t20 world cup

India’s T20 World Cup opener wasn’t even warm-up as Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah seal comfortable win over Ireland

Danijones5 months ago010 mins

If this T20 World Cup is supposed to be an advertisement for cricket and appeal to unfamiliar viewers trickling into the venues in the United States, it isn’t fulfilling that purpose in its opening week. For the second successive game at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Long Island, New York, the team batting first was bowled out for a total below 100. On Monday, Sri Lanka were bundled for 77 as South Africa’s Anrich Nortje led the way with a four-for. On Wednesday, Ireland folded up for 96 after a collective bowling effort by India. Hardik Pandya took 3/27 while player-of-the-match Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh claimed two each. India’s Jasprit Bumrah and teammates celebrate the dismissal of Ireland’ Harry Tector (ICC- X) The gulf in quality meant India cruised to the target with 46 balls in hand to open their campaign with an eight-wicket win. But both matches have been played on tricky drop-in pitches which are far from desirable for this format. The slow outfield hasn’t helped matters either. The only concern for India, however, was skipper Rohit Sharma retiring hurt on 52 after 10 overs due to a blow on his right forearm off left-arm pacer Josh Little. The incident had occurred in the ninth over, to which he responded by pulling the next two balls for sixes. India will hope Rohit is fine for their next game in Group A against Pakistan on Sunday. 3.6 Crore Indians visited in a single day choosing us as India’s undisputed platform for General Election Results. Explore the latest updates here! ALSO READ: IND vs IRE Live Score, T20 World Cup 2024: Kohli’s position under the spotlight While there isn’t much else to mull over from this fixture, India’s playing combination was interesting nevertheless. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s omission was apparent from the warm-up game against Bangladesh. But the composition of India’s bowling attack entailed surprises on two counts. One, they chose to go in with all three specialist pacers available in the squad with Pandya providing the fourth seam-bowling option. Two, left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, a match-winner in white-ball cricket over the past couple of years, was left out for Axar Patel. The pace-heavy attack was appropriate for Wednesday given the early start, the presence of cloud cover and uncertainty about the nature of the surface. After opting to bowl, India’s pace battery quickly hit their stride too. Arshdeep and Mohammed Siraj set the tone by capitalising on the lateral movement that was available right through. There was also variable bounce – a delivery from Arshdeep in the opening over went on the bounce to the wicketkeeper while a few rose steeply from a length – to keep the batters guessing. Arshdeep struck twice in a two-run third over. Ireland skipper Paul Stirling departed when he only managed a top edge on an attempted pull. It helped Rishabh Pant, returning for India after last playing at the highest level in December 2022 due to a car accident, quickly get into the thick of the action as he ran back a few metres to settle under a skier and complete the catch. Five balls later, Andy Balbirnie, the other opening batter for Ireland, was bowled by his own doing. The ball wasn’t threatening, but Balbirnie paid the price for trying to open the face of his bat and run it through third man. At 9/2 after three overs, this was far from the ideal start for Ireland. If they were under the impression that the pressure would ease up, they were grossly mistaken of course. Charging in was Bumrah in the sixth over, instantly getting the ball to jag in and away in an opening over that didn’t cost a run. Another bowling change was effected in the seventh over as Rohit – he played under Pandya at Mumbai Indians in the recently-concluded IPL — brought the all-rounder into the attack. Pandya hadn’t had much to cheer about during MI’s bottom-placed finish, but early signs are that a change in jersey and surroundings may just uplift the 30-year-old’s fortunes. Having smashed an unbeaten 40 off 23 balls in India’s warm-up game against Bangladesh a few days ago, he had a good outing with the ball on this occasion. Just five balls into his first over, he breached the gap between Lorcan Tucker’s bat and pad with a nip-backer that hit the woodwork. Tucker had scooped Siraj and cut Arshdeep for two fours, but erred in his shot selection against Pandya. “I really liked the first wicket. Generally, I don’t hit the stumps often, I have a tendency to bowl back of a length, but on this wicket, I needed to be a lot fuller to be in the game,” Pandya would say at the mid-innings break. Bumrah followed it up by dismissing Harry Tector in the next over. Having pushed and prodded for 4 off 15 balls, Tector’s misery ended when a brute of a bouncer from Bumrah rushed him. Targeted at his head, Tector thought of pulling but was a fraction late in his response, the ball hitting his glove and deflecting onto his helmet before lobbing to Virat Kohli at cover. From 36/4, Ireland slid further to 44/5, 46/6 and 49/7 in quick succession as Pandya added to his tally. The pitch wasn’t favourable for strokeplay, but Ireland didn’t help themselves with some reckless options in the circumstances. Axar, too, joined in on the act with a caught and bowled in the 12th over – his only over of the innings – to claim Ireland’s eighth wicket. Only two batters had reached double figures till then, but Gareth Delany and Josh Little swung the bat towards the end and managed to help Ireland reach 96 before a run out brought an end to their innings.

