Sanjay Manjrekar, a former cricket player, is not pleased with India’s performance in the two-match Test series against South Africa. The Proteas pacers rocked the visitors in the first Test at Centurion, and Rohit Sharma led his team to victory in the second Test, which saw South Africa bowled out for 55 and 176 runs, respectively.

But if he had been the team’s captain or coach, Sanjay Manjrekar said he would have been dissatisfied. Although India ultimately fell short of making history—they are still seeking their first Test series victory in the rainbow nation—he continued, saying that this was the most defeatable South African team. The 58-year-old expressed dissatisfaction over the teams’ lack of Test matches and said the three-match ODI series wasn’t necessary.

“If I were the captain or the coach, I would consider it a regret. The South African teams that India faced in the past were formidable opponents. This South African side was the easiest to defeat. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar stated that Dean Elgar’s 185 stopped India from making true history.

“I said previously as well that there was no purpose for a three-match ODI series between the Twenty20 internationals and the Test given that it wasn’t even the year of the ODI World Cup,” he continued.

Because Sumit Sharma, an Odisha cricketer, has presented several birth documents during his career, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has suspended him for two years. Before the player’s first Ranji Trophy encounter of the season, the all-rounder received a letter of suspension from the governing body’s disciplinary committee. He traveled to Baroda with the team.

According to sources, the birth certificate he provided during the 2015–16 season did not match up, leading to several rumors and ultimately leading to the board suspending him. Tarini Sa will take Sumit’s place in the starting lineup for the first game, according to the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA). Although he joined the team in Baroda, the cricketer was not included in the starting lineup.

“The BCCI has barred Sumit Sharma, an Odisha senior men’s team player, from participating in the BCCI domestic tournaments for a period of two years due to his presentation of numerous age certificates. In an explanation of the development, OCA secretary Sanjay Behera released a press release. “The certificates produced by him when he played at the junior level in the year 2015-16 do not match with the ones he produced for the current season.”

The series’ second and last Test between South Africa and India was an absolute blur. The match proved to be an utter barn burner, finishing as the shortest Test match in history in terms of overs bowled. The series ended in a tie after the game, which lasted for 1.5 days. India won the second Test, but the Proteas won the first, leaving no obvious winner in a series that lasted only two games. Observing the same circumstances, former English cricket player Kevin Pietersen expressed his opinion that a third Test might easily decide the series winner. Pietersen expressed the opinion that even if a third Test match is played in Cape Town to decide the winner, the players won’t miss their planned flights home.

“Tomorrow in Cape Town, there is ample time to play the third and final Test match. The players will not miss their scheduled flights home, and there will undoubtedly be a result in the series,” Kevin Pietersen stated on his ‘X’ handle.

Earlier this month, in Perth, Australia played Pakistan in the opening of a three-match Test series, and there was no love lost. With a commanding 360-run lead, the hosts destroyed Pakistan’s aspirations of winning a Test match on Australian soil for the first time ever.

Before the second Test at the storied Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which starts on December 26, the Pakistani players and their support staff surprised the Australian players and their families with a pleasant surprise. Off the field, though, the two teams have a great deal of camaraderie. The Pakistani contingent came in with gifts and candy for the kids while the Australians were training at the MCG’s indoor facilities with their families in tow.

The supporters were quite appreciative of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) touching gesture, which was captured on camera. “Warm wishes and heartfelt gifts for the Australian players and their families at the MCG indoor nets,” the caption read.

When India plays South Africa on December 26 at SuperSport Park in Centurion, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has hinted that his team would choose to use a single frontline spinner. Manjrekar, who is renowned for his perceptive views, has chosen all-round player Ravindra Jadeja over the top-ranked Test bowler, R Ashwin, who can also bat.

“Because it’s not known to be a turning pitch, if it is a rank turner or a pitch that is likely to turn a lot, then maybe India might have two spinners,” Manjrekar said to ESPNcricinfo.

Ravindra Jadeja at No. 7, Manjrekar said, showcasing Jadeja’s ability to bat well abroad. Just his batting contributions in overseas Test matches are the reason he is my choice above Ravichandran Ashwin. Thus, at No. 7, he turns into that special spinner.”

It seems that Manjrekar made his decision because of Ashwin’s poor performance during the previous tour of South Africa. The off-spinner had a difficult time during the previous tour, taking just three wickets in six innings. However, Jadeja’s injury during that same series left a hole that India is eager to cover this time around.

Remember that Shardul claimed seven wickets in the most recent series in South Africa? Sanjay Manjrekar
Manjrekar also argued for depth in the batting order, stressing the importance of having an extra batter lower in the lineup. “In the first Test match, you just want your batting to have some cushion of an extra batter down the order,” he said, selecting Shardul Thakur to start at number eight. In addition, it should be remembered that Shardul claimed seven wickets in the last South African series.”

Thakur’s outstanding performance on the previous trip, during which he took 11 wickets and included an incredible seven-wicket haul, appears to have had a significant impact on Manjrekar.

Sanjay Manjrekar’s XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mukesh Kumar

The SA20 league had a fantastic inaugural season, but Graeme Smith, the league commissioner, has been instrumental in making it even more successful. In his observations, the former Proteas captain discussed the league’s goals of reaching out to the fervent Indian cricket fan base and the strategic importance of digital engagement in this connection.

He said he was grateful for the unwavering devotion Indian cricket fans have for the sport and stressed that the cricket played in the SA20 is geared for evening entertainment and is a great way for families to watch top-notch sports entertainment.

