Sri Lanka faces a significant setback as key spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand due to a hamstring injury. In response, the Sri Lankan cricket board has brought in Dushan Hemantha as Hasaranga's replacement, hoping to maintain a strong spin lineup for the home series. Hasaranga’s injury has impacted the team’s strategy, especially given his recent impressive performance in the T20I series against the Kiwis.

Hasaranga's injury and replacement announcement

Wanindu Hasaranga, who picked up a left hamstring injury while bowling in the second T20I against New Zealand, will miss the ODI series scheduled to start on November 13. Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that Hasaranga has already returned to Colombo to begin injury rehabilitation at the High Performance Center. Following this development, the board swiftly named Dushan Hemantha as his replacement, a promising option for maintaining spin depth against a formidable New Zealand lineup.

Sri Lanka’s skipper Charith Asalanka also confirmed Hasaranga’s absence in a post-match press conference, adding, “Wanindu Hasaranga will miss the ODI series, but I think Kusal Mendis will be ready to play one day.” Asalanka's statement hints at further strategic adjustments the team may have to consider, especially with Hasaranga’s role as a top-performing all-rounder.

Impact of Hasaranga’s absence and his recent form

Hasaranga’s unavailability is a considerable blow to Sri Lanka, as he was in excellent form in the T20I series, where he took six wickets and claimed the Player of the Series title. His presence on the field has been instrumental in Sri Lanka’s recent performances, particularly against New Zealand, where his economical bowling and wicket-taking ability placed him among the standout players. Hasaranga himself expressed disappointment about his injury following the T20 series, sharing, “I wanted to bowl my four overs to cut down their total. I can’t run, so I tried to maximize with the bat, but I got out.”

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As a highly skilled bowler with years of experience, Hasaranga’s absence will require Sri Lanka’s team management to adapt quickly, with Hemantha expected to shoulder additional responsibility in the spin department. Hemantha, known for his strong leg-spin, will have an opportunity to prove his capability in a high-stakes series.

Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand ODI schedule

The three-match ODI series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand begins on November 13 at Dambulla, with the second and third ODIs set to take place on November 17 and November 19 in Pallekele. With Hemantha now part of the squad, Sri Lanka hopes to maintain their competitive edge and deliver a strong performance despite the absence of Hasaranga.

Star Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who announced his retirement from T20Is last month after India’s win in the T20 World Cup 2024 final, is unlikely to be picked for India’s ODI team in the near future. Reports indicate that the 35-year-old cricketer, with 2756 runs and 220 wickets in 197 ODIs, is not in the selection committee’s plans for upcoming matches, including the ICC Champions Trophy next year.

Instead, the selectors are focusing on Axar Patel and Washington Sundar for the spin-bowling all-rounder roles. This decision is reflected in their selection for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, where Jadeja was not included.

Focus on young talent for future competitions

“There are only six ODIs, including the three in Sri Lanka, before next year’s Champions Trophy. The selectors want to utilize these games by giving more opportunities to Axar Patel and Washington Sundar,” a BCCI source told Hindustan Times. The source emphasized that Jadeja’s exclusion is not due to poor performance but is part of a strategy to explore other options for the future.

Washington Sundar, who won the Player of the Series award in the recent five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, is viewed as Jadeja’s long-term replacement. The 24-year-old has played 19 ODIs since his debut in December 2017, taking 18 wickets and scoring 265 runs.

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Jadeja’s continued importance in Test cricket

Despite the shift in focus away from Jadeja in ODIs, the BCCI source reassured that Jadeja remains an integral member of India’s Test team. His experience and skills are considered crucial for the upcoming World Test Championship matches, where he will continue to be a key player for the Rohit Sharma-led side.

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has stirred controversy by accusing skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid of meddling with the World Cup 2023 final pitch. His allegations have raised questions about the integrity of pitch preparation and its influence on match outcomes.

Mohammad Kaif’s Allegations

Kaif, who was present at the Narendra Modi Stadium during the final, claimed to have witnessed changes in the pitch over three days. He asserted that the Indian team management, including Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid, intervened to manipulate the pitch conditions to favor slow bowling.

