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The science underlying Hardik Pandya's trademark no-look sixes and his bent bat

The science underlying Hardik Pandya's trademark no-look sixes and his bent bat

When Hardik Pandya knocks his signature no-look sixes, he does so with a casual demeanor; his timing, skill, and power make it appear effortless. His front-curved bat, a novel invention that has been around for a while but has mostly gone unnoticed, helps the star clear the rope.The groundbreaking "bat tweak" started in the 1990s when Sachin Tendulkar asked his bat manufacturer a question. He had seen that after a while of use, his bats would have a wonderful sweet spot—the wood would get compressed, giving the willow a "good dent." Tendulkar said, "Is it possible to have a readymade sweet spot?" The bats were no longer flat as a cutting board, and the response was "yes." They were convex as well.Hardik is a leading contender in the arms battle among six-hitters thanks to his abilities, conditioning, and bat. His bat has about 200 percent more curve than the competition, according to Sanspareils Greenlands (SG), a manufacturer based in Meerut.Hardik has two requirements: the ball must strike the sweet point of the curve and take off at the exact angle that will allow it to travel the furthest. As an SG engineer notes, it's all about the physics. The ball must take off from the bat at a 45-degree angle in order for its trajectory to form a perfect parabola in the air and travel the farthest. The batsman has a better chance of obtaining the perfect angle when the willow is bent.The throwing wedge on golf clubs has an angle that provides elevation. With the curve's assistance, we were able to provide an excellent angle. When struck with the proper force at a 45-degree angle, it travels over 90 meters. Here, that is the science. The ball is lofted by the curve. Anand remarked, "Hardik worked that out."To illustrate the workings of their Arc series bat, the SG engineers draw schematics on their notebooks and use 3D animation on their laptops. Few are longtime employees who have worked at the company for more than ten years and are unwilling to be identified. They are assets that the business cannot afford to lose or identify in a highly competitive market. One may comprehend why T20 cricket has turned into a batsman's game just listening to them. They discuss how the bat's surface lengthens and the sweet spot enlarges as the curve's degree increases.In comparison to a flat bat, a bat with a longitudinal curve has a longer surface if you measure along the curve, such as with a string. The sweet spot or high-performing zone expands as a result of this increased surface area. This implies that even with imperfect timing, the bat has more "forgiving space" to hit the ball accurately. According to a mechanical engineer who serves as Hardik's sounding board, "curving the bat helps increase the area where you get powerful, clean shots."  

Published 15 May 2025 03:31 PM

Axar Patel leads DC to a decisive victory over Rishabh Pant's LSG on a night that contrasts for the captains.

Axar Patel leads DC to a decisive victory over Rishabh Pant's LSG on a night that contrasts for the captains.

Returning to Lucknow for the first time since his unsatisfactory dismissal from the team, KL Rahul ended the game with a spectacular six to go undefeated in a run-chase with a 42-ball 57.On a night full of stories at Lucknow's Ekana Stadium, the Delhi Capitals won by 8 wickets in a 160-run chase, solidifying their status as this season's title contenders. KL Rahul, who is making his first appearance in Lucknow after his unsatisfactory dismissal from the team, ended the game with a spectacular six to go undefeated in a run chase with a 42-ball 57. In the twelfth over of their respective innings, LSG and DC both lost their second wicket. Axar Patel entered when a composed Abishek Porel collapsed. At this point, DC was only under a little pressure to take a few wickets, but it might have grown complicated because new batters take time to get comfortable. With two sixes over the midwicket zone, his favorite hit against spin, Axar took out Ravi Bishnoi in the very next over after Avesh Khan had dismissed him after four dot balls.In the following over, facing Avesh once more after being outscored by a few deliveries, he decided to take a chance and hit a four to try to clear the fielder at mid-off. The most impressive stroke came from Shardul Thakur, who took up a not-so-short ball with the weight still on his backfoot and sent it over long on for a six.  

