2 months ago
Cricket Australia (CA) has opened the door to private investment in the Big Bash League (BBL), with the Melbourne Renegades set to become the first franchise offered for sale from the 2027-28 season.
The decision comes after months of discussions between Cricket Australia and Australia's state cricket ***** ociations over the future of the domestic T20 competition.
At a press conference at the SCG on Tuesday afternoon, CA confirmed that the Renegades will be the first BBL franchise to enter the private ownership process. Other BBL and WBBL teams could also be offered for sale in the future under a "self-determination" model.
The governing body said the move is aimed at bringing private investment into the T20 competition and strengthening the financial position of Australian cricket as players and teams are increasingly being drawn towards lucrative leagues around the world.
"CA will invite bids from private owners for the Renegades with a view to them playing the 2027-28 season under new ownership," the governing body said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Beginning the sales process for the Renegades allows us to take the first step in a self-determination model for our members and represents a defining moment for the game," said Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird.
"This is a significant decision that has involved an enormous amount of ***** ysis, discussion and collaboration over many months."
CA said other franchises could be put on the market at a later stage.
"Pending the result of that process, CA will consider taking other clubs to market under a self-determination model that gives each state member the ability to ***** s the optimal pathway for its own club and community."
According to cricket.com.au, Hobart Hurricanes, Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars are among the other clubs believed to be interested in private investment.
The Renegades are owned by Cricket Victoria, which supported CA's original plan. They won the BBL ***** le in the 2018-19 season.
The move comes as CA looks to strengthen its finances. Despite a boost in revenue from hosting a five-Test series against India, the game's biggest financial market, CA reported a net deficit of A$11.3 million for the 2024-25 financial year.
"By opening the door to private investment in the Big Bash Leagues, Cricket Australia is taking a deliberate step to strengthen and secure the long-term future of the game," CA Chairman Mike Baird said in Tuesday's statement.
Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in July that December's BBL 2026-27 season opener between the Renegades and Perth Scorchers would take place in the Chennai.
While CA is allowing private ownership, it will continue to control key areas of the competition. Baird said the governing body will retain control over international scheduling, player availability, salary caps and media rights.
CA will also have the power to approve or veto investors and set a reserve price for
The decision comes after months of discussions between Cricket Australia and Australia's state cricket ***** ociations over the future of the domestic T20 competition.
At a press conference at the SCG on Tuesday afternoon, CA confirmed that the Renegades will be the first BBL franchise to enter the private ownership process. Other BBL and WBBL teams could also be offered for sale in the future under a "self-determination" model.
The governing body said the move is aimed at bringing private investment into the T20 competition and strengthening the financial position of Australian cricket as players and teams are increasingly being drawn towards lucrative leagues around the world.
"CA will invite bids from private owners for the Renegades with a view to them playing the 2027-28 season under new ownership," the governing body said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Beginning the sales process for the Renegades allows us to take the first step in a self-determination model for our members and represents a defining moment for the game," said Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird.
"This is a significant decision that has involved an enormous amount of ***** ysis, discussion and collaboration over many months."
CA said other franchises could be put on the market at a later stage.
"Pending the result of that process, CA will consider taking other clubs to market under a self-determination model that gives each state member the ability to ***** s the optimal pathway for its own club and community."
According to cricket.com.au, Hobart Hurricanes, Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars are among the other clubs believed to be interested in private investment.
The Renegades are owned by Cricket Victoria, which supported CA's original plan. They won the BBL ***** le in the 2018-19 season.
The move comes as CA looks to strengthen its finances. Despite a boost in revenue from hosting a five-Test series against India, the game's biggest financial market, CA reported a net deficit of A$11.3 million for the 2024-25 financial year.
"By opening the door to private investment in the Big Bash Leagues, Cricket Australia is taking a deliberate step to strengthen and secure the long-term future of the game," CA Chairman Mike Baird said in Tuesday's statement.
Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in July that December's BBL 2026-27 season opener between the Renegades and Perth Scorchers would take place in the Chennai.
While CA is allowing private ownership, it will continue to control key areas of the competition. Baird said the governing body will retain control over international scheduling, player availability, salary caps and media rights.
CA will also have the power to approve or veto investors and set a reserve price for
2 months ago
CHENNAI: The road to the World Test Championship (WTC) final for India is getting tougher, with every series carrying greater significance. The task has become even more challenging after they failed to win the final Test against Sri Lanka recently.
India's next step takes them to New Zealand for a two-Test series, having not won there in a decade and a half. NZ's premier left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who is leading Edinburgh Castle Rockers in the ongoing European T20 Premier League (ETPL), told TOI in an exclusive chat that India's pace attack, led by Jasprit ***** rah, will play a major role in the final outcome of the series. Excerpts...
How crucial will it be for India to adapt to conditions given only a few players from the current set-up have played Tests in NZ?
The first thing is to try and understand the conditions as quickly as possible. A few players have been there before and done well. In Oct-Nov, the pitches can play differently compared to Feb-March. So, early in the season in New Zealand, the ball might move around a little bit. It is about getting your head around that.
What's your take on India's pace attack?
Bumrah leading the attack and being able to nip and swing the ball will hold the key. (Mohammed) Siraj has done it for a long time as well and (Prasidh) Krishna is obviously bowling well. There is a lot of variety, which is what you need.
Did you have a look at Manav Suthar?
He has been very impressive since he made his debut. He gets nice and tight to the stumps and gets good shape on the ball. He does bowl with good overspin when he needs to and that is the key in NZ, trying to get a bit of bounce especially if there is grass. I think there is still a role for a spinner in NZ, especially in Tests alongside the quicks, whether it is first or second innings when the pitch might be holding up. On days four and five, it could spin a bit. Whether it is Jadeja or Suthar, both are very good options.
What do you think about India's struggles in Test cricket recently?
I think it has always been a challenge. They always play the best teams, and then having to adapt to the conditions quickly is the main thing. But they have got all bases covered.
How important is ETPL for the European players, who don't always get to play a lot of top-quality cricket?
It is perfect for Scottish, Irish and players from Holland. It gives them more exposure and opportunity to play against some good players. We have seen how good they are in their own right. To be fair, in the last few years, we have had some great games against Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. You throw a few overseas players in, and the tournament (ETPL) is really strong.
There is some great cricket on show already, which is good. And we are only halfway through.
#players
India's next step takes them to New Zealand for a two-Test series, having not won there in a decade and a half. NZ's premier left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who is leading Edinburgh Castle Rockers in the ongoing European T20 Premier League (ETPL), told TOI in an exclusive chat that India's pace attack, led by Jasprit ***** rah, will play a major role in the final outcome of the series. Excerpts...
How crucial will it be for India to adapt to conditions given only a few players from the current set-up have played Tests in NZ?
The first thing is to try and understand the conditions as quickly as possible. A few players have been there before and done well. In Oct-Nov, the pitches can play differently compared to Feb-March. So, early in the season in New Zealand, the ball might move around a little bit. It is about getting your head around that.
What's your take on India's pace attack?
Bumrah leading the attack and being able to nip and swing the ball will hold the key. (Mohammed) Siraj has done it for a long time as well and (Prasidh) Krishna is obviously bowling well. There is a lot of variety, which is what you need.
Did you have a look at Manav Suthar?
He has been very impressive since he made his debut. He gets nice and tight to the stumps and gets good shape on the ball. He does bowl with good overspin when he needs to and that is the key in NZ, trying to get a bit of bounce especially if there is grass. I think there is still a role for a spinner in NZ, especially in Tests alongside the quicks, whether it is first or second innings when the pitch might be holding up. On days four and five, it could spin a bit. Whether it is Jadeja or Suthar, both are very good options.
What do you think about India's struggles in Test cricket recently?
I think it has always been a challenge. They always play the best teams, and then having to adapt to the conditions quickly is the main thing. But they have got all bases covered.
How important is ETPL for the European players, who don't always get to play a lot of top-quality cricket?
It is perfect for Scottish, Irish and players from Holland. It gives them more exposure and opportunity to play against some good players. We have seen how good they are in their own right. To be fair, in the last few years, we have had some great games against Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. You throw a few overseas players in, and the tournament (ETPL) is really strong.
There is some great cricket on show already, which is good. And we are only halfway through.
#players
2 months ago
CHENNAI: Ishan Kishan has developed a habit of saving his best for the big occasion. Last year, he led Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy ***** le and produced a match-winning century in the final, a performance that helped him earn his way back into India's T20I setup. After playing a matchwinning hand against Pakistan in Colombo in the T20 World Cup earlier in the year, Kishan delivered again in the Duleep final on Monday, leading East Zone against South at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Kishan smashed 270 off 334 ***** (30x4, 7x6), taking East to a mammoth 708 all out, ***** ar Kushagra chipping in with 101 as well. The double century, his second in first-class cricket, came after a gap of 10 years and has further strengthened his case for a return to India's red-ball setup.
A triple century seemed on the cards after he crossed 250, but Kishan said that personal landmarks never occupied his mind. Interestingly, he himself was unaware that it had been 10 years since he scored a first-class double century. "Honestly, I wasn't even thinking about 50, forget 300. I was only thinking about 50-run partnerships," Kishan said.
The double century came off 273 ***** . He then accelerated dramatically, reaching 250 in only 27 more ***** . But the intent, he said, was never to chase numbers. "I didn't change anything in my game plan. I was just batting normally. Once I got set, my thought was not to throw my wicket away. I have enough confidence in my shots to know that if I play well, I will either clear the field or find the gap," he said.
For Kishan, the most satisfying aspect of the innings was the temperament he showed. With East having won the toss and opted to bat, the priority was to build a total that would put South under pressure. "I would rate this innings very highly because I kept the team's goal ahead of my own runs. There were moments when I could have played more attacking shots, but the priority was to spend time in the middle, make good decisions and build a big total," he said.
That approach was shaped by a mindset Kishan believes has changed considerably during his time away from the Indian team. Having spent to two years grinding it out in domestic cricket, he said the experience taught him to simplify his game. "When you're playing for India regularly, sometimes you get into a flow and your growth can stagnate. Going back to domestic cricket makes you start from zero. You realise there are so many players scoring runs and that you have to perform better to get back," he said.
#year
Kishan smashed 270 off 334 ***** (30x4, 7x6), taking East to a mammoth 708 all out, ***** ar Kushagra chipping in with 101 as well. The double century, his second in first-class cricket, came after a gap of 10 years and has further strengthened his case for a return to India's red-ball setup.