See Also: Rohit wants Kohli, report claims amidst T20 World Cup squad speculations

Kaif’s Statements and Criticism

In an interview with The Lallantop, Kaif expressed disappointment over the pitch manipulation tactics employed by the Indian team management. He criticized the decision to alter the pitch excessively, attributing it to India’s defeat in the final.

Kaif said, “Emotions the. 2003 mein inse (Australia) hum haare the. Main waha 3 din tha. Rohit Sharma shaam ko aaye, Dravid dono shaam ko aaye. Pitch pe gaye, ghume kaisi pitch hai. Ye 3 din lagatar hua hai aur maine pitch ka rang badalte hue dekha hai. Cummins hai Starc hai, inke pass tezz gendbaazi hai, toh inko naa slow pitch do aur waha galti hui. 100%. Chahe log kitna bhi bole ki curator apna kaam karta hai, hum kuch nahi bolte, bakwaas hai. (Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma arrived in the evening to examine the field. They stood behind the pitch every hour for three days, and I witnessed the pitch turn a different color. Give them slow pitches because they have fast bowlers like Starc and Cummins. And that’s where they went wrong. People saying that the curator makes the pitch and no one has a say is just rubbish. This is the truth, even if people don’t want to believe it).

Host Country’s Influence on Pitch Preparation

Kaif acknowledged the host country’s prerogative to dictate pitch conditions but cautioned against excessive interference. While conceding that such practices are commonplace in cricket, Kaif emphasized balance and fair play in pitch preparation.

Kaif said, “You have to express just two sentences when you are moving across the field. Please don’t add water; just cut down on the grass. That is reality. And it should to be carried out. You’re at home playing. And we overindulged in it.”

Impact on the World Cup Final

The pitch alterations purportedly backfired on India as Australia emerged victorious in the final, chasing down a target of 240 runs. Despite early success, the Indian bowlers struggled to contain Travis Head, who played a pivotal role in Australia’s triumph.

Australia’s Victory and Indian Strategy

Despite India’s efforts to tailor the pitch to their advantage, Australia’s bowlers, particularly Pat Cummins, demonstrated resilience and adaptability. Cummins’ decision to bowl first in a final, despite conventional wisdom favoring batting first, proved instrumental in securing Australia’s victory.

In AUS vs WI 3rd ODI, Australia’s Matthew Short sidelined; Ben McDermott steps in as replacement. Short’s absence might extend to the AUS vs WI T20I series. The decisive 3rd ODI is scheduled for Tuesday, February 6, at Manuka Oval Stadium in Canberra, concluding the already-won series for Australia, which is leading 2-0.

Australia’s squad faces injury setbacks, with Travis Head and Xavier Bartlett ruled out earlier. Despite Bartlett’s return for the final ODI, Josh Hazlewood will miss the match, returning for the T20I series. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc continue to be absent from the AUS vs WI ODI series.

Matthew Short suffered a hamstring injury during the 2nd ODI

During the AUS vs WI 2nd ODI in Sydney, Matthew Short sustained a hamstring injury while batting, scoring a crucial 41 runs. Unfortunately, he did not take the field in the 2nd innings due to the hamstring issue.

In his absence, Ben McDermott, who recently scored a century for Queensland in a Sheffield Shield clash against Tasmania, has been brought in as a replacement. McDermott is set to make a return to the ODI team after last playing in April 2022 against Pakistan. Despite not featuring in ODIs since then, he participated in the IND vs AUS T20I series in November–December of the same year. McDermott boasts an impressive batting average of 44.60 in ODIs, having scored 1 century and 1 half-century in 5 appearances, along with featuring in 25 T20Is for Australia.

Australia is ahead in the ODI series with a 2-0 lead

Australia has already secured victory in the ODI series, making the AUS vs WI 3rd ODI a dead-rubber for both teams. In the previous match, Australia emerged triumphant by 83 runs, posting a total of 258-9 while batting first and subsequently restricting the West Indies to 175.

Sean Abbott was honored with the Player of the Match award for his outstanding performance, contributing a crucial 69 runs with the bat and taking 3 wickets while bowling. The opening match also saw Australia’s dominance as they comfortably chased down a target of 232, with fifties from Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, and Steve Smith.

