Adam Gilchrist voices his concerns over dangerously dominant position of IPL in global cricket

It’s getting a little bit dangerous the grip that IPL has: Adam Gilchrist

Veteran Australian player Adam Gilchrist has stated his concerns over the dominant position held by the IPL franchises in global cricket and their power over where the players can and can not play. He further went on to term the trend as dangerous.

Gilchrist's comments have come in the backdrop of reports stating that Australian batter David Warner might opt out of the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) this season and sign up for a more lucrative United Arab Emirates T20 league.

They can’t force David Warner to play in BBL, I understand that, but to let him then go off – or another player, let’s not single out Warner because there will be other players on the radar – it’s all part of this global dominance that these IPL franchises are starting to create given they own a number of teams in Caribbean Premier League, Gilchrist told SEN’s Whateley radio show.

Three IPL franchises - Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals, have all invested in teams in the UAE T20 league.

It’s getting a little bit dangerous the grip that it’s having to monopolise that ownership and the ownership of the players and their talents and where they can and can’t play, he added. The three-time World Cup winner Australian suggested his country's cricket board to take cognizance of the matter as more cricketers could take Warner's path sooner than later.

If he (Warner) rides off into the sunset and says, ‘Sorry Australian cricket, I’m going to become a gun for hire for my Indian franchise team in various tournaments’ you can’t question him on that, that’s his prerogative and he’s done everything he needs to get the profile and get that market value, Gilchrist said. Gilchrist further pointed out that it will be really challenging once this starts happening with young, up-and-coming players.

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KL Rahul ruled out of T20 series vs West Indies

Earlier, it was believed that upon proving his fitness, Rahul would fly to West Indies for the last two T20s.

KL Rahul is set to miss to entire T20 leg of the West Indies tour, according to reports. It is understood that Rahul has recovered from COVID, but the BCCI medical team has advised another week of rest for the LSG skipper.

Earlier, it was believed that upon proving his fitness, Rahul would fly to West Indies for the last two T20s. Rahul would now aim to make a strong comeback for in three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, which is set to begin on August 18.

KL Rahul headed to Germany last month as he underwent the knife for hernia surgery. Rahul had sustained the injury on the eve of the first T20I match that India was scheduled to play against the Proteas at Arun Jaitley stadium in Delhi.

Rahul's injury was considered a mild strain initially, but before anyone knew it, it soon aggravated into serious wear and tear. Rahul had to miss the entire English tour. Reports then came out of the NCA today that Rahul tested positive and was isolating himself as a part of a precautionary measure.

In Rahul's absence, Team India decided to open the innings with swashbuckling Rishabh Pant. The move was appreciated all over as there were a lot of calls to let Pant open the innings in the shortest format of the game. It would be interesting to see what happens when Rahul ultimately makes his comeback in the T20 setup. KL Rahul has played 42 Tests, 42 ODIs, and 56 T20Is for India in the last eight years

Pooja Vastrakar, S Meghana test COVID-19 positive, stay back in India ahead of Commonwealth Games

Pooja Vastrakar and S Meghana of the Indian women's cricket team have stayed back in the country as they tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of their first match at the Commonwealth Games.

Team India departed for Birmingham from Bengaluru on 24th July, Sunday.

India is set to lock horns with Australia in the side's opener in the Commonwealth Games on Friday.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had earlier confirmed that one member of the touring party tested positive. The squad trained at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) ahead of the Games.

Women's cricket is making its debut at the Commonwealth Games.

"Vastrakar and Meghana have tested positive for COVID-19 and it happened before departure. Both the players will remain in India," an Indian Olympic Association official said.

A BCCI source added: As per protocol, both players can only join the team once they test negative.

The two players are unlikely to play the first match. Will they be able to make it to the second game which is against arch-rivals Pakistan on July 31, is something to look out for.

All games, including the final, will be played at Edgbaston. According to the organizers, the tickets for the semifinals and the final are already sold out.

Team India will be having its first training session later on Tuesday.

Ahead of the team's departure, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur had spoken about how much playing in the Commonwealth Games meant to her and the team.

"We don't get to experience this often so really looking forward to it. The opening ceremony will be a special experience for all of us," she had said.

BCCI wins bid to host 2025 Women's World Cup, FTP for next five years finalised

In the 2025 Women's World Cup, India (the hosts) and five top nations from ICC Women's Championship (IWC) 2022-2025 will get direct entry into the tournament.

India will host the Women's 50-over World Cup in 2025 as the BCCI has successfully bid for the event on Tuesday.

The mega event will return to the country after more than a decade. The last time a women's ICC flagship event was held in India was back in the year 2013. At that time, Team Australia emerged champions after beating the West Indies by 114 runs in the final in Mumbai.

The 50 over Women's World Cup has been a stand-alone event since its inception in 1973, two years before the men's mega event started in England in 1975.

