DUBAI: India play New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final in Dubai on Sunday in what could be a last hurrah for veteran stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
The 36-year-old Kohli and skipper Rohit, 37, came into the 50-over tournament with speculation swirling over when they will retire following lean patches in Test cricket.
Mainstays of a formidable India side for more than 15 years, the duo retired from T20 internationals after winning the World Cup last year.
This weekend could be the end for them in ODIs, with the next 50-over World Cup not until 2027.
"I am sure Rohit will lead India to a title. He will have another ICC trophy soon," former seam bowler Praveen Kumar told The Times of India.
"I will only say that Virat and Rohit, give us one more ICC trophy before you retire," he added.
India go into the final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium as favourites and with their confidence sky-high.
They have won all four of their matches at the eight-nation tournament, including beating New Zealand by 44 runs in the group phase, although both teams had already reached the semi-finals by then.
Rohit's side have played all their games in Dubai after refusing to visit Champions Trophy hosts Pakistan because of political tensions.
Rohit and Kohli came into the competition under pressure.
Master batsman Kohli silenced his critics with an unbeaten 100 against arch-rivals Pakistan, then hit a match-winning 84 against world champions Australia in the semi-finals.
Rohit's highest score has been 41 in their opening win over Bangladesh but the opener has been lauded for handing the team quick starts to build totals on at a venue where batting is tough.
India, who are looking to win the Champions Trophy for a record third time, also boast a world-class spin attack.
They unleashed four spinners in beating New Zealand with Varun Chakravarthy returning figures of 5-42 to help bowl out the Black Caps for 205 in their chase of 250.
India were unchanged against Australia as the spin-heavy selection came up trumps again, albeit on a Dubai pitch that turned a little less that time around.
In front of them lies a New Zealand team hoping to win the tournament for the second time, having done so in 2000 in what was the second edition of a competition likened to a mini World Cup.
The Black Caps powered into the final by beating South Africa by 50 runs in Lahore.
But the victory came at a price with an injury to pace bowler Matt Henry after he landed on his shoulder awkwardly while taking a catch.
Henry, who took 5-42 against India in the group phase, is in a race to be fit for Sunday.
"Still a little bit unknown at this stage," head coach Gary Stead said.
"He's obviously pretty sore just from landing on the point of his shoulder. Hopeful he will be okay."
Batsman Rachin Ravindra hammered 108 in New Zealand's Champions Trophy record total of 362 against South Africa at the batting-friendly Gaddafi Stadium.
Ravindra put together 164 runs with veteran batsman Kane Williamson, who hit 102.
The left-handed Ravindra, who also bowls left-arm spin, has amassed 226 from three matches after he returned from a nasty hit to his forehead in a tri-series match in Pakistan.
The Wellington-born Ravindra is of Indian origin with his parents hailing from Bengaluru.
"We don't quite know how the Dubai pitch is like," said Ravindra.
"I think we pride ourselves in adapting and playing the situation in front of us, so will see what happens in the next couple of days and hope it's a good cricket wicket."
India might be favourites and will have much of the crowd at the 25,000-capacity Dubai stadium roaring them on, but recent history is actually with New Zealand.
They registered a surprise 3-0 Test whitewash in India in October and November last year.
The Black Caps also hold a clear advantage over India with nine wins, six losses and one no-result at global white-ball tournaments.
Unbeaten India to face record-setting New Zealand for glory in Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy
https://arab.news/nu56k
Unbeaten India to face record-setting New Zealand for glory in Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy
- 36-year-old Kohli and skipper Rohit, 37, came into the 50-over tournament with speculation swirling over when they will retire
- Mainstays of a formidable India side for over 15 years, the duo retired from T20 internationals after winning the World Cup 2024
India greats welcome ‘rise of a phenom’ in teen sensation Suryavanshi
- Suryavanshi had shown glimpses of his ability with a first-ball six on his IPL debut earlier this month
BENGALURU: India batting great Sachin Tendulkar led the plaudits for 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi after the Rajasthan Royals batter became the youngest centurion in men’s Twenty20 cricket with a knock for the ages in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Suryavanshi had shown glimpses of his ability with a first-ball six on his IPL debut earlier this month, and on Monday his explosive talent was on full display as he tore apart Gujarat Titans with a 38-ball 101 in the Royals’ eight-wicket win.
Rajasthan coach Rahul Dravid forgot about his leg injury and leapt from his wheelchair when Suryavanshi completed his ton in only 35 balls — the fastest by an Indian player in the league and second only to Chris Gayle’s 30-ball century in 2013.
“Vaibhav’s fearless approach, bat speed, picking the length early and transferring the energy behind the ball was the recipe behind a fabulous innings,” Tendulkar posted on social media.