A triple century seemed on the cards after he crossed 250, but Kishan said that personal landmarks never occupied his mind. Interestingly, he himself was unaware that it had been 10 years since he scored a first-class double century. "Honestly, I wasn't even thinking about 50, forget 300. I was only thinking about 50-run partnerships," Kishan said.
The double century came off 273 ***** . He then accelerated dramatically, reaching 250 in only 27 more ***** . But the intent, he said, was never to chase numbers. "I didn't change anything in my game plan. I was just batting normally. Once I got set, my thought was not to throw my wicket away. I have enough confidence in my shots to know that if I play well, I will either clear the field or find the gap," he said.
For Kishan, the most satisfying aspect of the innings was the temperament he showed. With East having won the toss and opted to bat, the priority was to build a total that would put South under pressure. "I would rate this innings very highly because I kept the team's goal ahead of my own runs. There were moments when I could have played more attacking shots, but the priority was to spend time in the middle, make good decisions and build a big total," he said.
That approach was shaped by a mindset Kishan believes has changed considerably during his time away from the Indian team. Having spent to two years grinding it out in domestic cricket, he said the experience taught him to simplify his game. "When you're playing for India regularly, sometimes you get into a flow and your growth can stagnate. Going back to domestic cricket makes you start from zero. You realise there are so many players scoring runs and that you have to perform better to get back," he said.
#year
2 months ago
Ishan Kishan led from the front with a superb unbeaten century as East Zone finished Day 1 of the Duleep Trophy 2026 final on 385/4 against South Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Kishan anchored a strong batting display from East Zone, scoring 111 not out off 135 ****** . His innings featured 14 fours and two sixes as he took control of the contest in the final session.
Kishan found an excellent partner in ****** ar Kushagra, who remained unbeaten on 63 off 75 ****** . The pair added an unbeaten 144-run partnership for the fifth wicket off 160 ****** , completely taking the game away from South Zone towards the end of the day.
East Zone made a solid start through Abhimanyu Easwaran (72) and teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (44). Easwaran and Sooryavanshi gave the side a strong platform before both departed. Sudip ****** ar Gharami was then dismissed for 6, bringing Shikhar Mohan to the crease. Mohan played a composed knock of 85 off 120 ****** , helping East Zone build another important partnership before Chama Milind ended his innings at 241/4.
That dismissal brought Kishan and Kushagra together, and the pair ensured there were no further setbacks.
Kishan accelerated as the innings progressed and brought up his century in style, remaining unbeaten at the close. His knock was particularly important given his role as captain, with East Zone now firmly in control after the opening day.
South Zone's bowling attack found little ****** istance from a placid batting surface, while the bowlers also struggled with consistency. Chama Milind was the most successful bowler, finishing the day with figures of 2/56 from 13 overs. Tripurana Vijay picked up one wicket but conceded 114 runs from his 22 overs.
Mohammed Siraj, meanwhile, went wicketless despite bowling 14 overs and conceded 96 runs. East Zone also benefited from a late surge, scoring 74 runs without losing a wicket in the final 10 overs. Kishan and Kushagra's partnership allowed them to finish the day strongly at 385/4.
With Kishan unbeaten on 111 and Kushagra on 63, East Zone will resume on Day 2 with an opportunity to push towards a total of 400 and beyond. South Zone, meanwhile, will desperately need early wickets with the second new ball to prevent East Zone from building an even bigger first-innings total.
#balls
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Kishan anchored a strong batting display from East Zone, scoring 111 not out off 135 ****** . His innings featured 14 fours and two sixes as he took control of the contest in the final session.
Kishan found an excellent partner in ****** ar Kushagra, who remained unbeaten on 63 off 75 ****** . The pair added an unbeaten 144-run partnership for the fifth wicket off 160 ****** , completely taking the game away from South Zone towards the end of the day.
East Zone made a solid start through Abhimanyu Easwaran (72) and teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (44). Easwaran and Sooryavanshi gave the side a strong platform before both departed. Sudip ****** ar Gharami was then dismissed for 6, bringing Shikhar Mohan to the crease. Mohan played a composed knock of 85 off 120 ****** , helping East Zone build another important partnership before Chama Milind ended his innings at 241/4.
That dismissal brought Kishan and Kushagra together, and the pair ensured there were no further setbacks.
Kishan accelerated as the innings progressed and brought up his century in style, remaining unbeaten at the close. His knock was particularly important given his role as captain, with East Zone now firmly in control after the opening day.
South Zone's bowling attack found little ****** istance from a placid batting surface, while the bowlers also struggled with consistency. Chama Milind was the most successful bowler, finishing the day with figures of 2/56 from 13 overs. Tripurana Vijay picked up one wicket but conceded 114 runs from his 22 overs.
Mohammed Siraj, meanwhile, went wicketless despite bowling 14 overs and conceded 96 runs. East Zone also benefited from a late surge, scoring 74 runs without losing a wicket in the final 10 overs. Kishan and Kushagra's partnership allowed them to finish the day strongly at 385/4.
With Kishan unbeaten on 111 and Kushagra on 63, East Zone will resume on Day 2 with an opportunity to push towards a total of 400 and beyond. South Zone, meanwhile, will desperately need early wickets with the second new ball to prevent East Zone from building an even bigger first-innings total.
#balls
2 months ago
Chennai: Veteran India speedster Mohammed Shami maybe out of India reckoning for now, but he still refuses to give up. When East Zone play South Zone in the Duleep final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Sunday, the 36-year-old will be appearing in his 100th First-Class match, with a prolific record of 382 wickets so far.
East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan was effusive in his praise of the senior bowler on the eve of the **** le clash, stressing that age remains irrelevant when backed by exceptional work ethic and fierce determination.
"For Shami, age is just a number. If he is working hard, it doesn't matter. Having someone like him in our team gives us immense confidence. His approach towards the game, his intensity, and his energy this season have been very different from how I've seen him in the past," Kishan said after a practice session.
Comparing this version of Shami to his sensational 24-wicket run at the 2023 ODI World Cup, Kishan stressed on the pacer's sheer appetite for a national comeback.
"It is 2026 now, three years since that World Cup. It is hard when you are not regularly playing for the Indian team to still summon that same motivation for domestic games...Who better than me can judge hunger right now? I see that hunger and drive in him, he wants to make that comeback and be part of the Indian squad again. You can see it in the way he helps me lead, constantly coming up with strategic options. You can instantly tell when a player is desperate to win you the match," the skipper added.
Kishan also hailed Shami's tireless attitude during East Zone's semifinal victory over Central Zone, where the veteran ran in and picked five wickets in the game.
"He is a legend of the game. Looking at his effort in the semifinal, as a captain, it felt incredible when Shami came up and asked for extra overs to break partnerships. That willingness gives a skipper immense confidence. Plus, he finished with two boundaries in the last game, so he's practically an allrounder nowadays," Kishan quipped.
South Zone captain Tilak Varma acknowledged the massive challenge awaiting his batting unit against Shami's probing spells with the red ball, but they are confident to face him.
"It will be great competition. We are up against a quality bowling attack led by Shami. Facing that calibre of bowling is why you love this sport," Tilak said.
#kishan #skipper #south #Indian
East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan was effusive in his praise of the senior bowler on the eve of the **** le clash, stressing that age remains irrelevant when backed by exceptional work ethic and fierce determination.
"For Shami, age is just a number. If he is working hard, it doesn't matter. Having someone like him in our team gives us immense confidence. His approach towards the game, his intensity, and his energy this season have been very different from how I've seen him in the past," Kishan said after a practice session.
Comparing this version of Shami to his sensational 24-wicket run at the 2023 ODI World Cup, Kishan stressed on the pacer's sheer appetite for a national comeback.
"It is 2026 now, three years since that World Cup. It is hard when you are not regularly playing for the Indian team to still summon that same motivation for domestic games...Who better than me can judge hunger right now? I see that hunger and drive in him, he wants to make that comeback and be part of the Indian squad again. You can see it in the way he helps me lead, constantly coming up with strategic options. You can instantly tell when a player is desperate to win you the match," the skipper added.
Kishan also hailed Shami's tireless attitude during East Zone's semifinal victory over Central Zone, where the veteran ran in and picked five wickets in the game.
"He is a legend of the game. Looking at his effort in the semifinal, as a captain, it felt incredible when Shami came up and asked for extra overs to break partnerships. That willingness gives a skipper immense confidence. Plus, he finished with two boundaries in the last game, so he's practically an allrounder nowadays," Kishan quipped.
South Zone captain Tilak Varma acknowledged the massive challenge awaiting his batting unit against Shami's probing spells with the red ball, but they are confident to face him.
"It will be great competition. We are up against a quality bowling attack led by Shami. Facing that calibre of bowling is why you love this sport," Tilak said.
#kishan #skipper #south #Indian
2 months ago
CHENNAI: There are five India 'A' 'Test' matches over the next two months against the Aussies at home and New Zealand away. The Duleep Trophy final here between East and South Zone here starting Sunday is an audition for that and the national selectors, including chairman Ajit Agarkar, will be in Chennai to check the performances of the aspirants.
The BCCI also wanted to add a bit of star quotient to the marquee domestic match with KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Siraj being asked to join the South sq-uad. While Padikkal and Siraj will play the game, Rahul made himself unavailable. Padikkal is coming on the back of a superb series in Sri Lanka and South captain Tilak Varma confirmed on Saturday after a practice session that the left-hander will bat at No. 3.
"Padikkal will strengthen our batting line-up, especially with the kind of form we have seen from him in the last few games. He has done really well, so it will be a big boost for us," Tilak said.
The final carries massive historic weight for East Zone, who reached the ****** le match after a gap of 14 years. Coincidentally, their last final appearance was also in Chennai, a match they won. This fixture also marks red-ball cricket's return to MA Chidambaram Stadium after two years.
"Yes, after 14 years. I was not part of each and every year, but I am part of East Zone this year, and we are in the finals...We played like an unit and cared for each other," East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan said. There's a lot of hype around 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who struck a crucial 92 in the semifinal against Central Zone.
#zone #east #match
The BCCI also wanted to add a bit of star quotient to the marquee domestic match with KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Siraj being asked to join the South sq-uad. While Padikkal and Siraj will play the game, Rahul made himself unavailable. Padikkal is coming on the back of a superb series in Sri Lanka and South captain Tilak Varma confirmed on Saturday after a practice session that the left-hander will bat at No. 3.
