Today, Ravichandran Ashwin officially announced his retirement from international cricket following the Brisbane Test, which ended in a thrilling draw. The announcement, made alongside Rohit Sharma during a press conference, marked the end of an unforgettable chapter in Indian cricket. The moment was emotional, not only for Ashwin but for cricket fans around the world. Before the press conference, Ashwin was seen talking with Virat Kohli, and a warm hug between them spoke volumes about the bond they shared. Ashwin began his statement, “I pardon for not taking your questions. I am here to announce my retirement from international cricket.” After his announcement, tributes poured in from all over the cricketing world. Fans, former teammates, opposition players, and cricket experts all took a moment to appreciate Ashwin’s incredible impact on the game. 

Ashwin’s Legacy: Top Career Achievements

Ravichandran Ashwin’s career is marked by more than just impressive statistics. Here are the top achievements that define his career:

• 2nd Highest Wicket-Taker in Test Cricket for India: With 537 wickets, Ashwin became India’s second highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, with only Anil Kumble ahead of him on the list.
• ICC Player of the Year (2016): Recognized for his all-round brilliance across formats.
• Fastest Indian to 300 Test Wickets: Highlighting his consistency and skill

See Also: Ravichandran Ashwin retires from international cricket

Ashwin’s Top Memorable Moments

Ashwin’s career was filled with memorable performances. Here are some iconic moments that stand out:

• 2013 Champions Trophy Final: Ashwin bowled the final over under immense pressure, helping India clinch victory in a thrilling finish.
• 2022 T20 World Cup vs. Pakistan: His sharp cricketing mind shone through as he left the ball close to the leg stump in a tense moment, playing a key role in the team’s success.

Ashwin’s Impact Beyond Achievements

Ashwin’s legacy goes beyond records and accolades — he was integral to many of India’s most significant wins. His influence on the game and the lasting inspiration he provided to millions of fans will continue to echo throughout the cricketing world.

Day 3 of the 3rd Test match between India and Australia in Brisbane not only saw a challenging contest on the field but also ignited a wave of harsh criticism and sarcastic commentary on social media. As India faced struggles, the online platforms were flooded with debates, jabs, and calls for accountability. Here’s a breakdown of the key talking points making the rounds:

Virat Kohli’s Shot Selection Sparks Debate

Virat Kohli’s dismissal, caught behind after attempting a drive on a fifth-stump line ball, quickly became a hot topic on social media. Fans criticized his shot selection as reckless and unnecessary, questioning his ability to leave balls outside the off-stump. The dismissal sparked comparisons to Sachin Tendulkar’s famous innings in the 2003–04 Sydney Test, where Tendulkar showed the discipline to avoid risky shots like the cover drive. Fans even suggested watching his idol’s videos to learn how to avoid such dismissals, as Kohli has fallen to similar shots multiple times.

Rohit Sharma Faces Leadership Questions

Rohit Sharma has been in the spotlight, with social media buzzing with questions about his leadership. Critics have been questioning his abilities, especially after the team’s struggles. Rohit’s batting form is also a concern, although he remains not out at the end of Day 3. People are waiting for the next opportunity to either praise him or criticize him, depending on his performance on Day 4. His leadership has become a frequent topic of debate, with fans eager to see if he can lead India to a comeback.

Rain Sarcasm: India’s “Savior”

With rain interruptions dominating Day 3, social media users sarcastically suggested that only the weather could save India from a certain defeat. Jokes and memes circulated, mocking the team’s inability to counter Australia’s dominance and suggesting that rain was their only hope. This sentiment reflected the frustration of fans who, while hopeful, questioned India’s chances of winning without external factors coming into play.

Young Players Criticized

Young players like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant found themselves in the line of fire after their disappointing performances. Gill was criticized for his inconsistent batting, with many questioning his place in the team due to his relatively low batting average. Jaiswal, who was dismissed after just the second ball of the innings, found himself the target of mocking comments. This was especially pointed given his bold remarks during the Perth Test, where, after his impressive knock, he had taunted Australian bowler Mitchell Starc by saying, "You're too slow." Fast forward to the second Test in Adelaide, where Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck off the very first ball of the innings, and then again in this match, dismissed on just the second ball. Fans were quick to mock him, questioning his overconfidence and how quickly things turned around after his earlier comments to Starc. Pant, too, came under criticism after failing in five consecutive innings.

