Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill- Heroes of the Indian batting line up.

Shreyas Iyer was left out of the playing XI in the first test against Australia for Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023 due to injury. A classy middle order batsman is likely to return to the playing XI in the 2nd test. 

What can KKR captain Shreyas Iyer contribute?

1. Shreyas Iyer can definitely solve the middle order conundrum. Top order batsman failed to consolidate the partnership in the 1st innings of 1st test starting from KL Rahul, C Pujara, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav except captain Rohit Sharma. 

2. Shreyas Iyer is one of the finest spin bowling player so given the Aussie using their voldemort Todd Murphy against the Indian batting line up to their advantage, the KKR captain can accelerate the speed of scoring runs all round the ground by tackling Murphy like the young magician Harry Potter. 

3. Shreyas Iyer is a true heir of the Indian middle order batsman in ODI and Test. No player has ever come close to show temperament and calmness withstanding pressure like the way he does recently. 

4. Suryakumar Yadav have had been exceptional in T20 leaving no doubt for the fans but his run in the other two format has rather ignited his credentials and abilities to continue wearing the Indian jersey.

5. Shreyas Iyer can also bowl which could also come handy in the middle so his inclusion in the 2nd test in inevitable unless fitness and injury gets in the way. 

Is Shubman Gill playing the 2nd test? 

Gill is very unlikely to play as the Indian vice captain KL Rahul has return to the squad but his inclusion won't be a surprise given his great form at the moment. 

Shubman Gill inclusion can provide the ultimate stability in the Indian batting line up but it is very unlikely to drop the vice captain. 

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) top batsman 2022

1. Virat Kohli

The Bad-boy of Indian cricket team aka Cheeku is one of the top batsman of the formidable side. His aggressive batting  approach have had always been a testament of success across the globe. The flamboyant batsman does not shy away to show his intent between the wickets and that's exactly what one would expect from a gleaming star like him. The tales of King Kohli echoes from International career to franchise competition. With captaincy off his chest, 15 crores batter is expected to go all gun blazing with an intent to resurrect his dipping form this IPL. Kohli decided to relinquish captaincy after leading the side for the last 10 years after failing to crown as champion. RCB are yet to taste franchise success since its inception and winning it would be the ultimate objective of the side. 

VIRAT KOHLI STATS IN IPL

MATCHES : 207

INNINGS: 199

RUNS: 6283

100s : 5

50s : 42

STRIKE RATE: 129.95

AVERAGE: 37.4

Kohli's IPL record.

- Highest all time runs scorer in the tournament with 6283 runs.

- Highest run scorer in a single edition with 973 runs.

- Record 11 half-centuries in a single edition.

2. Glenn Maxwell

The Indian favourite, Maxwell, who sing the cash prize IPL competition's chorus with a sky-high strike rate of 151.84  is one of top classy batsman from Australia who plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Maxi aka "The big show", is well known for his hard-hitting ability all over the ground and has the potential to take the game away from his opposition side singlehandedly. The flair of excellence is often demonstrated with his unorthodox choice of shots in the limited overs cricket, making it a counterintuitive statement by his scintillating performance for someone who try to writes him off. Maxi tendency to hit the ball from the moment he sat his foot on the pitch creates an unstable atmosphere for the opposition. His acrobatics fielding skills is an investment returns and asset for his team. Gravitating towards fitting as a batsman at large , the part time right-arm off break bowler is certainly far from being an inspiring all-rounder, however his all-rounder performance could be expected when required as the big show has all qualities to succeed in bowling department.

IPL STATS.

MATCHES: 97

INNINGS: 93

RUNS: 2018

AVERAGE: 25.23

STRIKE RATE: 151.84

100s: NIL

50s: 12

3.Faf du Plessis

Faf, the newly appointment classy captain is one of the versatile batsman for Royal Challengers Bangalore this season. The Proteas former captain is popularly known for his calm and composed approach in batting who can confidently steer his team to the gates of victory. His nerve to stay calm in a high pressure game is surely a fortress to keep his team away from defeat. Faf's slow-approach to aggression facilitates his opposition a sign of victory but that same slow-approach to aggression takes the game away from his rivals as he keeps going till he score the winning run.

Faf's career has been a testimony for patience and perseverance, often left out of his national squad due to abundance of genius batsman in the side which could potentially smoked a short sportmans career but his love for the game eventually came to a rescue when he was given a chance, who grabbed with both hands and delivered like it was promised before the start of his career's chapter.

