India’s triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup was a fitting culmination of Dravid’s coaching journey. The final, held at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, saw India put up a total of 176 runs thanks to Virat Kohli’s 76-run knock. The bowlers, led by Hardik Pandya’s three wickets and supported by Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah, restricted South Africa to 169 runs, clinching a seven-run victory.

Sourav Ganguly: The Architect of India’s cricketing renaissance

Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy remains an important period in the history of Indian cricket. When the Indian cricket was struggling with match-fixing scandal, Ganguly was the one who took it out of the darkest times. He made everyone believe that India could compete at the biggest stage against the mighty rivals. The perfect balance between young blood and experience in his era saw India rule the world cricket.

See also: Virat Kohli retires from T20I cricket after winning T20 World Cup 2024 final

The trinity of Ganguly, his vice-captain Rahul Dravid, and the GOAT Sachin Tendulkar carried the Indian cricket for generations. Tendulkar won the much-deserving World Cup in 2011 while Dravid finally got the chance to win the T20 World Cup as coach. Ganguly is the one from the holy trinity to not have any ICC trophy to his name.

Ganguly congratulate team India for the T20 WC 2024 win against South Africa

Convincing Dravid to Coach

One of Ganguly’s notable decisions as BCCI president was convincing Rahul Dravid to take over as head coach after Ravi Shastri stepped down post the T20 World Cup in UAE in 2021.

“I’m not surprised that they have shown faith in Dravid. When I was president of the Board, we convinced him to do this job. And I’m so happy to see yesterday that his tenure has been extended,” Ganguly told reporters when Dravid’s tenure was extended by six months this year in January.

Transition to administration

After retiring from international cricket, Ganguly transitioned to administration, eventually becoming the president of the BCCI. In this role, he continued to influence Indian cricket, making significant decisions and supporting the development of the sport at all levels.

Virat Kohli’s heroics and retirement

Virat Kohli’s performance in the final was a testament to his resilience and skill. His 76 runs off 59 balls were crucial in setting a competitive total. Following the victory, Kohli announced his retirement from T20 cricket, ending his T20 career on a high note and leaving a legacy as one of India’s greatest cricketers.

The Supporting cast

The final was not just about the stars. Axar Patel’s 47 off 31 deliveries and Shivam Dube’s 27 runs were critical in boosting India’s total. In the bowling department, Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning catch near the ropes to dismiss David Miller was a game-changer, and Jasprit Bumrah’s disciplined bowling in the final overs sealed the win.

India’s victory and celebration

India’s victory in the T20 World Cup was a moment of immense joy and celebration. It ended an 11-year ICC trophy drought and was a testament to the team’s hard work and determination. The players, led by Ganguly’s visionary leadership as BCCI president, celebrated with enthusiasm, acknowledging the fans’ unwavering support.

In a resounding victory, Australia clinched their 6th title by defeating India in the final. Travis Head’s extraordinary century and Marnus Labuschagne’s tenacious half-century played pivotal roles in chasing down India’s 241. Prior to the chase, the formidable trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood exhibited stellar bowling performances, restricting India to a modest 240.

In the much-anticipated final, Australian skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and promptly opted to bowl. Opening the innings, Rohit Sharma set a blazing start, scoring a rapid 47 off just 31 balls.

However, Mitchell Starc dismissed Shubman Gill, and despite a promising partnership of 67 runs between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, Cummins sent Kohli packing, leaving Ahmedabad in silence. KL Rahul fought gallantly, contributing 66 off 107 balls, but India succumbed to the quality Aussie pace attack. Cummins and Starc wreaked havoc, with Cummins claiming 2 wickets and Starc taking 3.

In response, Australia faced an early setback, losing three quick wickets. Steve Smith, although not out, fell victim to an LBW decision as he refrained from reviewing. Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne then orchestrated a crucial partnership, with Labuschagne playing a supporting role while Head aggressively took on the Indian bowlers.

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Head’s explosive batting left India struggling, and despite their efforts, the Indian team couldn’t stage a comeback. Head reached a sensational century, securing Australia’s victory and knocking India out of the World Cup.

The Head-Labuschagne partnership yielded a remarkable 192 runs, with Head amassing a swashbuckling 137 runs, while Labuschagne remained unbeaten with a solid 58 off 110 balls.