Published 23 Apr 2025 08:56 PM

Greatness of Virat Kohli Has Been Reduced

Greatness of Virat Kohli Has Been Reduced": Harbhajan Singhs Huge IPL 2024 Warning

The MA Chidambaram Stadium in this city continues to be a peak that the Royal Challengers Bangalore hitter has yet to reach for the relentless run machine that is Virat Kohli. Kohli has amassed 7263 runs from 237 matches, seven hundreds, and a strike average of 130, setting him apart from the other players in the IPL. However, at the Chepauk, where he averages just thirty and has a strike-rate of eleven1, that dominance wanes. In light of this, former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh stated that Kohli must put up a stronger effort when RCB takes on the reigning champion Chennai Super Kings in the opening IPL game of the season on March 22 at the Chepauk.In terms of his overall performance at that location, Virat's greatness has diminished. It's a challenging place to bat, particularly when you're the opening batsman up against a strange bounce similar to a tennis ball.The legendary Ravindra Jadeja bowls stump to stump for them (CSK). He's going to turn the oddball, then make it stay low. It's quite difficult," Harbhajan stated to Star Sports. In fact, Harbhajan stated that Kohli will need to find a way to bat longer because the star batsman has been out of the game three times in his last five innings against CSK due to Power Plays.A match-winning performance is possible if he is truly ready to bat for roughly 20 overs, as two hundreds at the easily accessible Chinnaswamy do not always translate to the same at Chepauk "said the man. Kohli has a mediocre record against the Super Kings and has yet to score an IPL century at Chepauk. In 30 games, the 35-year-old has amassed 985 runs against CSK, with a career-high of 90.The former CSK player Harbhajan stated that in order for RCB to have a genuine chance of winning the elusive IPL title, Kohli needed to get back to his 2016 form. "It is crucial that he has a season similar to 2016 because the team will advance if Virat continues to score runs. I'm not sure if they'll end up winning the cup. "But I think they have a lot of good batting because of the brilliant players they have on the team, including Virat, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, and a few others like Patidar. and everybody hopes Virat can repeat his success from 2016," he continued.

Published 11 Mar 2024 06:20 PM

Once again, Shreyas Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane fall short, but Shardul Thakur, the leader, seizes the initiative.

Once again, Shreyas Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane fall short, but Shardul Thakur, the leader, seizes the initiative.

On the first day of the Ranji Trophy final, veteran duo Shreyas Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane's run drought persisted, but Shardul Thakur's versatility as an all-rounder enabled hosts Mumbai to rally against a brave Vidarbha. In addition to giving Mumbai's below-average first innings score of 224 some semblance of respectability with a counterpunching 75 off just 69 balls, Thakur also removed veteran opener Dhruv Shorey (0) with an angular delivery that gave him a favourable DRS result. Atharva Taide (21 not out) and night watchman Aditya Thakare at the crease meant that Vidarbha were 31/3 at stumps, needing another 193 runs to close the first innings. Medium pacer Dhawal Kulkarni, in his final first-class match of his career, bowled his usual late outswingers, with Test triple centurion Karun Nair (0) and Aman Mokhade (8) nicking it to Hardik Tamore behind stumps. The 41-time champions fell from 81/0 to 111/6 on either side of the lunch break in a stunning collapse that saw Mumbai's top players, Rahane and Iyer, dismissed for identical scores of 7. Despite his leadership prowess, Rahane's awful Ranji Trophy career continued when the Mumbai captain played a meek game to mid-on and was removed just when his team needed him to take the field.Rahane was a contender to reclaim his place in the national team around this time last year, but as things stand, it's unclear if Mumbai selectors will stick with the 35-year-old for the upcoming campaign, regardless of the outcome of this final. Iyer, who was out of favor and had to work hard to get back into the national conversation, was unable to save Mumbai from disaster once more because of his subpar technique. Umesh Yadav (2/43 in 13.3 overs) was as reckless as he could be during the morning session, splattering the new ball everywhere and primarily drifting on the pads of openers Prithvi Shaw and Bhupen Lalwani. Though he kept running out of partners, Thakur showed deft use of both hands and feet to inch closer to what would have been his second consecutive ton. After scoring an incredible 75 off just 69 balls with eight fours and three sixes, Thakur was the final batter to be dismissed. He was caught by the man at deep square leg. The trio of Shams Mulani (13), Tanush Kotian (8), and Tushar Deshpande (14)—who helped Mumbai win multiple times by scoring valuable runs—also fell for a pittance.

