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The absence of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul from the second Test against England has opened up doors for the likes of Sarfaraz Khan and Rajat Patidar. The former was in contention for a long time but couldn’t break the door until the selectors called him to replace injured KL Rahul in the mix. Patidar, on the other hand, has also been in the reckoning for quite some time now but is yet to make his debut in Test cricket. With Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer likely to retain their spot in the playing XI, the Indian team is currently looking to fill the number four spot. Both Sarfaraz and Patidar are in the reckoning as one of them is expected to make their debut in Vizag. Speaking about them, former cricketer Aakash Chopra stated that both cricketers are match-ready and should be considered for selection as they play well on spin-friendly pitches. “Rajat Patidar and Sarfaraz Khan add lot a value. They play well in spin-friendly pitches and have scored a lot of runs in the Ranji Trophy. They

After scoring a plethora of runs in the Ranji Trophy and recent heroic performances for India A against England A, Sarfaraz Khan received a much-deserved maiden national team call-up ahead of the second Test against England, starting on Friday, February 2 in Visakhapatnam. He isn't the only player to receive a call-up, as left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar and Washington Sundar have also been added to the squad. India will miss the services of the injured duo of Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul for the encounter and that is why they had to make adjustments to their squad. Former cricketers have expressed their delight after Sarfaraz's inclusion in the squad. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan recently spoke about what the Mumbai batter's call-up would mean to other domestic cricketers in the country. "When he got selected I was happy, but I was also happy for Saurabh Kumar who has also been performing for years in the domestic circuit." Pathan was quoted as saying

England suffered a major blow as the star spinner Jack Leach has been ruled out of the second Test against India due to an injury on his left knee. England skipper Ben Stokes confirmed the development and mentioned that the knock has resulted in a haematoma.  Meanwhile, Leach was the senior-most spinner in the squad, with the experience of playing 36 Test matches. Rehan Ahmed has two matches to his name, while Tom Hartley made his debut in the first Test in Hyderabad. Shoaib Bashir, who recently joined the England camp is yet to make his debut for the national team. In such a scenario, former skipper Joe Root might have to take the responsibility of a lead spinner while the other three are likely to work around him. Stokes added that the medical team is constantly monitoring Leach and expects him to get back sooner rather than later. “He's ruled out of the second Test. Unfortunately, the knock he took resulted in a haematoma. It's a big shame for us and a big shame for him.

Mayank Agarwal. (Photo Source : Twitter) 1. IND vs ENG: Indian team receives grand welcome in Vizag ahead of 2nd Test The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a video of their reception in Vizag, where hundreds of fans were seen waiting in the airport to welcome the team. ( READ MORE ) 2. Monty Panesar criticises 'clueless captain' Rohit Sharma after Hyderabad loss Rohit failed to go big with the bat with his tactics in Hyderabad, and Panesar opined that the skipper seemed clueless in the clash. ( READ MORE ) 3. India should be careful of not falling into their own trap by preparing turning wicket: Harbhajan Singh With Virat Kohli also not playing in the first two Tests due to personal reasons, the Indian batting lineup is looking worrisome, according to the former cricketer Harbhajan Singh. ( READ MORE ) 4. Mohammad Kaif hopes Kohli's Test return 'isn't too late' for Indian remontada Mohammad Kaif came forward to opine and highlight th

Michael Vaughan and Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Getty Images & ICC) Former England skipper Michael Vaughan believes that India wouldn’t have lost the Hyderabad Test had Virat Kohli been the captain of the team. The hosts were in the driver’s seat with a healthy lead of 190 runs after the first innings but they couldn’t play with the same intensity as England batters put up a great show in the middle. Ollie Pope made 196 runs, while Ben Foakes and Tom Hartley contributed well towards the end as England posted a massive total of 420 runs in the second innings. After this, debutant  Tom Hartley stole the show with his seven-fer as the visitors won the match by 28 runs. Reflecting upon that, Vaughan stated that India misses Kohli’s captaincy in the red-ball format and added that they were turned off completely in the second innings. “They miss Virat Kohli's captaincy massively in Test cricket. Under Virat's captaincy that week, India wouldn't have lost the game. Rohi

