News Companion

Day: July 16, 2024

SL vs Ind: Hardik or Surya as India’s next T20I captain?

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India's next T20I captain

Who Will Be India’s Next T20I Captain?

There’s a lot of speculation about who will lead the Indian T20I team after Rohit Sharma’s retirement. Hardik Pandya, the vice-captain of the T20 World Cup-winning team, seems like a natural choice. However, his history of injuries and workload management for the upcoming Champions Trophy might make the selectors reconsider. This could bring Suryakumar Yadav into the picture. He led a second-string India squad to a series win against Australia and a draw in South Africa last year.

Will Rohit, Kohli, and Bumrah Play the Sri Lanka ODIs?

With India scheduled to play 10 Tests from September to January, including five at home and five in Australia, it’s possible that senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah might be rested for the Sri Lanka ODIs. This would require the selectors to appoint a new captain for the 50-over format as well.

Is KL Rahul the Best Stand-In Captain for ODIs?

KL Rahul, who captained India in their last ODI series in South Africa, might return as a middle-order batter and possibly a wicketkeeper, roles he played during the 2023 World Cup. His previous collaboration with head coach Gautam Gambhir at Lucknow Super Giants could work in his favor. Another strong candidate is Shubman Gill, who recently led India to a T20I series win in Zimbabwe and has been a top performer in ODIs since 2023.

Will Rishabh Pant Return to the ODI Squad?

Rishabh Pant’s return after his accident in December 2022 is another big decision for the selectors. Besides KL Rahul, Sanju Samson is also a strong wicketkeeping option, having scored his first international century in the most recent ODI against South Africa. Samson’s impressive ODI stats, with an average of 56.66 and a strike rate of 99.60, make him a strong contender.

What About Shreyas Iyer?

Shreyas Iyer, who lost his BCCI central contract earlier this year due to not prioritizing domestic cricket, has since made a strong comeback by leading Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title. Iyer was also a key player in the 50-over World Cup, scoring 530 runs in 11 innings. His impressive record could earn him a spot in the ODI squad.

Who from the Zimbabwe Series Could Make It to Sri Lanka?

With Rohit likely to rest, Yashasvi Jaiswal could make his ODI debut. Jaiswal, a reserve opener in the T20 World Cup squad, recently scored a quick 93 in Harare. Ravindra Jadeja’s retirement from T20Is could open the door for Washington Sundar, who was the Player of the Series in Zimbabwe with eight wickets at an economy of 5.16. Additionally, Abhishek Sharma, who scored his first T20I century, and Ruturaj Gaikwad could be considered as reserve openers for both T20Is and ODIs.

Jr NTR Balances Devara and War 2, Prepares for Major Action Sequence with Hrithik Roshan

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Jr NTR, Hrithik Roshan To Shoot

Jr NTR Juggles Between Two Films: Devara and War 2

Jr NTR is working on two films: Devara and War 2. Directed by Koratala Siva, Devara is set to release on September 24. Despite the upcoming release, Jr NTR is shooting for Devara and War 2, where he stars alongside Hrithik Roshan.

Action Scenes and Set Preparations

For War 2, directed by Ayan Mukerji, Jr NTR has finished two schedules. The next schedule, in Hyderabad’s Ramoji Film City, will feature a special action scene with Hrithik Roshan. The team is building a complex set for this scene. A source mentioned that the Production Designer oversees the set. A Hollywood action choreographer may supervise the sequence, expected to be a movie highlight.

Also Read:- Vicky Kaushal’s Heartfelt Birthday Wish for Katrina Kaif: Unseen Photos and Loving Note

Devara Nearing Completion

Recently, Jr NTR and Janhvi Kapoor shot a duet song in Thailand for Devara. Only 15-20% of the film is left to shoot.

Jr NTR Wins Best Actor Award

Jr NTR’s fans are thrilled. He won the Best Actor award at the 2022 Filmfare Awards for RRR, also shared by his co-star Ram Charan.

Vicky Kaushal’s Heartfelt Birthday Wish for Katrina Kaif: Unseen Photos and Loving Note

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Vicky Kaushal's Heartfelt Birthday Wish for Katrina Kaif:

Katrina Kaif is celebrating her 41st birthday and got a sweet birthday wish from her husband, Vicky Kaushal. The Uri actor posted some unseen photos from their vacations on Instagram and wrote an emotional note for her.

In the Instagram post, Vicky shared a series of loving photos with Katrina. The first photo shows him holding her close as she smiles. The other photos include cute selfies, glimpses from their wedding, moments of them doing puja together, and candid photos of Katrina napping. The post ends with a tender photo of a tired Katrina resting in a car, with Vicky gently supporting her chin. He captioned it, “Making memories with you is my favourite part of life. Happy Birthday my love! 🎂❤️🎂”

Many Bollywood celebrities commented on the post and wished Katrina a happy birthday. Ananya Panday wrote, “Best ❤️.” Ayushmann Khurrana wrote, “🥹❤️ happy birthday.” Influencer Dolly Singh commented, “YOU GUYS ARE THE CUTESTTTTTT🩷🩷🩷🩷.”

