T20I Series: Sri Lanka Bring Mendis As Stand-by After Fernando Hospitalised For Chest Infection

Pallekele International Cricket Stadium: Ahead of their T20I series against India commencing on Saturday, Sri Lanka have brought in off-spinner Ramesh Mendis as a stand-by player due to fast-bowler Binura Fernando being hospitalised. A statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Friday said left-arm fast-bowler Fernando has been hospitalised because of a chest infection. Subsequently, they have now brought Mendis into the Charith Asalanka-led T20I squad as a standby player. Fernando had earned a return to Sri Lankas T20I squad by picking up 13 wickets across eight games at a miserly economic rate of 6.81 for Colombo Strikers in the 2024 Lanka Premier League (LPL). Mendis, the stand-by player, has only played two T20Is for Sri Lanka, picking just one wicket. A statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Friday said left-arm fast-bowler Fernando has been hospitalised because of a chest infection. Subsequently, they have now brought Mendis into the Charith Asalanka-led T20I squad as a standby player. Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy India begin their tour of Sri Lanka with back-to-back T20Is on July 27 and 28, followed by the third game on July 30 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The scene then shifts to the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo hosting three ODIs on August 2, 4 and 7 respectively.

Watch: Dravid's Surprise Message Makes Gambhir Emotional Ahead Of 1st T20I

Gautam Gambhir received a surprise message from Rahul Dravid as the former begins his stint as Team India's head coach.

Paris Olympic Games get off to a thunderous start, crowds go 'Gaga' over Nadal

For the first time in the history of the Olympic Summer Games, the Opening Ceremony didn't take place in a stadium; it was held in the heart of the city along its main artery: the Seine river.

ENG vs WI: West Indies' Treble Strike Rocks England In Third Test

Jason Holder produced a fine all-round display as the West Indies took three late wickets, including both England openers with successive deliveries, in a stirring fightback on Friday's opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston. Holder's 59 helped turn the West Indies' 115-5 into a total of 282 all out as they looked to restore some pride, having already lost this three-match series at 2-0 down. And the towering all-rounder then held two fine slip catches as England slumped to 38-3 at stumps, a deficit of 244 runs. Zak Crawley fell for eight when he edged a loose drive off fast bowler Jayden Seales, with Holder holding a sharp chance to his left at second slip. England were now 29-1 off four overs exactly and next ball Crawley's opening partner, Ben Duckett, played on to Alzarri Joseph. England had sent in Mark Wood as a nightwatchman after Crawley's exit but he fell for a duck when edging Seales low to Holder. Seales had figures of 2-19 in four overs at the close, with Ollie Pope and Joe Root -- who both made hundreds in England's 241-run win in the second Test at Trent Bridge -- set to resume on Saturday. When you look at the pace of that wicket you'd think the batters would get in and go deep, said Holder. Unfortunately none of our batters were able to do that but we got a fair few starts. - 'Give everything' - But West Indies' total looked far healthier as they hit back with the ball in an action-packed eight overs spanning some 40 minutes. It was a bonus to get three wickets, said the 32-year-old Holder, appearing in his 67th Test. At that stage the runs are irrelevant, we could just attack. With 40 minutes to bowl you can run in and give everything you can. England paceman Chris Woakes, like many at Edgbaston, thought it was going to be England's day after he took 3-69 on his Warwickshire home ground. When we bowled them out, I was really happy, said Woakes. Obviously, to lose three tonight is not ideal, not the perfect end to the day, I suppose. Earlier, West Indies were well-placed 76-0 after captain Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss beneath blue skies on a good batting pitch. But they then suffered yet another of the collapses that had been their undoing in the first two Tests as five wickets fell either side of lunch. Former captain Holder, however, found a solid ally in Joshua Da Silva (49) as the duo kept England at bay with a sixth-wicket partnership of 109. But the remainder of the innings fell away tamely, with fast bowler Gus Atkinson taking 4-67 in 20 overs. After a watchful beginning, Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis played several fine shots, with the skipper completing a 70-ball fifty, including six fours. But England hit back when Louis (26) fended at Atkinson to give wicketkeeper Jamie Smith a simple catch. New batsman Kirk McKenzie, only half forward, was clean bowled by a 91mph (146 kph) full-length delivery from express quick Wood. And to the last ball of the session, Alick Athanaze carelessly bottom-edged an attempted pull off Atkinson onto his stumps, leaving the West Indies 97-3 at lunch. Brathwaite, 56 not out at the interval, had added just five more runs when he gloved an attempted pull off Wood down the legside to Smith. And 115-4 became 115-5 when Kavem Hodge, who made a maiden Test century at Trent Bridge, deliberately left a Woakes delivery only for the ball to hit the top of off stump. But Holder counter-attacked by hitting 20-year-old off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who took a match-winning 5-41 at Trent Bridge, for several boundaries including a superb straight six. Holder went on to a 92-ball fifty, also including six fours. Da Silva, however, fell one shy of the landmark when caught behind off Woakes to leave the West Indies 224-6. Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy And Holder's innings ended in decisive fashion when Atkinson flattened his off stump.

Matthew Mott's England Future Uncertain As ECB Chief Fails To Offer Support

Matthew Mott's future as head coach of the England men's white-ball team was left hanging in the air after the chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) failed to offer the under-pressure Australian the dreaded vote of confidence on Friday. The 50-year-old Mott, previously in charge of the all-conquering Australian women's side, has seen his position come under intense scrutiny after disappointing England title defences in both last year's 50-over World Cup and the more recent T20 World Cup. Both Mott and white-ball captain Jos Buttler have faced searching questions about their leadership, with several British media reports saying both men could lose their respective posts. ECB chief Richard Gould did little to stem the tide of speculation when speaking to BBC Radio on the opening day of the third Test between England and the West Indies at Edgbaston. He did confirm, however, that it was certainly not true to say Mott had already been sacked, with Gould also telling the BBC's Test Match Special programme: We are always assessing options. That's what happens in high performance sport. You're always assessing your options but you never want to be drawn into giving the dreaded vote of confidence or anything like that, added Gould, the son of former professional footballer and manager Bobby Gould. That's what competitive sport is, it always brings scrutiny and decisions. We always want to make sure we do the right thing by the sport, the team and the individuals. We'll always use whatever time we've got to make the best decisions possible; we won't be pressured into anything other than that. Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy England certainly have no need to make an immediate decision regarding their white-ball coach and captain as they are not in limited-overs action again until the first of eight matches -- three Twenty20 internationals and five one-day internationals -- at home to arch-rivals Australia in September.

Zimbabwe Keeper Clive Madande Sets New Test Record Of 42 Byes Against Ireland

Zimbabwe wicketkeeper Clive Madande broke a 90-year unwanted record when he conceded 42 byes in a Test innings against Ireland on Friday. The runs given away by the 24-year-old Madande, enduring a tough debut after he was out for a duck on Thursday's first day at Stormont, were more than Ireland's 40-run first-innings lead as they made 250 in reply to Zimbabwe's 210. The byes were not entirely his fault as he had to deal with his bowlers sending several deliveries down the legside as well as late swing after the ball had passed the bat. One consolation for Madande was the record he surpassed was set by England's Les Ames -- widely regarded as one of cricket's greatest wicketkeeper-batsmen -- who gave away 37 byes in Australia's total of 327 in a Test at The Oval back in 1934. Zimbabwe might still have led on first innings but for a last-wicket stand of 47 between Andy McBrine (28) and Matthew Humphreys (27 not out). Joylord Gumbie and Prince Masvaure then batted out the final 15 minutes to leave Zimbabwe 12-0 in their second innings at stumps on a rain-marred second day of this one-off Test, a deficit of 28 runs. Earlier, former Zimbabwe international Peter Moor top-scored for Ireland with 79. It was the highest Test score by an Ireland opener in Tests, with Moor falling just four short of his best, which came when playing for Zimbabwe in 2018. Zimbabwe's Tanaka Chivanga (3-39) took his first three Test wickets in what is just his second match at this level, while fellow paceman Blessing Muzarabani also impressed with 3-53. Brief scores, close on day two: Zimbabwe 210 (P Masvaure 74, J Gumbie 49; A McBrine 3-37, B McCarthy 3-42) and 12-0 v Ireland 250 (P Moor 79; T Chivanga 3-59, B Muzarabani 3-53) Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy Match position: Zimbabwe are 28 runs behind with all 10 second-innings wickets standing

We Went To India, Now...: Ex-Pak Star's Passionate Champions Trophy Plea

Champions Trophy 2025: It has been reported that the Indian government is unlikely to give travel clearance to the team for the tournament in Pakistan.

