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India Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
South Africa's never-say-die attitude stands out: Keshav Maharaj ready for WTC Final
South Africa's left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj believes that discipline and precise execution of their game plans will be crucial to securing victory in the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia. With the high-stakes encounter set to commence on 11 June at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground, Maharaj emphasised the importance of focus and thorough preparation as South Africa pursues its maiden WTC made his international debut in a Test match against Australia at the WACA nine years ago. Now, with 57 Tests behind him, the experienced left-arm spinner is set to take on the same opponent in the ICC World Test Championship Final that debut, Maharaj has grown into a key figure in the South African setup. In a team traditionally driven by pace, he has filled a long-standing spin void while also emerging as a respected voice in the dressing room. "I guess I have become someone to provide a shoulder to those who need it. I like to give advice where I can," Maharaj told Cricket South from a prolonged break, the 35-year-old is eager to contribute in the one-off Test against Pat Cummins' side. While his numbers against Australia – 22 wickets at an average of 45 – may not jump off the page, Maharaj has played a crucial role in South Africa's path to the final, taking 40 wickets in just eight matches in this WTC had the break, I am excited to get back together with the boys. Guys have been playing all over, in different competitions, but now we have some time to really get close and focus."I have been working hard on my bowling and conditioning, and I think we needed a mental break. But you don't need any motivation to play a final against Australia."South Africa and Australia have shared a fierce history in ICC knockout matches, including the dramatic semi-finals of the 1999 and 2023 World Cups, both won by Australia. Maharaj knows the scale of the challenge his side faces."We know what is in front of us, because Australia is a great team, who play a great brand of cricket, and they have been the dominant force for a long time and conquered all three formats," he this South African team arrives in London with momentum, having won their last seven Tests."When I think of the character of this team, our never-say-die attitude stands out. There are only three of us who have played over 50 Tests, but we never back down from a challenge. Regardless of the place or the opponent, we believe in each other, and that's what really Shuks and Temba have done deserves a lot of credit. They have encouraged us, and to see this team come together and get to where we are, it really is special."South Africa will also take heart from their strong record at Lord's. Since their return to international cricket in 1991, they have won five Test matches at the historic venue."We know that it is a crucial, one-off Test match. We also know that we have a great record at Lord's as a country, and the key for us is to focus on executing our plans."While his attention is firmly on the final, Maharaj is also on the verge of a personal milestone. With 198 wickets, he is just two short of becoming the first South African spinner to reach 200 in Test cricket."I never really thought about it. For me, it has always been about doing my job for the team. The personal accolades don't really matter, as long as the team is winning," Maharaj said."Hopefully, I can add 200 more before I am done! As long as I can keep getting in the team, I just want to keep improving, trusting my skill set and contributing for the country."Must Watch
Int'l Cricket Council
3 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Veteran Maharaj looks forward to the Australia challenge
Over nine years ago, Maharaj made his international debut for South Africa, against Australia in a Test match at the WACA. And 57 Tests later, the left-arm spinner returns to face the same opponent, in the all-important World Test Championship Final 2025. In this period, Maharaj has proved himself to be a team player, filling the much-needed spin void in the South Africa setup while also becoming a part of the team's think tank. 'I guess I have become someone to provide a shoulder to those who need it. I like to give advice where I can,' Maharaj told Cricket South Africa in an interview. Keshav Maharaj celebrates a wicket in Bangladesh // Getty Images The 35-year-old returns to competitive cricket after a prolonged break, and is raring to take on Pat Cummins' men in the Ultimate Test. Maharaj has 22 wickets against Australia in the format, at an average of 45 in conditions that don't have the best support for spinners. Maharaj has also played a big role in South Africa's journey to the final, with 40 wickets from eight games in this cycle of the World Test Championship. Despite the break, Maharaj's focus remains on overcoming the Australians. 'Having had the break, I am excited to get back together with the boys. Guys have been playing all over, in different competitions, but now we have some time to really get close and focus. 