Australia’s triumph not only broke India’s 10-match winning streak but also marked their 6th World Cup victory, including two in Asia. The Australians showcased their dominance, maintaining a winning streak and adding another feather to their illustrious cricket history.

Sanjay Manjrekar expressed profound admiration for Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s composure under pressure and his well-paced innings during Team India’s sixth match in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, held in Lucknow.

Rohit Sharma delivered a splendid performance, scoring 87 runs from 101 balls, which featured 10 boundaries and 3 sixes. This remarkable display contributed significantly to the Men in Blue achieving a respectable total of 229 runs against England. The “Hitman” led the team admirably, especially after Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer were dismissed with single-digit scores in Lucknow.

Manjrekar lauded Rohit’s innings as one of the finest in the history of ODI cricket, noting his exceptional shot selection, even on a challenging playing surface against the formidable England side.

Manjrekar Hails Rohit Sharma’s Magnificent ODI Masterclass

Sanjay Manjrekar, speaking to Star Sports, shared his thoughts on Rohit Sharma’s ODI batting prowess and its significance, stating, “When we discuss Rohit Sharma’s ODI batting and his status as a cricket great, we often mention his three double centuries and his recent century. However, in my opinion, this particular innings ranks among the absolute best in ODI history.”

The former Indian cricketer went on to highlight a few key reasons for this distinction, emphasizing the challenging nature of the playing conditions, the quality of the bowling attack, the strategic moves made by Jos Buttler, and the added pressure on the Indian team.

Manjrekar vividly recalled a particular shot, possibly played against Adil Rashid, in which Rohit found an incredibly tight gap and drove the ball with immense power to secure a boundary. He also mentioned another impressive shot, where Rohit took on Moeen Ali over mid-off, playing against the turn, displaying a unique level of skill and artistry that sets Rohit Sharma apart.

In conclusion, Manjrekar noted that it’s not just Rohit who is excelling; he emphasized that six or seven Indian players are currently performing at their peak. He observed that while there is often talk of generation gaps in cricket, there seems to be a significant gap between the quality of India’s cricket and that of other teams in the present era.

The Pakistan Cricket Team’s performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 has been disappointing. Despite a promising start with victories over the Netherlands and Sri Lanka in Hyderabad, Pakistan has suffered three consecutive defeats in the tournament. Their losing streak began with a defeat to India in Ahmedabad, followed by losses to Australia in Bangalore, and a significant setback against Afghanistan in Chennai. These results have prompted concern within the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The PCB has made a significant announcement

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a statement addressing their team’s performance in the 2023 World Cup and alluding to potential changes within their setup. Concerns raised by Pakistan fans and former cricketers regarding Babar Azam’s captaincy have prompted the PCB to respond. In their statement, the PCB expressed, “Looking forward, the board will make decisions in the best interest of Pakistan cricket based on the team’s World Cup performance.”

The PCB also revealed that both Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, and chief selector, Inzamam-ul-Haq, were given considerable autonomy and freedom for the duration of the tournament. They have called on fans to continue supporting their team and stand behind the players as there are still four crucial games left in the tournament. Babar Azam has come under significant criticism following Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

Babar Azam is facing intense scrutiny and criticism

Several former Pakistan players have called for Babar Azam to step down from his captaincy role. Earlier reports even suggested that Babar Azam might consider resigning from the leadership position, prompting the PCB to explore new options for leading the national team. Potential candidates for the role may include Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Afridi.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been critical of Babar’s approach in the tournament, urging him to take a more active role during matches.

In the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Pakistan has played five games, securing two wins but suffering three consecutive losses, accumulating a total of four points. As of now, they hold the 5th position in the points table. Despite the challenges, Pakistan still has a chance to reach the semi-finals if they can secure victories in their remaining four matches. Their next match is scheduled against South Africa in Chennai on October 27th.

3rd ODI: Bangladesh 274 (Tamim 69, Mushfiqur 45, Adair 4-40) beat Ireland 269 for 9 (Stirling 60, Balbirnie 53, Mustafizur 4-44) by five runs

With a stunning bowling performance against Ireland, particularly in the final ten overs to defend 274, Bangladesh clinched the ODI series 2-0. Mustafizur Rahman took his 10th four-wicket pull in ODIs, however Hasan Mahmud bossed the last three overs, taking two wickets in the last over in which he effectively shielded nine runs.

