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Rohit Sharma dismisses retirement rumours, says he has just stood down from Test because of not being in form

Rohit also commended Bumrah for his leadership, stating, “Bumrah sets high standards with his bowling; he’s truly exceptional. Since I saw him for the first time in 2013, he’s consistently improved and strengthened his game.”

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1 year ago

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Senior Indian batter Rohit Sharma dismissed retirement rumors on Saturday, stating he is not going anywhere, and explaining that his recent poor form led him to “stand down” from the ongoing Sydney Test against Australia.

Struggling with consistency, Rohit decided to rest for the Sydney match and passed the leadership responsibilities to Jasprit Bumrah, which sparked speculation about his cricketing future. “I have not retired. I stood down, and that’s how I see it. The conversation I had with the coach and the selectors was straightforward. My runs haven’t been coming, and with the importance of this match, we need players who are in form,” Rohit shared with Star Sports.

He added, “Our batting lineup has been struggling, and we can’t afford to have too many players out of form. This was a key consideration for me. I’m not going anywhere.” The 37-year-old indicated that the team management and selectors supported his decision.

“I wanted to express my thoughts to the coach and selectors, and they backed my choice. They acknowledged that I’ve been playing for many years and understand my situation,” he noted. “Making this decision was challenging, but when I laid everything out clearly, it seemed the right thing to do. I won’t dwell on it too much.”

In Rohit’s absence, Shubman Gill was added to the Indian XI for the critical fifth match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with India currently trailing 1-2 in the series. Rohit struggled in Test cricket during 2024, managing only 619 runs in 26 innings over 14 matches, with a low average of 24.76. Before stepping down, he had scored just 31 runs in five innings in this series after rejoining the team following the Perth Test.

Rohit’s proactive decision raised speculations that he might consider retiring from Test cricket after this series. However, he clarified, “This is not a retirement decision. I am not leaving the game; there’s no such choice. I’m sidelined right now because my bat isn’t performing. But that doesn’t guarantee it won’t work again in two months or six months.”

He expressed hope for a revival of his form soon, stating, “In cricket, everything can change in an instant or over time. I have faith that things will improve. However, I also need to be realistic. Ultimately, those outside the game don’t dictate when I should play or when I should leave.”

When asked if his decision followed the Melbourne Test defeat, Rohit explained, “I made this decision after arriving in Sydney. With only two days between matches, one of which was New Year’s Eve, I didn’t want to discuss it then. But I was aware that my attempts weren’t yielding results, and I needed to accept that stepping aside was necessary.”

He emphasized the importance of focusing on the immediate future: “When I captain, I prioritize the here and now rather than what may happen in five or six months. Our focus was on winning these five matches to retain the trophy. Decisions like this are made with the team’s best interests in mind.”

Rohit also commended Bumrah for his leadership, stating, “Bumrah sets high standards with his bowling; he’s truly exceptional. Since I saw him for the first time in 2013, he’s consistently improved and strengthened his game.”

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Gautam Gambhir faces backlash after India’s shock T20 series defeat against Ireland

Gautam Gambhir faced criticism from Iceland Cricket and Sanjay Manjrekar after India suffered a shock 0-2 T20 series defeat against Ireland.

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6 days ago

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June 29, 2026

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Gautam Gambhir

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has come under scrutiny following India’s surprising 0-2 defeat in the two-match T20I series against Ireland, with criticism emerging from both former cricketers and Iceland Cricket.

India suffered a 34-run defeat in the opening T20I before Ireland completed a historic series sweep by winning the second match as well. The result marked one of India’s most unexpected bilateral T20 series losses in recent years.

Soon after the series concluded, Iceland Cricket, known for its witty social media posts, took a swipe at Gambhir. In a post on social media, the account sarcastically remarked on Gambhir’s coaching methods following India’s disappointing performance. The comments quickly gained traction among cricket fans online.

