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AFG vs SA, 1st ODI Live Updates: South Africa have won the toss and opted to bat against Afghanistan in the first ODI in Sharjah. With both Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller out, the Proteas handed an ODI debut to Jason Smith in their middle order. Afghanistan, on the other hand, are also without the services of Ibrahim Zadran and Mujeeb ur Rahman. (Live Scorecard)
A harsh sun beating down on him, Rishabh Pant was engrossed preparing for his first Test in two years, taking down net bowlers in that unmistakably Pant-ish way. From getting tossed up some 40m into air off a toppled car to getting back to cricket field at the highest level is nothing less than extraordinary. It was hard to believe that 632 days have passed since Pant has played a Test match, and, coincidentally, his last five-day game was also against Bangladesh in 2022.
Team India will be back in action after 45 days as the Rohit Sharma-led side faces Bangladesh in the first Test of a two-match series, starting on Thursday in Chennai. This will be Gautam Gambhir's first assignment as head coach of the Indian team, having first taken charge during the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year. On the eve of the match, Gambhir gave a press conference where he hinted about the team's combination in the series opener.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has been appointed Punjab Kings' head coach on a four-year contract ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, the team said on Wednesday.
Ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh, India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Wednesday all but confirmed the team's playing for the game in Chennai. Gambhir also insisted that the opposition must learn to tackle spin-friendly conditions, even though the first Test in Chennai is set to be played on red soil track, which is known for creating conditions in favour of the fast bowlers. As far as India's playing XI is concerned, Gambhir gave away a few hints as to how the Rohit Sharma-led side might line-up against Bangladesh.
Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir spoke to reporters, donning his candid avatar like always. When the topic of Japsprit Bumrah came up, Gambhir expressed his delight at the appreciation a fast bowler is getting in India, as the country has traditionally worshiped batters more than bowlers. Bumrah has undoubtedly risen the ranks when it comes to Indian cricket's superstars when Ravichandran Ashwin recently named him as the team's 'Most Valuable Player' at present. Gambhir didn't hold back as the called the country a 'batting obsessed nation'. Gambhir, during the presser, also sent a message to Bangladesh, for their heroic 2-0 victory against Pakistan in the recently concluded Test series.
Australian great Ricky Ponting was on Tuesday appointed head coach of Punjab Kings, replacing compatriot Trevor Bayliss in the under-performing IPL franchise. The former Australian captain has made the switch to Punjab Kings from Delhi Capitals, a team he was part of for seven years. "Ponting signed the contract yesterday and it is for four years. He will need that much time to build the squad. Ponting will take a call on the rest of the support staff," an IPL source told PTI.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Wednesday expressed confidence in his batting unit's capability to negate quality spin bowling, a challenge they are expected to face in the Test series against Bangladesh. India batters, including star batter Virat Kohli, struggled against Sri Lankan spinners in the ODI-leg of the recent away white-ball series, leading to a tinge of apprehension ahead of the Bangladesh rubber. "Our batting unit has so much quality that it can take on any spin unit. There is a lot of difference between ODIs and Tests. It's all about the mindset and working and strengthening your defence and once you have it, then you play around it," Gambhir told the media on the eve of the opening Test.