'I have been working hard on my bowling and conditioning, and I think we needed a mental break. But you don't need any motivation to play a final against Australia.' Double blow from Keshav Maharaj | SA v IND | T20WC 2024 Final South Africa and Australia have a shared history of close ICC knockout contests, including the 1999 and 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup semi-finals, where the latter emerged victorious on both occasions. Australia are the only team to have won all senior Men's ICC events across formats, with a total of 10 titles to their name. Maharaj is aware of the magnitude of what awaits South Africa. 'We know what is in front of us, because Australia is a great team, who play a great brand of cricket, and they have been the dominant force for a long time and conquered all three formats,' Maharaj stated. Ricky Ponting picks his Australia XI for the World Test Championship Final. The former Australia captain names the squad he believes should take on South Africa in the WTC Final. However, Maharaj believes that this South African side, which has won its last seven Tests in a row, can stop the Australian juggernaut. 'When I think of the character of this team, our never-say-die attitude stands out. There are only three of us who have played over 50 Tests, but we never back down from a challenge. Regardless of the place or the opponent, we believe in each other, and that's what really matters. 'What Shuks and Temba have done deserves a lot of credit. They have encouraged us, and to see this team come together and get to where we are, it really is special.' Maharaj also pointed out South Africa's great record at the Lord's Cricket Ground, wherein they have won five Tests since their readmission to cricket in 1991. 'We know that it is a crucial, one-off Test match. We also know that we have a great record at Lord's as a country, and the key for us is to focus on executing our plans.' While Maharaj's focus will be on getting South Africa their first senior Men's title since 1998, he is also on the cusp of a rare landmark: becoming the first-ever South Africa spinner to achieve 200 Test wickets. He has 198 wickets in the format at present. 'I never really thought about it. For me, it has always been about doing my job for the team. The personal accolades don't really matter, as long as the team is winning,' Maharaj states. 'Hopefully, I can add 200 more before I am done! As long as I can keep getting in the team, I just want to keep improving, trusting my skill set and contributing for the country.'
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Gukesh has so much to learn… not yet complete as player, says trainer Grzegorz Gajewski
Grzegorz Gajewski, the man who was the sherpa guiding Gukesh's ascent to the coveted world champion's throne late last year, believes that despite the Chennai teenager becoming the youngest world champion in history, there's still lots of scope to learn for the teenager from Chennai. Gukesh is currently playing at the Norway Chess tournament, where he lost to China's Wei Yi in the Armageddon on Saturday after their classical contest ended in a draw. This year's Norway Chess tournament has an incredibly strong field, with the world's top 5 players competing, with China's Wei Yi being the lowest rated player at No 8. Asked in an interview by the official YouTube channel of Norway Chess what the biggest challenge working with someone as young as Gukesh was, the Polish trainer said: 'Everything is a challenge at this age because nothing is formed really. So he's not yet complete as a chess player, he's not yet complete as a person. Everywhere there are some smaller or bigger challenges waiting for you.' Gajewski started travelling full time with Gukesh since Norway Chess 2023, an association that led to Gukesh winning the Candidates at the first time of asking after prevailing over an elite eight-player field and then defeating Ding Liren to become the 18th world champion in the sport's history. He was asked what is the next challenge for him as a trainer. Gajewski pointed out that even though Gukesh was a world champion, there was plenty of scope for growth. 'I think the biggest trick here is to somehow find the balance between the urge of immediate results and the long-term goal which is basically to improve as a player. I think this is the key here and of course he's a world champion already but we should not forget he's only 19. There is so much he has to learn yet and for me this is a priority. If he wins some championship matches as part of the process that's great, but the key for him is to improve,' he said. Gajewski was first introduced to Gukesh at Viswanathan Anand's WACA chess academy, which was started during the pandemic. Gajewski had previously worked with Anand as a second too. Asked how different it was working with Gukesh compared to working with Anand, Gajewski said: 'Very much different. When I started working with Vishy, he was already a man who achieved it all. A five-time world champion, a famous player and a legend. So it's kind of a different situation because what can I really teach him, right? So I was basically taking care of his repertoire and trying to set new goals so he could stay ambitious which obviously was tricky for the man who achieved it all already. With Gukesh it's pretty much different because he's so young, he has so much to learn and so much to achieve. So they were at completely different points in their careers.' Gajewski also heaped praise on Gukesh. 'What was special for him was his ability to learn and to draw conclusions from his own errors. He had many ups and downs but whenever he felt he was able to take the best lesson from this fall and use it to his advantage in the future.'
