Ranji Trophy: Badoni Slams Second Successive Ton, Saranshs Seven-for Puts MP On Top
JSCA International Stadium: Batting all-rounder Ayush Badoni continued his rich vein of form by hitting a second consecutive hundred, while India off-spinner Saransh Jains seven-wicket haul gave Madhya Pradesh firm control on day one of the third-round Ranji Trophy matches on Monday. Fresh from a career-best 217 against Gujarat, Badoni struck an unbeaten 106 off 122 balls, laced with 11 fours and two sixes, to take Delhi to 309/5 against Jharkhand at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi. Badoni, 26, previously hit 205 against the same opponents in the 2024/25 season. A chanceless knock, Badonis sixth first-class hundred, anchored Delhis recovery. He found a reliable ally in all-rounder Sumit Mathur, who was unbeaten on 50, as the pair put together an unbroken 128-run stand for the sixth wicket. Mathur had a lucky escape on 36 when he was caught at long-on, only to be recalled because Anukul Roy had overstepped. At Holkar Stadium in Indore, Saranshs 7-40 helped Madhya Pradesh bowl Bihar out for just 99. The hosts, still looking for their first win of the season after two draws, then reached 261/3 with a lead of 162, after bowling out Bihar for 99. Wicketkeeper-batter Saksham Purohit was unbeaten on 113, and his opening partner Yash Dubey made 84. At the BKC Ground, Mumbai also made a strong start against Haryana at home after being put in to bat first. Angkrish Raghuvanshi made 114 off 180 balls with 13 fours and a six, while Musheer Khan scored 109 off 185 balls with 12 fours and a six. The pair added 208 runs for the second wicket to steer Mumbai to 290/3 at stumps. Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir, also in search of their first win, were frustrated by Priyanshu Moliya at the Reliance Ground in Vadodara. Moliyas patient unbeaten 113 lifted Baroda to 259/6 after they had slipped to 197/6 at one stage. Vidarbha, who have two wins so far, had Goa in trouble at 84/6 after Nachiket Bhute ripped through the top order with four wickets. But Darshan Misal and Yash Kasvankar then struck half-centuries and shared a stand of 104 runs for the seventh wicket to help the visitors reach 204/8. On a rain-hit day, Pondicherry reduced Uttar Pradesh to 67/4. In Mysuru, Karnataka recovered from a sluggish start to bowl Tripura out for 194 at the SDNR Wadiyar Stadium. The hosts, who sprang a surprise by leaving out pacers Vidwath Kaverappa and Abhilash Shetty to accommodate spinners Shikhar Shetty and Ritesh Bhatkal, failed to make use of the new ball as Tripura moved comfortably to 88/2 in the first session. Left-arm spinner Shikhar then claimed his third first-class five-wicket haul, while pacer Manvanth Kumar took three. Karnataka lost Mayank Agarwal early and were 10 for one at stumps. At the DVR Ground in Mulapadu, Chhattisgarhs spinners made full use of a helpful pitch to bowl Andhra out for 231. Veteran off-spinner Jayant Yadav led the way with 4-75, while Ajay Mandal and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja took three and two wickets respectively. In reply, Chhattisgarh lost Ayush Pandey early when he was run out going for an unnecessary quick single. Captain Anuj Tiwary and Mayank Verma then negotiated the final half-hour to take the visitors to 35/1. Wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh laid the foundation with 81 off 126 balls, hitting nine fours and a six, while fifties from Salil Arora and Ramandeep Singh then guided Punjab to 289/6 against Hyderabad in Secunderabad. Denish Das made 90 off 165 balls, with 14 fours, to take Assam to 235/6 against Saurashtra in Rajkot. For the hosts, veteran pacer Jaydev Unadkat picked up three wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja and Arth Yadav took one wicket each. In Thiruvananthapuram, where only 50 overs were possible due to rain, Kerala reduced Bengal to 172/6, with Aditya Sarwate taking three wickets and Nedumankuzhy Basil two scalps. Maharashtra bowled out Gujarat for 233 in Pune, with Siddhesh Veer taking four wickets, while Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Vicky Ostwal claimed three apiece. Maharashtra were 24/1 when stumps were called. Services off-spinner Pulkit Narang returned 6-47, his second five-wicket haul of the season, to bowl Odisha out for 194 in Bhubaneswar. The visitors were 13/0 at stumps. Tamil Nadu bowled out Railways for 184 in Chennai, with R Sai Kishore and Sonu Yadav taking three wickets each, but slipped to 71/3 till stumps arrived. Devendra Singh Boras six-wicket haul helped Uttarakhand dismiss Rajasthan for 272 in Dehradun despite skipper Kartik Sharmas 73. Uttarakhand were 18/0 at stumps. Centuries from Arjun Azad and Nehal Pajni powered Chandigarh past 350 for the loss of three wickets against Himachal Pradesh. In the Plate group, Meghalayas Ajay Duhan (167) and Kishan Lyngdoh (144) shared an unbroken 308-run stand for the second wicket as their side piled up 385/2 against Mizoram in Nadiad. Tamil Nadu bowled out Railways for 184 in Chennai, with R Sai Kishore and Sonu Yadav taking three wickets each, but slipped to 71/3 till stumps arrived. Devendra Singh Boras six-wicket haul helped Uttarakhand dismiss Rajasthan for 272 in Dehradun despite skipper Kartik Sharmas 73. Uttarakhand were 18/0 at stumps. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
BJP protests Kharges remark on PMs father in Bihar and Jharkhand
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Abu Dhabi T10 League: Former South African all-rounder Lance Klusener believes the ability to remain focused on every delivery, rather than dwell on previous mistakes, is crucial to succeeding in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, as he prepares to coach the Arabian Aces in their debut season of the competition. Klusener, who has coached several franchises in the tournament, said the unforgiving nature of the ten-over format demands sustained concentration, with even a single run saved or conceded potentially influencing the final result. T10 is just about staying in every over, in every ball. As a bowler, youre going to go for runs. Thats just what happens. But its the very next ball that counts. Over 90% of the games go down to the last over, whether youre batting or bowling, Klusener told IANS on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi T10 League, where he is currently the head coach of the Arabian Aces. He emphasised that players cannot afford to lose their focus after an expensive delivery or a difficult passage of play, particularly in a format where opportunities to recover are limited. The message out there is just to stay in every ball, every over, whether youre batting or bowling, because at the end of those 10 overs or the total of 20 overs, that last over is important. And if youve managed to save a run here or save a run there, that makes a huge difference in the end. So its just about making sure that you never really give up on an over or a delivery; you just got to make the next one count. And if we can just stay in every single over or every single ball, well have half a chance of competing at the end, he stated. The Arabian Aces will enter the competition with a squad featuring established international names, including Moeen Ali, Andre Russell and Liam Livingstone. However, Klusener acknowledged that assembling an experienced group was only the starting point, with his immediate priority being to ensure that each player is prepared to contribute from the outset. Obviously, it is an exciting time. Its a bit of a relaunch of, you know, the T10, and there are a couple of different franchises, a couple of different looks, owners. So its always exciting being part of that. Weve assembled a really nice, strong squad as well. But, you know, that doesnt necessarily guarantee results on the field. So its just got to make sure that, you know, everybody gets what they need and everybody, all those players, are in a space where they can perform on any given day. So most of the cricketers are coming from having been played. So in terms of preparation, hopefully just a couple of days to, I guess, get into what T10 is. But weve just got to make sure, from a coaching point of view, that people get what they need so that theyre in a position to perform the best they can. And fingers crossed, they do that, you know, when the games kick off, he added. The South African, who is entering his fifth season in the Abu Dhabi T10 circuit, said familiarity with several members of the squad could help the new franchise establish itself quickly. Having previously worked with some of the players in T10 and other franchise competitions, he expects the existing relationships to assist during a tournament in which teams have little time to find their rhythm. Ive done Abu Dhabi T10; this is my fifth season. So, Ive been with Moeen before in the same team, Liam Livingstone in the same team, and a number of others, not just maybe in T10, but in other T20 leagues around the world. So thats a step in the right direction. But its a new experience for everyone. Its a new team, and its always an exciting time. Hopefully, we can hit the ground running, because it is a short period; its two weeks or 10 days for the competition. So well need to hit the ground running. But it stands us in good stead. I know the players know me, most of them. So thats important in a short competition. Klusener previously served as head coach of Morrisville Samp Army, guiding the franchise to six victories in seven round-robin matches as it comfortably qualified for the playoff rounds. He has also worked with the Bangla Tigers as team director, giving him considerable experience of the demands of franchise cricket in the competition. Beyond the immediate challenge of building a competitive team, Klusener believes the lessons players learn in T10 can prove valuable in other formats, particularly when it comes to responding to setbacks. Its just about making sure that you never give up on an over if youre bowling or that youve never really got into a position where youve got enough runs. Thats what T10 really teaches cricketers: that its the very next ball that counts if youve gone for runs or youve gone for boundaries before that. Its important that the very next ball you can still have an impact on the outcome of the game. Beyond the immediate challenge of building a competitive team, Klusener believes the lessons players learn in T10 can prove valuable in other formats, particularly when it comes to responding to setbacks. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
IPL 2027 Auction To Be Held in Goa on December 16
The auction will be held nearly a month after the retention deadline of November 15, which the IPL has communicated to the franchises
Emphasising the strong, enduring bilateral ties between New Delhi and Jerusalem, Spokesperson of the Embassy of Israel in India, Mishelle Sirota, on Monday affirmed that the relationship between India and Israel will remain steadfast regardless of the outcome of the Israeli national elections, scheduled to take place tomorrow. Speaking with ANI, she said, India and Israel relationship will not change, even for the slightest, no matter who is going to be chosen, characterising the upcoming polls as a celebration of democracy where Israeli citizens gather to decide how they want their nation to look over the next four years. Highlighting the scale of public participation, Sirota pointed out that around 7.3 million eligible voters are preparing to cast their ballots. She expressed optimism about a strong voter turnout, emphasising that Israelis living abroad often travel back home specifically to exercise their franchise since overseas voting is not permitted.
