The conversation surrounding India’s World Cup campaign reignited as fans reflected on what could have been a fairy-tale victory at home. In the midst of the conversation, Kuldeep started receiving heavy criticism by fans which eventually led the spinner to take to social media and express his anger over an abusive post targeting him for India’s defeat.

Kuldeep, who was one of India’s best bowlers in the tournament, had an off-day in the final as he wasn’t able to rack up any wickets and ended up conceding 56 runs in his quota of 10 overs.

Unable to hold back on the harsh criticism,  Kuldeep hit back at one particularly abusive comment. The post questioned his performance and wondered why no one had singled out the leg-spinner in their criticism of the side in the final. In reply, Kuldeep wrote a savage comeback in which he asked the user whether he/she was getting paid to make such hate posts.

“Hanji kis cheez ki dikkat hai apko , itna pyara likhne ke liye paise mile ya koi Jati dus mani hai (Yes, so, what’s bothering you so much? Did you get money to write such beautiful words, or do you have a personal hatred for me?),” Kuldeep wrote.

India’s unbeaten run in the 2023 ODI World Cup was brought to an end by Australia, who defeated the Men in Blue rather comfortably in the final by 6 wickets. With this huge victory, Australia lifted their record 6th World Cup title.

The post “Paise mile ya jaati dushmani hai?”: Kuldeep Yadav’s savage reply to troll goes viral appeared first on Cricket Country.

Head fractured his left hand when he was struck on the hand by a rising delivery by Proteas paceman Gerald Coetzee while batting in Australia’s run chase in the fourth ODI on Friday.

McDonald revealed that Head will not require surgery after fracturing a joint on his left hand during the fourth ODI in Pretoria. However, it is uncertain if the opener will be able to participate in the upcoming 50-over event in India as he needs over a month to recover.

“The timeframe is still a bit loose at the moment but the good news is he doesn’t require surgery as it sits at the moment. There will be an extended period of time out and we’ve just got to weigh up whether that time (out) falls with an option to carry him through the front half of the World Cup.

“There’s no doubt he won’t be available for the front half, so that’s a decision we’ll have to make for the final 15(-player squad). But I can’t give you an exact time frame,” McDonald was quoted by Cricket.com.au website.

Head’s injury has opened doors for Marnus Labuschagne, who has surged back into favour after finishing as the South Africa series’ leading run-scorer with 283 at an average of 70.75.

“I can’t talk on behalf of the selection panel and lock him away in the World Cup 15 but it’s no doubt looking likely,” McDonald said of Labuschagne’s World Cup hopes.

“He’s made a significant shift in his intent at the crease and putting the bowlers under pressure (more) than he was potentially 12 months ago. He’s struck at around 100 strike-rate in this series.

“We know Marnus is a quality player and he probably didn’t have the 12-18 months in one-day cricket that he would have liked. But he’s no doubt taken that opportunity with both hands and there’s no doubt he’ll be front and centre when it comes to that 15-man squad down the track,” said McDonald.

Australia suffered two more injuries during the fifth and final ODI at Wanderers ground, with pacers Nathan Ellis and Sean Abbott picking up fresh injuries.

Ellis suffered an adductor strain and was unable to finish his spell after sending down eight overs and is set to be assessed further.

Abbott split the webbing on a finger while fielding and required stitches, but was able to complete his spell and McDonald suggested he should be right to face India in the upcoming series.

Aaron Hardie will travel from South Africa to India with the ODI squad as cover for the pair.

Teams can make changes to their World Cup squads right up until the September 28 deadline.

The post Travis Head Ruled Out For First Half Of World Cup, Marnus Labuschagne Back In Frame appeared first on Cricket Country.

Prasad also reckoned that the Indian team are strong contender of the tournament and fan base will play a crucial role in their journey.

He urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to ensure that the experience of the fans should be easy and smooth in comparison to previous years.

“We have a good team and are strong contenders for the World Cup but we need genuine fans inside the stadium cheering for the team and their experience needs to be far smoother and easier than what it has been, and for that the BCCI needs to do far better than they have done so far. It is a reflection of the country as a whole and we as a nation should not be let down at any cost,” Prasad posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Earlier on Saturday, he lambasted the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) decision to have a reserve day only for the match between India and Pakistan in the Super four stage of the Asia Cup 2023.

