India's head coach Gautam Gambhir clarified that Shreyas Iyer was not benched throughout the series against England, despite speculation. Iyer played in the first ODI due to Virat Kohli's injury and performed well in subsequent matches. Gambhir emphasized the importance of rotating players and confirmed Iyer's significance ahead of the Champions Trophy.
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Pakistan's batting coach Mohammad Yousuf reversed his decision to withdraw from the New Zealand tour after confirming his daughter's improved health. Initially, he had pulled out due to her illness. Yousuf will now accompany the team for the scheduled 5 T20Is and three ODIs. The PCB retained the existing support staff structure, with Yousuf as the sole new addition.
Virat Kohli added 84 runs to his ODI runs tally, helping India defeat Australia and secure a spot in the Champions Trophy final. With 14,180 runs in 301 ODIs, Kohli is the third highest scorer in the format. What makes his run-scoring commendable is that it usually comes with controlled innings.
Virat Kohli's persistent struggles with deliveries outside off-stump continue, particularly in Test matches. His predictable tendency to chase these deliveries has become a boon for bowlers, resulting in a string of dismissals. Despite the repeated failures, Kohli seems reluctant to abandon this high-risk approach, a stark contrast to Sachin Tendulkar's famous restraint at the SCG.
India spinner Kuldeep Yadav is gearing up for a comeback ahead of the white-ball series against England starting January 22. After recovering from a chronic left groin issue, Kuldeep shared a video of his bowling practice on Instagram. He is aiming for 300 international wickets as India looks forward to the ICC Champions Trophy starting February 19.
Virat Kohli emphasised the importance of having family support during tours, especially during challenging times. He highlighted that family presence brings balance and normalcy. With new BCCI directives limiting family time, Kohli's remarks underline the significance of being able to return to a supportive family environment, helping players manage their intense schedules.
In the Champions Trophy match in Dubai, Pakistan faced an early setback against India. They lost both openers, Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq, due to sharp fielding and bowling by Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya. Pakistan needs to win to stay in the tournament. India, meanwhile, can qualify for the semi-finals if they win.
The CSK icon’s reluctance to bat higher up the order is confusing both fans, experts
Sujan Mukherjee, the pitch curator of Eden Gardens, clarified that no Kolkata Knight Riders official requested specific pitch requirements for their match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Mukherjee emphasised he maintains good relations with KKR and prepared the pitch following BCCI guidelines. Despite initial criticism, he maintains that he never denied any request from the team.
David Warner endorses Travis Head as the potential next Test captain for Australia if Steve Smith is unable to play the Sri Lanka tour due to an elbow injury. Smith's injury, sustained during the Big Bash League, casts doubt on his participation, potentially leading to Head's captaincy debut.
Mohammed Shami returned to international cricket after 14 months, playing in the third T20I against England. Shami was included in the squad after recovering from ankle surgery and replaced Arshdeep Singh. His selection came amid fitness concerns following his absence from the first two matches.