“End result: 101 runs off 38 balls. Well played!!“
Suryavanshi blasted 11 sixes and seven boundaries as he took established international bowlers to the cleaners before walking off to a standing ovation.
“What were you doing at 14?!!” wrote former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. “This kid is taking on the best bowlers in the world without blinking an eyelid ... Playing with a fearless attitude. Proud to see the next generation shine.”
Former India skipper Krishnamachari Srikkanth, renowned as a big hitter during his era, said the nation had found its newest superstar.
“At 14, most kids dream and eat ice cream,” he wrote.
“Vaibhav Suryavanshi delivers a fabulous 100 against one of the contenders for the IPL. Composure, class, and courage beyond his years. We’re witnessing the rise of a phenom.”
Commentator Harsha Bhogle agreed with the 1983 World Cup winner’s assessment.
“He (Suryavanshi) is only a child, but how would you ever know once he puts that helmet on,” he added.
“This is a staggering performance and a grand announcement.”
AFC Champions League Elite trophy tours NEOM ahead of final in Jeddah
- NEOM has been showcasing the trophy at key locations across its 26,500-square-kilometer development
JEDDAH: The official AFC Champions League Elite trophy made a special journey across NEOM this week, as excitement builds for the tournament’s final in Jeddah on Saturday.
As a tournament partner for the last eight matches of this year’s competition, including the final, NEOM has been showcasing the trophy at key locations across its 26,500-square-kilometer development.
The tour took in some of NEOM’s most striking destinations, from the snow-covered slopes of Trojena to the shores of the Adventure Sports Hub and through the NEOM Nature Region.
Accompanied by Mohammed Al-Burayk, NEOM Sports Club ambassador, the tour shone a light on the wide range of sports that are becoming central to NEOM’s vision for the future, from football and skiing to kitesurfing and beyond.
Jan Paterson, managing director of NEOM Sport, said: “Hosting the trophy at NEOM is about much more than the game. It’s a moment that connects our people and our regions to one of Asia’s top sporting stages, reflecting how sport is an integral part of the fabric of NEOM.”
NEOM’s partnership with the Asian Football Confederation has also supported several grassroots initiatives, including the Shuhub Community Youth Football Program, which has engaged around 10,000 young people across Saudi Arabia so far.
Through the collaboration, local boys and girls from football community groups have enjoyed once-in-a-lifetime experiences, including participating in AFC matches as player mascots, center circle children and the first-ever trophy handover by children at the AFC Champions League 2023/24 final.
IPL’s 14-year-old Suryavanshi youngest to hit T20 ton as Rajasthan rule
- Suryavanshi went past the previous record, set by Vijay Zol of Maharashtra at 18 years and 118 days
JAIPUR: Indian batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi on Monday became the youngest to hit a senior T20 century at 14 years and 32 days as he powered Rajasthan Royals’ successful chase against Gujarat Titans in the IPL.
Suryavanshi, a left-hand batsman who became the youngest IPL debutant on April 19, smashed 100 off 35 balls to pummel the opposition attack with seven fours and 11 sixes at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
Suryavanshi went past the previous record, set by Vijay Zol of Maharashtra at 18 years and 118 days against Mumbai in an Indian domestic match in 2013.
Suryavanshi’s ton is the second fastest in the popular T20 tournament after Chris Gayle’s century in 30 balls for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2013.
The teenage sensation finally fell bowled to fast bowler Prasidh Krishna for 101 off 38 balls and walked off to a standing ovation from the home crowd and the team dugout.
His 166-run opening stand with fellow left-hander Yashasvi Jaiswal launched his team’s chase of 210. They reached the target with 25 balls and eight wickets to spare.
Jaiswal hit an unbeaten 70 and put on an unbeaten stand of 41 with stand-in-skipper Riyan Parag who hit the winning six in his 15-ball 32.
But Suryavanshi’s masterclass took the limelight from everything including opposition knocks from Gujarat skipper Shubman Gill, who hit 84, and Jos Buttler, who struck an unbeaten 50.
Gujarat posted 209-4 but the total did not survive Suryavanshi’s blitz. He hit Afghanistan quick Karim Janat for three fours and three sixes in one 30-run over.
Gujarat are third on the 10-team table with six wins form nine matches.
Rajasthan’s chances of moving into the final four still hang by a thread as they are seventh with three wins and seven defeats.
IPL’s new bat testing rule draws mixed reactions from players
- Umpires are using triangle-shaped plastic gauge to inspect bats on the field
LONDON: The Indian Premier League’s new rule requiring bat checks before batsmen take guard has sparked mixed reactions among players.
