Cricket

Ahead Of New Zealand Tour, Shubman Gill To Turn Out For Punjab In Ranji Trophy Second Round

The Ranji Trophy: India's Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill will turn out for Punjab in their Ranji Trophy second round match against Chhattisgarh in New Chandigarh, starting on Sunday. The development comes at a time when Gill is eyeing to get some red-ball game time under his belt before departing for the New Zealand tour. Gill, 27, has been drafted into the squad at the eleventh hour, with Uday Saharan to continue to lead the side. India's ODI series in New Zealand runs from November 4 to 15, but Gill will play only the first three matches. He will then hand the 50-over captaincy to Shreyas Iyer and shift his focus to the two-game Test series that follows. An India A side will be touring New Zealand at the same time for three unofficial Tests against New Zealand A. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul have been named for all three games. Gill, however, will not be a part of it, as he was originally expected to turn out in one of those India A. But that plan has fallen through as the third four-day game, scheduled from November 7 to 10 in Lincoln, clashes with the second and third ODIs. The Ranji Trophy outing, therefore, offers Gill a timely chance at long-format practice before the Tests. Gill is likely to bat at number four for Punjab, which could see Jashanpreet Sidhu left out of the playing eleven. Punjabs batting will be further bolstered by the return of wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh, who missed the season opener against Assam last week due to India A duty, where he made 39 and 17 against Australia A in the 2-1 50-over series defeat in Puducherry. Punjab began their campaign on a positive note by collecting three points from that game against Assam courtesy of a first-innings lead. Vihaan Malhotra, Emanjot Chahal and Salil Arora all struck hundreds in the contest. The match was also significant for veteran India pacer Umesh Yadav, who made his first-class comeback after a gap of more than two years. Umesh, who switched from Vidarbha to Punjab ahead of the domestic season, marked his return with figures of 5-70, his 16th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. With Gill, Prabhsimran and the three centurions from the opening game, Punjab will field a formidable batting line-up as they look to build on their early points against Chhattisgarh in front of their home crowd at the New PCA Stadium. The Punjab-Chhattisgarh match will be broadcasted on JioHotstar and Star Sports Khel, while Karnataka-Saurashtra and Kerala-Odisha clashes will be live-streamed on JioHotstar. With Gill, Prabhsimran and the three centurions from the opening game, Punjab will field a formidable batting line-up as they look to build on their early points against Chhattisgarh in front of their home crowd at the New PCA Stadium. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Chaminda Vaas unveiled as Delhi Capitals' fast-bowling coach

Delhi Capitals recently announced Ganguly as their head coach and Yuvraj as the assistant and batting coach, and are set to bring in Mishra as spin-bowling coach

Litton Das Ruled Out Of ODI Tri-series Due To Hip Injury

Bayjedul Islam Khan: Bangladesh captain Litton Das has been ruled out of the ODI tri-series involving Afghanistan and Zimbabwe in the UAE due to a hip injury, with middle-order batter Towhid Hridoy set to take charge of the side for the first time in his career. Litton, who was appointed Bangladeshs full-time ODI captain in July, experienced discomfort in his right hip joint and failed to clear the required fitness test, team physiotherapist Bayjedul Islam Khan confirmed. Litton Das complained of right hip joint discomfort yesterday, so we had an MRI done. The MRI report shows a slight issue in his right hip joint, Bayjedul said in a video message as quoted by Cricinfo. Litton still attempted a fitness test today to see if he could play, but he is not available. He could not clear the required benchmark. So, he is not available for this series, he added. The injury means Litton will miss what was scheduled to be his first ODI series as Bangladeshs full-time captain. He has previously led the national team in seven ODIs. Hridoys appointment makes him the 18th player to captain Bangladesh in mens ODIs. The 25-year-old will take over leadership duties as the team continues its preparations for next years ICC Mens Cricket World Cup. Bangladesh also suffered another setback ahead of their opening match against Zimbabwe, with senior all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz ruled out of the contest due to fever. Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening match of the tri-series in Abu Dhabi on Friday. The three-team tournament will feature Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, with each side competing in the league stage before the top two teams meet in the final. Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening match of the tri-series in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

I am a red-ball cricketer and played my natural game today: Rahul

Ranji Trophy: Karnataka takes on strong challenger Saurashtra

The southern giant has not beaten the West India outfit in the competition since 2009; stand-in captain Shreyas will be eager to prove his worth; the home side will be hoping the rain stays away

Gharami, Porel hammer tons to put Bengal ahead

Hyderabad on the cusp of victory as Tripura batters slip up in second innings

Ranji Trophy | DebutantDeepeshsquick strikes restrict Rajasthan to 363 against Tamil Nadu

The right-arm medium pacer picks up three wickets in eight deliveries to trigger the hosts collapse; Jagadeesan and Pradosh hit half-centuries as TN reaches 167 for four

SkipperSaiKishoresadvice helped me, revealsDeepesh

Im just staying in the present, says a pragmatic Smaran

Smriti Mandhana opens up after India edge out close victory against Zimbabwe in Raipur

India women got off to a good start to the series against Zimbabwe women. The two sides met at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur, on October 16th. The clash began with Zimbabwe coming in to bat first, and the side posted a total of 114 runs in the first innings, playing decent cricket .

Ranji Trophy 2026-27 | Jharkhands Virat and Aditya make merry on a batting paradise

They both score hundreds to take the host to 587 at the end of day two; Kerala seamer Edhen doesnt take the field after getting injured; Vaisakh puts in a shift to scalp five wickets

Ranji Trophy 2026-27 | Deshpande hat-trick floors Chandigarh as Mumbai takes complete control

Chasing the hosts daunting 429, the visitor gets bowled out for a paltry 78 in just 115 balls; the seamer takes one more wicket in the only over of the second innings

Ranji Trophy: Leaner and fitter Karun eager to carry Karnataka forward

Gill to feature for Punjab in second round of Ranji Trophy

Gill is understood to be keen to get some match practice in the red-ball format ahead of his departure to New Zealand for the ODI series in November

Pakistan, Sri Lanka look to find the right mix as World Cup countdown begins

Babar Azam and Arafat Minhas offer Pakistan reasons for optimism as Sri Lanka continue their search for a settled combination

5th T20I: Don't Care If I'm No. 1 Or No. 100 Batter, Just Want To Enjoy Pressure Moments, Says Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan: India's wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan on Saturday brushed aside talk of his status as the world's top-ranked T20I batter, saying he would rather keep the numbers out of his head and simply savour the pressure of playing the series decider against the West Indies at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. With the five-match series locked at 2-2, the left-hander said he had little interest in where he stood on any list at this stage of his career. Both teams are yet to commence warm-up due to persistent rain in what is also the first international game in Bengaluru after two years. Nah, I mean, at this early stage in my life, I don't want to look into stats where I stand, if I'm a number 1 batter or I'm a number 100 batter. It's just one game at a time you take, and you just try to play your best cricket. I personally love to keep all these stats aside because I don't want to get into any thought where I'm thinking about, okay, I am number one and I need to play in a certain way. It's not that - you just need to go in the middle and you need to enjoy as much as you can. And especially in these situations where it's a decider game, where pressure is there, you need to enjoy those moments, leave everything aside, and that's how we prepare here, Kishan said in a pre-game chat with the broadcasters. Kishan, who will be Indias vice-captain in 4th and 5th ODI against New Zealand next month, described the team's build-up to the series decider as neither too tense nor too relaxed, and said the side was relishing a high-stakes contest after a while. No, its like somewhere in the middle of both. But I know it's a decider game. We have not been in this situation recently, and so happy to be in this situation because always a decider match, it comes up with pressure. It comes up with expectations and everything, and this is what we want when we go into bat. You don't want to be, like, in a situation where it doesn't matter so much. So very much happy to be in this situation. But the most important thing is we all look in good frame of mind, which is the most important thing for each player, and we look to just play good cricket. The message in the dressing room, Kishan said, was to shut out thoughts of the result. I mean, looking at this situation, it's just about playing your best game and not thinking about what's gonna happen. Like, not gonna think about the result. The message is simple: to just play your game, have that aggression in the field, have that intent, have that winning attitude, and just play your best game. India's bowlers have had a tough time against the West Indies batters in the series, but Kishan refused to hide behind the batting-friendly surfaces or single out individuals for the shortcomings and called for them to click as a cohesive unit in Bengaluru. I mean, to be very honest, I feel the wickets also have been very good here. But at the same time there's always room for improvement. We cannot always give it to wickets or everything. But at the same time, I feel we all as a team, we need to work together. It's not like someone had a bad day, and we'll be like, whatever happened, has happened because of that particular guy or something. It's our preparation, it's the team preparation we look into, and all of us need to be together at any point of time. I mean, to be very honest, I feel the wickets also have been very good here. But at the same time there's always room for improvement. We cannot always give it to wickets or everything. But at the same time, I feel we all as a team, we need to work together. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