Chris Green's smash-and-grab sends Trent Rockets soaring against Northern Superchargers

Australian stars with bat, ball and in the field in one-off appearance to ruin Flintoff coaching debut

PIX: France Wows With Spectacular Olympics Opening

France showcased its cultural diversity, spirit of revolution, impeccable craftsmanship, and architectural heritage in a riveting opening ceremony for the 33rd Olympic Games.

PIX: Flag bearers Sindhu, Kamal lead India in parade

For the first time in Olympic history, the Opening Ceremony is being held on the banks of the river Seine. More than 6,500 athletes in around 90 boats will sail past the iconic monuments of Paris.

Andrew Umeed 114* leads Somerset to narrow victory

Archie Vaughan run out without facing a ball on senior debut in Taunton

Zimbabwe to receive touring fee from ECB for 2025 visit

Richard Gould says England have huge responsibility to maintain strength of bilateral cricket

Ireland, Zimbabwe go toe to toe on error-strewn day

Moor and extras were the highest scorers for Ireland while Chivanga and Muzarabani starred with ball

Chris Woakes says newcomer Gus Atkinson making Test cricket look quite easy

Atkinson has taken 20 wickets in five innings since making his England Test debut. The post Chris Woakes says newcomer Gus Atkinson making Test cricket look quite easy appeared first on Cricket365 .

SL Edge Out Pakistan By 3 Wickets, To Face India In Women's Asia Cup Final

Skipper Chamari Athapaththu's diligent fifty propelled Sri Lanka to a thrilling three-wicket win over Pakistan in the second semifinal of the women's Asia Cup in Dambulla on Friday

Ben Brown bosses Northants with superb unbeaten hundred

Jack and Prest in the wickets for Hampshire to complete 71-run win

Sri Lanka pull off tense last ball win over Pakistan

Skipper Chamari Athapaththu's diligent fifty propelled Sri Lanka to a thrilling three-wicket win over Pakistan in the second semifinal of the women's Asia Cup in Dambulla, Sri Lanka on Friday

King channels Warne as Rockets blast off at Headingley

Legspinner's first ball of the season pitches outside leg and hits off as Superchargers slip to defeat

Venkatesh Iyer follows in footsteps of Ganguly, Laxman by joining Lancashire

MANCHESTER: India and Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer on Friday joined Lancashire for a short stint comprising two Division One matches and One-Day Cup scheduled for next month, the English county announced. Iyer, who was a member of the IPL winning KKR side, has played two ODIs and nine T20Is for India. He has also played 20 first-class matches and 43 List-A games. The batting all-rounder joins the Club on an initial contract for the One-Day Cup and the following two rounds of County Championship matches in late-August, Lancashire said on their website. Lancashire is a very historic county with a long history of welcoming Indian players to their club. I am looking forward to emulating the likes of Farokh Engineer, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and most recently Washington Sundar in wearing the Red Rose colours at Old Trafford, Iyer said in a statement. To test my skills in both one-day and first-class cricket in English conditions is going to really benefit my game, he added. Lancashire's director of cricket performance Mark Chilton said, He comes highly recommended after playing alongside Phil Salt during this year's IPL and we are excited to see what he can bring to our side during the next month. Venkatesh will add experience to a young side during the One-Day Cup, whilst providing an explosive batting option in the middle-order and another seam bowler that we can turn to with the ball. He will also be available for our County Championship matches against Surrey and Hampshire towards the end of August and gives us another high-quality overseas option to select from, he said.

Ed Barnard sets up rout, as Will Rhodes and Hamza Shaikh seal it for Warwickshire

Leicestershire rolled aside for 88 in one-sided encounter at Grace Road

Ben Slater, Haseeb Hameed centuries pound Sussex in eight-wicket win

Nottinghamshire romp to victory with 50 balls to spare to atone for opening loss

Venkatesh Iyer Joins Lancashire For A Short Stint

Venkatesh Iyer on Friday joined Lancashire for a short stint comprising two Division One matches and One-Day Cup scheduled for next month.

Paris Olympics: The long road to equal participation at the Games

It has taken more than a century for different sports disciplines, ruled mostly by men, to slowly concede and let female athletes compete.

SL v IND: Our bond has always been special, says Suryakumar on relationship with Gambhir

Pallekele (Sri Lanka), July 26: Ahead of starting the T20I series against Sri Lanka on Saturday, India captain Suryakumar Yadav glowingly spoke about his working relationship with new head coach Gautam Gambhir, saying his bonding with him has always been special. Suryakumar pipped fast-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya for the leadership role after Rohit Sharma retired [] The post SL v IND: Our bond has always been special, says Suryakumar on relationship with Gambhir appeared first on The Shillong Times .

England take five wickets but West Indies put up a fight at Edgbaston

Heavy wins at Lords and Trent Bridge mean the hosts have already secured the series. The post England take five wickets but West Indies put up a fight at Edgbaston appeared first on Cricket365 .

Suryakumar looks to follow Rohit's aggressive template

Suryakumar Yadav, the newly-appointed T20I captain, asserted that India will continue to play the aggressive brand of cricket which hallmarked the regime of his predecessor Rohit Sharma.

Dhoni, Kohli And Rohit Snubbed As Bumrah Picks Greatest Ever India Captain

Jasprit Bumrah, India's premier fast bowler, has named the player who he thinks is the greatest Indian cricket captain ever.

Ind in SL: First look at new Indian leadership Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav

Much like India, Sri Lanka too comes into the series with a new coach and captain. But the circumstances couldnt be any dissimilar.

Is viral photo of Moon inside Olympics rings in violation of IOC or Eiffel Tower guidelines?

The click-worthy opportunity made some of the netizens recall the 2012 photograph when the Moon aligned with the Olympic rings on London's Tower Bridge.

Tendulkar, Pant pay tribute on 'Kargil Vijay Diiwas'

Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant on Friday paid their tributes to the brave hearts who sacrificed their lives for the country during the Kargil War back in 1999.

Chennai: Professional cricketer dies after jumping off Kathipara flyover

CHENNAI: A 23-year-old professional first division cricketer on Friday died by suicide after jumping from the Kathipara flyover, police said. The cricketer, identified as S Samuel Raj of Virugambakkam, was returning home on his two-wheeler after a practice session when he resorted to the extreme step. Passersby, who spotted a man jumping off the flyover, informed the police and called an ambulance. Subsequently, Samuel Raj was rushed to the Chromepet Government Hospital where he was declared dead. The body has been sent for postmortem. Due to the incident, traffic came to a halt along the flyover for nearly 45 minutes, the police said. No suicide note was left behind by Samuel Raj nor did he send any last-minute messages to his friends or family, police added. Quoting his friends, police sources investigating the case said that Samuel was seemingly disturbed for the past few days as he had not been selected for the state team as well as by franchises in the ongoing Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). We suspect that this might be the reason for his resorting to the extreme step, a police source said. Samuel was an MBA graduate who was part of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) XI side for the Buchi Babu tournament last year and led the South Zone side in the Vizzy trophy, a national-level tournament organised by the BCCI. Friends recalled him as a talented off-spinner in the mold of Indian great R Ashwin and a hard-working player who was totally committed to the game. He was a regular member of the top teams in TNCA's first division league for the past few years. Samuel Raj's death has left many aspiring cricketers in the city heartbroken. Many have expressed their shock and condolences. St Thomas Mount police have registered a case of unnatural death. (Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on TNs health helpline 104 and Snehas suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)

Illness a concern for Sri Lanka as they flag off new era alongside India

During the recently concluded LPL, spin held sway over pace in Pallekele - will that trend continue in this T20I series?

