Raza leads Zimbabwe in Ngarava's absence at UAE tri-series
The team will stay in the country to play Afghanistan in three T20Is and two Tests
JSCA International Stadium Complex: India captain Shreyas Iyer said it was difficult to determine a par score with the dew factor playing a significant role after the hosts' imposing total of 249/5 was chased down by the West Indies in the second T20I at the JSCA International Stadium Complex here on Friday. The West Indies rode on skipper Shai Hope's blistering 45-ball century and Sherfane Rutherford's explosive 84 off 37 deliveries to pull off a six-wicket victory, completing the second-highest successful run chase in men's T20I cricket with two overs to spare. Honestly speaking, you cannot put a number to it, because when the dew factor comes in, it plays a massive role. And even 249 was chased in, like, with two overs to spare. So you cannot give a number, or probably anticipate that, okay, this is the number we would be trying to score, Iyer said after the match. Reflecting on the West Indies' remarkable batting display, Iyer acknowledged that the margin for error was minimal on a batting-friendly surface, where even slight lapses in execution proved costly. The margin of error on this wicket is very minor, and any delivery, if you miss it, if you miss to execute it, it was going onto the stands, and you could see how exceptional they were batting. So, a few missed chances here and there, but that's part and parcel of the game. But credit where it's due, they batted amazingly, and yeah, kudos to them, he said. India had appeared to seize control after Mayank Yadav struck three times in the powerplay, dismissing Kamil Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell to leave the visitors under pressure. However, Hope and Rutherford counterattacked with a 120-run fourth-wicket partnership that shifted the momentum decisively towards the West Indies. Iyer praised Mayank's impact with the ball and the contributions of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, highlighting the importance of their performances in setting the tone for the team. Both were phenomenal in their departments, and this is what we look for now and then from Sanju and Abhishek. The way they've been performing consistently throughout, taking that responsibility and setting the pace for us exceptional performances by them, and also Mayank, he said. Those three crucial wickets, it was something that stabilized the rhythm for us up ahead, but then after that the partnership came in, and the momentum shifted towards them, the India captain added. Earlier, Samson had helped guide India to 249/5 with a brutal 82 off 41, while Iyer hit 40 off 18 balls and Tilak Varma was unbeaten on 44 off 18 balls. Those three crucial wickets, it was something that stabilized the rhythm for us up ahead, but then after that the partnership came in, and the momentum shifted towards them, the India captain added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
From 5/2 To 250! How Hope, Rutherford Pulled Off WI's Epic Chase
Shai Hope's unbeaten century propelled West Indies to their highest successful chase in T20 internationals, overhauling a target of 250 to beat India by six wickets and level the five-match series at 1-1.
IND vs WI second T20: Shai Hope, Sherfane Rutherford dazzle as West Indies draws level
Shai Hope hits an unbeaten 102 off just 45 deliveries while Sherfane Rutherford smashes a 37-ball 84 as the Men in Maroon pull off their highest chase in the shortest format; Samsons knock goes in vain
Steve Smith surpasses Steve Waugh to become Australia's third-leading run-scorer in Test cricket
Steve Smith surpassed former captain Steve Waugh to become the third leading run-scorer for Australia in Test cricket history. The veteran achieved the feat in the opening day of the first Test against against South...
IND vs WI 2nd T20I: Hope, Rutherford Power West Indies To Record Chase Against India In Ranchi
JSCA International Stadium Complex: Skipper Shai Hope smashed a blistering 45-ball century before Sherfane Rutherford hammered 84 off 37 deliveries as the West Indies pulled off a sensational six-wicket victory over India in the second T20I at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Friday, getting past a daunting target of 250 to register the second-highest successful run-chase in men's T20I cricket. Hope and Rutherford shared a record 120-run stand for the fourth wicket after India pacer Mayank Yadav's hat-trick in the Power-play period had brought them back in the game with the visitors struggling at 44/3. Their counterattacking partnership was the biggest for the West Indies in T20Is for the fourth wicket as well as the third biggest for the fourth wicket against India in the shortest format. After a half-century off 24 balls, Hope had another brilliant follow-up to his tour, hitting 104 from 45 balls, the fastest T20I century by a West Indian against India and the second-quickest West Indian in the format (after Johnson Charles's 39-ball effort against South Africa in 2023). Rutherford provided equally destructive support, bringing up his half-century off 24 balls and finishing with 84 off 37 deliveries, including seven fours and seven sixes. The left-hander's eighth T20I fifty also extended his sequence of consecutive 50-plus scores to three, putting him alongside Evin Lewis and Nicholas Pooran among West Indies batters to achieve the feat. Both Hope and Rutherford recorded the joint-second-fastest half-centuries by a West Indies batter against India in T20Is, behind Johnson Charles' 20-ball effort in 2016. Reverting to the visitors' pursuit of 249 for 5, they overtook Australia's 245 for 5 against New Zealand at Auckland in 2018 for the second-highest successful run chase in T20Is, behind South Africa's 259 for 4 in the 19th over against West Indies at Centurion in 2023. India also suffered a loss despite such a strong batting performance that led to 249 for 5 in 20 overs. India had earlier put up a strong total of 249/5, thanks largely to Sanju Samson's blazing knock of 82 off 41 balls, skipper Shreyas Iyer's quickfire 40 off 18 balls and Tilak Varma's unbeaten 44 off 18. The highly aggressive batting from the three helped the hosts arrest a middle-order collapse and end up with a huge total. Samson was aggressive from the word go, punishing the West Indies pace attack with aggressive hitting during the powerplay. The right-hander scored a half-century off just 21 balls, tying the record for the fastest 50 by an Indian in T20Is versus West Indies, held by Virat Kohli. It was achieved at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai against West Indies in 2019. India were 79/1 at the end of the Power-play and raced to 127/1 at the halfway mark, with Samson and Ishan Kishan going at a good rate. Ishan Kishan played some flamboyant shots before he was bowled by Roston Chase for 43 off 22 balls in the 12th over. Chase then bowled Dube for seven off 10 balls, dragging the left-hander on to his stumps, before Shamar Springer took the catch in the deep off a Kesture Paul delivery in the 15th over to dismiss 'missed chance' Samson. It was the right-hander's second consecutive half-century as he scored 82 (94, 46) before Kamil Pooran caught him. Chase quickly clawed his way back, ending with 3/24, before India's momentum was finally checked in the final overs. Tilak and Iyer then bludgeoned the hosts' attack for an 83-run stand in 32 balls, taking the score to within almost 250 runs. Tilak was particularly brutal in the final stretch, clattering three sixes in a row while Dhir also brought out the big shots with a four off the sole ball he faced. In reply, West Indies lost an early wicket when Mayank Yadav removed two in the first over. After mistiming a pull and falling for four off two, Kamil Pooran was snaffled at midwicket by a well-judged