Klusener Says Consistency Key For South Africa After Australia Test Turnaround
Abu Dhabi T10 League: Former South African all-rounder Lance Klusener believes consistency with the bat will be crucial for South Africa as they look to build on their emphatic response against Australia in the ongoing Test series, saying the teams World Test Championship triumph has already demonstrated their credentials but sustained contributions from the batting unit remain essential. South Africa bounced back from a heavy defeat in the opening Test in Durban with an innings victory in Gqeberha to level the series, setting up a decisive third contest. Klusener, currently serving as the head coach of the Arabian Aces in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, spoke to IANS on the sidelines of the tournament ahead of the series decider starting on Tuesday, assessing the Proteas response and the challenges facing both teams. For Klusener, South Africas success in the World Test Championship final against Australia had already answered questions about the teams ability to compete against the strongest opposition. The emphatic victory in the second Test, he said, further demonstrated the sides character, although he cautioned that one outstanding performance would not be enough to guarantee sustained success. The fact that South Africa won the World Test Championship really tells you that theyre a good team. There was obviously some talk that they hadnt played Australia and probably India enough. So, its nice to see that weve been able to silence a few critics. Obviously, theres a game to go. Were all looking forward to that tomorrow. But theyre a serious team. And to be able to bounce back and beat Australia by an innings as well just shows you the character, the challenges. Its always about scoring enough runs. Temba was outstanding, 170-odd in the last Test match. Theyll be looking to themselves, looking inwardly to make sure that more batters are contributing. Exciting things, obviously, two spinners and Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, so we have those options. And then there are enough fast bowlers there to trouble any team. Theres a lot of good ingredients, but consistency is the key going forward, Klusener told IANS. South Africas victory in Gqeberha was built on a commanding batting performance led by captain Temba Bavuma, whose substantial contribution helped put the team in a position to dictate terms. Klusener identified the need for other batters to provide similar support, arguing that the presence of a strong bowling attack must be matched by reliable run-scoring across the series. He also highlighted the combination of spin and pace available to the Proteas, with Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer offering options in the slower-bowling department alongside a fast-bowling unit capable of challenging any opposition. Australia, meanwhile, will be looking to respond after being dismissed for 99 in their first innings in Gqeberha. Klusener attributed the collapse to a combination of effective South African bowling and conditions that favoured the attack, while also pointing to the importance of batting application in Test cricket. I thought it was a combination of some really good bowling on conditions that probably suited the bowlers a little bit. I suppose Australia would go and look at themselves in terms of application in that situation. And even if they had managed to squeeze out another 80 or 90 runs, that could have well been the difference in that Test match in terms of just batting a little bit more time. So, margins even in Test cricket are small. Im sure both teams would have had a look at a few things and, hopefully, going to read the conditions right when they get that opportunity tomorrow. But yeah, exciting times. Both teams have had a few things to look at. Im sure theyve done that. And I think the quality of the cricket in the third Test was going to be even better than what weve seen so far, he said. Even a modest addition to Australias first-innings total, he suggested, might have changed the course of the second match, underlining the importance of patience and decision-making when conditions favour the bowlers. Beyond the immediate contest, Klusener believes the series has demonstrated why Test cricket continues to hold a distinctive place in the sport despite the growing influence of franchise leagues and shorter formats. Theres a balance. Test cricket is the ultimate examination of technique and character. And theres always going to be a place for that. But at the same time, the game is moving forward. We need to accommodate not only what cricketers want, but also what spectators want. And thats the shorter ball format of the game. The spinoffs from T20 cricket, for example, have been immense, not just from a spectator or from a monetary point of view. We see those benefits in Test cricket now. Im sure there are people that have come back to watch Test cricket because T20 has maybe sparked their interest. So the shorter format has most definitely impacted cricket in general in a big way, not just from a cricketing skills point of view, but from a spectator point of view as well, he opined. And thats the shorter ball format of the game. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
BJP Protests Outside Congress Office in Ranchi Over Kharges Alleged Remarks About PM Modis Father
BJP staged a protest in Ranchi against Congress leader Kharges alleged comments about PM Modis father, demanding an apology. BJP Protests Outside Congress Office in Ranchi Over Kharges Alleged Remarks About PM Modis Father
IPL 2027 mini-auction set to clash with India vs Sri Lanka ODI, trading window closes on November 15
The Indian Premier Leagues 2027 mini-auction will be held in Goa on December 16. That leaves the franchises a month to prepare after the November 15 deadline for retaining players. Meanwhile, the auction will coincide...
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Save The Date! IPL 2027 Auction To Be Held On Dec 16 In Goa
The December 16 auction will follow the November 15 retention deadline communicated to all 10 IPL franchises.
WPL 2027 Auction Date, Time, Venue: WPL 2027 auction will see five franchises compete for players ahead of the new season. Here is everything to know about the auction date, time, venue, live streaming, telecast, team-wise purse, retained and released players, rules and key names to watch.
SA20: Bavumas Game Has Changed, Hes A Different Cricketer, Says Pretoria Capitals Coach Pollock
SA20 League Commissioner Graeme Smith: Pretoria Capitals assistant coach Shaun Pollock believes South Africas Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma has evolved into a different cricketer over the past 18 months and is confident of him making a big contribution to the side in Season five of the SA20. Bavuma was the final player picked at the SA20 season five Player Auction, with Pollock raising the paddle to secure the experienced top-order batter at his base price. Bavuma, 36, has not played in the league since its second edition, when he was part of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape squad that won back-to-back titles. He will now look to help the Capitals, who have finished runners-up twice in four seasons, go one step further. I think Tembas game has changed. I think hes a different cricketer than he was 18 months ago. I think he has a very common understanding about how he goes about his business. And to have him from a leadership perspective, just in the background, you know, depending on how much he plays, well have to wait and see. But just to have him part of the set-up, I think will be fantastic, Pollock, the former South Africa captain, said in a statement by the tournament on Monday. He also felt that Bavumas experience would be invaluable to a young Pretoria Capitals squad. Temba, an international cricketer whos going to be playing against the best in the world for the next few months, going to come off a one-day series against England, has been part of two winning SA20 campaigns, and the international experience he brings, I mean, is wonderful. We love to get young guys in and give them opportunities. But the standard of cricket is very high. And you can never underestimate the value of someone whos played international cricket against the best bowlers in the world and what theyre capable of. Bavuma said he was happy to be back in the league, this time with a franchise close to home. Yeah, thats quite cool. I was looking forward to my January break. But yeah, its cool to be back in the mix with the guys. Not too far from home, Pretoria, led by Keshav (Maharaj) over there. So yeah, I look forward to being a part of that team. Hopefully, well be able to go all the way this year, next year. SA20 League Commissioner Graeme Smith welcomed Bavumas return and praised him for putting his name forward for the auction. Temba has probably been the most consistent player in one-day and Test matches for South Africa over the last two years. I think he knows his game really well now. And probably at a time when he was thinking about not playing much of a role in T20, being brave enough to put his name in the auction, credit to him. I think getting picked up by Dada (Sourav Ganguly) and Polly, I think its going to be wonderful to have him a part of the tournament again. SA20 League Commissioner Graeme Smith welcomed Bavumas return and praised him for putting his name forward for the auction. Temba has probably been the most consistent player in one-day and Test matches for South Africa over the last two years. I think he knows his game really well now. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
'Crickets Been A Really Fantastic Escape': Gardner After 'challenging' Marriage Breakdown Period
Big Bash League: Australia vice-captain Ashleigh Gardner has opened up on the cheating allegations that rocked her personal life, calling the marriage breakdown period challenging and saying that cricket's been a fantastic escape for the all-rounder. Garner's estranged wife, Monica Wright, had alleged the Aussie star had an affair with teammate Georgia Voll in July this year. Gardner is now in a relationship with Voll. The Aussie vice-captain spoke on the issue for the first time ahead of the upcoming Women's Big Bash League, which gets underway on Thursday with Gardner's Sydney Sixers in action on Friday against Brisbane Heat. Crickets been a really fantastic escape its been a bit of a shining light, Gardner, the Sydney Sixers captain, said as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald at the franchise's season launch on Monday. Its obviously been challenging. Yes, its my private life, but I guess these things become more of a public matter, she added. The revelation from Wright came after Australia won the T20 World Cup earlier this year and before Gardner was to lead the Trent Rockets in the Women's Hundred the following month, where she captained the side to the title. She called these wins great and thanked the people who helped her during this time. Being able to win the World Cup and have success in the Hundred campaign as well (was great). Ive had some fantastic people around me to be there when Ive needed them. I think crickets been great for that because I know the people around me support me. They know the type of person I am. Im always trying to be the best teammate I can be in whatever team I represent. Being able to captain a couple of sides throughout that period as well certainly draws me back to focusing on other people as well. Obviously, theres stuff going on in my life, but I think being able to show up for my teammates and for the clubs I represent is the most important thing I can do. Hopefully, my performances showcase that, she added. The 29-year-old stated that she had been able to compartmentalise the controversy surrounding her personal life, but some moments had a toll on her. There were certainly days that it was tough, she said. Thats my job at the end of the day. Life still happens (and it is about) being able to put my full focus into whatever I guess was needed from me, and thats obviously cricket. It was about being able to focus on having really good relationships with my teammates as well, because theyre ultimately going to be there to see the good days, to see the bad (ones). Ive made some fantastic friends throughout my career and certainly being able to rely on them at times (was helpful). When youve got a platform, you have a platform. Cricket has been one of those things that has brought me back to why Im here, she added. The all-rounder opened up on the learnings she took from the period and what responsibilities a renowned Australian player has to fulfil. Being a role model, people look up to you and whether thats your reputation and things like that. There are so many things to take out of whats happened, Gardner said. I dont really need to go into detail of the specific learnings, but I think just being able to rely on people has been a massive thing because I feel like sometimes you dont realise the support you need until you really need it. The all-rounder opened up on the learnings she took from the period and what responsibilities a renowned Australian player has to fulfil. Being a role model, people look up to you and whether thats your reputation and things like that. There are so many things to take out of whats happened, Gardner said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Pollard withdraws from SA20 2027 a day after securing MI's head coach role
The former West Indies all-rounder was bought by the Johannesburg-based franchise for R1.5 million at the SA20 auction earlier this month, but has now opted out of the tournament
IPL 2027 | 'I won't rule out...': Ashwin on MI's captaincy options
Ahead of the league, former Team India's cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin spoke about Rohit Sharma's future in the tournament. The former cricketer also said that he won't rule out Naman Dhir from the options to lead the Mumbai-based franchise in future
An engineer recently revealed how he was torn between enthusiasm to open a business and pragmatism, as he did not have enough capital. Taking to Reddit, the techie who was based in Bengaluru asked the commenters to suggest business ideas which did not require a great deal of money to invest, that involved low risk, yet had a demand in the market. The comment section ranged from serious opinions to downright hilarious.