Sri Lanka opt to bowl in the semi-final against Pakistan; both teams unchanged

Athapaththu said they wanted to restrict Pakistan to 140 or less

Suryakumar Yadav: 'The same train will continue, only the engine has changed'

I'm going to play the way I've been playing so far, nothing will change, says India's new T20I captain

'Hardik as talented as Stokes, needs consistency'

Styris did not have any doubt over Pandya's talent but the Kiwi wanted him to infuse more consistency into his performances.

PHOTOS: Brathwaite stands firm as WI fight back

PHOTOS from the Third and final Test between England and West Indies at Edgbaston on Saturday

'Player management will be a challenge for Gambhir'

Patil, a member of India's World Cup winning team in 1983, hoped Gambhir will continue to have success at international level after excelling in the IPL.

In Hunt For IPL Title, PBKS Set To Hire Ex-RCB Star As Head Coach: Report

PBKS are IPL's perennial underachievers, with the franchise one of the four teams yet to win an IPL title.

West Indies lose three quick wickets before lunch to hand England initiative

Kraigg Brathwaite reached lunch on 56 not out. The post West Indies lose three quick wickets before lunch to hand England initiative appeared first on Cricket365 .

India Crushes Bangladesh by 10 Wickets to Secure Spot in Women's T20 Asia Cup Final

In a dazzling display of cricket, defending champions India defeated Bangladesh by a commanding 10 wickets to advance to the final of the Women's T20 Asia Cup held in Dambulla. The Indian team showcased exceptional performance with both bat and ball, ensuring a decisive victory. Chase Made Easy Set a modest target of 81 runs, India's opening batswomen, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, made light work of the chase. The duo reached the target in just 11 overs, comfortably finishing with 83 runs without losing a wicket. Mandhana was the standout performer, scoring a splendid 55 not out off 39 balls, which included nine boundaries and one six. Shafali Verma supported well, contributing an unbeaten 26 with two fours. Bowling Brilliance Earlier in the match, India's bowlers dominated proceedings. Renuka Singh Thakur and Radha Yadav were particularly impressive. Thakur dismantled Bangladeshs top order with exceptional figures of 3 for 10, while Yadav supported her well, taking 3 for 14. Their collective efforts restricted Bangladesh to a mere 80 runs for 8 wickets in their 20 overs. Match Summary Bangladesh: 80 for 8 in 20 overs (Nigar Sultana 32; Renuka Singh Thakur 3/10, Radha Yadav 3/14) India: 83 for no loss in 11 overs (Smriti Mandhana 55 not out, Shafali Verma 26 not out) With this performance, India has set themselves up for a thrilling final, continuing their impressive run in the Women's T20 Asia Cup. Sports News: Suryakumar Yadav Appointed Captain for Indian T20 Tour of Sri Lanka Disney Star Partners with ACC for Women's Asia Cup 2024 Broadcast India Begins Women's Asia Cup Title Defence Against Arch Rivals Pakistan

SA20: Durban's Super Giants Sign Kane Williamson, Chris Woakes For 2025 Season

T20I World Cups: Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and England all-rounder Chris Woakes have joined Durban's Super Giants for the SA20 2025 season. Both will feature in their first season of the tournament. The SA20 2025 season is scheduled from January 9 to February 8. The deadline for the retentions was July 21 while the last date for the direct signing is August 31. Recently, Williamson declined the New Zealand central contract and indicated his intentions to play in the SA20. There's a number of great competitions on during that time, but SA20 looks really exciting, Williamson had told reporters. Unfortunately, it meant turning down a central contract. However, my priority still is playing for New Zealand. Think I miss maybe a handful of games over a three-week period. Woakes has been a crucial member of England's white-ball team, especially when it comes to using the new ball in their victories in the 2019 ODI and 2022 T20I World Cups. However, he was not selected for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. There's a number of great competitions on during that time, but SA20 looks really exciting, Williamson had told reporters. Unfortunately, it meant turning down a central contract. However, my priority still is playing for New Zealand. Think I miss maybe a handful of games over a three-week period. Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy DSG finished as runners-up in the last edition of the tournament after losing to Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the final.

India crush B'desh to storm into Asia Cup final

In fact, Bangladesh hardly recovered from the deep wounds inflicted by Renuka in the first six overs.

Womens Asia Cup: Smriti, Renuka shine as India wallops Bangladesh by 10 wickets, enters final

Shafali (26 not out, 28b, 2x4) and Mandhana (55 not out, 39b, 9x4, 1x6) were on song from the word go, as India overhauled the target of 81 without breaking a sweat.

Womens Asia Cup: Bowlers, Smriti Help India Thrash Bangladesh, Storm Into Final (ld)

Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium: Renuka Singh Thakur and Radha Yadav took three wickets each at the start and end of the innings respectively, while vice-captain Smriti Mandhana smashed an unbeaten 55 as India stormed into the final of the Womens Asia Cup for the ninth time with a resounding ten-wicket thrashing of Bangladesh. At the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium on Friday, barring the toss result, everything went in Indias favour. Electing to bat first, Bangladesh didnt have a sound strategy to counter Indias bowling plans, which were outstanding from the word go and could only make 80/8. Renuka was back to providing early breakthroughs to pick an excellent 3-10, as she stuck to good lines and lengths while giving no freebies to bowl her four overs on the bounce. Radha was also the pick of the bowlers for India through her 3-14 and ensuring Bangladesh didnt have a big finish to their slow innings. Only captain Nigar Sultana (32) and Shorna Akter (19) showed some resistance for Bangladesh in a clueless batting innings. In reply, Smriti and Shafali Verma (26 not out) wrapped up Indias chase in 11 overs to maintain the sides unbeaten streak in the competition and enter Sundays title clash. Renuka got India their first scalp when Dilara Akters swing across the line found deep mid-wicket, just a ball after hitting a slog above the same region for six, followed by which captain Harmanpreet Kaur moved the fielder a little squarer to set a trap for the dismissal. Renuka struck again when Ishma Tanjim was lured into going for a half-hearted drive, and the ball ballooned off the outside edge to backward point. Bangladesh found themselves in huge trouble when in-form Murshida Khatun pulled a short ball straight to a short mid-wicket fielder. Nigar and Rumana Ahmed resorted to strike rotation for keeping the scoreboard moving at a snails pace. But left-arm spinner Radha struck on her first ball, getting the arm ball to go on straight after drifting in and castle Rumana through the gate. Pooja Vastrakar came back to have Rabeya Khan caught at mid-on, while Deepti Sharma had Ritu Moni stumped. Indias tight bowling meant they never let the pressure go off Bangladesh, who tried to diffuse it when Nigar and Shorna Akter hit three boundaries collectively. But Radha spoiled their plans of a big finish in the final over when Nigar holed out to long-on, making it the first time she was dismissed in the tournament, followed by castling Nahida Akter to end the first innings with a double-wicket maiden. Chasing a modest 81, Smriti began with a glorious drive for four off Marufa Akter, while Shafali got off the mark with a four swept over backward square-leg off Nahida Akter. Smriti sliced Marufa off the backfoot behind point for four, followed by Shafali slog-sweeping from outside off-stump to take another boundary. Smriti then pulled Jahanara Alam for a six, followed by sweeping Nahida for four and making room to loft the spinner elegantly for another boundary. Despite two boundary-less overs, India managed to get their second successive 50-run opening stand. A harmless short ball from Jahanara was pulled away nicely by Smriti for four, followed by creating room to loft Rabeya Khan in the gap through cover for another boundary and surviving a caught dismissal at 35 off Jahanara due to the delivery being a no-ball. Bangladesh could have got a wicket in the ninth over if Nahida hadnt dropped Shafalis catch at long-on. Smriti slow-swept Nahida for four and bisected deep square leg and deep mid-wicket to perfection. She reached her fifty in 38 balls with a delicate dab through the vacant short third man and finished Indias thumping win in style with a lofted four-pass cover. A harmless short ball from Jahanara was pulled away nicely by Smriti for four, followed by creating room to loft Rabeya Khan in the gap through cover for another boundary and surviving a caught dismissal at 35 off Jahanara due to the delivery being a no-ball. Bangladesh could have got a wicket in the ninth over if Nahida hadnt dropped Shafalis catch at long-on. Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy Bangladesh 80/8 in 20 overs (Nigar Sultana 32; Renuka Singh Thakur 3-10, Radha Yadav 3-14) lost to India 83/0 in 11 overs (Smriti Mandhana 55 not out, Shafali Verma 26 not out) by 10 wickets

