The third T20I served as a reminder of Suryakumar Yadav’s skills, but the star hitter is still having trouble finding his form in ODIs.
During India’s third T20I match against the West Indies, Suryakumar Yadav served as a reminder of exactly how destructively excellent he can be on his best day. India have lost both of their openers within the first five overs while chasing a target of 160, trying to prevent their first series loss to the West Indies since 2016.
However, with India’s total at 60/2 at the end of that powerplay, Suryakumar and Tilak Varma gave the impression that the bowlers had done absolutely no harm. Varma was the main wrecker during that time, scoring 15 runs off of just six balls, but he took a backseat as SKY attacked the bowlers in the middle overs. When he was out for 84 off 44, India had already secured a seven-wicket victory.
With the World Cup coming up later in 2023, the Indian team management has been anticipating to witness this version of SKY in ODI cricket this year. Suryakumar, though, has had trouble adjusting to any middle order position in the 50-over style. However, captain Rohit Sharma has stated that a player like Suryakumar has to be given more opportunities, as evidenced by his performance in the third T20I.
His prowess in the T20 format is beyond dispute. The difficulties (in ODIs) are unique. At a promotional event, Rohit stated, “He is really working hard and he is talking to a lot of guys who have played a lot of ODI cricket about what attitude and mindset (to have).”
Bishamber Yadav,27 August, 2023
Rohit brought up the fact that SKY, who was playing for the Mumbai Indians this season, didn’t have a fantastic IPL debut. Despite this, he managed to finish with 605 runs in 16 games at an astounding 181.13 strike rate and 43.21 average.
He is the type of guy that needs to be given the freedom to go and bat in the manner that he does. He cannot be instructed to bat against 100 balls and score 50 runs. Giving a batter like him the buffer of more games is crucial for helping him develop his rhythm and confidence. In the first 4-5 games of the IPL this year, he didn’t have a lot of runs, but see what he did after that.
It is our responsibility to set up such a circumstance and scenario for a player like him; when he enters the game, we know he will win games right away, therefore it’s acceptable if he struggles in the first few contests. He did that in the third T20I; the top batters were out, and Surya went and batted like that.
The ODI statistics for Suryakumar are very different from his T20I performance. SKY has an amazing strike rate of 101.38 in 26 ODIs, but with two half centuries left, they have only amassed 511 runs at an average of 24.33. On the other side, he boasts a staggering strike rate of 174.33 and has scored 1780 runs in 51 T20I games.
Sunday, September 22, 2024, marked a day etched in the annals of Indian chess history. The Indian men’s team, led by a formidable trio of young prodigies, clinched the coveted gold medal at the 45th Chess Olympiad, a feat that had eluded the nation for decades.
The architects of this historic triumph were D. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R. Praggnanadhaa. These three young Grandmasters, each with their unique style and strategic acumen, formed the backbone of the Indian team. Their performances throughout the tournament were nothing short of exceptional, showcasing a level of chess that belied their age.
The final round against Slovenia was a tense affair, but it was the Indian team that emerged victorious. Gukesh, Erigaisi, and Praggnanadhaa delivered decisive victories on their respective boards, securing a 3-0 win and sealing India’s gold medal. Their performances were marked by a combination of tactical brilliance, strategic depth, and nerves of steel.
This victory was a culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and talent. It was a testament to the strength of Indian chess, a sport that has seen a meteoric rise in popularity in recent years. The Indian team’s success has inspired a new generation of chess players, and it is hoped that this victory will serve as a catalyst for even greater achievements in the future.
Beyond the individual brilliance of Gukesh, Erigaisi, and Praggnanadhaa, the Indian team’s success was also a product of excellent teamwork and support. The team’s captain, Srinath Narayanan, provided invaluable leadership, while the coaching staff played a crucial role in preparing the players for the tournament.
India’s gold medal at the Chess Olympiad is a moment to cherish. It is a testament to the country’s growing stature in the world of sports and a source of immense pride for chess enthusiasts everywhere. As the Indian team celebrates this historic achievement, the chess world eagerly awaits to see what the future holds for these young talents.
The cricket team from Pakistan arrived in India on Wednesday under heavy security as it gets ready to compete in the next, seven-week World Cup. Pakistan is travelling to India for the first time since 2016, and as the team’s captain Babar Azam and other players arrived at the airport in Hyderabad, large groups of enthusiastic fans shouted and chanted their names while being restrained by security agents. On October 5, the ODI competition is set to begin, and Pakistan will play their first match the following day.
Political difficulties between India and Pakistan have a long history, hence the two countries’ international matches are mainly limited to regional and global competitions. However, Pakistan was given a warm welcome in India on Wednesday, and the players posted about it on their official social media account. Babar Azam, the team’s captain, Shaheen Afridi, and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan were among the players to express gratitude to the Indian government and crowd on social media.
The World Cup will consist of 48 games played over 46 days at 10 different venues, with the championship game taking place on November 19. Pakistan will play two exhibition games, one on September 29 against New Zealand and the other on October 3 against Australia, both in Hyderabad. After evaluating the security measures for a significant festival that day, the game against New Zealand will be played behind closed doors.
Babar added that the sid is not under any pressure but will miss its fans when it plays the World Cup matches in India during his pre-departure press conference in Pakistan.
“We’re all happy of the World Cup trip we took. We haven’t played in India before, but we don’t feel any pressure. We’ve done our investigation, and we’ve heard that the circumstances are comparable to those in other Asian nations. Being the captain this time around is an honour, and I sincerely hope we return with a trophy.
We shall regrettably be without the supporters. We will play in crowded stadiums since, as far as I know, all of the games are sold out. Even though they won’t be present, our followers will still show their support by posting on social media. Although I have not personally witnessed it yet, I have heard that Indian fans also display their devotion, which makes me want to play there as well.
During the Asia Cup final cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo, Sri Lanka, India’s Mohammed Siraj celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva.
Mohammed Siraj, an Indian fast bowler, has recaptured the top spot in the ODI bowler rankings in advance of the ICC World Cup. Siraj advanced eight spots as a result of his outstanding performance in the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka. He rose to the top spot because to his outstanding performance spell in which he needed only 6/21 to bowl out Sri Lanka for just 50 runs. Siraj had dropped to second place in March of this year, but he has since surpassed elite bowlers like Mitchell Starc, Rashid Khan, and Trent Boult.
Siraj’s comeback to the top of the standings is a huge boost for India as the World Cup approaches. His current form and consistency have made him an invaluable asset for the club, and he has replaced Mohammed Shami, who missed the majority of the Asia Cup this month, as the first choice in the playing XI.
Along with Siraj, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan, two Afghan spinners, saw an increase in their rankings. Rashid Khan is currently rated fifth in the ODI bowling rankings, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman is currently ranked fourth. Both spinners have contributed significantly to Afghanistan’s limited-overs cricket success and will be essential to their team’s World Cup run.
Keshav Maharaj of South Africa, who finished outside the top 10, had a remarkable rise in the rankings. Maharaj climbed ten spots to number 15 in the rankings, a career-high performance, because to his performance in the most recent ODI series against Australia, where he claimed eight wickets at an average of 16.87 and an economy rate of just 4.07 per over.
Heinrich Klaasen of South Africa moved up one spot to ninth in the ODI batting rankings after an outstanding performance against Australia in the fourth ODI, in which he scored 174 runs at a 209.64 strike rate. Ben Stokes, who recently announced his retirement, made an incredible return to ODI cricket at The Oval with a stunning 182-run innings, moving him up to position 36 in the rankings.