Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah completed 400 wickets in international cricket, becoming the 10th bowler from his team to do so. Bumrah reached this milestone during India’s first Test against Bangladesh at Chennai. During the game, in Bangladesh’s first innings, Bumrah took 4/50 in 11 overs, with an economy rate of 4.50. He got the wickets of Shadman Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Hasan Mahmud and Taskin Ahmed. Now, in 196 international matches, Bumrah has taken 401 wickets at an average of 21.01, with the best bowling figures of 6/19. He is the only sixth Indian pacer to reach this milestone. In 37 Tests, Bumrah has taken 163 wickets at an average of 20.49, with the best figures of 6/27. He has 10 five-wicket hauls in the long format.

In 89 ODIs, Bumrah has taken 149 wickets at an average of 23.55, with the best figures of 6/19. He has two wicket hauls in the format.

In 70 T20Is, Bumrah has taken 89 wickets at an average of 17.74, with the best figures of 3/7.

The top three wicket takers for India in international cricket are: Anil Kumble (953 wickets), Ravichandran Ashwin (744 wickets), and Harbhajan Singh (707 wickets).

Coming to the match, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field first.

The top-order collapsed, and India was left at 34/3. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (56 in 118 balls, with nine fours) and Rishabh Pant (39 in 52 balls, with six fours) stitched a 62-run partnership for the fourth wicket, bringing India into the game. After India was reduced to 144/6, Ravichandran Ashwin (113 in 133 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes) and Ravindra Jadeja (86* in 117 balls, with 10 fours and two sixes) stitched a 199-run partnership, helping India reach 376 in 91.2 overs.

Hasan Mahmud (5/83) was the top bowler for Bangladesh, destroying the Indian top order, removing skipper Rohit Sharma (6), Shubman Gill (0), and Virat Kohli (6). Taskin Ahmed also took three wickets for 55 runs.

In their first innings, Bangladesh lost wickets regularly. Shakib Al Hasan (32), Litton Das (22) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (27*) put up a brief fight for Bangladesh, but Bumrah (4/50) and Akash Deep (2/19) broke the back of Bangladesh batting. Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each.

India’s participation in next year’s Champions Trophy remains a mystery with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yet to provide a clarity on the team’s travel plans. BCCI has re-iterated time and time again that the Indian team will only travel to Pakistan if the Central goverment allows. Amid the ongoing debate, former Pakistan cricketer Moin Khan has urged legendary Indian players like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Kapil Dev, and Rahul Dravid to persuade the BCCI to send Team India for the Champions Trophy.

“Former India cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Kapil Dev, Rahul Dravid, etc., should tell their cricket board to keep politics away from cricket. Cricket should not be obstructed by political issues. The fans would love to see India and Pakistan play. It will not only benefit Pakistan, but overall cricket will be benefitted,” Moin said at an event.

Moin, however, said that Pakistan too should not send their team to India if they don’t come for the Champions Trophy

“India ought to honour their commitments with the ICC. And if they do not come, then Pakistan should reconsider their decision to participate in any future events slated to be held in India” he added.

PCB has proposed that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will start on February 19 and will be held in Pakistan, refusing to entertain a hybrid model for India’s matches, like in case of the Asia Cup 2023.

As per the PCB proposal, the ICC Champion’s Trophy 2025 will be scheduled from February 19 to March 9 2025 with all the matches to take place across three major cities — Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore. As per sources in the PCB, International Cricket Council (ICC) officials, who visited Pakistan to inspect the arrangements for the event, have expressed satisfaction with the systems in place.

If the Champions Trophy does stay in Pakstan, it could be the first major international cricket tournament hosted solely by the nation.

(With IANS Inputs)

The likes of Kapil Dev and Zaheer Khan have etched their names in the history books for the kind of performances they put for India. While Kapil, an all-rounder in true sense, is among the legendary players of the nation, Zaheer, a left-arm pacer, was also superb with his skill set during his playing days. Come 2024 and Jasprit Bumrah has established himself as a modern day great in bowling. However, these three are not the only names, who have produced scintillating bowling performances for India. Former spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh alongside off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin are find their names in the list of India’s top performing bowlers.

However, when India pacer Mohammed Shami was asked to pick his “favourite bowler of all-time”, he named two greats, who are not from India.

“There are a lot of them. But if you are asking for names, then I like Waqar Younis and Dale Steyn more,” said Shami in a rapid-fire Question and Answer session on Star Sports.

What is #MohammedShami‘s nickname? Who does he enjoy bowling to?

Watch the star answer these Qs and more, on his birthday today!

Don’t forget to wish the Indian speedster a #happybirthday in the comments#Cricket #HappyBirthdayMohammedShami pic.twitter.com/NWjjyqyDWb

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) September 3, 2024

Indian all-format pace veteran Shami has stood up as the match-winner across all three formats by delivering numerous memorable performances and has been the national team’s go-to man in the ODI World Cups.