The former Indian bowler slammed ACC’s decision and said it is unethical to have different rules for two teams.

“If true this is absolute shamelessness. The organisers have made a mockery and it is unethical to have a tournament with rules being different for the other two teams. In the name of justice, will only be fair if it is abandoned the first day, may it rain harder on the second day and these malicious plans not succeed,” Venkatesh wrote on X on Friday.

ACC on Friday announced a reserve day for the match between India and Pakistan which is scheduled to take place on September 10 at R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka. If adverse weather suspends play during the India and Pakistan game, the match will continue on September 11 from the point it was suspended.

The post ‘BCCI Needs To Do Far Better’: Venkatesh Prasad On India’s Preparation For ICC World Cup 2023 appeared first on Cricket Country.

According to British media, Stokes might reconsider reversing his ODI retirement with the intention of joining the upcoming World Cup set to take place in India.

The reports come a day after England’s white-ball coach Matthew Mott said Buttler Buttler would have a chat with Stokes to see if he is willing to reconsider his ODI retirement.

“Jos will probably lead the way on that communication, but Ben’s pretty straight with all of us. We will see if he’s keen,” Mott had told Daily Mail in an interview last week.

Reacting to this, Ashwin said Buttler, who is his teammate at the Rajasthan Royals, is a man of few words and he will try his best to convince Stokes to come out of retirement and play the World Cup.

“They will try their best to convince Ben Stokes to come out of retirement and play the ODI World Cup and it seems that responsibility has been given to Jos Buttler. It seems Buttler’s duty is to watch Ben Stokes, according to coach Matthew Mott. So Buttler is keeping an eye on Ben Stokes. Now it’s Buttler’s job to make Stokes available for the World Cup. And Buttler is not a man of many words. He hardly speaks.

“So my guess is that he will go to Ben Stokes and say, ‘Dude please join us. It will be really nice if you come out of retirement.’ Buttler won’t be outspoken. He will try his best,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Stokes retired from ODIs in July last year, stating that it was no longer ‘sustainable’ to play all three formats. Recently, he reiterated his intentions of staying retired from the 50-over format to be fit for the Test series against India in early 2024.

The all-rounder was one of the heroes for England in the 2019 edition of the mega event, winning the Player of the Match in the Final for his memorable unbeaten 84.

The post ‘Now It’s Jos Buttler’s Job To Make Ben Stokes Available For World Cup’: Ravichandran Ashwin appeared first on Cricket Country.

As per a report from Daily Mail, rising young star Gus Atkinson can be in England’s plan for the upcoming World Cup. The Surrey bowler has impressed English white-ball skipper Jos Buttler with his lethal pace bowling in the Hundred.

He is most likely to receive his maiden call-up during the series against England and if the performance goes as expected, he can surely travel with the rest of the team to India for the mega tournament. With Jofra Archer still working on his recovery, Atkinson might get the biggest opportunity of his career yet.

Ben Stokes To Come Out Of Retirement

As per reports from several media outlets, England has managed to convince Ben Stokes to come out of his ODI retirement for the upcoming edition of the 50-over World Cup.

Ben Stokes announced retirement from the 50-over format of the game as he said being a three-format player has been difficult for him.

Stokes was the Player of the Match in England’s sensational win in the World Cup final against New Zealand back in 2019. He is one of the most prominent players in modern-day cricket and that makes him one of the biggest assets for England.

The post England To Add Uncapped Fast Bowler For ODI World Cup 2023 Squad – Report appeared first on Cricket Country.

The biggest topic of worry for Team India has been their number-four spot in the playing XI. Ever since the injuries of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, the team has been trying to find a suitable replacement for that position.

Suryakuamr Yadav would have been a clear pick but his constant dismal outing in the 50-over format of the game has not given the management surety about him.

Ravi Shastri Reveals His Pick For No. 4 Spot

Former Indian head coach, Ravi Shastri has the solution for his dilemma and he vouched for young southpaw Tilak Varma to be a suitable pick in the middle order for the ODI World Cup 2023.

