<p>No. 1 ranked India are set to face Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final on June 07 at The Oval, London. The match will present India with another chance to end their ICC title drought since 2013. It won't be an easy task as&nbsp;Australia will give them a tough challenge. Ahead of Rohit Sharma &amp; Co.'s final showdown versus the Aussies, former England spinner Monty Panesar picked one X-factor player apiece from both sides.</p>

<p>Panesar -- best known for his 17 scalps in England's famous 2-1 series win over hosts India in 2012/13 -- feels Cheteshwar Pujara will hold the key for India in the marquee finale whereas he picked Mitchell Starc as Australia's X-factor player.</p>

<h2><strong>'My X-factor batter will be Pujara for India. Starc will be one to watch out for from Australia'</strong></h2>

<p>"The Indian top-order is in form. The conditions will be similar to the Wankhede pitch which is fast and bouncy. My x-factor batter will be Pujara because he has done so well in these English conditions for Sussex. He is the guy who binds this batting lineup together," Panesar told PTI.</p>

<p>"He is good with his defence and if the ball is going to do a little bit, he can negotiate the Aussie bowlers and when the pitch is flat, the others can cash in with some attacking cricket. You don't need to be an extraordinary wicketkeeper in England. He has been keeping and batting well. He should play ahead of Bharat," he further mentioned.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ahead-of-wtc-final-showdown-indian-captain-rohit-sharma-picks-his-top-most-test-career-highlight-600837">Ahead of WTC final showdown, Indian captain Rohit Sharma picks his top-most Test career highlight</a></strong></p>

<p>"For Australia, Starc will be the one to watch out for. He is going to be quick and he is going to get that late movement. He can change the game with one spell. He is the guy Australia will go to when they need a wicket," Panesar added.</p>

<p>India and Australia locked horns in the red-ball format recently, during the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India. Back then, Pujara returned with&nbsp;140 runs in 4 matches, with a best of 59 whereas Starc only managed two scalps from an equal number of games. Both will be raring to go big in the WTC final and help their respective sides emerge on top.</p>

<p><strong>Australia squad</strong>: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Michael Neser.</p>

<p><strong>Standby players</strong>: Mitch Marsh, Matthew Renshaw</p>

<p><strong>India squad</strong>: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk)</p>

<p><strong>Standby players</strong>: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav</p>


No. 1 ranked India are set to face Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final on June 07 at The Oval, London. The match will present India with another chance to end their ICC title drought since 2013.

No. 1 ranked India are set to face Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final on June 07 at The Oval, London. The match will present India with another chance to end their ICC title drought since 2013. It won't be an easy task as Australia will give them a tough challenge. Ahead of Rohit Sharma & Co.'s final showdown versus the Aussies, former England spinner Monty Panesar picked one X-factor player apiece from both sides. Panesar -- best known for his 17 scalps in England's famous 2-1 series win over hosts India in 2012/13 -- feels Cheteshwar Pujara will hold the key for India in the marquee finale whereas he picked Mitchell Starc as Australia's X-factor player. 'My X-factor batter will be Pujara for India. Starc will be one to watch out for from Australia' "The Indian top-order is in form. The conditions will be similar to the Wankhede pitch which is fast and bouncy. My x-factor batter will be Pujara because he has done so well in these English conditions for Sussex. He is the guy who binds this batting lineup together," Panesar told PTI. "He is good with his defence and if the ball is going to do a little bit, he can negotiate the Aussie bowlers and when the pitch is flat, the others can cash in with some attacking cricket. You don't need to be an extraordinary wicketkeeper in England. He has been keeping and batting well. He should play ahead of Bharat," he further mentioned. Also Read: Ahead of WTC final showdown, Indian captain Rohit Sharma picks his top-most Test career highlight "For Australia, Starc will be the one to watch out for. He is going to be quick and he is going to get that late movement. He can change the game with one spell. He is the guy Australia will go to when they need a wicket," Panesar added. India and Australia locked horns in the red-ball format recently, during the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India. Back then, Pujara returned with 140 runs in 4 matches, with a best of 59 whereas Starc only managed two scalps from an equal number of games. Both will be raring to go big in the WTC final and help their respective sides emerge on top. Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Michael Neser. Standby players: Mitch Marsh, Matthew Renshaw India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk) Standby players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav

WTC Final: Former England spinner names India and Australia's X-factor for mega clash

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<p>Indian team head coach Rahul Dravid has put all concerns about winning an ICC trophy under the mat, saying India is under no pressure. As India gear up to face Australia in the second World Test Championship (WTC) Final, starting June 7th at the Oval in London, Dravid addressed the media and said while winning will be the icing on the cake, the fans and supporters must cherish the journey in this cycle.</p>

<p>India tasted tremendous success in the latest WTC Cycle (from 2021 to 2023), including beating some top teams like Australia at home and even drawing the away five-match series against England 2-2. Though they remained unbeaten at home in Tests, India’s only low point in this cycle came during the away Test series against South Africa in 2021/22, where despite winning the first game, they lost the three-match series 2-1.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2023-who-should-replace-injured-jack-leach-in-squad-liam-dawson-or-rehan-ahmad-atherton-shares-views-600940">Ashes 2023: Who should replace injured Jack Leach in squad? Liam Dawson or Rehan Ahmad? Atherton shares views</a></p>

<p>Rahul said while he is conscious of India’s track record in the ICC tournaments in the past decade, where they failed to win a single multi-team tournament, barring Asia Cups, he added the team is proud of what they achieved in this WTC cycle.</p>

<p>"Not at all; we don't feel any pressure in terms of trying to win an ICC trophy. Of course, it would be nice to do it. Nice to be able to win an ICC tournament," Dravid said during the presser ahead of the WTC Final.</p>

<p>"But also, in the context of things, you look at this, and you see this is the culmination of 2 years of work, the culmination of a lot of success that gets you here. There are a lot of positives to take from that, see where you stand in the table, winning series in Australia, drawing series here. Being very competitive, this team has played in the world over in the last 5-6 years. Those are things that will never change, just because, you don't have an ICC trophy. That's really the bigger picture," the head coach added.</p>

<p>"But, of course, it would be nice to be able to lift... any game of cricket, you want to win it. This happens to be the WTC final, and it would be nice to get on the right side of the result," Rahul said.</p>

<h2>Dravid lays a simple plan on how to win WTC Final</h2>

<p>In a very-Dravid style, the India head coach laid a simple plan on how can they beat the mighty Aussies and end their ICC trophy drought.</p>

<p>Restraining himself from falling into the ‘who’s the favourite team’ web, Dravid said such things don’t matter when both teams would take the field on Wednesday. He added India and Australia are quality sides, and without hyping this contest, he wants his players to deliver across all departments.</p>

<p>"Whatever happens, it will happen over the next 5 days. Whatever happens before that, whatever is being said before and after doesn't matter. Who is favourite, who is not... these are two good teams who are playing. Both teams have some good players. I have very good hope that if we play good cricket if we can take 20 wickets and score runs, I have confidence that we can win this. Probably, not having hype is a good thing," Dravid said.</p>

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Indian team head coach Rahul Dravid has put all concerns about winning an ICC trophy under the mat, saying India is under no pressure. As India gear up to face Australia in the second World Test Championship (WTC) Final, starting June 7th at the Oval in London, Dravid addressed the media and said while winning will be the icing on the cake, the fans and supporters must cherish the journey in this cycle.

Indian team head coach Rahul Dravid has put all concerns about winning an ICC trophy under the mat, saying India is under no pressure. As India gear up to face Australia in the second World Test Championship (WTC) Final, starting June 7th at the Oval in London, Dravid addressed the media and said while winning will be the icing on the cake, the fans and supporters must cherish the journey in this cycle. India tasted tremendous success in the latest WTC Cycle (from 2021 to 2023), including beating some top teams like Australia at home and even drawing the away five-match series against England 2-2. Though they remained unbeaten at home in Tests, India’s only low point in this cycle came during the away Test series against South Africa in 2021/22, where despite winning the first game, they lost the three-match series 2-1. ALSO READ: Ashes 2023: Who should replace injured Jack Leach in squad? Liam Dawson or Rehan Ahmad? Atherton shares views Rahul said while he is conscious of India’s track record in the ICC tournaments in the past decade, where they failed to win a single multi-team tournament, barring Asia Cups, he added the team is proud of what they achieved in this WTC cycle. "Not at all; we don't feel any pressure in terms of trying to win an ICC trophy. Of course, it would be nice to do it. Nice to be able to win an ICC tournament," Dravid said during the presser ahead of the WTC Final. "But also, in the context of things, you look at this, and you see this is the culmination of 2 years of work, the culmination of a lot of success that gets you here. There are a lot of positives to take from that, see where you stand in the table, winning series in Australia, drawing series here. Being very competitive, this team has played in the world over in the last 5-6 years. Those are things that will never change, just because, you don't have an ICC trophy. That's really the bigger picture," the head coach added. "But, of course, it would be nice to be able to lift... any game of cricket, you want to win it. This happens to be the WTC final, and it would be nice to get on the right side of the result," Rahul said. Dravid lays a simple plan on how to win WTC Final In a very-Dravid style, the India head coach laid a simple plan on how can they beat the mighty Aussies and end their ICC trophy drought. Restraining himself from falling into the ‘who’s the favourite team’ web, Dravid said such things don’t matter when both teams would take the field on Wednesday. He added India and Australia are quality sides, and without hyping this contest, he wants his players to deliver across all departments. "Whatever happens, it will happen over the next 5 days. Whatever happens before that, whatever is being said before and after doesn't matter. Who is favourite, who is not... these are two good teams who are playing. Both teams have some good players. I have very good hope that if we play good cricket if we can take 20 wickets and score runs, I have confidence that we can win this. Probably, not having hype is a good thing," Dravid said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WTC Final: Coach Rahul Dravid dismisses concern around winning ICC trophy, says India is under no pressure

<p>Australia skipper Pat Cummins, ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against India, said that he preferred the breaks between games as the international calendar is getting busier every day and with that the workload of players.</p>

<p>"Yeah, they [breaks] are rare to come by," Cummins said ahead of the marquee clash at an ICC event. Notably, Australia will stay back in England&nbsp;where the WTC Final will take place, to play the five-Test Ashes series.</p>

<p>"So, yeah, we try and take a break when we can. I've always said that we have got six Test matches in the next two months, I'd much prefer to be slightly underdone than overdone. That's from a bowler's point of view. I always feel like it doesn't take too much to kind of get ready. And then I want to make sure I'm fresh physically for the matches," added Cummins.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ex-south-africa-cricketer-lance-klusener-thinks-fantastic-hadrik-pandya-gave-up-on-tests-easily-600711">Ex-South Africa cricketer Lance Klusener thinks 'fantastic' Hardik Pandya gave up on Tests easily</a></p>

<p>While some Aussie players, including Cummins, had a break before the WTC Final, Indians, on the other hand, are coming from the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL), except middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara who played some county cricket in England for preparation.</p>

<p>The Aussie skipper also said that his team is refreshed and ready to face India after a three-day training camp in Beckenham where Cummins spoke at the event.</p>

<p>"We have had some really good training at Beckenham the last week," said the fast bowler. "Obviously back home, we did a lot of training as well. So everyone's come in, we've trained really hard, everyone's rejuvenated, refreshed and pretty keen."</p>

<p>The WTC Final starts from June 7 at the Oval cricket ground in London where both the teams will face off each other in the first ICC Final since the 2003 ODI World Cup Final in South Africa.</p>

<p>Whichever team wins the trophy will be the first one to have all the ICC trophies to their name. India are in their second consecutive final of the two editions played so far while Australia is in their first WTC final.</p>

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Australia skipper Pat Cummins, ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against India, said that he preferred the breaks between games as the international calendar is getting busier every day and with that the workload of players.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins, ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against India, said that he preferred the breaks between games as the international calendar is getting busier every day and with that the workload of players. "Yeah, they [breaks] are rare to come by," Cummins said ahead of the marquee clash at an ICC event. Notably, Australia will stay back in England where the WTC Final will take place, to play the five-Test Ashes series. "So, yeah, we try and take a break when we can. I've always said that we have got six Test matches in the next two months, I'd much prefer to be slightly underdone than overdone. That's from a bowler's point of view. I always feel like it doesn't take too much to kind of get ready. And then I want to make sure I'm fresh physically for the matches," added Cummins. Also Read: Ex-South Africa cricketer Lance Klusener thinks 'fantastic' Hardik Pandya gave up on Tests easily While some Aussie players, including Cummins, had a break before the WTC Final, Indians, on the other hand, are coming from the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL), except middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara who played some county cricket in England for preparation. The Aussie skipper also said that his team is refreshed and ready to face India after a three-day training camp in Beckenham where Cummins spoke at the event. "We have had some really good training at Beckenham the last week," said the fast bowler. "Obviously back home, we did a lot of training as well. So everyone's come in, we've trained really hard, everyone's rejuvenated, refreshed and pretty keen." The WTC Final starts from June 7 at the Oval cricket ground in London where both the teams will face off each other in the first ICC Final since the 2003 ODI World Cup Final in South Africa. Whichever team wins the trophy will be the first one to have all the ICC trophies to their name. India are in their second consecutive final of the two editions played so far while Australia is in their first WTC final. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us

WTC Final: Pat Cummins says 'refreshed' Australia ready to face India

<p>Former India opener Virender Sehwag recalled the time when he locked himself in a room for two days. Speaking with Gaurav Kapoor on ‘Breakfast with Champions’, Sehwag narrates what happened behind the scenes. After India suffered a shocking exit from the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, going down in two out of the three matches inside the group stages, Sehwag, who was part of the star-studded squad, locked himself in his room for two days.</p>

<p>Sehwag revealed since that squad was perhaps the best Indian squad, at least on paper, in any edition of the World Cup, not making it to the second round broke the dressing room’s morale.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shaheen-afridi-babar-azam-would-be-box-office-at-ipl-auction-says-tom-moody-and-manjrekar-600080">Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam would be box office at IPL auction, predict Tom Moody and Manjrekar</a></p>

<p>While the team stood back in Trinidad and Tobago for two days following the loss at the hands of Sri Lanka, the dashing opener admitted he didn’t step outside of his room; with some help from his relatives in the USA, he managed to finish three seasons of Prison Break series instead.</p>

<p>“Everyone thought we would reach the next round. We had a two-day break after the league stage,” Sehwag told Gaurav Kapoor on BWC.</p>

<p>“We lost, we didn’t have tickets. We had to stay two days extra at Trinidad and Tobago without any practice. In those two days, I didn’t ask for room service or housekeeping, I didn’t even step out of the room. With the help of a relative in the US, I arranged for Prison Break and finished three seasons of the show during that time,” Sehwag added.</p>

<p>The team that had the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni, lost to Bangladesh in the first game, and after beating Bermuda in a record-scoring encounter, went down to Sri Lanka in the final league match.</p>

<p>Although India lost the 2003 World Cup, losing to Australia in the final, Sehwag said the 2007 World Cup exit hurt more.</p>

<p>“2007 hurt more. Our team in 2007 was the best team in the world at the time. On paper, you won’t find a better team than that, even before or after. In 2003, we lost the final, in 2011, we won, but we didn’t have such big names ever. We lost 2 matches, won 1 and that too against Bermuda,” Sehwag added.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, India is hosting the 50-over World Cup later this year, and Rohit Sharma-led team will aim to end the ICC trophy drought for the Men in Blue.</p>

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Former India opener Virender Sehwag recalled the time when he locked himself in a room for two days. Speaking with Gaurav Kapoor on ‘Breakfast with Champions’, Sehwag narrates what happened behind the scenes.

Former India opener Virender Sehwag recalled the time when he locked himself in a room for two days. Speaking with Gaurav Kapoor on ‘Breakfast with Champions’, Sehwag narrates what happened behind the scenes. After India suffered a shocking exit from the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, going down in two out of the three matches inside the group stages, Sehwag, who was part of the star-studded squad, locked himself in his room for two days. Sehwag revealed since that squad was perhaps the best Indian squad, at least on paper, in any edition of the World Cup, not making it to the second round broke the dressing room’s morale. ALSO READ: Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam would be box office at IPL auction, predict Tom Moody and Manjrekar While the team stood back in Trinidad and Tobago for two days following the loss at the hands of Sri Lanka, the dashing opener admitted he didn’t step outside of his room; with some help from his relatives in the USA, he managed to finish three seasons of Prison Break series instead. “Everyone thought we would reach the next round. We had a two-day break after the league stage,” Sehwag told Gaurav Kapoor on BWC. “We lost, we didn’t have tickets. We had to stay two days extra at Trinidad and Tobago without any practice. In those two days, I didn’t ask for room service or housekeeping, I didn’t even step out of the room. With the help of a relative in the US, I arranged for Prison Break and finished three seasons of the show during that time,” Sehwag added. The team that had the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni, lost to Bangladesh in the first game, and after beating Bermuda in a record-scoring encounter, went down to Sri Lanka in the final league match. Although India lost the 2003 World Cup, losing to Australia in the final, Sehwag said the 2007 World Cup exit hurt more. “2007 hurt more. Our team in 2007 was the best team in the world at the time. On paper, you won’t find a better team than that, even before or after. In 2003, we lost the final, in 2011, we won, but we didn’t have such big names ever. We lost 2 matches, won 1 and that too against Bermuda,” Sehwag added. Meanwhile, India is hosting the 50-over World Cup later this year, and Rohit Sharma-led team will aim to end the ICC trophy drought for the Men in Blue. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Virender Sehwag recalls the time when he locked himself in room for two days

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<p>Not just Indian fans, but the Australian dressing room is also unsure of what bowling line-up India will go ahead with against Oz in the WTC Final. Daniel Vettori, a Kiwi legend and the assistant coach of the Australian team, has admitted the confusion around the same is also keeping the mighty Aussies on their toes ahead of the one-off clash at The Oval in London, starting June 7th.</p>

<p>While Aussies expect Ravindra Jadeja to play and bat at the number six spot following a brilliant IPL season, Vettori had some words for Ravi Ashwin and seam bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur – who are in contention to make it to the XI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking to the local media ahead of Thursday’s training session at the Kent Country Cricket Ground in Beckenham, Vettori revealed&nbsp;talks on what XI India will play in the crunch clash are happening.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-ravi-shastri-picks-between-ishan-kishan-and-ks-bharat-says-if-india-play-two-spinners-then-599508">WTC Final: Ravi Shastri picks between Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat, says 'if India play two spinners then...'</a></p>

<p>"We have been debating that," Vettori said, as quoted by the ICC. "I think Jadeja will play because of the batting he brings to the table and how successful he has been at that No.6 position.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Then the question will be around that fourth seamer and the all-rounder in Thakur and Ashwin, but they are (both) pretty good choices," Vettori added.</p>

<h2>Time for Ashwin-Jadeja magic at the Oval</h2>

<p>While Ashwin is India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests with 472 scalps to his name, the veteran offie had just played one Test at the venue – in 2014, where he returned with three for 72. In England, Ashwin’s record is not that bad – as he had picked 18 wickets from seven games at a decent average of 28.11.</p>

<p>Since the Oval has a history of offering some assistance to the spinners later in the game, going ahead with Jadeja and Ashwin is one risk Rohit could be tempted to take.</p>

<p>"Ashwin is an incredible bowler, and he will be the first choice in most teams, and just with their combinations, it may lead to that (him missing selection)," Vettori said. "We expect The Oval to behave how it always behaves.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is a good wicket, but it can offer a lot to the spinners as the game goes on.”</p>

<p>Besides, going in with a combination of two spinners and three seamers, India can also opt to play four seamers and one spin-bowling all-rounder. Though Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat - who suffered respective injuries during IPL 2023 are training hard ahead of the WTC Final, their injury status remains unclear.</p>

<p>If deemed fit, both could also get picked, considering the conditions.</p>

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Not just Indian fans, but the Australian dressing room is also unsure of what bowling line-up India will go ahead with against Oz in the WTC Final. Daniel Vettori, a Kiwi legend and the assistant coach of the Australian team, has admitted the confusion around the same is also keeping the mighty Aussies on their toes ahead of the one-off clash at The Oval in London, starting June 7th.