catch from substitute Ravi Bishnoi. Hetmyer was out for a golden duck to a delivery that was hurtling down at 144.5 kph before forcing him into a rushed cross-batted shot across the line. Mayank returned to remove Rovman Powell for 24 off 13 balls in the sixth over, clocking 149.5 kph as he beat the batter's attempted heave and sent the off stump cartwheeling. His three-wicket burst left the West Indies in trouble, but Hope responded with an attacking half-century to keep the chase alive. Hopes half-century was raised in 24 balls, with Rutherford at the other end matching the rate. They milked India's errors Mayank a sitter of a catch from Kuldeep Yadav at short fine leg offered Hope a life just before drinks. The southpaw capitalised on the respite and raced to his half-century off just 24 balls, flaying the Indian bowlers to all parts. The 15th over finally saw Kuldeep winning the battle against Rutherford, as the left-arm wrist spinner trapped the batsman for 84 off 37 balls in his own bowling. However, Rutherford got a touch of luck when an outside-off length ball was played by him for a drive back of square and was caught by wicketkeeper Samson. The stand was worth 120 runs. Yet the damage was done. Hope's magnificent knock had got the visitors close enough, and the West Indies crossed the line at 252/4 to clinch a historic six-wicket win with the highest successful T20I run chase in their history and second-highest in the format overall. Brief scores: Yet the damage was done. Hope's magnificent knock had got the visitors close enough, and the West Indies crossed the line at 252/4 to clinch a historic six-wicket win with the highest successful T20I run chase in their history and second-highest in the format overall. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Hope 102*, Rutherford 84 help West Indies pull off their highest T20I chase
India put up 249 for 5 but without Jasprit Bumrah the bowlers couldn't defend it
Nkomo to lead unchanged Zimbabwe squad for maiden India tour
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Zimbabwe Cricket Reveals Limited-overs Squads For UAE Tour, Tri-series
ZIMBABWE T20I SQUAD: Zimbabwe Cricket has named its limited-overs squads for a multi-format tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the team will face hosts Afghanistan and Bangladesh in an ODI tri-series before taking on Afghanistan in three T20Is and two Test matches. The extensive assignment runs from October 17 to November 17, with the selectors retaining faith in the core of the groups that featured in recent white-ball series. Sikandar Raza will once again captain the ODI side in the absence of Richard Ngarava, who is still recovering from a back injury, while also leading Zimbabwe in the T20I series. The ODI squad largely comprises players who faced Australia in Harare last month, with Tafadzwa Tsiga and Vincent Masekesa coming in for Innocent Kaia and Graeme Cremer. Kaia is working his way back to full fitness after suffering a thigh strain but is expected to be ready for the T20I series, Zimbabwe Cricket informed in a release on Friday. Tsiga and Masekesa are both in contention for their ODI debuts, adding options to a squad that blends established internationals with an emerging generation of players. Raza, Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor provide experience in the batting group alongside Ben Curran, Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani. Blessing Muzarabani heads the pace attack, which also includes Brad Evans, Ernest Masuku and Newman Nyamhuri, while Masekesa joins Wellington Masakadza and the all-rounders among the spin options. Masekesa has also been named in the T20I squad and, alongside Tsiga, is in contention for a debut in the shortest international format. Kundai Matigimu will replace Evans for the third and final T20I. Zimbabwe will open the ODI tri-series against Bangladesh on October 17 before meeting Afghanistan on October 19. The hosts will face Bangladesh in the final round-robin fixture on October 21, with the top two teams advancing to the final on October 23. Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will then contest three T20Is on October 27, 29 and November 1. The tour concludes with two Tests, scheduled for November 5 to 9 and Nov 13 to 17. Zimbabwes Test squad will be announced in the days leading up to the series. ZIMBABWE ODI SQUAD: Sikandar Raza (Captain), Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brendan Taylor, Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine, Ernest Masuku, Newman Nyamhuri, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere ZIMBABWE T20I SQUAD: Sikandar Raza (Captain), Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brendan Taylor, Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine, Ernest Masuku, Newman Nyamhuri, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Hope's consistency, Rutherford's savagery help West Indies record second-highest chase in T20Is
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Landmark ODI Win Over WI Makes Zimbabwe Pick Unchanged Squad For White-ball Tour Of India
Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International: Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) on Friday retained the 15-player squad that secured the countrys landmark first-ever ICC Womens Championship victory over the West Indies for their upcoming six-match white-ball tour of India, scheduled to begin on October 16. Captain Josephine Nkomo will lead the unchanged side after the national selectors opted to back the group that created history by defeating West Indies Women by four wickets at the Harare Sports Club a fortnight ago. The historic win over the Caribbean side, despite losing T20I and ODI series to them, gives Zimbabwe significant momentum ahead of a challenging tour featuring three T20Is followed by three ODIs, which form part of the ICC Womens Championship. The tour kicks off with the three-match T20I series to be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh, on October 16, 18, and 20, respectively. The two teams will then travel to Gujarat for the three-match ODI leg, to be played at the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) Stadium in Vadodara on October 23, 25, and 28, respectively. India will be captained by left-handed opener Smriti Mandhana, who will begin her full-time captaincy stint after replacing the long-serving Harmanpreet Kaur earlier this week. Medium-pacer Nyasha Gwanzura, who registered career-best figures of 4-33 to trigger the win over the West Indies, anchors the bowling setup alongside Michelle Mavunga and Francisca Chipare. The batting effort relies heavily on Modester Mupachikwa, Sharne Mayers, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Kelis Ndhlovu, and Beloved Biza, with skipper Nkomo and Nomvelo Sibanda providing vital top-tier international experience. Although they lost all three matches, they showed encouraging signs and will now test their progress against one of the leading sides in the womens game, said Zimbabwe Cricket in its statement on Friday. The batting effort relies heavily on Modester Mupachikwa, Sharne Mayers, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Kelis Ndhlovu, and Beloved Biza, with skipper Nkomo and Nomvelo Sibanda providing vital top-tier international experience. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Sanju Samson roared back to form with a blistering 82 before Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma's rapid knocks powered India to 249/5 in the second T20I against the West Indies on Friday
Samson, Varma fire India to record 249 in 2nd T20I VS WI
Sanju Samson's explosive 82, followed by rapid knocks from Shreyas Iyer (40) and Tilak Varma (44 not out), propelled India to their highest-ever T20I total against the West Indies, posting 249/5 in the second T20I in Ranchi.
