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LONDON : Restricting test cricket to six or seven teams and using the 20-overs format as the vehicle to spread the game were some of the views aired at a symposium organised by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Sunday.
Former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri said Test cricket should be restricted to games between six or seven nations, while the responsibility of spreading the game worldwide should happen through the T20 format. Of late, despite making for riveting drama, Test cricket's appeal has been declining, mainly due to the rise of T20 leagues around the world, something which instantly catches the attention of younger audiences. "When you don't have quality, that is when the ratings drop, there are fewer people in the crowd, its meaningless cricket, which is the last thing sport wants. You have 12 Test match teams. Bring it down to six or seven and have a promotion and relegation system."
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the senior men's cricket team on Tuesday. Ever since Gambhir took the post left vacant by Rahul Dravid, whose tenure ended with the conclusion of T20 World Cup 2024, there have been a lot of reports regarding the coaching support staff that are yet to be named. In a latest development, it is being reported that Gambhir asked for Jonty Rhodes to be included as fielding coach for Team India, but the board turned down the request.
The financial nitty-gritties of Gautam Gambhir's appointment as India's head coach are yet to be worked out but that's the "last of his concerns" right now as he is focussed on getting a support staff of choice to prepare for the enormous challenges that await him during the three-year stint. On Tuesday, BCCI secretary Jay Shah officially announced Gambhir's appointment, which was on cards for a long time. However, it is learnt that his salary is yet to be finalised although it is expected to be in the same bracket as that of his predecessors Rahul Dravid and Ravi Shastri.
When Rahul Dravid coached India to an U-19 World Cup win in 2018 - guiding the likes of Shubman Gill and Arshdeep Singh - it seemed like it was a matter of time till he became the Head Coach of the senior India Men's cricket team. And so it proved to be. Now, as the curtains are drawn on the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rahul Dravid's two-and-a-half-year-long tenure comes to a close. Will he, nay should he, be remembered fondly for guiding India in a transitional phase despite the burning hunger for a major title?
Ravi Shastri loves to hype up the toss time of a match, and on the occasion of the 2024 T20 World Cup final between India and South Africa, it was no different. Shastri was at his brilliant best at the toss, ramping up the atmosphere, making it seem like a boxing encounter. However, a cheeky reference from the former India coach sent the two captains, Rohit Sharma and Aiden Markram, into laughter. Shastri called the match referee a 'punching bag'. Often on the big occasions, things get heated up, causing players to run to the match referee. Shastri played on the context for his hilarious reference. "West Indies' very own, to keep things calm, under control, and a potential punching bag," said Shastri to introduce Richie Richardson, the match referee of the T20 World Cup final.
Virat Kohli's continued poor form in the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup has brought in opinions from several cricketers, experts and fans alike. However, few people have seen Kohli's game from up close better than former India coach Ravi Shastri. Shastri and Kohli shared a great bond as coach and captain of Team India in all formats. After Kohli's failure against England in the semi-final, Shastri said that he should stick to his natural game without trying to be overly aggressive.
India all-rounder Hardik Pandy truly seems to be nearing his best, producing some crucial performances for the team in the T20 World Cup 2024. The veteran star didn't have the best Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign with the Mumbai Indians and also struggled with fitness issues in the past. The recurrent injury concerns also limited Hardik's ability as a bowler, prompting many to question if he even deserves a spot in the team as a pure batter. But, Hardik seems to be hitting peak again for India in the T20 World Cup.