Following the conclusion of the AUS vs WI ODI series, the two teams will face off in a three-match T20I series. The first match is scheduled for Friday, February 9, in Hobart, with the subsequent two contests set to be held in Adelaide and Perth.

SEE ALSO:Shubman Gill Expresses Gratitude to Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid: ‘They are the Ones Who Have…”

On Wednesday, the Nagpur city police executed a non-bailable warrant against former Indian cricketer Prashant Vaidya in connection with a cheque bouncing case, according to PTI. Vaidya, who played four ODI matches for the Indian cricket team in the mid-1990s, was presented before the court and subsequently released on a surety bond, as reported by a police officer.

Inspector Vitthalsingh Rajput of the Bajajnagar Police Station revealed that Vaidya had issued a bounced cheque for the purchase of steel from a local trader. The trader, in response, took legal action when Vaidya refused to settle the amount, leading to the court issuing a non-bailable warrant due to Vaidya’s failure to attend case hearings. Notably, Prashant Vaidya currently holds the position of the head of the cricket development committee at the Vidarbha Cricket Association.

A non-bailable warrant has been issued by the court for Prashant Vaidya

In a statement, Vitthalsingh Rajput conveyed, “Vaidya is said to have acquired steel from a local trader and issued a check that subsequently bounced. Upon the trader’s request for a new payment, the cricketer purportedly declined. Consequently, the businessman sought legal intervention, leading to the issuance of a non-bailable warrant against Vaidya due to his non-attendance at the court hearing.”

Prashant Vaidya contributed to the success of the Indian cricket team that secured the Asia Cup in 1995. His international debut took place against Australia in February 1995, where he claimed a wicket by dismissing Australian batsman David Boon. Vaidya further showcased his skills in international matches against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and South Africa.

During his ODI career spanning four matches, Prashant Vaidya secured four wickets and notched up 15 runs. Additionally, Vaidya’s cricketing journey includes 56 first-class and 41 List-A matches, where he accumulated 1038 and 116 runs respectively, accompanied by 171 and 46 wickets.

Beyond his cricketing achievements, Prashant Vaidya has faced allegations related to various banking frauds. In February 2019, a case was registered against him, his brother Prafull, and sister-in-law Varsha at the Panchpavli police station for an alleged fraud of INR 2.90 crore with the Bank of Baroda. At that time, Vaidya held the position of vice president at the Vidarbha Cricket Association.

Despite off-field controversies, Vidarbha currently holds the top spot in the Elite Group A of the Ranji Trophy 2023-24. With three victories in four games, the team is displaying excellent form in the ongoing season.

In the realm of Indian cricket, Jitesh Sharma has emerged as a notable figure representing Vidarbha. Renowned for his stellar performances in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League, Sharma has earned a place in the national squad. His potential inclusion in the T20 World Cup 2024 is under consideration, attributed to his adept batting skills lower down the order.

Indeed, Vidarbha has been a breeding ground for several notable cricketers who have gone on to represent the Indian cricket team. Alongside Jitesh Sharma, Umesh Yadav has been a prominent figure hailing from Vidarbha, contributing significantly to the national squad.

The region has a rich history of producing talented players, including the likes of CK Nayudu, Hemang Badani, Akshay Wadkar, and many others who have made valuable contributions to Indian cricket. The legacy of producing skilled and accomplished cricketers continues to thrive in Vidarbha.

SEE ALSO:Indian All-Rounder Ravindra Jadeja Begins Rehabilitation at NCA After Hamstring Injury in Hyderabad Test

IND vs AUS, 3rd ODI: Australia 269 all out (Marsh 47, Hardik 3-44, Kuldeep 3-56) beat India 248 (Kohli 54, Zampa 4-45) by 21 runs

Australia took over as No. 1 ODI ranking and shattered India’s four-year home series win streak with a thrilling victory in Chennai in front of 269. When Australia won the toss, they bet everything and chose to bat on a dry, soft surface, risking the dew. In the powerplay, they attacked the new ball but kept attacking, leading to a lot of starts but not fifty.

