<p>On March 03, Australia defeated India on&nbsp;Day 3 of the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, to keep&nbsp;the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23&nbsp;series alive. With this win, Pat Cummins-led Aussies have qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, which will be held in early June at The Oval, London.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Talking about the Indore Test, nothing clicked for Rohit Sharma-led India. Opting to bat first, they only managed a paltry 109 (with Matthew Kuhnemann taking 5 for 16) before Australia was dismissed for 197, taking a vital 88-run lead. In their second essay, India fell flat once again -- with Player-of-the-Match Nathan Lyon ending with 8 for 64 (match figures of 11 for 99) -- and gave a 76-run target. Eventually, Travis Head's 49* and Marnus Labuschagne's 28 not out led Steve Smith &amp; Co. to a nine-wicket win in regular captain Cummins' absence.</p>

<p>At the post-match presentation, Smith said, "I really enjoyed it and like captaining in this part of the world as I understand the conditions really well. There's an event every ball and a lot different to the other parts of the world, and I did a reasonable job this week. Much the same, we will wait and see what the conditions are like (in Ahmedabad), but we are really proud to clinch a spot in the WTC final. Hopefully, we can put a similar performance and draw the series."</p>

<p>Despite their WTC final qualification, Cummins-less Australia will be eager to not rest on their recent laurels and go for a 2-2 series-levelling win over Rohit's Team India. For India, the home side have an unassailable 2-1 lead going into the fourth and final Test -- to kick off in Ahmedabad on Thursday (March 09) -- but will surely aim for a famous home series win and qualify for the WTC final. At present, India are favourites to meet their arch-rivals Australia in the summit clash, in June, but Dimuth Karunaratne-led Sri Lanka also remain in the race. Thus, they can certainly&nbsp;dent Rohit &amp; Co.'s chances. <em><strong>Here's how:</strong></em></p>

<p><strong>How can Sri Lanka topple India and reach WTC final?</strong></p>

<p>Australia are set to face either India or Sri Lanka in the final of the second cycle of the WTC. Fourth-placed South Africa are very much out of contention even though they are likely to whitewash West Indies in the ongoing two-match Test series at home. For SL, India remains&nbsp;their biggest threat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Karunaratne &amp; Co. are set to lock horns with Tim Southee's New Zealand in a two-match Test series, which kicks off&nbsp;on March 09 at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch. They would&nbsp;hope India lose the Ahmedabad Test to remain in contention. After that, they will aim to&nbsp;win&nbsp;their remaining two games. But if they lose or draw even one game, they will stand eliminated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, India&nbsp;need to win the Ahmedabad Test to end Sri Lanka's hopes. However, if they fail, they will depend on the inaugural edition's winners New Zealand to prevent the Sri Lankans from pulling off a stunning 2-0 whitewash.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-not-ms-dhoni-csk-wanted-to-buy-this-marquee-indian-player-in-inaugural-auction-569422">IPL 2023: Not MS Dhoni! CSK wanted to buy THIS marquee Indian player in inaugural auction</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Updated WTC points table:</strong></p>

<p><img alt="ICC WTC  Points Table  " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f5f5689b-e8c3-4fb1-b97e-d5d772339e4a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WTC%20ponts%20.png" /></p>

<p><strong>India remain favourites to meet Aus:</strong></p>

<p>India have won ten and lost five games in the ongoing cycle in six series (including Australia Tests at home). They played the inaugural edition's final, where they lost to the Kiwis and will be desperate to have another go at winning the title.</p>

<p>After the Indore Test loss, Rohit said at the post-match presentation, "We haven't thought about it yet (WCT final), we have sometime to think about what we need to do there (Ahmedabad Test). We need to regroup and try and understand what we did right in the first 2 games. We need to understand, no matter what the pitches are, you gotta come out and do the job. We need to keep it simple and follow the plan."</p>

<p>While SL just have to win their next two games, if India lose the Ahmedabad Test, it surely won't be easy for them. The Black Caps have not lost a home Test series since early 2017.</p>

<p>Ahead of the two-match series opener, NZ captain Southee said, "It has been great to have the amount of people who have been talking about Test cricket, to see the Basin Reserve filled for five days was great to be a part of."</p>

<p>"I think, just in general, the guys are pleased to see people talking about Test cricket. And Test cricket being exciting. England have played their part in that, over the last year or so. The guys still see Test cricket as the pinnacle of the game. It is a match that will be talked about for a long time, but they are a very humble group. Now our focus will shift to Sri Lanka."</p>

<p>"We are obviously out of the Test Championship, and they have got plenty to play for over the next two weeks," the pacer added.</p>

<p>Who will meet the Aussies in the finale? India or SL? Only time will tell...</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<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>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


On March 03, Australia defeated India on Day 3 of the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, to keep the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 series alive. With this win, Pat Cummins-led Aussies have qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, which will be held in early June at The Oval, London.

On March 03, Australia defeated India on Day 3 of the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, to keep the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 series alive. With this win, Pat Cummins-led Aussies have qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, which will be held in early June at The Oval, London. Talking about the Indore Test, nothing clicked for Rohit Sharma-led India. Opting to bat first, they only managed a paltry 109 (with Matthew Kuhnemann taking 5 for 16) before Australia was dismissed for 197, taking a vital 88-run lead. In their second essay, India fell flat once again -- with Player-of-the-Match Nathan Lyon ending with 8 for 64 (match figures of 11 for 99) -- and gave a 76-run target. Eventually, Travis Head's 49* and Marnus Labuschagne's 28 not out led Steve Smith & Co. to a nine-wicket win in regular captain Cummins' absence. At the post-match presentation, Smith said, "I really enjoyed it and like captaining in this part of the world as I understand the conditions really well. There's an event every ball and a lot different to the other parts of the world, and I did a reasonable job this week. Much the same, we will wait and see what the conditions are like (in Ahmedabad), but we are really proud to clinch a spot in the WTC final. Hopefully, we can put a similar performance and draw the series." Despite their WTC final qualification, Cummins-less Australia will be eager to not rest on their recent laurels and go for a 2-2 series-levelling win over Rohit's Team India. For India, the home side have an unassailable 2-1 lead going into the fourth and final Test -- to kick off in Ahmedabad on Thursday (March 09) -- but will surely aim for a famous home series win and qualify for the WTC final. At present, India are favourites to meet their arch-rivals Australia in the summit clash, in June, but Dimuth Karunaratne-led Sri Lanka also remain in the race. Thus, they can certainly dent Rohit & Co.'s chances. Here's how: How can Sri Lanka topple India and reach WTC final? Australia are set to face either India or Sri Lanka in the final of the second cycle of the WTC. Fourth-placed South Africa are very much out of contention even though they are likely to whitewash West Indies in the ongoing two-match Test series at home. For SL, India remains their biggest threat. Karunaratne & Co. are set to lock horns with Tim Southee's New Zealand in a two-match Test series, which kicks off on March 09 at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch. They would hope India lose the Ahmedabad Test to remain in contention. After that, they will aim to win their remaining two games. But if they lose or draw even one game, they will stand eliminated. Meanwhile, India need to win the Ahmedabad Test to end Sri Lanka's hopes. However, if they fail, they will depend on the inaugural edition's winners New Zealand to prevent the Sri Lankans from pulling off a stunning 2-0 whitewash. Also read: IPL 2023: Not MS Dhoni! CSK wanted to buy THIS marquee Indian player in inaugural auction Updated WTC points table: India remain favourites to meet Aus: India have won ten and lost five games in the ongoing cycle in six series (including Australia Tests at home). They played the inaugural edition's final, where they lost to the Kiwis and will be desperate to have another go at winning the title. After the Indore Test loss, Rohit said at the post-match presentation, "We haven't thought about it yet (WCT final), we have sometime to think about what we need to do there (Ahmedabad Test). We need to regroup and try and understand what we did right in the first 2 games. We need to understand, no matter what the pitches are, you gotta come out and do the job. We need to keep it simple and follow the plan." While SL just have to win their next two games, if India lose the Ahmedabad Test, it surely won't be easy for them. The Black Caps have not lost a home Test series since early 2017. Ahead of the two-match series opener, NZ captain Southee said, "It has been great to have the amount of people who have been talking about Test cricket, to see the Basin Reserve filled for five days was great to be a part of." "I think, just in general, the guys are pleased to see people talking about Test cricket. And Test cricket being exciting. England have played their part in that, over the last year or so. The guys still see Test cricket as the pinnacle of the game. It is a match that will be talked about for a long time, but they are a very humble group. Now our focus will shift to Sri Lanka." "We are obviously out of the Test Championship, and they have got plenty to play for over the next two weeks," the pacer added. Who will meet the Aussies in the finale? India or SL? Only time will tell... ×

NZ vs SL: EXPLAINED! How Sri Lanka can play spoilsport to India's WTC final chances

<p>Hardik Pandya has become the youngest cricketer in the world to reach 25 million followers on the social media platform Instagram. Hardik is one of the most important cricketers for Team India in the white-ball formats and the 29-year-old achieved the massive feat; depicting his popularity across the globe.</p>

<p>On achieving the special feat, Hardik shared a video post on Instagram and captioned it, "25 MILLION followers on Instagram! I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart for all your love, all your wishes, and all your constant support. Thank you, My beautiful wife @natasastankovic__ decided to ask me 25 questions to celebrate the 25 million of us together."</p>

<p>In the clip, the all-rounder said,&nbsp;"Thank you to all my fans for the love. Each one of my fans is special to me, and I would like to thank them for the love and support they have given me over all these years."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpcTt7xJ1Lc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpcTt7xJ1Lc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpcTt7xJ1Lc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpcTt7xJ1Lc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Hardik Himanshu Pandya (@hardikpandya93)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ricky-ponting-urges-team-india-to-make-a-big-change-in-batting-order-if-they-enter-wtc-final-569523">Ricky Ponting urges Team India to make a big change in batting order if they enter WTC final</a></strong></p>

<p>It is to be noted that Hardik has more Instagram followers than some of the global sporting icons across the globe, such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Max Verstappen, and Erling Halaand. The all-rounder was last seen on the 22-yard cricket strip during India's three-match T20I series versus New Zealand at home. Under him, India whitewashed the Black Caps. He has been leading the T20I side following the 2022 T20 World Cup and was promoted as the ODI vice-captain in January 2023.</p>

<p>Hardik will next be seen in India-Australia three ODIs, starting on March 17 in Mumbai. He will lead the side in the first ODI in Rohit Sharma's absence. After that, he will lead&nbsp;the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2023 opener where they will face MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in Ahmedabad, on March 31.</p>


Hardik Pandya has become the youngest cricketer in the world to reach 25 million followers on the social media platform Instagram. Hardik is one of the most important cricketers for Team India in the white-ball formats and the 29-year-old achieved the massive feat; depicting his popularity across the globe.

Hardik Pandya has become the youngest cricketer in the world to reach 25 million followers on the social media platform Instagram. Hardik is one of the most important cricketers for Team India in the white-ball formats and the 29-year-old achieved the massive feat; depicting his popularity across the globe. On achieving the special feat, Hardik shared a video post on Instagram and captioned it, "25 MILLION followers on Instagram! I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart for all your love, all your wishes, and all your constant support. Thank you, My beautiful wife @natasastankovic__ decided to ask me 25 questions to celebrate the 25 million of us together." In the clip, the all-rounder said, "Thank you to all my fans for the love. Each one of my fans is special to me, and I would like to thank them for the love and support they have given me over all these years." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hardik Himanshu Pandya (@hardikpandya93) × Also read: Ricky Ponting urges Team India to make a big change in batting order if they enter WTC final It is to be noted that Hardik has more Instagram followers than some of the global sporting icons across the globe, such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Max Verstappen, and Erling Halaand. The all-rounder was last seen on the 22-yard cricket strip during India's three-match T20I series versus New Zealand at home. Under him, India whitewashed the Black Caps. He has been leading the T20I side following the 2022 T20 World Cup and was promoted as the ODI vice-captain in January 2023. Hardik will next be seen in India-Australia three ODIs, starting on March 17 in Mumbai. He will lead the side in the first ODI in Rohit Sharma's absence. After that, he will lead the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2023 opener where they will face MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in Ahmedabad, on March 31.

Hardik Pandya achieves MASSIVE feat, becomes youngest cricketer to reach 25 million followers on Instagram

<p>Steve Smith is set to lead Australia in the fourth and final Test versus India as well, with regular skipper Pat Cummins to remain in Australia with his ailing mother. The Aussie speedster's mother Maria is ill with breast cancer and is in palliative care, as reported by Cricket Australia. Thus, Cummins had skipped the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, as well -- which the visitors won by nine wickets to keep the series alive at 2-1 -- and will now also miss the series decider in Ahmedabad, starting on March 09.</p>

<p>Under Smith, Australia produced a clinical performance in the third Test at the Holkar Stadium, Indore. Opting to bat first, Rohit Sharma-led India folded for a paltry 109 -- thanks to&nbsp;Matthew Kuhnemann's 5 for 16 -- before Australia only managed 197 but took a vital 88-run lead. In reply, India once again fell flat in their second essay; being dismissed for 163 in 60.3 overs. Chasing 76, Smith &amp; Co. chased down the target with nine wickets in hand in the morning session of Day 3.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thus, Australia -- who were without Cummins -- produced a clinical performance to keep the four-match series alive, at 2-1 in India's favour.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-are-ready-to-give-our-lives-for-babar-azam-pak-batter-comes-in-support-of-under-fire-national-captain-569163">'We are ready to give our lives for Babar Azam': Pak batter comes in support of under-fire national captain</a></strong></p>

<p>After leading Australia to an emphatic win, Smith said after the game, "My time is done. It's Pat's team now. I've obviously been able to stand in this week, obviously in tough circumstances with Patty going home. Our thoughts are still with him back home."</p>

<p>"But India is a part of the world I love captaining ... it's probably my favourite place in the world to captain. Every ball is an event and therefore can dictate what happens after, which is something that I really love and you've got to be ahead of the game. So I thought I did it well this week and it was good fun," he added.</p>

<p>The fourth and final Test begins at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on March 09. Smith-led Aussies will be desperate to end the series with a 2-2 stalemate. They have already qualified for the WTC final after the Indore Test win.</p>


Steve Smith is set to lead Australia in the fourth and final Test versus India as well, with regular skipper Pat Cummins to remain in Australia with his ailing mother.

Steve Smith is set to lead Australia in the fourth and final Test versus India as well, with regular skipper Pat Cummins to remain in Australia with his ailing mother. The Aussie speedster's mother Maria is ill with breast cancer and is in palliative care, as reported by Cricket Australia. Thus, Cummins had skipped the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, as well -- which the visitors won by nine wickets to keep the series alive at 2-1 -- and will now also miss the series decider in Ahmedabad, starting on March 09. Under Smith, Australia produced a clinical performance in the third Test at the Holkar Stadium, Indore. Opting to bat first, Rohit Sharma-led India folded for a paltry 109 -- thanks to Matthew Kuhnemann's 5 for 16 -- before Australia only managed 197 but took a vital 88-run lead. In reply, India once again fell flat in their second essay; being dismissed for 163 in 60.3 overs. Chasing 76, Smith & Co. chased down the target with nine wickets in hand in the morning session of Day 3. Thus, Australia -- who were without Cummins -- produced a clinical performance to keep the four-match series alive, at 2-1 in India's favour. Also read: 'We are ready to give our lives for Babar Azam': Pak batter comes in support of under-fire national captain After leading Australia to an emphatic win, Smith said after the game, "My time is done. It's Pat's team now. I've obviously been able to stand in this week, obviously in tough circumstances with Patty going home. Our thoughts are still with him back home." "But India is a part of the world I love captaining ... it's probably my favourite place in the world to captain. Every ball is an event and therefore can dictate what happens after, which is something that I really love and you've got to be ahead of the game. So I thought I did it well this week and it was good fun," he added. The fourth and final Test begins at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on March 09. Smith-led Aussies will be desperate to end the series with a 2-2 stalemate. They have already qualified for the WTC final after the Indore Test win.

