And the inevitable happened. India bowed out of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, courtesy of New Zealand’s incredible win over Pakistan. Pakistan, who were tasked to chase down 111 runs in 10.4 (to make themselves qualify) not only got thrashed by White Ferns but couldn’t favour ‘arch-rivals’ India. Apart from this, the Indian head coach celebrated his birthday and even had a press conference ahead of the first India vs New Zealand Test in Bengaluru. During the interaction, Gambhir completely backed Virat Kohli. On that note, here are the six most headline-worthy stories from October 13.
Guatam Gambhir backs Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has been enduring his worst-year ever, where he has averaged just 21.94 across formats. However, with the upcoming India-Australia series, coach Gautam Gambhir is confident in Kohli’s ability to score runs. Recalling Kohli’s debut in 2008, Gambhir emphasized Kohli’s unwavering hunger for success. “His hunger is always there,” Gambhir stated, attributing Kohli’s world-class status to his relentless drive. Gambhir expects Kohli to capitalize on the India-New Zealand series and carry that momentum into the Australia tour.
New IND vs NZ series
After a crushing exit from the Women’s T20 World Cup, India’s women’s cricket team will soon face New Zealand in a three-match ODI series. All matches will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This series serves as valuable preparation for next year’s ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, which India will host. It is interesting to note that both the men’s and women’s sides of India and New Zealand will clash at the same time. The men’s side have their 3-match Tests, from Oct 16 to Nov 5.
Ranji Trophy Round 1 completed
The first round of the Ranji Trophy concluded with 15 out of 16 matches completed. Defending champions Mumbai suffered a surprise loss to Baroda, while Nagaland made a strong statement with a dominant victory. Several players impressed, including Abhimanyu Easwaran and Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kerala’s Sarvate. Emerging all-rounder Tanush Kotian also continued his form. However, experienced batters like Shreyas Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane struggled, and Prithvi Shaw’s Ranji Trophy campaign didn’t start ideally as well. After Round 1, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Services have the most points (7).
Pat Cummins returns for Australia
The Australian cricket team is gearing up for their ODI series against Pakistan with a formidable squad. Pat Cummins, the ODI captain, returns after a near-year absence, joined by veteran Marcus Stoinis. While Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh miss out, the likes of Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, and Mitchell Starc are back in the mix. Young talents like Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cooper Connolly, and Aaron Hardie are also featured. Unfortunately, Cameron Green will miss the series due to surgery.
BCCI removes Impact Player rule
The BCCI has removed the Impact Player rule from India’s premier domestic tournament, Syed Mushtaq Ali Tournament (SMAT), a decision that contrasts with its retention in the IPL. While the rule added excitement to the IPL, it faced criticism from players and coaches who felt it disrupted the game’s balance and hindered the development of all-rounders. The BCCI’s decision to remove the rule showcases that even feel the same about the rule but cannot scrap it due to the entertainment factor.
NZ eliminate IND, PAK
India’s hopes of winning the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 were dashed on Monday as New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 54 runs. This defeat mirrored the men’s team’s disappointing exit from the 2021 T20 World Cup. New Zealand’s victory ensured their place in the next round alongside Australia from Group A. Pakistan, under pressure to chase down the target, adopted an aggressive batting strategy. The Fatima Sana-led team needed to chase down 111 runs in 10.4 in order to make themselves qualify. However, both the Asian teams have been eliminated.
