Cricket
T20 WC 2024: Rathore backs Pant at No.3

Ray Sportz News Desk: Indian Cricket Team beat Ireland at an ease on Wednesday as they beat their opponents by 8 wickets. Beside skipper Rohit Sharma, the wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant played brilliantly at No.3. The team’s batting coach Vikram Rathore has backed Pant to bat at No.3, and beside that he is very happy to see a fully-fit Hardik Pandya back in the team.
Both Pant and Pandya, who returned to top-flight cricket in the IPL, are making a comeback to international cricket after a long gap.
The duo delivered the goods in India’s eight-wicket thrashing of Ireland in their opening game here on Wednesday.
On a challenging pitch with uneven bounce, run-scoring was difficult but Pant unleashed a few stunning shots, including a reverse-scoop over the Irish wicket-keeper’s head for a match-winning six in his unbeaten 36.
The Ireland match was Pant’s first game for India since December 2022 when he was involved in a horrific car accident.
”Yes, he has been batting really well. The two games (warm-up and Ireland) he has played, he has looked really, really good,” Rathour told the media after the match here at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium.
”Yes, at the moment he is our No. 3 and it helps that he is a left-hander,” Rathour added, in a way cementing the combination of skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli at the top.
Both Pant and Pandya made their way back into the India squad for the T20 World Cup after proving their fitness and form in the IPL.
Even though he did not garner big numbers as an all-rounder in a turbulent season as captain for Mumbai Indians, India chief selector Ajit Agarkar had said that there is no one in the country who could match Pandya’s skills as an all-rounder.
On Wednesday, Pandya was quick and precise with his line and length to produce 4-0-27-3 in his first match since October 2023 — also in a World Cup.
Pandya had hobbled off the pitch in Pune playing against Bangladesh after twisting his ankle, which left India without an all-rounder and also disrupting the balance of their playing XI, with incoming Suryakumar Yadav failing to make an impact in the 50-overs quadrennial showpiece.
”Hardik looked really good. Hardik has been — I mean, even in the practice game and even in the practice — bowling really well,” Rathour said.
”He looks fit enough to go through four overs and he’s been bowling with some pace and some accuracy, so yeah, it’s great,” he added.
Cricket
IPL 2025: Lucknow Super Giants beat Sunrisers Hyderabad

Ray Sportz Web Desk: Lucknow Super Giants beat Sunrisers Hyderabad to win. Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Rishabh Pant invited Lucknow Super Giants to bat first after winning the toss. The start was not good for Hyderabad at home. Abhishek Sharma (6) and Ishan Kishan (0) were dismissed in the third over by Shardul Thakur. However, Travis Head took charge of the team in his natural style. He scored 47 runs off 28 balls before being bowled by youngster Prince Yadav. Nitish Reddy scored 32 runs. Hyderabad reached a respectable place on the back of Klaasen (26) and Aniket Verma (36) runs. In the end, captain Pat Cummins added 18 runs off just 4 balls. Hyderabad finally scored 190 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.
Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran were seen in a fierce manner from the beginning in chasing the runs. Marsh came out to bat as an impact player and scored 52 runs from 31 balls. Markram (1) could not score a big run. Nicholas Pooran made the Hyderabad bowlers’ work difficult by playing a stormy innings of 70 runs from just 26 balls. However, he was bowled by Cummins while playing a big shot. Rishabh Pant was out for just 15 runs after playing an irresponsible shot. However, there was no problem in winning the match. Abdul Samad (22) and David Miller (13) remained unbeaten and brought the team to the brink of victory. Lucknow Super Giants tasted their first victory in the ongoing IPL by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 5 wickets.
Cricket
Jasprit Bumrah is likely to miss first two weeks of the IPL this season

Ray Sportz Web Desk: In recent times, Jasprit Bumrah is the best fast bowler in the world. But currently Bumrah is missed the champions trophy due to injury, which is a big blow for the Indian Team. His injury is takes place at Sydney Cricket Ground during the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test.
But there were some whispers that Jasprit Bumrah would return to the side during the Champions Trophy 2025. But the management did not want to risk him. And of now getting to hear that he may also miss the first two weeks of the upcoming IPL season. If the reports are true, then it would be a massive setback for Mumbai Indians. But the BCCI source claimed that Bumrah will return in the first week of April. Also confirmed that Bumrah has started bowling already. A BCCI source said media, “Bumrah’s medical reports are okay and he resumes his bowling. But it is unlikely that he’ll be able to bowl at the start of the IPL this season”.
Champions Trophy 2025
ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025: India Will Prefer Dangerous Australia In Semi-Final: Sunil Gavaskar

Ray Sportz Web Desk: India will find out their Champions Trophy semi-final opponents after their final group match against New Zealand on Sunday. With the two teams already qualified, this match will determine which team finishes top and plays against Australia, and which team will face South Africa.
Sunil Gavaskar explained why India might be happier to face Australia in the Champions Trophy semifinal than South Africa. If India beat the Kiwis, they will take on Australia in the first semi-final on Tuesday at the Dubai International Stadium. Otherwise, they will face the Proteas, what would be a repeat of last year’s T20 World Cup final.
Gavaskar explained “Both teams are formidable teams, make no mistake. There’s no such team that India will say, because now they know, they’ve come to the knockout stages. Here it’s now make or break, so I don’t think they would prefer to have any team.” Nevertheless, Gavaskar also explained that this Australian team is not the same as the one Rohit Sharma’s men had toured for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy recently, especially since their three-headed primary pace attack is missing out. “So maybe they might prefer Australia because Australia are without their main bowlers. There’s no Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood so maybe they would want to play them,” concluded Gavaskar regarding why Australia might be a preferred opponent.
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