On a tour like England, where prior experience is invaluable, Cheteshwar Pujara’s father Arvind believes his son can make a valuable contribution. Pujara is a veteran of 103 Tests, which is much more than any member of the current Indian team. » P24 Lack of cap count The nearest to Pujara, in terms of number of Tests played, is left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (80 Tests), followed by pacer Mohammed Shami (64) and top-order batter KL Rahul (58). Interestingly, pace ace Jasprit Bumrah and top-order batter Shubman Gill, both of whom are captaincy candidates for India’s five-Test tour of England, following the retirements of Test captain Rohit Sharma and batting great Virat Kohli, have played 45 and 32 Tests respectively. Cheteshwar Pujara during the World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval, England, in 2023. Pic/Getty Images “Being the senior-most player, I feel they [Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee] should give him [Pujara] a chance in the England tour. He is fit and in good form and will definitely help the team’s cause in English conditions. The Indian team needs a batsman like him, who can stay on the wicket for long,” Pujara Sr, 74, a former Saurashtra Ranji Trophy cricketer, told mid-day over the phone from Rajkot on Wednesday. Also Read: IND vs ENG Tests: Anil Kumble picks this player to bat at number four in England Pujara, 37, has scored 7195 Test runs, including 19 centuries. During the last Ranji Trophy season, Pujara scored 402 runs in seven games, including a 383-ball marathon knock of 234 against Chhattisgarh. He also did well during his County Championship stint with Sussex last year, scoring 501 runs in six matches, with two centuries. Besides, Pujara has made five Test trips to England, where he played 16 Tests, accumulated 870 runs, scored one century and five fifties. Arvind Pujara. Pic Courtesy/Cheteshwar Pujara's Instagram ‘Still scoring big runs’ It is this rich experience that Pujara Sr is stressing on. “Cheteshwar hasn’t stopped playing cricket. He played six-seven County matches last season and also scored a double hundred in the Ranji Trophy,” added Arvind, who has also been his son’s first coach through his younger days. ‘He can make a difference’ Puraja last played a Test against Australia almost two years ago, at The Oval in June 2023, but Arvind believes that is no hindrance for a successful comeback. “He [Cheteshwar] is very open-minded. If they select him, he will play. He can definitely make a comeback. He can make a huge difference given his rich county experience. There are very few Indian players, who have played 100-plus Tests. There are big names like Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsarkar and Sachin Tendulkar among others, and there is Cheteshwar. It’s extremely tough to play 100 Test. This is why I believe he deserves one more chance being India’s senior-most Test player at the moment,” Pujara Sr signed off.
15 May,2025 09:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureAs the Indian men’s cricket team braces for a period of hard transition following the retirement of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket, former captain Anil Kumble has thrown his weight behind Karun Nair for a sensational comeback. With the five-match Test series in England starting next month and a massive void left at the No. 4 position — occupied for over three decades by Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar before him — Kumble believes Nair could be the right man to step in. India are entering uncharted territory. For the first time since 1989, when Sachin Tendulkar made his debut, India will tour England for a Test series without Tendulkar or Kohli in the ranks. Rohit Sharma’s retirement compounds the middle-order crisis, leaving the team to figure out a new batting blueprint that may have to rely more on form than reputation. Also Read: 'They were speeding at over 100 km/h': Top cyclist Esow Alban hit by bikers during on-road training session “There has been no proper conversation around who’s going to bat at No. 4,” Kumble said on ESPNCricinfo. “When Rohit didn’t play in Australia, there was some reshuffling. KL Rahul grabbed the opportunity. But post that, the middle-order seems uncertain. And No. 4 is the most critical batting slot in England.” Kumble believes the answer may lie in a name long forgotten in Indian Test cricket — Karun Nair. The 33-year-old, who last played a Test in 2017, famously scored a triple century against England in Chennai but curiously fell out of favour soon after. “Karun deserves to come back into the Indian team with the kind of domestic run he’s had,” Kumble said. “You need someone with experience in English conditions. He has played County cricket, he’s been there before. He may be on the other side of 30, but he’s still young in cricketing terms.