Womens Asia Cup: Smriti's 55* Helps India Thrash Bangladesh, Reach Ninth Final

Women's Asia Cup 2024: Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana smashed an unbeaten 55 as India stormed into the final of the Womens Asia Cup for the ninth time with a resounding 10-wicket thrashing of Bangladesh at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium on Friday. SCORECARD The dominant victorys tone was set by Renuka Singh Thakur and Radha Yadav taking three wickets each as Bangladesh were restricted to just 80/8. Smriti and Shafali Verma (26 not out) wrapped up Indias chase in 11 overs to maintain the sides unbeaten streak in the competition. Chasing a modest 81, Smriti began with a glorious drive for four off Marufa Akter, while Shafali got off the mark with a four swept over backward square-leg off Nahida Akter. Smriti sliced Marufa off the backfoot behind point for four, followed by Shafali slog-sweeping from outside off-stump to take another boundary. Smriti then pulled Jahanara Alam for a six, followed by sweeping Nahida for four and making room to loft the spinner elegantly for another boundary. Despite two boundary-less overs, India managed to get their second successive 50-run opening stand. A harmless short ball from Jahanara was pulled away nicely by Smriti for four, followed by creating room to loft Rabeya Khan in the gap through cover for another boundary and surviving a caught dismissal at 35 off Jahanara due to the delivery being a no-ball. Bangladesh could have got a wicket in the ninth over if Nahida hadnt dropped Shafalis catch at long-on. Smriti slow-swept Nahida for four to bisect deep square-leg and deep mid-wicket to perfection. She then reached her fifty in 38 balls with a delicate dab through the vacant short third man and finished off Indias thumping win in style with a lofted four past cover. A harmless short ball from Jahanara was pulled away nicely by Smriti for four, followed by creating room to loft Rabeya Khan in the gap through cover for another boundary and surviving a caught dismissal at 35 off Jahanara due to the delivery being a no-ball. Bangladesh could have got a wicket in the ninth over if Nahida hadnt dropped Shafalis catch at long-on. Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy Bangladesh 80/8 (Nigar Sultana 32; Renuka Singh Thakur 3-10, Radha Yadav 3-14) lost to India 83/0 in 11 overs (Smriti Mandhana 55 not out, Shafali Verma 26 not out) by ten wickets

Venkatesh Iyer joins Lancashire for maiden county stint

The India and KKR allrounder will play in the One-Day Cup and two rounds of the county championship

Jonny Bairstow Not Ready To Give Up On England Test Spot

T20 World Cup: England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow was dropped from the Test squad for the ongoing three-match home series against West Indies but he has not given up on the dream of playing red-ball cricket again for Ben Stokes-led side. Despite being dropped for the series, the 34-year-old is eager to return to the Test side. He remained a vital part of England's red-ball team since the appointment of Brendon McCullum as head coach in May 2022. In Bairstow's absence, England picked Surrey wicketkeeper Jamie Smith for the series and he scored 70 in the debut Test innings at the Lord's. He retained his spot in England's playing 11 for the entire series as the hosts didn't make any change in the third and final Test of the series at Edgbaston. All I want to do is play for England. That's end of, Bairstow told BBC when asked by former England Test captain Michael Vaughan about whether he wants to return to the Test side. You don't need to ask me that do you? I think you know me well enough, and I think you've known me for long enough to know that, he added. Bairstow, who was part of England's T20 World Cup side that lost to India in the semifinals, said it was awesome to spend some family time after a packed international cricket. He returned to action on Thursday for Welsh Fire's eight-wicket victory over Manchester Originals in The Hundred. You don't need to ask me that do you? I think you know me well enough, and I think you've known me for long enough to know that, he added. Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy After the conclusion of the series against the West Indies, England are set to host Sri Lanka in August-September for a three-match Test series at home before the limited-overs series against Australia.

SL vs IND: Dream11 Prediction 1st T20, Sri Lanka vs India T20 Series 2024

Sri Lanka vs India 1st T20, Dream11 Prediction : The highly-anticipated series between India and Sri Lanka will finally start with a three-match T20I series. Both teams will lock horns in the first game, which will be played on Saturday evening at Pallekele International Criket Stadium in Pallekele. India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, are stronger of the two teams. They will look to carry on their dominance and start this tour with a good win. Sri Lanka, who have had some poor performances in recent times, will be playing in home conditions, which might assist them in challenging India. SL vs IND: Match Details Date : July 27, 2024 (Saturday) Time : 07:00 PM IST Venue : Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele SL vs IND: Live Streaming Details The live telecast of the first game between India and Sri Lanka will be on Sony Sports Networks for the Indian fans. Digitally, fans can tune into the Sony Liv app or Jio TV to watch the game live. SL vs IND: Head-to-Head Total Matches: 29 India: 19 Sri Lanka: 9 No Result: 1 SL vs IND: Pitch Report Pallekele International Stadium offers a good batting unit, which has an average first-inning score of 168. The boundaries aren't big enough, and the dew will also make it hard for the bowlers to control. That's why the decision of batting second will be wise. Sri Lanka vs India Predicted Teams Sri Lanka :Patthum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Matheehsa Pathirana India :Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (c),Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj SL vs IND Dream11 Team Wicket-keeper : Kusal Mendis Batters : Suryakumar Yadav, Charith Asalanka, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal All-rounders : Dasun Shanaka (VC), Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya (C), Wanindu Hasaranga Bowlers : Arshdeep Singh, Matheesha Pathirana Dream11 Prediction: Sri Lanka at home have a great record, and they are not an easy opponent. But India have been the stronger of the two sides, and we predict India will win this match. SL vs IND 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction, Today Match SL vs IND, SL vs IND Dream11 Team, Fantasy Cricket Tips, SL vs IND Pitch Report, Today Cricket Match Prediction, Today Cricket Match, Dream11 Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Injury Update of the match between Sri Lanka vs India Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy Disclaimer : The fantasy team is purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your Dream11 team.

If Shami Doesn't Eat 1kg Mutton Daily...: Ind Star's Friend On His Diet

Mohammed Shami is eyeing a comeback into the Indian team after being out of action since November 2023 due to an injury.

