. While there had been no indication from Ganguly about stepping down from his role as BCCI president, his tweet was quick to spark speculations about the former Indian cricket team captain resigning. While some falsely claimed he had resigned as BCCI president, some netizens also speculated about Ganguly joining politics. Also Read: No bilateral T20 cricket? Former India head coach Ravi Shastri urges ICC to go the football way "2022 marks the 30th year since the start of my journey with cricket in 1992. Since then, cricket has given me a lot. Most importantly, it had given me the support of all of you. I want to thank every single person who has been a part of the journey, supported me, and helped me reach where I am today," Ganguly wrote in his cryptic tweet. "Today, I am planning to start something that I feel will probably help a lot of people. I hope you continue your support as I enter this chapter of my life," he added. pic.twitter.com/JrHOVvH3Vi — Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) June 1, 2022 × Also Read: Thought of quitting ODI cricket after Dhoni dropped me, reveals former Indian opener Sehwag Sourav Ganguly not resigning as BCCI president: Secretary Jay Shah Amid speculations that he has decided to resign from his post in the BCCI, chief secretary Jay Shah was quick to rubbish the rumours and clarified that Ganguly will not step down as president of the Indian cricket board. "The rumours doing rounds about Mr Sourav Ganguly stepping down from the post of BCCI President are factually incorrect," Shah told news agency PTI on Wednesday.

Sourav Ganguly not resigning, confirms Jay Shah after BCCI president's cryptic tweet goes viral

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri feels cricket should take a cue from football when it comes to the shortest format of the game. Shastri has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to discontinue bilateral T20 cricket and allow the major nations to run their own T20 franchise leagues. The former all-rounder said T20 cricket should be limited to only World Cups.

While there are rarely bilateral competitions in football, major countries have their own top leagues and they only take part in the FIFA World Cup and other major tournaments at the international level. However, that is not the case in cricket, where bilateral cricket forms a major chunk of the cricketing calendar every year.

Shastri, who coached India from 2017 to 2021, believes there is too much bilateral cricket to play for all international teams and that the ICC should restrict T20s for World Cups only. Shastri said he doesn't remember a single T20 game played by India in the last 6-7 years except those which were played at the World Cups.

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"There's too much of bilateral stuff going on in T20 cricket. I've said that [before], even when I was the coach of India, I could see it happening in front of my eyes. It should go the football way, where, in T20 cricket, you just play the World Cup. Bilateral tournaments - no one remembers," Shastri told ESPNcricinfo.

"I don't remember a single game in the last six-seven years as coach of India, barring the World Cup. A team wins the World Cup, they will remember it. Unfortunately, we didn't, so I don't remember that either. Where I am coming from is: you play franchise cricket around the globe; each country is allowed to have their franchise cricket, which is their domestic cricket, and then, every two years, you come and play a World Cup," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-hardik-pandya-to-ravindra-jadeja-how-new-captains-fared-in-ipl-2022-483927">From Hardik Pandya to Ravindra Jadeja: How new captains fared in IPL 2022?</a>

The former India all-rounder's stint as the head coach of the Indian team had come to an end after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup last year. He has returned to commentary following his coaching stint and has been actively sharing his views on the game.

Under Shastri's leadership, India became a force to reckon with across all three formats and clinched some memorable victories at home and overseas. India also bagged a historic Test series in Australia becoming the first team to beat the hosts down-under in the 2018-19 Border Gavaskar Trophy before repeating the feat once again in 2020-21.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri feels cricket should take a cue from football when it comes to the shortest format of the game. Shastri has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to discontinue bilateral T20 cricket and allow the major nations to run their own T20 franchise leagues.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri feels cricket should take a cue from football when it comes to the shortest format of the game. Shastri has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to discontinue bilateral T20 cricket and allow the major nations to run their own T20 franchise leagues. The former all-rounder said T20 cricket should be limited to only World Cups. While there are rarely bilateral competitions in football, major countries have their own top leagues and they only take part in the FIFA World Cup and other major tournaments at the international level. However, that is not the case in cricket, where bilateral cricket forms a major chunk of the cricketing calendar every year. Shastri, who coached India from 2017 to 2021, believes there is too much bilateral cricket to play for all international teams and that the ICC should restrict T20s for World Cups only. Shastri said he doesn't remember a single T20 game played by India in the last 6-7 years except those which were played at the World Cups. Also Read: Thought of quitting ODI cricket after Dhoni dropped me, reveals former Indian opener Virender Sehwag "There's too much of bilateral stuff going on in T20 cricket. I've said that [before], even when I was the coach of India, I could see it happening in front of my eyes. It should go the football way, where, in T20 cricket, you just play the World Cup. Bilateral tournaments - no one remembers," Shastri told ESPNcricinfo. "I don't remember a single game in the last six-seven years as coach of India, barring the World Cup. A team wins the World Cup, they will remember it. Unfortunately, we didn't, so I don't remember that either. Where I am coming from is: you play franchise cricket around the globe; each country is allowed to have their franchise cricket, which is their domestic cricket, and then, every two years, you come and play a World Cup," he added. Also Read: From Hardik Pandya to Ravindra Jadeja: How new captains fared in IPL 2022? The former India all-rounder's stint as the head coach of the Indian team had come to an end after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup last year. He has returned to commentary following his coaching stint and has been actively sharing his views on the game. Under Shastri's leadership, India became a force to reckon with across all three formats and clinched some memorable victories at home and overseas. India also bagged a historic Test series in Australia becoming the first team to beat the hosts down-under in the 2018-19 Border Gavaskar Trophy before repeating the feat once again in 2020-21.

