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Tag: Rohit Sharma

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Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel get BCCI’s central contracts | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Rising stars Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel have been handed BCCI's Group C central contracts, which have an annual retainership fee of Rs 1 crore.The development comes after Sarfaraz and Dhruv fulfilled the criteria of playing three Tests in a season.Middle-order batter Sarfaraz and wicket-keeper Dhruv's names were ratified during the BCCI Apex Council meeting which was held on Monday.Sarfaraz, a domestic heavyweight for Mumbai, scored three half-centuries in three Tests against England while Agra man Jurel, with scores of 90 and 39 not out in a tricky chase at Ranchi, won the Player of the Match in only his second game.Ratification of central contract was on the agenda and both have made the cut.Ranji Trophy schedulingThe BCCI is likely to revisit the Ranji Trophy calender f...
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‘Garden me ghoomne nahi deta’: Mumbai Indians’ unique welcome for former skipper Rohit Sharma | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Five-time champions Mumbai Indians on Monday announced the arrival of former skipper Rohit Sharma in a unique way ahead of the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League.In a video posted on their official social media handle titled 'Woh aa gaya...Ro aa gaya', a young boy can be seen telling his friend, "Woh aa gaya. Jo garden mein ghoomne nahi deta."The 'garden' reference in the video was picked up from Rohit's viral comment during the Test series against England where he was seen telling youngsters not to field like someone who was roaming around in a garden.After a lengthy home schedule, Rohit joins the MI camp as the franchise gears up for the upcoming season.Hardik Pandya, who took over from Rohit as skipper on Monday lauded his predecessor, saying he will continue to ...
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Trying to hasten my recovery during World Cup led to prolonged rehab, admits Hardik Pandya | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Hardik Pandya's attempt to expedite his return during the business end of last year's ODI World Cup match actually worsened his ankle injury, leading to a delay in his potential comeback by five months.Pandya sustained the injury while attempting to stop the ball during his follow-through in India's fourth World Cup match against Bangladesh in Pune on October 19.Initially targeting a return during the home T20Is against Afghanistan, Pandya's rehabilitation process took longer than anticipated. His eventual return vehicle now appears to be the upcoming IPL -- a lucrative league that propelled the dynamic Baroda all-rounder to fame nearly a decade ago."My injury was a freak one. It had nothing to do with my past injuries or my fitness. I tried to stop the ball and twisted my an...
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Watch: Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher uncomfortably avoids query on Rohit Sharma’s removal as captain | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher on Monday found himself in an uncomfortable situation while avoiding a question related to former skipper Rohit Sharma during a media interaction ahead of the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League.The journalist's query regarding Rohit's removal as skipper saw both Boucher and new skipper Hardik Pandya lost for words."I just want to know what was the one reason that made the management decide that Rohit should not captain Mumbai Indians and Hardik should captain the side?," the journalist asked.Boucher initially put the microphone up to respond to the query but then eventually shook his head and chose to stay tight-lipped.Sitting beside Boucher, Hardik too had a straight face amid an awkward moment of silence.Hardik earlier replac...
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‘Rohit will have his hand on my shoulders’: Hardik Pandya on taking up MI captaincy

Mumbai Indians coach Mark Boucher and team captain Hardik Pandya during a press conference in Mumbai, on March 18, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya on Monday said his predecessor Rohit Sharma will continue to be a guiding force for him during the IPL despite the unexpected change of leadership that the franchise announced ahead of the upcoming season, triggering a "backlash" from the fans. Pandya, who led Gujarat Titans in the past two seasons, is back at Mumbai Indians as captain for the 2024 edition. Having led Mumbai Indians to five titles, Rohit was surprisingly replaced by Pandya going into the upcoming season. "It will not be any different, he will always be there to help me. You mentioned that he is the captain of the Indian team, which helps me be...
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‘No issues with my body’: Hardik Pandya focuses on IPL after freak injury | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya expressed his assurance that his predecessor, Rohit Sharma, would remain a pivotal guiding figure for him throughout the IPL, despite the unforeseen shift in leadership announced by the franchise before the upcoming season.Pandya, who previously captained the Gujarat Titans over the past two seasons, returns to Mumbai Indians as captain for the 2024 edition.Rohit, who led Mumbai Indians to five titles, was unexpectedly replaced by Pandya ahead of the 2024 season."It will not be any different, he will always be there to help me. This team, what it has achieved, it has achieved under him and I just have to carry forward that. He is going to have his hand on my shoulders," said Pandya in a media interaction in Mumbai."We respect fans but we f...
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IPL 2024: I will be carrying forward what Rohit Sharma started for Mumbai Indians, says Hardik Pandya | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Addressing a press conference alongwith head coach Mark Boucher ahead of the upcoming of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Mumbai Indians new captain Hardik Pandya said that he had never thought of leading the franchise with which he started his journey."It feels wonderful, my journey started from here and I never thought that 10 years down the line, I will be leading this side. It feels very good," Pandya said when asked about his new role as the captain of the side in Mumbai on Monday.Pandya had made his IPL debut with Mumbai Indians in 2015 and won four titles with the side before joining Gujarat Titans in 2022.Pandya led Gujarat Titans to a title win in the same season.The all-rounder was traded by Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans ahead of the upcoming season.Coming back...
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‘I got injections, blood removed…’: Hardik Pandya recalls painful recuperation after World Cup injury | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: In his fervent attempt to recover in time for the remaining World Cup matches last year, Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya disclosed resorting to drastic measures, including multiple injections and the removal of blood clots from his ankle. However, pushing his physical limits only exacerbated the injury, ultimately compelling him to withdraw from the tournament.Pandya sustained the ankle injury during India's fourth World Cup match against Bangladesh while delivering his first over.Hindered by the injury, he had to leave the field with the assistance of the team's physiotherapist and was unable to participate further in the competition."I got injections done on my ankles at three different places and I had to remove blood from my ankle because of the swelling. I didn't want t...
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Mohammad Kaif’s ‘doctoring’ comment re-ignites pitch row around 2023 ODI World Cup final, puts Rohit Sharma & Rahul Dravid under the scanner | Cricket News – Times of India

