And Pakistan’s horror T20 World Cup 2024 campaign finally comes to an end as they clinched a nervy win over Ireland. At one point of time, it looked like that they would succumb to another embarrassing loss but skipper Babar Azam held onto his own to see the Men in Green finish third on the table. Apart from this, there were other developments as well, with prospects of Gautam Gambhir becoming India’s coach becoming more solid day by day.
Shubman Gill clears air of ‘rumored rifts’ with skipper Rohit Sharma
Rumors surfaced that Shubman Gill was being ‘disciplined’ by the BCCI and sent home from the US leg of the T20 World Cup. These rumors gained traction as Gill remained silent. However, Gill squashed the speculation with a social media post featuring himself and Rohit Sharma, including a humorous caption about learning discipline from the captain. This lighthearted response suggests the rumors are unfounded.
Bye, Bye Babar Azam?
Pakistan’s dismal T20 World Cup 2024 showing, has reignited captaincy questions for Babar Azam. Just like after the 2023 ODI World Cup, his leadership is under fire. With a third place finish, speculation is rife that this might be his final act as captain. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) might be headed for another overhaul, and Babar, once again, could be on the outside looking in.
Smriti Mandhana powers India to a mammoth win!
The women in blue kicked off their home season with a resounding win in the 1st ODI against a depleted South African team. Smriti Mandhana’s brilliant 117 (nearly outscoring the entire South African team) powered India to a commanding 265/8. South Africa crumbled in reply, managing only 122. All Indian bowlers except Harmanpreet Kaur took wickets, with debutant Asha Sobhana impressing with 4/21. India won by a massive 143 runs, taking a 1-0 lead in the 3-match ODI series.
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Gautam Gambhir era soon!
Indian fans brace ourself for a change in coaching staff. Rahul Dravid’s coaching stint ends with the ongoing T20 World Cup, with Gautam Gambhir expected to take the reins. Reports suggest a three-year deal is finalized. Gambhir reportedly requested, and received approval, to choose his own support staff. This could indicate broader changes beyond just the coaching team. The upcoming period might see a revamped Indian cricket team, with a new leader at the helm and potentially a fresh supporting cast.
Barbados here we come!
Escaping Florida’s rain, Team India have arrived in Barbados for their crucial Super 8 opener against Afghanistan. After a long rest since their last game on June 12, Rohit Sharma’s men lack match experience in the Caribbean. Having played on bowler-friendly pitches in New York, they might be underprepared for Barbados’ spin-favoring tracks.
Usual suspects win, Danes dissatisfied!
In UEFA Euro, it was the usual suspects that won their respective games. Wout Weghorst scored after coming on as a substitute to snatch a hard earner 2-1 win against Poland. In the second game, life came full cycle for Chrsitian Eriksen who opened the scoring for the Danes. But the match ended 1-1 with Slovenia grabbing a late equaliser. And in the final game of the day, star boy Jude Bellingham scored England’s only goal as the Three Lions kickstarted Euro 2024 campaign with a win over Serbia.
