Rahul Dravid emerges as surprise contender for England Test coach rol…

England’s search for a new Test coach has thrown up an unexpected name. According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, former India head coach Rahul Dravid is among the candidates being considered by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) following Brendon McCullum’s departure from the red-ball setup.

The development comes just hours after England ended McCullum’s four-year tenure as Test coach. While the former New Zealand captain will continue overseeing the white-ball teams, the ECB decided a fresh approach was needed in Tests after a disappointing run of results culminated in a 2-1 home series defeat to New Zealand. sport-ipl.my

Dravid’s name stands out on a shortlist that reportedly also includes former England coach Andy Flower, Glamorgan head coach Richard Dawson, Kumar Sangakkara, Andrew Flintoff, Mike Hesson and Justin Langer. While Flower looks like a solid candidate, Dravid’s name has come to the fore as well.

Why Dravid is attracting England’s attention

Rahul Dravid’s record as the head coach was commendable, and that’s why England are interested.

During his stint as India’s head coach from 2021 to 2024, he oversaw one of the most successful periods in the team’s history. India became the first Asian side to simultaneously hold the No. 1 ranking in Tests, ODIs and T20Is. Under his watch, India won the 2023 Asia Cup, reached the finals of both the ODI World Cup and World Test Championship, and finally ended an 11-year ICC trophy drought by winning the 2024 T20 World Cup unbeaten.

Rahul Dravid’s record as India head coach

What England may value most is not just the trophies but Dravid’s reputation for building systems. Throughout his coaching journey, from India Under-19 to the senior side, he has been credited with developing players and creating clarity in roles.

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That would represent a big contrast to the latter stages of the Bazball era, where England’s aggressive philosophy came under scrutiny. After winning 11 of his first 13 Tests under McCullum, England lost eight of their final 12, while defeats in India, Australia and against New Zealand exposed several flaws in the team’s approach.

Would Dravid actually take the job?

That remains the biggest question.

The report claims Dravid currently has “no desire” to return to full-time coaching. However, the England Test role could be different from previous international jobs. “Dravid has no desire to coach full-time, but the England Test job would allow him extended periods at home and the chance to help keep alive his favourite format of the game. England, at the very least, should gauge his interest,” according to the report.

With fewer fixtures than an all-format position, it would allow him longer periods at home while still remaining involved in the format he has always cherished most.

Key Milestones Under McCullum

The post Rahul Dravid emerges as surprise contender for England Test coach role after McCullum exit appeared first on Inside Sport India.

A place on the Lord’s honours board is one of the sport’s most treasured achievements for any cricketer. On Sunday, Yastika Bhatia did more than just earn her spot there. She may have pushed India to the edge of one of the greatest victories in the history of women’s cricket.

At stumps on Day 3, England were struggling at 130/6, still needing an improbable 327 runs to win after being set a world-record target of 457. India, meanwhile, are only four wickets away from becoming the first visiting women’s team to win a Test at Lord’s and recording their third Test victory on English soil.

The foundation of that position was laid by Bhatia. Coming into this match after a difficult tour, the wicketkeeper-batter produced the innings of her young career. Her superb 113 made her the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s and she has found an incredible redemption arc.

England began the day believing a couple of early wickets could open a pathway back into the match. Yastika Bhatia made sure that never happened. Fresh off an overnight fifty, she batted with remarkable assurance.

The 24-year-old was particularly severe whenever England missed their lengths and looked increasingly comfortable as the innings progressed. Once Bhatia had done the hard work, Richa Ghosh provided the late burst, smashing a quickfire half-century that gave Harmanpreet Kaur enough reason to declare and throw the challenge back at England.

England collapse as India sense a famous finish

After Yastika’s gem, the Indian bowlers completely obliterated the English batters. England had two legends retiring, but the Indian bowling didn’t wait long enough.

Kranti Gaud struck immediately by bowling Tammy Beaumont for a golden duck in what is her final international match. Sayali Satghare then removed Maia Bouchier before England’s experienced core crumbled under pressure. Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey all departed cheaply as India reduced the hosts to 59/5.

England briefly resisted through Amy Jones and Mady Villiers, who added 67 runs together. But even that fightback ended before stumps when Villiers fell to a brilliant catch by Richa Ghosh close to the bat. Now, the historic match is pretty much lop-sided. England require 327 more runs. India need only four wickets.

This is already a landmark match. It is the first women’s Test ever played at Lord’s, 142 years after the ground hosted its first men’s Test. More than 30,000 tickets were sold before the game began. Now, India stand on the verge of making sure this historic occasion ends with an equally historic result. Four wickets separate Harmanpreet Kaur’s side from a victory that would be remembered for years.

The post India on brink of Lord’s history as Harmanpreet Kaur’s side closes in on famous Test win appeared first on Inside Sport India.

