Rahul Dravid – Cricket County

5 Lesser-Known Facts About Smriti Mandhana

Julian Perry — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 09:24:20 +0000

In this article, we mention the 5 lesser-known facts about Indian Star Batswomen Smriti Mandhana

Indian StarWomen Batsmen Smriti Mandhana was born on July 18, 1996, in Mumbai. She made her debut in T20 International in 2013 against Bangladesh. Since then, she has won matches for India many times on her own and has come to the fore as the pillar of the Indian women’s team. Recently, under her captaincy, Royal Challengers Banglore (RCB) won its first title in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Currently, she is playing the home series against South Africa and has hit 2 consecutive centuries.

Smriti Mandhana Recognized by Double Century:

Smriti’s talent blossomed early. At nine years old she was selected for the Maharashtra Under-15 team. But her rise continued when, at 16, she smashed a phenomenal 224 runs in just 150 balls for Maharashtra U-19 against Gujarat in the West Zone tournament. This feat remains the highest score by an Indian woman in a one-day match at any level. Interestingly, the bat she used for this double century was a gift to her brother from the legendary Rahul Dravid.

Youngest Captain and Global Recognition:

Smriti Mandhana’s leadership qualities were evident early on. At just 22, she became the youngest Indian T20 captain, leading the team in 2017. Her talent was also global. She was the only player from India to be named to the ICC Women’s Team of the Year in 2016, which is evidence of her continuing talent.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Pat Cummins Creates History By Taking Two Consecutive Hatricks

Playing in the International League:

Smriti Mandhana became the second Indian cricket player to sign a contract with the Brisbane Heat for the Women’s Big Bash League, after Harmanpreet Kaur. Afterwards, Veda Krishnamurthy became a member of the Australian League.

A Sporting Family:

Cricket runs in Smriti’s blood. Her father played cricket at the district level for Sangli, Maharashtra, and her brother represented Maharashtra at the under-16 level. This early exposure to the sport undoubtedly nurtured her talent.

Beyond Cricket:

Despite her dedication to cricket, Smriti enjoys other things She is a talented dancer and an avid dog lover. This well-rounded personality makes her a role model not just for aspiring cricketers but for young women in general. She is an inspiration to girls from outside who want to be like her.

BCCI’s Search for a New Head Coach: Rahul Dravid’s Chance and International Opportunities

News Desk — Fri, 10 May 2024 11:45:51 +0000

The process to appoint the head coach of India’s men’s cricket team is set to commence next week, confirmed Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Shah mentioned that the current head coach, Rahul Dravid, can reapply for the position if he wishes to extend his tenure. “We will call for applications in the next few days. Rahul Dravid’s tenure is coming to an end in June. If he wants to reapply, he can,” Shah stated during an interaction at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai. He added that decisions regarding other coaching staff positions, such as batting, bowling, and fielding coaches, will be made after consultation with the new head coach.

Dravid received a short-term extension until the T20 World Cup after his two-year contract expired following India’s loss in the final of the ODI World Cup last November. Shah also confirmed that the new head coach will be offered the opportunity to lead the team until the ODI World Cup in 2027.

Also Read: Bowlers Who Achieved the Best Bowling Figures in IPL Matches

Regarding the possibility of appointing a foreign coach, Shah left the issue open-ended, suggesting that the board may not consider different coaches for different formats, a system adopted by other cricket boards.

“We are looking for a long-term coach for three years. Whether the new coach will be Indian or foreign will be decided by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC). There are many all-format players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant, among others. Moreover, such a situation is unprecedented in India,” Shah stated.

The three-member Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) will finalize the appointment of a national selector, with interviews already underway.

Also Read: Top 10 Legendary Cricket Players of All Time

Additionally, Shah emphasized the importance of red-ball cricket, leaving it to individual state associations to decide whether to increase payments to domestic players. He also revealed that Hardik Pandya, who received an A grade in Central Contracts, has agreed to participate in domestic white-ball cricket.

Shah announced that the structure of the domestic cricket league will be unveiled soon, and the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru’s High-Performance Centre will open in August.

Regarding the Impact Player rule introduced in the 2023 IPL, Shah stated, “The Impact Player rule was introduced as a test case. It provides additional playing opportunities to two more Indian players in every match.” He added that consultations with franchise captains, players, franchises, and broadcasters will determine the rule’s future.

Addressing speculation about replacing Greg Barclay as the International Cricket Council (ICC) chair later this year, Shah said, “Let there be speculation. Let me be here in the BCCI. Am I not doing a good job as BCCI secretary?” he concluded.

BCCI Extends Head Coach Rahul Dravid’s Contract After World Cup Disappointment

CC News Desk — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 12:38:16 +0000

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced an extension of the contract for Head Coach Rahul Dravid and the support staff of the Indian men’s senior cricket team. This announcement was made on Wednesday, despite the recent disappointment of India’s early exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Rahul Dravid’s previous contract as head coach was set to expire following the conclusion of the home 50-overs World Cup. However, after discussions, the BCCI has now engaged to extend his tenure. The exact duration of the contract extension is yet to be officially confirmed. It is widely expected though that Dravid will continue serving as India’s head coach at least through the next ICC T20 World Cup scheduled for June 2024.

Overall, while India fell short of expectations at the recent 2023 ODI World Cup, the BCCI has shown continued faith in Rahul Dravid’s leadership. Both he and his supporting coaching staff will remain in place guiding the Indian men’s cricket team through future tournaments and series.