WTC Final: Axar Patel reveals India secrets, Squad was preparing with Duke balls during IPL

India spinner Axar Patel revealed that Indian players practised with the red Dukes ball during the Indian Premier League 2023 to gear-up for the World Test Championship Final. Beginning on June 7, India will face Australia in the summit match of the WTC. Patel told the ICC that Indian players had been given a Dukes ball to get used to its feel before the IPL 2023. After two months of demanding franchise cricket, Patel added that it would be difficult for players to go from white-ball to red-ball. Follow World Test Championship Final 2023 Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.

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WATCH Peter Drury fanboying over Harsha Bhogle ahead of link-up during WTC Final

India now have limited time to shift gears for a format change with the ICC WTC 2023 Final beginning on June 7. IPL frenzy has only just subsided. The Indian team has already landed in England and begun preparing at the picturesque Arundel Cricket Club for the thrilling conclusion.

The WTC Final will use the Dukes ball, which is used in English settings, whereas India plays their red-ball matches at home with the SG ball. Axar claimed that while they were practising with the Dukes ball during the IPL, the main objective was always to hit the target in the right spot.

“So even during the IPL, it was discussed that we will bowl with the red ball. We had red balls, so we were using them. You know when and how to play, how much time you have. This mental switch from white ball to red ball is obviously tough, but we have enough time,” Patel told ICC.

“The difference is the Dukes ball remains shinier for longer. But during the IPL, we had ordered the ball, so were practising with it and have gotten used to it,” he said.

The all-rounder has been in excellent form, but it remains to be seen if pace-friendly circumstances can allow him to make the starting lineup. Patel, however, maintained that one only has to use their skills and expertise and was not concerned about the same.

“As I said, we switch from white ball to red ball. It is a similar switch to go from SG to Dukes, you have the use your talent and skill. You have to execute your plan, your bowling rhythm. Irrespective of the ball, if you bowl a good ball at a good spot, it works.

“So that’s what we’re doing. Since the match is in England, which is different from India, we are planning what lines and lengths will work here. The same thing in practice, we are good to go.”

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Former MI, DC coach Lance Klusener takes over Tripura Cricket Operations Head position

Former South African allrounder Lance Klusener will take over as head of cricket operation of Tripura for the upcoming season, the state association announced on Wednesday. TCA vice president Timir Chanda said he would arrive in the state capital Saturday to work with state’s cricketers for overall development.

WATCH Peter Drury fanboying over his ‘hero’ Harsha Bhogle ahead of link-up during WTC Final

However, his exact designation was not revealed as he is yet to sign the contract. The 51-year-old will look after the state’s eight teams in both men’s and women’s sections in various age groups, besides working with the Ranji side.In the first phase, Klusener will stay here for 20 days and will watch and guide the cricketers.

Speaking to the media, Chanda said Klusener will be handed a 100-day contract which he would sign on Sunday. “In March, this year, we floated an expression of interest seeking a coach for our cricketers.

“Initially, Dav Whatmore and Klusener showed interest in working with TCA. Later Whatmore pulled out on personal grounds but Klusener agreed to work with the local cricketers,” he said.

“We hope the cricketers will benefit from his vast international experience. Our cricketers are also excited to work with Klusener.” The pace-bowling left-hander, who was known for his aggressive batting, played 49 Tests and 171 ODIs for South Africa.

He previously worked as batting coach of South Africa and Zimbabwe and was the head coach of Afghanistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup.

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WATCH Magicpin turns into ‘Mahipin’ to celebrate MS Dhoni and CSK’s 5th IPL title

Magicpin, a start-up known for its eccentric social media strategies, went on Twitter on May 29 when Indian Premier League excitement was at its height and issued a playful challenge to all the fans there. They declared that their workplace signage would get a rad makeover to “Mahipin” if CSK and their captain cool, MS Dhoni, could take home the IPL trophy. The tweet gained a lot of traction and attracted the interest of cricket lovers. Magicpin kept to their words like glue and changed the workplace signs into the fabled ‘Mahipin’ when CSK won the title. Follow IPL 2023 LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN

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MAHI Forever 💛 ❤️

We did what we promised 😉
Check out our new 50 foot office sign @ IFFCO Chowk! Your turn now🔥#MSDhoni𓃵 #IPL2023Final #IPL https://t.co/e8C82jUE2P pic.twitter.com/ENYCOgNdZL

— Mahipin (@mymagicpin) May 31, 2023

This is a continuation of the original tweet that went viral on May 23, 2023, when magicpin changed their username and profile picture to ‘Mahipin’ in celebration of Chennai Super Kings’ IPL semifinal victory. The tweet had 1 million impressions and received over 44k interactions. Behind the wicket, Dhoni was adroit. Furthermore, it was his intelligent direction that enabled CSK to make some excellent choices both on and off the field, thus enabling CSK to win the league title.