India has a difficult task ahead in the final days of the 3rd Test, but a comeback is within reach. Fans must stay supportive, offering both constructive feedback and encouragement as the team battles to recover.

The 18-year-old Bihar left-arm spinner Suman Kumar just created history in the domestic U19 four-day cricket tournament Cooch Behar Trophy by recording the first-ever 10-wicket haul in an innings in tournament history with a hat-trick. 

It was the Bihar vs Rajasthan match at Patna, where the no.10 batter Suman Kumar scored 22 runs in the first innings, where Bihar scored 467 runs. Then Kumar produced his magic with the ball as his record-breaking bowling figures destroyed Rajasthan for only 182 runs in their first innings.

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Suman Kumar stormed with a hat-trick

The teenage left-arm spinner Suman started with the new ball. Although openers Parth Yadav and Manay Katariya had a 59-run partnership for the first wicket, Suman started to dominate from the 23rd over.

Katariya (26) was Suman’s first victim as the opener was bowled. Just 11 overs after the first wicket, Rajasthan experienced a horrible batting collapse where Suman completed his fifer by completing his hat-trick. While the skipper Toshit dragged the ball on his wicket for nine runs, Mohit Bhagtani (0), Anas (0), and Sachin Sharma (0) were Sumit’s hat-trick wickets, which the left-arm spinner completed in the last three balls of the 36th over. 

Suman continued his dominance after his fifer

Out of Suman’s first five wickets, four were bowled, and Anas was given lbw. Opener Parth Yadav (50) and Akash Mundel (0) were dismissed on back-to-back deliveries of Suman. From 82/1, Rajasthan's batting suddenly slumped to 87/7. Jatin and Aabhas Shrimali fought hard with a 54-run partnership for the eighth wicket. While Jatin scored 34, Aabhas scored 35 runs. While Dhruv was not out for 14 runs, Suman wrapped up the innings after another bowled dismissal of the last batter Gulab Singh (4).

Suman finished with incredible bowling figures of 33.5-20-53-10. Although Rajasthan batting provided a strong reply in the follow-on innings, where the opener Parth Yadav was not out on 200 runs and captain Toshit scored 126 runs as Rajasthan saved the game by scoring 410/5, Bihar earned the three points thanks to their massive first innings lead (Rajasthan earned one point). During Rajasthan's second innings, Suman finished with the bowling figures of 49-22-88-1.

An epic spell 👏

3⃣3⃣.5⃣ overs
2⃣0⃣ maidens
5⃣3⃣ runs
1⃣0⃣ wickets

🎩 Hat-trick ✅

Bihar's Suman Kumar claimed all 10 wickets in an innings, including a hat-trick, against Rajasthan in the #CoochBeharTrophy match in Patna! 🔥

Watch 📽️ all his wickets 🔽@IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/68eewvJZ0G

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) December 1, 2024

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has come up with a new idea to make domestic cricket more interesting for the cricketers.

On his official social media account, BCCI secretary Jay Shah revealed the introduction of prize money at various levels of domestic cricket.

Prize money for POTM and POTT in women's and junior cricket

In BCCI’s Domestic Cricket Programme, prize money has been introduced for the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament in all women’s and junior cricket tournaments. 

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Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali will experience POTM prize money

Moreover, the senior men’s white-ball domestic tournaments, Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali tournaments, will also experience the prize money for the Player of the Match. The Vijay Hazare Trophy is a domestic List A tournament, while the Syed Mushtaq Ali is a domestic T20 competition.

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024/25 will run from November 23 to December 15, 2024. Meanwhile, Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024/25 will run between December 21, 2024, and January 18, 2025. 

