June 7, 2025
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Indian cricket team

India retains top spot in white-ball formats, Australia reclaims world no. 1 rankings in Tests

India retains top spot in white-ball formats, Australia reclaims world no. 1 rankings in Tests

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According to the ICC annual rankings, India retained their top position in ODIs and T20Is but slipped to second place in the men’s Test team rankings. India have retained their top position in ODIs and T20Is but slipped to the second position in the men’s Test Team Rankings in the latest ICC annual ranking update issued on May 3. India conceded the top spot in the five-day format to Australia, the reigning World Test champion, following the annual update that drops results from the 2020-21 season and reflects all series completed since May 2021. India (120) are just four points behind Australia (124) and 15 points clear of third-placed England. South Africa are the fourth team above the 100-point mark with 103 points. India slipped mainly because their 2-1 series win in Australia in 2020-21 has dropped from the rankings. The order of teams ranked from third to ninth remains the same. Only nine teams are now ranked as Afghanistan and Ireland have yet to play sufficient Tests, while Zimbabwe too are out as they have played only three Tests over the past three years. Teams need to play a minimum of eight Tests over a three-year period to get on the rankings table. India, however, remain atop the ODI and T20I rankings after the annual updates, that weight matches completed prior to May 2023 at 50 per cent and subsequent matches at 100 per cent. India may have lost the ODI World Cup final to Australia but have increased their lead over them from three to six points, leading the table with 122 points. There are no changes in the top 10 but Ireland have overtaken Zimbabwe to 11th position. Third-placed South Africa have closed the gap with Australia from eight to four points, while Sri Lanka are just two points behind fifth-placed England. The T20I rankings see Australia move ahead of England to second place but they are seven points adrift of India, who lead with 264 rating points. South Africa are just two points behind England after leapfrogging two places from the sixth position that they had before the update. New Zealand also have 250 points like South Africa but behind on fractions, while the West Indies are at 249 points, which means that just three points separate third-placed England from sixth-placed West Indies. In other movements, Pakistan have dropped two places to seventh, while Scotland have overtaken Zimbabwe to 12th position.

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Rohit Sharma laughs, Agarkar comes up with 'experience' retort on Virat Kohli's strike rate question

Rohit Sharma laughs, Agarkar comes up with ‘experience’ retort on Virat Kohli’s strike rate question

Danijones04 mins

Image Source : PTI/AP Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar, the Indian captain and chairman of selectors addressed the press conference regarding the T20 World Cup squad Indian captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar were pretty straightforward with their responses in the press conference in Mumbai on Thursday, May 2 with respect to the T20 World Cup announced a couple of days ago. The duo was asked pretty much everything from the omissions of Rinku Singh, and Shubman Gill to the presence of four spinners and form of certain players. One of the questions was regarding Virat Kohli’s strike rate and the first reaction from skipper Rohit suggested that they were expecting that. Rohit laughed instantly. It was a rather sheepish smile. Before he gestured towards Agarkar to respond to the question and the former India pacer mentioned that Kohli has been in terrific form in the season so far and came up with the experience retort while shedding light on the gap between IPL and international cricket. “I don’t think we have been discussing it. So, no look he’s been in great form fortunately in the IPL. So no concerns there at all. With regards to how it is going in the IPL, you are still going to a World Cup, it is still international, there’s still that gap there. So, you’ve got to prepare knowing that there is that gap. That’s where experience does matter a lot. If the tournament turned out to be where IPL is where 220 plays 220, I think we’ve still got enough in the team, the balance or the power that you can match that.  “There’s no point in overthinking. You look and take positives that are happening in the IPL, form of some of the guys, some of the newer guys coming through. At the end of the day, when you turn up for a World Cup game, the pressures are a little different,” Agarkar added. Watch the video here (1:27:27 – 1:28:51): Kohli has had a couple of knocks where his strike rate came under the scanner, however, he has been in outstanding touch with the bat playing for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Kohli has amassed 500 runs at an average of 71.4 and a strike rate of 147.49. India have option of playing Kohli at the top or at No 3 give the rest of the combination they want to go with.  