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 May,2025 08:26 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIDelhi Capitals on Wednesday replaced Australian batter Jake-Fraser McGurk with Bangladesh left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman, as the former could not rejoin the team for the remainder of IPL 2025 after returning home due to the ongoing India-Pakistan hostilities. Fraser-McGurk's release won't hurt DC as he was dropped after the first six games in which he tallied only 55 runs. Also, if Mitchell Starc doesn't come, as is widely anticipated, then Mustafizur's left-arm seam bowling, with expertise in death overs, would come in handy. "The JSW and GMR co-owned franchise Delhi Capitals today announced the signing of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman as a replacement for Australian opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, who will be unavailable for the remainder of the TATA IPL 2025 season," the franchise stated in a release. However Mustafizur, on Wednesday, flew to Dubai for Bangladesh's two-match T20I series vs UAE and also posted the news on his official twitter handle. Bangladesh play UAE on May 17 and 19 and if Mustafizur happens to play both games, he would only reach India on May 20. He would miss Delhi's game against Gujarat Titans. However, it is learnt that Mustafizur has a lucrative contract, and the franchise -- Delhi Capitals in this case -- is currently negotiating with the Bangladesh Cricket Board for his early release. As is customary for overseas players, the respective cricket board also receives a percentage of the contract. McGurk and a host of other foreign players had returned to their respective countries due to the military showdown between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. Mustafizur, who made his IPL debut in 2016, previously represented the Delhi Capitals during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In 2022, he picked up eight wickets in eight matches with an economy of 7.62 and in the following season, he played two matches for Delhi Capitals. Over the course of his IPL career, the 29-year-old has played 38 matches, claiming 38 wickets at an economy rate of 7.84. He has also turned out for multiple franchises in the league, forming a reputation of bowling effectively in all phases of an innings. With 132 wickets in 106 T20Is for Bangladesh, Mustafizur has established himself as one of the leading left-arm pacers in white-ball cricket. Across all T20 competitions in the domestic circuit and globally, he has taken 351 wickets in 281 matches. Meanwhile, veteran South African keeper-batter Quinton de Kock has confirmed his availability and will rejoin the Kolkata Knight Riders squad in Bengaluru for their next IPL game, as per an ESPNCricinfo report. It has also been learnt that Rajasthan Royals pace spearhead Jofra Archer, who sustained a thumb injury during their game against Kolkata Knight Riders, is not returning for the remaining games. However, if sources are to be believed, the Royals being out of playoff contention meant there was little point in asking Archer to return for a few inconsequential games. The same applies to CSK, where Sam Curran is also not expected to return. (With PTI inputs)
14 May,2025 10:25 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAustralia women's cricket captain Alyssa Healy shared a gripping first-hand account of the night when an IPL 2025 match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was abruptly called off in Dharamsala. The game was suspended midway after air raid sirens were reported in nearby cities, sending shockwaves through the stadium. At the time of the interruption, Punjab Kings were dominating at 122 for 1 in 10.1 overs. The initial explanation given was a floodlight failure. Healy, who was watching from the stands with family members of fellow players, including her husband and Delhi Capitals pacer Mitchell Starc, initially assumed the delay was minor. "Couple of the light towers went out and we were just there waiting. I heard a rumour a couple of seats down that we might have to evacuate the stadium cause the lights gone down,” Healy said on the WillowTalk podcast. "And we are large group of family and extra support staff. And next minute the guy that kind of wrangles the group of us and gets us on the bus comes up and his face was white. And he was like, we need to go right now. And we were saying, 'oh, it's okay'. Like we're probably best off letting everyone else get out of the stadium and like stay here. We're probably safer at the moment. Cause there'll be people going down the stairs everywhere," she added. The backdrop to the panic was a real-time military conflict. India had launched missile strikes on terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) in retaliation for a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 people. On the day of the match, several Punjab districts, including Amritsar, Pathankot, and Mohali, as well as Chandigarh were placed under blackout following air raid alarms and loud explosion-like sounds reported in Jammu. "Then the next guy came out, his face was white, grabbed one of the children and said 'we need to leave right now'," Healy recalled. "The boys (players) are there. Faf didn't even have shoes on.They're all just waiting there looking stressed. I asked to Mitch, 'what's going on?' And he said, 'the town 60 kilometres away had just been smacked by some of the missiles'." "And so there was a complete blackout in the area, which meant that's why the lights were off because the Dharmasala stadium was like a beacon at that point in time." With the stadium fully illuminated amid a region-wide blackout, the team was hastily evacuated. “So all of a sudden we’re crammed into vans and off we go back to the hotel. There was madness. We’re sitting on the bus with some of the Punjab players. I think Shreyas was on my bus. It was just like get in a van as soon as you can get out of there,” she said. Both teams’ squads and staff were eventually relocated to Delhi through a complex combination of road and rail travel, passing through Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar. The league was suspended for a week and is set to resume on May 17, with many overseas players preparing to return. (With inputs from PTI)