West Indies Bat In Third Test Against England As Shamar Joseph Passed Fit

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and elected to bat in the third Test against England at Edgbaston on Friday as Shamar Joseph was passed fit. England Vs West Indies Third Test Scorecard The West Indies paceman had been doubtful for this match following a bout of flu but was included as the tourists looked to salvage some pride at 2-0 down in a three-match series. West Indies were forced into making one change to the team that lost the second Test by 241 runs, with all-rounder Kevin Sinclair ruled out after having his forearm fractured by England fast bowler Mark Wood at Trent Bridge. His place was taken by Gudakesh Motie, the man Sinclair replaced in Nottingham after the left-arm spinner withdrew because of illness. West Indies gained a first-innings lead at Trent Bridge after making 457 only to collapse dramatically as they slumped to 143 all out second time around. Brathwaite, explaining his decision to bat first on a sunny day, said: The pitch looks a good one and the weather is good so we've got to utilise that. England were unchanged following a comprehensive win in their first Test since the retirement of fast-bowling great James Anderson. Victory in Nottingham gave England, who won the first Test at Lord's by an innings and 114 runs, a first red-ball series win since 2022. When you have two very dominant performances, it's hard to make changes, said England captain Ben Stokes. Teams England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wkt), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Mikyle Louis, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wkt), Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales Umpires: Nitin Menon (IND), Adrian Holdstock (RSA) TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS) Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)

SA20 2025: Williamson and Woakes join Durban's Super Giants

This will be the first SA20 stint for both players

Women's Asia Cup: Renuka, Radha Take Three Wickets Each As India Restrict Bangladesh To 80/8

Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium: Renuka Singh Thakur and Radha Yadav took three wickets each as a dominant India restricted Bangladesh to just 80/8 in the first semi-final of 2024 Womens Asia Cup at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium on Friday. Electing to bat first, Bangladesh didnt have a sound strategy to counter Indias bowling plans, which were outstanding from the word go. Renuka was back to providing early breakthroughs to pick an excellent 3-10, where she stuck to good lines and lengths while giving no freebies. Radha was also pick of the bowlers for India through her 3-14 and ensuring Bangladesh didnt have a big finish to their slow innings. Only captain Nigar Sultana (32) and Shorna Akter (19) showed some resistance for Bangladesh in a clueless batting innings. Renuka got India its first scalp when Dilara Akter's swing across the line found deep mid-wicket, just a ball after hitting a slog above the same region for six, followed by which captain Harmanpreet Kaur moved the fielder a little squarer to set a trap for the dismissal. Renuka struck again when Ishma Tanjim was lured into going for a half-hearted drive, and the ball ballooned off the outside-edge to backward point. Bangladesh find themselves in huge trouble when in-form Murshida Khatun pulled a short ball straight to short mid-wicket fielder. Nigar and Rumana Ahmed resorted to strike rotation to keep the scoreboard moving at a snails pace. But left-arm spinner Radha struck on her first ball, getting the arm ball to go on straight after drifting in and castle Rumana through the gate. Pooja Vastrakar came back to have Rabeya Khan caught at mid-on, while Deepti Sharma had Ritu Moni stumped. Indias tight bowling meant they never let the pressure go off Bangladesh, who tried to diffuse it when Nigar and Shorna Akter hit three boundaries collectively. Nigar and Rumana Ahmed resorted to strike rotation to keep the scoreboard moving at a snails pace. But left-arm spinner Radha struck on her first ball, getting the arm ball to go on straight after drifting in and castle Rumana through the gate. Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy Brief Scores: Bangladesh 80/8 (Nigar Sultana 32; Renuka Singh Thakur 3-10, Radha Yadav 3-14) against India

Paris Olympics: Apart from tennis, it is about making Balaji comfortable in his skin

It's important for Balaji to give his best and not feel the pressure of the big stage. He needs to be comfortable in his skin and play his natural game.

West Indies bat, Shamar Joseph fit to play

Gudakesh Motie's inclusion for Kevin Sinclair the only change on either side

England vs West Indies Live Score 3rd Test Day 1 Updates

England vs West Indies Live Updates 3rd Test Day 1: England take on West Indies in the third and final Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham, hoping to pull off a series sweep.

Jonny Bairstow admits long winter 'took its toll' but hasn't given up on England

Keeper-batter speaks after Welsh Fire victory in their opening fixture of Men's Hundred

Women's Asia Cup: It'll Be Charged Up Atmosphere In The Semifinal, Says Amol Muzumdar

Asia Cup: Ahead of facing Bangladesh in the first 2024 Womens Asia Cup semi-final, India head coach Amol Muzumdar said he expects to have a charged up atmosphere in the knockout clash. India have a 19-3 lead over Bangladesh in womens T20I meetings. In May this year, India had won 5-0 over Bangladesh in a bilateral series at Sylhet. In 2018, they (Bangladesh) got a 2-0 lead over us. At the same time, in April 2024, we toured Bangladesh and won 5-0 over there. So, it going to be a good competitive game of cricket. I am sure all the players are looking forward to it. Even from their side, they would be really charged up. It'll be a charged up atmosphere in this semifinal, said Muzumdar to broadcasters. So far in the tournament, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led India have been unbeaten defeating Pakistan by seven wickets, winning by 78 runs against UAE and beating Nepal by 82 runs to top Group A. We had a lovely group stage games here. We dominated the games. Our batting has been solid throughout the tournament so far. The bowlers did their job. Big takeaways are our batting and bowling, added Muzumdar. So far in the tournament, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led India have been unbeaten defeating Pakistan by seven wickets, winning by 78 runs against UAE and beating Nepal by 82 runs to top Group A. Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy If you have a lot of positives in the team, even in the reserves, it's a good headache to have. Me, Harman and Smriti are trying to rely on our instincts and trying to pick the best eleven possible on that particular day, he said.

World champions India eye winning start in Sri Lanka

India's newly-forged coach-captain combination of Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav will look to make instant impact against a Sri Lankan team in disarray.

Gambhir is contemporary, will come up with fresh ideas: Ravi Shastri

DUBAI: Former India captain Ravi Shastri expects Gautam Gambhir to flourish in his new role as head coach, saying he is a contemporary mentor who has taken over the reins of a relatively mature and settled team. Shastri, a former India coach, believes the 42-year-old Gambhir can make an immediate impact in his new role as he is already close to the team, having played with and mentored quite a few players. The former left-handed opener served as a team mentor for Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. He's (Gambhir) contemporary, he just had a great season in the IPL. I think he's the right age when he's young, he'll come up with fresh ideas. He knows most of the players, especially in the white-ball format, having been part of teams in the IPL. So I think it's refreshing, Shastri said on the recent episode of The ICC Review. And we know with Gautam, he's a no-nonsense guy. He'll have his ideas as well. And the good thing for him is he's got a mature team. He's got a settled team, a mature team. I think even though you might think you're mature, you might benefit from some fresh ideas. So I think it'll be interesting times. Shastri feels managing the workload of players, especially bowlers, will be Gambhir's biggest challenge. Obviously, player management becomes the key as a coach. So it'll be interesting to see how he goes. I think he's got the tools, he's got the goods for the job and he's got the experience. Gambhir's first assignment as India coach is the white-ball series in Sri Lanka which starts with a three-match T20 series in Pallekele on Saturday. With stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retiring from the shortest format after last month's T20 World Cup triumph, Gambhir's other task would be find to find replacements for the trio. There's so many (good India) players out there and it's just about getting the right mix. I think a lot of the players that won this T20 World Cup will still be around two years later (at the 2026 T20 World Cup), Shastri said. You mentioned the three players who were retired, but barring them, I think most of the others will be still fit to be in that T20 World Cup team two years down the line in India. The former India cricketer feels there will be plenty of problem for Gambhir. I don't think there's much to be done there.In fact, you will get a problem on your hands because you'll have to choose from the new lot that's coming and there's some real exciting talent there. It's the other way around. It's how do you get those guys in there that they're bursting at the scenes to get it. There's a queue out there and that will be his biggest challenge, but it's a good headache when you have that kind of talent. Player management is another aspect that will be pivotal to Gambhir's success, believes Shastri. It's a question of just understanding his players as quickly as possible. What their strengths are, what kind of human beings they are and what kind of temperaments do they have? What are their personalities? A lot goes behind the scenes to understand a human being, he said. I think that will be his most important task, which I think again should not be a problem because he's contemporary. He's seen these guys from the outside, he's dealt with a lot of guys who might have played with KKR as well and for Lucknow (Super Giants) when he was there. And he's been around the circuit, the moment he finished cricket and that was not too long ago, he still is around, plays a lot of the legends cricket as well, he added.