Yusuf Pathan: Powerhouse all-rounder braces for long innings in politics | Cricket News

Danijones5 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: Yusuf Pathan, who made his international debut during India’s triumphant 2007 T20 World Cup final against Pakistan is known for his exceptional performances in big matches, Now, as a Trinamool Congress candidate, he is leading seasoned Congressman Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury by a significant margin in the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district. Yusuf’s entry into politics has been a surprise, but he remains committed to maintaining his image as a sportsperson while serving his constituency.In a region with a substantial Muslim population, Mamata Banerjee‘s decision to field Yusuf against Chowdhury has proven to be a masterstroke. Despite facing challenges from BJP’s Nirmal Chandra Saha and being labeled an outsider, Yusuf has embraced the fight, often repeating TMC’s slogan, “Khela Hobe” (I’m up for a fight).Yusuf’s cricketing journey is a story of perseverance and dedication. Growing up in Vadodara, he and his brother Irfan were exposed to life’s challenges from an early age. Their father, Mehmood Khan Pathan, worked tirelessly as a muezzin, instilling discipline and faith in his children. Under the guidance of local coach Mehendi Sheikh, Yusuf honed his skills, especially his powerful hitting ability.“Uparwale ka rahem, karam bolein (Call this God’s mercy, blessings), I always feel that I am for big matches, moments,” Yusuf had said after accepting TMC’s offer to switch to politics.“I just have to bat for them. I don’t want to become a politician. I want to keep my image of a sportsperson intact. But after winning, I will work for my constituency and will make sure that I spend at least eight days in a month there,” he had promised.Yusuf’s international debut came three years after Irfan’s, but he quickly established himself as a vital player for India in shorter formats. He was a member of the MS Dhoni-led team that won the 2011 ODI World Cup. However, his most memorable moments came in the IPL, where he captivated fans with a scintillating 37-ball century against Mumbai Indians in 2010 and played a key role in Rajasthan Royals’ title-winning campaign in 2008.Featuring in all matches in 2008, he scored 435 runs at a strike rate of 179.01 and took eight wickets.Pathan joined KKR in 2011 and became a permanent member of the team for seven years.Although Yusuf regrets not featuring in any Tests for India, he now has the opportunity to play a long game in the field of politics. With his determination and commitment to serving his constituency, Yusuf Pathan is poised to make a significant impact in his new role as a politician.(With inputs from PTI)

T20 World Cup 2024: David Wiese’s Super Over heroics help Namibia start campaign with victory over Oman