Published 10 Mar 2024 07:18 PM

Cricket

Cricket

Cricket is one of the most followed sport in World after Football and particularly Asian countires are fond of Cricket and every young kid wants to go to cricket due to its popularity and the kind of money they will get after getting a professional cricketer tag.

Rahul Dravid On Rohit Sharma's

Rahul Dravid On Rohit Sharma's "Simple" Super Over Decision: "No Gimmicks, No Strategy"

"In their third Twenty20 International victory over Afghanistan, India's head coach Rahul Dravid commended captain Rohit Sharma for following his instincts and giving the ball to the spinner, as well as Ravi Bishnoi for his outstanding performance in the second super over. Witnesses to India's third Twenty20 International match against Afghanistan were gripped from beginning to end. Afghanistan's tremendous effort to reach the 213 target forced a super over in the match.""In the end, I believe Rohit followed his instinct and chose Bishnoi—no tricks, no plan, just a straightforward choice. I believe he thought there was a chance for the spinner to get two wickets. On that particular day, eleven was probably not a very good score. Following a fruitless first super over, Rohit turned the ball over to the spinner, who took just three balls to dismiss both batsmen and preserve India's 11-run lead. ""You had to take two wickets, and the captain made a great call, in my opinion, as he could have hit two sixes. But I thought Bishnoi was amazing because he bowled two excellent balls. He just pulled and kept the length back; if the length had gone a little bit fuller, the way they were batting probably would have resulted in a six on a small field. Very wise instinct to go for wickets and be more upbeat and aggressive rather than maybe going for the safer option, which is what most people would have expected, said Rohit Dravid.  Shivam Dube was named Player of the Series for his consistency, while Bishnoi and Rohit took home the awards. He amassed 124 runs and two wickets in three innings.With Dube's performance, Dravid was happy, and he hopes the left-hander can carry that momentum into the forthcoming Indian Premier League.""I'm really pleased with how he performed in the series; he raised his hand and said, 'These are the skills I possess.' He will get the chance to demonstrate them in the IPL, just as he did the year before. Really happy for him, he really showed us that he has got some really good ability through thos

A Deep fake video featuringSachin Tendulkar becomes viral

A Deep fake video featuringSachin Tendulkar becomes viral

Sachin Tendulkar asserts in the widely shared video that his daughter Sara uses an app every day to get money.India's legendary cricket player Sachin Tendulkar is the most recent casualty of deepfake technology. The former Indian batter alerted his fans to a phony video purporting to show him supporting a mobile app. Tendulkar asserts in the widely shared video that his daughter Sara uses the app to make money every day. In response to the video, Tendulkar called attention to the increasing abuse of technology and asked his social media followers to denounce the marketing and the video."These are not real videos. The widespread misuse of technology is unsettling. He shared the video and commented, "Requesting everyone to report videos, ads, & apps like these in large numbers.""Social media sites must be watchful and quick to address concerns. The 50-year-old continued, "They must act quickly to limit the dissemination of false information and deepfakes.Sara Tendulkar Demands Action From Social Media Companies Against Deepfakes Sara Tendulkar, Sachin's 26-year-old daughter, had previously voiced her worries about her deepfakes and urged social media companies to take action against such accounts and videos."Social media is a beautiful place where we can all share our daily activities, pleasures, and sorrows. But the misuse of technology, which distorts the veracity and authenticity of the internet, is unsettling. In a now-deleted post, she said, "I've come across some deepfake photos of myself that are far from reality.""It is evident that several accounts on X (previously Twitter) were made with the intention of impersonating me and misleading people. "I hope X looks into such accounts and suspends them. I do not have an account on X," she continued in her statement."The truth should never be sacrificed for entertainment. Let's promote dialogue that is grounded in reality and trust," Sara said.  