Not just Indian fans, but the Australian dressing room is also unsure of what bowling line-up India will go ahead with against Oz in the WTC Final. Daniel Vettori, a Kiwi legend and the assistant coach of the Australian team, has admitted the confusion around the same is also keeping the mighty Aussies on their toes ahead of the one-off clash at The Oval in London, starting June 7th. While Aussies expect Ravindra Jadeja to play and bat at the number six spot following a brilliant IPL season, Vettori had some words for Ravi Ashwin and seam bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur – who are in contention to make it to the XI. Speaking to the local media ahead of Thursday’s training session at the Kent Country Cricket Ground in Beckenham, Vettori revealed talks on what XI India will play in the crunch clash are happening. ALSO READ: WTC Final: Ravi Shastri picks between Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat, says 'if India play two spinners then...' "We have been debating that," Vettori said, as quoted by the ICC. "I think Jadeja will play because of the batting he brings to the table and how successful he has been at that No.6 position. "Then the question will be around that fourth seamer and the all-rounder in Thakur and Ashwin, but they are (both) pretty good choices," Vettori added. Time for Ashwin-Jadeja magic at the Oval While Ashwin is India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests with 472 scalps to his name, the veteran offie had just played one Test at the venue – in 2014, where he returned with three for 72. In England, Ashwin’s record is not that bad – as he had picked 18 wickets from seven games at a decent average of 28.11. Since the Oval has a history of offering some assistance to the spinners later in the game, going ahead with Jadeja and Ashwin is one risk Rohit could be tempted to take. "Ashwin is an incredible bowler, and he will be the first choice in most teams, and just with their combinations, it may lead to that (him missing selection)," Vettori said. "We expect The Oval to behave how it always behaves. "It is a good wicket, but it can offer a lot to the spinners as the game goes on.” Besides, going in with a combination of two spinners and three seamers, India can also opt to play four seamers and one spin-bowling all-rounder. Though Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat - who suffered respective injuries during IPL 2023 are training hard ahead of the WTC Final, their injury status remains unclear. If deemed fit, both could also get picked, considering the conditions. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WTC Final: Confusion around India's bowling line-up is keeping Australia on its toes, admits Daniel Vettori

India vs Australia, WTC 2023 Final: Team India's road to the summit clash

<p>MS Dhoni won his ninth T20 title as captain when the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2023 final in Ahmedabad in the early hours on Tuesday (May 30). After the win, Dhoni joined Rohit with as many as five IPL titles each as captain. Following IPL 2023 edition, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt compared Dhoni and Rohit and made a big statement on the current Indian captain's fitness.</p>

<h2><strong>'World of difference between MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma'</strong></h2>

<p>During a YouTube live session, a fan asked Butt to compare Dhoni and Rohit in terms of fitness and he said, “There's a world of difference between the two. Rohit Sharma has a big designation, he's the captain of India. He should be leading by example in all aspects, and fitness is a very important aspect. As a captain, when you are in a position to demand something from your teammates, you should have it yourself. You should be top of the line."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-t20-world-cup-2007-to-ipl-2023-triumph-listing-captain-cool-ms-dhonis-nine-t20-trophies-598734">From T20 World Cup 2007 to IPL 2023 triumph: Listing Captain Cool MS Dhoni's nine T20 trophies</a></strong></p>

<p>“When you look at Rohit Sharma, you realise that fitness is one aspect where he can be a lot better. It will improve his batting and confidence as well. But we are talking about it for a long time now. I don't know why he isn't fit enough. Maybe he knows the reason himself,” he further added.</p>

<p>While ardent cricket fans often compare the captaincy styles of Dhoni and Rohit, the former was always ahead of many in terms of fitness. Even at 41, the former Indian skipper pulled off the entire IPL 2023 edition despite nursing a knee injury. He blasted 104 runs in 57 balls, at over 180, and remained an asset behind the stumps. During his playing days for India, he was one of the fastest between wickets and remained so even after retirement but injury concerns forced him to go for the big shots and not rely on a lot of running while batting for CSK in the just-concluded edition.</p>

<p>Talking about Rohit, he has suffered various injuries in the recent past. However, he remains a safe fielder and runner between wickets. At present, he is gearing up to lead India in the forthcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final where the national side will face Australia at The Oval, London on June 07.</p>


MS Dhoni won his ninth T20 title as captain when the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2023 final in Ahmedabad in the early hours on Tuesday (May 30).

MS Dhoni won his ninth T20 title as captain when the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2023 final in Ahmedabad in the early hours on Tuesday (May 30). After the win, Dhoni joined Rohit with as many as five IPL titles each as captain. Following IPL 2023 edition, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt compared Dhoni and Rohit and made a big statement on the current Indian captain's fitness. 'World of difference between MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma' During a YouTube live session, a fan asked Butt to compare Dhoni and Rohit in terms of fitness and he said, “There's a world of difference between the two. Rohit Sharma has a big designation, he's the captain of India. He should be leading by example in all aspects, and fitness is a very important aspect. As a captain, when you are in a position to demand something from your teammates, you should have it yourself. You should be top of the line." Also Read: From T20 World Cup 2007 to IPL 2023 triumph: Listing Captain Cool MS Dhoni's nine T20 trophies “When you look at Rohit Sharma, you realise that fitness is one aspect where he can be a lot better. It will improve his batting and confidence as well. But we are talking about it for a long time now. I don't know why he isn't fit enough. Maybe he knows the reason himself,” he further added. While ardent cricket fans often compare the captaincy styles of Dhoni and Rohit, the former was always ahead of many in terms of fitness. Even at 41, the former Indian skipper pulled off the entire IPL 2023 edition despite nursing a knee injury. He blasted 104 runs in 57 balls, at over 180, and remained an asset behind the stumps. During his playing days for India, he was one of the fastest between wickets and remained so even after retirement but injury concerns forced him to go for the big shots and not rely on a lot of running while batting for CSK in the just-concluded edition. Talking about Rohit, he has suffered various injuries in the recent past. However, he remains a safe fielder and runner between wickets. At present, he is gearing up to lead India in the forthcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final where the national side will face Australia at The Oval, London on June 07.

World of difference between Dhoni and Rohit: Former Pak captain makes big statement on Indian captain

<p>Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has backed India keeper-batter Ishan Kishan to play ahead of KS Bharat in the World Test Championship Final, starting June 7th at the Oval in London. Calling him someone who, like Rishabh Pant, can change gears and put any opposition under pressure, Ponting sees no reason why Kishan can't make his Test debut in the all-important clash.</p>

<p>Although the left-handed Kishan was among the runs in the ongoing IPL 2023, scoring 454 from 16 games at a strike rate of above 140, he still falls behind Bharat in the pecking order – who played all four Tests earlier during the Border-Gavaskar series.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/blow-to-pakistan-sri-lanka-enter-race-to-host-asia-cup-2023-on-short-notice-597874">Blow to Pakistan! Sri Lanka enter race to host Asia Cup 2023 on 'short notice'</a></p>

<p>Also, in the absence of KL Rahul - the makeshift keeper in ODIs, the wicketkeeping situation gets tricky for Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid. While the consensus says India might go ahead with Bharat for that one spot, many feel, including Ponting, that going with Kishan will be a better choice. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"If I was them [India], knowing the importance of this game - and you have to win this Test match - I'd be going with Ishan Kishan in this game," Ponting said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.</p>

<p>"He provides that little bit of X-factor that you need when you might be pushing for a win in a Test match. Obviously, if Rishabh Pant is fit, he is playing, and he provides that X-factor for India. But with him not being there, and this is no blot on Bharat whatsoever, I think Kishan just provides that little bit more X-factor, who'd do a good job with the gloves but can provide that really high-scoring run rate that is required in a one-off Test match to push for a win,” Ponting added.</p>

<p>Ponting said considering what is at stake and this one-off Test is all to play for, he would rather play all the x-factors to ensure India puts Australia under pressure and take the game home.</p>

<p>"I'd be going with as many X-factor players as I could and put some real pressure back on Australia," Ricky further opined.</p>

<p>Ishan and Suryakumar Yadav, two x-factors in Ponting’s eyes, were part of the BGT earlier that India won 2-1. While Surya played the Nagpur Test, and scored eight runs in the only inning he batted in, Ishan warmed the benches during the series.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although Ishan is considered to be a better white-ball player, given his recent exploits, wherein he became the fourth Indian batter to complete two hundred runs in an ODI inning recently, his first-class numbers read 2985 runs in 48 matches, averaging 38.76 - which are good enough to push for a case in the XI against the mighty Aussies.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has backed India keeper-batter Ishan Kishan to play ahead of KS Bharat in the World Test Championship Final, starting June 7th at the Oval in London.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has backed India keeper-batter Ishan Kishan to play ahead of KS Bharat in the World Test Championship Final, starting June 7th at the Oval in London. Calling him someone who, like Rishabh Pant, can change gears and put any opposition under pressure, Ponting sees no reason why Kishan can't make his Test debut in the all-important clash. Although the left-handed Kishan was among the runs in the ongoing IPL 2023, scoring 454 from 16 games at a strike rate of above 140, he still falls behind Bharat in the pecking order – who played all four Tests earlier during the Border-Gavaskar series. ALSO READ: Blow to Pakistan! Sri Lanka enter race to host Asia Cup 2023 on 'short notice' Also, in the absence of KL Rahul - the makeshift keeper in ODIs, the wicketkeeping situation gets tricky for Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid. While the consensus says India might go ahead with Bharat for that one spot, many feel, including Ponting, that going with Kishan will be a better choice. "If I was them [India], knowing the importance of this game - and you have to win this Test match - I'd be going with Ishan Kishan in this game," Ponting said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. "He provides that little bit of X-factor that you need when you might be pushing for a win in a Test match. Obviously, if Rishabh Pant is fit, he is playing, and he provides that X-factor for India. But with him not being there, and this is no blot on Bharat whatsoever, I think Kishan just provides that little bit more X-factor, who'd do a good job with the gloves but can provide that really high-scoring run rate that is required in a one-off Test match to push for a win,” Ponting added. Ponting said considering what is at stake and this one-off Test is all to play for, he would rather play all the x-factors to ensure India puts Australia under pressure and take the game home. "I'd be going with as many X-factor players as I could and put some real pressure back on Australia," Ricky further opined. Ishan and Suryakumar Yadav, two x-factors in Ponting’s eyes, were part of the BGT earlier that India won 2-1. While Surya played the Nagpur Test, and scored eight runs in the only inning he batted in, Ishan warmed the benches during the series. Although Ishan is considered to be a better white-ball player, given his recent exploits, wherein he became the fourth Indian batter to complete two hundred runs in an ODI inning recently, his first-class numbers read 2985 runs in 48 matches, averaging 38.76 - which are good enough to push for a case in the XI against the mighty Aussies. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'X-factor' Ishan Kishan can put Australia under pressure in WTC Final, says Ricky Ponting

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<p>Who knows about a comeback better than Dinesh Karthik? Having returned to the white-ball setup twice following a dismal run on the international stage, Karthik has vouched for Ajinkya Rahane – who, after getting dropped from the Test side in 2021, has been picked up for the World Test Championship Final, starting June 7th at the Oval in London.</p>

<p>Following a path-breaking season with Chennai Super Kings, where Rahane – who was bought for just INR 50 lakhs, turned heads with his stellar performances earlier in the tournament. Be it for his fastest fifty of IPL 2023 against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede or his 28-ball 70 against Kolkata Knight Riders in an away clash, Rahane proved he still has the Midas touch.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-australia-announce-15-man-squad-for-india-clash-hazlewood-picked-marsh-renshaw-in-reserves-597598">WTC Final: Australia announce 15-man squad for India clash, Hazlewood picked, Marsh, Renshaw in reserves</a></p>

<p>Rahane's impressive run at the number three spot for CSK did wonders for him and the franchise - who, for the 10th time in IPL history, reached the finale where they will take on defending champions Gujarat Titans on Monday, May 29th – a reserve day in Ahmedabad, after the game washed out on Sunday.</p>

<p>It was after those match-winning performances only when Rahane got a surprised call-up to the Test side for the WTC Final against India. With regular middle-order players like Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer out injured, this chance came as a blessing in disguise for Rahane, who cannot wait to continue doing what he does best – which is batting with the flare in the UK.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>The world is ready for Rahane 2.0</h2>

<p>Speaking with ICC, Karthik said Rahane has his mojo back and looks in good rhythm, and considering his history in SENA countries, he can deliver for the team.</p>

<p>"I think he has got his mojo back. He is in good rhythm, he is in good confidence, and he is always known to do well outside India. It is going to be a very important six to eight months for his career in Test cricket,” Dinesh Karthik told ICC.</p>

<p>"He has done so well for CSK when he came back. The way that he has batted, the intent that he has shown, he has shown that he is in a good mind space and that is something that is very important for the batter," the keeper-batter added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While most of the Indian players have already reached the UK, others&nbsp;will leave for London after the IPL 2023 final.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Here is India’s squad for the WTC Final 2023 –</strong></p>

<p>Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk)</p>

<p>Standbys: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Who knows about a comeback better than Dinesh Karthik? Having returned to the white-ball setup twice following a dismal run on the international stage, Karthik has vouched for Ajinkya Rahane – who, after getting dropped from the Test side in 2021, has been picked up for the World Test Championship Final, starting June 7th at the Oval in London.