Ever since his memorable debut in international cricket back in 2013 — where he picked up nine scalps in Eden Gardens — Shami has made a name for himself with his pace, toe-crushing yorkers and ability to step up his game in big games.

Delivering match-winning performances through major ICC tournaments for India, particularly, the 50-over World Cups, despite battling injuries, the pacer has gained a massive following for himself.

He forms a formidable pace duo with Bumrah in all formats of the game.

With 448 international scalps in 188 games including 229 in Tests, 195 in ODIs and 24 in T20Is, Shami is one of the best modern-era pacers to have graced the sport.

(With ANI Inputs)

File photo of Indian cricket team fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah© BCCI

Former India skipper Kapil Dev, on Wednesday, advised Olympic-bound Indian athletes to express themselves fearlessly at the mega-event starting July 26 and hoped that the country would hit double digit mark on the medals tally. India will be represented by a strong 117-member athlete contingent in Paris and the country hopes to better seven-medal count it logged in Tokyo. “I can’t really say for anybody but I can just wish them all the luck and hope we should win more medals this year and that’s important,” Kapil, who is also the president of Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) said here on the sidelines of the launch of second edition of the Trinity Golf Champions League (TGCL).

“My advise to all (Indian athletes) would be to go and express yourself. I cross my finger and why not if we believe it (double digit medal haul) will happen.” Kapil, however, refrained from commenting on Indian cricket and newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir.

“If Gautam Gambhir is taking that position (of head coach of Indian cricket team), I wish good luck to him and the team. I hope they do better than what we have done previously. I want to wish the Indian players all the best.” Kapil, who played a lot of amateur event back in the day, hoped that the sport will continue to grow in the country.

“When I started playing cricket, I never thought golf will reach this height. I hope to see golf reaching the heights of cricket one day,” he said.

“We just need good sponsors to promote the game. Without sponsors nothing is possible. In 5 years time we should reach there,” added Kapil, who is the ambassador of TGCL and also plays in the league.

Buoyed by the resounding success of the inaugural season last year, which featured four teams, TGCL this year will feature eight teams — seven from India and one from Sri Lanka. The event will be held in Bengaluru from September 2 to 7.

The league is a IPL kind of a venture and will be played in the Ryder Cup format with 20 players in each team, which includes professional, celebrity and amateur golfers playing together.

The winning team will be richer by Rs 30 lakh, while second and third placed sides will get Rs 15 and Rs 10 lakh respectively.

“It’s a unique concept, never seen something like this. I hope the prize money for the winners of TGCL will one million dollars in the next five years,” Kapil said.

The eight teams participating in this year’s TGCL are debutants Wave Riders, Mumbai Warriors, Chandigarh Titans, Chennai Hustlers, Dakshin Rangers, Lahari Lions, Golfism and Colombo Lions.

A recent picture of Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga has gone viral on social media and users cannot believe the legendary cricketer’s body transformation. Ranatunga was a star performer for Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup and under his captaincy, they went on to win the title for the only time in their history. Ranatunga entered politics after taking retirement from the sport and he was also a Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka. A recent picture of the cricketer along with former Indian cricket team skipper Kapil Dev has surfaced online and the internet was left completely stunned.

Two World Cup winning captains. pic.twitter.com/zJane9Oq0u

— Rex Clementine (@RexClementine) July 16, 2024

The schedule of India’s upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka has been revised, and the start of the contest pushed back by a day to July 27, the BCCI said on Saturday.

People are saying the man next to Kapil is Arjuna Ranatunga. I’ve watched many of his matches, I’m not ready to believe it’s him. This is the Ranatunga I know.

How can those 2 be the same people?!?! pic.twitter.com/b4w2zvznt9

— Sam ALT Man (@k0ol1) July 16, 2024

The Indians will be touring the island nation later this month for three T20 Internationals and as many ODIs. Originally, the first match — a T20 International — was to be played on July 26, but it will now be held on July 27, followed by the remaining two T20 games on July 28 and July 30, with all the ties to be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Wait, that’s Arjuna Ranatunga?! No way.

— Relentlessly Yapping (@RelentlessYapp) July 16, 2024

The ODIs, initially scheduled to start on August 1, will now begin on August 2, followed by the remaining matches on August 4 and August 7, with all the games to be held at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

It will be India’s first white-ball bilateral trip to the Island nation since 2021. Dravid was the stand-in coach then, with Shikhar Dhawan leading a second-string side. India had won both the T20I and ODI series on that occasion.

India is yet to announce the squad for the tour, but, as reported by PTI on July 8, senior players such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to be rested for this trip.

India will also have a new head coach in Gautam Gambhir, while the Sri Lankans will have a new man at the helm of affairs in Sanath Jayasuriya, who has been named as the interim head coach.