Ireland will mourn how they batted in the last nine overs when they required only 52 hurries to even out the series with seven wickets close by. The captaincy of Tamim Iqbal surpassed them. To begin, very late in the game, he brought in part-timer Najmul Hossain Shanto to take Harry Tector’s wicket for 45. The left-arm quick took three wickets in his final over to repay his captain’s faith after Tamim took a chance to end Mustafizur by the 47th over.

Ireland couldn’t exploit two major organizations, however Imprint Adair, whose four-wicket pull helped bowl out Bangladesh in 48.5 overs, might have completed the task with the bat. In the final three overs, he hit two fours and a six, but when he needed ten to win, he missed the scoop against Mahmud’s slower ball and was bowled for 20 off 10. Andy McBrine edged the third ball to short third where Mrittunjoy Chowdhury required his subsequent great catch on debut.

A lot of their good work with bat and ball was undone when Ireland lost their last six wickets for 41 runs. Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie and Lorcan Exhaust struck fifties while Adair took a four-wicket pull. From their 16 overs, Ireland’s spinners combined to score four for 70.

When Stephen Doheny was caught at second slip by Mustafizur, Ireland lost their usual first wicket quickly

Doheny’s misery persisted throughout the series, with 16 balls required to score four runs this time. However, they were saved by Stirling and Balbirnie, an established Irish firm. Stirling struck Chowdhury for a six over cover, prior to bursting Mahmud with a pulled six.

They reached their fifties in consecutive overs and became the first Irish pair to score seven centuries in one-day internationals. Balbirnie attempted to hit Ebadot Hossain for a six over deep square leg, but debutant Rony Talukdar took a good catch and fell for 53 off 78 runs, breaking their 109-run partnership for the second wicket. Shortly after, the other rookie made a better catch. Stirling’s outside edge against Mehidy Hasan Miraz nearly crossed short third, but Chowdhury jumped high to make the catch and returned Stirling to 60 off 73 balls.

The young players from Ireland then occupied the middle. The in-structure Tector and Exhaust added 79 runs for the fourth wicket, in the accompanying 10.4 overs. Before a spur of the moment moment of inspiration broke the partnership, they expertly timed the chase. In the 42nd over, when Tamim brought in Shanto, Tector holed out to long-on, where Litton Das made a great diving catch. In his 69th match for Bangladesh, Tector picked up his first international wicket, scoring 45 off 48 deliveries.

Knowing that he would not have the death-overs expert right at the end, Tamim brought Mustafizur back with eight overs remaining. The captain was rewarded by Mustafizur, who took three wickets in consecutive overs. Tucker was skied to mid-off by Curtis Campher before George Dockrell hit one straight to Yasir Ali, the substitute fielder, at cover, and Tucker was bowled for 50.

When Balbirnie, Tamim’s opponent, dropped him on 1 in the third over at second slip, he had a lucky start to the game. However, Talukdar did not have much luck in the subsequent over; His ferocious drive at Adair resulted in a limp edge hitting the wicketkeeper.

However, Ireland’s first powerplay was very sloppy, with a lot of extras and even a misfield. However, Balbirnie set things straight in the eleventh over whenever he got a harder opportunity to one side off Shanto’s bat.

Litton assumed a temporary middle-order position without Shakib Al Hasan, who was sidelined by a finger injury. He and Tamim added 70 runs for the third wicket. Litton played for the most part inside himself, hitting a six and three fours in his 35 off 39 balls. His excuse was a strange one: He started to back away and tried to slog McBrine, getting into a mess. In the end, mid-off caught him easily.

Dockrell got among the wickets next, when he bowled Towhid Hridoy who passed up a remove while sponsorship. Between the two wickets, Tamim arrived at his fifty in the 27th over, working the ball around for the most part ones and twos in a patient thump. However, in the 34th over, Tamim wildly swung at Dockrell and was caught at short third for 69.

Mushfiqur and Mehidy held their own despite the somewhat dire circumstances, rotating the strike and also locating the odd boundary. After Mushfiqur hit his one and only six, the pair added 75 runs for the sixth wicket before Mushfiqur dropped the ball. With less than five innings remaining, McBrine had him lbw for 45.

Bangladesh’s long tail came into focus when their final five wickets were lost for just 13 runs. After Mehidy fell for 37, Mahmud, Mustafizur and Chowdhury couldn’t add a lot to the total.

