Under the radiant sunshine at Newlands, South Africa’s captain, Dean Elgar, won the toss and chose to bat in the second and conclusive Test against India. The home team aims for a series sweep against the top-ranked side in the world.

South Africa have implemented three changes to their victorious squad from the first Test in Pretoria, where they dominated on a lively pitch, winning by an innings and 32 runs.

Making his debut in the middle order, Tristan Stubbs steps in for the injured regular captain, Temba Bavuma. Spinner Keshav Maharaj celebrates his 50th cap, taking the place of the injured Gerald Coetzee, and seamer Lungi Ngidi replaces Keegan Petersen as the hosts opt for an additional bowler.

Expressing his thoughts on the wicket, Elgar remarked:

“It looks like an interesting wicket, a few snakes in it; hopefully it comes to the fore when we bowl. It is a big hurdle for us and a big test; this is our marquee game of the season. We have to start well.”

India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, admitted that he would have chosen to bat first had he won the toss, as the visitors also made two changes. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, recovered from back spasms, replaces Ravichandran Ashwin, while seamer Mukesh Kumar steps in for Shardul Thakur to play his second Test.

Rohit shared his perspective, saying:

“There will be enough on the pitch for the seamers, so hopefully we can cash in on it. It is important for us to forget what has happened in the past; it is about the present.”

The match marks the final appearance of Elgar’s illustrious 12-year Test career, as he announced his retirement ahead of the series.

South Africa XI:

– Dean Elgar (capt.)

– Aiden Markram

– Tony de Zorzi

– Tristan Stubbs

– David Bedingham

– Kyle Verreynne

– Marco Jansen

– Keshav Maharaj

– Kagiso Rabada

– Nandre Burger

– Lungi Ngidi

India XI:

– Rohit Sharma (capt.)

– Yashasvi Jaiswal

– Shubman Gill

– Virat Kohli

– Shreyas Iyer

– KL Rahul

– Ravindra Jadeja

– Jasprit Bumrah

– Mohammed Siraj

– Prasidh Krishna

– Mukesh Kumar.

Irfan Pathan, the former speedster for India, recently expressed his belief that Rohit Sharma has the potential to carve out a remarkable legacy in the realm of cricket. According to Pathan, securing victory in the Test series against South Africa could catapult Rohit into the echelons of India’s most esteemed players and captains. Sharing his insights on Star Sports, Pathan underscored Rohit’s pivotal role in the upcoming matches, considering his dual responsibilities as the team’s skipper and opener. The former cricketer emphasized that if the 36-year-old can navigate the challenges posed by the new ball, it would significantly ease the path for the other batsmen.

Pathan stated,

“Should Rohit Sharma triumph over South Africa, his name will be etched at the pinnacle of India’s cricketing history, both as a captain and a player. Mastering the new ball is his forte, and as both an opener and captain, he holds the key to victories in these crucial matches. The strategy is simple: by playing out the new ball, he paves the way for the brilliance of the other batsmen. That’s why the shine needs to be removed from the new ball.”

Discussing the anticipated challenges in the upcoming Test series, Pathan acknowledged the diverse roles that Rohit will undertake. Recalling Rohit’s stellar performance in the Test series in England, Pathan anticipates witnessing a similar level of preparation and passion. Rohit’s challenge, according to Pathan, extends beyond mere run-scoring; it involves leading the team forward while juggling various responsibilities, a feat reserved for the most seasoned players. Pathan highlighted the significant roles of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, referring to them as the “big brothers” in the team, upon whom a substantial dependency will rest.

The comprehensive tour of South Africa, featuring all formats, kicks off on December 10 with a three-match T20I series slated to conclude on December 14. Subsequently, the ODI leg of the series is set to commence on December 17 and conclude on December 21. The inaugural Test match is scheduled for December 26 at Centurion, followed by the second game on January 3 at Cape Town.

Providing insights into India’s squads for the various formats, the Test squad is captained by Rohit Sharma, who leads a talented ensemble. Suryakumar Yadav assumes leadership for the T20I squad, with Ravindra Jadeja as vice-captain. For ODIs, KL Rahul takes on the captaincy, supported by a diverse and skilled lineup. The squads reflect a harmonious blend of experience and emerging talent, underscoring India’s commitment to excellence in the upcoming series.