No bilateral T20 cricket? Former India head coach Ravi Shastri urges ICC to go the football way

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen picked his best XI from the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. It was a memorable season with debutants Gujarat Titans getting crowned as champions after scripting a fairytale run in their debut campaign in the league. The tournament saw a number of youngsters rise to the occasion once again while some of the experienced campaigners continued their impressive run for their respective teams.

Pietersen named Hardik Pandya the captain of his IPL 2022 XI after the star all-rounder led the Titans to their maiden title triumph in style. Hardik led from the front and contributed with both the bat and the ball to help his side dominate the proceedings throughout the season. He scored 487 runs in 15 matches and also picked up 8 wickets, including a match-winning performance in the final against the Rajasthan Royals.

Pietersen picked Jos Buttler and Quinton de Kock as the two openers in his side. Buttler had a fabulous season finishing as the highest run-getter in IPL 2022 with a staggering 863 runs while De Kock too was consistent with the willow and notched up 508 runs in 15 matches. Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul, who played as an opener, was picked at no.3 by Pietersen.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-to-lead-india-in-aakash-chopras-t20-wc-squad-based-on-ipl-2022-virat-rohit-some-big-names-dropped-484083">Hardik to lead India in Aakash Chopra's T20 WC squad based on IPL 2022, Virat, Rohit &amp; some big names dropped</a>

"Hit 140* as he and KL Rahul batted the entire 20 overs unbeaten against KKR. That innings, combined with some other solid contributions, means he warrants a place in this team", the former England captain said on Betway explaining the reason behind keeping Rahul at 3.

While there were other popular picks like David Miller and Liam Livingstone in his best XI, Pietersen also had a surprising inclusion in the form of R Ashwin. He snubbed GT spinner Rashid Khan, who picked up 19 wickets at a brilliant economy of 6.59 to keep Ashwin in the side.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kl-rahul-a-special-player-but-kohli-and-rohit-belong-in-a-different-league-says-former-pakistan-captain-484006">KL Rahul a special player but Kohli and Rohit belong in a different league, says former Pakistan captain</a>

"Averaging over 27 with the bat and taking 12 wickets is a great effort. That all-round output means that this was a fine campaign," said Pietersen on Ashwin's selection. He completed his bowling attack with the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, who was the highest wicket-taker of the season, Umran Malik and Josh Hazlewood.

Kevin Pietersen’s best IPL 2022&nbsp;XI: Jos Buttler, Quinton de Kock (WK), KL Rahul, David Miller, Hardik Pandya (Captain), Liam Livingstone, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rahul Tewatia, Umran Malik, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Josh Hazlewood.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen picked his best XI from the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. It was a memorable season with debutants Gujarat Titans getting crowned as champions after scripting a fairytale run in their debut campaign in the league.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen picked his best XI from the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. It was a memorable season with debutants Gujarat Titans getting crowned as champions after scripting a fairytale run in their debut campaign in the league. The tournament saw a number of youngsters rise to the occasion once again while some of the experienced campaigners continued their impressive run for their respective teams. Pietersen named Hardik Pandya the captain of his IPL 2022 XI after the star all-rounder led the Titans to their maiden title triumph in style. Hardik led from the front and contributed with both the bat and the ball to help his side dominate the proceedings throughout the season. He scored 487 runs in 15 matches and also picked up 8 wickets, including a match-winning performance in the final against the Rajasthan Royals. Pietersen picked Jos Buttler and Quinton de Kock as the two openers in his side. Buttler had a fabulous season finishing as the highest run-getter in IPL 2022 with a staggering 863 runs while De Kock too was consistent with the willow and notched up 508 runs in 15 matches. Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul, who played as an opener, was picked at no.3 by Pietersen. Also Read: Hardik to lead India in Aakash Chopra's T20 WC squad based on IPL 2022, Virat, Rohit & some big names dropped "Hit 140* as he and KL Rahul batted the entire 20 overs unbeaten against KKR. That innings, combined with some other solid contributions, means he warrants a place in this team", the former England captain said on Betway explaining the reason behind keeping Rahul at 3. While there were other popular picks like David Miller and Liam Livingstone in his best XI, Pietersen also had a surprising inclusion in the form of R Ashwin. He snubbed GT spinner Rashid Khan, who picked up 19 wickets at a brilliant economy of 6.59 to keep Ashwin in the side. Also Read: KL Rahul a special player but Kohli and Rohit belong in a different league, says former Pakistan captain "Averaging over 27 with the bat and taking 12 wickets is a great effort. That all-round output means that this was a fine campaign," said Pietersen on Ashwin's selection. He completed his bowling attack with the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, who was the highest wicket-taker of the season, Umran Malik and Josh Hazlewood. Kevin Pietersen’s best IPL 2022 XI: Jos Buttler, Quinton de Kock (WK), KL Rahul, David Miller, Hardik Pandya (Captain), Liam Livingstone, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rahul Tewatia, Umran Malik, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Josh Hazlewood.