India’s first World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev on Thursday said collective performance, not individual brilliance will be the key factor in deciding whether Rohit Sharma‘s team can end its over-a-decade-long trophy drought by winning the T20 World Cup in the West Indies. India will take on England in the tournament’s semifinal later on Thursday, hoping to make the finals where South Africa are in waiting after annihilating Afghanistan. “Why talk about only Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, or Kuldeep Yadav? Everybody has a role to play. Their job is to win the tournament,” Kapil told PTI Videos in an exclusive interview.

“To win a match, an odd person can come out, but to win a tournament everybody has to work together. If we are going to depend on Bumrah or Arshdeep, then you are going to lose it,” he asserted.

“Let’s talk about the team. That gives you a better perspective rather than the odd player. Yes main player is there and we can go around him. But everybody has to chip in to win the World Cup,” he added.

Kapil pointed out that in his 1983 World Cup-winning team, he wasn’t the only one who performed.

“Roger Binny, Mohinder Amarnath, Kirti Azad, Yashpal Sharma all came out with match-winning performances. If you start depending on one player it means you are not going to win tournaments more often,” he observed.

He wished India good luck ahead of their semi-final match against England and hoped that the Men in Blue clinch the trophy.

“All the Best, good luck, I hope the Indian players, the way they are playing keep on playing like that, they should not have a bad day and be out of the tournament (like) what happened last time in the 50 overs World Cup,” said the iconic all-rounder.

“They are playing well, they are enjoying. Hats off to them. Good luck to them. I wish them all the luck and happiness,” he added.

The 65-year-old, who was elected president of Professional Golf Tour of India on Wednesday, said that he feels proud to see India perceived as title contenders every time they compete in a global event.

“We should be happy that we are able to think that we can win. 20 years back, you weren’t thinking. It’s important that in every tournament India is going as a favourite. That’s a big thing.

“We never thought about that. That’s enough encouragement for a youngster to take up the sport. I am very happy to see where Indian cricket has reached wonderfully well,” he emphasised.

Kapil lauded Bumrah, who has been the star performer for India with 11 wickets in the tournament so far.

“Bumrah is 1000 times better than me. These young boys are far better than us. We had more experience. They are better. They are very good. Outstanding. They are fitter. They are much more hardworking. They are fantastic,” he said.

He, however, played down the role of a captain.

“Everybody can do captaincy. Hardik, Virat, Rohit everyone can do captaincy. When you give ball to somebody, the bowler has to do the job. Yes captain is there to help you out but it’s not like if you don’t win he is not a good captain.”

India cricket legend Kapil Dev has sparked another debate between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as he hailed the current India skipper for knowing his limitations and “keeping the entire team happy”. Kapil, who was recently appointed as the President of the Professional Golf Tour of India, made the comparison ahead of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final against England, for which Rohit is India’s captain. Kapil Dev also said that Rohit does not get as excited as Virat Kohli.

“He (Rohit Sharma) is not like Virat Kohli, he does not jump around,” said Kapil (translated from Hindi). “He knows his limitations, but within those limitations, he performs the best,” said Kapil, lavishing praise on Rohit.

Kapil Dev “Rohit never jumps like Virat, some big player plays for themselves but Rohit keeps entire team happy” pic.twitter.com/rfW5mhBG34

— i. (@arrestpandya) June 26, 2024

Kapil Dev, India’s 1983 World Cup-winning captain, also spoke of Rohit’s captaincy with great regard.

“A big tick in favour of Rohit Sharma is that he keeps the entire team happy,” said Kapil. “There are many great players who play for themselves, take the captaincy for themselves, but not him,” he added.

Towards whom exactly Kapil’s last comment was directed at is not certain, but it speaks volumes of Rohit Sharma’s captaincy to receive such praise from one of India’s most famous captains and all-rounders.

Kapil’s comment drew the ire of many fans on social media, with one user commenting that India are repeating the same mistake.

“We haven’t reached the final yet, but ‘Virat vs Rohit’ has started. We won’t win like this,” read the comment (translated from Hindi).

Repeating the same mistake again..

Final tak nhi pohunche virat vs rohit shuru..

Kabhi nhi jeetenge aise

— p. (@coolfyfied) June 26, 2024

Rohit heads into the semi-final against England after scoring 92 off 41 balls against Australia in the Super 8 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup, and guiding India to victory. On the other hand, Rohit’s opening partner Kohli has struggled for form. Kohli has made only 66 runs in his six innings so far.

India take on England in the semi-final, hoping to destroy the demons from the 2022 T20 World Cup, when England had defeated India by 10 wickets en route to winning the trophy.

The game will take place at Guyana’s Providence Stadium on June 27.

Mohammed Shami in action for the Indian cricket team in Cricket World Cup 2023© AFP