Latest news with #ExtraaaInnings
India Today
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Pressure, what pressure. Shubman Gill aces 1st assignment as India captain
The moment Shubman Gill took over as the Indian Test team skipper, he was right under scrutiny. Now, if you follow social media and are a fan of memes, then you would have seen how the 25-year-old was trolled and consistently compared to Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni. India is a cricket-crazy nation, and they want their new skipper to be of a certain felt that Gill didn't look particularly impressive in terms of aura or possessing the X-factor as Test team captain. He didn't seem to have the intensity and aggression of Kohli, nor the relaxed, casual style Rohit made famous during his tenure. To top it all off, Gill was handed the No.4 spot—one that had previously been occupied by legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. This was an important role where expectations ran high: not just 30s or 40s, but hundreds were then made a simple statement: 'When I want to go out there and bat, I want to play as a batter and not think about the captaincy, which can put pressure on me. I want to be the best batter in the series.'So, the spotlight was firmly on him. And then he stepped out to bat under indifferent and tricky English conditions—conditions that have haunted many of the greats. But what followed was simply the main jobGill always believed that being a batter was his primary responsibility. He has always been vocal about leaving the captaincy baggage in the dressing room when he's out there batting—and it was evident during his time in England. The Indian captain had the series of a lifetime, shattering multiple records by scoring 754 runs in five Tests, including four the path to greatness The Shubman Gill era is well and truly underway #SonySportsNetwork #GroundTumharaJeetHamari #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 2, 2025It all started in the very first Test, in the very first innings, as he showed that he was always the heir apparent to Kohli as the new No.4. He also shut down all the critics who questioned his Test numbers.'Each hundred that I scored had a different significance. In Leeds, I was under a bit of pressure after not being able to perform in this format.''The double century and the second innings hundred in Birmingham helped to seal that match. And the one in Manchester, to be able to save that game from that situation was special. Each of them has a story and each of them means a lot to me,' said all these hundreds didn't go in vain, as the series was levelled—and the 25-year-old was named India's Player of the and his way of captaincyThat was Gill the batter doing his primary role. But what about Gill, the captain?The first Test saw him receive criticism for being defensive, with many wanting some fire and masala. They expected him to be in the opponent's face, spitting fire and trying to rattle them with words. A certain King of Indian cricket did that as skipper—and after one loss, everyone expected the from the second Test onwards, barring a few off days in Manchester, Gill marshalled his troops well and never let England out of sight. Despite the limited availability of Jasprit Bumrah in the series, Gill was consistently told to bring Kuldeep Yadav into the lineup as an attacking option. However, Gill belongs to the school of thought that defence is the best form of at the Oval on Day 5, Gill was content to let England take singles, with fielders patrolling the boundary effectively.'When a single was required off the last ball, he didn't change his strategy. He still had fielders on the boundary. A single was also taken twice. This is a massive strength for anyone,' Ajay Jadeja said when he analysed Shubman Gill's giving in to the outside noiseWhen you're the Indian captain, noise is something that's going to follow—unless you've got state-of-the-art headphones to block it out. Every single press conference saw the Indian team management and skipper getting asked about Kuldeep Yadav and why he wasn't being Gill never gave in to the outside noise and stuck to his guns—something that earned praise from Irfan Pathan.'This Indian team doesn't give heed to outside noise. The outside noise asks them to play Kuldeep Yadav from the first Test to the fifth Test. India didn't play him. What they wanted was to increase batting depth. They backed it and drew the series 2-2 to prove they are a good touring side,' said Pathan on his YouTube mistake this for over-defensiveness, either. Gill knows when to amp it up when needed. If you're unsure, just ask Zak Gill knows he has room for improvement. The Indian captain isn't resting on his laurels just yet and is ready to make the necessary have more clarity where I personally need to work on as a captain. There will always be opinions in hindsight. What matters to me is I want to take the most probable decision in that moment,' Gill we look back on the series, it was all about India applying pressure on a youngster, hoping he would emerge as a diamond. The jewel is still a bit rough around the edges, but with a bit of polishing, Shubman Gill will surely become one of the main men for Indian cricket in the coming years.- EndsTune InMust Watch
NDTV
6 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Sunil Gavaskar Can't Control His Happiness After India's Fabulous Comeback, Sings And Dances To This Song
Sunil Gavaskar, former India captain and one of the most vocal supporters of the side, was a jovial man on Monday after Shubman Gill and Co. did the unthinkable at The Oval. Despite having only 35 runs to defend and four wickets to take on the final day of the 5th Test match against England to draw the series, Indian bowlers turned up in an unprecedented manner. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna 's deliveries looked unplayable as England's resistance could not even last one full hour. Ultimately, India won the contest by six runs - the narrowest margin by which the team has ever won a Test match. Gavaskar could not control his emotions after the win. He sang and danced. a video of the great singing 'Mere desh ki dharti has gone viral. Sunil Gavaskar sang it for all of us Nothing lights up the little master like a #TeamIndia victory #SonySportsNetwork #ENGvIND #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings — Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 4, 2025 Meanwhile, Gavaskar said Siraj has "debunked forever this business of workload", , questioning the concept by asserting that playing for the country should be enough to "forget the aches", something that soldiers guarding the nation are doing routinely. Siraj played all five Tests of the just-concluded drawn series against England and bowled 185.3 overs in total, picking up 23 wickets in all. However, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was available for only three of the games, skipping the must-win fifth Test at The Oval as part of his workload management. Gavaskar, however, made it clear that his criticism was not directed at Bumrah, saying that his was a case of "injury management" more than anything else. "When you are playing for your country, forget the aches and the pains. On the border, do you think that the jawans are complaining about cold? What did Rishabh Pant show you? He came out to bat with a fracture. That is what you expect from the players. Playing cricket for India is an honour," Gavaskar told 'India Today'. "You are representing 140 crore people and that is what we saw in Mohammed Siraj. I think Siraj bowled his heart out, and he debunked forever this business of workload.
India Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Watch: Sunil Gavaksar hits special dance after India's trilling Oval Test win
Legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar turned into India's biggest cheerleader yet again as he joined the celebrations at The Oval following India's dramatic six-run win over England in the fifth and final Test on August 4. The former India captain, who was part of the commentary panel for the high-stakes five-match series, couldn't contain his excitement as India levelled the series 2-2 in one of the most thrilling finishes in recent Test emotions spilled over post-match, Gavaskar was seen celebrating with fellow commentators and team members, including Cheteshwar Pujara, who was also part of the broadcast team. In a moment that lit up social media, Gavaskar sang and danced to the patriotic classic 'Meri Desh Ki Dharti' in front of a cheering crowd—showcasing yet again his undying passion for Indian vs India, 5th Test Day 5 HighlightsWatch the video here:Sunil Gavaskar sang it for all of usNothing lights up the little master like a #TeamIndia victory #SonySportsNetwork #ENGvIND #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 4, 2025 The atmosphere at The Oval matched the intensity of the match itself. After four days of gripping cricket, the fifth day began with England needing just 35 runs with four wickets in hand to chase down a record target of 374. At one stage, the game seemed to be slipping away from India, especially with Joe Root and Harry Brook scoring centuries and anchoring the chase. But the Indian bowlers had other Siraj, who had already impressed with four wickets in the first innings, returned with fire and precision to claim a five-wicket haul in the second. His effort was perfectly complemented by Prasidh Krishna, who cleaned up the tail. The pair bowled India to a thrilling finish, picking up the last four England wickets for just 34 runs and sealing a memorable win for the victory was significant not just for the result but also for what it represented—a young team, led by new Test captain Shubman Gill and missing senior figures like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, showed incredible fight to square a tough overseas series. It was a statement win, and one that inspired a proud and spontaneous celebration from Gavaskar, a man who has witnessed—and contributed to—many of Indian cricket's defining moments.- Ends
India Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
The Siraj bhai series: Out of Bumrah's shadow, ruling India's hearts
If you had seen Mohammed Siraj steaming in on Monday morning, you'd have been forgiven for mistaking it as the opening day of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. There was nothing in his body language to suggest this was Day 25 of a gruelling Test series. No sign of the 185.3 overs he'd already bowled. No visible limp in the legs that had pounded in for over a thousand deliveries. Just heart. Pure, relentless, unmistakable needed a miracle. England required just 35 runs with four wickets in hand. Jamie Smith, a fit wicketkeeper-batter; two aggressive all-rounders in Jamie Overton and Gus Atkinson; and Chris Woakes, battling through pain with a dislocated shoulder, stood in their way. But Siraj saw none of that. What he saw was belief. Or rather, B.E.L.I.E.V.E — capital letters all emblazoned across a Cristiano Ronaldo wallpaper on his vs India, 5th Test Day 5 Highlights | Scorecard He woke two hours earlier than usual. Tossed. Turned. Couldn't sleep. It wasn't nerves or pressure, it was anticipation. The sense that this could be his moment. That he, Mohammed Siraj, the boy from Hyderabad who once ran errands on a scooter, could win India a Test match through sheer Siraj channelled Bumrah on Monday morning and made the world believe in Siraj bhai.4.1 OVERS FROM HELLEngland knocked off eight runs in the first over of the day. It felt inevitable. Overton and Smith were capable of finishing it off with a couple of hits. But Siraj hadn't stopped charged in from wide of the crease, angled one in just enough to hold its line. Smith, looking to feel bat on ball, nicked it. Dhruv Jurel did the rest behind the stumps. One down. Three to go. Game over: wobble seam. His trusted ally. Overton, the big-hitter, trapped in front. England reviewed. Umpire's call. Clipping the bails. That was over: Prasidh Krishna, inspired by Siraj's discipline, cleaned up Josh Tongue. The Oval wasn't quiet anymore. You could hear came the final no mug with the bat, was still swinging. He launched one over long-on for six. A couple of byes followed. Then a single. The equation dropped to eight. England began to dream of a miracle of their Siraj had saved his fastest for 1113 of his series. Over 185.3. A searing yorker at 143 kph. Atkinson was late. Off-stump flattened. The Oval stunned. India erupted. Siraj sprinted away in celebration, arms spread wide, chest thumping, finishing with a Ronaldo-style of a lion. Performance of a champion. #SonySportsNetwork #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings | @mdsirajofficial Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 4, 2025He finished with figures of 5 for 67 — his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests — and handed India a six-run victory to level the series 2–2. He gave the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy the ending it deserved.'I always believed in my bowling,' he said after the match. 