Faf's captaincy and batting skills would play as a catalyst to lead his team to a maiden IPL trophy.

IPL STATS.

MATCHES: 100

INNINGS: 93

RUNS: 2935

AVERAGE : 34.94

STRIKE RATE: 131.09

100s: Nil

50s: 22

Joe Root Hits 25th Century against West Indies

Joe Root: Been the rock quite a while carrying the uninspired flaky England batting line up. A truly generational talent in the world of cricket. Taking the captaincy charge from Alastair Cook, it took quite a toll on his average but since January 2021, Root took the word elevation portentous and put it into action and once again established himself as a batsman to reckon with by rooting himself deep into some serious consistency. 

25the Century for Joe Root! That's a SILVER. 

 

Joe Root test stats between, 

2017-2020:6 Test Centuries

2021 onwards: 8 Test centuries

Joe Root in Test cricket

Matches - 116 

Innings-213 

Runs-9829*

Average- 49.89 

Centuries-25

Fifties - 53

SIGNIFICANT RECORDS 

Most Test centuries by visiting captains in West Indies :

1.Graeme Smith (South Africa) - 4

2.Colin Cowdrey (England) -3

3.Steve Waugh (Australia) -3 

4.Andrew Strauss (England) -3

5.Joe Root (England) -3*

Most Test centuries for England in West Indies 

1.Colin Cowdrey-4 

2.Joe Root-4*

RECENT FORM

Joe Root (England) became the only batsman to score pass 2,000 Test runs since the start of 2021 followed by Rishabh Pant (India)  with 1077 runs and Dimuth Karunratne (Sri Lanka) with 1068 runs. 

THE FABULOUS 4 DOOR

Joe Root’s talent with the bat is often neglected by the mainstream media compared to his three arch-rivals(competitors) but the stats speaks a volumn.

Fabulous 4 CENTURY stats on January 2021

1.Virat Kohli - 27

2.Steve Smith - 26

3.Kane Williamson - 24

4.Joe Root - 17

Fabulous 4 Stats current CENTURY stats. 

1. Steven Smith - 27

2. Virat Kohli - 27

3. Joe Root - 25

4. Kane Williamson - 24

Joe Root has all the potentiality in the world to be the greatest ever batsman for England. With age on his side, Cook's run tally isn't safe as long as he's around on crease and keep up with this consistency.

Karachi Kings' Babar Azam: Modern-day great salvage a draw

Babar Azam frustrated Aussie scoring a personal record 196 off 425 balls (70.5 overs). Azam also etched his name in the book of record by scoring the highest runs by captain in the 4th innings. He outscored former Proteas captain Michael Atherton who scored 185  runs in 1995 to top the list.

Babar got into spartans mode to salvage a draw for his country all the way from the gate of defeat.

Ironically speaking, "Someday, you play to win, someday, you play to avoid defeat", well the latter assignment is the hardest to pull off but the Karachi King Azam took the conveyance with absolute calmness and attitude and stood strong in the sea of doubts and distress and like it was intended from the start  of Day 5 itself, he successfully navigated to sail his ship across to the shore of a draw,  collecting a point.

Babar Azam has set his standards so high that he was displaying a sign of dissatisfied and frustration to get out at 196, Babar could barely bring up himself to raise his bat as he walks off rather he was seen perversely punching the boundary board quite in dismay. 4 runs short from scoring a maiden double  century in test didn't stop the Aussie players from congratulating him and showing respect both on and off , retired and active cricketers who were all impressed enough to showered with good wishes. The International cricket fraternity also showered appreciation, some of them includes;

Harsha Bhogel, "Test cricket was where Babar Azam needed to take a step up and here it is. 480 to get and 170 overs to bat when he walked in. Hope of a miraculous win might have flickered but even a draw is a great result. What a player".

Michael Vaughan tweeted, "Without question I think @babarazam258 is the best all round Batter in the World right now .. Brilliant across all the formats".

Brett Lee, "What a special knock @babarazam258 👏🏻".

Babar azam rained century on Aussie victory parade

In what may seem an unlikely situation by the dictating like performance of the mighty Aussie against Pakistan in the 2nd test match witnessed the young 22 years old batter Abdullah Shafique showing resolute resistant scoring 71 not out building partnership in the middle with captain Azam in the 2nd innings.

