Crease Chronicles

Najmul Hossain Shanto produced a captain's hundred and forged two significant partnerships to put Bangladesh in a commanding position in the opening Test against New Zealand in Sylhet on Thursday.

Uganda etched their name in history by securing qualification for the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, triumphing over Rwanda in the final round of matches during the African leg of the qualifiers. Joining Namibia, Uganda emerged as the second team to clinch a coveted spot in the prestigious tournament. This achievement marks Uganda's maiden appearance in any ICC World Cup event, showcasing their rising prowess in international cricket.

Ravichandran Ashwin discussed the mood in the Indian dressing room after their defeat by Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup final. He praised Rohit Sharma's leadership qualities and revealed that both Rohit and Virat Kohli were in tears after the match. Ashwin described Rohit as an outstanding person who understands every single person in the team. He also commended Rohit for his efforts in team meetings and for leading by example on the field.

England captain Ben Stokes underwent a successful procedure on his left knee in preparation for the Test series in India. Stokes, who was limited to batting in the recent World Cup due to his physical condition, was also unable to bowl in the final three Ashes Tests against Australia. He had previously announced that he would undergo surgery after the World Cup. Stokes will now begin his rehabilitation to be fit for the five-match Test series in India starting on January 25.

The deadline for player registrations for the 2024 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction is November 30. Players seeking inclusion in the auction pool must ensure they register by the end of today, as the auction is set to take place on December 19. Only those who have obtained no-objection certificates (NOC) from their respective countries' boards are eligible to participate. Australia's World Cup-winning players are expected to invite a bidding war among the 10 franchises.

Kevin Pietersen believes that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have a chance to be in India's squad for the T20 World Cup in 2024. Their performance in the IPL will be crucial in determining their selection. Pietersen emphasizes the need to give them respect and ask them if they fancy their chances based on their form. He also mentions that the IPL form will be significant since there isn't much gap between the IPL and the T20 World Cup. Pietersen is currently playing in the Legends League Cricket and sees it as an opportunity for retired cricketers to have a second innings in their careers.

India secured a 2-0 series lead by winning the first two T20Is, but Australia staged a comeback in the third T20I, narrowing the home team's lead to 2-1. The upcoming fourth T20I is scheduled to take place at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on December 1. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the team departed Guwahati for Raipur. The BCCI documented the squad's trip, capturing their departure and arrival in a short video on social media.

After a week of hectic parleys and suspense, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) extended Rahul Dravid's contract as Team India's head coach. While the tenure of the contract hasn't been specified by BCCI, TOI understands that both parties have agreed to primarily focus on the T20 World Cup to be held in the US and West Indies in June 2024. In Dravid's first two-year term, the Indian team made the T20 World Cup semifinals in 2022 and the final of World Test Championship in June this year before suffering heartbreak in the ODI World Cup final this month.

BCCI and national selectors are set to have a conversation with Rohit Sharma over his white-ball future as they pick the team for India's tour of South Africa. Selectors seek stability in leadership due to concerns over Hardik Pandya's regular breakdowns. Senior pacers' selection for the white-ball leg of the SA tour is in question. Mukesh Kumar and Prasidh Krishna in contention for the fifth pacer's spot in the Test team. Discussions on second wicket-keeping option and potential exclusion of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

Former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth feels that Jasprit Bumrah could be hurt by all-rounder Hardik Pandya's return to Mumbai Indians as the premier pacer may have harboured captaincy aspirations. Pandya has returned to the MI fold a couple of years after leading Gujarat Titans, having also led the latter to title success in IPL 2022.

The BCCI brass will like to convince Rohit Sharma to lead the India team in T20 format despite his reluctance after the 2022 World T20 semi-final exit as the board announces the three squads for the South Africa assignment on Thursday. The BCCI's secretary and convenor of selection committee Jay Shah will meet chairman of panel Ajit Agarkar in the national capital to discuss the squads as well as prepare a roadmap for the next big-ticket event -- the T20 World Cup.

After a two-season stint with the Gujarat Titans, the esteemed Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya made headlines on Monday by returning to his original IPL squad, the Mumbai Indians. Pandya had a significant presence in the MI lineup, featuring in 92 matches from 2015 to 2021. During this period, he accumulated 1476 runs at an average of 27.33 and a striking rate exceeding 153. His impactful performances included four half-centuries, with a notable top score of 91. Additionally, he contributed with the ball, clinching 42 wickets for the team, showcasing his prowess with best bowling figures of 3/20.

