The Times of India

From the strong powerplay to intent in the middle overs and a blockbuster finishback-to-back sixes by Hardik PandyaIndia checked the boxes they were yearning to in the fixtures preceding Thursday's clash. Restoring the right-left combination at the top of the order worked wonders for the defending champions.

Auqib Nabi's exceptional bowling performance has propelled Jammu & Kashmir to the brink of a historic Ranji Trophy title. The seamer, who became the competition's leading wicket-taker, emphasized a simple, disciplined approach focusing on line and length. Nabi's success, attributed to strong wrist position for swing and movement, has fulfilled a long-held dream for J&K cricket.

Jammu and Kashmir's bowlers dominated Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy final, reducing Karnataka to 220/5. Opener Mayank Agarwal remained unbeaten on 130, but Karnataka trails by 364 runs. J&K's Auqib Nabi took three crucial wickets, dismantling Karnataka's top order.

South Africa secured a dominant nine-wicket victory over the West Indies in their T20 World Cup Super 8 clash, extending their unbeaten tournament run. Disciplined bowling restricted the West Indies to 176 for 8, with a late partnership providing a competitive total. Captain Aiden Markram's unbeaten 82 led South Africa's strong chase, ensuring a comfortable win.

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra urges India to embrace their fearless, attacking style against Zimbabwe to revive semi-final hopes. He stressed the need for explosive batting, particularly from Suryakumar Yadav, and criticized the team's current cautious approach. Chopra warned that a failure to revert to their aggressive brand of cricket could jeopardize India's World Cup campaign.

Young Indian star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi unleashed a blistering 19-ball 63, featuring seven fours and five sixes, in the DY Patil T20 Cup. This explosive innings, with a strike rate of 331.58, serves as a potent warning to IPL 2026 rivals. His fearless aggression, evident since his record-breaking IPL century, continues to dominate bowlers, making him a player to watch.

Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has acquired a 25% stake in Spanish second-tier club UD Almera, marking a significant step in his post-playing career ambitions. The investment, made through his CR7 Sports Investments subsidiary, signals his desire to contribute to the sport beyond the pitch. Almera's owner welcomed the move, highlighting Ronaldo's understanding of Spanish football and the club's potential.

The Ranji Trophy final between Jammu & Kashmir and Karnataka is heading towards a potential draw, with J&K posting a massive 584. Karnataka, currently trailing, faces a significant challenge to secure a first-innings lead. This lead will determine the champion if an outright result isn't achieved, highlighting the importance of sustained performance in multi-day cricket.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan advises the Men in Blue to focus on winning upcoming T20 World Cup matches. He suggests prioritizing victory over net-run-rate calculations. Pathan also proposes batting captain Suryakumar Yadav at number three to balance the top order, which currently features many left-handers. India faces Zimbabwe and the West Indies next.

Pakistan faces online abuse after a narrow T20 World Cup loss to England, with captain Salman Ali Agha's family targeted. Despite this, many fans condemned the toxic reactions. England secured a semi-final spot, leaving Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand vying for the remaining place, with Pakistan needing significant wins and favorable results.

Kumar Sangakkara expressed deep disappointment as Sri Lanka exited the T20 World Cup, citing a lot of hurt all round. He warned of the nation falling behind if urgent changes aren't made, emphasizing the need to adapt to modern cricket's evolution. Sangakkara fears irrelevance if Sri Lanka fails to evolve, stressing the burden and privilege of national representation.

Virender Sehwag highlighted India's struggle in T20 World Cup chases exceeding 160, noting Virat Kohli's crucial role in past successes. He urged players like Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, and Hardik Pandya to emulate Kohli's match-finishing ability and play fearless cricket under pressure to secure victories.

Jasprit Bumrah is close to a major milestone of 500 international wickets. This could happen in India's vital T20 World Cup match against Zimbabwe. India needs a win to keep semifinal hopes alive. Bumrah's bowling is key for India's success. He has been in excellent form in the tournament. His wickets are crucial for the team.

