But all good things have to come to an end.

Mumbai Indians announced on Friday that Hardik Pandya will replace Rohit as their captain for IPL 2024.

Mumbai recently brought back Pandya from Gujarat Titans, a new franchise which the Team India allrounder led with great success in the previous two seasons.Rohit is likely to continue as a batter for the five-time IPL champions.

The change in leadership is in keeping with Mumbai Indians’ policy of looking ahead.

Rohit is 36 years old, and may be looking to cut down on his appearances for Team India across formats. Pandya, on the other hand, is six years younger and leads the Indian T20 team.

Explaining the rationale behind the decision, the franchise’s global head of performance Mahela Jayawardene said in a press release that Mumbai Indians want to be ‘future-ready’.

“It is part of legacy building and staying true to the MI philosophy of being future-ready. Mumbai Indians have always been blessed with exceptional leadership right from Sachin to Harbhajan and Ricky to Rohit, who while contributing to the immediate success have always had an eye on strengthening the team for the future. It is in keeping with this philosophy that Hardik Pandya will assume captaincy of Mumbai Indians for the IPL 2024 season,” Jayawardene said,

“We express our gratitude to Rohit Sharma for his exceptional leadership; his tenure as the captain of the Mumbai Indians since 2013 has been nothing short of extraordinary. His leadership has not only brought unparalleled success to the team but has also solidified his place as one of the finest captains in the history of the IPL,” the former Sri Lankan captain added.

In 2013, Mumbai had got off to a poor start under Ricky Ponting’s captaincy. The management then decided to turn to Rohit, and the rest is history.

Mumbai will hope Pandya turns out to be just as successful, after having led Gujarat Titans to two successive finals – emerging champions in 2022 and being runners-up in 2023.

“The feeling of coming back to Mumbai is very special for a lot of reasons. How my cricketing journey started in 2015 with MI, them noticing me in 2013… When I look back, the whole span of 10 years has been something very special. It has not sunk in yet that I’m finally back where my whole cricketing journey started. I have achieved all the possible things,” Pandya said on his return to his first IPL franchise.

Akash Ambani, said, “Seeing Hardik back at Mumbai Indians makes me very happy. It is a happy homecoming. He provides great balance to any team he plays. Hardik’s first stint with the MI family was hugely successful, and we hope he achieves even more success in his second stint.”

The confirmation came hours after the IPL retention window closed on November 26. The MI traded Cameron Green, previously acquired for Rs 17.5 crore, to Royal Challengers Bangalore for the necessary funds for Pandya’s acquisition. Pandya’s reported fee from his tenure with Gujarat Titans was Rs 15 crore, according to The Mint.

“Yes, Hardik’s trade off got completed after 5 pm. The deal is now formalised and he is a MI player. It’s been a tripartite all cash deal. MI have traded their all-rounder Cameron Green to RCB in an all cash deal. After that they had requisite funds to settle an all-cash deal with Gujarat Titans and procure Hardik’s services,” a senior BCCI official and IPL Governing Council member told PTI on conditions of anonymity.Pandya was signed by MI as an uncapped player for Rs 10 lakh in 2015 and played a key role in MI’s four triumphs in the IPL between 2015 to 2021, when was released by the franchise ahead of the 2022 season after injuries derailed his career. He then made his captaincy debut with Gujarat Titans and also won the title. Gujarat Titans were runners-up in 2023 edition of the IPL.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans has named Shubman Gill as the captain of team. “Shubman Gill has shown growth in stature and standing over the last two years at the highest level of the game. We’ve seen him mature not only as a batter but also as a leader in cricket. His contribution on the field has helped Gujarat Titans emerge as a formidable force, guiding the team through a successful campaign in 2022 and a strong run in 2023. His maturity and skill is evident in his on-field performance and we are extremely excited to embark on a new journey with a young leader like Shubman at the helm,” Vikram Solanki, Director of Cricket, Gujarat Titans, said.

This, perhaps, was written in the stars.

Entering the Eden Gardens after a run of seven successive wins by his team, Kohli was up against an in-form and ambitious South African side seeking to shed the choker’s tag and win its maiden World Cup title.

But, by the time the game got over, South Africa were left bruised and battered after being bowled out for 83 in 27.1 overs as India consolidated its top place in the pecking order, with Kohli finally matching Tendulkar after the whole country waited for weeks in anticipation.

Attempting to steel the thunder from Kohli was Ravindra Jadeja, who ended with excellent figures of 5/33.

Set an imposing target of 327 after Kohli’s 121-ball 101 not out, Shreyas Iyer’s fluent 87-ball 77 and some fireworks towards the end by Suryakumar Yadav and Jadeja, the Proteas crumbled like a pack of cards.

India captain Rohit Sharma also deserves special mention for his 24-ball 40, putting South Africa on the back foot straightaway with his attacking intent.

When the Proteas’ turn to bat came, the pitch remained pretty much the same but the Indian bowling was again at a different level altogether, running through the side with the same relentlessness and potency they have been doing through the tournament.

