SUTHAR STARS AS INDIA CELEBRATE 600TH TEST WITH SRI LANKA WIN

India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs in Galle on Wednesday to win their 600th Test and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, with Manav Suthar taking 10 wickets in his second Test to bowl out the hosts for 206.

Playing only his second Test, the 24-year-old Suthar took four wickets in the first innings before returning figures of 6-55 in the second.  Getty Images

INDIA beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs in Galle on Wednesday to win their 600th Test and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, with Manav Suthar taking 10 wickets in his second Test to bowl out the hosts for 206.

India marked their 600th Test with a 165-run win over Sri Lanka in Galle on Wednesday, with left-arm spinner Manav Suthar taking 10 wickets to help secure a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Playing only his second Test, the 24-year-old Suthar took four wickets in the first innings before returning figures of 6-55 in the second. He helped India bowl out Sri Lanka for 206 shortly after lunch on the final day.

Chasing 372 for victory, Sri Lanka could not build enough partnerships, with Sonal Dinusha the exception. He was the hosts' top scorer in both innings.

India captain Shubman Gill called the win "very satisfying".

"We were in a comfortable position but were not sure if the match would go on (because of weather), but the team responded well," he said.

Gill praised Suthar and India's batsmen for their efforts on a wicket that was not easy to score runs on.

"He has been bowling magnificently. Looks like a very promising guy and someone who can play for India for a long time," he said.

Sri Lanka resumed the final day on 84-4. India took two wickets in the morning session before quickly moving through the lower order.

Captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Dinusha had earlier added 95 runs for the fifth wicket after batting together for more than two hours.

'It was not easy'

De Silva, who had been dismissed off a no-ball early in his innings, went on to score his 20th half-century. He was eventually caught at short fine leg by Suthar while attempting a sweep against Ravindra Jadeja.

"It was not easy (batting fourth," said De Silva.

"They won the toss, got the runs on the board, and with our batting, we lost wickets and it went downhill from there."

Niroshan Dickwella, who had scored a half-century in the first innings, made 10 in the second before edging Prasidh Krishna to the wicketkeeper while trying to hit over the slips.

Suthar then took three wickets in a maiden over after lunch before claiming the final wicket of Keshara Nuwantha in his next over.

Sri Lanka lost their final four wickets for seven runs, with Suthar taking all four.

Dinusha, 25, finished with 84 after facing 128 deliveries. He hit eight fours and one six before Dhruv Jurel took a bat-pad catch at leg slip.

"We believed that we could draw the game even at lunch," said Sri Lanka head coach Gary Kirsten.

"Our instruction to the lower order batters was to bat as long as they could. We just needed one big partnership but once Dinusha was dismissed, it all fell off quickly."

Devdutt Padikkal was India's other standout performer after scoring 167 and 44 in the match following his inclusion as a late injury replacement.

"The wicket had its natural wear and tear but it was a good Test wicket," Padikkal said.

"Turned a lot more from the third day onwards. In the end it was all about who came out on top with their skill-set."

The teams will now travel to Colombo for the second Test, starting on Sunday.

- Eastern Eye

GUJATAT CAPTAIN GILL DELIGHTED TO SEAL IPL PLAYOFF SPOT

Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill was pleased that his side had booked their place in the Indian Premier League playoffs with a 10-wicket win over Delhi on Sunday but said it was important not to ease up in the final two regular-season games.

Chasing 200 in Delhi, openers Sai Sudharsan (108 not out) and Gill (93 not out) powered the 2022 champions to victory in 19 overs for the highest successful chase without the loss of a wicket in IPL history.

Gujarat became the third team to qualify for the next round after Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings. The top four teams at the end of the regular season make the playoffs.

"It's a great feeling to secure qualification, but we still have two key games ahead and it's important to carry momentum into the playoffs," said Gill.

"As a captain, I try to think like a batter while I'm out there. Last year taught me a lot, especially how to manage the game in the backend."

While Gujarat have booked their place in the playoffs there is still a lot riding on their final two games, with a top-two spot in the standings offering two chances to reach the final.

