Cricket news
Who is at the Crease?
By Sujit Bhar
Following a chaotic few evening hours on Tuesday (July 11), it was confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Acting Secretary Amitabh Choudhary that Ravi Shastri would be the next head coach of the Indian cricket team.
The Board’s media advisory said: “The BCCI announces the appointment of Mr Ravi Shastri as the Head Coach, Mr Zaheer Khan as the Bowling Consultant and Mr Rahul Dravid who will be the Overseas Batting Consultant (Test cricket) for the Indian Cricket Team.”
The appointments will be till the World Cup of 2019.
So far so good, but there seem to be a number of attendant problems. When did the Board decide to appoint a Bowling Consultant and an overseas Overseas Batting Consultant (Test cricket)? And if it did, why was it not advertised and applications invited?
The second problem is of law. Does the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of the BCCI, or even the Board itself, retain full powers to ask for applications for such important posts? Does it have the requisite authority of related tendering processes? The problem arises from the Supreme Court’s appointing the Committee of Administrators (CoA) with full authority to oversee every action of the Board and its sub-committees, such as the CAC.
The CoA’s ability to push decisions within the Board was visible on Tuesday (July 11) when its chief, former Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai, insisted that the coach be named on Tuesday itself. That was not what the CAC had planned. The Board had given the CAC full authority to choose the coach. And with good reason, what with the CAC comprising such names such as Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.
The CAC had done its homework and its interviews, but still wanted to interview skipper Virat Kohli, holidaying in America. Sourav had said that he had great respect for Kohli and it (talking to him for his views) would be the right thing to do, but it would not be nice to call him on his holiday.
Rai was insistent, though. So Kohli was called and the announcement was made.
The CAC did hold its own view. Sourav has been against the appointment of Shastri and Laxman has been supportive of that view, though neither had said it openly. A vote within the CAC would have yielded the expected result. It is not known if there was unanimity of opinion within the Committee.
As for the CoA, one has to remember it is fractured at the moment.
On June 1, the Supreme Court received a letter from historian and cricket buff Ramachandra Guha, stating that he was quitting from the CoA. This letter, dated March 28, contained detailed explanation on why he was quitting, and one of the main issues was the way Anil Kumble, the former India coach, was handled. It is a different matter that both Guha and Kumble hail from Bengaluru, and there is a good bit of bonhomie around. Guha’s resignation letter is pending with the apex court, which will take a call on it on July 14.
The very nature of the CoA and its powers need to be better explained to the Board. Apart from Rai and Guha, the CoA also has former international cricketer and India captain Diana Edulji and IDFC Ltd Managing Director and CEO Vikram Limaye. While the CoA’s primary function was to carry out the Lodha Commission’s recommendations in reforming the sport in the country, who carries out the day-to-day running of the sport? If that is the responsibility Board, then it was the Board’s and therefore of the CAC’s responsibility to announce the name of the coach after due process.
So who is selecting the coach of the Indian cricket team? The basis of the CoA is to delegate a certain amount of power to the BCCI till things are set in perspective when the functioning of the CoA would become redundant. At this point, it seems the CoA has the authority to decide on something that is within cricket’s deep understanding.
This complexity needs to be sorted out. Also the need of the hour is ascertaining the responsibilities and powers of the individual members of the CoA. Guha has probably not done the administration any good by sending in his resignation and by not contesting whatever he thinks are wrong from within.
The coach selection issue brings too many anomalies into the open. These are key issues that need sorting out in quick time, before another Kumble-like incident arises.
Cricket news
India Vs Australia 2023 Schedule updates: Check Team India full fixtures and match venues for ODI series
All rounder Washinton Sundar and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has also been picked for the three match one day international series. All rounder Axar Patel who had a hamstring injury will be available for the third match in the series.
Expectations are high as India take on Australia in the three match one day international series. Two teams have been announced by India for the crucial ODI series against the mighty Australian side. Captain Rohit Sharma, vice captain Hardik Pandya, batting superstar Virat Kohli and in form spinner Kuldeep Yadav will be unavailable in the first two matches of the ODI series against Australia.
All rounder Washinton Sundar and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has also been picked for the three match one day international series. All rounder Axar Patel who had a hamstring injury will be available for the third match in the series.
Match Date Venue
India Vs Australia, 1st ODI 22nd September (Friday) Mohali
India Vs Australia, 2nd ODI 24th September (Sunday) Indore
India Vs Australia, 3rd ODI 27th September (Wednesday) Rajkot
All three matches of the India Vs Australia Series can be seen on live stream in India on Jio Cinema. The matches will start at 1:30pm onwards.