India vs Australia, BGT 2022/23: Steve Smith set to lead in final Test in Pat Cummins' absence

<p>Ace Indian seamer Mohammed Shami is all set to return to playing XI for the final Test against Australia in Ahmedabad as India eye a slot in the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC). Shami was rested for the third Test in Indore as part of the workload management drill by the BCCI and team management for the key players who are in the scheme of things for the 50-over World Cup.</p>

<p>Shami and Mohammed Siraj both of whom played in the first two Tests in Nagpur and Delhi and are also part of the ODI series that starts from March 17th in Mumbai, probably won’t play together in the final Test as Siraj is now expected to be rested for the Ahmedabad game. Umesh Yadav, who was picked in the playing XI in the third Test, is likely to retain his place for the deciding game.</p>

<p>As India currently lead the four-match series 2-1, having lost the previous match at the Holkar Stadium by nine wickets on a wicket that ICC rated ‘poor’, they will aim to win the final Test and qualify directly for the finals of WTC for the second time. As of now, only Australia has qualified for the WTC final, which is scheduled to take place at the Oval in London on June 7th.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-tendulkar-to-gilchrist-heres-how-top-players-paid-tribute-to-shane-warne-on-his-death-anniversary-568525">From Tendulkar to Gilchrist, here's how top players paid tribute to Shane Warne on his death anniversary</a></p>

<p>As reported by the PTI, following the drama surrounding the Indore pitch, the Gujarat State Association is unlikely to put its reputation on the line by preparing a similar surface as the one used in Indore.&nbsp;A&nbsp;source in the Association has told PTI that they haven’t received any instructions on how the wicket should play for the final match as they are likely to go ahead with the normal pitch.</p>

<p>"We haven't received any instructions from the Indian team management and our local curators are preparing a normal track as we have always done through the season," a state association source told PTI. "In fact, last Ranji game over here in January, Railways scored 500 plus (508) batting first, and Gujarat, although had innings defeat, scored 200 plus in both innings. It won't be too different this time," the source added.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the last time a Test match took place at the Narendra Modi Stadium between India and England in 2021, it ended in two days.</p>


Ace Indian seamer Mohammed Shami is all set to return to playing XI for the final Test against Australia in Ahmedabad as India eye a slot in the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC).

Ace Indian seamer Mohammed Shami is all set to return to playing XI for the final Test against Australia in Ahmedabad as India eye a slot in the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC). Shami was rested for the third Test in Indore as part of the workload management drill by the BCCI and team management for the key players who are in the scheme of things for the 50-over World Cup. Shami and Mohammed Siraj both of whom played in the first two Tests in Nagpur and Delhi and are also part of the ODI series that starts from March 17th in Mumbai, probably won’t play together in the final Test as Siraj is now expected to be rested for the Ahmedabad game. Umesh Yadav, who was picked in the playing XI in the third Test, is likely to retain his place for the deciding game. As India currently lead the four-match series 2-1, having lost the previous match at the Holkar Stadium by nine wickets on a wicket that ICC rated ‘poor’, they will aim to win the final Test and qualify directly for the finals of WTC for the second time. As of now, only Australia has qualified for the WTC final, which is scheduled to take place at the Oval in London on June 7th. ALSO READ: From Tendulkar to Gilchrist, here's how top players paid tribute to Shane Warne on his death anniversary As reported by the PTI, following the drama surrounding the Indore pitch, the Gujarat State Association is unlikely to put its reputation on the line by preparing a similar surface as the one used in Indore. A source in the Association has told PTI that they haven’t received any instructions on how the wicket should play for the final match as they are likely to go ahead with the normal pitch. "We haven't received any instructions from the Indian team management and our local curators are preparing a normal track as we have always done through the season," a state association source told PTI. "In fact, last Ranji game over here in January, Railways scored 500 plus (508) batting first, and Gujarat, although had innings defeat, scored 200 plus in both innings. It won't be too different this time," the source added. Meanwhile, the last time a Test match took place at the Narendra Modi Stadium between India and England in 2021, it ended in two days.

IND vs AUS: Mohammed Shami set to return for final Test in Ahmedabad as India eye spot in WTC final

<p>Australia thumped India by nine wickets on Day 3 of the third and penultimate Test, at the Holkar Stadium, Indore, on Friday (March 03), to keep the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar series alive at 2-1, with the final Test on March 09. Resuming the day's play, Australia needed only 76 runs for a famous win and chased down the target with Travis Head leading the charge (49*). With this win, Australia have also qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final.</p>

<p>The day's play started with R Ashwin getting rid of in-form opener Usman Khawaja. The left-hander failed to open his account and was caught behind by KS Bharat as Ashwin drew the first blood in the opening over. However, from thereon, there was not much to cheer for India as Head-Labuschagne looked confident, bought some time in the middle, and guided the side to a memorable nine-wicket triumph.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Talking about the Test match, Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first. Nothing clicked for India on a pitch that turned fair and square. The likes of Rohit, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, Shreyas Iyer, etc. all fell flat as&nbsp;Matthew Kuhnemann, playing his second Test, ended with a five-fer (5 for 16). India started with the ball by not being consistent in their line and length and Australia ended the opening day with a 47-run lead, with six wickets in hand.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-did-not-make-any-sense-sanjay-manjrekar-slams-rohit-sharmas-tactics-in-indore-test-568013">'It did not make any sense': Sanjay Manjrekar slams Rohit Sharma's tactics in Indore Test</a></strong></p>

<p>Day 2 saw a fightback from India with Jadeja, Umesh Yadav and Ashwin dismissing Australia for 197. However, the Steve Smith-led side managed to take a vital 88-run lead. In their second essay, India once again fell flat and got dismissed for 163 with Nathan Lyon taking 8 for 64 (ending with an 11-wicket haul). By virtue of his match-winning spell, Lyon&nbsp;became the second&nbsp;in the list of most wickets against India (going past Muttiah Muralitharan) and&nbsp;also equalled Richie Benaud's tally of most 5-fers&nbsp;(five) against India on their home soil.</p>

<p>On Friday morning, Australia ended the formalities by chasing a 76-run target and have qualified for the WTC final, to be held in early June at The Oval, London.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Shortest home Tests that ended in a defeat for India<br />
1135 balls Aus vs Ind Indore 2022/23 *</strong><br />
1459 balls Eng vs Ind Kanpur 1951/52<br />
1474 balls WI vs Ind Kolkata 1983/84<br />
1476 balls Aus vs Ind Mumbai WS 2000/01</p>

<p>The Border-Gavaskar Trophy remains alive as both teams will now to go Ahmedabad for the series finale. India will aim for a revamp and end the series with a 3-1 scoreline and also enter the WTC final.</p>


Australia thumped India by nine wickets on Day 3 of the third and penultimate Test, at the Holkar Stadium, Indore, on Friday (March 03), to keep the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar series alive at 2-1, with the final Test on March 09.

Australia thumped India by nine wickets on Day 3 of the third and penultimate Test, at the Holkar Stadium, Indore, on Friday (March 03), to keep the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar series alive at 2-1, with the final Test on March 09. Resuming the day's play, Australia needed only 76 runs for a famous win and chased down the target with Travis Head leading the charge (49*). With this win, Australia have also qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. The day's play started with R Ashwin getting rid of in-form opener Usman Khawaja. The left-hander failed to open his account and was caught behind by KS Bharat as Ashwin drew the first blood in the opening over. However, from thereon, there was not much to cheer for India as Head-Labuschagne looked confident, bought some time in the middle, and guided the side to a memorable nine-wicket triumph. Talking about the Test match, Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first. Nothing clicked for India on a pitch that turned fair and square. The likes of Rohit, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, Shreyas Iyer, etc. all fell flat as Matthew Kuhnemann, playing his second Test, ended with a five-fer (5 for 16). India started with the ball by not being consistent in their line and length and Australia ended the opening day with a 47-run lead, with six wickets in hand. Also read: 'It did not make any sense': Sanjay Manjrekar slams Rohit Sharma's tactics in Indore Test Day 2 saw a fightback from India with Jadeja, Umesh Yadav and Ashwin dismissing Australia for 197. However, the Steve Smith-led side managed to take a vital 88-run lead. In their second essay, India once again fell flat and got dismissed for 163 with Nathan Lyon taking 8 for 64 (ending with an 11-wicket haul). By virtue of his match-winning spell, Lyon became the second in the list of most wickets against India (going past Muttiah Muralitharan) and also equalled Richie Benaud's tally of most 5-fers (five) against India on their home soil. On Friday morning, Australia ended the formalities by chasing a 76-run target and have qualified for the WTC final, to be held in early June at The Oval, London. Shortest home Tests that ended in a defeat for India 1135 balls Aus vs Ind Indore 2022/23 * 1459 balls Eng vs Ind Kanpur 1951/52 1474 balls WI vs Ind Kolkata 1983/84 1476 balls Aus vs Ind Mumbai WS 2000/01 The Border-Gavaskar Trophy remains alive as both teams will now to go Ahmedabad for the series finale. India will aim for a revamp and end the series with a 3-1 scoreline and also enter the WTC final.

Indore Test: Nathan Lyon stars in visitors' famous win to keep series alive; Australia enter WTC final

<p>India have been on the back foot in the third and penultimate Test versus Australia in Indore. They only managed 109 and 163 in the two innings and conceded a vital 88-run lead with Australia making 197 in their first essay. On Day 3, Australia need to chase down a paltry 76-run target to make the four-match Test series scoreline 2-1 with one match to go.</p>

<p>During the entire Test match, a lot has been said and written about India's poor tactics. Former cricketers and experts have questioned Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid-led think tank for not using R Ashwin early on during Day 2's morning session whereas in-form Axar Patel batted below the former in the second essay; running out of partners. In addition, Ravindra Jadeja batted above Shreyas Iyer, at No. 5, which wasn't well received by Sanjay Manjrekar.</p>

<p>Speaking to&nbsp;<em>Star Sports</em>&nbsp;at the end of Day 2, the cricketer-turned-commentator Manjrekar&nbsp;said, "It has just disappointed me in the last and this innings as well that Jadeja came ahead of Shreyas Iyer. You can't be doing that for left-right combination. You've got a proper batter...even if he is a right hander. And Jadeja coming in as a left-hander...I can understand when you have 2-3 left-arm spinners like Bangladesh used to have in the past. Here you have two quality off-spinners bowling. It did not make any sense to me. Iyer has a great feel for spinners so you want him ahead in the line-up. And he has shown his class."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-way-a-spin-bowler-should-come-on-in-sixth-over-matthew-hayden-slams-indore-test-pitch-567978">'No way a spin bowler should come on in sixth over': Matthew Hayden slams Indore Test pitch</a></strong></p>

<p>The ploy to promote Jadeja fell flat as the No. 1 Test all-rounder 4 and 7 in both the innings. Meanwhile, Iyer ended the Test with scores of 0 and 26. Day 3 started with India defending only a mere 76 and removed in-form Usman Khawaja in a flash. However, Travis Head-Marnus Labuschagne have steadied the ship for the Aussies and taken the side closer to a memorable win in Indore.</p>


India have been on the back foot in the third and penultimate Test versus Australia in Indore. They only managed 109 and 163 in the two innings and conceded a vital 88-run lead with Australia making 197 in their first essay.

India have been on the back foot in the third and penultimate Test versus Australia in Indore. They only managed 109 and 163 in the two innings and conceded a vital 88-run lead with Australia making 197 in their first essay. On Day 3, Australia need to chase down a paltry 76-run target to make the four-match Test series scoreline 2-1 with one match to go. During the entire Test match, a lot has been said and written about India's poor tactics. Former cricketers and experts have questioned Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid-led think tank for not using R Ashwin early on during Day 2's morning session whereas in-form Axar Patel batted below the former in the second essay; running out of partners. In addition, Ravindra Jadeja batted above Shreyas Iyer, at No. 5, which wasn't well received by Sanjay Manjrekar. Speaking to Star Sports at the end of Day 2, the cricketer-turned-commentator Manjrekar said, "It has just disappointed me in the last and this innings as well that Jadeja came ahead of Shreyas Iyer. You can't be doing that for left-right combination. You've got a proper batter...even if he is a right hander. And Jadeja coming in as a left-hander...I can understand when you have 2-3 left-arm spinners like Bangladesh used to have in the past. Here you have two quality off-spinners bowling. It did not make any sense to me. Iyer has a great feel for spinners so you want him ahead in the line-up. And he has shown his class." Also Read: 'No way a spin bowler should come on in sixth over': Matthew Hayden slams Indore Test pitch The ploy to promote Jadeja fell flat as the No. 1 Test all-rounder 4 and 7 in both the innings. Meanwhile, Iyer ended the Test with scores of 0 and 26. Day 3 started with India defending only a mere 76 and removed in-form Usman Khawaja in a flash. However, Travis Head-Marnus Labuschagne have steadied the ship for the Aussies and taken the side closer to a memorable win in Indore.

'It did not make any sense': Sanjay Manjrekar slams Rohit Sharma's tactics in Indore Test

<p>The third and penultimate Test between India and Australia, in Indore, has been a low-scoring affair. After Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. opted to bat first on Day 1, on Wednesday (March 01), India were dismissed for a paltry 109 before Australia only managed 197 but gained a vital 88-run lead. In reply, India folded for 163 in their second essay to give a paltry 76-run target to the visitors at stumps on Day 2.</p>

<p>A lot has been said and written about the quality of pitch on offer at the Holkar Stadium, Indore -- who became the host last month&nbsp;after BCCI shifted the venue from Dharamshala to the city in Madhya Pradesh due to&nbsp;poor outfield conditions. Many former cricketers and experts have slammed the pitch as it has spun considerably from the opening day itself.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden came down heavily on the pitch and said on Fox cricket, "This is why I’ve got a problem with these conditions. There’s no way in the world that a spin bowler should come on in the sixth over."</p>

<p>"4.8 degrees, that’s massive turn. That’s the sort of turn you’d expect day three. You’ve got to give batters a chance... Day one, day two should be about batting. It shouldn’t be a spin bowler’s paradise necessarily, it shouldn’t be keeping low and turning a mile on day one,” the former batter concluded.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/his-approach-was-harbhajan-defends-indias-star-batter-despite-poor-outings-in-indore-test-vs-australia-567692">'His approach was...': Harbhajan defends India's star batter despite poor outings in Indore Test vs Australia</a></strong></p>

<p>Ex-Australian captain Michael Clarke said on Sky Sports Radio, "What is this pitch we’re playing on. For me, it’s the puff and dust that’s being picked up from either the quicks or the spinners. It shows it’s only going to get worse." He added at the end of Day 2, "It’s like a Day 3 pitch on Day 1 in India. You don’t want to see that. India could have been bowled out for 70."</p>

<p>Day 3 will commence on Friday morning (March 03) with Australia needing only 76 runs to make the scoreline 2-1 in the ongoing 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Will India spinners spring in a surprise? Only time will tell...</p>


The third and penultimate Test between India and Australia, in Indore, has been a low-scoring affair. After Rohit Sharma & Co. opted to bat first on Day 1, on Wednesday (March 01), India were dismissed for a paltry 109 before Australia only managed 197 but gained a vital 88-run lead.