Nepal Premier League kicks off with bigger ambitions, global cricket stars
Digital Desk | Kathmandu, Oct 26 (IANS) The third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), the country's biggest franchise cricket tournament, kicks off on Monday, with growing international participation and rising commercial interest expected to boost its profile and economic impact. Defending champions Lumbini Lions will face last season's runners-up Sudurpaschim Royals in the opening match at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu. The eight-team tournament will run until November 21. The other teams are Biratnagar Kings, Chitwan Rhinos, Janakpur Bolts, Karnali Yaks, Kathmandu Gorkhas and Pokhara Avengers. Prime Minister Balendra Shah wished the tournament success, describing the NPL as a major celebration of Nepali sports within just a few years. He also welcomed the international players and commentators participating in the event. The T20 franchise league has expanded rapidly over its first two editions, attracting greater investment, corporate sponsorship and international talent. Its growing stature received a further boost when the International Cricket Council (ICC) officially recognised the competition on October 16. The recognition means performances in the tournament will count towards players' official T20 statistics, enhancing its significance for international and domestic cricketers. Former Australia captain David Warner will represent Kathmandu Gorkhas, while the West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell and Sri Lankan players Angelo Mathews and Charith Asalanka have joined Biratnagar Kings. The West Indies players Sherfane Rutherford and Fabian Allen will play for Sudurpaschim Royals. Bangladesh all-rounders Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin and Mehidy Hasan have signed with Pokhara Avengers. Karnali Yaks will feature South African finisher David Miller, Pakistan's Hussain Talat and Sahibzada Farhan, and Bangladesh players Ariful Islam and Akbar Ali. Bangladesh all-rounder Sami Hossain, Australian player D'Arcy Short and Sri Lankan cricketer Niroshan Dickwella will represent Lumbini Lions. The tournament will also feature Nepal's first use of the Decision Review System (DRS), which uses technology to help review disputed umpiring decisions. The NPL has generated strong interest among Nepali cricket fans, with the TU International Cricket Stadium attracting large crowds during the first two editions. This year's tournament is expected to expand its commercial reach, with franchises spending more on players and several domestic and international brands backing the event. Rising hotel bookings, team merchandise sales, corporate branding and participation by major business houses are also expected to generate economic activity during the tournament. Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) secretary Paras Khadka said that the NPL had evolved into a full-fledged industry in three years, although substantial investment in infrastructure remained necessary. CAN expects revenue from sponsorships and ticket sales to reach around 700 million Nepali rupees (NPR), significantly higher than in previous editions. Revenue from sponsorships will amount to NPR 200 million, while total income from sponsorships and ticket sales will reach around NPR 700 million, CAN Treasurer Padma Bahadur Khadka said. As the teams are expected to spend a similar amount, business transactions worth around NPR 1.5 billion will take place during this month. According to CAN, the inaugural edition generated revenue of NPR 276.96 million, which increased to more than NPR 473.6 million in the second edition.
SBI Funds slips 7%, hits new low post Q2 results; down 24% from issue price
Analysts believe that its franchise strength, wide distribution network and expansion in alternatives are likely to help SBI Funds Management capitalise on industry tailwinds.
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Nat Sciver-Brunt And Co Free To Skip T20Is Against Sri Lanka If WPL Teams Reach Knockouts
England players, including skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, will be free to skip the three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka if their respective franchises reach the knockout stage of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027, which runs from January 14 to February 7 next year.
'Don't Chase Anything; Block Outside Noises': Morkel Backs Bhuvneshwar After Underwhelming Return
T20 World Cup: India bowling coach Morne Morkel has backed senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar despite his expensive returns in the first two T20Is against New Zealand, stating that he should not think about outside noise and try to be himself. Bhuvneshwar's return to the T20I setup after four years didnt pan out as he would have thought, as he conceded 49 and 50 runs in the two games, respectively, from his quota of overs with an economy rate of 12.37, the poorest among the Indian bowling unit. Morkel revealed that he suggested Bhuvneshwar not to chase anything and leave the expectations factor out. I've got a lot of sympathy for his return. The reason why I say that is, one, there will be expectation after four years to come out. He's done exceptionally well in the IPL. He's bowled really well. One is to block the expectation factor out, Morkel said at a press conference ahead of the third T20I, to be played on Tuesday. Two, leading into his selection, I mean, there was a month of cricket where, yes, he trained, but this is a different beast coming and playing international cricket where the margins are small. So he had to come in with limited training because of the schedule to get himself ready, he said. Before making a comeback to international cricket. The 36-year-old had last represented India in the T20 World Cup semi-final against England at the Adelaide Oval in November 2022. A strong run in the Indian Premier League over the last two seasons helped the experienced seamer force his way back into the national setup. Bhuvneshwar claimed 45 wickets across the last two IPL editions for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and played an important role in the franchise's title-winning campaigns. His consistency with the new ball and wealth of experience have earned him another opportunity in India's T20I setup. So the skill and his experience everything is there. But at the end of the day, we have to respect the game of cricket and you have to be able to allow him to just find his feet in some of the games. Morkel said. And for me, that has been the message from the start when he joined the squad, is to, you know, don't chase anything. Just be you. Yes, there will be expectations. But just every game you'll get better and every game you'll find your rhythm. So let's not think about any outside noises. Just be you and connect with that, he added. Leading 2-0 in the five-match series, India will have to counter the gutsy Wellington wind in the third T20I, which Morkel dubbed a different beast, but is ready to face the challenge rather than making excuses. And for me, that has been the message from the start when he joined the squad, is to, you know, don't chase anything. Just be you. Yes, there will be expectations. But just every game you'll get better and every game you'll find your rhythm. So let's not think about any outside noises. Just be you and connect with that, he added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
'Whatever's Going To Help The Team Win': Lanning Embraces Captaincy Return At Stars
Big Bash League: Former Australia captain Meg Lanning will return to the helm of the Melbourne Stars for Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) 12, taking charge ahead of the upcoming season after Annabel Sutherland stepped down following two years as captain. Lanning, who last led the franchise in 2023, will work alongside the new coaching staff to strengthen the Stars campaign, with Sutherland continuing to play a key role in the leadership group. Lanning said the decision followed discussions about getting the best out of the squad, with Sutherlands workload as an international allrounder also a consideration. It probably wasnt something that was on my radar too much, having stepped back from it a couple of years ago, with Annabel stepping in. But once we had some discussions this year around how do we get the best out of everybody, it came down to me stepping into that role, which Im happy to do - whatevers going to help the team win and play at our best. Annabel will still play a really big role in the leadership space, and hopefully it just frees her up a little bit to be able to go out there and play, so we can see the best of her out on field, Lanning told cricket.com.au. The five-time World Cup winner will work with new coach Richard Pyrah, who has joined the Stars for the next two seasons after his stint with Yorkshire. Lanning believes his arrival has already helped establish a clearer direction for the team. He got here just before Spring Challenge started, and we had a few phone calls and whatnot leading into it, but it was really helpful to have him throughout Spring Challenge, just for the staffing group and the playing group to get used to each other, how he operates, what he expects of us, and for him to get a bit of a handle on the group as well. So that was a really productive tournament for us. We felt like we improved throughout that tournament, and some really clear roles have come up. So hes been great so far. I think hes provided a really clear direction for our group, how we want to play, how we want to operate on and off the field, the former Aussie skipper added. The Stars are also looking to build on the promise shown by young all-rounder Rhys McKenna, who is expected to continue opening alongside Lanning after scoring a half-century in the T20 Spring Challenge. That's probably where were leaning, Lanning said. Rhys last year showed some really good signs. Shes a young player whos got some exceptional skills and talent. Its just about her having the confidence to go out there and play her game. We just want to maximise everybodys skills and weve got Annabel and Dani Gibson through the middle, and then Amy Jones as well. Despite the absence of ace fast-bowler Marizanne Kapp, the Stars believe their pace options can provide the variety needed across the innings, with Australia international Kim Garth and Sutherland expected to shoulder significant responsibilities. We've got a lot of variety within the team, Lanning said. Kim Garth can take the new ball and on her day, shes pretty unplayable. Its handy to have her and Annabel, who is just going from strength to strength, and can bowl at any phase of the innings. She really understands her game now, which I think is a really cool thing to have. We feel like weve got some options throughout the innings and some variety as well, which I think is important. We play on pretty good wickets, so you want to be able to dish up some different stuff. The addition of Englands Charlie Dean is expected to further strengthen the Stars spin department alongside Sophie Day and Maisy Gibson. Lanning highlighted Deans experience and composure as valuable assets in the shortest format. Charlie gives us a lot in a lot of different areas - shes very experienced, she said of Dean. Shes captained England a fair bit, so shes a cool head and someone who can stay really calm under pressure which is really handy in T20 cricket in particular. The addition of Englands Charlie Dean is expected to further strengthen the Stars spin department alongside Sophie Day and Maisy Gibson. Lanning highlighted Deans experience and composure as valuable assets in the shortest format. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Vin Diesel celebrates mom on birthday: Pure love
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Oct 26 (IANS) Hollywood star Vin Diesel celebrated his mom Delora Sherleen Vincent on her birthday, sharing a message for her and labelling the bond as pure love. Taking to social media, the actor shared a picture of his mother with his daughter and a birthday wish that read: Pure love Happy birthday We love you mom. Vin shares three children with his longtime partner, Mexican model Paloma Jimenez. They have Hania, Vincent, and Pauline together. Hania is their oldest child and was born in 18. They have a son named Vincent, who was born in 2010. Their youngest daughter is named Pauline, who is 11. The star named her in honor of his late close friend and Fast & Furious co-star, Paul Walker. On October 6, the actor shared that being a dad is the role that completes him beyond his iconic characters. Vin took to Instagram, where he shared a picture of himself cuddling his daughter and wrote in the caption section: Riddick, Dom, Xander, Groot, Theo, Kaulder, Bloodshot all parts of me. But the role that completes me dad. Vin got the spotlight in the late 1990s and first became known for appearing in Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan in 1998. He was then seen in Boiler Room, The Pacifier XXX, and The Chronicles of Riddick. Diesels voice acting work includes The Iron Giant, the video games The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay and The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, and the voices of Groot I and Groot II. The star was last seen in Fast X, the sequel to F9. It stars Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto, alongside Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Ludacris Bridges, John Cena, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Scott Eastwood, Daniela Melchior, Alan Ritchson, Helen Mirren, Brie Larson, Rita Moreno, Jason Statham, Jason Momoa, and Charlize Theron. He will next be seen in the final part of the Fast & Furious franchise, which is officially titled Fast Forever. It is scheduled to release in theaters on March 17, 2028.
