According to a recent report, veteran cricketers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli of India have expressed that they are willing to participate in the forthcoming Twenty20 International series against Afghanistan. The strong duo has stepped up, adding an unexpected layer to the difficulties of team selection, even if they haven’t participated in T20 internationals since the 2022 T20 World Cup.

The selection committee will convene on Friday to finalize the team for the January 11–12 three-twentieth-century international series against Afghanistan and the January 25–31 five-match Test series against England. Fans eagerly anticipate Rohit Sharma and Kohli’s antics on the field in the limited-overs format.

But choosing a new skipper for the Twenty20 Internationals is a problem for the selection committee since important players like Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are sidelined with injuries. The team’s composition is made more intriguing by this unanticipated leadership vacancy, which has supporters wondering who could rise to the challenge.

Additionally, for the upcoming games against Afghanistan, the committee is thinking of resting Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, two fast bowlers. According to sources, this move is meant to keep both pacers in peak condition for the duration of the Test match against England. In India’s most recent victory over South Africa, which tied the two-match series, Siraj and Bumrah both had crucial roles to play.

Beginning on January 11, India will play a three-match T20I series.
The Indian team management gives the long-term fitness of its key players first priority, while the selection committee mulls over these choices. A crucial decision-making session that could determine India’s strategy in the forthcoming series is scheduled to occur when selectors SS Das, Salil Ankola, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar are presently in Cape Town.

India and Afghanistan are set to begin their three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series on January 11 at Mohali’s IS Bindra Stadium, home of the Punjab Cricket Association. The next three Twenty20 international matches are slated to be played on January 14 and 17, respectively, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.

The third Test between Australia and Pakistan saw a thrilling battle at the SCG on Day 3, with the game swinging back and forth, demonstrating the unpredictable character of the format. Pakistan’s hero was Aamer Jamal, who caused havoc in Australia’s lower order after tea and helped his team seize a tenuous 14-run lead in a seesaw struggle.

Mitchell Marsh’s form was remarkable as he scored his fourth consecutive half-century, putting Australia, who looked like they would take an early lead, in a strong position. Before the game abruptly changed shortly before tea, the pair—Alex Carey and myself—stitched up a hopeful 84-run combination. Spinner Sajid Khan bowled Carey for 38, which signaled the beginning of a spectacular collapse. With just 10 runs from 5 wickets, the Australian team collapsed.

Showing off his skill with the ball, Aamer Jamal took his second five-wicket haul of the game. Important Australian batsmen like Pat Cummins and Marsh were eliminated during the scorching session. Jamal put on a captivating display, finishing with figures of 6 for 69 from 21.4 overs, smashing Australia for 299 and giving Pakistan a 14-run advantage to begin their innings in the current final Test of the series.

The batting order for Pakistan collapses on Day 3
Pakistan’s start to the second innings was far from steady as Shafique and Masood were the first wickets they lost for ducks. Saim Ayub and Babar Azam, however, steadied the ship and established a crucial fifty-man alliance. After Travis Head’s crucial dismissal of Babar, Nathan Lyon slowly found his rhythm, which ended the crucial partnership by dismissing Ayub, and this changed the course of the game.

Sensing their chance, Australia brought Josh Hazlewood into the mix as a calculated bowling change. The tall pacer produced a terrific over and demonstrated the unpredictable nature of the game by taking three fast wickets in an incredible show. With their score at 82/7, Pakistan was in serious trouble, and Aamer Jamal and Rizwan were left to lead their side out of it. As the pitch revealed its complexity, with varying bounces and heavy turns, the match’s pendulum swung back in favour of Australia.

In the current three-match Test series against Australia, Pakistan’s Aamer Jamal has shown himself to be a one-man army. In his first-ever Test series, the 27-year-old surprised the hosts by taking two wickets in a row. This was very beneficial for Pakistan, particularly with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf absent. Jamal achieved his highest-ever Test wicket-taking total of six for 69 runs in the third Test at Sydney Cricket Ground.

Following that, the all-around player was “over the moon” and remembered his childhood memories of watching the squad play. The cricket player, who was born in Mianwali, continued by saying that the team management supports him in his goal of picking wickets and that he doesn’t give much thought to leaking runs.

I’m ecstatic and honored to be representing my nation at this caliber. I consider this to be a fantastic opportunity. India Today cited Jamal as stating, “Even though it’s been a long time, I still remember those days when I used to watch the Pakistan squad.

“I just trust in myself every time, even when I am giving up runs. The coaching staff has given me a lot of confidence,” he continued. “When you try to go for wickets, you also leak boundaries.”

I believe that the alliance allowed us to reenter the game. Aamer Jamal
Jamal’s six-fer in the third Test helped Pakistan build a 14-run lead when Australia was bowled out for 299 runs. As the cricketer scored an important 82 runs to aid the visitors in scoring 313 runs, Jamal also responded to his batting performance. Pakistan was able to re-enter the game thanks to his crucial 86-run partnership with Mir Hamza.

“I believe that relationship helped us win the game because we were seven down for 227. Regarding his batting, Jamal responded, “We are a few runs ahead of them and that matters.”

As Australia is about to humiliate Pakistan with a whitewash, it is alarming that Pakistan had such a terrible start to the second inning at the bat.

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.