India’s squad for 3 T20Is: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (Wk), Jitesh Sharma (Wk), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar.

India’s squad for 3 ODIs: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (C) (Wk), Sanju Samson (Wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan,.

Rohit Sharma, the captain of Team India, is back in India with his family after a vacation in the UK. He led the Indian team in the 2023 World Cup last month, where they unfortunately lost to Australia in the final. Despite their dominating performance throughout the tournament, winning 10 consecutive games, the defeat in the final was tough for both players and fans. After the tournament, Rohit took a short break from cricket and went on vacation with his wife Ritika Sajdeh and daughter Samiara. Recently, he was seen at Mumbai airport returning from the trip, holding his daughter and accompanied by his wife.

Merit Matters: Sanjay Manjrekar’s Take on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Prospects in the 2024 T20 World Cup:

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar shared his thoughts on whether Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should be selected for the 2024 T20 World Cup. According to him, the senior players need to demonstrate their superiority over younger talents in the format to secure a spot in the upcoming tournament. Manjrekar expressed these views during a discussion on the Star Sports show Game Plan.

“Virat Kohli will have to show that he is a better option than the youngsters who are playing currently, and Rohit Sharma as T20 batter and captain vs Hardik Pandya, the T20 batter, all-rounder and captain. This should be the competition and you should only go with merit there because we have seen what we have got with great players, stature and experience.”Manjrekar said.

He continued:

“Who knows what’s in store in life? I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. I believe the approach should be extremely simple. We have played a lot of World Cups and haven’t been able to win them. We are maybe playing slightly different cricket in the final stages of World Cups. When something goes out of your hand, simplify it. Pick your team based on form close to the World Cup.”

Rohit Sharma is currently not part of the national T20I side and has taken a break from the ODI format for the series against South Africa. While fans hope for his return to white-ball cricket, there are discussions about his role as India’s captain. Despite not winning the ODI World Cup 2023, Rohit’s leadership during the campaign was commendable. However, it’s noted that since MS Dhoni, no other Indian captain has achieved ICC success. Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, offering insights into Rohit’s captaincy, describes the respect he holds in the dressing room.

“If you take a look at Indian cricket, everybody will be telling you that MS Dhoni is the best captain. (But), Rohit Sharma is an outstanding person, (and) he understands every single player in the team. He knows the likes and dislikes of each of us and has a great understanding. He puts in the effort to know each player personally,” Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.

In the ODI World Cup, Rohit Sharma consistently provided strong starts for India, even in the final match where Australia ultimately won. Despite discussions about Ashwin playing in the final, it didn’t happen. However, the experienced off-spinner was ready to support the team from the sidelines.

“As far as I playing the final is concerned, the team combination and all is secondary. Firstly, it’s about empathy, (and) I keep stressing it a lot. It’s like standing in someone else’s shoes and looking at things from his/her perspective. Had I been in Rohit’s shoes, I would have thought 100 times about altering the (winning) combination. It was going alright for the team, so why rest a fast bowler for three spinners?,” Ashwin explained.

“Honestly, I understood Rohit Sharma’s thought process. Playing the final is big, (and) I was preparing for three days in the lead-up. At the same time, I was also prepared to cheer for the side and run in with energy drinks if I was not given the opportunity. I was mentally prepared for that as well,” Ashwin concluded.

Having missed out on the opportunity to represent India at the 2011 World Cup, Rohit Sharma found himself leading the national team at the Narendra Modi Stadium, facing Australia in the championship clash. The moment held deep emotional significance for Rohit, as it took time for him to move past the disappointment of being snubbed in 2011. Speaking to former India head coach Ravi Shastri at the toss just before the final began, Rohit acknowledged that this was a ‘dream come true’ moment for him.

In a face-off where Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, won the toss and chose to field, Rohit revealed that, had he won the toss, he would have elected to bat. Expressing his thoughts, he said,

“I would have batted first. Looks like a good pitch, big game, put runs on the board. It’s going to be amazing, every time we play here, the crowd comes out in large numbers. The biggest occasion of the cricketing event. We have to stay nice and calm.”

When Ravi Shastri inquired about his journey from 2011 to 2023, Rohit shared that captaining the team in the final was a dream realized.