Former India batter and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar also questioned some of the decisions taken by the team management during the Ireland tour. Manjrekar had earlier expressed disappointment over teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not being included in the playing XI despite India’s struggles in the series. He termed the move as not being a “good cricketing call”.

The exclusion of Sooryavanshi became a major talking point during the series, particularly after India lost the first game. The 15-year-old remained on the bench for both matches despite widespread expectations of a possible debut.

The series defeat has intensified discussions around India’s team selection and tactical approach under Gambhir, with fans and experts debating the decisions taken during the tour.

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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s India debut not certain as team balance takes precedence

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s much-anticipated India debut is not guaranteed, with team management prioritising balance and existing performers ahead of the Ireland T20Is.

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1 week ago

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June 26, 2026

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Vaibhav suryavanshi123

Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has generated immense excitement ahead of India’s T20I series against Ireland, but a place in the playing XI is far from certain as team management weighs the importance of maintaining a settled combination.

The 15-year-old left-handed batter, who enjoyed a remarkable rise through domestic and franchise cricket, has been included in India’s T20I squad for the Ireland and England tours. However, fitting him into the starting XI presents a significant selection challenge.

Crowded top order creates selection headache

India already have several established opening options in the squad, including Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. Bringing Sooryavanshi into the side would likely require dropping one of the current top-order batters, many of whom have already delivered strong performances for the national team.

Ahead of the Ireland series, India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak stressed that players who have been consistently performing should not be sidelined unfairly merely to accommodate new entrants. He added that competition for places is healthy and every player should wait for the appropriate opportunity.

The approach reflects head coach Gautam Gambhir’s emphasis on prioritising the team’s overall balance rather than making changes solely because of public demand or hype surrounding a player.

Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise continues

Despite uncertainty over his immediate debut, Sooryavanshi remains one of India’s brightest young prospects. The Bihar batter has impressed across age-group cricket, domestic competitions and the IPL, where his fearless strokeplay attracted widespread attention.

With India set to play a packed white-ball schedule, opportunities are expected to come for the youngster, even if he does not feature in the opening T20I against Ireland.

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Azmatullah Omarzai creates ODI six-hitting record during third match against India

Azmatullah Omarzai reached 50 ODI sixes in just 36 innings during the third ODI against India, joining Corey Anderson and Liam Livingstone on an elite list of power-hitters.

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2 weeks ago

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June 20, 2026

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Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai added another milestone to his growing international career by becoming one of the fastest batters to reach 50 sixes in One Day Internationals (ODIs) during the third ODI against India national cricket team. Omarzai achieved the feat with two maximums in the match, entering an elite list of power-hitters in ODI cricket.

Omarzai and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi stitched together a 105-run partnership to rebuild the innings after Afghanistan faced early setbacks. Omarzai’s innings came to an end after he played a crucial role in Afghanistan’s recovery.

Omarzai among fastest batters to 50 ODI sixes

With this achievement, Omarzai reached the 50-sixes mark in just 36 ODI innings. According to the record list, only Corey Anderson and Liam Livingstone got there faster, taking 32 and 34 innings respectively. Omarzai is now the joint third-fastest batter to reach 50 ODI sixes, sharing the position with Muhammad Waseem after both achieved the milestone in 36 innings.

Fastest to 50 ODI sixes (by innings):

  • Corey Anderson – 32 innings
  • Liam Livingstone – 34 innings
  • Azmatullah Omarzai – 36 innings
  • Muhammad Waseem – 36 innings
  • Shimron Hetmyer – 38 innings
  • Harry Brook – 38 innings

Notably, no Indian batter features among the top five fastest players to reach 50 ODI sixes.

Equals Shahidi’s record against India

Omarzai’s half-century also helped him match captain Hashmatullah Shahidi’s record for the most ODI fifties by an Afghanistan batter against India. Both players now have two ODI half-centuries against the Indian team.

The latest achievement further highlights Omarzai’s importance to Afghanistan’s ODI setup, where he has established himself as one of the team’s most impactful all-rounders in recent years.

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