2nd T20I: Samson, Tilak Power India To 249/5 Against West Indies In Ranchi
JSCA International Stadium Complex: An explosive 82 off 41 balls by Sanju Samson and Tilak Varmas unbeaten 44 off 18 deliveries, complemented by Shreyas Iyers quickfire 40 off 18 balls, powered India to a formidable 249/5 in 20 overs against the West Indies in the second T20I at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Friday. Samson and Tilak set the stage for Indias imposing total with contrasting yet equally destructive knocks, while Iyers late assault, which included 44 runs off 18 deliveries in the partnership with Tilak, ensured the hosts finished on a high after the visitors briefly fought back through Roston Chases three-wicket burst. Samson blazed his way to a quickfire fifty as India comfortably reached 79/1 in the Power-play against the West Indies in the first T20I, racking up huge pressure on the visitors' bowling unit. Samson scored his ninth T20I fifty off just 21 balls, equaling the fastest half-century by an Indian in T20Is against the West Indies, a feat previously achieved by Virat Kohli. Kohli's fastest T20I half-century in India against West Indies also came off 21 balls at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, in 2019. Impression by the right-hander continued from the very first over, unleashing the attack on Windies bowlers and maximizing fielding restrictions. There was a lot of strain on Akeal Hosein and Romario Shepherd as India cruised ahead in the run rate. Abhishek Sharma (20 off 12) too got off to a flier but was dismissed by Roston Chase off the off-spinner's first ball. Ishan Kishan opened his account in front of his home crowd before Samson. As Samson found the fence at will and Kishan took guard patiently, India emerged to stride at six for the loss of no wicket after the first six overs, a position that will certainly give West Indies plenty to ponder. India kept pushing on the runs, reaching 127/1 at the halfway stage as Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan began to target the West Indies bowlers. Sanju was 72 off just 33 balls when he got out, and local hero Kishan hit 33 from 17 balls, maintaining a brisk scoring rate that kept the visitors on the back foot. Samson punished the West Indies for the chances they had missed, Kamil Pooran and Motie failing to hold on to the catches after which the right-hander continued his onslaught. Both batters were scoring boundaries regularly, and India looked set to amass a hefty score before the West Indies started thinking about a breakthrough. Indias innings suffered a few setbacks after a blistering start, with the West Indies fighting back through off-spinner Roston Chase. Ishan Kishan entertained the home crowd with a fluent 43 off 22 balls, including six fours and two sixes, before Chase bowled him in the 12th over to end a promising knock. The off-spinner then struck again to dismiss Shivam Dube for seven off 10 balls, dragging the left-hander onto his stumps as India lost their third wicket. Sanju Samson, meanwhile, continued his sensational innings before falling for a magnificent 82 off 41 balls, studded with nine fours and four sixes. Shamar Springer broke the standstill in the 15th over, with Kamil Pooran taking a catch in the deep to make amends for an earlier dropped chance. Samson received a standing ovation from the Ranchi crowd as he walked back, having registered the highest individual T20I score at the venue. Chase finished his four overs with impressive figures of 3/24, helping the West Indies claw their way back after Indias explosive start. Skipper Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma joined forces to give India a late-innings flourish, powering the hosts to a formidable 249/5 in 20 overs after the West Indies had briefly fought back with a flurry of wickets. Iyer smashed 40 off just 18 balls, while Tilak remained unbeaten on 44 off 18 deliveries, as the pair added a crucial partnership of 83 runs in 32 deliveries in the death overs to put India firmly in control. Tilak was particularly destructive, striking boundaries at will and taking the attack to the West Indies bowlers when India needed a strong finish. Tilak in particular was aggressive in the partnership, smashing a hat-trick of maximums, helping India add a substantial total in the final overs. Naman Dhir chipped in with a four off his only ball, as India finished with 249/5, setting the West Indies a daunting target. Tilak was particularly destructive, striking boundaries at will and taking the attack to the West Indies bowlers when India needed a strong finish. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Abhishek Sharma sets new six-hitting record in second T20I against West Indies in Ranchi
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Ireland men's team to play five ODIs in Namibia in October-November; A team to tour Zimbabwe
Digital Desk | Dublin, Oct 9 (IANS) The Ireland mens cricket team will play five ODIs against Namibia in Windhoek from October 22 to November 1, said Cricket Ireland while announcing its extensive winter schedule on Friday. Following the senior team's assignment in Namibia, the Ireland 'A' side, called as Ireland Wolves, will head to Zimbabwe for a tour featuring two four-day matches and five one-day fixtures against Zimbabwe A from November 6 to 28. Paul Stirling will lead a 16-member ODI squad in Namibia, with Lorcan Tucker serving as vice-captain. Left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys will captain the Ireland Wolves across both formats in Zimbabwe. Nine players selected for the senior series will also feature on the Wolves tour, while six squad members will later head to the UAE for the International League T20 (ILT20). Senior pacer Mark Adair has been included in the Wolves red-ball squad to provide leadership to the young seam attack. Cricket Irelands Director of High Performance, Graeme West, said the long-term importance of these winter tours is huge given that Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa will co-host the 2027 ICC Mens Cricket World Cup and the qualifying tournament. West noted that playing on turf wickets in warmer conditions offers crucial exposure The squads selected for the senior mens and Wolves tours feature the best of Irish mens current and emerging talent, and the chance for such a large cohort of players getting away during the winter months to play outdoors on grass in warmer conditions is a welcome one. With Namibia and Zimbabwe hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup and Qualification events in 2027 alongside South Africa, the tours provide great opportunities for our players to familiarise themselves with the conditions and some of their potential opponents. Regarding the Wolves tour, Zimbabwe are always keen to engage in the longer format and the two back-to-back first-class matches will test our physical capacity as much as our technical skills, he said in a statement. Additionally, Ireland's developmental pathway will see the Under-19 mens squad play four 50-over games in South Africa starting from October 12, while the Under-19 womens team will feature in four T20s against Namibias Capricorn Eagles from October 25. Squads: Ireland Senior Men (Namibia ODI trip): Paul Stirling (c), Lorcan Tucker (vc), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, George Dockrell, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Humphreys, Andy McBrine, Liam McCarthy, Byron McDonough, Jai Moondra, Jordan Neill, Harry Tector. Ireland Wolves Red-Ball (Zimbabwe tour): Matthew Humphreys (c), Mark Adair, Ben Calitz, Cade Carmichael, Chris Defreitas, Stephen Doheny, Jake Egan, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Hollard, Liam McCarthy, Byron McDonough, Jai Moondra, Jordan Neill, Tim Tector, Reuben Wilson. Ireland Wolves White-Ball (Zimbabwe tour): Matthew Humphreys (c), Ben Calitz, Cade Carmichael, Chris Defreitas, David Delany, Gareth Delany, Stephen Doheny, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Hollard, Josh Little, Liam McCarthy, Byron McDonough, Jai Moondra, Jordan Neill, Tim Tector.
Adams leaves Hampshire after 25 years for Tasmania role
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Fast bowlers share honours on Day One as South Africa restrict Australia to 187/6
Digital Desk | Durban, Oct 9 (IANS) A fast bowling attack minus spearhead Kagiso Rabada helped South Africa restrict Australia to 187/6 before bad light and rain brought an early end to the first day of the first Test at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday. Despite missing Rabada, the likes of Anrich Nortje, Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen utilised early movement and bounce effectively after Australia elected to bat on a pitch carrying a tinge of grass. Mulder drew first blood by removing Travis Head (9), before Jansen ended Nic Maddinsons scoreless 33-ball stay on his Test return to leave the visitors reeling at 24/2. Marnus Labuschagne (37) and Steve Smith (25) mounted a recovery with a 60-run third-wicket alliance coming off 94 balls. Smith, who went past Steve Waugh to become Australias third-highest run-scorer in mens Tests, hit spinner Keshav Maharaj for two sixes before falling to Jansen after lunch. On the other hand, Labuschagnes 11th consecutive innings without a fifty ended when Mulder trapped him LBW with a sharp nip-backer. Nortje, making his comeback to red-ball cricket after three years, then dealt a double blow in a single over -- removing Alex Carey (14) and Beau Webster (4) to reduce Australia to 124/6. But Matt Renshaw (46 not out) and skipper Pat Cummins (33 not out) displayed immense patience under heavy overcast skies and floodlights by stitching together an unbeaten 63-run stand off 140 balls for the seventh wicket to steady the innings. Bad light and light rain eventually cut the final session short by an hour, with 65.2 overs bowled on the day. Jansen, Mulder and Nortje shared two wickets apiece for the Proteas, while off-spinner Simon Harmer bowled an economical spell of 0-34 in 14 overs. Play will resume early on Saturday with Australia seeking to build on their late recovery. Brief scores: Australia 187/6 in 65.2 overs (Matt Renshaw 46 not out, Marnus Labuschagne 37; Wiaan Mulder 2-31, Marco Jansen 2-35) against South Africa
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2nd T20I: Motie Replaces Forde As WI Elect To Bowl In Ranchi
JSCA International Stadium Complex: The West Indies won the toss and elected to bowl first against India in the second T20I of the series at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Friday. West Indies captain Shai Hope said his side opted to bowl first, taking into account the wet conditions and the possibility of them worsening as the evening progresses. He acknowledged the quick turnaround between matches and said the team was keen to learn from its mistakes and come back stronger. Hope also confirmed one change to the West Indies playing XI with Gudakesh Motie coming in for Matthew Forde. We are going to bowl first, this time around. We gotta look at the conditions; it's wet and will get worse in the evening. Quick turnaround, trying to learn from the mistakes. Just come back stronger. It's already a bit wet, so it's going to get even worse as the evening goes on. We're just going to try to put them under pressure with the ball and then chase them down. It's about trying to learn from the mistakes we made in the first game. Especially against a quality side like India, you can't really give them too many chances. We've got to make sure we put that game behind us quickly and come back stronger today. One change. Matthew Forde is out, and Gudakesh Motie is in. Everyone's probably going to get a go on this tour, said Hope after the toss. India captain Shreyas Iyer said his team would have preferred to bowl first as well, but stressed the need to adapt quickly to the conditions. He said the focus was on maintaining high standards throughout the 40 overs and challenging themselves to improve, adding that India would field an unchanged playing XI. We were looking to bowl first as well; we will have to adapt quickly. We have talked about maintaining standards for 40 overs. We want to challenge ourselves to get better. We are going with the same team, said Iyer. Playing XIs: India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Mayank Yadav Playing XIs: Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
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South Africa's Anrich Nortje, returning to first-class cricket after nearly four years, took two quick wickets to leave Australia struggling at 149-6 at tea on the opening day of the first Test. Nortje's fiery spell after lunch justified his recall, as he dismissed Alex Carey and Beau Webster in quick succession.