Pakistan are 192/2 with Babar Azam 109* and Abdullah Shafique 71* at the end of day 4 still needing 314 to win from 90 overs.

Aussie bowlers were left beleaguered and wicket-less in the last session, In cruise for a breakthrough, no bowler manage to trouble batsman except Swepson, a debutant leg-spinner for Aussie, who was sensational yet tad-unlucky to grab himself a wicket for a day.

Pakistan Captain Babar Azam running between the wickets with a young batter was well appreciated by Michael Clarke who commented, 'OHH man WHAT a player. Unbelievable. Just wanna share a little story that Me and Ponting were talking about this series and Ponting told me to watchout for Babar, he is the most complete batsman I’ve seen since AB de Villiers"

Christian Eriksen: Returns after euro 2020 fiasco

A life threatening injury at Euro 2020 saw Eriksen pulled out of the competition but got back in action just after 6 months to continue from where he left. The Danish attacking midfielder had cardiac arrest before the world's eyes leaving the fans across the globe in despair. Rest assured with fully recovered and physically fit, Eriksen is already back in professional club games and today he's been included in the 23-man Denmark National Squad to play two friendly match at the international level against Netherlands and Serbia at the end of this month by Denmark football coach Kasper Hjulmand.

The fans gushes over his inclusion in the Danish National Team and showered well wishes and congratulatory message via tweets across the globe.

Pakistan PCB in trouble at day 3

Pakistan failed to capitalise partnerships in the middle saw them at the loose end on Day 3 against Australia. 

OFFICIAL MATCH COMMENTARY 

After watching Australia bat in the 1st innings, we were sure that this will be a repeat of the 1st test. But gosh how good was Australian bowling! Terrific stuff. They have got a lead of 408 runs now in their kitty and surprisingly, Pat Cummins signals to get the roller on which means they are batting again. 'I am astonished by that' reckons Mike Haysman on air.

A bad day at the office for Pakistan! Things just went from bad to worse for them. From 38-1, Pakistan have been all out for 148. It started with Abdullah Shafique's suicidal run out and Imam gifting his wicket away. Their top order crumbled after that and no one showed fight. Wickets continued to tumble like a pack of cards. Babar Azam was the only one who stayed and played a lone battle. Shaheen Afridi and Nauman Ali did stitch the highest partnership of their innings but that was it. Pakistan really have to come back stronger with the ball now as they trail by 408 runs and need to replicate a bowling performance like Australia.

Mighty Aussies as they say! This is some sensational bowling from Australia. Lyon started post Lunch with a wicket and from there on, they just got into their groove and bowled class apart. Starc struck twice after that to put Pakistan in further trouble. And later, Cummins and Green bagged a wicket each which meant that a follow-on was very much on cards for the hosts. Mitchell Starc ended with three wickets by his name. They headed into the Tea break with only 3 wickets to grab and after the break, it didn't take much time to get those. Swepson got rid of Babar Azam to bag his maiden Test wicket which meant that Pakistan were bound to get all out sooner or later and he was the one who ended the proceedings as well. Australia have decided to not enforce the follow-on and this has come as a surprise but with a lead of 408 runs already, they will be happy to give their bowlers some rest now and pile more runs to the lead. They clearly have the upper hand in this Test. With 26 overs still left and with two days to go, Australia might look to add 100-150 runs or so and declare later.

Fab 4 in TEST CRICKET CURRENT RANKING : Root, Smith , Williamson & Kohli

Three (3) of the fab4 batsman of test cricket are currently playing except Williamson. Virat Kohli is playing against Sri Lanka in India, Steve Smith is playing against Pakistan in Karachi and Joe Root against West Indies. 

CURRENT RANKING

1. JOE ROOT

Joe Root currently tops the batting ranking among the fab4 with a total rating points of 872 and currently ranked 2nd in the world in test cricket. He scored his 24th century in the ongoing match. 

2. Steve Smith 

Smith currently sits at number 2 and overall number 3 with a total rating points of 851. He scored half century but failed to convert into three digits score in the ongoing match against Pakistan. 

3. Kane Williamson 

Williamson is currently at number 3 and overall number 4 with a total rating points of 844. 

The kiwi captain is currently not on tour for series. 

4. Virat Kohli 

Last but not the least, Virat Kohli, Indian scintillating batsman sits at number 4 with a rating points of 763. The Indian former captain is playing his maiden test series after stepping down as Indian Captain but the score is not doing any better so far.