SA vs AUS 2nd Test Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XIs

SA vs AUS 2nd Test, Cricket Tips: The first Test between Australia and South Africa saw a complete domination by the visitors. Matt Renshaw led the foundation and played a crucial hand in the win for his team. He scored 272 runs and took two wickets. South Africa had a great start and they were ahead in the game for the first two sessions. But after that they lost the momentum and eventually the match. Trailing by 0-1, South Africa will take on Australia in the second test, starting on Sunday at 1:30 PM IST. The last defeat was the first ever defeat for Temba Bavuma as captain. South Africa need a better display to avoid the series defeat, and the crucial WTC points are also on the line. SA vs AUS: Match Details Date : October 17-21, 2026 (Saturday-Wednesday) Time : 1 PM IST Venue : St Georges Park, Gqeberha SA vs AUS: Live Streaming Details The live action of the second test between South Africa and Australia will be live on the FanCode app or website. The live action will be televised on the Eurosport network in India. SA vs AUS: Head-to-Head in Tests Total Matches : 102 South Africa: 26 Australia : 55 No-result: 21 SA vs AUS: Ground Pitch Report St. Georges Park is considered an all-round venue, which has help for fast bowlers early on. The overcast conditions and possible rain will aid the pacers. Spinners will be effective in the lateral stages, and batting conditions will be challenging. SA vs AUS: Possible XIs South Africa : Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj Australia : Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nic Maddinson, Steven Smith, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood SA vs AUS: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Aiden Markram and Matt Renshaw showed good form in the first game, and they will be the opens to watch out for. Probable Best Bowler Kagiso Rabada and Josh Hazlewood will have a key role in this game in these conditions. Today Match Prediction : Australia have a brilliant combination, and they provided it in the first game. Hence, Australia will start the second game as the favorite. SA vs AUS Match 2nd T20I, Today Match SA vs AUS, SA vs AUS Prediction, SA vs AUS Predicted XIs, Injury Update for South Africa vs Australia Match Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

England, Pakistan And Sri Lanka Build Up To World Cup With ODI Tri-Series

England, Sri Lanka and hosts Pakistan meet in a one-day international tri-series starting in Rawalpindi from Sunday as they build up to next year's 50-over World Cup. With the global tournament -- co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia -- a little under a year away, Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi described the series as vital. It will be important we do well as the focus will be on the World Cup and we need to get good preparations, Shaheen said ahead of his team's opener, against Sri Lanka on Sunday. While all three sides are former World Cup champions, their recent results are less encouraging. Pakistan, champions in 1992, have not qualified for the ODI World Cup semi-finals since 2011 and finished fifth at the last World Cup in India three years ago. England won the title at home in 2019 but fared miserably in 2023, coming seventh. The 1996 champions Sri Lanka were no better. Pakistan will see the return of ace batsman Babar Azam after he was not selected for the Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka which finished last week with Pakistan winning 2-1. England skipper Harry Brook said: It's a great opportunity against two very strong sides and will hold us in good stead, and if we play the final it will show us where we stand, said Brook, whose team meet Pakistan on Tuesday. All teams play each other twice before the top two clash in the October 31 final in Lahore. England are without star batter Jos Buttler (injured) and fast bowler Jofra Archer (rested). But they are on the back of three successive ODI series wins -- two against Sri Lanka and one over India. Sri Lankan skipper Kusal Mendis was in positive mood. We have plans in place (towards the World Cup) and I hope the team shows some good progress, said Mendis. Tri-series schedule: Oct 18: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka - Rawalpindi Oct 20: Pakistan vs England - Rawalpindi Oct 22: England vs Sri Lanka - Rawalpindi Oct 25: Pakistan vs England - Lahore Oct 27: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka - Lahore Oct 29: England vs Sri Lanka - Lahore Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Oct 31: Final - Lahore

Ranji Trophy | Aveshand Aryan skittle out J&K for 120 to giveM.P. the edge

The two speedsters maintain a disciplined line and length to scalp three wickets each to help the visitor take 76-run lead; Nabis late strikes helps the champion get a foothold

Ranji Trophy: Close contest on the cards as Andhra meets Hyderabad

Rahul andRevanthsform augurs well for the home side;Sirajwill be keen to lead from the front and make it two out of two for the visitor

Ranji Trophy 2026-27 | Denish and Sibsankars centuries propel Assam to 373

The duo rescues the visitor from a precarious 23 for three with a 168-run stand; Sarupam chips in a with a half-century; Umesh scalps five wickets for Punjab

'Become Indian Citizen': Court Responds As OCI Cricketers Challenge BCCI Rule

The Bombay High Court has urged young cricketers holding Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards to consider acquiring Indian citizenship if they wish to represent India, a report said.

Ranji Trophy: Kerala and Odisha eye a turnaround after chastening opening round results

Cricket: The host, which was put through the wringer by Jharkhand, will bank on home advantage while the visitor, smarting after a 10-wicket loss to Gujarat, will aim to bounce back; the weather, however, may have the final say with the venue experiencing heavy rains

In-form Hope Doesnt Throw His Bat Away, Plays Proper Cricket Shots, Says Chanderpaul