The third and penultimate Test between India and Australia, in Indore, has been a low-scoring affair. After Rohit Sharma & Co. opted to bat first on Day 1, on Wednesday (March 01), India were dismissed for a paltry 109 before Australia only managed 197 but gained a vital 88-run lead. In reply, India folded for 163 in their second essay to give a paltry 76-run target to the visitors at stumps on Day 2. A lot has been said and written about the quality of pitch on offer at the Holkar Stadium, Indore -- who became the host last month after BCCI shifted the venue from Dharamshala to the city in Madhya Pradesh due to poor outfield conditions. Many former cricketers and experts have slammed the pitch as it has spun considerably from the opening day itself. Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden came down heavily on the pitch and said on Fox cricket, "This is why I’ve got a problem with these conditions. There’s no way in the world that a spin bowler should come on in the sixth over." "4.8 degrees, that’s massive turn. That’s the sort of turn you’d expect day three. You’ve got to give batters a chance... Day one, day two should be about batting. It shouldn’t be a spin bowler’s paradise necessarily, it shouldn’t be keeping low and turning a mile on day one,” the former batter concluded. Also Read: 'His approach was...': Harbhajan defends India's star batter despite poor outings in Indore Test vs Australia Ex-Australian captain Michael Clarke said on Sky Sports Radio, "What is this pitch we’re playing on. For me, it’s the puff and dust that’s being picked up from either the quicks or the spinners. It shows it’s only going to get worse." He added at the end of Day 2, "It’s like a Day 3 pitch on Day 1 in India. You don’t want to see that. India could have been bowled out for 70." Day 3 will commence on Friday morning (March 03) with Australia needing only 76 runs to make the scoreline 2-1 in the ongoing 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Will India spinners spring in a surprise? Only time will tell...

'No way a spin bowler should come on in sixth over': Matthew Hayden slams Indore Test pitch

<p>Australia defeated India by nine wickets on Day 3 of the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, to keep the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy alive, with the scoreline being 2-1 in hosts' favour. A lot has been said and written about the nature of the pitch on offer at the Holkar Stadium, Indore where the match ended in less than three complete days. After the game, captain Rohit Sharma reacted to all such noises around the Indore pitch.</p>

<p>The likes of Matthew Hayden, Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Michael Clarke, etc. opined on the pitch ever since the Test commenced on Wednesday (March 01). While 14 wickets fell on the opening day, as many as 16 fell on Day 2. At the post-match presser, Rohit reacted to all such criticism and revealed that&nbsp;it was Indian team's&nbsp;collective decision&nbsp;to play on such surfaces despite being aware of the challenges.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rohit said, "Former cricketers did not play on pitches like this. So I don't know. Like I said, this is the kind of pitch we wanted to play in and this is our strength. When you play in home, you want to play to your strength and not worry about what people outside are speaking about. And had we not gotten results, we would have thought otherwise."</p>

<p>Hitman pointed out how it is important to laud Nathan Lyon (Player-of-the-Match for his 11-wicket haul including 8 for 64 in India's second innings) and not just talk about the pitch. "This pitch talk is getting too much. Every time we play in India, the focus is only on pitch. Why are people not asking me about Nathan Lyon and how well he bowled? Or, how well Pujara batted in the second innings? Or, how well Usman Khawaja played? Those are the things I can give you a details on, but not on pitch because it is absolutely not necessary,” Rohit added.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/updated-icc-world-test-championship-points-table-after-australia-beat-india-in-indore-568058">Updated ICC World Test Championship points table after Australia beat India in Indore</a></strong></p>

<p>At the post-match presentation, Rohit also highlighted how India should tackle such tough batting surfaces. "We need to keep it simple and follow the plan. When you are playing on challenging pitches, we need to be brave. We allowed their bowlers to bowl on one particular spot. Not taking any credit away from their bowlers. especially Nathan Lyon, he kept challenging us hitting the right lengths. When the bowler is trying to do that, gotta be a little brave which I thought we were not," he said.</p>

<p>The fourth and final Test gets underway in Ahmedabad on March 09. Australia have already qualified for the WTC final whereas India still need a win to not depend on other results and march into the summit clash, to be held in early June in London.</p>


Australia defeated India by nine wickets on Day 3 of the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, to keep the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy alive, with the scoreline being 2-1 in hosts' favour.

Australia defeated India by nine wickets on Day 3 of the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, to keep the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy alive, with the scoreline being 2-1 in hosts' favour. A lot has been said and written about the nature of the pitch on offer at the Holkar Stadium, Indore where the match ended in less than three complete days. After the game, captain Rohit Sharma reacted to all such noises around the Indore pitch. The likes of Matthew Hayden, Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Michael Clarke, etc. opined on the pitch ever since the Test commenced on Wednesday (March 01). While 14 wickets fell on the opening day, as many as 16 fell on Day 2. At the post-match presser, Rohit reacted to all such criticism and revealed that it was Indian team's collective decision to play on such surfaces despite being aware of the challenges. Rohit said, "Former cricketers did not play on pitches like this. So I don't know. Like I said, this is the kind of pitch we wanted to play in and this is our strength. When you play in home, you want to play to your strength and not worry about what people outside are speaking about. And had we not gotten results, we would have thought otherwise." Hitman pointed out how it is important to laud Nathan Lyon (Player-of-the-Match for his 11-wicket haul including 8 for 64 in India's second innings) and not just talk about the pitch. "This pitch talk is getting too much. Every time we play in India, the focus is only on pitch. Why are people not asking me about Nathan Lyon and how well he bowled? Or, how well Pujara batted in the second innings? Or, how well Usman Khawaja played? Those are the things I can give you a details on, but not on pitch because it is absolutely not necessary,” Rohit added. Also Read: Updated ICC World Test Championship points table after Australia beat India in Indore At the post-match presentation, Rohit also highlighted how India should tackle such tough batting surfaces. "We need to keep it simple and follow the plan. When you are playing on challenging pitches, we need to be brave. We allowed their bowlers to bowl on one particular spot. Not taking any credit away from their bowlers. especially Nathan Lyon, he kept challenging us hitting the right lengths. When the bowler is trying to do that, gotta be a little brave which I thought we were not," he said. The fourth and final Test gets underway in Ahmedabad on March 09. Australia have already qualified for the WTC final whereas India still need a win to not depend on other results and march into the summit clash, to be held in early June in London.

'Former cricketers did not...': Rohit Sharma on ex-players' rant on Indore Test pitch after India's defeat

<p>Jasprit Bumrah has been out of cricketing action since September 2022. Now, it is being reported that the premier pacer will take more time to fully recover and is likely to fly to New Zealand for his back surgery. The speedster is all set to skip the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition, which is a big blow for the Mumbai Indians (MI) and will be leaving the country to get rid of his back issues with treatment in New Zealand.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per a report in the Cricbuzz, Bumrah&nbsp;could fly to New Zealand for his back issues, which has persisted for a long time. The BCCI’s medical team and the National Cricket Academy's (NCA) managers have shortlisted a Kiwi surgeon who will take care of the Indian speedster and help him overcome his back issue. It is to be noted that the expert&nbsp;has previously worked with English pacer Jofra Archer. The Christchurch-based surgeon Rowan Schouten has previously also operated the former New Zealand pacer Shane Bond, the current bowling coach of the MI camp.</p>

<p>Bumrah is expected to leave for Auckland at the earliest. At this point, he is likely to take more than five months to fully recover and can return to action in September. Thus, Bumrah is all set to miss IPL 2023, WTC final, and Asia Cup 2023 and can also be out of the ICC ODI World Cup, to be held in India later this year.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-r-ashwin-overtakes-kapil-dev-to-become-indias-third-highest-wicket-taker-during-indore-test-567545">IND vs AUS: R Ashwin overtakes Kapil Dev to become India's third-highest wicket-taker during Indore Test</a></strong></p>

<p>The Indian team management will be closely monitoring Bumrah's progress. He is a vital cog in India's plans across formats and it will be a huge blow for the Men in Blue if he is ruled out of the ODI WC, to be held during October-November.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since the beginning of 2022, Bumrah has not played a lot of cricket. He has featured in only five Tests, ODIs and T20Is each for Team India whereas played all 14 games for the Rohit Sharma-led MI franchise during IPL 2022.&nbsp;</p>


Jasprit Bumrah has been out of cricketing action since September 2022. Now, it is being reported that the premier pacer will take more time to fully recover and is likely to fly to New Zealand for his back surgery.

Jasprit Bumrah has been out of cricketing action since September 2022. Now, it is being reported that the premier pacer will take more time to fully recover and is likely to fly to New Zealand for his back surgery. The speedster is all set to skip the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition, which is a big blow for the Mumbai Indians (MI) and will be leaving the country to get rid of his back issues with treatment in New Zealand. As per a report in the Cricbuzz, Bumrah could fly to New Zealand for his back issues, which has persisted for a long time. The BCCI’s medical team and the National Cricket Academy's (NCA) managers have shortlisted a Kiwi surgeon who will take care of the Indian speedster and help him overcome his back issue. It is to be noted that the expert has previously worked with English pacer Jofra Archer. The Christchurch-based surgeon Rowan Schouten has previously also operated the former New Zealand pacer Shane Bond, the current bowling coach of the MI camp. Bumrah is expected to leave for Auckland at the earliest. At this point, he is likely to take more than five months to fully recover and can return to action in September. Thus, Bumrah is all set to miss IPL 2023, WTC final, and Asia Cup 2023 and can also be out of the ICC ODI World Cup, to be held in India later this year. Also read: IND vs AUS: R Ashwin overtakes Kapil Dev to become India's third-highest wicket-taker during Indore Test The Indian team management will be closely monitoring Bumrah's progress. He is a vital cog in India's plans across formats and it will be a huge blow for the Men in Blue if he is ruled out of the ODI WC, to be held during October-November. Since the beginning of 2022, Bumrah has not played a lot of cricket. He has featured in only five Tests, ODIs and T20Is each for Team India whereas played all 14 games for the Rohit Sharma-led MI franchise during IPL 2022.

Jasprit Bumrah's back surgery treatment to be in NZ, India pacer to be out of action till September: Report

<p>Day 1 of the third and penultimate Test between India and Australia hasn't gone the home side's way. After opting to bat first, India only managed a paltry 109 in 33.2 overs and in reply saw Australia go to lunch at 70 for 1. However, Ravindra Jadeja and his ardent fans had something to cheer for as the all-rounder joined former Indian captain Kapil Dev in an elite list.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When Jadeja dismissed Australian opener Travis Head for 9, he became only the second Indian all-rounder, after Kapil, to complete a double of 5,000 runs and 500 international wickets.&nbsp;Playing in his 63rd Test, the 34-year-old&nbsp;achieved the historic feat in the ongoing series where he has been on a roll.&nbsp;So far, the left-hander has scored a vital 70 in the first Test and accounted for as many as 17 scalps -- including a 10-wicket haul in the second Test in New Delhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-is-the-best-option-to-succeed-cheteshwar-pujara-at-no-3-wasim-jaffer-pins-hopes-on-indias-star-batter-567090">He is the best option to succeed Cheteshwar Pujara at No. 3: Wasim Jaffer pins hopes on India's star batter</a></strong></p>

<p>Talking about the third and penultimate Test's opening day, Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. chose to bat first after winning the coin toss. Since then, nothing has gone India's way as they were dismissed for 109. The likes of Rohit, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Jadeja, Shreyas Iyer, etc. fell flat and none of the Indian batters could stay&nbsp;in the middle for long.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In reply, the Steve Smith-led Australian line-up is off to a strong start after losing Head. Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschange, Smith and the likes will aim to go past India's score and compile a big lead for the visitors, who trail 0-2 in the four-match series.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Day 1 of the third and penultimate Test between India and Australia hasn't gone the home side's way. After opting to bat first, India only managed a paltry 109 in 33.

Day 1 of the third and penultimate Test between India and Australia hasn't gone the home side's way. After opting to bat first, India only managed a paltry 109 in 33.2 overs and in reply saw Australia go to lunch at 70 for 1. However, Ravindra Jadeja and his ardent fans had something to cheer for as the all-rounder joined former Indian captain Kapil Dev in an elite list. When Jadeja dismissed Australian opener Travis Head for 9, he became only the second Indian all-rounder, after Kapil, to complete a double of 5,000 runs and 500 international wickets. Playing in his 63rd Test, the 34-year-old achieved the historic feat in the ongoing series where he has been on a roll. So far, the left-hander has scored a vital 70 in the first Test and accounted for as many as 17 scalps -- including a 10-wicket haul in the second Test in New Delhi. Also Read: He is the best option to succeed Cheteshwar Pujara at No. 3: Wasim Jaffer pins hopes on India's star batter Talking about the third and penultimate Test's opening day, Rohit Sharma & Co. chose to bat first after winning the coin toss. Since then, nothing has gone India's way as they were dismissed for 109. The likes of Rohit, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Jadeja, Shreyas Iyer, etc. fell flat and none of the Indian batters could stay in the middle for long. In reply, the Steve Smith-led Australian line-up is off to a strong start after losing Head. Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschange, Smith and the likes will aim to go past India's score and compile a big lead for the visitors, who trail 0-2 in the four-match series. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

IND vs AUS: Ravindra Jadeja joins Kapil Dev in elite list after getting rid of Travis Head in 3rd Test

<p>Indian batters fell flat in both innings of the ongoing third and penultimate Test versus Australia, being held at the Holkar Stadium, Indore. Winning the toss, on Wednesday (March 01), captain Rohit Sharma opted to bat first but India only managed a paltry 109. In reply, Indian bowlers -- led by Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav and R Ashwin -- managed to dismiss the Aussies for 197 but another poor show from the Indian batters, in their second essay, led to the home side bundling out for 163 at stumps on Day 2; setting up a mere 76-run target&nbsp;on Thursday (March 02).</p>

<p>With India starring on the brink of a heavy defeat in Indore, many former cricketers and fans have pointed fingers at Indian batters' flop showing in the entire Test. The likes of Rohit, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, etc. fell flat whereas only Cheteshwar Pujara managed a fighting 59 in the second innings. Talking about Shubman Gill -- who has been in splendid form in white-ball format -- came into the playing XI in place of out-of-form KL Rahul. All eyes were on him but Gill returned with scores of 21 and 5. In the second innings, he danced down the track, off Nathan Lyon (who ended with 8 for 64), but was completely outfoxed by the off-spinner and departed&nbsp;for 5. Many criticised Gill's ploy but former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has backed the youngster.</p>

<p>“See, the game plan is simple here. You can't survive on this pitch with defence. Pujara was using his feet throughout his innings. If you're thinking that you can wait out for a spell and score runs later, it won't work. Even if you're playing on 70-80 on this pitch, you can get out with just one odd delivery,” Harbhajan said on Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the match.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-steve-smith-pulls-off-a-stunner-to-dismiss-cheteshwar-pujara-on-day-2-of-indore-test-567669">WATCH: Steve Smith pulls off a stunner to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara on Day 2 of Indore Test</a></strong></p>

<p>“You have to look out for the opportunity to score runs. You need to see where you can get a four. Shubman wanted to go for a six, and when you consider the pitch condition here, his approach was right because you can't defend on this pitch for long,” Harbhajan further added.</p>

<p>Day 3 will commence on Friday (March 03) with Rohit &amp; Co. defending 76 runs in the final innings. Steve Smith-led Australia are on the cusp of winning the game and keeping the four-match series alive with a 2-1 scoreline.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<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>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Indian batters fell flat in both innings of the ongoing third and penultimate Test versus Australia, being held at the Holkar Stadium, Indore. Winning the toss, on Wednesday (March 01), captain Rohit Sharma opted to bat first but India only managed a paltry 109.