Indian Super League clubs have unanimously rejected the All India Football Federation's proposal to include Churchill Brothers in the ongoing 2025-26 season. The clubs cited concerns over merit-based participation and competitive integrity, stating the league structure is closed and final. This decision comes after previous deliberations and a prior rejection by the AIFF Executive Committee.

Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka has appealed to the government to shield players from excessive criticism, citing its detrimental impact on their mental health following the team's T20 World Cup exit. Shanaka expressed frustration over the negative environment, attributing the team's performance to factors like pitch conditions and fitness issues, while apologising to fans for the disappointing results.

Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup campaign ended in disappointment, with captain Dasun Shanaka issuing a heartfelt apology to fans. He cited failures, fitness concerns, and missed opportunities as reasons for the team's exit in the Super Eight stage. Shanaka acknowledged the team's fitness levels lag behind global standards and called for long-term planning.

India face a crucial T20 World Cup match against Zimbabwe, with their qualification hopes hinging on other results. Batting order changes are likely, potentially seeing Sanju Samson open. Coach Kotak acknowledges batting struggles but defends recent performances. Axar Patel's return is also expected as India aims to regain momentum on a potentially high-scoring Chepauk pitch.

India's opening pair, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, have struggled significantly in the T20 World Cup, averaging a dismal 6.8. Abhishek's poor form, marked by consecutive ducks, is a major concern, while the middle order also faces challenges against off-spin. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak remains confident in their ability to bounce back.

India faces a crucial T20 World Cup match against Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe's tall fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani is a key player. He has taken many wickets and performed well in tough bowling spells. His height and skill make him a difficult opponent. India's batters must be careful against him. His team believes he has overcome injury to perform strongly.

New Zealand's decisive win over Sri Lanka has eliminated the co-hosts from the T20 World Cup. This result, however, keeps Pakistan's semi-final hopes alive. The final qualification spot from Group 2 now hinges on the England versus New Zealand match, with Pakistan needing a significant victory in their final game to potentially advance.

T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka bow out of the tournament; Pakistans hopes dim

India are up against an opposition - Zimbabwe - that already silenced a home crowd in the group stages when they beat Sri Lanka in Colombo, and Thursday presents them another opportunity to replicate that success at the noisy Chepauk. Both teams find themselves in a must-win situation and Zimbabwe's Ryan Burl didn't venture into the dangerous territory of silencing India in India.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza is on the verge of a historic T20I milestone, needing just 15 runs to become the first Zimbabwean to reach 3000 international runs. He aims to achieve this in their crucial Super Eight match against defending champions India. This encounter is vital for both teams' semi-final aspirations in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Defending champions India are considering changes to their opening partnership for a crucial Super Eights match against Zimbabwe. With qualification on the line after a loss to South Africa, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson is a potential option to address struggles at the top of the order, particularly Abhishek Sharma's lean run.

T20 World Cup: Ryan Burl press conference before India vs Zimbabwe

Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie stitched together a crucial seventh-wicket stand of 84 to lift New Zealand from 84 for 6 to 168/7. Matt Henry led the bowling with two wickets, including a maiden over, while Rachin Ravindras 4 for 27 restricted Sri Lanka to 107/8, handing New Zealand a 61-run win.

Today's tennis stars are merging sports with fashion. Players like Arthur Fils are signing with luxury brands. This new generation sees tennis as a lifestyle, not just a competition. They express themselves through their style, both on and off the court. This shift marks a new era for the sport.

Zimbabwe's Ryan Burl believes the pressure of a must-win T20 World Cup match against India could affect the hosts. He highlighted Zimbabwe's diverse bowling attack as a potential advantage against India's strong batting lineup. Burl also confirmed captain Sikandar Raza is fit to play.

India Playing XI drama: How three players are fighting for two spots | Sanju Samson IN?

Sanjay Manjrekar criticized Gautam Gambhir's tactics after India's heavy T20 World Cup loss to South Africa. He questioned promoting Washington Sundar to number five, calling him an 'all-in-one' solution for batting and bowling issues. Manjrekar also highlighted the team's struggle with slower balls, urging focus on this area before their crucial match against Zimbabwe.