Second T20I between IND and AFG: Watch as Virat Kohli recreates the

Second T20I between IND and AFG: Watch as Virat Kohli recreates the

When Virat Kohli faced Naveen-ul-Haq in a Twenty20 international on Sunday, January 14, 2022, he replicated the Haris Rauf six he had struck in the T20 World Cup 2022.Virat Kohli returned for the second game of the ongoing India vs. Afghanistan T20I series on January 14 (Sunday) at Indore's Holkar Stadium after missing the first game in Mohali for personal reasons. This was his first time representing India in the T20 format since the Australia-hosted 2022 T20 World Cup. Kohli nearly duplicated the T20 World Cup 2022 shot against Pakistan's Haris Rauf, which was widely considered as one of the greatest strokes cricket fans have ever seen, while facing Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq. The shot against Naveen was barely short of the mark, earning Rauf four runs, but the delivery went for a six.The two shots appeared similar to spectators, but Kohli wasn't completely happy with his try because he wanted the ball to go farther for a six. Naveen-ul-Haq's delivery was pitched approximately eight meters in, which was quite comparable to Hairs Rauf's delivery from the T20 World Cup 2022. Virat Kohli did not quite execute his loft swivel, which was a straight down the ground move, at the World Cup in Australia. It provided just four runs since it was not perfectly timed. Social media users have been sharing the same video.Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube both produced half-centuries as India easily trounced Afghanistan by six wickets in the opening IND vs. AFG match in Indore. With 68 off 34 balls, Jaiswal established vital partnerships, such as a 92-run partnership with Dube (who is undefeated at 63), which enabled India to take an insurmountable 2-0 lead.  

In the second T20I, India and Afghanistan will play at Holkar Stadium in Indore.

In the second T20I, India and Afghanistan will play at Holkar Stadium in Indore.

Afghanistan's first-ever bilateral series against India, according to Jonathan Trott, is a positive step. Afghanistan versus India: The first-ever bilateral series between Afghanistan and India was seen as a "step in the right direction" by head coach Jonathan Trott. An Afghanistan-India T20I series is spanning three matches.While acknowledging that the senior men's team's first-ever bilateral series against India is a "step in the right direction," Afghanistan's head coach Jonathan Trott has urged the team to play many more bilateral series.After Afghanistan and India engaged in a single Test match in 2018, the two sides will now play three T20I matches. India is up 1-0 against Afghanistan in the Twenty20 International Test Series after the visitors were defeated by the hosts by six wickets on Thursday, January 11. The following game is scheduled on Sunday, January 14, at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.India won six wickets against Afghanistan. At the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, Team India sealed the Afghanistan series on Sunday by winning the second Twenty20 match by six wickets, extending their winning run from 2024. India had earlier won the first Twenty20 match in Mohali against Afghanistan.  

 Australia is no match for Indias formidable defense for AFC Asian Cup

Australia is no match for Indias formidable defense for AFC Asian Cup

With the 2-0 victory, Australia, along with Uzbekistan and Syria, is leading Group B. In contrast, India will need to perform above and beyond all expectations in order to advance to the knockout stages.India's players erected a blue wall in front of their goal and stopped everything Australia tried to throw at them for forty-five minutes. Australia gained 12 corners and had 72% of the possession, but the Blue Tigers managed just three attempts on goal compared to the Socceroos' 14. But despite all of their deft passes, cunning runs, lovely crosses, and through balls, Australia was unable to overcome India's desperate defense.The result of India's encounter against Syria on January 23 will determine whether they advance to the round of 16 in the continental extravaganza, as Australia and Uzbekistan (January 18) are far superior to them in terms of talent. India might move into third place in the group and even earn a spot in the knockout stage if they defeat Syria. The top four teams from each of the six groups, as well as the top two teams from each group, advance to the round of 16.India, who were eliminated from the group stage in their last two tournaments (2011) and (2019), will also have a difficult battle this time around as they are grouped alongside Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria in Group B.Australia gained 12 corners and had 72% of the possession, but the Blue Tigers managed just three attempts on goal compared to the Socceroos' 14. However, despite all of their deft passes, sly runs, lovely crosses, and through balls, Australia was unable to overcome India's desperate defense.  