After that, despite India’s quick start, the bowlers kept going. Their two spinners, Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar, took six wickets each to bring India back to 65 for 0 and 146 for 2. The fact that Marcus Stoinis replaced Cameron Green as Australia’s fifth bowler made the defence even more impressive. Stoinis, on the other hand, was a revelation, bowling 9.1 overs for 43 runs and a wicket.

The progression of both innings was similar: a quick start to get the most out of the powerplay and new ball, followed by pitching tricks and some aggressive actions taken by batters that led to dismissals that looked soft. Perhaps the most uncharacteristic was Virat Kohli’s run-out to long-off in Ashton Agar’s final over after scoring the match’s only half-century. Hardik Pandya scored quickly at the other end, and the run-a-ball was required.

Suryakumar Yadav’s third consecutive golden duck and Kohli’s dismissal left India needing 85 runs off 88 with four wickets remaining. Pandya, who had previously pulled Australia back from a quick start with figures of 8-0-44-3, appeared to be India’s last hope, but he also chose the big shot over playing deep. With 52 required off 39, his struggle against Zampa won him the tail. Even Ravindra Jadeja struggled with a Zampa error, leaving the tail at an unlikely 45 to get off 29. He had to do all the scoring himself.

These risks were unusual for India in that they came from both sides and occurred at times when the asking rate was under control

The pitch appeared to have rushed up under the lights when Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma scored 65 runs in 9.1 overs. The pitch had little to do with the first two wickets. Gill got his pad in the way of Zampa’s drifting half-volley after Rohit fell trying to take advantage of the last powerplay over.

However, even when Agar turned some balls alarmingly across the right-hand batters, Kohli batted beautifully to go at a run-a-ball without taking any risks. There was no panic even when Kohli and KL Rahul went eight overs without a boundary. After that, Rahul surged ahead of Zampa and Mitchell Starc with a six, two fours, and a six.

Now it seemed like the plan was for Kohli to lead the chase, and the other end would go after big hits. One of these hits came from Rahul’s toe and went long-on. Axar Patel was advanced and was promptly run out on account of splendid handling from Steve Smith and keeping from Alex Carey.

Pandya again quieted the pursuit somewhere near hitting a six and a four in the initial five balls he confronted. Pandya scored quickly at the other end, so perhaps Kohli didn’t have to start going. Particularly in the final over of the perilous Agar. However, he went ahead and did so, perhaps in order to score some runs before the extra fielder left in the final 10.

Although Australia’s batsmen may be asking themselves similar questions, they had more variety in their batting than India did. They were also unaware of the required total.

Even though the first puff of surface dust could be seen as early as the fourth over, Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head were successful in maximizing the power play when it first began. India’s first over without a boundary came in the sixth over, when they needed to add spin. Head kept finding square areas on the wicket, and Marsh was brutal. However, once spin started, it became clear that scoring outside of the powerplay would have to slow down, and Australia ended up going 61 for 0.

The introduction of Pandya sparked immediate halts. Head found deep third with an uppercut, Smith drove on the up, but the cross-seam delivery moved away after pitching to take his edge, and Marsh continued to play for the first time in the series to be struck out for under 50.

Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner, who was only playing in the middle order for the second time in his ODI career, appeared to finally enter accumulation mode, but it didn’t last long. They took Kuldeep Yadav on after Jadeja bowled accurately, preventing them from scoring runs.

Despite the fact that one top-edged trudge clear from Labuschagne went for six simply because the defender was in off the rope, the two continued to assault. Labuschagne holed out to long-off, both against the spin, and Warner found long-off while attempting to hit over long-on.

Australia kept attacking, even though they were 138 for 5 in the 29th over. Carey and Stoinis, on the other hand, did it in a different way by sweeping and reverse-sweeping. Carey hit a free hit for a six after receiving a no-ball for violating field rules. Stoinis and Carey began to take greater risks, presumably to take advantage of the remaining overs before an additional fielder returned. Stoinis chose long-on toward the finish of the 37th over. Carey got lucky with his flashing blade in the next over, but in the 39th over, a big turn from Kuldeep bowled him. In 53 legal deliveries, the two added 58 more.