Danijones5 months ago09 mins

Oman’s fightback in the death overs went in vain as David Wiese’s heroic efforts both with bat and ball in the Super Over helped Namibia start their T20 World Cup campaign with a win in low-scoring enthralling match here at the Kensington Oval on Sunday . David Wiese stars for Namibia yet again Wiese emerged as the hero for Namibia with both bat and ball as he slammed 13 in the Super Over and came back to bowl, got a wicket, defending 21 runs. Despite reducing Oman to 109 in 20 overs, Namibia did not have it easy as the game finished in a tie, marking the first Super Over in a men’s T20 World Cup tournament since 2012. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Defending 110, Bilal Khan gave Oman the perfect start, bowling opener Michael van Lingen for a duck off the very second ball of the innings. While Nikolaas Davin and Jan Frylinck attempted to play their shots, they were hampered by the inconsistent bounce during the early stages of the pursuit. Namibia was 32/1 at the end of the first powerplay. The skipper, Aqib Ilyas, then used spinners and medium pacers to slow the ball down. Despite a lot of smashes and misses, the duo held on to their wickets, and Namibia finished the powerplay at 32/1. As the runs dried up, Davin attempted to replicate Aqib’s spin. Davin hit Aqib for a six after seven consecutive dot balls. The wily spinner, on the other hand, exacted his revenge by having Davin caught by Mohammad Nadeem on the very next delivery. The disciplined spin from Aqib and Zeeshan Maqsood slowed Namibia’s scoring rate in the middle overs. Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus, for his part, attempted to keep the scoring rate tight. In the game of nerves, Oman dropped critical catches, but Maqsood eventually held off Ayaan Khan to remove Erasmus for 13 in the 15th over. The set Frylinck took initiative at this stage and hit a flurry of boundaries to bring the asking rate at par with three overs remaining. Mehran Khan’s excellent 18th over yielded just four byes and claimed JJ Smit’s wicket. David Wiese’s six in the nineteenth over helped bring the equation to five off the last over. Mehran, who had only given four runs in two overs, increased his wicket total from one to three in the first three balls of the last over by bowling Frylinck and trapping Zane Green lbw. The equation eventually came down to two versus one, with the aggressive Wiese up against the cunning Mehran. Wiese failed to connect, but the wicketkeeper botched the ball, giving the batsmen a bye. The game ended in a Super Over. After labouring to chase down 5 runs in the penultimate over of a never-ending chase, Namibia came out firing in the Super Over. Seasoned all-rounder Wiese demonstrated his power-hitting ability by hitting a six and four against Bilal Khan, before skipper Gerhard Erasmus smashed two boundaries. Namibia scored 21 runs, the highest total in a Super Over in a men’s T20 World Cup competition. Wiese excelled with the ball after being tasked with bowling the Super Over for Namibia. He took a wicket and gave only 10 runs as Namibia won the Super Over by 11 runs, kicking off their World Cup campaign with a victory. Earlier, Trumpelmann’s pace attack jolted Oman, taking three wickets inside the powerplay and the pacer went on to pick his fourth wicket of the night, returning with a figure of 4-21. Captian Erasmus with his crafty bowling picked two wickets while the seasoned pacer David Wiese bagged three scalps, conceding 28 runs in 3.4 overs. Opted to bowl first, Ruben Trumpelmann drew the first blood as he got into the act with the first ball, trapping Oman opener Kashyap Prajapati for LBW with a superb yorker on his very first delivery. The very next ball, Trumpelmann delivered another magnificent yorker that caught Oman skipper Aqib Ilyas off guard, and the batter went lbw for a duck. The left-arm pacer had a third in his second over when Naseem Khushi attempted to drive him down the track but only found Erasmus at mid-off. Experienced player Zeeshan Maqsod held the innings together during the first powerplay, keeping Oman’s innings steady and increasing the scoring rate to run a ball. However, Bernard Scholtz had him leg before wicket in the seventh over, putting Oman farther behind. The spinner’s disciplined bowling ensured that Oman’s lower order did not take advantage of the change in speed. Scholtz and Erasmus continued to provide breakthroughs for the Eagles, even as Oman batters battled to move the ball past the inner circle. Oman failed to knock a single boundary in 44 deliveries between the 10th and 17th overs. Khalid Kail then led Oman’s change as the batter slammed big shots before falling prey to David Wiese after scoring 34 runs in 39 balls. When Namibia pacers arrived in the death overs, the Asian side attempted to pick up the scoring rate, but David Wiese and Trumpelmann nibbled away at the tail, bowling Oman out before they could complete their quota of overs. Brief score: Oman 109 ; Ruben Trumpelmann 4-21) vs Namibia 109/6 .