Gujarat top the table on 18 points, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings both just one point behind.

Mumbai Indians (14 points) and Delhi (13 points) meet on Wednesday in a potential eliminator while Lucknow Super Giants, on 10 points, are still in the running as they have three matches left to play.

The IPL said on Monday that Bengaluru had picked Zimbabwean Blessing Muzarabani to replace South African seamer Lungi Ngidi, who has to join up with the national team.

Kolkata Knight Riders, who have already been eliminated, have signed leg spinner Shivam Shukla as a replacement for Rovman Powell with the West Indies all rounder scheduled for a tonsils operation.

- Reuters 

BCCI WANTED TO MAKE VIRAT KOHLI CAPTAIN OF INDIA VS ENGLAND TEST SERIES BEFORE HIS 'RETIREMENT'

Kohli has allegedly informed the BCCI that he's decided to retire from Test cricket.

Virat Kohli has reportedly decided to retire from Test cricket. The former India cricket team captain has also informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his decision. And as expected, the BCCI was shocked. Not just because he’s one of the greatest Test batters India has ever had but also because he wanted to name him India’s Test captain once again.

BCCI wanted Kohli back as India Test captain

Three days ago, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket. But it’s believed that BCCI and Rohit had been talking about it for some time. So even before he hung up his boots, the BCCI were thinking about his replacement as India’s Test captain. And just like they had done in Australia, they eyed making Kohli skipper.

“It is true that selectors did think about having Kohli as India skipper for the England series,” a BCCI source told PTI.

But much to their dismay, not only has Kohli denied becoming India’s Test captain once again. He’s actually decided to retire from red-ball cricket. This puts a wrench in BCCI’s plan.

Shubman Gill to be Rohit Sharma’s replacement

It’s true they wanted Shubman Gill to eventually take over from Rohit in Test cricket. But Gill hasn’t found himself in the format. At least, not yet. BCCI hoped him to ease Gill into captaincy. England being your first assignment as skipper is perhaps one of the most difficult tasks.

But BCCI has no option now. They don’t want Jasprit Bumrah in a leadership role due to his fitness. KL Rahul’s age, 33, does him no good. Rishabh Pant’s form and captaincy haven’t been great. That leaves Gill. Ideally, they wanted Kohli as a stopgap option, but it doesn’t seem like that’s possible.

“This would have given Gill some time to grow into the leadership role, but at 25-and-a-half years of age, he is yet to hit his peak. Due to Bumrah’s fitness issues, Gill looks like the obvious choice for Ajit Agarkar’s committee,” the source added.

- Ansh Athani

BUMRAH'S STATUS CONFIRMED AS INDIA ANNOUNCE ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025 SQUAD

Two-time winners India have named their 15-player squad for the upcoming ICC Men's Champions Trophy.

India, who won the ICC Men's Champions Trophy in 2002 and 2013, will look for a third title under the leadership of Rohit Sharma.

Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who missed a portion of the Sydney Test due to injury, has been included in the squad, with chief Selector Ajit Agarkar stating that the team management will keep an eye on the pacer's fitness in the lead-up to the tournament.

Bumrah delivered for India at the highest stage in the 2024 Men's T20WC 2024

Keeping Bumrah's fitness in mind, Harshit Rana comes into India's squad for the England ODIs, preceding the Champions Trophy, as a cover.

Yashasvi Jaiswal joins regular names Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill at the top of the order, while experienced KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant comprise the middle order.

Hardik Pandya, whose last ODI came in the 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup, features as the sole pace-bowling all-rounder. Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar are the three spin-bowling all-rounders in the squad, and left-arm tweaker Kuldeep Yadav also returns following an injury.

The pace attack will comprise of Arshdeep Singh and Mohammad Shami, alongside Bumrah and Hardik.

India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja.

In the last edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, India reached the finals before losing to Pakistan.

India's Group Stage Fixtures:

20 February - India vs Bangladesh, Dubai

23 February - India vs Pakistan, Dubai

2 March - India vs New Zealand, Dubai"

 - ICC