Saturday, July 11
India and Pakistan will face off in the Champions Trophy on February 23 in Dubai. Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has suggested appointing Sarfaraz Ahmed, who led Pakistan to a win against India in the 2017 final, as mentor.
India pacer Akash Deep reflects on his debut Test series against Australia, discussing the challenges and learnings of playing with the Kookaburra ball. Despite the team's series loss, he values the experience gained from senior players like Jasprit Bumrah and highlights the support from skipper Rohit Sharma. In an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com, Akash Deep opened up about his experience Down Under, bowling alongside Jasprit Bumrah, and his thoughts on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s form, among other topics.
Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin addresses the futures of senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He emphasises that retirement decisions are personal. Ashwin criticises toxic fan wars on social media and defends the performances of Rohit and Kohli, highlighting the challenging nature of recent Test series.
Paarl Royals' wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik wowed fans with a spectacular one-handed catch to dismiss Azmatullah Omarzai during the SA20 match against MI Cape Town. The dismissal occurred in the fifth over, providing Royals an early breakthrough. Despite Rassie van der Dussen's unbeaten 91, Cape Town managed to score 158 for 4, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman taking two crucial wickets.
Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted Scott Boland's impact in Australia's 3-1 win over India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Ashwin praised the series' competitiveness and noted Boland's contribution after Josh Hazlewood’s injury. He discussed Boland's effectiveness against India's left-handers. Ashwin also discussed his surprise retirement after the third Test in Brisbane, expressing no regrets.
Despite a six-wicket defeat against Desert Vipers, Gulf Giants' Mark Adair praised his team's efforts and determination. He highlighted their strong performance and positive mindset, emphasizing their ability to bounce back. Adair expressed confidence in the team's potential and the professional environment within the franchise as they prepare for their next match against Dubai Capitals on January 18th.
Mumbai Cricket Association honored cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Vinod Kambli during the 50th anniversary celebrations of Wankhede Stadium. Kambli, encouraged stadium-goers with memories of his career milestones and emphasized hard work as key to success in cricket, drawing inspiration from his own and Sachin Tendulkar's journeys. After his felicitation, Kambli reminisced about his playing days at the iconic venue.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel experienced tension during India's Australia tour due to discipline issues. The BCCI is monitoring support staff performance, focusing on batting coach Abhishek Nayar and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, with potential contract limits to address loyalty concerns.
Ravichandran Ashwin addressed his retirement from international cricket, stating that a farewell game wasn't necessary. He retired after the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, feeling his creativity on the field had ended. Ashwin emphasised the importance of ending his career on his terms and expressed his intention to continue playing cricket elsewhere.
Liverpool's title push was challenged in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, while Manchester City and Chelsea both faced disappointing draws in their respective matches. Arsenal now have a chance to close the gap in the title race. West Ham enjoyed a home victory against Fulham in winning start for Graham Potter