Watch: USA not taking any chances with Virat Kohli’s security at T20 World Cup | Cricket News

Danijones5 months ago5 months ago03 mins

Virat Kohli is arguably the biggest name visiting the United States these days and the co-hosts of the ICC T20 World Cup are taking no chances with the security of the legendary Indian cricketer. The security arrangements for the tournament, especially for Kohli and the Indian team, have been understandably heightened after multiple reports of security threats to the tournament from militant organizations.In a video circulating on social media, Kohli could be seen arriving at the ground surrounded by officials and armed guards. WATCH VIDEO The local authorities in and around New York specifically have heightened security measures, as NY will host the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan Group A clash on June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. The governor of the state of New York, Kathy Hochul, said in a statement from her office: “I have also directed the New York State Police to engage in elevated security measures, including an increased law enforcement presence, advanced surveillance and thorough screening processes. Public safety is my top priority and we are committed to ensuring the Cricket World Cup is a safe, enjoyable experience.” India played their only warm-up game against Bangladesh in New York, and the match was marred by an instance where a fan breached security to run up to India captain Rohit Sharma. The fan was soon overpowered by security officials and taken away. India will play their opening match against Ireland on June 5 in New York, followed by the games against Pakistan and USA at the same venue, with the concluding group fixture against Canada in Florida. USA and the Caribbean islands (West Indies) are co-hosting the June 2 to 29 tournament.

T20 World Cup: Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya star in India’s easy win over Bangladesh in warm-up game | Cricket News

Danijones5 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant and all-round Hardik Pandya hogged the spotlight as India brushed aside Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup warm-up match in New York on Saturday. In the comfortable 60-run win, India had several positive aspects, with Pant’s fifty being the most significant. Pant’s impressive performance (53 off 32 balls, including 4 fours and 4 sixes) and Hardik’s valuable contribution with both bat and ball (40 not out off 23 balls, with 2 fours and 4 sixes) propelled India to a solid 182 for five after choosing to bat first.Defending the total proved to be a straightforward task as left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh-led India restricted Bangladesh to 122 for nine. Despite a brief resistance from Mahmudullah Riyaz (40 retired out; 28b, 4×4, 1×6) and Shakib Al Hasan (28), who added 75 runs for the sixth wicket, Bangladesh could only manage to reduce the margin of defeat after being reduced to 41 for five.As It HappenedArshdeep, who had a subpar IPL season with Punjab Kings, struck twice within the Powerplay, dismissing Soumya Sarkar and Litton Das. Mohammed Siraj added to Bangladesh’s woes by removing skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (0), leaving them reeling at 10 for three in 3.5 overs. The Indian bowlers showcased their skills in exploiting the slow pitch and sluggish outfield, with pacer Shivam Dube also contributing two wickets (2/11).Bangladesh’s lackluster batting performance highlighted the significance of Pant and Hardik’s innings. Pant’s knock has likely secured his position as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter for India in the World Cup, giving him an edge over Sanju Samson.Samson, who opened the innings with skipper Rohit Sharma (23, 19b, 2×4, 1×6) in place of Virat Kohli, struggled to adapt to the pitch conditions and was dismissed for a 6-ball 1 by left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam.Suryakumar Yadav (31, 18b, 4×4) and Pandya (40) also made valuable contributions to India’s competitive total. Pant’s exceptional touch, which he displayed during the IPL 2024 for Delhi Capitals, continued in this match as he played his characteristic shots and brought up his fifty in just 32 balls. Hardik, who was dropped on 26, provided the necessary acceleration by smashing three consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam, showcasing his power and execution. His innings and confidence might have immensely pleased the team management and himself after a modest outing as Mumbai Indians’ captain in a season where he was subjected to intense professional and personal scrutiny.Bangladesh also suffered an injury scare as Shoriful walked off just before bowling the final ball of the innings, as Tanzim Hasan completed the over. (With inputs from PTI)

ICC Twenty20 World Cup: West Indies aim for solid start against Papua New Guinea; USA to face Canada

