Cricket

McCullum 'would love to carry on' as England head coach despite tough winter

Head coach admits team veered away from attacking game during Ashes, but praises white-ball 'identity'

'I made a big mistake dropping Sanju Samson' - Harry Brook

Captain holds hands up over costly fielding error as England exit T20 World Cup in semi-final defeat to India

T20 WC: 'You Can Measure Runs...but The Real Stat Here Is Intent', Says Sachin After India Edge Out England In SF

T20 World Cup: After defending champions India edged past England by seven runs to advance to the T20 World Cup final, legendary batter Sachin hailed the Men in Blue's intent in the high-scoring thriller and said it's the mindset they needed in the knockout matches. After Sanju Samson led the charge to take India to 253/7, the home team survived a spirited challenge from England to register a seven-run win in a high-scoring semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. The two teams scored 499 runs between them, the most in a men's T20 World Cup match. You can measure runs, partnerships, and strike rates, but the real stat here is intent. Loved the positive approach with the bat and the cool heads in the field. Thats the mindset you want in knockout cricket, Sachin shared on X. Samson was adjudged Player of the Match for his explosive batting. Tendulkar hailed the wicketkeeper-batter's impressive show with the bat. Great to see Sanju Samson carry his form into this match and set the tempo early! Eyes on the final, he added. India 253/7 is the fourth-highest by a team in T20 World Cup history and the highest ever in a knockout game in the tournament. The only other instance of a team scoring 200+ in a knockout game before today was West Indies' 205/4 against Australia at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo in the 2012 semifinal. Samson was adjudged Player of the Match for his explosive batting. Tendulkar hailed the wicketkeeper-batter's impressive show with the bat. Great to see Sanju Samson carry his form into this match and set the tempo early! Eyes on the final, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India have made it to the final for the fourth time in T20 WCs, the most for any team. Moreover, India is the first team to enter the final as defending champions. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: BCCI Secy Devajit Saikia Congratulates India On Reaching Final

BCCI Secy Devajit Saikia: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia congratulated the Indian team after their thrilling semi-final victory over England, praising the side for their composure and match-winning performances. India secured their place in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup after edging England in a high-scoring encounter at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Saikia lauded the teams overall performance and highlighted the contributions of several key players in the win. INDIA IN THE FINAL. Heartiest congratulations to Team India on a magnificent victory in the semi-finals and for securing a well-deserved place in the T20WorldCup Final. The team displayed exceptional skill, determination, and composure under pressure to deliver a truly memorable performance. Special appreciation to @IamSanjuSamson, @hardikpandya7, @Jaspritbumrah93, @akshar2026, @IamShivamDube & @ishankishan51 for their outstanding contributions that powered India to this remarkable win. Wishing the Team India the very best for the grand finale in Ahmedabad on Sunday, Saikia wrote on X. Indias win was driven by an outstanding batting performance spearheaded by Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, with important support from Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya with the bat. After India posted a massive 253, England made them work hard in Mumbais sweltering heat, with Jacob Bethell producing a memorable knock. Needing 69 off the final five overs on a batting-friendly pitch, the contest was finely poised. But it was that man who never falters, bowler after bowler, yorker after yorker, who turned the game around, conceding just 14 runs in his last two overs. Arshdeep and Hardik Pandya then sealed the deal, with the latter impressing both with the new ball and at the death. Add to that Axar Patels stunning catches under pressure, and India edged home in style. After India posted a massive 253, England made them work hard in Mumbais sweltering heat, with Jacob Bethell producing a memorable knock. Needing 69 off the final five overs on a batting-friendly pitch, the contest was finely poised. But it was that man who never falters, bowler after bowler, yorker after yorker, who turned the game around, conceding just 14 runs in his last two overs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The defending champions will now head to Ahmedabad for Sundays showdown clash, where they will aim to script history by becoming the first team to defend the title in the tournament. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: The Night Axar Turned Into A Fielding Magician With two-and-a-half Catches At Wankhede

T20 World Cup: In a semifinal that produced a staggering run-fest and relentless drama at Wankhede Stadium, it was the fielding brilliance of Axar Patel that quietly tilted the balance in Indias favour against England and took the defending champions into the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Englands chase of Indias daunting 253 looked on course, powered by a breathtaking century from Jacob Bethell. But Axars fielding interventions repeatedly halted the visitors momentum at crucial moments. The first moment of magic came early in the innings when Jasprit Bumrah deceived Harry Brook with a slower delivery. The England captain miscued the shot high over the covers, and Axar sprinted back while keeping his eyes locked on the swirling ball. As it drifted away from him, he launched forward in a perfectly timed dive, clutching a spectacular catch just inches above the turf. It was the kind of effort that electrified the stadium and gave India an early breakthrough. Axar wasnt done yet. Later, when Will Jacks looked set to push England closer to the target, another moment of fielding brilliance unfolded at deep point. Chasing a sliced shot that was drifting away from him, Axar ran hard across the turf and plucked the ball on the move. Losing balance near the boundary rope, he showed remarkable presence of mind, tossing the ball back into play just before falling over the cushions. Waiting nearby, Shivam Dube calmly completed the catch to dismiss Jacks, but it was Axars athletic save and flick-back that made the wicket possible. The stunning relay effort drew roars from the packed Wankhede crowd and left teammates swarming him in celebration. Earlier in the match, too, Axar had set the tone by safely pouching Phil Salt at cover when Hardik Pandya struck with the new ball, another sharp piece of fielding that underlined his reliability. On a pitch where bowlers struggled for control and batters dominated the scoreboard, Axars fielding stood out as a decisive factor. His athleticism, anticipation and composure under pressure produced moments that statistics alone cannot capture. In a match decided by just seven runs, Axar Patels golden hands may well have been the difference between heartbreak and a place in the final. Earlier in the first innings, India posted a formidable 253/7 in 20 overs against England, thanks to a blazing innings from Sanju Samson. The wicketkeeper-batsman continued his excellent form in the tournament, smashing 89 off 42 balls, with eight fours and seven sixes. The right-hander dominated the England bowlers from the start and anchored Indias innings with aggressive strokeplay around the ground. After Abhishek Sharma fell early for nine, Samson built a vital 97-run partnership for the second wicket with Ishan Kishan, who scored a rapid 39 from 18 balls. Samson then added another 43 runs for the third wicket with Dube, who made a brisk 43 off 25 balls. Earlier in the first innings, India posted a formidable 253/7 in 20 overs against England, thanks to a blazing innings from Sanju Samson. The wicketkeeper-batsman continued his excellent form in the tournament, smashing 89 off 42 balls, with eight fours and seven sixes. The right-hander dominated the England bowlers from the start and anchored Indias innings with aggressive strokeplay around the ground. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Late cameos by Pandya, with 27 off 12 balls, and Tilak Varma, scoring 21 off just seven balls, contributed to India surpassing the 250-run total. For England, Jacks and Adil Rashid each took two wickets but found it difficult to contain Indias aggressive batting display. Article Source: IANS

Samson: I would not be standing here if not for Bumrah

In a high scoring semi-final in Mumbai, Jasprit Bumrah bowled two economical overs at the death to shut down England's chase

India in final after clinching high-scoring thriller

Samson's 89 trumped Bethell's 105 on a night of pulsating drama, studded with 499 runs in 40 overs

Belief And Relief: Cricket Fraternity Hails Indias Thrilling T20 WC Semi-final Win Over England

ICC T20 World Cup: Indias dramatic victory over England in the semi-final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday triggered a wave of praise from BCCI, former cricketers, with many highlighting the contributions of Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, and the teams collective effort. After posting a 254-run target, India restricted England to 246/7 to clinch a seven-run win and seal a spot in Sundays summit clash, where theyll now face New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Following the nail-biting win, several former cricketers took to social media to congratulate the Men in Blue. What a game , well played England !! What a team effort Sanju Samson was brilliant and what performances by Hardik Pandya, ShivamDube, Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel!! Just fantastic. We march on to Ahmedabad for finals, BCCI president Mithun Manhas said. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla said, What a thrilling victory! India defeated England to reach the final of the ICC T20 World Cup. A magnificent innings by @IamSanjuSamson, excellent support from @IamShivamDube and @ishankishan51, @hardikpandya7 and outstanding effort in the field by @akshar2026 with crucial catches. Heartiest congratulations to Team India on this superb performance. What a perfect way to end the night! This is what big match temperament looks like fearless cricket, strong mindset and superb teamwork from Team India. Big shoutout to Sanju Samson and Jacob Bethell for the way they competed tonight. Thats the spirit that makes big games even more special. Proud of the boys and the way theyre playing for the country just one step away now, former cricketer Suresh Raina posted on X. Former India all-rounder Kedar Jadhav wrote on X, Into the FINAL! An outstanding display of talent, determination and team spirit by Team India. The entire nation is cheering for you..! Former spinner Harbhajan Singh praised the teams bowling at the death and Samsons knock. How many runs are safe nowadays??? That was a Crazy #INDvsENGSemiFinal. Death over bowling of #TeamIndia made the difference. Congratulations for the huge win. Again @IamSanjuSamson proved that he means serious cricket. @IamShivamDube and @TilakV9 also made notable contributions. @Jaspritbumrah93 and other bowlers decimated them at the end. Keep up the momentum for the final. Ex-India batter Robin Uthappa highlighted multiple performances in the game. And we have to remember #ShivamDube contribution with the bat and the final over hes been consistent through the tournament. Special mention today to someone who constantly flies under the radar @akshar2026 !! His fielding was the difference today between winning and losing!! Top notch stuff!! @hardikpandya7 !! CLUTCH!! When the team needs it!! Finally!! @IamSanjuSamson you beauty!! This is ur true potential!! Watching you bat was like watching a monk creating a tornado!!

Firecrackers, Dhols And Roars Of Joy As India Enter T20 World Cup Final

T20 World Cup: A wave of celebration swept across India after the national team edged past England in a thrilling semifinal to enter the final of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026. From big cities to small towns, fans poured out onto the streets waving the Tricolour, bursting firecrackers and beating dhols (drums) late into the night. At Mumbais Wankhede Stadium, the atmosphere was electric as chants of India, India, Vande Mataram and Jeetega bhai jeetega, India jeetega echoed through the stands long after the final ball was bowled. This is unbelievable. My heart was in my mouth in the last three overs, said a college student celebrating outside the stadium. But when Bumrah bowled those yorkers, we knew India would do it. The defending champions clinched a dramatic seven-run victory to reach their second successive T20 World Cup final, holding their nerve despite a sensational century from Englands Jacob Bethell and set themselves up for becoming the first nation to win the title thrice. Earlier, India had posted a daunting 253/7, powered by a brilliant 89 from Sanju Samson. The aggressive total set the tone for a high-octane contest as England launched a fierce chase. England began in explosive fashion, racing to 68 runs in the Power Play. However, they also lost three crucial wickets, including skipper Harry Brook, who was caught brilliantly by Axar Patel off Jasprit Bumrah the Indian pacers 500th international wicket. Jos Buttler soon followed, bowled by Varun Chakravarthy with a deceptive googly that rattled the middle stump, leaving England at 64/3 in the sixth over. Yet the chase stayed alive thanks to Bethell, who produced a breathtaking innings. He smashed his half-century in just 19 balls and continued to attack relentlessly, sending the ball soaring into the stands with fearless stroke play. Inside the stadium, the crowd oscillated between tension and celebration as the English batter kept the target within reach. Bethell scared us for a while, admitted a fan draped in the Indian flag. But when Pandya got Curran out, the whole stadium erupted. Ive never heard Wankhede this loud. Bethell eventually brought up a magnificent century in just 45 balls, studded with eight fours and seven sixes, keeping Englands hopes alive deep into the chase. England needed 45 runs from the final three overs, and the match hung in the balance. But Jasprit Bumrah delivered a masterclass in death bowling, conceding just six runs in the 18th over with three pinpoint yorkers. Hardik Pandya then followed it up brilliantly in the next over, giving away only nine runs and removing Sam Curran to tilt the contest firmly in Indias favour. The decisive moment came in the final over when Bethell was run out attempting a risky second run off the very first ball. The Wankhede crowd erupted in deafening celebration as Englands hopes faded. Everyone around me was hugging strangers, said a businessman, who had travelled from Gujarat for the match. This is what cricket does in India it brings the whole country together. Although Jofra Archer struck three late sixes, the target proved too steep as England fell short by seven runs. Everyone around me was hugging strangers, said a businessman, who had travelled from Gujarat for the match. This is what cricket does in India it brings the whole country together. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Now we want the trophy, said a fan, smiling amid the celebrations. One more win and the whole nation will celebrate again. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Samson Shines In Semifinal, Calls Bumrah once-in-a-generation

T20 WC: Indias wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson expressed delight after playing a crucial role in Indias hard-fought semi-final victory over England, saying he felt confident about his form and wanted to make the most of it when it mattered most. Samson said he carried confidence from the previous match and made a conscious effort to give himself extra time at the crease. The approach paid off as he built a strong start with fellow batter Ishan Kishan to help India post a competitive total. Feels great. I knew I had some form going from the last game. I thought I needed to make the most out of it and gave myself that extra time, Samson said after the match. India pushed their score over 250-run mark, which Samson believed was achievable given the way he and Kishan were batting. Despite the solid total, England mounted a strong chase, making it a tense contest until the closing stages. We know no score is stoppable. We wanted as much as possible. England came close and played really well. It was a good semi-final, he said, acknowledging the competitive effort from the opposition. Samson also reflected on how teams must adapt to conditions, noting that chasing can often be easier depending on the pitch and match situation. Having played a lot of cricket in recent months, he emphasised the importance of assessing the conditions quickly. While Samsons innings was pivotal, he was quick to shift the spotlight to Indias pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, praising his impact on the game. Samson also reflected on how teams must adapt to conditions, noting that chasing can often be easier depending on the pitch and match situation. Having played a lot of cricket in recent months, he emphasised the importance of assessing the conditions quickly. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He also described the experience of playing in such a high-stakes match as unforgettable, adding that the teams primary aim was to secure a positive result. For Samson, contributing to a winning effort mattered far more than personal milestones. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: India Beat England By 7 Runs To Set Up Final Vs NZ

T20 World Cup: India clinched a thrilling seven-run victory over England in the second semi-final of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup at the iconic Wankhede Stadium to confirm set up a final date with New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The Men in Blue are now just one step away from becoming the first team to defend their T20 World Cup crown and lift the title twice. Batting first, India posted 253/7 against England, powered by Sanju Samsons explosive 89 off 42 balls. Samson continued his rich form in the tournament, smashing 89 off 42 balls, laced with eight fours and seven sixes. The right-hander dominated the England bowlers from the outset and anchored Indias innings with aggressive strokeplay across the ground. After Abhishek Sharma fell early for nine, Samson stitched a crucial 97-run partnership for the second wicket with Ishan Kishan, who made a quickfire 39 off 18 balls. Samson then added another 43 runs for the third wicket alongside Shivam Dube, who contributed a brisk 43 off 25 deliveries. Samson brought up his half-century in just 26 balls, his second successive fifty in the tournament, before eventually falling while attempting an expansive shot, caught by Phil Salt off Will Jacks. Late cameos from Hardik Pandya, who scored 27 off 12 balls, and Tilak Varma, who struck 21 off just seven balls, helped India surge past the 250 mark. For England, Will Jacks and Adil Rashid picked up two wickets each but struggled to contain Indias aggressive batting display. Coming to the chase, England suffered early setbacks as Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy picked one wicket each in the powerplay, but the Englishmen looked unfazed by the blows to take their total to 68/3 at the end of the sixth over. Though the 2022 champions top-order faltered, middle-order batter Jacob Bethell kept his side in the hunt with a brilliant century, the third fastest for England. He shared crucial partnerships with Jos Buttler and Tom Banton before bringing up a game-changing 77-run stand with Will Jacks and a 50-run stand with Sam Curran, which kept the momentum swiftly hanging in balance. Coming to the chase, England suffered early setbacks as Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy picked one wicket each in the powerplay, but the Englishmen looked unfazed by the blows to take their total to 68/3 at the end of the sixth over. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Harry Brook-led side fell short by eight runs as India marched into the final for a second consecutive time. Article Source: IANS

Litton, Rana Return As Bangladesh Name Squad For Pakistan ODIs

Gazi Ashraf Hossain: Bangladesh have recalled Litton Das, fast bowlers Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam into their ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against Pakistan starting on March 11 in Mirpur. Bangladesh chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain confirmed that the team selections were driven by the goal to strengthen the middle order, following the failure of several players to secure their spots. We have provided opportunities to several players in the middle order, but unfortunately some have not done enough to secure their places. With that in mind, Afif Hossain has been recalled. He has never been away from our plans. Afif brings valuable experience and is currently in good touch. Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan has been retained, and this is another opportunity for him to fulfil the potential he has shown, Ashraf said. Litton endured a prolonged slump in ODI cricket and has not reached double figures in his last eight ODI innings dating back to December 2023, but the selectors are backing his experience to prove valuable. Litton Das may not have produced his best in recent ODIs but you can't overlook the experience of nearly a hundred international matches in this format. He has been working closely with the coaches on his game. We believe he will soon perform in the manner he is capable of. We are considering him as an option to strengthen the middle order. Soumya Sarkar, meanwhile, has been in excellent form at the international level, Ashraf added. Litton endured a prolonged slump in ODI cricket and has not reached double figures in his last eight ODI innings dating back to December 2023, but the selectors are backing his experience to prove valuable. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Bangladesh ODI squad: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana. Article Source: IANS