Indian batters fell flat in both innings of the ongoing third and penultimate Test versus Australia, being held at the Holkar Stadium, Indore. Winning the toss, on Wednesday (March 01), captain Rohit Sharma opted to bat first but India only managed a paltry 109. In reply, Indian bowlers -- led by Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav and R Ashwin -- managed to dismiss the Aussies for 197 but another poor show from the Indian batters, in their second essay, led to the home side bundling out for 163 at stumps on Day 2; setting up a mere 76-run target on Thursday (March 02). With India starring on the brink of a heavy defeat in Indore, many former cricketers and fans have pointed fingers at Indian batters' flop showing in the entire Test. The likes of Rohit, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, etc. fell flat whereas only Cheteshwar Pujara managed a fighting 59 in the second innings. Talking about Shubman Gill -- who has been in splendid form in white-ball format -- came into the playing XI in place of out-of-form KL Rahul. All eyes were on him but Gill returned with scores of 21 and 5. In the second innings, he danced down the track, off Nathan Lyon (who ended with 8 for 64), but was completely outfoxed by the off-spinner and departed for 5. Many criticised Gill's ploy but former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has backed the youngster. “See, the game plan is simple here. You can't survive on this pitch with defence. Pujara was using his feet throughout his innings. If you're thinking that you can wait out for a spell and score runs later, it won't work. Even if you're playing on 70-80 on this pitch, you can get out with just one odd delivery,” Harbhajan said on Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the match. Also Read: WATCH: Steve Smith pulls off a stunner to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara on Day 2 of Indore Test “You have to look out for the opportunity to score runs. You need to see where you can get a four. Shubman wanted to go for a six, and when you consider the pitch condition here, his approach was right because you can't defend on this pitch for long,” Harbhajan further added. Day 3 will commence on Friday (March 03) with Rohit & Co. defending 76 runs in the final innings. Steve Smith-led Australia are on the cusp of winning the game and keeping the four-match series alive with a 2-1 scoreline. ×

'His approach was...': Harbhajan defends India's star batter despite poor outings in Indore Test vs Australia

<p>Day 2 of the third and penultimate Test between India and Australia, in Indore, saw Australia get dismissed for 197 -- resuming the day from 156 for 4 -- after dismissing Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. for 109 on Day 1. In their second essay, India only managed 163 all-out , setting a paltry 76-run target for the visitors. The third day will commence, on Friday (March 03), with Australia needing only 76 to make the four-match series scoreline 2-1.&nbsp;</p>

<p>From India's perspective, only Cheteshwar Pujara looked comfortable in the middle during their second innings. While India had a chance to wipe out the deficit and set a challenging target but none of their star batters made a mark. Pujara was the lone warrior who fell for an impressive 142-ball 59. He was dismissed by Nathan Lyon -- who returned with a stunning 8 for 64 -- but stand-in captain Steve Smith won all the accolodes for Pujara's dismissal by pulling off a one-handed stunner at leg slip. Pujara flicked a delivery off Lyon and it went low to Smith's right hand. The 33-year-old was proactive enough to grab the ball in a flash and send Pujara packing. <strong>Here's the video:</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Steve Smith 🙏😮<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pujara?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pujara</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cheteshwarpujara?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cheteshwarpujara</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvAUS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvAUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsAUSTest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsAUSTest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndvsAus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndvsAus</a> <a href="https://t.co/FwoFM2wmD7">pic.twitter.com/FwoFM2wmD7</a></p>
— ßivek¹⁸ (@Bvekgupta) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bvekgupta/status/1631253275587792897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-3rd-test-unplayable-umesh-yadav-sends-mitchell-starcs-stumps-flying-with-a-jaffa-watch-567629">IND vs AUS, 3rd Test: UNPLAYABLE! Umesh Yadav sends Mitchell Starc's stumps flying with a jaffa - Watch</a></strong></p>

<p>After Pujara's dismissal, India were reduced to 155 for 8. From thereon, Axar Patel tried to go big and add to India's lead before he ran out of partners as the home side got dismissed for 163 in 60.3 overs. After stumps on Day 2, Pujara told the broadcasters, "It is a tough pitch to bat on. It is not easy and you need to trust your defence, you need to make sure to get to the pitch of the ball and try to judge the length early. I know it is not enough but still there is a chance (to win). You need to do that on such pitches, if you keep defending then there's one ball which will bounce and hit your glove, you need to find the right balance between attack and defence."</p>

<p>On his dismissal and Smith's brilliance, Pujara said, "It was a brilliant catch by Smith. Bit disappointed, the way things were coming along.. a partnership with Axar, we could have gotten a few more. I am learning few more shots and if there's a situation or demand then you get few quick runs, I have been working on that and I'm confident that whenever it is needed I can play the (big) shot."</p>


Day 2 of the third and penultimate Test between India and Australia, in Indore, saw Australia get dismissed for 197 -- resuming the day from 156 for 4 -- after dismissing Rohit Sharma & Co.

Day 2 of the third and penultimate Test between India and Australia, in Indore, saw Australia get dismissed for 197 -- resuming the day from 156 for 4 -- after dismissing Rohit Sharma & Co. for 109 on Day 1. In their second essay, India only managed 163 all-out , setting a paltry 76-run target for the visitors. The third day will commence, on Friday (March 03), with Australia needing only 76 to make the four-match series scoreline 2-1. From India's perspective, only Cheteshwar Pujara looked comfortable in the middle during their second innings. While India had a chance to wipe out the deficit and set a challenging target but none of their star batters made a mark. Pujara was the lone warrior who fell for an impressive 142-ball 59. He was dismissed by Nathan Lyon -- who returned with a stunning 8 for 64 -- but stand-in captain Steve Smith won all the accolodes for Pujara's dismissal by pulling off a one-handed stunner at leg slip. Pujara flicked a delivery off Lyon and it went low to Smith's right hand. The 33-year-old was proactive enough to grab the ball in a flash and send Pujara packing. Here's the video: Steve Smith 🙏😮#pujara #cheteshwarpujara #INDvAUS #INDvsAUSTest #IndvsAus pic.twitter.com/FwoFM2wmD7 — ßivek¹⁸ (@Bvekgupta) March 2, 2023 × Also Read: IND vs AUS, 3rd Test: UNPLAYABLE! Umesh Yadav sends Mitchell Starc's stumps flying with a jaffa - Watch After Pujara's dismissal, India were reduced to 155 for 8. From thereon, Axar Patel tried to go big and add to India's lead before he ran out of partners as the home side got dismissed for 163 in 60.3 overs. After stumps on Day 2, Pujara told the broadcasters, "It is a tough pitch to bat on. It is not easy and you need to trust your defence, you need to make sure to get to the pitch of the ball and try to judge the length early. I know it is not enough but still there is a chance (to win). You need to do that on such pitches, if you keep defending then there's one ball which will bounce and hit your glove, you need to find the right balance between attack and defence." On his dismissal and Smith's brilliance, Pujara said, "It was a brilliant catch by Smith. Bit disappointed, the way things were coming along.. a partnership with Axar, we could have gotten a few more. I am learning few more shots and if there's a situation or demand then you get few quick runs, I have been working on that and I'm confident that whenever it is needed I can play the (big) shot."

WATCH: Steve Smith pulls off a stunner to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara on Day 2 of Indore Test

<p>Indian opener KL Rahul has been under-fire for a long time. He has had a torrid form in Test cricket in the recent past and paid the price after being dropped from India's playing XI in the third and penultimate Test versus Australia in Indore. Rahul only managed 198 runs in his last 12 innings and scored 38 runs in three outings in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 edition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hence, Rahul was sidelined from the playing XI for the Indore Test, with Shubman Gill replacing him, despite captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid backing him after the second Test in New Delhi. While many called for his omission, former Australian captain Michael Clarke feels Rahul could have been given a run with the team enjoying a winning streak.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I really like KL Rahul. He is a great young man and an extremely gifted player. India is winning at the moment, so if I was the captain, I would be fighting for him. I would be saying, ‘We are winning; I know he is not at his best, but we can afford to keep him on the team right now. He is a good player, he will train hard enough, and he is going to come back for us’," Clarke told RevSportz.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-r-ashwin-overtakes-kapil-dev-to-become-indias-third-highest-wicket-taker-during-indore-test-567545">IND vs AUS: R Ashwin overtakes Kapil Dev to become India's third-highest wicket-taker during Indore Test</a></strong></p>

<p>"If the team is winning, I think he can keep players who aren’t performing well for a little bit longer. So I will be fighting for KL Rahul," Clarke further added.</p>

<p>In Rahul's absence, Rohit-led India have struggled on a turning track at the Holkar Stadium, Indore. On Day 1 of the third and penultimate Test, India opted to bat first and folded for a paltry 109. In reply, Australia bundled out for 197 and have dismissed half of India's batting line-up in their second essay with hosts' overall lead being less than 50.</p>


Indian opener KL Rahul has been under-fire for a long time. He has had a torrid form in Test cricket in the recent past and paid the price after being dropped from India's playing XI in the third and penultimate Test versus Australia in Indore.

Indian opener KL Rahul has been under-fire for a long time. He has had a torrid form in Test cricket in the recent past and paid the price after being dropped from India's playing XI in the third and penultimate Test versus Australia in Indore. Rahul only managed 198 runs in his last 12 innings and scored 38 runs in three outings in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 edition. Hence, Rahul was sidelined from the playing XI for the Indore Test, with Shubman Gill replacing him, despite captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid backing him after the second Test in New Delhi. While many called for his omission, former Australian captain Michael Clarke feels Rahul could have been given a run with the team enjoying a winning streak. "I really like KL Rahul. He is a great young man and an extremely gifted player. India is winning at the moment, so if I was the captain, I would be fighting for him. I would be saying, ‘We are winning; I know he is not at his best, but we can afford to keep him on the team right now. He is a good player, he will train hard enough, and he is going to come back for us’," Clarke told RevSportz. Also read: IND vs AUS: R Ashwin overtakes Kapil Dev to become India's third-highest wicket-taker during Indore Test "If the team is winning, I think he can keep players who aren’t performing well for a little bit longer. So I will be fighting for KL Rahul," Clarke further added. In Rahul's absence, Rohit-led India have struggled on a turning track at the Holkar Stadium, Indore. On Day 1 of the third and penultimate Test, India opted to bat first and folded for a paltry 109. In reply, Australia bundled out for 197 and have dismissed half of India's batting line-up in their second essay with hosts' overall lead being less than 50.

IND vs AUS: 'I will be fighting for him' - Former Aussie captain comes in support of under-fire KL Rahul

<p>Virat Kohli announced that he will step down as the T20I captain after the 2021 T20 World Cup. Post the showpiece event, he was sacked as the ODI captain before he eventually stepped down as the Test skipper. Under Kohli, India played four ICC tournaments where they reached the final twice, made it to the semi-finals once and bowed out of the group stage on one occasion. He led the charge for India in Tests and made them a ruthless side whereas the team remained consistent in bilaterals in white-ball formats but could not emerge on top in ICC knockouts.</p>

<p>During&nbsp;an appearance on the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) podcast, the 34-year-old Kohli recently revealed how many labelled him a failed captain for not winning an ICC title. "Look, you play to win tournaments. I captained in Champions Trophy 2017 (reached the final), 2019 World Cup (reached the semifinal), I captained in World Test Championship (reached the final), and T20 World Cup in 2021 (failed to qualify for the knockouts). After three (four) ICC tournaments, I was considered as a failed captain," Kohli said.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-r-ashwin-overtakes-james-anderson-to-become-no-1-ranked-bowler-during-day-1-of-indore-test-567152">Ind vs Aus: R Ashwin overtakes James Anderson to become No. 1 ranked bowler during Day 1 of Indore Test</a></strong></p>

<p>Now, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has responded to Kohli's critics. He feels 'not winning&nbsp;an ICC tournament doesn't tell us that Kohli&nbsp;wasn't a strong leader'. On his Youtube channel, Butt said,&nbsp;"People who do not understand the game of cricket very well judge a captain's performance based on how he has fared in the Champions Trophy or the World Cup. However, if you have a good win percentage and are tactically very strong, but haven't won a big tournament, it wouldn't be fair to say that you haven't been a good captain."</p>

<p>Butt further added, "There might have been a few mistakes in high-pressure games, or it might just have been a case of luck. Not winning an ICC tournament doesn't tell us that he [Virat Kohli] wasn't a strong leader."</p>

<p>At present, the Kohli-starrer Indian team is involved in the four-match Test series versus Australia. On Day 1 of the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, hosts India are on the back foot at stumps after being dismissed for 109. Australia ended the day's play at 156 for 4, with an overall lead of 47.</p>

<p>Leading the series 2-0, Rohit Sharma-led India are aiming for another win in the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy to cement a spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. If India manage to win the WTC final, in June, they will finally end their ten-year-long ICC-title drought.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Virat Kohli announced that he will step down as the T20I captain after the 2021 T20 World Cup. Post the showpiece event, he was sacked as the ODI captain before he eventually stepped down as the Test skipper.

Virat Kohli announced that he will step down as the T20I captain after the 2021 T20 World Cup. Post the showpiece event, he was sacked as the ODI captain before he eventually stepped down as the Test skipper. Under Kohli, India played four ICC tournaments where they reached the final twice, made it to the semi-finals once and bowed out of the group stage on one occasion. He led the charge for India in Tests and made them a ruthless side whereas the team remained consistent in bilaterals in white-ball formats but could not emerge on top in ICC knockouts. During an appearance on the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) podcast, the 34-year-old Kohli recently revealed how many labelled him a failed captain for not winning an ICC title. "Look, you play to win tournaments. I captained in Champions Trophy 2017 (reached the final), 2019 World Cup (reached the semifinal), I captained in World Test Championship (reached the final), and T20 World Cup in 2021 (failed to qualify for the knockouts). After three (four) ICC tournaments, I was considered as a failed captain," Kohli said. Also Read: Ind vs Aus: R Ashwin overtakes James Anderson to become No. 1 ranked bowler during Day 1 of Indore Test Now, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has responded to Kohli's critics. He feels 'not winning an ICC tournament doesn't tell us that Kohli wasn't a strong leader'. On his Youtube channel, Butt said, "People who do not understand the game of cricket very well judge a captain's performance based on how he has fared in the Champions Trophy or the World Cup. However, if you have a good win percentage and are tactically very strong, but haven't won a big tournament, it wouldn't be fair to say that you haven't been a good captain." Butt further added, "There might have been a few mistakes in high-pressure games, or it might just have been a case of luck. Not winning an ICC tournament doesn't tell us that he [Virat Kohli] wasn't a strong leader." At present, the Kohli-starrer Indian team is involved in the four-match Test series versus Australia. On Day 1 of the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, hosts India are on the back foot at stumps after being dismissed for 109. Australia ended the day's play at 156 for 4, with an overall lead of 47. Leading the series 2-0, Rohit Sharma-led India are aiming for another win in the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy to cement a spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. If India manage to win the WTC final, in June, they will finally end their ten-year-long ICC-title drought. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'Not winning an ICC event...': Ex-Pak captain hits back at Kohli's critics who labelled him a 'failed' captain

<p>India had a forgettable day in the park when they locked horns with Australia in the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, on Wednesday (March 01). Opting to bat first, India only managed a paltry 109 in 33.2 overs before Australia went to stumps at 156 for 4, with an overall lead of 47. Only six Indian batters crossed the double digits, including tail-ender Umesh Yadav. Umesh, who featured in the playing XI in place of a rested Md Shami, scored an entertaining 13-ball 17, comprising two sixes, and equalled Virat Kohli in an elite batting list.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With two maximums in his inning, Umesh joined Kohli to&nbsp;become the joint 17th highest six-hitter for India in the longest format of the game (24). In addition, he surpassed former head coach Ravi Shastri's tally (22) in the process.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-r-ashwin-overtakes-james-anderson-to-become-no-1-ranked-bowler-during-day-1-of-indore-test-567152">Ind vs Aus: R Ashwin overtakes James Anderson to become No. 1 ranked bowler during Day 1 of Indore Test</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Top 5 six-hitters for India in Tests:</strong></p>

<p>Virender Sehwag - 91<br />
MS Dhoni - 78<br />
Sachin Tendulkar - 69<br />
Rohit Sharma - 68<br />
Kapil Dev - 61</p>

<p>Umesh has featured in 54 Tests for India. Currently, he is playing his 55th match in whites. So far, he has accounted for 165 scalps and has a total of 454 runs under his belt, with a best of a 10-ball 31 versus South Africa in late 2019.&nbsp;With India being on the back foot at stumps on Day 1 of the Indore Test, Umesh will be desperate to step up with the ball on Day 2 and not allow Australia to take a sizeable lead.</p>

<p>India lead the four-match series 2-0 and another win will take them to the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


India had a forgettable day in the park when they locked horns with Australia in the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, on Wednesday (March 01). Opting to bat first, India only managed a paltry 109 in 33.

