Sunday, May 03
Manoj Tiwary has criticized Rohit Sharma's removal as ODI captain, suggesting head coach Gautam Gambhir influenced the decision. Tiwary believes selectors disrespected Rohit, who was performing well and led India to an ICC Champions Trophy win. He feels the move lacked cricketing logic and has diminished his interest in ODIs.
Former India coach WV Raman cautioned against overexposing 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at the U-19 level, emphasizing long-term development over immediate success. Despite his IPL debut and strong performances, Raman believes this level might hinder his growth. Meanwhile, India began their U-19 World Cup campaign with a win against the USA, though Sooryavanshi had a quiet outing with the bat.
India and Bangladesh U-19 captains notably skipped the customary handshake at the toss, reflecting strained bilateral relations. This follows a pattern seen in previous matches involving Indian teams and Pakistan. Recent political tensions between India and Bangladesh have also impacted cricket, with player releases and security concerns raised.
Pakistan stars Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan endured a tough BBL 2026, topping the list of the slowest batters with strike rates of 107.48 and 102.74. Babar’s frustration was visible after a mid-pitch clash with Steve Smith, before his dismissal. Rizwan, meanwhile, became the first overseas player in BBL history to be retired out, highlighting concerns over their T20 tempo.