Over the past ten years, the game has brought in a lot of money, making the BCCI, the world’s richest board, richer. However, the stoic fan, who has made the sport what it is today, is frequently denied basic amenities at the majority of venues across the nation.

Fans had voiced their displeasure regarding the absence of clean restrooms at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi during the India-Australia Test series in February and March.

The fact that Delhi is one of the five venues that the BCCI gave a GAP assessment to is not surprising

Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mohali, and Mumbai are the other venues, according to the list accessed by PTI.

The Wankhede in Mumbai had gone through redesign before the India-Australia ODIs last month after a fan grumbled of poor clean circumstances at the renowned arena.

At each of the five venues, renovations are anticipated to cost hundreds of crores of dollars.

The costs are enormous even if one does not account for the cost of renovating the roof, which is not a possibility at all in Delhi due to the venue’s structural flaws.

The Delhi stadium will be renovated at a cost of Rs 100 crore, Hyderabad at Rs 117.17 crore, Kolkata’s storied Eden Gardens at Rs 127.47 crore, Mohali’s aging PCA stadium at Rs 79.46 crore, and Wankhede at Rs 78.82 crore. When roof work is involved, prices skyrocket.

Ahmedabad, which is likely to host the championship game, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, Rajkot, and Mumbai are among the twelve venues that have been shortlisted to host World Cup games.

The 46-day ICC tournament will feature 48 games. India last facilitated the ODI World Cup in 2011 when the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-drove group lifted the prize.

The 2023 World Cup Final is set to be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India. This state-of-the-art stadium, which has a seating capacity of 132,000, is one of the largest cricket stadiums in the world and will provide a fitting venue for the final of the most prestigious tournament in international cricket.

The Narendra Modi Stadium, formerly known as the Sardar Patel Stadium, is the home ground of the Gujarat Cricket Association and has hosted several high-profile matches since its renovation in 2020. The stadium’s modern facilities and innovative design, which includes a 360-degree LED screen and a state-of-the-art drainage system, make it an ideal venue for the World Cup Final.

However, before the final, there is always much anticipation about the match between India and Pakistan, which is one of the most highly anticipated encounters in world cricket. The two teams have a fierce rivalry on the field, and matches between them are always intense and closely contested.

If India and Pakistan are drawn to face each other in the 2023 World Cup, the match could be played at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This historic stadium, which was established in 1916, has a capacity of 50,000 and has hosted numerous international matches, including several India-Pakistan encounters.

The M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, also known as Chepauk, has a unique atmosphere and is considered one of the most iconic cricket grounds in the world. The stadium’s proximity to the beach and the Bay of Bengal adds to its charm, and its rich history and tradition make it an ideal venue for the India-Pakistan clash.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), meanwhile, may consider the possibility of playing at a neutral venue during the upcoming ODI World Cup. Pakistan might end up playing in Bangladesh, despite India being the sole host of the tournament, according to ICC general manager Wasim Khan.

The 2023 World Cup Final at the Narendra Modi Stadium promises to be a grand affair, with the best teams from around the world competing for cricket’s ultimate prize

If India and Pakistan are drawn to play each other, the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai would provide the perfect setting for what is sure to be a thrilling encounter. Cricket fans around the world will be eagerly anticipating the 2023 World Cup, and these two iconic stadiums will provide the perfect stage for the world’s best cricketers to showcase their skills.

Eight overs into the second ODI, India had conceded six singles, three wides, and a leg-bye to New Zealand. In all, six of the 48 legal deliveries – fewer than a ball an over – had seen a run notched against the bowler. Mohammed Shami (4-1-5-2) and Mohammed Siraj (4-1-4-1) had taken out three wickets by then. This was not in windy Wellington where new-ball bowlers seem to beat the bat every time they do not take a wicket.

New Zealand fought back after being 15-5, but were still bundled out for 108. Shami finished with 3-18 and Siraj 1-10. Their fellow seamers, Hardik Pandya (2-16) and Shardul Thakur (1-26) accounted for three more wickets. India won at a canter. New Zealand’s collapse took place six days after India had bowled out Sri Lanka for 73. On that occasion, Shami had taken 2-20 and Siraj 4-32. Of course, one may argue that Sri Lanka had crumbled under ‘scoreboard pressure’ – a target of 391 can do that.

