
Rohit Sharma trains with Abhishek Nayar, hits the gym amid ODI retirement chatter
A BCCI source, however, told the PTI news agency that the board is in no hurry to make decisions on the one-day futures of Rohit and Kohli, stressing that the current focus is on the T20 World Cup, scheduled for February–March 2026.Rohit, for his part, appears intent on regaining full fitness ahead of his much-anticipated return to competitive cricket. He has previously worked with Abhishek Nayar to refine his skills and improve his fitness. Nayar, who is set to coach UP Warriorz in the Women's Premier League, served as Gautam Gambhir's deputy with the Indian team until the Champions Trophy. He was relieved of his duties before taking up the role of assistant coach with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2025 season.Earlier this month, Virat Kohli was spotted training in indoor nets in London with Gujarat Titans assistant coach Naeem Amin. Kohli, sporting a salt-and-pepper beard, sparked a wave of speculation on social media. Just days before sharing the training images, he was photographed with a fan in London, again showing his greying beard.WHEN WILL ROHIT AND KOHLI PLAY NEXT?Despite having not played competitive cricket since June, both Rohit and Kohli will be keen to make an impact in the ODI series in Australia, scheduled from 19 to 25 October.The pair had originally been expected to return to competitive action in August during an ODI series against Bangladesh, but the series has since been postponed to next year.India are set to play 27 ODIs and the Asia Cup in 2027 before the next ODI World Cup. While there is still ample time before the quadrennial event, it remains to be seen whether Rohit and Kohli can maintain their form and fitness. Having stepped away from two of the three international formats, their match practice will be limited unless they opt to feature in domestic cricket.Reports have also suggested that the BCCI and the selection committee might encourage Rohit and Kohli to take part in the Vijay Hazare Trophy — India's domestic 50-over competition — in December and January.- EndsYou May Also Like
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Economic Times
5 minutes ago
- Economic Times
The ODI clock is ticking for India's modern greats
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Average : Washington 27, Axar 32, Jadeja 35 : Washington 27, Axar 32, Jadeja 35 Economy : Axar 4.49, Washington 4.84, Jadeja 4.85 : Axar 4.49, Washington 4.84, Jadeja 4.85 Strike rate: Washington 34.5, Jadeja 43.7, Axar 43.9 Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Your old road is rapidly agin'Please get out of the new oneIf you can't lend your handFor the times they are a-changin'Bob Dylan may not have the Indian cricket team in mind when he wrote this timeless piece way back in 1964, but it lends itself perfectly to the circumstances surrounding the Men in Blue in over a decade, Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja were a constant feature in the Indian team across formats. They, along with Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami, were the face, the hands, the legs and the backbone of a team that helped establish India as a dominant force on the field of play that could match its commercial power in the boardrooms and magnetic pull on the the last one year, India have won two major trophies — the men's T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy — but they have also edged dangerously close to the end of an era. Virat and Rohit, the batting stalwarts who have retired from Tests and T20Is, are quickly fading away from popular success of India's young brigade, led by Shubman Gill, on the recent tour of England has only hastened the may not be any truth in the recent speculations of the BCCI looking to phase out Virat and Rohit from the ODIs and suggestions that the 50-over series Down Under in October could be their farewell. But it's worth asking how long two ageing stars can keep up with the pace at which the white-ball game is progressing as well as thwart the challenges posed by youngsters? By the time next 50-over World Cup, to be held in 2027, comes along, Virat will be 39 and Rohit are no longer the centrepiece of the cricket calendar. Teams are either chasing the T20 boom or committing to the tradition of Test cricket. In the last five years, India have played 79 ODIs, 113 T20Is and 52 Tests. At first glance, these numbers do not look too bad but once you add 70 IPL matches (minimum 14 per season) and count the number of days a Test match keeps you involved, ODI opportunities suddenly look it can be argued that Virat and Rohit will also be playing in the IPL, the long gaps between the competitive cricket that will be available to them are going to be an issue. Their last competitive outings were in the first week of June; their next might be on October 19 — a gap of 140 and 138 days respectively. They will most likely be able to maintain their match fitness, but achieving the batting rhythm is going to be a tough on the other hand, is still thriving in Test cricket. He was India's thirdhighest run scorer in England with 516 runs, behind Gill (754) and KL Rahul (532). But in ODIs, his place is under pressure from fellow Gujarati Axar Patel, who brings to the field a similar skill set, and the rise of Washington you set aside experience for a moment and focus on the numbers, either both or at least one of Axar and Washington have been better than Jadeja in three vital bowling parameters:With the bat, Jadeja's average (32.62) outstrips both Axar (22.37) and Washington (23.50). However, Jadeja usually bats at No. 6 or below, a position where impact is mostly measured by strike rate, his strike rate of 85.44 doesn't spark much confidence. And it's in this area that Axar becomes a more valuable option for India than Jadeja. More so, Axar's overall strike rate of 91.47 jumps to 97.97 in the matches India like Virat and Rohit, has also retired from T20Is and may still have a couple more years of Test cricket in him. But his time in ODIs is probably running out faster than his sprints on the changing of the guard is inevitable. The only question is whether it will be as glorious as their T20I exits, with a World Cup trophy in hand, or as quiet as their Test the answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind.


