Chennai: Dinesh Karthik is set to become the first Indian cricketer to participate in the South African T20 League. The former wicketkeeper-batsman will be playing for the Paarl Royals. Last season, Karthik was a key player for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). After the IPL, he announced his retirement from all formats of cricket, but has now decided to reverse that decision.
Karthik expressed his excitement about joining the Paarl Royals, recalling fond memories of playing in South Africa. "It's an opportunity I couldn't pass up. I am thrilled to be part of competitive cricket once again and look forward to the experience with the Royals," Karthik commented. In the last IPL season, he scored 326 runs in 14 matches with an impressive strike rate of 187.36. Karthik last played for the Indian team in the 2022 T20 World Cup, and has represented India in 26 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 60 T20s.
Venue Change Considered for Women's T20 World Cup Due to Bangladesh Unrest
With just weeks remaining until the start of the Women's T20 World Cup, the ICC is reportedly considering changing the venue from Bangladesh due to ongoing civil unrest in the country. The World Cup was initially scheduled to be held in October in Dhaka and Sylhet. However, due to the deteriorating situation, the ICC is exploring alternative venues, with India being a likely option.
An ICC spokesperson stated that they are closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh in collaboration with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). "The safety of all participants is our top priority," the spokesperson said. In addition to India, the UAE and Sri Lanka are also on the backup venue list.
Former Pakistani Cricketer Criticizes India's ODI Performance
Islamabad: Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali has criticized the Indian team's unexpected defeat against Sri Lanka in the recent ODI. Ali remarked that India, like Pakistan, seems to have forgotten how to play against spinners. He also pointed out that without star all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, the Indian ODI team is incomplete.
"I feel India has also forgotten how to play spinners, similar to Pakistan. This might be because of their focus on T20 cricket," Basit Ali commented in a YouTube video. He expressed disappointment over Shivam Dube's performance, noting that Dube struggled to read the ball correctly. Ali added that the Indian team would not be complete in ODIs without Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja.
In the second ODI against Sri Lanka, India suffered a 32-run defeat, with Lankan spinner Jeffrey Vandersay taking six wickets. The series now stands at 1-0 in favor of Sri Lanka, with the first match ending in a draw. India had earlier swept the T20 series against Sri Lanka.
Former England Cricketer Graham Thorpe Passes Away
London: Former England cricketer Graham Thorpe has passed away at the age of 55. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed his death. Thorpe played for the England team from 1993 to 2005, participating in 100 Test matches and 82 ODIs. A left-handed batsman, Thorpe scored 6,744 runs in Tests at an average of 44.66, including 16 centuries. In ODIs, he accumulated 2,380 runs with 21 half-centuries at an average of 37.18.The ECB expressed their sorrow, stating that words cannot describe their loss. "His unexpected death has deeply saddened the cricket community," the ECB noted.
Controversy Surrounds Virat Kohli's Dismissal in Second ODI
Colombo: The controversy surrounding the UDRS decision during the second ODI between India and Sri Lanka continues. In the 15th over of the Indian innings, Virat Kohli was trapped in front of the wicket by Akila Dananjaya. Although the on-field umpire did not give Kohli out, Sri Lanka reviewed the decision. The third umpire's review indicated that the ball had brushed Kohli's bat, leading to the not-out decision. However, television replays showed a significant gap between the bat and ball, sparking outrage among Sri Lankan players and fans.Kohli managed to score only 14 runs before India eventually lost the match by 32 runs.
Sachin Tendulkar's 'Duck' Post Goes Viral, Fans Troll Sanju Samson
New Delhi: A recent social media post by Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has gone viral. Tendulkar shared pictures of feeding ducks with the humorous caption, "Since retiring from cricket, I have started caring for ducks." However, fans have taken the post as a jibe at Sanju Samson, who has struggled with ducks in recent matches against Sri Lanka.
Samson was dismissed for zero in two consecutive T20 matches. Despite not being part of the playing eleven in the first match, Samson opened in the second match and was dismissed on the first ball. In the third match, he was out for zero after facing four balls. This led to widespread trolling and criticism on social media, with many comments under Tendulkar's post mocking Samson's recent form.
Suryakumar Yadav Reveals Secret to Team Unity and Success
Following India's successful sweep of the T20 series against Sri Lanka, captain Suryakumar Yadav shared a practice he believes has contributed to the team's unity and success. Former cricketer Ajay Jadeja expressed surprise and admiration for Suryakumar's approach.
"We decided not to form small groups of two or three in the dressing room. Instead, we sit together as a team, regardless of winning or losing," Suryakumar said. This practice started during the World Cup and continued through the Sri Lankan series, fostering stronger bonds among players, which Suryakumar believes reflects in their on-field performance.
Ajay Jadeja praised this approach, noting that it was a common practice in the past but had faded away. He expressed his delight that the current team has revived this tradition, which promotes unity and collective responsibility.
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