ICC Events Archives - Lokmarg

India’s Troubles Against Left-Arm Pacers Continue; Rohit, Kohli Succum To Afridi

By LokMarg 2nd September 2023

India’s struggles against left-arm pacers continued in their high-octane clash against Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2023 at Kandy, with its stalwarts once again being at the receiving end of an onslaught by left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Left-arm bowlers have been troubling Indian batters, notably at the ICC events for a decade or so. Be it Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson of Australia during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 semifinals, Mohammed Amir of Pakistan during the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final, Trent Boult of New Zealand in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 semifinals or Shaheen Afridi of Pakistan in group stage match of T20 World Cup 2021, Indian batters have given away wickets to these bowlers without much resistance, especially in the powerplay stage of the innings.

This same story continued during the Asia Cup clash, with Pakistan once again rocking India with some early wickets.

The first one to go was the skipper Rohit Sharma, cleaned up as he made his move against the quick ball aimed at the stumps. The skipper was out for 11. India were 15/1 in five overs.

Next up was Virat, who started off with some promise with his signature cover drive. He got a heavy inside edge as the ball hit the stumps with Shaheen maintaining his relentless pace. Virat could score runs. India were 27/2 in 6.3 overs.

The next one to go was Shreyas Iyer. Iyer. He returned to the game after an injury, made a promising start with two solid boundaries but a short delivery turned out to be his nightmare as Haris Rauf took his wicket with Fakhar Zaman taking a solid catch at deep mid-wicket. India were left reeling at 48 for 3 in 9.5 overs.

India faced another new ball collapse and Rohit and Kohli’s performance against the left-arm pacers with the new ball has come under scanner.

Since 2021, Kohli has been dismissed four times against left-arm pacers. Against them, he has managed 87 runs in 98 balls at an average of 21.75 and a strike rate of 88.77.

On the other hand, since 2021, skipper Rohit has been dismissed by left-arm pacers a total of six times. He has scored 138 runs against them in 147 balls at an average of 23, with a strike rate of 93.87 in this time period.

In total, four of these dismissals have come within the first five overs. These statistics show that India’s concerns against the moving ball, especially by the left-arm pacers, have not disappeared completely and resurface often during big matches.

India won the toss in their opening game of the Asia Cup 2023 and opted to bat in the match being played at Pallekele Stadium in Kandy in Sri Lanka.

India’s Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

Pakistan’s Playing XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf. (ANI)

List Of Records Broken By Kohli In T20 Match At Melbourne

By LokMarg 24th October 2022

Star Indian batter Virat Kohli is back-breaking records and cricket is healing! During his instant classic match-winning knock of 82* off 53 balls against Pakistan during the ICC T20 World Cup at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), ‘Chasemaster’ Kohli went on another record-breaking spree.

Here is a look at some of these records:

1). Highest run-scorer in T20I history

Virat became the highest run-scorer in T20I cricket history. In 110 appearances and 102 innings in the shortest format, Kohli has 3,794 runs at an average of 51.97. One century and 34 half-centuries have been scored by the batter in this format, with the best score of 122*.

Behind him in the T20I run charts are compatriot and skipper Rohit Sharma (3,741), New Zealand veteran Martin Guptill (3,531), Pakistan star batter Babar Azam (3,231) and Irish veteran Paul Stirling (3,119).

2). Most fifty-plus scores at ICC events

Virat surpassed his batting idol and legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to register the most fifty-plus scores at ICC events. The star Indian batter accomplished his 24th fifty-plus score to surpass Sachin’s total of 23 during his side’s Super 12 match against Pakistan at the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2022 at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In his 26 matches at ICC Cricket World Cup events, Kohli has scored 1,030 runs at an average of 46.81. Two centuries and six half-centuries have come out of his bat, with the best score of 107.

In his 22 matches and 20 innings at ICC T20 World Cup, Virat has scored 927 runs at an average of 84.27. Eleven half-centuries have come out of his bat, with a best of 89*. He is the third-highest run scorer in tournament history behind West Indies legend Chris Gayle (965) and Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka (1,016).

In his 13 ICC Champions Trophy matches, 529 runs have come out of Virat’s bat at an amazing average of 88.16 in 12 innings. Five half-centuries have come out of his bat, with the best score of 96*.

