Harbhajan Singh suggested huge changes in the bowling attack as he picked the playing XI for the second Test match against England starting February 2.
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While Sarfaraz Khan earned his maiden Test call-up, brother Musheer is setting the Under-19 World Cup on fire with his batting.
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Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan had some candid moments with the anchor Karishma Mehta during a Humans of Bombay podcast.
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Anil Kumble said Shubman Gill needs to work on his mindset and also adjust his technique slightly for the second Test starting February 2.
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Mayank Agarwal was rushed to a local hospital after falling ill just before his New Delhi-bound flight was about to take off.
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Brendon McCullum isn't happy to see the trio of Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul missing the second Test against England.
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Former England cricketer Monty Panesar also said that if Virat Kohli was in the team then, he would have charged the visitors.
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A challenging phase on personal front behind him, which sidelined him for a few assignments, India seamer Deepak Chahar is ready for a comeback.
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Team India lost to England by 28 runs in the first Test of the five-match series on Sunday in Hyderabad.
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Star batters Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra were named Friday in the New Zealand squad for the two-match home Test series, starting next week, against an inexperienced South Africa side.
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Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja recently surpassed the duo of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh to become India's most successful Test bowling pair
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09:18 (IST)
India vs England Day 4 LIVE:
Ollie Pope's magnificent ton on Day 3 breathes life into Hyderabad Test
"England were in danger of getting shot out on the third day itself after restricting India's lead to less than 200. Ollie Pope, however, ended up steering them away from danger with one of the finest knocks witnessed against India in India in recent memory," writes Amit Banerjee.
09:15 (IST)
India vs England Day 4 LIVE: Ollie Poep is unbeaten on 148 and will look to stretch England's 126-run lead further on Day 4 of the Hyderabad Test vs India. The home team had a flat day on Saturday and will look to mount a comeback on Day 4 and wrap up England's innings as soon as possible. We will bring you all the updates here.
India vs England 1st Test Day 4 Updates: Ollie Pope to will take the strike on Day 4 of the Hyderabad Test between India and England with only one hope – to repeat what he did on Day 3. Unbeaten on 148, the batter has brought England back into the game with his sublime batting as Indian bowlers struggled on a slow deck at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.
England ended Day 3 on 316/6 and lead India by 126 runs. With four wickets more left in the kitty, England will look to stretch the lead to at least 200 runs before India get into the bat. The second innings have been tough for Indian bowlers on a pitch that didn’t offer much spin. Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket but gave away 101 runs, while Ravichandran Ashwin had two after leaking 93 runs.
Jasprit Bumrah ahs been the pic of the bowlers with two wickets from 12 overs and has only given away 29. Axar Patel has also taken one wicket so far. Indian bowlers will aim to wrap up England’s innings in the first session on Day 4 which will allow them to finish the match today itself.
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New Delhi: Women’s Premier League (WPL) side Royal Challengers Bangalore suffered a jolt on Saturday as their England recruit Heather Knight pulled out of the upcoming second season of the lucrative T20 league beginning on 23 February.
The Bengaluru-based franchise did not give any reason for Knight’s pulling out but England cricketers involved in the WPL were in a dilemma, as staying back for the business end of the T20 League could lead to them missing out on their country’s five-match T20I series in New Zealand.
Knight is the captain of the England team.
🔊 ANNOUNCEMENT 🔊
We welcome South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk to our #ClassOf2024.
She replaces Heather Knight who has pulled out of #WPL2024. 🔄
Nadine was recently featured in the ICC Women's ODI Team of the Year, and we're sure that her skills will be a great… pic.twitter.com/fLwlvIA216
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) January 27, 2024
The final of WPL is scheduled for 17 March while the visiting England team’s first T20I against New Zealand will be played in Dunedin on 19 March.
RCB has named South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk as replacement for Knight.
“England captain Heather Knight has pulled out of the upcoming season of the Women’s Premier League 2024. The Royal Challengers Bangalore have named Nadine de Klerk as her replacement,” the WPL said in a statement.
De Klerk, who bowls medium-fast and bats right-handed, has featured in 30 ODIs and 46 T20Is.
According to reports, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have told players involved in the WPL that they will not be considered for the first three T20Is in New Zealand if they stay in India till the end of the T20 league.
The ECB is expected to name the England squad next week.
Besides Knight, other players due to feature in WPL 2024 are: Alice Capsey (Delhi Capitals), Issy Wong and Nat Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai Indians), Kate Cross (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Sophie Ecclestone and Danni Wyatt (UP Warriorz).
Lauren Bell, who was due to play for UP Warriorz, pulled out of the WPL on Friday, saying her priority was preparation for the tour of New Zealand.
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India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey on Saturday said that his team wasn’t worried about the target that the hosts could chase in the ongoing first Test against England in Hyderabad. The hosts conceded a 190-run lead on Saturday, allowing England to claw back in the game on the back of an unbeaten 148 from Ollie Pope. England were 316/6 on Day three, leading the second innings by 126.
“We are not looking at any particular target (to chase) as I said the objective is to come tomorrow morning and get early wickets and limit their total. We are not putting any pressure on ourselves by setting any target. We just want to bowl in the right areas to extract turn and bounce from the wicket,” Mhambrey said during the post-day press conference.
IND vs ENG: Ollie Pope’s magnificent ton on Day 3 breathes life into Hyderabad Test
Mhambrey feels the track will be on the slower side but doesn’t expect the turn to be “challenging”.
“If you look at the way the game has progressed over the last few days from the first session, the amount of turn the ball has taken, I think it got better in the second innings. I think it is going to get a bit better on the slower side (tomorrow). There will be some turn but it is not the usual turn you see in the Indian sub-continental wickets, the sharp turn when the game progresses. There is a little turn but not as challenging,” said Mhambrey.
The 51-year-old said the hosts were aware of the Bazball approach that England had taken the last couple of years and were very prepared to take them on. Mhambrey also credited Ollie Pope for his brave approach.
“We knew prior to the series the way England played over the last couple of years and the kind of approach they had to Test cricket. We were expecting them to come here with that aggression and play those kinds of shots.
“But credit goes to them for playing those shots and some of the shots Pope played were very brave, and playing those shots consistently can put the opposition under pressure,” he added.
The former Mumbai pacer also noted the England batters’ bold approach in this Test.
“It does happen as the batsmen start to access different areas. It is going to be a challenge. Pope accessed the square leg area and the reverse sweep as well. They took on the attack when it was really needed.
“Sometimes it happens because someone like him who plays these kinds of shots consistently does get the bowlers under pressure in terms of variations of the line. But we need to be patient with lines and hope to get a wicket,” said Mhambrey.
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Ben Duckett believed that England's first innings total of 246 was above par and said they were not expecting Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma to play belligerent cricket.
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Joe Root surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to claim a huge feat despite England's batting collapse on Day 1 of the first Test match between England and India.
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The newly-appointed acting chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shah Khawar on Friday said frequent changes in the board are not responsible for the national team's poor on-field performances in the last one year.
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India picked a total of three spinners for the first Test match against England at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
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Australia vs West Indies 2nd Test Day 2 Live Score Updates: Australia look to strengthen their grip on the game on Day 2 of the second Test match against West Indies.
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Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik got married for the third time to Pakistani actor Sana Javed, prompting a mixed response on social media. Shoaib, who got separated from Sania Mirza, received several reactions from the public. Malik had married Mirza in 2010. Mirza’s father disclosed that she had initiated a ‘khula’ (divorce initiated by the wife) and wished Malik well in his life. Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi recently spoke about Malik’s high-profile wedding.