Who knows about a comeback better than Dinesh Karthik? Having returned to the white-ball setup twice following a dismal run on the international stage, Karthik has vouched for Ajinkya Rahane – who, after getting dropped from the Test side in 2021, has been picked up for the World Test Championship Final, starting June 7th at the Oval in London. Following a path-breaking season with Chennai Super Kings, where Rahane – who was bought for just INR 50 lakhs, turned heads with his stellar performances earlier in the tournament. Be it for his fastest fifty of IPL 2023 against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede or his 28-ball 70 against Kolkata Knight Riders in an away clash, Rahane proved he still has the Midas touch. ALSO READ: WTC Final: Australia announce 15-man squad for India clash, Hazlewood picked, Marsh, Renshaw in reserves Rahane's impressive run at the number three spot for CSK did wonders for him and the franchise - who, for the 10th time in IPL history, reached the finale where they will take on defending champions Gujarat Titans on Monday, May 29th – a reserve day in Ahmedabad, after the game washed out on Sunday. It was after those match-winning performances only when Rahane got a surprised call-up to the Test side for the WTC Final against India. With regular middle-order players like Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer out injured, this chance came as a blessing in disguise for Rahane, who cannot wait to continue doing what he does best – which is batting with the flare in the UK. The world is ready for Rahane 2.0 Speaking with ICC, Karthik said Rahane has his mojo back and looks in good rhythm, and considering his history in SENA countries, he can deliver for the team. "I think he has got his mojo back. He is in good rhythm, he is in good confidence, and he is always known to do well outside India. It is going to be a very important six to eight months for his career in Test cricket,” Dinesh Karthik told ICC. "He has done so well for CSK when he came back. The way that he has batted, the intent that he has shown, he has shown that he is in a good mind space and that is something that is very important for the batter," the keeper-batter added. While most of the Indian players have already reached the UK, others will leave for London after the IPL 2023 final. Here is India’s squad for the WTC Final 2023 – Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk) Standbys: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WTC Final: Karthik backs Rahane to turn heads against Australia, claims coming 8-9 months are crucial for him

<p>Fair to say everyone is taking note of Hardik Pandya – the captain. After leading his IPL franchise, Gujarat Titans to successive finals in two years since getting inducted into the league, Hardik has made the right noises as a leader. Upon delivering both as a player and a skipper in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians, Hardik has pressed his case as a future white-ball captain of the Indian team.</p>

<p>With nine wins from 14 matches this season, the defending champions, Gujarat Titans, bagged first place in the points tally.&nbsp;Though they lost Qualifier 1 against Chennai Super Kings by 15 runs, they came back stronger in their game against Mumbai Indians – winning the all-important clash by a massive 62-run margin.</p>

<p>Opener Shubman Gill smashed his third IPL century in four innings to help GT book the final ticket for the second straight time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya, despite not excelling with either the bat or ball throughout the season, has ensured his role as a captain keeps everyone talking about him. His bowling changes against Mumbai impressed all, and Michael Vaughan was no different.</p>

<p>Speaking on Cricbuzz as an IPL expert, Vaughan made a huge statement regarding Hardik’s future.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-michael-hussey-backs-virat-kohli-to-come-good-with-bat-expects-rohit-to-dictate-terms-early-on-597485">WTC Final: Michael Hussey backs Virat Kohli to come good with bat, expects Rohit to dictate terms early on</a></p>

<p>A former England captain, Vaughan feels Hardik’s Midas touch makes him a hot favourite to be an outstanding leader and that, with his calmness and his style of play, he is likely to succeed in this role as well.</p>

<p>"Hardik Pandya is going to captain India. I can convince all of you listening to this, that he is going to captain India. I don't know when it is going to be. He will captain India in white-ball cricket."</p>

<p>"He has got the calmness; he has got the game. I'm worried about his injury to his back, but he has just got that persona right in the middle. You can see his body language. The way he manoeuvres his field calmly. The way he makes his bowling changes. Yes, he has got two outstanding spinners and Mohammed Shami, who has been the best seamer in the tournament. You need bowlers as a captain," Vaughan showered praises on him while speaking on Cricbuzz.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He has got that Midas touch you need to be an outstanding white-ball captain," Vaughan added.</p>

<h2>Hardik’s GT ready to spoil CSK’s party</h2>

<p>The two teams who played the IPL 2023 opener in Ahmedabad on March 31st are up against each other in the season's finale at the same venue. While Gujarat’s head-to-head record against the former champions keeps their noses in front ahead of the finale, MS Dhoni’s CSK's late resurgence will also keep the hosts on their feet.</p>

<p>Will Hardik's Gujarat Titans pull off a miracle and beat his idol MS Dhoni in the summit clash, or will Chennai lift the trophy for the joint-record fifth time?</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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Fair to say everyone is taking note of Hardik Pandya – the captain. After leading his IPL franchise, Gujarat Titans to successive finals in two years since getting inducted into the league, Hardik has made the right noises as a leader.

Fair to say everyone is taking note of Hardik Pandya – the captain. After leading his IPL franchise, Gujarat Titans to successive finals in two years since getting inducted into the league, Hardik has made the right noises as a leader. Upon delivering both as a player and a skipper in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians, Hardik has pressed his case as a future white-ball captain of the Indian team. With nine wins from 14 matches this season, the defending champions, Gujarat Titans, bagged first place in the points tally. Though they lost Qualifier 1 against Chennai Super Kings by 15 runs, they came back stronger in their game against Mumbai Indians – winning the all-important clash by a massive 62-run margin. Opener Shubman Gill smashed his third IPL century in four innings to help GT book the final ticket for the second straight time. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya, despite not excelling with either the bat or ball throughout the season, has ensured his role as a captain keeps everyone talking about him. His bowling changes against Mumbai impressed all, and Michael Vaughan was no different. Speaking on Cricbuzz as an IPL expert, Vaughan made a huge statement regarding Hardik’s future. ALSO READ: WTC Final: Michael Hussey backs Virat Kohli to come good with bat, expects Rohit to dictate terms early on A former England captain, Vaughan feels Hardik’s Midas touch makes him a hot favourite to be an outstanding leader and that, with his calmness and his style of play, he is likely to succeed in this role as well. "Hardik Pandya is going to captain India. I can convince all of you listening to this, that he is going to captain India. I don't know when it is going to be. He will captain India in white-ball cricket." "He has got the calmness; he has got the game. I'm worried about his injury to his back, but he has just got that persona right in the middle. You can see his body language. The way he manoeuvres his field calmly. The way he makes his bowling changes. Yes, he has got two outstanding spinners and Mohammed Shami, who has been the best seamer in the tournament. You need bowlers as a captain," Vaughan showered praises on him while speaking on Cricbuzz. "He has got that Midas touch you need to be an outstanding white-ball captain," Vaughan added. Hardik’s GT ready to spoil CSK’s party The two teams who played the IPL 2023 opener in Ahmedabad on March 31st are up against each other in the season's finale at the same venue. While Gujarat’s head-to-head record against the former champions keeps their noses in front ahead of the finale, MS Dhoni’s CSK's late resurgence will also keep the hosts on their feet. Will Hardik's Gujarat Titans pull off a miracle and beat his idol MS Dhoni in the summit clash, or will Chennai lift the trophy for the joint-record fifth time? WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'With his Midas touch, he can be an outstanding captain..': Ex-England captain praises Hardik Pandya

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuide0Ix8T29wghC" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Afghanistan will tour India for a short three-match ODI series following the World Test Championship 2023 Final. While the schedule of the Afghanistan series is not announced yet, latest reports suggest the selectors will rest some of the biggies - including regular captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj.</p>

<p>Hardik Pandya will lead the new-look Indian team.</p>

<p>As quoted in the PTI, the selection committee will pick a second-string squad for the Afghanistan series, which could take place before India’s tour of the West Indies in early July. While earlier, there were talks of the series getting scrapped because of the limited window, the board will now go ahead with it.</p>

<p>With all first-team players gearing up for the WTC Final against Australia and looking at the cramped schedule ahead of the 2023 World Cup later this year, the board has decided to manage the workload of the top names in the circuit.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-2023-icc-announces-prize-money-winner-to-take-home-a-whopping-16-million-596712">WTC Final 2023: ICC announces prize money, winner to take home a whopping $1.6 million</a></p>

<p>While the ongoing IPL 2023 is consuming for each of them in its way, the Indian team has a long tour of the West Indies after that – that include two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is from July 12th to August 13th. The Men in Blue will then travel to Ireland for a three-match T20Is before getting ready for the Asia Cup – whose future is also in limbo.</p>

<p>ACC board members are also expected to be in India this weekend for the IPL final, and this is where the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) President, Mirwais Ashraf and BCCI secretary Jay Shah could sit together and decide on the dates for the mini-white-ball series.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Kohli, and Rohit could be rested for the Ireland series</h2>

<p>Following IPL 2023, where around a handful of young players, like every year, emerged as top performers, they will be given an extended run on the Ireland tour. Some names that are on BCCI’s radar looking at next year’s T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies are Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh and Tilak Varma.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As a result, the board might consider resting some of the top players like Virat, Rohit and Shami for this series with one eye on the Asia Cup, which will take place during the August-September window.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, after that, Australia will travel to India for a short white-ball series, and then the 2023 Men’s World Cup begins on October 5th – whose schedule will also be announced after the end of IPL 2023.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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Afghanistan will tour India for a short three-match ODI series following the World Test Championship 2023 Final. While the schedule of the Afghanistan series is not announced yet, latest reports suggest the selectors will rest some of the biggies - including regular captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj.

Afghanistan will tour India for a short three-match ODI series following the World Test Championship 2023 Final. While the schedule of the Afghanistan series is not announced yet, latest reports suggest the selectors will rest some of the biggies - including regular captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj. Hardik Pandya will lead the new-look Indian team. As quoted in the PTI, the selection committee will pick a second-string squad for the Afghanistan series, which could take place before India’s tour of the West Indies in early July. While earlier, there were talks of the series getting scrapped because of the limited window, the board will now go ahead with it. With all first-team players gearing up for the WTC Final against Australia and looking at the cramped schedule ahead of the 2023 World Cup later this year, the board has decided to manage the workload of the top names in the circuit. ALSO READ: WTC Final 2023: ICC announces prize money, winner to take home a whopping $1.6 million While the ongoing IPL 2023 is consuming for each of them in its way, the Indian team has a long tour of the West Indies after that – that include two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is from July 12th to August 13th. The Men in Blue will then travel to Ireland for a three-match T20Is before getting ready for the Asia Cup – whose future is also in limbo. ACC board members are also expected to be in India this weekend for the IPL final, and this is where the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) President, Mirwais Ashraf and BCCI secretary Jay Shah could sit together and decide on the dates for the mini-white-ball series. Kohli, and Rohit could be rested for the Ireland series Following IPL 2023, where around a handful of young players, like every year, emerged as top performers, they will be given an extended run on the Ireland tour. Some names that are on BCCI’s radar looking at next year’s T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies are Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh and Tilak Varma. As a result, the board might consider resting some of the top players like Virat, Rohit and Shami for this series with one eye on the Asia Cup, which will take place during the August-September window. However, after that, Australia will travel to India for a short white-ball series, and then the 2023 Men’s World Cup begins on October 5th – whose schedule will also be announced after the end of IPL 2023. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

IND vs AFG 2023: Hardik Pandya set to lead new-look Indian team, biggies to be rested - Reports

<p>For the second straight time, the Indian Cricket Team reached the finals of the World Test Championship, having previously lost to New Zealand by eight wickets in the inaugural edition two years ago in Southampton. India edged past South Africa in a tight race for the second spot following a 2-1 win over ranked-first side Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series early this year.</p>

<p>With most players currently involved in the IPL 2023 playoffs, seven of the 15-man squad had already flown to the UK for the WTC Final 2023, which starts on June 7th at Oval, London.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, speaking ahead of the high-octane clash against Australia, Indian captain Rohit Sharma shared his thoughts on the side's successful run to the top and how they coped with the 2021 loss at the hands of Kiwis.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-2023-final-ravi-shastri-backs-ajinkya-rahanes-selection-for-one-off-contest-says-hes-earned-his-place-595966">WTC 2023 Final: Ravi Shastri backs Ajinkya Rahane's selection for one-off contest, says he's earned his place</a></p>

<p>“After the World Test Championship (2021 final) in Southampton, we quickly had to regroup and get ready for the next cycle,” Rohit said in a video posted by BCCI on its website.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I thought in that cycle, we played some really, really tough cricket. We were challenged a lot of times, and I thought to come out of that was obviously going to take a lot of character from not just a few individuals, but everyone.”</p>

<p><strong>WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">From Nottingham to Ahmedabad 🏟️<br />
<br />
A journey of grit, determination, pride and teamwork 👏🏻<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> 🇮🇳 members relive a remarkable journey of reaching the WTC Final for the second time 👌🏻👌🏻 - By <a href="https://twitter.com/RajalArora?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RajalArora</a><br />
<br />
WATCH the full Video 🎥🔽 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTC23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTC23</a> <a href="https://t.co/WVY41lVNNh">https://t.co/WVY41lVNNh</a> <a href="https://t.co/uOnBK74ADp">pic.twitter.com/uOnBK74ADp</a></p>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1661334041453555713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Absentees must get credited for this successful run</h2>

<p>India's run to the top in this WTC cycle saw several match-winning performances from a few individuals that are not available now. As per Rohit, Cheteshwar Pujara - who is currently plying his trade in the County Championship, and Ravi Ashwin, they need to be thanked for their efforts.</p>

<p>Considering India is missing services of Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer - all of whom are nursing respective injuries and are out for an indefinite period, Pujara said they must be credited, alongside everyone in the team, for the collective effort that led the side to this point.</p>

<p>“There have been many players who have contributed to the team. Some of them are not part of this squad currently, but it’s important that we recognise all the players that have contributed in this cycle,” Pujara said.</p>

<p>“It’s been a great team effort… the team management, captain, everyone has been looking forward to this moment where we qualify for the WTC finals and the guys are really excited to play at The Oval. We’ve got some good memories playing against England in UK. Overall, if I look at the last couple of years, it’s been a very good journey for the Indian Test team,” Ravi Ashwin added.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the second batch of Indian players will fly after the end of IPL 2023, which finishes with the final on May 28th.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>


For the second straight time, the Indian Cricket Team reached the finals of the World Test Championship, having previously lost to New Zealand by eight wickets in the inaugural edition two years ago in Southampton.

For the second straight time, the Indian Cricket Team reached the finals of the World Test Championship, having previously lost to New Zealand by eight wickets in the inaugural edition two years ago in Southampton. India edged past South Africa in a tight race for the second spot following a 2-1 win over ranked-first side Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series early this year. With most players currently involved in the IPL 2023 playoffs, seven of the 15-man squad had already flown to the UK for the WTC Final 2023, which starts on June 7th at Oval, London. Meanwhile, speaking ahead of the high-octane clash against Australia, Indian captain Rohit Sharma shared his thoughts on the side's successful run to the top and how they coped with the 2021 loss at the hands of Kiwis. ALSO READ: WTC 2023 Final: Ravi Shastri backs Ajinkya Rahane's selection for one-off contest, says he's earned his place “After the World Test Championship (2021 final) in Southampton, we quickly had to regroup and get ready for the next cycle,” Rohit said in a video posted by BCCI on its website. “I thought in that cycle, we played some really, really tough cricket. We were challenged a lot of times, and I thought to come out of that was obviously going to take a lot of character from not just a few individuals, but everyone.” WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: From Nottingham to Ahmedabad 🏟️ A journey of grit, determination, pride and teamwork 👏🏻#TeamIndia 🇮🇳 members relive a remarkable journey of reaching the WTC Final for the second time 👌🏻👌🏻 - By @RajalArora WATCH the full Video 🎥🔽 #WTC23 https://t.co/WVY41lVNNh pic.twitter.com/uOnBK74ADp — BCCI (@BCCI) May 24, 2023 × Absentees must get credited for this successful run India's run to the top in this WTC cycle saw several match-winning performances from a few individuals that are not available now. As per Rohit, Cheteshwar Pujara - who is currently plying his trade in the County Championship, and Ravi Ashwin, they need to be thanked for their efforts. Considering India is missing services of Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer - all of whom are nursing respective injuries and are out for an indefinite period, Pujara said they must be credited, alongside everyone in the team, for the collective effort that led the side to this point. “There have been many players who have contributed to the team. Some of them are not part of this squad currently, but it’s important that we recognise all the players that have contributed in this cycle,” Pujara said. “It’s been a great team effort… the team management, captain, everyone has been looking forward to this moment where we qualify for the WTC finals and the guys are really excited to play at The Oval. We’ve got some good memories playing against England in UK. Overall, if I look at the last couple of years, it’s been a very good journey for the Indian Test team,” Ravi Ashwin added. Meanwhile, the second batch of Indian players will fly after the end of IPL 2023, which finishes with the final on May 28th. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WTC Final: 'Collective team effort led us here, boys are excited to face Australia,' says Rohit Sharma

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<p>The group stages of IPL 2023 are over, and Kolkata Knight Riders, alongside five other teams, have been knocked out of the tournament. While all eyes&nbsp;will now be on the playoffs, revisiting some of the top moments and emerging performances would be as good an option as any. Several players hit centuries; some even back-to-back, players&nbsp;who didn’t leave an equal impact on the fans, their team performances and their chances of breaking into the Indian team.</p>

<p>The first name that comes to mind is KKR’s&nbsp;Rinku Singh. The young left-handed batter from Aligarh made this tournament his own, with performances that are sure to call for a selection meeting inside the BCCI office sooner. Termed the ‘finisher’ by millions of fans, Rinku helped his team win or at least come close to most of the chases, which, at one stage, looked nearly impossible to achieve.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-virat-kohli-siraj-among-first-batch-of-players-to-leave-for-uk-india-unlikely-to-play-tour-game-595129">WTC Final: Virat Kohli, Siraj among first batch of players to leave for UK, India unlikely to play tour game</a></p>

<p>If this calls for anything other than just praise, it is a spot in the playing XI in India’s white-ball team. With Hardik Pandya ageing like a fine wine regarding his role and performances lately, his journey from being a designated ‘finisher’ to a proper batter is one to take inspiration from. So is the case with Rinku - from being a Nobody in the KKR team for a few years to becoming the most-talked-about batter this summer, Rinku has come a long way too.</p>

<p>Going by the array of shots he has on display, in addition to having an unbelievable stomach for success, Rinku is not far from realising his dream of playing for the country.</p>

<h2>Rinku’s IPL 2023 in numbers&nbsp;</h2>

<p>After a headline-making inning against Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022, where he scored 40 off 15 balls, hitting four sixes and two fours, and almost pulling off one of the best run-chases in the season, Rinku hit the ground running this time in IPL 2023.</p>

<p>Following two superb outings in the opening two games against CSK and DC, Rinku’s moment came against Gujarat Titans – where, in the final over, when his team needed 29 runs, he smashed left-arm seamer Yash Dayal for five consecutive sixes – and did the unthinkable.</p>

<p>Just when the cricketing world was busy gasping about what just happened, Rinku, a few games later, pulled off a win in another run-chase – this time against Punjab Kings at home. Hitting Arshdeep for a last-ball four - the bowler, who by then had earned a reputation of being the best death bowler, further cemented Rinku's legacy as the ‘finisher to be’ in times to come.</p>

<p>His last of the master-class run-chases came during Kolkata's final game against Lucknow Super Giants at the Eden Gardens, wherein – for the nth time this season, when the chips were down,&nbsp;and he was around, Rinku kept KKR in the game. Needing nearly 40 runs off the last two overs, the Kolkata dugout looked relaxed – knowing who was dealing with the situation.</p>

<p>Rinku slammed Naveen-ul-Haq and Yash Thakur for fours and sixes and brought his team’s total closer to the target, only to fall shy of just one run.</p>

<p>In IPL 2023, Rinku Singh scored a whopping 474 runs from 14 matches – the most by a batter coming in at number five or below. While he averaged around 59.25, the left-handed Rinku was smashing at a strike rate of almost 150. Moreover, each of his four fifties this season came while chasing, and it’s fair to say, every time the bowling team was under pressure.</p>

<p>Looking at his rise, KKR must get credited for backing him since getting him on board in 2018.</p>

<h2>How can Rinku be used as a finisher in India's white-ball teams?</h2>

<p>With the majority of the sure-shot batters in the white-ball team around 33 years old (Kohli, Rohit and Jadeja), it’s high time the board handpick some young guns looking at the future; and who better to go ahead with than Rinku Singh as the finisher in the team. Rinku delivering under pressure in almost all games this season reflects his temperament and ability to take down an attack of the highest order.</p>

<p>India is scheduled to travel to the Caribbean and then Ireland for ODIs and T20Is later during the monsoon, providing Rinku with a chance to showcase his skill on the&nbsp;international level.</p>

<p>Also, considering India might choose to rest some of the big names in the lead-up to the 2023 World Cup and also keeping an eye on next year’s T20 World Cup in West Indies and the USA, grooming Rinku as the finisher is the&nbsp;way to go ahead with.</p>

<p>Even former players and coaches like Harbhajan Singh and Ravi Shastri have voiced the same.</p>

<p>It’s only a matter of&nbsp;time before the ambitious Rinku Singh takes on the big stage, playing for India in all formats.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>


The group stages of IPL 2023 are over, and Kolkata Knight Riders, alongside five other teams, have been knocked out of the tournament. While all eyes will now be on the playoffs, revisiting some of the top moments and emerging performances would be as good an option as any.

