sabelitalia.com – Key Commentary & Notable Stories

Mohammad Kaif has said it will be tough for Sanju Samson to secure a spot in India's playing XI for the Asia Cup. Kaif believes Shubman Gill, who is now the vice-captain, will open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma.

Asia Cup 2025: Shreyas Iyer's father, Santosh, has urged the selectors to give his son an opportunity in the T20I format. He revealed that Shreyas was gutted after missing out on a place in the Asia Cup squad.

Mohammed Kaif has strongly supported Jasprit Bumrah's T20I return, dismissing fitness concerns raised during the England Test series. Kaif highlighted Bumrah's match-winning ability across formats and suggested white-ball cricket suits him better due to a manageable workload. He also expressed disappointment over Mohammed Siraj's Asia Cup exclusion, praising his form and wicket-taking ability.

Mohammad Kaif has endorsed Shubman Gill as Rohit Sharma's successor in ODIs, anticipating Rohit's retirement after the 2027 World Cup. Kaif highlighted Gill's impressive run-scoring record and leadership qualities, noting his Test captaincy and T20I vice-captaincy. Gill's maturity and form, particularly during the England series, have solidified his position as a future leader, according to chief selector Ajit Agarkar.

The 2025 Asia Cup, amidst geopolitical tensions, will be held in the UAE from September 9-28. India and Pakistan have announced their squads, but past withdrawals due to political strife cast a shadow. Pakistan pulled out in 1990-91, and India in 1986. This year, India is in Group A with Pakistan, UAE, and Oman.

R Ashwin has urged coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill to advise Rishabh Pant on converting centuries into double centuries. Pant scored centuries in both innings of the first Test against England, but India lost the match. Gambhir, while acknowledging the centuries, emphasized the importance of results over individual performances, highlighting the team's failure to win.

India's decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test against England has drawn criticism, especially from former players like Kumar Sangakkara, Ravi Shastri and Dale Steyn. With India trailing 0-1 in the series, the team management's decision to stick to a pre-decided plan of resting Bumrah has raised questions about their approach to crucial matches and team selection strategy.

The new World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle has commenced with Australia and England leading with a perfect PCT of 100. Sri Lanka follows after their series against Bangladesh. India, despite Shubman Gill's team's impressive fight and five centurions, suffered a loss to England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy due to a middle-order collapse.

India faces a daunting challenge at Edgbaston, a venue where they've never won a Test match. After a painful defeat at Headingley, where England chased down a substantial target, India is under pressure to avoid a series loss. Breaking the Edgbaston jinx, dating back to 1967, requires an extraordinary effort against a confident England team.

Rohit Sharma recalls the electrifying atmosphere surrounding India-Pakistan matches, describing it as a festival-like experience. He lauded Rishabh Pant's crucial innings and the exceptional bowling performance of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh in the T20 World Cup clash. Sharma emphasized the strategic use of Bumrah and Arshdeep to defend a low total on a challenging pitch.

Following a historic Test defeat in Headingley, where India couldn't defend a massive score despite five centuries, coach Gautam Gambhir hints at potential changes for the second Test in Birmingham. While backing Bumrah and Siraj, Gambhir emphasizes the need to develop a strong pace attack and considers including Kuldeep Yadav to exploit England's weakness against spin.