Dhoni has set his sights to play in one more IPL season as a present to the fans who have shown him so much support after CSK won the IPL final. However, Dhoni has to stay injury-free and take extra care of his knees for it to be possible. In order to be entirely injury-free and be eligible for the IPL 2024, Dhoni has six to seven months.

Dhoni will seek advise on his injured left knee as well. According to CSK’s CEO, MS Dhoni is willing to have surgery to fix his problematic left knee before the start of the upcoming season. Before deciding on a course of action, MS Dhoni will consult with sports orthopaedics in Mumbai.

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WATCH Peter Drury fanboying over his ‘hero’ Harsha Bhogle ahead of link-up during WTC Final

Renowned sports commentators Harsha Bhogle and Peter Drury are finally linking-up next week in London during the ICC World Test Championship Final 2023 (WTC Final 2023). The Englishman confirmed the same on Wednesday night during UEFA Europa League Final. 

Peter Drury’s discussion with Adriande Lmonte, in which he verified his encounter with Bhogle, was shared on social media by Sony Sports Network. The renowned British commentator also referred to Harsha Bhogle as his “hero” during the open discussion.

🗣️ "Harsha Bhogle is my Hero" – #peterdury 🥹

Watch this candid conversation between @adriandelmonte & the legendary British commentator that will certainly bring a smile to your face 😍😄#SonySportsNetwork #UEL #SEVASR | @bhogleharsha pic.twitter.com/vYIq5PKKye

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) May 31, 2023

Jim Beglin made the dream come true for Peter Drury and Harsha Bhogle!

A fan tweeted Bhogle asking whether he would be interested in meeting Drury, and that’s how it all began. The famous cricket analyst from India expressed his desire to one day meet him. Fans were quickly drawn to this interaction, which sparked interest in the future meeting.

Yes. I hope to meet him some day. https://t.co/La07a8hIhJ

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 25, 2023

Another well-known pundit, Jim Beglin, intervened to facilitate the meeting after noticing the fans’ enthusiasm.

Beglin acknowledged the practical difficulty of bringing the two pundits together and said that either Bhogle or Drury would have to fly to England or India. He did, however, admit that he would talk to Drury about the proposal.

Bhogle revealed his plan to attend the World Test Championship final at the Oval, heightening the anticipation even further. Beglin took note of this and declared that he would happily go to the stadium with Drury and arrange a meeting between the two renowned comms greats.

Might well be tricky as @bhogleharsha would need to travel to England or Peter would need to travel to India. I’ll be with Peter tonight so I’ll mention it to him.

— Jim Beglin (@jimbeglin) May 25, 2023

Fans are anxiously expecting this crossover because of Bhogle’s unparalleled cricket commentary abilities and Drury’s poetic flair in football.

Sporting worlds frequently tend to collide when two or more notable superstars from various verticals come into contact with one another. Numerous similar encounters occurred this past weekend at the Monaco Grand Prix, where legends like Maria Sharapova, Yuvraj Singh, and Neymar were present on the same circuit.

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‘The crossover we all wanted’, Social Media ERUPT as Jim Beglin facilitates meet-up between legendary commentators Harsha Bhogle & Peter Drury

WTC Final 2023: It is finally happening! After hundreds of requests from fans for a meet-up between renowned sports commentators Harsha Bhogle and Peter Drury, popular broadcaster Jim Beglin is finally making it happen. With Bhogle’s unmatched cricket commentary skills and Drury’s poetic flair in football, fans are eagerly anticipating this crossover. On Wednesday, Drury while covering the UEFA Europa League final on Sony Sports Network, confirmed that he is meeting Harsha Bhogle during the World Test Championship final, which is set to begin on June 7 at The Oval. Follow WTC Final 2023 LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN

Sony Sports Network took to social media to share Drury’s conversation with Adriande Lmonte in which he confirmed his meeting with Bhogle. During the candid conversation, the legendary British commentator also called Harsha Bhogle his ‘hero’.

🗣️ "Harsha Bhogle is my Hero" – #peterdury 🥹

Watch this candid conversation between @adriandelmonte & the legendary British commentator that will certainly bring a smile to your face 😍😄#SonySportsNetwork #UEL #SEVASR | @bhogleharsha pic.twitter.com/vYIq5PKKye

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) May 31, 2023

Here’s how Jim Beglin made the cross-over happen

It all started when a fan asked Bhogle on Twitter if he would be interested in meeting Drury. The Indian commentator expressed his desire to meet the iconic football commentator someday. This exchange immediately caught the attention of fans, sparking support for the potential meet-up.