Been A Pretty Whirlwind Couple Of Weeks, Says McConchie On Sudden T20 WC Call-up

T20 World Cup: Cole McConchie, New Zealands late addition to the squad, had a night to remember in Kolkata during the semi-final clash as the Kiwis knocked out South Africa to become the first finalists of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup. The fast-bowler said the weeks since his call-up to the side have been a 'whirlwind', saying he was super stoked to receive the opportunity. McConchie, alongside Rachin Ravindra, delivered crucial blows to the Proteas top order, restricting their scoring opportunities and setting up a commanding position for New Zealand. He replaced Michael Bracewell after an unfortunate injury and played a pivotal role in their semi-final victory over South Africa, and the Black Caps will now play the tournaments summit clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Reflecting on his sudden call-up, McConchie told New Zealand Cricket, Yeah, it's been a pretty whirlwind couple of weeks really. Yeah, I was preparing for a four-trophy match down in Invercargill, and I was actually studying in my room the night before the game and yeah, got a text from Black Caps selector Gavin Larson to give him a call. So I gave him a call and obviously the unfortunate news that Michael Bracewood had been ruled out. On the excitement of joining the squad and travelling to India, he said, But yeah, super stoked to get that call up and yeah, excited at the opportunity. So things unfolded pretty quickly to go from Invercargill to Christchurch, sort out visas, flights and get on a flight over to India. And as I say, the last couple of weeks have been pretty whirlwind, but super special to be here and just excited at the prospect of a World Cup final and everything that that will bring. McConchie described the challenge of bowling in the powerplay with limited preparation. Yeah, a little bit. Sort of new to be prepared to bowl early in that power play, especially with a couple of left-handers. Only found out I was playing sort of just before the warm up, so no real time for nerves, he said. But always be prepared, and Sats and Rob sort of said if I was going to play, like potentially some good overs up top. So thankfully it went to plan and kind of got things started nicely. But obviously, yeah, great team performance, he added. He spoke about adapting to the pitch conditions as he said, I think just trying to bowl my best ball on that surface. Yeah, see if I can get a bit of spin out of the surface, bit of bounce. But yeah, obviously I was pretty hyped up, especially after that second one to get a couple of wickets there. And those two had been going well this tournament. So yeah, very excited. Reflecting on New Zealands overall performance against a strong South African batting line-up, McConchie stated, Yeah, obviously, you know, looked a really, really good wicket for batting. I think the way that, you know, we started in that power play and were able to restrict sort of especially up to sort of overs 13, 14. And it's probably, it sounds a little bit strange, but nice in a way that they got a few out of the middle at the end. It probably showed the strength of that, the sort of quality of the batting wicket. And the way that Tim and Finn came out after that and just put on an absolute clinic. Yeah, it was great to watch. On the emotions of a World Cup semifinal, he stated, So, so special. I think obviously, you know, World Cup semifinal, a couple of nerves. But after that power play, I think, you know, kind of put any nerves to rest. And the way that those two strike the ball, you know, super special. And, you know, Finn obviously got the credit there at the end. Some amazing hitting, world-class striking. On the emotions of a World Cup semifinal, he stated, So, so special. I think obviously, you know, World Cup semifinal, a couple of nerves. But after that power play, I think, you know, kind of put any nerves to rest. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Looking ahead to the final, he remained focused yet grounded. And I'm sure, you know, things will just start to ramp up towards the final on Sunday. But as always in Kiwi fashions, kind of take things in our stride. And enjoy the moment as we can. Because it's, you know, pretty special to be heading into a World Cup final. And I'm sure it's going to be a great few days leading into it, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Bumrah Reaches 500-wicket Milestone In International Cricket

T20 World Cup: Indias pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, achieved a monumental career milestone during the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against England at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday as he became only the eighth Indian bowler to reach 500 international wickets with the first wicket he took off the opening delivery of his spell in the fifth over of England's chase. Since making his debut against Australia in Sydney on January 23, 2016, Bumrah has scalped 500 wickets across all formats, joining an elite club that includes cricketing legends Anil Kumble, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Kapil Dev, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, and Javagal Srinath as the seven other bowlers to have achieved the feat. The 32-year-old fast bowler from Ahmedabad has now picked 234 wickets in 52 Tests, 149 wickets in 89 ODIs, and 117 wickets in 94 T20Is, highlighting his consistent performance and powerful influence across all formats. Bumrahs performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup has been equally impressive. He had bagged nine wickets in six matches for the Suryakumar Yadav-led side, and took his tally to ten with England skipper Harry Brooks wicket in the semi-final clash. He was Indias top wicket-taker in the Super 8 matches against South Africa and the West Indies. Notably, he also dismissed two Pakistani batters, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha, in his very first over during the Group A match against the neighbouring nation at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo last month. Bumrahs performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup has been equally impressive. He had bagged nine wickets in six matches for the Suryakumar Yadav-led side, and took his tally to ten with England skipper Harry Brooks wicket in the semi-final clash. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Bumrah is Indias leading wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history. If he takes four wickets in the current semi-final against England, he will surpass Anrich Nortjes record for the most wickets by a fast bowler in Mens T20 World Cup history. Article Source: IANS

AUS-W vs IND-W One-Off Test Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

AUS-W vs IND-W One-Off Test , Cricket Tips :The multi-format series between India Women and Australia Women has come to its final stage. After the T20I and ODI series, these two sides will meet in a one-off Test match. It is a pink-ball test, which will begin at 10:50 AM IST on Friday at WACA Stadium in Perth. The T20I series was competitive, but the ODI series was dominated by the hosts. Three one-sided wins, and Alyssa Healy signed off in style with an incredible century. Now, she will also look to end her international career with a good win. India Women have never looked in control, because their players failed to adapt to the situation. But they can't afford to make mistakes, as Australia are in excellent form. AUS-W vs IND-W: Match Details Date : March 6-9, 2026 (Sunday) Time : 10:50 AM IST Venue : WACA Ground, Perth AUS-W vs IND-W: Live Streaming Details The live action of the one-off test will be available on Star Sports Networks. Fans can also watch the game through to the Jio Hotstar streaming platform. AUS-W vs IND-W: Head-to-Head in Test Total Matches : 11 Australia Women : 04 India Women : 01 Drawn: 06 AUS-W vs IND-W: Ground Pitch Report The wicket at WACA Stadium is very fast and bouncy. It is an excellent surface to bowl on. There will be great help for the fast bowlers. The pink ball always brings more help for the fast bowlers. Hence, batting will be a big challenge for this game. AUS-W vs IND-W: Possible XIs Australia Women : Alyssa Healy , Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney (wk), Ash Gardner, Georgia Voll, Tahila McGrath, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Darcie Brown India Women : Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Sayali Satghare, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud AUS-W vs IND-W: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Smriti Mandhana is India's biggest hope and answer to Australia. She likes this opposition and will be a big wicket. For Australia, captain Alyssa Healy had an incredible century in the last game, and she will look to end her international career with another masterclass. Probable Best Bowler Deepti Sharma has been India's leading wicket-taker in the current squad, and her experience will be key for India. Darcie Brown is one of the fastest bowlers in women's cricket and will like bowling with a pink ball. Today Match Prediction : India Women have been struggling badly, and we predict Australia Women to win this game because of the form they are in. AUS-W vs IND-W Match 3rd ODI, Today Match AUS-W vs IND-W, AUS-W vs IND-W Prediction, AUS-W vs IND-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update for AUS-W vs IND-W Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score 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.

Litton Das back in Bangladesh squad for Pakistan ODIs

Fast bowlersNahid Rana and Shoriful Islam also included

Fatherhood, Sleep, T20 World Cup Final: Matt Henry's Whirlwind Journey

New Zealand's Matt Henry played a doting father to his new-born son back home and returned to help his team reach the T20 World Cup final, all in a space of five days. Pace spearhead Henry returned figures of 2-34 in New Zealand's crushing nine-wicket win over South Africa in the first semi-final in Kolkata on Wednesday. Opener Finn Allen blasted the fastest-ever T20 World Cup hundred in 33 balls to lead his team into Sunday's final in Ahmedabad, where they will face India or England. Henry's bowling effort was special after he rejoined the team late on the eve of the match. He the took field less than 24 hours after he landed back in India after flying home for the birth of his second child after New Zealand's last Super Eights match against England on February 27. There was a lot of sleep happening on the way back to be honest, a smiling Henry told reporters. So yeah just focusing on my family to get home, that was important for me, and then it worked out that I could get back for the semi-final so it's great to be here. Henry and his wife Holly Carran have welcomed a baby boy. They're doing great so yeah it was pretty special to be able to get home for that, said the 34-year-old Henry. Obviously Holly's doing really well and Jack's really good as well and Annabelle's enjoying being a big sister so it's all good. New Zealand have reached their second T20 World Cup final. They lost the title clash to Australia in 2021 in the United Arab Emirates. It's pretty special to be able to reach another final, the guys are really excited but for now just enjoy this (win), said Henry. I think the guys have been playing some really good cricket. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Finn was just unbelievable so we'll enjoy that and then we can move on and get ready for what's to come.

Just Another Game In Many Ways But Carries Different Weight As Its T20 WC Knockout: Banton

T20 World Cup: Tom Banton was brought into the England T20 side soon after Harry Brook took over as captain. He was one of the two close friends that the captain had shown faith in -- Liam Dawson being the other. One year later, Banton has become an integral part of the England T20 set-up and is now representing his country against India in the semifinals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. which he described as the iggest game he has been part of in his career so far. Banton has had modest returns in the T20 World Cup, with an unbeaten 63 against Scotland being his highest score so far. He also had scores of 30 against Italy and 33 against New Zealand in the Super 8 stage. Though he had scored a fifty against Sri Lanka in the series preceding the World Cup, Banton got out early against Test-playing teams Pakistan (2), Sri Lanka (6), and the West Indies (2). I have not played as many games as I would have liked, but I believe each match has brought a fresh opportunity, Banton said in a conversation with the official broadcaster ahead of the semifinal clash with India at the Wankhede. Banton wanted someone to come up with a big performance for them and hoped that it would be him. Banton, however, says it has been a fantastic tournament for the team and that reaching this stage feels amazing. Though Banton called the semifinal clash against India just another game in many ways, he also acknowledged that the match carries a different weight because it is a World Cup knockout match. Banton talked about his experience of facing Varun Chakravarthy in the nets during his IPL stint, noting that Chakravarthy has done well in the last three to four years and is currently ranked the number one T20 bowler. The top-order batter is likely to face India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the semifinal but said his approach will remain the same. He will rely on his instincts and will try to put Bumrah under pressure early and hopes that will work in his favour. Banton talked about his experience of facing Varun Chakravarthy in the nets during his IPL stint, noting that Chakravarthy has done well in the last three to four years and is currently ranked the number one T20 bowler. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Banton said that if England plays the 'perfect game' on Thursday and again on Sunday, they could win the title and have happy days ahead. He also said that the close contests that England played earlier in the tournament will hold them in good stead, and such experiences are huge for the team. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Ive Studied England's Current Approach, Prepared Well For Every Batter,' Says Chakaravarthy

T20 World Cup: India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy expressed excitement about the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final contest on the sidelines before the clash against England, and shared insights into his preparation and mindset for the crucial clash. Yeah, Im very excited because I know its going to be a good game. They are very well prepared and we are also well prepared, so Im really looking forward to a great contest, Chakaravarthy said while speaking to the broadcasters. Reflecting on past encounters, he highlighted lessons from Indias previous series against England but stressed the importance of adapting to the current game. Yeah, there were a few points that I took from that series (against England last year), but Ive also focused a lot on how they are playing now. The way they were playing back then and the way they are playing now is quite different. So Ive taken a few lessons from the last time, but Ive also studied their current approach, he said. Chakaravarthy, known for his mystery spin, described his unique approach to evaluating performance, which relies more on his execution than conventional stats. Its fine. I dont really look at the results. If you ask me how I process my performance, I just look at the pitch map after the match. If the ball is landing where I want it to, then Im happy. I dont really focus on how many runs Ive conceded or how many wickets Ive taken. Even wickets or runs dont matter that much to me, I just look at the pitch map, he said. He recalled a challenging start to his career, illustrating his philosophy of adaptation. If Im being honest, in the first match I played in the IPL, I was hit for 24 runs in my first over. So you could say the mystery was decoded in the very first over I ever bowled (when asked how will he adapt when his mystery is decoded). After that, its just about adapting to the situation. Its been about eight years since then, and thats been the key, Varun added. On facing Englands dangerous opener, Chakaravarthy remained calm and methodical as he said, Hes a quality batsman (Brook), but Ive prepared well for every batsman. Lets see how it goes. I think the team that bowls well and hits the right lengths will have the advantage. But I believe weve prepared well. If Im being honest, in the first match I played in the IPL, I was hit for 24 runs in my first over. So you could say the mystery was decoded in the very first over I ever bowled (when asked how will he adapt when his mystery is decoded). After that, its just about adapting to the situation. Its been about eight years since then, and thats been the key, Varun added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In what is a high-stakes game for both sides, England won the toss and elected to bowl first. India suffered an early blow as opener Abhishek Sharma fell to Will Jacks in the second over, but his opening partner, Sanju Samson, and top-order batter Ishan Kishan did not let that setback affect their momentum, as the Men in Blue raced to 67/1 in the powerplay. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: 'India Cannot Take Any Player Lightly, Brook Can Be Dangerous', Says Nayan Mongia

ICC T20 World Cup: Former India wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia believes England captain Harry Brook could pose a big threat to Indian bowlers in the second semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Brook has been in excellent form in the ongoing tournament and also scored a match-winning century against the Pakistan cricket team during the Super 8 stage. Mongia said the England skippers fearless style of batting could make him dangerous for the opposition. Every player is performing well, and India cannot take any player lightly, but the way Harry Brook is batting with a fearless attitude and leading from the front is amazing. He can be dangerous with such confidence and form, and Indian bowlers need to beware of him, Mongia told IANS. Despite Brooks threat, Mongia expressed confidence in the Indian cricket team, saying the side has been performing consistently in the tournament. I have many expectations from the team. In every match, players have performed well, and it will be a great match as the wicket will be good for batting. Mongia also backed all-rounder Hardik Pandya, calling him a potential match-winner for India against England. Hardik Pandya is my favourite player, and he is both bowling and batting very well, and I expect that Hardik will rise to the occasion if he gets the chance to bat, Mongia said. Meanwhile, cricket coach Sukhwinder Singh Bawa voiced support for Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakaravarthy, who have struggled for form in the tournament. He advised that India should not make changes to their playing XI for the big match. I think there should be no change in the playing XI. Abhishek is a match-winner, and he is still the number one batter, and opposition bowlers will still fear bowling to him, Sukhwinder told IANS. Varun Chakaravarthy is our trump card, class is permanent. It's okay if one or two matches have gone bad, but Varun and Bumrah are our trump card, and the game will depend upon them, he added. Speaking about Jofra Archers good record against Sanju Samson, Sukhwinder said the Indian wicketkeeper-batter would have already worked out a way to counter the pacer. Varun Chakaravarthy is our trump card, class is permanent. It's okay if one or two matches have gone bad, but Varun and Bumrah are our trump card, and the game will depend upon them, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The winner of the India vs England semi-final will travel to Ahmedabad to face the New Zealand cricket team in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on March 8, while the losing team will exit the tournament. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Overton Comes In As England Win Toss, Ask India To Bat First In Semifinal 2

T20 World Cup: England won the toss and elected to field first against India in Semifinal 2 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. Both sides are playing for a place in the final against New Zealand. England made one change in their playing XI, bringing in Jamie Overton for Rehan Ahmed, while India retained the same side that won against the West Indies in their last Super 8 match England captain Harry Brook said it looks like a good wicket for chasing. Looks a good wicket, hope to get a good start and then chase it down. India have a lot more experience, we'll try and assess conditions and play at our best. T20 is fickle. The way we've played, we've scraped through and hold us in good stead, he said at the toss. India captain Suryakumar Yadav said he would have batted first anyway. We'd have batted. Wind around, don't think there'll be dew. Mood in camp is positive. We've tightened the screws; our brand of cricket has been different. Best wicket, credit to the curator and groundsman, he said. Suryakumar has a reason for considering batting first because he reckons dew will not play a big role in the match. To counter the possibility of dew later in the evening, an anti-dew repellent has been applied to the ground, which should help maintain a fair balance between the two teams. Playing XI: Suryakumar has a reason for considering batting first because he reckons dew will not play a big role in the match. To counter the possibility of dew later in the evening, an anti-dew repellent has been applied to the ground, which should help maintain a fair balance between the two teams. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (capt), Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid. Article Source: IANS

England opt to bowl, bring in Overton for Rehan

India went in with an unchanged XI

Ibrahim Zadran replaces Rashid Khan as Afghanistan's new T20I captain

The ACB is hoping Afghanistan's series against Sri Lanka in the UAE can proceed as scheduled, and is closely monitoring the conflict in West Asia

DY Patil T20 Cup: Suryavanshi, Arya Lead Their Respective Sides Into The Semi-finals

DY Patil T20 Cup: Teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi blazed 58 off just 19 balls to power DY Patil Blue into the semi-finals of the 20th DY Patil T20 Cup with a four-wicket win over Income Tax in the quarter-finals held at the DY Patil University ground. Suryavanshi struck four boundaries and six sixes as he provided the early impetus for DY Patil Blue to chase down Income Tax's imposing total of 211/6 with an over to spare. Captain Shashank Singh also chipped in with seeing the team home through an unbeaten 53 off 32 balls, hitting two fours and four sixes. For Income Tax, skipper Rahul Tewatia produced a breathtaking unbeaten 83 off 35 balls, laced with eight boundaries and six sixes. But his lone-hand effort could not prevent the defeat. Indias left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed chipped in with 2-36, but it proved to be insufficient. Meanwhile, at the DY Patil Stadium, left-handed opener Priyansh Arya once again rose to the occasion with a stunning 76 off 29 balls studded with 10 boundaries and five sixes - as DY Patil Red beat DTDC by 14 runs in the other quarter-final. Arya's pyrotechnics helped DY Patil Red post a commanding 226/5 in their 20 overs. DTDC fought back but could only manage 212/7. Captain Krunal Pandya was the pick of the bowlers with 3-50, while Saumy Pandey took 2-22 and Prince Badiani chipped in with 1-16. The semi-finals of the tournament seen as a preparatory competition for IPL 2026 will be played on Friday. At the DY Patil Stadium, DY Patil Red will square off against Canara Bank at 11am, while at DY Patil University Ground, Mumbai Customs will face DY Patil Blue. The final of the competition will be held at 6:30pm at the DY Patil Stadium. Brief Scores The semi-finals of the tournament seen as a preparatory competition for IPL 2026 will be played on Friday. At the DY Patil Stadium, DY Patil Red will square off against Canara Bank at 11am, while at DY Patil University Ground, Mumbai Customs will face DY Patil Blue. The final of the competition will be held at 6:30pm at the DY Patil Stadium. Also Read: Live Cricket Score At DY Patil University - Income Tax 211/6 in 20 overs (Rahul Tewatia 83 not out, Harvik Desai 32; Prayumn 2-26) lost to DY Patil Blue 212/6 in 19 overs (Vaibhav Suryavanshi 58, Shashank Singh 53 not out; Parth Rekhade 3-33, Shahbaz Ahmed 2-36) by four wickets Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: 'Battle Between Archer And Samson Will Be Fascinating To Watch,' Says Wassan Ahead Of SF Clash

Having Axar Patel: Former India cricketer Atul Wassan believes Indias earlier defeat to South Africa could turn out to be a blessing in disguise as the team gears up for a high-stake semifinal clash against England at the Wankhede Stadium, saying the setback may have helped the side prepare better for the pressure of big matches. South Africa served India their only defeat by 76 runs in Ahmedabad in the Super 8s. However, they were thrashed by New Zealand in the semifinal on Wednesday and were knocked out of the tournament. Wassan believes the loss may actually work in Indias favour heading into the knockout stages.The defeat against South Africa could be a blessing in disguise for Team India. Sometimes such losses prepare a team mentally for the pressure of big matches and help them come back stronger, he told IANS. In their crucial Super 8s match against the West Indies, India ride on Sanju Samson's unbeaten 97 to enter the last four, beating the Windies by five wickets. Wassan also praised the recent performance of Sanju Samson, calling it a positive sign for the Indian batting unit. Sanju Samsons performance in the previous match was very encouraging. When a player like him finds form at this stage of the tournament, it boosts the teams confidence, he noted. Looking ahead to key individual battles, Wassan said the contest between Englands pace spearhead Jofra Archer and Samson could prove crucial. The battle between Jofra Archer and Sanju Samson will be fascinating to watch. If players like Jos Buttler and Phil Salt get going at the top, it will be very important for England, he said. However, the former pacer acknowledged that England look like a balanced side and possess several match-winners in their lineup. He singled out Will Jacks as one of the standout performers of the tournament so far. England look like a very balanced team. Will Jacks has emerged as a rising star in this tournament and has been playing some outstanding cricket. Comparatively, Englands spin attack with players like Adil Rashid, Richard Dawson and Will Jacks looks more effective at the moment, Wassan said. For India, Wassan believes the responsibility will once again rest heavily on star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. He said, Bumrah is like a bank for India a dependable player you can always rely on. If he manages to break the opening partnership early, it could make things much easier for India. Wassan also highlighted the significance of conditions at Wankhede Stadium, noting that the dew factor could influence the toss decision. Wankhede is a relatively small ground and the dew factor can play a big role. The team winning the toss will most likely prefer to bowl first, he explained. Talking about Indias batting order, Wassan advised against putting pressure on young opener Abhishek Sharma and encouraged him to stick to his aggressive approach. Wankhede is a relatively small ground and the dew factor can play a big role. The team winning the toss will most likely prefer to bowl first, he explained. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He added that the presence of Axar Patel lower down the order provides valuable depth to the Indian lineup. Having Axar Patel in the lower order gives India a safety cushion in batting, Wassan concluded. Article Source: IANS