India had a forgettable day in the park when they locked horns with Australia in the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, on Wednesday (March 01). Opting to bat first, India only managed a paltry 109 in 33.2 overs before Australia went to stumps at 156 for 4, with an overall lead of 47. Only six Indian batters crossed the double digits, including tail-ender Umesh Yadav. Umesh, who featured in the playing XI in place of a rested Md Shami, scored an entertaining 13-ball 17, comprising two sixes, and equalled Virat Kohli in an elite batting list. With two maximums in his inning, Umesh joined Kohli to become the joint 17th highest six-hitter for India in the longest format of the game (24). In addition, he surpassed former head coach Ravi Shastri's tally (22) in the process. Also Read: Ind vs Aus: R Ashwin overtakes James Anderson to become No. 1 ranked bowler during Day 1 of Indore Test Top 5 six-hitters for India in Tests: Virender Sehwag - 91 MS Dhoni - 78 Sachin Tendulkar - 69 Rohit Sharma - 68 Kapil Dev - 61 Umesh has featured in 54 Tests for India. Currently, he is playing his 55th match in whites. So far, he has accounted for 165 scalps and has a total of 454 runs under his belt, with a best of a 10-ball 31 versus South Africa in late 2019. With India being on the back foot at stumps on Day 1 of the Indore Test, Umesh will be desperate to step up with the ball on Day 2 and not allow Australia to take a sizeable lead. India lead the four-match series 2-0 and another win will take them to the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

IND vs AUS: Umesh equals Kohli's record, surpasses Shastri in unique list during Day 1 of Indore Test

<p>Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 because of the back injury he sustained in last August, according to ESPNCricinfo. Bumrah did try to make a comeback a couple of times but the injury, for which he's undergoing a rehab in National Cricket Academy (NCA), kept getting serious.</p>

<p>The injury first made Bumrah miss the ICC T20 World Cup last year in which India crashed out in the semi-final after losing by 10 wickets against England. Now, Bumrah may also miss the World Test Championship (WTC) final to be played from June 7 in England, given if India qualify for that.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kl-rahuls-removal-as-vice-captain-doesnt-indicate-anything-says-rohit-sharma-ahead-of-ind-aus-3rd-test-566848">KL Rahul's removal as vice-captain doesn't indicate anything, says Rohit Sharma ahead of Ind-Aus 3rd Test</a></p>

<p>The medical staff from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at the NCA is treating the pacer's case on very urgent basis and Bumrah has been given an option to undergo a surgery. A call on whether Bumrah would go for the surgery or not is expected to be taken soon by the BCCI after consulting the NCA and Bumrah both.</p>

<p>Bumrah's injury has also put on a shadow over his participation in the ICC ODI World Cup which is scheduled to be held in India in October-November.</p>

<p><strong>Read More:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-3nd-test-date-time-venue-scoreboard-squad-details-all-you-need-to-know-566790">IND vs AUS 3nd Test: Date, time, venue, scoreboard, squad details- All you need to know</a></p>

<p>Bumrah, due to the injury, first missed out on Asia Cup last year but after the injury wasn't thought to be serious, he was included in India's T20 WC. The pacer also played two matches against Australia in a T20I series on September 23 or 25 to prove his fitness.</p>

<p>The speedster, however, didn't feature in a match against touring South Africa and was taken to the NCA where his injury turned out to be bigger than assumed after the scans. This update, that he has stress-related lower-back injury,&nbsp;ruled him out of the T20 WC.</p>

<p>Bumrah then once again tried to comeback as he started to bowl by mid-December and was added to India's white-ball squad against Sri Lanka. In a practice drill, however, he didn't comfortable with the workloads and was subsequently ruled out of the ongoing Test series against Australia.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 because of the back injury he sustained in last August, according to ESPNCricinfo.

Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 because of the back injury he sustained in last August, according to ESPNCricinfo. Bumrah did try to make a comeback a couple of times but the injury, for which he's undergoing a rehab in National Cricket Academy (NCA), kept getting serious. The injury first made Bumrah miss the ICC T20 World Cup last year in which India crashed out in the semi-final after losing by 10 wickets against England. Now, Bumrah may also miss the World Test Championship (WTC) final to be played from June 7 in England, given if India qualify for that. Also Read: KL Rahul's removal as vice-captain doesn't indicate anything, says Rohit Sharma ahead of Ind-Aus 3rd Test The medical staff from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at the NCA is treating the pacer's case on very urgent basis and Bumrah has been given an option to undergo a surgery. A call on whether Bumrah would go for the surgery or not is expected to be taken soon by the BCCI after consulting the NCA and Bumrah both. Bumrah's injury has also put on a shadow over his participation in the ICC ODI World Cup which is scheduled to be held in India in October-November. Read More: IND vs AUS 3nd Test: Date, time, venue, scoreboard, squad details- All you need to know Bumrah, due to the injury, first missed out on Asia Cup last year but after the injury wasn't thought to be serious, he was included in India's T20 WC. The pacer also played two matches against Australia in a T20I series on September 23 or 25 to prove his fitness. The speedster, however, didn't feature in a match against touring South Africa and was taken to the NCA where his injury turned out to be bigger than assumed after the scans. This update, that he has stress-related lower-back injury, ruled him out of the T20 WC. Bumrah then once again tried to comeback as he started to bowl by mid-December and was added to India's white-ball squad against Sri Lanka. In a practice drill, however, he didn't comfortable with the workloads and was subsequently ruled out of the ongoing Test series against Australia. 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 here.

Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of IPL 2023 - Report

<p>After the second Test between India and Australia, in the national capital, KL Rahul was removed as the vice-captain when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the national side's squad for the final two Tests. Rahul has been in woeful form and has been facing severe criticism from all corners. It is to be noted that Rahul has only 198 runs in the last 12 innings and has only managed 38 runs in the three outings in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hence, a lot has been said and written about Rahul. Many feel he should be dropped with Shubman Gill being in the form of his life. His sacking as the Test vice-captain has also been highlighted but captain Rohit Sharma stated that his opening partner's removal from the post indicates nothing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I said it after the last game also. When we talk about players going through a tough time, anyone with potential will be given enough time to prove himself. Being vice-captain or not being vice-captain doesn't tell you anything. At that point in time, when he was the vice-captain, he was probably the most senior. His removal of the vice-captaincy doesn't indicate anything," Rohit said on Tuesday ahead of the third and penultimate Test, which kicks off on Wednesday (March 01) in Indore.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;</p>

<p>On being&nbsp;asked about the practice sessions and if Gill's active participation in the nets ahead of the Indore Test means he is set to replace Rahul in the playing XI, Rohit shied away from sharing any details on the team combination.</p>

<p>"As far as Gill and KL are both concerned, that is how they train and practice before any game. Today was an optional training session for the entire group. All 17-18 are in the reckoning. It's not just about Gill and Rahul. But as far as our XI is concerned, we have not finalised it yet. I prefer it to be announced at the toss. Can't count out last-minute injuries and all and we will keep it interesting for you guys as well," Rohit added.</p>

<p><strong>India squad for final two Tests vs Australia</strong></p>

<p><strong>India’s Test squad for the third and fourth Test against Australia: </strong>Rohit Sharma (Captain), K L Rahul, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.</p>


After the second Test between India and Australia, in the national capital, KL Rahul was removed as the vice-captain when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the national side's squad for the final two Tests.

After the second Test between India and Australia, in the national capital, KL Rahul was removed as the vice-captain when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the national side's squad for the final two Tests. Rahul has been in woeful form and has been facing severe criticism from all corners. It is to be noted that Rahul has only 198 runs in the last 12 innings and has only managed 38 runs in the three outings in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home. Hence, a lot has been said and written about Rahul. Many feel he should be dropped with Shubman Gill being in the form of his life. His sacking as the Test vice-captain has also been highlighted but captain Rohit Sharma stated that his opening partner's removal from the post indicates nothing. "I said it after the last game also. When we talk about players going through a tough time, anyone with potential will be given enough time to prove himself. Being vice-captain or not being vice-captain doesn't tell you anything. At that point in time, when he was the vice-captain, he was probably the most senior. His removal of the vice-captaincy doesn't indicate anything," Rohit said on Tuesday ahead of the third and penultimate Test, which kicks off on Wednesday (March 01) in Indore. Also Read: On being asked about the practice sessions and if Gill's active participation in the nets ahead of the Indore Test means he is set to replace Rahul in the playing XI, Rohit shied away from sharing any details on the team combination. "As far as Gill and KL are both concerned, that is how they train and practice before any game. Today was an optional training session for the entire group. All 17-18 are in the reckoning. It's not just about Gill and Rahul. But as far as our XI is concerned, we have not finalised it yet. I prefer it to be announced at the toss. Can't count out last-minute injuries and all and we will keep it interesting for you guys as well," Rohit added. India squad for final two Tests vs Australia India’s Test squad for the third and fourth Test against Australia: Rohit Sharma (Captain), K L Rahul, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

KL Rahul's removal as vice-captain doesn't indicate anything, says Rohit Sharma ahead of Ind-Aus 3rd Test

<p>MS Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. He had a stellar run in international cricket where he ended with 17,266 runs, 16 tons, 634 catches, 195 stumpings and led India to three major ICC titles. During his playing days, he remained India's most-preferred wicketkeeper-batter across formats.&nbsp;He ruled over international cricket for over a decade which led to the likes of Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel and others not getting enough run.</p>

<p>Recently, Karthik opened up on his overall journey and shared how he met Dhoni and eventually got replaced by him across formats.&nbsp;On RCB Podcast, Karthik said, "I made my debut before him. We went together on an India A tour and from there I got picked for the Indian team, he was still there in India A team."</p>

<p>He further opined, "That was the first time I played a four-day match together with him. I did so well that they picked me for the Indian team. From there, they went on another trip, there was an ODI tournament where he just blasted it. People stood up and said there is nobody like him. They said he's a special player. Obviously, I came to the Indian team, but by then the Dhoni mania was so big that you had to pick him. He then replaced me in all formats and he did very well. At the end of the day, it is all about taking opportunities. You got to be ready to take opportunities."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/master-blaster-sachin-tendulkar-to-receive-a-life-sized-statue-at-iconic-wankhede-stadium-in-mumbai-566740">Sachin Tendulkar to receive a life-sized statue at iconic Wankhede Stadium, Master Blaster reacts - WATCH</a></strong></p>

<p>Karthik went on to add that how Dhoni was doing was never a cause of concern for him as he wanted to keep improving. However, Dhoni's stupendous rise and success forced Karthik to be his understudy and he soon became a backup keeper-batter for India across formats.</p>

<p>"I was chasing excellence. I was constantly on the path of becoming the best cricketer in the world. Dhoni was there, he wasn't there – that wasn't my lookout. He was doing very well for himself. I knew that he had settled in the team. He made no mistake at the start. They sent him up an order, he got a hundred in ODI. He then went to Test cricket and scored 85. He kept brilliantly. Most importantly, he became a brand overnight. People were after him. He was hugely popular sportsperson right from the outset. I was always the understudy but I was always on the lookout for opportunities, doing something special," Karthik further added.</p>

<p>Both Karthik and Dhoni were part of India's 2019 ODI World Cup squad. After that, Dhoni took a sabbatical before announcing his international retirement in mid-2020. The former still couldn't become India's first-choice glovesman in white-ball formats as Rishabh Pant's emergence led to him remaining the second fiddle. Karthik was part of India's 2022 T20 World Cup squad but many feel he has already played his last for the Men in Blue after his poor run in the showpiece event.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


MS Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. He had a stellar run in international cricket where he ended with 17,266 runs, 16 tons, 634 catches, 195 stumpings and led India to three major ICC titles.

MS Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. He had a stellar run in international cricket where he ended with 17,266 runs, 16 tons, 634 catches, 195 stumpings and led India to three major ICC titles. During his playing days, he remained India's most-preferred wicketkeeper-batter across formats. He ruled over international cricket for over a decade which led to the likes of Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel and others not getting enough run. Recently, Karthik opened up on his overall journey and shared how he met Dhoni and eventually got replaced by him across formats. On RCB Podcast, Karthik said, "I made my debut before him. We went together on an India A tour and from there I got picked for the Indian team, he was still there in India A team." He further opined, "That was the first time I played a four-day match together with him. I did so well that they picked me for the Indian team. From there, they went on another trip, there was an ODI tournament where he just blasted it. People stood up and said there is nobody like him. They said he's a special player. Obviously, I came to the Indian team, but by then the Dhoni mania was so big that you had to pick him. He then replaced me in all formats and he did very well. At the end of the day, it is all about taking opportunities. You got to be ready to take opportunities." Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar to receive a life-sized statue at iconic Wankhede Stadium, Master Blaster reacts - WATCH Karthik went on to add that how Dhoni was doing was never a cause of concern for him as he wanted to keep improving. However, Dhoni's stupendous rise and success forced Karthik to be his understudy and he soon became a backup keeper-batter for India across formats. "I was chasing excellence. I was constantly on the path of becoming the best cricketer in the world. Dhoni was there, he wasn't there – that wasn't my lookout. He was doing very well for himself. I knew that he had settled in the team. He made no mistake at the start. They sent him up an order, he got a hundred in ODI. He then went to Test cricket and scored 85. He kept brilliantly. Most importantly, he became a brand overnight. People were after him. He was hugely popular sportsperson right from the outset. I was always the understudy but I was always on the lookout for opportunities, doing something special," Karthik further added. Both Karthik and Dhoni were part of India's 2019 ODI World Cup squad. After that, Dhoni took a sabbatical before announcing his international retirement in mid-2020. The former still couldn't become India's first-choice glovesman in white-ball formats as Rishabh Pant's emergence led to him remaining the second fiddle. Karthik was part of India's 2022 T20 World Cup squad but many feel he has already played his last for the Men in Blue after his poor run in the showpiece event.

'I came to Indian team, but by then MS Dhoni mania was so big...': Veteran keeper on ex-captain's effect

<p>Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar remains one of the biggest names in world cricket. Despite retiring from international cricket in late 2013, his name continues to make heads turn as the Mumbaikar remains a fan-favourite across the globe and is worshipped in India. Tendulkar had a glorious run in international cricket, ending with 34,000 runs and 100 hundreds along with winning the ODI World Cup with Team India in 2011. Now, as per a report, he is set to have a life-sized statue at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.</p>

<p>The MCA president Amol Kale stated that it will be the first statue at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. He revealed that it will be a small gesture of gratitude from the association towards Tendulkar for his overall contribution to Indian cricket. In addition, he revealed that they got the green signal from the legendaryc cricketer for having the life-sized statue erected at the Wankhede.</p>

<p>Kale told The Indian Express, “It will be the first statue in Wankhede Stadium, we will decide where it will be placed. He (Tendulkar) is a Bharat Ratna and everyone knows what he has done for cricket. As he turns 50 (on April 24), it will be a small token of appreciation from the MCA. I spoke to him three weeks ago and his consent was received,” Kale told the publication.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wpl-2023-who-is-mis-young-recruit-sonam-yadava-labourers-daughter-who-is-set-to-earn-inr-1-million-566689">WPL 2023: Who is MI's young recruit Sonam Yadav?A labourer's daughter who is set to earn INR 1 million</a></strong></p>

<p>Tendulkar also reacted to receiving the life-sized statue at his home ground. In an interaction with ANI, he said, "Pleasant surprise. My career started here. It was a journey with unbelievable memories. Best moment of my career came here when we won 2011 World Cup..."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Mumbai: On his life-size statue being erected inside Wankhede stadium by MCA, Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar says, "Pleasant surprise. My career started here. It was a journey with unbelievable memories. Best moment of my career came here when we won 2011 World Cup..." <a href="https://t.co/OAHPP7QkSB">pic.twitter.com/OAHPP7QkSB</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1630435848297783296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The MCA officials are&nbsp;hoping to unveil the statue on April 23, 2023; i.e. on the eve of Tendulkar's 50th. The Master Blaster retired from international cricket amassing 34,357 runs and 100 centuries. He slammed 51 Test hundreds and 49 tons in the 50-over format. He ended with 6 ODI WC tons and won the mega event during MS Dhoni-led Men in Blue's 2011 triumph on home soil.&nbsp;</p>


Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar remains one of the biggest names in world cricket. Despite retiring from international cricket in late 2013, his name continues to make heads turn as the Mumbaikar remains a fan-favourite across the globe and is worshipped in India.

