Gambhir’s time as the India head coach has so far been quite disappointing. Under his guidance, the Men in Blue suffered a defeat in the ODI series against Sri Lanka and also slumped to a humiliating 0-3 Test series defeat at home to New Zealand.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss led to more criticism for Gambhir with Tiwary saying that he has not shown the kind of coaching that was expected.

“Gautam Gambhir is a hypocrite. He doesn’t do what he says. The captain (Rohit) is from Mumbai, Abhishek Nayar is from Mumbai. Rohit has been pushed to the forefront. There is no one to speak for Jalaj Saxena. He performs well but keeps quiet,” Tiwary told News18Bangla.

“What is the use of a bowling coach? Whatever the coach says, he will agree. Morne Morkel came from Lucknow Super Giants. Abhishek Nayar was at Kolkata Knight Riders with Gambhir and the Indian head coach knows that he will not go against his instructions,” Tiwary added.

Tiwary also believes that Gambhir doesn’t have a good relationship with skipper Rohit Sharma. He also questioned as to how the duo will work together by comparing their achievements and saying that while Rohit is a World Cup-winning captain, Gambhir’s feats as captain are restricted to the IPL.

“How will they work together? Rohit is a World Cup-winning captain while Gambhir led KKR to IPL titles both as a captain and mentor. Gambhir didn’t guide KKR to the title single-handedly as we all performed as a unit. Jacques Kallis, Sunil Narine and I, all contributed to the cause. But who took the credit? There is an environment and PR that allows him to take all the credit,” Tiwary said.

The post ‘Gautam Gambhir is a hypocrite’: Ex-India star BLASTS head coach following Australia series defeat appeared first on Cricket Country.

Veteran India cricketers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had a tour to forget as both of them gave dismal batting performances throughout the 5 Tests. However, the duo are still expected to be a part of India’s squad for the England Test series which will be played in June due to their ‘superstar’ status.

Harbhajan said that selection for the away series against England should completely be dependent on performances. He even went on to say that if players get picked just because of their reputation, then legendary cricketers like Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev can also find a place in the squad.

“There is a superstar culture which has developed. We don’t need superstars, we need performers. If the team has them (performers), it will move forward. Whoever wants to become a superstar should stay at home and play cricket there,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.

“There is a tour of England coming up. Now everyone has started talking about what will happen in England, who will go, who will not go. For me, it is a simple matter. Only players who are performing should go. You can’t keep picking players on their reputation,” Harbhajan said.

“If you do that, then you should take Kapil Dev sir and Anil bhai also. Here, the BCCI and the selectors will have to be firm and act tough. I don’t think that the superstar attitude is taking the team forward,” Harbhajan further said.

It will be interesting to see whether Rohit and Virat will still feature for the Men in Blue for the England tour or the team will undergo major changes for the important Test series against The Three Lions.

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Rohit Sharma has previously been appointed as fielding coach, and he used to be a professional cricketer before 2019-2020. He suffered a serious injury, causing him to stop playing cricket. During his career, he was a sidearm specialist and fielding coach, which has considered the demand for such professionals.

“We are delighted to confirm your (Rohit Sharma) appointment as the Fielding Coach for the Indian Physical Disability (PD) Cricket Team participating in the PD Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be held from January 12 to January 22, 2025, in Colombo, Sri Lanka,” said Drffently Abled Cricket Council of India (DDCI) in a release.

The Secretary General of the Differently-Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI), Ravi Kant Chauhan, also wished the team best of the luck.

“The players have worked tirelessly to reach this stage, and their dedication is unmatched. I am certain they will leave a lasting mark on the global stage and the entire nation is rooting for their success,” he said.

Led by Vikrant Ravindra Keni, with Ravindra Gopinath as the vice-captain, Indian team includes wicketkeepers Yoginder Singh from Madhya Pradesh and Devendra Singh from Uttar Pradesh.

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A recent report had stated that pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will most likely be India’s vice-captain for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has approved of this decision and believes that Gill has plenty of other things to worry about.

“There was some talk about Shubman Gill being there in Australia as the vice-captain, and look what happened. Bumrah, thankfully, was made the captain, with Rohit Sharma missing the first Test. Look where Gill’s career is right now. First, you should make the team on merit,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.

Manjrekar believes that the role of Test captain should be handed to Bumrah and he should be leading the Men in Blue during the 5-match Test series against England which is set to commence from June 20.

“It’s a no-brainer for me. The next Test series is going to be in England. So more of the same. Jasprit Bumrah has to be your next Test captain,” Manjrekar said.

Bumrah, who recently led India during the Perth and Sydney Tests in the Border-Gavaskar series, will now also act as the deputy to Rohit Sharma in one-day format.

The post ‘Make the team on merit’: Ex-India star gives BRUTAL remark on Shubman Gill’s captaincy ambitions appeared first on Cricket Country.

Following the series loss, former India cricketers namely Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar and Irfan Pathan urged the duo of Rohit and Virat to play domestic cricket.

Amid all this, a member from the Indian team management has also stated that domestic cricket can certainly help players get into the rhythm needed to play Test cricket.

“Without game time in the middle, their game will stagnate… The switch from the red ball to the white ball is easy, but when it is the other way round, it is challenging. When you play Ranji games frequently, you will be in rhythm,” the team management member said according to a report by The Indian Express. 

While Rohit last featured in domestic cricket back in 2016, Virat was last seen on the circuit back in 2012. The duo haven’t featured for their state teams despite numerous reminders from former cricketers, so it will be interesting to see if they do end up changing their stance this time around.

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This comes after the duo failed to impress with the bat throughout the recently concluded 5-match Border-Gavaskar series. While Rohit scored just 31 runs from the 5 innings he played during the series, Kohli only managed to score a total of 190 runs he played against the Aussies.