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Steve Waugh rubbishes Vaibhav Suryavanshi's comparison to ‘freakish' Tendulkar: ‘Very rare you get a Sachin come along'
Legendary Australia skipper Steve Waugh rubbished comparisons of IPL teen sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi with batting great Sachin Tendulkar, who also made a mark in international cricket at a very young age. Tendulkar, who made his international debut at the age of 16, went on to become arguably the greatest batter in cricket history. The Indian great made batting look easy on the toughest of surfaces, which Waugh also mentioned while praising his extraordinary talent at a very young age. Tendulkar had an incredible 1991/92 Australia tour, during which he scored a couple of centuries Down Under at the age of 18. He scored his first century on the tour at the Sydney Cricket Ground, while his 161-ball 114 at the pace and bounce track at WACA, Perth, stood out. Waugh made it clear that Tendulkar is incomparable by referring to his freakish performance in Perth. However, he also praised 14-year-old Suryavanshi for his century against Gujarat Titans. 'I don't think you can compare anyone to Sachin Tendulkar," Waugh said during an event in Mumbai. 'I mean, a 16-year-old (18-year-old) coming out to Australia and scoring a century in Perth on the hardest, (the) most unique pitch in world cricket where most players really struggle to play on a pitch." '…for him to score a century as a teenager in Perth was a freakish performance. It's very rare you get a Sachin Tendulkar come along. But I would never have expected a 14-year-old to score a 100 in the IPL, that was unthinkable," he added. The Australian legend, who scored 10,927 Test runs during his illustrious career, made an honest admission that he couldn't contemplate himself being successful at 14 and doing things which Suryavanshi did in the IPL at such a young age. 'Even right now it's unthinkable. I look back to myself as a 14-year-old and I couldn't contemplate being in that situation and being successful," Waugh said. Suryavanshi etched his name into the history books with a blazing 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans. In what was a sensational debut season, he racked up 252 runs in just 7 matches, boasting a phenomenal strike rate of 206.56. However, Waugh feels that it will be a challenge for Vaibhav to continue playing the same way in the coming years with the same freedom, while praising his skills and mental toughness. 'Can he play the same way with the same enthusiasm, the same freedom as he has done this year? That'll be his challenge. He's got a lot of skill, he's mentally tough and he's got a great backstory, so you want to see someone like that be successful. It's a great story for cricket and for me watching from a long way away," Waugh said.
NDTV
13-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Virat Kohli's Test Odyssey: Started And Ended On His Own Terms
In 2012, Virat Kohli looked in the mirror and berated himself, 'You can't look like this if you want to be a professional cricketer'. For someone whose passion for fitness, almost bordering on obsession, is well-documented, this bout of self-pity is almost unthinkable. "My training was horrible, I ate so bad, I was up until late, I was having a drink or two regularly. It was a horrible mindset. The season ended and I was so thankful it was over.' Then came the epiphany, in front of an unforgiving mirror. But then, Virat Kohli was forged by his flaws, which continues as he calls it quits in Test cricket. Kohli finished two short of 125 Tests (that would have seen him equal the great Sunil Gavaskar in terms of number of matches played), needed only 770 runs to reach the 10,000-run milestone in Tests (which would see him become the fourth Indian after Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid to achieve the elusive feat), and five more tons would have made him the eighth in the world to reach 35 Test centuries. But, as he said in his good-bye message, "it's not easy — but it feels right." For Kohli, Test cricket was the ultimate glory. "That was always the goal. This is the highest level. The thing that excited me about Test cricket was the challenge," he had said. And Kohli rose to the challenge. That he was meant for great things was always accepted, but it never came easy. His first Test in Kingston, Jamaica, in 2011, for example. In both the innings he was dismissed by West Indies' Fidel Edwards for 4 and 15 respectively. An anxious Kohli would tell reporters, "Lekin main chhorunga nahin (I will