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar remains one of the biggest names in world cricket. Despite retiring from international cricket in late 2013, his name continues to make heads turn as the Mumbaikar remains a fan-favourite across the globe and is worshipped in India. Tendulkar had a glorious run in international cricket, ending with 34,000 runs and 100 hundreds along with winning the ODI World Cup with Team India in 2011. Now, as per a report, he is set to have a life-sized statue at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The MCA president Amol Kale stated that it will be the first statue at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. He revealed that it will be a small gesture of gratitude from the association towards Tendulkar for his overall contribution to Indian cricket. In addition, he revealed that they got the green signal from the legendaryc cricketer for having the life-sized statue erected at the Wankhede. Kale told The Indian Express, “It will be the first statue in Wankhede Stadium, we will decide where it will be placed. He (Tendulkar) is a Bharat Ratna and everyone knows what he has done for cricket. As he turns 50 (on April 24), it will be a small token of appreciation from the MCA. I spoke to him three weeks ago and his consent was received,” Kale told the publication. Also Read: WPL 2023: Who is MI's young recruit Sonam Yadav?A labourer's daughter who is set to earn INR 1 million Tendulkar also reacted to receiving the life-sized statue at his home ground. In an interaction with ANI, he said, "Pleasant surprise. My career started here. It was a journey with unbelievable memories. Best moment of my career came here when we won 2011 World Cup..." #WATCH | Mumbai: On his life-size statue being erected inside Wankhede stadium by MCA, Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar says, "Pleasant surprise. My career started here. It was a journey with unbelievable memories. Best moment of my career came here when we won 2011 World Cup..." pic.twitter.com/OAHPP7QkSB — ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2023 × The MCA officials are hoping to unveil the statue on April 23, 2023; i.e. on the eve of Tendulkar's 50th. The Master Blaster retired from international cricket amassing 34,357 runs and 100 centuries. He slammed 51 Test hundreds and 49 tons in the 50-over format. He ended with 6 ODI WC tons and won the mega event during MS Dhoni-led Men in Blue's 2011 triumph on home soil.

Sachin Tendulkar to receive a life-sized statue at iconic Wankhede Stadium, Master Blaster reacts - WATCH

<p>On December 30, 2022, Rishabh Pant had a horrific accident in the Delhi-Dehradun highway. Suffering several injuries, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter is out of action for quite some time and former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly recently opened up on Pant's likely return in the national side. Ganguly, who is&nbsp;with the Delhi Capitals in a management role for IPL 2023, feels the Indian star cricketer might take up to two years to return in the Indian team.</p>

<p>"I spoke to him a couple of times. Obviously he is going through a tough period, through injuries and surgeries and I wish him well. In a year's time or may be in a couple of years' time, he will be back playing for India," Ganguly was quoted as saying by PTI.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/when-you-dont-score-runs-in-india-you-will-get-flak-sourav-ganguly-opines-on-kl-rahuls-form-566451">When you don't score runs in India, you will get flak: Sourav Ganguly opines on KL Rahul's form</a></strong></p>

<p>Ganguly, the ex-Indian skipper and BCCI chief,&nbsp;mentioned that he has&nbsp;spoken to Pant a couple of times since his horrific accident last year. In addition, he&nbsp;admitted that it would be tough to fill the void left by&nbsp;Pant in the Delhi Capitals camp for IPL 2023 and&nbsp;further revealed that the team has not finalised his replacement as of yet.</p>

<p>Last week, the Delhi camp announced David Warner as their captain for IPL 2023, which will kick off on March 31 with defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) taking on MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Ahmedabad. DC will open their campaign versus Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow on April 1.</p>


On December 30, 2022, Rishabh Pant had a horrific accident in the Delhi-Dehradun highway. Suffering several injuries, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter is out of action for quite some time and former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly recently opened up on Pant's likely return in the national side.

On December 30, 2022, Rishabh Pant had a horrific accident in the Delhi-Dehradun highway. Suffering several injuries, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter is out of action for quite some time and former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly recently opened up on Pant's likely return in the national side. Ganguly, who is with the Delhi Capitals in a management role for IPL 2023, feels the Indian star cricketer might take up to two years to return in the Indian team. "I spoke to him a couple of times. Obviously he is going through a tough period, through injuries and surgeries and I wish him well. In a year's time or may be in a couple of years' time, he will be back playing for India," Ganguly was quoted as saying by PTI. Also Read: When you don't score runs in India, you will get flak: Sourav Ganguly opines on KL Rahul's form Ganguly, the ex-Indian skipper and BCCI chief, mentioned that he has spoken to Pant a couple of times since his horrific accident last year. In addition, he admitted that it would be tough to fill the void left by Pant in the Delhi Capitals camp for IPL 2023 and further revealed that the team has not finalised his replacement as of yet. Last week, the Delhi camp announced David Warner as their captain for IPL 2023, which will kick off on March 31 with defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) taking on MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Ahmedabad. DC will open their campaign versus Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow on April 1.

Rishabh Pant might take up to two years to return for India, feels Sourav Ganguly

<p>KL Rahul's form remains a huge cause of concern for Team India ahead of the third and penultimate Test versus Australia in the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series and are likely to remain unchanged in their playing XI. However, many questions have been raised on Rahul being given a long run despite his repeated failures.</p>

<p>Recently, Sourav Ganguly -- former Indian captain and BCCI chief -- opined on Rahul.&nbsp;"When you don't score runs in India, obviously you will get flak. KL Rahul hasn't been the only one. There have been players in the past also," Ganguly told PTI in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of Delhi Capitals' IPL pre-season camp ahead of IPL 2023.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/awfully-inconsistent-irrational-ex-australia-captain-rips-apart-pat-cummins-co-for-poor-show-in-india-566382">Awfully inconsistent, irrational: Ex-Australia captain rips apart Pat Cummins &amp; Co for poor show in India</a></strong></p>

<p>Further, Ganguly sounded optimistic of Rahul's return to form and said, "He has performed but obviously you expect a lot more from a top order batter playing for India because the standards set by others are so high. When you fail for a while, obviously there will be criticism. I am sure Rahul has ability and I am sure as and when he gets more opportunities, he will have to find ways to score," he explained.</p>

<p>Rahul hasn't crossed the 25-run mark in his last ten innings. He has scored only 198 runs in the last 12 outings and has so far managed a paltry 38 runs overall in three innings in the Australia Tests. Hence, he will be desperate to go past his poor run of form in the third and penultimate India-Australia Test, in Indore, which kicks off on March 01.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<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>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


KL Rahul's form remains a huge cause of concern for Team India ahead of the third and penultimate Test versus Australia in the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series and are likely to remain unchanged in their playing XI.

KL Rahul's form remains a huge cause of concern for Team India ahead of the third and penultimate Test versus Australia in the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series and are likely to remain unchanged in their playing XI. However, many questions have been raised on Rahul being given a long run despite his repeated failures. Recently, Sourav Ganguly -- former Indian captain and BCCI chief -- opined on Rahul. "When you don't score runs in India, obviously you will get flak. KL Rahul hasn't been the only one. There have been players in the past also," Ganguly told PTI in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of Delhi Capitals' IPL pre-season camp ahead of IPL 2023. Also Read: Awfully inconsistent, irrational: Ex-Australia captain rips apart Pat Cummins & Co for poor show in India Further, Ganguly sounded optimistic of Rahul's return to form and said, "He has performed but obviously you expect a lot more from a top order batter playing for India because the standards set by others are so high. When you fail for a while, obviously there will be criticism. I am sure Rahul has ability and I am sure as and when he gets more opportunities, he will have to find ways to score," he explained. Rahul hasn't crossed the 25-run mark in his last ten innings. He has scored only 198 runs in the last 12 outings and has so far managed a paltry 38 runs overall in three innings in the Australia Tests. Hence, he will be desperate to go past his poor run of form in the third and penultimate India-Australia Test, in Indore, which kicks off on March 01. ×

When you don't score runs in India, you will get flak: Sourav Ganguly opines on KL Rahul's form

<p>Ace Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah is set to remain on sidelines for an extended period as it doesn't look like he will recover in time&nbsp;from his back injury. Having missed the on-field action since September last year, Bumrah, who was expected to make a comeback in IPL 2023 for Mumbai Indians, is more than likely to miss the latest edition of the cash-rich league. More so, that it further remains doubtful if he can participate in the final of World Test Championship scheduled for June 7th at the Oval, should India qualify, as first reported by the Cricbuzz.</p>

<p>After missing the Asia Cup in Dubai due to the back injury, Bumrah returned to play in the home T20I series against Australia, where he unfortunately got injured again. As a result, he got ruled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia and missed a&nbsp;couple of series after that too. While he was slated to make his much-anticipated comeback during the Sri Lanka ODIs early this year, stiffness in his back saw him missing that series too. Back to square one for the nth time, Bumrah then appeared to be on the right track in terms of recovering in time for the Border-Gavaskar series.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/womens-t20-world-cup-historic-australia-win-sixth-t20-wc-trophy-beating-south-africa-by-19-runs-566150">Women's T20 World Cup: HISTORIC! Australia win sixth T20 WC trophy beating South Africa by 19 runs</a></p>

<p>However, as destiny had its way, Indian captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid in discussion with the board then decided not to rush Bumrah into the team, and instead asked him to attain complete fitness as to remain in reckoning for the IPL comeback.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, in the latest development, the BCCI and&nbsp;NCA have learned that Bumrah is not feeling 100% and will now be out for a longer hiatus. As things stand, the board wants Bumrah to get fit for the 50-over World Cup in India later this year, if not necessarily for the 2023 Asia Cup, wherever it is held.</p>

<p>India, who is currently involved in the Border-Gavaskar series, will take on Australia for three ODIs after this, whereas, the 16th edition of the IPL will start on March 31st.</p>


Ace Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah is set to remain on sidelines for an extended period as it doesn't look like he will recover in time from his back injury. Having missed the on-field action since September last year, Bumrah, who was expected to make a comeback in IPL 2023 for Mumbai Indians, is more than likely to miss the latest edition of the cash-rich league.

Ace Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah is set to remain on sidelines for an extended period as it doesn't look like he will recover in time from his back injury. Having missed the on-field action since September last year, Bumrah, who was expected to make a comeback in IPL 2023 for Mumbai Indians, is more than likely to miss the latest edition of the cash-rich league. More so, that it further remains doubtful if he can participate in the final of World Test Championship scheduled for June 7th at the Oval, should India qualify, as first reported by the Cricbuzz. After missing the Asia Cup in Dubai due to the back injury, Bumrah returned to play in the home T20I series against Australia, where he unfortunately got injured again. As a result, he got ruled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia and missed a couple of series after that too. While he was slated to make his much-anticipated comeback during the Sri Lanka ODIs early this year, stiffness in his back saw him missing that series too. Back to square one for the nth time, Bumrah then appeared to be on the right track in terms of recovering in time for the Border-Gavaskar series. ALSO READ: Women's T20 World Cup: HISTORIC! Australia win sixth T20 WC trophy beating South Africa by 19 runs However, as destiny had its way, Indian captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid in discussion with the board then decided not to rush Bumrah into the team, and instead asked him to attain complete fitness as to remain in reckoning for the IPL comeback. Meanwhile, in the latest development, the BCCI and NCA have learned that Bumrah is not feeling 100% and will now be out for a longer hiatus. As things stand, the board wants Bumrah to get fit for the 50-over World Cup in India later this year, if not necessarily for the 2023 Asia Cup, wherever it is held. India, who is currently involved in the Border-Gavaskar series, will take on Australia for three ODIs after this, whereas, the 16th edition of the IPL will start on March 31st.

Injured Jasprit Bumrah unlikely to feature in IPL 2023, WTC final: Reports

<p>MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli share a repo like none other. Two great cricketers of modern-day game have been closest buddies both on and off the field. While there have been numerous anecdotes that reflect their relationship over the years, Virat Kohli recently opened in detail about his bond with India’s favourite son, MS Dhoni during RCB podcast season 2. Admitting there was nothing ‘awkward’ between them in all these years, Kohli said MS always supportive of him and that he was Dhoni’s right-hand.</p>

<p>Since the time Virat became a regular in the Indian team, MS Dhoni took him under his wings and started grooming him. Having tasted success together across all formats, Virat got used to MS’ style of captaincy; and as revealed in his latest conversation about him, Virat said he always used to go to Dhoni during tight moments during the match and discuss about further plans.</p>

<p>“With me and MS there was never a question of any awkwardness in that whole period. The reality of the situation is MS choose me,” Virat talked about Dhoni on the RCB Podcast Season 2.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/womens-t20-wc-hosts-south-africa-qualify-with-6-run-win-over-england-to-face-australia-in-final-565635">Women's T20 WC: Hosts South Africa register 6-run win over England, to face Australia in final</a></p>

<p>“He (MS Dhoni) kind of took me under his wings, and since 2012 he kind of groomed me as a guy who is going to take over the captaincy from him. I was his vice-captain. I was always having conversations with him about what we can do in the field. I was always his right-hand man. I was always there understanding the game and I also got confidence because I was playing a lot of match-winning knock for the team,” the former India captain Kohli said.</p>

<p>Kohli said because his relation with Dhoni was so good and that he always looked up to him for everything, at least in cricketing context, the transition of him taking over the reins from MS was so smooth. Virat also said that he always respected Dhoni for the way he led the team for so many years.</p>

<p>“…that’s why it was very smooth. I always had and still have a huge respect for him for how he captained the India cricket team and obviously how he performed for so long,” Kohli said. “I never had any kind of ill intentions when it came to MS. I never felt like ‘I should be there’ I always was very respectful of the fact that he has so much trust in me and I can go and talk to him about anything.”</p>


MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli share a repo like none other. Two great cricketers of modern-day game have been closest buddies both on and off the field. While there have been numerous anecdotes that reflect their relationship over the years, Virat Kohli recently opened in detail about his bond with India’s favourite son, MS Dhoni during RCB podcast season 2.

MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli share a repo like none other. Two great cricketers of modern-day game have been closest buddies both on and off the field. While there have been numerous anecdotes that reflect their relationship over the years, Virat Kohli recently opened in detail about his bond with India’s favourite son, MS Dhoni during RCB podcast season 2. Admitting there was nothing ‘awkward’ between them in all these years, Kohli said MS always supportive of him and that he was Dhoni’s right-hand. Since the time Virat became a regular in the Indian team, MS Dhoni took him under his wings and started grooming him. Having tasted success together across all formats, Virat got used to MS’ style of captaincy; and as revealed in his latest conversation about him, Virat said he always used to go to Dhoni during tight moments during the match and discuss about further plans. “With me and MS there was never a question of any awkwardness in that whole period. The reality of the situation is MS choose me,” Virat talked about Dhoni on the RCB Podcast Season 2. ALSO READ: Women's T20 WC: Hosts South Africa register 6-run win over England, to face Australia in final “He (MS Dhoni) kind of took me under his wings, and since 2012 he kind of groomed me as a guy who is going to take over the captaincy from him. I was his vice-captain. I was always having conversations with him about what we can do in the field. I was always his right-hand man. I was always there understanding the game and I also got confidence because I was playing a lot of match-winning knock for the team,” the former India captain Kohli said. Kohli said because his relation with Dhoni was so good and that he always looked up to him for everything, at least in cricketing context, the transition of him taking over the reins from MS was so smooth. Virat also said that he always respected Dhoni for the way he led the team for so many years. “…that’s why it was very smooth. I always had and still have a huge respect for him for how he captained the India cricket team and obviously how he performed for so long,” Kohli said. “I never had any kind of ill intentions when it came to MS. I never felt like ‘I should be there’ I always was very respectful of the fact that he has so much trust in me and I can go and talk to him about anything.”