West Indies T20I: West Indies skipper Shai Hope's recent run of big scores in the ongoing white-ball series against India has come without him sacrificing the orthodox method that defines his batting, said legendary batter Shivnarine Chanderpaul on Saturday. Chanderpaul, currently playing and coaching the West Indies champions in the World Championship of Legends, described Hope as a more mature and confident player who finds the gaps rather than swinging wildly. Hope has been in stellar form, scoring four centuries across three ODIs and four T20Is against India. With the T20I series locked at 2-2 ahead of Saturday's decider in Bengaluru, it will be critical for India to dismiss Hope quickly. Look, his all-round cricket has developed. You can see, he is scoring much freer. He is more confident now. He can go out and express himself early on. Yes, he is not going to go as a crazy guy out there and throw his bat away. He played proper cricket shots, and he hit proper boundaries. He hit them in the good areas. What you call proper cricket shots is that he just doesn't go out there and swipe - he hits it well. He hits it into the gaps and finds his boundaries. Whenever it is pitched up and he can hit it over the top, he hits it over the fielders. But he has developed over the years. He is much more mature now. He is more confident in going out and playing his game, Chanderpaul said to IANS in a virtual interaction facilitated by Cricketaaa on Saturday. According to Chanderpaul, much of the evolution of Hopes batting, especially in the shortest format, was shaped by honing his skills on the slow, spin-friendly pitches of Providence Stadium, where Hope turned out for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League. Look, Shai Hope has played a lot of cricket in Guyana. He played for Guyana Amazon Warriors. He has learned how to bat on those wickets. If anybody could score runs in Providence, Guyana, they could score runs anywhere. He learned how to play spinners there, how to score and bat really, really well. Mostly against any bowlers, right? Because if you can score runs in Guyana, you can score runs anywhere. He developed his cricket really well. There are a few other guys who came from Guyana Hetmyer, Rutherford, Shepherd, Motie and Shamar Joseph are there. All of them are from Guyana, right? So, these guys know how to play on those sorts of wickets. The pacer will bowl one over, and then the spinner will take over. So, you learn to bat against spin from those sorts of wickets. Even as he praised Hope, Chanderpaul stressed that the West Indies could not afford to lean on one or two players, and pointed to the depth of match-winners in the current side. But then, the West Indies team also have other players there. You have Rovman Powell, and all the other guys who are in the team right now who also are match winners. So, at any given point, these guys can win you matches. As much as you call on two names, yes, who's performing now, yes, Shai Hope is doing well and helping his team to get over the line, which is really good. But you have other guys in the team also who are match winners. So, we can't overlook those guys either. They are there, and they will contribute, and they can win matches by themselves anytime also. On the spread of franchise T20 leagues around the world and the future of the all-format cricketer looking bleak, Chanderpaul said the leagues had become a valuable platform for spotting talent. It's good that we have T20 formats all around the world because this is how you get a chance to see all the cricketers. Like in the past, we didn't need our country to put us out there. Now we have so many different leagues opening in every part of the world. So, now you get a chance to see more players. Players are still active, playing cricket, and that's what you want to see. You want them out there being active, playing cricket, and then you can pick up your players to play for your country. If you think they are good enough to play and represent their country, yes, definitely, you will get a chance to grab them. But if you don't have all these leagues out there, then it's difficult to see all these players. I mean, everybody around the world is watching cricket, and there are a lot of teams who are keeping their eyes on talented players that they can grab for their teams also, and these leagues are also helping to do these things, he elaborated. Chanderpaul, who played in the early seasons of the IPL and in three T20 World Cups, said the format had changed beyond recognition since the days when teams had little data to work with. Look, T20 cricket has definitely gone a long way from when I first started in the IPL. At that time, we were just trying to figure out what would have been a normal score, what could be a par score, or a winning score. You're trying to work out everything here and there. There's not much stats out there to tell you that this is a par score on this or that ground. There are no stats from that time there. Yes, I played three T20 World Cups. But there were not many stats that tell you what would be a winning score on whichever ground you play on. But now there's a lot of information out there, and players are now developing way more shots than we played back then, and they've been successful doing it. Scores have been changing from 150 as a winning score to 250 sometimes. Still, people try to knock off those big scores also. So, it shows that the game definitely for batters has gone a long way. T20 cricket is all about playing shots and making big scores. Players have really been doing well playing this format. So, look, it's gone a long way. It's changed a long way, and it's really exciting for everyone, all the fans out there and everyone who's watching. In Sharjah, Chanderpaul himself had a vintage batting display when his unbeaten 41 off 27 balls, with three sixes, carried West Indies Champions past Australia Champions in the semi-final of the World Championship of Legends and will face England in the final on Sunday. Chanderpaul, who has been doubling up as player and coach, said he had not planned on batting, but injuries left the side short. I came in, and we didn't have much batting. So, we have a few guys who are injured and end up playing the rest of the guys who are on the bench. I made up the numbers, and I didn't expect much from myself out there. But I am thankful that I was able to give the team what they needed at that point of time when in a crucial game like this one. West Indies Champions franchise owner Ajay Sethi said the team's progress over three seasons reflected the hunger of its veterans, and compared Chanderpaul's strokeplay against Australia to that of a young Sachin Tendulkar. I came in, and we didn't have much batting. So, we have a few guys who are injured and end up playing the rest of the guys who are on the bench. I made up the numbers, and I didn't expect much from myself out there. But I am thankful that I was able to give the team what they needed at that point of time when in a crucial game like this one. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Rabada's back to bolster South Africa as Australia chase series win

South Africa given huge boost by fitness of their leading quick but both sides wait to name their XIs with uncertainty over conditions and the weather

IND vs WI 5th T20I LIVE score: India look to clinch T20I series against in-form West Indies

India and the West Indies take on each other in the fifth and final T20I of the ongoing series. The two sides meet at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru for the clash, and both...

Why Pakistan Players Feel Pressure to Bring Home ODI World Cup

Pakistan's experienced batter Fakhar Zaman believes the team can end its long wait for an ICC trophy at the 50-overs World Cup next year. He highlighted the team's serious approach, extensive discussions, and preparations, including an upcoming tri-series, to build a winning combination. Zaman also distinguished white-ball plans from recent Test struggles.

Too Early To Look Beyond Abu Dhabi T10: Royal Desert Champions Owner Amit Narang On Investment Plans In Indian Franchise Cricket

For Royal Desert Champions: Royal Desert Champions owner Amit Narang has ruled out looking at additional cricket franchise investments in India in the immediate future, saying the focus remains on establishing the UAE-based team and building a sustainable sporting property over the next three to five years. Narang, a former international banker with over 17 years of experience in banking and fintech, said the franchises entry into the Abu Dhabi T10 coincides with a significant transition for the competition, which is entering a new phase under Abu Dhabi Sports and Tourism Management. Narang, whose investment in Royal Desert Champions marks his first venture into sports franchise ownership, believes the T10 format offers a distinct opportunity in an increasingly crowded franchise cricket market. He said the leagues established history, international player pool and shorter tournament window were among the factors that influenced the decision to invest. Its a new version of T10 Abu Dhabi. This is the 10th year of the league, so youre entering into a league which is well-oiled and has been running for a while. Its not new; people know about it. Its always good to come into a league which is already running and has a background, but its a new version of the T10 league because Abu Dhabi Sports and Tourism has taken it over this year, and thats why our entry this year is, in a large way, linked to that milestone. We want to be a part of this league going forward, Narang told IANS in an exclusive interaction, explaining why he chose the Abu Dhabi T10 at this stage of his career. Why T10? I think its the fastest format. Youve seen how the world has changed from ODIs to T20S, and there are more matches that are played today for T20 versus ODI. I think, therefore, at the same time, there is a space for an even faster format, and weve entered into a league which is T10, which is the oldest T10 league. So it makes sense to build our franchise along with Abu Dhabi Sports and Tourism as we go along. There are common objectives to achieve, so thats why this entry now, at this time, and why not other leagues? I think, frankly speaking, there are a lot of T20 leagues now, including a lot of domestic leagues in India and beyond India. I think its good to be in a T10 league which is attracting the right quality of players. A league is as successful as the quality of players who come in and who play. If you look at our team and most of the teams that have been announced in this league, theyre extremely good players. Theyre all international players, and the fact that this is a 14-day league and its a shorter duration, youre able to get commitments from players to come in. The larger the league, sometimes it may be a challenge for player availability as well. So youre able to attract good talent, good players, good coaches, and good team directors, and thats what this whole thing is about, he added. The change in the leagues management has also raised expectations around its commercial development. Narang believes the competition already occupies a strong position within the T10 landscape and could build on that standing in the coming years, although he said the precise direction of its expansion would depend on the plans of its new management. As I said, this is the most premium T10 league, even today, having been in play for nine years. If you look around and see the T10 landscape, you will see that Abu Dhabi T10 is the most premium league already, and now with Abu Dhabi Sports and Tourism taking this over, you can only expect bigger things coming through. Whichever sports assets they have had to date are all big in their own right. So I dont know the exact plans that they have for the league in terms of how they will build this up from here, but Abu Dhabi, being what they are, will build this up into a larger league. The way weve done the draft this year has been the best that theyve done over the last 10 years. So I think its gonna be a take-off time. Well have to wait and watch how we go the next three to five years, but all of us are very excited about the journey going forward, Narang detailed. For Narang, the immediate priority is to establish the first franchise before considering opportunities in other competitions, including Indias established franchise cricket ecosystem. He said the team would need sustained attention and investment before any decision on further expansion could be made. Too early to really even look at. I think we are focused on this league. We want to build over the next three to five years and see how well we do here. Too early to really look beyond this. This is the first time that we are entering into sports management. So we want to kind of build on this, put a lot of effort behind this and see where we go from there. The owner also stressed that long-term franchise value cannot be separated from on-field performance, arguing that a competitive team is essential to building a credible sporting brand. Royal Desert Champions, he said, would pursue commercial growth alongside consistent performances rather than treating the two as separate objectives. I think its a mix of all. Its not either or. To be honest, its eventually sports management. So you want to build a brand. You want to build the IP. You want a competitive team because if you dont have a competitive team and you dont play well, you dont play the basic game well, then anyway, your brand takes a beating. So you need to have a good competitive team, play hard cricket, play good fast cricket, and win more matches than you lose. And thats also the morale of the team, then, right? If you lose a lot, then the morale goes down. And the morale of the whole management team, the whole coaching team, and the players is in winning. So, you need to be competitive. Yes, we put up a competitive team. Win or loss depends on the day as well. But if you win more and lose less, its what you are aiming for. You want to build a brand. You want to build IP. So I think its a mix of all of these that you said. You have very, very, very relevant points. And all of them are important for a sustainable long-term league ownership, he mentioned. I think its a mix of all. Its not either or. To be honest, its eventually sports management. So you want to build a brand. You want to build the IP. You want a competitive team because if you dont have a competitive team and you dont play well, you dont play the basic game well, then anyway, your brand takes a beating. So you need to have a good competitive team, play hard cricket, play good fast cricket, and win more matches than you lose. And thats also the morale of the team, then, right? If you lose a lot, then the morale goes down. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