Yes. I hope to meet him some day. https://t.co/La07a8hIhJ

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 25, 2023

Sensing the fans’ excitement, Jim Beglin, another prominent commentator, stepped in to help make the meeting happen. Acknowledging the logistical challenge of bringing the two commentators together, Beglin explained that Bhogle would need to travel to England or Drury would have to visit India. However, he revealed that he would discuss the idea with Drury.

Further adding to the anticipation, Bhogle shared his plans to be present at the Oval for the World Test Championship final. Taking note of this, Beglin said that he would eagerly accompany Drury to the stadium and facilitate a meeting between both the legendary commentators.

Might well be tricky as @bhogleharsha would need to travel to England or Peter would need to travel to India. I’ll be with Peter tonight so I’ll mention it to him.

— Jim Beglin (@jimbeglin) May 25, 2023

Notably, Harsha Bhogle is renowned for his captivating cricket commentary and insightful analysis. On the other hand, Drury has been popularly called a football poet for his mesmerising commentary.

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WTC Final 2023: Blow for BCCI! India without jersey sponsors for IND vs AUS clash

WTC Final 2023. IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma and Co could be without jersey sponsors for India vs Australia clash in the World Test Championship Final 2023 at Oval. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is attempting to proceed without any jersey sponsors, which could result in India’s playing attire for the WTC Final looking very retro.

Many of the players including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Mohammed Siraj who have started training in the UK may be seen wearing training gear that just has the BCCI emblem and the three stripes of new kit sponsors Adidas.

Preparations, adapting to the conditions and getting into the #WTC23 Final groove 🙌

Hear from Paras Mhambrey, T Dilip & Vikram Rathour on #TeamIndia's preps ahead of the all-important clash 👌🏻👌🏻 – By @RajalArora

Full Video 🎥🔽https://t.co/AyJN4GzSRD pic.twitter.com/x5wRxTn99b

— BCCI (@BCCI) May 31, 2023

WTC 2023 Final: Watch Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli hit Nets as India gears up for World Test Championship Final vs Australia, Check Out

WTC Final 2023: Why no jersey sponsors for Team India?

Nowadays, when commercial slot maximisation is the norm, having no jersey sponsors is very unusual. Due to unfavorable market conditions, Byju’s decided to cancel the arrangement with BCCI for jersey sponsorship in March.

The agreement was meant to last through November.

Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Jaydev Unadkat in training kits (Photo: BCCI)

Officials from the BCCI were supposed to publish tenders inviting parties to a long-term affiliation, but they haven’t done so because they haven’t had a satisfactory answer from offline negotiations.

Short-term association negotiations were also on the table, but it was decided not to proceed.

“It would only be fitting that Indian cricket engages with prestigious and long-term partners rather than going for low-key deals,” a BCCI official told Hindustan Times.

Previously, BCCI received around 1.5 crores for each ICC match and 4.6 crores for each bilateral international match. The value of ICC events has increased over time, but for the financially robust BCCI, a few crores for a single match is still a drop in the bucket. They are prepared to accept the risk.

Rohit Sharma (Photo: BCCI)

The board is hopeful that they will find the proper partners in time for the home World Cup in October–November given their recent five-year contract with Adidas and the current busy ICC calendar, which includes a white-ball world tournament every year.

However, it would be unusual to see Indian cricket players compete in unadorned attire.

For the WTC final whites, the ICC only permits advertising spaces on the leading and non-leading arms. Leading IPL franchises like the Mumbai Indians profit more than 100 crores every season from all sponsorship opportunities.

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Sourav Ganguly BIOPIC to feature Ayushmann Khurrana and Kartik Aaryan? Details here

Sourav Ganguly Biopic: Sourav Ganguly biopic might not feature Ranbir Kapoor in the titular role as Karthik Aryan, and Ayushman Khurrana are also possible candidates to don the former BCCI President’s role in his biopic. If reports are to be believed then Karthik and Ayushman might bag the coveted role due to their passion for cricket. On the other hand, nothing is confirmed about Ranbir denying Ganguly’s biopic yet. Follow All India Cricket Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.

“Ayushman is being considered. But so is Kartik, who is very close to the producer Luv Ranjan and also a keen Cricket fan.”

Aussie star in awe of Kohli’s work ethic ahead of WTC Final says ‘1st in training, last to leave’

Sourav Ganguly Biopic: Makers to have a discussion with Ganguly soon, director and casting team to be finalized

As per reports in ETimes, discussion with Ganguly is soon going to take place. The makers are yet to meet the southpaw due to his busy schedule. Earlier, it was also stated that Rajkumar Hirani was chosen to direct the biopic on the former India captain. Only after a discussion with Ganguly the director and the rest of the crew will be decided.