Australia, with seven runs down before the 40th over, were once more in danger of over-aiming and ultimately scoring poorly. However, Sean Abbott led the lower order with 26 runs off 23 hits, while Nos. 9, 10, and 11 scored 17, 10, and 10 runs without being hit. 22 were added by the last wicket. By a score of 21, Australia prevailed.

Sachin Tendulkar, the former Indian legendary cricketer, made a caption recently where he stated that overs 15-40 of a One Day International (ODI) match can become boring for the spectators. Tendulkar’s comment gets mixed reactions, with some agreeing with his comment, while some marked it as a criticism of this sport itself. That one person who did not take it easy and kindly to Tendulkar’s remarks was former Indian all-rounder Ajay Jadeja.

Jadeja who is well known for his all-round performance expressed his dissent expression with Tendulkar’s statement. Where he stated that there are no boring overs in cricket. A single ball can alter the outcome of the game, he claimed, making every over in a cricket match crucial. The feeling shared by many cricket fans, who consider that each element of the game is significant and enhances the overall enjoyment, was reflected in Jadeja’s remark.

The remarks made by Tendulkar were a reflection of his own experience rather than an attack on cricket, it is crucial to remember. Tendulkar has played cricket at the highest level for more than two decades and is considered one of the best players of all time. After playing and watching the game for so long, it is only logical that he might find some portions of it boring or dull. The middle overs of an ODI are perceived as a gap in the action, and advertisers and broadcasters struggle to keep the audience interested. Tendulkar’s remarks may have been intended to address this commercialization of cricket.

Despite Tendulkar’s intentions, the discussion about cricket’s nature and the significance of the various overs in a match has been generated by his comments. Because they establish a foundation for the game’s final innings, many people contend that middle innings are just as crucial as the first and last ones. Others have noted that bowlers may find it difficult during the middle overs when they must push themselves to keep the opposition at rest without giving up too many runs.

The argument about cricket’s “boring” overs is ultimately a matter of taste. While some people might find the middle overs of an ODI to be boring, others could find the strategic struggle between bat and ball to be interesting. Yet it’s crucial to keep in mind that each element of the game matters and enhances the overall enjoyment. Whether it is the game’s first or last ball, every opportunity exists for a player to have an impact and for the spectators to be entertained.

In limited-overs cricket, it’s not often that a team loses by 10 wickets. This has only occurred six times in the ODI history of Team India.

It’s interesting to note that three of the six defeats by 10 wickets were in foreign conditions, while the other three were in their own backyard.

1981-10 wicket defeat vs New Zealand

In the Benson & Hedges World Series Cup, this game was shortened to 34 overs per side. India’s first batsmen were successful in putting up 112/9 on the scoreboard. With 33, Gundappa Viswanath scored the most. Kapil Dev came in second place with 21. There were no other Indian batters who scored double digits. Martin Snedden, a right-arm medium fast bowler, and all-rounder Jeremy Coney each took two wickets. Incredibly, the Indian innings saw as many as three run-outs. Syed Kirmani, Kapil, and Viswanath were all left out. The Kiwi openers responded by putting on a strong performance. Bruce Edgar and John Wright, who went on to coach the Indian men’s senior team, put together an unbeaten 113-run partnership in 29 overs to hand India a 10 wicket defeat.

1997-10 wicket defeat vs West Indies

16 years later, India faced a 10-wicket defeat against the West Indies in their next ODI match. After that, India batted first after West Indies captain Courtney Walsh won the toss. India lost a portion of their side with 168 sudden spikes in demand for the board. India’s final score of 199/7 was primarily made up of Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, and Robin Singh, with Jadeja scoring the most runs with 68. In nine overs, Walshi took two wickets for just 26 runs. Otiis Gibson, Curtly Ambrose, Franklin Rose, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul each took one wicket. The Windies responded by starting with Chanderpaul and Stuart Williams, a right-handed batter who last played an ODI in May 1999. In 44.4 overs, the two put on an unbeaten 200-run stand. Then, India captain Sachin Tendulkar used as many as eight bowlers, including himself, Sourav Ganguly, Robin Singh, Venkatesh Prasad, Abey Kuruvila, Anil Kumble, Noel David, and Tendulkar himself. But no Indian bowler was able to break through, and the West Indies won by 10 wickets.