Aaron Finch. (Photo Source: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images) Australia whitewashed Pakistan in a three-match home Test series between December 2023 and January 2024, but their batting department was tested on a few occasions. In the recently concluded two-match Test series against the West Indies, the same story was repeated, as the Caribbean pacers made life difficult for the Aussie batting department, especially the middle order. The series ended in a 1-1 draw. Only two individual centuries have been scored by Aussie batters in the last five Tests. They came from the blades of Travis Head and David Warner. In their last game, Australia suffered a miraculous collapse of 8 for 94 during their chase of 216 against the West Indies, eventually losing the game by eight runs. They had also been reduced to 54/5 in the first innings before Khawaja, Alex Carey, and Pat Cummins resurrected the innings. The ever-dependable Marnus Labuschagne has been going through a rough patch, as he made jus

Zalawad Royals (Photo Source: Saurashtra Cricket Association) In a recent turn of events, the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) finds itself grappling with an unforeseen controversy involving its under-23 players. Last week, during a routine luggage check at Chandigarh airport, authorities stumbled upon a cache of undeclared alcohol in the bags of five promising young cricketers, putting their burgeoning careers in jeopardy and raising eyebrows on team discipline. Chandigarh Union Territory Cricket Association's secretary, Devinder Sharma, confirmed the incident, clarifying that the act violates cricket association rules rather than constituting a criminal offense. In a bizarre twist, a player's father claims his son was unwittingly used as a pawn by a senior Ranji Trophy player to transport the alcohol. He alleges that his son, oblivious to the contents, merely complied with a teammate’s request, hinting at potential foul play and an orchestrated effort to sideline s

Asia Cup. (Photo Source: ACC) In a recent turn of events, the Annual General Meetings (AGM) of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) are all set to unfold over the next two days in Bali, Indonesia. This two-day cricket conclave, scheduled for January 31, is drawing attention from cricket enthusiasts worldwide, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Jay Shah, in the spotlight. The ACC, a cricketing powerhouse in Asia, will tackle crucial matters during the AGM, with a spotlight on the broadcast rights of the organization. The ACC's flagship tournament, the Asia Cup, has made its rights a hot commodity in world cricket. Disney Star has been the rights holder for eight years, but the rapidly changing sports broadcasting landscape in India adds an element of unpredictability to the mix. Top broadcasters have been invited for a dinner on Tuesday, setting the stage for potential competitive bids. Another puzzle for the ACC to solve is the venue for the next Asia

Shubman Gill (Photo Source: Twitter) The Indian team got off to a subpar start in their ongoing Test series against England as the Rohit Sharma-led side faced a defeat in the first Test of the series, giving away the advantage to the visitors. After losing the game, one of the most dismal performances was by star batter Shubman Gill, who failed to get to top gear across innings. Scoring 23 runs in the first innings, Gill was sent packing for a duck in the second, which became a major reason for concern for the fans. The 24-year-old’s form has consistently dipped in the recent times. Seeing his performance, former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan came forward to give his take on the pressure that the star batter might be under. He opined that Gill could not get in the flow in the first innings, but the pressure did not come to him early on as well. "So I don't think the pressure that you are talking about came to him even in the first innings of this match because of the class

Parthiv Patel. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) India suffered a 28-run defeat against England in the first Test of the five-match series in Hyderabad. The tourists overturned a 190-run first-innings deficit to emerge victorious in a riveting contest. While England went in with only one frontline pacer in Mark Wood and three spinners in Jack Leach, Tom Hartley, and Rehan Ahmed for the first Test, India opted to play Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj alongside the spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel. Bumrah played a key role in the contest, as he bagged six wickets from the 24.4 overs he bowled in the match. However, his fellow seamer Siraj was only used for four overs in the first innings and seven in the second innings, finishing wicketless in both attempts. Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel felt that India could have played an extra batter in place of Siraj, who was sporadically used. He opined that this move would have allowed Kuldeep Yadav to pla

Joe Root. (Photo Source: Twitter) The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad witnessed one of the finest centuries scored by a foreign player when Ollie Pope amassed 148 runs on Day 3 of the first Test between India and England. The right-handed batter hit 17 fours during his unbeaten knock and helped England take a second-innings lead of 126, with four wickets to spare. During his epic knock, Pope used a wide range of sweeps and reverse sweeps to unsettle the Indian spinners. Other English batters also used these shots to good effect during their second innings. 48 runs came off the 30 balls in which the tourists implemented the reverse sweep. For all kinds of sweep shots, 79 runs came from 46 balls. These shots did not allow Ravichandran Ashwin and Co. to bowl consistently on the good length, which had yielded good results heading into the England innings. Joe Root heaped praise on Pope and said that batters need to be confident in executing when they are going for th