'MS Dhoni took me under his wings and groomed me,' says Virat Kohli

<p>Former Australia skipper Greg Chappell has slammed the team for their performance in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar trophy against India, saying that the team 'needed to play to their strength.' Writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, the Aussie great also termed dropping pacer Scott Boland from the second Test in Delhi as a mistake.</p>

<p>"Australia needed to play to their strengths to have a chance of winning this series. Spin bowling is not our strength. Picking spinners for the sake of it is not the way to success in India. We had to pick our best bowlers and trust them to do the job and back that with sensible batting, based on sound principles,” Chappell wrote.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/michael-hussey-urges-australia-to-take-a-leaf-out-of-rohit-sharmas-book-on-how-to-tackle-spin-565819">Michael Hussey urges Australia to take a leaf out of Rohit Sharma's book on how to tackle spin</a></p>

<p>The former India coach compared Australian team's performance after the first two Tests as punching themselves in the mouth. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"It was Mike Tyson who said in the lead-up to a fight with Evander Holyfield: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. My concern after watching the first two Tests is that the Australian team punched themselves in the mouth long before the first ball was even bowled,” Chappell wrote.</p>

<p>Australia lost the first Test in Nagpur by an innings and 132 runs, while got beaten by six wickets in the Delhi Test, both inside three days. In the second Test though, Australia gave themselves a fighting chance as it become a one-inning shootout after India conceded one-run lead in the first innings.</p>

<p><strong>Read More:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-shocked-with-his-omission-in-1st-test-travis-head-ready-to-bat-anywhere-in-remaining-matches-565875">IND vs AUS: Shocked with his omission in 1st Test, Travis Head ready to bat anywhere in remaining matches</a></p>

<p>The visitors, however, collapsed dramatically as they lost eight wickets for a meagre 28 runs in the second innings and went from 85/2 to 113/10. There has been an inquest in the manner Australia folded out in the second innings in Delhi as most of the batters were out playing the sweep shot to Indian spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The next Test of the series will be played from March 1 in Indore with the fourth and final Test scheduled to be played from March 9 in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;</p>


Former Australia skipper Greg Chappell has slammed the team for their performance in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar trophy against India, saying that the team 'needed to play to their strength.

Former Australia skipper Greg Chappell has slammed the team for their performance in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar trophy against India, saying that the team 'needed to play to their strength.' Writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, the Aussie great also termed dropping pacer Scott Boland from the second Test in Delhi as a mistake. "Australia needed to play to their strengths to have a chance of winning this series. Spin bowling is not our strength. Picking spinners for the sake of it is not the way to success in India. We had to pick our best bowlers and trust them to do the job and back that with sensible batting, based on sound principles,” Chappell wrote. Also Read: Michael Hussey urges Australia to take a leaf out of Rohit Sharma's book on how to tackle spin The former India coach compared Australian team's performance after the first two Tests as punching themselves in the mouth. "It was Mike Tyson who said in the lead-up to a fight with Evander Holyfield: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. My concern after watching the first two Tests is that the Australian team punched themselves in the mouth long before the first ball was even bowled,” Chappell wrote. Australia lost the first Test in Nagpur by an innings and 132 runs, while got beaten by six wickets in the Delhi Test, both inside three days. In the second Test though, Australia gave themselves a fighting chance as it become a one-inning shootout after India conceded one-run lead in the first innings. Read More: IND vs AUS: Shocked with his omission in 1st Test, Travis Head ready to bat anywhere in remaining matches The visitors, however, collapsed dramatically as they lost eight wickets for a meagre 28 runs in the second innings and went from 85/2 to 113/10. There has been an inquest in the manner Australia folded out in the second innings in Delhi as most of the batters were out playing the sweep shot to Indian spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin. The next Test of the series will be played from March 1 in Indore with the fourth and final Test scheduled to be played from March 9 in Ahmedabad.

Former skipper Greg Chappell slams Australia for not playing to their strength

<p>The 2023 Asia Cup has been much talked about. While Pakistan will host the 50-over continental tournament, the venue isn't finalised as India have made it clear that they won't travel to their neighbouring country due to the strained political relations between both sides. A final decision on the venue is likely to be out by March but Pakistan will remain the host for sure.</p>

<p>Ever since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah revealed, in late 2022, that Team India won't get government clearance to go to Pakistan for the tournament, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have not taken things lightly. The then PCB chief Ramiz Raja had revealed that Pakistan will boycott the 2023 ODI World Cup, in India, if the Men in Blue pull out of Asia Cup. Now, Kamran Akmal -- the veteran keeper-batter -- has joined the bandwagon and backed Ramiz's claims.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-anjum-chopra-consoles-an-emotional-harmanpreet-kaur-after-indias-t20-world-cup-exit-565493">WATCH: Anjum Chopra consoles an emotional Harmanpreet Kaur after India's T20 World Cup exit</a></strong></p>

<p>Speaking on the Nadir Ali podcast, Kamran said that Pakistan also have respect and they shouldn't travel to their neighbouring country if India doesn't turn up for the Asia Cup.</p>

<p>"If India do not agree to come for the Asia Cup, we should not go to India to play the 2023 World Cup there. Hamaari bhi respect hai (We are also well respected). We have been world champions too, have topped rankings in all formats and have won the Champions Trophy too. This is between two governments; until they are on the same page, the teams won't go with each other. We have to see how long it goes," Kamran said.</p>

<p>India and Pakistan's senior men's team had last met during the 2022 T20 World Cup, in Australia, where Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. beat Babar Azam-led Men in Green by five wickets.</p>


The 2023 Asia Cup has been much talked about. While Pakistan will host the 50-over continental tournament, the venue isn't finalised as India have made it clear that they won't travel to their neighbouring country due to the strained political relations between both sides.

The 2023 Asia Cup has been much talked about. While Pakistan will host the 50-over continental tournament, the venue isn't finalised as India have made it clear that they won't travel to their neighbouring country due to the strained political relations between both sides. A final decision on the venue is likely to be out by March but Pakistan will remain the host for sure. Ever since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah revealed, in late 2022, that Team India won't get government clearance to go to Pakistan for the tournament, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have not taken things lightly. The then PCB chief Ramiz Raja had revealed that Pakistan will boycott the 2023 ODI World Cup, in India, if the Men in Blue pull out of Asia Cup. Now, Kamran Akmal -- the veteran keeper-batter -- has joined the bandwagon and backed Ramiz's claims. Also Read: WATCH: Anjum Chopra consoles an emotional Harmanpreet Kaur after India's T20 World Cup exit Speaking on the Nadir Ali podcast, Kamran said that Pakistan also have respect and they shouldn't travel to their neighbouring country if India doesn't turn up for the Asia Cup. "If India do not agree to come for the Asia Cup, we should not go to India to play the 2023 World Cup there. Hamaari bhi respect hai (We are also well respected). We have been world champions too, have topped rankings in all formats and have won the Champions Trophy too. This is between two governments; until they are on the same page, the teams won't go with each other. We have to see how long it goes," Kamran said. India and Pakistan's senior men's team had last met during the 2022 T20 World Cup, in Australia, where Rohit Sharma & Co. beat Babar Azam-led Men in Green by five wickets.

We are also well respected: Kamran Akmal in favour of Pak boycotting ODI WC if Ind pull out of Asia Cup

<p>India gave a tough fight to defending champions Australia but bowed out of the Women's T20 World Cup 2023, in South Africa, with a five-run loss in the first semi-final on Thursday (February 23). Being asked to bowl first, India were rusty as Australia rode on Beth Mooney's 54, captain Mag Lanning's 49* and Ashleigh Gardener's 31 to post 172-4. In reply, India were on course courtesy of Harmanpreet Kaur-Jemimah Rodrigues' 69-run fourth-wicket stand but fell apart to manage 167/8.</p>

<p>After India lost three quick wickets and were tottering at 28&nbsp;for 3 in pursuit of 173, in Newlands, Cape Town, skipper Harmanpreet and Jemimah revived the run-chase with a confident stand. The duo were going well when Jemimah fell for a good-looking 43, off 24 balls, before the Indian captain got run-out in an unfortunate manner, for a 34-ball 52. After her dismissal, India fell from 133-5, still in a good position with only 40 required off 32 balls, to get restricted for 167 for 8. Hence, the Indian skipper was in tears after the contest.</p>

<p>Anjum Chopra, the former Indian women's captain, met Harmanpreet after the game and hugged a teary-eyed swashbuckling batter. <strong>Here's the heartwarming video:</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpBiVy8A6RC/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpBiVy8A6RC/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpBiVy8A6RC/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpBiVy8A6RC/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by ICC (@icc)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Anjum spoke about the moment after the match and said, "My intention was to give the captain some empathy because that's all I can offer from the outside. It was an emotional moment for both of us. India have reached the semi-finals a lot of times and they have lost. This is not the first time I've seen Harmanpreet bat like this. I have seen her battling her injuries and health."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-harmanpreet-kaur-throws-her-bat-after-being-run-out-in-t20-world-cup-semi-final-vs-australia-565465">WATCH: Harmanpreet Kaur throws her bat after being run out in T20 World Cup semi-final vs Australia</a></strong></p>

<p>At the post-match presser, Harmanpreet said, "If my bat didn't get stuck, that run would have easily happened. If I had stayed till the last moment, the game would have finished an over before given the momentum we had. But even after that, Deepti Sharma was there, Richa Ghosh was there. I had belief that they could get the job done. If you have seen the matches till now, Richa had batted brilliantly. But after my dismissal, there were seven or eight dot balls and that was the turning point of the match. Otherwise, we had good momentum and things were going well."</p>

<p>Under Harman, India once again fell to lift the T20 WC title despite reaching the knockouts. In 2018, they lost the semi-finals whereas the Women in Blue reached the finale in the previous edition before once again bowing out of the showpiece event in the last four round.</p>


India gave a tough fight to defending champions Australia but bowed out of the Women's T20 World Cup 2023, in South Africa, with a five-run loss in the first semi-final on Thursday (February 23).

India gave a tough fight to defending champions Australia but bowed out of the Women's T20 World Cup 2023, in South Africa, with a five-run loss in the first semi-final on Thursday (February 23). Being asked to bowl first, India were rusty as Australia rode on Beth Mooney's 54, captain Mag Lanning's 49* and Ashleigh Gardener's 31 to post 172-4. In reply, India were on course courtesy of Harmanpreet Kaur-Jemimah Rodrigues' 69-run fourth-wicket stand but fell apart to manage 167/8. After India lost three quick wickets and were tottering at 28 for 3 in pursuit of 173, in Newlands, Cape Town, skipper Harmanpreet and Jemimah revived the run-chase with a confident stand. The duo were going well when Jemimah fell for a good-looking 43, off 24 balls, before the Indian captain got run-out in an unfortunate manner, for a 34-ball 52. After her dismissal, India fell from 133-5, still in a good position with only 40 required off 32 balls, to get restricted for 167 for 8. Hence, the Indian skipper was in tears after the contest. Anjum Chopra, the former Indian women's captain, met Harmanpreet after the game and hugged a teary-eyed swashbuckling batter. Here's the heartwarming video: View this post on Instagram A post shared by ICC (@icc) × Anjum spoke about the moment after the match and said, "My intention was to give the captain some empathy because that's all I can offer from the outside. It was an emotional moment for both of us. India have reached the semi-finals a lot of times and they have lost. This is not the first time I've seen Harmanpreet bat like this. I have seen her battling her injuries and health." Also Read: WATCH: Harmanpreet Kaur throws her bat after being run out in T20 World Cup semi-final vs Australia At the post-match presser, Harmanpreet said, "If my bat didn't get stuck, that run would have easily happened. If I had stayed till the last moment, the game would have finished an over before given the momentum we had. But even after that, Deepti Sharma was there, Richa Ghosh was there. I had belief that they could get the job done. If you have seen the matches till now, Richa had batted brilliantly. But after my dismissal, there were seven or eight dot balls and that was the turning point of the match. Otherwise, we had good momentum and things were going well." Under Harman, India once again fell to lift the T20 WC title despite reaching the knockouts. In 2018, they lost the semi-finals whereas the Women in Blue reached the finale in the previous edition before once again bowing out of the showpiece event in the last four round.

WATCH: Anjum Chopra consoles an emotional Harmanpreet Kaur after India's T20 World Cup exit

<p>Former Indian captain Kapil Dev isn't pleased with current skipper Rohit Sharma's fitness standards. Ahead of the third and penultimate Test between India and Australia, in Indore, in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23, the 1983 World-Cup winning captain Kapil opined that while Rohit is a great captain and player, it is a shame that Hitman doesn't look fit on TV. Further, he cited Virat Kohli's fitness and urged Rohit to get in shape by taking inspiration from his teammate.</p>

<p>Speaking on an ABP show, Kapil said, "It is very important (to be fit). More so for a captain. It's a shame if you are not fit. Rohit needs to put some hard work on it. He is a great batter but when you talk about his fitness, he looks a bit overweight, at least on TV. Yes, it's different when you look at someone on TV and then in real life. But from whatever I see, Rohit is a great player and a great captain, but he needs to get fit," the former Indian captain further asserted.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/big-blow-to-india-harmanpreet-uncertain-pooja-vastrakar-ruled-out-of-t20-wc-semi-final-tie-vs-australia-565086">Big blow to India! Harmanpreet uncertain, Pooja Vastrakar ruled out of T20 WC semi-final tie vs Australia</a></strong></p>

<p>He added, "Look at Virat, whenever you see him, you say, 'that's some fitness!" This isn't the first time that Rohit has been slammed for his fitness. In the last few years, he has missed plenty of games across formats due to hamstring injury or other issues. However, Hitman hasn't spoken at length on this issue and is focused on taking India to the ICC World Test Championship final (WTC), to be held in early June at The Oval, London.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rohit-led India currently have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and will storm into the final with another win. So far, Rohit has been the leading run-scorer in the four-match Test series with 183 runs in three outings, including a majestic 120 in the series opener.</p>

<p>India take on Australia in the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, on March 01.</p>


Former Indian captain Kapil Dev isn't pleased with current skipper Rohit Sharma's fitness standards. Ahead of the third and penultimate Test between India and Australia, in Indore, in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23, the 1983 World-Cup winning captain Kapil opined that while Rohit is a great captain and player, it is a shame that Hitman doesn't look fit on TV.

Former Indian captain Kapil Dev isn't pleased with current skipper Rohit Sharma's fitness standards. Ahead of the third and penultimate Test between India and Australia, in Indore, in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23, the 1983 World-Cup winning captain Kapil opined that while Rohit is a great captain and player, it is a shame that Hitman doesn't look fit on TV. Further, he cited Virat Kohli's fitness and urged Rohit to get in shape by taking inspiration from his teammate. Speaking on an ABP show, Kapil said, "It is very important (to be fit). More so for a captain. It's a shame if you are not fit. Rohit needs to put some hard work on it. He is a great batter but when you talk about his fitness, he looks a bit overweight, at least on TV. Yes, it's different when you look at someone on TV and then in real life. But from whatever I see, Rohit is a great player and a great captain, but he needs to get fit," the former Indian captain further asserted. Also Read: Big blow to India! Harmanpreet uncertain, Pooja Vastrakar ruled out of T20 WC semi-final tie vs Australia He added, "Look at Virat, whenever you see him, you say, 'that's some fitness!" This isn't the first time that Rohit has been slammed for his fitness. In the last few years, he has missed plenty of games across formats due to hamstring injury or other issues. However, Hitman hasn't spoken at length on this issue and is focused on taking India to the ICC World Test Championship final (WTC), to be held in early June at The Oval, London. Rohit-led India currently have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and will storm into the final with another win. So far, Rohit has been the leading run-scorer in the four-match Test series with 183 runs in three outings, including a majestic 120 in the series opener. India take on Australia in the third and penultimate Test, in Indore, on March 01.

