Former New Zealand cricketer Ian Smith believes that current England Test coach Brendon McCullum would have selected Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell for the Test side. Smith expressed this opinion on SEN’s Sportsday, stating that McCullum would pick Maxwell in tests.

“I’m confident Baz would have chosen him. I know Brendon McCullum, and even though he hasn’t spoken about it, I’m sure he’d have a quote or two about that innings because he would have been amazed,” Smith said.

Maxwell scored 201* off 128 deliveries to secure Australia’s three-wicket victory against Afghanistan, marking the first-ever double century in an ODI run chase.

Smith acknowledged McCullum’s significant role in England’s Test cricket resurgence. Reflecting on Maxwell’s limited Test opportunities, Smith pointed out Australia’s exceptional depth, particularly in the lower middle-order position. He suggested that in a country like New Zealand, Maxwell would have had more opportunities, given his destructive batting style.

“I see a couple of factors to think about. Firstly, Australia has impressive Test cricket depth that many countries wish for. Glenn Maxwell would have featured in numerous Tests for New Zealand and other nations,” he added.

“In the red-ball cricket position where he bats, the middle-order spot, Australia has consistently been exceptionally strong, boasting great depth in that specific area,” he said.

“I would love to see Glenn Maxwell playing Test innings like that occasionally. However, it’s not a common practice, is it? Perhaps, in 10 years time, Test cricket will evolve to suit that style of player. Unfortunately, Glenn Maxwell may not be around to play it,” he added.

Despite Maxwell’s white-ball heroics, he has only played seven Tests for Australia, scoring 339 runs at an average of 26.07 with one century. His off-spinners have yielded eight wickets at a 42.62 average, including one four-wicket haul.

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Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has expressed strong support for Saudi Arabia’s potential investment in the IPL. Modi, a veteran businessman, suggested the possibility of establishing a second-tier league with 20 teams. Significantly, he disclosed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not communicated with him for the last 15 years, as they banned him in 2013.

The success of the IPL has attracted international interest, with reports indicating discussions between advisers of Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Indian officials about transforming the IPL into a holding company. If the Saudi investment materializes, it is expected to significantly enhance the league’s popularity.

While there is no official confirmation of Saudi Arabia’s interest in the IPL, Lalit Modi remains optimistic about the potential investment. Despite his lifetime ban by the BCCI, he proposes the establishment of a second-tier league featuring 20 teams.

Modi also shared his perspective on the future of cricket formats.

“I believe 50-over ODIs are fading away. I don’t see any real purpose in them; they seem to exist just for the sake of it. The true significance lies in Test cricket. A four-day Test, or even a five-day one, especially a day/night Test, holds value because people lack the time from morning to evening. With a day/night Test, fans have the opportunity to attend the game after work hours,” Lalit said RevSportz.

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Former Indian spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan recently claimed that he had a conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin about his bowling action. This revelation followed a series of trolls targeting Sivaramakrishnan for his earlier controversial comments on Ashwin.

Sivaramakrishnan expressed his opinion on the commentary team selected for the World Cup through a post on X (formerly Twitter). In his post, he criticized the panel, labelling it a “pathetic mix” due to the absence of a genuine spinner, especially considering the competition is taking place in India. Sivaramakrishnan’s discussion shifted towards India’s challenges against spin, prompting him to make peculiar statements about Ashwin, suggesting that pitches in India favour the off-spinner in Tests.

The situation escalated as screenshots circulated on social media, allegedly showing Sivaramakrishnan referring to Ashwin as a “fool” and the “most unfit cricketer.” This resulted in widespread backlash against the former cricketer.

In a recent post, Sivaramakrishnan disclosed that Ashwin reached out to him to discuss his bowling action. Sivaramakrishnan stated that trolls’ harsh criticism of the former cricketer equally surprised Ashwin.

He took to Twitter to share this information, stating, “Ravi Ashwin was nice enough to call me just a while ago to discuss his bowling action. He was as shocked with the venom of the trolls as I was. Also clarified that the people involved are in NO WAY connected to him. GOOD LUCK @ashwinravi99 Do us proud.”

It’s worth noting that Ashwin has been picked for the Indian team for the 2023 World Cup. It will take place in India from October 5 to November 19.

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Former legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh anticipates that Shubman Gill has the potential to emerge as the best player of his generation. Gill’s stellar performance in ODIs this year, amassing 1230 runs with five centuries, has caught Yuvraj’s attention, who has witnessed the young opener’s hard work and dedication from his early cricketing days.

Expressing his belief in Gill’s prowess, Yuvraj Singh shared his perspective with The Week. “Shubman Gill has the ability to lead this generation as the best player. The man is really hardworking. His mentality hasn’t changed since he was around 19 to 20. Since he was a child, he has put in four times the amount of effort as an average person. He has the potential to be the player of this era, regardless of what work I have done with him,” he said.

Yuvraj Singh is confident that Gill will excel in Test cricket as well.

“Gill made 91 runs in a Test match that India won. On his first visit to Australia, he also scored two fifties, which I don’t think many players have ever done. He will undoubtedly score runs in Australia, South Africa, and England,” he added.