RANJI TROPHY | Lad to the fore as Mumbai weathers early inroads by Chandigarh

CRICKET | The skippers unbeaten 80 and a fighting half-century by Musheer negates the visitors decision to bowl first on a pitch with a greenish tinge while Mhatre chips in with a useful contribution

IND vs WI 3rd T20: Abhishek, Arshdeep to the fore as India wins a batathon to go 2-1 up

The Men in Blue breached the 200-run mark yet again, recording 223 courtesy of opener Abhishek Sharmas blast (69, 30b, 6x4, 5x6)

Kavya Maran, Anirudh to Wed! What We Know So Far

Sunrisers Hyderabad co-owner Kavya Maran and music composer Anirudh Ravichander are reportedly set to hold their wedding reception in Chennai on November 21. The event is expected to draw prominent political figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Ministers from Telangana and Tamil Nadu, who have been personally invited by the Maran family. While the reception date is confirmed, reports of a Greece wedding on November 11 remain unconfirmed.

Hong Kong Sixes: Krunal Replaces Bhuvi as India Captain

Krunal Pandya has been appointed captain of the seven-member India squad for the Hong Kong Sixes, replacing Bhuvneshwar Kumar who was recalled to the national team. Kulwant Khejroliya will join the squad as Bhuvneshwar's replacement for the tournament scheduled from October 30 to November 1.

This Is 90 Min, Based On Soccer Format: Royal Desert Champions Owner Backs ADT10s Appeal, Hopes To See More Indians

Royal Desert Champions: Royal Desert Champions owner Amit Narang believes the Abu Dhabi T10 can broaden its appeal by offering spectators a compact, high-intensity cricket experience while bringing together leading international players in a single tournament. As the franchise prepares to enter the competition, Narang said the formats short duration, the presence of cricket-following communities in the UAE, and the prospect of attracting more Indian players could strengthen the leagues connection with audiences. Narang, a UAE-based entrepreneur and former international banker, said the T10 format can offer spectators a full evening of cricket within a limited time, with two matches scheduled on a typical day. He drew a comparison with football to explain why a shorter contest need not come at the expense of the live viewing experience. It is based on the soccer format. Soccer is 90 minutes. This is 90 minutes. Soccer is a very popular game as well, right, and there are two matches a day. So actually the crowd is coming in, and people are watching this for exactly 40 overs a day, and some days therell be three. So, you know, its that kind of a format where you can have two matches in the same time, and the crowd is excited as well and watching 44 great players coming in the field and playing instead of 22, Narang told IANS in an exclusive interaction. The franchises immediate task, according to Narang, is to establish a competitive team and develop a clear identity before expanding its commercial activities. He said Royal Desert Champions had prioritised its sporting structure in its debut season, bringing in experienced leadership and an international group of players. So you know we have milestones. Theres a year one milestone, theres a year two milestone, and so on. Weve done extremely well on our year one milestone. We have Robin Singh, whos come in as our team director. Hes also been a head coach and a team director for the T10 league for four years in the past, and he won it three times. If you look at our plan for year one, we have the best team director that anybody could have had. We have a great set of people under him as coaching staff. We have the best T10 player whos played T10 over the last few years, Nicholas Pooran, as our captain. We have some very good players in Phil Salt, in Rutherford, and so on and so forth. So were building a very nice competitive team. Whats also interesting is that the other teams have also gotten very, very competitive players because a league is as good as how many competitive matches happen. People come and watch good matches and close matches. So year one milestone for us is to have a smooth tournament and build our basic hygiene in terms of the quality of players and the quality of staff that comes in for us and delivers for us. Obviously, this is a very fast-tracked year, like I said earlier. So going forward, we build our brand. Weve started the journey this year, but the focus this year is to have a smooth tournament. Next year will be a year when we start getting into more digital assets, into building the brand. Our journey over the next few years is to build a good, sound franchise with great players and good competitive games and start building on that as we go along in terms of our basic ethos that we want to bring in. We want to play fearless cricket. We want to play fair cricket. We want to play fast cricket. Thats really what we stand for, he explained. Narang also sees the UAEs diverse population as an important factor in the leagues audience potential. With cricket followed across several South Asian communities in the country, he believes the tournament can draw support from beyond a single national fan base. The leagues broadcast presence in India is another avenue through which it expects to reach viewers familiar with its international players. India continues to be the largest cricketing market. Couple it with the fact that we are in the UAE and this league is in Abu Dhabi. And the largest population in the United Arab Emirates is of Indians. There are more Indians than UAE nationals. Therefore, its not only the attractiveness back home in India, but also within the UAE; the largest attraction is for Indians. But as the demographics allow, there are Indians, Pakistanis, Afghans, Bangladeshis, and Sri Lankans- all kinds of nationalities that are available in the UAE. And cricket is attractive for all Asian countries. So thats one part where, you know, the crowds come in because the players come from all these countries and are very excited about it. As far as back home in India is concerned, the tournament is going live on Geostar this year for the first time and also on Star Sports. So there will be; there was always an audience in India, and it will continue to be a large audience in India. Right. Because the quality of players are such that theyre all players who are watched across IPL, other leagues, and people who watch them. People like watching them. On the possibility of more Indian cricketers featuring in the competition, Narang acknowledged the appeal such participation could have for fans, particularly in the UAE. He noted that Indian players who have represented the country in the past, including those who have retired or play only in leagues, have featured in the tournament over the years, Narang mentioned. With its initial focus on assembling a strong squad and establishing its identity, Royal Desert Champions will look to build its presence in the competition before setting more ambitious targets. Narangs stated priorities are to deliver competitive cricket, develop the franchises brand and explore opportunities to bring more established international talent into the tournament in future seasons. This league has been very successful in terms of what it has attracted over the years. Including Indian fans. That speaks highly of the calibre of people whove played here or the cricketers whove played here. Indian players have also played here. But clearly, like you rightly said, Indian players whove either retired or who are playing league cricket have only come in and played. And theyre obviously welcome, and there is attraction towards Indian players. Theres no running away from that. And we hope to have more players come and play. There are players available, very good players available, and have played the league as well. If you look at all the large big names over the last 10 years whove played for India in the past, they have also come and played the league. So we look forward to obviously playing and working with some of them as well, Narang stated. Asked whether he had any particular Indian players in mind for future editions, Narang said the franchise had not had sufficient time to consider specific names for its inaugural campaign. He added that player selection would depend on the team managements assessment of the roles required within the squad. There are players available, very good players available, and have played the league as well. If you look at all the large big names over the last 10 years whove played for India in the past, they have also come and played the league. So we look forward to obviously playing and working with some of them as well, Narang stated. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Zimbabwe opt to bat; Litton out of tri-series with hip injury

Bangladesh are also without Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who has been down with fever, while Zimbabwe handed debut to Tafadzwa Tsiga

Focus on my game and consistency helped me make a comeback, says Karan

Focus on my game and consistency helped me make a comeback, says Karan

Shami happy to see Bhuvneshwar back in the Indian team

India vs West Indies LIVE Score, 5th T20I: Rain Threat Looms Over India vs West Indies Decider In Bengaluru

India vs West Indies LIVE Score, IND vs WI 5th T20I Cricket Match Updates: With the series on the line, India will take on West Indies in the fifth and final T20I at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Shami shines as Bengal bowls out Delhi for 240

RANJI TROPHY | Tripuras batting wilts after a game fight, Hyderabad a mere 13 behind

CRICKET | The hosts gamble of playing two pacers and three spinners pays off handsomely, with the spin duo of Tanay and Aniketh ripping through the visitors line-up; offie Sarkar sparks a mini riposte with four wickets

RANJI TROPHY | Shikhar notches up this editions first ton as Jharkhand wins the initial exchanges

Kerala works its way back in to the contest thanks to fine spells of off-spin by Jalaj and Vaisakh as the visitor puts a brake on the hosts march