BGT 2022/23: 'It's a shame if you are not fit' - Kapil Dev urges Rohit Sharma to get in shape

<p>Hours before India's much-awaited T20 World Cup semi-final clash versus defending champions Australia, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur remains an uncertain starter whereas pacer Pooja Vastrakar has been ruled out with Sneh Rana, one of the travelling reserves, named as her replacement. As per reports, in ESPNCricnifo, both Harmanpreet and Pooja had reported sick on Monday (February 20) and were in the hospital on Wednesday (February 22) before the speedster got ruled out whereas the skipper remains doubtful for the semi-final clash due to high fever.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is a big headache for India ahead of the semi-final face-off versus unbeaten Australian line-up. If Harmanpreet misses out, they can include Harleen Deol as a like-for-like replacement whereas Sneh,&nbsp;left-arm seamer Anjali Sarvani and Radha Yadav can come in for Pooja. Harmanpreet has not been in form in the Women's T20 WC, scoring only 66 runs in four outings. In her last game, she only managed a 20-ball 13 versus Ireland in what was her 150th appearance in the format (most by any player in the history of the game).</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-they-wont-be-able-to-chopra-on-csks-captaincy-plans-after-ben-stokes-set-to-leave-early-565073">IPL 2023: 'They won't be able to...' - Chopra on CSK's captaincy plans after Ben Stokes set to leave early</a></strong></p>

<p>However, Harmanpreet's absence will surely dent India's chances against the mighty Australians. She struck a memorable 171* in the India-Australia 2017 ODI World Cup semi-final and has a knack for standing tall in crunch games. If she is ruled out, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana will take charge of the line-up and hope to lead India to a famous win over the Women in Yellow.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, India have won three and lost one game in the ongoing showpiece event in South Africa. They ended at the second spot in Pool B with Heather Knight-led England topping the group. The second semi-final will be held between England and South Africa on Friday evening (February 24) at Newlands, Cape Town (venue for both the SFs).</p>


Hours before India's much-awaited T20 World Cup semi-final clash versus defending champions Australia, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur remains an uncertain starter whereas pacer Pooja Vastrakar has been ruled out with Sneh Rana, one of the travelling reserves, named as her replacement.

Hours before India's much-awaited T20 World Cup semi-final clash versus defending champions Australia, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur remains an uncertain starter whereas pacer Pooja Vastrakar has been ruled out with Sneh Rana, one of the travelling reserves, named as her replacement. As per reports, in ESPNCricnifo, both Harmanpreet and Pooja had reported sick on Monday (February 20) and were in the hospital on Wednesday (February 22) before the speedster got ruled out whereas the skipper remains doubtful for the semi-final clash due to high fever. It is a big headache for India ahead of the semi-final face-off versus unbeaten Australian line-up. If Harmanpreet misses out, they can include Harleen Deol as a like-for-like replacement whereas Sneh, left-arm seamer Anjali Sarvani and Radha Yadav can come in for Pooja. Harmanpreet has not been in form in the Women's T20 WC, scoring only 66 runs in four outings. In her last game, she only managed a 20-ball 13 versus Ireland in what was her 150th appearance in the format (most by any player in the history of the game). Also Read: IPL 2023: 'They won't be able to...' - Chopra on CSK's captaincy plans after Ben Stokes set to leave early However, Harmanpreet's absence will surely dent India's chances against the mighty Australians. She struck a memorable 171* in the India-Australia 2017 ODI World Cup semi-final and has a knack for standing tall in crunch games. If she is ruled out, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana will take charge of the line-up and hope to lead India to a famous win over the Women in Yellow. So far, India have won three and lost one game in the ongoing showpiece event in South Africa. They ended at the second spot in Pool B with Heather Knight-led England topping the group. The second semi-final will be held between England and South Africa on Friday evening (February 24) at Newlands, Cape Town (venue for both the SFs).

Big blow to India! Harmanpreet uncertain, Pooja Vastrakar ruled out of T20 WC semi-final tie vs Australia

<p>Yuvraj Singh represented India in 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is. He is regarded as one of the greatest white-ball all-rounders in world cricket. He was India's hero during their title run in the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup. However, former Sri Lanka player Russell Arnold has made a shocking claim about the ex-Indian cricketer. Arnold compared both Yuvraj and MS Dhoni -- two of India's greatest middle-order batters -- and feels the former wasn't good at absorbing pressure.</p>

<p>During a conversation with former Indian cricket WV Raman, Arnold made the glaring remark. While discussing Dhoni and Yuvraj, the Sri Lankan opined that Dhoni was more adept in playing both defensively and aggressively&nbsp;as per&nbsp;the situation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He could play both roles, there are very few who could do that. Both roles meant that when he needed to absorb pressure, he could do it. That was my strength, but I could hit a boundary now and then but not consistently score 15 runs or more. You give me eight to 10 (runs to score in an over), and I'll back myself. But Dhoni would back himself with 15 or 20 on the board and hit those big sixes consistently," Arnold pointed out.</p>

<section>
<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-was-offered-captaincy-but-shoaib-akhtar-reveals-why-he-said-no-to-leading-pakistan-in-2002-564718">'I was offered captaincy but...': Shoaib Akhtar reveals why he said NO to leading Pakistan in 2002</a></strong></p>

<p>He added, "To be able to play both roles as expertly as he did, he is in a very different league. Not many players can play both those roles. You get players with flamboyance and come close to hitting those boundaries. Like Yuvraj Singh. But Yuvraj could not absorb the pressure when needed and play with his partner the way Dhoni did. Yuvraj had to be the boss to be extravagant and express himself. That was when he was at his best. But Dhoni was at his best at both ends of the line. He could be defensive and absorb pressure and throw those punches as well."</p>

<section>
<p>Yuvraj and Dhoni are regarded as two of the finest players, especially in limited overs. Both won India innumerable matches with their memorable partnerships and made the Men in Blue one of the strongest sides during their playing days.</p>

<p>It will be interesting to see if Yuvraj responds to Arnold's claims.</p>
</section>
</section>


Yuvraj Singh represented India in 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is. He is regarded as one of the greatest white-ball all-rounders in world cricket. He was India's hero during their title run in the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup.

Yuvraj Singh represented India in 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is. He is regarded as one of the greatest white-ball all-rounders in world cricket. He was India's hero during their title run in the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup. However, former Sri Lanka player Russell Arnold has made a shocking claim about the ex-Indian cricketer. Arnold compared both Yuvraj and MS Dhoni -- two of India's greatest middle-order batters -- and feels the former wasn't good at absorbing pressure. During a conversation with former Indian cricket WV Raman, Arnold made the glaring remark. While discussing Dhoni and Yuvraj, the Sri Lankan opined that Dhoni was more adept in playing both defensively and aggressively as per the situation. "He could play both roles, there are very few who could do that. Both roles meant that when he needed to absorb pressure, he could do it. That was my strength, but I could hit a boundary now and then but not consistently score 15 runs or more. You give me eight to 10 (runs to score in an over), and I'll back myself. But Dhoni would back himself with 15 or 20 on the board and hit those big sixes consistently," Arnold pointed out. Also Read: 'I was offered captaincy but...': Shoaib Akhtar reveals why he said NO to leading Pakistan in 2002 He added, "To be able to play both roles as expertly as he did, he is in a very different league. Not many players can play both those roles. You get players with flamboyance and come close to hitting those boundaries. Like Yuvraj Singh. But Yuvraj could not absorb the pressure when needed and play with his partner the way Dhoni did. Yuvraj had to be the boss to be extravagant and express himself. That was when he was at his best. But Dhoni was at his best at both ends of the line. He could be defensive and absorb pressure and throw those punches as well." Yuvraj and Dhoni are regarded as two of the finest players, especially in limited overs. Both won India innumerable matches with their memorable partnerships and made the Men in Blue one of the strongest sides during their playing days. It will be interesting to see if Yuvraj responds to Arnold's claims.

Yuvraj couldn't absorb pressure and play with his partner the way Dhoni did, claims former SL cricketer

<p>KL Rahul's form has become a huge talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. In the ongoing India-Australia Tests, Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. have dominated proceedings and have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 but Rahul's low returns with the bat have made heads turn. In three outings in the India-Australia series, the right-hander only has 38 runs whereas his last 12 innings has seen him score only 198 runs. Thus, his place is under threat whereas BCCI sacked him as the vice-captain while announcing the squad for the last two Tests.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Amid severe criticism coming from all corners, Rahul has been slammed left, right and centre by former cricketer Venkatesh Prasad. Now, another ex-player Dodda Ganesh has joined the bandwagon and lashed out at the under-fire opener. He replied to a post shared from Prasad and wrote, "Rahul Dravid and the think tank has immense faith in KL Rahul’s abilities, so he is getting an extended run like Rohit got in ODIs. We all know KL is a special player. It’s high time he converted his potential into consistent scores. Let’s hope he comes good in the last 2 tests."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/can-we-leave-kl-rahul-alone-harbhajan-singh-backs-under-fire-indian-opener-amid-severe-criticism-564582">'Can we leave KL Rahul alone?': Harbhajan Singh backs under-fire Indian opener amid severe criticism</a></strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rahul Dravid and the think tank has immense faith in KL Rahul’s abilities, so he is getting an extended run like Rohit got in ODIs. We all know KL is a special player. It’s high time he converted his potential into consistent scores. Let’s hope he comes good in the last 2 tests. <a href="https://t.co/G5Pt7GSX2k">https://t.co/G5Pt7GSX2k</a></p>
— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) <a href="https://twitter.com/doddaganesha/status/1627563511453974528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Time is running for Rahul who has been in woeful form in whites. He even lost his place in the T20I squad post India's 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of eventual champions England. The Rohit-Rahul Dravid-led team management have continued to back the 30-year-old amid his poor run of form. After the Delhi Test, head coach Dravid told Star Sports, "I&nbsp;think he (Rahul) needs to trust his processes. This is just a phase, he has been one of our most successful overseas openers. He’s got centuries in South Africa and England, we’ll continue to back him. I believe he has the quality and class to come out of this."</p>

<p>It will be interesting to see if Rahul retains his spot in the playing XI for the third and penultimate Test, which kicks off in Indore on March 01.</p>


KL Rahul's form has become a huge talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. In the ongoing India-Australia Tests, Rohit Sharma & Co. have dominated proceedings and have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 but Rahul's low returns with the bat have made heads turn.

KL Rahul's form has become a huge talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. In the ongoing India-Australia Tests, Rohit Sharma & Co. have dominated proceedings and have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 but Rahul's low returns with the bat have made heads turn. In three outings in the India-Australia series, the right-hander only has 38 runs whereas his last 12 innings has seen him score only 198 runs. Thus, his place is under threat whereas BCCI sacked him as the vice-captain while announcing the squad for the last two Tests. Amid severe criticism coming from all corners, Rahul has been slammed left, right and centre by former cricketer Venkatesh Prasad. Now, another ex-player Dodda Ganesh has joined the bandwagon and lashed out at the under-fire opener. He replied to a post shared from Prasad and wrote, "Rahul Dravid and the think tank has immense faith in KL Rahul’s abilities, so he is getting an extended run like Rohit got in ODIs. We all know KL is a special player. It’s high time he converted his potential into consistent scores. Let’s hope he comes good in the last 2 tests." Also Read: 'Can we leave KL Rahul alone?': Harbhajan Singh backs under-fire Indian opener amid severe criticism Rahul Dravid and the think tank has immense faith in KL Rahul’s abilities, so he is getting an extended run like Rohit got in ODIs. We all know KL is a special player. It’s high time he converted his potential into consistent scores. Let’s hope he comes good in the last 2 tests. https://t.co/G5Pt7GSX2k — Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) February 20, 2023 × Time is running for Rahul who has been in woeful form in whites. He even lost his place in the T20I squad post India's 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of eventual champions England. The Rohit-Rahul Dravid-led team management have continued to back the 30-year-old amid his poor run of form. After the Delhi Test, head coach Dravid told Star Sports, "I think he (Rahul) needs to trust his processes. This is just a phase, he has been one of our most successful overseas openers. He’s got centuries in South Africa and England, we’ll continue to back him. I believe he has the quality and class to come out of this." It will be interesting to see if Rahul retains his spot in the playing XI for the third and penultimate Test, which kicks off in Indore on March 01.

'High time he.....': After Venkatesh Prasad, another former cricketer slams under-fire KL Rahul

<p>KL Rahul's form has become a huge talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. The dashing opener has struggled for runs in the ongoing India-Australia Tests and has managed only 38 runs in three outings in the first two Tests. Thus, many have slammed him left, right and centre and called for his omission. Skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid continue to back the star opener whereas former cricketers Venkatesh Prasad and Aakash Chopra have been at loggerheads with regards to Rahul's place in the side.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Amid all this, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh took to his official Twitter handle to back Rahul and has urged one and all to 'leave him alone'. He tweeted, "Can we leave @klrahul alone guys ? He hasn’t done any crime.He is still a top player. He will come back strong.we all go thru such patches in international cricket.he is not the first one and last one. so please respect the fact that he is our own 🇮🇳 player and have faith." <strong>Here's Bhajji's post:</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Can we leave <a href="https://twitter.com/klrahul?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@klrahul</a> alone guys ? He hasn’t done any crime.He is still a top player. He will come back strong.we all go thru such patches in international cricket.he is not the first one and last one. so please respect the fact that he is our own 🇮🇳 player and have faith 🙏</p>
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) <a href="https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/1628055859661266944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-shed-a-tear-or-two-dinesh-karthik-sympathises-with-kl-rahul-recalls-his-struggle-period-564444">I shed a tear or two: Dinesh Karthik sympathises with KL Rahul, recalls his struggle period</a></strong></p>

<p>Since Rahul's memorable ton in the India-South Africa Centurion Test in December 2021, the right-hander hasn't looked his part in whites. He has managed only 198 runs in the last 12 innings and his place is under threat with the rise of Shubman Gill in recent times.&nbsp;After India's Delhi Test victory, on February 19, Dravid backed Rahul and told Star Sports, "I&nbsp;think he (Rahul) needs to trust his processes. This is just a phase, he has been one of our most successful overseas openers. He’s got centuries in South Africa and England, we’ll continue to back him. I believe he has the quality and class to come out of this."</p>

<p>The India-Australia third and penultimate Test kicks off on March 01 in Indore. It will be interesting to see if Rahul holds on to his spot or Gill is given a run.&nbsp;</p>


KL Rahul's form has become a huge talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. The dashing opener has struggled for runs in the ongoing India-Australia Tests and has managed only 38 runs in three outings in the first two Tests.

KL Rahul's form has become a huge talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. The dashing opener has struggled for runs in the ongoing India-Australia Tests and has managed only 38 runs in three outings in the first two Tests. Thus, many have slammed him left, right and centre and called for his omission. Skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid continue to back the star opener whereas former cricketers Venkatesh Prasad and Aakash Chopra have been at loggerheads with regards to Rahul's place in the side. Amid all this, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh took to his official Twitter handle to back Rahul and has urged one and all to 'leave him alone'. He tweeted, "Can we leave @klrahul alone guys ? He hasn’t done any crime.He is still a top player. He will come back strong.we all go thru such patches in international cricket.he is not the first one and last one. so please respect the fact that he is our own 🇮🇳 player and have faith." Here's Bhajji's post: Can we leave @klrahul alone guys ? He hasn’t done any crime.He is still a top player. He will come back strong.we all go thru such patches in international cricket.he is not the first one and last one. so please respect the fact that he is our own 🇮🇳 player and have faith 🙏 — Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 21, 2023 × Also Read: I shed a tear or two: Dinesh Karthik sympathises with KL Rahul, recalls his struggle period Since Rahul's memorable ton in the India-South Africa Centurion Test in December 2021, the right-hander hasn't looked his part in whites. He has managed only 198 runs in the last 12 innings and his place is under threat with the rise of Shubman Gill in recent times. After India's Delhi Test victory, on February 19, Dravid backed Rahul and told Star Sports, "I think he (Rahul) needs to trust his processes. This is just a phase, he has been one of our most successful overseas openers. He’s got centuries in South Africa and England, we’ll continue to back him. I believe he has the quality and class to come out of this." The India-Australia third and penultimate Test kicks off on March 01 in Indore. It will be interesting to see if Rahul holds on to his spot or Gill is given a run.

'Can we leave KL Rahul alone?': Harbhajan Singh backs under-fire Indian opener amid severe criticism