Teenager Aman Chaudhary set for debut as Delhi take on depleted Jharkhand
RANCHI, Oct 25: Teenaged left-arm spinner Aman Chaudhary will be making his first-class debut when Delhi take on a depleted Jharkhand in a third round Group C fixture of the Ranji Trophy starting here on Monday. Bowling has been an issue with Delhi for the past few seasons. Head coach Vijay Dahiya and selectors are []
Obvious Choice For This Year: R Ashwin Makes Bold Mumbai Indians Captaincy Pick
Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has tipped Rohit Sharma to become Mumbai Indians' captain for IPL 2027, following the franchise appointing Kieron Pollard as head coach.
9th Circuit panel questions basis for feds' request to block 20,000 California ballots
A voter casts her ballot in Boyle Heights on Saturday, the first day of early voting in Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) In a rare Sunday hearing, a federal appeals court judge appointed by President Trump questioned how the Trump administrations request to intervene in Californias ongoing midterm election in order to force state officials to set aside 20,000 ballots from voters whose citizenship it questions squares with the U.S. Constitution. Judge Mark J. Bennett said that while the executive branch is unhappy with what California law requires for ensuring voters are citizens, the state has the right to determine the manner of its elections under the Elections Clause of the Constitution and Congress has not challenged that process, despite having the ability to do so. It seems to me that you want us to issue an injunction that is entirely inconsistent with the law the California Legislature has adopted pursuant to the Elections Clause, Bennett said. How can we do that? Matthew Donnelly, a Justice Department attorney, said the Trump administration has good reason to believe those ballots are from ineligible noncitizen voters, and has the legal right under separate federal criminal law to challenge their tabulation until state officials can prove otherwise. Donnelly said both federal criminal law and state election law bar noncitizen voters from casting ballots, but the problem is that California isnt interested in enforcing that provision. The exchange came during an hour-long hearing before a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, over the Justice Departments unprecedented emergency request that the court order California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan to immediately stop counting ballots from the 20,000 flagged voters until they can definitively prove those voters are U.S. citizens. The appellate panel on which Bennett was joined by circuit Judges Patrick J. Bumatay, another Trump appointee, and Gabriel P. Sanchez, an appointee of President Biden did not issue a ruling, though a decision is expected soon given the emergency nature of the appeal. Read more: 'This is not normal': Feds demand California counties set aside likely noncitizen ballots How it will rule is unclear, though both Bennett and Sanchez hammered Donnelly with questions about how the Trump administrations position squared with the law. Rick Hasen, director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA School of Law, wrote online Sunday that the court seemed very likely to reject the Trump administrations appeal, with Bennett and Sanchez having expressed great skepticism on both jurisdiction and the merits. In addition to questioning its constitutionality, Bennett also questioned how the appellate court even had jurisdiction over the case, given that the Trump administration appealed the matter to the appellate court before the lower district court had a chance to assess the facts in the case or issue an order. How do we have jurisdiction when the district court has said its going to rule expeditiously? Bennett said. I dont see how we have jurisdiction. Bennett also questioned why the appellate court should ignore the claims of state elections officials that having to comply with the Trump administrations demands in the few remaining days before the Nov. 3 election would be catastrophically disruptive to the election, given that the lower court has had no chance to assess those claims. Isnt that sufficient to give us pause as to whether we should do exactly what [a state expert] avers is going to cause a catastrophe? Bennett asked. Bennetts questions evoked many of the arguments made by the state in its own filings in the matter, which were repeated by California Deputy Solicitor Gen. Samuel P. Siegel during the hearing. Siegel said there was nothing for the appellate court to review, given there has been no fact finding and no order out of the lower court, and that the administrations demands were unconstitutional and illegal. He said the court did not have to wrestle with many of the arguments being put forward by the Trump administration, because it should simply reject the appeal for lack of jurisdiction and send the matter back down to the lower court. Bumatay appeared most interested of the three judges in the damage done when noncitizens do vote, and the underlying question of how the state should handle objections to alleged noncitizen voters when they arise. Siegel and Seth Waxman, an attorney for Logan, said there are existing processes for that which require the challenger to present extraordinary proof which they said the Trump administration has not done for the 20,000 voters it has flagged. Sanchez repeatedly questioned the provenance of the administrations list, asking which third parties were involved in providing the data. Donnelly could not answer, which Sanchez said raised questions about the reliability of the list. The Justice Department appealed the case after a lower district court judge declined to immediately rule last week on its request for a temporary restraining order barring California officials from tabulating the flagged ballots. In court filings, the administration argued that once mail ballots are removed from their envelopes in California, or a ballot has been cast in person, there is no way to associate the voter with the ballot or resegregate it from other cast ballots. Attorneys for California, Weber and Logan have argued the demands are illegal, impossible to comply with before the Nov. 3 election and based on deeply flawed federal immigration and third-party data sets shown to be inaccurate and inclusive of legitimate voters. Read more: Trump says he ordered the Justice Department's lawsuit over Alaska's U.S. Senate race In court filings, they have argued that the Trump administrations argument rests on mere suspicion, aroused by suspect data, and that its lawsuit is at best a reckless political stunt and at worst threatens to disenfranchise thousands of Californians this election. Independent elections experts have said the Justice Departments efforts break with longstanding department policy of not wading into election-related issues within 90 days of an election, to avoid disenfranchising legitimate voters. They also have said the Trump administrations lists of alleged noncitizen voters and its authority to intervene are both questionable, including because the U.S. Constitution empowers states to run elections with oversight from Congress, not the executive branch. The Justice Department sued California , Weber and Logan on Oct. 15, two days after Acting Deputy Atty. Gen. Trent McCotter wrote to Weber and Logan giving them 48 hours to set aside the ballots for the 20,000 flagged voters whom McCotter claimed were likely noncitizens. First Assistant U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli, the lead federal prosecutor in L.A., has claimed federal authorities have overwhelming evidence that tens of thousands of noncitizens are registered to vote in California, and has defended the methods used to identify those voters. He and other federal prosecutors in the state also recently charged 28 legal permanent residents in California with election-related crimes, including illegally registering to vote. On Friday, the Justice Department sent letters to county elections offices statewide with demands that they segregate ballots from voters the Trump administration believes are noncitizens, drawing from the same list of 20,000 at issue in the case against Weber and Logan. In those letters, the Justice Department gave the county officials 48 hours to comply, and threatened them with criminal punishment if they refuse. State officials have said neither Essayli nor other Trump administration officials have provided proof to back up their claims, and that their list of 20,000 voters is clearly inaccurate. Logan said a preliminary review of a subset of those voters found many were born in the U.S., werent registered and had never voted. More than 3 million people have already cast ballots in California and more than 500,000 have already done so in Los Angeles County. The challenge to the 20,000 ballots in California is just the latest Trump administration attempt to intervene in state-run elections ahead of the midterms. Federal judges in dozens of states have rejected Justice Department lawsuits demanding the states turn over their voter rolls to the Trump administration. Federal judges also have rejected multiple Trump executive orders trying to institute national voter ID and citizenship checks, and his administrations attempt to empower the U.S. Postal Service to vet mail ballots. Other cases including over the Trump administration using unproven and inaccurate federal data sets to question the citizenship of state voters are pending. Democrats and voting rights groups are also bracing for fresh litigation from the Trump administration to challenge the outcome of pivotal election results the president doesnt like and are already defending against a lawsuit the Justice Department brought at Trumps urging in Alaska, preemptively challenging a Democratic win in the Senate race there based on a third candidate sharing a similar name as the Republican incumbent. Times staff writer Brittny Mejia contributed to this report. Get the L.A. Times California Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times . This article originally appeared on LA Times at https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/9th-circuit-panel-questions-basis-225404439.html
BJP to intensify campaign against govt failures; Congress hits back
Kieron Pollard's Super Kings Chapter Hits Unexpected Twist Before SA20 2027: Report
Kieron Pollard was on Saturday named Mumbai Indians' coach. For someone who has been an integral part of the franchise for a long time, the elevation came as a natural progression
Crumbling DMC office puts daily visitors at risk as repairs await
Rabid dog bites 16 in Latehar, victims given anti-rabies shots
Cyclone threat: Jharkhand to face thunderstorms, heavy rain from Oct 27
Man held for hacking wife to death, burying body in house
CISF seizes 258.75 tonnes of illegally stored coal in Bokaro forest
Police probe firing incident at Gumla project site
SIR meet today to reveal number of hearings, not just electoral forms digitised
TS UISL launches ReLife to resell used goods in Jamshedpur
SKMU forms Senate under Jharkhand Universities Act
Seasonal illness cases rise in Hazaribag hosps as temperatures fluctuate
Ranchi likely to get 300-auto stand at Rs 1.80cr
Official Found Murdered In Ranchi
A 40-year-old revenue department official, Lakshmikant Munda, was allegedly killed at his home in Ranchi, Jharkhand, by unidentified persons. Police have launched an investigation, considering angles like robbery and old enmity, and a Special Investigation Team has been formed to nab the culprits.
