- In India, every one of us turns into an expert when it comes to anything related to a national obsession like cricket. The game has become such an integral part of our collective psyche that cricket is treated at par with any religion, no less. The popularity of the sport is so incredibly profound that no individual(s) in the country can be found wishing not to have a say or two on the topic. Cricket is ubiquitous, dominating several of our conversations on every social occurrence. The credit for making the game an inalienable part of our lives should go to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) administrators – past and present – who have ensured the interest in the game not only sustains perpetually but also keeps heading northwards by inventing/introducing several eye-catching measures over the years. Yes, the revenue generated is mind-boggling.
PC: OneIndia
- No wonder, BCCI is the richest cricket body in the entire sporting world. We know how popular is the T20 tournament the Indian Premier League around the cricketing world. Why the league is one of the top-most money-spinning events at par with some of the most lucrative sporting leagues in the world needs no further elaboration. Also, we all know the T20 World Cup will be held in the Caribbean and the USA from the first week of June. All cricket-playing nations are in the process of choosing their 15-member squad for the highly competitive tournament. The Indian cricket selectors too have declared the composition of the team keeping in mind the best possible combination to lift the most coveted but eluding ICC trophy.
- Now all the cricket experts are out in the open with full force dissecting the selection. May I join in the chorus as well? Here I go. Prima facie, the composition of the team is a rich blend of experience and firepower required for the shortest format of the game. Rohit Sharma was already appointed as captain to lead the team. There were several doubters about the inclusion of Rohit as well as the talismanic Virat Kohli’s inclusion in the format that is largely fit for the daring young cricketers with power hitting being the norm for batters, and shrewd skill sets to stop the run flow as a weapon for the bowlers with some exceptional wicket takers thrown in for good measure. The inclusion of Sanju Samson alongside Rishabh Pant as a keeper-batter is a really good move.
PC: Jagran English
- Jasprit Bumrah selects himself automatically. Mohammad Siraj has had a below-par IPL till now. Hopefully, he will hit the strap when it matters most. The inclusion of a reinvented power hitter Shivam Dube in the squad is an apt reward for the way the batting allrounder has come up leaps and bounds over the last few months. His exceptional hitting form in the ongoing IPL has pushed his case for selection. Hardik Pandya is appointed vice-captain even though his performance in the ongoing IPL is below par. Kuldeep Yadav and the returning Yajuvendra Chahal combo would hopefully deliver. Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are bowling allrounders offering heft to the team. Hope the team will be successful in lifting the elusive ICC trophy this time around.