'I don't care if it's my first spell or the eighth. I give 100 percent every ball. I'm not bowling for myself; I'm bowling for the country.'The final morning at The Oval wasn't just a burst of brilliance. It was a culmination of 25 days of toil, heartbreak, redemption, and unwavering self-belief. Siraj carried a nation's fight through a brutal Lord's, he failed to hold on alongside Ravindra Jadeja when India needed 22 runs more in their 195-run chase. On Day 4 at The Oval, he dropped Harry Brook on 19 before the world's top-ranked batter punished India with a 90-ball 111. Twice his morale could've crumbled. A lesser man might have broken. But not Siraj. He believes. And when he believes, India don't know why the Almighty did all that with me,' Siraj said later, half-laughing. 'Maybe he saved something good for me.'SIRAJ'S GLADIATORIAL EFFORT: IN NUMBERS1113 balls, 185.3 overs. The most bowled by any Indian pacer in the series.283 false shots drawn. No Indian seamer in recorded history has drawn more in a series.5 wickets in the final innings, 23 in total in the Indian quick to play all five truly appreciate Siraj's impact, rewind to when he wasn't India's spearhead — just a spirited apprentice learning in Bumrah's shadow.'I only believe in Jassi bhai because he is a game-changer,' Siraj once for years, that rang true. Bumrah was the phenomenon. Siraj, the workhorse. One bent the game to his will; the other bent his body for the on this tour, the hierarchy shifted. Bumrah, worn from a heavy workload, lacked his usual venom. So Siraj stepped into the void — not just to fill it, but to own the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Siraj bowled more overs than anyone. He became India's engine room. When the ball was old, the pitch flat, and the scoreboard ominous, Shubman Gill turned to simply never stopped. Not when dropped catches robbed him. Not when his own hands failed at deep square. Not when over 1100 deliveries weighed on his legs. He just kept he kept getting JUST HEARTIt's easy and tempting to call Siraj 'lion-hearted'. And yes, his heart is the size of Hyderabad. But to stop there would be to overlook how finely he's honed his five Tests, Siraj showcased evolution. His wobble seam deliveries pounded English pads all tour. He rediscovered his outswinger — not just as a release, but as a trap. Lure them wide, then fire in the skiddy in-ducker. Wickets Joe Root. Ask Ollie Pope. They'll tell you how tough it was to react to the Siraj jag-backers, even when they saw it good days, he was teasing edges for fun. On dead days, he bent his back to keep things tight. When he needed a showstopper, he unleashed the Crawley on Day 3 at The Oval — undone by a yorker after being set up days later, with the series on the line, Gus Atkinson was next. After hitting a six, he faced Siraj's 1113th ball of the series: 143 kph. Missile. Off-stump. numbers were enormous. But Siraj's impact transcended stats. He earned admiration. Even from the Joe Root, rarely one for fanfare, was generous: 'He's a character, a warrior — a real warrior. Someone you want on your side. He gives everything for India. Credit to him for the way he plays. He's got this sort of fake angriness — but he's actually a lovely lad.'Ben Stokes, the archetypal last man standing, offered just this: 'I've always had great respect and admiration for Mohammed Siraj. He just keeps coming. You know he's never out of the fight.'And Brendon McCullum, the mastermind behind Bazball, summed it up:'As much as we were incredibly disappointed, I had admiration for him. What he did out there that's special.'OLD-SCHOOL GRITIndia clawed back from 1–2 down. They retained the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy without their talisman at full tilt. In that final hour at The Oval, they didn't have the quickest bowler or the freshest legs. They had Siraj. And that was was the emotional core of India's campaign. The man who turned exhaustion into energy.'Cricket is my first love. I can do anything for it. My passion, my dedication Whenever I don't perform or we lose, it hurts. I love the sport too much. It hurts when you have breakups (laughs),' Siraj the age of T20 mercenaries and workload management, Siraj's story is a reminder. Of the days when playing for your country again and again, no matter how tired, was the greatest currency, the greatest honour of all.- EndsTune InYou May Also Like
Indian Express
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
IND vs ENG: India show the mediocrity of Bazball
