Ellis and Davies out of the South Africa tour with injury
No replacements named for the final ODI while Doggett, O'Neill and Kellaway have departed the Australia A tour of India to return home for Shield cricket
Nations League PIX: France pip Belgium; Italy rout Turkey
France secured a late 1-0 victory over Belgium in the Nations League thanks to a goal from substitute Michael Olise, marking a winning start for coach Zinedine Zidane. Meanwhile, Italy bounced back from an earlier defeat to thrash Turkey 4-1, with goals from Bastoni, Frattesi, Kayode, and Esposito. Other Nations League results saw Bosnia beat Romania and Sweden overcome Poland.
Indian cricket, in terms of fast bowling, is in good hands: Prasidh
Buttler sidelined for Pakistan Tri-series with injury
England's limited-overs coach Brendon McCullum confirmed that Jos Buttler will miss the upcoming one-day international Tri-series in Pakistan next month after sustaining a hamstring injury against Sri Lanka.
Aakash Chopra Pokes Fun At Ex-India Star Tipped To Replace Ajit Agarkar
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The Odisha T20 League: The Odisha T20 LeagueCM Trophy fixture between Rourkela Superstars and Kataka Panthers was called off due to a wet outfield at the iconic Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, Odisha, on Monday. With the league-stage matches completed, Keonjhar Miners finished at the top of the points table with six points and a better Net Run Rate. Sambalpur Warriors and Bhubaneswar Tigers finished second and third, respectively, with the same number of points. Keonjhar Miners have secured a direct place in the final after finishing at the top of the table. Sambalpur Warriors and Bhubaneswar Tigers will now meet in the Qualifier on September 29, at the Barabati Stadium starting at 7:30 pm. The match is scheduled to begin in the evening, with the winner advancing to the final. The Barabati Stadium will also host a womens exhibition match between OCA Womens Green and OCA Womens Blue on September 29, starting at 2:00 pm, offering another opportunity to showcase womens cricket in Odisha. Earlier, Pithoragarh Hurricanes defeated Nainital Tigers by 27 runs via the DLS Method, while Tehri Titans registered a nine-wicket victory over Rishikesh Rivers Kings in a rain-affected clash. Both matches were shortened due to rain, but produced explosive batting performances and exciting finishes. In the first match of the day, Pithoragarh Hurricanes defeated Nainital Tigers by 27 runs via the DLS Method in a rain-hit encounter. Nainital Tigers won the toss and elected to bowl first, but Pithoragarh Hurricanes made a flying start, putting up 159/7 in 14 overs. Openers Aanjaneya Suryavanshi and Samarth Semwal provided the perfect platform, adding quick runs at the top. Suryavanshi smashed a blistering 73 off just 24 balls, while Semwal contributed 44 off 25 balls, helping the Hurricanes cross the 100-run mark inside the first 10 overs. However, the Hurricanes lost momentum towards the end of the innings as Nainital Tigers struck back with a flurry of wickets. Adi Khan was the standout bowler, claiming five wickets, as the Tigers restricted their opponents to 159/7. In reply, Nainital Tigers reached 41/3 in 6.1 overs before rain brought an early end to the contest. With the DLS Method coming into play, Pithoragarh Hurricanes were declared winners by 27 runs. Suryavanshi's explosive knock earned him the Player of the Match award. The second game also saw rain shorten proceedings, but it was Tehri Titans who emerged victorious against Rishikesh RiversKings. Tehri Titans won the toss and chose to bowl, making an immediate impact by picking up a wicket off the very first ball. Rishikesh RiversKings fought back through Dikshanshu Negi, who smashed a quickfire 26 off eight balls, as they posted 73/4 in five overs in the rain-shortened contest. Chasing a target of 74, Tehri Titans produced an emphatic response, reaching 75/1 in just 4.5 overs. Vijay Sharma was the star of the chase, hammering an unbeaten-looking attacking 56 off only 17 balls to power the Titans to victory. Tehri Titans won the toss and chose to bowl, making an immediate impact by picking up a wicket off the very first ball. Rishikesh RiversKings fought back through Dikshanshu Negi, who smashed a quickfire 26 off eight balls, as they posted 73/4 in five overs in the rain-shortened contest. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Gujarat Giants Explain Why They Released World Class Danni Wyatt-Hodge Ahead Of WPL Auction
Gujarat Giants (GG) head coach Michael Klinger has stated that the decision to release England opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge was driven by a desire for tactical flexibility in the upcoming auction, alongside considerations regarding her international availability during WPL 2027.