Ollie Pope. (Photo Source: BCCI) 1. ‘It's an absolute masterclass’ - Joe Root lauds Ollie Pope’s mammoth knock against India Veteran England batter Joe Root hailed Ollie Pope and called his innings an absolute masterclass on how to bat in Indian conditions as an overseas player.  (Read More) 2. Hardik Pandya begins bowling ahead of IPL 2024, shares practice video Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been making rapid progress on his path to recovery as he’s been sharing constant updates with his fans on social media.   (Read More) 3. Royal Challengers Bangalore name Nadine de Klerk as a replacement for Heather Knight Heather Knight has withdrawn from the tournament to prepare for the New Zealand tour beginning in March.   (Read More) 4. Cricketing Fraternity congratulates Rohan Bopanna for winning Australian Open Men's Doubles title Paired alongside Matthew Ebden, Bopanna beat the Italian pair of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori.   (Read More) 5. Ranji Trophy

Shamar Joseph. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) In a recent twist at the Gabba, West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph, who retired hurt after a fierce blow from Mitchell Starc's yorker, has received good news on the injury front. Initial concerns of a possible fracture to his toe have been dispelled, opening the door for Joseph to potentially contribute on the fourth day as West Indies defend their target of 216. Starc's delivery struck Joseph's boot, initially resulting in an LBW decision that was later overturned as a no-ball by the third umpire. Despite the reprieve, Joseph, already in pain, had to leave the field. The subsequent examination revealed no fracture, providing a sigh of relief for the West Indies camp. "He will continue to be monitored by the medical team and assessed tomorrow," stated a release posted on X. Joseph's injury had left West Indies with a limited bowling attack, with only two frontline quicks available. However, the team displayed

KL Rahul. (Photo Source: BCCI) India batter KL Rahul spoke about his knock at the end of Day 2 of the 1st Test against England in Hyderabad on Friday i n a conversation on ‘Match Centre Live’ on JioCinema and Sports18. On missing out on a century: “ I could have got out on zero, so I will take the 86. Maybe tomorrow I’ll turn up and feel I missed out on a century. But today, I enjoyed being out in the middle. We watched England play yesterday and I felt like it wasn’t a wicket where you could wait for the loose balls to come, you had to create some opportunities and try to put the bowlers off their line and length. I was looking for opportunities to score runs. I had a few shots in mind and was prepared to take my chances if the bowlers bowled there.” On his game plan: “ I wanted to see where I could get runs. I spoke to Rohit in the morning, and he told me the wicket is a bit slow and you can’t go out there and start playing your shots. So, I just gave myself a bit of time and

England women's T20I. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) A clash between club and country commitments has thrown a curveball into England's game plan. The Women's Premier League (WPL) final in India is set to coincide with a bilateral T20I series in New Zealand, leaving players in a tough spot. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed the WPL final on March 17 in Delhi, while the first T20I in New Zealand is scheduled for March 19 in Dunedin, as players find themselves torn between the two crucial fixtures. As per ESPNcricinfo, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has informed players participating in the WPL that opting to stay in India would rule them out of contention for the first three T20Is in New Zealand. The squad for the tour is expected to be named next week. Notable names like Alice Capsey, Issy Wong, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Kate Cross, Heather Knight, Sophie Ecclestone, and Danni Wyatt are caught in the crossfire. The decision-making process i

Ranji Trophy (Photo Source: Twitter) 1. IND vs ENG: England's challenges deepen as Jack Leach grapples with 'significant' knee injury Leach, the main spinner in Ben Stokes' arsenal, sustained the injury while attempting to save a boundary on the opening day and worsened it during Friday's morning session.  (Read More) 2. Hyderabad's Tanmay Agarwal shatters record books to register fastest 300 in first-class cricket Tanmay Agarwal reached the landmark in just 147 balls against Arunachal Pradesh in Ranji Trophy 2024.   (Read More) 3. 'Lovely toilets to boot' - English fans get disgusted by 'extremely dirty' arrangements during Hyderabad Test Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, made headlines during the ODI World Cup for its pathetic seating arrangements during initial fixtures.  (Read More) 4. 'It gives time to plan your innings' - KL Rahul finds his new mojo in middle-order KL Rahul felt 14 runs short of his century a

Ben Stokes and Jake Leach. (Photo Source: Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images) In a tough blow for England on the second day in Hyderabad, Jack Leach's left knee injury added to their woes as India took a commanding lead of 175 runs in the ongoing first Test. Leach, the main spinner in Ben Stokes' arsenal, sustained the injury while attempting to save a boundary on the opening day. Moreover, his left knee's condition worsened during Friday's morning session, thereby limiting him to just 16 overs out of 87 for the day. As per the spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel, Leach banged his left knee twice during the game. As a result, this led the spinner to field sluggishly in the outfield besides having to bowl his quota of bowling spell for England. "He banged his knee last night, the first dive down at fine leg. Then he banged it again today and it's giving him a little gyp, to be honest. You noticed in the outfield he was a little sluggish trying