14 May,2025 07:43 PM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentWith several top overseas cricketers caught between fulfilling national duties and honouring their IPL contracts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly permitted franchises to recruit temporary replacement players for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season, reported ESPNcricinfo. The league, which resumes on May 17 following a one-week suspension triggered by escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, will now culminate on June 3, as per the revised schedule released by the BCCI earlier this week. The original finale was set for May 25, but the unexpected break forced an extension. According to the ESPNcricinfo report, while franchises are now allowed to rope in short-term replacements, these players will not be eligible for direct retention ahead of the next season. The decision to tweak replacement regulations was taken in light of the growing list of foreign players exiting the league midway due to international commitments. Among those opting out of the remainder of the season are Jake Fraser-McGurk of Delhi Capitals and Jamie Overton of Chennai Super Kings. However, some overseas stars have decided to return to India to participate in the IPL 2025. Historically, IPL guidelines only permitted teams to sign replacements in case of injury or illness, and only before their 12th league match. But the exceptional circumstances this season have prompted a relaxation in that policy. In a franchise memo, the league explained: “Given the non-availability of certain foreign players due to national commitments or personal reasons or any injury or illness, Temporary Replacement Players will be allowed until the conclusion of this tournament.” Furthermore, those players signed before the league’s suspension, when four signings were made, will remain eligible. These signings included Sediqullah Atal (Delhi Capitals), Mayank Agarwal (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), and Lhuan-dre Pretorius along with Nandre Burger (Rajasthan Royals). This regulatory shift is expected to help franchises stabilise their squads during the final stages of the season, even as the availability of marquee international talent remains uncertain. As teams approach a packed schedule of fixtures, the inclusion of short-term reinforcements may prove crucial in shaping the playoff race and ultimately deciding who lifts the IPL trophy on June 3. (With inputs from ANI)
14 May,2025 06:24 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentSeasoned batting maestro Rohit Sharma returned to training on Wednesday as Mumbai Indians resumed their practice sessions at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, preparing for the resumption of IPL 2025. The league, which had been temporarily halted due to escalating cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan, is set to recommence on May 17. Mumbai Indians will next take the field on May 21, when they face off against Delhi Capitals in what will be a must-win game as the tournament heads into its business end. Rohit, alongside teammates Karn Sharma, Robin Minz, Ashwani Kumar, and Tilak Varma, was seen engaging in intense training drills, signalling the team’s renewed focus as they gear up for the remaining fixtures of the season. Training resumes 💪#MIDaily returns 😍Catch all the action ➡ https://t.co/TCkaALzRQq#MumbaiIndians #PlayLikeMumbai pic.twitter.com/2uF0xOz0Y4 — Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 14, 2025 Earlier this month, on May 7, Rohit made headlines by announcing his retirement from Test cricket, drawing the curtain on a distinguished 11-year career in the longest format. His decision came ahead of India's challenging five-match tour of England, which will mark the beginning of their campaign in the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship, starting June 20. Across 67 Test appearances, Rohit accumulated 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57. His red-ball resume includes 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries, with a career-best score of 212 recorded during a memorable series against South Africa on home soil in 2019. He concludes his Test journey as India’s 16th-highest run-scorer. Rohit had earlier bid farewell to T20 Internationals in 2024 following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup, marking the end of a remarkable chapter in the shortest format. In 151 T20I matches, the 37-year-old amassed 4,231 runs at an average of 32.05, striking at an impressive rate of over 140. His T20I career is adorned with five centuries and 32 fifties, with his top score being a blistering 121 not out. He retires as the format’s leading run-scorer, cementing his legacy as one of T20 cricket’s most prolific and consistent performers.