“It’s a dream come true to be captaining the team in the final. I know what lies in front of us. We need to play well and get the result. You’ve got to make the right decisions on the field. That’s something we’ve done consistently in the last 10 games. We’re playing the same team,” he expressed.

In a prelude to the match, Cummins mentioned that Australia was maintaining the same lineup as the semi-final against South Africa.

“We are gonna have a bowl first. Looks like a dry wicket. Dew is a factor. It gets better to bat on. Tough start to the tournament, haven’t really put a foot wrong ever since. It’s all set up perfectly. We’ve played these guys a lot. Same team as the semi-final,” stated the Australian skipper.

In the Cricket World Cup semi-final in Mumbai on Wednesday, India won by 70 runs against New Zealand, and some standout performances caught everyone’s attention. Virat Kohli scored his 50th ODI century, Mohammed Shami achieved the best-ever figures for an Indian in ODI cricket (7/57), and Shreyas Iyer made history as the first middle-order batter to score over 500 runs in a single edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup.

During the semi-final against New Zealand, Shreyas Iyer hit his second consecutive century, scoring 105 in just 70 balls with four boundaries and eight sixes. In this tournament, he has accumulated 526 runs at an average of 75.14 and a strike rate of over 113, making him the fifth-highest run-scorer. His remarkable performance was backed by coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma.

After the win, Iyer expressed gratitude for the support from the team management and revealed that facing Jasprit Bumrah in the nets helped him prepare for such high-pressure situations. Overall, Shreyas credited Rohit Sharma’s fearless captaincy and the backing from the coach and captain for his success in the World Cup.

After a staggering nine-match unbeaten streak that could easily be mistaken for a cricketing odyssey, India now stands at the precipice of enigma as they brace themselves to face New Zealand in the much-anticipated first semi-final clash at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai this Wednesday.

Rohit Sharma’s enigmatic ‘Men in Blue’ have cast a spell of bewilderment over the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. Their stellar performance catapulted them to the zenith of the tournament standings, culminating the league stage with an astounding 18 points. The numerical riddle continues with a net run rate of 2.570, a cipher that has left cricket pundits scratching their heads in admiration.

India embarked on this cricketing quest with a triumph over Australia, setting the stage for an arcane journey. The labyrinthine narrative unfolded as they conquered Afghanistan, rival Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand (a precursor to the enigma at hand), England, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the Netherlands. The crescendo reached a climax with a resounding 160-run victory over the Dutch side, maintaining an unblemished record in the ongoing enigma-laden tournament.

In the convoluted landscape of current player statistics, Virat Kohli emerges as the cryptic maestro, orchestrating his way to the top with an astonishing 1528 runs against New Zealand in the ODI format. Kohli’s tally, akin to a numerical labyrinth, spans 30 games, with his highest score of 154* adding an aura of enigma to his cricketing prowess.

Rohit Sharma, the enigmatic captain of the ‘Men in Blue,’ follows suit in second place with 935 runs in 28 matches against the Kiwis. His highest score, a cryptic 147, adds layers to the mystique surrounding India’s campaign.

The emergence of Shubman Gill, a young prodigy, in third place with 510 runs after nine matches against Kane Williamson’s side, adds a layer of youthful mystery to the enigma unfolding on the cricketing stage.

Shreyas Iyer, the middle-order maestro, steps into the enigmatic arena with 379 runs in seven matches against New Zealand, securing his place in the cryptic hierarchy. Iyer’s highest score of 103 runs further complicates the narrative.

The puzzle deepens with the inclusion of star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who, after 13 matches, has scored 361 runs against the Kiwis, with his highest score a perplexing 77 runs.

In a mind-bending encounter against New Zealand in the 21st match of the ODI World Cup 2023, the ‘Men in Blue’ managed to clinch a four-wicket victory against the Kiwis. The cricketing puzzle unfolded with Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra orchestrating the Kiwi batting spectacle, setting an elusive target of 274 runs. Meanwhile, Indian speedster Mohammed Shami, akin to a cricketing sorcerer, conjured a five-wicket haul. The enigma continued with Kuldeep Yadav weaving his wicket-taking spells against New Zealand.