On the other hand, India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah continued his reign at the top of the Test bowler rankings. Bumrah, who made history ahead of the fifth and final Test against Australia by recording the highest-ever ICC Rankings rating for an Indian bowler at 907 points, improved that tally by one point after taking two wickets in the first innings at the SCG.

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant’s blistering knock of 61 in Sydney saw him climb 3 places and reach the ninth spot on the batter rankings while Yashasvi Jaiswal retained his fourth position.

Australia pacer Scott Boland made a massive 29-place jump and reached the 9th position. Boland was the star performer for the Baggy Greens in the Sydney Test, picking up a total of 10 wickets on the lively pitch. Australia skipper Pat Cummins also made significant gain in the rankings, climbing to number two after picking up 5 wickets in the final match. 

Meanwhile, South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma’s brilliant century against Pakistan saw him climb 3 spots and reach the number 6 spot while also achieving a career-best rating of 769. South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada rose a spot and occupied the third spot in the Test bowler rankings.

The post Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli see MAJOR drop in latest ICC Test Rankings following Border-Gavaskar series appeared first on Cricket Country.

Bumrah captained the Indian team in both the Perth and Sydney Tests in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar series. While the Men in Blue did register a dominant 295-run victory in Perth under Bumrah’s leadership, they lost by 6 wickets in Sydney and the defeat saw Australia triumph in the series by 3-1.

The Indian team was captained by Rohit in the rest of the 3 Tests, however they weren’t able to register any victory in those games, drawing once and losing the other two.

Rohit was heavily criticized by fans and former cricketers alike for his abysmal batting display and also for his poor leadership. Many reports also claimed that he will announce his retirement from the format following the conclusion of the series. However, that hasn’t happened yet.

Now Kaif has claimed that instead of Rohit or Bumrah, either Rishabh Pant or KL Rahul should lead the Men in Blue in the 5-match England series.

“I want a batter to lead India in the Test series against England. Whether it is Rishabh Pant or K.L. Rahul. The first two have already worked. Rishabh Pant is the captain of the IPL. He is getting mature. K.L Rahul has worked for many years. So, these two can be a shake, but I don’t believe that Bumrah is the right option after Rohit Sharma,” Kaif said.

Defeat in the Sydney Test meant that the Men in Blue failed to secure a spot in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC). The final will be played between Australia and South Africa later this year.

The post NOT Rohit Sharma or Jasprit Bumrah: Ex-India star picks captain for England Tests in viral video appeared first on Cricket Country.

After dismal batting displays in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar series, former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri has advised the duo to play domestic cricket.

Shastri stated that while retirement is in their own hands, they can revive their careers by going back to their roots.

“If there’s a gap for them (Kohli and Rohit), I think they should go back and play some domestic cricket and see how it is,” Shastri said in the ICC Review.

“When you play Test match cricket for that length of time, it’s important to play domestic cricket for two reasons: You’re abreast with the current generation (and) you can contribute to that younger generation with your experience,” Shastri added.

While Rohit last featured in domestic cricket back in 2016, Virat was last seen playing on the circuit back in 2012. Shastri also believes that playing domestic cricket will also help the duo in regaining their touch in playing spin as they will have the chance to play against many turners.

“More importantly, you get to play spin more than you will ever play. So if you see India as recorded, India on turning tracks is not the greatest. If you have quality spinners in the opposition, they can trouble you. And they have troubled India,” Shastri said.

The post ‘Go back and play domestic cricket’: Ex-India star gives BLUNT advice to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli appeared first on Cricket Country.

Since his decision to opt out from the Sydney Test, there have been rumours about his retirement, even though he claimed that he is not finished yet, and that he is going nowhere. However, the BCCI and the chief selector Ajit Agarkar are not giving any thought to this decision by the Indian skipper.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, new BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is all ready to sit with the Indian team management, along with chief selector Ajit Agarkar and review the performance in the BGT. The future of Rohit Sharma in Tests will also be something to be discussed about, and they are not paying attention to the interview where the 37-year-old declared that he isn’t going anywhere.

The final call on Rohit Sharma’s future rests only on Ajit Agarkar. The report also revealed that Rohit Sharma dropped himself from the final Test in order to have one final chance to qualify for the WTC 2025 final.

“Rohit was waiting to see if India could find an escape route to the WTC final. Now, it’s really up to him whether to continue to fight for a spot. But the decision will be down to Ajit Agarkar and his selection committee,” a BCCI official, on request of anonymity told Hindustan Times

Rohit Sharma’s total of 31 runs from 5 innings, means that he scored at an average of 6.20, which is the worst by a touring captain in Australia. In the last 8 Test matches, Rohit Sharma has scored 164 runs at an average of just over 10.

The post Rohit Sharma to Retire soon? Ajit Agarkar to make MASSIVE call on the decision: Report appeared first on Cricket Country.

The southpaw stated that considering their achievements in the past, setting your target on Rohit and Virat is not fair. “We are talking about our greats, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma; we are saying very bad things about them,” Yuvraj told PTI.

“…people forget what they have achieved in the past. They are one of the greatest cricketers of this time. Okay, they lost, they did not play good cricket. They are getting hurt more than us,” he added.

“I feel that Gautam Gambhir as a coach, Ajit Agarkar as a selector, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, they are the best minds in cricket right now,” he further added.

“I think he is a great captain. Whether win or lose, he will always be a great captain. And in his captaincy, we have played the (ODI) World Cup final. We won a T20 World Cup. We have achieved a lot,” Yuvraj pointed.

Speaking about the five-match test series, India got knocked out of the World Test Championship (WTC) Finals as Australia came with a six-wicket victory in the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, reclaiming the title after 10 long years. Australia won the five-match series 3-1, and also qualified for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa.

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