 The First Twenty20 Cricket Match between India vs. Afghanistan

The First Twenty20 Cricket Match between India vs. Afghanistan

We have closed this blog. We appreciate you being here. On Thursday, January 11, 2024, India defeated Afghanistan by six wickets. The following were the updates:In the first of the three-match T20 series, India defeated Afghanistan by six wickets as the United States and the Caribbean make ready to host the T20 World Cup in 2024.For the first time since November 2022, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back in the T20 team, however Kohli missed the first game for personal reasons.Shivam Dube won Player of the Match after hitting 60 off 40 balls. On Sunday, the series' second game takes place in Indore. On June 1, the USA and Canada, the co-hosts, will play in Dallas to kick off the T20 World Cup. On June 9, India plays Pakistan in New York during the group stage.India's final Twenty20 international matches before the World Cup will be this series.It suggests that he won't likely be playing for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy this season and won't likely be present for the Mumbai Indians' initial IPL games, according to BCCI sources that the Times of India (TOI) reported. Before the June T20 World Cup, Surya has plenty of time to heal."SKY recently received a sports hernia diagnosis. He is currently recuperating at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. In two or three days, he is supposed to travel to Munich, Germany, for surgery. It suggests that he probably won't be playing for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy this season and won't be present for the Mumbai Indians' initial IPL games, according to BCCI sources that the Times of India (TOI) reported.In the series between Afghanistan and India, skipper Rohit Sharma and player Virat Kohli will make their comebacks. Their participation in the Afghanistan series provides their supporters hope until the T20 World Cup 2024, even though the two haven't played Twenty20 cricket since the semifinal of the T20 World Cup in 2022.  

"In the second Test, Pat Cummins leads Australia to an exciting victory over Pakistan. "

"Australia defeated Pakistan by 79 runs at the MCG thanks to Pat Cummins' second 10-wicket haul in Test cricket. The Boxing Day Test was won by Australia after the captain of the team made all the significant breakthroughs late on Friday, bowling Pakistan out for 237. Despite heroic efforts, Pakistan was defeated 5–18 in a disorganized fourth-day match as Australia needed an additional half-hour past the scheduled end of play to win and keep the Benaud-Qadir trophy.   After taking 5-49 in the second inning, Cummins finished with match figures of 10-97.Salman Ali Agha and Muhammad Rizwan posed a threat to help Pakistan end a 28-year losing streak in Test matches in Australia and move closer to a historic victory.   Fifteen minutes before the scheduled end of play, Cummins put an unusual and dramatic end to the pair's 67-run partnership.   Australia looked into a not-out call to Rizwan after Alex Carey's gloves were struck by a Cummins delivery.   However, Richard Illingworth, the third umpire, determined after a thorough review that the ball had flicked Rizwan's wrist band that was attached to his gloves."  

"An excellent player is Virat Kohli: Kagiso Rabada of South Africa is cautious about India's top hitter ahead of the Boxing Day Test. "

"Kagiso Rabada, the leading pacer for South Africa, has praised Virat Kohli as a fantastic player and stated that he has always enjoyed the challenge of bowling to the Indian batting sensation. Rabada stated that the greatest way to evaluate one's abilities is to take against legends like Kohli. One of the most important aspects of the Test series between South Africa and India may have been the match between Virat Kohli and the South African bowlers. With seven Tests completed and an average of 51.35, the former captain of India has an impressive record when it comes to his performance in the format."  

"Rinku Singh was seen at the India dugout on Day 1 of the Centurion Boxing Day Test between SA and IND. "

First Test between South Africa and India: Rinku Singh, who enjoyed a great white-ball tour of the Rainbow Nation, has returned to be a member of the Test team for the current two-match series.After making a fantastic start to his international career, rising star Rinku Singh appears to have stuck back with the Test team in South Africa to gain a feel of the red-ball conditions. On December 26, during the first day of the Boxing Day Test at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, Rinku was sighted sitting in the Indian dug-out.  

