Cricket
Shubman Gill : The Show Put On
Shubman Gill is a young and talented cricketer who has already made a name for himself in the world of sport. At just 23 years old, he has already shown tremendous potential and has been praised by many for his exceptional skills on the field. One of the most remarkable things about Shubman Gill is his ability to slow down the pace of a game, even when the sport is fast-paced and intense. This is a rare and valuable talent that sets him apart from other players and has earned Shubman Gill recognition and respect from fans and peers alike. With his natural talent, hard work, and determination, there’s no doubt that Gill has a bright future ahead of him in the world of cricket.
Cricket as sport and cricket as spectacle are two very different worlds.
The action of the sport takes place in an exceptionally short period of time. It is, in fact, a millisecond sport. If we assume that the average speed of a fast bowler is 135 km/h, that’s about two throws per second. According to Nathan Leamon, former analyst of England, the ball loses speed and travels an average of 32 metres per second.
The fastest recorded human response to a visual stimulus is 120 milliseconds, or about one-tenth of a second. Most good batters and hitters need to get close to this speed or do no worse than half as well. That is, they respond to the ball in 20% of a second.
The spectacle, on the other hand, loves inertia, a word whose dictionary definition is the exact opposite of what the sport is. The spectacle can also obscure the competitive element of sport, where only the cold numbers on the scoreboard count and not the aesthetics.
Slowness is a sinful pleasure, that’s for sure. But it can also be a compliment. If a player can compete and excel in this ultra-fast sport without looking sluggish or effortless, he must be exceptionally skilled.
This includes recognising the ball about five milliseconds earlier than others, performing half of the movements before releasing the ball (release motion), and having completed millions of repetitions at a young age so that the shots you play are practically from muscle memory.
All of this leads to a sluggish square drive from Shubman Gill. Or a ball caught with ease that makes one of our live commentary readers think of Mark Waugh.
Waugh is a good analogy. Both are similar in size, build and languid movement, both are outstanding slip fielders, openers in limited overs cricket and at home in the middle order in Tests.
Gill’s trigger movement is one of the reasons he seems to have so much time to play sluggishly. It is not the traditional back and lateral motion, but rather a motion along where he stands, well inside the crease, unlike many modern hitters. Today, many batters prepare for the movement by pushing forward to cut the ball off, rather than playing it after it has moved. They warm up by hitting for hours against a sidearm that is close to a fast pace. So for modern hitters, agility is more important than pace. They want to catch the ball before it moves.
Gill, on the other hand, stays in the crease, with his back foot across and his front foot slightly open. Neither foot is carrying all the weight. Most of his shots on nice balls are simply weight shifts to the back or front. He has an extra millisecond or five because he plays to the back.
A trigger movement is not always fixed. With fast bowlers, his back foot actually moves bac’kwards. His batting against New Zealand in the ODIs in New Zealand showed this very nicely. His batting was parallel and across against Matt Henry, with the front foot slightly open. Against Lockie Ferguson, he actually went back and across in preparation for the ball.
As a result, there is no frantic movement, the flow of his club out of the high back is smooth, and there is no club shot. If the ball calls for a back foot strike into the sideline, he simply shifts his weight backward. If the situation calls for a front foot strike, he moves his front foot just to cover the line. He plays up to compensate for a length that is not quite a half-volley. When Gill hits, you get the impression that things slow down a bit. That’s been programmed into him since he was a kid and has been repeated a million times.
That’s the difference between spectacle and sport: Shubman Gill does it to score runs, not to be aesthetically pleasing. What matters are the cold numbers. In the early years of his international career, Rohit Sharma was willing to sell his aesthetics for runs.
Shubman Gill’s technique was severely tested on his Test debut in Australia. Day one of the Boxing Day Test, 40 minutes or so, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood doing all sorts with the ball, one wicket lost in the first over, Gill struck three times in his first over in Test cricket, bowled by Cummins. Gill scored 45 in the low-scoring Test. His 91 in the Gabba chase is often overlooked.