The group stages of IPL 2023 are over, and Kolkata Knight Riders, alongside five other teams, have been knocked out of the tournament. While all eyes will now be on the playoffs, revisiting some of the top moments and emerging performances would be as good an option as any. Several players hit centuries; some even back-to-back, players who didn’t leave an equal impact on the fans, their team performances and their chances of breaking into the Indian team. The first name that comes to mind is KKR’s Rinku Singh. The young left-handed batter from Aligarh made this tournament his own, with performances that are sure to call for a selection meeting inside the BCCI office sooner. Termed the ‘finisher’ by millions of fans, Rinku helped his team win or at least come close to most of the chases, which, at one stage, looked nearly impossible to achieve. ALSO READ: WTC Final: Virat Kohli, Siraj among first batch of players to leave for UK, India unlikely to play tour game If this calls for anything other than just praise, it is a spot in the playing XI in India’s white-ball team. With Hardik Pandya ageing like a fine wine regarding his role and performances lately, his journey from being a designated ‘finisher’ to a proper batter is one to take inspiration from. So is the case with Rinku - from being a Nobody in the KKR team for a few years to becoming the most-talked-about batter this summer, Rinku has come a long way too. Going by the array of shots he has on display, in addition to having an unbelievable stomach for success, Rinku is not far from realising his dream of playing for the country. Rinku’s IPL 2023 in numbers After a headline-making inning against Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022, where he scored 40 off 15 balls, hitting four sixes and two fours, and almost pulling off one of the best run-chases in the season, Rinku hit the ground running this time in IPL 2023. Following two superb outings in the opening two games against CSK and DC, Rinku’s moment came against Gujarat Titans – where, in the final over, when his team needed 29 runs, he smashed left-arm seamer Yash Dayal for five consecutive sixes – and did the unthinkable. Just when the cricketing world was busy gasping about what just happened, Rinku, a few games later, pulled off a win in another run-chase – this time against Punjab Kings at home. Hitting Arshdeep for a last-ball four - the bowler, who by then had earned a reputation of being the best death bowler, further cemented Rinku's legacy as the ‘finisher to be’ in times to come. His last of the master-class run-chases came during Kolkata's final game against Lucknow Super Giants at the Eden Gardens, wherein – for the nth time this season, when the chips were down, and he was around, Rinku kept KKR in the game. Needing nearly 40 runs off the last two overs, the Kolkata dugout looked relaxed – knowing who was dealing with the situation. Rinku slammed Naveen-ul-Haq and Yash Thakur for fours and sixes and brought his team’s total closer to the target, only to fall shy of just one run. In IPL 2023, Rinku Singh scored a whopping 474 runs from 14 matches – the most by a batter coming in at number five or below. While he averaged around 59.25, the left-handed Rinku was smashing at a strike rate of almost 150. Moreover, each of his four fifties this season came while chasing, and it’s fair to say, every time the bowling team was under pressure. Looking at his rise, KKR must get credited for backing him since getting him on board in 2018. How can Rinku be used as a finisher in India's white-ball teams? With the majority of the sure-shot batters in the white-ball team around 33 years old (Kohli, Rohit and Jadeja), it’s high time the board handpick some young guns looking at the future; and who better to go ahead with than Rinku Singh as the finisher in the team. Rinku delivering under pressure in almost all games this season reflects his temperament and ability to take down an attack of the highest order. India is scheduled to travel to the Caribbean and then Ireland for ODIs and T20Is later during the monsoon, providing Rinku with a chance to showcase his skill on the international level. Also, considering India might choose to rest some of the big names in the lead-up to the 2023 World Cup and also keeping an eye on next year’s T20 World Cup in West Indies and the USA, grooming Rinku as the finisher is the way to go ahead with. Even former players and coaches like Harbhajan Singh and Ravi Shastri have voiced the same. It’s only a matter of time before the ambitious Rinku Singh takes on the big stage, playing for India in all formats. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

EXPLAINED: Is Rinku Singh the answer to India's search for a designated 'finisher' in white-ball cricket?

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<p>Royal Challengers Bangalore duo of Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj are among the first batch of Indian players who will fly to the UK for the 2023 World Test Championship Final against Australia, scheduled to take place in London on June 7.&nbsp;As per PTI, the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, alongside seamer Shardul Thakur will also be on that flight to England, with Rahul Dravid-led coaching and support staff also part of it.</p>

<p>As reported by the Indian Express, the remaining two players from the first set of seven are seamers Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat - both of whom are recovering from respective injuries they suffered during IPL 2023. As per the report, this set of players and staff will leave during the wee hours on Tuesday.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/josh-hazlewood-declared-fit-for-wtc-final-ashes-2023-amid-soreness-complaints-595115">Josh Hazlewood declared fit for WTC final, Ashes 2023 amid soreness complaints</a></p>

<p>“There will be two or three departures in total. The first batch leaves at 4:30 am tomorrow,” said a BCCI source, as quoted in the Indian Express.</p>

<p>Of&nbsp;the remaining members of India’s 15-man squad for the 2023 WTC Final, seven of them – all of whom are participating in the IPL playoffs, including captain Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Mohammad Shami, K S Bharat and Ajinkya Rahane, will join in later.</p>

<p>On the other hand, Cheteshwar Pujara, who is already in the UK playing in the County Championship for Sussex, will link up with the squad in London.</p>

<h2>India to not play tour game ahead of WTC final&nbsp;</h2>

<p>For those wondering, the Indian team will not be playing any tour game or a practice match ahead of the 2023 WTC final. As this is an ICC-related event and considering the County is ongoing, the ECB is not obliged to provide BCCI with a slot and a team for a practice match.</p>

<p>“Also, if we play against a select county XI, it will comprise mostly second-team or development squad players, as first-team players are not released during the championship. Playing against a weak opposition doesn’t help in quality practice,” a BCCI source told PTI on the condition of anonymity.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the Indian team, who last won an ICC trophy ten years back in 2013 – the Champions Trophy in England, finished second in the maiden WTC final against New Zealand two years ago. Though they have some injury concerns heading into the 2023 WTC Final this time, the Rohit Sharma-led side will fancy their&nbsp;chances of beating the mighty Aussies at a neutral venue and ending the drought.</p>

<p><strong>India's 15-man squad for 2023 WTC Final -</strong></p>

<p>Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed&nbsp;Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat and&nbsp;Ishan Kishan (wk)</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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Royal Challengers Bangalore duo of Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj are among the first batch of Indian players who will fly to the UK for the 2023 World Test Championship Final against Australia, scheduled to take place in London on June 7.

Royal Challengers Bangalore duo of Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj are among the first batch of Indian players who will fly to the UK for the 2023 World Test Championship Final against Australia, scheduled to take place in London on June 7. As per PTI, the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, alongside seamer Shardul Thakur will also be on that flight to England, with Rahul Dravid-led coaching and support staff also part of it. As reported by the Indian Express, the remaining two players from the first set of seven are seamers Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat - both of whom are recovering from respective injuries they suffered during IPL 2023. As per the report, this set of players and staff will leave during the wee hours on Tuesday. ALSO READ: Josh Hazlewood declared fit for WTC final, Ashes 2023 amid soreness complaints “There will be two or three departures in total. The first batch leaves at 4:30 am tomorrow,” said a BCCI source, as quoted in the Indian Express. Of the remaining members of India’s 15-man squad for the 2023 WTC Final, seven of them – all of whom are participating in the IPL playoffs, including captain Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Mohammad Shami, K S Bharat and Ajinkya Rahane, will join in later. On the other hand, Cheteshwar Pujara, who is already in the UK playing in the County Championship for Sussex, will link up with the squad in London. India to not play tour game ahead of WTC final For those wondering, the Indian team will not be playing any tour game or a practice match ahead of the 2023 WTC final. As this is an ICC-related event and considering the County is ongoing, the ECB is not obliged to provide BCCI with a slot and a team for a practice match. “Also, if we play against a select county XI, it will comprise mostly second-team or development squad players, as first-team players are not released during the championship. Playing against a weak opposition doesn’t help in quality practice,” a BCCI source told PTI on the condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, the Indian team, who last won an ICC trophy ten years back in 2013 – the Champions Trophy in England, finished second in the maiden WTC final against New Zealand two years ago. Though they have some injury concerns heading into the 2023 WTC Final this time, the Rohit Sharma-led side will fancy their chances of beating the mighty Aussies at a neutral venue and ending the drought. India's 15-man squad for 2023 WTC Final - Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat and Ishan Kishan (wk) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WTC Final: Virat Kohli, Siraj among first batch of players to leave for UK, India unlikely to play tour game

<p>Cricketer-turned-commentator New Zealand's Simon Doull feels giving up Mumbai Indians captaincy will set Rohit Sharma free, something he needs as the IPL veteran continues to struggle for runs this season. Rohit Sharma perhaps tried everything - gave himself an extended run, dropped to number three, didn't field in one game and came as an impact player - but nothing seems to work.</p>

<p>Although his team has risen from the ashes following a terrible start this season, and is now on the brink of sealing a playoff berth - what earlier looked like an improbable task, Rohit's fans are aware of his dip in form.</p>

<p>Doull, who had faced the wrath of speaking against two top players' (Virat and Babar) strike rates earlier, has again made a bold comment on Rohit Sharma's future as MI captain.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-perplexed-zaheer-khan-raises-questions-over-umran-maliks-omission-from-srh-squad-594013">IPL 2023: 'Perplexed' Zaheer Khan raises questions over Umran Malik's omission from SRH squad</a></p>

<p>Speaking as an expert on Cricbuzz, Doull said Rohit must let go of the captaincy as he's already leading India in two formats.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I was a big proponent of him [Virat Kohli] giving up the captaincy of RCB, much like I am with Rohit, now that he is the captain of India. I just think this is the tournament where he needs to be free and just play,” Doull said on Cricbuzz, as quoted in India Today.</p>

<h2>Rohit must follow Kohli's path - Simon</h2>

<p>Explaining further what he meant, Doull said looking at how Kohli benefitted after resigning as a captain, Rohit must follow the same path as he deserves to play freely and score runs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, former South African captain Faf du Plessis replaced Kohli, and the pair wreaked havoc this season, contributing with more than 800 runs at the top.</p>

<p>"When I talked about Virat and the captaincy, it was like every pressure was on him. Indian captaincy, three formats, RCB captaincy, and just to see that taken away, and it was never going to go to someone who he wasn't going to respect. So there are only two or three players in world cricket that could have gone to Bangalore and been captain,” Doull added</p>

<p>In 13 matches this season, Rohit has scored just 257 runs at an average of 19.77 and a strike rate of 131.12. With MI currently placed fifth on the points table with 14 points from 13 matches, they will only qualify for the playoffs if they win their final league match against SunRisers Hyderabad at home.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong>:</p>

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Cricketer-turned-commentator New Zealand's Simon Doull feels giving up Mumbai Indians captaincy will set Rohit Sharma free, something he needs as the IPL veteran continues to struggle for runs this season.

Cricketer-turned-commentator New Zealand's Simon Doull feels giving up Mumbai Indians captaincy will set Rohit Sharma free, something he needs as the IPL veteran continues to struggle for runs this season. Rohit Sharma perhaps tried everything - gave himself an extended run, dropped to number three, didn't field in one game and came as an impact player - but nothing seems to work. Although his team has risen from the ashes following a terrible start this season, and is now on the brink of sealing a playoff berth - what earlier looked like an improbable task, Rohit's fans are aware of his dip in form. Doull, who had faced the wrath of speaking against two top players' (Virat and Babar) strike rates earlier, has again made a bold comment on Rohit Sharma's future as MI captain. ALSO READ: IPL 2023: 'Perplexed' Zaheer Khan raises questions over Umran Malik's omission from SRH squad Speaking as an expert on Cricbuzz, Doull said Rohit must let go of the captaincy as he's already leading India in two formats. "I was a big proponent of him [Virat Kohli] giving up the captaincy of RCB, much like I am with Rohit, now that he is the captain of India. I just think this is the tournament where he needs to be free and just play,” Doull said on Cricbuzz, as quoted in India Today. Rohit must follow Kohli's path - Simon Explaining further what he meant, Doull said looking at how Kohli benefitted after resigning as a captain, Rohit must follow the same path as he deserves to play freely and score runs. Meanwhile, former South African captain Faf du Plessis replaced Kohli, and the pair wreaked havoc this season, contributing with more than 800 runs at the top. "When I talked about Virat and the captaincy, it was like every pressure was on him. Indian captaincy, three formats, RCB captaincy, and just to see that taken away, and it was never going to go to someone who he wasn't going to respect. So there are only two or three players in world cricket that could have gone to Bangalore and been captain,” Doull added In 13 matches this season, Rohit has scored just 257 runs at an average of 19.77 and a strike rate of 131.12. With MI currently placed fifth on the points table with 14 points from 13 matches, they will only qualify for the playoffs if they win their final league match against SunRisers Hyderabad at home. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

IPL 2023: Will giving up Mumbai Indians captaincy help Rohit Sharma find form? Simon Doull feels so

<p>KL Rahul's form has been a topic of discussion since the beginning of 2023. The right-hander has not had a great run in the highest level since the T20 World Cup 2022 edition. While he did play a few good knocks in the marquee event, his strike rate was a below-par&nbsp;120.75. He started the 2022 Bangladesh tour with a fifty in the three-match ODI series opener before losing out on form. Since then, he has not made significant contributions and was dropped from India's playing XI during the final two matches of the four-match Test series versus Australia, at home,&nbsp;prior to IPL 2023.</p>

<p>In the IPL, Rahul led the Lucknow Super Giants and returned with&nbsp;274 runs in nine games, at a dismal strike rate of 113.22, before bowing out due to injury concerns. Due to his inconsistent graph and strike rate issues, Rahul has been severely criticised on social media platforms and recently opened up on online trolls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking on The Ranveer Show, Rahul said, "That's something that sometimes affects me and affects a lot of the other boys as well that when we athletes truly need support, people feel they can or have the power to comment or say what they want. Just see what that person is going through. None of us wants to perform badly. This is our life. This is all we do. Like I said, I don't know anything else apart from cricket."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-rohit-sharma-dances-down-the-track-smacks-a-huge-six-in-lsg-vs-mi-clash-watch-593259">IPL 2023: Rohit Sharma dances down the track, smacks a huge SIX in LSG vs MI clash - Watch</a></strong></p>

<p>He added, "That's the only thing I do. Why would anyone assume that I am not serious about my game or that I am not working hard enough? And unfortunately in sports, there is no connection. Like I said you can work hard, like I work hard but the result didn't go my way."</p>

<p>Rahul has been out of action after the 31-year-old tore a tendon in his right leg in LSG's home game versus the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) during match 43 of the IPL 2023 edition. He had a successful surgery and has started his recovery process.</p>


KL Rahul's form has been a topic of discussion since the beginning of 2023. The right-hander has not had a great run in the highest level since the T20 World Cup 2022 edition.

KL Rahul's form has been a topic of discussion since the beginning of 2023. The right-hander has not had a great run in the highest level since the T20 World Cup 2022 edition. While he did play a few good knocks in the marquee event, his strike rate was a below-par 120.75. He started the 2022 Bangladesh tour with a fifty in the three-match ODI series opener before losing out on form. Since then, he has not made significant contributions and was dropped from India's playing XI during the final two matches of the four-match Test series versus Australia, at home, prior to IPL 2023. In the IPL, Rahul led the Lucknow Super Giants and returned with 274 runs in nine games, at a dismal strike rate of 113.22, before bowing out due to injury concerns. Due to his inconsistent graph and strike rate issues, Rahul has been severely criticised on social media platforms and recently opened up on online trolls. Speaking on The Ranveer Show, Rahul said, "That's something that sometimes affects me and affects a lot of the other boys as well that when we athletes truly need support, people feel they can or have the power to comment or say what they want. Just see what that person is going through. None of us wants to perform badly. This is our life. This is all we do. Like I said, I don't know anything else apart from cricket." Also Read: IPL 2023: Rohit Sharma dances down the track, smacks a huge SIX in LSG vs MI clash - Watch He added, "That's the only thing I do. Why would anyone assume that I am not serious about my game or that I am not working hard enough? And unfortunately in sports, there is no connection. Like I said you can work hard, like I work hard but the result didn't go my way." Rahul has been out of action after the 31-year-old tore a tendon in his right leg in LSG's home game versus the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) during match 43 of the IPL 2023 edition. He had a successful surgery and has started his recovery process.