JSPCB to install air, noise monitors in Jamshedpur & Adityapur ahead of Diwali
RMC sets seven-day deadline to complete Morabadi vending zone wall
Jharkhand survey to document native livestock, poultry breeds
Palamu MP seeks central team to inspect MMCH functioning
17 from Dhanbad secure govt jobs through TSF coaching programme
Last rites of advocate Anushka held in Varanasi
Woman who went viral for barefoot run in sari clears home guard test
Kriti Kharbanda celebrates 7 years of Housefull 4 with a nostalgic post
Kriti Kharbanda marked seven years of Housefull 4 by revisiting the film and sharing a nostalgic post on social media. Released in 2019, the comedy film was part of Bollywoods popular Housefull franchise. On the anniversary, the actress looked back at her association with the project through an AI-generated video featuring her characters regal appearance. Along with the video, Kriti shared a note expressing gratitude for the film, her experience working on it, the team behind the project and the audience. She wrote, Grateful for the film, experience, the team and of course, our audience! Her message reflected her appreciation for everyone who was part of the film and the viewers who watched it. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti Kharbanda (@kriti.kharbanda) In Housefull 4, Kriti played a dual role, portraying two characters set in different eras. Her royal look, featuring traditional outfits, elaborate jewellery and detailed styling, was among the films visual elements. The contrasting settings and appearances allowed the actress to portray distinct personalities within the story. The film brought together an ensemble cast and followed a narrative that connected characters across two different timelines. As it completes seven years, Kritis post revisits her time on the project and the experience of being part of the comedy franchise. Through the AI-generated video and her anniversary message, the actress looked back at the film while acknowledging the contribution of the team and the audience. Her post offered a glimpse into her association with Housefull 4 and the memories she continues to cherish from the 2019 release. Also Read : Kriti Kharbanda shares car selfie with road safety message: Peeche wali seat pe bhi seatbelt zaroori hai
Independence of Judiciary and Justice Sanjay Kaul
THE REPORT OF RITU SARIN in Indian Express on October 10, 2026, with a screaming headline that As Chief Justice of India, Justice D Y Chandrachud was too deferential to the Government when it came to appointments remind Mahatma Gandhis article, The Hallucination of Law Courts published in Young India on October 6, 1920. Ritu Sarins report is based on the forthcoming book Without Fear ofFavour of justice ((Retd) Sanjay Kaul of Supreme Court being published by Juggernaut later this month. It devastatingly brings out justice Kauls account that at one time, Chandrachud as Chief Justice sought Governments nod before the Collegium had met and, once, even voiced the Governments bizarre query regarding the caste of a minority-faith judge candidate. In such expose that former CJI Chandrachud was deferential to the Government there is an echo Mahatma Gandhis statement in his aforementioned article, The Hallucination of Law Courts . With deep anguish he wrote in it, The worst is that they(law courts) support the authority of a government. They he remarked are supposed to dispense justice and are therefore called the palladile of a nation's liberty. But when they support the authority of an unrighteous Government they are no longer palladile of liberty, they are crushing houses to crush a nation's spirit, he sharply stated. Proceeding further he emphatically and presciently wrote, Let no one suppose that these things would be changed when Indian judges and Indian prosecutors take the place of Englishmen. So, Gandhis utterances of 1920 that The worst is that they(law courts) support the authority of a government and Let no one suppose that these things would be changed when Indian judges and Indian prosecutors take the place of Englishmen are playing out in the expose of justice Kaul that former CJI was deferential to the Government. Nehru on Independence of Judiciary On 24 th May 1949 Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru participated in the discussion in the Constituent Assembly on Article 103 of the draft Constitution (now Article 124 of the Constitution) dealing with the establishment and constitution of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice and other judges. While doing so he very boldly said, It is important that these judges should be not only first-rate, but should be acknowledged to be first-rate in the country, and of the highest integrity, if necessary, people who can stand up against the executive government, and whoever may come in their way. Executive Court Nehrus words that the judges should have the courage to stand up against the executive government, and whoever may come in their way deserve to be recalled and reiterated particularly when, of late, independence and integrity of people appointed as judges of Supreme Court and High Courts are being questioned with credible material. In his article The Troubling Legacy of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi , Gautam Bhatia charged that the Supreme Court was made to ally with the Government and very sharply remarked, His tenure will be remembered for the rise of the Executive Court, one which has made the Supreme Court indistinguishable from the executive. Justice Kauls remarks that CJI Chandrachud was deferential to the Government reinforces the remark made by Bhatia in his seminal article. Independent Judiciary, Signifies Independence of India Such worrisome developments clearly underline the demolition of independence of judiciary from the executive as mandated by the Constitution. Indira Jaisingh, former Additional Solicitor General of India and Senior Advocate in her interview to the DeKoder, two months back in August this year, candidly stated that The capture of the Supreme Court by the ruling parties worried her the most. Reflecting on crucial importance of independence of judiciary to safeguard of the country she very profoundly said, If You Dont Have an Independent Judiciary, Youre Not an Independent Country. She told that when young lawyers approached her seeking advice how to discharge their duties in such an atmosphere she asked that to work in manner as if they owned the court. What is troubling is that the loss of independence of judiciary because of the deferential attitude of Chief Justices and charge that the SC has become an executive court spells calamitous consequences for the freedom, liberty and independence of India. Look at the remark of Justice Joymalya Bagchi of the supreme court who nonchalantly remarked that 2.7 million voters in West Bengal would vote in next elections because their appeals for getting enrolled in the voter list are being adjudicated by judicial tribunals. And when by elections were conducted recently to two Assembly constituencies and lawyers pleaded that those voters could not vote again in this election cycle as well he famously dismissed by saying this is only by election. One wonders how a judge could be so indifferent and insensitive to the constitutional right to vote guaranteed to all citizens from 18 years of age onwards. SC on Test Indian Express in its editorial The knock on the Supreme Courts door published on October 6, 2026 referred to its expose of September 23 unmasking of malfunctioning of Election Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in implementing SIR leading to mass scale disenfranchisement of voters. It then observed The citizens fundamental right to participate in the electoral process has to be protected at all costs. But even as the EC went back on its own record of inclusiveness, even as it shifted the burden of proof onto the vulnerable voter and set up a hurdle race at every stage of the SIR, the Court kept giving it the benefit of every doubt. Going ahead, therefore, not just the EC, the Court is also on test. The crisis of credibility plaguing the Supreme Court is getting accelerated. It would spell disastrous consequences for our Republic. Can the Chief Justice of India and other judges question the Government of the Day and hold it account for its acts of commission and omission egregiously violating the Constitution and rule of law? Only if the CJI and other judges can do so the independence of judiciary can be upheld. Failure to do so would constantly remind the forceful utterances of Indira Jaisingh that, If You Dont Have an Independent Judiciary, Youre Not an Independent Country. It has now become a categorical imperative for the judges to restore the independence of judiciary to save the Constitution and safeguard the independence of India.
Mithila Palkar calls Little Things 'the gift that keeps giving' as the show turns 10
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Oct 25 (IANS) Actress Mithila Palkar called her show 'Little Things' 'the gift that keeps giving' as the show completed 10 years since its release on Sunday. She expressed her gratitude for getting so much love for 'Little Things' even after such a long time. Sharing some fond memories from the beloved drama, Mithila wrote on her account, 10 years ago, on this day, the first episode of this show released. And 10 years later, even today, we are so lucky to be able to soak in the love and bask in the glory of this little labour of love called #LittleThings - the gift that keeps giving (red heart emoji) Do you have a favourite episode or season? Tell to us! (sic) Mithila's co-star, Dhruv Sehgal, took to the comment section and penned, Wow ten years @mipalkarofficial! Lucky to have been part of this show and the team. A show made from love and friendship. Favourite episode(s) bed and breakfast, vertical housing, rectangles and senior citizens. Actress Mahima Makwana also commented, Its one of my most favourite shows!! Kavuuu and Dhruv are all heart The romantic comedy series has been created by Dhruv Sehgal. With Mithila as Kavya Kulkarni and Dhruv as Dhruv Vats, 'Little Things' also stars Abhishek Bhalerao as Murthy, Navni Parihar as Ila Kulkarni, (Kavya's mother), and Rishi Deshpande as Satish Kulkarni (Kavya's father), along with others. Made under the direction of Ajay Bhuyan and Ruchir Arun, the show talks about a live-in couple from Mumbai - Kavya Kulkarni (Palkar) and Dhruv Vats. The series sheds light on their everyday life and the shifting dynamics of their relationship. The primary season of 'Little Things' premiered on the official YouTube channel of Dice Media from 25 October 2016, to 22 November 2016. Later on, streaming giant Netflix obtained the franchise. The second season premiered on the OTT platform on 5 October 2018, followed by season three on 9 November 2019. The fourth and final season of the series was released on 15 October 2021.
