Tag: Sunil Gavaskar

  • ‘Man With 9,000 Runs Shouldn’t Bat At No. 5’: Sunil Gavaskar Unhappy With India’s Tactics vs Bangladesh | cricket news

    IND vs BAN: On Monday, the Indian cricket team produced a remarkable batting performance on Day 4 of the second Test against Bangladesh at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur. With two full days of play washed out due to rain, India faced a time crunch to force a result. However, the Rohit Sharma-led side responded emphatically, first dismissing Bangladesh for 233 and then launching a powerful counterattack with the bat.

    India declared their innings at 285 for 9 in just 34.4 overs, giving themselves a lead of 52 runs. This aggressive approach helped the team set records for the fastest 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 runs in the history of Test cricket. The performance put India in a strong position, needing just 95 runs to win the match and secure a 2-0 series victory.

    While the day belonged to India’s bold batting and strategic declaration, former captain and now commentator Sunil Gavaskar expressed disappointment over the team’s decision to send Rishabh Pant ahead of Virat Kohli in the batting order.

    After India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal as the second wicket, fans anticipated Kohli to take his usual No. 4 position in the line-up. However, to everyone’s surprise, India promoted Pant, leaving Kohli to bat at No. 5. Gavaskar, voicing his concern on JioCinema, questioned this move, particularly given Kohli’s stature as one of India’s finest Test batters.

    Sunil Gavaskar Not Happy With India’s Batting Order

    “You are talking about a man who has nearly 9,000 runs in Test cricket batting at No. 4,” said Gavaskar. His comment reflected a broader sentiment that Kohli, given his vast experience and success at No. 4, should not have been moved down the order in a critical match.

    Pant, sent in with the intention of continuing India’s aggressive push, failed to make a substantial impact. He scored just 9 runs off 11 balls before being dismissed. Kohli, on the other hand, made his presence felt when he finally came to the crease, scoring a brisk 47 off 35 balls, including four boundaries and one six.

    Virat Kohli Creates Another Milestone

    While Gavaskar’s critique sparked debate, Kohli continued to etch his name into the history books. On Monday, he became the fastest player to score 27,000 international runs, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record. Kohli reached the milestone in his 594th innings, beating Tendulkar’s mark of 623 innings. Only Kumar Sangakkara (648 innings) and Ricky Ponting (650 innings) have also crossed the 27,000-run mark in international cricket.

    India On The Verge Of Victory

    India’s declaration has put them in the driver’s seat. They need just 95 runs to win the second Test and seal the series. Led by excellent contributions from Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s bowling attack did well to restrict Bangladesh to 146 in their second innings. As India prepares for the final innings of the match, all eyes will be on how quickly they can chase down the target. With a strong batting line-up and momentum on their side, it seems only a matter of time before India clinches another dominant Test series win.

  • Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli’s Muscle Memory To Get Weak After Missing Duleep Trophy 2024? Sunil Gavaskar Says This | cricket news

    Big names like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and more have been missing from the list of the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2024. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has no plan of playing red-ball cricket at the moment so he is out of the picture and other seniors are given rest with the upcoming busy schedule in mind of the BCCI. However, former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar does not agree with the break given to batters like Kohli and Rohit as he explained batters start losing muscle memory when not in practice regularly.

    He understood the decision of giving rest to Bumrah to manage the workload as a bowler but is not a fan of giving rest to senior batsmen even like Kohli or Rohit. The 75-year-old suggested that the duo should have participated in the Duleep Trophy, as it would have provided them with valuable match practice. (Rinku Singh Wants To Play For RCB In IPL 2025 If Not Retained By KKR In IPL Auction)

    “The selectors have not picked the skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the Duleep Trophy so they will most likely go into the Bangladesh Test series without much match practice,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for the Mid-day.

    “While it’s understandable that somebody like Jasprit Bumrah with his delicate back needs to be handled with care, the batters could have done with some batting time out in the middle. Once a player hits the mid-thirties in any sport, then regular competition will help him maintain the high standards he has set. When there’s a longish gap then the muscle memory weakens somewhat and to get back to the high standards from earlier is not easy,” he added. (’10 Years of Unfinished Business’: This Australian Player Warns Team India Ahead Of Border-Gavaskar Series)

    BCCI secretary Jay Shah previously explained that the board does not want to risk of some key players getting injured as India get ready for a 2-match series against Bangladesh, 3-match vs New Zealand and 5-match vs Australia.

