On the back of a breakthrough season in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag has been rewarded with an India call-up for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe. Parag was the third-highest run-scorer in IPL 2024 with 573 runs in 16 matches. In spite of discussions regarding his selection for the T20 World Cup, Parag did not find a place in the squad of the tournament, which India won after beating South Africa in the final.

After being ignored by the selectors, Parag had claimed that he will not watch the World Cup, saying that he would only like to play in one.

“I’m actually not going to watch. I will only watch the final. I don’t want to watch cricket anymore because I want to play the World Cup. I think it’s a good feeling. I want to play the World Cup, play for the country. Once I see these people, I get motivated. But then, I feel could’ve done something else. If I see the India jersey and cricket kit, I feel like I want to do something. I feel like I’m lacking something and just wanna go out there and smash some balls,” Parag had said during a chat on TRS Podcast.

However, after his selection in the squad for the Zimbabwe series, former India pacer S Sreesanth has slammed the youngster for his remarks.

“Some youngsters have also said that they will not watch the world cup because they have not been selected.I would say that first you should be patriotic then you should be a Cricket lover. I would say that first you should be patriotic, then yes, you should be a cricket lover. But those who have selected the team, they should be supported with all their heart, mind and passion,” Sreesanth said on Star Sports.

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill will be leading the Indian cricket team in the absence of Rohit Sharma for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe. The team travelled to Zimbabwe right after the T20 World Cup 2024 where they will play 5 T20I encounters between July 6-14.

India’s squad for T20I series against Zimbabwe: Ꮪhubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Reddy, Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande. 

Former India fast bowler Sreesanth has called for the inclusion of wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson in India’s playing XI in the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, instead of replacing first-choice wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant, Sreesanth has suggested Samson being played as a pure batsman ahead of Shivam Dube. Sreesanth’s advice comes with the criteria that, if Shivam Dube does not bowl, Team India might be better off picking a better batsman in Samson. In fact, Samson should be included as a finisher, said Sreesanth.

“If they (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli) are opening, I don’t see any reason to change the XI. Axar Patel is bowling well. If you look at Shivam Dube, yes, he hasn’t played well in the first two games, but we know what he can do with the bat. But I would like to see one change, and that is Sanju Samson come in the team,” Sreesanth told ANI.

“If Shivam Dube is not bowling, then Sanju (Samson) should be given an opportunity; we know he is good enough,” said Sreesanth.

“I spoke to him the other day; he is hungry for an opportunity,” he added. “He is also a Superman fielder,” Sreesanth said.

Sreesanth and Samson both hail from the state of Kerala, in India.

Despite Samson usually batting at no. 3 in the IPL, Sreesanth suggested that he should be deployed as a finisher in the T20 World Cup.

“I feel Sanju comes in last along with Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. I think we can finish on a big score if we are chasing, with Virat being the chase master king. I don’t see any score being that difficult for us to chase,” said Sreesanth, a winner of the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

Dube played a crucial role in taking India to victory against the USA. Coming in to bat with India lying at 39-3, Dube and Suryakumar Yadav ensured India reach home safely, and qualify for the Super 8 stage.

Samson enjoyed his most successful IPL to date before the T20 World Cup. He finished as the fifth-highest run-getter in IPL 2024, with 531 runs from 15 innings for the Rajasthan Royals.

India are confirmed to face Australia and Afghanistan in the Super 8.

Former India speedster S Sreesanth believes that Rishabh Pant would be happy to see Virat Kohli bat at number three and score runs after the stalwart batter struggled to muster up runs in the opening slot. Kohli is yet to make headlines in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 with the bat. While opening alongside skipper Rohit Sharma, the 35-year-old has amassed just five runs in three games for the Indian team. After having a record-breaking season with the bat for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the recently concluded IPL, fans expected fireworks to emerge from Virat’s bat in the marquee event.

However, the tricky surface of the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium has left Virat tottering for runs.

With Virat promoted to the opening slot, Pant, who made his international comeback in the ongoing event, took up the mantle to play influential knocks at the number three spot. He has thrived in the new role and has racked up 96 runs in three matches with his wide variety of shots.

Sreesanth feels that if Kohli returns to his number three spot, Pant will continue to perform as he is a player who can adapt to different situations and positions in the batting order.