"Padikkal will strengthen our batting line-up, especially with the kind of form we have seen from him in the last few games. He has done really well, so it will be a big boost for us," Tilak said.
The final carries massive historic weight for East Zone, who reached the ****** le match after a gap of 14 years. Coincidentally, their last final appearance was also in Chennai, a match they won. This fixture also marks red-ball cricket's return to MA Chidambaram Stadium after two years.
"Yes, after 14 years. I was not part of each and every year, but I am part of East Zone this year, and we are in the finals...We played like an unit and cared for each other," East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan said. There's a lot of hype around 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who struck a crucial 92 in the semifinal against Central Zone.
#zone #east #match
2 months ago
After BCCI dissolves national selectors' role in picking zonal teams, sanctity of the tournament comes under scanner
CHENNAI/NEW DELHI: A few days before the Duleep Trophy got underway at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on Sunday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced that the final will be shifted to MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The reason given was that there will be fans who will come to watch the match, which doesn't happen in the CoE.
Chennai is a cricket-crazy centre. But when you ask those who 'book' their IPL tickets long before the event, whether they would be interested in attending the Duleep final, the standard query is: "Will Shubman Gill play?"
Gill, in this case, stands for all the stars of Indian cricket. The Duleep final is from Sept 6-10, and it will be interesting to see that those who are not part of the Afghanistan T20 series starting on Sept 12 turn out at MAC.
That said, the primary purpose of the inter-zonal tournament is to check out the best performers in the Ranji Trophy go head-to-head against each other. The relevance of the tournament, especially after the inception of IPL, has diminished drastically. Yet, it remains a stepping stone for a lot of players.
The tournament's sanctity has been up for debate with the selection process. The BCCI, in the last decade, has often tried playing the tournament with national selectors picking the India 'A', 'B' and 'C' teams.
This year, the board has reverted to the inter-zonal format and has kept the national selectors out of the equation. The result? Delhi opener Sanat Sangwan, who scored 828 runs in seven Ranji Trophy matches, was on Sunday, benched by the North Zone management and instead middle-order batter Yash Dhull was played as an opener. The Central Zone team has only one player from semifinalist Uttarakhand while Madhya Pradesh was the only team from the zone to have qualified for the quarterfinals. There have been a few debatable selections in the South Zone team as well.
Former national selector Devang Gandhi believes that a national selector has to be involved in the selection process if the sanctity of the tournament is to be saved. "When we were selectors from 2016-2021, BCCI had given us the responsibility of picking the Duleep Trophy to maintain continuity in a player's development. If the opener with the highest runs in the country doesn't get to play Duleep Trophy, it defeats the purpose of the tournament. The board must at least ensure one selector from each zone is present in planning their respective zonal teams. Otherwise, politics at the state **** ociation level can crop up. There's no accountability if BCCI selectors are not used," Gandhi told TOI.
"Today we are seeing Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain as products of domestic cricket. If that structure is compromised, then it will be difficult to see such journeys," Gandhi added.
TOI understands that the selection committee has been asking for a greater role
CHENNAI/NEW DELHI: A few days before the Duleep Trophy got underway at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on Sunday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced that the final will be shifted to MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The reason given was that there will be fans who will come to watch the match, which doesn't happen in the CoE.
Chennai is a cricket-crazy centre. But when you ask those who 'book' their IPL tickets long before the event, whether they would be interested in attending the Duleep final, the standard query is: "Will Shubman Gill play?"
Gill, in this case, stands for all the stars of Indian cricket. The Duleep final is from Sept 6-10, and it will be interesting to see that those who are not part of the Afghanistan T20 series starting on Sept 12 turn out at MAC.
That said, the primary purpose of the inter-zonal tournament is to check out the best performers in the Ranji Trophy go head-to-head against each other. The relevance of the tournament, especially after the inception of IPL, has diminished drastically. Yet, it remains a stepping stone for a lot of players.
The tournament's sanctity has been up for debate with the selection process. The BCCI, in the last decade, has often tried playing the tournament with national selectors picking the India 'A', 'B' and 'C' teams.
This year, the board has reverted to the inter-zonal format and has kept the national selectors out of the equation. The result? Delhi opener Sanat Sangwan, who scored 828 runs in seven Ranji Trophy matches, was on Sunday, benched by the North Zone management and instead middle-order batter Yash Dhull was played as an opener. The Central Zone team has only one player from semifinalist Uttarakhand while Madhya Pradesh was the only team from the zone to have qualified for the quarterfinals. There have been a few debatable selections in the South Zone team as well.
Former national selector Devang Gandhi believes that a national selector has to be involved in the selection process if the sanctity of the tournament is to be saved. "When we were selectors from 2016-2021, BCCI had given us the responsibility of picking the Duleep Trophy to maintain continuity in a player's development. If the opener with the highest runs in the country doesn't get to play Duleep Trophy, it defeats the purpose of the tournament. The board must at least ensure one selector from each zone is present in planning their respective zonal teams. Otherwise, politics at the state **** ociation level can crop up. There's no accountability if BCCI selectors are not used," Gandhi told TOI.
"Today we are seeing Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain as products of domestic cricket. If that structure is compromised, then it will be difficult to see such journeys," Gandhi added.
TOI understands that the selection committee has been asking for a greater role
2 months ago
Chennai Super Kings are preparing for a significant transition after the end of Stephen Fleming's 18-year ***** ociation with the franchise, and former India opener K Srikkanth believes Michael Hussey could be the ideal man to take the team forward. Fleming's departure has left CSK searching for a new head coach for the first time in nearly two decades. The former New Zealand captain joined the franchise as a player in the inaugural IPL season in 2008 before taking over as head coach in 2009.
Over the next 17 years, Fleming became one of the central figures behind CSK's identity, guiding the franchise to five IPL ***** les and two Champions League T20 trophies. His exit comes after CSK missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons.
Fleming has since taken up a new challenge, being appointed England's Test head coach, replacing Brendon McCullum.
As speculation grows over Fleming's successor, former India and CSK player Ravichandran Ashwin recently suggested that former England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan could be among the names in contention. Srikkanth, however, has firmly rejected that possibility.
"I won't go for Eoin Morgan for sure. He was a good player and a good captain for England. But as a coach, I won't accept him as an option. Even for KKR as their captain, he didn't do anything great. It'll be best if he just sticks to commentary," said Srikkanth, speaking on his YouTube channel.
He also advised CSK against considering Brendon McCullum, who previously coached Kolkata Knight Riders and guided them to the IPL final in 2021.
"It'll be good for CSK if they don't appoint Brendon McCullum as the head coach. They should say no to both Morgan and McCullum," he added.
Instead, Srikkanth believes CSK already have a familiar figure within their ecosystem who could seamlessly step into the role. His choice is former CSK opener Michael Hussey, who has previously worked with the franchise as a batting coach.
"CSK don't need anyone from outside when they have Mr Cricket with him. Michael Hussey should be the automatic head coach. He will be the best choice," Srikkanth said.
The coaching vacancy is only one part of a much bigger transition facing CSK. The franchise's most successful era was built around the close partnership between Fleming and MS Dhoni, with the duo forming the tactical and cultural backbone of the team for years.
Dhoni's future is another major question for the franchise, particularly as CSK look to build around captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and a younger core. Srikkanth himself believes that issue needs to be settled before the franchise can properly determine its next coaching structure.
"But what will MS Dhoni's place in CSK be going forward? That arrangement has to be fixed first, and only then will everything else fall in place," he said.
That could prove to be the most important decision of CSK's transition.
#coach #franchise #fleming
Over the next 17 years, Fleming became one of the central figures behind CSK's identity, guiding the franchise to five IPL ***** les and two Champions League T20 trophies. His exit comes after CSK missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons.
Fleming has since taken up a new challenge, being appointed England's Test head coach, replacing Brendon McCullum.
As speculation grows over Fleming's successor, former India and CSK player Ravichandran Ashwin recently suggested that former England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan could be among the names in contention. Srikkanth, however, has firmly rejected that possibility.
"I won't go for Eoin Morgan for sure. He was a good player and a good captain for England. But as a coach, I won't accept him as an option. Even for KKR as their captain, he didn't do anything great. It'll be best if he just sticks to commentary," said Srikkanth, speaking on his YouTube channel.
He also advised CSK against considering Brendon McCullum, who previously coached Kolkata Knight Riders and guided them to the IPL final in 2021.
"It'll be good for CSK if they don't appoint Brendon McCullum as the head coach. They should say no to both Morgan and McCullum," he added.
Instead, Srikkanth believes CSK already have a familiar figure within their ecosystem who could seamlessly step into the role. His choice is former CSK opener Michael Hussey, who has previously worked with the franchise as a batting coach.
"CSK don't need anyone from outside when they have Mr Cricket with him. Michael Hussey should be the automatic head coach. He will be the best choice," Srikkanth said.
The coaching vacancy is only one part of a much bigger transition facing CSK. The franchise's most successful era was built around the close partnership between Fleming and MS Dhoni, with the duo forming the tactical and cultural backbone of the team for years.
Dhoni's future is another major question for the franchise, particularly as CSK look to build around captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and a younger core. Srikkanth himself believes that issue needs to be settled before the franchise can properly determine its next coaching structure.
"But what will MS Dhoni's place in CSK be going forward? That arrangement has to be fixed first, and only then will everything else fall in place," he said.
That could prove to be the most important decision of CSK's transition.
#coach #franchise #fleming
2 months ago
The Hardik Pandya trade: Which team will sign the India all-rounder from MI for IPL 2027? originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KKR emerges as the frontrunner to sign Hardik Pandya for IPL 2027.
CSK offers Dube, Brevis and cash instead of Ayush Mhatre.
Suryakumar Yadav's MI future also uncertain amid captaincy talks.
After Rishabh Pant switched from Lucknow Super Giants to Delhi Capitals, cricket's next big trade conversation is centred on Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya, with speculation pointing toward two former IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, both reportedly in the running for the star all-rounder.
#trade
KKR emerges as the frontrunner to sign Hardik Pandya for IPL 2027.
CSK offers Dube, Brevis and cash instead of Ayush Mhatre.
Suryakumar Yadav's MI future also uncertain amid captaincy talks.
After Rishabh Pant switched from Lucknow Super Giants to Delhi Capitals, cricket's next big trade conversation is centred on Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya, with speculation pointing toward two former IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, both reportedly in the running for the star all-rounder.