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Was vice-captaincy point of discussion? Chief selector Ajit Agarkar spills beans on Hardik Pandya's form ahead of T20 WC – India TV

Was vice-captaincy point of discussion? Chief selector Ajit Agarkar spills beans on Hardik Pandya’s form ahead of T20 WC – India TV

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Image Source : BCCI/IPL BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar spoke at length about Hardik Pandya and his form in IPL 2024 for the Mumbai Indians Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and Indian skipper Rohit Sharma addressed the press conference in Mumbai on Thursday, May 2 following the T20 World Cup 2024 squad announcement. The questions ranged from being about Rinku Singh’s absence to the reason for picking four spinners in the squad of 15 and about Hardik Pandya’s form, who has been chosen as vice-captain. Agarkar was asked if there was any discussion regarding the vioce-captaincy and the former India pacer denied it while elaborating on Hardik’s form. “Not really, nothing discussed as regards to vice-captaincy. Form, I mean you want all guys to be in good form. I think he [Hardik] has come after a long-ish layoff but the good part is he has gotten through all the games so far for MI. We have got a month and a little bit [more] till we play our first game. We know he is doing that and the hope is that he keeps building on that form. “As long as he is fit, we know what he brings, the balance he gives to the team. I don’t think there’s a replacement for things he can do as a cricketer at the moment, especially when it comes to the way he bowls really gives balance. I think it’ll give Rohit options to play different combinations. So it’s his fitness for us is critical and so far, fortunately, he’s gone okay in this IPL,” Agarkar added while Rohit beside him nodded. Hardik hasn’t had the best of outings in IPL 2024 leading the Mumbai Indians as he has scored 197 runs in 10 matches averaging 22, at a strike rate of 150. With the ball too, Hardik has had a mixed-0bag taking just six wickets in the competition at an economy of 11. As Agarkar said, Hardik is invaluable to the balance of the side and both the captain and the team management will hope to see the Mumbai Indians skipper slowly building up to his best.

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Vaughan leads reactions as calls for CSK all-rounder selection get louder – India TV

Vaughan leads reactions as calls for CSK all-rounder selection get louder – India TV

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Image Source : AP Shivam Dube continued his smashing form in the 2024 edition of the IPL as he slammed an unbeaten 66 MS Dhoni may have ensured that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) got a total in excess of 200 against the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the biggest rivalry clash at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, April 14, however, the innings belonged to Shivam Dube and his burst in the middle overs that helped five-time champions stay on the course of a big score. Dube stayed unbeaten on 66 off just 38 deliveries as he entered the top five on the list of leading run-getters of the tournament. Dube currently has 242 runs to his name in six matches at an average of 60.5 and a strike rate of 163. Dube single-handedly has taken care of the middle-overs hitting for the Super Kings. Dube, who dismisses any and every spinner from its presence, has developed his game against the pacers and slowly and gradually is proving to be a key acquisition for the Super Kings and auditioning more than decently for a place in India’s T20 World Cup. On Sunday, as soon as Dube came in to bat in the eighth over of the innings, MI skipper Hardik Pandya didn’t bowl a single over of spinners after that and Dube was still able to play at a strike rate of close to 175. Whether it was Akash Madhwal, Hardik Pandya, Gerald Coetzee or Romario Shepherd, who got special treatment from the left-hander, Dube didn’t leave any of them. If the ball was in his area, he smashed it. With the consistency in hitting that he is showing, Dube has made himself a frontrunner to get picked for the T20 World Cup, not just based on his IPL form. Dube was also the highest run-getter in the series against Afghanistan with a couple of fifties and calls to get him picked have gotten louder. Take a look- CSK finished with 206 runs on the board, however, Mumbai Indians have kept themselves on course to chase the total down with Rohit Sharma leading the charge with the bat. 

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