In the context of the upcoming World Cup, Yuvraj Singh believes that Gill’s fearless batting style provides India with a significant advantage. He recalled Gill’s ability to pressure the Pakistani bowlers in the Asia Cup.

“He (Gill) is in such a stage right now where he is fearless. He has the potential to make a difference for India at the World Cup. He put the bowlers under pressure when playing Pakistan,” he remarked.

Shubman Gill would aim to conclude an outstanding 2023 with a meaningful contribution to India’s World Cup triumph.

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Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin found himself excluded from India’s preliminary squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023. The selectors opted for a trio of left-arm spinners, leaving the veteran spinner out in the cold.

Ashwin, reflecting on his illustrious yet tumultuous career, spoke passionately about his dedication to the Indian cricket team.

“I have been a member of Team India for the past 14–15 years. I’ve experienced fantastic moments with the team. Recently I had a conversation with Abhinav Bindra. He said that he’s failed more often than he succeeded,” he said on his YouTube channel.

“I’ve also experienced my fair share of failures. I have inked Indian cricket very close to my heart. I’ll be ready and willing to give my everything if they need me even tomorrow,” he added.

Ashwin acknowledged the parallel between his journey and Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra’s, emphasizing that he has encountered both failures and successes but remains dedicated to serving the national team.

While Ashwin has been an integral part of India’s Test side in recent years, he has had a less consistent presence in white-ball formats. His last appearance in an ODI was back in January 2022, and his stint in the T20s ended after the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final loss to England.

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Indian pacer Ishant Sharma opened up about Dhoni’s captaincy and how it seamlessly transitioned to Virat Kohli’s era.

Dhoni, who captained the Test team from 2008 to 2014, guided India to victories in 28 out of 60 matches. It was during India’s 2014 tour of Australia that Dhoni announced his retirement from Test cricket, passing on the mantle to the dynamic Virat Kohli.

Kohli elevated team India’s performance further. His captaincy boasts an impressive record of 40 wins in the 68 matches he led—a feat that places him among the most successful Test captains.

Ishant Sharma recently lauded both Dhoni and Kohli for their unique contributions. Speaking to JioCinema, Ishant acknowledged that Kohli’s leadership was exemplary. He attributed much of the team’s bowling strength during Kohli’s era to the solid foundation laid by MS Dhoni.

“He was unmatched. Bowling unit was complete while Virat was captain. We were at a transition period while we were playing for Mahi bhai. Shami and Umesh were new at the moment, and I was the only one present. Everyone else would take turns. Bhuvi, too, was new. As a communicator, Mahi bhai is unrivaled. He did, however, groom the bowlers and entrust them with Virat. Shami and Umesh evolved into different bowlers over time, and then Jasprit also joined the team. As a result, he received a comprehensive package. The best thing he did was identify everyone’s strengths; he used to talk about one thing with one person and then let them be,” Ishant Sharma said.

Shifting the focus to Kohli’s captaincy, Ishant described him as an aggressive leader who demanded results from his bowlers.

“Kohli’s guidance extended to each player’s strengths. First and foremost, he was aggressive. If you bowl with the new ball, you can give up 25 runs in five overs and take two wickets. The key thing was that he assigned roles to everyone,” Ishant said.

‘You have played enough matches, it’s now time for you to step up. Don’t bowl thinking you have to bowl in a specific region; now you have to find ways to acquire wickets,’ he told me.

‘I know you can take wickets, but now I need you to bowl consistently. You can bowl three overs as a maiden,’ he told Shami.

‘This is your debut, you do what you do, but consistency is very crucial in Test,’ he told Bumrah.

In retrospect, Ishant recognized that Kohli’s captaincy after 2021 encouraged innovative thinking. “After 2021, I realized he wanted all of us to think out of the box”, the pacer concluded.

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Cheteshwar Pujara recently opened up about the frustrations that come with having to continually prove oneself. He has a remarkable career spanning over a hundred Test matches. The seasoned No.3 batsman’s candid admission sheds light on the mental and emotional challenges that accompany a cricketer’s journey.

Cheteshwar Pujara voiced his disappointment following his exclusion from the national squad for the West Indies tour. The experienced campaigner, who boasts an impressive Test record with an average of 43.60 from 103 matches, acknowledged that the journey has been a roller-coaster with its share of highs and lows.

In a determined bid to stage a comeback, the 35-year-old cricketer participated in the recent Duleep Trophy as part of the West Zone team. He managed to accumulate 185 runs in four innings at an impressive average of 46.25. However, the grand finale against the South Zone saw Pujara facing twin failures.

Speaking on the “Final Word” podcast, he said, “There have been ups and downs in the last few years, and it tests you as a player because even after playing more than 90 Test matches, I still had to prove myself, that I belonged there. It’s a unique form of task. If you have to prove yourself after 90 Tests and 6,000 runs, it’s not easy,” Pujara said.

“Sometimes it messes with your ego. Despite having been successful at the international level for many years, there are still questions about your ability. If you have to prove yourself over and over again, you wonder if it’s worth it,” he added.

