News Analysis India

Tag: India vs England Test Series

  • Ishan Kishan Saga: New Report Suggests Batter Refused To Play India vs England Test Series, Read Details Here | cricket news

    Amidst the ongoing debate surrounding Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, the BCCI has excluded the duo from its latest list of contracted players due to their absence from the Ranji Trophy matches. Numerous reports suggest that both players opted out of representing their respective state teams despite being fit and not engaged in national duty. Additionally, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo, Ishan Kishan declined BCCI's offer to participate in the ongoing Test series against England when approached by the board.

    “ESPNcricinfo understands the team management had got in touch with him (Kishan) during the ongoing Test series against England, but Kishan said he was not ready yet,” read the report on the cricket website. (BCCI Omission Sends Shockwaves: What Lies Ahead for Ishan Kishan And Shreyas Iyer?)

    Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has backed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after it handed Hardik Pandya a Grade A category Annual contract despite not featuring in international cricket since the ODI World Cup 2023 while denying the same to Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer for not playing domestic cricket.

    The BCCI on Wednesday released the list of players that have been awarded annual central contracts for 2023–2024. Contracts were denied to players like Iyer and Ishan Kishan, while Hardik was placed in the Grade A category.

    Hardik suffered an ankle injury during the ODI World Cup 2023 in the match against Bangladesh in Pune in October and the all-rounder has been out of action ever since. Fans on social media also pointed out Pandya's unavailability from domestic cricket regularly.

    However, Aakash Chopra defended the BCCI's decision and reckoned that Hardik cannot be punished for not playing first-class cricket, given he has not been contesting for a spot in India's Test squad. (Watch: Kane Williamson's Unfortunate Run Out Amid Mid-Pitch Collision Shocks Cricket World)

    “Hardik Pandya's case is very simple. Why would you punish him if he has not made a mistake? He is not playing red-ball cricket. That ambition or aspiration does not exist anymore. He has not said that as such, but the truth is that he is not available at all for any Test series,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

    “So if you are not at all auditioning for Tests, no one will ask you to play first-class cricket. Why would you play four-day games when you don't have that much strength in your body to bowl so many overs and Have injury problems? So why should he play – fair play,” Chopra added.

    Chopra also emphasized the unavailability of Hardik Pandya's unavailability from domestic and international cricket and explained that the all-round player never missed a game like Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, therefore Hardik's situation cannot be compared to Kishan and Iyer's.

    “Let's try to understand the chronology slightly. It will just clear up your mind why a different rule has been kept for him and why it is wrong to include him with Ishan and Shreyas. He got injured during the World Cup, that was October- November,” Chopra explained.

    “The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was over in October-November. He was playing in the World Cup for India at that time. The last match that Baroda played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was on 5th December. He was not fit and available. He Wasn't practicing anywhere but was recovering from his injury in the NCA,” he added.

    Hardik Pandya returned to competitive cricket at the DY Patil T20 Cup leading the Reliance 1 team. He picked 2 for 22 against Bharat Petroleum.

  • WATCH: Rohit Sharma Mimics Virat Kohli’s Wicket Celebration At BCCI Awards 2024, Video Goes Viral | cricket news

    In a delightful twist at the BCCI Awards 2024 in Hyderabad, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma showcased his lighter side, leaving fans in splits with his impeccable mimicry skills. The cricketer took the opportunity to mimic various teammates, including the notable Virat Kohli, creating a viral sensation on social media.

    Wait for Kohli and MSD _#RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/iTDoOlxzah

    — ICT _ (@ROHIRAT_) January 26, 2024 Rohit Sharma’s Playful Imitations

    At the star-studded BCCI event, Rohit Sharma entertained the audience by flawlessly imitating teammates such as Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli. His portrayal of Virat Kohli’s aggressive celebration after a wicket caught everyone’s attention, especially in the absence of Kohli himself from the ceremony due to personal reasons.

    Viral Sensation on Social Media

    Following the awards night, a video of Rohit’s mimicry escapades went viral on social media platforms, captivating fans worldwide. The Indian captain showcased his versatility by mimicking not only his contemporaries but also paying homage to legends like Sachin Tendulkar with an iconic uppercut.

    Virat Kohli’s Absence and Fan Reactions

    Despite Virat Kohli’s absence from the award ceremony, fans expressed their elation at seeing Rohit Sharma bring a lighter mood to the event. The absence of Kohli, who withdrew from the first two Test matches against England due to personal reasons, did not dampen the spirits of cricket enthusiasts as they reveled in Rohit’s entertaining performance.

