‘Red soil, black soil, anything is fine’; Calm Sky dismisses any Concern Before T20 World Cup Final
Ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Suryakumar Yadav says India are keeping things simple as they prepare to face the New Zealand national cricket team. Despite the magnitude of the match, the India captain insists the team is calm and focused on the process rather than the occasion. “We are trying to stay in the present. The focus is only on playing good cricket and doing what the team needs in that moment.” Suryakumar also credited head coach Gautam Gambhir for building a team-first culture in the dressing room. According to him, Gambhir has removed the emphasis on individual achievements. “The main thing he has done is take away the focus on personal milestones. No one is thinking about fifties or hundreds. It’s a team game.” He explained that even small contributions can be just as valuable as big scores. “If someone scores 21 runs from 7 balls or 8 runs from 5 balls, it can be as important as someone scoring a fifty or a hundred. The only thing that matters is the team goal.” Backing his teammates ahead of the final, Suryakumar also showed complete faith in Varun Chakaravarthy despite questions around the spinner’s recent form. “We are not worried at all. Sometimes someone’s day can go up and down. Others are there to cover. But he knows how to step up and win matches for the team. For me, he is the world’s number one bowler.” When asked about India’s approach against spin, the skipper said the team is not concerned about outside narratives or statistics. “If we are winning matches with a strike rate of 120, I am happy with that. On a given day, whoever is batting well against a bowler should take responsibility and play according to the team’s needs.” Suryakumar also dismissed concerns about pitch conditions in Ahmedabad. “We have to play the World Cup final. Red soil, black soil, anything is fine. We just have to go out and play.” Returning to the same stadium where India suffered heartbreak during the 2023 Cricket World Cup Final, the captain admitted there will be emotions involved but believes pressure is part of big matches. “There will be nerves and butterflies in the stomach. But I always say, if there is no pressure, there is no fun. We have prepared well for this moment. Hopefully we can play brave cricket when it matters the most.”
Oscar Bruzon Calls for Break after East Bengal Lose Momentum
Oscar Bruzon, the head coach of East Bengal FC, has given his players a five-day break after the team managed only one point from their last two matches. In the process, the Red and Gold brigade dropped five valuable points, something that could become a concern in a short league format. Bruzon decided to give the squad a short holiday mainly to reduce fatigue and help the players recover. The team will regroup and return to training next Tuesday as preparations begin for the next match. In the previous game, Saul Crespo was declared fit but did not feature. Reports suggest the midfielder was only capable of playing for around 20–30 minutes. Bruzon chose not to take the risk at that stage. However, Crespo is now expected to return to the starting lineup in the upcoming match against Kerala Blasters FC. Meanwhile, Kevin Sibille has joined the squad during rehabilitation sessions. But there is still no clear timeline for his return to competitive action. A comeback in March looks unlikely, and even April remains uncertain according to the coach. East Bengal had started the campaign strongly. But the recent results suggest the team may be losing momentum at an important stage of the season.
Michael Clarke Calls Jasprit Bumrah ‘Best in the World’ Ahead of T20 World Cup Final
Ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final between the India national cricket team and the New Zealand national cricket team, former Australia captain Michael Clarke has backed Jasprit Bumrah to play a decisive role in the title clash. Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Clarke said Bumrah’s ability to deliver under pressure makes him the most important bowler in world cricket right now. “One thing is having so many options, but most importantly having the skills to execute under pressure. This is what makes him the best in the world. He has been a defining factor for India. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is Man of the Match in the final. He’s just so dominant.” Bumrah has been one of India’s key performers in the tournament, taking 10 wickets in seven matches with an impressive economy rate of 6.63. Clarke also stressed that Bumrah’s value goes beyond just this tournament, calling him the most impactful player in world cricket across formats. “India are the standout team in this tournament. They have been absolutely brilliant. We probably haven’t spoken much about him throughout this World Cup campaign because we now just expect it. Bumrah. He is just a freak. In all three formats, by a distance, he is the most important player in the world. He is a match-winner. He bowls the most difficult overs, saves runs, takes wickets and executes under pressure better than anybody in world cricket.” Clarke further explained that managing Bumrah would be the biggest challenge for any captain because of his ability to influence different stages of the game. “He’s got so many different skills. Like the best batters who score runs under pressure in different conditions, Bumrah does the same with the ball. He wins games in different conditions and at different stages. If I was captaining him, my biggest challenge would be when to use him. That’s why teams don’t always open the bowling with him and instead keep overs for him at the death.”