South Africa were in dire straits in no time, tottering at 40/5 and then 67/7 as India had the match all wrapped up.

The menacing pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami was once again on the money before star all-rounder Jadeja did the star turn with his turn, bounce and accuracy.

Not content with his cameo with the bat (29 off 15 balls), Jadeja got the ball to behave in whichever way he wanted it to and finished with fine figures.

The first to go was the in-from Quinton de Kock, who got an inside edge against Siraj after smashing him for a boundary.

Losing De Kock was a big blow for the South Africans, and skipper Temba Bavuma too fell cheaply to continue his quest for one substantial knock in the showpiece, bowled by a beautiful turning delivery from Jadeja.

South Africa were three down inside the powerplay as Shami, with a good length ball that jagged away off the seam, induced an edge from Aiden Markram and KL Rahul completed a low catch.

Rassie van der Dussen thought he was saved when Shami’s loud appeal for an lbw failed to impress the on-field umpire but the Indian seamer and his wicket-keeping colleague Rahul’s decision to review was vindicated when the technology showed that the ball would go on to hit the middle and leg stump.

South Africa bat deep but Jadeja, meanwhile, snared Heinrich Klaasen (1) and David Miller (11) to inch closer to a massive win, which was achieved when Kuldeep Yadav bowled Lungi Ngidi.

The match was over in South Africa’s 28th over and with a lot of time still left to play.

Earlier, the setting was ideal for Kohli to equal Tendulkar’s record after missing the magic three-figure mark more than once in the tournament.

He was dismissed for 95 and 88 against New Zealand and Sri Lanka but the Indian run-machine did not disappoint the ecstatic full house at the Eden Gardens.

The monkey was finally off his back in the 49th over when Kohli gently pushed Kagiso Rabada for a single. The century came off 119 balls with 10 fours, showing that Kohli toiled hard for his runs.

For Kohli, the milestone ton came in 277 innings, while Tendulkar had brought up his 49th ODI century in 452 innings. A comparison, though, is not fair considering the different playing conditions in the two eras.

The relief was evident as he took his helmet off, kissed his bat, and saluted the crowd that gave him a standing ovation.

Rohit went about his business in his own inimitable style while Shubhman Gill (23 off 24) was cautious as the two provided a flying start to the hosts after electing to bat.

Iyer played the perfect foil for Kohli before Jadeja played a crucial role in taking India past the 300-run mark.

Barring Keshav Maharaj who bowled his full quota at a stretch, no other bowler could create an impact on an Eden wicket that became slower as the game progressed and aided spin.

At a venue where he scored the ODI world record score of 264, Rohit smashed bowlers all around the park before Bavuma’s terrific catch at mid-off halted his innings.

Rohit smashed Rabada powerfully through covers, but the South Africa skipper held firmly to the ball in front of his eyes.

India’s turbo-charged start by Rohit was halted by Kagiso Rabada’s wicket-maiden first over, and Maharaj produced a classical left-arm spin to remove the in-form Gill.

In a video that has been doing the rounds on social media, he can be seen singing along to the song on stage. He had also played this song in a video showcasing some of his most special moments on the cricket field while announcing his retirement in 2020. Fans were left emotional after seeing Dhoni sing the same song on stage and many users took to social media to praise him and express their love for both Dhoni and the legendary song.

In a separate video that has gone viral on social media, which is from an interactive session, an anchor asked MS Dhoni: “Is that hunger alive? If not, what is important to you today in life?”

“Right from the start, I was not into that ‘People should remember me as a good cricketer’. I have always said that ‘I want to be remembered as a good human being’. If you want to be a good human being, it’s a process till you die,” Dhoni replied.

Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) Secretary Sanjay Behera said that Aashirwad Swain has been named as the captain of the team. He was a part of the Odisha Senior Men’s Camp for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023-24.

Odisha Junior Men Selection Committee Chairperson Pravanjan Mullick and Head Coach of U19 Men Team Natraj Behera addressed a press meet on Friday to announce the team.

Prior to the selection, there were 21 players in the camp, who played practice/preparatory matches in Kerala on the basis of which the 16-member squad was selected.

Spare a thought for those involved with the game, for example, the cricketers themselves. Besides preparing for the high-pressure matches and meeting sky-high expectations of the fans, they also have to contend with unending requests for match tickets.

No one knows it better than Virat Kohli.

A day before the ODI World Cup kicks off at Narendra Modi Stadium at Motera, Ahmedabad, the former Team India skipper issued a ‘humble’ request to friends through social media.

“As we approach the World Cup, I would humbly like to let all my friends know to not request me for tickets all through the tournament. Enjoy from your homes please,” Kohli wrote in his Instagram story followed by a laugh emoji.Kohli’s wife Anushka Sharma shared his post on her Instagram handle, and added: “And let me just add… please don’t request me to help if your messages go unanswered. Thank you for your understanding.”

India, among the favourites to win the tournament, begin their campaign against Australia at Chennai on October.