England secured a T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final spot after a thrilling victory over Pakistan. Captain Harry Brook's maiden T20I century was the highlight, guiding England home in a tense chase. Pakistan's qualification now hinges on other results, facing a challenging path to the last four.

Babar Azam's struggles at the T20 World Cup are under intense scrutiny, with his batting role and form drawing criticism. Former England captain Michael Vaughan, however, believes coach Mike Hesson has navigated Pakistan's complex cricket politics well, suggesting Babar's anchoring style suits Sri Lankan conditions if others play aggressively around him.

Following a disappointing loss against South Africa, the Indian cricket team faces a must-win scenario against Zimbabwe. Calls for adding a right-hander like Sanju Samson have intensified to counter predictable tactics, especially against off-spinners. Discussions are ongoing regarding potential changes to the playing XI to address tactical imbalances and improve performance.

T20 World Cup: Sitanshu Kotak press conference before India vs Zimbabwe

Tempers flared on live TV as former Pakistan stars Saqlain Mushtaq and Mohammad Hafeez clashed over Mohammad Nawaz's all-round capabilities following a crucial Super 8 defeat. Pakistan's T20 World Cup hopes now hinge on their final match and favorable results, intensifying the debate about Nawaz's role as a batsman versus bowler.

Rinku Singh is set to rejoin the Indian squad this evening after a brief absence due to his father's ill health. The middle-order batter had returned home urgently, missing training sessions. His father is reportedly in serious condition in an NCR hospital. Singh's availability for the crucial Super 8 match against Zimbabwe was in doubt following his departure.

Shoaib Akhtar expressed intense disappointment following Pakistan's T20 World Cup defeat to England, criticizing captain Salman Ali Agha's leadership. England's victory, spearheaded by Harry Brook's century, shattered Pakistan's semi-final aspirations, leaving their tournament hopes dependent on other match outcomes.

Is this the end of the T20 World Cup for India? Greenstone Lobo predicts results

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting urged India to abandon overthinking match-ups and select their best XI to revive their T20 World Cup campaign. Following a significant defeat, Ponting emphasised prioritising team balance and experience, advocating for the return of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel to bolster bowling options.

Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra headbutted a Karnataka substitute fielder during the Ranji Trophy final, sparking heated exchanges. Despite the incident and subsequent confrontations, Jammu and Kashmir continued to dominate, building on a strong first innings performance.

India face a crucial Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe after a significant loss to South Africa. Former coach Ravi Shastri believes this setback could be the wake-up call the team needs. India must win to avoid elimination. Shastri emphasises strengthening bowling with Axar Patel's return. The team's semi-final hopes now depend on a swift and effective response to this challenge.

Why Pakistan need to start packing, and book their flights ASAP!

India face a virtual knockout phase in the T20 World Cup after a significant loss to South Africa, severely impacting their net run rate. They must now win their remaining matches convincingly against Zimbabwe and West Indies, while also hoping for favorable results in other games to secure a semi-final spot.

India's net sessions ahead of the crucial Zimbabwe game saw Rinku Singh's absence due to family reasons, while Suryakumar Yadav focused on range-hitting. Abhishek Sharma practiced bowling spin before batting, aiming to regain form. Sanju Samson's potential inclusion might see Washington Sundar sit out, with Ishan Kishan possibly moving to number three.

Following a significant loss to South Africa, Team India faces Zimbabwe in a must-win match at Chepauk, needing a strong performance to boost morale and improve their net run rate. With key batters struggling, India hope for a dominant win while acknowledging external factors and Zimbabwe's inexperience in Indian conditions.

Cricket's Hundred league faces scrutiny as the ECB warns franchises against discriminating against Pakistani players in the upcoming auction. This follows revelations of an ECB official suggesting limited interest in Pakistani talent from Indian Premier League-linked teams. Notably, Pakistani players have been absent from the IPL since 2009, and a similar pattern has emerged in other leagues with Indian ownership.

Following a significant defeat to South Africa, India faces calls for tactical adjustments. Key recommendations include diversifying the left-heavy top order, recalling all-rounder Axar Patel for control, and refining the Powerplay batting approach. Rethinking Hardik Pandya's bowling role and adopting a focused mindset are also crucial for recovery.