Afridi said, “Shoaib Malik ko bohut bohut mubaraq baat. Allah usi isi life partner ke saath saari zindagi khush rakhe, [Many congratulations to Shoaib Malik. I hope god keeps him happy with this wife for the rest of his life],” Afridi said during an event on Samaa TV.
Boom Boom Shahid Afridi is talking about Shoaib Malik's new marriage. #ShahidAfridi #ShoaibMalik pic.twitter.com/8rY2clxzJ7
— Nawaz 🇵🇰 (@Rnawaz31888) January 24, 2024
A journalist from the same Pakistani news channel shared details of Malik and Javed’s love story, revealing that they had started dating several years ago. This began on a TV show where Malik had set a condition to the show’s organizers that he would only participate if Javed was invited as the guest.
“Shoaib Malik and Sana Javed started meeting consecutively on the show. Also, let me tell you, Shoaib Malik used to put conditions before appearing on the shows; he would only come if Sana Javed was invited as the guest. No actor noticed this because Sana Javed was already married to Umair Jaswal. People were curious about Ayesha Omar, but the real reason was something else,” the Pakistani TV journalist said.
In one of the episodes of the duo, sharing a stage during a game segment, Malik’s comments regarding Javed went viral. In a clip, the actor said, “Shoaib just revealed that he’s determined to win but is intentionally losing for my sake.” In a different segment, Malik was seen handling a bike independently instead of taking Javed’s assistance.
A day after Malik shared pictures along with Javed, Mirza issued a statement clarifying their relationship. In the brief message, former tennis player Mirza said they had “been divorced for a few months now.” The statement said, “Sania has always kept her personal life away from the public eye. However, today the need has arisen for her to share that Shoaib and she have been divorced for a few months now. She wishes Shoaib well for his new journey ahead!” Mirza and Malik were seen for their son Izhaan’s fifth birthday in Dubai last year.
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Ab de Villiers is keen to find out the reason behind Virat Kohli's late withdrawal from the first two Tests against England.
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Rohit Sharma on Wednesday hinted that the Test career of veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane might not be revived
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Ahmedabad: Devdutt Padikkal hit a stroke-filled 92 not out after right-arm pacer Akash Deep shone bright with the ball with a four-wicket haul as India A took control of the four-day second unofficial Test against England Lions on the opening day here on Wednesday.
England Lions’ decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired big time as the Indian bowlers skittled the visitors out for 152 in 52.4 overs.
Akash Deep turned out to be the wrecker-in-chief, returning with figures of four for 46, while Yash Dayal (2/14) and off-spinner Washington Sundar (2/25) scalped two wickets apiece.
Oliver Price (48 off 81) was the top-scorer for England Lions, while Brydon Carse made 31.
England Lions’ difficulty against the Indian attack was evident from the fact that as many as seven batters of the visiting side got out for single-digit scores.
Failure to build partnerships was the root cause for England Lions’ downfall with the highest stand coming in between Price and Carse, who stitched together 43 runs for the seventh wicket.
In reply, the Indian opening duo of Padikkal and skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran (53 not out off 96) found it easy against the English attack as they scored runs without much trouble to take the hosts to 150 for no loss.
India A now trail England Lions by just two runs to take an upper hand in the match.
Padikkal, in particular, was at his attacking best as he decorated his 96-ball unbeaten knock with 15 boundaries and demolished the English attack in the process.
Easwaran, on the other hand, played the second fiddle, giving Padikkal the perfect support from the other end.
Easwaran scored his runs off 96 balls with the help of six fours as the Indian openers scored at 4.68 runs per over.
Brief Scores:
England Lions: 152 all out in 52.4 overs (Oliver Price 48; Akash Deep 4/46).
India A: 150 for no loss in 32 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 92 not out, Abhimanyu Easwaran 53 not out).
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New Zealand's young batter Rachin Ravindra was on Wednesday crowned ICC Men's Emerging Cricketer of the Year for 2023.
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Rahul Dravid believes that the absence of Virat Kohli in the first two Test matches against England can prove to be a brilliant opportunity for someone else to prove their mettle on the international stage.
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Karun Nair will be heading back to Northamptonshire for the upcoming County Championship after a successful outing with the English club last season.
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A lookalike of Virat Kohli was mobbed by fans for selfies in Ayodhya and the video of the entire incident has gone viral on social media.
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After missing out on the T20Is against Afghanistan, KL Rahul will now be seen in action against England in the five-match Test series.
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The five Tests between India and England in the upcoming series will be held in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Ranchi and Dharamsala.
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Sania Mirza's divorce with former Pakistan cricket team captain Shoaib Malik left social media stunned.
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Cheteshwar Pujara on Sunday became the fourth Indian batter to score 20,000 runs or more in first-class cricket. Pujara achieved the milestone during Saurashtra’s Elite Group A fixture against Vidarbha in Nagpur, which the visitors went onto win by 238 runs.
Pujara joined an elite list comprising of Sunil Gavaskar (25,834 runs), Rahul Dravid (23,794 runs) and Sachin Tendulkar (25,396 runs) as the only other Indian cricketers to score 20,000 runs or more in First Class cricket.
Pujara went onto score 43 and 66 in the two respective innings against Vidarbha. The 35-year-old might have been an out of favour batter as far as the Team India Test side is concerned, but he has been in prolific form in domestic cricket, having scored 444 runs from five innings in the Ranji Trophy this season already. Apart from playing domestic cricket in India, Pujara has also been a vital part of the Sussex setup in English county cricket, having amassed centuries for the team very often.
Pujara last played a Test for India during the World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval in June last year. Pujara endured scores of 14 and 27 in that match. Till date, Pujara has played 103 Tests for India, having scored 7195 runs at an average of 43.60. This includes 19 hundreds and 35 fifties.
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Monty Panesar believes that England cricketers should sledge Virat Kohli and try to 'mentally pinch' him in the upcoming Test series in India starting January 25.
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Another intriguing Test series beckons as Rohit Sharma-led India host Ben Stokes’ England in a five-match series that starts in Hyderabad on 25 January. England have had more disappointments than fun whenever they have travelled to India for a Test series, but one such exception is when the team led by Alastair Cook in 2012 went all the way to clinch the country’s first Test series on Indian soil in 28 years.
‘India are favourites, but wouldn’t write England off’: Nasser Hussain
Since then England have failed to replicate the same performance and are once again seen as the underdog in the upcoming assignment. One of the things that worked in England’s favour in 2012 was Kevin Pietersen playing a leading role with the bat and English spinners trumping their Indian counterparts.
How England decimated India on home soil
They had left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, who was in the form of his life back then, and offie Graeme Swann who was as equally consistent.
It was a rather clinical display from MS Dhoni-led Team India in the first Test in Ahmedabad. Virender Sehwag (117) and Cheteshwar Pujara (206*) had forged 90 runs between themselves after Sehwag’s century-plus stand with opener Gautam Gambhir. There were early signs of spinners having a say when Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha had combined to take 13 of the 20 England wickets at the Motera.
England were following on after they were dismissed for 191 while replying to India’s first innings total of 521, and it was in that follow on when Alastair Cook (176) led by example, along with Matt Prior’s 91 when England set the blueprint for the rest of the series. The duo’s knocks had led the visitors to 406, still not enough to set India a good target as the hosts chased down 77 with comfort, with Pujara scoring an unbeaten 41.
However, India weren’t prepared for what was to come next. The second Test was at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on what was a pitch that turned sharply, assisting the spinners well. And this is where England took advantage yet again, with Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann taking a whopping 19 out of 20 Indian wickets. India’s spinners, meanwhile, had been completely outperformed with Cook (122) and Kevin Pietersen (186) amassing centuries in the first innings.