People feel they have the power to comment or say what they want: KL Rahul hits back at online trolls

<p>Yashasvi Jaiswal was on a roll in Rajasthan Royals' (RR) clash versus hosts Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 56 of the IPL 2023 edition, on Thursday (May 11). In a crucial game for RR, the one-time winners went past Kolkata with ease as they chased down KKR's 149/8 with nine wickets and 41 balls to spare. Jaiswal was the star performer as he slammed a splendid 47-ball 98 not out, also scoring the fastest IPL half century off just 13 balls.</p>

<p>After the game, former England captain Michael Vaughan made a big statement. Taking to Twitter, Vaughan wrote, “I would have selected @ybj_19 as KL Rahul's replacement for the World Test championship final … He is that good .. he is going to be a superstar .. #India.”</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I would have selected <a href="https://twitter.com/ybj_19?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ybj_19</a> as KL Rahuls replacement for the World Test championship final … He is that good .. he is going to be a superstar .. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a></p>
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan/status/1656698194028294145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Jaiswal has been in the form of his life in IPL 2023. He has so far amassed 574 runs in 12 games -- holding&nbsp;the second spot in the Orange Cap list -- with four fifties and one hundred. His striking rate is an impressive&nbsp;167.15 at an average of 52.27. He is timing the ball perfectly and playing with a lot of clarity. Thus, he has impressed several former cricketers, including Vaughan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After IPL 2023, India are set to head to the United Kingdom as they play Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final&nbsp;at The Oval, London in early June. Despite Jaiswal being an uncapped player for India, Vaughan has made a big claim by stating that he would have selected Jaiswal as replacement for injured KL Rahul in India's WTC final squad.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kkr-vs-rr-if-i-was-indian-selector-i-wouldve-signed-yashasvi-jaiswal-today-itself-for-odi-wc-says-raina-591623">KKR vs RR: If I was Indian selector, I would've signed Yashasvi Jaiswal today itself for ODI WC, says Raina</a></strong></p>

<p>After the KKR match, Jaiswal said at the post-match presentation, "This is always in my mind, to go out there and play well. It was a nice feeling today. It is not like everything I wanted happens, I prepare well and I trust in myself. I know the results will come. The winning shot was a great feeling, I wanted to finish the game and winning the game has been my motto. I'm blessed and grateful, I'm trying my best." On&nbsp;missing out on a century, Jaiswal added,&nbsp;"I think the net run rate was the only thing in our mind, me and Sanju were only talking about finishing the game quickly."<br />
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<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Yashasvi Jaiswal was on a roll in Rajasthan Royals' (RR) clash versus hosts Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 56 of the IPL 2023 edition, on Thursday (May 11).

Yashasvi Jaiswal was on a roll in Rajasthan Royals' (RR) clash versus hosts Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 56 of the IPL 2023 edition, on Thursday (May 11). In a crucial game for RR, the one-time winners went past Kolkata with ease as they chased down KKR's 149/8 with nine wickets and 41 balls to spare. Jaiswal was the star performer as he slammed a splendid 47-ball 98 not out, also scoring the fastest IPL half century off just 13 balls. After the game, former England captain Michael Vaughan made a big statement. Taking to Twitter, Vaughan wrote, “I would have selected @ybj_19 as KL Rahul's replacement for the World Test championship final … He is that good .. he is going to be a superstar .. #India.” I would have selected @ybj_19 as KL Rahuls replacement for the World Test championship final … He is that good .. he is going to be a superstar .. #India — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) May 11, 2023 × Jaiswal has been in the form of his life in IPL 2023. He has so far amassed 574 runs in 12 games -- holding the second spot in the Orange Cap list -- with four fifties and one hundred. His striking rate is an impressive 167.15 at an average of 52.27. He is timing the ball perfectly and playing with a lot of clarity. Thus, he has impressed several former cricketers, including Vaughan. After IPL 2023, India are set to head to the United Kingdom as they play Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval, London in early June. Despite Jaiswal being an uncapped player for India, Vaughan has made a big claim by stating that he would have selected Jaiswal as replacement for injured KL Rahul in India's WTC final squad. Also Read: KKR vs RR: If I was Indian selector, I would've signed Yashasvi Jaiswal today itself for ODI WC, says Raina After the KKR match, Jaiswal said at the post-match presentation, "This is always in my mind, to go out there and play well. It was a nice feeling today. It is not like everything I wanted happens, I prepare well and I trust in myself. I know the results will come. The winning shot was a great feeling, I wanted to finish the game and winning the game has been my motto. I'm blessed and grateful, I'm trying my best." On missing out on a century, Jaiswal added, "I think the net run rate was the only thing in our mind, me and Sanju were only talking about finishing the game quickly." WATCH WION LIVE HERE

WTC Final: ‘Would’ve selected Yashasvi Jaiswal as Rahul’s replacement’ - Michael Vaughan's big remark

<p>The Indian Cricket Board on Monday announced keeper-batter Ishan Kishan as KL Rahul’s replacement in the squad for the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. KL Rahul will undergo surgery following scans. The Indian team will face off against the mighty Aussies on June 7&nbsp;in Oval, London.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">NEWS - KL Rahul ruled out of WTC final against Australia.<br />
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Ishan Kishan named as his replacement in the squad.<br />
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Standby players: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav.<br />
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More details here - <a href="https://t.co/D79TDN1p7H">https://t.co/D79TDN1p7H</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a></p>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1655537343108091904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Other than Rahul, others who are likely to miss out on the big finale are pacers Jaydev Unadkat and Umesh Yadav – both of whom suffered&nbsp;injuries during the ongoing IPL 2023. While Jaydev injured his shoulder as he slipped in his follow-through during one of the practice sessions, Umesh is out for a niggle and is currently being treated by KKR’s medical staff.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sri-lanka-bangladesh-lend-support-to-bcci-over-not-sending-indian-team-to-pakistan-for-asia-cup-reports-590239">Sri Lanka, Bangladesh lend support to BCCI over not sending Indian team to Pakistan for Asia Cup - Reports</a></p>

<p>The BCCI released statements on their injuries, saying Jaydev is back in NCA in Bengaluru doing his rehab, while the BCCI’s medical team is closely monitoring Umesh’s condition, and a call on their participation in the WTC final will be taken later.</p>

<p>"Jaydev Unadkat sustained a left shoulder injury by tripping over the side rope while bowling in the nets. A specialist consultation has been sought and the left-arm fast bowler is currently at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru undergoing strength and rehab sessions for his shoulder. A decision on his participation in the WTC final will be taken at a later stage," said the BCCI in a media release on Tuesday, May 8.</p>

<p>"Umesh Yadav sustained a minor left hamstring injury during Match 36 of TATA IPL 2023 between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on 26 April. The fast bowler is currently under the care of the KKR Medical Team and has started low-intensity bowling as part of his rehab process. The BCCI Medical Team is in regular touch with KKR Medical Team and is closely monitoring Umesh's progress," the statement further added.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, during the game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), LSG captain Rahul, while chasing the ball, suffered a thigh injury and was down on the ground. He was helped off the field, and following some scans in Mumbai, he was ruled out of the remainder of the season and the WTC final.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ishan, who earlier got picked in the squad for the first two home Tests against Australia, didn’t get a game. Now, he will be fighting for a place in the XI with fellow keeper-batter KS Bharat, who played all four Tests in the lead-up to the final.</p>

<p>Moreover, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mukesh Kumar and Suryakumar Yadav have been named as&nbsp;standby players for the WTC final.</p>


The Indian Cricket Board on Monday announced keeper-batter Ishan Kishan as KL Rahul’s replacement in the squad for the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia.

The Indian Cricket Board on Monday announced keeper-batter Ishan Kishan as KL Rahul’s replacement in the squad for the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. KL Rahul will undergo surgery following scans. The Indian team will face off against the mighty Aussies on June 7 in Oval, London. NEWS - KL Rahul ruled out of WTC final against Australia. Ishan Kishan named as his replacement in the squad. Standby players: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav. More details here - https://t.co/D79TDN1p7H #TeamIndia — BCCI (@BCCI) May 8, 2023 × Other than Rahul, others who are likely to miss out on the big finale are pacers Jaydev Unadkat and Umesh Yadav – both of whom suffered injuries during the ongoing IPL 2023. While Jaydev injured his shoulder as he slipped in his follow-through during one of the practice sessions, Umesh is out for a niggle and is currently being treated by KKR’s medical staff. ALSO READ: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh lend support to BCCI over not sending Indian team to Pakistan for Asia Cup - Reports The BCCI released statements on their injuries, saying Jaydev is back in NCA in Bengaluru doing his rehab, while the BCCI’s medical team is closely monitoring Umesh’s condition, and a call on their participation in the WTC final will be taken later. "Jaydev Unadkat sustained a left shoulder injury by tripping over the side rope while bowling in the nets. A specialist consultation has been sought and the left-arm fast bowler is currently at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru undergoing strength and rehab sessions for his shoulder. A decision on his participation in the WTC final will be taken at a later stage," said the BCCI in a media release on Tuesday, May 8. "Umesh Yadav sustained a minor left hamstring injury during Match 36 of TATA IPL 2023 between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on 26 April. The fast bowler is currently under the care of the KKR Medical Team and has started low-intensity bowling as part of his rehab process. The BCCI Medical Team is in regular touch with KKR Medical Team and is closely monitoring Umesh's progress," the statement further added. Meanwhile, during the game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), LSG captain Rahul, while chasing the ball, suffered a thigh injury and was down on the ground. He was helped off the field, and following some scans in Mumbai, he was ruled out of the remainder of the season and the WTC final. Ishan, who earlier got picked in the squad for the first two home Tests against Australia, didn’t get a game. Now, he will be fighting for a place in the XI with fellow keeper-batter KS Bharat, who played all four Tests in the lead-up to the final. Moreover, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mukesh Kumar and Suryakumar Yadav have been named as standby players for the WTC final.

Ishan Kishan named KL Rahul's replacement in India's 2023 WTC final squad against Australia

<p>In a major development surrounding the 2023 Asia Cup,&nbsp;island nation Sri Lanka has emerged as the front-runner to host the multi-team event in September. With BCCI refusing to send its team across the border for the slated event and with UAE getting ruled out as an option due to harsh weather conditions during that month, Sri Lanka looks like a viable venue to host Asia Cup, as per the Indian Express.</p>

<p>Earlier, we reported that the BCCI received support from its close allies in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan cricket boards over not sending the team to Pakistan and staging the 2023 Asia at a neutral venue or out of Pakistan. With an official word on the much-talked-about 2023 Asia Cup venue likely to be out by the end of this month at the earliest, it remains to be seen what stance PCB will take.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sri-lanka-bangladesh-lend-support-to-bcci-over-not-sending-indian-team-to-pakistan-for-asia-cup-reports-590239">Sri Lanka, Bangladesh lend support to BCCI over not sending Indian team to Pakistan for Asia Cup - Reports</a></p>

<p>As per Geo News, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) would consider bringing UAE in place of Pakistan for the tournament if the Men in Green consider boycotting it as a response to snatching away of hosting rights.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, after the end of the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, the ACC, under the chairmanship of Jay Shah – who also happens to be BCCI secretary, decided to allot Pakistan a chance to host Asia Cup on their soil for the first time since 2008.</p>

<p>However, after getting a red signal from the Narendra Modi-led government, the BCCI refused to send the team to Pakistan.</p>

<p>PCB chief, Najam Sethi then also proposed a hybrid model wherein the Indian team will play its matches outside of Pakistan – to which the Indian cricket board snubbed the offer mentioning this will make things awkward between both BCCI and PCB.</p>

<p>After BCCI denied accepting anything that PCB had to offer, the Pakistani board retaliated, threatening BCCI of boycotting the 2023 World Cup in India later this year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup, chances are there that the Pakistan government would not allow the Men in Green to cross the borders for their World Cup participation. In that case, cricket will be the ultimate sufferer,” Sethi said, as quoted in Geo News.</p>


In a major development surrounding the 2023 Asia Cup, island nation Sri Lanka has emerged as the front-runner to host the multi-team event in September. With BCCI refusing to send its team across the border for the slated event and with UAE getting ruled out as an option due to harsh weather conditions during that month, Sri Lanka looks like a viable venue to host Asia Cup, as per the Indian Express.

In a major development surrounding the 2023 Asia Cup, island nation Sri Lanka has emerged as the front-runner to host the multi-team event in September. With BCCI refusing to send its team across the border for the slated event and with UAE getting ruled out as an option due to harsh weather conditions during that month, Sri Lanka looks like a viable venue to host Asia Cup, as per the Indian Express. Earlier, we reported that the BCCI received support from its close allies in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan cricket boards over not sending the team to Pakistan and staging the 2023 Asia at a neutral venue or out of Pakistan. With an official word on the much-talked-about 2023 Asia Cup venue likely to be out by the end of this month at the earliest, it remains to be seen what stance PCB will take. ALSO READ: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh lend support to BCCI over not sending Indian team to Pakistan for Asia Cup - Reports As per Geo News, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) would consider bringing UAE in place of Pakistan for the tournament if the Men in Green consider boycotting it as a response to snatching away of hosting rights. Earlier, after the end of the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, the ACC, under the chairmanship of Jay Shah – who also happens to be BCCI secretary, decided to allot Pakistan a chance to host Asia Cup on their soil for the first time since 2008. However, after getting a red signal from the Narendra Modi-led government, the BCCI refused to send the team to Pakistan. PCB chief, Najam Sethi then also proposed a hybrid model wherein the Indian team will play its matches outside of Pakistan – to which the Indian cricket board snubbed the offer mentioning this will make things awkward between both BCCI and PCB. After BCCI denied accepting anything that PCB had to offer, the Pakistani board retaliated, threatening BCCI of boycotting the 2023 World Cup in India later this year. “In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup, chances are there that the Pakistan government would not allow the Men in Green to cross the borders for their World Cup participation. In that case, cricket will be the ultimate sufferer,” Sethi said, as quoted in Geo News.

Sri Lanka, not Pakistan, set to host 2023 Asia Cup - Reports

<p>In another blow to the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) quest to host this year’s Asia Cup, the Sri Lankan and Bangladesh cricket boards have reportedly backed BCCI over not sending their side to Pakistan for the multi-team tournament. The two cricket boards are also supporting the Indian cricket board's push to move the 2023 Asia Cup out of the country.</p>

<p>As per a report in Geo News, BCCI’s close allies are mulling over staging the 2023 Asia Cup, in case it gets moved out of Pakistan. Reports suggest that if the tournament is hosted at a neutral venue and Pakistan decides against participating, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) could consider replacing them with UAE.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, after allotting Pakistan the chance to host the Asia Cup for the first time since 2008, Jay Shah - who is BCCI and also ACC’s president, said the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan for the same and instead backed the idea of hosting the event outside the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-samson-brought-to-knees-after-abdul-samad-cameo-says-that-no-ball-actually-ruined-our-result-590152">IPL 2023: Samson brought to knees after Abdul Samad cameo, says 'that no-ball actually ruined our result'</a></p>

<p>Replying to this, PCB&nbsp;chief Najam Sethi, during the previous ACC meetings, said if what all said is done, then Pakistan might also consider boycotting the 50-over World Cup in India later this year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Instead, PCB&nbsp;suggested a hybrid model for the 2023 Asia Cup wherein the Indian team will play its matches outside of Pakistan – to which the BCCI denied the proposal suggesting this will make things awkward for both boards.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the report also said that Narendra Modi-led Indian government had urged BCCI to take a stricter stance over the same in the next ACC meeting. Also, Jay Shah is believed to have promised the broadcasters that the losses suffered due to Pakistan’s absence in the 2023 Asia Cup will get compensated during a series involving India shortly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, Najam Sethi talked about ending this crisis among boards to ensure cricket is not suffering. He said instead of all of this, a middle way should be found things should go forward.</p>

<p>“In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup, chances are there that the Pakistan government would not allow the Men in Green to cross the borders for their World Cup participation. In that case, cricket will be the ultimate sufferer,” Sethi said, as quoted in Geo News.</p>

<p>“There should be a middle way to solve problems that surely threaten the smooth hosting of ICC and ACC events. In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, the government will not allow us to travel to India to figure in the World Cup matches,” Sethi added.</p>


In another blow to the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) quest to host this year’s Asia Cup, the Sri Lankan and Bangladesh cricket boards have reportedly backed BCCI over not sending their side to Pakistan for the multi-team tournament.

In another blow to the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) quest to host this year’s Asia Cup, the Sri Lankan and Bangladesh cricket boards have reportedly backed BCCI over not sending their side to Pakistan for the multi-team tournament. The two cricket boards are also supporting the Indian cricket board's push to move the 2023 Asia Cup out of the country. As per a report in Geo News, BCCI’s close allies are mulling over staging the 2023 Asia Cup, in case it gets moved out of Pakistan. Reports suggest that if the tournament is hosted at a neutral venue and Pakistan decides against participating, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) could consider replacing them with UAE. Earlier, after allotting Pakistan the chance to host the Asia Cup for the first time since 2008, Jay Shah - who is BCCI and also ACC’s president, said the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan for the same and instead backed the idea of hosting the event outside the country. ALSO READ: IPL 2023: Samson brought to knees after Abdul Samad cameo, says 'that no-ball actually ruined our result' Replying to this, PCB chief Najam Sethi, during the previous ACC meetings, said if what all said is done, then Pakistan might also consider boycotting the 50-over World Cup in India later this year. Instead, PCB suggested a hybrid model for the 2023 Asia Cup wherein the Indian team will play its matches outside of Pakistan – to which the BCCI denied the proposal suggesting this will make things awkward for both boards. Meanwhile, the report also said that Narendra Modi-led Indian government had urged BCCI to take a stricter stance over the same in the next ACC meeting. Also, Jay Shah is believed to have promised the broadcasters that the losses suffered due to Pakistan’s absence in the 2023 Asia Cup will get compensated during a series involving India shortly. Earlier, Najam Sethi talked about ending this crisis among boards to ensure cricket is not suffering. He said instead of all of this, a middle way should be found things should go forward. “In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup, chances are there that the Pakistan government would not allow the Men in Green to cross the borders for their World Cup participation. In that case, cricket will be the ultimate sufferer,” Sethi said, as quoted in Geo News. “There should be a middle way to solve problems that surely threaten the smooth hosting of ICC and ACC events. In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, the government will not allow us to travel to India to figure in the World Cup matches,” Sethi added.