not give up)". He never did. Retribution came months later, against the same opponents. Kohli struck twin half-centuries at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Two months after that, Kohli went on to slam a brave 75 at a bouncy WACA in Perth and then got his maiden Test century in Adelaide against Australia. He was unlike any other Test great that India had seen before. Unlike Gavaskar, Tendulkar or Dravid, Kohli was 'in your face', never shying away from riling up the Aussies even in their own backyard and then earning their respect. Virat Kohli was destined for great things from the time he led India to triumph at the 2008 U19 World Cup in Malaysia. Image credit: AFP First Big Low, And Then An Unprecedented High That was followed by solid shows in South Africa and at home, before the first big low point of his Test career. In the summer of 2014, Kohli struggled against the seam and swing of James Anderson and could score only 134 runs in five Tests. His technique and poor footwork against the moving ball outside off-stump would be questioned. Something that would go on to haunt him for the rest of his career. That scar aside, over the next five years, Kohli reached the peak of his powers. From his debut in June 2011 to September 2014, he scored 1,855 in 51 innings at an average of 39.46. From October 2014 to December 2019, he scored 5,347 in 90 innings at an average of 63.65. The difference is clear. During India's tour of Australia in 2014-15, Kohli scored 692 runs at 86.50 with four centuries and one fifty. By the end of the tour, Kohli was India's full-time Test captain. In 2016, Kohli scored the first of his seven double tons (most by an Indian) with a 200 against West Indies in North Sound. India clinched the series 4-0. Then came India's Tour of England in 2018. All eyes were on Kohli, and he did not disappoint. With 593 runs in five Tests (two 100s, three 50s at 59.30) he towered over the rest. In fact, from April 2016 to March 2019, Kohli was statistically the best Test batter in the world. No one scored more than him during this time – 3,619 in 59 innings at an average of 65.80, with 14 100-plus scores. His average and run tally were far better than the other three of the modern-day 'Fab four' - Joe Root of England, Steve Smith of Australia and Kane Williamson of New Zealand. Captain Courageous Kohli's contribution to Indian Test cricket was beyond just his batting. He inspired the team to follow his rigorous fitness regime. One of his prime goals, which he was absolutely vocal about, was creating a pace attack that could take 20 wickets in a match. Under him, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and even Bhuvneshwar Kumar prospered. A stat by cricket website ESPNCricinfo shows how the fast bowlers thrived under Kohli. When Kohli was the captain, Indian pacers took 591 wickets at an average of 26.00 and strike rate of 51.84. "Among those who led in 50 or more Tests, the pacers' strike rate under Kohli of 51.39 ranks second only to Viv Richards' pace attack of the 80s," the cricket website said. Under Kohli, India won its first-ever Test series in Australia. Kohli led India in 68 Tests - most by any Indian. Team India won 40 matches and drew 11 under Kohli. A win percentage of 58.82 makes him the most successful Test captain in India's history. Between 2015 and 2017, Kohli led India to nine straight Test series victories, equalling Ricky Ponting. He is the only captain to have scored seven double centuries in Test matches. Kohli holds the record for the highest score by an Indian captain in Tests - 254* vs South Africa (2019) and also has most tons as an Indian captain - 20. With 5,864 runs in 68 Tests at an average of 54.80, Kohli has more runs as India captain than any other player. The final phase That golden phase started to wane in 2020. Early that year, Kohli scored 2,000 in 39 Tests at an average of 30.72. In his last 10 Tests, Kohli had just 382 runs in 19 innings at an average of 22.47 (out of those 100 scored in a single innings in Perth in the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy). There were murmurs - was it time to look beyond Kohli? In five Tests in the recent Tour of Australia, Kohli scored just 190 in five Tests at an average of 23.75. There were doubts on whether he and Rohit Sharma, who had an equally bad Border Gavaskar trophy run, would play in the England Tour. Now that both are gone, the transition is almost complete under new coach Gautam Gambhir. The next World Test Championship cycle (2025-27) will feature a new look Indian team. It will have a 'Virat' act to follow.