In the same Test, Monty Panesar’s turning delivery to clean up Sachin Tendulkar in the first innings caught the eye of many. A delivery that could be compared to the late Shane Warne’s iconic Ball of the Century, but Panesar was in a league of his own back then.
India would then go on to suffer a batting collapse to be dismissed for 142 in the second innings, meaning England needed just 57 runs to win. And, on the fourth day morning, the visitors did it with ease, with Alastair Cook (18*) and Nick Compton (30*) sealing a 10-wicket win.
England take the lead
The caravan then headed to the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Once again, India were undone by the England spinners and this time, Steven Finn also joined the party. This time, however, it wasn’t a turning pitch as much as it was during the third Test in Mumbai. Yet, a majority of India’s batters had no answer to England’s spinners. It was a flat wicket, and despite this, Monty Panesar was able to capitalise and was the pick of the bowlers in the first innings, finishing with figures of 4/90 to dismiss India for 316. Although Pragyan Ojha and R Ashwin shared seven wickets between them, it wasn’t enough for the hosts to stop the England top-order led by Cook (190) from stealing the show.
England would go on to put 523 on board. Gautam Gambhir (40) and Virender Sehwag (49) had got off to a solid start but failed to capitalise. Pujara (8) and Sachin (5), who were supposed to establish a strong partnership following the dismissals of the openers, also perished, with Pujara getting involved in a mixup with Gambhir whereas Sachin took an edge off the bat off Swann’s delivery to be caught at slip by Jonathan Trott.
The only good thing about India’s second innings batting was Ashwin’s resistance. The Chennai man, who had come into bat when India were 122/5, fought hard with an unbeaten 91 to take India to 247. And yet, the task was pretty much easy for England after they were set a target of just 41. They would chase it down with seven wickets to spare on the back of Ian Bell’s unbeaten 28.
The series was 2-1 heading to the fourth and final Test in Nagpur. With India looking to draw level in the series, the Nagpur Test was an even more closely fought contest. Alastair Cook (1) had a rare failure with the bat following England’s decision to bat first, but Trott (44), Pietersen (73), Root (73), Prior (57) and Swann (56) would play pivotal roles in England making 330. It was Day 2 when England ended their innings, and at the end of that day, India were in a precarious position at 87/4, with Kohli and Dhoni unbeaten. This time, however, Kohli (103) and Dhoni (99) would go on to forge a partnership for the ages — a 198-run stand that would eventually take India to 326/9 as they declared on Day 4.
England were equally resistant as India, in their second innings. An unbeaten 66 from Jonathan Trott led them to 161/3 at stumps on Day 4, and with seven wickets still to fall and India’s run chase still remaining, a draw was written all around.
Trott would get to his century off 232 balls after the first drinks break on Day 5, and despite losing Pietersen, fellow centurion Ian Bell (116*) and he would stitch a 208-run stand as England ended the day with a declared total of 352/4. That meant India lost the opportunity to level the series, but on the other hand, a jubilant England team bursted into celebrations.
Why have England failed to win Test series in India since?
England have toured India in 2016/17 and in 2021 since that Test series win in 2012. And in both the subsequent tours, facing spinners have been England’s major problem. In 2016, England were a team in transition with the likes of Haseeb Hameed and Ben Duckett in the squad, and their lack of experience of never having played in India before showed that the Three Lions had work to do on sub-continent soil. In that series, two of India’s four wins came through innings victories, which meant the England batters struggled.
In the 2021 tour, though, it was once again England’s top-order that was in focus. Chopping and changing of England’s openers hardly helped England with their cause, despite promising performances from Zak Crawley (53 in Ahmedabad) and Dom Sibley (87 in Chennai) Despite their only win in the series in Chennai, it’s that lack of consistency in the top-order that has hurt England in their last two tours to India.
This time around, England come to India with a Bazball approach but that has been criticised by experts, with some noting that it won’t work against India in India. “Well, I don’t know (how Bazball will play in India), because it’s not going to be about the Bazball approach. I played Bazball and I was very successful here,” Kevin Pietersen had told Wisden in December.
Whether Bazball works or not this time around, remains to be seen. But one thing is certain, it’s going to be a neck-to-neck contest with Indian spinners testing the England opposition on subcontinent tracks and how England will approach them.
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Bloemfontein: Left-arm spinners Saumy Kumar Pandey and Musheer Khan headlined a dominant Indian performance as the defending champions outclassed Bangladesh by 84 runs in their opening game of the ICC U-19 World Cup here Saturday. While the total of 251 for 7 didn’t look big, the two Indian spinners choked the run-flow, shooting out ‘Tiger Cubs’ for a meagre 167 in 45.5 overs.
Skipper Uday Saharan (64 off 94 balls) and left-handed opener Adarsh Singh (76 off 96 balls) hit half-centuries after Bangladesh invited the holders to take first strike. Saumy (4/24) was economical and bowled the lethal arm ball with a skiddy action while all-rounder Musheer (2/35) tossed it up and got enough drift to tighten the noose around Bangladeshi batters.
Musheer, younger brother Mumbai’s domestic stalwart Sarfaraz Khan, was a livewire on the field. He also effected a run-out. What was impressive to see was no overt celebrations from either Saumy or Musheer, who carried on their job like thoroughbred professionals.
It was a fairly ill-tempered match with players from both sides indulging in sledging as the two teams have history of tension across senior men, senior women and U-19 level. For Indian team, it was a sweet revenge after losing the Asia Cup semi-final to Bangladesh.
While the Indian batters found it difficult to get boundaries, the target was never below par as average score of teams batting first in Youth ODIs (U-19 ODI) at this ground was 201, and the highest successful chase being 243.
In fact, India’s 251/7 on the day was the third highest score at this ground.
The team’s designated finisher Sachin Dhas showed admirable technique and temperament during death overs with a nice little unbeaten cameo of 26 off 20 balls that took the score past 250-run mark. The pulled six off seamer Rohanat Doullah Borson was a treat for the eyes. This despite allowing Bangladeshi bowlers to bowl dot balls worth 26 overs during their innings.
Left-arm seamer Maruf Mridha (5/43) did damage at the start and during slog overs by bowling in right areas but would be a bit miffed with his skipper, who got his calculations wrong and didn’t let him complete his quota of 10 overs.
Possessing a skiddy action like Mustafizur Rahaman, Maruf varied his lengths, bowled closer to stumps at the start and mixed cutters with wide yorkers at the death to make life difficult for the India colts.
The foundation of the Indian innings was laid by Adarsh (76 off 96 balls) and skipper Saharan (64 off 94 balls), who added 116 runs for the third wicket in nearly 23.5 overs.
The two youngsters didn’t look comfortable against the Bangladesh spinners — offie Sheikh Paevez Jibon (0/39) and left-arm spinner Mahfuzur Rahaman Rabby (1/41).
The two spinners didn’t let the set batters get away as Adarsh had six fours and Saharan only four. In fact, Indian batters got only 14 boundaries and two sixes in 50 overs but it proved to be enough in the end.
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The T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA isn’t by any means the only ICC event that will be taking place this year, with the U-19 World Cup having already commenced in South Africa on Friday, 19 January.
Team India haven’t been winning too many ICC trophies at the senior level, having last won a major event all the way back in 2013, but are every bit a dominant team at the U-19 level, where they have won five World Cups and have reached seven of the last nine finals from 2006.
India enter the current tournament as the defending champions, having won their fifth title with a four-wicket victory over England in the West Indies in 2022. The ‘Colts in Blue’ are placed alongside Bangladesh, Ireland and USA in Group A, and begin their campaign against neighbours Bangladesh on Saturday.