Kaif Attends 'Arjun & Saaniyas Big Day', Congratulates Tendulkar Family

T20 World Cup: Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif congratulated Arjun Tendulkar and Saaniya Chandhok after the couple tied the knot on Thursday, and extended his greetings to cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali. Arjun, son of legendary batter Sachin, tied the knot with entrepreneur Saaniya in a ceremony attended by several prominent personalities from the cricketing fraternity on Thursday. The couple got engaged in a private ceremony in August last year. Kaif, who is a key member of the commentary panel in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, shared a heartfelt message on X, recalling his long association with the Tendulkar family and said he made sure to attend the special occasion. It was Arjun & Saaniyas big day, and I had to be there. How time flies. Sachin Paaji and Anjali Bhabhi, congratulations, Kaif wrote on X. Kaif and Tendulkar share a long cricketing association, having represented India together during the early 2000s. The duo played several memorable innings for the national side. While Tendulkar went on to become one of the greatest batters in cricket history with more than 34,000 international runs across formats, Kaif carved a reputation as a dependable middle-order batter and one of Indias finest fielders. He was also a key member of Indias famous victory in the 2002 NatWest Series Final at Lords, where his match-winning knock helped India chase down a massive target against England. Kaif and Tendulkar share a long cricketing association, having represented India together during the early 2000s. The duo played several memorable innings for the national side. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Arjun, meanwhile, continues to build his cricketing career on the domestic circuit and currently represents the Goa cricket team. After previously being part of the Mumbai Indians, the left-arm all-rounder has been traded to the Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Article Source: IANS

Windies Quick Jayden Seales Replaces Neser At Hampshire For County Championship

T20 World Cup: West Indian pace bowler Jayden Seales has signed for Hampshire for the opening block of the 2026 County Championship. The 24-year-old fast bowler replaced Michael Neser, who was recalled by Cricket Australia earlier this month. He will join the likes of Malcolm Marshall, Gordon Greenidge, Fidel Edwards, and other West Indian legends to play for Hampshire. Were obviously disappointed not to have Michael Neser with us this summer, but it opens the door to an exciting new addition. Jayden Seales is a bowler with pace and skill, and most importantly, the appetite to run in hard and take the game on. He joins a proud line of West Indian cricketers whove represented the club with distinction over the years, and we cant wait to see him in action at the start of the season, Giles White, Hampshire's Director of Cricket, said. Seales has previous experience in the County Championship, having played ten matches for Sussex. For the Martlets, he has claimed 39 wickets and helped the club get promoted to Division One in 2024. He has taken his County Championship wickets at an average of 28.46 with best figures of 5-29 coming against Derbyshire in 2024. The pacer made his international debut in 2021, having only played one First-Class match before his debut, and has shone for the West Indies since then. His first international five-for came against Pakistan in Jamaica, where he earned Player of the Match. Seales has previous experience in the County Championship, having played ten matches for Sussex. For the Martlets, he has claimed 39 wickets and helped the club get promoted to Division One in 2024. He has taken his County Championship wickets at an average of 28.46 with best figures of 5-29 coming against Derbyshire in 2024. Also Read: Live Cricket Score First-class cricket returns to Utilita Bowl from April 3, as Hampshire face Essex in the opening home fixture in Division One of the County Championship. Article Source: IANS

Hampshire bring in Jayden Seales after Michael Neser deal falls through

Neser pulled out by Cricket Australia after Ashes role earned him central contract

Jamie Siddons appointed Sri Lanka Women head coach

He takes over from Rumesh Ratnayake, who had quietly concluded his tenure at the end of 2025

Not Everyone Retires On Their Own Terms, Finishing At Home In Baggy Green Is Special: Healy

Baggy Green: Australia captain Alyssa Healy said she does not expect to feel any sadness as she prepares for her final international appearance through the one-off pink-ball Test against India, starting at the WACA Stadium on Friday. Australia has an 8-4 lead over India in the multi-format series and the side will be keen to ensure Alyssa has a winning send-off through a victory in the Test match. I genuinely don't think there'll be any sadness. I'm just really excited for life after cricket, and I'm really grateful for the experience that I've had so far. I've really enjoyed the last 20 years of cricket, and we'll wait and see what unfolds next, which is more exciting. We'll wait and see what unfolds next, which is more exciting than anything else. I've been very aware that not everybody gets to retire on their own terms, and this is kind of just a really cool opportunity to finish here at home and in a Baggy Green. It's not something I would have chosen to have done, but I guess to have that opportunity is very special, very unique. So looking forward to that, and obviously with the series, the way it's placed at the moment, to be able to push for a win and be extra special, Alyssa told reporters on the eve of her last international game. After signing off from ODIs with a fairytale 158 in Hobart, Alyssa now has one last chance to get an elusive Test hundred. The wicketkeeper-batter returns to the same venue where she fell a run short of three-figure mark against South Africa two years ago. So looking forward to that, and obviously with the series, the way it's placed at the moment, to be able to push for a win and be extra special, Alyssa told reporters on the eve of her last international game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score For the next four days, Alyssas focus will be squarely on Australias bid to lift the trophy and give her best for the last time as an international cricketer. (I'm) feeling in good nick so hopefully I can transfer that to the pink ball here. But like I said, the series has been toughly contested so far, and to be up 8-4, I think at this point in time, we're really pleased, and hopefully we go out there and get the job done. Article Source: IANS

Zadran Replaces Rashid As Afghanistan T20I Captain, Farooqi, Naib Omitted For SL Series

Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi: Opener Ibrahim Zadran has been named Afghanistan's T20I captain for the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka and replaces leg-spinner Rashid Khan in the top role, said the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Thursday. Zadran previously served as the T20I teams vice-captain and now takes over from Rashid as the selectors made sweeping changes to the squad following the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup, where Afghanistan bowed out in the league stage of the competition. Rashid Khans tenure as the T20I captain brought immense success to the team, particularly highlighted by the teams remarkable journey in the 2024 edition of the T20 World Cup, where we reached the semi-finals. In alignment with the ACBs long-term strategic vision and following recent changes in our Team Management, including the appointment of a new head coach, we have made the thoughtful decision to transition the leadership within the T20I setup. Ibrahim Zadran, who has served as Rashid Khans deputy, will assume the role as Afghanistans regular captain in this format. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Rashid Khan for his valuable contributions and wish Ibrahim Zadran every success in this important new role, said chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil in a statement. Left-arm fast bowler Fazal Haq Farooqi, all-rounder Gulbadin Naib and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq, all part of the Mens T20 World Cup squad, have been omitted from both the T20I and ODI squads for the series against Sri Lanka, which is also the first assignment of newly-appointed head coach Richard Pybus. Wicketkeeper-batter Noor Rahman, left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Sharafuddin Ashraf and left-arm fast bowler Fareed Ahmad have earned T20I call-ups, while Fareed Ahmad Malik returns to the ODI squad and fast bowler Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi receives his maiden ODI selection. Bilal Sami, who claimed a five-wicket haul and the Player of the Match award in his most recent ODI appearance, retains his place in the 50-over squad and has also been added to the T20I reserves pool. Nangyal Kharoti and Ijaz Ahmadzai will join Sami in the T20I reserves, while Bashir Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem Safi and Qais Ahmad have been named to the ODI reserves pool. In addition, our long-term goal is to adequately prepare the team for the upcoming two World Cup events. We are hopeful that, under this new leadership, the National Team will not only flourish but also showcase outstanding performances and build a strong and competitive bench strength for the crucial challenges that lie ahead, added Sulimankhil. The ACB also said it is closely monitoring the ongoing situation in the Gulf region, especially with the airspace shut due to Israel-Iran conflict, adding that they have been engaging in discussions with all stakeholders about whether the series can proceed with the series as originally planned, both in terms of dates and venue. The three T20Is between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on March 13, 15 and 17, while the ODI games are set to be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 20, 22 and 25. Although a final decision will be made in a couple of days, the ACBs initial approach, in coordination with the ECB and venue authorities, is to proceed with the originally scheduled dates. Should circumstances necessitate a change, the ACB will consider exploring alternative options for both the host country and the event schedule, it added. Afghanistans T20I Squad: Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Noor Rahman (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik and Abdullah Ahmadzai Reserves: Nangyal Kharoti, Bilal Sami and Ijaz Ahmadzai. Afghanistans T20I Squad: Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Noor Rahman (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik and Abdullah Ahmadzai Also Read: Live Cricket Score Reserves: Qais Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem Safi and Bashir Ahmad. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: 'Shivam's Role Will Be Very Important,' Says Childhood Coach Satish Ahead Of Semis Clash

Indian Premier League: Shivam Dube's childhood coach, Satish Samant, has said that the all-rounder will play a huge role in India's semi-final clash against England at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Other than Dube, Samant feels that captain Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma will also impress as all the players have a good idea of the conditions because they play for their Indian Premier League (IPL) side Mumbai Indians at the same ground. I think the players of the Mumbai Indians are more accustomed to playing on this surface, as they have a lot of practice here. Hardik is there, and Suryakumar is the captain. Shivam also has a very important role to play, Satish Samant told IANS Meanwhile, Dube has been a standout performer for India in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, particularly as a crisis man in the middle order. Across 7 matches in the tournament so far, he has scored 166 runs at an average of 33.20 and a strike rate of 156.60. However, his bowling has been a big concern as he has taken just five wickets at an economy of 13.28 in the seven matches played so far. Samant also spoke about the pitch and the playing conditions ahead of the encounter. He feels that there could be an extra bounce on the surface, and fast bowlers can make good use of it at the start of the innings. Samant advised India to opt to bowl first after winning the toss as dew could be a big factor at Wankhede. However, his bowling has been a big concern as he has taken just five wickets at an economy of 13.28 in the seven matches played so far. Also Read: Live Cricket Score If India wins the toss, then bowling first is compulsory as during this season, dew comes and it will be difficult for bowlers to defend a big total, so I think they should choose to bowl after winning the toss, he added. Article Source: IANS

Healy insists there's no sadness as legendary career comes to a close

The Australia captain hopes to savour her final few days as a player but is focused on being part of team success

'Wishing You Both A Very Happy Married Life': Raina Congratulates Arjun-Saaniya After Wedding

Karnataka State Cricket Association: Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has congratulated Arjun Tendulkar and Saaniya Chandhok after their wedding and wished the couple a happy married life. Arjun Tendulkar, son of legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar, tied the knot with entrepreneur Saaniya Chandhok in a ceremony attended by several prominent personalities from the cricketing fraternity on Thursday. Raina shared a congratulatory message for the newly married couple, while also extending his greetings to cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali Tendulkar. The 39-year-old also shared a photo of the wedding on Instagram in which the cricketer turned commentator, Aakash Chopra, was also seen posing with the newly wed couple. Congratulations @arjuntendulkar24 & Sanya! Wishing you both a very happy married life! Congratulations, paji @sachintendulkar & Anjali bhabhi, Raina wrote. Other than Raina, big personalities in Indian cricket, including former India captain MS Dhoni, ex-head coach Rahul Dravid, legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble, World Cup-winning all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, and Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) president Venkatesh Prasad, among others, have blessed the couple on their special day. International Cricket Council (ICC) chief Jay Shah also came to Mumbai to attend the wedding and give his blessings to the couple. He is expected to attend the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final clash between India and England at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday evening. Arjun and Saaniya previously got engaged in a private ceremony in August 2025, attended by close family members and friends. International Cricket Council (ICC) chief Jay Shah also came to Mumbai to attend the wedding and give his blessings to the couple. He is expected to attend the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final clash between India and England at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday evening. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Arjun's wife, Saaniya, is a Mumbai-based entrepreneur who comes from a prominent business family and is the granddaughter of industrialist Ravi Ghai, chairman of the Graviss Group. She has built a career in the pet-care and animal welfare sector and is known for her work as a veterinary technician and entrepreneur. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: I Just Wanna Go Home, Says WI Coach Sammy Amid Delayed Departure From Kolkata

T20 World Cup: Amidst the West Indies experiencing delay in going home after their exit from the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup, head coach Darren Sammy expressed his view by saying he just wanna go home. Two-time champions West Indies campaign ended in a five-wicket defeat to India in the Super Eights at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 1. Since then, they have been stuck in their team hotel. I just wanna go home, said Sammy on his X account on Thursday. However Sammy later updated on team's departure on X and wrote, At least an update, tell us something. Today tmw, next week. Its been 5 days, wrote Sammy on another post on his 'X' account. West Indies are one of the teams stranded in India due to the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict leading to the closure of the airspace in West Asia. Previously, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said Monday that the team's departure from India was postponed due to international airspace restrictions in the Gulf Region. These restrictions are a direct result of the security threats posed by military action in the Gulf Region, which has impacted several international flight routes and required airlines to adjust scheduled services for safety reasons. CWI is working closely with the International Cricket Council (ICC), relevant governmental authorities and airline partners to secure the earliest possible safe travel arrangements for the squad and support staff. The safety and well-being of our players, coaches, and officials remain our highest priority. The team is currently accommodated in India and remains safe and well. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as confirmed travel arrangements are finalised, the CWI had said at that time. Just like the West Indies, Zimbabwe played their last match at the T20 World Cup on March 1, losing to South Africa by five wickets in their Super Eights clash in New Delhi. They were to depart in three batches from Monday, but the plan was cancelled due to airspace restrictions. The team is currently accommodated in India and remains safe and well. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as confirmed travel arrangements are finalised, the CWI had said at that time. Also Read: Live Cricket Score South Africa are also awaiting their travel schedule for going back home after losing to New Zealand by nine wickets in the semi-final. If England bows out of the competition after losing their second semi-final to India in Mumbai, they will also need to sort their travel plans for going back home. Article Source: IANS

Gannon strikes late as Queensland slump against Western Australia

Gannon took three wickets including Labuschagne and Khawaja to leave Queensland 37 for 3 after Fanning's 62 helped WA post 210

IND vs ENG: Stats Preview ahead of the India vs England Semi-final 2 in Mumbai

IND vs ENG Semi-final 2, T20I Approaching Milestones and Records :The second semifinal of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will be played between Indian cricket team and England cricket team. This match will be played on March 5 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, starting at 7 PM IST. The winner of this game will face New Zealand in the final of the tournament. These two teams are have not played their best game yet. So, can we see a high-profile thriller? There is a lot at stake, and two powerhouses are ready to put up their best on the field. These two teams have an incredible batting unit, and this wicket will suit their batting style. But the problem is that these two teams are struggling with the form of both openers. But you never know; it can be the evening they can deliver. The bowling unit for both teams will be under pressure. These two sides have faced each other in four T20 World Cup semifinals, and the contest is even at 2-2. So, who will be getting an edge here and moving one inch closer to a place in the final on Sunday? Here, we will talk about big records and milestones which are lined up and can be achieved in the India vs EnglandSemifinal 2at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. IND vs ENG Semi-final 2Approaching T20I Records and T20I Cricket Milestones Ahead of the IND vs ENG clash at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai 56 - Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav is the third-highest scorer for India in T20Is. He is just 17 runs away from surpassing David Warner (3277) and Muhammad Waseem (3338) and becoming the 8th highest scorer in T20Is. 4 - India's leading wicket-taker, Arshdeep Singh (126), is just four wickets away from entering the top 15 highest wicket-takers in the T20 internationals. 4 - All-rounder Axar Patel has 93 wickets so far. He needs four more wickets to surpass Yuzi Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav to become India's fourth-highest wicket taker in T20Is. 5 - Kuldeep Yadav is just five wickets away from becoming only the fourth Indian bowler with 100 T20I wickets. 3 - Adil Rashid has the fourth most T20I wickets overall. He is just three wickets away from surpassing Tim Southee (164) and Ish Sodhi (162) to become the second-highest wicket-taker ever in T20Is. 2 - Varun Chakravarthy needs two more wickets to surpass Ravi Ashwin (72) and become the 8th highest wicket-taker for India in T20Is. 23 - Hardik Pandya needs 23 runs to surpass KL Rahul (2265) and become India's fourth highest scorer in T20Is. He also needs two more sixes to surpass Virat Kohli's tally of T20I sixes. 7 - Abhishek Sharma is just seven sixes away from completing 100 T20I sixes in T20Is. 5 - Jos Buttler needs five more sixes to be the third-highest in sixes in T20Is. 1 - Suryakumar Yadav will have the 7th most and Jos Buttler will have the 5th most half-centuries in T20Is, with one fifty each in the coming game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score 17 - Suryakumar Yadav needs 17 more runs to become the 10th highest scorer in T20 World Cup. 2 - Adil Rashid needs two more wickets to become the second-highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cups.

