The Indian fans witnessed a nerve-racking day of Test cricket as Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant mauled over New Zealand on Day 4. Nobody gave Rohit Sharma and his men a chance in the opening Test after they were bundled for a mere 46 runs. Regardless, India paved the way by hammering down the Kiwi bowlers. Sarfaraz Khan clubbed a maiden 150, while Pant agonizingly missed out on a well-deserved 100. However, New Zealand bowlers utilised the “new ball” and skittled the Indian lower order to give themselves a target of 107 runs in the 4th innings. Apart from this, the India A side began their Emerging Asia Cup campaign with a slim 7-run win over bitter rivals Pakistan A. In other news, the Ranji Trophy continued, where Shreyas Iyer slammed a superb ton. On that note, here are six of the most headline-worthy stories from October 19.
Rohit Sharma to exit MI?
India captain Rohit Sharma’s playful response to a fan’s question about his next IPL team has sparked rumours of a potential departure from Mumbai Indian (MI) before IPL 2025 retentions. The captain’s cryptic answer, “Where do you want me to go?”, has raised eyebrows about his future with the franchise, where he has won 5 IPL titles. This comes after Rohit was removed as captain prior to IPL 2024 and replaced by Hardik Pandya.
Shreyas Iyer slams 100 in Ranji Trophy
Shreyas Iyer ended a three-year wait for a first-class hundred in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy clash against Maharashtra. Eager to return to India’s Test team, Iyer revealed his keenness to don the white jersey again. Despite scoring a century, his day was cut short by a finger injury. Iyer expressed his focus on controlling the controllables and maintaining his body’s fitness for a potential comeback.
Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead India A?
Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead the India A team on their upcoming tour of Australia. The CSK skipper, known for rigid batting, is seen as the ideal candidate to guide the squad in difficult conditions Down Under. Gaikwad will be joined by other promising openers like Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan, who have been in impressive form domestically. India A is set to play two four-day matches against Australia A in Mackay on October 31 and in Melbourne on November 7. After these encounters, they will participate in a warm-up match against the senior Indian squad in Perth between November 15 and 17, ahead of the first Test between India and Australia on November 22.
IND A beat PAK A: What happened
In a nail-biting finish, India A secured a 7-run victory over Pakistan A. Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh’s explosive starts provided a solid foundation, with scores of 35 and 36 respectively. Tilak Varma’s steady 44 ensured a respectable total of 183 on a track that had everything for everyone in Oman. Anshul Kamboj and Rasikh Salam’s disciplined bowling, with figures of 3/33 and 2/30 respectively, proved crucial in restricting Pakistan A to 176.
Abhishek Sharma’s death stare
Indian batter Abhishek Sharma reacted angrily to a send-off from Pakistan A bowler Sufyan after being dismissed in the Emerging Asia Cup. Abhishek’s frustration was evident as he stared down the Pakistani bowler, and was even seen cussing back to the bowler.
What is PCB doing?
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has introduced a controversial new Code of Conduct that restricts PSL franchises from criticizing PCB officials. The move follows a previous incident where a franchise official criticized ex-chairman Ramiz Raja. The franchises are already unhappy with the PCB due to delayed revenue payments and scheduling conflicts. Despite their objections, the PCB has mandated that the franchises sign the new code. The code includes fines and penalties for violations and prohibits any remarks against PCB officials. The franchises are strongly opposed to this restrictive measure.
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