India hosted the event thrice in the following years:

• 1978
• 1997
• 2013

Three other ICC women's events were also awarded on the day with Bangladesh hosting the 2024 T20 World Cup and England winning hosting rights for the 2026 edition.

The inaugural T20 Champions Trophy in 2027 will be hosted by Sri Lanka.

We were keen on hosting the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 and we are glad we have won the hosting rights for this marquee clash on the women's calendar,BCCI president Sourav Ganguly was quoted.

The sport has undergone tremendous transformation since then. The popularity of women’s cricket is rapidly rising, and this is a step in the right direction. The BCCI will work closely with the ICC and fulfil all the requirements.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah said: We are taking several steps to raise the profile of the sport right from the grassroots level and hosting the World Cup will further boost the popularity of the sport in the country.

The BCCI remains committed to women’s cricket in India. We have the infrastructure in place, and I am confident we will have a very successful edition of the World Cup.

In the 2025 Women's World Cup, the hosts and five top nations from ICC Women's Championship (IWC) 2022-2025 will get direct entry into the tournament.

The remaining two teams will be identified through a global Qualifier comprising six teams. Out of six teams in the Qualifier, four will be from the IWC (rankings after the top five teams) and the other two will be selected according to the ICC Women's ODI Team Rankings.

The Other Key Decisions:

• The ICC Board approved both the men's and women's Future Tours Programme (FTP) from 2023 to 2027 and these will be published in the coming days.
• VVS Laxman has been appointed to the ICC Men's Cricket Committee as current player representative alongside former New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori.
• The Board approved the process to elect the next Chairman of the ICC which will take place in November 2022. The election will be decided by a simple majority unlike earlier years when two-third majority was a must.
• Cambodia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan are new ICC Associate Members.

In Pictures: Mithali Raj, doyen of women's cricket, retires from international cricket

India's greatest woman batter, Mithali Raj, capped her illustrious 23-year-long professional career by announcing retirement from international cricket on Wednesday.

Mithali Raj, one of the greatest female cricketers to have played the game, announced retirement from all forms of international cricket.

Mithali Raj ended her glorious career with a record 7805 runs from 232 ODIs, the most in the format.

Mithali Raj is the leading run-getter in women's cricket across formats with an overall tally of 10868 runs.

Mithali Raj played in as many as six ODI World Cups and also holds the record of scoring seven half-centuries in a row.

Mithali Raj is the only Indian captain - male or female - to have led India in two World Cup finals (2005 and 2017).

IND vs WI: Here's recap of Team India's key moments from first two ODIs ahead of last match

From Shikhar Dhawan to Axar Patel, let's take a look at some brilliant performances by players that led India clinch a series win.

In the ongoing three-match ODI series between India and West Indies, the Shikhar Dhawan-led team has registered a series win by winning the first two matches.

Both the victories were close wins and if not for some wonderful performances and moments in these matches, India wouldn't have managed to succeed.

Here's a look at those turning points from the first two ODIs played at the Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

From Dhawan's power hitting, complimented by Shubman Gill's aggressive batting to Mohammad Siraj's emergence as the leader of the bowling attack, India ticked all the boxes in the 1st ODI.

Shikhar Dhawan's power hitting-

Skipper Dhawan who opened for Team India, started the innings with a bang. However, his wicket on 97 was a heartbreak for the Indian fans and Dhawan's hunt for his 18th century in ODI and the 1st ODI century in West Indies is still on.

Shubman Gill's fifty -

Gill scored his first ODI fifty off 36 balls. He hammered 6 boundaries and 2 sixes.

Mohammad Siraj's bowling spell and Sanju Samson's amazing save -

During the last over, the Caribbean team needed 15 runs from 6 deliveries to win. Akeal Hosein and Romario Shepherd who shared a partnership of 42 runs from 27 deliveries were at the crease. At one time it seemed that the West Indies team would win the match, but Mohammad Siraj and Sanju Samson together ruined their hopes.

Watch Highlights of 1st ODI:

In the 2nd ODI, after Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran's hammering of 115 runs and 74 runs each leading the Caribbean team to add a target of 311, it seemed visibly difficult for team India to win. However, Axar Patel's heroics led India to a two-wicket win.

Sanju Samson's maiden ODI fifty:

Samson who was being criticized for not utilizing the opportunity of being in the playing XI, proved all the critics wrong by a knock of 54 runs off 51 deliveries with three boundaries and three sixes.

Shreyas Iyer's consecutive half-century:

After strenghthening the opening stand in the first ODI by scoring a fifty, Iyer gave a consistent performance and made 63 off 71 balls.

Man of the Match - Axar Patel:

Just when the Windies were on the verge of celebration after the collapse of India's batting order, Patel took the onus and took the win away. He scored 64 of just 35 balls. Moreover, he took a catch and a wicket too.

Watch Highlights of 2nd ODI:

India will aim for a clean sweep by winning the third ODI which is scheduled on the 27th of July, Wednesday.