Ahead of their opening fixture, we take a detailed look at the Indian squad:
Uday Saharan
Saharan be leading the Indian team in the 2024 edition, and will be hoping to join an elite club that comprises Mohammad Kaif (2000), Virat Kohli (2008), Unmukt Chand (2012), Prithvi Shaw (2018) and Yash Dhull (2022) — India’s five U-19 World Cup-winning captains. Saharan’s a top-order batter who also bowls right-arm off-spin.
Though he hails from Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar, he represents Punjab in domestic cricket, having shifted his base to the border town of Fazilka — which incidentally happens to be the hometown of India opener Shubman Gill. He was named captain of the U-19 side after shining in the Challenger Trophy that took place in Guwahati last year.
Adarsh Singh
Adarsh Singh has cemented himself as the first-choice opener for the India U-19 team with his consistent run in recent outings, especially in the triangular series involving World Cup hosts South Africa and Afghanistan right before the mega event. Originally hailing from Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur, the left-handed opener, who happens to bowl off-spin, had led his state team at various age groups and has also represented Kanpur Superstars in the UP T20 League.
Aravelly Avanish
Hyderabad wicketkeeper-batter Avanish has made quite a name for himself as an explosive middle-order batter, and it is that reputation that helped him land a contract with the Chennai Super Kings in the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) auction that took place in Dubai in December. Avanish, who idolises legendary Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, hails from the Pothugal village in Rajanna Sircilla district, Telangana, and made headlines with a knock of 183 against Chennai at age-level cricket. Along the way, Avanish led Hyderabad’s U-14 and U-19 cricket teams.
Sachin Dhas
Middle-order batter Dhas hails from Beed and had led Maharashtra at the Cooch Behar Trophy. Dhas, who also bowls off spin, has also represented Kolhapur Tuskers in the Maharashtra Premier League. More recently, he had struck a 42-ball 58 against Pakistan in the U-19 Asia Cup, his late charge helping the ‘Colts in Blue’ cross the 250-mark.
Innesh Mahajan
Since his selection for the U-19 Asia Cup as well as the World Cup, Mahajan has become something of a celebrity in the city of Noida where he currently resides with his family, according to The Times of India. Mahajan, who originally hails from Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district and idolises both Alastair Cook and MS Dhoni, is a left-handed batter who is one of India’s top-order options for the World Cup besides being a back-up option for the wicketkeeper’s slot.
Priyanshu Moliya
Moliya is the only other member of the India squad for the U-19 World Cup to have played First-Class cricket besides Khan, having represented Baroda in the 2022-23 edition of Ranji Trophy. And he made an instant impact in the First-Class format by becoming only the second cricketer from Baroda to slam back-to-back tons on Ranji debut since Nari Contractor seven decades ago. Though primarily a middle-order batter, Moliya’s also quite handy with his off-spin.
Rudra Patel
The 18-year-old top-order batter from Gujarat, who is among the many who idolise current all-formats India captain Rohit Sharma, has been in roaring form of late. Not only did he finish the second-highest run-scorer in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy in October, where he collected 513 runs at an outstanding average of 102.60 with three centuries, he managed to carry that form over to the U-19 Quadrangular Series that comprised two Indian teams besides England and Bangladesh.
Though his team, India B, was beaten by the Uday Saharan-led India A in the final, Patel finished the leading run-scorer in the series by a fair distance, collecting 568 runs at an average of 113.60 that included a ton and five half-centuries.
Arshin Kulkarni
Young Arshin Kulkarni has already been making waves as the next Indian cricket star in the making and this is before he has even made his debut for India at the senior level or faced/bowled a delivery in the Indian Premier League. The Maharashtra all-rounder, who hails from Solapur, recently made his debut in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and had also appeared in the Maharashtra Premier League.
More recently, he was in sparkling form in the U-19 Asia Cup in the UAE, where he collected 138 runs at an average of 69. That included an unbeaten 70 in a match against Afghanistan in which he also collected three wickets for just 29 runs. His all-round heroics in the Asia Cup, combined with his sharp fielding skills, helped him land a deal with the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL Auction.
Musheer Khan
The all-rounder, who happens to be Sarfaraz Khan’s younger brother, is considered by many as one of the up and coming stars in the Mumbai cricketing circuit. Musheer also happens to be one of only two members of the India squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup to have played First-Class cricket, having made his Ranji Trophy debut against Saurastra in 2022-23 and going on to make three appearances for Mumbai that season. Musheer, who bowls left-arm orthodox and bats at No 3, had led Mumbai to the final of the Cooch Behar Trophy last year, where he was named Player of the Tournament.
Murugan Abhishek
Another Hyderabadi making the U-19 World Cup squad alongside Aravelly Avanish, off-spinner Abhishek, who idolises Ravichandran Ashwin, has been enjoying a consistent run both in domestic age-group cricket as well as for the India U-19 team.
He had shown glimpses of his all-round ability with a century in the quarter-finals of the Vijay Merchant Trophy in the 2019-20 season, as well as in the Asia Cup semi-final against Bangladesh in December, top-scoring for his team with a knock of 62 on a day when the top-order batters struggled to get going against Maruf Mridha and the rest of the Bangladesh attack.
Dhanush Gowda
Young Karnataka pacer Gowda had represented India D in the Men’s U-19 One-Day Challenger Trophy in Guwahati as well as India B in the U-19 Quadrangular Trophy that also featured India A, England and Bangladesh. Gowda highlighted his skill in one of those games with a haul of 5/32 that helped the Indian team bowl Bangladesh out for 116 and later chase the target down with seven wickets to spare. Gowda did not get to play a game in the U-19 Asia Cup despite being named in the squad but featured in the subsequent Tri-Nation Tournament in South Africa that seved as a pre-cursor to the World Cup.
Raj Limbani
Right-arm seamer Limbani grabbed headlines and instantly became a talking point in cricketing circles across the country with his stunning haul of 7/13 that helped India bowl Nepal out for a paltry 52 in the U-19 Asia Cup in December and propel the ‘Colts in Blue’ into the semi-finals.
What was especially impressive about the haul was the fact that it came in a pressure situation, where India needed a win if they were to qualify for the knockouts. It was the kind of performance that might just ensure the 18-year-old seamer from Vadodara gets an extended run in the World Cup.
Saumy Pandey
Left-arm spinner Pandey hails from Madhya Pradesh and, according to The New Indian Express, had taken up cricket at an early age in order to fight various illness due to the fact that he had a premature birth. He would eventually get hooked to the sport, turning it into a career option by shining for his state at the U-16 level before graduating to U-19. Pandey had recently been named vice-captain of the India U-19 team for the Asia Cup. Though he went wicketless in that tournament, he came back firing in the subsequent Triangular Series in South Africa, where he would collect 6/29 in 10 overs against Afghanistan.
Aaradhya Shukla
The 19-year-old right-arm seamer from Ludhiana took up sport primarily to get a height boost, according to Hindustan Times, but has since taken up the sport professionally where he has risen through the ranks and finds himself on the verge of representing India at a World Cup, even if it is a youth event. Shukla, who had finished the leading wicket-taker in the Punjab Cricket Association U-23 State Championship in 2022. He enters the World Cup with some solid performances in recent outings, including a 4/43 against hosts South Africa in the recently-concluded Triangular Series.
Naman Tiwari
Tiwari will be leading the Indian attack in the U-19 World Cup in South Africa, and will hope to thrive in the pace-friendly conditions in the ‘Rainbow Nation’, where the Indian team had finished runners-up in the 2020 edition. Tiwari knows a thing or two about bowling to some of the world’s top batters, having been a net bowler with the Rajasthan Royals.
According to Cricketnext, Tiwari learned a great deal about the art of fast bowling while interacting with icons of the game such as Lasith Malinga and Trent Boult, knowledge that he appears to have put to good use in recent fixtures which includes a haul of 4/11 against Afghanistan in the recent triangular series.