Ireland appoint Ed Joyce as high performance batting coach
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RCB Release Grace Harris Ahead Of WPL 2027 Auction, UP Warriorz Let Go Of 9 Players
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Monday decided to release destructive Australian batter Grace Harris ahead of the 2027 WPL auction in Kochi on October 28.
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WPL 2027: 63 Players Retained, Auction on October 28
Ahead of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 player auction in Kochi on October 28, a total of 63 players, including 23 overseas stars, have been retained across the five franchises.
Raichandani's 210* puts India U-19 in control vs Australia
Opener Lakshya Raichandani smashed an unbeaten 210, including 20 fours and four sixes, to help India Under-19s secure a commanding 213-run first-innings lead over Australia Under-19s in the opening Youth Test in Rajkot.
Releasing Danni Wyatt: Gujarat Giants (GG) head coach Michael Klinger has stated that the decision to release England opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge was driven by a desire for tactical flexibility in the upcoming auction, alongside considerations regarding her international availability during the 2027 Women's Premier League (WPL). GG opted to release four players Danni, India fast bowler Titas Sadhu, uncapped batter Aayushi Soni, and wicketkeeper-batter Shivani Singh, while keeping the majority of their core intact. Firstly, we decided not to release too many players. We feel like we really got a strong squad internally already. But some really tough decisions - Danni is a world-class player. Unfortunately, she didn't get a lot of game time last year. We just felt that giving us another option as an overseas player in the auction and seeing what's out there and what other skill sets are out there, that's something that we can do in about a month. But Danni's also got some English series on during the WPL, and I suppose for her, her preference was to be playing cricket as well rather than potentially being part of our squad and maybe being on the bench. So, that's the way we decided to go, Klinger said to Star Sports on the retention deadline show on Monday. The franchise has retained a formidable overseas contingent comprising Beth Mooney, skipper Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, and Sophie Devine. The Indian group retained by the GG features Yastika Bhatia, who missed WPL 2026 due to knee injury recovery, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh Thakur, Tanuja Kanwer, Kashvee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Bharti Fulmali, Anushka Sharma, Jintimani Kalita, and Happy Kumari. Detailing the domestic releases, Klinger revealed that the presence of Yastika alongside Beth made Shivani redundant as a wicketkeeping option, while injury setbacks forced the management's hand regarding seamer Titas. With some high-quality local players, we have Aayushi Soni who's doing well in domestic cricket, and Shivani Singh had a really good domestic season last year. Probably releasing her was sort of a reflection on Yastika Bhatia being available for us this year. So we've got two keepers already now with her and Beth. Titas, unfortunately, we know she can be highly skilled, but she's just had a lot of injuries last year's WPL and couldn't play much for us and has been sort of injured since. I know she's coming back now. So looking forward to see how she goes over the next few weeks as well. But we know she's a good bowler, but it also gives another option, he explained. Having suffered Eliminator heartbreak in the last two WPL editions, Klinger has set his sights firmly on securing the top spot in the league standings to secure a direct route to the final. GG will head into the player auction on October 28 in Kochi with a purse of Rs 1.25 crore. I mean, everyone starts fresh, don't they, at the start of next year? But we're certainly confident we've got the team and the ability to be playing in the championship game. The last two years we've made playoffs and unfortunately lost in the eliminator. So one way of making sure we make finals is to finish on top. So that's certainly going to be a goal of ours initially. But it's going to be the goal of every other team in the competition as well. I feel we've got the playing list ready. I mean, everyone starts fresh, don't they, at the start of next year? But we're certainly confident we've got the team and the ability to be playing in the championship game. The last two years we've made playoffs and unfortunately lost in the eliminator. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Irfan Pathan Opens Up On Humble Beginnings, World Cup Glory And Representing India With Brother
Irfan Pathan revealed that playing street cricket alongside boys from older age groups made him and his brother believe they could one day fulfil their dream of representing India.