T20 WC: New Zealands Strength Comes From Solid Planning, Vast Playing Experience, Says Ravindra

T20 World Cup: New Zealands left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Rachin Ravindra credited his team's meticulous planning and wealth of franchise cricket experience for their commanding nine-wicket semi-final victory over South Africa in the Mens T20 World Cup. New Zealands win was set up by Finn Allen tore into the in-form South African attack by hitting ten boundaries and eight towering sixes to hit a 33-ball century - the fastest hundred ever scored in the Mens T20 World Cup. He also shared a whirlwind 117-run opening stand with Tim Seifert, who made 58, as New Zealand completed a chase of 170 with 43 balls to spare. We respect South Africa's power, shown consistently in T20s. My focus with the ball is making it tough for the batters by varying pace, seam angle, and bowling line. Having Santner at extra cover lets me bounce ideas off him. Our strength lies in solid planning and vast experience from IPL, internationals, and other franchise leagues; we've faced these guys often. We muck in as a unit, knowing each role well and adapting to the moment, said Ravindra on JioStar. Former India pacer Irfan Pathan hailed New Zealand's ability to step up in the knockouts which makes the side a perennial threat in ICC events despite their modest population. It was a perfect game for New Zealand. With just 6 million people in the country, they consistently dominate ICC knockouts. They always arrive with a sharp plan, Finn Allen timed his stunning 100 perfectly; Rachin Ravindra starred with ball and bat. Mitchell Santner kept everyone grounded post-win, job's not done till the final. Cole McConchie bowled just one over, snared two wickets, and that was it. Kiwis prepare meticulously, execute flawlessly, and move on. Pathan also identified a tactical error by South Africa in their powerplay bowling plans, while arguing it did little to diminish the quality of New Zealand's performance. Finn Allen showed awesome power, in front of the wicket and square. When a batter can lap in the powerplay and still muscle you straight, it's almost impossible to plan for him. South Africa missed a trick by not starting with Keshav Maharaj to the right-hander, but that doesn't take anything away from this brilliantly prepared New Zealand side. Their time on turning Sri Lankan pitches has clearly sharpened their game against spin, and on a good batting surface tonight they showed exactly what they can do. Pathan went further in breaking down why Allen's unique crease position left opposition bowlers with no viable plan to strike back. The bowlers had limited options, maybe deny pace, but the full length fed nearly 40 per cent runs in the front of the wicket and lap shots against quicks. Allen stood deep in the crease, as he did in Sri Lanka, on slower pitches, you wait on the back foot, not front. He's refined his game. His spin strike rate was nearly half against pace, but once set, he elevated that as well, exactly what he did. New Zealand have now advanced to the final, to be played in Ahmedabad on Sunday and await the winner of the second semi-final between India and England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Allen stood deep in the crease, as he did in Sri Lanka, on slower pitches, you wait on the back foot, not front. He's refined his game. His spin strike rate was nearly half against pace, but once set, he elevated that as well, exactly what he did. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He adapted brilliantly to black-soil pitches by positioning both feet inside the crease, playing back-foot shots closer to the stumps, even with his front leg behind the bowling crease. It shows immense planning and hard work. Players like him can be inconsistent, but when in form, they demolish the opposition and win games single-handedly. Article Source: IANS

Du Plessis: 'You lose the powerplay, you more often than not lose the game'

Faf du Plessis feels that South Africa should have worked harder to keep wickets in hand and gone for broke later in the innings when the surface became easier

Head falls cheaply after Thornton bags career-best haul

New South Wales middle and lower order provided what could be vital runs in the race for second spot

Sam Harper shines to put Victoria on top on 14-wicket day

Harper continued his stunning form making 93 as Victoria posted 222, with Meredith taking 4 for 53, before Tasmania slumped to 52 for 4

T20 WC: 'Were Happy With Anyone, As A Team I Back Us' Says Finn Allen On Potential Final Opponents

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath: Several prominent names from the Indian cricket fraternity gathered in the city on Thursday to attend the wedding ceremony of Sachin Tendulkar's son, Arjun Tendulkar and entrepreneur Saaniya Chandhok. Arjun, who has followed in his fathers footsteps and plays domestic and league cricket, tied the knot with his long-time partner, Saaniya Chandhok, after months of preparations and celebrations. The couple got engaged in a private ceremony in August 2025, attended by close family members and friends. While they are finally getting married on March 5. Some of the biggest personalities in Indian cricket, including former India captain MS Dhoni, ex-head coach Rahul Dravid, legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble, World Cup-winning all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, and Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) president Venkatesh Prasad, among others, have arrived to bless the couple on their special day. Arjun's Wedding festivities began earlier this week with a series of traditional ceremonies and celebrations. Pre-wedding events, including mehendi and sangeet functions, were held in Mumbai, with several former and current cricketers in attendance. Arjun's fiancee, Saaniya, is a Mumbai-based entrepreneur who comes from a prominent business family and is the granddaughter of industrialist Ravi Ghai, chairman of the Graviss Gup. She has built a career in the pet-care and animal welfare sector and is known for her work as a veterinary technician and entrepreneur. Earlier in February, Sachin Tendulkar met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with his wife at his official residence and extended an invitation for the wedding ceremony of his son. Arjun's fiancee, Saaniya, is a Mumbai-based entrepreneur who comes from a prominent business family and is the granddaughter of industrialist Ravi Ghai, chairman of the Graviss Gup. She has built a career in the pet-care and animal welfare sector and is known for her work as a veterinary technician and entrepreneur. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Meanwhile, Arjun has been in great form in the DY Patil cup and will play for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Pretty Special To Reach Another Final After Being Home For Childs Birth, Says Henry

T20 World Cup: New Zealand pacer Matt Henry said it felt pretty special to reach another T20 World Cup final through a comprehensive nine-wicket win over South Africa in the semi-final, especially after going back home for the birth of his son. At the Eden Gardens, pace spearhead Matt Henry picked 2-34 in New Zealand entering their second T20 World Cup final. Opener Finn Allen smashed the fastest century in tournament history in just 33 balls to propel New Zealand into Sundays final in Ahmedabad, where they will face either India or England. Henrys effort with the ball was notable given that he took the field less than 24 hours after landing back in India, after having flown home on paternity leave following New Zealands last Super Eights match against England on February 27. Pretty special to be able to get home for that. Obviously Holly's doing really well and Jack's really good as well and Annabelle's enjoying being a big sister so it's all good. So, no, it was pretty special to be home for that. It's pretty special to be able to reach another final, the guys are really excited but for now just enjoy this (win). I think the guys have been playing some really good cricket. Finn was just unbelievable so we'll enjoy that and then we can move on and get ready for what's to come, said Henry to reporters at the conclusion of the game. Asked on how he prepared for the semi-final clash, Henry said he leaned on his experience and the sleep hours he clocked while coming to Kolkata. Well we've had lots of cricket, so I think at this point there's trust. Obviously if there's rain you can't train either, so just going for that approach where making sure they're mentally fresh, mentally ready and just being confident in your skills that you possess. So for me it was getting here and doing a job for the team and thankfully we did that. There was a lot of sleep happening on the way back, to be honest. So for me just focusing on obviously my family to get home - that was important for me and then if it worked out that I could get home in time then obviously it'd be great. Sorry, I was always going home but get back for the semi-final, so it's great to be here. Asked on how he prepared for the semi-final clash, Henry said he leaned on his experience and the sleep hours he clocked while coming to Kolkata. Well we've had lots of cricket, so I think at this point there's trust. Obviously if there's rain you can't train either, so just going for that approach where making sure they're mentally fresh, mentally ready and just being confident in your skills that you possess. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Obviously it's tough when you've got a small side (boundaries) like that as well to protect. It can be really dangerous with the power-hitters they (South Africa) do possess. So I think the way we did a great job controlling that. Also wresting some momentum into our batting innings, which is obviously really good as well. Article Source: IANS

ICC Chairman Jay Shah Meets J&K Players After Historic Ranji Trophy Triumph

Hubli Cricket Ground: ICC chairman Jay Shah met members of Jammu & Kashmir's team after their historic Ranji Trophy win, in which they beat the eight-time champions Karnataka at the Hubli Cricket Ground on February 28 to win their maiden title. After the win, the players wished to meet Shah and acknowledge the role his leadership played in strengthening cricket in the region during his tenure as BCCI Secretary. ICC chairman fulfilled their wish and shared words of encouragement with the players as they celebrated their historic success. The historic triumph of Jammu & Kashmir in the Ranji Trophy will remain a proud milestone for cricket in the region, The BCCI wrote on X, sharing photos of the meet. After their memorable victory, the players expressed a heartfelt desire to meet Hon. ICC Chair @JayShah and share this special moment with him, acknowledging the role his leadership played in strengthening cricket in Jammu & Kashmir during his tenure as BCCI Secretary, the board added. The BCCI also congratulated the entire Jammu and Kashmir squad and the cricket fraternity for scripting what it described as a remarkable chapter in Indian domestic cricket while thanking Shah for meeting the winning team. We sincerely thank Mr Shah for taking the time to meet the team and for sharing his words of encouragement with the players as they celebrate this historic achievement. Congratulations to the entire J&K team and the cricket fraternity for scripting a remarkable chapter in Indian domestic cricket. We sincerely thank Mr Shah for taking the time to meet the team and for sharing his words of encouragement with the players as they celebrate this historic achievement. Also Read: Live Cricket Score J&K further underlined their dominance by declaring their second innings at 342/4, powered by a marathon unbeaten 160 from opener Qamran Iqbal and an unbroken century stand with Sahil Lotra, before the match ended in a draw and the title was awarded on first-innings lead. Article Source: IANS

Halliday's maiden ODI century, Kerr sisters' seven wickets hand Zimbabwe a walloping

Brooke Halliday struck 157*, the joint-third-highest score by a NZ batter in ODIs, as Zimbabwe went down by a record 180 runs

T20 WC: Flat Wankhede Pitch Could Even Out Advantage, Low Dew Promises Good Contest, Says Karthik

T20 World Cup: A flat red-soil pitch at the Wankhede Stadium could level the playing field between India and England rather than hand either side an edge in the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup semi-final, said former wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik. He added that favourable weather conditions and minimal dew should set up a good contest between the two teams aiming to enter the final, where they will face New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Sunday. India carry the edge over England in the shortest format, having won 17 of the 29 T20Is played between the two sides. They also hold a narrow advantage over England in T20 World Cups, with three wins coming from five meetings. The most recent clash saw India hammer England by 150 runs at Wankhede Stadium in February 2025. Yes, when it comes to a flat pitch, it evens out the advantage. I was just looking at the weather and what is going to be the highest in the day to the lowest in the day. The median was what I was calculating as I was getting into this call said 32 and 26, which is not bad and which basically means there won't be too much dew. Also, there's always a nice little breeze that blows because we're close to the sea. There will be a little bit of dew, but not to the extent that it will disrupt the play completely in favour of one team. So, overall, I feel it's going to be a good match, Karthik, an ICC expert, told IANS at a JioStar Media Day ahead of the semi-final clash. Thursdays semifinal will mark the third successive T20 World Cup meeting between India and England in this stage of the competition. England prevailed by 10 wickets in the semi-final meeting in Adelaide in 2022, while India struck back with a 68-run victory in the last four clash in Guyana in 2024. Karthik, a member of Indias 2007 T20 World Cup winning team, also backed left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma and wrist spinner Varun Chakaravarthy to thrive at a venue he believes suits both their games. Abhishek, the current top-ranked T20I batter, has had a tough time amassing 80 runs in six innings at an average of 13.3. Chakravarthy, meanwhile, has picked at least one wicket in 20 consecutive T20Is and has already bagged 12 wickets in the ongoing tournament. But his returns, however, dipped in the Super Eights, where he conceded at 10.2 runs per over compared to his economy rate of 5.2 in the group stage. He will be eager to rebound in the semifinal against England, a side he has troubled in the past. His strike rate of 7.7 against them is his best against any opponent in T20Is. I feel both of them have personally enjoyed playing in Mumbai for the same reason actually, because I believe Abhishek likes the bounce so that he can go up and over consistently. Whereas Varun, his biggest strength is the fact that he gets that extra bounce and that is available in Mumbai because of the red soil pitch, added Karthik. One area of concern heading into the high-stakes clash for Suryakumar Yadav-led India is their catching efficiency standing at 72 percent, the lowest among the teams remaining in the competition. The issue had surfaced even before the World Cup began, errors in catching in the semi-final could prove to be costly. Karthik acknowledged the problem but urged a measured, root-cause approach to solve the issue over panic-driven solutions. For a start, making sure the right fielders are in the right places. It's quite interesting to note that India's fielding or rather catching efficiency has been very poor. So, (T) Dilip, the fielding coach, would be working overtime to make sure that the fielders are having enough catches. But the fact is that it's very hard to push any team for that matter beyond a certain point in fielding, knowing that there is a match around the corner because it is physically very exhausting. So, you need to understand the player before you see where they have dropped a catch and what you need to do. Karthik acknowledged the problem but urged a measured, root-cause approach to solve the issue over panic-driven solutions. For a start, making sure the right fielders are in the right places. It's quite interesting to note that India's fielding or rather catching efficiency has been very poor. So, (T) Dilip, the fielding coach, would be working overtime to make sure that the fielders are having enough catches. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Watch India's bid to repeat history at the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026, as India take on England in the second semi-final today, 7:00 PM onwards, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network Article Source: IANS

India will have to be aggressive to spoil Healy's farewell

Australia only need a draw at the WACA to secure the multi-format series outright but will be motivated to send off their captain with a victory

T20 WC: Chakravarthy Will Be The Most Dangerous Bowler Against Brook, Says Pujara

T20 World Cup: Wrist spinner Varun Chakravarthy's repertoire of variations, especially the googly, makes him the most potent threat to counter in-form England skipper Harry Brook in the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup semi-final, to be played at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday evening, said former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara. Brook has amassed 228 runs in seven innings at an average of 32.6 and strike-rate of 162. But it's his match-up against Chakaravarthy which will be keenly seen, especially with a spot in the final on the line. Chakaravarthy, who has taken 12 scalps in the tournament so far, has dismissed Brook three times while conceding 28 runs off 18 balls in their head-to-head T20I meetings. If you see, the majority of his runs are on the leg side. However, someone like Harry Brook is also strong on the off side. So, it is not just about the data, you also need to consider the batters strengths. Brook predominantly scores on the leg side, but at the same time, he can score on the off side as well. How do you get him out? By keeping as many deliveries as possible on the stumps, because whenever he misses, the ball should hit the stumps. When he creates room on the off side, that is where he is slightly vulnerable. I think Varun will be the most dangerous bowler against Harry Brook because Brook likes to play the sweep and the slog sweep. If he is given any room on the off side, Varun has his googly, which comes back in and hits the stumps. Out of his three dismissals, two have been bowled. So, as a bowler, you should target the middle and off stump, or at most the fourth stump, nothing wider than that, said Pujara on JioHotstar. England will also be hoping that veteran wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler comes back to form in the semi-finals. In this tournament, Buttler has made 62 runs at an average of 8.9 and strike-rate of 107. Pujara felt one cannot discount Buttler coming good in a knock-out clash and his match-up against Jasprit Bumrah will be a keenly contested one, due to the ace pacers variety of yorkers and slower balls. You cannot count Buttler out. He is one of the most experienced batters in the England team, and he is not afraid to play his shots once he is set. If you have scored more than 4,000 runs in the T20 format, you know what you are doing. Even if you are going through a rough patch, you know how to come back, how to handle pressure, and in a big game, how to raise your standards. England will also be hoping that veteran wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler comes back to form in the semi-finals. In this tournament, Buttler has made 62 runs at an average of 8.9 and strike-rate of 107. Pujara felt one cannot discount Buttler coming good in a knock-out clash and his match-up against Jasprit Bumrah will be a keenly contested one, due to the ace pacers variety of yorkers and slower balls. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So, if possible, try to replicate a similar delivery. The advantage for Jasprit Bumrah is that he has a very good yorker as well as a slower ball. If the back-of-a-length delivery is not working, he can always mix it up, he added. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Mumbai's Weather And Pitch Report Ahead Of IND Vs ENG Semis Clash

ICC T20 World Cup: The defending champions India will face two-time winners England in the second semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 to be played at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. India and England, one of crickets oldest rivalries, will add one more chapter with this clash. But, this is not the first time they have gone toe-to-toe against each other. Both teams are facing each other in a semi-final for the third straight time in a T20 World Cup. From the past two World Cups, the winner of the England vs India semi-final clash has gone on to win the trophy. The Men in Blue first made it to the top four in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2007, where they beat Australia by 15 runs in Durban to confirm the final against arch-rivals Pakistan. India posted 157/5 in 20 overs riding on the current head coach Gautam Gambhirs 75-run knock. Later, top bowling performances by RP Singh and Irfan Pathan helped the then MS Dhoni-led side beat their neighbours in Johannesburg to lift their maiden T20 World Cup title. The 2007 champions then failed to reach the top four in the next three editions in 2009, 2010, and 2012. They played their second T20 World Cup semi-final in 2014, where Virat Kohlis 72 not out helped India overcome the challenge against South Africa in Mirpur. India played their second final of the tournament against Sri Lanka at Dhakas Shere Bangla National Stadium, with Kohli bringing up yet another memorable knock of 77 off 58 balls. However, efforts went in vain as the islanders chased down the 131-run target in 17.5 overs to hand Dhoni and Co. a defeat. Team India reached the semi-final for a second time in a row in the 2016 edition of the tournament, in what was their home World Cup, only to lose to the eventual champions West Indies by seven wickets in Mumbai. Their fourth semi-final appearance came in 2022, when the tournament was hosted by the then-defending champions Australia. It was the first time that India faced England in a T20 World Cup knockout game. England restricted India to 168/6 after choosing to bowl first, with Virat Kohli scoring a half-century and Hardik Pandya smashing 63 off 33 balls, while Chris Jordan took three wickets. In reply, Englands openers Alex Hales and Jos Buttler dominated, chasing the target without losing a wicket and sealing a comprehensive 10-wicket win with four overs to spare, handing India a crushing defeat before going on to lift the title by beating Pakistan in the final. The two sides faced off again for a second consecutive semi-final date in the 2024 edition of the tournament, co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies. This time, India got the chance to settle the score and avenge their 2022 loss. Batting first, India scored 171/20 overs, led by Rohit Sharmas 57, with key contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (47) and Hardik Pandya (23 off 13). England faltered in the chase and were bowled out for 103 in 16.4 overs, with Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav taking three wickets each and Jasprit Bumrah claiming two. India won by 68 runs and went on to lift their second T20 World Cup title after beating South Africa in the final. The two sides are now set for a third consecutive T20 World Cup semi-final face-off. Pitch report: The surface at Wankhede Stadium is traditionally known to favour batters and often produces high-scoring contests in the T20 format. The true bounce and quick outfield allow stroke-makers to play their shots freely, with first-innings totals typically ranging between 190 and 220 runs. While spinners may not find significant assistance from the surface, fast bowlers who maintain disciplined lines and lengths particularly with variations can still have an impact. Weather report: Clear skies have been forecast for the semifinal in Mumbai, with conditions expected to be ideal for cricket. Temperatures are likely to range between 27 and 37 degrees Celsius during the day, while humidity levels could rise beyond the 60 per cent mark, typical of coastal conditions in the city. Rain is not expected to interrupt play, ensuring a full contest under favourable weather. Squads: Clear skies have been forecast for the semifinal in Mumbai, with conditions expected to be ideal for cricket. Temperatures are likely to range between 27 and 37 degrees Celsius during the day, while humidity levels could rise beyond the 60 per cent mark, typical of coastal conditions in the city. Rain is not expected to interrupt play, ensuring a full contest under favourable weather. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (w), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Josh Tongue, Rehan Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Ben Duckett. Article Source: IANS