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Abhimanyu Easwaran has been named India A skipper for the second and third unofficial Test matches against England Lions. Easwaran is currently leading the side against Egland Lions in Ahmedabad. The second and third matches will be played at the same venue on 24 January and 1 February respectively.
Kumar Kushagra, who was snapped up by Delhi Capitals for Rs 7.20 crore at the IPL 2024 player auction in Dubai in December, has also made the squad for the two matches. The likes of Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Sai Sudharsan and Rajat Patidar, who have all made their senior India debuts over the last few months, also feature in the squad.
On Day three of the first unofficial Test, India A were 159/4 with Sai Sudharsan (53*) and Manav Suthar (1*) unbeaten. They have been set a target of 490 with just one day of play left in the game.
India ‘A’ squad for the 2nd multi-day match: Abhimanyu Easwaran (Captain), Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Tilak Varma, Kumar Kushagra, Washington Sundar, Sourabh Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Tushar Deshpande, Vidwath Kaverappa, Upendra Yadav, Akash Deep, Yash Dayal
India ‘A’ squad for the 3rd multi-day match: Abhimanyu Easwaran (Captain), Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Washington Sundar, Shams Mulani, Arshdeep Singh, Tushar Deshpande, Vidwath Kaverappa, Upendra Yadav, Akash Deep, Yash Dayal
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Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn and Andrew Puttick on Thursday resigned from their respective positions at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. Arthur had been announced as the Pakistan men’s cricket team director in April 2023, while Bradburn, a former New Zealand cricketer, was named the head coach. Former South Africa cricketer Andrew Puttick had been with the team since April 2023 having been announced as the Pakistan batting coach.
“All three individuals informed the Pakistan Cricket Board of their decision to leave their respective jobs by the end of January 2024,” the PCB stated in a release. “The decision was taken amicably between all the stakeholders,” the release added.
Arthur had previously been the head coach of Pakistan from 2016 to 2019, a period when Pakistan were the No 1 Test side and guided Pakistan to the ICC Champions Trophy title. Following Pakistan’s forgettable run at the ODI World Cup last year, the trio had been dismissed from coaching responsibilities and were assigned new duties at the Pakistan NCA in Lahore.
During Pakistan’s recent Test tour to Australia, Mohammad Hafeez was the team director as well as the head coach, whereas Adam Holioake had been named the batting coach. Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal had ben named fast bowling and spin bowling coaches respectively.
Pakistan, however, would go onto lose the Test series to Australia by a margin of 3-0.
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Australia vs West Indies 1st Test Day 3 Live Score Updates
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India captain Rohit Sharma registered ducks in the first two T20Is against Afghanistan
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The Indian cricket team made history by completing a 3-0 whitewash in the three-match series against Afghanistan after a hard-fought victory in the third encounter in Bengaluru.
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The news of Hardik Pandya rejoining Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season caused ripples in the cricketing community.
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Bengaluru: Arshdeep Singh’s chaotic journey in T20Is will reach its culmination point at the Chinnaswamy Stadium during the third match against Afghanistan on Wednesday, and he is banking on the recent experience of bowling with new-ball to ace the latest test of his skills.
Arshdeep took four wickets from as many matches against the Aussies last year, but in each of those matches he conceded 41, 46, 44 and 40 runs in four overs.
But against South Africa and Afghanistan, the left-arm pacer had relatively better outings four wickets across four matches at an acceptable overall economy of eight.
Those performances offered a microcosm of Arshdeep’s efforts from January 5, 2023 to January 14, 2024 as his economy oscillated between 7.5 and above 10.
The Punjab man accepted that his journey was a mixed bag during the above-mentioned period.
“The last 12 months have been a mixed bag (of experience). There were a few good performances and I got to learn something new. There were a few ups and downs as well, making my performances neutral,” Arshdeep said during the pre-match press meet on Tuesday.
The pacer said experience of bowling with the new ball in the absence of senior pros like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj has helped him develop as a bowler.
“Specifically, I recently started (bowling) with new ball, especially on slow wickets. In the last match, I tried a few variations, especially against left-handers, and it worked and it gave me some confidence. Otherwise, I am trying to sharpen my skills,” he added.
Arshdeep said the role clarity within the team has helped him to gain in experience even when he was struggling a bit with the ball.
“Players’ roles are defined. As a bowler, you know, you have to bowl at the start and middle overs. When there is clarity, you come up with good performances, he added.
The 24-year-old said even though India have already bagged the series 2-0, it won’t stop him and the team to continue seeking improvement.
“Mindset as a team doesn’t work on what the series scoreline and what happened in the last matches. The main motive is to get used to the ground, adapt quickly. We can look at improving and developing match skills,” said Arshdeep.
The Chinnaswamy often tests the skills and endurance of a bowler with its flat deck and short boundaries, but Arshdeep saw it as an advantage.
“We feel there is nothing to lose here. Batsmen are under pressure because of the feeling that they have to score more boundaries and that is where as a bowler you are in the game. You can get more wickets.”
Arshdeep also said he will focus on the World Cup only when the moment arrives, as other matches, including the IPL 2024, are dominating his thought process at the moment.
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PrakharChaturvedi hit a splendid unbeaten 404 against Mumbai at the KSCA Navule Stadium in Shimoga, Karnataka
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India beat Afghanistan by six wickets in the second T20I to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game series, which is the last before the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.
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Shreyas Iyer isn’t too bothered about missing out on the ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan nor is he fretting over his place in the Test side, instead focusing entirely on making a successful return to the Ranji Trophy after a gap of five years.
Iyer had a poor run in the Test series against South Africa where he managed to enter double figures just one (31 in Centurion) in three completed innings, and has gone back to domestic cricket in order to regain his form ahead of a marquee five-Test series against England that gets underway 10 days from now in Hyderabad.
Iyer, however, wasn’t too bothered about losing his spot in the T20I team in a World Cup year and wasn’t thinking too far ahead to the Test series — for which he has been included, at least in the first two Tests. Instead, he fixed his attention on Mumbai’s home game against Andhra, in which he struck a run-a-ball 48 the only time he got to bat as the 41-time champions cruised to a 10-wicket victory.
“See, right now I’m being in the present. I have finished the match which I was asked to play (Ranji game against Andhra). I came, and I executed, so I am happy with what I’m doing,” Iyer told reporters in Mumbai after the match
“Something that is not in my control, I can’t be focusing on that. Coming here and winning the match was my focus and that’s what we did today.
“It’s important to take one match at a time, not think about five-match Test series. The team is only for the first two games. The motto would be to perform in the first two games and then look forward to the rest of the games,” the middle-order batter added.
Read | ‘Kishan, Iyer not dropped due to disciplinary issues’: Dravid rejects reports
Iyer, whose last Ranji appearance was against Vidarbha in the 2018-19 season, collected seven fours during his 48-run knock as Mumbai piled on a first innings score of 395. Left-arm spinner Shams Mulani’s six-for (6/65) would then help Mumbai bowl Andhra out for 184 and collect a massive 211-run lead.
Andhra could only manage 244 in their second innings, setting Mumbai a meagre 34-run target that was easily overhauled.
One of the key takeaways for Iyer from the four-day game that took place in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex was testing his match-fitness and his ability to stay on the field for extended periods of time.
“I’m assuming that we would be getting turning wickets against England. But other than that, it was just for my match fitness, to stay on the field as long as possible, that’s what mainly I was focusing on because especially after my injury, it has been tough for me to stick on the outfield for long. So this was great practice for me.”
As for the intense competition for slots in the Indian team across formats, the Kolkata Knight Riders captain described the situation as “fun”.