After making a remarkable comeback to international cricket in the Asia Cup Wicket Keeper- Batsman KL Rahul will captain the Indian team in the first two games of the ODI series against Australia. Indian Middle order batsman Shreyas Iyer will play the whole series. Iyer missed crucial matches in the Asia Cup due to back spasms. SuryaKumar who did not get a chance to play in the Asia Cup will make a comeback in the series against Australia.
Indian Team for first two matches:
KL Rahul(c), Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Suya Kumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Washington Sundar, R Ashwin, Prasidh Krishna and Tilak Verma
Indian Team for final ODI:
Rohit Sharma (c),KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, SuryaKumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, R Ashwin, Axar Patel,Kuldeep Yadav, Virat Kohli,Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Shardul Thakur
Cricket news
Watch: India’s jersey for ICC World Cup 2023 unvieled
Adidas India’s kit partners also released an anthem of their own for the Indian Cricket Team. The anthem is 2 minute 21 second long. The anthem is called Impossible Nahi Yeh Sapna, 3 Ka Dream hai Apna.
There is a major change to the jersey that India wore in the the recent Asia Cup 2023. The white stripes have been replaced by India’s tri colour. The jerseys worn by Kohli, Rohit and others in the video has orange, white and green stripes on the shoulder. Social media users hailed the change from Adidas. Netizens said it is a master stroke and the tri colours has taken India’s World Cup jersey to a whole new level.
There will be no Dream 11 logo during the World Cup as according to ICC norms only the team’s name should be visible in the centre of the jersey. India has not won an ICC title since the Champion’s trophy in 2013. India is seen as one of the favourites to win the World Cup.
ICC launched the anthem of the ICC World cup 2023 on Wednesday. The anthem has Dil Jashn Bole has got mixed reviews on social media. Adidas India’s kit partners also released an anthem of their own for the Indian Cricket Team. The anthem is 2 minute 21 second long. The anthem is called Impossible Nahi Yeh Sapna, 3 Ka Dream hai Apna.
The Adidas Anthem has India Captain Rohit Sharma, Superstar Virat Kohli, vice-captain Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, pacers Shardul Thakur, Spinner Kuldeep Yadav and all rounder Ravindra Jadeja. The videos has a catchy rap which gives the message to put an end to India’s long wait to win an ICC trophy. The video also gives a sneak peak into India’s World Cup jersey
The main reason due to the favourable home conditions, recent form and a strong team. India has warmed up nicely by becoming the Asia Cup Champions eighth time in a row. India will start their World Cup journey against Australia on October 8 in Chennai. The first match of the World Cup will start with England Vs New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
Cricket news
Delhi Police praises Mohammed Siraj’s excellent performance in Asia Cup Finals on social media
Siraj performance with the ball was top notch as he dismantled the Sri Lankan batting lineup. He took six wickets in the match bringing the Indian team in a dominant position.
Indian pace bowler Mohammed Siraj’s exceptional bowling performance against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final not only recieved praise from fans all over the world but the Delhi Police social media team as well. They tweeted there would be no speed challans for Siraj today. This implied his fast paced bowling was not only permissible but highly appreciated as well.
Siraj performance with the ball was top notch as he dismantled the Sri Lankan batting lineup. He took six wickets in the match bringing the Indian team in a dominant position. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah supported Siraj by taking three wickets and one wicket respectively. The Indian bowlers bowled out the Sri Lankan team for 50 runs only. This set the stage for the victory of the Indian team in the Asia Cup.
The highlight of the match was Siraj’s outstanding performance with the ball. He took his first five wickets in just 16 balls. This is the fastest five wicket haul by a bowler in one day international history. He took the wickets of Dhananjaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samaraiwickrama and Pathum NIssanka and demolished the Sri Lankan batting lineup.
The match did not start on a smooth note rain caused weather delay in the match. The Sri Lankan Captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and chose to bat first against India. The match turned out to be memorable for Mohammed Siraj. He became the fourth bowler in ODI history to take four wickets in an over.
Anand Mahindra appreciated Mohammed Siraj in a post on X as the Indian cricketer decided to donate the player of the match cash prize to Colombo Ground staff. Anand Mahindra wrote on X he had just one word for Mohammed Siraj Class which comes from within. After he received the player of the match award, he decided to give away the cash to ground staff in Colombo.