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh lend support to BCCI over not sending Indian team to Pakistan for Asia Cup - Reports

<p>India’s only Test triple centurion other than Virender Sehwag, Karun Nair, has replaced KL Rahul at Lucknow Super Giants for the remainder of IPL 2023. Following suffering an injury against RCB on May 1st, KL had undergone scans in Mumbai and is now ruled out of this season and WTC final against Australia that begins on June 7th at the Oval in London.</p>

<p>Nair, who represented five franchises in IPL over the years - Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals), Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and RCB, has scored 1496 runs in 76 matches. LSG picked up Nair for INR 50 lacs.</p>

<p>Against RCB, Rahul tore a tendon in his right thigh while chasing the ball in the second over. He had to be taken off the field and didn’t return until LSG’s ninth wicket fell. Though he faced three balls, he didn’t score any run and couldn't rotate the strike either. After undergoing scans and consulting specialists, KL ruled himself out on precautionary grounds.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-match-49th-chennai-super-kings-vs-mumbai-indians-match-preview-and-result-prediction-589500">IPL 2023, Match 49th: Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians - Match Preview and Result Prediction</a></p>

<p>On his Instagram handle, he posted a photo saying, he’s gutted to be missing out, but it was the right call looking at the future. Rahul added his focus would remain on rehab and recovery in the coming weeks.</p>

<p>He further said, "As the team captain, it pains me deeply not to be able to be there during this crucial period. But, I'm confident that the boys will rise to the occasion and give their best performance as always."</p>

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<p>In his absence, spin bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya was named the interim captain as he will now lead LSG’s quest of making their second playoff appearance in IPL. Against CSK in the previous game, Krunal led the charge, although the match got abandoned due to rain interruption. As things stand, LSG is second on the points table with five wins from ten games. They next take on defending champions Gujarat Titans in an away game on Sunday.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, for KL Rahul, he has had some rough time leading up to the IPL 2023. Following low scores in the first two Tests against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series, not only he got dropped, the BCCI also took away vice-captaincy from him in Tests. And while he hasn’t played a T20I for India since the 2022 T20 WC semis against England, KL was only regular in the ODI team where his role was of a keeper-batter.</p>


India’s only Test triple centurion other than Virender Sehwag, Karun Nair, has replaced KL Rahul at Lucknow Super Giants for the remainder of IPL 2023. Following suffering an injury against RCB on May 1st, KL had undergone scans in Mumbai and is now ruled out of this season and WTC final against Australia that begins on June 7th at the Oval in London.

India’s only Test triple centurion other than Virender Sehwag, Karun Nair, has replaced KL Rahul at Lucknow Super Giants for the remainder of IPL 2023. Following suffering an injury against RCB on May 1st, KL had undergone scans in Mumbai and is now ruled out of this season and WTC final against Australia that begins on June 7th at the Oval in London. Nair, who represented five franchises in IPL over the years - Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals), Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and RCB, has scored 1496 runs in 76 matches. LSG picked up Nair for INR 50 lacs. Against RCB, Rahul tore a tendon in his right thigh while chasing the ball in the second over. He had to be taken off the field and didn’t return until LSG’s ninth wicket fell. Though he faced three balls, he didn’t score any run and couldn't rotate the strike either. After undergoing scans and consulting specialists, KL ruled himself out on precautionary grounds. ALSO READ: IPL 2023, Match 49th: Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians - Match Preview and Result Prediction On his Instagram handle, he posted a photo saying, he’s gutted to be missing out, but it was the right call looking at the future. Rahul added his focus would remain on rehab and recovery in the coming weeks. He further said, "As the team captain, it pains me deeply not to be able to be there during this crucial period. But, I'm confident that the boys will rise to the occasion and give their best performance as always." View this post on Instagram A post shared by KL Rahul👑 (@klrahul) × In his absence, spin bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya was named the interim captain as he will now lead LSG’s quest of making their second playoff appearance in IPL. Against CSK in the previous game, Krunal led the charge, although the match got abandoned due to rain interruption. As things stand, LSG is second on the points table with five wins from ten games. They next take on defending champions Gujarat Titans in an away game on Sunday. Meanwhile, for KL Rahul, he has had some rough time leading up to the IPL 2023. Following low scores in the first two Tests against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series, not only he got dropped, the BCCI also took away vice-captaincy from him in Tests. And while he hasn’t played a T20I for India since the 2022 T20 WC semis against England, KL was only regular in the ODI team where his role was of a keeper-batter.

IPL 2023: Test triple centurion Karun Nair replaces injured KL Rahul at LSG

<p>The ODI World Cup is set to be held in India later this year. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is busy in preparations while also conducting the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition in the country. While it is being reported that the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad can host the India-Pakistan clash, it is noted that Team India have also asked for spin-friendly venues for some big games in the league stage.</p>

<p>As per a report in the Indian Express, Team India has asked for spin-friendly venues for their World Cup games versus Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/narendra-modi-stadium-in-ahmedabad-is-likely-to-host-india-vs-pakistan-2023-world-cup-clash-reports-589110">Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is likely to host India vs Pakistan 2023 World Cup clash - Reports</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Spin-to-win mantra for Rohit Sharma-led Team India?</strong></p>

<p>“The Indian team has performed well on slow tracks in the past few years at home. So the team management had requested that whenever the schedule is being prepared the Indian team should face top teams on slow pitches. They wanted to have a home advantage,” a source in the BCCI said.</p>

<p>It is believed, as per the same report, that the BCCI will be announcing the forthcoming ODI&nbsp;World Cup schedule at a grand launch following the conclusion of IPL 2023.</p>

<p>This will be the first time that India will host the 50-over showpiece event entirely on its own. In 2011, India co-hosted the mega event, along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and won the championship after 28 years. In the following two editions, the Men in Blue bowed out in the semi-finals.</p>


The ODI World Cup is set to be held in India later this year. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is busy in preparations while also conducting the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition in the country.

The ODI World Cup is set to be held in India later this year. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is busy in preparations while also conducting the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition in the country. While it is being reported that the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad can host the India-Pakistan clash, it is noted that Team India have also asked for spin-friendly venues for some big games in the league stage. As per a report in the Indian Express, Team India has asked for spin-friendly venues for their World Cup games versus Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa. Also Read: Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is likely to host India vs Pakistan 2023 World Cup clash - Reports Spin-to-win mantra for Rohit Sharma-led Team India? “The Indian team has performed well on slow tracks in the past few years at home. So the team management had requested that whenever the schedule is being prepared the Indian team should face top teams on slow pitches. They wanted to have a home advantage,” a source in the BCCI said. It is believed, as per the same report, that the BCCI will be announcing the forthcoming ODI World Cup schedule at a grand launch following the conclusion of IPL 2023. This will be the first time that India will host the 50-over showpiece event entirely on its own. In 2011, India co-hosted the mega event, along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and won the championship after 28 years. In the following two editions, the Men in Blue bowed out in the semi-finals.

ODI WC: Team India requests BCCI for spin-friendly venues vs Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa

<p>Team India retained their top spot in the latest ICC T20I rankings released on Tuesday (May 02). India have been dominating the top spot in the shortest format and bolstered their position as they now lead second-ranked and current T20 champions England by eight points. Meanwhile, the likes of New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa occupy the third, fourth and fifth spots respectively.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India have been very consistent in T20Is since 2020 despite not having a great run in the last two T20 World Cups. In 2021, the Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue bowed out of the Super 10 round whereas India, under Rohit Sharma, reached the semi-finals of the 2022 T20 WC but crashed out with a ten-wicket loss at the hands of eventual winners England. Since last year's T20 WC, in Australia, India have been led by Hardik Pandya as Rohit, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and few other seniors have not featured in the shortest format, to concentrate on the longer formats due to the upcoming&nbsp;WTC final, in June, and ODI World Cup later this year.</p>

<p>Under Hardik, India defeated the likes of New Zealand (both home and away) and Sri Lanka in the shortest format.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The reign at the top continues 🥇<br />
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India continue to dominate the <a href="https://twitter.com/MRFWorldwide?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MRFWorldwide</a> ICC Men's T20I Rankings in the annual update 💪</p>
— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1653316796177596417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-rankings-india-dethrone-australia-to-become-no-1-test-team-ahead-of-wtc-final-face-off-588203">ICC Rankings: India dethrone Australia to become No. 1 Test team ahead of WTC final face-off</a></strong></p>

<p>The ICC revealed that India's rating points have improved to 267 whereas Jos Buttler's England are on 259. "India had a below-par T20 World Cup in 2021 but bounced back with a semi-final appearance in 2022. The Men in Blue have been terrific in T20Is since May 2020, having lost just the one bilateral series (against Sri Lanka in 2021), emerging victorious in 13 other series while one ended in a draw (against South Africa in 2022)," the ICC said.</p>

<p>"The new rankings reflect all T20I series completed since May 2020, with those completed prior to May 2022 weighted at 50 per cent and every subsequent series weighted at 100 per cent," it further stated. Meanwhile, New Zealand (256) also made a two-spot jump from No. 5 to No. 3 in the latest update.</p>

<p>It is to be noted that India have also dethroned Australia to take the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings.</p>


Team India retained their top spot in the latest ICC T20I rankings released on Tuesday (May 02). India have been dominating the top spot in the shortest format and bolstered their position as they now lead second-ranked and current T20 champions England by eight points.

Team India retained their top spot in the latest ICC T20I rankings released on Tuesday (May 02). India have been dominating the top spot in the shortest format and bolstered their position as they now lead second-ranked and current T20 champions England by eight points. Meanwhile, the likes of New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa occupy the third, fourth and fifth spots respectively. India have been very consistent in T20Is since 2020 despite not having a great run in the last two T20 World Cups. In 2021, the Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue bowed out of the Super 10 round whereas India, under Rohit Sharma, reached the semi-finals of the 2022 T20 WC but crashed out with a ten-wicket loss at the hands of eventual winners England. Since last year's T20 WC, in Australia, India have been led by Hardik Pandya as Rohit, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and few other seniors have not featured in the shortest format, to concentrate on the longer formats due to the upcoming WTC final, in June, and ODI World Cup later this year. Under Hardik, India defeated the likes of New Zealand (both home and away) and Sri Lanka in the shortest format. The reign at the top continues 🥇 India continue to dominate the @MRFWorldwide ICC Men's T20I Rankings in the annual update 💪 — ICC (@ICC) May 2, 2023 × Also Read: ICC Rankings: India dethrone Australia to become No. 1 Test team ahead of WTC final face-off The ICC revealed that India's rating points have improved to 267 whereas Jos Buttler's England are on 259. "India had a below-par T20 World Cup in 2021 but bounced back with a semi-final appearance in 2022. The Men in Blue have been terrific in T20Is since May 2020, having lost just the one bilateral series (against Sri Lanka in 2021), emerging victorious in 13 other series while one ended in a draw (against South Africa in 2022)," the ICC said. "The new rankings reflect all T20I series completed since May 2020, with those completed prior to May 2022 weighted at 50 per cent and every subsequent series weighted at 100 per cent," it further stated. Meanwhile, New Zealand (256) also made a two-spot jump from No. 5 to No. 3 in the latest update. It is to be noted that India have also dethroned Australia to take the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings.

ICC T20I rankings: India maintain dominance at the top, arch-rivals Pakistan slip to fourth spot

<p>The Asia Cup 2023 edition is only months away but the mystery surrounding the host&nbsp;for the continental tournament continues. Pakistan have been named as the host for the tournament but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made it clear, last year, that the Indian team won't travel to their neighbouring Asian country due to the strained political relations between both nations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since then, a lot has been said and written about the Asia Cup 2023 edition. Pakistan cricket board (PCB) responded by saying that it won't travel to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup, to take place soon after the Asia Cup. Later on, it was revealed that the PCB offered a hybrid model where India will play their games at another&nbsp;venue while Pakistan will host the remaining games.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-rcb-name-this-indian-2019-odi-wc-member-as-david-willeys-replacement-587848">IPL 2023: RCB name THIS Indian 2019 ODI WC member as David Willey's replacement</a></strong></p>

<p>But this could also cost Pakistan the hosting rights. As per Cricket Pakistan, Pakistan will lose the hosting rights even if a hybrid model comes into place. Thus, the PCB is prepared to see the cancellation of this year's event. The report in&nbsp;cricketpakistan.com has further revealed that Team India might play a five-nation tournament in the vacant window following Asia Cup's cancellation.</p>

<p>Coming to Pakistan's threat to boycott this year's ODI WC, it is highly unlikely that they won't participate. The Men in Green travelled to India for the 2016 T20 World Cup. They, however, might play their games in one or two venues only.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Asia Cup was held last year, in the T20 format, in the UAE with Sri Lanka having the hosting rights. The Islanders won the tournament, beating Pakistan by 23 runs in the final.</p>


The Asia Cup 2023 edition is only months away but the mystery surrounding the host for the continental tournament continues. Pakistan have been named as the host for the tournament but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made it clear, last year, that the Indian team won't travel to their neighbouring Asian country due to the strained political relations between both nations.

The Asia Cup 2023 edition is only months away but the mystery surrounding the host for the continental tournament continues. Pakistan have been named as the host for the tournament but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made it clear, last year, that the Indian team won't travel to their neighbouring Asian country due to the strained political relations between both nations. Since then, a lot has been said and written about the Asia Cup 2023 edition. Pakistan cricket board (PCB) responded by saying that it won't travel to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup, to take place soon after the Asia Cup. Later on, it was revealed that the PCB offered a hybrid model where India will play their games at another venue while Pakistan will host the remaining games. Also Read: IPL 2023: RCB name THIS Indian 2019 ODI WC member as David Willey's replacement But this could also cost Pakistan the hosting rights. As per Cricket Pakistan, Pakistan will lose the hosting rights even if a hybrid model comes into place. Thus, the PCB is prepared to see the cancellation of this year's event. The report in cricketpakistan.com has further revealed that Team India might play a five-nation tournament in the vacant window following Asia Cup's cancellation. Coming to Pakistan's threat to boycott this year's ODI WC, it is highly unlikely that they won't participate. The Men in Green travelled to India for the 2016 T20 World Cup. They, however, might play their games in one or two venues only. The Asia Cup was held last year, in the T20 format, in the UAE with Sri Lanka having the hosting rights. The Islanders won the tournament, beating Pakistan by 23 runs in the final.

India to feature in five-nation tournament with Asia Cup 2023 unlikely before ODI World Cup: Report

<p>Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has backed Jaydev Unadkat to play alongside Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June. Having coached young Unadkat during his stay at Kolkata Knight Riders earlier, Akram backs the left-armer to come good at the Oval, where he reckons with Jaydev’s out-swingers, he could pose a threat to the Aussies.</p>

<p>Akram, perhaps the greatest left-arm fast bowler ever, opined that because Unadkat is consistent with his performances in Ranji Trophy and that, his team also won the tournament, he must be playing regular Test cricket for India. Speaking with Sportskeeda, Akram backed the Saurashtra seamer to make his way into the XI for the WTC final.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-former-pak-bowler-wasim-akram-picks-this-local-player-to-lead-csk-after-ms-dhoni-587713">&nbsp;IPL 2023: Former Pak bowler Wasim Akram picks this LOCAL player to lead CSK after MS Dhoni</a></p>

<p>"He is at a stage where he must play regularly because his first-class performances have been good, and his team won the Ranji Trophy. Jaydev Unadkat was also the captain. When I met him, he was 18 years old and wanted to keep learning. He was a very humble boy and keen to learn," Akram told Sportskeeda, as quoted by India Today.</p>

<p>Given there is no Jasprit Bumrah in the squad, and the match is played in England, the team management might get tempted to play three seamers, with the third being Umesh Yadav – someone who is experienced and has delivered in similar conditions in the past. However, Akram feels with the new Duke Ball likely to move around a bit at the Oval, Jaydev becomes an automatic choice.</p>

<p>“I would like to see Unadkat playing for India, and there are chances of him being successful, given the ball swings at The Oval," Wasim added.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, India, for the second time, has qualified for the WTC finals. Having faced New Zealand in the inaugural final two years back in Southampton, India lost the summit clash by eight wickets. Fast forward to 2023, following a successful two years in the whites, Rohit Sharma's India has again reached the finals, facing Australia, who suffered a 2-1 beating in the away Border-Gavaskar series in February-March.</p>

<p>With Ajinkya Rahane's inclusion in the squad for the WTC final, India’s batting look sorted; however, all eyes will be on the bowling line-up, where the captain will have to choose between playing three seamers or two spinners.</p>


Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has backed Jaydev Unadkat to play alongside Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June.

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has backed Jaydev Unadkat to play alongside Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June. Having coached young Unadkat during his stay at Kolkata Knight Riders earlier, Akram backs the left-armer to come good at the Oval, where he reckons with Jaydev’s out-swingers, he could pose a threat to the Aussies. Akram, perhaps the greatest left-arm fast bowler ever, opined that because Unadkat is consistent with his performances in Ranji Trophy and that, his team also won the tournament, he must be playing regular Test cricket for India. Speaking with Sportskeeda, Akram backed the Saurashtra seamer to make his way into the XI for the WTC final. ALSO READ: IPL 2023: Former Pak bowler Wasim Akram picks this LOCAL player to lead CSK after MS Dhoni "He is at a stage where he must play regularly because his first-class performances have been good, and his team won the Ranji Trophy. Jaydev Unadkat was also the captain. When I met him, he was 18 years old and wanted to keep learning. He was a very humble boy and keen to learn," Akram told Sportskeeda, as quoted by India Today. Given there is no Jasprit Bumrah in the squad, and the match is played in England, the team management might get tempted to play three seamers, with the third being Umesh Yadav – someone who is experienced and has delivered in similar conditions in the past. However, Akram feels with the new Duke Ball likely to move around a bit at the Oval, Jaydev becomes an automatic choice. “I would like to see Unadkat playing for India, and there are chances of him being successful, given the ball swings at The Oval," Wasim added. Meanwhile, India, for the second time, has qualified for the WTC finals. Having faced New Zealand in the inaugural final two years back in Southampton, India lost the summit clash by eight wickets. Fast forward to 2023, following a successful two years in the whites, Rohit Sharma's India has again reached the finals, facing Australia, who suffered a 2-1 beating in the away Border-Gavaskar series in February-March. With Ajinkya Rahane's inclusion in the squad for the WTC final, India’s batting look sorted; however, all eyes will be on the bowling line-up, where the captain will have to choose between playing three seamers or two spinners.