Despite the fact that a comeback to the Test squad appears doubtful for the champion, he remains optimistic about his chances.

He explained, “I keep telling myself that I know I’m supposed to be there. Despite knowing that with the contributions I’ve made to Indian cricket, I still have a lot to offer. I was told every time I scored more than 70 or 80 runs, India has gone on to win. We have not lost that specific Test match more than 80% of the time. So I know that if I score runs for the Indian team, we usually come out on top.”

Cheteshwar Pujara scored 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries in his test career. These have often proven pivotal in India’s victories, even so particularly against Australia. His roles in India’s triumphant series in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21 have etched his name forever in cricketing history.

However, Pujara’s recent struggles with form have cast a shadow on his illustrious career. In 2023, Pujara amassed only 181 runs from five Test matches. He just averages a mere 25.85, without a century.

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Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev has provided an honest opinion of Hardik Pandya’s participation in Test matches. Pandya if physically fit, should play red-ball cricket. However, Kapil Dev is doubtful that this will happen.

The ongoing debate within Indian cricket circles revolves around the question of whether Pandya’s physique can endure the rigors of Test cricket. Despite making his red-ball debut for India in 2017 during the Sri Lanka series, the 29-year-old has not featured in a Test match since the England tour in 2018.

Nasser Hussain, former England cricket captain, emphasized the significance of an all-rounder akin to Ben Stokes for India’s success in overseas Tests. When questioned about Pandya’s potential in red-ball cricket, Kapil Dev remarked to The Times of India, “Doesn’t look like he will.”

“It doesn’t appear that he will. I saw his photograph on a billboard today,” the Indian legend continued. “I’m not sure if they did any touch-ups or not. He appeared to have one of the best physiques in the country. Yes, he should play more cricket because he is so talented. If he is fit, he should also play Test cricket.”

Regarding the scarcity of fast-bowling all-rounders, Kapil Dev said, “I don’t believe in making direct comparisons between players. We have produced a large number of solid fast bowlers over the last two to three decades. This is a more important consideration.”

“It’s important to remember that spin-bowling all-rounders are just as valuable as fast-bowling all-rounders. Fortunately, the Indian squad has some outstanding talent in this area. Jadeja’s efforts are fantastic, and Ashwin’s superb performance speaks for itself. As a result, the assumption that we lack all-rounders is false,” he concluded.

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Indian cricket icon Kapil Dev has provided guidance to the current Team India captain, Rohit Sharma, urging him to adopt a more aggressive stance. Commending England’s Bazball approach, the former captain emphasized that not only India, but all cricketing nations should embrace a similar strategy in Test cricket.

England’s remarkably aggressive approach faced criticism in the initial phase of the Ashes 2023 series, suffering narrow defeats in the first two Tests. Nevertheless, a remarkable comeback led by Ben Stokes and his teammates leveled the five-match series at 2-2.

In an interview with The Times of India, Kapil Dev shared his thoughts on Bazball and said “Bazball is fantastic. The series between England and Australia was one of the best I’d watched in a long time. Cricket, in my opinion, should be played in this manner. Rohit is excellent. But he needs to be more assertive. Consider how teams like England currently play. It isn’t just us. All cricket-playing countries must consider this. “Winning the game should be the highest priority for all teams not playing for draws.”

Following consecutive losses in the first two Tests, England bounced back in the third Test held in Leeds, securing victory by a mere three wickets.

The fourth match in Manchester concluded in a draw due to inclement weather, yet England maintained dominance throughout. The Ashes 2023 series culminated in a triumphant return for England, as they clinched the final Test at The Oval with a 49-run victory.

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Ravichandran Ashwin shared his perspective on his recent absences from overseas Test matches. The Indian team has predominantly favored a four-seam bowling strategy in away games, resulting in direct competition for the sole spinner’s position between Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, with the latter being preferred.

Ashwin found himself sidelined during the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at The Oval. Despite the historical context of the venue suggesting the potential for a two-spinner approach, the team adhered to the four-seam and one-spinner tactic.

India suffered a disappointing defeat by a margin of 209 runs. Adding to the setback, Australia’s main spinner, Nathan Lyon, stood out in the second innings with four wickets to his name.

In an interview with the Times of India, Ashwin acknowledged that Jadeja’s enhanced batting skills have solidified his role in overseas Test matches. He commented, “In recent times, the two premier spinners have been Ravindra Jadeja and me. Both of us possess batting prowess, and Jadeja’s impressive form with the bat has rightfully earned him the opportunity.”

Ashwin further stated that he doesn’t dwell on the team’s selection decisions and instead focuses on being a positive presence within the dressing room when he’s not on the field.

He explained, “I can’t point a finger and I don’t want to try to figure out the reasons behind my exclusions, as they are beyond my control. Since the 2018-19 period, when I underwent a mental and physical transformation, I’ve steered clear of negativity. I embrace a mindset of contribution while in the dressing room.”

“Maintaining a balanced ego is crucial; an inflated ego can be a hindrance in the dressing room. Whether I’m playing or not, my priority remains India’s success. I wholeheartedly support the team’s quest for victory,” Ashwin said.

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