39 Years Later, India Meet England Again in a World Cup Semi-Final at Wankhede

India has set up a T20 World Cup semi-final showdown with England with a victory over West Indies. Do you know: *This shall be the 3rd consecutive India vs England semi-final in the T20 World Cup. *The last time India and England played a World Cup semi-final at Wankhede Stadium was in the Reliance World Cup in 1987. India was the defending champions and England beat the hosts. This time also India is the defending champion as well as hosts. So the semi-final clash of 5th March 2026 at Wankhede between these two sides has brought back the memories of heartbreak of 1987, with the hope for a different outcome this time. Incidentally that semi-final was also played on the 5th day of the month (November). Both the joint hosts of the 1987 Reliance World Cup, India and Pakistan were the respective toppers of Pool A and Pool B, and were seen to meet in the finals. Both were victims of overconfidence and Pakistan lost to Australia while India lost to England and neither India nor Pakistan made it to the November 8 final at the Eden Gardens. Kapil Devs devils were not bothered even when England posted 254-6. Graham Gooch (115 off 136 with 11 fours) was the architect of the problems for India as he swept out India spinners, Maninder Singh and Ravi Shastri. Mike Gatting (56 off 62 with 5 fours) also joined him in the party and played his part. Both Gooch and Gatting nullified India's biggest strength at home, spin bowling, by relentlessly using the sweep shot. While chasing India, although lost some quick wickets, but still had the control over the proceedings as the asking rate had come down to nearly five runs per over. India needed 87 runs in 17 overs with six wickets in hand and Kapil Dev and Mohammad Azharuddin (64 off 74 with 7 fours) at the crease. However, in a rush of blood, Kapil (30 off 22) went for a six off Hemmings and as the ball fell short of the ropes by a couple of yards, he was caught by Gatting. India ultimately lost by 35 runs. In general, the sweep shot and that one stroke of Kapil was held responsible for the debacle at the Wankhede. The loss was also Sunil Gavaskar's last match. The defeat left the dressing room in a disappointed mood and this loss to England at the Wankhede Stadium started a jinx for India in the semi-final stage of big tournaments, especially at the Wankhede. Two years later, India lost to the West Indies in the Nehru Cup and 2016 World T20 here in the semi-finals. India lost three more times in the ODI World Cup semi-final: 1996, 2015 and 2019. In addition, one more factor equally contributed to Indias loss. Many believe that India had lost the first round even before the commencement of that semi-final. Dilip Vengsarkar, one of the top ranked batters and also the vice-captain of the side, suffered food poisoning before the match, which ruled him out, on the morning of the important match. Recalls Vengsarkar, At 2.30 am, I suffered a bad bout of food poisoning after I ate pork ribs for dinner. I was vomiting badly and felt really sick. Naturally, I was ruled out, which was heart-breaking, since I was in great form and we were doing very well as a team. Chandrakant Pandit, who was no match to him, took his place. This Vengsarkar food poisoning incident, just before a crucial match, is one of the most controversial fitness issue in Indian cricket. What had happened? On the eve of that semi-final, Dilip and his wife Manali went to Golden Dragon at Taj for dinner. They had 'Spare Ribs' which probably caused the food poisoning. He was vomiting continuously while the condition of his wife was so bad that she was admitted to a hospital. The media painted this incident in different colours. Vengsarkar has always maintained it was ribs which caused the trouble while a section of the curious Mumbai media claimed it was bangda (mackerel). Even this claim is not the end of the story. When Dilip pronounced himself unfit for that semi-final, it was like a beamer thrown at the skipper Kapil Dev. He even made a personal approach to Dilip to play but Dilip was adamant that he had been struck down by `flu and felt too weak, in the legs, to stand up to the doughty demands of a World Cup semi-final. Team was not prepared for losing an inform (his scores in the 1987 World Cup were 29 v s Australia, 0 vs New Zealand, 46* vs Zimbabwe, 63 vs Australia and 33* vs Zimbabwe) and one of the top five batsmen in the world. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Dilip has been questioned many times as to why he gave such a crucial World Cup match a miss? The team wanted him, even if half fit. It was reported in a section of the press that If you have eyebrows, prepare to raise them now. It was speculated that `The Colonel' paid back to unprepared Kapil and stumped him. Dilip had not forgotten that Kapil had dropped him from the Indian playing XI for the June 22, 1983 semi-final vs England at Old Trafford and Dilip still regrets not being a part of the playing XI in both the knockout matches in the historic World Cup 1983 win.

T20 WC: Abhishek Will Look To Score Runs Against Archer On The Off-side, Says Pujara

T20 World Cup: Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has said Abhishek Sharma, with his remodelled stance, could look to counter the threat posed by England pacer Jofra Archer by scoring as many runs as possible through the off side when the Men's T20 World Cup semi-final takes place at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday evening. Abhishek has enjoyed complete dominance over Archer in their head-to-head battles in T20Is, scoring 61 runs off 5 innings without being dismissed at a blistering strike rate of 185. Despite that, Archer has enjoyed success against India in T20Is by picking 14 wickets against them, his greatest number of scalps against any opponent. If you look at his stance, his front-foot toe is now facing towards cover, and his shoulders are straight. Earlier, his toe was pointing towards mid-off, and his shoulder was open. With the current stance, his hands are very close to his body, which is also allowing him to maintain good balance with his head. Abhishek is very strong on the off side. If you look at his boundary options, anything in that zone, in the fifth or sixth stump line, closer to the wide line, he is extremely strong and his strike-rate is very good. Now, what is Jofra Archers strength? Most of his deliveries, when he releases the ball, go away from the left-hander. That is why Abhishek has been very successful against Jofra Archer in the past. I still believe that even at the Wankhede, he will look to give himself a little bit of room, try to go over point or over cover, and score as many runs as possible on the off side, said Pujara on JioHotstar. Archers new-ball exploits have been a defining feature of Englands campaign so far, with the pacer claiming 10 wickets in the tournament, eight of which have come in the powerplay. But his match-up against Samson, whos coming on the back of hitting an unforgettable 97 against the West Indies, could prove to be pivotal. That is why Abhishek has been very successful against Jofra Archer in the past. I still believe that even at the Wankhede, he will look to give himself a little bit of room, try to go over point or over cover, and score as many runs as possible on the off side, said Pujara on JioHotstar. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Normally, Samson stands on the leg stump. Now, against Jofra, how do you score runs? One option is to create a little more room, try to move outside the leg stump, and as he is about to deliver, shift slightly to create room and play on the off side. Another option for Sanju is to initially focus on rotating the strike and give as many deliveries as possible to Abhishek, because someone like him will look to take on Jofra Archer, added Pujara. Article Source: IANS

India Women Target Historic Fourth Consecutive Test Win in Perth Day-Night Clash

The on-going blockbustermulti-format series between India Women and Australia Women concludes with the day-night Test in Perth beginning from March 6. Australia is looking for an outright series win, in the Test, The hosts go into the Test leading 8-4 (2-4 in T20Is + 6-0 in ODIs) with four points on offer for a Test win. The maximum Harmanpreetss women in blue can do is to draw the series, but the trophy shall remain with Australia, having won the last points-based series in 2021. The Test shall be Alyssa Healy's final International (299th) for Australia. To honour her, the hill at the iconic venue has been renamed 'Healy Hill' for the duration of the match, by Cricket Australia. The fans are being encouraged to 'Fill the Hill' on day two in an initiative by CA and Westpac. This is the third multi-format series between these two sides. In Australia in 2021, hosts won by 11-5 (ODIs 2-1, T20Is 2-0, Test draw). Then Australia toured India in 2023-24 and for a change, each format was counted as a separate series and there was no overall trophy presented. However Australia would have won the same by 10-6 (India won the Test + Australia winning ODIs by 3-0 and the T20Is by 2-1). Form guide Australia: They have won their last two Tests, against England at the MCG in January 2025, and against South Africa at the WACA Ground in February 2024, inside three days. Prior to that, they had lost to India at Wankhede in December 2023. Form Guide India: Undefeated in their last five tests. India won three Tests continuously between December 2023 and July 2024 defeating England, Australia and South Africa respectively, all played in India. Their last two overseas Tests ended in draws against England and Australia in 2021. India had created history at Wankhede Stadium in December 2023, winning their first-ever Test against Australia by eight wickets. Australia scored only 219 after winning the toss and electing to bat at Wankhede. India gained an upper hand and built a 187-run first-innings lead in response. Australia came back into the game on day three and at one time had 3-206 on the scoreboard. India captain Harmanpreet claimed two crucial wickets before stumps. Demoralised Australia further collapsed on the day four (5-28) and India needed just 75 runs to record their first Test victory over visitors. The refurbished WACA Stadium in the Western Australian capital is all set to play host with sunny skies and high temperatures across the four days (38 degrees Celsius expected for day one). *Some quick stats: * Before recording a Test win against Australia in December 2023 in Mumbai, India was winless across all their 10 meetings (6 draws, 4 losses). *Of the last nine Tests, Australia has lost only one (4 win + 4 draws). If they win this Test, they would equal their longest winning run in the Tests. *India has lost only one of their past 17 women's Tests (7 wins + 9 draws). The innings and four-run defeat against Australia came at Adelaide Oval in February 2006. They are undefeated in their nine matches since then (6 wins + 3 draws). Another highlight is that India has won each of their past three Tests and with another win they will record a fourth consecutive victory for the first time in the history. *Indias fine Test performance is also reflected in the record that they have claimed all 10 of the opposition's wickets in each of their past six bowling innings. A seventh consecutive innings here would be their outright longest such run in the Tests. *Smriti Mandhana (629) needs 122 runs to overtake Shantha Ragaswamy (750) as the second all-time leading run scorer for India in Tests (On top: Sandhya Agarwal 1110). Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Test commences at 4.20pm AEDT (11.50 IST). This is a day-night Test. India previously played a day-night Test on the Gold Coast in 2021.

Labuschagne named domestic One-Day Cup player of the year

Labuschagne polled 20 votes after making four centuries in six innings, to finish one vote ahead of New South Wales batter Kurtis Patterson

T20 WC: Unnamed Pakistani Player Reported, Fined For Misbehaving With Female Hotel Staff In Kandy

T20 World Cup: To add insult to injury, an unnamed Pakistan players was reported and later fined for misbehaving with a female staff during their stay at a hotel in Kandy, Sri Lanka, for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup matches and fined by team manager, a news report said on Thursday. The incident happened before Pakistan's last Super 8 match against hosts Sri Lanka and is being talked in whispers in Pakistan Cricket Board and team circles, Telecom Asia Sport reported. Before Pakistans last Super Eight match against Sri Lanka, a Pakistan World Cup squad player misbehaved with a female housekeeping staff, sources told Telecom Asia Sport. The staff shouted and called for help at which the hotel staff came for her rescue and reported the matter to Pakistan team manager Navaid Cheema, the report said quoting team sources. The top management of Golden Crown Hotel wanted the matter to be dealt with strongly but Cheema apologised on behalf of the player and fined him for misbehaviour, said Telecom Asia Sport in the report Though Pakistan won that match by five runs, the team failed to reach the semisfinals on net run-rate and returned home in batches on Sunday and Monday. The said player is also likely to appear before the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) disciplinary committee and is likely to be punished further. The report said that Pakistani players and backroom staff have a history of misconduct on tours. The said player is also likely to appear before the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) disciplinary committee and is likely to be punished further. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Pakistan team masseur Malang Ali was also reported and fined for misbehaviour with a female staff on tour of Malaysia a few years ago. Article Source: IANS

Conrad: 'Tonight wasn't a choke, it was a bloody walloping'

South Africa head coach admits his team didn't have a sniff against New Zealand, and got a proper snotklap

Flying Finn launches NZ into the final with record ton

South Africa were knocked out by the pairing of Henry-Ravindra with ball and Allen-Seifert with bat

IND vs ENG Semi-final 2 Prediction, ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Match Preview And Expected Playing XI

IND vs ENG, Semi-final 2, Cricket Tips :Team India have a chance to make it to the second consecutive final as they are ready to take on England in the second semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2026. This contest will be taking place at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday at 7 PM IST. Both teams have been struggling with the form of their openers. For India, Sanju Samson has been the difference-maker in the last game. He has given India a good start and took India into the semifinals. With the ball, Jasprit Bumrah will be the x-factor. England have been scratchy, but they have been on the winning side. They will be riding on confidence and will challenge India in this must-win game. IND vs ENG: Match Details Date: March 05, 2026 (Thursday) Time: 7:00 PM IST Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai IND vs ENG Live Streaming Details The live action of the IND vs ENG game will be available on the Star Sports Networks on cable TV channels. Fans can also enjoy the action on the Jio Hotstar streaming platform. IND vs ENG Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 29 India : 17 England : 12 No-Result : 00 IND vs ENG: Ground Pitch Report Wankhede Stadium is expected to produce a good batting deck. The ball comes nicely onto the bat with good bounce, and the pace is also good here. The boundaries here are not big, and it will invite the batters to go big. In the later stages, there will be dew as well, making it hard and difficult. IND vs ENG Possible XIs India : Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah New Zealand : Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid IND vs ENG: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Sanju Samson has been in great form and is coming off probably the best knock of his international career. He has looked more mature and is scoring runs against good bowlers. For England, captain Harry Brook will be key. He has scored the most runs for England and played spin well. Probable Best Bowler Jasprit Bumrah will be key for India, because the wicket is likely to be flat, and he can take wickets on any surface. For England, Adil Rashid can be handy. He is experienced and is taking wickets in this tournament. Today Match Prediction : The team that bats second will have an edge. But India will have a slight edge because of their bowling unit. England have not had their best game, while India have shown good form in recent matches. Hence, we predict India to win. IND vs ENG Match Semi-final 2, ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Today IND vs ENG Match, IND vs ENG Prediction, IND vs ENG Predicted XIs, Injury Update for IND vs ENG Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score 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.

Former England Keeper James Foster Set To Join CSK As Fielding Coach For IPL 2026: Report

CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan: Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings are set to appoint former England wicketkeeper-batter James Foster as their fielding coach ahead of the IPL 2026 season, further strengthening their backroom staff under head coach Stephen Fleming. Foster, 45, represented England in seven Tests, 11 ODIs and five T20Is between 2001 and 2009. Widely respected for his wicketkeeping skills, he has built a strong reputation as a coach in franchise cricket across the world. Confirming the development, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said, We have been looking for a fielding coach. I am hopeful he will join us, as quoted by Cricbuzz Foster brings significant experience from various T20 leagues. He has previously served as fielding coach with Kolkata Knight Riders and has also worked with Desert Vipers in the ILT20, the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, and Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). At CSK, Foster will join an established support staff that includes batting coach Mike Hussey, bowling coach Eric Simons, assistant bowling coach Sridharan Sriram, and fielding coach Rajiv Kumar. Russell Radhakrishnan continues as team manager. The move comes after a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign in which CSK finished at the bottom of the points table, managing only four wins in 14 matches. The franchise has already begun its pre-season camp at its high-performance centre in Chennai, with several Indian players training. Veteran wicketkeeper MS Dhoni is among those present at the camp, while players on international duty are expected to join later. The move comes after a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign in which CSK finished at the bottom of the points table, managing only four wins in 14 matches. The franchise has already begun its pre-season camp at its high-performance centre in Chennai, with several Indian players training. Also Read: Live Cricket Score CSK has also roped in youngsters like Prashant Veer and Karthik Sharma while leaving their stalwart player Ravindra Jadeja. Ruturaj Gaikwad will continue to lead the team as they aim for their record sixth title. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Massive Credit To Allen, Seifert Knocks To Kill The Game As Early As They Did, Says Markram

T20 World Cup: South Africa captain Aiden Markram said his side were undone by New Zealands explosive batting in their nine-wicket loss in the Mens T20 World Cup semi-final, and gave massive credit to Finn Allen and Tim Seifert for their match-winning knocks. Allen smashed the fastest history in tournaments history off just 33 balls as New Zealand completed the chase of 170 against South Africa with 43 balls to spare and booked their ticket in the final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Allens fireworks, where he played only four dot balls, were complemented by Tim Seifert, who struck a brisk 58 off 33 deliveries. The pair stitched a 117-run opening stand that effectively ended South Africas hopes of defending their total of 169/8. You look at conditions early and they bowled really well up front. Ball didn't quite feel like coming on, some were just stopping on the wicket and somewhere hitting quite low on the bat and they made scoring really tough and through that pressure builds and you lose wickets unfortunately. So give credit to their bowling unit and obviously with the bat, someone plays an innings like that, don't think you will come out on the right side of the result many times as a fielding team. To get to 170 was a great effort to be fair. At the halfway point we really felt like we had a sniff. But then, as it goes in T20 cricket, (in) the powerplay (they) got off to a flyer and can't protect every boundary unfortunately, and they got away and then from there it was really hard to pull it back. So we give massive credit to Finn Allen's knock, Tim Seifert's knock to kill the game as early as they did, and unfortunately, it was just that bad night for us tonight, said Markram in the post-match presentation ceremony. South Africa came into the crunch clash as the in-form and lone unbeaten side in the competition, but were blown away by Allens fireworks to bow out of the competition. Asked on what the Proteas could have done differently, Markram felt it was too early to make a judgement. It's hard to say right now. We'll reflect as the group. I think we expected the wicket to play really well. It looked pretty good to the eye, so potentially just adapt a bit quicker with the bats and go back to maybe a bit more old school approach, set it up and try to scrape your way to 190, and maybe you'll be in the game from there. So, we'll reflect as a group. Obviously disappointed with the result, but very proud of this group of guys who have played some really good cricket throughout this comp, and it's just an unfortunate evening really. It's hard to say right now. We'll reflect as the group. I think we expected the wicket to play really well. It looked pretty good to the eye, so potentially just adapt a bit quicker with the bats and go back to maybe a bit more old school approach, set it up and try to scrape your way to 190, and maybe you'll be in the game from there. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Get back on the horse and you try and improve as a group and as individuals, and hopefully that puts you in good stead for the future. So, again, hugely disappointed. It's a big not a slap in the face, but it feels like it. But because of that, ultimately, we will have to come out stronger and be better as a team moving forward, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

Markram: 'Not a slap in the face, but it feels like it'

The South Africa captain expected the Eden Gardens track to play much better for the batters in the first semi-final

T20 WC: To Put On A Performance Like That In A Crunch Game Is Pretty Pleasing, Says Santner

T20 World Cup: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said he was delighted with his teams dominant display in the Mens T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa, describing the nine-wicket win as a pretty pleasing performance in a high-pressure contest. Finn Allen smashed the fastest history in tournaments history off just 33 balls as New Zealand completed the chase of 170 with 43 balls to spare and booked their ticket in the final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. It was nice. I think we knew obviously how good South Africa are, and theyve shown that throughout the tournament. So, to put on a performance like that in a crunch game is obviously pretty pleasing. I guess every time, you get shown up or you lose a game, youre learning from it. I guess you learn when you win as well. So, we knew we werent, on or as good as we could have been during that game (in the league stage in Ahmedabad), and they played unbelievably well, especially on a wicket like that. I guess today it (the lesson) was trying to keep them under pressure for a long time. We obviously threw a little bit more spin at the start, which we didnt do at Ahmedabad. But I think, if you can take wickets throughout, its obviously a challenge to keep going with the bat, said Santner in the post-match presentation ceremony. New Zealand restricted South Africa to 169/8, with Cole McConchie and Rachin Ravindra taking two wickets each. There was always a plan for the first two overs and then its kind of free fall after that. I think with obviously the right-handers coming out briefly, obviously, theres a lot of spin. We thought maybe if the ball was spinning away a bit more, it might be a bit more of a challenge, but I think even when its up in the slot, kind of hits it and it stays hit. So, it was trying to, I guess, chop and change because the wicket was pretty good. Obviously a small ground, fast outfield. So we were able to keep chipping wickets away through the middle and then Stubbsy (Stubbs) and Jansen obviously played a great, great knock to get them into 170. Asked on how he felt over seeing the chase from the dugout, Santner said, It was nice to watch (the chase). Im not gonna lie. I guess we were very happy with the 170, but you never know, I think, like wickets in the power play, theres always a challenge, and they (the openers) kind of just went out there and played their game and took it on, which was cool to see. So, it was trying to, I guess, chop and change because the wicket was pretty good. Obviously a small ground, fast outfield. So we were able to keep chipping wickets away through the middle and then Stubbsy (Stubbs) and Jansen obviously played a great, great knock to get them into 170. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So I think well obviously be pretty happy tonight with the win. Then weve got a couple more days to really think about what happens next. But it was a pretty good performance. I said before, we havent really played the perfect game. I know thats always a hard or cliche thing, but weve been good in periods and then today I think we were pretty good all the way through, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Id Say Its Pretty Up There, Says Allen After 33-ball Ton Powers NZ To Final