  • Sunil Gavaskar Blasts Badminton Star Lakshya Sen’s Performance: ‘Lost Focus And Concentration In Crucial Moments’ | Other

    The Paris Olympics 2024 has been a mixed experience for Indian sports fans. Following the remarkable success of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where India secured a record seven medals, expectations were high for an even better performance in Paris. Unfortunately, despite a series of narrow misses and some unfortunate events, like Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification, India ended up with six medals.

    Badminton, a sport in which India has traditionally performed well, failed to bring home any medals this time. Since the 2012 Olympics, Indian badminton players have consistently won at least one medal. However, this time the star duo of Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty did not advance to the semi-finals. Lakshya Sen, the singles player, became the first Indian male shuttler to reach an Olympic semi-final but fell short in crucial matches, despite being in strong positions.

    In light of these performances, badminton legend Prakash Padukone urged the sport’s stars to deliver better results, given the ample support from the government and other stakeholders. Padukone’s comments sparked controversy, but former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar defended him while criticizing Lakshya Sen’s performance.

    Gavaskar highlighted Padukone’s long-standing involvement with Sen, noting that Padukone had guided and mentored him closely. In a column for Sportstar, Gavaskar reflected on Sen’s performance, expressing disappointment over Sen’s inability to capitalize on his lead in the semi-final against Viktor Axelsen and his subsequent loss in the bronze medal match against Lee Zii Jia, despite winning the first game comfortably. .

    Gavaskar suggested that Sen appeared to lose focus and concentration during these critical moments. Observing Sen’s body language, such as his blank expressions and distracted behavior during breaks, Gavaskar felt that Sen’s mental focus might have faltered. He noted that concentration and focus are difficult to teach and must come from within the athlete. While mind trainers can offer some assistance, the ultimate responsibility lies with the athlete to develop these traits through personal resolve and observation of other champions.

  • ‘I Don’t Need Anyone’s Approval…’,: Virat Kohli’s Defiant Response To Critics Ahead Of RCB vs CSK In IPL 2024 | cricket news

    As the IPL 2024 season unfolds, Virat Kohli finds himself at the center of a storm, his performances scrutinized and his methods questioned. But for the batting maestro, external noise holds little significance – his currency is performance, a philosophy instilled by his father from an early age. In a candid interview ahead of the high-stakes RCB vs CSK clash, Kohli addressed the ongoing debate surrounding his strike rate. “I don’t need anyone’s approval or assurance,” he asserted, his words carrying the weight of a seasoned campaigner. “Performance is my only currency.”

    Also Read: IPL 2024 RCB vs CSK Weather Report From Bengaluru: Will Rain Play Spoilsport?

    Kohli’s resolute stance echoes the sentiment of his predecessor, MS Dhoni, whose unorthodox batting approach often drew criticism. Yet, Dhoni’s ability to finish matches for India cemented his legacy, a trait Kohli admires. “He’s probably the only person who knows what he’s doing!” Kohli exclaimed, drawing parallels to his own mindset of taking the game deep.

    The RCB Connection

    For Kohli, the motivation to excel extends beyond personal milestones. His unwavering commitment to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise stems from the deep connection he shares with the fans and the camaraderie within the team.

    “These little things, the expressions on people’s faces when they see you, you cannot demand it from fans. It’s a very organic process,” Kohli reflected. In an era where player loyalty is often tested, Kohli’s dedication to RCB stands as a testament to the value he places on the human aspect of the game.

    The Impact Player Debate

    As the IPL embraces the ‘Impact Player’ rule, a new dynamic has emerged, one that Kohli believes has disrupted the balance between bat and ball. Echoing Rohit Sharma’s sentiments, Kohli expressed concern over the dominance of batters, stating, “Bowlers are feeling like what they should do.”

    With teams struggling to defend even formidable totals, Kohli called for a rethink of the rule. “I am sure Jay bhai (BCCI secretary Jay Shah) has mentioned it already that they will review it,” he said, advocating for a balanced approach that allows both disciplines to thrive.

    The Pursuit of Excellence

    At the core of Kohli’s philosophy lies an unwavering pursuit of excellence, a journey that began with his father’s guidance. “Only if you’re capable, you will make it,” Kohli recounted, reflecting on the values ​​that have shaped his remarkable career. As the cricket world eagerly awaits the next chapter in the Kohli saga, one thing is certain: this modern-day legend will continue to march to the beat of his own drum, mastering the game on his own terms, and leaving an indelible mark on the sport he loves.