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India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will turn out for Saurashtra in their opening match of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season against Chhattisgarh.
Konstas, Johnson Power Australia A To Series-clinching 69-run Win Over India A
Cricket Association Pondicherry Siechem Ground: Sam Konstas top-scored with 67 while left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson led a relentless bowling display with a three-wicket haul as the duo powered Australia A to a series-clinching 69-run victory over India A in the second 50-over game at the Cricket Association Pondicherry Siechem Ground on Friday. Australia A once again delivered a complete performance on a sluggish pitch. Their top order set the game up early, with Konstas and number three Josh Philippe (58) striking fluent half-centuries. The duo were also supported by handy contributions from skipper Nathan McSweeney (32), Mitch Owen (25), and Lachlan Shaw (25). Even when India A's bowlers triggered a late collapse, Australia A's top-heavy blitz ensured they reached 275 in 49.5 overs, a target that proved far beyond the reach of India A. For India A, seam-bowling all-rounder Arshad Khan took 3-56, while Yash Thakur grabbed 2-46. When it came to defending the total, Australia As pacers outclassed India As batters with pace and bounce. With Mahli Beardman rested, Johnson, Riley Meredith, and Ben Dwarshuis extracted sharp bounce and movement to reduce India As chase to a mere procession by taking out Devdutt Padikkal, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and B Sai Sudharsan in the power-play. With Kumar Kushagra and Nishant Sindhu falling without doing much, India A never recovered from the early damage in the chase of 276. For India A, Rajat Patidar offered the sole resistance through hitting 67 off 82 balls - his second consecutive half-century of the series. However, with wickets tumbling around him, Patidar lacked support as the chase unravelled, before he fell to Johnson. Eventually, India A were bowled out for 206 in 45.2 overs, giving Australia A an unpassable 2-0 lead in the three-game series, with the final game to happen on Sunday. With Kumar Kushagra and Nishant Sindhu falling without doing much, India A never recovered from the early damage in the chase of 276. For India A, Rajat Patidar offered the sole resistance through hitting 67 off 82 balls - his second consecutive half-century of the series. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Kapil Dev has a blunt message for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Cricket legend Kapil Dev has cautioned against creating 'excessive hype' around 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, drawing parallels with Vinod Kambli's career, and urged the media to give the young talent time to develop.
If getting into the Indian cricket team is difficult, keeping your place in it is twice as challenging. Just ask Sanju Samson
Parthiv Reveals How He Nearly Replaced Kohli As RCB Captain
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has revealed that Royal Challengers Bengaluru considered him for the captaincy ahead of the 2019 IPL season, a plan that was derailed by a change in coaching staff.
Ravindra Jadeja named as Saurashtra announce squad for Ranji Trophy opener against Chhattisgarh
Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is set to feature for Saurashtra in their opening fixture of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy against Chhattisgarh at Rajkots Niranjan Shah Stadium. Ahead of the upcoming Test series against New Zealand,...
India vs West Indies Free Live Telecast, 2nd T20I Live Streaming: When And Where To Watch
Here is how the fans could watch the India vs West Indies 2nd T20I for free -
India vs West Indies 2nd T20I LIVE Score Updates: India lead 1-0 in the five-match series after winning the first game by 8 wickets.
Konstas, Phillipe and Johnson secure 2-0 lead for Australia A
India A were wrecked by pace and bounce again in a chase of 276
Virender Sehwag And Rahul Dravid's Sons Likely To Play In Major India vs Pakistan Clash In November
The Indian Under-19 team has received considerable attention of late due to the presence of the sons of two of India's greatest cricketers - Aaryavir Sehwag, son of Virender Sehwag, and Anvay Dravid, son of Rahul Dravid.
Peirson posts ton, Bartlett bags three as Queensland boss Western Australia
Peirson made 101 not out as Queensland posted 307 before Bartlett took three wickets and Gannon two as WA slumped to 158 for 8 in reply
Defending Champions Pakistan Announce Abbas Afridi-led Squad For Hong Kong Sixes
Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground: Defending champions Pakistan have announced a seven-member squad for the Hong Kong Sixes 2026, with the six-time champions set to face India on October 30 in one of the tournaments marquee clashes. Their title-winning ambitions will lead Pakistan as they look to retain the crown they secured last year by defeating Kuwait by 43 runs in the final. Muhammad Abbas Afridi, who starred in the 2025 final with a blistering 52 off just 11 balls, has been named captain. The Pakistan squad comprises Muhammad Abbas Afridi, Ahmad Daniyal Latif, Khawaja Muhammad Nafay, Syed Muhammad Abdul Samad, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Chaudhry Saad Masood and Muhammad Shahzad. Pakistans sixth title in 2025 made them the most successful team in the tournaments history. They will now look to continue their dominance in the fast-paced competition, which is scheduled to be held from October 30 to November 1 at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Hong Kong. The announcement also sets the stage for a high-profile encounter against India on October 30, with the match scheduled to begin at 2:15 pm IST. India had announced a strong squad earlier, featuring Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya, Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi and T. Natarajan. However, Bhuvneshwar could miss the tournament after being selected for Indias T20I squad for the New Zealand series. The six-a-side format places a premium on explosive batting, all-round contributions and quick momentum shifts, with matches offering a condensed version of the traditional game. Anuraag Bhatnagar, Director of Marketing and Commercial at Cricket Hong Kong, China, said the organisers were delighted to welcome back the defending champions. Pakistans record sixth title in 2025 underlined their outstanding pedigree in the Hong Kong Sixes, and we are delighted to welcome the defending champions back for the 2026 edition. They bring a winning mentality, exciting talent and a style of cricket that perfectly complements the fast-paced nature of the format, he said. Pakistan squad: Pakistans record sixth title in 2025 underlined their outstanding pedigree in the Hong Kong Sixes, and we are delighted to welcome the defending champions back for the 2026 edition. They bring a winning mentality, exciting talent and a style of cricket that perfectly complements the fast-paced nature of the format, he said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Jadeja to feature for Saurashtra in Ranji Trophy opener
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is set to play for Saurashtra in their opening Ranji Trophy match against Chhattisgarh, with Jaydev Unadkat retaining captaincy, as the team aims for a strong start to the 2026-27 season.