Graeme Smith recognized that there are many Indian cricket fans who still yearn for the heyday of South African cricket and believes the SA20 will serve as a spark to bring back that nostalgia. The SA20 will be ideal for informal evening entertainment where people can enjoy top-notch sports with their family. Indian cricket fans have long been fervent fans of the game. Many Indian cricket fans still have fond memories of the heyday of South African cricket, and we want the supporters to rekindle that sentiment,” Smith added.

In addition, Smith presented the SA20’s strategic goal. “Our objective is to expand the footprint of the SA20 into new areas, winning the hearts of cricket fans who have been waiting for an electrifying T20 experience,” said Smith.

“The SA20 intends to place a strong emphasis on its online presence, especially addressing our Indian friends. We aim to enhance cross-border digital engagements, acknowledging the immense passion for cricket in India. We want to not only grab Indian cricket fans’ attention but also provide a platform that speaks to their ardor for the sport through creative material, in-person interactions, and exciting projects,” Smith said.

In an effort to forge close ties with supporters worldwide, the 2018 season of SA20 looks to be an exciting new chapter in the league’s history.

18 December 2023, Bengaluru Mo Bobat, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Director of Cricket, provided insight into the team’s strategic goals for the upcoming IPL auctions at the Leaders Meet India event hosted by the RCB Innovation Lab.

In order to further fortify the player base, Mo Bobat emphasized the need to make wise decisions during trades and auctions. Our top order is quite potent, and we have a solid core of players that we can keep around. We tried to strengthen the middle order while making judgments on player releases, and adding Cameron Green was a great step in that direction.

We consider Mohammed Siraj to be an integral part of our work; therefore, going forward, we will make it a top priority to provide him with other bowling alternatives, including possibilities to bowl internationally. Next, we have a core of regional spinners that is, in my opinion, rather robust. A few of them have had some opportunities in the past year or two, and going forward, they may take on additional leadership roles, he said.

As one of the main organizers of the inaugural RCB Innovation Lab, the forty-year-old discussed the unique aspects of the summit and its ideation process. “We wanted RCB to be known as innovators on and off the field when we first conceptualized the RCB Innovation Lab,” the man said. This is the first project the leaders are conducting in India, but they have a great track record of doing this kind of stuff elsewhere. This one is intentionally designed to be a hybrid environment where business and high performance coexist. Given how closely related the two items are, that is pretty significant. It should serve as a little catalyst for development and change in terms of funding, support, and decision-making for all Indian sports.

In order for athletes to show off their skills, Mo Bobat also emphasized how important it is to create the ideal culture and performance atmosphere. Here, I’m committing to a long-term endeavor. In Faf, our outstanding captain, we have a great group of veteran players with experience, including Virat, Maxi (Maxwell), and DK (Dinesh Karthik). Thus, the substances have a lot of strength. Making sure the athletes can truly go out and show off their abilities and delight the public is the next goal. This involves creating the ideal performance and culture. The supporters will become excited if we stick to our procedures, play an aggressive style of cricket, and have those few occasions when we’re willing to take risks.

“Naturally, cricket tends to get attracted to and gravitate towards things like the control and the lateral movement of fast bowlers, but what we should be doing is identifying players that have the pace and the balance,” Bobat said, delving into the skill, physical, and psychological aspects of selecting the ideal fast bowler using data and a holistic approach—a strategy that will be crucial for RCB heading into the IPL 2024 auction.

I make that distinction because, while it is possible to teach someone how to enhance their craft, lateral movement, and ball accuracy, pace and manufacturing balance are more difficult to teach because these skills include physicality and release height. It is therefore crucial to recognize the difference between the qualities we must recognize and the ones we may gradually educate.

Regarding India’s cricket skills, Bobat praised the men’s team’s steady and outstanding achievements in the just-finished World Cup 2023 while also expressing his appreciation for the nation’s talent pool.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, the opening batsman for Team India, was unintentionally put in a funny predicament before Sunday’s first ODI against South Africa at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

Perhaps in a moment of distraction, the bus driver locked the door in front of Ruturaj Gaikwad as he was preparing to board, temporarily confusing the batter. Social media users swiftly shared the footage of the incident, which showed Gaikwad’s embarrassing attempt to come up with a different entry.

Dubai, December 18, 2023: The ILT20 has suspended fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq for 20 months for breaking his player contract with the Sharjah Warriors, who had hired him for the first season of the competition. The Warriors extended Naveen’s contract by one more year; however, he declined to sign the retention notice for Season 2.

Earlier this year, Naveen-ul-Haq received a retention notice from Sharjah Warriors, whom he played for in Season 1 of the ILT20 (January–February 2023), on the same terms and conditions as outlined in his Player Agreement.

In an attempt to resolve this conflict, the Sharjah Warriors contacted the ILT20. The ILT20 attempted to mediate the situation using an impartial third party, but it was unsuccessful.

Following separate hearings from Naveen and Sharjah Warriors, the ILT20’s three-member Disciplinary Committee—which also includes Emirates Cricket Board member Zayed Abbas, Chief Executive Officer David White of the league, and Head of Security and Anti-Corruption Col. Azam—resolved to ban Naveen for a full 20 months after considering the evidence presented to them.

David White, CEOILT20: “We do not take pride in this announcement, but all parties are expected to uphold their end of the bargain and understand that failure to do so may result in harm to the other party.” Unfortunately, Naveen-ul-Haq did not fulfill his contractual responsibilities with the Sharjah Warriors. As a result, the league was forced to ban him for 20 months.

“Both parties involved were given opportunities to prepare and present their submissions, and the disciplinary proceedings against Naveen were conducted in a transparent manner.”