aikidogs.com – Local Reports & Special Coverage

Indian cricketers, including Rohit Sharma, recently underwent fitness assessments at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru following a break. While the Yo-Yo test was conducted, the Bronco drill, recommended by Strength & Conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux, was absent but might be included during the Asia Cup in Dubai.

Pat Cummins will miss the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India due to lumbar bone stress, jeopardizing his Ashes preparation. The injury, discovered after persistent back soreness following the West Indies tour, necessitates further management and rehabilitation. Cricket Australia aims to have Cummins ready for the Ashes series, closely monitoring his progress.

Jitesh Sharma's dream of lifting the IPL trophy alongside Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik materialized after RCB's victory. His impactful performance, particularly his impressive strike rate while batting in the lower order, earned him a spot in India's Asia Cup squad. Despite Kohli's desire to see Jitesh's fun side, Jitesh maintained a respectful distance due to his small-town upbringing.

Gautam Gambhir was celebrated at the DPL 2025 final, where he playfully tagged cricketers with fitting descriptions. West Delhi Lions, led by Nitish Rana's unbeaten 79, clinched the title by defeating Central Delhi Kings. Rana's consistent performance throughout the playoffs and Gambhir's presence added excitement to the event.

Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers revealed his fondness for batting with Virat Kohli during his 11 seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Their synergy led to five 100+ partnerships and two 200+ partnerships in IPL. De Villiers highlighted their shared competitive spirit and proactive approach to dismantling bowlers, recalling memorable partnerships at Wankhede and Chinnaswamy stadiums amidst electrifying crowds.

Despite their strong bond and memorable IPL partnerships for RCB, AB de Villiers didn't include Virat Kohli in his top five Test cricketers. De Villiers named Jacques Kallis, Andrew Flintoff, Mohammad Asif, Shane Warne, and Sachin Tendulkar. He praised Kallis as potentially the best cricketer ever and Asif as the best seamer he faced.

Former England spinner Monty Panesar feels Joe Root could face a similar fate as Virat Kohli in Tests, if he fails to score runs in the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.

Shubman Gill and other senior Indian cricketers are at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence. They are undergoing fitness analysis. Rohit Sharma is preparing for the Australia tour. Speculation suggests Rohit and Virat Kohli may play in the India A series against Australia A. This series will provide valuable match practice. Rohit last played competitively in June.

Suresh Raina supports KL Rahul's return to India's T20I team, despite his Asia Cup exclusion, citing Rahul's temperament and class. Raina highlighted Rahul's impressive IPL 2025 performance, where he scored 539 runs at a strike rate of 149.72. Rahul's T20I record includes 2,265 runs in 72 matches, though he hasn't played since the 2022 World Cup.

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.

Manoj Tiwary, former Indian cricketer, suggests the newly introduced Bronco Test in Indian cricket might be a strategy to exclude Rohit Sharma from the team, especially with the 2027 World Cup on the horizon. He questions the timing of this endurance-focused test, contrasting it with previous instances where fitness benchmarks seemingly sidelined senior players like Gambhir and Sehwag.

Neil Wagner recounted the 2014 Auckland Test against India, highlighting Virat Kohli's vulnerability to short balls. Wagner revealed how Eden Park's surface allowed him to unsettle Kohli, leading to his dismissal. Despite a strong chase led by Dhoni and Jadeja, Wagner's crucial dismissal of Dhoni secured New Zealand's 40-run victory, showcasing his tactical acumen.

England pacer Mark Wood opened up on his toughest Indian opponents, recalling why Rohit Sharma's short-ball game, Virat Kohli's fierce competitiveness, and Rishabh Pant's unpredictability made them three of the most difficult batters he has ever faced.

Mark Wood, the England fast bowler, finds Rohit Sharma the toughest batter. Wood says Sharma's mastery over short balls makes him hard to get out. Wood played in England's 2019 ODI World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup wins. He balances county cricket with franchise cricket. Wood is known for his express pace, often exceeding 145 kmph.

Virat Kohli paid tribute to Cheteshwar Pujara, acknowledging his significant contributions to the Indian batting order, especially at the No.3 position. Kohli highlighted Pujara's role in easing his own batting at No.4 and their memorable partnerships. The former Indian skipper congratulated him on his career and wished him well for the future.

Former India batter Manoj Tiwary has made a big claim that Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket as he must've felt unwanted in the team.

Avneet Kaur addressed the buzz surrounding Virat Kohli's accidental 'like' on her Instagram photo at the trailer launch of 'Love in Vietnam.' She responded with a cheerful remark, welcoming the attention. Kohli had earlier clarified that the like was a glitch, attributing it to an algorithm error, and requested no unnecessary assumptions be made regarding the incident.

Sachin Tendulkar recently engaged with fans on Reddit, reminiscing about his prediction of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma carrying his legacy. He acknowledged their contributions to Indian cricket and highlighted the promising future with emerging talents. Kohli and Rohit, now focused on ODIs, are set to play a crucial series against Australia in October, bridging experience with the next generation.

AB de Villiers, the former South African cricket star, has expressed his desire to return to the IPL, potentially as a coach or mentor with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. While a full-time professional role is unlikely, he emphasized his strong connection with RCB.

Bazid Khan analyzed India's Asia Cup squad, noting the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will impact the team's intensity. He highlighted Suryakumar Yadav's struggles against Pakistan and emphasized Ravindra Jadeja's all-round contribution and fielding prowess will be missed. India faces the challenge of finding the right combination to compensate for these key players.