How Nic Maddinson beat cancer to return to Test cricket
Cancer survivor Nic Maddinson returned to Test cricket after battling testicular cancer, but Marco Jansen dismissed the Australian opener for a duck against South Africa.
Take It To The Next Level: Smriti Mandhana Warned About Her Biggest Challenge As India Captain
Former India captain Anjum Chopra believes Smriti Mandhana does not have to measure herself in stepping up to succeed Harmanpreet Kaur as the side's new captain and should instead carve out her own leadership path after being handed the charge across formats.
Nic Maddinson sets unwanted Australian record on return to international cricket after 10 years
Nic Maddison made his Test debut in November 2016 against South Africa . He played his last Test in December 2016 and after a decade-long wait, Maddinson returned to the scheme of things and was named in the playing XI for Australias first Test against South Africa in Durban. However, his return wasnt pleasant as the opener set an unwanted record following a 33-ball duck.
Italy all-rounder Ben Manenti joins Melbourne Renegades on two-year BBL deal
Digital Desk | Melbourne, Oct 9 (IANS) Italy all-rounder Ben Manenti has landed a two-year contract with Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season. Manenti, who previously had brief BBL spells with Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers, inked the deal on the back of a breakout year across international and domestic cricket. The 29-year-old off-spinner and hard-hitting batter was Italys star performer during their maiden Mens T20 World Cup appearance in February by finishing as their highest run-scorer with 138 runs in three innings and second-highest wicket-taker with five scalps. His T20 World Cup campaign featured a blistering 25-ball 60 against England at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, including six sixes and four fours, and was followed by a 29-ball half-century against Scotland and a match-winning spell of 2-9 in Italys historic victory over Nepal. After playing for Rotterdam Dockers in the inaugural edition of the European T20 Premier League, the all-rounder carried that rich vein of form into the Australian domestic season for South Australia. Becoming the stand-in captain for South Australia in their Sheffield Shield opener against Victoria on Friday, Manenti smashed a 112-ball century and eventually made 128 to power his side past 500 in the first innings. With leg-spinner Adam Zampa moving to Hobart Hurricanes in the off-season, Manentis off-spin bowling presents him with a prime opportunity to push for the main spin bowling role in Melbourne. He's coming off an outstanding period of cricket, and he's a highly competitive player who offers genuine flexibility with both bat and ball, and just as importantly, he's the type of character we want in our environment, said newly appointed Renegades head coach Luke Ronchi. Manenti joins a spin group that includes re-signed left-arm spinner Callum Stow, leg-spinner Michael Archer, and New Zealands off-spin bowling all-rounder Michael Bracewell. The side also has the likes of Jason Behrendorff, Josh Brown, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Ollie Peake and Will Sutherland in their setup. The Renegades, who have also bolstered their batting lineup with England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow, will kick off their BBL season 16 against defending champions Perth Scorchers at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on December 12.
Sutherland and Litchfield lead Australia to quick and convincing win in ODI series opener
Bangladesh were bowled out for 166 with only Ritu Moni showing any intent with the bat, and it took Australia just 25.4 overs to finish off the chase
33 Balls, 0 Runs: Nic Maddinson's Decade-Long Test Comeback Sets Unwanted Record
It was a nightmare return to Test cricket for Australia's Nic Maddinson as the southpaw was dismissed for a 33-ball duck on Day 1 of the 1st Test against South Africa in Durban.
Mulder strikes at the strike of lunch to make it South Africa's morning
Nic Maddinson, included in the Australia XI as an opener, batted for 33 balls on his Test comeback but failed to score a run
Jeet Raval announces retirement from professional cricket ahead of the 2026-27 domestic season
New Zealands Jeet Raval recently came forward and announced his retirement from professional cricket. It is interesting to note that Raval played a total of 24 Test matches for the Black Caps between 2016 and...
South Africa vs Australia 1st Test LIVE Score Updates: It is a rematch of the latest World Test Championship (WTC) final, as a highly-awaited three-match Test series kicks off in Durban.
Nic Maddinson's 33-ball duck sets new Australian record after fairytale return
Digital Desk | Durban, Oct 9 (IANS) Nic Maddinson's return to Test cricket did not pan out the way he would have wanted to, as the opener was dismissed for a 33-ball duck in the first innings of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead here on Friday. Maddinson made a return to Test cricket after almost 10 years since last featuring in December 2016 against Pakistan and defeated testicular cancer on a fairytale comeback into the international fold. However, the Southpaw was dismissed for a duck by Marco Jansen in the 11th over early on Day 1 of the Test match, setting the record for the longest duck by an Australian opener in Test cricket. The record previously belonged to David Warner, who was dismissed for a 22-ball duck during the 2022 Ashes away series. The all-time record for the longest duck by an opener belongs to former New Zealand cricketer Darrin Murray, who had bagged a 39-ball duck against Sri Lanka in 1995. Former Zimbabwe opener Trevor Gripper was dismissed for a 36-ball duck against the West Indies in 2000. Maddinson showed patience in his stay as he left several balls. He was lucky to survive an LBW appeal in the fourth over when Wiaan Mulder had trapped him in front, but the Proteas were not sure whether the batter had got some bat on his missed flick, as they did not opt for a review. But he was dismissed a few overs later. Meanwhile, Maddinson's comeback is a fairy-tale story. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in April 2025, as it spread to his lung and lymph nodes. He underwent chemotherapy and completed the course in July 2025. The cricketer resumed training in September after recovering and getting the clearances two months after the last round of his treatment. Maddinson scored 126 in the One-Day Cup for New South Wales against Victoria after returning and, combined with injury issues to Australia, he made it to the national side. He has missed 88 Tests between the two appearances, which is now the Australian record too.
Bevon Jacobs to miss Auckland commitments for BBL stint with Brisbane Heat
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) Bevon Jacobs would be missing his commitments with Auckland as he gears up to feature in the Big Bash League for a short stint with Brisbane Heat. Jacobs will join his compatriot Tim Robinson in the Heat squad for the BBL season after he was named as a short-term replacement for England's Tom Curran, who will not start due to family commitments. He will be available for the Heat's opener against Sydney Sixers on December 15, while he will also be available for the next two matches on December 17 and 21. Curran is set to return before time for the Boxing Day fixture against Sixers in Sydney. The BBL is overlapping with the Plunket Shield, which is New Zealand's premier domestic red-ball event. His stint with Heat will see Jacobs, 24, miss Auckland's game against Central Districts, which begins on December 15. Meanwhile, Jacobs has had experience of playing in Australia. He recently toured Australia for the Top End T20 Series with New Zealand A and made a 30-ball 58 to help his team win a match against Hobart Hurricanes Academy. The right-handed batter had a trip Down Under in 2024 for the T20 Max competition, where he hit a 40-ball hundred, following which he was also signed by Mumbai Indians in the 2025 IPL auction for Rs 30 lakh. Bevon has been on our recruiting lists since he showed his power and skill in the T20 Max a few seasons ago, and its been exciting to see him earn his first international caps since then, Queensland Crickets General Manager - High Performance, Bennett King, said. He has been successful at the top of the order and as a finisher in his career so far, and were looking forward to seeing him in action for the Heat, King added.