There are many advantages to playing in India and for India, but they also come under close scrutiny. It’s not just because of appearances. The battle for places is so fierce that people are tempted to look outward and ignore the natural law of cricket, which is that you fail more often than you succeed. Gill, too, has been called into question. Every time the team management considered giving him a place in the middle order – he usually played in the middle order under Rahul Dravid in the A teams – a Test opener got injured.
This year, everything is going like clockwork. Despite a strong start to his career, he would have known he was going to lose in ODI cricket to a double-centurion and close buddy, Ishan Kishan. He became the youngest double-century player in men’s ODI tournaments. On his way to reaching 1000 ODI runs at the fastest rate, he averaged 74 and batted 110 per 100 balls. In a World Cup year, there could not be better news for India.
There should ideally be only one anchor in a T20 team and he became India’s youngest T20I centurion while playing the anchor role at a strike rate of 200.
No one wants that, but as fate would have it, Shreyas Iyer’s injury has opened up a middle-order spot for him, and for the first time in a long time, both regular openers are fit.
If he performs well as a number 5 or 6, Gill will be the heir apparent to the number 4 spot after Virat Kohli retires, just as Kohli was at the end of Sachin Tendulkar’s career.
Shubman Gill’s time has come. And he has the extra milliseconds to enjoy it.
Cricket
KL Rahul’s Fitness Update: Asia Cup Anticipation
Indian cricket player KL Rahul doing exercise
Get the latest KL Rahul Fitness Update as the Asia Cup draws near. With the tournament on the horizon, all eyes are on KL Rahul and his efforts to enhance his physical condition. This anticipation adds an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming Asia Cup, as fans eagerly await his progress and contributions on the field.
Unveiling the Remarkable Strides
“KL’s journey within our conditioning camp has yielded remarkable strides,” Dravid affirmed during an engaging conversation in Alur on a Tuesday. He further elaborated on Rahul’s intensive training regimen, highlighting the significant advancements achieved in alignment with the team’s envisioned trajectory. However, it’s important to underscore that Rahul’s participation will be limited to the earlier part of the tour, excluding the segment taking place in Kandy.
Amid this cricketing expedition, the responsibility of overseeing Rahul’s well-being in the upcoming days rests firmly on the shoulders of the National Cricket Academy (NCA). A comprehensive reassessment of his physical state is scheduled for September 4—a critical juncture that will shape the course of action moving forward. Encouragingly, Rahul’s journey so far is indicative of a promising future, marked by substantial progress and commendable breakthroughs.
Navigating Injury Setbacks and Selection Strategy
The meticulous composition of the Asia Cup team on August 21 took into careful consideration KL Rahul’s state of health. Ajit Agarkar, the discerning chairman of selectors, disclosed that Rahul had encountered a “minor niggle” after a complete recovery from a thigh injury sustained during the IPL 2023 season. While the medical team at the NCA expressed contentment with Rahul’s batting workload, concerns surfaced regarding his wicketkeeping prowess, particularly after he expressed fatigue following practice games.
Mastering the Art of Batting: Rahul’s Regimen
Intriguingly, Rahul’s batting prowess has showcased resilience during his practice sessions at the Alur nets. On the final day of India’s intensive six-day training camp, Rahul dedicated nearly 35 minutes to the crease, confronting an array of bowlers encompassing both pace and spin. While he refrained from partaking in bowling drills, his immersive practice was apparent.
Rahul’s training routine unveiled a multifaceted approach, with a special emphasis on handling spin bowling. Positioned as the No. 5 batsman, he skillfully employed footwork to counter leg spin, demonstrating meticulous shot selection. Moreover, his adaptability shone through as he engaged in full-blooded sweeps against the spin duo of R Sai Kishore and Manav Suthar, both known for their left-arm spin expertise.
