land-hills.com – Trending Voices & Key Headlines

As the BCCI gears up for its AGM, discussions are underway to select new office bearers. Rajeev Shukla emerges as a strong contender for the president's post, succeeding Roger Binny. Meanwhile, Arun Dhumal, Anirudh Chaudhry, and Devajit Saikia are vying for the crucial position of BCCI secretary, with Saikia potentially continuing his role.

The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) floated the advertisement for lead sponsorship rights on Tuesday, September 2. The body explicitly mentioned that all companies were not allowed to apply as the jersey sponsor of the Indian team.

Bharat Arun suggests Jasprit Bumrah should prioritize Test series over the Indian Premier League. Arun feels Bumrah should be adequately compensated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. He cites Cricket Australia's policy of resting key bowlers for important series. Arun praises Mohammed Siraj's consistent high energy and intensity.

Reports suggest the BCCI has approached MS Dhoni to mentor the Indian team for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Manoj Tiwary humorously commented on Dhoni's elusiveness, questioning his availability. Tiwary also highlighted the potential benefits of Dhoni's experience and the intriguing prospect of him working alongside Gautam Gambhir, while emphasizing that Dhoni's acceptance of the role remains uncertain.

India are likely to play without any jersey sponsor in the Asia Cup 2025, sources have confirmed to India Today. During the BCCI emergency Apex council meeting, there were discussions about bringing in the new sponsor. But since there is not enough time to advertise and complete the process, it is going to be a tough task for the board.

Lalit Modi's recent revelation on a podcast has brought the infamous Harbhajan Singh-Sreesanth "slap-gate" incident from the inaugural IPL season in 2008 back into the spotlight. Modi claimed to possess unseen footage of the altercation, which resulted in Harbhajan's suspension and sparked significant controversy. The resurfacing of this incident reminded fans of the fiery early years of the league.

Rohit Sharma, India's ODI captain, is set to undergo fitness assessments at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru starting September 13, including the newly-introduced Bronco Test. He'll also practice there to prepare for the Australia white-ball tour in November.

Indian cricket fans expressed disappointment as the Duleep Trophy, a premier domestic tournament featuring stars like Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav, lacked live streaming. This edition marks a return to the zonal format and serves as a trial for the 'serious injury replacement substitute' rule.

AB de Villiers described the Bronco test, potentially being introduced to Indian cricketers by strength and conditioning coach Adrian le Roux, as a grueling fitness assessment he's familiar with since age 16. He recalled its difficulty, especially in low-oxygen conditions. Ravichandran Ashwin cautioned against sudden changes in training methods to prevent player injuries.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran Indian off-spinner, has announced his retirement from the IPL after a remarkable 16-season career, expressing gratitude to the franchises and BCCI. While stepping away from the IPL, Ashwin confirmed his continued participation in overseas leagues, marking a new chapter in his cricketing journey.

The BCCI has ended Rajeev Kumar's decade-long tenure as the Indian cricket team's masseur. Kumar, a beloved figure known for his dedication and trademark smile, confirmed his departure on Instagram. He was crucial in player recovery, providing massages, energy drinks, and on-field support. Players like Shami and Chahal have publicly acknowledged his vital contributions.

The Indian home cricket season of 2025-26 starts with the Duleep Trophy. The tournament begins on August 28. It ends on September 15. The zonal format returns with North, South, East, West, Central, and North East zones competing. Matches will occur at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. South Zone and West Zone enter directly into the semi-finals.

Shreyas Iyer declined West Zone captaincy in the Duleep Trophy, leading to Shardul Thakur's appointment. Iyer, anticipating an Asia Cup call-up, focused on white-ball training but was surprisingly excluded from the squad. Meanwhile, Thakur is expected to lead Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, following Rahane's departure, after his strong red-ball performance and recent Test recall.

Ravichandran Ashwin has cautioned Gautam Gambhir's new support staff against abrupt changes to the Indian team's fitness regimes. He highlighted potential harm to players due to frequent alterations in training methods and testing parameters, referencing his own past struggles.

Shubman Gill, India's Test captain, is likely to miss the Duleep Trophy due to illness. Appointed captain of the North Zone team, Gill is resting in Chandigarh after medical examinations. Ankit Kumar will now lead the side, with Shubham Rohilla replacing Gill.

Former Australia wicketkeeper and Punjab Kings assistant coach Brad Haddin has criticised Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from India's Asia Cup 2025 squad, calling it an “extraordinary selection.” Haddin highlighted Iyer's leadership and performance under pressure, expressing surprise at the decision. Iyer recently led Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final with a strong batting performance.

Sadagoppan Ramesh has ignited controversy by alleging that Gautam Gambhir didn't support Shreyas Iyer's Asia Cup inclusion, despite Iyer's stellar form, including a strong IPL and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy performance. Ramesh also questioned the praise surrounding India's drawn Test series in England and highlighted Iyer's pivotal role in the Champions Trophy victory, where he was India's top scorer.

Dinesh Karthik has voiced his strong disapproval of Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from India's 2025 Asia Cup squad, deeming it somewhat unjust. Iyer's impressive IPL 2025 performance, where he scored 604 runs, seemingly wasn't enough to secure him a spot, even among the reserves. Karthik emphasizes Iyer's leadership and batting prowess under pressure, suggesting his omission is a missed opportunity.

With the introduction of the 'Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025', the BCCI faces potential revenue impacts due to key sponsorships from gaming companies like Dream11 and My11Circle. The board has affirmed its commitment to adhering to the new regulations, ready to re-evaluate sponsorships based on the law's stipulations.

Ravindra Jadeja's crucial 89 and his significant partnership with Shubman Gill highlighted India's recovery on Day 2 against England. Jadeja, however, raised eyebrows by breaking BCCI protocols for extra practice, justifying it as vital preparation. He also refuted Ben Stokes' accusation of pitch tampering. With England struggling at 77 for 3, Jadeja hinted at further dominance from India.