South Australia have innings victory in sight after Manenti, McFadyen maiden tons
Manenti and McFadyen made maiden Shield centuries as SA posted 508 before Victoria slumped to 175 for 7, needing 89 more to avoid an innings defeat
Ranji Trophy: Jadeja Included In Jaydev Unadkat-led Saurashtra Squad
Niranjan Shah Stadium: Veteran left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been included in Saurashtras 16-member squad for their Ranji Trophy 2026/27 opener against Chhattisgarh, with veteran fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat continuing to lead the side. Jadeja is coming off playing in Indias 2-1 ODI series win over the West Indies, though he took only two wickets in two games and didnt get a chance to bat. Playing in the Ranji Trophy will help Jadeja build red-ball rhythm ahead of Indias two-match Test tour of New Zealand, to be played in Wellington (November 19-23) and Christchurch (November 27 to December 1). The 92nd edition of the prestigious red-ball tournament begins on October 11, with former champions Saurashtra placed in Elite Group B alongside Andhra, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Hyderabad, Karnataka, Punjab, and Tripura. Unadkat-led Saurashtra will kick off their campaign against Chhattisgarh at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. Saurashtra, who won the premier domestic title twice under Unadkats leadership in 2019/20 and 2022/23, have retained as many as 14 players from last season's squad. Left-arm pacer Unadkat is coming off enjoying a prolific outing for Sussex, picking up 28 wickets across seven matches at an average of 22.21, including picking a stellar 5-32 against Hampshire, alongside two four-wicket hauls. Saurashtra suffered an early exit in the group stage during the 2025/26 Ranji Trophy and will be keen to have a stronger campaign this year. The selection committee has handed call-ups to two new faces pacer Neel Pandya and all-rounder Arth Yadav. Harvik Desai will continue to fulfill wicket-keeping duties, while the batting unit will feature experienced hands Arpit Vasavada, Chirag Jani and Jay Gohil. Unadkat will spearhead the pace department alongside left-arm pacer Chetan Sakariya, though experienced left-arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja has moved out of the team and will now represent Chhattisgarh. This means a lot of spin bowling responsibilities rest on Parth Bhut in the season. The selection committee has handed call-ups to two new faces pacer Neel Pandya and all-rounder Arth Yadav. Harvik Desai will continue to fulfill wicket-keeping duties, while the batting unit will feature experienced hands Arpit Vasavada, Chirag Jani and Jay Gohil. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Tanzid's blazing 83 leads Bangladesh's century opening stand
Tanzid dominated the opening stand of 124 with Shadman Islam but fell just before lunch
Megan Schutt Becomes Third Australian To Complete 150 ODI Wickets
Allan Border Field: Australia fast bowler Megan Schutt achieved a significant milestone as she completed 150 wickets in ODI cricket during the first ODI against Bangladesh women at the Allan Border Field here on Friday. Schutt has become just the third Australian to reach the elusive mark, joining legendary all-rounder Ellyse Perry (166 wickets) and former tearaway pacer Cathryn Fitzpatrick (180) on the list. Coming into the first ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh, the 33-year-old Australian needed two wickets to reach the mark and she got there when she took the wicket of Sarmin Sultana in the third over after taking out Fargana Hoque on the first ball of the series. Schutt produced a jaffa on the first ball of the series as she nicked out Hoque on the first ball after the Aussies opted to bowl first. She got the Bangladeshi opener on a ball that jagged in after pitching from a back-of-a-length to take the edge and Phoebe Litchfield took an easy catch at the first slip. Schutt achieved the milestone in the third over when she pitched one fuller to Sarmim as the ball swung in to beat the batter's flick and thud into the pads for the umpire to call it out. Schutt is overall the 12th player to get to 150 wickets in the format. The list is currently led by India legend and former pacer Jhulan Goswami, who has 255 wickets to her name. For Australia, Fitzpatrick leads the pack with 180 scalps, with Perry on second with 16 wickets. Schutt achieved the milestone in the third over when she pitched one fuller to Sarmim as the ball swung in to beat the batter's flick and thud into the pads for the umpire to call it out. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
India vs West Indies, 2nd T20I Pitch Report, how will surface in Ranchi play?
The stage is set for the 2nd T20I of the ongoing series between India and the West Indies. The two sides are slated to take on each other at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi...
Ollie Davies flays 253, Edwards hits century as NSW take control
Davies raced along at more than a run-a-ball as the home side put in a dominant batting display
Injury crisis hits New Zealand, two star players ruled out of upcoming India T20Is; Check details
The stage is set for the upcoming multi-format series between India and New Zealand. After the conclusion of Indias ongoing T20I series against the West Indies, the Men in Blue will be taking on New Zealand across five T20Is, five ODIs, and two Test matches.