Wasim Akram backs Jaydev Unadkat to play WTC final against Australia

<p>Rohit Sharma-led India will face Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval, London on June 07. At present, the Indian cricketers are involved in the IPL 2023 edition and the WTC final-bound players will be eager to remain fit to take part in the WTC finale. Rohit, who has had quite a few injury concerns in the past, will be desperate to lead the charge and take India to their first-ever ICC title since 2013 with a memorable win over Australia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Recently, former India head coach Ravi Shastri stated that if Rohit misses the WTC final due to unforeseen circumstances, Virat Kohli -- Rohit's predecessor -- can lead the side. In addition, he believes Kohli should have led India in the one-off Test versus England, in Birmingham, after Rohit had to sit out for testing positive for Covid-19.</p>

<p>“If it’s for a major game like that (upcoming WTC final), then yes (for&nbsp;Kohli to be the stand-in captain in case Rohit misses out). I mean, you want Rohit to be fit as he is the captain of the side. In case of unforeseen circumstances, definitely, I will look in that direction,” Shastri was quoted as saying on ESPNcricinfo.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pak-vs-nz-historic-feat-pakistan-join-india-australia-in-elite-list-after-1st-odi-win-over-black-caps-586957">Pak vs NZ: HISTORIC FEAT! Pakistan join India, Australia in elite list after 1st ODI win over Black Caps</a></strong></p>

<p>The former Indian all-rounder further opined, "Once Rohit was injured (talking about the India-England Birmingham Test 2022), I thought he would be asked. If I was still there, I would have asked. I’m not sure Rahul (Dravid) would have done the same thing, I haven’t spoken to him. I would have recommended to the board as it’s only fair if he leads because he is part of the team that is leading 2-1 in the series."</p>

<p>With Rohit ruled out due to Covid-19, Jasprit Bumrah led India in the Birmingham Test, which was the fifth and final Test of the India-England 2021 series. The fifth Test was postponed in the 2021 English summer due to the Covid crisis in the Indian camp. Back then, Kohli was the Indian captain when the visitors earned an unassailable 2-1 lead prior to the fifth Test's postponement.</p>

<p>The rescheduled fifth and final Test saw India fail to defend a 378-run target and lose to Ben Stokes-led England by seven wickets.</p>

<p><strong>INDIA SQUAD FOR WTC FINAL</strong></p>

<p>Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.</p>


Rohit Sharma-led India will face Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval, London on June 07. At present, the Indian cricketers are involved in the IPL 2023 edition and the WTC final-bound players will be eager to remain fit to take part in the WTC finale.

Rohit Sharma-led India will face Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval, London on June 07. At present, the Indian cricketers are involved in the IPL 2023 edition and the WTC final-bound players will be eager to remain fit to take part in the WTC finale. Rohit, who has had quite a few injury concerns in the past, will be desperate to lead the charge and take India to their first-ever ICC title since 2013 with a memorable win over Australia. Recently, former India head coach Ravi Shastri stated that if Rohit misses the WTC final due to unforeseen circumstances, Virat Kohli -- Rohit's predecessor -- can lead the side. In addition, he believes Kohli should have led India in the one-off Test versus England, in Birmingham, after Rohit had to sit out for testing positive for Covid-19. “If it’s for a major game like that (upcoming WTC final), then yes (for Kohli to be the stand-in captain in case Rohit misses out). I mean, you want Rohit to be fit as he is the captain of the side. In case of unforeseen circumstances, definitely, I will look in that direction,” Shastri was quoted as saying on ESPNcricinfo. Also read: Pak vs NZ: HISTORIC FEAT! Pakistan join India, Australia in elite list after 1st ODI win over Black Caps The former Indian all-rounder further opined, "Once Rohit was injured (talking about the India-England Birmingham Test 2022), I thought he would be asked. If I was still there, I would have asked. I’m not sure Rahul (Dravid) would have done the same thing, I haven’t spoken to him. I would have recommended to the board as it’s only fair if he leads because he is part of the team that is leading 2-1 in the series." With Rohit ruled out due to Covid-19, Jasprit Bumrah led India in the Birmingham Test, which was the fifth and final Test of the India-England 2021 series. The fifth Test was postponed in the 2021 English summer due to the Covid crisis in the Indian camp. Back then, Kohli was the Indian captain when the visitors earned an unassailable 2-1 lead prior to the fifth Test's postponement. The rescheduled fifth and final Test saw India fail to defend a 378-run target and lose to Ben Stokes-led England by seven wickets. INDIA SQUAD FOR WTC FINAL Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

Expected Virat Kohli to lead Team India in 2022 Birmingham Test in Rohit Sharma's absence: Ravi Shastri

<p>Babar Azam-led Pakistan beat New Zealand by five wickets in the five-match ODI series opener on Thursday (April 27) at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi. With this win, the Men in Green achieved a massive feat in the format. Pakistan have joined India and Australia to win 500 or more ODI matches. Thus, it is a perfect start for the home side in their five home ODIs versus the Black Caps as they gear up for this year's 50-over World Cup in India.</p>

<p>Pakistan have played a total of 949 ODIs, winning 500 and losing 420 games. Australia is at the top winning&nbsp;594 ODIs out of 978. Meanwhile, India follow suit as they occupy the second position with&nbsp;539 wins from&nbsp;1029 games. Thus, Australia have most wins in the format but Men in Blue have played the most number of 50-over games to date. Here's the overall list:</p>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 500px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td><strong>TEAMS</strong></td>
			<td><strong>MATCHES</strong></td>
			<td><strong>WINS</strong></td>
			<td><strong>LOSSES</strong></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Australia</td>
			<td>978</td>
			<td>594</td>
			<td>341</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>India&nbsp;</td>
			<td>1029</td>
			<td>539</td>
			<td>438</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pakistan</td>
			<td>949</td>
			<td>500</td>
			<td>420</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>West Indies</td>
			<td>854</td>
			<td>411</td>
			<td>403</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>South Africa</td>
			<td>654</td>
			<td>399</td>
			<td>228</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sri Lanka</td>
			<td>883</td>
			<td>399</td>
			<td>440</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>England</td>
			<td>739</td>
			<td>392</td>
			<td>348</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>New Zealand</td>
			<td>800</td>
			<td>368</td>
			<td>383</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bangladesh</td>
			<td>409</td>
			<td>149</td>
			<td>252</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zimbabwe</td>
			<td>559</td>
			<td>146</td>
			<td>392</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-42-to-50-after-babar-doull-slams-virat-kohli-for-being-concerned-about-personal-milestone-581298">'From 42 to 50...' - After Babar, Doull slams Virat Kohli for being 'concerned about personal milestone'</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">500 ODI wins and counting! 🏏🥳<br />
<br />
A proud moment for Pakistan cricket as we celebrate this milestone.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvNZ</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CricketMubarak?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CricketMubarak</a> <a href="https://t.co/0wLx3jE24U">pic.twitter.com/0wLx3jE24U</a></p>
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1651706897219878913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ ODI wins recorded 🇵🇰💚<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvNZ</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CricketMubarak?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CricketMubarak</a> <a href="https://t.co/hdDZp2NhDc">pic.twitter.com/hdDZp2NhDc</a></p>
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1651655469495377921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Talking about the first ODI between Pakistan and Tom Latham-led NZ, Pakistan opted to bowl first. Riding on Darly Mitchell's 113 and Wil Young's 86, the Black Caps posted a challenging 288 for 7 in 50 overs. In reply, the hosts rode on Fakhar Zaman's 117, Imam-ul-Haq's 60, Babar's 49 and Mohammad Rizwan's 42 to chase down the score with five wickets in hand, in 48.3 overs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the post-match presentation, Babar said, "This was a team effort, we want to start well. The credit belongs to the fast bowlers for the way we restricted them in the end. As a captain, to see players respond and execute plans feels good. The way Naseem bowled put the pressure on them and then the spinners could dominate. Then the way Fakhar and Imam played, then the innings Fakhar and I build together was great to see."</p>

<p>The second ODI will be held on Saturday (April 29) at the same venue.</p>


Babar Azam-led Pakistan beat New Zealand by five wickets in the five-match ODI series opener on Thursday (April 27) at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi.

Babar Azam-led Pakistan beat New Zealand by five wickets in the five-match ODI series opener on Thursday (April 27) at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi. With this win, the Men in Green achieved a massive feat in the format. Pakistan have joined India and Australia to win 500 or more ODI matches. Thus, it is a perfect start for the home side in their five home ODIs versus the Black Caps as they gear up for this year's 50-over World Cup in India. Pakistan have played a total of 949 ODIs, winning 500 and losing 420 games. Australia is at the top winning 594 ODIs out of 978. Meanwhile, India follow suit as they occupy the second position with 539 wins from 1029 games. Thus, Australia have most wins in the format but Men in Blue have played the most number of 50-over games to date. Here's the overall list: TEAMS MATCHES WINS LOSSES Australia 978 594 341 India 1029 539 438 Pakistan 949 500 420 West Indies 854 411 403 South Africa 654 399 228 Sri Lanka 883 399 440 England 739 392 348 New Zealand 800 368 383 Bangladesh 409 149 252 Zimbabwe 559 146 392 Also Read: 'From 42 to 50...' - After Babar, Doull slams Virat Kohli for being 'concerned about personal milestone' 500 ODI wins and counting! 🏏🥳 A proud moment for Pakistan cricket as we celebrate this milestone.#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/0wLx3jE24U — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 27, 2023 × 5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ ODI wins recorded 🇵🇰💚#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/hdDZp2NhDc — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 27, 2023 × Talking about the first ODI between Pakistan and Tom Latham-led NZ, Pakistan opted to bowl first. Riding on Darly Mitchell's 113 and Wil Young's 86, the Black Caps posted a challenging 288 for 7 in 50 overs. In reply, the hosts rode on Fakhar Zaman's 117, Imam-ul-Haq's 60, Babar's 49 and Mohammad Rizwan's 42 to chase down the score with five wickets in hand, in 48.3 overs. At the post-match presentation, Babar said, "This was a team effort, we want to start well. The credit belongs to the fast bowlers for the way we restricted them in the end. As a captain, to see players respond and execute plans feels good. The way Naseem bowled put the pressure on them and then the spinners could dominate. Then the way Fakhar and Imam played, then the innings Fakhar and I build together was great to see." The second ODI will be held on Saturday (April 29) at the same venue.

Pak vs NZ: HISTORIC FEAT! Pakistan join India, Australia in elite list after 1st ODI win over Black Caps

<p>On Thursday (April 27), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the annual player retainership for the senior women's team for the 2022-23 season. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur -- who led her franchise Mumbai Indians (MI to the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) -- and her deputy Smriti Mandha along with all-rounder Deepti Sharma have retained their Grade A category whereas the likes of&nbsp;Renuka Singh Thakur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad are in the Grade B category.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Meghna Singh, Devika Vaidya, Sabbineni Meghana, Anjali Sarvani, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Harleen Deol, and Yastika Bhatia find themselves in the&nbsp;Grade C category.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/when-ms-dhoni-lost-his-cool-invaded-ground-over-controversial-no-ball-call-in-rr-csk-ipl-2019-tie-586546">When MS Dhoni lost his cool, invaded ground over controversial no-ball call in RR-CSK IPL 2019 tie</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚨 NEWS 🚨: BCCI announces annual player retainership 2022-23 - Team India (Senior Women). <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a><br />
<br />
More Details 🔽<a href="https://t.co/C4wPOfi2EF">https://t.co/C4wPOfi2EF</a></p>
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCIWomen/status/1651479291522162690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>In the BCCI press release, it stated, "The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Thursday announced the Annual Player Contracts for Team India (Senior Women) for the 2022-23 season."</p>

<section>
<p>Women's cricket is surely on the rise in the country. Over the years, it has made rapid strides. Last year, the BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, in a historic&nbsp;announcement, revealed that the match fees will be the same for both&nbsp;women and men. "I’m pleased to announce BCCI’s first step towards tackling discrimination. We are implementing a pay equity policy for our contracted women cricketers. The match fee for both Men and Women Cricketers will be the same as we move into a new era of gender equality in Indian Cricket,” Shah said.</p>

<p>“The women cricketers will be paid the same match fee as their male counterparts. Test (INR 15 lakhs), ODI (INR 6 lakhs), T20I (INR 3 lakhs). Pay equity was my commitment to our women cricketers and I thank the Apex Council for their support. Jai Hind,” he added.</p>

<p>This year, WPL's commencement also made heads turn. The inaugural edition was a huge hit among cricket fans in the country.&nbsp;</p>
</section>


On Thursday (April 27), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the annual player retainership for the senior women's team for the 2022-23 season.

On Thursday (April 27), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the annual player retainership for the senior women's team for the 2022-23 season. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur -- who led her franchise Mumbai Indians (MI to the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) -- and her deputy Smriti Mandha along with all-rounder Deepti Sharma have retained their Grade A category whereas the likes of Renuka Singh Thakur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad are in the Grade B category. Meanwhile, Meghna Singh, Devika Vaidya, Sabbineni Meghana, Anjali Sarvani, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Harleen Deol, and Yastika Bhatia find themselves in the Grade C category. Also Read: When MS Dhoni lost his cool, invaded ground over controversial no-ball call in RR-CSK IPL 2019 tie 🚨 NEWS 🚨: BCCI announces annual player retainership 2022-23 - Team India (Senior Women). #TeamIndia More Details 🔽https://t.co/C4wPOfi2EF — BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) April 27, 2023 × In the BCCI press release, it stated, "The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Thursday announced the Annual Player Contracts for Team India (Senior Women) for the 2022-23 season." Women's cricket is surely on the rise in the country. Over the years, it has made rapid strides. Last year, the BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, in a historic announcement, revealed that the match fees will be the same for both women and men. "I’m pleased to announce BCCI’s first step towards tackling discrimination. We are implementing a pay equity policy for our contracted women cricketers. The match fee for both Men and Women Cricketers will be the same as we move into a new era of gender equality in Indian Cricket,” Shah said. “The women cricketers will be paid the same match fee as their male counterparts. Test (INR 15 lakhs), ODI (INR 6 lakhs), T20I (INR 3 lakhs). Pay equity was my commitment to our women cricketers and I thank the Apex Council for their support. Jai Hind,” he added. This year, WPL's commencement also made heads turn. The inaugural edition was a huge hit among cricket fans in the country.

BCCI reveals Annual Player Retainership for women's team, Harmanpreet, Mandhana retain Grade A category

<p>Match 35 of the IPL 2023 edition saw the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) lose to the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (April 25). Opting to bowl first, MI conceded 207 for 6 as Gujarat posted their highest total in the tournament. In reply, Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. only managed 152 for 9 to lose by a whopping 55-run margin.</p>

<p>Rohit has had an ordinary run in IPL 2023. He has managed scores of&nbsp;1, 21, 65, 20, 28, 44 and 2 at an average of&nbsp;25.86. After MI's loss versus GT, their second in a row and fourth of the season, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar has asked Rohit to opt for a short break and keep himself fresh for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia, to be held at The Oval, London&nbsp;in early June.</p>

<p>"Rohit Sharma should take a break and keep himself fresh for the World Test Championship. Come back again for the last few matches, but right now take a breather himself. He is looking slightly preoccupied, maybe he is thinking about the WTC. I think he needs a little bit of a break," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-defending-champions-gt-thrash-rohit-sharmas-mi-by-55-runs-take-second-spot-in-points-table-586107">IPL 2023: Defending champions GT thrash Rohit Sharma's MI by 55 runs, take second spot in points table</a></strong></p>

<p>It is highly unlikely that Rohit will take a break with MI currently languishing at the seventh spot in the points table. He might sit out for a few games if Mumbai confirms&nbsp;a slot in the last four. Or, if they fall flat in the upcoming games and are totally out of the playoffs race, then Rohit might be benched to keep himself fit&nbsp;for the WTC finale.</p>

<p>On Tuesday (April 25), the BCCI announced a 15-member squad for India's WTC summit clash versus Australia.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>INDIA SQUAD FOR WTC FINAL</strong></p>

<p>Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.</p>


Match 35 of the IPL 2023 edition saw the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) lose to the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (April 25).

