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Shubman Gill or Mayank Agarwal? VVS Laxman picks Rohit Sharma's partner for WTC final

Since he made his Test debut on the tour of Australia in 2018, Mayank Agarwal was India’s first-choice opener in Tests until the middle of the last series against Australia, where his vulnerabilities were exposed by Australian pacers. 

When Rohit Sharma recovered from injury, Indian team management valued the then current form and dropped him from the side and persisted with the newcomer Shubman Gill, who had batted with confidence against the trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

Gill jumped in the pecking order with every game in the series and more or less established his claim for an opener’s slot in the side after an explosive 91 in the second innings at the Gabba in the series decider.

However, just as Agarwal’s journey stuttered after reaching the point of becoming an established opener, Gill too suffered a similar fate in the home series against England. He struggled against the reverse swing of James Anderson and left arm spin of Jack Leach to leave India and himself vulnerable.

His failings in the Test series against England has reignited the debate on who among him and Agarwal should be Rohit Sharma’s partner at the top of the order against New Zealand in the World Test Championship final.

Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman had his say on the matter and backed Shubman Gill to open with Rohit Sharma in the WTC final to retain continuity in the team selection for an all-important clash.

On Star Sports’ Cricket Connected show, Laxman said that Gill should be persisted with for the ‘continuity’ in team selection and the ‘character’ he had shown in the Gabba Test against Australia to set up a series win for Australia.

However, he said that the team can’t overlook the contribution of Mayank Agarwal, who performed at his best in the home series against South Africa to keep the side ahead in the Test Championship points table.

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WTC Final | Ageas Bowl curator prepares pitch with pace and bounce, but weather can play spoilsport

Just as the possible team combination of both India and New Zealand for the World Test Championship final, the expected weather and pitch conditions have gathered enough attraction. Both sides have enormous depth in their squad and there seems to be more than enough options available to filed suitable playing XI for whatever conditions will be on offer. Virat Kohli-led India have not been a pace-reluctant side in the recent past and can unleash an all-pace attack if it will be an absolute green top and the script is similar for the Kane Williamson-led New Zealand, who have been spoilt for choices in terms of picking their best pacers in the playing XI. However, if the pitch will be flat in nature, India would be compelled to play at least one of Ravichandran Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja in the all-important clash and for New Zealand, Ajaz Patel would get the nod ahead of Mitchell Santner if the conditions will not demand a pace-only bowling lineup. The curator of the Ageas Bowl, Simon Lee, has said that the pitch will have pace and carry in it that will allow a fair contest between bat and ball. He said that being a cricket fan he would like to have an enthralling contest that will force cricket lovers to avoid missing even a single ball. However, he said that the pitch will not have excess seam movement in it to make the contest ‘one-sided’ in the favour of bowlers. "For me personally I just want to get something out that has some pace, bounce and carry in the pitch. It can be a hard thing to do in England as the weather doesn't help us most of the time, but the forecast in the build-up is good with a lot of sun, so we are hopeful that we'll get some pace and a hard pitch without over-rolling it and killing it, Lee told ESPNcricinfo. "Pace just makes red-ball cricket exciting, I'm a cricket fan and I want to produce a pitch where the cricket lovers have to watch every ball in case they miss something, be that some class batting or an amazing spell of bowling. A maiden over can be quite exciting if it's a battle of skill between both bowler and batter. So, yeah, if we can get some pace and bounce in the pitch, but not too one-sided towards seam movement, we'll be happy." The weather forecast for Southampton is however not looking bright and shining as there is more than 30 per cent chance of rain on the first day of the WTC final followed by 20 per cent across the next two days. The forecast for the fourth and fifth looks better on the BBC Weather channel. The ICC has approved a reserve day for the final and has also ruled that both India and New Zealand will share trophy in case of the match ending in a draw.

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Hasan Ali takes U-turn, to stay back for the remainder of PSL 6

Pakistan and Islamabad United speedster Hasan Ali, who earlier opted out of the rest of the 6th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), currently being played in UAE citing personal reasons, has now decided to stay back and complete his duties for his franchise. The news was revealed by the franchise in a media statement early on Monday. The fast bowler was slated to fly back to Pakistan on Sunday owing to family issues. However, after consulting with his family, Hasan Ali has decided to stay back with the team and continue his services. Thanking his wife, Hasan Ali said that the family issue has been resolved by his wife. "I was going through a personal family issue, which has been resolved thanks to my wonderful wife," Hasan was quoted as saying in a media release. "She has assured me she will take care of it and wants me to concentrate on my cricket and my career. Hats off to such a wonderful partner. She has always stood by me through the hardest times and after consulting with her I have decided to stay on with Islamabad United for the remainder of PSL 6. I would like to thank Islamabad United for their support and understanding during this tough period,” Hasan Ali further added. Earlier on Sunday, Hasan Ali announced that he won’t be taking any further part in the remainder of the ongoing season of PSL. "Some things are more important than cricket and nothing is more important than family. I am thankful to Islamabad United for their support and understanding. This team truly is a family that stands with you through thick and thin. I wish the team very best of luck for the remaining PSL matches,” Ali had said. Hasan Ali has been in stupendous form in the competition so far and is currently the 3rd highest wicket-taker with 10 scalps at an average of 14 and a staggering economy rate of 5.83. His absence would have surely put some pressure on Islamabad United who are currently at the top of the points table with 5 wins in 7 matches. Islamabad United owner Ali Naqvi said that it’s fortunate for them that Hasan Ali will be available for the rest of the competition but more importantly the whole franchise is happy as the family issue has been resolved. Islamabad United plays their next game against the Karachi Kings later on Monday.

