Latest news with #RanjiTrophy
India Today
8 hours ago
- Sport
- India Today
RCB bowling coach Omkar Salvi to continue as Mumbai's head coach
Omkar Salvi, who guided Mumbai to multiple domestic titles in a short span, will continue as the head coach of the senior team, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) announced on Wednesday. The decision marks a vote of confidence in Salvi's calm leadership and quiet efficiency that has reinvigorated Mumbai ahead of the 2023–24 season, Salvi made an immediate impact. In his very first year, Mumbai lifted their 42nd Ranji Trophy title. The following season, the team made it to the semifinals and went on to win the Irani Cup after 27 long years, along with the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy — a reward for their consistency across formats. Salvi, who also serves as the bowling coach of IPL 2024 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has earned a reputation for bringing the best out of his outstanding leadership and coaching over the past two seasons have played a vital role in the team's strong performances. His ability to bring out the best in players has been exceptional,' MCA president Ajinkya Naik said. While the core of Mumbai's cricketing structure remains steady, there was one notable change to the selection panel. Former cricketer Deepak Jadhav has replaced Kiran Powar as a selector for the senior men's and U-23 teams. Powar, who has contributed significantly in recent years, will now take over as head coach of the U-23 side — a crucial phase in nurturing Mumbai's next Patil continues as chairman of the selection committee, which now comprises Ravi Thaker, Jitendra Thackeray, Vikrant Yelligati, and Jadhav.'The selected individuals bring knowledge, experience, and a deep understanding of the game that will help Mumbai cricket continue its legacy of excellence,' MCA secretary Abhay Hadap Mumbai cricket, the continuity in leadership and coaching is more than just a technical decision — it's a commitment to the values and ethos that have defined one of India's most storied cricketing teams.- Ends
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
IND vs ENG, 2nd Test: ‘Kuldeep Yadav should bat at No. 3' - Bold advice from cricket expert
India's decision to leave out from the playing XI for the second Test against England at Edgbaston has drawn sharp criticism, with former India pacer Dodda Ganesh delivering one of the most scathing reactions. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Taking to X, Ganesh remarked, ' Kuldeep should bat in top 3 for Uttar Pradesh in the #RanjiTrophy and get some runs, to be picked to play for India in the tests. I don't see any other way he can force his way back into this setup where one's secondary skill dictates the team selection .' The comment, dripping with sarcasm, reflected the widespread frustration over India's growing reliance on all-rounders at the expense of pure specialists. Kuldeep, who last played a Test in 2024 against New Zealand, has featured in just 13 Tests since his 2017 debut despite consistently impressive returns whenever selected. His omission has puzzled fans and experts alike, especially after the left-arm wrist-spinner picked up key wickets in recent matches and showed signs of being in red-hot form. EXCLUSIVE | David Gower on Shubman Gill, Bumrah & India's England Tour Former Australia captain Aaron Finch also joined the chorus of criticism, writing: ' If Bumrah was fit to play then surely you need to pick the best bowler in the world? At the very least Kuldeep has to be in the XI if you're worried about taking 20 wickets. Yes, he might be more expensive but he's the next best attacking option!' Captain Shubman Gill defended the decision, citing a need to bolster the batting after lower-order collapses in the previous Test. ' We were very tempted to play him... but we wanted to add a bit of depth in the batting, ' Gill told Michael Atherton at the toss. Poll Do you think India is over-relying on all-rounders in their Test squad? Definitely, it's a concerning trend Not really, it's a balanced approach But with India needing to take 20 wickets to stay alive in the series, leaving Kuldeep out has only intensified the heat on the team's selection strategy.
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
'Kuldeep Yadav should bat in top 3...': Gambhir's obsession mocked mercilessly as India star told of alternate route
Jul 02, 2025 08:59 PM IST India head coach Gautam Gambhir's obsession with having more all-rounders in the playing XI, in order to balance the batting and the bowling department, adding more depth to both, is no secret to anyone. And it was once again on display when India made as many as three changes for the second Test match against England in Birmingham on Wednesday. However, with Kuldeep Yadav paying the price yet again, experts were left baffled, one of whom ridiculed Gambhir for offering the spinner an alternate route to crack the selection criteria. India's left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav during practice at the Headingley ground(HT_PRINT) Taking to social media, former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh was baffled at Kuldeep's absence from the playing XI. Taking a dig at Gambhir, Ganesh urged Kuldeep to excel as a top-order batter during the upcoming Ranji Trophy season for Uttar Pradesh to get through to the playing XI. 'Kuldeep should bat in top 3 for Uttar Pradesh in the #RanjiTrophy and get some runs, to be picked to play for India in the tests. I don't see any other way he can force his way back into this setup where one's secondary skill dictates the team selection,' he tweeted. Why did India not pick Kuldeep Yadav? Kuldeep was highly backed for a place in the playing XI amid the debate around Jasprit Bumrah's availability for the Edgbaston Test. With India struggling to pick wickets in the series opener in Leeds, where Bumrah was the only standout bowler, with a first-innings five-wicket haul, the leg-spinner was touted to make his second appearance in Test cricket in English soil. However, the team management backed all-rounder Washington Sundar as the second spinner alongside Ravindra Jadeja in the playing XI. "We were tempted to play Kuldeep but looking at the last match, our lower order didn't do well, so decided to add some depth to the batting," captain Shubman Gill explained after losing the toss and put to bat first in Birmingham.