Scoring Winning Runs For India Is A Different Kind Of Pride, Says Niki Prasad After Debut Heroics

Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International: India debutant Niki Prasad said scoring the winning runs in her first international match was a special feeling, as she and Deepti Sharma rescued the hosts from a dramatic top-order collapse to secure a four-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the opening womens T20I. India were reeling at 19/4 while chasing a target of 115 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium here on Friday. However, Niki remained unbeaten on 39, while Deepti scored 49, as the duo shared an 82-run partnership off 63 balls to help India seal the chase in 15.4 overs and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Speaking after the match, Niki said representing India for the first time and finishing the game with a winning boundary made the occasion even more special. I think its a very good feeling. To go there and play the first match for India. Its a great pride, plus its a different kind of pride to score the winning run, she said in a video released by BCCI on X. Coming in during a difficult situation, the young batter said she remained calm and focused on building a partnership rather than rushing to score runs. I think I have been in this situation for a long time. So I was very calm inside. And I just wanted to make a partnership with a batter. So the run will be changed easily. And that was the mindset I had inside, Niki said. The 20-year-old credited Deeptis attacking approach for giving her the confidence to settle into her innings. While Deepti took on the Zimbabwe bowlers, Niki concentrated on rotating the strike and ensuring the partnership continued to grow. You (Deepti) played very well in the innings. And even after seeing you, I felt that I could also take a risk by hitting me between 2 and 3 boundaries. So I think this partnership I think you were playing aggressively and attacking. And that gave me a lot of confidence to stay there, she added. Niki also acknowledged the role of the Womens Premier League (WPL) and other domestic tournaments in preparing her for the demands of international cricket. You (Deepti) played very well in the innings. And even after seeing you, I felt that I could also take a risk by hitting me between 2 and 3 boundaries. So I think this partnership I think you were playing aggressively and attacking. And that gave me a lot of confidence to stay there, she added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Shubman Gill Back In Ranji Trophy Action As Punjab Face Chhattisgarh

India's Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill's return to Ranji Trophy action for Punjab will be the main attraction when the second round of the domestic first-class tournament gets underway across the...

Indian Top Order Eyes Improved Show Against Zimbabwe In 2nd WT20I

The Indian top order will look to deliver a more assured batting display when they take on Zimbabwe in the second women's T20 International on Sunday.

Shubman Gill Returns As Ranji Trophy Round 2 Gets Underway

India's Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill's return to Ranji Trophy action for Punjab will be the main attraction when the second round of the domestic first-class tournament gets underway across the country on Sunday.

Mahela Jayawardene parts ways with Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2027

With the IPL (Indian Premier League) 2027 season looming on the horizon, five-time champions Mumbai Indians will go under a major overhaul as their head coach, former Sri Lanka cricketer Mahela Jayawardene, announced that he...

Jose Mourinho Salutes Vinicius For Staying At Real Madrid Despite Racist Abuse

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said Saturday if he were winger Vinicius Junior he would have left the club this summer.

IPL: Mumbai Indians To See Big Changes, Coach Mahela Jayawardene Out; Rohit Sharma May Get Captaincy Again

Ahead of IPL 2027, Mumbai Indians is preparing for something big. The 5-time champions and head coach Mahela Jayawardene will no longer be available with team as he has decided to part ways, say sources. Not just this, team officials are

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Out Of India Squad For Hong Kong Sixes, RCB Teammate Replaces Him As Captain

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was removed from the squad after receiving a call-up to the national team for India's upcoming tour of New Zealand, beginning October 22.

This Game Was An Eye-Opener: Veda Krishnamurthy On India's Batting Collapse Against Zimbabwe

Veda Krishnamurthy believes that India's early batting collapse against Zimbabwe's slower bowlers in the opening women's T20I should serve as an eye-opener for the batters ahead of the next game to be played on Sunday.

Ranji Trophy: Plenty of incentives for hopefuls as the grind begins

History proves that there has been no dearth of great stories in the countrys premier domestic competition; the opening round will feature stars such as Rahul and Jaiswal in action

US Tech Entrepreneur Sanjay Govil Interested In Buying BBL Franchise

Big Bash League: US tech entrepreneur Sanjay Govil is looking to expand his ownership from the MLC and the Hundred as he is interested in purchasing a team in the Big Bash League. Cricket Australia last month approved the privatisation of the BBL and opened the first phase of the sales process for the Melbourne Renegades. The CA and Cricket Victoria invited expressions of interest from potential buyers for a 100% purchase of the Renegades. Govil, who co-owns the Welsh Fire in the Hundred and owns the Washington Freedom in the MLC, stated that he is following the process and remains interested in the Renegades; it's on the radar. But I think there are going to be a lot of big players who will be interested, Govil told Cricinfo. I need to focus on what I am capable of doing. I don't want to get into a bidding war. Meanwhile, he also has Hobart Hurricanes in his sights, a franchise where Ricky Ponting is head of strategy and is also Freedom's head coach for the last three seasons. (Hurricanes)... that's our size of team. If you look at the Welsh Fire and Freedom, we have sort of smaller franchises compared to others, said Govil. There are the big boys who want to go after the big teams. I love Hobart; they are a winning team. We can make more impact in those teams. Cricket Tasmania are also hoping that a planned closed-roof stadium could leverage a deal with an investor, and Govil remains interested in investing for the new venue. I absolutely would be interested. Would have to look at the economics and all that stuff, but I'm all for making sure that we have the best facilities, he said. However, sections in Australian cricket remain against BBL privatisation, stating that such a move can threaten the game and the competition. This was also seen in the Hundred, which underwent privatisation and saw a few changes, including the rebranding of Oval Invincibles to MI London. However, the Montreal-born Govil, who has spent his time in India and then moved to the US, stated that he does not want a change of identity himself. I don't believe in change for the sake of it, Govil said. I always believe that local identity and local culture are very important. I strongly believe that the traditions need to continue. I think we need to keep building on the history and the tradition. That's how I see it. He looks to build his portfolio in franchise cricket as he states that AI cannot replace sports in the future. Sport is something that AI cannot replace in the future, Govil said. It's a great asset. It's a great diversification asset. It's fun. It's sports. It's teamwork. It encompasses everything that people enjoy. I think we need to keep building on the history and the tradition. That's how I see it. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Delhi Capitals, What Are You Doing? Ex-India Star Slams Rishabh Pant, Zeeshan Ansari Trade Deals For IPL 2027

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra is not a fan of Delhi Capitals' trade deals for Rishabh Pant and Zeeshan Ansari, feeling that the deals have strengthened their rivals.

Ranji Trophy: Hyderabad begins campaign with high hopes

Tripura, on the other hand, looks to shed its underdog tag

Tanush Kotian eyes India Test call-up with another strong Ranji Trophy season

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2 Australians In Mumbai Indians' 5-Man Head Coach Shortlist As Mahela Jayawardene Quits: Sources

Sources have told NDTV that 5 candidates shortlisted for Mumbai Indians coach role include Michael Hussey, Aaron Finch, Eoin Morgan, Mark Boucher, and Adrian Birrell.