What have England learnt from this Test series? They had the flat pitches that their game demands, they won all the tosses to further facilitate that approach – and yet they had to settle for a 2-2 series result. The series has tamed Bazball. Their top order remains wobbly – how and why Ollie Pope owns that No.3 spot is a mystery and at first signs of the ball movement, their top order collapses. This wasn't a weak Indian team as the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have been struggling for a long while in Tests, wasn't a handicap, but certainly a team taking its first steps without their identity makers. Jasprit Bumrah was unavailable for just two Tests, incidentally England lost both. In the longer run, when the thrill of this dramatic, albeit mediocre quality of their cricket in several ways, fades out, England should worry. That they won't is part of the Bazball DNA perhaps; this team if anything is stubborn in nature, which is a good and a bad thing. They won't drop Zak Crawley, they won't nudge out Pope, they won't include batsmen with skills to face the moving ball if the strike rate isn't healthy. All that has worked for them in many ways, but has left cricket a touch poorer. England captain Ben Stokes offers his verdict on the series 🙌 #SonySportsNetwork #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings | @benstokes38 @SanjanaGanesan — Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 4, 2025 To make Bazball happen, they have had to take life out of the pitches. Their bowlers are run to the ground, too much dirty work is asked of them. That the bowlers have bought into this Bazball-ism is a credit to the charismatic leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. The other day on BBC TMS former England captain Alastair Cook would mention if he were to tell his bowlers these kinds of tracks day in and day out, and chose to bowl after winning tosses repeatedly, there would be some stern faces. The flat-track bullies then have a swing and the game meanders along towards the final-day finale without a proper contest between bat and ball. All the drama unfolds on the final day because of the match situation rather than any deterioration in pitch to level up the bowling-batting mismatch. This Test at The Oval threw in a bit of curveball with the conditions changing. When suddenly things happen out of script as it did in the last 30 minutes on Sunday evening and on Monday morning when the old ball wobbled around, England's batsmen flail helplessly. Pope averages just 34 and it's easy to see why. A more nervous starter than him is difficult to imagine and one whose game doesn't hold up when the ball moves a bit. To length balls straightening outside off, he stabs like he is a juvenile prisoner and against nipbackers he falls over like an old drunk prisoner. Crawley's batting is only made for impact – and that too on flat tracks and even then he just averages 31.55 from 59 Tests. Says much. They had the opportunity to give Jacob Bethell a proper run in this series instead of shoving him in the fag end in a pressure-cooker situation. Jamie Smith has looked pretty decent and is likely to have a long run as wicket-keeper batsman but he and the young guns aren't able to develop their game due to the flat pitches being served up. No other big team in the circuit loads up the team with batsmen without ability against moving ball, and almost handcuffs themselves to produce pitches where these batsmen can prosper. For a while now, England have been talking about how their Bazball has made Test cricket sexy, but it's a hollow claim. There was a definite thrill to watch them blaze away in the initial year or two, but when the same pattern repeats and takes out the pleasure of watching batsmen cope with good pitches that aid an even contest, it has got a bit boring to watch. It's perhaps good for English cricket with the kind of resources they have and the personnel they chose, but to claim that its great for Test cricket for everyone sounds a tall claim. A win carved in 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘵. A moment owned by 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐀 🇮🇳 ✨ Scenes from the commentary box as India do the improbable 🎙️#SonySportsNetwork #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings — Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 4, 2025 As Australia's Steve Smith had a pop at the Englishmen, thus: 'Their (England) batters are going to be challenged a little bit differently to the wickets they have had over in England for a while, which have looked pretty flat and good for batting.' 'Boring' is an adjective that not just the England team but even its commentators and fans won't use and its usage will be slammed for a 'thriller' of a series. But this is not a diss on the cricket seen, but a sigh about the kind of cricket quality being missed due to England's methods. It's to India's credit that they sensationally made it a 2-2 result and in such a thrilling fashion at The Oval. But England's Bazball isn't that sexy; the 'young gun' Indians have exposed its banality – and cowardice that lies in its soul.
