Sports News: Shai Hope Shines in West Indies' Victory, India Preps Intensively for T20 World Cup, and Ashwin Praises Gambhir

The unbeaten 82 by Shai Hope in an important match in T20 WC guided the West Indies to a persuasive 9-wicket victory over fellow hosts USA. After winning the toss, WI's bowlers—Roston Chase leading the attack—ripped apart the USA batting lineup for a paltry 128 runs. Hope, promoted up the order, flaunted his flair in an explosive 39-ball rampage with 4 fours and 8 towering sixes, thereby making it a comfortable chase for the West Indies side.

The Ajit Agarkar-led committee will choose the India T20I squad for the five-match series against Zimbabwe on Sunday, with an official announcement to follow later in the day. Key players are rested for the matches held in Harare. That will give a new look to the Indian team. The fitting left-arm seamers, which include the names of Khaleel Ahmed and Yash Dayal, are likely to make the squad. Shubman Gill will also join the team along with Avesh Khan. With 20 T20Is lined up in the next one year, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav may get rest before the tour of Sri Lanka.

The Indian men's cricket team arrived in Antigua for their Super Eight clash against Bangladesh at T20 World Cup. After a professional win over Afghanistan, India traveled from Barbados without resting for a day as they face Bangladesh. They practiced in the nets in preparation and their journey was shared by BCCI on social media. India holds a strong head-to-head record against Bangladesh, who are in a must-win situation after losing to Australia. According to batting coach Vikram Rathour, India is not going to take any team lightly at all, especially Bangladesh, which is a tough side in spinning conditions.

Team India is on its winning streak in the T20 World Cup after rounding off Group A and beating Afghanistan in the Super 8. Batting coach Vikram Rathour believes that Virat Kohli will find his form finally against Bangladesh in the upcoming match. Kohli came into this event at the back of exemplary form in an triumphant IPL season. However, he has only low scores to reveal from his efforts. Rathour said Kohli's lean patch has allowed less experienced guys to step up. With conditions looking pretty good in the Caribbean, the team is definitely going to be pretty strong with India's four spinners for the upcoming match to be played in Antigua.

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has showered praise on Gautam Gambhir, whom the former believes is going to take over from incumbent Rahul Dravid as India head coach, stating what motivated him – and several others – during his earlier days. He recalled their discussions during his first full series in 2012 and described him as a "fighter" who got misunderstood many times because of his candid nature. Gambhir turned around and said he doesn't look to appease everybody, but rather for him people who know him, understand him. Ashwin said he had high respect for Gambhir as a competitor who wanted to win.

Gujarat Titans celebrated International Yoga Day quite smartly with a light-hearted tribute to the ostentatiously brilliant Suryakumar Yadav at the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. Yadav starred recently with a brisk fifty in India's win over Afghanistan. Meanwhile, former cricketer Yuvraj Singh also celebrated the day by sharing exercises with his son. Yadav's impactful performance included a 28-ball 53, as India was boosted to victory with Jasprit Bumrah's three-wicket haul restricting Afghanistan to 134. It was his post-match humor that added to the buzz, as he gracefully corrected a journalist who mistook him for Mohammed Siraj.