T20 World Cup: Explosive right-handed opener Finn Allen described his record-breaking 33-ball century as pretty up there in terms of his best batting performances, as it propelled New Zealand into the T20 World Cup final with a comprehensive nine-wicket win over South Africa at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday. Allen also shared a 117-run opening stand with Tim Seifert to help New Zealand chase down 170 with 43 balls to spare and book their spot in the final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Id say its pretty up there. Just wanted to get into good positions and put a good performance in for the team. Obviously, we wanted to start looking straight and obviously try and put them on the back foot early. I think its easy for me when Timmys (Seifert) going like that, I can kind of just watch and then hit it when its in my area and just try and give him the strike. So I think the way that he batted got us off to an absolute flyer. Like I said, we wanted to get strong positions, look straight and work the ball square off the length, said Allen in the post-match presentation ceremony. Asked on how he keeps his rhythm in such crucial games, Allen said, I think its easier in the semifinal to stay up for the fight. Obviously, huge game for us. With Timmy, we say, keep each other in it, whether were on strike or not, just keep ensuring that each others looking straight, looking to hit the ball hard. We enjoyed out there together. I think its easy for me when Timmys (Seifert) going like that, I can kind of just watch and then hit it when its in my area and just try and give him the strike. So I think the way that he batted got us off to an absolute flyer. Like I said, we wanted to get strong positions, look straight and work the ball square off the length, said Allen in the post-match presentation ceremony. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He signed off by saying the Blackcaps focus will now turn into playing in the final. It was good. You take the positives from this game for sure, celebrate a little moment of success and then, weve got a final to win on Sunday, so we just look forward to that. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Captain Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma Visit Siddhivinayak Temple Ahead Of SF

ICC T20 World Cup: Indian cricket team captain Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma visited Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple on Wednesday to seek blessings ahead of their crucial ICC T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal clash against England at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Earlier, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma were also seen taking darshan at the famous Mumbai temple as the team prepares for one of its most important matches of the tournament. Suryakumar was also accompanied by his wife, Devisha. The couple took part in rituals as they sought blessings and positive energy ahead of the crucial encounter. They were also felicitated by the temple authority. Suryakumar started off the tournament with a match-winning performance against the USA, but his strike rate has been a big concern throughout the tournament. While Tilak had a poor start to the tournament as he was struggling with form and a low strike rate, things changed in the Zimbabwe match, where he struck a fast 44. He also played an important role in India's victory against the West Indies as he scored 27 runs off just 15 balls. India have had a strong campaign so far in the ongoing World Cup, winning six of their seven matches, with their only setback being a 76-run loss to South Africa in the Super 8 stage. Suryakumar started off the tournament with a match-winning performance against the USA, but his strike rate has been a big concern throughout the tournament. While Tilak had a poor start to the tournament as he was struggling with form and a low strike rate, things changed in the Zimbabwe match, where he struck a fast 44. He also played an important role in India's victory against the West Indies as he scored 27 runs off just 15 balls. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Meanwhile, England are also coming to the match with a great performance in the ongoing multi-national tournament. The two-time champions remained on top in their Super 8s group with three wins in three matches, and Harry Brook led team would like to continue the momentum against the defending champions. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Finn Allens Whirlwind 33-ball Century Helps New Zealand Storm Into Final

T20 World Cup: Finn Allen produced one of the most explosive innings in Mens T20 World Cup history by hammering a whirlwind unbeaten century off just 33 balls as New Zealand stormed into the final with a comprehensive nine-wicket win over South Africa at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. Chasing 170, Allen tore into the in-form South African attack by hitting ten boundaries and eight towering sixes and rewrite the record books with the fastest century ever scored in the mens T20 World Cup and the first in a knockout fixture. It was also his third century in T20Is and the joint-fastest hundred by a full member batter, as he again highlighted his reputation as one of the most destructive openers in the shortest format. Allens fireworks, where he played only four dot balls, were complemented by Tim Seifert, who struck a brisk 58 off 33 deliveries. The pair stitched a 117-run opening stand that effectively ended South Africas hopes of defending their total of 169/8. New Zealands commanding chase is also their first-ever win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup and sent out a strong message ahead of Sundays final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. For South Africa, the defeat was another bitter blow in a major ICC knockout match. Unbeaten through the tournament and widely tipped as favourites for the title, they were outplayed in every department. Marco Jansens fighting 55 had earlier lifted them to a competitive score, but Allens assault rendered it inadequate, as New Zealand entered their second Mens T20 World Cup final. Chasing 170, Seifert began with edges off Marco Jansen fetching him boundaries, before being dropped by Quinton de Kock off Kagiso Rabada. Allen began his fireworks by steering Rabada for four, before clearing the straight boundary with authority off Jansen. Seifert scooped and drove Rabada and Jansen for boundaries as the pair raced past fifty inside four overs. Allen tore into Corbin Bosch in the final over of power-play by plundering 22 runs including four boundaries and a six, as New Zealand surged to 91/0 their highest six-over phase score in Mens T20 World Cup history. Seifert soon reached his half-century off just 22 balls by driving Lungi Ngidi for four, while Allen got his fifty off 19 deliveries. The 117-run opening stand ended when Seifert was castled by Rabada in the 10th over. Rachin Ravindra joined Allen, who was already into the 70s, and ensured the tempo never went off the boil. Allen continued to attack relentlessly by dispatching Bosch, Maharaj and Jansen for boundaries with audacious strokes. Allen tore into Corbin Bosch in the final over of power-play by plundering 22 runs including four boundaries and a six, as New Zealand surged to 91/0 their highest six-over phase score in Mens T20 World Cup history. Seifert soon reached his half-century off just 22 balls by driving Lungi Ngidi for four, while Allen got his fifty off 19 deliveries. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: South Africa 169/8 in 20 overs (Marco Jansen 55 not out, Dewald Brevis 34; Cole McConchie 2-9, Rachin Ravindra 2-29) lost to New Zealand 173/1 in 12.5 overs (Finn Allen 100 not out, Tim Seifert 58; Kagiso Rabada 1-28) by nine wickets. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Wins Over Sri Lanka, Pak Give Brook Confidence Of Overcoming Indian Spin Threat In Semis

ICC T20 World Cup: England's recent trips to India for the T20I series have all ended on a disappointing note, with the visitors ending on the losing note. One of the major hurdles for England has been spin bowling, which has stumped them on numerous occasions. In their last T20I series in India in the 2024-25 season, England lost 1-4, suffering a 150-run defeat at the Wankhede Stadium in the last match of the series. Varun Chakravarthy had emerged as the most successful bowler for India in the series, with Harry Brook, who is leading England in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, falling victim to the mystery spinners on more than a few occasions. However, on the eve of their semifinal clash with India in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium, with the threat of spin and Varun Chakravarthy looming large, Brook said England have improved in their handling of spin and have done well in the sub-continent, which gives them the confidence that they can negate the spin threat on Thursday. I feel like England always get a bad rap about playing against spin. We've gone to Sri Lanka, and we've won six games in a row against the subcontinent side, who are very good in their own backyard, and we've got a lot of confidence playing on turning pitches. Chakravarthy is one of the best bowlers in the world, and I'll try my best to face him and score as many runs as I can against him, said Brook in the pre-match press conference at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. The pitch selected for Thursday's semifinal is the same one on which England lost to West Indies, and Italy beat Nepal, with spinners playing a key role in both matches. It was a pitch where the spinners had some assistance; 14 wickets were picked up by the spinners in those two games. However, Brook presented a confident front to the spin threat and said they too have very good spinners on their side. We have got some very good spinners as well. Our spinners have bowled extremely well throughout this competition, and they have to try to tackle that challenge as well. India have produced and always have produced very good spinners, and we know that, and we accepted that before coming into this competition that we're going to face challenges throughout, especially on pitches that can assist spin bowling. But like I said before, we played six T20S, three ODIs against Sri Lanka in this world competition in Sri Lanka, and we only lost one game, so I think we're going in with a lot of confidence, and like I said before, I feel like England players get a bad rap against spin, said Brook. We have got some very good spinners as well. Our spinners have bowled extremely well throughout this competition, and they have to try to tackle that challenge as well. India have produced and always have produced very good spinners, and we know that, and we accepted that before coming into this competition that we're going to face challenges throughout, especially on pitches that can assist spin bowling. Also Read: Live Cricket Score They will be hoping to carry that confidence into the semifinal against India and hope that they can pass the spin test as easily as they did against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Nice To Come Out And Contribute To Start The Ball Rolling, Says McConchie

T20 World Cup: New Zealand spinner Cole McConchie said he was pleased to make an impact in the Mens T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa after being drafted into the side at short notice. McConchies off-spin meant New Zealand used him as a match-up for countering the Proteas left-handed batters, which worked when he dismissed Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton in the second over, as the Blackcaps restricted South Africa to 169/8. We talked about it sort of the last couple of days, but it even got finalised sort of just before warm-ups. So nice to come out and contribute and kind of start the ball rolling there. I havent played here previously, so I talked to the boys, and it was just from the spin point of view, kind of bowl hard into the wicket and see if we could get a little bit of grip early. But the way that the South African boys struck it there at the end, hopefully its kind of flattening out and weve got a bit of a chase I think, said McConchie to broadcasters at the innings break. We talked about it sort of the last couple of days, but it even got finalised sort of just before warm-ups. So nice to come out and contribute and kind of start the ball rolling there. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Quizzed on if New Zealand would have taken this score at the start of the game, McConchie said, I think so. Stats probably lead a little bit higher, but as you say, if youve got a great bowling attack, so were going to have to be on top of our game, but well take that at the start. Article Source: IANS

Pakistan Set To Appoint Sarfaraz Ahmed As Head Coach For Test Team: Report

Now Sarfaraz Ahmed: Pakistans musical chair with the head coach continues as former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is well set to take over the vacant post for the two-Test series in Bangladesh in May, a news report claimed on Wednesday. The post was vacant since December last year when Azhar Mahmood ended his contract due to run until March 2026 but with no Tests in the calendar until March-April next year, after an agreement with PCB. Now Sarfaraz Ahmed is looking set to take over the mantle, Telecom Asia Sport said in a report. Sarfaraz has been spoken to by Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi to take over as head coach of the Test team, and he has agreed to work with Shan Masood as captain, as the two are good friends and can help Pakistan improve their ninth place in the last World Test Championship, sources told Telecom Asia Sport. Pakistan finished fifth, seventh and ninth and last in the three World Test Championship cycles. Misbah-ul Haq was the other option who served as all-format head coach in 2019-20 before being removed by the then PCB chairman Ramiz Raja. Pakistan also has Australian Jason Gillespie as Test coach in 2024 for a two-year stint, but the former pacer left after falling out with the PCB in December that year. Pakistan also have to play two Tests in the West Indies in July, followed by three in England in August. Pakistan finished fifth, seventh and ninth and last in the three World Test Championship cycles. Misbah-ul Haq was the other option who served as all-format head coach in 2019-20 before being removed by the then PCB chairman Ramiz Raja. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi feels Younis Khan should be appointed as Test coach. With over 10,000 Test runs and a stature as high class batter in the longer format, I think Younis should be given the Test team, Afridi told local media. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Jansens Unbeaten 55 Carries South Africa To 169/8 Against New Zealand

T20 World Cup: Left-arm seam-bowling all-rounder Marco Jansen struck an unbeaten 55 to guide South Africa to 169/8 in 20 overs against New Zealand in the first semifinal of the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday. South Africa were in trouble at 77/5 in 10.2 overs before Jansen steadied the innings by hitting two fours and five sixes to get his fifty in 27 balls on a gripping pitch. His knock ensured the Proteas set New Zealand a target of 170 if they are to enter the final to be played in Ahmedabad on Sunday. But with dew setting in, the pitch will become better for batting and could mean an advantage for the Blackcaps. For New Zealand, Cole McConchie, Rachin Ravindra and Matt Henry picked two wickets each to stall the Proteas charge, though they conceded 61 runs in the last five overs. Pushed into batting first, Quinton de Kock got going with a stylish four and six before miscuing to mid-on off McConchie in the opening over. A ball later, McConchie struck when he had Ryan Rickelton slashing to backward point for a golden duck. Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis attempted to rebuild, with the former dropped on three by Rachin Ravindra, and the latter taking boundaries off Lockie Ferguson and James Neesham. But Markram eventually fell for 18, caught at long-on off Ravindra in the eighth over. Brevis continued to be fluent by hitting Ravindra for a six over cow corner and carting Mitchell Santner for another maximum over mid-wicket. But Brevis fell for 34 - caught at cover off Neesham in the 11th over, while David Miller too departed for six after holing out to long-on off Ravindra. Tristan Stubbs joined Jansen, and the pair steadied the Proteas innings. After taking a boundary off Santner, Jansen cleared the long-on fence twice off Ravindra and Henry each. Stubbs, meanwhile, showed signs of acceleration by pulling Henry for four, before driving and clubbing Neesham for a four and six respectively, even as Jansen took on him to get the same result. Their partnership lifted South Africa past 150 before Stubbs was castled by Ferguson in the 19th over. But Jansen continued to attack, bringing up his maiden fifty of the tournament with consecutive sixes off Ferguson. He remained unbeaten on 55 and, despite losing Corbin Bosch and Kagiso Rabada in the final over, ensured South Africa reached a competitive total. Tristan Stubbs joined Jansen, and the pair steadied the Proteas innings. After taking a boundary off Santner, Jansen cleared the long-on fence twice off Ravindra and Henry each. Stubbs, meanwhile, showed signs of acceleration by pulling Henry for four, before driving and clubbing Neesham for a four and six respectively, even as Jansen took on him to get the same result. Also Read: Live Cricket Score South Africa 169/8 in 20 overs (Marco Jansen 55 not out, Dewald Brevis 34; Cole McConchie 2-9, Rachin Ravindra 2-29) against New Zealand Article Source: IANS

Sulakshan Kulkarni takes over as Oman head coach

He takes over from Duleep Mendis, who held the position for 14 years

T20 WC: England 'confident' Of Beating 'favourites' India After Winning Tight Games

T20 World Cup: When they started their campaign in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Harry Brook's England had to live up to a huge record for his country, as the two-time champions have made it to the semifinals in every edition since 2016, when they lost to the West Indies in the final in Kolkata. England lost to New Zealand in the last-four stage in 2021, beat Pakistan in the final to win the title in 2022 and lost to eventual winner India in the semifinals of the 2024 edition. By making it to the semifinals of the 2026 edition, Harry Brook's side has lived up to that reputation. They are now hoping to get past hosts India and become the first team to win the T20 World Cup thrice. England have navigated past some tight situations -- they looked down and out against minnows Nepal in their opening league match and then against Pakistan in the Super 8 stage, before bouncing back to win both the matches and eventually finished atop the standings in Super 8 Group 2. Skipper Brook said these Houdini acts by his team has given it the confidence to take on India, who are always a strong side at home because of their familiarity with the conditions and the strong support they muster from the stands -- in a knockout encounter. Asked whether winning the decisive moments in tough encounters lends an air of being unbeatable to the team, Brook said it does give his team a lot of confidence. No, definitely not unbeatable, but I think it gives us a lot of confidence going into tomorrow as well. We've won them tight games, which in World Cups prove to be very important as well. And we've got a lot of confidence going into the deeper parts of the game. We've won games, like you said, which we probably shouldn't have won. And it just feels like we've never really been out of any game so far, which holds you in good stead in these world competitions, said Brook in the pre-match press conference ahead of the semifinals. In Brook's leadership, England have come up with some strong performances and have emerged as a strong contender to dethrone defending champions India as they are the team with the best record after India. But Brook said he was not aware of such stats, but said his side is confident in its abilities and will go into the semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium with the confidence gained from the calm demeanour they showed while extricating themselves from tricky situations. We've obviously played some good cricket over the last year or so, and hopefully we can play some more good cricket tomorrow. I do believe that India were the favourites from the start of the competition, as they should be on their home soil, home crowds and knowing the venues better than anyone else. But T20 is such a fickle game, and anything can happen. We're obviously going into the game very confident. We're playing some good cricket. We haven't quite played that perfect performance, and I feel like it's just around the corner. Hopefully it's tomorrow night, and we go out there, and we just play with freedom, play bravely, and yeah, look to take it to them as much as we can, said Brook. We've obviously played some good cricket over the last year or so, and hopefully we can play some more good cricket tomorrow. I do believe that India were the favourites from the start of the competition, as they should be on their home soil, home crowds and knowing the venues better than anyone else. But T20 is such a fickle game, and anything can happen. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Yeah, obviously when I took over, this was a year away and it felt like it probably needed a little bit of planning and that was slightly part of the planning really to try and get some game time in them guys and then slowly build some confidence up knowing that they were gonna be in the side most of the time and they've taken them roles on beautifully. Jacks, for example, has had four matches this World Cup, but he's been the standout player in the competition, arguably. Dawson's played a massive role in plenty of games as well. Banton has won us a few games off his own bat. And yeah, it's just having that confidence, knowing that you are going to be around for a little while, and thankfully it's got us this far in the competition, said Brook. Article Source: IANS

India vs England chapter 3: the match that could define eras

The two teams are meeting in the semi-finals for the third straight edition, on the back of less than perfect campaigns, and seeking a historic third title

Brook: England get a 'bad rap' about playing spin

England captain leans into slow-bowling strengths ahead of crucial semi-final at the Wankhede

T20 WC: South Africa buzzed Up For Their Semifinal Against New Zealand, Says Miller