Rahul Dravid's contract as head coach was extended on Wednesday as the board wanted to maintain continuity, following the senior side's stupendous performance in the ODI World Cup where it won 10 games in a row before losing the final.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday announced the extension of contracts for head coach Rahul Dravid and the support staff of Team India. Batting coach Vikram Rathour, fielding coach T Dilip and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey will continue their stint with team India as BCCI also extended contracts of support staff of Team India. Dravid's second stint with the Team India will be the tour of South Africa from December 10, which will have three ODIs and T20Is each and two Tests. The red-ball leg will start from December 26.

Talismanic India batter Virat Kohli, who was leading run-getter of 2023 ODI World Cup and was named Player of the Tournament, is reportedly taking a break from white-ball cricket, but he will be available for the two Tests on the upcoming tour of South Africa. A report says Kohli told the BCCI that he won't be available for white-ball matches on the tour of South Africa, which start off with a three-match T20I series, followed by a three-game ODI series.

Sachin Tendulkar expressed happiness at star batter Virat Kohli breaking his record of most ODI centuries and said that Virat still has a lot of cricket and runs left in him. Though India succumbed to yet another heartbreaking defeat in the final of the World Cup, the campaign will be remembered fondly by many fans for Virat's exploits and consistency throughout the event, which saw him break multiple batting records every single time he walked to the crease. One of these was Virat becoming the first-ever batter to hit 50 ODI centuries.

Rinku Singh's persistent proficiency in successfully concluding matches, whether in the IPL or T20 internationals, has led to his recognition as a dependable finisher. Nevertheless, former India pacer Ashish Nehra appears unimpressed with the term 'finisher' and believes that a player of Rinku's caliber could potentially bat higher up the order, being a contender for inclusion in the ODI cricket setup as well. Rinku has incredible statistics in his short T20I career so far. In eight matches and four innings, he has scored 128 runs at an average of 128.00, finishing unbeaten thrice.

In a thrilling match between India and Australia, Glenn Maxwell's 48-ball 104* led Australia to a victory, keeping the T20I series alive. Ruturaj Gaikwad scored a maiden international century for India, but it was not enough to secure the win. Gaikwad's knock of 123* became the first century by an Indian against Australia in T20Is. Despite Gaikwad's efforts, Australia chased down the target of 223 runs on the last ball of the match. Jason Behrendorff was the standout performer among the Australian bowlers.

It's been four days since the World Cup ended, but there is still a fight going on as to which team was the best. Was it India, which won 10 games on the trot, or was it Australia, which lost the first two and then won nine straight games, eventually beating India in the final to lift the trophy? From fans to former cricketers, everyone is enjoying this battle on social media platforms, and the latest to join the bandwagon is Michael Vaughan, who on Thursday trolled Mohammad Kaif for terming India as the tournament's best team.

Ravichandran Ashwin said Rohit Sharma 'doesn't need to be taught to score hundreds', backing his captain to the hilt after his failure to convert a blazing start into a big score in the World Cup final against Australia attracted criticism. Rohit was in full flow throughout the tournament and the brisk starts that India enjoyed were largely due to his pyrotechnics at the top of the order. Scoring at an incredible strike rate of 125, he amassed 597 runs in 11 matches.

Indian star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin fared decently well in the opening match of the World Cup against Australia in Chennai. Despite that he warmed the benches for the remainder of the tournament. Having been on the sidelines of the tournament, Ashwin expressed his pain and disclosed his return was imminent but Hardik Pandya's injury forced the team management to make amends in their planning. Ashwin made it into the 15-member World Cup squad after Axar Patel failed to recover in time from his left quadriceps strain.

Former Pakistani cricketer Abdul Razzaq has made negative comments about Indian cricket, including their defeat to Australia in the ODI World Cup final. He criticized the pitch and claimed that India took advantage of the conditions. Another former Pakistan cricketer, Hasan Raza, had questioned the ICC and BCCI on providing special cricket balls to assist Indian pacers. Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq even claimed that Harbhajan Singh considered converting to Islam, which Harbhajan strongly denied.

