Rohit Sharma will miss the first ODI for India against Australia due to "family commitments" and Hardik Pandya will act as stand-in captain.
Rohit's absence means Pandya will captain the ODI team for the first time after making his debut in the format in 2016.
The opener is set to be played in Mumbai on March 17 after the ongoing Test series, in which India have already retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy by taking a 2-0 lead with two red-ball matches to play.
Ravindra Jadeja returned to Test cricket with career-best bowling figures of 7-42 in the second innings as India secured a six-wicket victory on Sunday, and he featured in the squad having not played an ODI since July 2022.
Shreyas Iyer was included after a back injury ruled him out of the 50-over series with New Zealand and the first Test with Australia, while Jasprit Bumrah remained absent as he recovers from a similar issue to Iyer.
There were no changes to the red-ball squad for the final two Tests of the series with Australia, but no vice-captain was named with KL Rahul, who acted as Rohit's deputy for the first two matches, struggling for form having mustered just 117 runs over his last five matches in the format.
ICC extends partnership with FanCraze to launch Web3 fantasy game
The International Cricket Council (ICC) and FanCraze on Monday announced a multi-year partnership extension marking a significant milestone in the evolution of digital fan engagement with the launch of exciting new products during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
The announcement also detailed the upcoming launch of ICC Crictos SuperTeam, a Web3 fantasy game featuring officially licensed ICC digital video collectibles. With SuperTeam, fans will be able to build fantasy teams using their ICC Crictos and compete in contests to win amazing rewards on a daily basis, week after week proving their cricket nous to the world.
The exciting partnership will build on the success of ICC Crictos over the past two years which has provided opportunities for new and existing fans to engage with men’s and women’s cricket. ICC Crictos transformed the way fans experience the sport, providing them with exclusive digital video collectibles that celebrate the greatest moments in cricket history, from iconic match-winning sixes to unforgettable performances by the world’s best players.
Through unique activations such as gifting special ICC Crictos to fans that attended the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 and exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences, ICC Crictos have brought supporters closer to the action than ever before. Events like the ICC Quiz Night and ICC Stadium Tours have further enriched the fan experience, offering enthusiasts the chance to meet their heroes and participate in engaging activities that celebrate the spirit of cricket.
ICC Head of Digital, Finn Bradshaw, said: “We are delighted to unveil ICC Crictos SuperTeam and offer cricket fans around the world a new and innovative gameplay experience for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. We are excited to enter a new era of digital engagement, using innovative technology to deepen fan interaction and grow the sport on a global scale. Signing up will give fans the chance to be closer to the game than ever before and be a part of the biggest cricket carnival spectacle ever, from anywhere in the world.”
FanCraze Co-Founder and CEO, Anshum Bhambri, said: “The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a truly global competition and has been the home to so many iconic moments and players over the last 15+ years. As cricket fans ourselves, the launch of SuperTeam is something we’ve dreamt of since we founded the business.
“It’s a major milestone for us as we pursue our goal to build a compelling global community for cricket fans, and we can’t wait to see fans put together fantasy teams using their ICC Crictos during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. SuperTeam will revolutionize digital sports fandom and will build upon FanCraze’s userbase across 100+ countries.”
Daren Sammy lauds West Indies' dominant 3-0 series win over South Africa
West Indies white-ball coach Daren Sammy hailed his team’s performance after they passed their South Africa test with flying colours, culminating in a dominant eight-wicket victory at Sabina Park on Sunday. This win sealed a clean sweep of the three-match T20 International series, setting a positive tone for their final preparations ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup, which begins on June 1.
The West Indies secured their series victory with a comprehensive performance on Sunday, chasing down South Africa's target of 164 with 6.1 overs to spare. This win followed earlier victories on Thursday, May 23, by 28 runs and on Saturday, May 25, by 16 runs. The series was characterized by consistent team efforts, despite the absence of key players such as Rovman Powell, Nicholas Pooran, Shai Hope, Andre Russell, and Alzarri Joseph.
In the series finale, South Africa posted 163-8 from their 20 overs, with captain Rassie van der Dussen top-scoring with 51 off 36 balls. Debutant Wiann Mulder contributed a solid 36. The West Indies’ bowling attack was led by Player of the Series Gudakesh Motie, who took 2-21, supported by Shamar Joseph’s 2-26 and Obed McCoy’s 3-39.
The West Indies’ chase was spearheaded by an explosive opening partnership of 92 runs in just 6.4 overs between Johnson Charles and interim captain Brandon King. Charles, who was named Player of the Match for his blistering 69 off 26 balls, batted at a strike rate of 265, while King added 44 from 28 balls. Kyle Mayers (36 not out) and Alick Athanaze (6 not out) comfortably saw the hosts over the finish line.
Coach Darren Sammy, who led the West Indies to T20 World Cup victories in 2012 and 2016, praised his team’s all-around performance. "With the players that we had, we executed quite well,” he told Sportsmax.TV. “We were put under pressure in the Power Play in the second game but the way the guys responded and won convincingly; we got tested in the three departments – in the field, with the bat, and the ball – and the way the guys responded was just really good, so I would give them a nine (out of 10).”
Charles expressed satisfaction with his performance after struggling in the first two matches. “It was great. We have been working hard during the camp and in the series. Worked hard on our skills leading up to the World Cup, just enforcing the basics. Tried in the first two games, didn’t work out but came today (Sunday). It’s all about building confidence,” he said.
Stand-in captain Brandon King also shared his delight at leading the team to a commanding series win. “(I was) happy with my own performance,” he remarked. “Would’ve liked to carry my bat through to the end though. We understand each other’s games, playing a few years together. (This was) an important 3-0 win.”
West Indies complete 3-0 series win over South Africa
West Indies completed a perfect 3-0 T20I series with an eight-wicket victory over South Africa on Sunday to boost morale ahead of the approaching World Cup.
Brandon King’s side had already secured an unassailable lead after a 16-run victory in Kingston on Saturday but ensured they finished on a high in their final game.
South Africa were limited to just 163 runs, with Rassie van der Dussen contributing 51 off 31 balls, as they struggled against an inspired bowling performance led by Obed McCoy (3-39) and Gudakesh Motie (2-21).
With the ball, South Africa could not limit West Indies’ threat as Johnson Charles plundered a quick 69 off 26, while captain Brandon King added 44.
Kyle Mayers’ 36 not out saw West Indies over the line with a little help from Alick Athanaze to reach 165-2 with 37 balls remaining.
Data Debrief: Clean sweep
Charles hit West Indies' third-fastest T20 fifty, reaching his half-century after just 20 balls - in total, he hit nine fours and three boundaries before being caught.
Having won only one of their previous four men's T20Is against South Africa at home (L3) prior to this series, West Indies have now won each of the last three.
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