On the other side of the perplexity spectrum, Virat Kohli played a mystifying 95-run knock, propelling India to their fifth enigmatic triumph of the tournament.

As India steps into the semifinal enigma against New Zealand, the cricketing world is left in awe, pondering the intricate dance of numbers and performances that define this perplexing chapter in the ODI World Cup 2023.

Rohit Sharma etched his name into cricket history with two remarkable achievements in the Cricket World Cup 2023 clash between India and the Netherlands in Bengaluru on Sunday. The captain of the Indian cricket team showcased scintillating form, scoring 61 off just 54 deliveries, including 8 boundaries and 2 towering sixes. With his first six against Colin Ackermann, Rohit set a new record for the most sixes in a calendar year, reaching an impressive total of 60 sixes in 2023, surpassing the previous record of 58 set by South African legend AB De Villiers in 2015.

60* – Rohit Sharma in 2023*
58 – AB de Villiers in 2015
56 – Chris Gayle in 2019
48 – Shahid Afridi in 2010

Not stopping there, Rohit Sharma also outshone England’s Eoin Morgan, securing the record for the most sixes by a captain in a single edition of the Cricket World Cup. When Morgan hit 22 sixes in 2019, Rohit surged ahead with 24 against the Netherlands, setting the stage for more as India advanced to the semifinals.

24* – Rohit Sharma in 2023*
22 – Eoin Morgan in 2019
21 – AB de Villiers in 2015
18 – Aaron Finch in 2019
17 – Brendon McCullum in 2015

Winning the toss and choosing to bat in their final league game against the Netherlands, both India and the Netherlands maintained unchanged lineups. With India eyeing their ninth consecutive victory before their semi-final clash with New Zealand on November 15, the Dutch, already out of contention, aim to conclude their campaign on a positive note.

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, KL Rahul (w), Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav.

Netherlands: Wesley Barresi, Max ODowd,  Sybrand Engelbrecht, Scott Edwards (w/c), Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Teja Nidamanuru, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Roelof van der Merwe,  Paul van Meekere.

In India’s last Cricket World Cup 2023 league match against the Netherlands, Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma made a strong start by aiming for boundaries right from the beginning. Choosing to bat first, India had a clear plan to score a high total. Gill’s impressive six in the third over, hitting Aryan Dutt straight down the ground and reaching the roof of M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, left even Rohit amazed.

Despite the Netherlands being out of contention for the semi-finals, India, with eight consecutive wins, aimed for a stylish 9th World Cup victory. Both teams maintained the same playing XI for the match.

After winning the toss, Rohit simply stated, “We’re going to bat. No specific reason. We’ve performed well whether batting or bowling first. Another opportunity to play well today and cover all aspects. Extremely pleased with our performance in this tournament. The same team continues.”

Netherlands captain Scott Edwards mentioned he would have chosen to bat first as well. “We would have batted too. The pitch looks good, and it’s a good ground for chasing. We’ve had ups and downs, but we’re aiming for a good performance today. This is the biggest crowd we’ve had in the tournament, looking forward to the atmosphere. India has been flawless, and we need to be at our best. A World Cup in India is a significant event. Winning those games has been crucial for us. Our lineup remains the same,” he added.

Before India’s ODI World Cup 2023 match against Sri Lanka at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, Captain Rohit Sharma expressed his special connection to the venue. He expressed his emotions in a video issued by the ICC. Rohit attributes his development as a player to what he learned at Wankhede. He also noted that the deep passion of the people of Mumbai for cricket is clear from the lively atmosphere in the stadium..

“Wankhede is my favorite venue. I owe my development as a cricketer to this place. The support from cricket-loving Mumbaikars is incredible. The North Stand, in particular, is famous, and the people there are genuine cricket fans,” Rohit said to ICC.

In the ongoing tournament, India, known as the ‘Men in Blue,’ has performed exceptionally well. Rohit Sharma’s team is currently at the top of the standings, having not lost a single match. In their previous game against England, Rohit Sharma played a crucial role by scoring 87 runs in the first innings. In the second innings, Mohammed Shami took four wickets, and Jasprit Bumrah dismissed three top English batsmen, securing a 100-run victory. Rohit Sharma was named the ‘Player of the Match’ for his remarkable performance.