#trade
2 months ago
TNPL 2026 schedule: Fixtures, score, format, points table and live streaming for Tamil Nadu Premier League matches originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
TNPL 2026 runs from August 4 to August 28, marking the tournament's 10th edition in Tamil Nadu, India.
Eight teams compete across 32 matches split between Dindigul and Chennai.
League stage followed by Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and Final.
The tenth edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League brings nearly four weeks of domestic T20 cricket showcasing the state's brightest talent. Organised by the Tamil Nadu Cricket ******* ociation, the tournament runs from August 4 to August 28 and features eight franchises across 32 matches.
#league #matches #premier
TNPL 2026 runs from August 4 to August 28, marking the tournament's 10th edition in Tamil Nadu, India.
Eight teams compete across 32 matches split between Dindigul and Chennai.
League stage followed by Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and Final.
The tenth edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League brings nearly four weeks of domestic T20 cricket showcasing the state's brightest talent. Organised by the Tamil Nadu Cricket ******* ociation, the tournament runs from August 4 to August 28 and features eight franchises across 32 matches.
#league #matches #premier
2 months ago
Devdutt Padikkal marked his return to India's Test setup in style, smashing his maiden Test century during the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. The left-hander, who has won two IPL ***** les with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, produced a fluent and ***** ured knock at No. 3 to make a strong case for himself in India's middle order.
Padikkal became only the second Indian left-handed batter in the 21st century to score a Test century from No. 3, after former captain Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly had scored 136 against Zimbabwe in Delhi in 2002.
Overall, Padikkal is the sixth Indian left-hander to score a Test hundred from the No. 3 position. The list is led by Vinod Kambli with four centuries, followed by Ganguly with three, while Salim Durani, Bapu Nadkarni, Ajit Wadekar, Eknath Solkar, Surinder Amarnath and now Padikkal have one each.
Padikkal's century also ended a prolonged wait for an Indian batter to score a Test hundred from No. 3. The last Indian to achieve the feat was Shubman Gill, who scored a century against Bangladesh in Chennai in September 2024. Since then, India had used seven different batters at No. 3 across 19 Tests, with the position collectively averaging just 27.28 and producing only five scores of 50 or more in 35 innings.
The 25-year-old had also enjoyed a productive 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, averaging 60.33, and carried that confidence into Galle. After reaching his century, Padikkal celebrated with a fist pump and a punch of the air before removing his helmet and raising his bat towards the crowd and his teammates.
India captain Shubman Gill congratulated him in the middle, while head coach Gautam Gambhir applauded from the dressing room. BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar was also present at the venue and joined in the celebrations.
#test #padikkal #Indian #score
Padikkal became only the second Indian left-handed batter in the 21st century to score a Test century from No. 3, after former captain Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly had scored 136 against Zimbabwe in Delhi in 2002.
Overall, Padikkal is the sixth Indian left-hander to score a Test hundred from the No. 3 position. The list is led by Vinod Kambli with four centuries, followed by Ganguly with three, while Salim Durani, Bapu Nadkarni, Ajit Wadekar, Eknath Solkar, Surinder Amarnath and now Padikkal have one each.
Padikkal's century also ended a prolonged wait for an Indian batter to score a Test hundred from No. 3. The last Indian to achieve the feat was Shubman Gill, who scored a century against Bangladesh in Chennai in September 2024. Since then, India had used seven different batters at No. 3 across 19 Tests, with the position collectively averaging just 27.28 and producing only five scores of 50 or more in 35 innings.
The 25-year-old had also enjoyed a productive 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, averaging 60.33, and carried that confidence into Galle. After reaching his century, Padikkal celebrated with a fist pump and a punch of the air before removing his helmet and raising his bat towards the crowd and his teammates.
India captain Shubman Gill congratulated him in the middle, while head coach Gautam Gambhir applauded from the dressing room. BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar was also present at the venue and joined in the celebrations.
#test #padikkal #Indian #score
3 months ago
R Ashwin names ODI World Cup-winning captain as surprise choice for next CSK head coach originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
R Ashwin has named Eoin Morgan as a surprise contender for the CSK head coach role.
Morgan captained England to their maiden ODI World Cup **** le in 2019.
CSK are searching for a successor to Stephen Fleming ahead of IPL 2027.
Chennai Super Kings' search for a new head coach has thrown up its most unexpected name yet, with R Ashwin suggesting England's 2019 ODI World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan could be in the frame. The former India spinner floated the idea while discussing the franchise's coaching vacancy.
#ashwin #head #coach #captain
R Ashwin has named Eoin Morgan as a surprise contender for the CSK head coach role.
Morgan captained England to their maiden ODI World Cup **** le in 2019.
CSK are searching for a successor to Stephen Fleming ahead of IPL 2027.
Chennai Super Kings' search for a new head coach has thrown up its most unexpected name yet, with R Ashwin suggesting England's 2019 ODI World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan could be in the frame. The former India spinner floated the idea while discussing the franchise's coaching vacancy.
#ashwin #head #coach #captain
3 months ago
TNPL 2026 schedule: Fixtures, score, format, points table and live streaming for Tamil Nadu Premier League matches originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
TNPL 2026 runs from August 4 to August 28, marking the tournament's 10th edition in Tamil Nadu, India.
Eight teams compete across 32 matches split between Dindigul and Chennai.
League stage followed by Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and Final.
The tenth edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League brings nearly four weeks of domestic T20 cricket showcasing the state's brightest talent. Organised by the Tamil Nadu Cricket ***** ociation, the tournament runs from August 4 to August 28 and features eight franchises across 32 matches.
#nadu
TNPL 2026 runs from August 4 to August 28, marking the tournament's 10th edition in Tamil Nadu, India.
Eight teams compete across 32 matches split between Dindigul and Chennai.
League stage followed by Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and Final.
The tenth edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League brings nearly four weeks of domestic T20 cricket showcasing the state's brightest talent. Organised by the Tamil Nadu Cricket ***** ociation, the tournament runs from August 4 to August 28 and features eight franchises across 32 matches.
#nadu
3 months ago
MS Dhoni part of CSK management? MSD held talks with Brendon McCullum in England over Chennai Super Kings head coach job - Report originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Chennai Super Kings' search for a new head coach continues after Stephen Fleming vacated the role.
CSK's priority remains finalising a new head coach before handling fresh IPL trades.
MS Dhoni is reportedly part of CSK team management now.
Dhoni met Brendon McCullum in England and held talks over the vacant coach's job.
#head #brendon
Chennai Super Kings' search for a new head coach continues after Stephen Fleming vacated the role.
CSK's priority remains finalising a new head coach before handling fresh IPL trades.
MS Dhoni is reportedly part of CSK team management now.
Dhoni met Brendon McCullum in England and held talks over the vacant coach's job.
#head #brendon
3 months ago
CHENNAI: With Australia's development squad sweating it out in Chennai, their next generation of spin bowlers are getting a taste of what it takes to succeed in conditions vastly different from home. For left-arm spinner Joel Davies, leg-spinner Lloyd Pope and off-spinner Jack Sinfield, the challenge is not just about making an impression in India but also pushing their claims for a place in the national setup. Still standing firmly in their way is veteran Nathan Lyon.
Davies, 22, recently made his T20I debut after a promising series in Bangladesh with four wickets in three games, and claimed 3-17 in his first match. However, the conditions there offered a different challenge from what he had expected.
"I don't think it was quite what I was expecting. It didn't spin as much as I was anticipating. But it was awesome to get exposure to different conditions. In terms of the temperature, it was very similar to Chennai," Davies told TOI.
While Lyon remains Australia's first-choice Test spinner, Davies believes the depth emerging through state cricket could eventually provide the selectors with several options.
"He is still doing a great job. So, I think he'll keep hanging around while he's still fit. But I think there are some very good options around state cricket at the moment," he said.
133146839
Australia selector Tony Dodemaide had earlier described Davies to TOI as "a very exciting prospect".
#conditions #lyon
Davies, 22, recently made his T20I debut after a promising series in Bangladesh with four wickets in three games, and claimed 3-17 in his first match. However, the conditions there offered a different challenge from what he had expected.
"I don't think it was quite what I was expecting. It didn't spin as much as I was anticipating. But it was awesome to get exposure to different conditions. In terms of the temperature, it was very similar to Chennai," Davies told TOI.
While Lyon remains Australia's first-choice Test spinner, Davies believes the depth emerging through state cricket could eventually provide the selectors with several options.
"He is still doing a great job. So, I think he'll keep hanging around while he's still fit. But I think there are some very good options around state cricket at the moment," he said.
133146839
Australia selector Tony Dodemaide had earlier described Davies to TOI as "a very exciting prospect".
#conditions #lyon
3 months ago
For much of his IPL career, Ajinkya Rahane was defined by one role: the anchor.
Across 19 seasons, from the inaugural IPL in 2008 through to the 2026 edition, Rahane represented six different franchises and played 212 matches. He currently sits eighth on the tournament's all-time run-scoring list, with 5,367 runs at an average of 30.15 and a strike rate of 125.60.
Yet despite such longevity, Rahane had to wait 16 years to get his hands on an IPL ******* le.
The turning point came in 2023, when Chennai Super Kings brought him into their squad for his base price of Rs 50 lakh. At 35, Rahane reinvented his approach and produced a version of his batting that had rarely been seen in the tournament.
He scored 326 runs for the MS Dhoni-led side, but it was his strike rate that truly stood out. Rahane struck at 172.48 that season, a dramatic jump from his 103.90 strike rate the previous year. Before 2023, he had never managed a strike rate of 140 or more in an IPL season.
Looking back at the first phase of his IPL career during The Indian Express' Idea Exchange, Rahane explained how his role had shaped his approach.
"Before 2023, I think from 2019, when I left Rajasthan Royals then moved to Delhi Capitals and then KKR for a year, I think I hardly played. As a player, you always need that confidence. You need the surety to play with freedom. Before Delhi Capitals, I played for Rajasthan Royals for eight years and in between I played for RPSG. First three years I was with Mumbai Indians. So, it was always about the role that my team wanted me to play. I wanted to make that happen rather than going out of my role. So, the role that time was to be an anchor and then others will play around me. So, my strike at that time was around 120-130. And then I used to play till 15, 16, 17 overs, sometimes no till the end. But others were the attacking players around me."