Nadine De Klerk Joins Sydney Thunder For WBBL 12
Big Bash League: Sydney Thunder have strengthened their overseash options for the upcoming Womens Big Bash League (WBBL) season by securing South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk on a one-year contract, bringing an end to her association with Brisbane Heat ahead of WBBL 12. The 26-year-old, who will be available throughout the tournament, including the finals, joins England internationals Heather Knight and Lauren Bell as Thunders overseas recruits. Her arrival adds an experienced all-round option to the Western Sydney franchise as it prepares for the new campaign. De Klerk previously represented Brisbane Heat in 33 WBBL matches after making her debut in the competition in 2020. Her most recent season was her most productive in the tournament, with 158 runs and five wickets, earning her the Heats Most Valuable Player award despite the teams difficult campaign. It was a pretty easy decision to end up here. Im always hoping to have a big impact, whether its with the bat coming in lower down the order or same with the ball by trying to keep it tight or taking wickets. I think we have a really good group (and) a really well-balanced squad, de Klerk said in a club statement. The move reunites the South African with familiar faces from Royal Challengers Bengalurus successful Womens Premier League campaign earlier this year. De Klerk claimed her maiden WPL title with RCB alongside Bell and Australian batter Georgia Voll, both of whom will feature for Thunder in the upcoming season. I obviously made some really great memories with Georgia (Voll) and Lauren (Bell) playing with them at RCB and lifting that trophy. Both of them are world class players (and) weve seen what theyve been able to do, playing a massive role in us winning that competition. Lauren with the new ball has been exceptional for the past couple of years and Georgia is still so young its crazy to think what shes achieved. Im really excited to be a part of the Sydney Thunder this year, de Klerk added. Her latest signing follows a busy year on the global T20 circuit. After the WPL, she represented London Spirit in The Hundred before making her debut in the Caribbean Premier League with Guyana Amazon Warriors. She was also part of South Africas squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2026 Womens T20 World Cup in July, losing to England at The Oval. De Klerks international experience further enhances Thunders options, with the all-rounder having represented South Africa 155 times across Tests, one-day internationals and T20 internationals. She has accumulated 2,024 runs and claimed 142 wickets across the three formats. Her latest signing follows a busy year on the global T20 circuit. After the WPL, she represented London Spirit in The Hundred before making her debut in the Caribbean Premier League with Guyana Amazon Warriors. She was also part of South Africas squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2026 Womens T20 World Cup in July, losing to England at The Oval. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Caribbean stars set to dominate 2026 Abu Dhabi T10
Digital Desk | Abu Dhabi, Oct 25 (IANS) The West Indies explosive batting power and all-round depth will be a major feature of the 2026 Abu Dhabi T10, with 16 internationals set to compete across all six franchises at the Zayed Cricket Stadium from November 7 to 20. Four of the tournaments six icon players, marquee signings made before the draft, hail from the Caribbean, underlining the regions influence on a format in which power-hitting and immediate impact can prove decisive. Defending champions UAE Bulls will be led by Kieron Pollard, while Jason Holder will represent Yas Lions, Nicholas Pooran will captain Royal Desert Champions and Rovman Powell will head Emirates Eagles. Arabian Aces have secured Andre Russell ahead of the draft, while United Tigers added fast-bowling all-rounder Odean Smith. With just 60 deliveries available in a T10 innings, the ability to score boundaries from the outset becomes particularly valuable, making the Caribbean contingent a formidable proposition for the upcoming season. Several players also bring a proven record in the competition. Pooran was the leading run-scorer and Player of the Tournament in 2022, scoring 345 runs, including 31 sixes, as captain of the Deccan Gladiators. He subsequently led the franchise to another title in 2024 and has accumulated 137 sixes across Abu Dhabi T10 seasons, the highest tally in the tournaments history. Powell, meanwhile, ranks among its three leading run-scorers. Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein, now part of Yas Lions, also has a memorable T10 performance to his name, having claimed five wickets for six runs, including a hat-trick, in the 2023 seasons Qualifier 1. The franchises have invested in considerable Caribbean depth beyond their headline signings. UAE Bulls have retained Pollard, Sunil Narine and Romario Shepherd from their title-winning squad and added Andre Fletcher. Royal Desert Champions have paired Pooran with Sherfane Rutherford, Brandon King and Keemo Paul, while Shimron Hetmyer joins Powell at Emirates Eagles. Arabian Aces and Yas Lions have also strengthened their pace options with Alzarri Joseph and Obed McCoy, respectively. UAE Bulls title defence will draw confidence from their remarkable turnaround last season. After winning only two of their first six matches, they recovered to register four consecutive victories, including three in the playoffs, to claim the trophy. The new campaign begins on November 7 with UAE Bulls taking on Yas Lions, bringing Pollard and Holder into direct opposition. The final is scheduled for November 20.
'We Met In All-star Game, I Knew He Had Something...': MLB Legend Lauds SKY During MLBx Mumbai Event
MLB India Brand Ambassador: American professional baseball analyst and former outfielder Nick Swisher showered praise on ex-India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav after Major League Baseball hosted its inaugural MLBx Mumbai-3-on-3 baseball event at Mumbai Football Arena, Andheri Sports Complex. The MLB legend recalled his meeting with the Indian batting star at the 2026 MLB All-Star Week in Philadelphia, where Suryakumar kicked off his role as MLB India Brand Ambassador, and said at the moment he knew Suryakumar had something special. Mumbai, the hospitality, the heart of the Indian people, has been so unbelievable for us. But once again, we realise that this can't happen if we don't have our cricket stars. So the men and the women from the cricket world that came over to help us with this event, on top of our amazing softball players what an amazing show. Mumbai, you showed up for us; we can't thank you enough. Well, by the way, when we met during the all-star game, I knew he had something. That's why I wanted him on my team, Swisher told reporters in Mumbai. Cricket and baseball squared off in Mumbai as former MLB superstars Nick Swisher and Adrian Gonzalez took on India's T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar in a battle of power and defence supremacy as Major League Baseball hosted its inaugural MLBx Mumbai-3-on-3 baseball event in India. MLBx is Major League Baseballs innovative, fast-paced 3-on-3 baseball competition that brings together baseball and softball stars in an event that includes interactive fan experiences and entertainment. In 2022, then known as MLB Home Run Derby X, events were held in London, Mexico City and Seoul. MLBx Mumbai featured Indian cricket stars Shardul Thakur, Jitesh Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Radha Yadav and Deepak Chahar, joining Suryakumar, who is an MLB ambassador and led Indias national team to the 2026 T20 World Cup title as its captain. It also featured former MLB stars Jake Arrieta, Jonny Gomes, Adrian Gonzalez and Nick Swisher, as well as Athletes Unlimited Softball League standouts Rachel Garcia and Jordan Woolery. The players were split into four teams whose namesakes are among the most historic franchises in MLB history: the Cubs, Dodgers, Red Sox and Yankees. The teams played in a knockout-style competition, and the event featured a three-inning format that combines power hitting, athletic defensive plays and fast-paced gameplay. Each player would have one two-minute at-bat during a three-inning game, while the opposing team will set up their three players in the outfield. Teams earn a point for each home run and a point for each catch. Bonus points can be earned by hitting balls through a centre-field target, placed above the outfield fence or calling for a hot streak of five swings, where offensive and defensive points count double. At the end of a game, the team with the most points wins. Sharing his experience about the sport and its techniques, India all-rounder Shardul Thakur said, It is tough because it's not easy to keep hitting. The techniques are a little bit different. We had to learn about it, but the baseball players were really kind to teach us, discuss with us, and let us know about their sport. So, it was a completely new experience. A lot of people have come to watch this. When we were on stage trying to hit home runs and all, even the young boys who came to catch the balls were very excited about the sport. Fast bowler Deepak Chahar added, I played this game for the first time, and I really liked it as the ball goes farther. I would say it's easier for Indian people because it's not too expensiveyou just need a ball and a bat. It's just like gully cricket; when we play in a gully, we only get runs straight... My experience was really good. I spoke to a lot of players and throwers. Reflecting on playing against his India teammate Suryakumar, he said, It was really exciting. He is a really good friend, and I have played a lot of cricket with him in the Indian team and in the Mumbai Indians. Playing against each other here was good. Indian spinner Radha Yadav opined that the Indian audience will definitely like the sport, as baseball is all about hitting powerful strokes, and Indian fans love watching sixes. Reflecting on playing against his India teammate Suryakumar, he said, It was really exciting. He is a really good friend, and I have played a lot of cricket with him in the Indian team and in the Mumbai Indians. Playing against each other here was good. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
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Pollard named Mumbai Indians head coach for IPL 2027 season
Mumbai, Oct 24: Former West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard was on Saturday elevated to the role of Mumbai Indians head coach following the exit of Mahela Jayawardene. Pollard, who served as MIs batting coach for the past few seasons, will take charge of the team for the IPL 2027 season as the franchise looks to []
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Kieron Pollard Appointed Mumbai Indians Head Coach for IPL 2027, Replacing Mahela Jayawardene
Five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Mumbai Indians have appointed former West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard as their new head coach ahead of the IPL 2027 season. The franchise confirmed Pollards elevation on Saturday, following the departure of former head coach Mahela Jayawardene. From Iconic All-Rounder to Head Coach Since announcing his retirement from IPL [] The post Kieron Pollard Appointed Mumbai Indians Head Coach for IPL 2027, Replacing Mahela Jayawardene appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
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Pollard doesn't want to see 'yellows and reds', urges MI to put 'team above self'
Pollard, who was Mumbai Indians' batting coach for the last four IPL seasons, takes over from Mahela Jayawardene, who parted ways with the franchise last week. The former West Indies all-rounder has been associated with MI since IPL 2010, when he was signed as a player.