14 May,2025 05:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDespite announcing their retirement from both T20Is and Test cricket, Indian cricket stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will continue to hold their Grade A+ central contracts, confirmed Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia on Wednesday. In the annual player retainership list for the 2024-25 season, released in April, the BCCI named Kohli and Rohit in the elite Grade A+ category alongside pacer Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. "Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's grade A+ contract will continue despite their retirement from the T20Is and Tests. They are still part of the Indian cricket team, and they will get all the facilities of Grade A+," Saikia clarified, while speaking to ANI. Kohli's decision to retire from Test cricket came as a surprise to many, especially with India's five-match series in England just around the corner. The tour marks the beginning of India's journey in the 2025-27 cycle of the World Test Championship. Over a stellar 14-year Test career, Kohli featured in 123 matches, scoring 9,230 runs at an impressive average of 46.85. His tally includes 30 centuries and 31 fifties across 210 innings, with a career-best score of 254 not out. He retires as India's fourth-highest run-scorer in the format, trailing only legends Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), Rahul Dravid (13,265), and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122). Earlier, on May 7, Rohit had also stepped away from Test cricket, drawing the curtain on an 11-year journey that spanned 67 matches. He accumulated 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, which included 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries. His highest Test score of 212 came during the 2019 home series against South Africa. Rohit ends his red-ball career as India’s 16th-highest run-getter. Both veterans had earlier announced their retirement from T20 internationals following the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Kohli’s record in the T20 World Cup is unparalleled, he has amassed 1,292 runs in 35 matches at a staggering average of 58.72 and a strike rate of 128.81, including 15 half-centuries and a highest score of 89*. He holds the distinction of being the tournament’s all-time leading run-scorer. In his broader T20I career, Kohli has played 125 matches, scoring 4,188 runs at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04. He finishes with one century and 38 fifties, with a top score of 122*, placing him second on the all-time T20I run-scorer list. Rohit, on the other hand, ends his T20I career as the format’s top run-getter, with 4,231 runs in 151 games at a strike rate exceeding 140. He struck five centuries and 32 fifties, with a highest score of 121*. (With ANI inputs)
14 May,2025 04:36 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe IPL 2025 is poised to recommence this Saturday after a week-long suspension triggered by escalating geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. However, the tournament’s resumption brings with it a cloud of uncertainty, particularly surrounding the availability of international players due to clashes with national commitments. Originally slated to conclude on May 25, the IPL will now culminate on June 3, a nine-day extension that directly conflicts with key international fixtures, including England’s summer series and preparations for the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's, scheduled for June 11. South Africa, though, has made its stance unequivocally clear. Head coach Shukri Conrad affirmed that the country’s Test cricketers will exit the IPL by May 26, as per prior agreements. "Our initial agreement with the IPL and the Indian board was that our players would return (for national duty) on the 26th," he said, as per an AFP report. Eight South African Test players are currently attached to IPL franchises, and their absence could significantly impact the final phase of the tournament. England, meanwhile, begin a home ODI series against West Indies on May 29 and are still weighing their options in light of IPL’s altered schedule. With five of their limited-overs squad members playing in the league, among them Jos Buttler of table-toppers Gujarat Titans, the England and Wales Cricket Board face a delicate balancing act between maintaining cordial ties with the BCCI and ensuring national team strength. Australia’s preparations for the WTC final are also underway, with the squad set to assemble for a training camp beginning May 29. While Cricket Australia has adopted a more flexible approach, players like Pat Cummins and Travis Head, whose team Sunrisers Hyderabad will bow out after their final match on May 25, are expected to fulfill both IPL and national duties. However, others such as Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals) and Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), whose teams are playoff contenders, may have to make difficult decisions. Adding further complexity, the South African squad, which includes notable IPL names like Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Aiden Markram, must regroup before a warm-up fixture against Zimbabwe starting June 3. Many of these players are likely to exit before the IPL playoffs start. As the league resumes in Bengaluru with Kolkata Knight Riders facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru, only 13 matches remain in the regular season. With Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad already eliminated, all eyes will now be on how remaining franchises manage the growing exodus of overseas talent amid national priorities.