The change began before Rahane even arrived at the IPL season. His preparation during the two months leading into the 2023 campaign helped him develop a more aggressive range of shots and, more importantly, gave him the confidence to attempt them in matches.
"When the shift happened in 2023 with CSK, I had a good two months of preparation. And then I started working a couple of the shots. I thought 'This is the time I should reinvent myself, probably play freely.' The opportunity came with CSK."
That opportunity arrived unexpectedly at the ******* hede Stadium on April 8, 2023.
Rahane had not initially been part of Chennai's playing XI. But an illness to Moeen Ali opened up a late opportunity, and Rahane responded with one of the most explosive innings of his IPL career.
Walking in at his home ground, he smashed 61 off just 27 ******* , hitting seven fours and three sixes. It was the first major glimpse of what became known as Rahane 2.0.
133071868
"Actually, I was not playing in that game, but some injury happened. And then at the last minute I got an opportunity
Across 19 seasons, from the inaugural IPL in 2008 through to the 2026 edition, Rahane represented six different franchises and played 212 matches. He currently sits eighth on the tournament's all-time run-scoring list, with 5,367 runs at an average of 30.15 and a strike rate of 125.60.
Yet despite such longevity, Rahane had to wait 16 years to get his hands on an IPL ******* le.
The turning point came in 2023, when Chennai Super Kings brought him into their squad for his base price of Rs 50 lakh. At 35, Rahane reinvented his approach and produced a version of his batting that had rarely been seen in the tournament.
He scored 326 runs for the MS Dhoni-led side, but it was his strike rate that truly stood out. Rahane struck at 172.48 that season, a dramatic jump from his 103.90 strike rate the previous year. Before 2023, he had never managed a strike rate of 140 or more in an IPL season.
Looking back at the first phase of his IPL career during The Indian Express' Idea Exchange, Rahane explained how his role had shaped his approach.
"Before 2023, I think from 2019, when I left Rajasthan Royals then moved to Delhi Capitals and then KKR for a year, I think I hardly played. As a player, you always need that confidence. You need the surety to play with freedom. Before Delhi Capitals, I played for Rajasthan Royals for eight years and in between I played for RPSG. First three years I was with Mumbai Indians. So, it was always about the role that my team wanted me to play. I wanted to make that happen rather than going out of my role. So, the role that time was to be an anchor and then others will play around me. So, my strike at that time was around 120-130. And then I used to play till 15, 16, 17 overs, sometimes no till the end. But others were the attacking players around me."
The change began before Rahane even arrived at the IPL season. His preparation during the two months leading into the 2023 campaign helped him develop a more aggressive range of shots and, more importantly, gave him the confidence to attempt them in matches.
"When the shift happened in 2023 with CSK, I had a good two months of preparation. And then I started working a couple of the shots. I thought 'This is the time I should reinvent myself, probably play freely.' The opportunity came with CSK."
That opportunity arrived unexpectedly at the ******* hede Stadium on April 8, 2023.
Rahane had not initially been part of Chennai's playing XI. But an illness to Moeen Ali opened up a late opportunity, and Rahane responded with one of the most explosive innings of his IPL career.
Walking in at his home ground, he smashed 61 off just 27 ******* , hitting seven fours and three sixes. It was the first major glimpse of what became known as Rahane 2.0.
133071868
"Actually, I was not playing in that game, but some injury happened. And then at the last minute I got an opportunity
3 months ago
Shivam Dube leaving CSK? Fans wonder if all-rounder removed team name from Instagram bio amid trade rumours originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Fans are speculating that Shivam Dube removed CSK's name from his Instagram bio.
The chatter comes amid IPL 2027 trade rumours linking Dube with Mumbai Indians.
Some fans have disputed whether Dube ever had CSK in his bio at all.
Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Shivam Dube has found himself at the centre of social media speculation, with fans debating whether he has removed the franchise's name from his Instagram bio. The chatter has taken off against the backdrop of persistent IPL 2027 trade rumours surrounding him.
#fans #name #trade
Fans are speculating that Shivam Dube removed CSK's name from his Instagram bio.
The chatter comes amid IPL 2027 trade rumours linking Dube with Mumbai Indians.
Some fans have disputed whether Dube ever had CSK in his bio at all.
Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Shivam Dube has found himself at the centre of social media speculation, with fans debating whether he has removed the franchise's name from his Instagram bio. The chatter has taken off against the backdrop of persistent IPL 2027 trade rumours surrounding him.
#fans #name #trade
3 months ago
CHENNAI: Australia have decided against playing a practice game ahead of next year's highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India. Tony Dodemaide, who is managing Australia's development squad that is currently training in Chennai, and is also part of the national selection group alongside George Bailey and Andrew McDonald, explained that the tight international schedule leaves little room for a conventional warm-up fixture.
Australia's fourth Test against New Zealand is scheduled to finish on Jan 8, while the first Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy is slated to begin on Jan 21.
"It gets over about 10 days before the first (Test) here...So we're playing Test cricket, as soon as the game finishes, we get on a plane and come here and have practice, and then straight into the first Test," Dodemaide told TOI on the sidelines of an event.
However, he added that players who are not part of the playing XI for the final Test against New Zealand will arrive in India early to get accustomed to the conditions. "We need to win the Test match against New Zealand. But the players in the touring squad who aren't playing in that Test will come early to get more acclimatised," he said.
The five match Test series will begin in Nagpur before moving to Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi and Ahmedabad.
The Aussie pace department may still be relying on the experience of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat ******* mins, but Dodemaide said the next generation of pacemen is not too far behind. "Scott Boland, Michael Nesser and Brendan Doggett have been really good for us, while we have some very exciting talent coming through. Jhye Richardson, Lance Morris and Xavier Bartlett have also played some one-day cricket for us."
Among the younger crop, Dodemaide pointed to Sheffield Shield performers Nathan McAndrew, Lance Morris and Fergus O'Neill, "The challenge for our bowlers back home this summer is to set themselves apart to be the next players to come through," he said.
Dodemaide also highlighted the importance of Australia's current development camp in India, particularly for their young spinners. The squad has been brought to India specifically to experience conditions that are difficult to replicate back home.
"In Australia, we can't replicate the very dry, red soil and spin conditions. We don't have the same soil types and find it very difficult to get pitches that are dry at home. But it's not just the playing conditions. It's the Indian experience, the heat, the crowds, the crowded places. If these players come back to play for Australia, they'll have all of that to deal with. This gives them familiarity and allows us to see how they respond to that challenge," he added.
Players like Joel Davies, Jason Sangha, Lloyd Pope and Hugh Weibgen are part of the squad. Dodemaide said the presence of several young players reflects Australia's belief in their potential. "The younger the players are, the more uncertain it is. But through the Under-19s,
Australia's fourth Test against New Zealand is scheduled to finish on Jan 8, while the first Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy is slated to begin on Jan 21.
"It gets over about 10 days before the first (Test) here...So we're playing Test cricket, as soon as the game finishes, we get on a plane and come here and have practice, and then straight into the first Test," Dodemaide told TOI on the sidelines of an event.
However, he added that players who are not part of the playing XI for the final Test against New Zealand will arrive in India early to get accustomed to the conditions. "We need to win the Test match against New Zealand. But the players in the touring squad who aren't playing in that Test will come early to get more acclimatised," he said.
The five match Test series will begin in Nagpur before moving to Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi and Ahmedabad.
The Aussie pace department may still be relying on the experience of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat ******* mins, but Dodemaide said the next generation of pacemen is not too far behind. "Scott Boland, Michael Nesser and Brendan Doggett have been really good for us, while we have some very exciting talent coming through. Jhye Richardson, Lance Morris and Xavier Bartlett have also played some one-day cricket for us."
Among the younger crop, Dodemaide pointed to Sheffield Shield performers Nathan McAndrew, Lance Morris and Fergus O'Neill, "The challenge for our bowlers back home this summer is to set themselves apart to be the next players to come through," he said.
Dodemaide also highlighted the importance of Australia's current development camp in India, particularly for their young spinners. The squad has been brought to India specifically to experience conditions that are difficult to replicate back home.
"In Australia, we can't replicate the very dry, red soil and spin conditions. We don't have the same soil types and find it very difficult to get pitches that are dry at home. But it's not just the playing conditions. It's the Indian experience, the heat, the crowds, the crowded places. If these players come back to play for Australia, they'll have all of that to deal with. This gives them familiarity and allows us to see how they respond to that challenge," he added.
Players like Joel Davies, Jason Sangha, Lloyd Pope and Hugh Weibgen are part of the squad. Dodemaide said the presence of several young players reflects Australia's belief in their potential. "The younger the players are, the more uncertain it is. But through the Under-19s,
3 months ago
CHENNAI: If Javagal Srinath had been the match referee when Sourav Ganguly famously kept Steve Waugh waiting for the toss at Eden Gardens in 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the former India captain might well have faced a suspension.
"I would have banned Sourav for a few games!" Srinath said at EEMAGINE event by recalling the incident, which has been regarded as an act of gamesmanship that disturbed Waugh and the Australian team during the course of the famous series that India won 2-1. Ganguly later said that he couldn't find his blazer which led to the delay, but that's highly debatable.
Srinath, however, praised Ganguly's leadership, particularly his ability to nurture youngsters such as Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag. He felt Indian cricket underwent a major transformation after the match-fixing scandal of the late 1990s, with players developing a collective resolve to restore the game's image.
"There was a bit of a resoluteness in each and every player to really put that image back and then prove the world that cricket is superior, cricket is clean," Srinath said. He added that leadership came from the top four or five players being on the same page, which helped India not only start winning consistently at home but also turn the corner overseas.
Srinath recalled that between 1991 and 1997-98, India struggled to win abroad, but things began changing from 1999 onwards.
Looking back at the 2003 World Cup final against Australia, Srinath revealed that he had wanted India to bat first after a discussion within the team. "I was one of the guys who said we should always bat first and then put them under pressure," he said. But Ganguly had a different view. And once the decision was made, Srinath said the team had to move on, but Australia were simply too strong.
He recalled recommending Zaheer to selector Chandu Borde after watching the left-arm pacer take six wickets against Air India while representing the MRF Pace Foundation. When Borde jokingly asked what would happen to Srinath if Zaheer was picked, his response was simple: "If he's good, he replaces me."
Srinath also revealed that Rahul Dravid was "not the best roommate," joking about the former India batter's habit of leaving things scattered, while describing Venkatesh Prasad as extremely "spick and span".