2000-10 wicket defeat vs South Africa

Three years later, Team India suffered its subsequent 10 wicket defeat in a Sharjah day and night match. Against the Proteas this time. India captain Sourav Ganguly won the toss and chose to bat first in match one of the 2000 Coca-Cola Cup. However, Ganguly and the others were bowled out for 164 in 45.2 overs, and the Indian innings never really took off. Ajay Jadeja scored the most points with a 43°, while Javagal Srinath scored 30. Makhaya Ntini, right-arm fast medium bowler Steve Elworthy, and Jacques Kallis each took three wickets for the Proteas. Shaun Pollock and Nicky Boje each took one wicket. In response, South Africa started with Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs, who later helped India win the ODI World Cup in 2011. In 29.2 overs, Kirsten scored 71 runs and Gibbs scored 87 to create a 168-run, unbeaten first wicket partnership. Naturally, the outcome resulted in the Proteas winning by 10 wickets and earning 2 points.

2005-10 wicket defeat vs South Africa

South Africa pulled off an additional victory five years later. The Eden Gardens in Kolkata served as the setting for the fourth one-day international of South Africa’s tour of India. The captain of the Proteas, Graeme Smith, then won the toss and batted India. The only Indian batsman to score a half-century was Yuvraj Singh, who batted at number 6. India reached 188 in 45.5 overs thanks to the runs of Mohammed Kaif (46) and Virender Sehwag (30), who batted at number 4. For South Africa, Shaun Pollock and all-rounder Andrew Corridor took 3 wickets each. Smith and Hall served as captains for South Africa, who were aiming for a 189-point victory. Hall made 48 and Smith scored 134 for an unbeaten century. In 35.5 overs, the two scored 189 runs for the first wicket to win by 10 wickets.

2020-10 wicket defeat vs Australia

15 years later, India suffered its next 10-wicket defeat in an ODIO. The Australians were the opponents this time, and Team India was once more defeated at home. The Wankhede stadium in Mumbai served as the setting. Aaron Finch, the Australian skipper at the time, won the toss and put India in bat for the first ODI of Australia’s tour of India. The opener Shikhar Dhawan scored 74 runs, KL Rahul scored 47 runs at number three, and Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja scored 28 and 25 runs, respectively, to help the home team reach a respectable total of -255. Pat Cummins and Kane Richardson each took two wickets, while Mitchell Starc took three. Australia responded by fielding David Warner and Finch, both of whom scored centuries without defeat. Captain Finch made 110*, while Warner hit 128. In 37.4 overs, Australia won by 10 wickets to take a 1-0 series lead.

2023-10 wicket defeat vs Australia

After three years, it was the same. On Indian soil, Australia once again defeated India by ten wickets. India led 1-0 after the first match, making this the crucial second ODI of a three-match series. However, things simply did not go India’s way. Standard commander Rohit Sharma was once again in charge of undertakings, subsequent to missing the main ODI because of family responsibilities. Steve Smith, an interim captain for Australia, won the toss and requested that India bat first. India went from 32/2 to 117 all out in just 26 overs after losing their last 8 wickets for 85 runs. Virat Kohli top scored with 31 and Axar Patel made 29* and there were 14 additional items. No other batter was able to score more than 20 runs. Mitchell Starc, a left-arm pacer, was the one who really rocked India. He took 5/53 in 8 overs and won the Man of the Match award. In response, the Australians started with Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head, who put on an unbeaten 121-run opening wicket partnership in 11 overs. Marsh scored 66 points with six fours and six sixes, while Head scored 51 points with 10 boundaries. With one match remaining, Australia won by a more than comfortable 10 wickets to level the series at 1-1. On Wednesday, March 22, Chennai will host the series finale.

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar recently made headlines when he spoke out about his concerns regarding One Day International (ODI) cricket. Tendulkar, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time, expressed his belief that ODI cricket has become too predictable and boring.