T20 World Cup: South Africas left-handed batter David Miller said his side is excited and ready to continue their unbeaten campaign against New Zealand in their 2026 Mens T20 World Cup semifinal at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. South Africa have won in all five of their previous meetings against New Zealand in the competitions history. The sides, however, have never faced each other in the knockout stages of the tournament. In 50-over ICC events, New Zealand hold the edge by winning a quarterfinal and two semifinals against South Africa. Obviously, very excited the way, especially the way that we played this campaign, and I think for us, its a new game, its a new start, as we know, just to continue with those good things that weve been doing. Each individual has been preparing really well, has been putting up performances. If you look at the campaign so far, everyones contributed at different stages, so thats always a healthy sign. Going into this game, its another game to do something really special. So I think its just making sure that we get into the fight as quick as possible and kind of adapting on the day, see where it goes. Everyones really buzzed up and excited and ready to go, said Miller in a pre-match chat with the broadcasters. Each individual has been preparing really well, has been putting up performances. If you look at the campaign so far, everyones contributed at different stages, so thats always a healthy sign. Going into this game, its another game to do something really special. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Asked about his assessment of the pitch, Miller said, It should be a good wicket. Like I said, lets adapt as we start and kind of sum up the conditions as quickly as possible. But I think it will be a good wicket. So its just making sure that we do whatever we do first, we do it really well, and try and put pressure on the opposition as quickly as possible. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: No Reason To Question Why He's In The Team, Says Skipper Brook On Struggling Buttler

T20 World Cup: With scores like 26, 21, 3, 3, 7, 2, 0 in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, Jos Buttler has not looked a shadow of England's most accomplished batter in this format that he has been over the last many years. The former England captain, at 35 years old, the oldest player in the pack and their most experienced player with 154 T20Is and many matches in franchise cricket, was expected to be the main batter for the two-time World Champions. Going into the all-important semifinal encounter with hosts India at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, England captain Harry Brook said they are not worried about Buttler's form, and he and the England team management usually like to allow him to do his thing and do not tender any advice or suggestions. Yeah, you don't have to talk to him too much. I think leaving him alone is probably the best thing to do. He's been a powerhouse of a cricketer for many years, as we've all seen. I've been asked this question thousands of times now, and I just think there should be no reason to question why he's in the team, said Brook on the eve of the semifinal clash. Buttler has played at the Wankhede on more than a dozen occasions in his stints with various franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He will be one batter that the Indian team will be wary of in Thursday's semifinal because of his vast experience and familiarity with the conditions. Buttler has been struggling for form in recent months and has managed scores in the 20s in England's last three matches in the series against Sri Lanka ahead of the World Cup. Asked about his opinion of the Wankhede Stadium pitch for the semifinal, Brook said he will have a chat with coach Brandon McCullum, and they will see the stats and take a call on what to do if he wins the toss. I don't know. You're asking the wrong man. I don't know anything about wickets. I'll have a chat with Baz tonight and tomorrow before the game. We'll have a look at the stats and see what to do first if we win the toss, said the England captain. Asked about his opinion of the Wankhede Stadium pitch for the semifinal, Brook said he will have a chat with coach Brandon McCullum, and they will see the stats and take a call on what to do if he wins the toss. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We obviously get a lot of stats, we've got a lot of videos, we can see where the batters are trying to hit the ball, we know the wagon wheels and what not, we know the match-ups, it's just about trying to fiddle the bowlers to make sure that it's uncomfortable for their batters for as long as possible really. They're obviously a very good side, and they can adapt to different bowlers, but my job is to try and make it as uncomfortable for them as possible, said Brook. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Boys Are Up For The Challenge, Says Ferguson Ahead Of NZs Semi-final Against SA

T20 World Cup: New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson said his side are prepared for the challenge of facing South Africa in the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup semi-final at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, adding that the make-up of their playing eleven will be a little different for the crunch clash. New Zealand are aiming to stop the unbeaten streak of South Africa and a win will take them to the final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The Blackcaps have been boosted by the inclusion of pacer Matt Henry, who came back after attending the birth of his second child. Obviously different styles of cricket in Colombo, you had to use a lot of spinners, and the team makeup was slightly different, but nice to get the points and then find ourselves in a semi-final. Tonight we will know how good a bad wicket it is in India, especially this one, so the structure of the team will probably change a little bit, but the boys are up for the challenge. Hes always good. Ive never seen him (Henry) down, so Im sure hell go to the fitness test and hopefully all well for tonight, said Ferguson in a pre-match chat with the broadcasters. Asked about the advice given to him for acing the conditions in Eden Gardens with the ball, Ferguson said, Lots of advice. Ill save it for after the game. But no, look, I think a lot of the players have played here. Its not too dissimilar to other Indian grounds. Its a good batting track, quick outfield, so its important the boys, from a bowling point of view, hit good areas and try to create as much pressure as possible. We know these guys are going to come out hard. But at the same time, if we put the ball in a good area for long enough, well get those rewards. Ferguson stated the occasion of playing the semi-final was special. This is a game of cricket. We both start from zero. Obviously, its nice to play in the semifinals. Its an exciting occasion. Its a good batting track, quick outfield, so its important the boys, from a bowling point of view, hit good areas and try to create as much pressure as possible. We know these guys are going to come out hard. But at the same time, if we put the ball in a good area for long enough, well get those rewards. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Kolkata, March 4 (IANS) Fast bowler Matt Henry has returned to New Zealands playing eleven as captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to bowl first against South Africa in the first semi-final of 2026 Mens T20 World Cup at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Henry, Neesham Return As New Zealand Elect To Bowl Against South Africa

West Indies Super Eights: Fast bowler Matt Henry has returned to New Zealands playing eleven as captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to bowl first against South Africa in the first semi-final of 2026 Mens T20 World Cup at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday. The winner of this clash will qualify for the final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. South Africa have won in all five of their previous meetings against New Zealand in the competitions history. The sides, however, have never faced each other in the knockout stages of the tournament. In 50-over ICC events, New Zealand hold the edge by winning a quarter-final and two semi-finals over South Africa. Apart from Henry, who linked up with the team after the birth of his second child, Santner said Jimmy Neesham is back in for Ish Sodhi. The pitch looked pretty good the other night. We know they are a great outfit and we know we gotta be on, we need to do our thing, put them under pressure and see what happens, he said. South Africa skipper Aiden Markram said Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj are back after being rested from their final Super Eights clash against Zimbabwe, which they won by five wickets in New Delhi. Everyone contributed at some stage which is really pleasing. Hopefully we can start well with the bat and put a good score on the board. We trained here last night and putting runs on the board in a knock-out game is not the worst thing, he said. In their pitch report, Pommie Mbangwa and Aaron Finch said the square boundaries are at 62 and 66 metres, with the straight boundary at 74 metres. They also observed a couple of cracks are visible along the off-stump line for right-handed batters, which may cause some movement early on and lead to inconsistent bounce with the new ball. They also reckoned once the shine wears off, the pitch, which was used for the India-West Indies Super Eights clash, is expected to play true. Finch added that the groundsman told him there was minimal dew in the previous match and more of it is likely to come on the field for Wednesdays knockout clash. Playing XIs: They also reckoned once the shine wears off, the pitch, which was used for the India-West Indies Super Eights clash, is expected to play true. Finch added that the groundsman told him there was minimal dew in the previous match and more of it is likely to come on the field for Wednesdays knockout clash. Also Read: Live Cricket Score South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, and Lungi Ngidi Article Source: IANS

Babar Azam Dropped As Pakistan Announce Squad For Bangladesh ODI Series

T20 World Cup: Pakistan have left out former captain Babar Azam from the squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, beginning March 11, following the teams disappointing campaign in the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026, where they were out from the Super 8s stage. Babar featured in 17 ODIs in 2025, scoring 544 runs at a strike rate of 77.16. Although he struck a century in Pakistans previous ODI series against Sri Lanka, the selectors opted to move in a different direction based on his recent form. His omission comes amid criticism from several former cricketers after Pakistans early World Cup exit, with some calling for a long-term break from white-ball cricket. The 31-year-old had a below-par T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, where he managed just 91 runs from four outings with the bat. The shake-up does not end there. Opener Fakhar Zaman, who registered a half-century in the last ODI and had a steady T20 World Cup campaign, has also been excluded, signalling a transition phase in Pakistans limited-overs setup. Young batter Saim Ayub and pacer Naseem Shah are among the other notable absentees. Saim struggled for consistency in recent outings and was dropped during the World Cup, while Naseem also misses out as the selectors reshuffled the squad. In contrast, Sahibzada Farhan, who enjoyed an impressive T20 World Cup with two centuries and a record-breaking run tally in a single edition, has been rewarded with a call-up. Despite scrutiny following the World Cup, Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue as captain for the Bangladesh series, with the management backing him to lead the transition. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, who was not part of the World Cup squad, also returns. Pakistan have included six uncapped players in the 15-member squad, indicating a focus on testing bench strength and building depth ahead of future assignments. Despite scrutiny following the World Cup, Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue as captain for the Bangladesh series, with the management backing him to lead the transition. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, who was not part of the World Cup squad, also returns. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha and Shamyl Hussain. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Morkel Hails Samson For Working Hard, Keeping Calm To Make A Comeback

Opener Sanju Samson: Opener Sanju Samson has been with the Indian T20 team for the last couple of years, including the 2024 T20 World Cup, when he could not make it to the playing XI, but lost his place after some indifferent performances. Given a chance in three matches in this edition of the World Cup, the wicketkeeper-batter from Kerala has made a grand comeback after an indifferent start. Indian team's bowling coach Morne Morkel hailed the 31-year-old right-handed batter for his hard work, for keeping calm and maintaining hope as he made a grand comeback with an unbeaten 97 in the do-or-die match against the West Indies, which sealed India's spot in the semifinals. Sanju is a quality player. He's a guy who always works hard at the nets. And yeah, I think just that sort of opportunity he got given, he showed his class and his experience. He got the opportunity, and as a guy who's played a lot of games, he stepped up in a crucial game. From a coaching or a mentor sort of side, it was just about giving him the backing. Although he sort of lost his place in the team. For him, it was always to (be) at the nets to make sure he gets the quality work in. Because you never know in a tournament that a situation, as we found ourselves, can always be there. So credit to him for not losing that hope. Keep on working hard, keep on growing in his strengths. And then taking the opportunity. I think in professional sports, it's all about staying ready. So you don't have to get yourself ready, if I can say that. And yeah, credit to him for keeping him calm and fighting through that tough little period and putting in a solid performance for India, said Morkel ahead of India's semifinal clash against England at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. The former South Africa pace bowler dismissed the notion that explosive opener Abhishek Sharma has lost confidence or that he is trying to alter his game from the all-out aggression to becoming a measured player. No, I think just sometimes this game can be hard on you, cruel on you. A similar situation that Sanju found himself in. That's in your career, you're going to find moments like this. The former South Africa pace bowler dismissed the notion that explosive opener Abhishek Sharma has lost confidence or that he is trying to alter his game from the all-out aggression to becoming a measured player. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So like I said, it's a fresh page for him tomorrow. Opportunity to go and do well. Scored a hundred here against England not too long ago. So for him, it's just tapping into those little videos and looking at his feel-good moments and building a blueprint and knowing he's starting on zero tomorrow. It's a new opportunity for him and for him to make him play, said Morkel. Article Source: IANS

DY Patil T20 Cup: Atharva Taide, Luvnith Sisodia Take Canara Bank Into Semi-finals

At DY Patil University Ground: Atharva Taide and Luvnith Sisodia shared a 122-run opening stand as Canara Bank beat Reliance by six wickets to reach the semi-finals of the 20th DY Patil T20 Cup on Wednesday. Reliance, put in to bat at the DY Patil Stadium, made 151/9 with Mayank Rawat top-scoring via 54 off 41 balls, laced with five fours and two sixes. He also got decent support from seam-bowling all-rounder Raj Angad Bawa, who made 30 not out. In the chase, Vidarbha batter Taide replied with a blistering 76 off 37 deliveries, with 12 boundaries and two sixes, while Karnataka wicketkeeper-batter Sisodia finished unbeaten on 53 off 41 balls, laced with eight boundaries. Skipper KV Siddharth added 21 not out to see Canara Bank home after a brief wobble happened post the Taide-Sisodia stand. Rawat also impressed with the ball, taking 4-23, though it ended in vain. Meanwhile, at the DY Patil University Ground, Rugved More struck 64 off 35 balls, laced with seven fours and three sixes, as Mumbai Customs defeated Jain Irrigation by six wickets. Jain Irrigation posted 181/8 in their 20 overs, as Jay Bista top-scored with 38, but Customs chased down the target in 18.4 overs. Brief Scores Meanwhile, at the DY Patil University Ground, Rugved More struck 64 off 35 balls, laced with seven fours and three sixes, as Mumbai Customs defeated Jain Irrigation by six wickets. Jain Irrigation posted 181/8 in their 20 overs, as Jay Bista top-scored with 38, but Customs chased down the target in 18.4 overs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score At DY Patil University Ground - Jain Irrigation 181/8 in 20 overs (Jay Bista 38, Madhav Tiwari 34 not out; Aishwarya Surve 3-38) lost to Mumbai Customs 182/4 in 18.4 overs (Rugved More 64, Parag Khanapurkar 41; Madhav Tiwari 2-29) by six wickets Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Fielding Is An Area Of Concern, And We Are Working On That, Says Morkel Ahead Of Semis Clash

T20 World Cup England: Dropped catches, Abhishek Sharma's struggles with a new batting approach, the bowlers' inability to contain the batters and conceding 170-plus scores in the last few matches, the pitch and dew factors -- all issues bothering the Indian team cropped up in the pre-match press conference by bowling coach Morne Morkel on the eve of their semifinal clash with England in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Morkel was also questioned on the team's learning from the previous two semifinal encounters with England in the T20 World Cup and the team's overall preparations for the last-four clash as it defends the title it won two years back in Barbados. The biggest concern was the team's poor catching as the team had dropped a few catches in the run-up to the semifinals, with opener Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh grassing a couple of catches each. India have dropped 13 catches in the competition so far, and any dropped opportunity in the semis will be akin to dropping the World Cup trophy. Obviously, fielding is something that we speak about a lot. I think at times we are guilty, if we are honest, of giving away maybe 15-20 runs in the field. So that is one aspect that we keep on working on and asking the guys to really step up on, said Morkel, adding that the players are aware of their mistakes and are working on them. He said the poor returns for opener Abhishek Shama and spinner Varun Chakravarthy are not a matter of concern for the team management, as they are quality players and they are bound to have an off-day or two in a season. The bowling coach disagreed that the Indian team is a bit too dependent on mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, and once he is sorted out by the opponent team, they tend to concede a lot of runs. If you look at the scores in the World Cup and the series, it has been good wickets. So I don't know if you expect us to bowl every team out for 120, 150. We are in the semifinal, and we have won most of our games. And the guys have done well. These are times when I can remember that we had Rinku and Tilak bowling in certain games, and Booms(Jasprit Bumrah) and those guys not bowling their full quota. So I think for us, it is not how you get to the semifinals. It is the next two games, and how we are going to play there. And players, they play well. We know the margins are small in India, bowling especially. So I don't read too much into that, said Morkel. The Indian bowling coach also debunked the assertion that the team has not been able to put things together and has not had a perfect game so far in this World Cup. I think the quality of this team has been shown that on any given day, somebody can put their hand up and put up a performance. Hopefully, in the last two games, especially tomorrow night, we can put that special performance in. All we can do is work hard at training. Unfortunately, we all know how the game goes; success is never guaranteed, but if we can give ourselves the best chance to go out and perform, that is what we strive for. A big occasion tomorrow night here, the semifinal, a great stadium to play a great game of cricket, so hopefully the boys can rock up tomorrow and just be calm and execute those skills, said Morkel. The former South African pace bowler said they were not thinking about the pitch even though India had struggled at the Wankhede Stadium in their opening match of the T20 World Cup England, Reduced to 76/7, India recovered thanks to a brilliant 84 by skipper Suryakumar Yadav to post a competitive total after which the bowlers did their bit to ensure the hosts made a winning start. Morkel said, To be honest, we're not quite sure a day out how the wicket is going to play, and went on to add that they will get a good idea only on Thursday morning, as the ground staff has watered it a bit to ensure it does not become too dry, considering the hot and humid conditions. I'm pretty sure you experience walking here, it's a lot hotter all of a sudden in India, so in terms of moisture and allowing the wicket not to dry out, I think it's going to be key to play well. That's something we can't control. We try to keep our bases covered as best as possible. Morkel said, To be honest, we're not quite sure a day out how the wicket is going to play, and went on to add that they will get a good idea only on Thursday morning, as the ground staff has watered it a bit to ensure it does not become too dry, considering the hot and humid conditions. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Though both India and England play an all-out aggressive game, Morkel said the team management is not thinking of changing their approach for the semifinal. He said they will continue to play as per their plan, and the players will try to play their natural game. Article Source: IANS

'We Are Dropping Quite A Few Catches': Parthiv Patel Flags India's Key Worry Ahead Of T20 WC Semis

ICC T20 World Cup: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has raised concerns over Indias fielding lapses despite their strong run in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, saying the team needs to address the issue urgently ahead of the semifinal against England to be played at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. India have been one of the worst catching sides in the ongoing tournament. Suryakumar Yadav's side has dropped 13 catches across the competition. Indias catching efficiency has plummeted to a tournament-low 72.7%. Surprisingly, Pakistan, often criticized for its fielding, sits comfortably higher with an 83.3% success rate. One concern I feel is the fielding and not just the way India fielded in the game at Eden Gardens. It has been happening for almost a year and a half. We are dropping quite a few catches. That is something India would definitely like to work on, Patel told Jio Hotstar India booked their semifinal berth after a hard-fought win over the West Indies at the Eden Gardens, successfully chasing a target in excess of 190. Patel described it as a massive result for the team. It was an outstanding win. It will be a great confidence booster for India going forward. India won the toss and decided to bowl first, thinking there would be a lot of dew. When the game finished, there was no dew at all, but the conditions did get slightly better. In a knockout game, chasing in excess of 190, someone needed to play an outstanding knock, and Sanju Samson did that, Parthiv said. The Captain took his hat off. He has scored a lot of hundreds in international cricket, but to me, this innings was right up there. Skill-wise, we all know that Sanju Samson is a very talented batter, but fighting those mental battles is very difficult. I thought Sanju Samson did that really well. He also spoke about how his experience came into the fold. I thought it was a very mature innings. He always looked in control. He did not try to hit the ball hard. He will remember this innings for a long time, he added Patel also reserved special praise for pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who is taking crucial wickets at times and putting the pressure on the opposition. Bumrah is not a banker. He is the bank. The way he comes out and bowls, when you want to take a wicket against an in-form Hetmyer, he comes in and takes his wicket, then gets a set Roston Chase. Obviously, India has looked up to Jasprit Bumrah most of the time, and he has never disappointed. That is what he does most often. You are playing in a format right now, in this era, where the only way you can stop a batter is by getting him out, and Jasprit Bumrah does that. Patel also reserved special praise for pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who is taking crucial wickets at times and putting the pressure on the opposition. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India obviously need to get England's dangerous batters out as quickly as possible. You have Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, who is due for runs and likes the Wankhede Stadium. Then you have Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook. So, they have a good, solid line-up. It is a good all-round team. Obviously, against England, India will have to be at the top of their game, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