Starting to feel like me again 🏃♂️🏟️ pic.twitter.com/8cECI7oRDZ
— K L Rahul (@klrahul) July 11, 2023
Strategizing for Excellence
As Rahul’s training regimen progressed, he navigated to the second net—a space dedicated to facing the new ball delivered by the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna. His unwavering attention was directed towards aligning his stance with the bounce, honing his ability to play straight, and judiciously utilizing pace to manipulate the trajectory of the ball. A post-session interaction with Coach Dravid and Virat Kohli underscored Rahul’s commitment to refining his skills.
Balancing Act: Skill Development and Preservation
Despite his fervent dedication, Rahul’s training routine has been carefully curated to prevent undue physical strain. The team management, vigilant about his well-being, has ensured that his wicketkeeping drills strike the right balance between intensity and preservation. His sessions, particularly those focused on lateral movement and spin, are calibrated to foster growth without compromising his physical resilience.
Rahul’s proactive participation extended to meaningful interactions with fellow cricketer Rishabh Pant. The duo shared insights and engaged in rehab and fitness drills alongside the team, underscoring the collaborative spirit within the Indian cricket fraternity.
A Glimpse of Squad Dynamics
As the cricketing spectacle approaches, India’s Asia Cup contingent boasts the presence of wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan. Additionally, Sanju Samson has been designated as the team’s travelling substitute, poised to step in when needed.
In Conclusion: The Path Ahead
In conclusion, KL Rahul fitness update and contribute significantly to the upcoming stages of the Asia Cup resonates as a central narrative. His ongoing progress, meticulously overseen by the NCA physiotherapy team, holds the promise of an impactful return to the field. The cricketing community eagerly anticipates his presence in the Super 4s phase, envisioning his role as a cornerstone in India’s pursuit of glory.
Ashwin doesn’t think India has a problem at No.4 or No.5 now that Dhoni and Yuvraj have left the team. He said that there is no question about India’s opening order.
India’s middle-order in ODIs is always a topic of discussion. When they lost in the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup, a big reason was that they didn’t have a good No. 4. Since Yuvraj Singh’s last ODI on June 30, 2017, India has tried more than 10 players in that position, but captain Rohit Sharma says they still haven’t found the right fit. The No. 5 spot is just the same. Even though the way teams think about batting in ODIs is changing quickly, flexible batting line-ups are now the rule. However, not having a bankable middle order has hurt many times. In the last couple of years, however, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul seem to have helped India find the right mix.
Ravichandran Ashwin says that if both Iyer and Rahul are ready to play, there should be no question about India’s No. 4 and No. 5 in the Asia Cup and World Cup. He is correct. Rahul and Iyer have the best numbers of any middle-order openers India has tried since the 2019 World Cup.
Ashwin even said that Rahul, who has scored 742 runs at a remarkable average of 53 and a striking strike rate of 99.33 since taking on the new role of keeping wickets and batting at No.5, has filled the middle-order spot with “expertise” since MS Dhoni and Yuvraj retired.
“India had been looking for a candidate for Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni since they left the team. Rahul has done a good job in that role. He will always bat at No. 5 and keep wickets for us,” Ashwin wrote on his YouTube account.
Ashwin, who didn’t make it to the Asia Cup, praised Rahul for taking over as keeper-batsman after Rishabh Pant got hurt.
“Before Pant got hurt, Rahul was next in line. Now that Pant is out, Ishan Kishan is the second goal, and he has jumped at the chance. Rahul has a minor injury, but he should be fine for the first game. If he isn’t, we have a travelling team of 18 people in Sanju Samson,” Ashwin said.
“India’s No.4 should not be up for debate”: Ashwin
Shreyas Iyer is similar. Iyer got 805 runs before he hurt his back again and again. His average was 47.35, and his strike rate was 94.37. The Mumbai right-hander’s ability to hit big shots against all types of spinners makes him an ideal No.4 in subcontinent conditions. He also has a double game. Iyer has shown that he can handle the pressure if a couple of wickets fall early and then use it to his advantage. If he comes in to bat after a good start, he can beat the spinners right away.
“Shreyas Iyer is just as important to this team as KL Rahul. He is a steady No.4 for India and one of their best players against spin. Whenever he has played at 4, he has been a key part of their success. “If he is fully fit to play, there shouldn’t be any debate about the No. 4 spot,” Ashwin said on his YouTube account when talking about India’s Asia Cup team.