On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Srinath cautioned against comparisons with Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, stressing that different eras bring different challenges.
"When you judge a player it's just not the white ball, it is the red ball cricket as well. Sooryavanshi is a wonderful talent, I think he's still too young. I hope he develops the maturity like Sachin and has that strong head on his shoulders like Virat."
Srinath also called for a better balance between bat and ball, pointing to shorter boundaries, bigger bats and less ***** ounced seams. "Something needs to be done to bring some balance into this game," he said.
#srinath #ganguly
"I would have banned Sourav for a few games!" Srinath said at EEMAGINE event by recalling the incident, which has been regarded as an act of gamesmanship that disturbed Waugh and the Australian team during the course of the famous series that India won 2-1. Ganguly later said that he couldn't find his blazer which led to the delay, but that's highly debatable.
Srinath, however, praised Ganguly's leadership, particularly his ability to nurture youngsters such as Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag. He felt Indian cricket underwent a major transformation after the match-fixing scandal of the late 1990s, with players developing a collective resolve to restore the game's image.
"There was a bit of a resoluteness in each and every player to really put that image back and then prove the world that cricket is superior, cricket is clean," Srinath said. He added that leadership came from the top four or five players being on the same page, which helped India not only start winning consistently at home but also turn the corner overseas.
Srinath recalled that between 1991 and 1997-98, India struggled to win abroad, but things began changing from 1999 onwards.
Looking back at the 2003 World Cup final against Australia, Srinath revealed that he had wanted India to bat first after a discussion within the team. "I was one of the guys who said we should always bat first and then put them under pressure," he said. But Ganguly had a different view. And once the decision was made, Srinath said the team had to move on, but Australia were simply too strong.
He recalled recommending Zaheer to selector Chandu Borde after watching the left-arm pacer take six wickets against Air India while representing the MRF Pace Foundation. When Borde jokingly asked what would happen to Srinath if Zaheer was picked, his response was simple: "If he's good, he replaces me."
Srinath also revealed that Rahul Dravid was "not the best roommate," joking about the former India batter's habit of leaving things scattered, while describing Venkatesh Prasad as extremely "spick and span".
On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Srinath cautioned against comparisons with Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, stressing that different eras bring different challenges.
"When you judge a player it's just not the white ball, it is the red ball cricket as well. Sooryavanshi is a wonderful talent, I think he's still too young. I hope he develops the maturity like Sachin and has that strong head on his shoulders like Virat."
Srinath also called for a better balance between bat and ball, pointing to shorter boundaries, bigger bats and less ***** ounced seams. "Something needs to be done to bring some balance into this game," he said.
#srinath #ganguly
3 months ago
TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: Big strides, ****** ured footwork, smart use of the crease, fluent shots and solid defence. These were the highlights of Devdutt Padikkal's unbeaten 142 off 164 ****** at the Nondescript Cricket Club in Colombo on Saturday. The classy left-hander was not a starter when the squad was picked for the series. Still, the moment team management received the update on Sai Sudharsan's niggle, all efforts focused on keeping Padikkal ready for the opportunity. When the chance came, he delivered. And how.
It wasn't a raging turner, nor were the opposition spinners posing tough questions, but runs always do the confidence a world of good, especially when they coincide with the update on Sudharsan. Since coming into bat in the first over of the second day's play, Padikkal exuded confidence and scored his runs at a brisk pace even when KL Rahul was happy to buy time at the other end.
He controlled the ball and showed equal confidence against both spin and pace, remaining unfazed by the off-spin challenge when Ramesh Mendis and Keshara Nuwantha bowled in tandem. He met most ****** under his eyes, and the side-on view of his big strides and the balance with which he operated made it a treat. The 26-year-old hasn't featured in a multi-day fixture for India since November 2024 but has been making the right noise with the India A side and Karnataka in the domestic circuit.
Keeping the calendar in mind, he specifically worked on his game against spin and spent a lot of time perfecting the craft. Even when the management persisted with Sudharsan as the No.3 bat, Padikkal was busy upgrading. When he played the two multi-day fixtures at Galle last month, the left-hander hit two half-centuries and served another reminder of his readiness.
It was more of the same at the NCC; in front of a handful of spectators, the timing was ideal. Before the fixture got underway, there was optimism around Sudharsan joining the camp, if not in Colombo, then in Galle. Little did Padikkal know that as he closed in on a brilliant century, Sudharsan's hopes of boarding the flight evaporated.
Come August 15, India won't need to sweat much over the No. 3 position with Padikkal ready and raring to go. A lot of hard work went on behind the scenes, which was reflected in the ease with which he operated.
Back in 2024, chief selector Ajit Agarkar's addition of Padikkal to India's Test squad for the home series against England was a surprise pick. The Indian camp was hit by injury concerns, and KL Rahul's unavailability opened the door for Padikkal, who then made his debut in Dharamsala. One knock in the Ranji Trophy was all it took for the chairman to fast-track the left-hander into the set-up. Padikkal would have certainly thanked his stars that Agarkar's rare appearance for domestic games included the Tamil Nadu vs Karnataka game in Chennai.
The left-hander, at No.3, hit a 218-ball 151 which included 12 boundaries and six sixes. The oppos
It wasn't a raging turner, nor were the opposition spinners posing tough questions, but runs always do the confidence a world of good, especially when they coincide with the update on Sudharsan. Since coming into bat in the first over of the second day's play, Padikkal exuded confidence and scored his runs at a brisk pace even when KL Rahul was happy to buy time at the other end.
He controlled the ball and showed equal confidence against both spin and pace, remaining unfazed by the off-spin challenge when Ramesh Mendis and Keshara Nuwantha bowled in tandem. He met most ****** under his eyes, and the side-on view of his big strides and the balance with which he operated made it a treat. The 26-year-old hasn't featured in a multi-day fixture for India since November 2024 but has been making the right noise with the India A side and Karnataka in the domestic circuit.
Keeping the calendar in mind, he specifically worked on his game against spin and spent a lot of time perfecting the craft. Even when the management persisted with Sudharsan as the No.3 bat, Padikkal was busy upgrading. When he played the two multi-day fixtures at Galle last month, the left-hander hit two half-centuries and served another reminder of his readiness.
It was more of the same at the NCC; in front of a handful of spectators, the timing was ideal. Before the fixture got underway, there was optimism around Sudharsan joining the camp, if not in Colombo, then in Galle. Little did Padikkal know that as he closed in on a brilliant century, Sudharsan's hopes of boarding the flight evaporated.
Come August 15, India won't need to sweat much over the No. 3 position with Padikkal ready and raring to go. A lot of hard work went on behind the scenes, which was reflected in the ease with which he operated.
Back in 2024, chief selector Ajit Agarkar's addition of Padikkal to India's Test squad for the home series against England was a surprise pick. The Indian camp was hit by injury concerns, and KL Rahul's unavailability opened the door for Padikkal, who then made his debut in Dharamsala. One knock in the Ranji Trophy was all it took for the chairman to fast-track the left-hander into the set-up. Padikkal would have certainly thanked his stars that Agarkar's rare appearance for domestic games included the Tamil Nadu vs Karnataka game in Chennai.
The left-hander, at No.3, hit a 218-ball 151 which included 12 boundaries and six sixes. The oppos
3 months ago
Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane has picked Sachin Tendulkar as the greatest Indian cricketer of all time, shortly after bringing the curtain down on his playing career.
Rahane, who recently announced his retirement from all forms of cricket during an episode of Stick to Cricket, was asked to name India's greatest-ever cricketer. While acknowledging that the choice was far from straightforward, the former batter eventually settled on Tendulkar.
"I think it's very hard to take one name but… probably Sachin Tendulkar. I think all the eras," Rahane said.
Tendulkar enjoyed a remarkable international career that stretched across 24 years, representing India from November 15, 1989, to November 16, 2013. During that period, he featured in 664 international matches, including 200 Tests, 463 ODIs and one T20I.
The batting icon scored 15,921 runs in Tests, 18,426 in ODIs and 10 in T20Is, finishing as the highest run-scorer in the history of both Test and ODI cricket. He also remains the only player to have appeared in 200 Test matches and holds the record for the most ODI appearances.
Tendulkar was a central figure in India's triumphant 2011 ICC Men's ODI World Cup campaign, adding the coveted trophy to an already glittering career.
As captain, he led India in 25 Tests, registering four wins, nine defeats and 12 draws. In ODIs, Tendulkar captained the side in 73 matches, winning 23, losing 43, with one tie and six no-results.
Rahane made his international debut in a T20I against England at Manchester on August 31, 2011, and went on to represent India across all three formats between 2011 and 2023.
The Mumbai batter had the opportunity to share the dressing room with Tendulkar on multiple occasions. He played one Test alongside the legendary batter for India and had earlier been his teammate at Mumbai Indians during the 2009 IPL season, apart from representing Mumbai together in domestic cricket.
Across a career spanning more than 12 years, Rahane played most of his international cricket under MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. He was a key member of India's historic 2018-19 Test series-winning squad in Australia before captaining the team to another memorable series victory there in 2020-21.
Rahane also joined an exclusive list of Indian cricketers to captain the national side in all three formats. He finished his career with Test centuries in Australia, England and New Zealand, while representing six IPL franchises: Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiants, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings.
#tendulkar #test #international
Rahane, who recently announced his retirement from all forms of cricket during an episode of Stick to Cricket, was asked to name India's greatest-ever cricketer. While acknowledging that the choice was far from straightforward, the former batter eventually settled on Tendulkar.
"I think it's very hard to take one name but… probably Sachin Tendulkar. I think all the eras," Rahane said.
Tendulkar enjoyed a remarkable international career that stretched across 24 years, representing India from November 15, 1989, to November 16, 2013. During that period, he featured in 664 international matches, including 200 Tests, 463 ODIs and one T20I.
The batting icon scored 15,921 runs in Tests, 18,426 in ODIs and 10 in T20Is, finishing as the highest run-scorer in the history of both Test and ODI cricket. He also remains the only player to have appeared in 200 Test matches and holds the record for the most ODI appearances.
Tendulkar was a central figure in India's triumphant 2011 ICC Men's ODI World Cup campaign, adding the coveted trophy to an already glittering career.
As captain, he led India in 25 Tests, registering four wins, nine defeats and 12 draws. In ODIs, Tendulkar captained the side in 73 matches, winning 23, losing 43, with one tie and six no-results.