India's all-rounder, Axar Patel, has urged the team to move on from the disappointment of the World Cup final defeat against Australia. Patel, who missed the ODI World Cup due to injury, expressed his eagerness to contribute to the team. He acknowledged the heartbreak of the World Cup final but emphasized the young team's determination to prove their worth. He highlighted the energy within the squad and the opportunity for the youngsters to showcase their talents.

The Gujarat Giants secured a thrilling three-run win against the Bhilwara Kings in the Legends League Cricket (LLC). Lendl Simmons' valiant effort was insufficient as the Giants defended a target of 173. Despite Chris Gayle's knock in the first inning, the Giants managed to post a competitive total of 172/6 in their allotted twenty overs, with contributions from various batsmen, including a crucial partnership between Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and Chirag Khurana.

Australia's Test cricket selectors have called on aspiring openers Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, and Matt Renshaw for a crucial warm-up match against Pakistan. The trio, along with three other Test-experienced players, will join the Prime Minister's XI for the four-day red-ball encounter in Canberra next month. Warner's retirement from the longer format after the three-Test series against Pakistan signals his retirement from the longer format. This leaves a potential vacancy for Usman Khawaja in the subsequent two Tests against the West Indies.

Australia won the ODI World Cup against India, and opener David Warner revealed the unorthodox decision-making process that led to the team opting to chase after winning the crucial toss. Despite statistical indicators favoring batting first, the Australian squad, after a lengthy discussion the night before, opted to chase. Warner shared insights into the team's thought process, stating that despite the stats suggesting batting first, the majority of the team decided to chase.

Pakistan's 2024 white-ball tour of the Netherlands has been postponed due to the Pakistan Cricket Board's request. The Men in Green were originally scheduled to play a three-match T20I series against the Netherlands in May 2024, as part of a broader European tour that included three T20Is against Ireland and four against England, ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup in June 2024.

Afghanistan's Rashid Khan has been ruled out of Australia's Big Bash League (BBL) due to a minor back injury. Khan, the world's top-ranked Twenty20 bowler, was set to play for the Adelaide Strikers for the seventh consecutive year in the BBL. The club's general manager, Tim Nielson, expressed disappointment at the loss and said Khan was a beloved member of the Strikers for seven years.

India's 'Gen-Next' cricket team, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, will face a formidable Australian team in a five-match T20 International series. The series will test young Indian cricketers like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Jitesh Sharma, and Mukesh Kumar, who have recently made their international debuts. The Australian T20 side will feature World Cup heroes Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, and Steve Smith, as well as IPL performers.

Rahul Dravid has decided not to continue as the head coach of the Indian cricket team after their defeat in the World Cup final. Dravid's two-year contract ended with the conclusion of the tournament, and he has communicated his decision to the BCCI. VVS Laxman is set to replace Dravid as the head coach. Laxman, who is currently the head coach of a second-string Indian team, has expressed his keenness for the job and is likely to sign a long-term contract. Dravid may take on a role at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and is in talks with an IPL team for a contract.

Australia will face India in a five-match T20I series with a strong squad that includes seven players who participated in the World Cup. India, on the other hand, has opted to rest most of its World Cup players, making them the underdogs in the series. With the focus on the T20 World Cup next year, this series will be an opportunity for young Indian players to showcase their skills and potentially earn a spot in the tournament.

Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf faces the risk of being downgraded in his central contract and could also be denied permission to play the Big Bash League after opting out of next month's three-match Test series in Australia.

Gearing up for their first Test at home in almost a decade, Indian women's team captain Harmanpreet Kaur feels the biggest challenge will be to adapt to red-ball cricket in a short span of time given the hectic international schedule.

The Indian team's loss at the hands of mighty Australia in the 2023 World Cup final didn't go well with many, right from ardent supporters to former players, who are coming up with different theories, as they have not been able to digest the outcome. Ironically, Australia lost the first two matches and then went on to win the remaining nine to lift the World Cup for the record sixth time, while India registered 10 straight victories in commanding fashion before losing to the Aussies in the final.

Following an impressive display at the ODI World Cup, India batter Virat Kohli gained ground in the latest update to the ODI Player Rankings, moving up one spot to third. Meanwhile, his teammate Shubman Gill maintained his position at the top. Kohli scored a tournament-best 765 runs during the tournament that helped the right-hander jumped to third and within just 35 rating points of Gill, who remained on top of the batting chart. Gill maintains a grip on the top spot with 826 rating points, narrowly ahead of Pakistan's skipper, Babar Azam

Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gambhir had previously led the team from 2011 to 2017, winning two titles. After leaving KKR, he served as the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants. Gambhir's return to KKR has been welcomed by the team's principal, Shah Rukh Khan. As a mentor, Gambhir will work with head coach Chandrakant Pandit to instill the team's spirit and sportsmanship.