Combined, in his 61 ICC event matches, Virat has scored 2,486 runs in 60 innings at an average of 60.63. Two centuries and 22 half-centuries have come out of his bat with the best score of 107.

On the other hand, Sachin has scored 2,278 runs in 45 World Cup matches across 44 innings at an average of 56.95. Six tons and 15 fifties have come out of his bat, with a best of 152. He is the leading scorer in tournament history. Sachin has made no appearances at ICC T20 World Cup.

In Champions Trophy, Sachin scored 441 runs in 16 matches at an average of 36.75 in 14 innings. One century and one half-century have come out of his bat in this tournament, with the best score of 141.

Overall, Sachin has scored 2,719 in his 61 matches at ICC events. These runs have come at an average of 49.43. Seven centuries and 16 half-centuries have come out of his bat, with the best score of 152.

3). Sixth highest run-scorer in international cricket history

Virat Kohli also surpassed legendary Indian batter Rahul Dravid to become the sixth-highest run-scorer in international cricket history.

Now, Virat is in the sixth position among the highest run-scorers in international cricket. In 528 matches, he has scored 24,212 runs at an average of 53.80. 71 centuries and 126 half-centuries have come out of his bat, with the best score of 254*.

On the other hand, Rahul Dravid has now dropped to the seventh position among the leading run scorers in the sport’s history. In 509 appearances, Dravid has scored 24,208 runs at an average of 45.41. 48 centuries and 146 half-centuries have been scored by the batting great, with the best individual score of 270.

4). Highest stand for any wicket against Pakistan in T20Is

In their five-wicket win over Pakistan at the ICC T20 World Cup, India created another record as Virat and all-rounder Hardik Pandya recorded the highest partnership for any wicket against the arch-rivals in the shortest format.

In their Super 12 match against Pakistan, both batters added a match-winning 113 runs in just 78 balls.

With this partnership, they surpassed the previous record set by the legendary middle-order duo of Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni, who had stitched a stand of 97 runs for the fourth wicket against arch-rivals back in December 2012.

5). Highest average during successful chases in ICC T20 World Cup history

Virat has Bradman-Esque statistics while pulling off chases in T20 World Cup, which solidify his billing as the ‘Chasemaster’. In 9 successful chases at the global event of the sport’s shortest format, Kohli has scored 518 runs at a whooping average of 518.00 in nine innings. He has stayed unbeaten eight times and his best score is 82*. In these chases, he has smashed seven half-centuries. This star is absolutely unstoppable and hard to dismiss during chases.

6). Kohli unbeaten = Team India’s win

This star batter has been unbeaten 18 times while chasing during T20Is. In all these matches, the results went in India’s favor. This is another statistic that proves how brilliant Virat is as a chaser. (ANI)

Jay Shah: India Won’t Travel To Pakistan For Asia Cup 2023

By LokMarg 18th October 2022

Asian Cricket Council president Jay Shah on Tuesday said that Team India will not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023 and the prestigious tournament will be held at a neutral venue.

Flagship tournaments are supposed to be held in Pakistan as the Asian giants will host the forthcoming edition of the Asia Cup in 2023 followed by the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
There is no doubt that the cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan is perhaps one of the most fierce in the globe.

BCCI secretary on Tuesday completely dismissed the speculations of Team India traveling to Pakistan for the event and said that the Asia Cup will be held at a neutral venue.

“We will have Asia Cup 2023 at a neutral venue. It’s the government which decides over the permission of the team visiting Pakistan so we won’t comment on that but for the 2023 Asia Cup it’s decided that the tournament will be held at some neutral venue,” Jay Shah told reporters after the 91st Annual General Meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was held on Tuesday in Mumbai.

“The venue for the 2025 Championship trophy is still to be decided, we will comment on that when it is decided. We are getting good earnings from our Media rights. Our motive is domestic players should get more benefits as our earnings are increasing,” he added.

Only the Asia Cup continental tournament and ICC events bring the longtime rivals together. Since they last competed in a bilateral series, it had been over ten years. India, a former global champion, last traveled to Pakistan in 2008 to compete in the Asia Cup. (ANI)