It's A Different Feeling: Virat Kohli Discusses

It's A Different Feeling: Virat Kohli Discusses "Job Satisfaction" in Tests in His First Interview Following World Cup Final Loss

In a two-match Test series between India and South Africa, all eyes will be on Virat Kohli. After missing over a month of action, Kohli will play again after India's November 19 World Cup final loss to Australia. Though they haven't won a Test series in the Rainbow Nation, India nearly did it on their most recent tour, which was led by Virat Kohli. India defeated the Proteas 1-2 in the series, despite winning the first Test. Kohli was sidelined for the remainder of the second Test because of a back ailment. With the pain from India's World Cup final defeat still fresh in their minds, Kohli and Team India, captained by Rohit Sharma, will try to make history by winning the Test series.    

Rashid Khan was excluded from the India T20Is.

Rashid Khan was excluded from the India T20Is.

On the eve of the opening game in Mohali, captain Ibrahim Zadra announced that Rashid Khan would miss the three-match Twenty20 International series against India. The 25-year-old recently had back surgery, and while he is still recovering, he is traveling with the squad."He is traveling with us despite not being fully fit. We're hopeful that as soon as he finishes his therapy, he'll be back to normal. In this series, we shall miss him," Zadran remarked during the Wednesday, January 10 news conference. We will struggle without Rashid because of his vital expertise, but even without him, we have excellent spinners in Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Muhammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, and Qais Ahmad. We trust them since they have all played a lot of cricket."Zadran said that if his team wants to have a chance at home against India, they would have to strengthen their batting. The likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who will be keen to establish their worth to the team in the run-up to the T20 World Cup, have been called back by the hosts. "We have quality spinners and seamers, but we need to improve our batting skills; we will try to be more aggressive in that area," he stated. "We have performed brilliantly in the World Cup of cricket. The Afghan people throughout the world are counting on us to succeed.The teams will play each other in the second Twenty20 International in Indore following the first Twenty20 International in Mohali, and the third and final Twenty20 International in Bengaluru.  

No disciplinary issue for Ishan; competing to be the England Tests specialty keeper

No disciplinary issue for Ishan; competing to be the England Tests specialty keeper

For the Test series against England, the Indian squad may decide to go with a specialist wicketkeeper, and Ishan Kishan may be one option.Ishan might indicate that he is available for the next Test series after becoming entangled in a controversy regarding his exclusion from the T20I series against Afghanistan. Currently on a cricket break, the 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman is targeting a return for the five-Test series that kicks off in Hyderabad on January 25. Following the team management's strategy, spearheaded by Rahul Dravid, which mandates a domestic match prior to an international comeback after an extended layoff, Ishan can declare himself fit for Jharkhand's next match against Services in Delhi starting on January 19 in order to demonstrate his fitness. Nov. 28 was Ishan's last India match.Dravid denied rumors that Ishan was left out because of his lack of discipline, saying that Ishan had asked for the voluntary vacation. The coach denied rumors of disciplinary problems, stating that Ishan has not yet made himself available for selection. Cricbuzz had previously drawn attention to the mystery surrounding Ishan's non-selection. There isn't a single disciplinary concern. There was not a choice for Ishan Kishan. We decided to take a break in South Africa after Ishan made this request. We were in favor of it. He has not yet offered himself for use. On the eve of India's maiden Twenty20 international match in Mohali, Dravid stated, "When he is available, he will play domestic cricket and make himself available for selection."To prepare him for the wicketkeeping duty, KS Bharat has been invited to participate in the A series against the England Lions in Ahmedabad, in keeping with the specialist keeper method. Ishan Kishan is still a viable contender for this particular specialized role. On January 25, the five-Test series will begin.To concentrate on batting, KL Rahul However, considering the difficulties of keeping wickets on Indian pitches that are turning, the team management wants to release KL Rahul from his dual duties of wicket-keeping and batting. With his recent back surgery, the management wants Rahul to concentrate on his batting and not put himself under unnecessary strain. In the two Test matches that India just played in South Africa, Rahul retained wickets.  