Abhishek Continues Reign At No. 1, Ishan, Bumrah Rise

South Africans Ryan Rickelton: Abhishek Sharma's position as the top T20I batter has weakened as Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan advanced in the latest ICC Men's T20I Player rankings, inching closer to the top spot. However, Ishan Kishan has jumped another spot to rise to fourth place. Farhan made history as the first player to score two centuries in a single ICC Men's T20 World Cup, achieving a superb hundred against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. This performance helped him climb one spot in the T20I batting rankings to second position, reaching a new career-high rating in the latest update. Abhishek now leads Farhan by 26 points at the top of the batter rankings. The Pakistan opener moved ahead of England's Phil Salt and narrowed the gap with his Indian counterpart after scoring a total of 383 runs at the T20 World Cup. The latest rankings show significant changes after the Super Eights stage of the T20 World Cup. Indias Ishan Kishan moved up to fourth, and Tilak Varma rose to sixth among T20I batters. Additionally, South Africas Dewald Brevis gained one spot, now ranked eighth. Zimbabwe's star performer Brian Bennett climbs six spots to 11th overall, tallying 292 runs in the tournament. Meanwhile, South Africans Ryan Rickelton advances two places to 13th, and Aiden Markram moves up four spots to 16th, as both continue to improve their standings. It's a similar story at the top of the T20I bowler rankings, with India spinner Varun Chakravarthy's lead now reduced to just 18 rating points as the knockout stages of the T20 World Cup approach. Chakravarthy has taken 12 wickets so far in the tournament and maintains a narrow lead at the top of the rankings. Meanwhile, Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed moves up two spots to third overall, closing the gap. India celebrates progress with Jasprit Bumrah moving up one spot to seventh and Arshdeep Singh climbing six places to 13th. Englands Liam Dawson advances nine positions to tie for 14th, while South Africa's Lungi Ngidi improves six spots to reach 20th. Chakravarthy has taken 12 wickets so far in the tournament and maintains a narrow lead at the top of the rankings. Meanwhile, Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed moves up two spots to third overall, closing the gap. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Another significant rise among T20I all-rounders was Jason Holder, the West Indies veteran, who climbed eight spots to reach 11th after a strong T20 World Cup with both bat and ball. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: Axar, Abhishek And Kishan Visit Siddhivinayak Temple Ahead Of SF

Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple: Members of the Indian mens cricket team visited the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple on Wednesday to seek blessings of Lord Ganesha ahead of their crucial ICC T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal clash against England at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Among those who offered prayers were Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma. The players took darshan at the shrine as the team geared up for one of its most important matches of the tournament. The three players offered prayers and took part in rituals as they sought blessings and positive energy ahead of the crucial encounter. Abhishek is struggling for runs in the T20 World Cup 2026 as he has scored only one half-century in six matches he has played so far, while Kishan started well in the group stage, but didn't get the runs in the Super 8s. Axar is also not able to make a big impact. India have had a strong campaign so far in the ongoing World Cup, winning six of their seven matches, with their only setback being a 76-run loss to South Africa in the Super 8 stage. Abhishek is struggling for runs in the T20 World Cup 2026 as he has scored only one half-century in six matches he has played so far, while Kishan started well in the group stage, but didn't get the runs in the Super 8s. Axar is also not able to make a big impact. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Meanwhile, England is also coming to the match with a great performance in the ongoing mega tournament. The two-time champions remained on top in their Super 8s group with three wins in three matches, and Harry Brook-led team would like to continue the momentum against the defending champions. Article Source: IANS

Fit And Firing Maxwell Hopeful For T20 WC 2028, LA Olympics, Refuses To Set Retirement Timeline

T20 World Cup: Veteran Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has made it clear that he is not ready to draw the curtain on his T20I career, keeping the 2028 T20 World Cup and the Los Angeles Olympics in his plans. Maxwell, 37, would be 40 when Australia hosts the 2028 T20 World Cup, scheduled just months after crickets return at the Los Angeles Olympics. While questions have surfaced about his longevity, particularly after Australias group-stage exit at the recent T20 World Cup and a dip in personal form, the dynamic all-rounder says he is in no rush to make a call on his future. I think not making a decision around my future was probably based more on what's to come over the next 12 months. There's not a whole lot of T20 cricket planned, so there's probably no need to make any sort of formal announcements and just see how my body's going and see how I'm travelling, and if there's an opportunity to play in the future, hopefully I'm fit and firing, Maxwell told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday. Australia have a limited T20I schedule before August 2027, with just eight bilateral matches currently lined up, and Maxwell has already stepped away from ODI cricket. Despite that, he remains hopeful of extending his international T20 career. When asked directly whether he believed he could feature at the 2028 Olympics and T20 World Cup, Maxwell was optimistic but cautious. Fit and firing? Hopefully. But yeah, not setting any dates. I felt like I got better and better throughout the World Cup. I probably more judge it on how I'm running around the field and how I'm feeling, probably more so than any statistics regarding wickets and runs. And I just felt like I was able to get through games a lot easier. Felt like I was playing my role as well as I could, and felt like I still had plenty to offer, he said. Maxwells recent numbers have been modest, with low returns in both T20Is and the Big Bash League, though he believes his overall contribution goes beyond raw statistics. Australias next T20I engagement is a three-match series against Bangladesh in June, part of a broader tour that also includes ODIs in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Maxwell confirmed he has been in dialogue with selectors regarding those plans. We've had some discussions about what the next little bit looks like, and we'll continue to have really open and fluid discussions going forward. As I said, if I'm fit and firing and available, I'll be ready, he said. In the meantime, Maxwell will remain active on the franchise circuit. He has signed a two-year extension with the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League and is set to feature in the Pakistan Super League, Major League Cricket and a new Europe-based T20 competition later this year. Maxwell will represent the Hyderabad Kingsmen in the PSL, marking his first appearance in the tournament. We've had some discussions about what the next little bit looks like, and we'll continue to have really open and fluid discussions going forward. As I said, if I'm fit and firing and available, I'll be ready, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So probably bridges a timing gap beautifully. And getting the opportunity to get to a new team and start at the start with someone I really like those opportunities. I think to start with a team from the very start is nice to be able to be a part and build a brand, he mentioned. Article Source: IANS

100-Day Countdown Begins For ICC Women's T20 WC As Iconic Venues Light Up Scoreboards

Old Trafford Cricket Ground: The countdown to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 officially began on Wednesday, with iconic scoreboards across the world marking 100 days to go until the opening match in England and Wales. The celebrations were led by Edgbaston, the tournaments opening venue, where the famous Birmingham ground transformed its historic scoreboard into a giant 100-day countdown clock. The first ball of the competition will be bowled there on June 12, when hosts England face Sri Lanka. England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt was present at Edgbaston for the milestone moment, joined by teammates Sophia Dunkley and Lauren Filer. The trio helped usher in the final stretch before the global showpiece begins, with organisers promising a celebration of elite womens cricket across the country. Scoreboards across all host venues in the United Kingdom joined the moment, including Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Headingley, Hampshire Bowl, Bristol County Ground, The Oval and Lord's Cricket Ground. The countdown extended well beyond British shores. Prominent cricket venues such as Sydney Cricket Ground, Eden Gardens, Basin Reserve, Gaddafi Stadium, Wanderers Stadium, R. Premadasa Stadium and Kensington Oval also illuminated their scoreboards in solidarity, underscoring the tournaments global significance. Tournament Director Beth Barrett-Wild said the event is poised to be a landmark occasion. With more than 115,000 tickets already sold, organisers believe momentum is building rapidly ahead of the 24-day competition, which runs from June 12 to July 5, 2026. The expanded 12-team tournament will feature 33 matches across seven top-tier venues in England and Wales, namely Edgbaston (Birmingham), Old Trafford Cricket Ground (Manchester), Headingley (Leeds), Hampshire Bowl (Southampton), Bristol County Ground (Bristol), The Oval (London), and Lords (London). Tournament Director Beth Barrett-Wild said the event is poised to be a landmark occasion. With more than 115,000 tickets already sold, organisers believe momentum is building rapidly ahead of the 24-day competition, which runs from June 12 to July 5, 2026. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With anticipation rising and tickets selling fast, the 100-day milestone signals the start of the final push towards what promises to be one of the biggest sporting spectacles of 2026. Article Source: IANS

Cricket Will Only Expand Globally Under Your Leadership: Lalit Modi Praises Jay Shah

Indian Premier League: Lalit Modi, founder of the Indian Premier League, has lauded International Cricket Council chairman Jay Shah after the record-breaking viewership of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Reposting Jay Shahs announcement that the tournament had crossed 500 million viewers in India, Modi hailed the achievement and underlined Indias influence in global cricket. Thats the power that India brings to the cricket world. An amazing job is being done by you and your team despite countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan trying to hold the game to ransom. I am sure under your leadership, as shown at this World Cup, cricket will only grow globally,' Modi wrote on X. Modi also predicted increasing strain on the international calendar due to the rise of franchise leagues. The international level games will continue to come under pressure from domestic leagues like IPL, CPL, Big Bash League, southafrican league; luckily one does not need to worry about the hundred, MLC and others that will die slowly anyway, he wrote. Turning his focus to crickets Olympic future, Modi added, But the ICC now is embarking on its most ambitious journey ahead with taking the much-loved sport #cricket onto a global stage the Olympics in Los Angeles will expose the game to a whole new audience and new generations of children not yet exposed to our game. He also stirred debate with strong remarks about one-day cricket, questioning the relevance of the format, and urged the ICC to do away with the 50-over format. Modi also predicted increasing strain on the international calendar due to the rise of franchise leagues. The international level games will continue to come under pressure from domestic leagues like IPL, CPL, Big Bash League, southafrican league; luckily one does not need to worry about the hundred, MLC and others that will die slowly anyway, he wrote. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With country duty/ICC tournaments a must appearance and their own domestic tournaments which they need to partake in, and ofcourse, not to forget a tournament no one can even think about MISSING is the only future game in town the IPL for 1. The money they can make. No. 2. the viewership. No 3 its competitiveness. The same has evolved in all major sports. Careful consideration to the FTP must address these issues, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

How India Have Fared In The Semifinals In T20 World Cups

Shere Bangla National Stadium: Team India are set for their sixth semi-final appearance in 10 editions of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup and will face England in the knockout game here at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday with an aim to defend their World Cup crown. The Men in Blue first made it to the top four in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2007, where they beat Australia by 15 runs in Durban to confirm the final against arch-rivals Pakistan. India posted 157/5 in 20 overs riding on the current head coach Gautam Gambhirs 75-run knock. Later, top bowling performances by RP Singh and Irfan Pathan helped the then MS Dhoni-led side beat their neighbours in Johannesburg to lift their maiden T20 World Cup title. The 2007 champions then failed to reach the top four in the next three editions in 2009, 2010, and 2012. They played their second T20 World Cup semi-final in 2014, where Virat Kohlis 72 not out helped India overcome the challenge against South Africa in Mirpur. India played their second final of the tournament against Sri Lanka at Dhakas Shere Bangla National Stadium, with Kohli bringing up yet another memorable knock of 77 off 58 balls. However, efforts went in vain as the islanders chased down the 131-run target in 17.5 overs to hand Dhoni and Co. a defeat. Team India reached the semi-final for a second time in a row in the 2016 edition of the tournament, in what was their home World Cup, only to lose to the eventual champions West Indies by seven wickets in Mumbai. Their fourth semi-final appearance came in 2022, when the tournament was hosted by the then-defending champions Australia. It was the first time that India faced England in a T20 World Cup knockout game. England restricted India to 168/6 after choosing to bowl first, with Virat Kohli scoring a half-century and Hardik Pandya smashing 63 off 33 balls, while Chris Jordan took three wickets. In reply, Englands openers Alex Hales and Jos Buttler dominated, chasing the target without losing a wicket and sealing a comprehensive 10-wicket win with four overs to spare, handing India a crushing defeat before going on to lift the title by beating Pakistan in the final. The two sides faced off again for a second consecutive semi-final date in the 2024 edition of the tournament, co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies. This time, India got the chance to settle the score and avenge their 2022 loss. Batting first, India scored 171/20 overs, led by Rohit Sharmas 57, with key contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (47) and Hardik Pandya (23 off 13). England restricted India to 168/6 after choosing to bowl first, with Virat Kohli scoring a half-century and Hardik Pandya smashing 63 off 33 balls, while Chris Jordan took three wickets. In reply, Englands openers Alex Hales and Jos Buttler dominated, chasing the target without losing a wicket and sealing a comprehensive 10-wicket win with four overs to spare, handing India a crushing defeat before going on to lift the title by beating Pakistan in the final. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The two sides are now set for a third consecutive T20 World Cup semi-final face-off. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: A Look At Englands Semi-final Performances

T20 World Cup: England are all set to play the semi-final for the sixth time in 10 editions of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup, also their fourth consecutive time, and will face India in the knockout game here at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Both teams have won the title twice, and one of them will move closer to their dream of lifting the coveted cup for a record third time. The Englishmen first made it to the top four in 2010, the third edition of the tournament, where they beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets at the Beausejour Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia. Chasing a lowly target of just 129 runs, England chased down the total with four overs to spare, making it a rather one-sided victory. They then faced Australia in the final at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, and went on to beat their arch-rivals by seven wickets, chasing the 148-run target in just 17 overs to lift their maiden T20 World Cup trophy. England's second semi-final appearance came in the 2016 edition, hosted by India, where they beat New Zealand by seven wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi to confirm themselves a final date against eventual champions West Indies. They faced New Zealand again in the next semi-final of the 2021 edition, played in the UAE, but lost by five wickets after failing to defend the 167-run target they posted. Englands next two semi-final appearances came in the 2022 and 2024 editions of the tournament, where they faced India on both occasions. They faced New Zealand again in the next semi-final of the 2021 edition, played in the UAE, but lost by five wickets after failing to defend the 167-run target they posted. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Notably, in both recent editions, the winner of the India-England semi-final has gone on to become world champion, a statistical trend that adds further weight to Thursdays contest. Article Source: IANS

T20 WC: India Bank On Stats, Home Support In Third SF In A Row With England

T20 World Cup: India and England have both won the T20 World Cup twice, and they have faced off in the semifinals twice, with one win apiece. Interestingly, the team that won their semifinal clash went on to win the final that year and pocketed the title. As the two giants of world cricket get ready for their third semifinal encounter in three editions at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, both will be eyeing records -- hoping to become the first nation to win the ICC Men's T20 World Cup thrice. Currently, besides India and England, the West Indies have won two titles. India and England met in the semifinals of the 2022 edition, with the latter winning by 10 wickets. England then went on to overcome Pakistan by five wickets in the final to claim their second title. The script was reversed in the 2024 edition, with India beating England in the semifinal. Rohit Sharma's side then surged ahead to defeat South Africa in a tense finale to claim their second title. So, who will be lucky on the third call? The stats and conditions favour India, but England have shown pedigree and gumption to reach this far, and neither can be taken lightly. Overall, the two countries have clashed on 29 occasions in the T20 format, with India winning 17 matches and England claiming 12. India are eyeing a couple more records -- becoming the first country to defend their title in the T20 World Cup and the first host to lift the trophy. As their head-to-head record suggests, their clashes have not been easy-going by any measure, and Thursday's encounter will be the hardest-fought, as both sides will be going all-out in search of victory. They have taken contrasting paths to the semis -- England reaching the last-four stage the earliest as they finished undefeated in Group 2 of the Super 8 stage with five wins in a row. India lost to South Africa in the Super 8 stage and were the last team to secure their place in the last-four stage with a last-gasp victory over the West Indies in a must-win clash for both teams. The positions were reversed in the league stage. India topped Group A with an all-win record, while England went down against the Caribbean side and finished second in Pool C. Though the script will be renewed in the knockout semifinal at the Wankhede, the records and statistics will serve as extra motivation for both India and England. The hosts will also be banking on the vociferous support they expect from their supporters at fortress Wankhede, where the images of Dhoni's match-clinching six and Sachin Tendulkar being carried on their shoulders by his teammates after the triumph in the 2011 ODI World Cup are still vivid and immortalised. Though India struggled to make it to the semifinals, their penultimate match in the Super 8 stage brought them some relief as explosive opener Abhishek Sharma showed a welcome return to form with his maiden fifty of the T20 World Cup. Though he fell for 10 runs in the must-win clash with the West Indies, India found a new hero in Sanju Samson as he compiled an unbeaten 97 to guide the team to victory. That has been the case for India in the 2026 T20 World Cup -- they have found a different hero whenever needed. If it was skipper Suryakumar Yadav who rescued the hosts with a brilliant 84 in the opener against the USA, players like Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, and Hardik Pandya have stepped up to the plate when needed and made vital contributions. Skipper Suryakumar is their top scorer with 231 runs from seven matches, with Ishan Kishan second with 217 runs. On the bowling front, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav have made vital breakthroughs for the team. Chakravarthy is their leading wicket-taker with 12 scalps in, but there has not been one consistent dominant performance by anyone with the bat or ball. The same has been the case with England. They, too, have ridden on the shoulders of their bits-and-pieces players to reach this stage. As all-rounder Sam Curran admitted on Tuesday, they are still searching for that perfect game that would please everyone. Phil Salt, Jacob Bathel, Will Jacks, and skipper Harry Brook have made vital contributions, though the talismanic Jos Buttler has not been at his destructive best and has struggled for form. Harry Brook is their top scorer in this event so far with 228 runs. On the bowling front, England have been well served by spinner Adil Rashid, who is their most successful bowler thus far, with 11 wickets.

T20 WC 2026 Crosses 500 Mn Viewers In India, Highest Ever In Tournaments History: ICC Chief Jay Shah

The ICC Men: The ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 has created history, becoming the most-watched edition of the tournament in its storied history, with the viewership in India alone crossing 500 million, the highest ever for a T20 World Cup. In a post on X, Jay Shah wrote, The journey of the @ICC #T20WorldCup 2026 began with the ambition to make it the most global and accessible cricket event ever. I am humbled that viewership for the event in India has crossed 500 million, the highest ever for any T20 World Cup in history. It was also heartening to see concurrent viewers @JioHotstar hit a peak of 60.5 million. With Knock-out matches for the tournament starting tonight, we hope that the immeasurable love our events receive from Indian fans helps break more records. On the field, the 2026 edition has delivered high-intensity contests and dramatic turnarounds. The group stage featured 20 teams divided into four groups of five, with the top two from each group progressing to the Super Eights. Traditional heavyweights like Australia and Pakistan were tested early, while emerging sides like Zimbabwe and Nepal produced spirited performances that underlined the growing depth in global T20 cricket. The Super Eights stage further intensified the competition. The eight qualified teams, namely India, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa, England, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Pakistan, were split into two groups of four, with only the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. Several matches went down to the wire, and net run rate proved decisive in shaping the final standings. The four teams to reach the semi-finals are India, England, New Zealand and South Africa a line-up reflecting both pedigree and consistency. India will face England in a high-profile clash at Mumbais Wankhede Stadium, renewing a fierce rivalry, while New Zealand take on South Africa in the other knockout encounter at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Both fixtures promise explosive batting, tactical battles and high-pressure drama, with a place in the final at stake. The ICCs streaming service, which serves fans in growth territories, set a new concurrent streaming record during the Super 8 fixture between India and the West Indies, surpassing the previous peak achieved during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 final. Both fixtures promise explosive batting, tactical battles and high-pressure drama, with a place in the final at stake. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Across social media platforms, the ICC has surpassed 10 billion video views and remains on track to exceed the 16 billion video views achieved in 2024. Article Source: IANS