Moreover, Speaking to reporters, Tendulkar said that while he still loves the game, he feels that ODI cricket has lost some of its excitement and unpredictability

He also suggested that the rise of T20 cricket, which is faster-paced and more dynamic, has made ODI cricket seem outdated in comparison. However, Tendulkar also noted that the format of ODI cricket has remained largely unchanged for several decades, with teams typically scoring around 250-300 runs in their 50 overs. He argued that this predictability has made it easier for bowlers to prepare and for teams to strategize, resulting in matches that lack the tension and drama of years past.

Additionally, the cricket legend went on to suggest that ODI cricket could benefit from some changes to make it more exciting for fans. He suggested that teams could experiment with different formats, such as playing with fewer overs or increasing the number of players on the field. 

Besides that, he also called for greater innovation in the game, with teams exploring new strategies and tactics to keep the game fresh and unpredictable.

Tendulkar’s comments have sparked a lively debate in the cricketing world, with many fans and experts weighing in on the future of ODI cricket. Some have agreed with Tendulkar’s assessment, noting that the format has become somewhat stale in recent years. Others have defended ODI cricket, pointing to its rich history and the many great matches that have been played over the years.

“It’s getting monotonous, without a doubt. The current format, which has been there for a while now is two new balls (per innings). When you have two new balls, you have kind of eliminated reverse swing. Even though, we are in the 40th over of the game, it’s just the 20th over of that ball. And the ball only starts reversing around the 30th over. That element is missing today because of two new balls. The current format, I feel, is heavy on bowlers,”

said Tendulkar.

“Right now, the game is becoming too predictable. From the 15th to the 40th over its losing its momentum. It’s getting boring.”

he further added.

Despite the differing opinions, there seems to be a general consensus that ODI cricket could benefit from some changes to keep it relevant and exciting for fans. Some have suggested that the International Cricket Council (ICC) could take the lead in implementing changes to the format, while others have called on individual teams to experiment with new ideas and strategies.

However, in any case, it seems clear that ODI cricket will need to adapt and evolve if it is to remain a popular and successful format in the years to come. Whether through changes to the format or greater changes on the part of teams and players, the game will need to find ways to keep fans engaged and excited. And with Sachin Tendulkar leading the charge for change, it seems likely that we will see some exciting developments in the world of ODI cricket in the future.

There was a lot of praise for KL Rahul after he scored an unbeaten 75 to help the Indian cricket team beat the Australians’ 189-run target at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Only a few weeks ago, the middle-order batter had received criticism from all sides for his performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Venkatesh Prasad, a former Indian cricketer who has been one of the batter’s most outspoken critics in recent weeks, offered perhaps the most surprising praise. The ex-India pacer has frequently advocated for Rahul’s removal from the side.

“Excellent composure under pressure and a brilliant innings by KL Rahul. Top knock. Great support by Ravindra Jadeja and a good win for India.”

On Friday, however, he tweeted.

Just a month back, Prasad had posted numerous strings on the miniature contributing to a blog webpage, presenting a defence for why Rahul should be dropped from the Indian group in Tests

“I have a lot of regard for KL Rahul’s talent and ability, but sadly his performances have been well below-par. A Test average of 34 after 46 Tests and more than 8 years in international cricket is ordinary. Can’t think of many who have been given so many chances. Some are just lucky to be given chances endlessly till they succeed while some aren’t allowed to,”

he tweeted.

Prasad had asserted that Rahul’s selection to the team was the result of favoritism.

“And to make matters worse, Rahul is the designated vice-captain… Rahul’s selection is not based on performance but favoritism . Has been consistently inconsistent and for someone who has been around for 8 years not converted potential into performances. One of the reasons why many ex-cricketers aren’t vocal despite seeing such favoritism… is the chances of losing out on potential IPL gigs. They wouldn’t want to rub the captain of a franchise wrong, as in today’s age most people like yes men and blind approvers. Often well wishers are your best critics but times have changed & people don’t want to be told the truth.”

He had gone one to add.

Rahul was ultimately dropped for the third and fourth Tests against Australia at Indore and Ahmedabad.