“It’s fun. I love competition, and when competition is there, you face more challenges. And that’s what I thrive on personally. So I enjoy having competition around because then you can go at each other and also against the opponents to show your talent and skills.”
Read | Ishan Kishan yet to make himself available for Jharkhand in Ranji Trophy
When asked about his approach on the opening day of the match, Iyer said that he wanted to attack the bowlers irrespective of the situation. The Andhra bowlers had, additionally, tried bowling short and negative lines to the right-hander from around the wicket, which ultimately did little to stop Iyer from dispatching the ball towards the fence multiple times.
“I’m going to play attacking irrespective of the situation. And also when you bowl negative, when you bowl safe and defensive at the start, you want to score runs and you need to take your team through up to a certain point.
“So that was my mindset and that’s why stuck with. Yeah, I was happy irrespective of the score,” Iyer signed off.
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India dished out another clinical chase against Afghanistan to clinch the three-match T20I series with a game to spare to extend their winning start to the new year.
The Men in Blue pulled off a second consecutive six-wicket victory over the Afghans with all-rounder Shivam Dube once again finishing the job for his side after bringing up a half-century, this time remaining unbeaten on 63. This was after opener Yashasvi Jaiswal laid the foundation for the victory with a blistering 68 off 34 deliveries that helped the Indians recover from yet another jittery start, with skipper Rohit Sharma getting cleaned up for a golden duck in Indore after getting run out in Mohali.
Read: Rohit hails ‘great talent’ Jaiswal and ‘powerful’ Dube
More importantly, left-arm spinner Axar Patel produced what could be described as the most crucial contribution towards the Indian victory, collecting two wickets for just 17 runs from his quota of four overs at the Holkar Stadium, a batting paradise where the average first innings score is in excess of 200.
Axar, who was the pick of the bowlers in the previous match as well, proved to the difference and helped India restrict the Afghans below 180 after Gulbadin Naib’s (57 off 35) fiery innings had the Afghans staring at the prospect of setting a target in the range of 200.
For his efforts, the Gujarat bowler was adjudged the Player of the Match.
There were quite a few milestones achieved and records broken during the course of the second T20I on Sunday, which we explore in greater detail below:
— Rohit Sharma has registered back-to-back ducks in T20Is for the first time in his career after getting cleaned up first ball off Fazalhaq Farooqi’s bowling.
— Shikhar Dhawan was the only other Indian captain to be dismissed for a duck in T20Is before Rohit’s consecutive ducks in the ongoing series. Dhawan achieved the unwanted feat during the tour of Sri Lanka in 2021.
— Afghanistan’s score of 172 all out is now their highest T20I total against India, breaking the record that they had set in Mohali three days ago with their total of 158/5.
— Shivam Dube finished unbeaten on 63, his highest score in T20Is.
— The 173-run target chased by India is the second-highest target successfully chased against the Afghans in T20Is.
— India have not lost a T20I series at home since 2019, winning 13 out of 15 assignments with two of them ending in a draw.
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Hardik Pandya is set to captain five-time Indian Premier League champions Mumbai Indians in the upcoming season.
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Ever wondered if legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who has millions of fans across the globe, could also be someone’s fan? Yes, the little master has himself acknowledged that he is a fan of Amir Hussain Lone, a 34-year-old differently-abled cricketer from Waghama village in Bijbehara, Jammu and Kashmir. Sachin expressed his desire to meet Amir and get a jersey with his name since he was immensely impressed by the cricketer’s unique playing style and inspirational journey.
Amir, also the captain of Jammu & Kashmir’s Para cricket team, lost both his arms in an accident at the age of eight. He has been playing professionally since 2013, discovered by a teacher, who introduced him to Para Cricket.
Touched by Amir’s dedication to the game, Tendulkar expressed his admiration for and aspiration to meet him, commending him for inspiring millions passionate about cricket. Tendulkar was amazed at Amir’s achievement, saying, “And Amir has made the impossible possible. I am so touched watching this! Shows how much love and dedication he has for the game. Hope I get to meet him one day and get a jersey with his name. Well done for inspiring millions who are passionate about playing the sport,” Sachin Tendulkar posted on X on Friday.
And Amir has made the impossible possible. I am so touched watching this! Shows how much love and dedication he has for the game.
Hope I get to meet him one day and get a jersey with his name. Well done for inspiring millions who are passionate about playing the sport. https://t.co/s5avOPXwYT
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 12, 2024
Speaking about his journey after the accident, Amir said that he received little support from the government but found unwavering support from his family. He also said that he was never bogged down by challenges and always believed in his independence and self-reliance. He played nationals in Delhi in 2013 and an international match against Bangladesh in 2018, Amir showcased his skills in various cricketing events globally, including Nepal, Sharjah, and Dubai.
“After the accident, I didn’t lose hope and worked hard. I can do everything by myself and I am not dependent on anyone. No one helped me after my accident. Not even the government supported me but my family was always there for me,” Amir told ANI.
Acknowledging the applause he receives for his game, Amir said that he wants to always work hard and get success. He expressed his admiration for Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. He hoped to meet them soon, guided by the belief that hard work and dedication can overcome any obstacle.
“I have been applauded for my game everywhere and I think it is because of God that my hard work paid off because bowling from the legs is really difficult but I have learned all the skills and techniques. I do every task on my own and I am not dependent on anyone except God,” the cricketer added.
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India all-rounder Shivam Dube emphasised on the importance of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) in helping teams prepare for the T20 World Cup that takes place in the Caribbean and the United States right after.
India are set to play just two more T20Is this year in the build-up to the World Cup which takes place in June, making the 17th edition of the cash-rich league a crucial one as far as their selection and planning for the mega event is concerned.
The Chennai Super Kings all-rounder, who played a starring role in India’s six-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Mohali on Thursday, also admitted that the T20 World Cup was playing on his mind but he is choosing to focus on the task at hand.
Read | Dube reveals how Rohit inspired him to produce match-winning performance in Mohali
“It (IPL) would be equally important for all of us, as there are only two T20Is remaining. IPL is a big platform, and if you fare well in it, you get the chance to make it to the (national) team,” Dube told reporters ahead of the second T20I against Afghanistan in Indore.
“There is a team planning and combination in place. The more we play T20s, the more we get to understand it better.”
While Dube also remains in contention to make it to the Indian side for the T20 World Cup, he said he is not looking too far ahead and is focused on the task at hand.
“Any player playing in the team aims to play in the World Cup. It’s definitely in my mind to play the World Cup, but it’s far away. Right now, I am aiming to play tomorrow’s game and take it on a match-by-match basis.
“It was a good performance in the last game, and the aim would be to better it in the next game, contributing across departments and helping the side win,” he added.
Read | ‘Fearless’ Dube steps out of comfort zone to make case for T20 World Cup
Dube’s performance was the highlight of the opening clash in Mohali, where he contributed with the ball with figures of one for nine, followed by a match-winning knock of 40-ball 60 not out, earning him the Man of the Match award.
Although India were struggling at 28 for two when he arrived at the crease while chasing a target of 159, he revealed that he planned to stick to what he could do by utilising his skills.
“It’s difficult when things don’t go your way, and you don’t think about things you cannot do at that time. So, I thought about what I have done in the past would be better. I have practised and processed to be better both physically and mentally, besides working on my skills.”
Afghanistan is a tough team when it comes to T20Is
Although Afghanistan is ranked 10th in the shortest format in the world, the abundance of exposure its players have got over the last few years due to domestic T20 leagues has made it a formidable side.
“Afghanistan is a tough team when it comes to T20Is as all of its players play in (domestic T20) leagues. It’s a good opportunity for the side to express itself in front of a top team (like India), and it has been doing well,” he said.