    Rohit’s Take on ICC Trophy Drought

    In a recent interview with Jio Cinema, Rohit Sharma shared his optimism about India’s future in international cricket. Despite the team’s recent successes, Rohit acknowledged the unfulfilled dream of winning ICC finals but emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive mindset for future triumphs.

    Action-Packed IND vs ENG 1st Test

    On the cricketing front, Rohit Sharma is currently leading Team India in the first Test against England in Hyderabad. The match witnessed England posting 246 runs in the first innings, with Ben Stokes playing a notable innings of 70. India responded impressively, amassing 436 runs and taking a commanding lead of 190 runs after the first innings.

    BCCI Annual Awards Highlights

    The BCCI Awards 2024 honored cricketing legends and current stars alike. Ravi Shastri and Farokh Engineer received the prestigious Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement awards, while players like Mohammed Shami, Shubman Gill, R Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah were recognized with the Polly Umrigar awards. The event also celebrated the achievements of female cricketers, with Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma earning the best international cricketer award in the women’s category.

  • Virat Kohli’s Replacement For First Two Tests Vs ENG: Sarfaraz Khan And Rajat Patidar In Contention – Report | cricket news

    India’s key batsman, Virat Kohli, has withdrawn from participation in the initial two Tests against England citing personal reasons that necessitate his immediate and exclusive focus, as stated by the BCCI on Monday. The cricket board has appealed to both fans and media to avoid speculating about the precise cause for his compelled absence before the commencement of the five-match series scheduled to kick off in Hyderabad on January 25. The Board has assured that a replacement for the prominent batter will be announced soon.

    “Virat Kohli has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to be withdrawn from the first two Tests of the upcoming IDFC First Bank Test series against England, citing personal reasons,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.

    The BCCI also said that Kohli has discussed his decision with skipper Rohit Sharma and the team management. (Shoaib Malik’s Bride Sana Javed Shares New Wedding Photo On Internet, Check Pic Here)

    “Virat has spoken to captain Rohit Sharma, the team management and the selectors and has emphasized that while representing the country has always been his top priority, certain personal situations demand his presence and undivided attention,” the release further stated.

    Pant said “When I came into the Test team in 2018, the thought process under Kohli Bhai & Ravi Bhai was to win in overseas – We want to be the best in the world”. [Star Sports] pic.twitter.com/AKvecvY6HL Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 19, 2024

    Shah also said that BCCI completely backs its star player and has faith in the team and its ability to get results even without its best batsman. (Virat Kohli To Miss First 2 Tests Vs England Due To Personal Reasons, BCCI Requests Fans To Respect His Privacy)

    “The BCCI respects his decision and the Board and team management has extended its support to the star batsman and is confident in the abilities of the remaining squad members to step up and deliver commendable performances in the Test series,” the secretary said. He also urged everyone to respect Kohli’s privacy.

    “The BCCI requests the media and fans to respect Virat Kohli’s privacy during this time and refrain from speculating on the nature of his personal reasons.

    “The focus should remain on supporting the Indian cricket team as they embark on the upcoming challenges in the Test series,” Shah said.

    It has been learned that both Shah and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar were kept in loop about the possibility of Kohli needing a break at some point during the England series. Recently, Kohli also skipped the first T20I game against Afghanistan due to “personal reasons”.

    Before that, he had taken a short break, again for personal reasons, during India’s tour of South Africa where he missed an intra-squad practice game and flew to London, within days after arriving in South Africa. The last time he took a break, which was not linked to any injury, during a Test series was a paternity leave in 2021 when his daughter Vamika was born. He only played the first Test of that series.

    Rajat Patidar vs Sarfaraz Khan as replacement

    It is understood that one among the two heavyweight India ‘A’ performers — Rajat Patidar of Madhya Pradesh and Sarfaraz Khan of Mumbai — are frontrunners to replace Kohli.

    Patidar recently scored 151 against the England Lions in an unofficial Test and Sarfaraz scored a half-ton in the second innings of the same game. There is talk of including veteran Cheteshwar Pujara in the line-up considering his experience of 20,000 plus first-class runs, including 7000 in Tests.

    However, it will be interesting if the current selection committee under Agarkar is ready to look back or move forward.The batting line-up for first Test will comprise Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, and KS Bharat (wk).

  • IND vs ENG Test Series: Huge Blow To England As Harry Brook Pulls Out Of Series In India

    Harry Brook made his Test debut in 2022 against South Africa, while his last appearance in England whites was against Australia at the Oval in July 2023.