Besides the heartbreak of India losing in the ODI World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad, what disappointed Shami, who ended up as the tournament's most successbowler with 24 wickets, was some of the comments made by former Pakistan players, but he chiefly referred to ex-batter Hasan Raza's theory of 'Indian bowlers being provided a different ball'.

Australia captain Pat Cummins said his team had created their own legacy by winning the nation's record-extending sixth 50-over World Cup as the players returned home from India on Wednesday morning. Cummins's team upset the hosts by six wickets in Sunday's final in Ahmedabad, only months after beating the south Asians to claim their maiden World Test Championship. The Australia skipper touched down in Sydney with team mates and was still glowing about their achievement.

India's loss to Australia in the 2023 World Cup final highlighted a recurring trend of Indian captains underperforming in final games. While Australia excelled in rising to the occasion, India, despite being favored, failed to capitalize on their talent and ended up on the losing side. Only Mohd Azharuddin and MS Dhoni have a commendable record in finals, with the latter being the benchmark for winning big trophies. The fear of failure seemed to hinder India's performance in the final, leading to a more conservative and diffident approach.

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) will discuss Rohit Sharma's future in white-ball cricket and the grooming of a future captain. Rohit has already expressed his willingness to not be considered for T20Is, but it remains to be seen how he views his ODI career. With the selectors keen on investing in young talent, there is a need to groom a long-term captain. Additionally, Ajinkya Rahane may be in danger of being dropped from the Test squad, with Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill in contention.

The ICC Board on Tuesday made the decision to relocate the upcoming men's Under-19 World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa. This move came 11 days after the ICC provisionally suspended the cricket body in Sri Lanka due to government interference. Interestingly, it was Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) that took the initiative to contact the ICC, notifying them about the interference of the government in the administration of cricket within the country. Tensions between SLC and the Sports Ministry have been ongoing. The government has alleged SLC officials of engaging in corruption and mismanagement.

After India's defeat by six wickets against Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023 final match on Sunday, the former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik remarked on KL Rahul's batting approach. 'KL Rahul was just trying to bat through the 50 overs. He should not have done that and should have tried to play his game. If you're batting in tough conditions and the boundaries aren't coming easily, then at least you've got to rotate strike. That wasn't happening, there were a lot of dot balls,' Malik said.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh urged cricket enthusiasts to refrain from trolling Aussie cricketers and their family members after Australia secured a six-wicket victory over India in the ODI World Cup 2023 final. Harbhajan took to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, and wrote that trolling family members of the World Cup champions is completely in bad taste. After India's defeat, numerous cricket fans engaged in trolling the family members of Australian cricketers on their social media profiles.

World Cup winning skipper Pat Cummins, by his own admission, has fallen in love with 50-over cricket all over again but the jury remains out on the future of the ODI format, whose relevance in modern-day cricket is being debated for some time now.

Australian cricketer David Warner, known for his performances in the Indian Premier League and his love for Indian cinema, is adored by Indian fans. After Australia's World Cup win, Warner responded to a user's comment about him breaking a billion hearts, apologizing and praising India's hosting of the tournament. Warner finished the World Cup with 535 runs, securing the sixth spot in the run-scorers' list. He also ranked second in the ICC Fielding Impact Ratings, with eight catches and 23 runs saved.

The choice made by Australia captain, Pat Cummins, to opt for bowling first upon winning the toss in the final against India in Ahmedabad on Sunday was met with surprise by many. However, the decisive manner in which the Australians secured their sixth title against a seemingly unstoppable opponent demonstrated that Cummins and his team had executed their plans effectively. Thus, Cummins's decision to bowl first in the high-pressure game was gutsy in every sense.

Australia overcame a shaky start in the World Cup with two consecutive losses to turn their campaign around and emerge as the champions. They had thrilling moments throughout the tournament, such as Warner's stunning catch against Sri Lanka and Head's match-winning century in the final. Glenn Maxwell's incredible innings of 201 not out against Afghanistan also played a crucial role in Australia's success. Their bowlers, especially Adam Zampa, performed exceptionally well, and the team showed resilience and determination in their victories.