“The Director and casting will come later. The team first needs to sit with Dada (Sourav Ganguly) to discuss the basic screenplay: how much cricket and how much Dada’s life? So far, Dada has been busy with the BCCI. Only now will the actual discussions on the biopic start,” said the source.

Sourav Ganguly Biopic: Biopic on Ganguly to chronicle cricketer’s journey of becoming a fearless captain

Like the other biopics, Ganguly’s biopic will also chronicle his journey from Kolkata to becoming India’s captain. Dada as he is fondly called transformed Team India into a fearless side from 2000 to 04. Under his leadership, India managed to consistently beat teams overseas.

As of now for the director’s role Hirani and Vikramaditya Motwane are in the fray to direct the Ganguly biopic.

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WTC Final 2023: Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, Ajinkya Rahane reaches London for IND vs AUS clash

WTC Final 2023: The last batch of WTC players comprising Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat, Shubman Gill, Shmi, and Ravindra Jadeja have reached London today. The players’ delay in arrival was due to IPL 2023 final on May 28. Gill, Shami, and Bharat played for GT, while Rahane and Jadeja turned out for CSK. With IPL 2023 done and dusted, Rahane, Gill, Jadeja, and Bharat jetted off the Oval for the summit IND vs AUS WTC Final. Bharat and Rahane confirmed their arrival in London. Follow World Test Championship Final 2023 Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.

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Australia confirm WTC Final 2023 Squad; Josh Hazlewood, David Warner makes cut

WTC Final 2023: India squad complete for WTC, Rahul Dravid to begin training session

With the team India squad complete for WTC Final, head coach Rahul Dravid will hold a full training session. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Axar Patel had their first training sessions. While Kohli and Rohit had extended batting sessions, Axar, Shardul, and Siraj had bowling sessions in Oval. The conditions in Oval will be vastly different from India.

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Dravid wants the players to get in the Test groovea ahead of the mega finale against Australia. India won’t play any warm-up games ahead of WTC Final starting from June 7. Rohit Sharma and Co will play Intra Squad games.

WTC Final: India aim to lift the WTC final for the second time, Dravid to decide on team combination

This is the second time India will play the WTC final. A lot has changed in the two years. Virat Kohli has relinquished Test captaincy, and Ravi Shastri has stepped down from the coaching role.

Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid have stepped up in captain and coach roles respectively. India have assembled a strong squad for the WTC squad, but it will boil down to the final playing XI.

With the Oval pitch a bit drier than the other pitches, India might be tempted to play two spinners in Jadeja and Ashwin. Last time, both spinners played WTC Final against New Zealand.

India Squad WTC Final: India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, KS Bharat, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadakt, Umesh Yadav.

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Aussie star in awe of Kohli’s work ethic ahead of WTC Final says ‘1st in training, last to leave’

WTC Final 2023, IND vs AUS: Virat Kohli commitment towards his physical fitness in unlike and unparallel to anyone in the cricketing world. The India star who ranks among one of the best of all-time, never shies away from his tough work ethic. And Australia star Josh Hazlewood has confirmed to it ahead of India vs Australia clash in ICC World Test Championship Final 2023.

Prior to next week’s ICC World Test Championship Final in London, seasoned Australian pitcher Josh Hazlewood also gave an update on his health.

Hazlewood has recently been dealing with a side issue, which forced him to cut short his tenure with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL 2023) earlier this month when the injury flared up.

Josh Hazlewood (Photo: CA)

However, Hazlewood has resumed full training and was bowling at “close to full pace” on Tuesday during Australia’s training session at the Formby Cricket Club in northern England in anticipation of the one-off Test match against India at The Oval, which begins on June 7.

Team Australia (Photo: ICC)

Also Read:

Australia confirm WTC Final 2023 Squad; Josh Hazlewood, David Warner makes cut

WTC Final 2023: What Josh Hazlewood said about Virat Kohli?

Notably, Hazlewood is the teammate of former India captain Virat Kohli at RCB in IPL. So the Aussie speedster is very well aware of the dedication and hardwork that Kohli put in his nets session.

“The way Virat Kohli works hard that stands out. His fitness, he’s always the first in training and the last to leave. Other players can improve by seeing him,” Josh told ICC.

Virat Kohli in practic session ahead of WTC Final 2023 (Photo: BCCI)

The likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Umesh Yadav, and Ravichandran Ashwin hit the practise nets at the Arundel Castle Cricket Club in England with just one week until the critical WTC Final

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was spotted rolling his arm over in the nets as Kohli, Umesh and Siraj were seen jogging in their new practise gear.

In the just-finished IPL 2023, players like Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, R Ashwin were in good shape. The senior players will strive to take advantage of the chance and win the coveted trophy that they were unable to do in the last WTC final versus New Zealand.

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