Australia bat, bring in Maddinson after a decade
Maddinson is slotted to open while South Africa had named their XI a day before the Test
Bevon Jacobs set to take leave from Auckland commitments for BBL gig
The BBL overlaps with the Plunket Shield, NZ's premier red-ball competition
2025 ODI WC Win Is Harmanpreet's Biggest Legacy As Indias Captain: Anjum Chopra
ODI World Cup: Former India captain Anjum Chopra believes Harmanpreet Kaur's biggest legacy as the sides skipper will be the 2025 Womens ODI World Cup triumph on home soil, adding that she has left the team as a far stronger, more experienced and more confident side than the one she inherited. Harmanpreet stepped down as India captain across formats this week after nearly a decade in charge, and Smriti Mandhana has been named her successor. Harmanpreet captained India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is and signed off from her tenure by leading India to their second consecutive Asian Games gold medal in Nisshin, Japan last month. The biggest legacy Harmanpreet will always have to her credit as a leader is winning the ODI World Cup in 2025. Look at how her batting shaped up in that tournament - in the league games, the semifinal, and the final, and how the team evolved to get there through everyone's contribution. It wasn't just Harman. With every player contributing, Harman was able to lift that crown and India was able to win. Harman has grown in stature alongside this team, especially over the last three and a half years since taking over the ODI captaincy. Earlier, we played T20s far and few between with more one-day games on the schedule. In recent years, that shifted to where almost every bilateral tour includes T20s, sometimes even more than ODIs. I've seen her grow into that leadership role, and her legacy will always be measured by where she took the reins to where she leaves them. In the one-day format, the Indian team are world champions. They are a far stronger, more energised, skillful, and experienced unit than when she took over. That will be her legacy, alongside the aggression and confidence she brought into that dressing room over the years. If those qualities are carried forward, this Indian team is on the right path and the process is well set, Anjum told IANS in an exclusive conversation on Friday. Anjum, who has known Harmanpreet since meeting in a training camp in 2008, felt the persona behind the former captain has stayed the same through years of drastic changes in the women's game. I've thought through this question so many times in the last 48 hours. What is that one memory? It will not be just one memory. Yes, I've seen her from the closest proximity of being a part of the Indian team, even before she became a member in the 2008 training camp, from there to playing her first World Cup match against Pakistan in 2009 till date. I've seen Harmanpreet grow as a player, and I've seen Harmanpreet grow as a captain. You only get wiser with every passing day, so she has also grown in stature and age. It has been a very balanced approach from what I've seen. I say this without bias: having seen Harmanpreet from close quarters to what I see today, whether in the last T20 World Cup or whenever our last conversation happened, I don't think the person Harmanpreet Kaur has changed, even though things around her have changed dramatically for the women's game. I have never seen an impulsive side in her. From those days, I've always seen a calm demeanour in Harmanpreet Kaur. As a captain, if somebody makes an ordinary effort in the field - like failing to stop a ball, not throwing it back quickly, or conceding an extra run - she will give that person a go right on the ground, whether the cameras catch it or not. But the moment that same person makes a good stop, takes a wicket, or takes a catch, she will be the first person to run across and compliment them. Ive seen both sides of skipper Harman over the years. Harmanpreet as an individual hasn't changed, and that's the beauty of it. That reflects in the team, in her persona, and in every aspect of a leader. Probably that's also the biggest highlight of Harmanpreets tenure at the helm as captain of the Indian team, she elaborated. Asked on when the side became unmistakably hers, as India evolved from being underdogs to serious contenders for winning global events, Anjum said, Its changed because weve started seeing results in a positive way. Im not saying that earlier captains didnt give results, but when Harman took over, even in the 2018 World Cup in Guyana, I remember very clearly the first match against New Zealand where she scored a hundred - it was the first hundred for an Indian in a T20I. You could see it in the approach, body language, and its not just with Harman - that goes for any leader in this mould. Weve had leaders in the past and we will have leaders in the future. Its also about an individuals persona and character. How they are and how they play the sport got reflected in the Indian team as well. When she took over, the team had a few senior players playing alongside, but they were constantly changing. But this team has grown and Harman has grown with this team. That's why those near misses always hurt - she was always in the thick of things as a leader and captain. If you read and observe it, I'll say from the time she took over all-format captain - that was in 2022 (after Mithali Raj retired). It was very evident that this is Harmanpreet Kaur's team and she is the one who is holding the fort. I won't say calling the shots. I'll say holding the fort. To me, it was very much visible that it was Harmanpreet Kaur's team. India's journey to winning the 2025 ODI World Cup title came after a string of near misses at global events, and Anjum felt a captain can only take a team at a pace it is able to follow. It's about making sure the team believes in that as well - it's not just one person. I saw how India let go of the World Cup in 2017 at Lord's. In 2020, they were still getting their act together in T20 cricket. 2023 was a near miss against Australia in that semifinal game, and in 2024, they were underprepared when they played in the UAE. After all these journeys, Smriti has been around for such a long time and played so many World Cups. Deepti has been around for a long time, and Jemimah has been part of World Cups since 2018. That experience has been there, but as the simple saying goes: the speed of the leader is the speed of the team. The leader has to be right in front, and only at that speed will the team follow. You can't be a quick leader if the team isn't following. The moment you take up a role, you have to understand what you want, but before that, you have to understand what pace you can run at and what pace the team can run at. It has to be that balancing act. She also rejected the argument that India's early exits from the last two T20 World Cups, in 2024 and 2026, led to Harmanpreet stepping down as captain. I'll be brutally honest here. Captaincy can change things because it's leadership, but in Indian cricket, and largely in Indian sports, a captain's tenure is never clearly defined. It can be long, or it can be short. We've even seen someone captain on debut. If I have to answer this question about the exits in the two T20 World Cups, I don't think the team was equipped to handle the opposition. Whether it was in the UAE or in England, we have the same set of players playing both 50-over and T20 cricket, using the same template. Look at the matches closely in the UAE and in England - I'm not saying only Harman, Smriti, or Deepti were scoring, but look at the template and style of cricket. A captain does not decide that style of cricket; individual players decide that style by how they go out and play. Nobody tells you to settle for 150, 160, or 170. For the last two to two-and-a-half years, 200 in a T20 game has become a standard par score, even in women's cricket. When you get to a World Cup, you expect a minimum score of 180 or 190, sometimes even more. If these same Indian players are scoring 200 or chasing down 220 in franchise cricket, why does that template not get replicated at a T20 World Cup? It has to be replicated. If it's not, that means either the preparation is incomplete, the confidence isn't there, or you're unable to execute it for some reason. You can't be chasing 200-plus in a WPL match and then struggle to reach 150 or 160 convincingly on the international stage. So it isn't a captaincy issue. I could understand blaming captaincy if tactical decisions were incorrect or if there was favouritism. I've constantly said, even before the start of the 2025 World Cup, that India is short of bowling reserves. Shafali had to be brought in to take those two wickets to secure a victory. I'm very happy we won that World Cup, but we were still short on bowling depth. Even today, we play with one fast bowler like Kranti Gaud, and Nandini Sharma has just walked in. If changing captaincy guarantees ICC trophies, then change it every tournament - no harm in that. Nobody would complain - not me, not my seniors, nor the current Indian team. If it meant winning an ICC trophy, we could have a new captain every tournament. But the template has to be set by the players, not the captain. It is set individually by the batters, bowlers, and wicketkeepers and that is where the Indian team faltered, both in 2024 and in 2026. On why Harmanpreet has spoken often of sacrifice in her Instagram post while announcing her resignation, Anjum offered a deep explanation into it. The biggest sacrifice you make is setting aside your own desire and will to play a certain way. Sometimes you want to bat at number three, but the team requires you to bat at four or open, so you take up that difficult role. You have to put the team's interest ahead of your own. You might want to bowl or not want to bowl, or the team might need you stationed on the boundary line - those are small things. But largely, sacrifice comes from understanding that the team's interest comes first. The common interest is that the team has to win, but how? Either the team walks through the door first, or you as an individual walk through first. That is how small and large decisions are made - decisions made very frequently in squad selection, playing eleven selection, and determining who bats where and when. How much time do you feel a player needs versus what the management feels? You might want a certain setup that isn't agreeable to everyone else. How do you understand a younger player's role when team dynamics make it hard to balance? All those areas are sacrifices because you wake up first and go to sleep last. Even in your dreams, you're thinking about how everyone else is doing. What more can I do as a player and leader so everyone walks onto the park with a smile? These things aren't easy and they take a lot out of you. That's why you see a captain age quicker in their first couple of years. Even if you're winning, captaincy is time-consuming and energy-draining. It's a responsibility, and until you are in that decision-making role, you don't fully understand it. You can never truly prepare for it - you can only wish to be there, but once you are, you are surrounded by so many things. You might want a certain setup that isn't agreeable to everyone else. How do you understand a younger player's role when team dynamics make it hard to balance? All those areas are sacrifices because you wake up first and go to sleep last. Even in your dreams, you're thinking about how everyone else is doing. What more can I do as a player and leader so everyone walks onto the park with a smile? These things aren't easy and they take a lot out of you. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Anjum Calls India's White-ball Vice-captaincy Split baffling, Questions Silence On Omissions