'Good In All Skills Makes Kerr Lethal': Aussie Cricketers Ahead Of New Zealand Series

Veterans Sophie Devine: Australian women cricketers Georgia Voll and Grace Harris discussed about the lethal New Zealand skipper Melie Kerr, highlighting that being good at all skill sets makes her dangerous. Australia are set to host a new-look New Zealand women's side in a home T20I series from Sunday onwards in North Sydney, and they are aware of the threat Kerr brings to the table. Obviously, Melie's burst on the scene as a young kid, the way that she's gone around the world and dominated for years, Australian batter Voll said in a video shared by cricket.com.au ahead of the series opener. They discussed how she can turn the ball in both ways, keeping the batters always guessing what is to come. With her bowling, she can turn it both ways, which is always a good threat to have, Aussie all-rounder Harris said before Voll added, Her leg spinner and then her wrong-un has obviously been her danger ball for a long period of time. Harris then called that Kerr is habitual of varying her leg-spins with those turning the other way. As a right-handed batter, if it's going to turn away from you, you can set up for a particular delivery, but then she can negate that with the fact that she can turn it the other way and she's quite consistent in doing that, Harris said. Harris also highlighted how the Kiwi all-rounder turns up for tough overs in international and franchise cricket over the years and possesses all the skill sets. She comes in with some key overs for New Zealand and for any franchise that she plays for, and she can often take that wicket that changes that momentum a bit in the game and given she is pretty good at all skill sets or all facets of the game, makes her pretty lethal, she said. Meanwhile, New Zealand arrive in Australia with a fresh-looking team. Veterans Sophie Devine, Lea Tahuhu and Suzie Bates have retired, and the White-Ferns are now in a transition phase. Speaking to media on Friday, Kerr highlighted that a new-look New Zealand side will not have the trauma of facing the mighty Aussies. Everyone knows that Australia have been extremely successful in the women's game for a long time now, and they have paved the way in women's cricket, Kerr said. But in saying that, we all know cricket's a very fickle game and we've got a group that probably hasn't played Australia too much, which I think is a good thing (because) you don't have that trauma of playing Australia. Meanwhile, New Zealand arrive in Australia with a fresh-looking team. Veterans Sophie Devine, Lea Tahuhu and Suzie Bates have retired, and the White-Ferns are now in a transition phase. Speaking to media on Friday, Kerr highlighted that a new-look New Zealand side will not have the trauma of facing the mighty Aussies. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

RANJI TROPHY | Host Bengal will try to make an impactful start to the season against Delhi

CRICKET | The last years semifinalists will have its international pace trio of Shami, Akash and Mukesh, to call up while the visiting sides first target would be to reach the knockout stage for the first time since 2017-18

R Ashwin Questions Yashasvi Jaiswal's ODI Snub

Veteran cricketer R Ashwin has expressed his disappointment over Yashasvi Jaiswal's exclusion from India's ODI squad for the New Zealand series, suggesting that the lack of international game time could negatively impact the young opener's confidence and form.

'This Game Was An Eye-opener,' Says Veda On India's Batting Collapse Against Zimbabwe

Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International: Former India cricketer Veda Krishnamurthy believes that Indias early batting collapse against Zimbabwes slower bowlers in the opening womens T20I should serve as an eye-opener for the batters ahead of the next game to be played on Sunday. India recovered from 19/4 to chase down a target of 115 in 15.4 overs, winning with 26 balls to spare at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium on Friday. Deepti scored 49, while Niki remained unbeaten on 39 to help India take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. According to Veda, the Indian batters took time to adjust to the slower bowlers, adding that the experience should help them prepare better for the next match. India lost a couple of wickets early on; it takes time to adjust to slower bowlers, and that is exactly what happened. The batters had been practising at a certain pace to prepare for the level of competition they face globally, particularly against teams like Australia and England. However, this game was an eye-opener for the Indian batters. There is no taking away from the class of the top-order players, but I believe they will be much better prepared in the next game, she told Jio Star. Indias top order struggled after captain Smriti Mandhana struck two boundaries in the opening over. Nyasha Gwanzura dismissed Mandhana and Anushka Sharma, while Michelle Mavunga removed Harmanpreet Kaur before Shafali Verma fell to Nyasha, leaving India reeling at 19/4 inside four overs. Deepti and Niki then put together an 82-run partnership off 63 balls for the fifth wicket to rescue India from a potentially damaging defeat. Veda praised the experienced Deepti for taking responsibility during the difficult phase and allowing the debutant to settle into her innings. It was an excellent partnership. You needed someone with that experience to come in, especially when the wickets fell. Deepti Sharma is a very versatile batter, and the left-right-hand combination also throws the bowlers off. The attacking intent Deepti brought allowed Niki Prasad to take her time and understand the situation, she said. Deepti took the pressure on herself and took on the bowlers, making it easier for Niki to get going in the middle overs. Both Deepti Sharma and Niki Prasad have played a lot of domestic cricket over the last couple of years, which also helps them adjust to bowlers and conditions like these, she added. Deepti fell one run short of her half-century, but Niki held firm to finish unbeaten on 39 and seal the victory with a boundary. Veda was particularly impressed by the 20-year-olds composure in her first international innings. Deepti took the pressure on herself and took on the bowlers, making it easier for Niki to get going in the middle overs. Both Deepti Sharma and Niki Prasad have played a lot of domestic cricket over the last couple of years, which also helps them adjust to bowlers and conditions like these, she added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Five candidates interviewed for selectors position

The Cricket Advisory Committee interviewed the Mumbai trio of Wasim Jaffer, Ramesh Powar and Salil Ankola, along with Barodas Jacob Martin and Connor Williams

'It's Tricky': Australia Women Coach Nitschke On Limited T20Is Ahead Of Champions Trophy

Big Bash League: Australia women coach Shelley Nitschke has called the team's preparations for the inaugural Champions Trophy tricky, with a handful of opportunities available in the build-up to the T20 tournament. The Aussie women will be playing in a three-match T20I series against New Zealand women at home, starting Sunday, which will be the last matches for them in the format ahead of the Champions Trophy in February 2027. They will travel to Sri Lanka for three ODIs later but the T20Is are not placed between the New Zealand series and the Champions Trophy. The Aussies will then have to prepare for the tournament in different franchise tournaments, including in the Women's Big Bash League and the Women's Premier League. They are hoping to lift the title in its first edition, after having won the T20 World Cup earlier in the year in England. Every time we take the field, it's important to represent Australia, but also wanting to grow the game every time we get out there, Nitschke said in Sydney on Saturday ahead of the first T20I. For us there's no other international T20s before the Champions Trophy so, they're as important as anything. There's still a bit of time before that Champions Trophy, and some domestic cricket to play. But it's just another opportunity for us to get out there as a team and working on and putting out the type of cricket that we want to play. She called the situation tricky and said that they will be looking to prepare more for the tournament in the WPL, which will be played in the same conditions that the Champions Trophy will have. It's a tricky one, Nitschke said about how the Aussies would prepare for the Champions Trophy with no T20Is in the next three months. We don't have the full schedule yet for the Champions Trophy. There'll be the WPL in the lead-up to that, and we'll have some players involved in that, and then it's just going to be a matter of what it looks like through that January period for the players that aren't there, and there'll be some warm-up games for the Champions Trophy. The WBBL is a really good chance for some players to play a lot of T20 cricket between now and then too. With a new-look New Zealand side on Australian soil, the coach feels that this will give them a good test. I think there's just a real appetite to continue to get better and grow as individuals and as a group. We're certainly under no illusions as to the competitive nature of New Zealand. The WBBL is a really good chance for some players to play a lot of T20 cricket between now and then too. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Mega Changes At Mumbai Indians Begin, Coach Mahela Jayawardene Steps Down

Mahela Jayawardene served as the head coach for Mumbai Indians in two stints.

IND vs WI T20Is | Keep it simple, keep it fast: Speedster Mayank lets it rip

Mayank Yadav turned out to be a fast learner. He quickly understood he should be quick, and quick he was come the second T20I.

IPL 2027: Mahela Jayawardene steps down as Mumbai Indians head coach

Mahela Jayawardene has resigned from his position as head coach of Mumbai Indians after ten years. He led the team to three IPL titles and served in various roles since 2017. Jayawardene expressed gratitude towards Nita Ambani and Akash Ambani for their support throughout his journey. Under his leadership, Mumbai Indians Women's team, MI New York, and MI Emirates achieved success as well.