While aggressive batting is influenced not just by customized bats, but also by technique and strength, the new protocol has led to animated discussions between players and umpires — and to some players reluctantly parting with their preferred match bats.
Previously, officials conducted bat inspections on the eve of matches. However, concerns arose when players occasionally appeared with a different bat on match day.
Now, umpires are using a triangle-shaped plastic gauge to inspect bats on the field.
The gauge ensures that the bat dimensions comply with regulations: A maximum depth of 2.68 inches, width of 4.33 inches and edge thickness of 1.61 inches. The curve on the lower non-hitting side must not exceed 0.20 inches.
Several players have already encountered issues under the new system.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ Sunil Narine and Anrich Nortje both failed the bat gauge test, while umpires took additional time to approve the bats of Andre Russell and Rajasthan Royals’ Riyan Parag.
The question now is whether the rule change will help strike a better balance between bat and ball in the high-scoring era of T20 cricket.
South African pacer Kagiso Rabada, who plays for Gujarat Titans, had previously voiced concern about the oversized bats used in the IPL, claiming they made it possible for batters to even dispatch yorkers for sixes.
“It’s not just about the bats, it’s the power, too,” he said.
Swapnil Asnodkar, a former Rajasthan Royals player who witnessed the power-hitting prowess of legends like Shane Watson, Matthew Hayden, Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum, believes that bats alone are not responsible for the surge in six-hitting.
“The game has gone to a different level with range and power-hitting. The rule must have been framed after considering certain things. It’s always fair to maintain a balance between the bat and the ball,” he told Sportsboom.com.
“It is also up to individuals. You cannot rule out the special ability of a batter. Some can time it, while some can muscle it. It depends on their bodies also. We have seen how Sourav Ganguly used to hit sixes. With players like Russell, it is all about power,” added Asnodkar, who was part of Rajasthan Royals’ title-winning side in the inaugural IPL season.
Now a certified under-19 coach at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s National Cricket Academy, Asnodkar pointed to a shift in training methods over the years.
“Correct practice matters a lot. Earlier, we were taught not to hit in the air, but the trend has changed. As players develop, they naturally acquire the habit of hitting sixes. Practicing correctly enhances their skills,” he said, recalling Hayden’s famous Mongoose bat and Gayle’s characteristically “heavy” willow.
Amandeep Singh Kohar, managing director of Hound Cricket Gears, said that manufacturers continued to follow International Cricket Council guidelines and that no new directive has been issued specifically for the IPL.
“We follow ICC guidelines. I have written down all the points needed to fulfill the manufacturing mark. There are too many points, and we are trying to follow all of them,” he said.
Former T20 stars like Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo have used bats manufactured by Hound. The company also produces special edition willows named after Bravo, Narine and Akeal Hosein.
Sportsboom.com also contacted Jatin Sareen, managing director of Sareen Sports, the bat brand used by Narine and Parag, but he declined to comment.
Al-Hilal’s Jorge Jesus plays down foreign player advantage ahead of AFC Champions League semifinal against Al-Ahli
- Jesus, who has won five titles during his time at the Riyadh giants, said that both teams are familiar with each other’s strengths and the scale of the occasion
JEDDAH: Al-Hilal manager Jorge Jesus says that Al-Ahli’s larger contingent of foreign players will not be a decisive factor when the two sides meet in the AFC Elite Champions League semifinal in Jeddah on Tuesday.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference at Al-Inmaa Stadium, Jesus said: “Each team makes its own choices. Al-Ahli may have more foreign players, but having one more or one less doesn’t tip the balance.”
Jesus, who has won five titles during his time at the Riyadh giants, said that both teams are familiar with each other’s strengths and the scale of the occasion.
“We are aware of the size and intensity of this match. It’s a big continental game between two great clubs,” he said.
The Portuguese coach also praised the growing strength of Saudi Arabian football, pointing to the fact that three Saudi clubs have reached the semifinal stage.
“Having three Saudi teams in the semifinals proves the strength of Saudi football and the competitiveness of its clubs,” Jesus said.
On the other side, Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle described the showdown as a “summit between two major teams” and said his players were relishing the challenge.
“It will be a tough game, and we are preparing ourselves well. Playing at home and with our fans gives us a real opportunity,” Jaissle said.
While acknowledging that Al-Hilal benefited from an extra day of rest in the run-up to the match, Jaissle was confident in Al-Ahli’s squad depth.
“We have 12 foreign players, but I don’t separate them from the Saudis. We have a strong group overall, and what matters is the performance,” he said.
Reflecting on Al-Ahli’s run to the last four, Jaissle added: “Our previous results in Asia show that we can reach the final. We trust ourselves.”