No Rashid Khan in Kevin Pietersen's best XI of IPL 2022, Hardik Pandya, Jos Buttler and KL Rahul feature

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has revealed why he used to love bowling bouncers against the batters during his playing days. One of the quickest bowlers to have played the game, Akhtar was a nightmare to face for the best of batters and he enjoyed some great duels with legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting among others. On his day, Akhtar was almost unplayable and breathed fire with the ball.

Bowling bouncers to the batters was one of his strongest weapons and he utilised them fully to trouble them during his playing days. He even injured several batters with his deadly bouncers in international cricket and recently claimed he wanted to hit the batters on their heads as he had brute pace.

Opening up on his love for bouncers, Akhtar said he used to bowl them to make batters dance like monkeys. "I bowled bouncers because watching batters jump like monkeys was heartening to see. Not going to lie, I wanted to hit batters on the head as I had the pace. This is the perk of being a fast bowler, it simply has to happen," Akhtar said on Sportskeeda.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kl-rahul-a-special-player-but-kohli-and-rohit-belong-in-a-different-league-says-former-pakistan-captain-484006">KL Rahul a special player but Kohli and Rohit belong in a different league, says former Pakistan captain</a>

Further elaborating on his obsession with bouncers, Akhtar said he used them to terrorise the batters as he believed a batter should remember him while watching himself in the mirror after being hit by the Rawalpindi Express during a game.

"The adrenaline rush is there, the hair is flying, the heartbeat is 185+, you would surely not bowl fuller. It should hit on the body, aalu dikhe jism pe (swelling should be seen on the body). Whenever the batter sees himself in the mirror, he should remember me. This is true love," said the legendary pacer.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-hardik-pandya-to-ravindra-jadeja-how-new-captains-fared-in-ipl-2022-483927">&nbsp;From Hardik Pandya to Ravindra Jadeja: How new captains fared in IPL 2022?</a>

Akhtar still continues to hold the record for the fastest delivery bowled in international cricket. He played 224 matches across formats in his international career and picked up an impressive 444 wickets. Akhtar continues to remain involved in the game as an expert after retiring as a player. 
&nbsp;

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has revealed why he used to love bowling bouncers against the batters during his playing days. One of the quickest bowlers to have played the game, Akhtar was a nightmare to face for the best of batters and he enjoyed some great duels with legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting among others.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has revealed why he used to love bowling bouncers against the batters during his playing days. One of the quickest bowlers to have played the game, Akhtar was a nightmare to face for the best of batters and he enjoyed some great duels with legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting among others. On his day, Akhtar was almost unplayable and breathed fire with the ball. Bowling bouncers to the batters was one of his strongest weapons and he utilised them fully to trouble them during his playing days. He even injured several batters with his deadly bouncers in international cricket and recently claimed he wanted to hit the batters on their heads as he had brute pace. Opening up on his love for bouncers, Akhtar said he used to bowl them to make batters dance like monkeys. "I bowled bouncers because watching batters jump like monkeys was heartening to see. Not going to lie, I wanted to hit batters on the head as I had the pace. This is the perk of being a fast bowler, it simply has to happen," Akhtar said on Sportskeeda. Also Read: KL Rahul a special player but Kohli and Rohit belong in a different league, says former Pakistan captain Further elaborating on his obsession with bouncers, Akhtar said he used them to terrorise the batters as he believed a batter should remember him while watching himself in the mirror after being hit by the Rawalpindi Express during a game. "The adrenaline rush is there, the hair is flying, the heartbeat is 185+, you would surely not bowl fuller. It should hit on the body, aalu dikhe jism pe (swelling should be seen on the body). Whenever the batter sees himself in the mirror, he should remember me. This is true love," said the legendary pacer. Also Read: From Hardik Pandya to Ravindra Jadeja: How new captains fared in IPL 2022? Akhtar still continues to hold the record for the fastest delivery bowled in international cricket. He played 224 matches across formats in his international career and picked up an impressive 444 wickets. Akhtar continues to remain involved in the game as an expert after retiring as a player.

Shoaib Akhtar on his love for bouncers: Watching batters jump like monkeys was heartening to see

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