Danijones5 months ago09 mins

More than eight years after Carlos Brathwaite’s four sixes at Eden Gardens gave them their second T20 world title, a wounded West Indies will look to redeem themselves at home when they begin their campaign in the event’s ninth edition by taking on Papua New Guinea, in Georgetown on June 2. Brathwaite had slammed Ben Stokes for four successive sixes in the final over to pull off one of the most astonishing chases that made the West Indies the first team to win the T20 World Cup twice. Their maiden triumph was in 2012. But what followed was years of agony as the team found itself lost in transition. In 2021, they endured four defeats in five games to make a Super 12 exit. Worse was in store in the 2022 edition in Australia when they failed to qualify for the main round after shock defeats to minnows Scotland and Ireland. It’s been 2982 days since the memorable night at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, something they would be desperate to reclaim especially when the tournament is at home. Darren Sammy as coach Their two-time T20 World Cup winning skipper Darren Sammy is back as a coach and the Rovman Powell-led side already made its intention clear with a ruthless win over Australia in a warmup match. But that Australia was a depleted side as only nine players from their squad were available for the match. Nicolas Pooran will play a pivotal role in the middle-order, but West Indies boast additional firepower with Powell, Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, and Romario Shepherd, making them one of the most formidable batting line-ups in the tournament. Russell has been in exceptional form, both with bat and ball, after aiding Kolkata Knight Riders in clinching their third IPL title recently. West Indies will also be looking to become the first team to win a T20 World Cup at home. They have replaced the experienced but injured Jason Holder with left-arm fast bowler Obed McCoy. McCoy was the leading wicket-taker during the West Indies A’s recent tour to Nepal, grabbing eight wickets in five matches. Papua New Guinea loaded with all-rounders Assadollah Vala-led PNG will make their second appearance after 2021 after sealing their spot via the East Asia-Pacific regional final in July 2023. Vala is one of 10 players from their 2021 campaign, with that edition’s reserve member Jack Gardner picked in the 15-player group this time. Leg-spinning all-rounder CJ Amini will be his deputy. The side boasts no fewer than eight recognised all-rounders, with both right and left-arm bowling options. Left-arm quick Sema Kamea and Kabua Vagi Morea both enjoyed qualifying action, with the latter taking a hat-trick in the game against the Philippines. Teams (from) West Indies: Rovman Powell (c), Alzarri Joseph (vc), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd. Papua New Guinea: Assadollah Vala (c), Alei Nao, Chad Soper, CJ Amini, Hila Vare, Hiri Hiri, Jack Gardner, John Kariko, Kabua Vagi Morea, Kipling Doriga, Lega Siaka, Norman Vanua, Sema Kamea, Sese Bau and Tony Ura. Match starts: 8 pm IST. USA favourites vs Canada A team full of expatriates, tournament co-hosts USA, coached by former Australian batter Stuart Law, will promise some surprises when it kicks off the T20 World Cup taking on qualifiers Canada in a battle of debutants. Members of the USA team. They start favourites during their opening game in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2024 against Canada on June 2, 2024. | Photo Credit: Getty Images The USA have proved that they will be no pushovers, having beaten the full-member side Bangladesh 2-1 in the build up to the tournament. They will also have the edge having beaten Canada 4-0 recently. 2015 WC finalist Corey Anderson in USA squad The side will be boosted by former New Zealand player and 2015 World Cup finalist Corey Anderson. The hosts will be led by wicket-keeper batter Monank Patel. Born in Anand, Monank played for his home state at age-group level before making the US his home in 2016. He was the top-scorer in the World T20 Americas qualifier 2018 with 208 runs from six innings and made his T20I debut against UAE in 2019. The team will also feature some familiar names in former Mumbai and Rajasthan Royals left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh and ex-Delhi and Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Milind Kumar. They also have Saurabh Netravalkar, the most capped USA player, Aaron Jones, and opener Steven Taylor, their highest run-scorer in international cricket. Tearaway quick Ali Khan is also fit for the tournament, shaking off a hamstring injury which kept him out of the Canada series. Batting all-rounder Nitish Kumar, who played 18 T20Is for Canada from 2012 to 2019, has now switched sides and will be seen in the USA jersey. He made his T20I debut for the USA against Canada in April this year. Left-arm orthodox spinner Saad Bin Zafar brings a wealth of experience to the Canada team, with top-order batter Aaron Johnson and left-arm seamer Kaleem Sana also expected to feature heavily in a side with just four players under the age of 30. Teams (from) USA: Monank Patel (c), Aaron Jones (vc), Andries Gous, Corey Anderson, Ali Khan, Harmeet Singh, Jessy Singh, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel, Nitish Kumar, Noshtush Kenjige, Saurabh Nethralvakar, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Steven Taylor and Shayan Jahangir. Canada: Saad Bin Zafar (c), Aaron Johnson, Ravinderpal Singh, Navneet Dhaliwal, Kaleem Sana, Dilon Heyliger, Jeremy Gordon, Nikhil Dutta, Pargat Singh, Nicholas Kirton, Rayyankhan Pathan, Junaid Siddiqui, Dilpreet Bajwa, Shreyas Movva and Rishiv Joshi. Match starts: 6 am IST (June 2).