14 May,2025 04:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed Team India captain Rohit Sharma to his residence, Varsha, and congratulated him on his illustrious Test career. Fadnavis shared a congratulatory post on his official social media handle, which read, "It was great to welcome, meet and interact with Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma at my official residence Varsha. I extended my best wishes to him on his retirement from Test cricket and for continued success in the next chapter of his journey! @ImRo45 #Maharashtra #Mumbai #IndianCricket". Taking to X: It was great to welcome, meet and interact with Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma at my official residence Varsha. I extended my best wishes to him on his retirement from Test cricket and for continued success in the next chapter of his journey!@ImRo45#Maharashtra #Mumbai… pic.twitter.com/G0pdzj6gQy — Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) May 13, 2025 Also Read: Ravichandran Ashwin picks Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma's top Test knocks In the previous week, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the longest format of the game, which spanned 11 years. Debuting in 2013 against the West Indies, the right-hander featured in 67 Test matches for India. Over the years, the traditional opening batsman garnered 4,301 runs with an average of 40.57. He also had 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries to his name in the format. With his career-best score of 212 runs, Rohit drew curtains on the format as India's 16th-highest run-scorer. In a Test match against West Indies, he played a knock of 177 runs at Eden Gardens in 2013. Later, the veteran was seen struggling to score runs on the away tours. The 'Hitman' also struggled to showcase his skills in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia (SENA countries). A player is often considered a top-notch batsman if he manages to score in these countries. However, with twin centuries against South Africa at Visakhapatnam in 2019, Rohit revived his Test career as an opener. In 40 Tests during the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) history, he made 2,716 runs at an average of 41.15, with nine centuries and eight fifties. His best score was 212. He is India's top run-getter, century maker in WTC history, and overall at 10th among top run-getters. He led India to the final of the WTC against Australia in the UK in 2023, where they lost. (With ANI Inputs)
14 May,2025 03:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFollowing the Test retirements of two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, former Team India cricketer Yograj Singh expressed disappointment by saying that there was a lot of cricket left in them. Speaking to ANI, the former cricketer said, "Virat is a big player, so it will obviously be a loss. I feel a lot of cricket is still left in Virat and Rohit". Later, Yograj recollected the time he told his son, Yuvraj Singh, that one should step away from cricket only when he is unable to walk. "I told Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh) that it was not the right move when he was retiring. One should walk away from the field when one can no longer walk," said Yograj. He drew parallels to India's transition phase in 2011, adding, "When many players were either removed, retired, or coerced into retirement in 2011, the team fell apart and has still not stood back up." Also Read: IPL 2025: These South African players are likely to miss playoffs phase due to WTC 2025 final The 67-year-old further said that the team full of young players will always fall apart. "If you form a team full of youngsters, it will always fall apart". Coming back to Virat, the veteran of six ODIs feels that him feeling that there is nothing more to achieve in the format could be the potential reason behind the 36-year-old's retirement. "Maybe Virat feels that he has nothing more left to achieve," said Yograj. The former cricketer was very critical of Rohit as he said that the 38-year-old needed one person who could keep him motivated on a daily basis. "I think Rohit Sharma needed just one person to motivate him daily, for example, to go for a run at 5 AM," he said. "Rohit (Sharma) and Virender Sehwag are two people who retired too early. The greatest players should play till 50 years of age... I am sad about their retirement as no one is left to motivate the youngsters now," concluded Yograj Singh. Team India will now lock horns with England for a five-match Test series, starting from June 20th. (With ANI Inputs)
14 May,2025 03:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFollowing her rich vein in form, Team India's premier batswoman Smriti Mandhana came close to securing the top spot on the list of ICC Women's ODI Batting rankings. South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt is enjoying the top spot with 738 ranking points. In the recently concluded tri-series, Mandhana accumulated 264 runs in five innings. She finished the series as the second leading run-scorer with a century and a half-century. Currently, Mandhana sits in the second position with a gap of just 11 rating points compared to Wolvaardt. Mandhana has previously had the number one ranking for women's ODI batters, but the 28-year-old has not held the premier position in 50-over cricket since 2019 despite consistently sitting inside the top 10 during that time. Also Read: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis felicitates Team India skipper Rohit Sharma post Test retirement As of now, Smriti Mandhana remains the only Team India player in the top 10 ODI rankings. In the tri-series, Sri Lanka's women's team captain Chamari Athapaththu was able to score 139 runs. Following the performance, she has now risen to seventh spot and is sharing the place with Australia's Beth Mooney. On the other hand, Jemimah Rodrigues (up five spots to 15th) and South Africa's Chloe Tryon (up nine places to 18th) also improve. India spinner Sneh Rana was adjudged Player of the Series during the tri-series, and the experienced tweaker was among the big movers (to 34th, improving by four spots) on the updated list of ODI bowlers, which is still headed by England's Sophie Ecclestone. South Africa seamer Nadine de Klerk gains one place to move to 24th overall on this list, while Rana jumps four spots to equal 34th following 15 wickets for the tri-series at an average of just 14. Australia's Ash Gardner maintains her place as the number one-ranked all-rounder in ODI cricket, with India's Deepti Sharma improving one place to fifth overall following some good efforts for her team during the tri-series. There are also gains on the same list for Tryon (up three places to 11th) and de Klerk (up four spots to 12th). (With ANI Inputs)
14 May,2025 02:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