This initiative aims to recognize and reward outstanding performances in the domestic circuit

Jay Shah tweeted, “We are introducing prize money for the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament in all Women’s and Junior Cricket tournaments under our Domestic Cricket Programme. Additionally, prize money will be awarded for the Player of the Match in the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali tournaments for Senior Men. This initiative aims to recognize and reward outstanding performances in the domestic circuit. A heartfelt thank you to the Apex Council for their unwavering support in this endeavour. Together, we are fostering a more rewarding environment for our cricketers. Jai Hind”

We are introducing prize money for the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament in all Women’s and Junior Cricket tournaments under our Domestic Cricket Programme. Additionally, prize money will be awarded for the Player of the Match in the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq…

— Jay Shah (@JayShah) August 26, 2024

Domestic cricket is an important part of the growth and success of a cricket team at the international level. Indian domestic cricket has played a huge role in the sustainable development of Indian cricket. 

The BCCI has always tried to make domestic cricket better in various ways. Now, the BCCI has introduced the prize money for the best cricketers of a match in Indian domestic cricket.  

Legendary Indian cricketer, former Indian captain, and T20 World Cup-winning former Indian head coach Rahul Dravid recently opened up why India is extremely powerful in cricket. 

On Sunday (September 8), Rahul Dravid was present in the 50-year celebration of Mount Joy Cricket Club. 

Talking about the present Indian cricket status, Dravid credited the Indian cricket talent acquisition system. 

Dravid said, according to the PTI report, "If you look at Indian cricket today, Indian cricket is extremely strong, it's extremely powerful. One of the big reasons for that is that talent comes from everywhere, from all over the country."

Talking about this, Dravid further went through the example of Indian cricket’s previous generations.  

Dravid added, "If you go back to the time of, say, GR Vishwanath or even when I was starting out, most of the talent came from the big cities or a few states. Even if there were talented boys in smaller places, they had to come to the big cities to play cricket. But today I think you see in Indian cricket that boys are coming from everywhere."

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You just look at the standard of the Ranji Trophy: Ranji Trophy

Dravid also praised the present standard of the Ranji Trophy, India’s most important first-class cricket tournament. 

Dravid claimed, "You just look at the standard of the Ranji Trophy. In the old days when you played in the South Zone, other than playing Hyderabad or Tamil Nadu, I think it is fair to say, without being disrespectful, that a lot of other teams you could take it not for granted but you could certainly take it a little bit more lightly.

"I don't think there is any team in the South Zone today that you can walk in and say you will beat comfortably."

We need clubs to be strong: Rahul Dravid

Club cricket is an important part of Indian cricket. Indian domestic cricket teams generally get the cricketing talents from the club cricket. Dravid feels that strong club cricket is important for the development of Indian cricket. 

Dravid said, "We need clubs to be strong. We need cricket not to be concentrated in the hands of a few people. We need cricket to be egalitarian, we need it to be all over the place. You cannot have talent or facilities concentrated only in one or two places. To get the best out of talent, we need to ensure that young boys and girls are getting access to good infrastructure in every part."

Dravid also revisited his early cricket days, where he learnt the game more from the seniors’ talks.

The wall of Indian cricket said, "After the practice, HAL [Hindustan Aeronautics Limited] would give us two eggs and one small glass of milk. I would always stay back for that glass of milk and those eggs. Not because I wanted the milk and eggs. But because I wanted to sit and listen to the likes of BK Kumar or Nandan talking about cricket. And it used to be great fun to listen to them and learn so much from them."

Recently, Dravid successfully ended his journey as the head coach of the Indian men’s national cricket team. Under his coaching, India won their second T20 World Cup trophy after winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 trophy in the West Indies and United States. Last year, the Indian team finished as the runners-up in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 at home. 

Just a few days ago, Dravid officially returned to the Indian Premier League team Rajasthan Royals as a head coach. He was a key man for the Rajasthan Royals between 2011 and 2015. He led the team in 2012 and 2013, where the Dravid-led Rajasthan Royals finished as the runners-up in the Champions League T20 2013. 

Later, in the IPL 2014 and 2015, Dravid worked as a mentor of Rajasthan Royals.