Robin, Simmons, Jayawardene, And Ponting Have Influenced Me As Coaches, Says Pollard
New Mumbai Indians: New Mumbai Indians head coach Kieron Pollard named Robin Singh, Phil Simmons, Mahela Jayawardene and Ricky Ponting as the coaches who have influenced him the most, and credited them for showcasing qualities which have left a mark on him. Pollard spent the last four IPL seasons as MI's batting coach, after having retired as a player from the league ahead of the 2023 edition, and has now been elevated to the top job. He takes charge of MI ahead of IPL 2027 after Jayawardene, under whom he worked for a decade, parted ways with the franchise last week. Ponting, his former MI captain, will now be his rival head coach at Punjab Kings. One coach I've taken a lot from is Robin Singh. I came in 2010, and he was a coach at that time. And the amount of work, the work ethic, part of it, was next to none. He didn't know when to stop, right! But it was something that I'll never forget because the work that he would have put in, would have given me the opportunity to go out and perform. Then you look at somebody like a Phil Simmons outside of the IPL zone; the calmness that he brings and it gives you the opportunity to express yourself as a person and as a cricketer. Use your instinctive abilities to make decisions as a leader and as a cricketer, and then we come and we speak about it after, and try to dissect certain things as to why it would have happened that way. So those are the couple of people, and then obviously I spoke about Mahela, the tactical genius of what he brought; it's next to none, and that sometimes is taken for granted. Things that people would not think about, set fields and that that was, from a fantastic perspective. And again, one of my rivals would now be my rival coach. You will walk into a wall for somebody like Ricky Ponting, the way he motivates you, but when he's finished with you in that perspective, not even a wall can stop you at that time, said Pollard in a video on the franchises social media accounts on Saturday. MI was the only IPL team Pollard played for in the IPL. Signed ahead of the 2010 season, he turned out for them in 189 matches till 2022, scoring 3412 runs and taking 69 wickets. Pollard was part of all five of the franchise's IPL title triumphs in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020, respectively. He also won the Champions League T20 titles with MI in 2011 and 2013. Pollard now inherits a side that has lost some of its old dominance. MI reached the playoffs in 2023 and 2025 but finished 10th in 2024 and ninth in 2026. His ties with the MI network extend well beyond the IPL. Pollard is head coach of MI London in The Hundred and has played for MI New York in Major League Cricket, MI Cape Town in the SA20 and MI Emirates in the ILT20. Still active on the franchise circuit, Pollard will, however, turn out for Joburg Super Kings in the upcoming SA20 season after they signed him at the auction earlier this month, with MI Cape Town making no rival bid. In the Caribbean Premier League, where MI do not own a team, Pollard has represented his home side Trinbago Knight Riders since 2019. Reflecting on how T20 cricket has changed over the years, Pollard said bowlers would have to work much harder to keep up with the batters. It has changed a lot. It's gone from 140 and 160 being competitive to trying to not get 120 in the power play. So that in itself, should tell you how that landscape has changed. Yes, it has gotten more on the on the batter side, but it's all good. I think one thing in life is change, and being able to adapt to change, and for us as a team and for myself as an individual, that's the challenge. It's never going to be the same, but being able to catch up with the evolution of where T20 cricket is going, or come up with methods where you can, as I say, slow the batsmen down. That means the bowlers will have to work doubly, doubly hard in order for that to happen. But again, the game is going fast, but we still have an opportunity as individuals to bring it back to a level and control what we can at different times. On the growing role of analytics, something which will dictate MIs retention choices ahead of the mid-November deadline and help them prepare for the mini auction in Goa on December 16, Pollard admitted to spending far more time with the team analyst as a coach than as a player but pointed out that data could not replace a cricketer's instinct. I think it's going to be a fight, but no, I think data is important. When you look at it from this perspective, for the last four years, I've seen a different part of data. Whereas when I was playing, and I can safely tell you, the analyst, I spent more time with him in the last four years than I spent with him in about 13 years of playing. But getting to understand what the data brings helps you as an individual and helps prepare you as well. But I still believe the natural instinct of the cricketers still needs to be taken into account. So there just needs to be the balance as to how much data and the human part of cricket that is still there because we are still humans playing. It's not a robotic game. And when you put in a length, that's exactly what is there. Different variations have happened from the time the ball is delivered before it gets to the batter, he added. Pollard also felt players had become too guarded in showing their personalities, partly because of the game's disciplinary rules, and wanted MI's players to express themselves freely. I think that's very important, and that's something that has been leaving the game and is not true. Sometimes a lot of the guys wanted to show their personality and be free, but through the rules and regulations of the demerit points and all of these things, I think at times we have gotten a bit robotic in that sense. Pollard also felt players had become too guarded in showing their personalities, partly because of the game's disciplinary rules, and wanted MI's players to express themselves freely. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Man Management Will Be At The Heart Of My Coaching At MI, Says New Head Coach Pollard
New Mumbai Indians: New Mumbai Indians head coach Kieron Pollard said man-management and one-on-one conversations with players would be at the core of his coaching approach with the five-time IPL champions. Pollard, who was the team's batting coach for the last four seasons, has taken over from Mahela Jayawardene ahead of IPL 2027. His immediate task as MIs head coach will be to finalise the retentions ahead of the deadline in mid-November, before the auction happens in Goa on December 16. I think majority of it is man-management. It comes down to that. It comes down to conversations, one-on-one conversations. Yes, it comes down to the team talks and tactics. But cricket is made up of a group of individuals, who have to play a role in order for the team to win. So, it's not always about what the team is going to do, but what you as an individual and your role and capacity is going to give to the team. So, over the years, what has sort of brought success as well is the time that you sit and you spend speaking about cricket outside of the formal meetings of a team meeting. That's where you learn majority of your cricket, and I think that's where the work is really, really done. Over the years, things have changed with the introduction of social media, a lot of punditry shows, and all of these things, whereas it takes the guys away from sitting together and actually watching cricket. Again, you're seeing the landscape sort of shift. But for me personally, when you speak cricket, that's when, and you have nothing else to do, that's when you learn, and it becomes easier from a planning and tactical perspective when it comes to actually planning for the game, Pollard said in a video posted on the franchises social media accounts on Saturday. With several star names in the MI squad, like skipper Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir, Pollard, also the head coach of MI London team in The Hundred mens competition, said a key part of his job would be to free them from immense pressure. The best time you play is when your mind is at ease. So once, as a staff and as a coach and stuff like that, we can take away that pressure from them, in whatever way we can, to ensure that you can go out and give your best. I think that's where we're going to see the truly true legendary status of some of the guys that we have in that dressing room, and they're going to continue to shine and continue to propel themselves in the world of cricket. Understanding each player is also central to how he plans to help them deal with the fear of failure, and Pollard explained that he would rather see them take the brave option than live with regret. Different people will do it in different ways. So, from a coaching perspective, you'll have to understand the individual firstly, so then we will be able to tackle how they can overcome the fear of failure or how they can go and tackle situations without thinking about negative first and positive, so that's the first part of it. No matter who you are as an individual, you think negatively first. That's just part of the human nature. So it's about getting that part out of it, and I'm looking at the best-case scenario. So for me, again, I can speak for myself, and things that I have passed on is that what's the worst that can happen? You think about what's the worst that could happen first, and if the worst that can happen is not going to have a big impact because of what is already happening. There's only one way forward from there, which is positive. So, again, take that step. Be brave. You rather do something in a positive rather than have regrets afterwards, and then you speak about it afterwards. So it's one where you're going to fail. You are going to make mistakes, no matter how perfect you try to be as an individual. It's going to happen, but how do you minimize the mistake, is what is important. For me personally, I rather see guys take the positive step forward, not the easiest step, because then sometimes in situations they say, 'Well, I took the positive option', but then sometimes that's the easy option. Think about it, take that step and let's have a discussion about it. Pollard, who joined the franchise in 2010 and then became the batting coach ahead of the 2023 season. said the bulk of a head coach's work happens well before match day. I think it's more preparation. I think match day, at times, as an individual and being around a match day, is sort of an easier day, because the work has to be done before. Because when match day comes, there's no control of certain things anymore. Obviously, the captain is in control of what's taking place or certain decisions. Yes, you're going to communicate certain things, but the way that we have planned, the way that we are prepared, the tactical side behind it, and the conversation and getting guys to play certain roles, be responsible. If you want to do something different, that's where the real work is. From that perspective, for me, it's not a match day. It would be before and leading up. It's a very tense moment. It's going to be a real character that is shown from the guys, and then the broadcasters, the fans, and everybody else get to see the desired result. Asked about the one rule from MI's legacy that the dressing room must follow, Pollard said there would be more than one. For me, it won't just be one. It'll be a couple. Sounds a bit tougher, but I think it's more from a hard work perspective, that's a non-negotiable. We got to work hard in order to achieve what you want. We got to be disciplined, right! We got to respect each other and what each other brings to the table. And of course, playing for that badge, players playing for the badge, that fight, that spirit, that determination, and that passion. That's what we want to see because that is the spirit that gets you over the line sometimes when you're under pressure. Pollard said the franchise's ethos of being one came from the top, and stressed the need to stay level-headed in both wins and defeats in the IPL. Obviously, a happy dressing room is one that is winning, and then everything else gets swept under the carpet when you're winning. But you know, you speak about Mumbai Indians, and you speak about One Family. I think that's something that was inculcated firstly, you know, from the ownership group, Mrs. Nita Ambani, Akash, Boss (Mr. Mukesh Ambani), everybody, and in a family, you want people to be happy for you as an individual. So I think celebrating small successes at different times brings that joy within, and keeping a level head in winning and in losing, because the emotions of the game and emotions tend to get the better of you, and then you tend to forget certain things. So, for me, a happy dressing room, a great environment is just keeping calm in all moments. Yes, emotions are going to go over at times. It's a one-off. Okay, no problem. But understanding at the end is still just a game of cricket. The Trinidadian said setting the tone would be the most enjoyable part of the job, while poor results would be the biggest test. Most fun part is that you are able to set the tone in any environment for the team. So that's going to be fun. Being a Caribbean sort of guy, I think that is something, that fun and entertainment and relaxation is something that I'm big on, because then you're able to perform when you are in that sort of zone. Obviously, the challenging part is going to be if results are not going your way. Nothing is going to sort of faze me. I go back to what I just said to you. It's still a game of cricket. Asked whether walking out at the Wankhede Stadium as head coach in IPL 2027 would feel different, Pollard said the sight of MI flags was what mattered most to him. Maybe, or maybe not. I've gone to the grind from player to even on the coaching setup and everything that's happened. Being a Caribbean sort of guy, I think that is something, that fun and entertainment and relaxation is something that I'm big on, because then you're able to perform when you are in that sort of zone. Obviously, the challenging part is going to be if results are not going your way. Nothing is going to sort of faze me. I go back to what I just said to you. It's still a game of cricket. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Mumbai Indians Haven't Been As Great As Fans Want, First Step Is Acknowledging It, Says Pollard
