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If there ever has been a forgettable point in Rohit Sharma’s career, it pales compared to what he is going through right now. He has just capped a year where his batting touched rock bottom as he averaged a lowly 24.76 in the previous year, his worst since his debut. Things went further south during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.  Across six innings he batted in this series, his highest score is 10. He currently finds himself at a point in his career where even the shortest of slumps are magnified, leading to speculations that retirement might be the only solution…

10 points and some parchments to scribble tirades on, for anyone who can guess which team has the best win-to-loss ratio in ODIs this year. Here’s a hint, that team is not featuring in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy next month. It’s Sri Lanka, the team who has been on fire ever since their dismal ODI World Cup in 2023, which also ousted them from the Champions Trophy. But now, that decision seems a little too rushed and unfair. Out of 18 ODI games the Islanders have played this year, they lost only 3. And mind you, among those they…

Indian pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah was seen leaving the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on day two along with the team doctor and a security officer. Bumrah, who had bowled eight overs on the second day, stayed off the field for three of the last five overs bowled in the morning session. Although he returned for the final two before Lunch, he did not roll his arm over.  Following lunch, Bumrah bowled only one over but his struggles were clearly reflected in his bowling, with his speeds taking a dip. The quickest ball he bowled in that over was clocked in…

Pakistan’s fiery opener, Saim Ayub, has been ruled out of the ongoing Pakistan vs South Africa Test at Newlands, Cape Town. The left-handed batter was stretchered off the field after he twisted his ankle while fielding at deep third on the first day of the Test.  It happened in the seventh over on day one when Ayub ran chasing the ball after Ryan Rickleton edged it past the slip cordon. Aamer Jamal joined him in the chase and threw the ball in, with Saim standing as a backup fielder. It was right then that he twisted his right ankle and…

Pakistan lost the first Test match the way only they are capable of losing. They knew the victory would not do them any good, except better their dismal record in the country, which when one comes to think of it, is more than just good. But the point stands, Pakistan had almost no chance of making it to the WTC final but they made the Proteas experience, albeit momentarily, how that feels.  Regardless of how close the victory was, South Africa have become the first team to qualify for the WTC final. They will be happy that a must-win game…

It’s all down to the last game now. Will Australia finally win a red-ball series against India after a decade? Or will India retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy once again? Will we have the final say on both WTC finalists by the end of this game? Or is another delay inevitable? The answers to all those questions lie in how the Sydney Test unfolds.  Australia have pinned India against the wall with a 2-1 series lead. But with the last match scheduled to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which is the subcontinent’s embassy down under, the wall feels a…

Indian captain Rohit Sharma skipped the press conference ahead of the Sydney Test, to reporters’ shock, who saw Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir entering instead. When questioned about the captain’s whereabouts, Gambhir very briefly said, “The head coach is here. That should be enough.” Which, in all honesty, caused more intrigue than being ‘enough’ to the reporters’ question. This is not the first time Rohit has missed a media conference on this tour. Shubman Gill took the questions in his stead before the third Test as well. As the media were told, Rohit skipped the optional training that day and…

Many saw it coming yet many did not. Australia have decided to drop Mitchell Marsh for the final Test match against India to make way for the uncapped Beau Webster. Marsh has had a tough series both with the ball and the bat. Before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy started, Marsh had been Australia’s highest run-getter this year, accumulating runs at a brilliant average of 41.07. He was expected to continue churning runs the same way in the all-important series too, however, as luck had it, Marsh failed to cross even double figures in all but one of the seven innings he…

Australia have already run through one of their usual pacers. Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the Australian squad after the third Test match for the remainder of the series following a calf strain. As huge a blow as it was, it would be minuscule compared to the damage Australia would bear in case Mitchell Starc is forced to the fringes. The Aussie pacer began experiencing discomfort in his back as early as the first innings of the Boxing Day Test. Despite that, Starc managed to bowl 41 overs throughout the game, and those too as well as he usually…

Saxton Oval last hosted an international game in 2023, when New Zealand hosted Bangladesh for an ODI game. Before that game, the venuepreviously saw action all the way back in 2019. That’s also when a T20I was played here. Coming into this dead rubber of a game, both teams will find Saxton Oval somewhat more unwelcoming than they would fancy. Sri Lanka, more so.  They have not found much to write home about on this tour so far. They have not been impressive with the ball and downright terrible with the bat. For the majority of the first T20I, Sri…