Also Read: Mitchell Santner Leads New Zealand’s Rise in Spin Stocks

Indian Pace unit very strong and vital for world cup, Bumrah’s fitness still a concern

But at The Oval in July, Jasprit Bumrah (6-19) and Shami (3-31) reduced England to 26-5 before they somehow reached 110. Since the start of 2022, India have played 29 ODIs – eight more than any other side in the world. Their stars had stayed away from many of these. Some of these absences were due to injuries. Others can be attributed to them being rested for Test cricket and the T20 World Cup. Shreyas Iyer and Siraj, the only others to have played in 20, were standbys at the World Cup.

What these experimental – it does not seem fair to call a team that has won 19 matches and lost eight ‘second-string’ – XIs have done is help India to build a cohort of fringe cricketers with experience at the top level. Jasprit Bumrah (108 wickets at 25.33) and Shami (148 at 25.62) stand out among India’s pace options. Shami’s strike rate of 27.5 means that he takes more than two wickets every 10 overs. Bumrah boasts of an economy rate of 4.65. Seldom have two fast bowlers of such quality assembled in an ODI unit.

India will be looking at a second World Cup in a span of just one year and as the wait for the hallowed silverware keeps growing, the fans persist in making the noises louder. India’s World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev had a close look at Team India and opened up on a possible route of changing the Men in Blue into an unstoppable force before the World Cup arrives.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been two massive pillars of support for the Indian batting line up and with the kind of form that they have shown over the years, it is needless to say that in the forthcoming days, it won’t be any different. However, India will have to start finding more match-winners and Kapil Dev simply highlighted the need to do so. Talking to ABP News, Kapil Dev said, “If you want to win the World Cup, the coach, selectors, and team management will have to make some tough decisions.

Also Read: IND vs SL: IND wins by 2 runs!

Support experienced player with the hard work of youngsters is perfect pair

If you think Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and 2-3 players will win us the World Cup then that’s never going to happen.” He further added, “You should believe in your team. Do we have such a team? Definitely. Do we have certain match winners? Yes, of course! We have players who can win the World Cup.” Talking on building a core team of younger players, Kapil said, “There are always a couple of players who turn out to be the pillars of your side.

You need players who fulfil each of their responsibilities. The youngsters will need to come forward and say ‘it is our time’.” He concluded by talking about why the 2023 World Cup can actually play to India’s strengths, summing, “The biggest positive is that the World Cup will happen in India. Nobody knows the conditions better than we do. For the last 8-10 years, Rohit and Virat have been two of the most important cricketers for India. Many have started to ask the question if this will be Virat and Rohit’s last World Cup.

I believe they can play but they will need to work really hard. Fitness will play a key role. There are a lot of youngsters coming up, will they be able to compete with them? There is a question mark but it depends on how they want to play their game. There is no shortage of ability.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday convened the review meeting of Team India in Mumbai. India’s dismal performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 where India lost in the semi-final match to England. The board shortlisted 20 players for the ICC World Cup 2023 in October, held in India.

India also performed poorly in Asia Cup held from August to September last year. Exited the tournament in the final four phases, failing to reach the final. They also lost the ODI series to Bangladesh by 2-1 in December. The meeting attended by BCCI President Roger Binny, secretary Jay Shah, and Indian captain Rohit Sharma. India head coach Rahul Dravid, Head of Cricket at the NCA VVS Laxman. Chairman of Senior Men Selection Committee Chetan Sharma.

Also Read: PAK vs NZ: PAK declares, match drawn

BCCI discusses the Yo-Yo test, and workload management in a review meeting

The issues of player availability, workload management, and fitness parameters also discussed during the meeting along with the roadmap to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Keeping the World Cup in mind 20 players shortlisted. There are a lot of key recommendations that are made in the meeting. One of them was that the emerging players will have to play a substantial domestic season to be eligible for selection to the national team.

The Yo-Yo Test and Dexa will now be part of the selection criteria and implemented in the customized roadmaps of the central pool of players. Keeping in mind the FTP and preparations for ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The NCA will work in tandem with the IPL to monitor the targeted Indian players participating in the IPL 2023. Keeping in mind the Men’s FTP and preparations for the showpiece tournament at home. The National Cricket Academy will work in tandem with the IPL franchises to monitor the workload of the key Indian players participating in the IPL 2023.