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are back in the T20 team for the Afghanistan series.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are back in the T20 team for the Afghanistan series.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma made a well-publicized return to the Indian T20 team on Sunday for the three-match series against Afghanistan at home, with the former being chosen captain starting on January 11 in Mohali. When India faced England in the World Cup quarterfinal in November, Rohit and Kohli made their last appearance in a Twenty20 match.The squad needed to abandon its powerplay strategy, as the two veterans and KL Rahul were observed to be playing antiquated cricket, and Hardik Pandya was set to take over as the club's new T20 captain. The squad needed to abandon its powerplay strategy, as the two veterans and KL Rahul were observed to be playing antiquated cricket, and Hardik Pandya was set to take over as the club's new T20 captain. But there was a lot of inexperience at the top of the order as a result of Pandya's injury during the ODI World Cup and, more recently, Suryakumar Yadav's ligament damage.The renowned pair would be chosen for the Afghanistan series by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel, according to a PTI story from last week. "The selection committee is not the only body that can make decisions about Rohit and Virat. Broadcasters and sponsors have a lot on the line, and you can't choose to ignore the other. Under the condition of anonymity, a former India selector told PTI that Ajit and his staff needed to keep things as they were.  

Examining the Newlands pitch in detail

Examining the Newlands pitch in detail

Is the Newlands pitch's "unsatisfactory" rating fair or too lenient? While the jury is currently considering the case, recent modifications to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) rules may have limited the match referee's ability to impose harsher penalties. The ICC has simplified the ratings into only four categories: very good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory, and unfit. This is in contrast to the old six-grade rating system, which included very good, good, average, below average, poor, and unfit.This narrowed spectrum left match referee Chris Broad with less options. Broad has not always been favored by Indian teams. If there hadn't been a real risk, the pitch wouldn't have been classified as "unfit," which would have resulted in three demerit points. Broad chose to give the Newlands pitch a "unsatisfactory" grade with one demerit point because he did not believe it to be dangerous. With only 642 deliveries, the contest ended in less than five sessions, making it the shortest Test match in nearly 150 years of cricket history. India leveled the two-Test series at 1-1 after winning the Test by seven wickets."Batting on the pitch at Newlands was quite challenging. Throughout the game, the ball bounced swiftly and occasionally frighteningly, making it challenging to play shots. In elucidating the rating, Broad noted, "Several batters were hit on the gloves, and many wickets also fell due to the awkward bounce." He refrained from using the term "dangerous," which would have resulted in an unsuitable rating. What the ICC looks for in a pitch is described in its ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process. It is acknowledged that early in the game, a small amount of seam movement is permissible and that as the match goes on, a pitch may acquire some uneven bounce for seam bowlers. This is fine, but it shouldn't progress to the extent that they may be regarded asMost people believe that member boards file appeals rather than making necessary corrections. The Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) and the CSA have intimated that they might not file an appeal in this matter, but they still have 14 days to do so. "Under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, the WPCA accepts the International Cricket Council's determination that the pitch at Newlands Cricket Ground for the second Test between South Africa and India was 'unsatisfactory.'" The WPCA is dedicated to maintaining the greatest standards in cricket and making sure that the playing fields at Newlands are of the greatest caliber. We take seriously the input provided by Mr. Chris Broad, the ICC Match Referee, and we appreciate his concerns. In my capacity as an accountable  

Deepti Sharma and Shubman Gill triumph greatly at the BCCI awards

Deepti Sharma and Shubman Gill triumph greatly at the BCCI awards

For the finest men's and women's international cricket players of 2022–2023, Shubman Gill and Deepti Sharma have been named winners by the BCCI. While Deepti won the women's award for the second time, having previously won it for the 2019–20 season, Gill won the men's award, named after the former India captain Polly Umrigar, for the first time in his career.   Since declaring Jasprit Bumrah and Poonam Yadav the 2018–19 international cricket players, the BCCI has not yet revealed their prizes. They have now finished clearing out their backlog and have named the champions of the last four seasons all at once. Mohammed Shami and Deepti have received the honours for 2019-20, R Ashwin and Smriti Mandhana for 2020-21, and Bumrah and Mandhana for 2021-22.   In a year full with Twenty20 international matches, Deepti, on the other hand, was an integral part of an Indian team that won the Women's Asia Cup and the gold medal at the Asian Games. The offspinner amassed 38 wickets in T20Is at an average of 14.81 and an economy rate of 5.71, which was the most by a bowler from a Full Member nation during the award period. He also amassed 313 runs at bat, including two half-centuries, at an average of 28.45.