India's defeat against Australia in the ODI World Cup final last year was preceded and followed by a lot of talk around the pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and accusations of home team trying to influence the preparation of the playing surface in their favour. Re-igniting that debate with his comments on an interview to Lallantop, former India batsman Mohammad Kaif said focusing too much on the pitch "messed up" India's preparations while the Aussies learned from their mistakes during the league-stage loss against the home team.He said skipper Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid were keeping a close eye on the preparation of the pitch that kept changing as the match-day came closer. "I was there for three days, did a lot of shows. Rohit Sharma came in the evening with Dr...
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‘I told I will return in five days’: Hardik Pandya on World Cup ankle injury before three-month absence

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya revealed that he had promised the team management a return in five days after injuring his ankle in the league stage of the ODI World Cup last October before being ruled out for almost three months. Featuring in the fourth match of the home World Cup against Bangladesh in Pune, Hardik appeared to twist his ankle while bowling his first over in the game. After the physios walked in to attend him, Hardik walked out of the field while it was later revealed that he would take no further part in the match. While India won the match by seven wickets and proceeded to the final without dropping another game, Hardik’s absence partially unsettled the team balance. Speaking about the incident, Hardik said: “I had preparing for the World Cup for more than a year. It ...
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‘Rohit Sharma said we need Virat Kohli at any cost for T20 World Cup’ | Cricket News – Times of India

The report of Virat Kohli's possible omission from India's T20 World Cup squad spread like wildfire after it was first reported by The Telegraph earlier this week, but a latest post by former India allrounder Kirti Azad refutes all those claims as the 1983 World Cup winner states that captain Rohit Sharma has told BCCI secretary Jay Shah that the teams needs Kohli "at any cost".The report about Kohli's exclusion was based on sources telling The Telegraph that the BCCI selectors believe Kohli hasn't been at his best in the T20 format. The T20 World Cup will begin shortly after the IPL concludes. The premier T20I tournament will be jointly hosted by the West Indies and the USA from June 2 to 29. India haven't won an ICC tournament since clinching the 2013 Champions Trophy. Refuting claims...
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‘I saw the pitch changing colour’: Mohammed Kaif blasts Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid for India’s World Cup final defeat to Australia

