CEAT Cricket Rating Awards ceremony was held in Mumbai on Wednesday to celebrate the remarkable achievements of cricketing legends. India skipper Rohit Sharma on Wednesday won the CEAT Men’s International Cricketer of the Year award after he helped the Men in Blue win the T20 World Cup 2024 in July. Rohit has added 14,846 runs, three double hundreds, 33 hundreds, and 87 fifties in ODIs and T20Is combined. Apart from his mouth-watering tally, Rohit is a two-time ICC T20 World Cup (2007 and 2024) and ICC Champions Trophy winner. He also holds the record for most sixes in the shortest format.

Here’s a look at India’s top winners at the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards:

India skipper Rohit Sharma on Wednesday won the CEAT Men’s International Cricketer of the Year award after he helped the Men in Blue win the T20 World Cup 2024 in July.

Rohit’s stint as India’s T20I skipper was a memorable one. He overtook Dhoni as the most successful T20I captain with 49 wins in 62 matches. Dhoni had 41 victories from 72 games. Also to top it off, he led India to the ICC T20 World Cup title after a thrilling win in the final against South Africa at Barbados, ending India’s ICC trophy drought of 11 years.

Youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal won the best Test batter of the year in the CEAT Awards on Wednesday following his scintillating performance in the series against England.

In England’s recent tour of India, Jaiswal was the highest run scorer of the series after scoring 712 runs from 5 matches and 9 innings at a strike rate of 79.91.

The 22-year-old made his Test debut against West Indies in 2023. In the long format, he has scored 1028 runs at a strike rate of 70.07 after playing 9 matches and 16 innings.

Meanwhile, India pacer Mohammad Shami won the best ODI bowler of the year in the CEAT Awards.

Shami was the highest wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup 2023, picking up 24 wickets in just seven matches at an economy rate of 5.26.

The last few years have not been great for Shami as he spent most of the time suffering from injuries. The 33-year-old made his ODI debut in 2013 against Pakistan and picked up 195 wickets from 101 matches.

On the other hand, talisman India batter Virat Kohli on Wednesday won the best ODI batter of the year during the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards.

Kohli made his ODI debut in 2008 against Sri Lanka. Following this he has scored 13906 runs after playing 295 matches and 283 innings at a strike rate of 93.54.

In the ODI World Cup 2023, Kohli was the highest run scorer, scoring 765 runs from 11 matches at a strike rate of 90.31. During the 50-over WC, Kohli also became the first player to hit fifty ODI tons.

The last few months have been great for the Men in Blue after they successfully ended the ICC trophy drought of 11 years by winning the prestigious T20 World Cup 2024.

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid was named the CEAT Lifetime Achievement Award. His stint with the Men in Blue came to an end after India won the T20 World Cup 2024 in July.

Ravichandran Ashwin won the CEAT Men’s Test Bowler of the Year. Just like Jaiswal, Ashwin displayed a stunning performance during England’s tour of India with the ball. Ashwin was the highest wicket-taker with 26 dismissals by his name from the five matches.

Ashwin made his Test debut in 2011 against West Indies. Following this, he has scalped 516 wickets from 100 matches and 189 innings.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Shreyas Iyer won the Memento for Outstanding Leadership for TATA IPL. He helped KKR win their third IPL title in the previous season of the tournament.

Recapping the final match of the T20 World Cup 2024, Virat Kohli (76), Hardik Pandya (3/20) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/18) starred in Men in Blue’s seven-run win over South Africa in the final at Barbados on June 29.

Virat’s masterclass knock helped India reach 176/7 in 20 overs, while Bumrah and Pandya unleashed a pace choke on Proteas, snatching the match from a losing position to restrict Proteas to 169/8 in their 20 overs.

