India's star spinner, R Ashwin, has announced his retirement from international cricket after the third Test match against Australia in Brisbane. He made the announcement in a press conference with skipper Rohit Sharma, after the match ended in a draw. With 537 wickets in 106 Tests, Ashwin retires as the second highest wicket-taker for India, only behind Anil Kumble.
Anil Kumble has taken to social media to debunk fabricated comments attributed to him regarding Indian cricket superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The former skipper has urged fans to be cautious of information on social media, emphasizing that his official channels are the only reliable source of his views. Meanwhile, Australian legend Allan Border has expressed concerns over Kohli's struggles against balls outside the off-stump in the ongoing Test series against Australia.
In a shocking turn of events, 2024 has proven to be the year of a statistical nightmare for Virat Kohli, as his batting prowess has been on a sharp decline across all formats of the game. With a batting average of 25.06 in Tests, 19.33 in ODIs, and 18.00 in T20Is, Kohli's once invincible form has now come into question. Experts like Anil Kumble and Dinesh Kartik have suggested that playing domestic cricket could help Kohli regain his form, but with the ICC and BCCI unable to force him into such a move, the future remains uncertain for the cricket icon.
After facing criticism from the media for his recent performance, Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh made a dramatic comeback with a five-wicket haul in the second Test against South Africa. Fuming at being portrayed as one of the '3 idiots', Harbhajan called out the media for sensationalizing and creating negative narratives about players. He also revealed how a pep talk from former captain Anil Kumble helped him regain his confidence and play a crucial role in India's win.
Indian cricketer Sanju Samson made history by reaching a century in just 47 balls against South Africa in the first T20 match in Durban. The 29-year-old's impressive innings included nine sixes and seven fours, helping India secure a resounding victory. Samson's record-breaking performance solidifies his spot in the Indian team and sets the tone for an exciting series against South Africa.
In a monumental achievement, spin maestro Ravi Ashwin has surpassed Nathan Lyon to become the leading wicket-taker in the history of World Test Championship. With a tally of 189 wickets in just 39 matches, Ashwin edged past Lyon's record of 187 wickets in 43 matches. He also equaled Lyon's total Test wicket tally of 530, drawing closer to the likes of Glenn McGrath and Anil Kumble in the overall Test cricket rankings. This impressive feat was achieved during India's ongoing Test match against New Zealand in Pune, where the visitors won the toss and chose to bat first.
Momentum shifted towards New Zealand as spinner Mitchell Santner took out the crucial wicket of Indian captain Rohit Sharma in the first innings of the second Test in Pune. With an uphill task of chasing 359 runs, India needed a solid start from their openers but Santner's sharp tactics and late ball release proved to be too much for Rohit. The former India coach and legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble praised Santner for outfoxing Rohit with his variations and astute observation of the batsman's movements. India's hopes of a strong opening partnership were dashed early, and the dismissals of Rohit proved to be a major setback for the team.
Former India players Anil Kumble, Ajay Jadeja, and Aakash Chopra criticized India National Cricket Team captain Rohit Sharma's decision to start the day with pacers instead of spinners on Day 3 of the first Test against New Zealand. The three players expressed surprise and confusion over Sharma's strategy, stating that it allowed New Zealand batters to get comfortable and could result in runs being scored against the spinners later on. Despite having three world-class spinners in their team, India were struggling in the game with New Zealand about to reach the 200-run mark with six wickets in hand.
Indian cricket legend Anil Kumble turns 54 today and we take a look at his successful career in Test and ODI cricket. Kumble, who is known for his unplayable deliveries, has 956 wickets in 132 Tests and 271 ODIs. In addition to his impressive bowling record, he also has a Test century to his name and has been part of India's triumph in the 2002 Champions Trophy and the 1995 Asia Cup. Join us in celebrating the birthday of one of the greatest Indian cricketers.
Legendary cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan is set to enter the business world with a major investment of Rs 1400 crore in a beverage and confectionery unit in Karnataka. The project is expected to bring economic growth to the region as well as provide job opportunities. The investment is a testament to Muralitharan's entrepreneurial skills and will see the establishment of a new brand, "Muttiah Beverages and Confectioneries".