India bring in Uma Chetry for Asia Cup semi-final

Harmanpreet and Vastrakar also back for India; Bangladesh bring in fast bowler Marufa Akter and elect to bat

Gambhir Will Come With Fresh Ideas As India Head Coach, Says Ravi Shastri

Kolkata Knight Riders: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has said Gautam Gambhir will bring fresh ideas to the national mens team when they begin their white-ball tour of Sri Lanka at Pallekele on Saturday. Gambhir won IPL 2024 as mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders, before being appointed as new India head coach after Rahul Dravids tenure came to an end. He's contemporary, he just had a great season in the IPL. I think he's the right age where he's young, he'll come with fresh ideas. He knows most of the players, especially in the white-ball format, having been part of teams in the IPL. So I think it's refreshing. And we know with Gautam, he's a no-nonsense guy. He'll have his ideas as well. And the good thing for him is he's got a mature team. He's got a settled team, a mature team. I think even though you might think you're mature, you might benefit from some fresh ideas. So I think it'll be interesting times, said Shastri on ICC Review show. Shastri, a member of Indias 1983 ODI World Cup winning side, has backed Gambhir to come good in the top job. Obviously, player management becomes the key as a coach. So it'll be interesting to see how he goes. I think he's got the tools, he's got the goods for the job and he's got the experience. He also said managing each player in the set-up across formats will be pivotal to Gambhir's success as India head coach. It's a question of just understanding his players as quickly as possible. What their strengths are, what kind of human beings they are and what kind of temperaments do they have? What are their personalities? A lot goes behind the scenes to understand a human being. I think that will be his most important task, which I think again should not be a problem because he's contemporary. He's seen these guys from the outside, he's dealt with a lot of guys who might have played with KKR as well and for Lucknow (Super Giants) when he was there. And he's been around the circuit, the moment he finished cricket and that was not too long ago, he still is around, plays a lot of the legends cricket as well. Gambhir's first task in T20Is is to find the right players who can replace Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja in the side after the trio retired from the format post T20 World Cup triumph this year. There's so many (good India) players out there and it's just about getting the right mix. I think a lot of the players that won this T20 World Cup will still be around two years later (at the 2026 T20 World Cup). You mentioned the three players who were retired (Rohit, Kohli, Jadeja), but barring them, I think most of the others will be still fit to be in that T20 World Cup team two years down the line in India. There's so many (good India) players out there and it's just about getting the right mix. I think a lot of the players that won this T20 World Cup will still be around two years later (at the 2026 T20 World Cup). Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy So I think it's the other way around. It's how do you get those guys in there that they're bursting at the scenes to get it. There's a queue out there and that will be his biggest challenge, but it's a good headache when you have that kind of talent, concluded Shastri.

India will benefit from Gambhir's fresh ideas: Shastri

Shastri feels managing the workload of players, especially bowlers, will be Gambhir's biggest challenge.

PIX: Paris all set for dazzling Olympics opening!

A procession of barges will take nearly 7,000 athletes along the river past Paris's most famous landmarks, while more than 300,000 spectators will watch from the banks.

New Member Joins Gautam Gambhir's Team In Sri Lanka Ahead Of 1st T20I

The first T20I between India and Sri Lanka will be played in Pallekele on Saturday.

'Street-smart' Suryakumar Backed To Rise Up To India T20I Captaincy Challenge

Sri Lanka T20I: Nearly 14 years of hard work and dedication in the IPL and domestic cricket circuit finally paid off for Suryakumar Yadav, when he earned his India T20I debut in March 2021 against England. Suryakumar wasted no time in making a name for himself in the T20I team, impressing the cricketing world with his thrilling 360-degree batting style and composed temperament. When Suryakumar was announced as the captain for the T20I series against Sri Lanka, almost three years after joining the Indian team, it felt like the perfect timing for him to step into the leadership position. I felt he might have a chance (to be the captain for Sri Lanka T20I series) because his performances were very good during the World Cup win, and its a role hes done in the past for India. But it came as a very happy news for us people who have played with him and those who have seen him grow as a player, as well as for me and others because he has helped us understand our game better, said Mumbai left-arm spinner Shams Mulani to IANS. Saurabh Walkar, a performance analyst in international and franchise T20 competitions, has known Suryakumar since his U19 days. He tells IANS about having an inkling the right-handed batter might be made captain for Sri Lanka series. I was expecting it as Surya was with Gautam Gambhir in KKR and that time, they had a good bonding, and even made him the vice-captain that time. His equation matches with GG the way he thinks and how Surya reacts to it, as well as how both of them go about their things. So, one can say they are on the right track. In the 2014-15 domestic cricket season, Mumbai appointed Suryakumar as their captain. But it ended on a sour note as reports about his hot-headed avatar leading to indiscipline made the rounds. But in 2019, the year, he flicked a switch in his life, Suryakumar got back the Mumbai captaincy role and would lead Mumbai in 16 T20 games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy from that year till 2021. When I came, I used to think hes a very good player who can play spin pretty well and manage his game very well in pressure situations. But in 2019, we saw a switch in him, where he became a world-class player. From a very good player, he became a world-class player and theres a difference between these two terms. He has a thinking mind always thought about the game, what players should be used and how they can be made the most out of in bowling and batting line-ups. Whenever we had a chat with him, hes constantly talking about the game it showed he possesses of a thinking mind. Its not just only about his game; he also thinks a lot about batting, bowling. We knew that there was a possibility that he will fare very well as a captain, adds Mulani. Walkar provides additional insights into the evolution of Suryakumar as a player and a person since 2019. Hes more focused now. He had talent at the start only, as since U19 days, I have known him. But if you look at things focus wise, he has started to focus more in last five-six years like he started preparing well, and working hard towards everything related to the game. In his brief leadership role as Indias T20I captain, Suryakumar was the second-highest run-getter in the 4-1 series win over Australia held quickly after the ODI World Cup was over. he then led India to a 1-1 draw in South Africa, where he smashed 56 and 100 in the chances he got to bat. Sulakshan Kulkarni, the current Maharashtra head coach who was at the helm in Mumbai during Suryakumars early days, said to IANS that hes confident of seeing him fare well as India captain in their quest to build a team for 2026 T20 World Cup on home soil. The players you get from Mumbai, they are street-smart. Surya himself is very street-smart, and the advantage of being that comes during captaincy. Like, that street smart-ness in captaincy comes of a lot of help in quick decision making while being on the field. Hes played for a long time in Mumbai and Indian cricket, and its a known fact that hes a T20 specialist. Surya has been around T20 and first-class cricket scene for almost 14 years, apart from leading Mumbai and India. So he knows all the tactics like which bowler will be used in what phase of the game. Walkar expects more up-and-coming youngsters to enter the youthful team led by Suryakumar. He has a good equation with younger players and under him, the youngsters can do wonders. Hes good with man management and hes a completely different person from what it was five-six years ago. As you play and grow, time teaches you a lot of things. So, Surya has now got all those skills about man management, leading a team, building relationships with youngsters. You will see later that a lot of youngsters will follow him. Walkar, who began his career in high performance cricket analysis with the Mumbai Ranji team, discloses the intriguing nickname he kept for Suryakumar - Zee Cinema. Suryakumar earned this nickname from Walkar for his exceptional use of sweeps and scoops during his time playing first-class cricket for Mumbai in 2011/12. As you play and grow, time teaches you a lot of things. So, Surya has now got all those skills about man management, leading a team, building relationships with youngsters. You will see later that a lot of youngsters will follow him. Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy I have seen him play from his U19 and U23 days, and whatever he does on the field, hes always dashing. I have 100% no doubt about these Zee Cinema traits coming out when Surya goes on the field as the India captain, because hes an entertainer, he signs off.

Venkatesh Iyer signs for Lancashire

The Lancashire County Cricket Club confirmed Venkateshs signing in a statement issued on Friday

Afghanistan and New Zealand set to play one-off Test in September

This will be the first time the two teams face off in the longest format

Ind vs Ban Live Streaming Women's Asia Cup Semis: When, Where To Watch?

India vs Bangladesh Live Streaming Women's Asia Cup Semi-Final Live Telecast: When And Where To Watch Match?

I have always enjoyed being a leader: Suryakumar

Indian cricket is set to embark on a new era under new T20 captain Suryakumar Kumar and new head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Above My Pay Grade: Bumrah's Take On Not Being Considered For Captaincy

Team India is ready to face Sri Lanka in a white-ball series, which will kick-start from Saturday with a three T20I matches.