Also Read:- Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri, Ammy Virk take Delhi metro for Bad Newz promotions, gorge on Moolchand paranthas. Watch

Vicky and Katrina were recently seen together at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding on July 12. While Vicky is busy promoting his upcoming film Bad Newz, Katrina went to London right after the wedding.

Recently, there have been rumors that Katrina is pregnant with their first child. During his film’s promotion, Vicky addressed these speculations, saying, “We will be very happy to share any good news with you, but for now, there is no truth to these speculations. For now, enjoy Bad Newz, and when we have good news, we will definitely share it with you.”

Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri, Ammy Virk take Delhi metro for Bad Newz promotions, gorge on Moolchand paranthas. Watch

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Bad Newz Cast Promotes Film in Delhi

Bad Newz Cast Promotes Film in Delhi with Fun Activities

As Anand Tiwari’s comedy Bad Newz prepares for release, its stars have been busy promoting the film in Delhi. Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri, and Ammy Virk enjoyed various activities, including eating at a paratha shop and riding the Delhi metro.

Bad Newz Team in Delhi

Vicky, Ammy, and Triptii visited Delhi on Monday. They promoted the film at an event with hundreds of fans and visited some famous spots. They were seen taking the Delhi metro, chatting with each other, and checking out the metro map.

Also Read:-Madhuri Dixit Dances to ‘Choli Ke Peeche’ at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s Wedding

Vicky shared photos on Instagram from the event, where they interacted with the crowd. They also visited the popular Moolchand paratha shop, enjoying hot parathas and lassi. One picture showed Vicky delighting in the food, holding a plate of parathas and a glass of lassi. Vicky captioned the post, “DELHI. Aapke pyaar aur paratho ne toh swaad dila diya… Shukriya, meherbaani, karam! See you on 19th July in theatres near you… ab aapko entertain karne ka promise humaara! #BadNewz (flying kiss emojis).”

About Bad Newz

Directed by Anand Tiwari, Bad Newz is a comedy-drama about the complexities of unexpected fatherhood, filled with humor and chaos. The film’s trailer, recently released, shows Vicky Kaushal and Ammy Virk dealing with surprise parenthood, with Triptii Dimri adding to the fun.

Also Read:-Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt Steal the Show with Their Romance at Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant’s Wedding; Watch the Video!

The film is considered a spiritual successor to the 2019 hit Good Newwz, which starred Kareena Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Kiara Advani, and Diljit Dosanjh. Bad Newz is co-produced by Anand Tiwari, Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Amritpal Singh Bindra.

Scripted by Ishita Moitra and Tarun Dudeja, Bad Newz will hit theatres on July 19.

Hardik Pandya Likely to Miss Sri Lanka ODIs, Gambhir Wants Rohit, Kohli, and Bumrah to Play

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Hardik Pandya

Allrounder Hardik Pandya is expected to miss the ODI matches of India’s tour of Sri Lanka, while the new head coach Gautam Gambhir wants senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah to participate in the series.

According to the Indian Express, Pandya, who played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup win in the Caribbean last month and is a top contender to lead the T20I team, might skip the ODIs due to personal reasons.

India’s squads for the Sri Lanka tour, which includes three T20Is and three ODIs, are likely to be announced today. This series will be Gambhir’s first assignment as the head coach of the Indian team.

Also Read :-Warner Not in Australia’s Champions Trophy 2024 Squad, Confirms Selector

Hardik Pandya Notifies BCCI About His Absence

Pandya, who last played an ODI in October 2023 during the World Cup group game against Bangladesh and got injured, has reportedly informed the BCCI that he will be unavailable due to personal reasons. His absence could open the door for someone like Shivam Dube to make his mark as a fast-bowling allrounder in the ODIs.

Gambhir Urges Senior Players to Join ODI Series

It was previously speculated that senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja might skip the Sri Lanka ODIs to extend their break after the T20 World Cup. However, Gambhir wants these key players to participate in the ODI series, emphasizing that the team will have another long break afterward.

The Sri Lanka series begins with T20Is on July 27, followed by ODIs starting on August 2, with the final match on August 7. The Indian team will then have a six-week break before playing Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai on September 19.

Also Read :- India vs Pakistan WCL 2024 Final: Yuvraj Singh’s team beats Younis Khan’s squad by 5 wickets in thrilling Edgbaston match.

Players Yet to Respond to Gambhir’s Request

As of now, Rohit and Kohli, who are on vacation with their families, have not yet responded to Gambhir’s request to play in the ODI series.

Hardik Pandya May Lose T20I Captaincy

Reports suggest that Hardik Pandya might lose out to Suryakumar Yadav for the T20I captaincy due to concerns about his fitness. Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership has been well-received within the Indian team.

Ravindra Jadeja’s ODI Spot Uncertain

With Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja having retired from T20Is, they are likely to be available for the ODI series. However, Jadeja’s place in the squad is uncertain as Axar Patel has emerged as a strong contender for the spin-bowling allrounder role in white-ball cricket for India.