Pakistan targets right T20 combination against understrength New Zealand | Cricket

Cricket in uncharted territory as T20 World Cup starts in Texas

Danijones5 months ago07 mins

Cricket ventures into uncharted territory on Saturday as the first ever major tournament to be staged in the United States gets under way in Texas with the opening game of the T20 World Cup. Cricket in uncharted territory as T20 World Cup starts in Texas A month-long festival of the fastest and most explosive form of the sport which is being shared between venues in Texas, Florida, New York and the Caribbean begins with the US taking on Canada at the Grand Prairie Stadium on the outskirts of Dallas on Saturday. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! It marks the opening skirmish of the first ever major International Cricket Council event to be held in part in the United States. While the bulk of the tournament will be played out in the Caribbean, 16 group stage games in the 20-team tournament will be played on American soil, including the highlight of the group stage a clash between India and Pakistan. That match is due to be played at a 34,000-capacity temporary venue in Long Island, New York on June 9. The rest of the tournament will be held in the West Indies, including the Super Eight stage, the semi-finals and the final, which will be played at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. While cricket is widely played at a recreational level in the United States, with strong presences in all three of the states that have been chosen for games, organisers are realistic about the chances of “converting” mainstream American sports fans. USA batsman Aaron Jones said the hosts are aiming to impress American fans both on and off the field. “Obviously what you do on the field is very important,” Jones said. “We want to get a lot more support from the American born-and-raised people. “I think we could only do that by playing good on the field and obviously interacting with the fans or the growing fans off the field as well.” The ICC also sees the tournament as a launch pad towards the sport’s return to the Olympics for Los Angeles 2028, when the T20 format will be used. Major League Cricket, a T20 tournament, was launched last year and also stands to benefit from any growth in interest in the big-hitting, spectacular shortest form. But it is not only the American market that the ICC is focused upon the expansion of the tournament has opened up opportunities for newer cricket nations to compete on the big stage. In recent years, the sport has been able to expand outside of its traditional strongholds with Ireland and Afghanistan earning places in the 12-strong elite with full Test status. But the ICC see the T20 format as the perfect vehicle for growing the game and this year’s edition will feature three T20 World Cup debutants in the USA, Canada and Uganda. Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Oman are among the other nations who are relatively new to the big stage and who will be looking to make their mark and grab some attention with an upset win. With the teams drawn in four groups of five teams, with just the top two advancing, none of the smaller nations are expected to progress beyond the group stage and there is a danger the pool stage could mainly be a ‘weeding out’ process. India, winners of the first edition in 2007, are the favourites, with their lineup packed with players from the annual Indian Premier League. Australia, winners of the ODI World Cup last year along with the World Test Championship, opted to leave out their veteran batsman Steve Smith but big-hitting David Warner and pacemen Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins provide plenty of experience. Other possible contenders include defending champions England, who will be without the star of their 2022 triumph Ben Stokes, who is managing his fitness after a knee operation. England warmed up for the tournament with a seven-wicket rout of Pakistan in London on Thursday. Co-hosts West Indies won the tournament in 2012 and 2016 and are hoping that they can benefit from familiarity with the surfaces in the region. South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan will all fancy their chances of making an impact in a tournament which always produces surprises. sev/rcw/js This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

Not Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma; Suresh Raina picks player with 21 T20I caps to be India’s X factor in T20 WC – India TV