It Didnt Seem Like She Was Making Her Debut: Deepti Lauds Niki Prasad After 1st T20I

Niki Prasad: India all-rounder Deepti Sharma praised Niki Prasads composure on debut after the youngster helped India navigate a challenging situation during their chase in the first T20I against Zimbabwe, highlighting how their partnership and the teams collective belief proved crucial in securing the victory. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Deepti said the experience would boost Nikis confidence while emphasising that handling difficult moments was essential to the development of both individual players and the team. Impressed by the debutants temperament, she said Niki displayed the assurance of an experienced international player despite the occasion and underlined the importance of building partnerships when the team finds itself under pressure. Niki played really well. Honestly, it didnt seem at all like she was making her debut. It felt like she had played quite a few matches in the past, for the country. This confidence from a youngster is remarkable - youre building a partnership when the team needs it, winning the match from a tough situation. Im sure shell take a lot of confidence from this match, Deepti said. Deepti also offered insight into the mindset inside the middle during the difficult phase, explaining that the presence of Richa Ghosh further strengthened the teams belief. Rather than allowing the situation to dictate their approach, the batters took a moment to assess their options and plan their response. To tell you the truth, the two of us were there, there was Richa (Ghosh) as well, batting behind us. It didnt feel like (a situation where) anything could happen. We took a bit of a pause at that moment, and thought about what to do next. It definitely wasnt (a panic situation), because if theres no pressure, how will you grow strong as a player, and as a team? These situations are necessary from time to time, and from there we took the team to a place from where we won the match, she added. While India continue to pursue an aggressive brand of cricket, Deepti acknowledged that matches do not always unfold according to plan. She stressed that learning from such situations would be important in ensuring the team responds better in subsequent fixtures. As a team, this is what we want. Of course, we want to play an aggressive brand of cricket, and that was in our mind. Occasionally, these things happen in a match. There is no god who gives you exactly what you want. But we always learn from our innings and our matches. Im sure what happened today wont happen in the next match, she mentioned. Deepti also admitted disappointment at missing the opportunity to finish the contest herself, revealing that she had intended to build the partnership before taking India across the line. At that moment I felt bad for not finishing the match. I had thought I should build a partnership, take us close (to the target), and then finish, but I made a small mistake. Im sure I wont repeat it, but it was just the thought that it would be good to finish the match as quickly as possible, the all-rounder stated. Deepti also admitted disappointment at missing the opportunity to finish the contest herself, revealing that she had intended to build the partnership before taking India across the line. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Mahela Jayawardene steps down as Mumbai Indians head coach ahead of IPL 2027

Mahela Jayawardene has stepped down as head coach of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of the 2027 season. Jayawardene served in the role for the past two seasons during his second stint with the team, having previously coached MI from 2017 to 2022.

Mahela Jayawardenes stint with Mumbai Indians ends

Jayawardene, who first took charge as head coach in 2017, led MI to IPL titles in 2017, 2019 and 2020

Delay In Pakistan Cricket Board's Central Contracts Announcement. Here's Why

Pakistani cricketers will have to wait until the end of the ODI tri-series later this month before they receive their central contracts, as the head coach and selectors want to assess players before making a final decision.

Goa Cricket Association denies Rs 50 crore audit mismatch, points to previous committee

The current Managing Committee of the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) has rejected allegations of a Rs 50 crore accounting mismatch flagged by an audit report, asserting that the discrepancies occurred during the tenure of the previous committee.

Jake Fraser-McGurk Smashes Fastest One-Day Cup Fifty, Misses All-time Record

Karen Rolton Oval: Australian star Jake Fraser-McGurk smashed his own record to hit the fastest One-Day Cup fifty for South Australia against Queensland at the Karen Rolton Oval here on Saturday. Fraser-McGurk made 122 from 63 balls as his action-packed innings saw him smash 10 fours and nine sixes as he and captain Nathan McSweeney (106 from 103 balls) powered South Australia to a strong 397/7 batting first. Fraser-McGurk ripped apart the Queensland bowling attack for a 14-ball fifty but missed out on the world record of the 11-ball half-century of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. His 14-ball effort is now the joint fourth-fastest in List A cricket. The Aussie opener set the stage on fire right from the word go. He took 22 runs from the second over of Tom Straker before tearing into Tom Whitney for two sixes and a four in the fourth over. He brought up his fifty in the sixth over with a four off Hayden Kerr and did not want to stop anytime soon, quickly racing to 75 off 22 deliveries. The fastest List A century off 29 balls, which already belongs to him, was in his sight, but he steadied himself when he survived a couple of chances. The 24-year-old curbed his attacking instincts but soon launched Tom Whitney for twin sixes and then completed his century off 49 balls. The opener added a few more boundaries before Kerr trapped him on 122 in the 21st over. Fraser-McGurk has a strong record at Karen Rolton Oval. In the six List A innings that he has played in the Adelaide-based ground, the Aussie star has scored runs at an average of 68.66 and a strike rate of 204.97 with two centuries and a half ton. The 24-year-old curbed his attacking instincts but soon launched Tom Whitney for twin sixes and then completed his century off 49 balls. The opener added a few more boundaries before Kerr trapped him on 122 in the 21st over. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

AB de Villiers Admits Virat Kohli Was Arrogant And Cocky, Reveals What Changed Him

AB de Villiers admitted that Virat Kohli came across as arrogant and cocky when they first met but he changed over time.

'CSK Lacked Training Culture Under Dhoni'

R Ashwin has called for a training and fitness overhaul at Chennai Super Kings, saying Zaheer Khan must help change the culture after two disappointing IPL seasons.

'India need to get Shai Hope out': Nayar suggests change in tactics against Windies skipper

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS) Former Indian cricketer Abhishek Nayar stated that India would need to get Shai Hope out as he has been tormenting the bowling attack and winning the West Indies matches almost single-handedly. Hope has been in stellar form in the ongoing white-ball series against India, having hit four centuries in a span of three ODIs and four T20Is, often proving to be the difference between the two sides. India have lost all three matches in which they failed to get Hope out in the entire ongoing white-ball series, and he has unbeaten centuries in all of them. With the series locked at 2-2 ahead of the final T20I on Saturday in Bengaluru, Nayar stated that the Men in Blue need to find a way to get him out and also suggested what they can try to remove him early. The West Indies have batted well, and in the previous match, they bowled well too. But you have to find a way to get Shai Hope out. You have to find a way to stop the West Indies from scoring runs in the powerplay, and that's where the think tank comes together, plans, makes strategies, and puts all that together; then you can get the result you desire, Nayar told JioStar. Hope has 539 runs in seven white-ball innings with four centuries. His 261 runs in four T20Is are already the most by any visiting batter in a bilateral series in India, which reflects how dominant he has been throughout the tour. After a long time, such a player has come to India, scoring runs, captaining, wicket-keeping as well, and consistently scoring runs with the bat. When he scores runs, the team wins, and that is the hallmark of a terrific and great player who scores runs and makes sure the team wins. He is using his craft and finesse as well as power, and that is one thing that Shai Hope has done brilliantly, Nayar hailed Hope. He also suggested that India should try to vary their line and lengths against Hope, who has found stump-line balls home for him. When you are bowling at the stumps, it's been very easy for him to score runs, which means sometimes inconsistency is the best consistency to have against Shai Hope. That is something India will have to think about and come up with a plan as to how they are going to make sure that he starts playing more behind square and how they start using the short ball more against him, he added.

Fraser-McGurk smashes record One-Day Cup fifty on route to 49-ball ton

Fraser-McGurk smashed an Australian record 14-ball List A fifty on his way to 122 from 63 while McSweney also made 106 from 103 as SA posted 397 for 7 against Queensland

Darren Sammy delighted with West Indies performance in India

Sammy stated that it was the bowlers execution beyond the PowerPlays that has proved key

Meet Kumar Kushagra, India's Latest ODI Pick

From a Duleep Trophy hundred to a Player of the Match performance against Australia A, Kumar Kushagra's recent form has earned him his first India call-up.

'Very tempted to play': Nayar backs Sooryavanshi's inclusion as opener in 5th T20I

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS) Former India cricketer Abhishek Nayar is tempted to bring in teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the fifth and final T20I of the ongoing series against the West Indies, but wants the youngster to play at his original opening place and not below that. India have played with nearly the same teams throughout the four T20Is, with the top order featuring Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. That has meant the 15-year-old has to warm the benches in all the matches till now, and he has not played an international match on home soil so far. Sooryavanshi has played in eight T20Is, and all of his outings have come in overseas conditions, as India have gone with their tried and tested top three at home. Former India assistant coach Nayar discussed India's combinations for the must-win fifth T20I against the Windies as the series stands locked at 2-2. He called for inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav and was eager to bring in Sooryavanshi but could not find a spot anywhere other than the opening slot. I think India are in a Catch-22 situation. I'll take a punt and try and go the Kuldeep Yadav way (for the fifth match). So, I may replace Naman Dhir with Kuldeep Yadav and get Nitish and Axar one place up. Axar Patel has also played that role of a floater really well for Team India when he has been sent up. I am very tempted to play Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. But are you going to play him out of position? If Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is playing, then he plays in his strongest position, which is opening. And if he is opening, then whoever is number three should also be playing in his strongest position. However tempted I may be to see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, that too in Bengaluru in such good conditions, I will make changes in the bowling, not in the batting at all, Nayar told JioStar. He also discussed Samson's strong knock of 56 from 23 balls as India were chasing 248 as Abhishek Sharma was struggling. In the beginning, it was a very good strategic call, with Sanju Samson taking the strike. After that, the way he was batting, it felt like he was setting himself up for a big one because he was in control. His base was good, along with control, and his head was steady. It felt like that dangerous Sanju was back in his rhythm in the last game. He will take this confidence into Bengaluru, and I feel this Indian team will be in a much better position because a lot of the batters are in form. It's only a matter of them delivering together, he said. While Samson put up a strong performance, Ishan Kishan was dismissed early for six, and Abhishek had a rare struggle for his 29 runs as he took 24 balls. Yes, Abhishek Sharma wasn't in his greatest of flows, but Sanju Samson took over. That start, even though India didn't get that result, is invaluable because you could get close. So, you want to take that confidence going forward and say, if Sanju can bat for a few more overs, then in the next game, India will be sitting pretty in making sure they win the series 3-2, he added.