Champions League T20: Newly appointed Mumbai Indians head coach Kieron Pollard admitted that the five-time IPL champions had fallen short of their fans expectations in recent seasons, and said the road back to being a fearsome unit begins with owning up to it. Pollard, who served as the team's batting coach in the last four IPL seasons, takes over from Mahela Jayawardene, who parted ways with the franchise last weekend. The former West Indies all-rounder's association with MI and its sister franchises goes back to IPL 2010, when he was first signed as a player. The big-hitting Pollard was part of all five of MI's IPL title-winning campaigns, in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020, as well as their two Champions League T20 triumphs in 2011 and 2013. You understand as a team that we have not been as great as you want us to be, and that's something the first step to getting better is acknowledging. We acknowledge that you are still the most loyal fans to us, the Paltan crew, and hopefully we can continue to show that passion that you have seen over the years, and we can relive some of those memories with some of the new generation cricketers. We look forward to playing with the badge. We look forward to having that fire in our belly, and hopefully see a fearless Mumbai Indians once again, Pollard said in a video posted on the franchises social media accounts on Saturday. Pollard played 189 IPL matches, scoring 3412 runs at a strike rate of 147.32 and picking up 69 wickets. He played his last IPL season in 2022 and retired from the league ahead of the 2023 edition, and moved straight into the role of batting coach. Outlining his priorities, Pollard said the first job was to understand what needed fixing and to restore the team's identity at its home ground, adding that there was no hiding from the recent slump. After the IPL 2020 triumph in the UAE, MI havent won a title. Though they made it to the playoffs in 2023 and 2025, the side finished tenth and ninth respectively in 2024 and 2026 seasons. When you say the first task, I think my first task is understanding what needs to be done. Then when you get into that, bring that spirit and that energy to talk about that. When you walk into Wankhede Stadium, you're not seeing the yellows and the reds and stuff like that. You want to see that blue flag flying and you want to see that passion and spirit from the fans and that can only come firstly from us. So that's where all work sort of starts in terms of understanding what we are playing for and who we are playing for. We recognize the fact that we have not been where we wanted to be in the last couple of years. So there's no hiding from that. But what's going to happen is that we're going to try our best now to ensure that we continue to play for that badge, the team above self, and then ensure that when the opposition comes, it's something that they remembered from the past. Yes, it's history, but sometimes in order to go forward, you have to go back a little bit and understand. I think that's where it's going to start, he added. Pollard said the scale of the move to the top job was still sinking in his mind. I don't feel that it has sunk in sort of just yet. But obviously we have and you have mentioned it in terms of what we have created as a team and now being at the helm. I think it's a surreal sort of feeling when you started, you never envisioned being on the other side of the rope at that time. But time has flown by so quickly that a lot of things have happened within the last 15-16 years. Now you sit in this position, wanting to do well for a franchise that has given you so much and you have given so much to them and to the people. Known for his fiery presence on the field, Pollard said his hunger to win would remain the same in the dugout. I don't think much can change. I think it's more embedded in you to want to win all the time and to invoke that sort of passion each and every single time. For me as an individual, nothing is going to change that much. The fire is going to be burning just as it was on the other side of the rope, but it's just going to be from a further distance, in a way. Pollard, also the head coach of MI London in the The Hundred mens competition, credited his predecessor Jayawardene for shaping his understanding of the game - first as an opponent, then as a player under his coaching and later as his assistant in the support staff. Those 10 years with Mahela had been fantastic. From Mahela's perspective, obviously, our first sort of meeting would have been as a player and as an opponent. Me being a youngster in the international scene and him playing for Sri Lanka, and captaining Sri Lanka. What stood out for me immediately from then was how precise he was from a tactical perspective in that sense. Then having to experience him as a coach, playing under him, I think was even more fantastic for me, understanding the individual and what he brings to the game of cricket. Being able to push his players in different ways because of detail he was in terms of planning. Those 10 years with Mahela had been fantastic. From Mahela's perspective, obviously, our first sort of meeting would have been as a player and as an opponent. Me being a youngster in the international scene and him playing for Sri Lanka, and captaining Sri Lanka. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
'UP Warriorz Need Aggressive Indian Opener,' Says Reema Malhotra Ahead Of WPL 2027 Auction
Captain Meg Lanning: Former India cricketer Reema Malhotra believes UP Warriorz need an aggressive Indian opener who can attack from the first ball as they look to rebuild their squad for the upcoming Womens Premier League (WPL) 2027 season. Reema said that the franchise must address its batting combination at the top of the order, adding that having players with similar approaches could affect the teams ability to get off to quick starts. UP Warriorz, who have finished at the bottom of the standings in consecutive seasons, will enter the auction in Kochi on October 28 with the biggest purse of Rs 3.65 crore and up to seven slots to fill, including two overseas positions. UP Warriorz have retained Pratika Rawal, which means shes in their scheme of things, but I wouldnt want Pratika to open the innings because she has a similar playing style to Meg Lanning. Both take their time to get going, which would hurt the Warriorz because two players of a similar style should not open together, Reema said. She said the presence of Phoebe Litchfield, Harleen Deol and Deepti Sharma in the batting order made it important for the franchise to find an opener with a different approach. Then comes Phoebe Litchfield at number three, but if you make her open and let Pratika bat at three, that would not work either because after her come Harleen Deol and Deepti Sharma, and both are similar style of players as Pratika, so that option is closed too, she added. So, UP Warriorz need an Indian opener who bats aggressively and has that attacking intent from the first ball. Apart from that, between Harleen and Deepti, you need one more big hitter, Reema said. The franchise has released several players ahead of the auction, including batters Kiran Navgire and Shweta Sehrawat, wicketkeeper Amy Jones, all-rounders Deandra Dottin and Chloe Tryon, and leg-spinner Asha Sobhana. Reema also identified the need for an Indian wicketkeeping option, naming G Kamalini as a potential target despite Phoebe Litchfield being capable of keeping wickets. Yes, Phoebe Litchfield can keep wickets, but having an Indian wicketkeeping option is always beneficial, and someone like G. Kamalini would be a perfect option for UPW, she said. Beyond filling specific positions, Reema stressed that UP Warriorz need to build a settled core around Captain Meg Lanning and avoid frequent changes to their squad. When you have the biggest purse for three years continuously, that means that your think tank is still not able to pick the right players. Along with head coach Abhishek Nayar, the scouting team will also be under pressure to identify the right players to help settle the team, she said. Reema pointed to Gujarat Giants as an example of a franchise that addressed its issues last season, urging UP Warriorz to identify players who can contribute consistently and complement Lanning. They also need to make the most of their auction purse. You have to show faith in the players youre picking. If they keep chopping and changing, they will never find the stability a franchise needs to win titles, she added. Reema pointed to Gujarat Giants as an example of a franchise that addressed its issues last season, urging UP Warriorz to identify players who can contribute consistently and complement Lanning. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
MI Should Go Big For Sushma Verma At WPL Auction: Reema Malhotra
Caribbean Premier League: Former India cricketer Reema Malhotra believes Mumbai Indians should target wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma at the upcoming Womens Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction to address their concerns at the top of the order. According to Reema, Mumbai need to settle their opening combination and find a replacement for wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini, while also strengthening their spin and pace-bowling options ahead of the fifth season. Mumbai Indians, who missed out on the playoffs in WPL 2026, have retained a core group of 11 players led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur. The franchise will enter the auction, scheduled to be held in Kochi on October 28, with a purse of Rs 1 crore. The best thing for the Mumbai Indians is that they head into the auction with the least money, which means the least problems. They have retained their core group but need to sort out a few problems. One major problem is their opening pair, Reema told Jio Star. Last season, G. Kamalini opened with Hayley Matthews, and then Amelia Kerr was tried as an opener as well. They kept changing their opening pair, and now they head into the auction looking to solve that. By letting go of G Kamalini, they lost their wicketkeeper batter, and they let go of Saika Ishaque too, so they are also on the hunt for a spinner to partner Vaishnavi Sharma, she added. Reema identified Sushma Verma as a potential solution to Mumbais opening and wicketkeeping concerns, citing her performances in domestic cricket and the Womens Caribbean Premier League. To solve the problem of an opening batter who can keep wickets, the Mumbai Indians should go after Sushma Verma. She had an amazing domestic season with the bat and performed well in the Womens Caribbean Premier League too. Plus, she was called for trials by the MI team management, and I feel Mumbai is going to go big for Sushma Verma in the mini-auction, she said. Reema also backed all-rounder Amanjot Kaur, who is recovering from a back injury at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, to retain her place in the side. Mumbai Indians will surely back Amanjot Kaur as the all-rounder. Shes a three-dimensional player and someone whos not replaceable. Shes been the star of the team for the last two seasons, so I find no reason for her exclusion from the team, she said. She also pointed to Sajeevan Sajana as a player Mumbai is likely to continue backing after investing in her over the last three years, while naming Shweta Sehrawat as another potential target following her release by UP Warriorz. They have invested a lot in S. Sajana over the last three years, so she is likely to retain her spot in the playing XI, unless they pick a dynamic finisher or an Indian batter who can replace her, which can be Shweta Sehrawat. She had a good domestic season, and UP Warriorz has released her this time. So, Mumbai will keep an eye on her as well, Reema said. Mumbai have also strengthened their pace attack by trading USA left-arm pacer Tara Norris from UP Warriorz for WPL 2027 at her existing fee of Rs 10 lakh. Norris, who was previously part of MI London, became the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul in the WPL. However, Reema stressed that Mumbai should also invest in an Indian pacer to provide cover if Norris is unavailable or unable to deliver wickets consistently. Tara Norris arrival is good news for Mumbai Indians because it strengthens their pace bowling unit. She was the first bowler to pick up a five-wicket haul in the WPL, and her bowling skills will help Mumbai a lot. But if Tara Norris picks up an injury or doesnt find that wicket-taking form, then Mumbai will be in trouble, she said. Which is why I want them to go after an Indian pacer who can step up if things dont go as planned with Tara Norris, she added. Reema said Mumbais limited auction purse could make it practical to target young Indian players who can provide depth to their bowling attack. If Mumbai get a young Indian pacer, then they will have a proper backup option who can bowl in the powerplay and at the death, and that will give them more depth in their pace attack, she said. Reema said Mumbais limited auction purse could make it practical to target young Indian players who can provide depth to their bowling attack. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
IPL 2027: Kieron Pollard to take over as Mumbai Indians' head coach ahead
For the past few seasons, Kieron Pollard has been working with the Mumbai-based franchise as the batting coach and will take over the role of head coach following the departure of Mahela Jayawardene