Rahane made his international debut in a T20I against England at Manchester on August 31, 2011, and went on to represent India across all three formats between 2011 and 2023.
The Mumbai batter had the opportunity to share the dressing room with Tendulkar on multiple occasions. He played one Test alongside the legendary batter for India and had earlier been his teammate at Mumbai Indians during the 2009 IPL season, apart from representing Mumbai together in domestic cricket.
Across a career spanning more than 12 years, Rahane played most of his international cricket under MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. He was a key member of India's historic 2018-19 Test series-winning squad in Australia before captaining the team to another memorable series victory there in 2020-21.
Rahane also joined an exclusive list of Indian cricketers to captain the national side in all three formats. He finished his career with Test centuries in Australia, England and New Zealand, while representing six IPL franchises: Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiants, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings.
#tendulkar #test #international
3 months ago
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's leadership has often been defined by more than his tactical decisions on the field. Over the years, the former India captain built a reputation for creating a comfortable dressing-room atmosphere, with several teammates crediting him for helping youngsters settle into the international setup.
One of the traditions that became synonymous with Dhoni during tours was his ever-open hotel room. Players, particularly the younger members of the squad, frequently gathered there to relax, chat and play mobile or video games away from the intensity of international cricket.
Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane, who played alongside Dhoni for India as well as IPL franchises Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant, shared an insight into that culture during an appearance on the Overlap Cricket YouTube channel.
According to Rahane, Dhoni's room often turned into a meeting point for the squad, with teammates dropping in throughout the day. However, there was one unwritten rule that everyone followed.
"He's (MS Dhoni) very calm and cool and just a very normal human being like everyone. His room was almost always open for anyone to do anything. So many times, 10 to 15 of them or even the whole team was in his room. But when his door was shut, no one was allowed," said Rahane on Overlap Cricket YouTube.
Dhoni's future as a player continues to be unclear after he missed the entire IPL 2026 season because of a leg injury. The 44-year-old did not play a single match for Chennai Super Kings, and there has been no official confirmation on whether he will return for another season.
Rahane, meanwhile, recently announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, bringing the curtain down on both his international and domestic career.
The 38-year-old decided to step away from the game three years after his final appearance for India, saying he felt the time was right to move on.
Rahane represented India in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is between 2011 and 2023, earning a reputation as one of the team's most reliable batters and playing a significant role in several memorable victories across formats.
133007825
#rahane #room #Cricket #super
One of the traditions that became synonymous with Dhoni during tours was his ever-open hotel room. Players, particularly the younger members of the squad, frequently gathered there to relax, chat and play mobile or video games away from the intensity of international cricket.
Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane, who played alongside Dhoni for India as well as IPL franchises Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant, shared an insight into that culture during an appearance on the Overlap Cricket YouTube channel.
According to Rahane, Dhoni's room often turned into a meeting point for the squad, with teammates dropping in throughout the day. However, there was one unwritten rule that everyone followed.
"He's (MS Dhoni) very calm and cool and just a very normal human being like everyone. His room was almost always open for anyone to do anything. So many times, 10 to 15 of them or even the whole team was in his room. But when his door was shut, no one was allowed," said Rahane on Overlap Cricket YouTube.
Dhoni's future as a player continues to be unclear after he missed the entire IPL 2026 season because of a leg injury. The 44-year-old did not play a single match for Chennai Super Kings, and there has been no official confirmation on whether he will return for another season.
Rahane, meanwhile, recently announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, bringing the curtain down on both his international and domestic career.
The 38-year-old decided to step away from the game three years after his final appearance for India, saying he felt the time was right to move on.
Rahane represented India in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is between 2011 and 2023, earning a reputation as one of the team's most reliable batters and playing a significant role in several memorable victories across formats.
133007825
#rahane #room #Cricket #super
3 months ago
India captain who conquered Test series in Australia gives verdict on England coach Stephen Fleming before Ashes 2027 originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ajinkya Rahane has praised England's new Test coach Stephen Fleming ahead of the 2027 Ashes.
Rahane played under Fleming at Chennai Super Kings, winning the IPL 2023 ******* le.
He credited the coach for the freedom and security he gave players.
Ajinkya Rahane knows a thing or two about thriving under pressure, having famously led a depleted India to a historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in Australia in 2020-21. Now the veteran has offered a glowing verdict on Stephen Fleming, the man tasked with reviving England's Test fortunes ahead of the 2027 Ashes.
#stephen #rahane #Cricket
Ajinkya Rahane has praised England's new Test coach Stephen Fleming ahead of the 2027 Ashes.
Rahane played under Fleming at Chennai Super Kings, winning the IPL 2023 ******* le.
He credited the coach for the freedom and security he gave players.
Ajinkya Rahane knows a thing or two about thriving under pressure, having famously led a depleted India to a historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in Australia in 2020-21. Now the veteran has offered a glowing verdict on Stephen Fleming, the man tasked with reviving England's Test fortunes ahead of the 2027 Ashes.
#stephen #rahane #Cricket
3 months ago
Stephen Fleming wants Australian Ashes hero and CSK colleague Michael Hussey as England Test batting coach originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Stephen Fleming has reportedly made an informal approach to Mike Hussey to be England's batting coach.
The pair spent years together at Chennai Super Kings, first as players and then part of the IPL franchise's coaching staff.
The former Australia batter is currently head coach of Welsh Fire in The Hundred.
Stephen Fleming has barely had time to settle into the England Test job, but the newly appointed head coach is already moving to shape his backroom staff. Having been handed the reins less than a week ago, the former New Zealand captain is reportedly looking to bring a familiar face from his Chennai Super Kings days into the England setup.
#kings
Stephen Fleming has reportedly made an informal approach to Mike Hussey to be England's batting coach.
The pair spent years together at Chennai Super Kings, first as players and then part of the IPL franchise's coaching staff.
The former Australia batter is currently head coach of Welsh Fire in The Hundred.
Stephen Fleming has barely had time to settle into the England Test job, but the newly appointed head coach is already moving to shape his backroom staff. Having been handed the reins less than a week ago, the former New Zealand captain is reportedly looking to bring a familiar face from his Chennai Super Kings days into the England setup.
#kings
3 months ago
The 10th edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) gets underway on August 4, with eight teams battling for the state T20 ******* le over 32 matches across two venues.
Defending champions iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans begin their ******* le defence against Dindigul Dragons in the tournament opener, while the final will take place on August 28.
The opening match and the Dindigul league leg, till August 15, will be staged at NPR College Ground in Dindigul.
Following a two-day break, the remaining league games, playoffs and the final will be held at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Fans in India can follow every match live on television as well as via online streaming, with afternoon and evening fixtures scheduled throughout the competition.
#league #final #match #premier
Defending champions iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans begin their ******* le defence against Dindigul Dragons in the tournament opener, while the final will take place on August 28.
The opening match and the Dindigul league leg, till August 15, will be staged at NPR College Ground in Dindigul.
Following a two-day break, the remaining league games, playoffs and the final will be held at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Fans in India can follow every match live on television as well as via online streaming, with afternoon and evening fixtures scheduled throughout the competition.
#league #final #match #premier
3 months ago
Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes newly-appointed Test coach Stephen Fleming should have taken charge immediately instead of delaying his arrival until England's tour of South Africa later this year.
Fleming was named England's new Test coach after Brendon McCullum was removed from the role earlier this month, though the New Zealander has retained his position as the team's white-ball coach. However, Fleming will not oversee England during the upcoming three-Test home series against Pakistan, which begins on August 19 at Headingley.
Questioning the decision, Vaughan said England would miss an opportunity to help Fleming settle into the role before bigger ***** ignments such as the Ashes.
"Stephen Fleming is a good appointment as England's Test coach, but he should be in position for the start of the Pakistan series, rather than taking over fully for the South Africa tour in December," Vaughan wrote in the Telegraph.
"It is about the small details, gaining experience of going to grounds such as Edgbaston – which hosts an Ashes Test – getting to know people involved in English cricket and fact-finding about our game by meeting the county coaches who can help him. These are the one-per-cent details England let slip during the Brendon McCullum years but are required to win major trophies."
Vaughan also suggested that England agreeing to Fleming's preferred timeline reflected a shift in the appeal of the coaching role.
"It also suggests the England job has lost a little of its allure because he does not feel he must start immediately. It also shows a little bit of desperation that England were willing to appoint a candidate on his terms, rather than their own," he added.
Fleming arrives in England after an extraordinary stint with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. During his 17-year ***** ociation with the franchise, he guided the team to five IPL ***** les and two Champions League trophies alongside captain MS Dhoni before stepping down earlier this month.
Vaughan, however, warned that the former New Zealand skipper would be walking into a very different environment, pointing out that England captain Joe Root does not offer the same dynamic that Dhoni did at Chennai.
"Fleming is very well respected, renowned for being a very good manager and tactician. I've seen him at the IPL, and one of the problems he might discover in English cricket is that we do not have an MS Dhoni to be his captain.
132758097
"Dhoni ran the ship at Chennai Super Kings, and Fleming had some really good backroom coaches as well. Eric Simons was a wonderful bowling coach for him, a master at getting the white ball to swing. His team was built around skill with the ball, not express pace. I wonder whether that is an indication that the skill side of bowling will come back into the England Test team rather than just out-and-out speed," Vaughan wrote.
#chennai
Fleming was named England's new Test coach after Brendon McCullum was removed from the role earlier this month, though the New Zealander has retained his position as the team's white-ball coach. However, Fleming will not oversee England during the upcoming three-Test home series against Pakistan, which begins on August 19 at Headingley.
Questioning the decision, Vaughan said England would miss an opportunity to help Fleming settle into the role before bigger ***** ignments such as the Ashes.
"Stephen Fleming is a good appointment as England's Test coach, but he should be in position for the start of the Pakistan series, rather than taking over fully for the South Africa tour in December," Vaughan wrote in the Telegraph.
"It is about the small details, gaining experience of going to grounds such as Edgbaston – which hosts an Ashes Test – getting to know people involved in English cricket and fact-finding about our game by meeting the county coaches who can help him. These are the one-per-cent details England let slip during the Brendon McCullum years but are required to win major trophies."
Vaughan also suggested that England agreeing to Fleming's preferred timeline reflected a shift in the appeal of the coaching role.
"It also suggests the England job has lost a little of its allure because he does not feel he must start immediately. It also shows a little bit of desperation that England were willing to appoint a candidate on his terms, rather than their own," he added.