Match 35 of the IPL 2023 edition saw the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) lose to the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (April 25). Opting to bowl first, MI conceded 207 for 6 as Gujarat posted their highest total in the tournament. In reply, Rohit Sharma & Co. only managed 152 for 9 to lose by a whopping 55-run margin. Rohit has had an ordinary run in IPL 2023. He has managed scores of 1, 21, 65, 20, 28, 44 and 2 at an average of 25.86. After MI's loss versus GT, their second in a row and fourth of the season, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar has asked Rohit to opt for a short break and keep himself fresh for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia, to be held at The Oval, London in early June. "Rohit Sharma should take a break and keep himself fresh for the World Test Championship. Come back again for the last few matches, but right now take a breather himself. He is looking slightly preoccupied, maybe he is thinking about the WTC. I think he needs a little bit of a break," Gavaskar said on Star Sports. Also read: IPL 2023: Defending champions GT thrash Rohit Sharma's MI by 55 runs, take second spot in points table It is highly unlikely that Rohit will take a break with MI currently languishing at the seventh spot in the points table. He might sit out for a few games if Mumbai confirms a slot in the last four. Or, if they fall flat in the upcoming games and are totally out of the playoffs race, then Rohit might be benched to keep himself fit for the WTC finale. On Tuesday (April 25), the BCCI announced a 15-member squad for India's WTC summit clash versus Australia. INDIA SQUAD FOR WTC FINAL Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

IPL 2023: Rohit should take a break, come back fresh for WTC final vs Australia, suggests Gavaskar

<p>After playing half their games in the league stage of IPL 2023, Rajasthan Royals (RR)&nbsp;occupy the third spot with four wins from seven outings. It isn't a bad start by any means&nbsp;for the one-time winners. Under Sanju Samson, who became their captain since IPL 2021, the Royals have become a formidable force and are eyeing to play their second final on the trot, with a hope to get past the finish line this time around.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the inaugural edition, in 2008, the Royals ended as the eventual champions when no one gave them&nbsp;a chance. The franchise roped in superstar Shane Warne, serving&nbsp;as the captain-cum-coach, who inspired an inexperienced squad to win the championship. The late Aussie leg-spinner had some international stars, such as Graeme Smith, Mohammed Kaif, etc., but a plethora of unknown names&nbsp;rose to the occasion in his influence.</p>

<p>After Warne-led RR's initial success, there was a period of lull for the Jaipur-based franchise till IPL 2012. In the 2013 edition, the 2008 winners made it to the playoffs, finished third, and even played the final of that year's Champions League (CLT20), a now-defunct tournament. Back then, RR was led by Rahul Dravid, an equally inspiring figure like Warne.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Post Dravid and Warne, the team was led by able readers of the game, such as Shane Watson, Steve Smith, and Ajinkya Rahane, as they enjoyed sporadic success but never came close to winning the title. From the Dravid-era till IPL 2020, Samson remained a part of the Royals' dugout -- barring 2015 and 2016 when the franchise was serving a spot-fixing ban -- and was silently groomed by&nbsp;several eminent leaders in the camp.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-as-soon-as-he-brett-lees-advice-to-mis-arjun-tendulkar-to-bowl-at-140kmph-585864">IPL 2023: 'As soon as he...': Brett Lee's advice to MI's Arjun Tendulkar to bowl at 140kmph</a></strong></p>

<p>While Samson's batting credentials made heads turn in his debut IPL season in 2013, not much was known about his leadership skills. After a dismal IPL 2020, RR team management appointed Samson as their new captain before the 2021 edition. While his team ended seventh that year, Samson didn't look like a fish out of the water. He improved in IPL 2022 and by now, RR certainly looks like a unit controlled by Samson.</p>

<p><strong>Ingredients of a fabulous leader</strong></p>

<p>Recently, Ravi Shastri -- former India head coach -- said on ESPNCricinfo, "You say you stamp your personality as a leader. You see that with Hardik, he calls the shots, and takes the decisions. You see that with Dhoni. He takes the decisions, there is no two ways about it, he might be right or wrong. Sanju has improved a lot. You can see that quiet confidence in his own ability and he understands his game a lot better."</p>

<p>Leading superstars such as Jos Buttler, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, etc., can be intimidating. However, Samson has always looked his part and been assertive as captain. He&nbsp;remains calm behind the stumps, uses his bowlers judiciously, and does not shy away from changing plans when required. In addition, he&nbsp;does not overcommunicate; passing too many unnecessary suggestions from behind the stumps.</p>

<p>During RR's clash vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in Chennai, Sandeep Sharma was taken to the cleaners by MS Dhoni in the last over. With seven required off&nbsp;three balls, Samson raced from his wicketkeeping spot to just ask Sandeep about his plans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"After I was hit for two sixes in the last over, Sanju and I discussed the plans on how to bowl the next 3 balls. Sanju is very calm as captain. He did not give any suggestions to me. He simply asked me about my plans for the next ball. I told him about my instincts and he backed me to bowl that. This quality is very rare in a captain in such a pressure situation," said the RR pacer.</p>

<p>Thus, Samson backed his experienced bowler and did not give suggestions. Rather, he just looked for ideas from his bowler and backed him to the hilt.</p>

<p><b>You will win some, you will lose some but remain unfazed</b></p>

<p>After RR's loss versus RCB, their second loss on the trot, Samson said in the dressing room, "I think it's very normal in this tournament when you have these couple of losses or you have those couple of wins, you go up and down. But the pattern and the style of our team, the style of our franchise is to stay humble when we're going high, and when we're going low, we believe in ourselves, as simple as that."</p>

<p>He added, "We believe in each and every one of us, believe in yourself and there is no pointing fingers, that's the rule we need to follow. In my experience, from what I've understood, the reason you end up on the losing or the winning side only is because how hungry are you there to win. How badly do you want it? Is it only because of you, is it only because you want to do it or do you want to do it for the team."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="und">Sanju Samson. 💗💗💗 <a href="https://t.co/fZmuYk4Wyl">pic.twitter.com/fZmuYk4Wyl</a></p>
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals/status/1650189706603425792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-virat-kohli-fined-24-lakhs-other-rcb-players-fined-6-lakhs-for-slow-over-rate-vs-rr-585868">IPL 2023: Virat Kohli fined 24 lakhs, other RCB players fined 6 lakhs for slow over-rate vs RR</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Not bogged down by responsibility</strong></p>

<p>Many captains get bogged down by extra responsibility or get too cautious in their primary role. However, this has not been the case with Samson. Ever since he took over as RR skipper, he has amassed over 400 runs every season. In 2021, he made 484 runs, including a ton, at 136.72. His strike rate did dip as compared to the previous edition (where he struck at 158.89) but it was still acceptable. It shot up considerably in 2022, where he scored 458 runs at 146.79. After seven games this year, he is striking at over 150 (158.77).</p>

<p>One does not know what fate has in store for RR in IPL 2023. Irrespective of the outcome, the Royals should be lauded for identifying a rare talent like Samson, grooming him amid several leaders, retaining him, and making him the leader in his late 20s;&nbsp;when a cricketer has matured with enough experience and past mistakes. The right-hander has shown glimpses&nbsp;of his captaincy skills and will only grow leaps and bounds if given a longer rope, which seems likely at this point.</p>

<p>In his book 'Coaching Beyond - My Days with the Indian Cricket Team', R Sridhar -- former India fielding coach -- revealed it was Samson (who was on the bench) who suggested Chahal feature in India's XI as a concussion substitute for Ravindra Jadeja in a T20I versus Australia in Canberra, in late 2020. Chahal ended as the Player-of-the-Match (3 for 25) in India's win.</p>

<p>Thus, Samson always had a knack for reading the game and being tactical. Now, he is only growing with each passing day and is destined for a bright run as captain. Is India captaincy in the reckoning? Well, only time will tell. For now, he certainly looks like a long-serving&nbsp;captain in the IPL.</p>


After playing half their games in the league stage of IPL 2023, Rajasthan Royals (RR) occupy the third spot with four wins from seven outings. It isn't a bad start by any means for the one-time winners.

After playing half their games in the league stage of IPL 2023, Rajasthan Royals (RR) occupy the third spot with four wins from seven outings. It isn't a bad start by any means for the one-time winners. Under Sanju Samson, who became their captain since IPL 2021, the Royals have become a formidable force and are eyeing to play their second final on the trot, with a hope to get past the finish line this time around. In the inaugural edition, in 2008, the Royals ended as the eventual champions when no one gave them a chance. The franchise roped in superstar Shane Warne, serving as the captain-cum-coach, who inspired an inexperienced squad to win the championship. The late Aussie leg-spinner had some international stars, such as Graeme Smith, Mohammed Kaif, etc., but a plethora of unknown names rose to the occasion in his influence. After Warne-led RR's initial success, there was a period of lull for the Jaipur-based franchise till IPL 2012. In the 2013 edition, the 2008 winners made it to the playoffs, finished third, and even played the final of that year's Champions League (CLT20), a now-defunct tournament. Back then, RR was led by Rahul Dravid, an equally inspiring figure like Warne. Post Dravid and Warne, the team was led by able readers of the game, such as Shane Watson, Steve Smith, and Ajinkya Rahane, as they enjoyed sporadic success but never came close to winning the title. From the Dravid-era till IPL 2020, Samson remained a part of the Royals' dugout -- barring 2015 and 2016 when the franchise was serving a spot-fixing ban -- and was silently groomed by several eminent leaders in the camp. Also Read: IPL 2023: 'As soon as he...': Brett Lee's advice to MI's Arjun Tendulkar to bowl at 140kmph While Samson's batting credentials made heads turn in his debut IPL season in 2013, not much was known about his leadership skills. After a dismal IPL 2020, RR team management appointed Samson as their new captain before the 2021 edition. While his team ended seventh that year, Samson didn't look like a fish out of the water. He improved in IPL 2022 and by now, RR certainly looks like a unit controlled by Samson. Ingredients of a fabulous leader Recently, Ravi Shastri -- former India head coach -- said on ESPNCricinfo, "You say you stamp your personality as a leader. You see that with Hardik, he calls the shots, and takes the decisions. You see that with Dhoni. He takes the decisions, there is no two ways about it, he might be right or wrong. Sanju has improved a lot. You can see that quiet confidence in his own ability and he understands his game a lot better." Leading superstars such as Jos Buttler, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, etc., can be intimidating. However, Samson has always looked his part and been assertive as captain. He remains calm behind the stumps, uses his bowlers judiciously, and does not shy away from changing plans when required. In addition, he does not overcommunicate; passing too many unnecessary suggestions from behind the stumps. During RR's clash vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in Chennai, Sandeep Sharma was taken to the cleaners by MS Dhoni in the last over. With seven required off three balls, Samson raced from his wicketkeeping spot to just ask Sandeep about his plans. "After I was hit for two sixes in the last over, Sanju and I discussed the plans on how to bowl the next 3 balls. Sanju is very calm as captain. He did not give any suggestions to me. He simply asked me about my plans for the next ball. I told him about my instincts and he backed me to bowl that. This quality is very rare in a captain in such a pressure situation," said the RR pacer. Thus, Samson backed his experienced bowler and did not give suggestions. Rather, he just looked for ideas from his bowler and backed him to the hilt. You will win some, you will lose some but remain unfazed After RR's loss versus RCB, their second loss on the trot, Samson said in the dressing room, "I think it's very normal in this tournament when you have these couple of losses or you have those couple of wins, you go up and down. But the pattern and the style of our team, the style of our franchise is to stay humble when we're going high, and when we're going low, we believe in ourselves, as simple as that." He added, "We believe in each and every one of us, believe in yourself and there is no pointing fingers, that's the rule we need to follow. In my experience, from what I've understood, the reason you end up on the losing or the winning side only is because how hungry are you there to win. How badly do you want it? Is it only because of you, is it only because you want to do it or do you want to do it for the team." Sanju Samson. 💗💗💗 pic.twitter.com/fZmuYk4Wyl — Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 23, 2023 × Also Read: IPL 2023: Virat Kohli fined 24 lakhs, other RCB players fined 6 lakhs for slow over-rate vs RR Not bogged down by responsibility Many captains get bogged down by extra responsibility or get too cautious in their primary role. However, this has not been the case with Samson. Ever since he took over as RR skipper, he has amassed over 400 runs every season. In 2021, he made 484 runs, including a ton, at 136.72. His strike rate did dip as compared to the previous edition (where he struck at 158.89) but it was still acceptable. It shot up considerably in 2022, where he scored 458 runs at 146.79. After seven games this year, he is striking at over 150 (158.77). One does not know what fate has in store for RR in IPL 2023. Irrespective of the outcome, the Royals should be lauded for identifying a rare talent like Samson, grooming him amid several leaders, retaining him, and making him the leader in his late 20s; when a cricketer has matured with enough experience and past mistakes. The right-hander has shown glimpses of his captaincy skills and will only grow leaps and bounds if given a longer rope, which seems likely at this point. In his book 'Coaching Beyond - My Days with the Indian Cricket Team', R Sridhar -- former India fielding coach -- revealed it was Samson (who was on the bench) who suggested Chahal feature in India's XI as a concussion substitute for Ravindra Jadeja in a T20I versus Australia in Canberra, in late 2020. Chahal ended as the Player-of-the-Match (3 for 25) in India's win. Thus, Samson always had a knack for reading the game and being tactical. Now, he is only growing with each passing day and is destined for a bright run as captain. Is India captaincy in the reckoning? Well, only time will tell. For now, he certainly looks like a long-serving captain in the IPL.

Explained | IPL 2023: Why Sanju Samson is a great captain in making

<p>KL Rahul has come under scrutiny following his unimpressive knocks in IPL 2023, more so for not showing intent and playing at a strike rate, which is questionable for an opener in this format. On the other hand, out of favour Test veteran Ajinkya Rahane has found form at the right time. Against KKR at Eden Gardens, the 34-year-old slammed a 29-ball 71, which included six fours and five sixes, striking at 244.83.</p>

<p>While Rahane’s innings earned him praises, the fans, even the former cricketers, have come out and bashed Rahul for not delivering to his potential. Earlier, former India seamer Venkatesh Prasad blasted KL Rahul for not showing any intent during the Border-Gavaskar series, after which he got dropped, and Gill got picked; this, however, didn’t end here as Prasad again tweeted about Rahul’s inability to strike at a quicker rate in the Powerplay overs after Lucknow Super Giant bottled a chase against Gujarat Titans despite being in a winning position for the most part of second innings.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bottling a run chase when 30 needed of 35 balls with 9 wickets in hand requires some baffling batting. Happened with Punjab in 2020 on few ocassions losing games they should have won easily. As brilliant as Guj were with ball &amp; Hardik smart with his captaincy, brainless from Lko</p>
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) <a href="https://twitter.com/venkateshprasad/status/1649770956490182657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-best-yet-to-come-says-csks-ajinkya-rahane-after-29-ball-71-against-kkr-watch-585549">IPL 2023: 'Best yet to come,' says CSK's Ajinkya Rahane after 29-ball 71 against KKR</a></p>

<p>Meanwhile, after Rahane produced the innings of the IPL 2023 the other night, social media went crazy and showered praises on him, which also included another former</p>

<p>India pacer Dodda Ganesh. While Ganesh wrote that if a batter shows intent, he can achieve anything, he took a sly dig at Rahul, adding if only KL could understand this.</p>

<p>He tweeted, “Rahane 👏🏻 he has shown that with intent you can do wonders. If only KL Rahul understood this 😃 #IPL2023”</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rahane 👏🏻 he has shown that with intent you can do wonders. If only KL Rahul understood this 😃 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2023</a></p>
— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) <a href="https://twitter.com/doddaganesha/status/1650159471929466881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Earlier, against Rajasthan Royals and GT, Rahul played two back-to-back first-over maidens, attaining an unwanted record to his name. Opening alongside Kyle Mayers, who is turning heads with his run of form, KL has struggled to do the same, though he is among runs. Versus Rajasthan, he scored a 32-ball 39, while against Gujarat, he scored a fifty (68 off 61 balls) but couldn’t help his team cross the line.</p>

<p>Elsewhere, CSK has unearthed a new version of Rahane, who has scored 209 runs in five matches at an average of 52.25 and a whopping strike-rate of 199.05.</p>


KL Rahul has come under scrutiny following his unimpressive knocks in IPL 2023, more so for not showing intent and playing at a strike rate, which is questionable for an opener in this format.

KL Rahul has come under scrutiny following his unimpressive knocks in IPL 2023, more so for not showing intent and playing at a strike rate, which is questionable for an opener in this format. On the other hand, out of favour Test veteran Ajinkya Rahane has found form at the right time. Against KKR at Eden Gardens, the 34-year-old slammed a 29-ball 71, which included six fours and five sixes, striking at 244.83. While Rahane’s innings earned him praises, the fans, even the former cricketers, have come out and bashed Rahul for not delivering to his potential. Earlier, former India seamer Venkatesh Prasad blasted KL Rahul for not showing any intent during the Border-Gavaskar series, after which he got dropped, and Gill got picked; this, however, didn’t end here as Prasad again tweeted about Rahul’s inability to strike at a quicker rate in the Powerplay overs after Lucknow Super Giant bottled a chase against Gujarat Titans despite being in a winning position for the most part of second innings. Bottling a run chase when 30 needed of 35 balls with 9 wickets in hand requires some baffling batting. Happened with Punjab in 2020 on few ocassions losing games they should have won easily. As brilliant as Guj were with ball & Hardik smart with his captaincy, brainless from Lko — Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) April 22, 2023 × ALSO READ: IPL 2023: 'Best yet to come,' says CSK's Ajinkya Rahane after 29-ball 71 against KKR Meanwhile, after Rahane produced the innings of the IPL 2023 the other night, social media went crazy and showered praises on him, which also included another former India pacer Dodda Ganesh. While Ganesh wrote that if a batter shows intent, he can achieve anything, he took a sly dig at Rahul, adding if only KL could understand this. He tweeted, “Rahane 👏🏻 he has shown that with intent you can do wonders. If only KL Rahul understood this 😃 #IPL2023” Rahane 👏🏻 he has shown that with intent you can do wonders. If only KL Rahul understood this 😃 #IPL2023 — Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) April 23, 2023 × Earlier, against Rajasthan Royals and GT, Rahul played two back-to-back first-over maidens, attaining an unwanted record to his name. Opening alongside Kyle Mayers, who is turning heads with his run of form, KL has struggled to do the same, though he is among runs. Versus Rajasthan, he scored a 32-ball 39, while against Gujarat, he scored a fifty (68 off 61 balls) but couldn’t help his team cross the line. Elsewhere, CSK has unearthed a new version of Rahane, who has scored 209 runs in five matches at an average of 52.25 and a whopping strike-rate of 199.05.

IPL 2023: After Venkatesh Prasad, another ex-seamer bashes KL Rahul for not showing intent, praises Rahane