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Ankeet Chavan to coach Mumbai Under-14; Omkar Salvi retained as Ranji coach
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has appointed former left-arm spinner Ankeet Chavan as head coach of Mumbai Under-14 team. Chavan was one of the three Rajasthan Royals players who was banned for life for the alleged spot-fixing in 2013. They were allowed to resume their competitive cricket two years ago after the Indian cricket board had reduced their ban to seven years. Chavan continued to play club cricket in Mumbai for Karnataka Sports Club and later cleared his Level-1 exam as for coaching. 'I'm looking forward to it (on his new assignment). It's a second innings for me and there is always a turn around. I really want to thank MCA for showing faith in me. Coaching was certainly on my mind and I know what challenges it has going ahead. As it's Under-14 cricket I want to work on the basics of players and show them the path so that they can improve their game,' Chavan told The Indian Express. In 2013, the BCCI disciplinary committee had found S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Chavan guilty of spot-fixing in the IPL and had handed them life bans. However in 2015, a Delhi trial court dropped all charges against these players for lack of evidence. However, the BCCI continued to impose a life ban. In June 2021, the BCCI reduced the ban of all cricketers involved in spot fixing scandal to seven years. Chavan played 18 First-Class matches and 20 List A games apart from 13 IPL matches. The MCA announced its appointments of coaches and selectors across age group cricket on Wednesday. The MCA has decided to retain its head coach of the Ranji Trophy team Omkar Salvi for next domestic season. MCA president Ajinkya Naik in a statement said, 'His (Salvi) outstanding leadership and coaching over the past two seasons have played a vital role in the team's strong performances. His ability to bring out the best in players has been exceptional.' On the back of his Ranji Trohpy show, Salvi was appointed as bowling coach of Royal Challengers of Bangalore last season. Sandip Patil will also continue as the chairman of the selection committee.
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Ravi Shastri's mother recalls him hitting six sixes in 1985: ‘I found out from our bhelpuri wala'
It's been four decades but Lakshmi Shastri's memories of a heady evening from January 1985 are still fresh. It was on that day in 1985 that her son, Ravi Shastri, created history by hitting six sixes in an over. It was only the second time in history this was done. In doing so — in a Ranji Trophy game against Baroda while playing for Mumbai — Ravi Shastri had emulated what the legendary Garfield Sobers had done in 1968 in an English County game for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan. While Ravi was occupied in commentary duties for the second Test at Edgbaston, Lakshmi was accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award on her son's behalf at Bombay Gymkhana in Mumbai from the Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai. There, she spoke of that day her son created history 40 years ago. And also gave a glimpse of where the former India cricketer and coach-turned commentator gets his skills behind the microphone. 'There are many treasured memories which Ravi has given us. But I would say that the one which stands out is when he scored six sixes in an over. I was blissfully unaware of the fact that he was doing it at Wankhede Stadium (nearby). I was told by my bhelpuri wala who was present there and witnessed this,' Lakshmi told the audience from the dias on Wednesday to much laughter. While Sobers had hit the six sixes at Swansea against Malcolm Nash, Ravi Shastri had struck Baroda's Tilak Raj in the 1984-85 Ranji Trophy season. The feat has since been matched by just a handful of batters like Herschelle Gibbs and Yuvraj Singh. Continuing the anecdote from that day in 1985, Lakshmi said: 'When Ravi came home, he had to immediately leave for somewhere else. I asked him what happened today. You know his style, he never wanted to say the truth to me. So he said, 'you want to know what I did? Then tune in to today's All India Radio for the 7 o'clock news'. 'So since even the bhel puri wala (was talking about it), this thing was running in my mind. I was wondering why has he asked me to do this? So I informed my husband who was sitting in his clinic at that time and told him that he better come and hear the 7 o'clock broadcast in Marathi. He said why? I said this is what everybody is saying. So I came home and there to my great surprise, it was being announced that he had 'Sobered Sobers', and I'm quoting the banner that was put on Marine Drive the next day, hailing for equalling Sobers' record. These are precious memories that I carry with me.' Besides Shastri, Michael Ferreira, Anjali Bhagwat, Deepali Deshpande, Suma Shirur, Pravin Thipsay, Joaquim Carvalho and Mervyn Fernandis were among those feted with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Lakshmi added: '1985 was a glorious year for him. He started with these six sixes, then he ended up at the Benson Hedges World Championship of Cricket where he was awarded this title, Champion of Champions and the famous Audi car which nobody, at least me, I didn't even know how to pronounce the name of that car and I'm sure many in India have not seen that and that memory of the entire team taking a round in the Melbourne ground will always stay in my memory.' She then thanked her son, 'Thank you Ravi, you have been a great son to us and we hope you will achieve much more.'