India star KL Rahul’s wife and Bollywood actor Athiya Shetty turned on the style quotient with her recent Instagram post. Shetty shared this picture with her 4.6mn followers, donning a black saree featuring black embroidery work. Fans were quick to praise her look, with one social media user saying: “Absolutely breathtaking,” while another termed her: “Effortlessly beautiful.”

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Indian bowlers exploited the conditions effectively after Yastika Bhatia's sublime hundred to put the visitors on course for a thumping win over England in the first ever Women's Test at Lord's here on Sunday. Bhatia (113 off 158) became the first female Test centurion at the iconic venue before India declared their second innings at the stroke of tea on day three, setting hosts England a massive 457-run target.

The home team batters, who failed to tackle the seam movement generated by pacer Kranti Gaud, put another disappointing performance to be 130 for six at stumps, needing another 327 runs for an improbable win. Gaud was in the thick of action once again and also got good support from pacer Sayali Satghare from the other end. Gaud struck off her very first ball of the innings, ending Tammy Beaumont's international career with a beauty that came back sharply off the surface. With the odd ball keeping low, England batters were up against it.

The writing was on the wall when Satghare got one to seam back in from way outside the off-stump, trapping Maia Bouchier in front. Like Beaumont, it did not turn out to be a fairytale swansong for England great Heather Knight (13) who was caught at short leg by Richa Ghosh off Gaud to make it 34 for four in the 14th over. Amy Jones (52 batting off 72) and Mady Villiers (26 off 63) put up a much needed fight for England with a 67-run stand for the sixth wicket, pushing the game into day four. It took a special catch from Rich Ghosh at silly point to send back Villiers.

At the stroke of tea, India declared their second innings at 341 for seven following Richa Ghosh's unbeaten 50 off 52 balls. Ghosh's entertaining effort came after Yastika's sublime century that allowed India to extend their dominance in the game. England spinner Sophie Ecclestone took a well deserved five-wicket haul. The home team has its task cut out as it looks to save the game.

In the morning, Bhatia inched towards a memorable hundred as India reached 250/4 at lunch on day three despite the loss of three wickets in the session. Smriti Mandhana (70 off 130) was caught down the leg-side off Lauren Bell for a soft dismissal early in the session. Pacer Bell was the standout bowler of the morning, removing not just Mandhana but also Jemimah Rodrgues (3 off 12).

The ball to Rodrigues was a peach, seaming back sharply to crash onto the stumps. Harmanpreet Kaur (16 off 34) was scratchy and finally fell to left-arm spinner Ecclestone who trapped the Indian captain in front with a straighter one. The on-field umpire was not convinced but Ecclestone got the DRS call in her favour. Bhatia was batting alongside Deepti Sharma at the break.

The hallmark of Bhatia's effort has been the use of feet against the spinners and the sumptuous straight drives off the pacers. Batting on 39 overnight, Bhatia began the day with a classy straight drive off Bell. It was another drive down the ground off Bell that got to her half-century. India had taken complete control of the game on day two by dismissing England for 170, following their 285 in the first innings.

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Indian women’s team pacer Kranti Gaud’s maiden fifer (5-37) on Saturday helped the visitors bundle out England for 170 and secure a commanding 115-run first-innings lead in the ongoing Test at Lord’s.

It also ensured Ghuwara-based Gaud, 22, in only her second Test, became the first woman to have her name etched on the Lord’s Honours Board. All centurions and five-wicket takers have their names etched on the prestigious board.

Rajiv Bilthare

However, Gaud’s childhood coach, Rajiv Bilthare, has revealed that she had considered quitting cricket a couple of years ago. Gaud was just 13 when her father brought her to Sai Sports Academy for coaching in 2017.

“In 2018, Kranti played for the MP U-15 team and thanks to her performances, the MPCA [Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association] gave her a chance in the U-19 team too. However, she struggled from 2022 to 2024 while being part of both, the U-22 and senior women’s teams, as she was not getting a place in the playing XI regularly. She was distraught and returned to home [Ghuwara], and did not come to the academy for 10 days. So, I went to her house to check on her and she said, 'Sir, nothing is going well and I don't want to play.’ She had made up her mind to leave cricket. I convinced her, saying that every player, be it at the state or even international level, has witnessed such phases. I told her sternly that if she is scared then she should not come to the ground, but if she wants to achieve her dreams, I can help her,” Bilthare told mid-day over the phone from Chhatarpur on Sunday.

Bilthare also sought help from MP team coach Bhawna Shrivastava and Chhattisgarh team coach Shweta Mishra to convince Gaud.

“Kranti’s parents, MP team coach Bhawna and Chhattisgarh team coach Shweta also spoke to her and it worked. Kranti worked harder thereafter and made a strong comeback, taking four or five wickets against Bengal in the final to help MP win the Senior Women’s ODI Trophy in December 2024. She has not looked back since,” Bilthare explained.