“There are three other positions where I think two left-handers have to come in, apart from the top four you mentioned. Now this is where the selectors’ role comes in because they are watching. They know who’s the guy who’s hot. If Tilak Varma is hot, bring him in. If you think Yashasvi Jaiswal is hot, bring him in,” Shastri said on Star Sports while discussing India’s possible XI for the ODI World Cup 2023.

“Very Very impressed with Tilak Varma. And I want a left-hander. If I am looking for a left-hander, I would really look in that direction,” Shastri added.

Ravi Shastri is not alone, the likes of MSK Prasad, Pragyan Ojha, and Aakash Chopra have suggested bringing Tilak for the number four spot in the ODIs.

The post Not Shreyas Iyer Or Suryakumar Yadav; Ravi Shastri Reveals His No. 4 Pick For ODI World Cup 2023 appeared first on Cricket Country.

However, details haven’t emerged whether Rahul has kept wickets for 50 overs, which is an absolute must to make it to the Indian squad for the World Cup.

Rahul, who underwent a thigh surgery, and Iyer, who went under the knife for lower-back stress fracture, were seen sweating it out during a practice match in gruelling Bengaluru heat.

In an instagram video, the duo could be seen batting together in a practice game.

It was already reported in PTI that the national selection committee under Ajit Agarkar will only select Rahul and Iyer if they happen to sustain the rigours of 50-over cricket, and for that they had to undergo match simulation.

In case of Rahul, the selectors would also like to check out if he is fit to keep wickets for 50 overs and Iyer also needs to be on the field for the entire duration in order to prove their respective match fitness. Only batting fitness might not ensure a place in the squad of 15.

In the video, Iyer was seen firmly pushing a delivery from a fast bowler in the cover region with Rahul at the non-striker’s end. As it was simulation, a local umpire was summoned to officiate.

The NCA bigwigs are all tight-lipped about the fitness status but the Asia Cup team selection has been deferred because the Ajit Agarkar-led committee wants to give the duo the best chance to get fit before the continental showpiece. The squad is expected to be announced towards the middle or end of this week in Mumbai.

“Keeping 50 overs in Sri Lankan heat would take a toll and NCA can only give him fit certificate if he is able to don the big gloves without any apparent discomfort. Also, they haven’t played anything and the first international game against Pakistan (on September 2) could be a bit too much of a pressure. But then time is of essence,” a BCCI source tracking the developments said.

It is understood that while Tilak Varma has made an impression, the selection committee would like to exercise caution with regards to throwing the Hyderabad southpaw at the deep end of the pool.

“Yes, he has started well and he will surely play ODIs in future. But what if he is pushed too quickly and it turns out to be counter-productive. You can’t play with young careers. Yes, he could be discussed but only if both Iyer and Rahul are ruled out,” the source said.

The post KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer Do Match Simulation At NCA But Are They Ready For Asia Cup Grind? appeared first on Cricket Country.

As per a report from The Telegraph, Stokes will make his much-awaited U-turn and end his 50-over retirement to help the defending champions in their World Cup campaign.

Ben Stokes announced retirement from the 50-over format of the game as he said being a three-format player has been difficult for him.

Jos Buttler Likely Convinced Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes was the Player of the Match in England’s sensational win in the World Cup final against New Zealand back in 2019. He is one of the most prominent players in modern-day cricket and that makes him one of the biggest assets for England.

However, he denied rumours about him ending ODI retirement but England’s white-ball coach Matthew Mott during a recent interview revealed that Jos Buttler will call and try to convince Ben Stokes to join the English team in their World Cup campaign.

“Jos will probably lead the way on that communication, but Ben’s pretty straight with all of us. We will see if he’s keen. There has not been a clear direction on what he’s going to do yet, but we are still hopeful. I’ve always said his bowling would be a bonus, but just look at what he brings with the bat, even in the field,” Mott told Daily Mail.

“Watching him throughout the whole Ashes series, he had such a great presence. He’s done it for years when it comes to performing in one-day cricket and so he’s an invaluable commodity,” he added.

The post Ben Stokes Ready To End ODI Retirement, Set To Join England’s World Cup Campaign – Report appeared first on Cricket Country.

Ahead of the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup 2023, Virat Kohli posted a story from his official Instagram handle. He shared a selfie from his gym and captioned it as “Happy Place”.

