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T20 WC: India Is The Strongest Side Even With Injuries, Says Eoin Morgan

admin — Tue, 28 May 2024 09:01:42 +0000

India’s remarkable reservoir of talent and formidable depth within their squad makes them strong contenders to win the upcoming T20 World Cup, feels former England skipper Eoin Morgan. India have gone with almost the same squad as they had in the last edition of the T20 World Cup while adding the likes of young Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yuzvendra Chahal and Sanju Samson. “The strongest side even with injuries throughout the tournament is India. Their strength and depth is absolutely incredible,” Morgan said on Sky Sports.

“And it’s almost probably, we’re talking about who the players that were missed out in their squad of 15 because of the quality that they possess.

“They are favourites for me, the quality they have on paper, if they produce it I think they can beat anybody quite well in the tournament,” he added.

India were spoilt for choice as they were forced to leave the likes of Shubman Gill and KL Rahul.

“The only decision I would have had differently and if I was selecting the squad, I would have Shubman Gill over Yashasvi Jaiswal. I have played alongside him, I know how he thinks. I know how he works.

“I feel he’s a future leader within that side and I think in big moments, in World Cups the more leaders the better. Even if he’s sitting on the sideline, you still need inspiration from here and there, a sense of positivity.” India head into almost every tournament as favourites but they haven’t won an ICC title in over a decade. The last trophy the ‘Men in Blue’ lifted was the Champions Trophy in 2013.

In the last edition of the T20 World Cup they were hammered by 10 wickets by eventual winners England in the semifinals in Adelaide.

“I think they can (win), because they have go to a stage now where Adelaide would hurt, recently losing the (ODI) World Cup at home to Australia in front of 1,25,000 Indian fans.

“The spinner will come into the game, the level of batsmanship will come into the game if the wickets slow down like we think. But also that excellence in power hitting is the point of difference for me. Shivam Dube has to play,I think he’ll set this World Cup alight.

Irony that only time India won T20 WC was pre-IPL: Atherton

Many argue that India’s cricket in T20 format has improved by leaps and bounds since the advent of the IPL.

But former England captain Michael Atherton pointed out that it ironical that the only time India won the T20 World Cup was before the IPL came into being.

“It’s also an irony, because everyone talks about the IPL and how it has improved India’s T20 cricket. The irony is that the only time they have won is pre IPL,” Atherton said.

India were the first T20 World Cup winners in 2007. Under the captaincy of the talismanic Mahendra Singh Dhoni, they had beaten arch-rivals Pakistan.

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“Not Him Against Virat Kohli”: England Great On Star Who Can Miss Out On T20 World Cup 2024 Spot

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 10:45:10 +0000

There has been a lot of speculation regarding India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 with the selectors closely observing the performances of various cricketers in the ongoing IPL 2024. There is a section of the fanbase that feels Virat Kohli can be a good opening partner for Rohit Sharma in the competition. As a result, there is only one more opening slot available in the team with Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal being the top contenders. Former England skipper Eoin Morgan was asked for his pick and he had a straightforward choice considering the two players’ current form.

“Shubman Gill’s a magnificent player and highly regarded, not just here, but around the world, for me has to be a contender to be on the plane, let alone get in that strongest XI and when it comes to contending for batting positions, in that six or seven batters that they might take given the all-rounders that they have, it does come up to probably him or Yashasvi Jaiswal. And not a case of him against Virat Kohli. For me, Virat Kohli is there already,” he said on Jio Cinema.

“So I mean, he’s doing everything he can. He’s managing his own game. He’s recognising the responsibilities as captain and also the fact that they’re two separate entities. I think that will help him learn more as a captain, moving forward and also aid his game as well. So for me, he’s in contention with Yashasvi,” he added.

Gill has enjoyed a solid run of form in IPL 2024 with 263 runs from 7 matches. On the other hand, Jaiswal has found it extremely tough and despite getting a couple of good starts, he has managed to score just 121 runs in 7 matches – a performance that may not be to the liking of the national selectors.

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“Brian Lara Would Be Happy”: Ex-KKR Captain’s Honest Take On Sunil Narine’s Knock vs DC

admin — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 07:56:48 +0000

England’s World Cup-winning skipper Eoin Morgan lauded Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bowling all-rounder Sunil Narine for his match-winning knock against Delhi Capitals (DC) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match, saying that some of the shots he played would make his childhood hero and West Indies legend Brian Lara really happy. Narine was the tormentor-in-chief as his pyrotechnic-filled 85 in 39 balls helped Kolkata post 272/7, the second-highest total in IPL history, which they defended despite half-centuries from DC skipper Rishabh Pant and Tristan Stubbs.