Paris Olympics: 100 boats to carry over 10,000 athletes along the Seine during parade at opening ceremony

Shillong, July 26: The fans will be in position to witness a unique moment in Olympic history at the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony, set to be held along the Seine on Friday evening. The Opening Ceremony promises to be unforgettable, with athlete barges floating down the river starting at the Austerlitz Bridge. They [] The post Paris Olympics: 100 boats to carry over 10,000 athletes along the Seine during parade at opening ceremony appeared first on The Shillong Times .

BCCI to meet with IPL teams to meet on July 31

CHENNAI: With the mega auction cycle coming up, the Board of Control for Cricket in India have invited the ten Indian Premier League teams for a meeting to discuss the way forward for the auction and the league on July 31 in Mumbai. Since its inception, the IPL has seen a mega auction every three years with teams getting to retain and Right to Match (RTM) players they want. This meeting, set to happen in the new BCCI office, is to discuss how many retentions should be there and the RTM cards each team can get going forward. The meeting that has been on the cards for a few months now will finally happen at the end of this month. And as is often the case, different teams have expressed a different number of player options depending on their team composition. There is also the topic of how frequently the mega auction should be held. According to multiple reports, some teams want as many as 5-8 retentions. In 2018, the eight teams got to keep a maximum of five players (3 retention or 3 RTMs) in the auction while in 2022, they could retain four without any RTMs. Whether to keep the RTMs or increase the retention, it all will be discussed in detail at the meeting and the decision will be taken accordingly.

Shastri: Gambhir's most important task will be to understand his players

The former India coach says Gambhir has the ools, experience and goods for being the head coach

IND vs SL | I enjoy leadership, learnt a lot of things from different captains: Suryakumar Yadav

Indian cricket is set to embark on a new era under Suryakumar and new head coach Gautam Gambhir

CLOSE-IN: Indian Cricket At The 'Pearl Of The Indian Ocean' (IANS Column)

ICC T20 World Cups: Sri Lanka previously Ceylon, was known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean due to its pristine water and beaches. The emerald island was another name given to it because of the shape of the country and the lush green tea gardens and forests that it encompassed. Similar to India, cricket has been a sport revered there because of the British. It was only in 1981 that they finally got recognised as a Test playing nation by the ICC. Cricket encounters between the two countries have always been interesting battles, as both India and Sri Lanka play the same brand of cricket. Indian cricket is at present in full force in the beautiful Island, with both the men and women cricketers there. The women are in scintillating form in the Asia Cup being played there and have qualified to play their semi-final match against Bangladesh. The Indian womens team looks head and shoulders above the rest of the Asian sides and are the favourite to win the trophy. The Indian mens T20 World Cup win has somehow put that extra pep into the women as well. A stamp of authority is what one sees in their approach and both the batters and bowlers have been in pristine form. A win in the Asia Cup, a trophy that the Indian womens side has won in 8 of the 9 editions, should hold them in good stead for the T20 World Cup to follow in October 2024 in Bangladesh. The Indian side looks a formidable one having beaten Bangladesh convincingly in a 5 match T20 series and South Africa in the Test and One day International encounters. A Test match victory earlier in the year against a strong Australian side should also augur well for the growing confidence of the Indian women players. India winning both the men and the womens ICC T20 World Cups would truly be a feather in their cap. One can just imagine the repeat of the mens welcome celebration bestowed now upon the women, leading through Marine Drive, the famous Queens necklace. It would be an ideal setting to anoint the King and Queen of world cricket. The womens side under the guidance of their coach, Amol Muzumdar, have a difficult task at hand, but the way Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Richa Gosh, Jemima Rodrigues and the others are performing, India looks like a very forceful side for any of their opponents to beat. Meanwhile, the Indian mens side under the newly appointed captain Suryakumar Yadav and the coach, Gautam Gambhir, will be transforming into a new beginning without 3 of their legendary T20 stalwarts, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja. India are the World Champions and even without them, they have the bench strength to do well. Although, the selectors have appointed Shubman Gill as the vice captain, one felt that with the next T20 World Cup 2 years away and the T20 cricket in the Olympics in 2028, appointing a younger player as a captain would have been far more beneficial. Sri Lanka, after their disastrous outing in the T20 World Cup24, will be itching to get back on their feet. For them to not qualify for the Super 8, of the T20 WC must have been a nightmare that needs to be forgotten. A T20 series win against India, would definitely give their reputation a big boost. They now have nothing to lose and playing at home could be just the tonic for them to do well. Sri Lanka is not only active on the cricket ground, but behind the closed-doors as well. The ICC meeting, with 108 members attending it got over yesterday. The next T20 World Cup, as announced, will have 8 regional qualifying zones. This is great news, as cricket is gradually spreading far and wide. One gathers that cricket in the Olympics was the major topic of discussion. Los Angeles will finally have cricket in the Olympics after 128 years and one hopes it continues to be there for years to come. The Olympics is the ultimate sporting platform for a sportsperson representing ones country. Hearing one's national anthem after a podium finish, along with a medal, is the glory that one aspires for. Both the Indian mens and womens cricket teams have this goal to achieve and one that will warm the hearts of the millions of their supporters if they do so. The BCCIs financial contribution towards the Indian Olympic squad is a wonderful gesture. The hours of dedicated and, at most times the painful hard-work that go into being an international competitive sportsperson are tough and arduous. To give them support in any way one can is the only way to appreciate them. One hopes for a glorious Olympics for India. The womens Asia Cup win and the Mens T20 and ODI series wins would be just the icing on the cake. The BCCIs financial contribution towards the Indian Olympic squad is a wonderful gesture. The hours of dedicated and, at most times the painful hard-work that go into being an international competitive sportsperson are tough and arduous. To give them support in any way one can is the only way to appreciate them. Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy The famous line from the song sung by Whitney Houston for the 1988 Olympics at Seoul, South Korea, comes to mind, Give me just one moment in time.. Teams and individual sportspersons would be praying for just that.

Chahal Missed Out As He Has Not Played Enough Matches, Opines Venkatapathy Raju

With Yuzvendra Chahal: With Yuzvendra Chahal not picked in any of Indias white-ball squads for their tour of Sri Lanka, former left-arm spinner Venkatpathy Raju believes the leg-spinner has missed out on being selected for the series due to him not playing enough matches. Chahal is the leading wicket-taker for India in T20Is through 96 scalps in 80 games since his debut in 2016. He was the fourth spinner picked in India's T20 World Cup winning squad after Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, but did not get to play any matches. Moreover, in comparison to the trio, Chahals utility is restricted to being a genuine bowling who isnt a big contributor with the bat and in the field as well. He should be playing more matches, again and again. You should always believe in yourself. Chahal has been a brilliant bowler. But unfortunately, we look more into the all-rounders. That's why we had Jadeja, then we had Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. If Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are part of the team, you can't keep them away from the eleven. Yuzi is a brilliant bowler but he missed out as he has not played enough matches. There is nothing like getting old or anything is far away from you. You can always play good matches, come back and perform. Now the biggest headache for all the selectors are that there is so much variety now. In that variety to pick someone, it takes real guts and Chahal is a proven match winner. The only thing is little lack of match practice. Hopefully, he plays a lot of domestic cricket and comes back strong, says Raju in an exclusive conversation with IANS, facilitated by Sony Sports Network. In place of Chahal, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi has quickly emerged as someone who can be in Indias long-term T20I scheme of things. In the tour of Zimbabwe in July, Bishnoi took six wickets in five games where his fast googlies caused discomfort to the batters. Raju, a former national selector, believes the cycle till 2026 T20 World Cup is an ideal time for Bishnoi to become a regular figure in the Indian team. When you're in form, you should be getting your chances. The spinners are very, very, very important players when it comes to white-ball cricket. We've seen Chahal for a long time, but unfortunately he doesn't find a place now. So that's why we have Bishnoi, who fields brilliantly also. Then him being young, it gives you that extra advantage on the field also. When he bowls, it's a new variety, as he's a different bowler. He depends more on his googlies, which is in Rashid Khan mould. He's very high on his confidence now, and that also adds because when you talk about the next T20 World Cup coming, he should play as many matches as possible. When you're in form, you should be getting your chances. The spinners are very, very, very important players when it comes to white-ball cricket. We've seen Chahal for a long time, but unfortunately he doesn't find a place now. So that's why we have Bishnoi, who fields brilliantly also. Then him being young, it gives you that extra advantage on the field also. Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy Plus, if you see all around the world, your wrist-spinners have been match-winners for any team in T20 cricket. Bishnoi adds that variety where they can use, because Kuldeep is not there in this particular series, it again gives him that opportunity and freedom to express himself. he concluded.