Accusing India captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid of botching up their plans in the ODI World Cup final against Australia last November, former India batter Mohammed Kaif said the duo was involved in altering the pitch before the defeat in Ahmedabad. India, favourites to lift the title at home after 12 years, were undefeated in the league stage of the campaign and entered the summit clash on the back of ten consecutive wins. However, the hosts crumbled before a well-oiled Australian unit on a tacky pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium in the final. Kaif, who was on commentary duties in Ahmedabad during the match, observed that Rohit and Dravid made regular evening inspections for three successive days before the final. Speaking in an interview with the Lallantop, Kaif said...
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‘Achievements of gigantic proportions’: Ravi Shastri wants R Ashwin to keep ‘harassing batters’ for a couple of years more | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Premier India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had an emotional Test series against England where he featured in his landmark 100th Test and also scaled 'Mount 500' to become only second Indian to the feat after legendary Anil Kumble.Not only Ashwin reclaimed the no.1 Test bowler spot after the conclusion of the series, his 26 dismissals, bamboozling the England batters, played a huge role in India's 4-1 domination.Two former India coaches in Kumble and Ravi Shastri and one current in form of Rahul Dravid were all in praise of Ashwin on Saturday, labelling him as one of India's greatest ever.While Dravid hoped that he wouldn't call it quits anytime soon, Shastri wanted to see him harass batters for at least two more years. Kumble, on the other hand, found it perplexing that he...
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Former Australian opener feels captaincy-free Rohit Sharma will bat with a lot more freedom | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: With the captaincy burden no longer on his shoulders, opener Rohit Sharma will play with a lot more freedom and that in turn will be beneficial for five-time champions Mumbai Indians, reckoned former Australia skipper Aaron Finch. Following a successful two-year stint at Gujarat Titans -- where Hardik Pandya took the side to 2 finals and winning one of them in 2022 -- the all-rounder returned to Mumbai Indians in a high-profile trade, replacing Rohit as the skipper of the side. Also See: How to watch IPL Cricket 2024 in USA and CanadaAs Hardik took over from a highly-successful Rohit, the franchise said that the change in leadership was part of their future planning."I think for Rohit, the challenge would be just walking out and opening the batting as he's done so many times ...
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South African great senses ‘little needle’ between big personalities Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former South African pacer Dale Steyn feels it will be a challenging task for Hardik Pandya to step in as Mumbai Indians captain in place of Rohit Sharma and hopes that the two big personalities put aside their 'ego' before stepping onto the field.The 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League kicks off from March 22 and Mumbai Indians take last year's finalists Gujarat Titans in their first clash on March 24.Also See: How to watch IPL Cricket 2024 in USA and CanadaHardik, who led Titans in two seasons, late last year moved back to his former franchise Mumbai, replacing five-time title winner Rohit as captain."I think it will be challenging ... the whole dynamics of leaving Mumbai and then coming back to Mumbai. I hope they have some sort of camp a month before the IPL. So, an...
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Watch: Hardik Pandya has the legacy of taking it on, says Kieron Pollard ahead of IPL 2024 | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Kieron Pollard, who became the first player to represent the Mumbai Indians in 150 matches and after IPL retirement is the MI batting coach, I excited and all geared up for the new IPL season.In a video shared by Mumbai Indians on X, Pollard, who has always been an integral part of the five-time champions, welcomed back Hardik Pandya to the team."I'm very excited to see how the 2024 season holds for us.It's a new season. We have a couple of new guys in the batting line-up as well. Obviously it's nice to have him (Pandya) back. He has been a part of Mumbai Indians over the past five-six years. He has done fantastic things for Mumbai. Looking forward to see him in a new role. And everyone is here to give him (Pandya) support. He has the legacy of taking it on as well."Pandya wa...
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‘No one will forget…’: MI new skipper Hardik Pandya fires warning ahead of IPL 2024 | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Returning to Mumbai Indians, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya pledged on Friday to deliver a brand of cricket that will be unforgettable as he leads the five-time champions in this IPL season.Pandya, who was traded by MI from Gujarat Titans before the upcoming season, made his IPL debut with MI in 2015 and clinched four titles with the franchise before joining GT in 2022.Under his leadership, GT secured a title win in the same season."The feeling of wearing this colour is very special for me. Journey started here, coming back home and playing is always going to be special," said Pandya, who replaces Rohit Sharma as captain, in a video posted by the franchise on social media."We will make sure we will play a brand of cricket which all will be proud of and at the same point of ti...
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‘There is only one MS Dhoni’: Dhruv Jurel’s reply to Sunil Gavaskar | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: While some may draw parallels between him and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel asserted on Friday that nobody can truly emulate the former India captain. Instead, he emphasized his focus on carving out his unique identity in international cricket.Jurel, who recently made his Test debut in the series against England, showcased excellence behind the stumps, displayed solidity with the bat, and exhibited instinctive decision-making while assisting captain Rohit Sharma with DRS calls.Despite earning comparisons from the likes of legendary Sunil Gavaskar to Dhoni, the 23-year-old, who is the son of a Kargil war veteran, respectfully disagreed with such comparisons. "Thank you so much Gavaskar sir for comparing me with Dhoni sir. But I want to say personally th...
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Who is Harry Tector, Ireland cricketer who is above Rohit Sharma in ODI rankings and just one point behind Virat Kohli

Ireland’s Harry Tector is one of the watchable players from the associate nations. The batter has the gift of timing the cricket ball and can play some elegant shots. His progress over the years has been a remarkable one. In the recently released ICC Men’s ODI rankings, Tector (767) is just one rating point behind India’s talisman Virat Kohli (768). The Irish middle-order bat is also 21 rating points ahead of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma (746). Tector in 45 matches ODI career has scored 1747 runs at an average of 49.91. The years 2022, 2023, and 2024 (so far) have been fruitful to him as he amassed 384(@ 76.80), 711(@ 50.9), and 141 (@ 70.50) respectively. Pakistan’s Babar Azam remains at the top of the rankings with Shubman Gill at the second spot. ICC ODI rankings POS PLAYER ...
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‘Virat didn’t…’: Harbhajan Singh’s massive comment on Virat Kohli’s World Cup ‘luck’ | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that the star batsman Virat Kohli remains eager to secure another World Cup triumph, having missed out on the prestigious title on three previous occasions.Virat, who missed the recently-concluded five-match series against England that India won 4-1, marked his World Cup debut in 2011, where he clinched the trophy, ending India's 28-year wait for the coveted prize.Despite participating in eight World Cups since then, Virat has yet to claim a title victory in the tournament. Amidst this journey, he has shattered numerous records, surpassing batting legend Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most centuries in ODIs and securing the highest run tally in a single edition of a World Cup.Despite these achievements, Harbhajan Singh suggests...