The T20Is: Former India captain Anjum Chopra on Friday termed the decision to split the T20I and ODI vice-captaincy between Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma as 'baffling,' adding that the silence on the players left out of the squad in shortest format is also a real issue. Smriti Mandhana will begin her tenure as full-time India captain from the series against Zimbabwe, with three T20Is and three ODIs to be played between October 16 and 28. The T20Is will be held in Raipur, while the ODIs will be played in Vadodara. It will also be the first bilateral women's series between India and Zimbabwe. It's baffling, simply because are you trying to give an indication to Deepti Sharma that she can be replaced or doesn't fit in the T20I team? She is one of the top all-rounders in world cricket. Is that the message you are giving? The Indian team had to be very careful in choosing a vice-captain, especially when transitioning to a new captain across all formats. Giving it to Shafali - it's not that you can't give it to her, you can give it to anybody. But if you're making Deepti Sharma the vice-captain in the one-day format, not giving her T20I vice-captaincy is surprising. Forget seniority based purely on how well she has performed for you across all formats, and not giving her that role suggests that Deepti Sharma might not even feature in the T20I playing eleven in the near future. That was a little surprising to me. Then again, since it's a series against Zimbabwe, if the thought process is to give Shafali a run in that role, fair enough, Anjum told IANS in an exclusive conversation. Asked whether Jemimah Rodrigues's absence, as she recovers from a hamstring tear sustained in The Hundred, changed the picture in terms of vice-captaincy in the white-ball formats, Anjum had a different take. It doesn't matter who is there or who isn't there - it's about honouring your players. It was very baffling to me that nobody even discussed about Deepti Sharma as a senior player, let alone as a potential captain. Every time the Indian team is in a tough spot, everyone looks to Deepti to deliver with bat or ball, which is great. When you discuss players you can turn to, or someone who has performed so consistently well, leaving her out of those conversations is puzzling. Players want that recognition, and vice-captaincy is one of those areas where I am pretty certain Deepti Sharma would have felt honoured had that role gone to her across both formats. The T20I squad has several changes. Niki Prasad and Jintimani Kalita have earned maiden senior T20I call-ups, while Minnu Mani and Anushka Sharma have staged a comeback to the team. Bharti Fulmali, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Singh Thakur and Radha Yadav, all part of the Asian Games gold medal-winning squad, have been left out. Anjum welcomed the addition of Niki, Jintimani, Minnu and Anushka, who are coming off playing in India A multi-format series against Australia A, but questioned the silence over the omission of someone like Shreyanka. I'm happy that these four players are there. With Jintimani, I'm not entirely sure how her performances stacked up; I'm sure they were good because India did well and she performed, but I don't have a top-of-mind recall on how she bowled. From what I read and saw, her pace has improved, and she's a very good bowler and fielder. If she's performed well as per what selectors think, she deserves to be rewarded, much like Niki Prasad, who has done well. Anushka had a decent outing as well - in fact, Anushka was taken all the way to South Africa earlier this year, so I'm not surprised the batters have come in. What surprises me is why Shreyanka isn't in the squad. Unless she's carrying an injury, it's puzzling, especially since she was in the Asian Games squad and played in that final and was around the group. If she's injured, that's one thing, but if not, why isn't she included? The lack of official communication on why these players were left out is the real issue. Regarding Radha Yadav, it feels like the selectors aren't keen on continuing with her because she hasn't gotten many games. The last time she featured regularly was around the T20 World Cup, and since then she has mostly traveled with the squad. They clearly see Sree Charani as the way forward, which also explains why Vaishnavi Sharma is in the ODI squad. While I'm glad these four players are getting their chance, the key question remains: will they actually play? If Niki plays, she'll likely be looked at for the number four or five spot. If Anushka plays, where does she slot in? It's an interesting mix, but a good opportunity too for them. Whoever performed well in the Australia A series should be given a run, so I'm glad to see them brought into the main team, she elaborated. In the ODI squad, Vaishnavi Sharma, Tejal Hasabnis, Sayali Satghare and Yastika Bhatia return, while Nandni Sharma gets her first ODI call-up. Nandni Sharma has been bowling really well alongside Kranti Gaud in T20Is, but India is short on pace options. Renuka Singh Thakur isn't in the T20I squad, which raises questions: is the team moving on, or is it a matter of match fitness? Since she hasn't had opportunities recently, you can't simply label her unfit. It's good to have these newer players in the mix. Smriti will be well aware of the challenges ahead, considering a similar group toured Australia, including Pratika Rawal for the Test match. The question now is how the Indian team navigates this transition and elevates their game. While the three ODIs against Zimbabwe carry weight for the ICC Women's Championship, the main focus is identifying and settling the core group for the ICC Women's Champions Trophy in India in February 2027. We'll start getting those answers once the series kicks off. Zimbabwe are coming into the series after hosting the West Indies in a white-ball series, where they lost the T20I series 3-0 and the ODI series by 2-1. Though Zimbabwe managed to win an ODI game against the West Indies, Anjum stated that she does not expect them to pose a major threat to India. I don't think there'll be much of a challenge because, at the end of the day, India is a higher-ranked team than Zimbabwe. Yes, Zimbabwe has played a lot of cricket over the last eight to nine months - facing New Zealand, South Africa, and the West Indies before coming to play India in India, which is good for them. It's all part of a learning curve to get better in the near future. That lone success in the ODI where the West Indies crumbled for under 150 (139) and Zimbabwe's batters held their nerve to chase it down and was nice to see. So I don't think it will be a massive challenge for India. I don't think there'll be much of a challenge because, at the end of the day, India is a higher-ranked team than Zimbabwe. Yes, Zimbabwe has played a lot of cricket over the last eight to nine months - facing New Zealand, South Africa, and the West Indies before coming to play India in India, which is good for them. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
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Sahibzada Farhan Hopes Pakistan's New Combination Takes Off In Sri Lanka T20Is
Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan hopes a new combination without star players Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi will come good against Sri Lanka in their Twenty20 International series starting in Rawalpindi on Friday. The three-match series will see Farhan take on the skipper's role after leading a second-string side to silver at the Asian Games in Japan, losing to India in the final last week. Also missing from the squad are former T20I skipper Salman Agha and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, part of an exodus aimed at building the side for the 2028 T20I World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. I am confident that this new combination is the best and will settle in this series, said Farhan on Thursday. I know how to lead the side and I will not take pressure. Azam's form had dipped in T20Is, and he was also dropped from Pakistan's final match against Sri Lanka at the Twenty20 World Cup in February. Shaheen is also out of favour for T20Is but will skipper Pakistan's one-day international side in a tri-series with Sri Lanka and England starting in Rawalpindi from October 18. Sri Lanka are also in a transition phase with star leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga and former skipper Charith Asalanka dropped for the tour. Hasaranga is joint-fifth in the all-time T20I wicket-taking list with 163 in 101 games. Unfortunately, Wanindu is still injured, and we will miss him but we have a few other exciting players who I am sure will stand up and perform, said Sri Lankan skipper Kusal Mendis. I think everyone knows how to play in Pakistan, said Mendis, who played in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) earlier this year. Pakistan also have some new faces but their players are good and we know some of them from the PSL, so I hope our players will do well. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The remaining two matches are on October 11 and 13, also in Rawalpindi.
Ex-NZ Test Opener Jeet Raval Retires From Professional Cricket
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Chapman, Foulkes Ruled Out Of India T20Is; Clarkson, Tickner Named Replacements
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Kagiso Rabada Ruled Out of 1st Test vs Australia, Anrich Nortje Returns
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