Washington Sundar Should Be In Playing XI For SL Series, Opines Venkatapathy Raju

With Ravindra Jadeja: With Ravindra Jadeja bidding adieu to T20Is post the World Cup triumph in June, it means that a spot for an all-rounder who bowls spin in the Indian T20I set-up is open. With Axar Patel a sure-shot certainty for Indias title defence in 2026, the two-year cycle presents a good chance for off-spin all-rounder Washington Sundar to become a regular fixture and fill up the void left by Jadejas absence. In Indias 4-1 series win over Zimbabwe earlier this month, Washington, who made his T20I debut in 2017, was named Player of the Series after picking eight scalps across all five games at an economy rate of 5.17 where his control over lengths and forcing batters to commit errors stood out. The next challenge in Washingtons quest to be a regular person in Indias T20I scheme of things is the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, starting with T20Is at Pallekele on Saturday. Despite Axar coming back and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi retaining his place in the squad, Venkatapathy Raju, the former India left-arm spinner, believes Washington should still walk into the playing eleven for Saturdays game. It goes back to the 90s. We had me, Anil Kumble, and Rajesh Chauhan. We had great success playing in India against all the good teams. So I think that's the actual spin bowling variety we've been looking for a long time. After Ashwin, we were missing an off-spinner. Washington Sundar is a brilliant all-rounder in white-ball cricket. Because of injuries, he was not part of the team (consistently). Otherwise, I think he should be walking in straight into the playing eleven, as hes a capable batter also. Now, it's covered up everything. You've got a brilliant variety now, and this is what the Indian team has been doing for a long time, says Raju in an exclusive conversation with IANS, facilitated by Sony Sports Network. In IPL 2024, Washingtons game time was just two matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad, followed by playing a few matches for Globe Trotters in the TNCA Leagues First Division league. Raju, who served as a national selector, wishes to see Washington play more games to settle into a nice playing rhythm. It's (the Sri Lanka series) a great opportunity ahead of the next World Cup, and he should be a permanent member here in all the bilateral series or whatever T20Is they will be playing from now on. If he's fit, he should be a regular spinner because after Ashwin, you don't find any off-spinner. Let alone white-ball cricket, for even red-ball cricket, we hardly find any off-spinner nowadays. So I think that's a great opportunity for him. The only thing I would love to say here is he should play as many matches as possible. Let it be a Ranji Trophy or league game, just to get into that (playing) rhythm because international cricket is totally different, but he's not new to international cricket. Zimbabwe tour might have given him a lot of confidence. The more he plays, the better for him and better for the Indian team. Quizzed about the aspects where Washington can look to get better, Raju remarked, Batting is not a problem. It comes back to bowling because when you're playing as an all-rounder, we know he's a bowling all-rounder, not a batting all-rounder. So that's why he has to play more games. International cricket is not that easy. Nowadays we see a lot of foreign players. They play spin far better than what they were playing before. So you just concentrate on the basics and then have that confidence to just bowl to your strengths. Quizzed about the aspects where Washington can look to get better, Raju remarked, Batting is not a problem. It comes back to bowling because when you're playing as an all-rounder, we know he's a bowling all-rounder, not a batting all-rounder. So that's why he has to play more games. International cricket is not that easy. Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy Watch the live coverage of India Tour of Sri Lanka, 7 PM onwards starting on 27th July 2024 LIVE on Sony Sports Ten 5 & Sony Sports Ten 1 in English, Sony Sports Ten 3 in Hindi and Sony Sports Ten 4 channels in Tamil & Telugu.

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ENG V WI: Don't Feel It's Necessary To Change, Says Stokes On Naming Same Playing 11 For 3rd Test

During West Indies: England captain Ben Stokes backed his playing XI for the third and final Test against West Indies saying he doesn't feel the need to make any change in the team. England have the upper hand in the series with a 2-0 unassailable lead after registering impressive wins at the Lord's and Trent Bridge respectively. England refrained from giving a recall to Matthew Potts or handing a debut to Dillon Pennington at Edgbaston. At the moment we have stuck with the same team because we don't feel it's necessary to change, Stokes said on the eve of the match. In the ongoing series, England made only one change in the second Test as they brought in Mark Wood in place of retired James Anderson. Wood made a lasting impression with his sheer pace that left the West Indies batters clueless. When you look at the guys we've got playing at the moment, with Woody being the standout because of how he bowls, it's very unlikely we'll get the remaining Tests out of him because of how hard it is on his body, said Stokes. Even though we've got a decent break to the next series, fast bowling is very hard so naturally we may see a change in the bowling line-up. It's not required yet. However, Stokes said despite not getting a match Pottsy and Dillon will gain experience with the squad. It's tough to not play, but for Pottsy and Dillon it's great for them to be in the squad. In the second Test at Trent Bridge, England secured a 241-run victory, with Wood delivering the fastest over ever recorded by an England bowler in a home Test, reaching speeds of over 97mph at one point. Despite struggling with cramps in Nottingham, Wood has been declared fit to play in the upcoming match at Edgbaston. Although he took only two wickets at Trent Bridge, Stokes praised his Durham teammate for the electric atmosphere he brings to a Test match. During West Indies' second innings, a Wood bouncer struck Kevin Sinclair, fracturing the spinner's forearm and ruling him out of the third Test. The whole game changes. When his name gets read out, the whole crowd is up, then when the speeds are on the big screen, everyone gets going. Woody is always looking up at the screen as well to see what he's clocking, he said. He's got the heart of a lion. He runs in spell after spell, ball after ball. Although he didn't get the rewards he wanted last week, he knows he affects the game in more than just wickets. That showed last week. I think someone will pay this summer, either West Indies this game or Sri Lanka, the all-rounder added. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, who missed the second Test due to illness, rejoins the West Indies' 12-man squad in Sinclair's absence while Akeem Jordan is named as a replacement for pacer Shamar Joseph, who is down with the flu. He's got the heart of a lion. He runs in spell after spell, ball after ball. Although he didn't get the rewards he wanted last week, he knows he affects the game in more than just wickets. That showed last week. I think someone will pay this summer, either West Indies this game or Sri Lanka, the all-rounder added. Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy The third Test between England and West Indies will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham from Friday.

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Paris Olympics: Harbhajan Wishes All The Best To Indian Athletes

XXXIII Olympics Games: Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh on Thursday extended his best wishes to Indian athletes participating in the XXXIII Olympics Games in Paris, which will commence with a historic Opening Ceremony on the river Seine on Friday. I wish the very best to all Indian athletes for the Olympics. I wish they all return home with medals. I hope they return with the maximum medals, Harbhajan, one of the most successful off-spinners in cricket history, told IANS. India has sent a huge contingent of 117 sportspersons to Paris for the 2024 Olympics, aiming to surpass the historic seven medals won at the previous edition in Tokyo. India will compete in 16 out of the 32 sports featured in this year's Olympic Games. For the first time in Olympic history, the Opening Ceremony will not be held inside a stadium. Instead, the traditional Parade of Nations will take place along the river Seine, which runs through the heart of Paris. India will compete in 16 out of the 32 sports featured in this year's Olympic Games. Also Read: Akram hopes Indian Team Will Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy This is the third Summer Olympics in Paris after previously hosting the Games in 1900 and 1924.

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