Heinrich Klaasen ends his Test cricket career.

Heinrich Klaasen ends his Test cricket career.

With immediate effect, Heinrich Klaasen has announced his retirement from Test cricket. Klaasen will remain available in white-ball competitions for South Africa. Between 2019 and 2023, Klaasen participated in four Test matches; the most recent one was against the West Indies in the summer. After Dean Elgar's Test career ended with the New Year's Test against India, he is the second senior player to leave the format. Although Klaasen was left off the squad in favor of Kyle Verreynne, Test coach Shukri Conrad insisted that Klaasen remained in his plans.Conrad stated as recently as February of last year that he thought Klaasen was a "better batter" and hence preferred him over Verreynne.  With a top-score of 20, Klaasen scored 56 runs in four innings against the West Indies, and Verreynne ended up third in the first-class league last season. Verreynne was Conrad's choice against India, although at the time of the squad's announcement, it was stated that Klaasen would probably play in Tests in Bangladesh and the West Indies later this year. Klaasen has withdrawn from consideration for those tours as of right now. Although he gave no explanation for his retirement, it is likely that Klaasen is chasing T20 leagues at this point in his career given his obligations in the MLC, IPL, and Hundred. "After a few nights of insomnia  

Recapping a summer in Australia: Shan Masood's Pakistan had no shame in losing 3-0

Recapping a summer in Australia: Shan Masood's Pakistan had no shame in losing 3-0

MI Due to his ongoing recuperation from back surgery, Cape Town captain Rashid Khan will not play in the 2018 SA20 season. According to a statement from his cricket board (ACB), the outstanding legspinner was included in the Afghanistan squad on January 6 for the three-match T20I series in India, but it is unlikely that he would play. Rashid has also skipped Afghanistan's most recent Big Bash League (BBL) and T20I series in the United Arab Emirates. Making his SA20 debut, Kieron Pollard will captain MI Cape Town in Rashid's injury-plagued absence. Because the ILT20 in 2024 conflicts with the SA20, Pollard was also signed by MI Emirates to play in that tournament. However, Nicholas Pooran will captain MI Emirates instead of Pollard.Pollard was playing in the Abu Dhabi T10 league for the New York Strikers, where his team was defeated by Deccan Gladiators in the championship game. As a free agent in December 2023, Pooran—Pollard's CPL teammate at Trinbago Knight Riders—refused to accept his West Indies central contract. In September 2023, Pooran was revealed as the wildcard selection of Durban's Super Giants. Before joining MI Emirates for the second ILT20 season, Pooran is probably going to play three games in the SA20.Additionally, MI Cape Town confirmed the signing of Nuwan Thushara, a fast bowler from Sri Lanka, who will replace Jofra Archer in the forthcoming campaign. January 10–February 10 is when the SA20 and January 19–February 17 is when the ILT20 will take place. The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and New Zealand's Super Smash will also be competing against the two leagues.  

Pujara flattens Jharkhand with his 17th double-hundred.

Pujara flattens Jharkhand with his 17th double-hundred.

In the first round of the 2023–24 Ranji Trophy season, Cheteshwar Pujara achieved his 17th double-century in first-class cricket against Jharkhand. After batting on 157 overnight, Pujara advanced past 200 in the opening session of the third day and was undefeated on 243 following lunch, when Saurashtra declared on 578 for 4, commanding a commanding 436-run lead. With 17 first-class doubles, Pujara is currently tied with Herbert Sutcliffe and Mark Ramprakash, but he is still behind Patsy Hendren (22) and Wally Hammond (36), as well as Don Bradman (37). In the Ranji Trophy, Pujara achieved his eighth double-hundred, placing him second on the list only to Paras Dogra's nine.In addition, Pujara owns three first-class triple hundreds; the most recent came in October 2013 against West Indies.  

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