Yashasvi Jaiswal in action© BCCI

India vs Sri Lanka 3rd T20I LIVE Streaming: When and where to watch© AFP

Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Suryakumar Yadav displayed their wide array of strokes as India took an unassailable 2-0 lead, winning the rain-curtailed second T20I by seven wickets with nine balls to spare in Pallekele on Sunday. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and new captain Suryakumar couldn’t have asked for a better start to their new roles as the Indian team played like true T20 World Champions outplaying Sri Lanka in all departments. Despite Shubman Gill‘s absence due to neck spasm and another failure in the format for the ever-hyped Sanju Samson (0), Jaiswal (30 off 15 balls) and Suryakumar (26 off 12 balls) didn’t even break a sweat in their short but tricky chase of 78 in 8 overs after another fine effort by bowlers had restricted Sri Lanka to 161 for 9.

Just when Maheesh Theekshana looked dangerous getting Samson with a carrom ball and squaring up Surya with a doosra, the Mumbai duo decided to bring the sweep shot — both conventional and reverse — out of the closet.

The strategy was to not allow Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga‘s deliveries to deviate off the surface and create confusion.

Instead, the India batters used their reach to good effect and smother the turn. They added 39 in 3.1 overs and by the time Surya and Jaiswal were dismissed, they had hit seven fours and three sixes between them.

It was left to Hardik Pandya (22 not out off 9 balls) and Rishabh Pant (2 not out) to complete the formalities in 6.3 overs and render the final match of the series on Tuesday inconsequential.

Earlier, Surya called right and his bowlers did a repeat act on successive days with the home team losing as many as seven wickets for 31 runs in their last 30 balls after being comfortably placed at 130 for 2 in 15 overs.

Despite scoring 80 in the first 10 overs and in a position to accelerate, Charith Asalanka‘s side lost its way, managing just 81 runs in the back-10 as Pandya’s (2/23 in 2 overs) change of pace and Ravi Bishnoi‘s (3/26 in 4 overs) fast googlies did the trick.

Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh also chipped in with two wickets each.

This was after Pathum Nissanka (32 off 24 balls) and veteran southpaw Kusal Perera (53 off 34 balls) had added 54 runs for the second wicket in six overs to set the platform only to find batters coming after them fritter it away.

As the Indian bowlers tightened the noose around the Lankan batters, the desperation to break the shackles saw the likes of all-rounders Dasun Shanaka (0) and Hasaranga (0) playing indiscreet shots as frown on interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya‘s face was so palpable.

From 130 for 2 in 15 overs, Sri Lanka suddenly had a middle-order collapse, second in as many days, where they lost four wickets in a space of 10 deliveries and never recovered.

Surya’s bowling plans aided by Gambhir’s back-room brainstorming was evident as Bishnoi, who seemed to struggle against Sri Lankan top-order with more right-handers attacking his wrong ‘un, was kept out of the attack.

He started with the young Riyan Parag (0/30 in 4 overs), who had 10 dot balls and five boundaries but was asked to just attack the stumps with occasional turn while Axar Patel (2/30 in 4 overs) continued with his wicket-to-wicket dart-like accuracy.

The ball gripped off the surface while travelling at a decent pace leaving batters confused whether to come forward or stay put on their stance.

Once Bishnoi came in, the change he made from the previous night of varying the pace of his googlies — fastest for Nissanka, slightly slower for Shanaka and flat and low for Hasaranga – was quite effective.

India vs Sri Lanka Live Streaming 2nd T20I: When And Where To Watch Match© AFP

Following the victory against Sri Lanka in the first T20I, India skipper Shubman Gill heaped praise on his batting partner Yashasvi Jaiswal, saying that it is great batting with him. Bowlers’ marvellous performance in the second half of the second innings guided India to victory over Sri Lanka by 43 runs in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Recapping the first T20I, Sri Lanka skipper Charith Assalanka won the toss and elected to bowl first.

“Not really (panicked). We spoke about having good communication and we knew we just needed one wicket (when SL were 140/1). It is great batting with him (Jaiswal) and we complement each other. Our style is different, our plan is simple – assess the conditions and then take on the bowlers. When you are opening the innings, see how the pitch is behaving and play accordingly (that’s the plan),” Gill said in the post-match presentation.

Batting first, India scored 213/7 in 20 overs with knocks from Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill.

Matheesha Pathirana was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka as he snapped four wickets in his spell of four overs where he conceded 40 runs. One wicket each was taken by Dilshan Madhushanka, Asitha Fernando, and Haseanga in their respective spells.