Pacers are going to play a big role: Ferguson

He adds Indias tour of New Zealand will be a good challenge for teen sensation Sooryavanshi

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

Krunal Pandya To Lead India At Hong Kong Sixes 2026 As Khejroliya Replaces Bhuvneshwar

Hong Kong Sixes: India will have a new captain at the Hong Kong Sixes 2026, with all-rounder Krunal Pandya taking charge of the seven-member squad after Bhuvneshwar Kumar received a call-up to the national team for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, beginning October 22. Gujarat Titans pacer Kulwant Khejroliya has been named as Bhuvneshwars replacement for the tournament, which will be held from October 30 to November 1. Krunal will lead a squad comprising Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, T. Natarajan and Khejroliya. The lineup combi nes IPL experience with batting depth and all-round options suited to the fast-paced six-a-side format. Bhuvneshwars return to the national setup after four years marks a significant development in the experienced pacers career. His international recall means he will miss the Hong Kong event, prompting a change in both the squads composition and leadership. The senior pacer earned a recall to Indias T20I squad for the five-match series against New Zealand, marking his return to the national side after nearly four years, as the BCCI announced the Shreyas Iyer-led team earlier this month. Moreover, he was also added to Indias squad for the decisive fifth and final T20I against the West Indies, set to be played on Saturday, after Arshdeep Singh suffered a blow during the fourth T20I in Hyderabad. Commenting on the development, Anuraag Bhatnagar, Director of Commercial and Marketing at Cricket Hong Kong, China, said, While we will certainly miss Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the Hong Kong Sixes 2026, we are delighted to see him earn a call-up to the national team. His return to international cricket after four years is a special milestone, and we wish him every success on Indias tour of New Zealand. We look forward to welcoming him back to the Hong Kong Sixes in the future. The senior pacer earned a recall to Indias T20I squad for the five-match series against New Zealand, marking his return to the national side after nearly four years, as the BCCI announced the Shreyas Iyer-led team earlier this month. Moreover, he was also added to Indias squad for the decisive fifth and final T20I against the West Indies, set to be played on Saturday, after Arshdeep Singh suffered a blow during the fourth T20I in Hyderabad. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Chaminda Vaas Named Delhi Capitals Fast Bowling Coach

Sri Lankan bowling legend Chaminda Vaas has been appointed as the fast bowling coach for Delhi Capitals for the upcoming IPL 2027 season, marking his return to the league after 16 years.

Unfair; management and selectors job to give opportunities, says Ashwin on Jaiswals ODI snub

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS) Ravichandran Ashwin has criticised Indias selection strategy regarding Yashasvi Jaiswal, urging the team management and selectors to provide the young batter with more opportunities ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. The former India off-spinner described Jaiswals continued absence from international cricket as unfair, arguing that the final two ODIs could have offered him valuable game time while allowing the team to prepare for the upcoming Test series. He questioned why Jaiswal could not have been considered for the remaining matches if Shubman Gill was unavailable, stressing the importance of keeping the left-handed opener involved in the international setup. If Shubman Gill is not playing the last two ODIs, then Yashasvi Jaiswal should definitely get that spot. It is very unfortunate because all of this can ruin his confidence. Now, with the way he was scoring runs He was a run machine. If his confidence is getting ruined, it is the job of the team management and selectors to give him an opportunity wherever possible. But he has not been getting those opportunities at all. It has not gone to him. And it is very unfair, Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. Jaiswal had established himself as a prolific run-scorer across formats, but his recent lack of international appearances has become a concern for Ashwin. The former spinner believes that failing to provide regular opportunities to a player of Jaiswals calibre could affect his confidence at a crucial stage of his development. While acknowledging that Jaiswal needs adequate preparation for Test cricket, Ashwin challenged the reasoning behind keeping him out of the ODI setup. He also questioned when the batter last featured in the other international formats, highlighting the gaps in his recent schedule. I agree that he needs to prepare for Test cricket. But tell me, when did Yashasvi Jaiswal last play an ODI? When did he last play a T20? When did he last play a Test match? With India needing to strengthen its options ahead of the next ODI World Cup, Ashwin placed the responsibility squarely on the selectors and team management to ensure the youngster receives opportunities to regain his rhythm. It is very unfortunate. It is definitely the responsibility of the selectors and team management to look after Yashasvi Jaiswal. He is a precious talent, Ashwin concluded.

Shubman Gill's Assurance Falls Flat, India Superstar Out Of Team's ODI Plans: Report

Ravindra Jadeja is reportedly out of India's ODI plans, having been snubbed for a spot in the Indian team for the New Zealand series.

It's Done Bro: Delhi Capitals Appoint Chaminda Vaas As Fast Bowling Coach

Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Chaminda Vaas is set to take over as Delhi Capitals' fast bowling coach as the franchise reshapes its coaching staff ahead of the next IPL season.

Vinay Kumar on a mission to restore Karnatakas golden era

The new coachs stint starts with the Ranji Trophy opener against Andhra; the former champion will not be at full strength due to injuries and national call-ups

Canada vs Nepal Live Streaming, ICC Cricket World Cup League Two 2023-27 Live Telecast: When And Where To Watch

Here are the live streaming and live telecast details for the Canada vs Nepal ICC Cricket World Cup League Two 2023-27 match.

Sri Lankan Legend Chaminda Vaas Joins DC As Fast Bowling Coach For IPL 2027

Former Sri Lanka: Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Chaminda Vaas is set to take over as Delhi Capitals fast bowling coach as the franchise reshapes its coaching staff ahead of the next IPL season. Earlier this month, the franchise officially parted ways with their existing coaching group ahead of the 2027 Indian Premier League (IPL) season by making an announcement through their social media accounts. Vaas, the Sri Lankan fast bowling legend, has worked in a coaching capacity with the Sri Lanka mens team many times and with the SLC academy. He also worked with New Zealand and Ireland teams in a consulting capacity, as well as held coaching roles in various franchise leagues. Moreover, it is also expected that former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who was a prolific wicket-taker in the IPL, is set to join the franchise as their spin-bowling coach. For Mishra, it will be his first coaching stint after announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket last year. Ganguly, Yuvraj and Mishra were present at DCs trials and off-season camp at the Just Cricket Ground in Bengaluru in August. In September, Yuvraj, Mishra and Vaas were present at another camp and trials held at a ground in Aerocity, New Delhi. DC are now building an entirely fresh coaching setup, with former India captain Sourav Ganguly, currently serving as JSW's Director of Cricket, taking over as head coach. Ganguly worked as head coach of Pretoria Capitals in SA20 earlier this year, which marked his maiden foray as a coach, and was also involved with the DC side in the Womens Premier League (WPL) The franchise also announced the appointment of former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh as their batting coach. Yuvraj, whos won World Cups for India in ODIs and T20Is, has been a hands-on mentor to Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh, as well as worked with Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson intermittently. DC are now building an entirely fresh coaching setup, with former India captain Sourav Ganguly, currently serving as JSW's Director of Cricket, taking over as head coach. Ganguly worked as head coach of Pretoria Capitals in SA20 earlier this year, which marked his maiden foray as a coach, and was also involved with the DC side in the Womens Premier League (WPL) Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Patidars lone hand not enough as Australia-A clinches series