Ajit Agarkar, the head of selectors for the BCCI, put to rest any doubts about Iyer’s health. He also said that Rahul has a new injury and might not play in India’s Asia Cup opener against Pakistan. Rahul and Iyer’s good health will be the most important thing for India in the Asia Cup and World Cup, not where they play in the XI. Ashwin has said that if Rahul and Iyer are both healthy, they will play at No. 4 and No. 5 respectively.
India’s 2023 Asia Cup Squad
September marks the start of the next Asia Cup competition. The Asian Cricket Council oversees this prestigious competition. There had been talk of Pakistan hosting the competition, but now it appears that plans have changed. When the ACC announces the final host and schedule, that will be it. There will be 13 games played in this major competition, according to the data.
Many cricket followers can’t wait for this massive ACC-run competition. Cricket fans in India are eager to learn about their team’s Asia Cup 2023 roster. The team for the forthcoming competition has not been announced as of yet.
Nonetheless, the following players will likely be included in the Indian squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023: KL Rahul, Venkatesh Iyer, Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal, Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, Arshdeep Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, etc.
List of 2023 Asia Cup Participants
Six teams will compete in the 2023 Asia Cup, according to reports. There will be one-day matches in this competition. Sri Lanka won this prestigious competition in 2022 and is the current holder of the title.
The roster of participating players in the Asia Cup will be made public shortly.
1. Indian Squad: KL Rahul, Ravichandran Ashwin, Suryakumar Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Kuldeep Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, etc. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
💬 "Hopefully Sharma and Kohli can roll some arm over in the World Cup" 😃#TeamIndia captain Rohit Sharma at his inimitable best! 👌#AsiaCup2023 | @imRo45 pic.twitter.com/v1KKvOLcnq
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 21, 2023
2. Pakistan Squad: Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan, Khushdil Shah, Naseem Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, etc. are all members of the Pakistan Squad. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
3.Bangladesh Squad: Mohammad Saifuddin, Ebadot Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Parvez Hossain Emon, Anamul Haque, Mahedi Hasan, Mehidy Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Naim, Mushfiqur Rahim, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Sabbir Rahman, Afif Hossain, etc. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
4.Afghanistan Squad : Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Nabi, Fareed Ahmad, Usman Ghani, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Noor Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Samiullah Shinwari, Najibullah Zadran, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ibrahim, Zadran, Afsar Zazai. Soon, we shall get more specifics about the actual team.
5.Sri Lanka Squad : Asitha Fernando, Nuwanidu Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Praveen Jayawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan, Madushanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Dasun Shanaka, Mahesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Jeffrey Vandersay, etc. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
6.Nepal Squad : Aarif Sheikh and Aasif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee and Sompal Kami and Lalit Rajbanshi and Sandeep Lamichhane and Karna KC and Gulsan Jha and Rohit Paudel and Bhim Sharki and so on. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
Schedule for the 2023 Asia Cup
The ACC will soon announce the dates of the upcoming matches. In September, you may watch this fascinating and important competition. Hong Kong qualified for the Asia Cup in the previous tournament. Nepal, however, beat out the United Arab Emirates in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup to earn entry to this year’s tournament.
To see how well this young team does in such a major competition would be thrilling. This tournament features a lot of big names and big players. The 2019 Asia Cup will include 13 total games between the six participating teams (split into two groups). They’ll be competing for the title of Asia Cup 2023 champion.
2023 India Asia Cup Team Captain
There has been no announcement made regarding who will lead the Indian team at the 2023 Asia Cup. However, Rohit Sharma is expected to lead the Indian team at the upcoming Asia Cup in 2023. In the ongoing WCC Finals, India is being captained by Rohit Sharma.
He is undoubtedly a top-tier cricket player. As a result, many people expect Rohit Sharma to lead the Indian team at the 2023 Asia Cup. When India last competed in the ACC event, Rohit led the team as captain.
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