Chamari Athapaththu. (Photo Source: Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images) Bangalore, 26 January, 2024:  The UP Warriorz, who finished third in the inaugural edition of the WPL , have drafted in Sri Lankan women’s cricket team skipper Chamari Athapaththu as a replacement for English fast bowler Lauren Bell ahead of the upcoming season of the Women’s Premier League 2024, scheduled to be held from Friday, February 23 to Sunday, March 17. The English cricketer had been part of the UP Warriorz set-up in Season 1 of the WPL, which was played in Mumbai in 2023.   One of the most experienced and dynamic cricketers in the T20 format, Athapaththu will be making her debut in the Women’s Premier League. She has played 122 T20Is for her country, and has been in fine form in 2023. The hard-hitting batter finished with 470 runs in 2023, with an impressive strike-rate of 130.91. Her 15 sixes in the year is also a personal high in Women's T20Is.  More recently, the left-hand batter finished as the

Rajat Patidar (Photo: X) The 30-year-old Rajat Patidar finds himself in the Indian Test squad against England. While the chances of him securing a spot in the playing eleven seem slim, it underscores the strength of India's domestic cricket structure in nurturing seasoned professionals. Patidar's journey from impressing Chandrakant Pandit in the Ranji Trophy for Madhya Pradesh to holding his own alongside Virat Kohli in high-pressure IPL encounters speaks volumes about his consistency and temperament. But what sets him apart from other domestic contenders? According to Vijay Dahiya, a seasoned coach and commentator, the key lies in Patidar's ability to convert starts into big hundreds. "Rajat knows how to make big hundreds. It is one thing having the hunger but completely different while executing the plan. If someone is scoring 151 out of a team's total of 227 (India A vs England Lions), he is an above average player. He has a lot of time while playing bowle

Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) 1. IND vs ENG: Skipper Rohit Sharma reveals why Rajat Patidar was preferred over experienced veterans The Indian skipper iterated that it is extremely important to give certain players (like Patidar) some chance in the conditions they are used to playing in, before exposing them to foreign conditions at overseas tours (Read More) 2. I've got no issue with how India want to play at home, as long as pitches are up to standards: Simon Doull Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull weighed in his opinion on the issue and compared the pitches prepared in New Zealand with India (Read More) 3. Shakib al Hasan diagnosed with retinal condition in left eye The 36-year-old reportedly complained of issues with his eye and consulted Ophthalmologists in both Bangladesh and overseas (Read More) 4. Chattogram Challengers sign Josh Brown for ongoing Bangladesh Premier League The franchise shared the news with their fans on Wednesday, January 24

Ben Foakes (Photo Source : Twitter) Despite being one of England’s finest keepers, Ben Foakes was considered to be a backup option for Jonny Bairstow for the majority part of his career. When the latter was out with a leg injury in 2022, Foakes proved his worth by hitting a century against South Africa in Manchester and also has half-centuries against Pakistan and New Zealand. Despite so, he couldn’t fit into England’s system and wasn’t considered for selection during Ashes 2023. However, with Harry Brook set to miss the India series due to personal reasons, the 30-year-old is set to make his return to the national team. Flamboyant batter Bairstow will be playing as a specialized batter, which made room for Foakes in the playing XI. It is also a massive plus point for the Ben Stokes-led side as Foakes’ experience in wicketkeeping will come in handy in the spin-friendly conditions of India .  Reflecting upon that, Stokes mentioned that the cricketer can do things that other keeper

Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah is aware of the damage Bazball can cause. He faced the wrath of it in the rescheduled fifth Test against England on July 22 in Edgbaston, in which England chased 378 runs in the final innings to win the match by seven wickets. In the absence of Rohit Sharma, Bumrah was also leading the side as he now has experience of the destruction that England can cause by playing an aggressive brand of cricket. Despite so, the 30-year-old isn’t bothered about England’s Bazball for the upcoming five-match Test series, which is slated to begin on January 25 in Hyderabad. Speaking about the same, Bumrah mentioned that it is something he ‘doesn't really relate to’ but is excited as it would give bowlers a chance to pick up a lot of wickets. “I don't really relate to the term Bazball. But they are playing successful cricket and the aggressive route of taking the opposition on, showing the world there's another wa

Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan. Photo Source: X/Twitter) 1. AUS vs WI: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Xavier Bartlett earn maiden call-ups as Australia announce ODI squad After having a terrific season with the bat in the ongoing edition of the Big Bash League (BBL), youngster Jake Fraser-McGurk earned his debut call-up in the Australian ODI team (Read More) 2. 'Steve Smith has fallen away, Kane Williamson is also going 50-50 but this guy is still there' - Aakash Chopra believes Virat Kohli is back in Fab-4 Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra showered accolades upon Virat Kohli and affirmed his resurgence among the elite ‘Fab-4’ of Test cricket (Read More) 3. Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant in contention for T20 World Cup 2024: Rahul Dravid According to India's head coach Rahul Dravid, Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul are all in the mix for the much-coveted wicket-keeper batter spot (Read More) 4. Michael Vaughan demands 'dedicated window' to protect Test crick

Jake Fraser-McGurk. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) After having a terrific season with the bat in the ongoing edition of the Big Bash League (BBL), youngster Jake Fraser-McGurk earned his debut call-up in the Australian ODI team. In nine matches, the 21-year-old has scored 257 runs at a strike rate of 158.64, which pushed his chances to get into the scheme of things, especially with Glenn Maxwell taking a break from the series. He is also regarded as one of the prospects of Australian cricket. McGurk enjoyed a brilliant season with South Australia, where he also made a world record after smashing a 29-ball century in the Marsh Cup. He also got international recognition in the process as Dubai Capitals signed the cricketer for the second edition of ILT20. Xavier Bartlett, on the other hand, is the leading wicket-taker of the ongoing edition of the BBL. Representing Brisbane Heat, the 25-year-old has picked up 17 wickets in nine matches at an economy of 7.63. Notably, Jhye Richardson ha

Joburg-Super-Kings. (Photo Source: Twitter) In the 13th encounter of SA2024 at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, Donovan Ferreira's heroic assault in the death overs led Joburg Super Kings to an exhilarating six-wicket triumph over Pretoria Capitals. This victory not only ended their three-match losing streak but also marked their inaugural win of the season. Pretoria's batting woes began early as Nandre Burger and Lizaad Williams wreaked havoc in the Powerplay, reducing them to a precarious 38/4 by the fifth over. Imran Tahir and Romario Shepherd continued the onslaught, leaving the visitors reeling at 67/6 by the end of the ninth over. However, Kyle Verreynne emerged as the saviour, scoring a resilient unbeaten 72 off 52 deliveries. Supported by valuable contributions from Wayne Parnell, Adil Rashid, and Hardus Viljoen, Pretoria managed to post a competitive 167. Also Read: The IPL stands on its own but I think SA20 is right up there: Mark Butcher In response, Jo

AB de Villiers. (Photo Source: Instagram/abdevilliers17) Former South Africa cricketer AB de Villiers has recently come forward and heaped massive praise on England’s Will Jacks after his mammoth century for Pretoria Capitals against Durban Super Giants in the SA20 2024.  Scoring 101 runs in 42 deliveries, Jacks propelled Capitals to a total of 204 runs in the first innings and took two wickets in the second innings to win his side the game as well. Seeing his performance, De Villiers talked of his presence in the IPL (Indian Premier League) side Royal Challengers Bangalore, and despite having so much talent, he has yet to feature for the side in the marquee tournament. "He (Jacks) has not played a game for RCB. That's crazy for all the talent that he has. It seems like the people of Bengaluru and RCBians are excited for this man to perform for RCB. That's a big question (will Jacks play for RCB). We know he can score big runs. It is a nightmare for the selectors. I

Daryl-Mitchell-and-Mohammad-Rizwan. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images) Star New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell has opted out of the fifth T20I against Pakistan to manage his workload. Youngster Rachin Ravindra has been named as a replacement and is likely to feature in the playing XI, especially with multiple notable cricketers missing at the moment. Regular skipper Kane Williamson suffered a hamstring injury in the first T20I and was ruled out of the series, while Devon Conway tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the fourth match. Now with Mitchell backing out, New Zealand’s batting unit looks dull. However, the Kiwis won’t bother much as they are leading 4-0 in the series. Mitchell played a remarkable knock of 72* runs off 44 deliveries to help New Zealand win the fourth T20I by seven wickets and following which, the cricketer decided to take a break. He is expected to four Test matches, two each against South Africa and Australia and a five-match T20I series against th