Former Indian cricketer Salil Ankola supports Mohammed Shami's call to lift the saliva ban for bowlers to generate reverse swing. Along with South Africa's Vernon Philander and New Zealand's Tim Southee, they argue that bowlers need an edge in modern, high-scoring cricket. However, Venkatesh Prasad advises caution due to hygiene concerns.
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Ajinkya Rahane, initially almost unsold, now leads Kolkata Knight Riders as captain after a remarkable performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament. Despite being relieved from his captaincy at Rajasthan Royals, Rahane is confident and ready, with KKR aiming to defend their title.
Kolkata Knight Riders have named former West Indian fast bowler Ottis Gibson as their assistant coach for the upcoming IPL season starting March 22. Gibson joins an experienced coaching team, including Dwayne Bravo as mentor, head coach Chandrakant Pandit, and other notable staff members, enhancing KKR's coaching lineup.
Nitish Kumar Reddy scored his maiden Test hundred against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, becoming the third youngest Indian to do so in Australia. His remarkable 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar helped India reach 358/9 on Day 3, overcoming a follow-on threat despite trailing by 120 runs.
Australia triumphed over India with a 184-run win in Melbourne, leading the series 2-1. Travis Head's unexpected breakthrough post-tea, dismissing Rishabh Pant, triggered India's collapse. Head's unique celebration, recalling a past performance in Sri Lanka, stole the spotlight, underscoring Australia's dominant performance and India's batting vulnerabilities under pressure.
Harbhajan Singh comments on the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, emphasizing the impact it could have on India’s performance in the Champions Trophy. Despite this setback, he believes India remains a favorite due to experienced players like Shami and Kuldeep, along with the batting form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Debutant Amir Jangoo's stunning unbeaten century (104) propelled the West Indies to a thrilling four-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the final ODI, completing a 3-0 series sweep. Chasing 322, Jangoo and Keacy Carty (95) forged a crucial partnership after an early wobble. Bangladesh's 321/5, built on Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali's record 150-run stand, proved insufficient.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav acknowledged their inability to dismiss England's lower order as a key factor in their defeat, while also praising Adil Rashid’s exceptional spin bowling. Despite having England at 127 for 8, India couldn't capitalize, allowing England to reach 171 for 9. India’s chase fell short at 145/9.
India's Smriti Mandhana has been nominated for the ICC Women's ODI Cricket of the Year award after an impressive 2024, marked by several centuries. She joins contenders Laura Wolvaardt, Annabel Sutherland, and Chamari Athapaththu. Each player demonstrated outstanding performances throughout the year, contributing significantly to their respective teams' successes.
Australia captain Pat Cummins sets a new record in Test cricket by dismissing India's Rohit Sharma six times. Cummins surpasses Richie Benaud's previous record. Cummins' tactical excellence has repeatedly outmaneuvered Rohit, including dismissing him four times in the current series. Other notable captains include Imran Khan and Kapil Dev. The five-match Test series is currently locked at 1-1.
Afghanistan cricketer Azmatullah Omarzai has emerged as a promising talent, showcasing his prowess, especially in white-ball cricket. His outstanding performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup highlight his batting and bowling skills.