India.com
7 minutes ago
- India.com
RCB Star Set To Become Englands Youngest Mens Captain During Ireland T20Is; Check Details
Jacob Bethell will lead England in the upcoming three match T20I series against Ireland, starting from September 17. Bethell is set to captain England in absence of regular skipper Harry Brook, who is being rested along with other all-format players as part of workload management. During the T20Is against England, Bethell, who play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Indian Premier League (IPL), will become England's youngest men's captain. The 21-year-old Bethell will surpass the record currently held by Monty Bowden, who was 23 and 144 days when he led England against South Africa at Cape Town on the Test tour of 1888-89. "Jacob Bethell has impressed with his leadership qualities ever since he has been with the England squads and the series against Ireland will provide him with the opportunity to further develop those skills on the international stage," England men's selector Luke Wright said. History maker! Jacob Bethell is set to become our youngest ever England Men's captain against Ireland Congrats, Beth! — England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 15, 2025 Meanwhile, Sonny Baker has won his maiden England call-up after impressing in the winter with the England Lions and during the Blast and The Hundred. Baker is named in both the South Africa ODI squad and the Ireland T20I group, joining a largely settled limited-overs core. "Sonny is a player we have identified for a while and he was impressive during the England Lions tours last winter. He has carried that form into this season in white-ball cricket with Hampshire and Manchester Originals and deservedly gets his opportunity," Wright said. Also Read: England Announce Squads For White Ball Series Against South Africa, Ireland; Check Who's IN, Who's OUT On the other hand, Rehan Ahmed returns to the ODI side after a prolific summer with the bat. He is included in all three squads. South Africa will tour for three ODIs and three T20Is to conclude England's home season, before the trip to Malahide for the Ireland games. With Brook, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, and Jamie Smith rested for the Ireland leg, Marcus Trescothick will stand in for Brendon McCullum as head coach. England Squads For Series Against South Africa, Ireland For South Africa ODIs: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith For South Africa T20Is: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood For Ireland T20Is: Jacob Bethell (c), Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jos Buttler, Liam Dawson, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood.


Indian Express
7 minutes ago
- Indian Express
How Emiliano Martinez and Ronaldinho helped in convincing Messi to travel to India in December
Argentina's World Cup winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez had arrived in Kolkata about seven months after he won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and three months later Ronaldinho came calling. The exhibition tour of the two players was a big hit. Before they left, Satadru Dutta, the man who convinced the two footballers to make the trip to Kolkata, requested them to put in a good word with Argentina football icon Lionel Messi. Messi is a longtime teammate of Martinez at the international level. Ronaldinho was Barcelona's talisman when Messi had made his debut with Spanish giants in 2004 at the age of 17. Messi is now on board. He is set to kick off his four-city tour in Kolkata on December 12. From Kolkata he will be in Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. Dutta, who has played a role in bringing the likes of Pele and Maradona to Kolkata, is excited. 'The football world is a small circle,' Dutta tells The Indian Express. 'When I got Emi Martinez and Ronaldinho to Kolkata, I told them that I am trying to bring Messi to India and your review will matter. If you can give a good review to his team and even Messi himself, it will help. Touchwood, I executed it in a neat and clean way, they gave a very good review to Messi,' Dutta said. What followed was a chat with Messi's father and agent, Jorge, in July last year in Miami, USA, where the Argentina captain currently plays for Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS). While Messi senior told Dutta that he likes the idea, it wasn't going to be possible to do it in 2024. 'I just said if it would be possible over the next one or two years, he said 'I love the idea',' Dutta said. The visit this year won't be Messi's first trip to India. That was made in 2011, when he played a friendly against Venezuela at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. That also happened to be Messi's first match as Argentina captain. When Dutta met Messi in February this year, he showed him clips from that match, and photos of a 75-foot statue of Messi lifting the World Cup, which he had erected in a Durga Pooja pandal that Ronaldinho inaugurated in 2023. 'He was touched by that,' Dutta said. A multiple-city tour was the only way enough sponsors would come on board to make Messi's trip feasible for the organisers. 'If it is not multiple cities, it won't be financially viable,' Dutta said. After landing in Kolkata on December 12,the next day Messi will attend the unveiling of a statue of his followed by a 'GOAT Concert' and 'GOAT Cup', the venue of which is yet to be decided. The GOAT Cup will be a celebratory seven-a-side soft-touch football match, with Messi teaming up alongside Sourav Ganguly, Leander Paes, John Abraham and Bhaichung Bhutia. Tickets are likely to start at Rs 3,500 and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to felicitate Messi during the programme. This will be followed by a flight to Ahmedabad on the evening of December 13, where Dutta says Messi will be attending a private event with some of his sponsors. Messi then moves to Mumbai on December 14. Messi will be in Delhi on December 15, where he will have another GOAT Concert at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Dutta also said that Messi will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'We will seek an appointment from the Prime Minister,' Dutta said.