The picture is now going viral at a rapid pace across the social media space. Virat has started his preparation for the upcoming tournaments and will be a crucial asset for the team in the Asia Cup and ODI World Cup 2023.

Virat Kohli Denies Rumours Around His Social Media Earnings

Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli rubbished reports suggesting that he rakes in a staggering sum of INR 11.45 crore from every post of his on the photo-sharing app — Instagram.

“While I am grateful and indebted to all that I’ve received in life, the news that has been making rounds about my social media earnings is not true,” Kohli wrote on Twitter.

Earlier, there were reports that Kohli is the highest-earning Indian on Instagram.

According to the same report, Ronaldo commands a massive fee of USD 3.23 million for every sponsored post, which roughly translates to INR 26.75 crore. His eternal rival Messi, who came in second place earns USD 2.56 million per Instagram post which translates to INR 21.49 crore.

Kolhi is currently on a break having been rested by the BCCI ahead of the Asia Cup 2023 which is set to start from August 30.

The post Not Cricket Ground Or Home; Virat Kohli Reveals His ‘Happy Place’ appeared first on Cricket Country.

Ahead of the Asia Cup and subsequent World Cup, India were looking for options in the middle-order in the ODI series but the number four slot remains up for grabs.

Knowing that it was their final chance of trying out players ahead of the two multi-team events, skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli did not bat in the series and watched the action from the sidelines.

With series going down to the wire, the move was criticised but it allowed the likes of Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav to make a strong case for themselves.

Before the start of the series, Samson and Kishan were seen as contenders for the wicket-keeper’s spot but by the end of it, the latter emerged as a strong contender for the reserve opener’s slot with Rohit and Shubman Gill set to open in the Asia Cup.

Rohit’s absence allowed Kishan to open in all three games and he made the most of the opportunity with scores of 52, 55 and 77. Samson, who is used to being in and out of the side, got two innings to deliver under pressure and his impactful 51 off 41 balls in the series-deciding third ODI game ample proof of his rare talent.

More was expected from him in the following T20 series but could not make it count. However, the team is likely to carry him till at least the Asia Cup if not the World Cup.

In the absence of K L Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar had to ace the middle-order audition but the master of T20 batting fell short on the expectations.

Considering what he can do for the team in the middle-overs, it will be a tough call for the management to ignore him for the final 15 for World Cup.

Even if Rahul and Iyer regain full fitness in time for the Asia Cup beginning August 31, the team will have to be convinced of their form in the middle after a long injury lay off.

“Look, No. 4 has been an issue for us for a long time. For a long period of time, Shreyas has actually batted at No. 4 and he has done well – his numbers are really good,” India skipper Rohit said following his return to the country last week.

“There were so many guys who came in and went out. But injuries kept them away or they were not available or someone lost form. Shreyas and KL are coming off not playing anything for four months, big injuries, surgeries rather. Both had surgeries.

“I know, I had to undergo surgery once and how it feels afterwards, it is quite tough. We have to see how they respond, what they do,” Tilak Varma emerges as dark horse in middle-order =============================== .

The 20-year-old, who was picked only for the T20s, showed remarkable poise and maturity in his debut series for India. Whipping an express pacer bowl like Alzarri Joseph for successive sixes for his first runs in international cricket spoke volumes of his special ability.

He got only better as the series progressed and played a huge role in India’s fightback in the T20 series before the Hardik Pandya-led side lost the series-decider on Sunday.

The cricketing world took note of Varma’s arrival on the big stage including the great and insightful R Ashwin who backed the youngster to make the World Cup squad as an X factor player.

Kuldeep Yadav continues to be India’s go to spinner ================================.

Kuldeep Yadav reinforced his reputation of being India’s go to bowler for wickets in the middle overs. The left-arm wrist spinner picked up seven wickets in three ODIs, putting himself well ahead of of his good friend Yuzvendra Chahal in the pecking order.

Medium pace Mukesh Kumar too got the job done with the new ball on the slow wickets of the Caribbean.

Umran Malik, whose raw pace has generated a huge amount of interest, got another opportunity on the big stage but he was not able to step up. Ever since making his debut in June last year, the 23-year-old has not been able to raise his game.

As the great Brian Lara said recently, just raw pace is not enough to trouble the best in the business and it is time Malik adds tricks to his bowling.

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