“Afghanistan was not a top side in international cricket a few years back. But, thanks to these leagues its players have come out on top nowadays.”
The wicket at the Holkar Stadium is generally batting-friendly, with two of the three T20Is here being won by the sides batting first, whereas the average batting-first score is 209.
While Dube admitted that bowling would be difficult on this pitch, he felt that the team that bowls better can win.
“It’s a batting-friendly wicket. So, it would be tough for the bowlers. But, the team that bowls well on this track is likely to emerge victorious,” he signed off.
With inputs from PTI
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There’s plenty of sporting action this weekend, with India facing Australia in their AFC Asian Cup opener in football, against USA in the FIH Olympic Qualifiers in hockey as well as against Afghanistan in cricket.
There’s plenty more beyond matches involving the Indian team. The Spanish Super Cup set for an ‘El Clasico’ showdown with Real Madrid facing Barcelona in the final. As for the Premier League, Manchester rivals City and United are in action this weekend, taking on Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.
Tennis is also set to welcome the first Grand Slam of the year with the first round of the Australian Open getting underway on Sunday, with defending champion Novak Djokovic eyeing a historic 25th title.
And in the world of hockey, the India women’s team will be hoping to begin their qualifying campaign for the Paris Olympics on a positive note against USA in Ranchi.
Here’s a detailed look at some of the major fixtures to watch out this weekend and the television channel or website where you can tune in for live coverage:
Football
AFC Asian Cup (Sports18/JioCinema)
Just one more day to go.. 🇭🇲🆚🇮🇳#AsianCup2023 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/fsHHtQqUKM
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 12, 2024
Saturday
Australia vs India at Al Rayyan — 5 pm
China vs Tajikistan — 8 pm
Uzbekistan vs Syria — 11 pm
Sunday
Japan vs Vietnam — 5 pm
UAE vs Hong Kong — 8 pm
Iran vs Palestine — 11 pm
Premier League (Star Sports/Disney + Hotstar)
Saturday
Chelsea vs Fulham — 6 pm
Newcastle United vs Manchester City — 11 pm
Sunday
Everton vs Aston Villa — 7.30 pm
Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur — 10 pm
Spanish Super Cup (Fancode)
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH!#ElClásico pic.twitter.com/FdX7gsjETE
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 11, 2024
Saturday
Real Madrid vs Barcelona, Final — 12.30 am
LaLiga (Sports18/JioCinema)
Sunday
Almeria vs Girona — 6.30 pm
Cadiz vs Valencia — 8.45 pm
Serie A (Sports18/JioCinema)
Saturday
Napoli vs Salernitana — 7.30 pm
Monza vs Inter Milan — 1.15 am
Sunday
Lazio vs Lecce — 5 pm
AC Milan vs AS Roma — 1.15 am
Bundesliga (Sony Sports Network)
Saturday
FC Augsburg vs Bayer Leverkusen — 8 pm
RB Leipzig vs Eintracht Frankfurt — 8 pm
SV Darmstadt 98 vs Borussia Dortmund — 11 pm
Ligue 1 (Sports18/JioCinema)
Sunday
Le Havre AC vs Lyon — 9.35 pm
Lens vs Paris Saint-Germain — 1.15 am
Cricket
Sunday
India vs Afghanistan, 2nd T20I in Indore — 7 pm (Sports18/JioCinema)
New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2nd T20I in Hamilton — 11.40 am (Amazon Prime Video)
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, 1st T20I in Colombo — 7 pm (Sony Sports Network/Fancode)
Tennis:
Australian Open (1st Round) (Sony Sports Network)
Day session (From 5.30 am IST)
Jannik Sinner vs Botic van de Zandschulp
Leylah Fernandez vs Sara Bejlek
Maria Sakkari vs Nao Hibino
Thiago Seyboth Wild vs Andrey Rublev
Barbora Krejcikova vs Mai Hontama
Night session (From 1.30 pm IST)
Novak Djokovic vs Dino Prizmic
Aryna Sabalenka vs Ella Seidel
Taylor Fritz vs Facundo Diaz Acosta
Hockey
FIH Women’s Hockey Olympic Qualifier (Sports18/JioCinema)
Saturday
Germany vs Chile — 12 pm
Japan vs Czech Republic — 2.30 pm
New Zealand vs Italy — 5 pm
India vs USA — 7.30 pm
Sunday
Chile vs Czech Republic — 12 pm
Japan vs Germany — 2.30 pm
USA vs Italy — 5 pm
New Zealand vs India — 7.30 pm
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Christopher Nkunku's fresh absence places further pressure on Pochettino's limited attacking options, with Nicolas Jackson on Africa Cup of Nations duty for Senegal at present.
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Shivam Dube made 60 off 40 balls for his second T20 fifty as India chased down their victory target of 159 with 15 balls and six wickets to spare at Mohali
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Posted in Labels: Cricket Info, Latest Cricket News, Sports News Updates - NDTVSports.com
India skipper Rohit Sharma on Thursday said that a lot of positives could be taken from his team’s six-wicket win over Afghanistan in the first T20I in Mohali despite challenging conditions. It wasn’t an easy win for the hosts on a cold night in Mohali. The Men in Blue lost Rohit and Shubman Gill in the powerplay overs, before Shivam Dube came in at number four and played a heroic knock of 60 not out to help India cross the finish line while chasing 159.
“It was extremely cold. Now I am okay. When the ball hits the tip of the finger, it was sore. In the end, it was good. Lot of positives, we got a lot from this game, especially with the ball. Wasn’t the easiest of conditions. Our spinners bowled really well and the seamers also did the job as well,” said Rohit at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Recalling the mixup between himself and Gill in the first over of the chase, when Rohit was run-out, the skipper said that it was hard not to feel frustrated to give away a wicket in that fashion.
Rohit was on strike and called on for a quick single after having driven towards mid-off. While Rohit set himself for the single, running all the way through to the other end, Gill was still inside the crease at the non-strikers’ end. This allowed wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz to strike the bails at the batters’ end to dismiss Rohit.
“These things happen. When it happens you feel frustrated, you want to be out there and score runs for the team. Everything will not go your way. We won the game, that’s more important. I wanted Gill to carry on, unfortunately got out after playing a very good little innings,” said Rohit.
Also read: Afghanistan were ’13-15 runs short’, says skipper Ibrahim Zadran
Rohit lauded the way Dube and Jitesh batted, while also acknowledging Rinku’s form. “Lot of positives. Shivam Dube, the way Jitesh batted, Tilak as well and then Rinku is in good form as well,” Rohit said.
“I enjoyed playing on this ground”: Shivam Dube
Shivam Dube came into bat as early as the fourth over, and while this did create a pressure on himself, he knew he had to play his style of game. Dube played an unbeaten knock of 60 off 40 deliveries, forging 40-plus partnerships with Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma and Rinku Singh.
Earlier in the match, Dube registered figures of 1/9 from two overs, taking the wicket of Afghan skipper Ibrahim Zadran. “It was really cold. I enjoyed playing on this ground. Playing after a long time and batting at number four, there was some pressure one me. I had one thing in my mind that I have to play my game,” Dube, adjudged Player of the Match, said.
“First 2-3 balls, I feel a bit of pressure, after that I just focus on the ball and I don’t think much on what’s going on. In T20s, I know what I bat, and I know I can hit big sixes, so I can generate runs any time. Bowling, today I got the opportunity and I executed what I needed,” added the all-rounder.
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The three-match series against Afghanistan beginning in Mohali on Thursday will be India's final T20I assignment ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024.
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The spotlight will be only on the returning Rohit Sharma as his long-time colleague Virat Kohli pulled out of the opening T20I against Afghanistan due to "personal reasons".