Chasing a mammoth total of 214, the hosts were bundled out for 170 runs in 19.2 overs. With this victory, the Men in Blue lead the three-match series 1-0.

The highest scorer for the side was their opener Pathum Nissanka who played a good innings of 79 runs which came on 48 balls which was laced with seven fours and four sixes.

The wicketkeeper-batter, Kushal Mendis, also scored crucial 45 runs from just 27 balls with the help of seven fours and a six. No other batter than these two were able to make the mark in the match.

For India, spinner Riyan Parag was the highest wicket-taker. He took three wickets in his spell of 1.2 overs where he conceded just five runs. Two wickets each were bagged by Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel and one wicket each was taken by Mohammed Siraj, Ravi Bishnoi in their respective spells.

Suryakumar was awarded the Player of the Match for his brilliant performance.

As Gautam Gambhir gears up to make his debut as India head coach in the first T20I against Sri Lanka, former India batter Wasim Jaffer has shared his playing XI choices for the game on social media. Jaffer – who has been rumoured to become the new head coach of IPL franchise Punjab Kings – made some hot selections. Jaffer left out some big names in the form of Sanju Samson and the in-form Washington Sundar, instead choosing T20 World Cup stars Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel.

If Gambhir and the Team India management were to think the same as Jaffer, it would mean that Samson would miss out yet again, despite his fine form in IPL 2024. Having not played a single game in India’s victorious T20 World Cup 2024, Samson could be set to play second-fiddle to Pant again.

Samson had piled up 531 runs in IPL 2024, 85 more than Pant. Jaffer also left out Samson’s Rajasthan Royals teammate Riyan Parag from his XI.

My playing XI for first T20I:

Gill

Jaiswal

Pant (WK)

SKY (C)

Dube

Hardik

Rinku

Axar

Bishnoi

Arshdeep

Siraj

What’s yours? #SLvIND

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 27, 2024

Jaffer went with an opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and vice-captain Shubman Gill, followed by Pant, new India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh.

With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring from T20Is after the T20 World Cup, Gill is expected to become a feature in the side. Rinku Singh, who narrowly missed the cut from the World Cup squad, also finds a spot.

Jafar went with Axar Patel at the no. 8 spot, ahead of Zimbabwe tour ‘Player of the Series’ Washington Sundar. Washington had picked up eight wickets in five games against Zimbabwe, at a miserly economy of 5.16. Ravi Bishnoi was his selection for the specialist spinner.

Finally, Jaffer picked two frontline seamers in the form of Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj.

Wasim Jaffer’s playing XI: Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.

New Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has admitted that the retirement of stalwarts is a natural thing, and that the team will have to adapt to transition phases. Gambhir’s arrival as coach was preceded by the retirement of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja from T20Is, following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory. Asked whether Gambhir instead encouraged players to be versatile enough for different formats, and emphasised on being consistent in their selection across formats.

“Eventually going forward these things happen. But can’t say right now that there are going to be three different teams,” said Gambhir, speaking in a press conference for the first time since being appointed as India’s head coach.

“I think we will go through a transition in T20s, because Virat (Kohli), Rohit (Sharma) and Ravindra (Jadeja) are not there,” he said.

“In 50 overs and Test cricket, the more consistent we can be the better. The more players that can play both formats, the better for the team,” said Gambhir.

Chief selector Agarkar backed up Gambhir’s statement: “You don’t decide on three different teams.”

“Just to try and find the best balance depending on the format you’re player, be it the same players or different. Nothing is pre-decided. Eventually you try and pick the best 15,” stated Agarkar.

The speculation about three different teams comes after notable differences in the T20I and ODI squads picked for India’s tour to Sri Lanka. In particular, T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav was not included in the ODI setup.

No Surya in ODIs

Agarkar admitted that Suryakumar Yadav was not even discussed for ODIs, with the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer.

“Shreyas is back, KL is back, they had great World Cups. Rishabh is back as well. So there is some real quality through the middle order,” Agarkar said.

“At this point, Surya is a T20 player,” Agarkar said firmly.

India’s 3-match T20I and 3-match ODI tour to Sri Lanka begins from July 27.