The marquee clash against Pakistan is scheduled for October 14 at Ahmedabad.

In a video that is viral on social media, Zaka was heard talking about players going to “dushman mulk” (enemy country) for tournaments, while he was addressing the media about PCB’s new contracts for players. His remark was allegedly targeted at India.

In the viral video, Ashraf said, “We gave these contracts to our players with love and affection. Never in the history of Pakistan, such an amount of money has been given to players. My aim was to keep the players’ morale high as they go to countries, the enemy country (‘Dushman Mulk’) for competitions.”These remarks made by Zaka Ashraf amid the warm reception received by Pakistan’s players in India at Hyderabad ahead of the tournament have drawn the ire of both Indian and Pakistan cricket fans, with many expressing their anger against Zaka’s statements on social media. Several Pakistani netizens criticised Zaka for his statement.

“Shame on PCB chairman on calling India “Dushman mulk* despite a warm welcome from them, zaka ashraf is the real dhusman of our team. Dear Indian don’t take him serious, he just a political tout that’s why he was made chairman. #PAKvNZ #PakistanCricketTeam,” said Pakistan cricket fan Tehseenqasim in a post on X.

Another cricket fan in Pakistan described the statement from the PCB Chief as irresponsible

“Irresponsible statement from the head of PCB Zaka Ashraf. India is not ourt enemy.” posted Sultan Khan on X.

Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA) T-20 National Cricket Championship for Deaf will kick-start from September 25 here, with 19 teams taking part in a seven-day tournament.

Teams divided into four different groups will play a total of 42 matches with each other before making it to the final, scheduled on October 1at East Coast Railway Sports Association Stadium.

Hosted by the Odisha Deaf Cricket Association, the matches will be played on four different grounds across Bhubaneswar. The final match will be played Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

The champions will receive a prize of Rs 1,00,000, while the runner-up will get Rs 50,000. The best individual sportsmen in categories such as batting, bowling, fielding, super sixes, and others will each receive a sum of Rs 5,000. The players of the match will be awarded Rs 2,100.
Speaking about the upcoming tournament Sumit Jain, President, IDCA said: “We hope that awareness continues to grow with more specially-abled young people taking up sports as a career option. Sports is not only about physical prowess and skill; it is also a powerful medium for self-expression. Together, we can continue to build a world where everyone has the opportunity to shine.”

“We are excited for the upcoming hearing-impaired cricket tournament to be held in Odisha and wish luck and success to all the teams participating in it,” he added.

Roma Balwani, CEO, IDCA, said: “We are delighted to be in Bhubaneswar with a huge presence of 19 teams for the first time, to play 43 matches across four grounds. Our hearing-impaired teams are excited to be here to compete with each other in the true spirit of sport. These athletes are looking for due recognition & are pleased to see the awareness IDCA has achieved for deaf cricket in India”.

The closing ceremony will be held on October 1, during which the winning team and players will be felicitated for their exceptional performance.

While Addressing a virtual media conference on Wednesday, India coach Rahul Dravid informed that Rohit Sharma’s second RT-PCR Test has also come positive .So there is no chance of coming back to the squad of this Indian opener for the England tour.

The selection committee, headed by Chetan Sharma, reportedly determined that the team chosen for the Ireland T20Is will play the series opener against England due to the short turnaround between the final day of the Test and the first T20I.

With the first Test scheduled to finish on July 5 and the first T20I scheduled for July 7 in Southampton, the selection committee has decided that the star players to give a three-day recovery period before they are picked from the second game .

“Once they are well rested, all of them will be a part of the regular white ball side but most of the players in Ireland will remain till the end of T20I series.” According to a source in the BCCI.

So The Squad for Ireland series will play first T20I against England. And then from the second T20I, all the stars (Rohit, if fit, Kohli, Bumrah, Pant, Jadeja) will make a comeback.

On July 1 and July 3, while the Test match is taking place, India is also slated to play two T20 warm-up games. This makes it very clear that the team who triumphed in the Ireland series will play in these matches as well. In the two warm-up games, the visitors will compete against Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, respectively. When the team for the limited-overs portion of the England tour will be formally announced by the selectors is still to be determined.

India’s second-string team defeated Ireland 2-0 in the T20I series under the leadership of Hardik Pandya. The hosts were within four runs of winning the 2nd game but they fell just short.

India are scheduled to clash with England in three T20Is, three ODIs and the 5th and the final Test of the unfinished series.

India Tour of England Schedule:

India vs Derbyshire T20: July 1

India vs England 5th Test – July 1-5 @ Birmingham

India vs Northamptonshire: July 3

IND vs ENG 1st T20: July 7 @ Southampton

IND vs ENG 2nd T20: July 9 @ Birmingham

IND vs ENG 3rd T20: July 10 @ Nottingham

IND vs ENG 1st ODI: July 12 @ Kennington Oval

IND vs ENG 2nd ODI: July 14 @ Lord’s

IND vs ENG 3rd ODI: July 17 @ Manchester

By Nilanchal Naik