DC was bundled out for 166 runs and lost the game held at Visakhapatnam by 106 runs.

Morgan, the JioCinema IPL expert pointed out that Lara was Narine’s batting idol and how the T20 specialist was a batter in his younger days who could bowl a little seam bowling. But he eventually turned into a spinner who could bat a bit.

“It shows how much he enjoys his batting. As a youngster, he was a batter and used to bowl a little seam. Over time, he developed these magical deliveries and worked hard on them. But he gets so much joy out of his batting. Growing up, his hero was Brian Lara. Lara would be happy with some of the shots played by Narine this evening,” said Morgan about Narine.

Narine has decent numbers in the IPL. In 165 IPL matches, he has scored 1,180 runs at an average of 14.94, at a strike rate of 163.89, with five half-centuries. His best score of 85.

In three matches this season, Narine has scored 134 runs at an average of 44.66 and a strike rate of 206.15, with scores of 2, 47 and 85. He has also taken three wickets so far. He is the ninth-highest run-scorer so far in the season.

When it comes to batting, Narine’s most productive season was back in 2018, scoring 357 runs in 16 matches at an average of 22.31, with a strike rate of over 189. He also slammed two fifties, with the best score of 75. He led KKR to playoffs with his performances, also picking 17 wickets at an average of 27.47.

Coming to Wednesday’s match, explosive knocks from Sunil Narine (85 in 39 balls, with seven fours and seven sixes), the 18-year-old Angkrish Raghuvanshi (54 in 27 balls, with five fours and three sixes) and cameos from Andre Russell (41 in 19 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes) and Rinku Singh (26 in eight balls, with one four and three sixes) took the two-time champions to 272/7 in 20 overs.

Anrich Nortje (3/59) was the pick of the bowlers for DC, but leaked a lot of runs. Ishant Sharma (2/43) was also solid with the ball. Khaleel Ahmed and Mitchell Marsh took a wicket each.

In the run-chase, DC sunk to 33/4. A 93-run partnership between skipper Rishabh (55 in 25 balls, with four boundaries and five sixes) and Tristan Stubbs (54 in 32 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) helped DC put up a brief fight and provide some entertainment to their fans, but they were skittled out for 166 in 17.2 overs.

Vaibhav Arora (3/27) and Varun Chakravarthy (3/33) were the pick of the bowlers for KKR. Mitchell Starc also picked up 2/25 in three overs. Andre Russell and Sunil Narine took a wicket each.

Narine won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his fifty. KKR is at the top, having won all their three games and getting six points. DC is in the ninth spot with one win and three losses, giving them two points.

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“Having Hardik Pandya Fit…”: Ex-England Captain Praises India All-Rounder Ahead Of ODI World Cup

admin — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 15:33:07 +0000

File image of Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli© AFP

Regarding the Cricket World Cup, which will be played in India from October 5, former England captain Eoin Morgan stated that having a fit Hardik Pandya makes Team India a strong contender in the marquee event. Hardik was a part of the Indian cricket team in the Asia Cup 2023. He performed well in all the three departments – batting, bowling and fielding. What was certainly the best thing for India was the fitness of Hardik.

“The fitness level of Hardik Pandya, his ability to bowl. He has bowl little bit in the Asia Cup so far but he has bowled really really well and there are very few sides in the tournament that would be a genuine contenders that will have somebody who bats in the tops six and and has the ability to bowl. It’s the old Ben Stokes role that we have for years with England,” Morgan said on Sky Sports.

“Australia have the likes of Stoinis and Cameron Green but that role genuinely balances the side and over the course of the World Cup we will see various different pitches. Majority of the contending teams have spinners that bat really well. There bases are generally covered. But having Hardik Pandya fit and being able to bowl five and six overs of the quality bowling really does in my eyes make them probably favourite,” he added.

Former New Zealand seamer Simon Doull also agreed with Morgan’s views and stated that the combination of Hardik, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja can prove to be really fruitful for the World Cup hosts.

“I agree with Morgan on the Hardik Pandya thing. If he is fit and raring to go then they have the likes of Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, they are very good,” said Doull.

The ODI World Cup 2023 will kick-start from October 5 with defending champions England taking on New Zealand in the opening match in Ahmedabad.

Team India will open it’s campaign against Australia on October 8 in Chennai. The Rohit Sharma-led side will be squaring off against their arch-rivals Pakistan on October 14 in Ahmedabad.

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