Fleming arrives in England after an extraordinary stint with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. During his 17-year ***** ociation with the franchise, he guided the team to five IPL ***** les and two Champions League trophies alongside captain MS Dhoni before stepping down earlier this month.
Vaughan, however, warned that the former New Zealand skipper would be walking into a very different environment, pointing out that England captain Joe Root does not offer the same dynamic that Dhoni did at Chennai.
"Fleming is very well respected, renowned for being a very good manager and tactician. I've seen him at the IPL, and one of the problems he might discover in English cricket is that we do not have an MS Dhoni to be his captain.
132758097
"Dhoni ran the ship at Chennai Super Kings, and Fleming had some really good backroom coaches as well. Eric Simons was a wonderful bowling coach for him, a master at getting the white ball to swing. His team was built around skill with the ball, not express pace. I wonder whether that is an indication that the skill side of bowling will come back into the England Test team rather than just out-and-out speed," Vaughan wrote.
#chennai
3 months ago
Stephen Fleming always seems to possess a wonderful sense of timing. It was on 12 July that England made the decision to stand down Brendon McCullum as Test head coach and, in serendipitous circumstances, on 13 July that the man they would come to anoint as his successor began his search for a new job. It was nothing more than mere coincidence that the Chennai Super Kings and Fleming mutually parted ways so soon after his former teammate's departure, but within three days he was expressing interest in the England role in a newspaper interview, and within three weeks impressing the ECB interview panel sufficiently for a hasty appointment after Andy Flower had withdrawn himself from consideration for the role.
Not that Fleming will arrive with undue hustle or hurry; Marcus Trescothick will take interim charge of the three Tests against Pakistan this summer before the 53-year-old begins a four-year deal ahead of the tour to South Africa in December. While Fleming has expressed a desire to spend time with his family, it is a curious situation that again highlights the mistake made by the ECB in not taking the opportunity for a clean break after the Ashes.
Stephen Fleming has not worked in the red-ball game as a coach (Getty)
One might term this, then, a marriage of convenience – a coach in search of a new challenge taking over a team in need of new direction. On the face of it, Fleming's credentials are modest: there is no red-ball coaching whatsoever on his CV, nor any past suggestion of a desire to turn away from a franchise T20 circuit he was perhaps the first coach to truly master. He had even turned England down in 2009, feeling it was too soon into his coaching career.
Fleming proved highly successful with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL (Getty)
#coach #three #july #kings
Not that Fleming will arrive with undue hustle or hurry; Marcus Trescothick will take interim charge of the three Tests against Pakistan this summer before the 53-year-old begins a four-year deal ahead of the tour to South Africa in December. While Fleming has expressed a desire to spend time with his family, it is a curious situation that again highlights the mistake made by the ECB in not taking the opportunity for a clean break after the Ashes.
Stephen Fleming has not worked in the red-ball game as a coach (Getty)
One might term this, then, a marriage of convenience – a coach in search of a new challenge taking over a team in need of new direction. On the face of it, Fleming's credentials are modest: there is no red-ball coaching whatsoever on his CV, nor any past suggestion of a desire to turn away from a franchise T20 circuit he was perhaps the first coach to truly master. He had even turned England down in 2009, feeling it was too soon into his coaching career.
Fleming proved highly successful with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL (Getty)
#coach #three #july #kings
3 months ago
Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has been appointed as England Test coach, with Joe Root returning as captain.
Fleming, 53, has never previously worked as head coach of a national team but he led Chennai Super Kings to a record five Indian Premier League ***** les during his 17-year tenure as head coach.
Previous Test coach Brendon McCullum was fired earlier this month following a string of poor results and several off-field incidents, but remains in charge of England's white-ball sides.
Root, 35, whose first spell as Test captain was between 2017 and 2022, captained England to a record 27 Test wins in 65 matches.
Fleming said he was "incredibly excited" to be taking on the role as Test coach.
#england #record
Fleming, 53, has never previously worked as head coach of a national team but he led Chennai Super Kings to a record five Indian Premier League ***** les during his 17-year tenure as head coach.
Previous Test coach Brendon McCullum was fired earlier this month following a string of poor results and several off-field incidents, but remains in charge of England's white-ball sides.
Root, 35, whose first spell as Test captain was between 2017 and 2022, captained England to a record 27 Test wins in 65 matches.
Fleming said he was "incredibly excited" to be taking on the role as Test coach.
#england #record
3 months ago
The IPL 2027 trade window has thrown another curveball around Hardik Pandya's future, with Delhi Capitals now stepping into the picture after earlier reports suggested his proposed switch to Chennai Super Kings had stalled.
According to reports from Times of India, Delhi Capitals are now the front runners in the race to snap up the Mumbai Indians captain.
DC are reportedly willing to let go of both captain Axar Patel and opening batter Prithvi Shaw as part of a package to bring the current Mumbai Indians skipper into their fold.
What catches people off guard in this whole story is the timing. Delhi Capitals had barely finished celebrating the return of Rishabh Pant from Lucknow Super Giants once IPL 2026 ended, and now they're already chasing another marquee name.
The franchise reportedly views Hardik as someone capable of strengthening their batting and bowling units simultaneously, while also bringing genuine leadership experience to the dressing room.
#Mumbai
According to reports from Times of India, Delhi Capitals are now the front runners in the race to snap up the Mumbai Indians captain.
DC are reportedly willing to let go of both captain Axar Patel and opening batter Prithvi Shaw as part of a package to bring the current Mumbai Indians skipper into their fold.
What catches people off guard in this whole story is the timing. Delhi Capitals had barely finished celebrating the return of Rishabh Pant from Lucknow Super Giants once IPL 2026 ended, and now they're already chasing another marquee name.
The franchise reportedly views Hardik as someone capable of strengthening their batting and bowling units simultaneously, while also bringing genuine leadership experience to the dressing room.
#Mumbai
3 months ago
Chennai: As India look to usher in a new generation of fast bowlers, Australian great Glenn McGrath believes Prasidh Krishna has all the ingredients to become Jasprit ****** rah's long-term pace partner.
The legendary fast bowler, who is the director of coaching at the MRF Pace Foundation, has closely followed Prasidh's rise and feels the tall Karnataka seamer has transformed his potential into performances.
"I'm a big fan of Prasidh," McGrath said. "If he gets his length right, he's got everything going for him."
"He has really matured. He's tall, bowls in good areas, generates bounce and has genuine pace. Occasionally he's a little short, but apart from that, I think he's the whole package. He's really developed and put his potential into performance," he said.
India have handed opportunities to several young quicks during the recent tours of the UK and Zimbabwe as they prepare for a demanding cycle of white-ball cricket, with the ODI and T20 World Cups to be played in South Africa and Australia-New Zealand respectively. It means India will need a strong pace attack firing on all cylinders, and McGrath believes the transition phase they are going through will not be easy.
"You've got ****** rah, who's a class bowler, and Mohammed Shami, who's world-class as well. Mohammed Siraj has been around for a long time too. You can't just expect to pick up straight where you left off. It's always going to be a transitional period," he said, referring to the Australian team, which will also go through a similar phase.
"Other than Pat ****** mins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, hardly anybody gets a chance... So it's not going to be easy for Australia either."
McGrath also pointed out that ****** rah's unconventional action demands careful workload management.
"The way he powers through those last few steps probably puts more stress on his body than most bowlers. It'll be interesting to see how he manages himself," McGrath said.
While India appear keen to fast-track younger bowlers, McGrath insisted experienced pacers still have an important role to play.
"It's always good to have experience there. Young bowlers learn by playing alongside senior guys. I was fortunate to watch Craig McDermott and Merv Hughes. That's where you really learn. I'd always pick an experienced team over a potential team," he said.
On whether veterans such as Shami or Bhuvneshwar ****** ar could still mount a comeback, McGrath said the decision rested on their bodies, motivation and the selectors.
"If they're prepared to put the work in and their body allows it, then why not? As fast bowlers get older, the work only gets tougher. Ultimately, it's up to them and the selectors."
McGrath also called for a rethink in the way fast bowlers are rehabilitated after injuries, arguing that modern systems often "wrap bowlers in cotton wool" instead of making them physically stronger.
132677427
"The best way is to get stronger. Even when you're in
The legendary fast bowler, who is the director of coaching at the MRF Pace Foundation, has closely followed Prasidh's rise and feels the tall Karnataka seamer has transformed his potential into performances.
"I'm a big fan of Prasidh," McGrath said. "If he gets his length right, he's got everything going for him."
"He has really matured. He's tall, bowls in good areas, generates bounce and has genuine pace. Occasionally he's a little short, but apart from that, I think he's the whole package. He's really developed and put his potential into performance," he said.
India have handed opportunities to several young quicks during the recent tours of the UK and Zimbabwe as they prepare for a demanding cycle of white-ball cricket, with the ODI and T20 World Cups to be played in South Africa and Australia-New Zealand respectively. It means India will need a strong pace attack firing on all cylinders, and McGrath believes the transition phase they are going through will not be easy.
"You've got ****** rah, who's a class bowler, and Mohammed Shami, who's world-class as well. Mohammed Siraj has been around for a long time too. You can't just expect to pick up straight where you left off. It's always going to be a transitional period," he said, referring to the Australian team, which will also go through a similar phase.
"Other than Pat ****** mins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, hardly anybody gets a chance... So it's not going to be easy for Australia either."
McGrath also pointed out that ****** rah's unconventional action demands careful workload management.
"The way he powers through those last few steps probably puts more stress on his body than most bowlers. It'll be interesting to see how he manages himself," McGrath said.
While India appear keen to fast-track younger bowlers, McGrath insisted experienced pacers still have an important role to play.
"It's always good to have experience there. Young bowlers learn by playing alongside senior guys. I was fortunate to watch Craig McDermott and Merv Hughes. That's where you really learn. I'd always pick an experienced team over a potential team," he said.
On whether veterans such as Shami or Bhuvneshwar ****** ar could still mount a comeback, McGrath said the decision rested on their bodies, motivation and the selectors.
"If they're prepared to put the work in and their body allows it, then why not? As fast bowlers get older, the work only gets tougher. Ultimately, it's up to them and the selectors."
McGrath also called for a rethink in the way fast bowlers are rehabilitated after injuries, arguing that modern systems often "wrap bowlers in cotton wool" instead of making them physically stronger.
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"The best way is to get stronger. Even when you're in