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PSL 2021 | MS vs PSZ: Shahnawaz Dhani, skipper Rizwan punish Peshawar

It was all too easy in the end for Multan Sultans who defeated Peshawar Zalmi in the 21st game of the Pakistan Super League 2021. The eight-wicket win with more than three overs to spare while chasing a decent total of 67 would do a world of good to the Sultans who were reeling in the bottom two ever since the tournament started. Now with the third win, which also accounts for two wins a row and no losses so far in the Abu Dhabi leg has put Mohammad Rizwan’s team right in the reckoning for the Playoffs. Shahnawaz Dhani, the fun-loving, always smiling, heavy ball bowler from Larkana in Sindh was the hero alongside the captain for Multan. He picked up his best-ever PSL figures 4-31 in four overs. That too after having been dispatched for 24 in his first two overs. The Sultans cut to the chase right from the beginning with openers Shan Masood and Rizwan teeing off without much of a look around. The duo added 45 for the first wicket in just 22 balls before Masood was removed by Mohammad Irfan. Sohaib Maqsood, who arrived at the crease started dealing in boundaries from the onset. The two added 116 in just 76 balls to kill the game. While Rizwan remained unbeaten on 82 from 56 balls, Maqsood, in a hurry to finish off the game was caught at 61 from 31 balls. With this 82, Rizwan also became the leading run-scorer in PSL 2021 with 408 runs in seven innings. However, he also offered chances but was not caught either by Shoaib Malik in the sixth over or by Imran Randhawa in the 12th. On both occasions the bower was Irfan. When he was finally caught by Iron Man Umaid Asif, it was way too late as Sultans needed just six runs and it was achieved by six from the Rizwan’s willow. The fifth bowler once again posed problems for Peshawar as Fabian Allen was taken for 39 in his four overs. Even Asif and Randhawa were costly too and so was the skipper Wahab Riaz. Speaking during the post-match presentation ceremony, Wahab said, “We didn't execute our plans well. We were 10-15 short but I still think it was a fighting total. Dew did impact the game. If we had bowled in good areas, the result would've been different.” “We don't have to think about this game, it was just a bad day at the office. What's done is done, we need to move forward,” he added. Earlier in the night, after winning the toss Sultans decided to bowl first. They would have rued this decision at the start of the innings because of the way things were going. The opening pair of Kamran Akmal and Haider Ali put on 71 runs for the Zalmi in nine overs. The Sultans were lacklustre in the field, dropping chances and misfielding at the same time. While Dhani dropped Ali when he was just on six, Rizwan let down a regulation chance off the bowling of Dhani when Akmal edged an outside off delivery. But once those mistakes were done and the powerplay was over, Sultans started to pull things back. In the ninth over Dhani struck twice to remove Akmal and Mailk in successive deliveries. In his next over, the 22-year-old ended Ali’s miserable stay at the crease in which he made 28 off 30 balls, without making any meaningful connection with the bat. Rovman Powell too was removed in the same over, putting a lot of pressure on the Zalmi batting unit. For this performance of his, Dhani was declared Man of the Match and he also became the leading wicket-taker in PSL 2021 with 13 wickets from six games. David Miller tried his best, but couldn’t do much after a bouncer from Blessing Muzarabani climbed on to him and he was caught acrobatically by Rizwan behind the stumps. At 117-5 with almost 16 overs gone, Zami were staring at a low total when Sherfane Rutherford decided to take matters in his hand. The 22-year-old Guyanaes hit 56 off 40 balls, building a 23 ball 43 run partnership with Allen. He was eventually run out, but not before he had hit four humungous sixes and two fours. Thanks to his innings the Zalmi had more than a fighting total of 166 to defend. Rizwan was happy with the win, knowing very well how important it is for him and his side to win the maximum of the remaining three games to keep aiming for a Playoff birth. “We have few things to improve on like our fielding. The pitch looked good t the time of the chase so told the batsmen that if we bat deep it'll get easier with dew coming in." Talking about his limping throughout his stay at the crease, the 29-year-old said, “There's swelling in my leg around the calf. Hopefully will recover in time.” Well, he doesn’t have much time at hand as the Sultans next play Quetta on June 16 at the very same ground of Sheikh Zayd Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Zalmi though would be Karachi Kings in the second game of the doubleheaders on June 15 itself.