“Pant is a player who can adapt to any situation. We have seen him bat at different positions. He is a brilliant player, and I think Pant will be happy if Virat goes at number three. Pant doesn’t look at the situation, wicket or the bowler. He just looks at the ball. I think that is a quality that youngsters should focus on. I think he loves Virat, and he would love to see Virat score more runs. If Virat comes just before him, imagine the freedom that Pant gets, he might just hit the reverse sweep on the first ball. So that is Pant,” Sreesanth, who features as an expert on Caught and Bold on Disney Hotstar, said while speaking exclusively to ANI.

Pant sustained injuries during a near-fatal car accident in December 2022. He made his return to cricket in the Indian Premier League 2024 season as the Delhi Capitals skipper. He amassed 446 runs in 13 matches at an average of 40.55 and a strike rate of 155.40.

India again remains unbeaten in the T20 World Cup after registering comprehensive wins over Ireland, Pakistan and the co-hosts, the USA. After looking at the strength and talent of the players, the former pacer sees no reason to restrict the Indian team from lifting the coveted prize.

We have such great bench strength. I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be winning it. Whenever we talk about the World Cup, they show wins of 2009, 2011 and 1983. It is high time this team genuinely deserves to win the World Cup. Next time, pictures of the current edition will be shown.

Last year in the ODI World Cup, India entered the final unbeaten to face the mighty Australia. But the night in Ahmedabad concluded on a heartbreaking note for the Rohit-led side, with their unbeaten run ending. The Baggy Greens extended their record-breaking tally to six with a six-wicket win.

This time, Sreesanth is hopeful that India will take revenge if both teams manage to reach the final and highlights from this tournament will be shown alongside the triumphs in 1983, 2007 and 2011.

“It feels good, and the way the team is performing it makes you remember the 2007 T20 World Cup. This time, Pakistan is going out, and India is moving forward. The way Bumrah and others are performing, especially in terms of character, India is way ahead. If anybody is going to challenge India, I think it is going towards, India vs Australia final. The result that didn’t take place in the 50-over World Cup, I hope India takes revenge this time and we bring the cup back to India,” he stated.

After securing a spot in the Super 8, India will play their final group stage game against Canada in Florida on Saturday.

The RCB vs RR IPL 2024 Eliminator saw a controversial moment as Dinesh Karthik was given not out off a controversial LBW call. The RCB batter was given LBW in the 15th over on the first ball that he faced. Karthik was given LBW off Avesh Khan‘s bowling. The full and straight delivery, that bent late, hit the pads. After much deliberation, Karthik went for DRS. It showed a big spike on UltraEdge, but it was hard to decipher if it was because the bat was hitting pad or the ball. The ball was close to the bat as well. RR players Avesh Khan and Riyan Parag looked shocked as Karthik was given not out. RR Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara fumed and went to talk to the umpires. 

Almost all experts said that Karthik was out. “That decision in the live cricket match was absolutely terrible! Seriously, what was that all about?. It was so obvious that he was out! The qualification of the third umpire is seriously in question here. Are they blind or they have no knowledge about cricket at all?infuriating!” Sreesanth, member of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup-winning teams, wrote on X. 

That decision in the live cricket match was absolutely terrible!

Seriously, what was that all about?. It was so obvious that he was out! The qualification of the third umpire is seriously in question here. Are they blind or they have no knowledge about cricket at all?infuriating!

— Sreesanth (@sreesanth36) May 22, 2024

Sunil Gavaskar had a clear verdict on air when the replay was being played. “The bat hit the pads and not the ball. If you’ve edged, you go straight up. You don’t walk to the other end to confirm,” he said. 

“I don’t think the umpire got it right,” Kevin Pietersen said.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru scored 172/8 against Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League Eliminator on Wednesday. Sent into bat, Rajat Patidar top-scored for RCB with 34 off 22 balls.

In-form opener Virat Kohli made 33 off 24 balls before falling to wily leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, while Mahipal Lomror chipped in with a brisk 17-ball 32.

Senior India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bowled beautifully to finish with excellent figures of 2/19 in four overs while taking the wickets of Cameron Green and Glenn Maxwell off successive balls. Avesh Khan took 3/44 in his four overs.

Brief scores: Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 172/8 in 20 overs (Rajat Patidar 34; Ravichandran Ashwin 2/19, Avesh Khan 3/44).

With PTI inputs