Danijones5 months ago03 mins

Image Source : PTI Indian cricket team. India’s charge in the T20 World Cup is set to begin on June 5 with their opening clash against Ireland in New York. The team that lifted the trophy in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2007, is in the hunt for another title in the West Indies and the USA. The Indian team will bank on bigwigs like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah to come well but former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has picked a player with 21 T20I caps to be the team’s X-factor for the tournament. While speaking at the launch of the World Championship of Leagues, the left-handed star said that Shivam Dube can be the X-factor India need in the World Cup. “He has to play in the World Cup. See, the ability to stand still while hitting those big sixes is very rare. Shivam Dube can be the x-factor for India to win the World Cup. So Rohit will have to take the call whether he wants to play Virat (Kohli) up the top, but then Yashasvi is also batting with a different kind of flair. If the situation arises, Shivam can also bowl for the side,” Rainsa said at the launch ceremony. Dube has the special ability to hit sixes while not moving his feet much and staying still. He was in sublime form during the most of IPL 2024, hitting 396 runs at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 162.30. Along with spin, the left-handed batter showed his improved game against pacers too in IPL 2024. Out of his 396 runs, 309 have come against pacers in 12 innings at a strike rate of 164.36. Notably, Dube had two consecutive golden ducks in the latter half of the tournament. In the last three IPL outings, he managed 21, 18 and 7 to his name. The 30-year-old bowled in only one game and picked up a wicket in that match against Punjab Kings. Dube will need to bounce back from the under par latter part of the tournament for the 20-over World Cup.

T20 World Cup in the US: Will ICC’s big gamble pay off? | Sledging Room, S2 EP 35

Danijones5 months ago03 mins

The IPL is over and the biggest T20 carnival is here. The USA and the West Indies will co-host the men’s T20 World Cup from June 1 to June 29. The USA will host a cricket tournament of such magnitude for the first time in its history. 3 venues are hosting the T20 World Cup in the USA and the big India vs Pakistan clash will be played in New York. The ICC’s move to award the USA the hosting rights is seen as a major step toward making the game global. One of the most popular sports in the world is heading to the biggest sports market. Will ICC’s gamble work? Yes, the Asian community in the USA will lap it up. But will the T20 World Cup make some noise in the USA? Well, at least, it’s start. More importantly, the ninth edition of the men’s T20 World Cup will have 20 teams — as many sides for the first time in history. Is it going to affect the competitiveness of the tournament? Well, more teams will add to the flavour of the tournament and is a big step toward making the game global. Don’t count out the associates. Each one of them have deserved to be here. It’s going to an exciting World Cup for sure. Can India progress to the semi-final and go all the way? Are Pakistan riding on chaos? Will England be able to defend their crown? Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar and Alan John discuss the buzz around the T20 World Cup. Tune In!

Virat Kohli joins Indian team for T20 World Cup campaign | Cricket News

Danijones5 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli, India’s top batsman, reached New York on Friday to join his team for the upcoming T20 World Cup. His arrival comes five days after the rest of the Indian squad landed in the city.However, there is still uncertainty surrounding Kohli’s participation in the warm-up match against Bangladesh, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday. “Virat Kohli has checked in at the team hotel and after a long flight, he would be taking rest,” a senior BCCI source confirmed his arrival.After a lengthy 16-hour journey to reach the ‘Big Apple’, Kohli’s involvement in the practice match will hinge on his personal inclination and readiness to face the Bangladesh team at the Nassau County Cricket Ground.With an impressive tally of 741 runs in 15 IPL matches, Kohli’s need for additional match practice is minimal. Moreover, he is scheduled to participate in three high-quality net sessions prior to the opening encounter against Ireland on June 5.Friday morning saw an optional training session, during which Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Mohammed Siraj put in the hard yards under the watchful eyes of the support staff.The team management and the BCCI have a history of granting special considerations to Kohli regarding his joining the national squad. In a previous instance, he was allowed a break before the South Africa Test series, arriving in the “Rainbow Nation” only to depart for the UK due to personal matters before eventually rejoining the team.Kohli prioritized family over cricket earlier this year when he opted out of the entire Test series against England at home to be present for the birth of his second child.As the Indian team prepares for the upcoming T20 World Cup, the players have been arriving in batches. The first group landed on May 25, while the second contingent reached on May 28.Although Kohli has been absent from three training sessions so far, the team management remains unconcerned. They acknowledge that the legend knows his stuff and his routines won’t be tinkered with, demonstrating their trust in Kohli’s ability to prepare himself adequately for the tournament.(With PTI inputs)