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Posted in Labels: Cricket Info, Latest Cricket News, Sports News Updates - NDTVSports.com
England had lost the Test series 1-3 to India on spin-friendly tracks during their 2021 tour of the country.
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Posted in Labels: Cricket Info, Latest Cricket News, Sports News Updates - NDTVSports.com
Navi Mumbai: Australia Women skipper Alyssa Healy saved her best for the last to hand India a crushing seven-wicket defeat in the third and final T20I as the visitors bagged the series 2-1 here Tuesday.
Healy opted to field after calling it correct, and the bowlers responded to her decision to keep India to a modest 147 for six.
The stylish batter then returned to crack a 55 off 38 balls laced with nine fours and a six to lead Australia’s march to a series win, and as for India this was their fourth consecutive T20I series loss at home since September 2019.
India have succumbed to South Africa, Australia and England in this interim.
Chasing 148, Australia raced to 85 for one at halfway mark courtesy Healy’s onslaught and Beth Mooney’s 52 not out (45 balls, 5x4s).
Australia clinch the #IDFCFirstBankT20ITrophy with a 7-wicket win in the decider 👏👏#JioCinemaSports #INDvAUS #JioCinema #Sports18 pic.twitter.com/uJ3AcIlygN
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) January 9, 2024
A nearly-packed house at the DY Patil Stadium was left disappointed when Indian players failed to bring forth a collective performance like they did in the first game.
Pooja Vastrakar dismissed Tahlia McGrath (20) and Ellyse Perry on consecutive balls in the 16th over to create some excitement, but Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield (17 not out) took Australia over the line.
But it all started with Healy, as she attacked Titas Sadhu, smacking the pacer for three fours in the fourth over to set the tone for the chase.
Healy continued her assault smacking Renuka Singh Thakur for a second 15-run over on the trot, which included a six and two fours.
In the seventh over, Healy also had luck favouring her when a full-bloodied cut off Vastrakar was claimed as a catch taken by Jemimah Rodrigues at point.
But replays suggested the ball hit the ground just before setting into the fielder’s hands.
With only a couple of angles available, the TV replays also could not clearly define the moment since the ball had travelled fast to Rodrigues.
Owing to lack of conclusive evidence, third umpire N Janani ruled it in favour of Healy, who was eventually trapped leg-before by Deepti Sharma.
Earlier, Richa Ghosh’s brisk 34 saved India Women the blushes who posted 147 for six.
India squandered a rollicking start to lose four wickets for six runs and were tottering at the halfway stage after Shafali Verma (26) and Smriti Mandhana (29) set the stage for a strong first-innings total.
India were 51/1 after the powerplay but slipped to 66/4 after 10 overs losing wickets in a cluster. But Ghosh’s knock gave India a fresh lease of life as India added 81 runs in the second half.
Ghosh smacked three sixes and two fours in her quickfire 28-ball innings before departing in the final over when Ashleigh Gardner cleaned her up.
Additionally, vital contributions from Deepti (14), Amanjot Kaur (17, 14 balls, 2×4) and Vastrakar’s six off the innings’ last ball gave India a total to fight with.
Shafali smashed three fours off Kim Garth in the fourth over to mark a strong start for India, adding 39 for the first wicket.
But Australia came roaring back to strike thrice with Annabel Sutherland (2/12) bouncing out Rodrigues, who was caught at deep square leg.
Gardner took a superb low forward diving catch when Mandhana hit one towards deep midwicket off Georgia Wareham (2/24).
With the responsibility of shepherding a faltering innings falling on Harmanpreet Kaur’s shoulders, the skipper disappointed yet again with the bat.
Garth bowled a slower one but Harmanpreet was way too early into her drive, getting an inside edge which crashed onto the stumps and left India gasping for breath from 60 for one to 66 for four.
Harmanpreet, who was dismissed for three, registered her sixth single-digit score in as many outings.
Ghosh and Deepti then teamed up to lift India out of trouble with a 33-run stand for the fifth wicket.
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Seamers Shivam Dube (4/10) and Royston Dias (3/35) powered Mumbai's outright win over Bihar by an innings and 51 runs in their Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season opener.
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Shreyas Iyer was one of the worst performers for India on the Test tour of South Africa.
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Cheteshwar Pujara showed his insatiable hunger for runs with his 17th double hundred in first-class cricket before Prerak Mankad's all-round show put Saurashtra in command.
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The wait for India's squad announcement for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan continues with just four days to go for the first match in Mohali.
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KL Rahul took the wicket-keeper's role while Shreyas Iyer slotted in at No. 5 position for India in the 2-match Test series against South Africa.
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Indian cricket star Mayank Agarwal couldn't resist taking a swipe at 'pitch critics' after 23 wickets fell on Day 1 of the Cape Town Test.
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Cape Town: India captain Rohit Sharma urged the ICC match referees to take a more “neutral” approach on rating pitches outside the Indian sub-continent after leading his team to victory in the shortest ever Test match on a bouncy Newlands track. India beat South Africa by seven wickets in a match that lasted only 106.2 overs, beating an 92-year-record when Australia took a total of just over 109 overs to beat the Proteas at MCG back in 1932.
Rohit Sharma: ‘We can take a lot of pride from this performance’
For Indian captain, who carried a bright red swelling on his right bicep after being hit by a mean bouncer, said, he is all for spicy tracks overseas but only if people don’t take a hypocritical approach when pitch starts offering turn from first hour on day one.
“We all saw what happened in this Test and how the pitch played. I honestly don’t mind playing on pitches like these. As long as everyone keeps their mouth shut when they come to India.
IND vs SA: India grind out not-so-perfect win in quickest Test in Cape Town
“Yes, it is dangerous, it is challenging. When they come to India, it’s challenging as well,” Rohit’s reply to a PTI query was as attacking as his batting.
He believes that it is high time that people start realising that every country has its own character as far as pitches are concerned.
“When you’re here to play Test cricket, you talk about Test cricket the ultimate prize and pinnacle, and then you should stand by it.
“You should come and face it. In India, day one the pitch starts turning, they keep talking about of ‘puff of dust, puff of dust’. Here there were cracks,” the skipper didn’t seem one bit amused.
Former England opener Chris Broad was the ICC match referee for the two-Test series and Rohit believes that global body’s empanelled referees should be “neutral”.
“It’s important to stay neutral, especially the match referees. Some of the match referees need to keep their eyes on how they rate pitches,” the skipper was unusually aggressive.
ICC match referee Andy Pycroft’s “average” rating for pitch used for the ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad also did not go down well with Rohit and Co.
“I still can’t believe the World Cup final pitch was rated ‘below average’ (average actually). How can that be a poor pitch?” he asked. “The ICC and the referees need to start looking into it. Rate pitches based on how they see it and not based on countries (hosting). I am all for pitches like these (like the one at Newlands).
“We pride ourselves playing on pitches like these, all I want to say is be neutral.” The amount of mistrust for some of the select match officials was evident when Rohit sarcastically said that he would love to know about the parametres match referees use to rate pitches.
“I would like to see the how the pitch has been rated. I want to see it now. I want to see the chart, how they rate pitches. Clearly, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Cape Town, Centurion, all are different. Pitches deteriorate fast, overhead conditions are different.
“If the ball seams from ball one, that’s okay, but if the ball starts turning…. If the ball starts turning, they don’t like it. If you want the ball only to seam and not turn, it’s wrong,” Rohit called out the critics of rank turners.
“I have seen enough of cricket now. I have seen enough of how these match referees looks into these ratings, I have no issues with how they want to note, they have to be neutral,” he kept the ball straight in ICC’s court.
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