Countering Bumrah early key for SA against hosts India: Graeme Smith

Published

4 months ago

November 12, 2025

South Africa will have to find a way to deal with the lethal opening spells of India’s lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah before the spinners come into play in the two-Test series beginning on Friday, said Graeme Smith on Wednesday.

Smith said neither team would want to lose wickets to pacers before spin comes into play.

I think it’s never at the forefront of people’s conversation when you play cricket in the subcontinent but I think the South African team will definitely be preparing for how they’re going to handle spin, SA20 league commissioner Smith told the media here.

But getting off to a solid start, having a top three that can lay a platform for you, there’s nothing worse than if you go two or three down and then the spinners come on and you’re against the game already.

So countering Bumrah up front is going to be a big thing, and Rabada as well for India. They’re world-class bowlers with world-class Test records, he said.

Smith said it will be a challenge in particular for Rabada to set the tone for the team with the new ball.

This is a big challenge for KG coming to the subcontinent. He’s definitely the leader of the attack and how he can set the tone with that new ball is going to be important for Temba (Bavuma) and the team, he said.

The former skipper said South Africa batters will have to step up in the first Test at Kolkata..

The fact that a lot of the players with the A-team games and obviously that (Pakistan) Test series have played a bit of cricket in the subcontinent, which is always important. Your game needs to adapt, your thinking needs to adapt to be able to play here, he said.

I’m hoping that with the first Test in Kolkata, it’s generally quite a good place to bat. You get good value for runs and it’s a stadium that especially if it’s full (it) will really make the South Africans motivated to do well in.

Smith said it will be crucial for Bavuma’s team to start well as making comebacks in the subcontinent is never easy.

He also noted that South Africa’s spin attack comprising Keshav Maharaj and the experience Simon Harmer can do the damage but said how the Rabada-led pace attack handles reverse swing would be vital.

South Africa (have) arrived here with a decent bowling attack, especially in the spin department. Maharaj and Harmer can definitely do (the) damage, he said.

They can control the game and they have the ability to turn the ball which is wicket-taking options with spin and then to see how Rabada and the likes handle reverse swing.

Smith quipped his former teammate Morne Morkel, now India’s bowling coach, is an enemy.

You know he’s an enemy now. Morne is on the wrong side of the fence, he joked.

Former captain Faf du Plessis seconded Smith in underlining that South Africa will have to start well in the series as comebacks are never easy.

I feel generally your best chance of having success here is when you start the series well and you, especially as a batting unit, get a bit of confidence that you’ve got runs under the belt and you almost put the conditions a little bit out of your head, he said.

Then the rest of the series definitely will feel easier versus starting and you’re under pressure and it’s (a) low score (and) you lose the first Test, ball spinning a bit more. Then it’s that expectation that it’s going to be a hard tour for the team.

Du Plessis said South Africa are not short on confidence for having had a successful run in Tests over the last year.

“The guys have played really well in the subcontinent for the last 12 or 14 months. When they’ve gone to Pakistan, they’ve played well, he said.

I’m expecting the wickets to be very much suited for spinning conditions. But it seems like the guys have really worked hard on it.

‘KKR made big mistake letting Shreyas Iyer, Salt go’ says Anil Kumble

Published

12 minutes ago

March 14, 2026

Staff Reporter

Kolkata Knight Riders “took the wrong decision” by letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt leave after their title-winning campaign in 2024, and unless the three-time IPL champions understand the importance of retaining key players, they cannot be considered serious title contenders, cautioned the legendary Anil Kumble.

Iyer exited KKR to join Punjab Kings, whom he led to their first appearance in the IPL final in nearly a decade in the last edition, while Phil Salt — another vital cog in KKR’s success in 2024 — moved to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he played an impactful role in the franchise’s maiden title win last year.

“Two years ago, KKR won the IPL and lifted their third trophy. Two important cogs in that wheel were Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt. Both played crucial roles in helping them win but KKR let both of them go,” Kumble noted in a JioHotstar release.

“There is no consistency from them in terms of player retention. KKR took the wrong decision by letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt leave (and) that has left them without an IPL-winning captain.”

Kumble noted that even though KKR have an experienced campaigner in Ajinkya Rahane as their skipper, he has not yet won the IPL as a captain.

“Yes, Ajinkya Rahane is an experienced campaigner. He has led Mumbai in domestic cricket and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. But he has not lifted the IPL title as (a) captain (yet),” Kumble said.

“Having a skipper who has won the trophy gives you an advantage. KKR let go of that advantage. They need to learn how to keep hold of their key players. Otherwise, they will keep struggling and cannot be considered favourites to win the trophy,” the legendary spinner added.

Kumble Praises Shreyas Iyer’s Leadership

The former India captain heaped praise on Iyer’s leadership qualities for guiding Punjab Kings into the IPL final last year.

“Shreyas Iyer is certainly an underrated skipper. It is not easy to win a trophy with one franchise and then go to another. There is a different management, atmosphere and a team. The pressure is also different,” he noted.

“…the new franchise he joined had not played in the final in the last 10 years and in just his first season with the Punjab Kings, he took them to the final. I was not just impressed by his captaincy, but (also with) the way he led the team from the front.”

“There are some players who have to prove themselves every time. Shreyas is like that. Even after performing, questions still come up. I think he is underrated, but is an exceptional leader.”

Salman Agha furious after controversial run out against Bangladesh

Published

21 hours ago

March 13, 2026

Staff Reporter

Pakistan batsman Salman Ali Agha stormed off the pitch after a highly-controversial run out in the second ODI against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Friday.

Agha was run out in bizarre fashion by Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the 39th over of the Pakistan innings.

Mohammad Rizwan had hit the ball straight back as the bowler Miraz in his bid to stop the ball to his right collided with Agha, who was backing up at the non-striker’s end.

After the two players got into a tangle, Agha, who was standing out of his crease, tried to lift the ball up and hand it over to Miraz. But the Bangladesh skipper quickly pounced on the ball and fired an underarm throw at the stumps at the non-striker’s end.

Agha was left in disbelief as Bangladesh’s players appealed for the run out, which was referred to TV umpire Kumar Dharmasena, who ruled it out.

Having stroked a fluent 64 from 62 balls, Agha walked off the ground in anger and threw away his helmet and gloves before crossing the boundary line.

KKR Sign Blessing Muzarabani As Mustafizur’s Replacement

Published

21 hours ago

March 13, 2026

Staff Reporter

Kolkata Knight Riders have signed Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement for Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman for IPL 2026, which is scheduled to start on March 28.

Rahman, who was bought at the IPL auction for Rs 9.20 crore, was released by KKR after being instructed to do so by BCCI amid heightening diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh.

Muzarabani, 29, impressed with the ball during the recently-concluded T20 World Cup, picking up 13 wickets in six games at an economy rate of 7.88 to finish as the joint second highest wicket-taker in the tournament.

He has pulled out of his contract with Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League to join two-time IPL champions KKR.

‘The 6 ft 8” right-arm quick has emerged as one of Zimbabwe’s leading pace bowlers in the shortest format, known for his steep bounce and ability to strike in key phases of the innings. Muzarabani brings significant T20 experience, having claimed over 90 wickets in more than 80 T20 Internationals at an average of around 21, with best figures of 3/8,’ said KKR in a media release.

‘His pace and consistency across global leagues and international cricket add further depth to KKR’s pace attack heading into the season.’

Muzarabani will arrive in Kolkata on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.