WPL | Harris and Lee released; 63 players retainedahead of auction
Virat Kohli's Massive Verdict On Shubman Gill, The Captain
Virat Kohli has stated that chasing personal records can never sustain a long career in international cricket, adding that his sole focus over the years has been to steer the national team to victory from challenging situations
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Kagiso Rabada Included In South Africa's Preliminary Squad For Australia Tests
South Africa have included Kagiso Rabada in their preliminary squad for the three-Test series against Australia, beginning on October 9, with his availability for the opening match to be assessed during an intra-squad game next week
WPL 2027: Personal reasons rule out Lizelle Lee; U19 WC clash behind Kamalini's release
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Lizelle Lee was unavailable for playing in the 2027 Women's Premier League (WPL) due to personal reasons, which led to the Delhi Capitals releasing her for the upcoming season. Lizelle was among the six players released by DC on the retention deadline day on Monday. In WPL 2026, Lizelle amassed 320 runs for DC in her first outing in the five-team competition at an average of 32 and strike-rate of 139.13, while taking six catches. Lizelle Lee is not available for WPL 2027 duration due to personal reasons and she had communicated it before hand, said a WPL source to IANS on Monday. Apart from her, DC have opted to release Australia leg-spinner Alana King, Indias off-spin bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana, wicketkeeper-batter Taniyaa Bhatia, as well as uncapped duo Pragati Singh, and Srujana Eddla. Pragati and Srujana had come into DC fold late in WPL 2026 as injury replacements for India U19 batter Deeya Yadav and wicketkeeper-batter Mamatha Madiwala. Meanwhile, eyebrows were raised over two-time champions Mumbai Indians releasing young wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini for WPL 2027. But the WPL source confirmed to this news agency that a likely schedule clash with the upcoming ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup, to be played in Nepal and Bangladesh in early 2027, may force Kamalini to give the competition a miss and play in the global showpiece event, where India will enter as defending champions. Mumbai Indians have confirmed that G. Kamalini was released from the squad due to her likely being a part of Indias U19 squad for the upcoming World Cup. The tournament timeline is expected to overlap with WPL 2027, thus making her unavailable for the season, further said the source. Kamalini had won the 2025 U19 Womens T20 World Cup and recently was a member of the senior Indian team winning the Asia Cup in Dubai and grabbing the gold medal in the Asian Games in Japan. It is understood that Deeyas availability for WPL 2027 could be doubtful if shes selected for the U19 World Cup. The fifth edition of the WPL is scheduled to take place from January 14 to February 7, 2027, though the venues are yet to be known. The player auction for the 2027 season will take place on October 28 in Kochi. A total of 27 slots, including seven overseas slots remain available ahead of the auction. UP Warriorz will go into the auction with a maximum purse of Rs 3.65 crore.
Biting Gold Medal Is A Next-level Feeling: Cricketer Deepti Sharma Reflects On Asian Games Glory
Cricketer Deepti Sharma: Describing the act of biting her gold medal on the podium as a next-level feeling, Indias off-spin bowling all-rounder Deepti Sharma said there was an overwhelming sense of pride in winning the yellow metal in the womens T20 event at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. Deepti was a member of the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side that defended their gold medal with a thumping 147-run win over Sri Lanka at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. I can't even express the feeling of winning the gold medal because we haven't had that much of a habit of getting it yet, just like how we have been winning trophies. But it felt really good on the podium with the national anthem, and when everyone was lined up with the team, it felt really good. When our flag was there, it was an amazing feeling. The feeling of a gold medal is always different, and when you wear it and even bite it for a bit, I can tell you, it's a very different level of feeling because we've only had the trophies so far, but it's a next level feeling, Deepti said to broadcasters Star Sports on the WPL 2027 retention deadline show on Monday. Turning her focus to WPL 2027, where UP Warriorz (UPW) retained her, the Agra-born Deepti highlighted the emotional grounding that comes with playing for the franchise in the five-team competition. Deepti was acquired by the franchise for Rs 3.2 crore at the mega auction held in New Delhi in November 2025. As a player, I always think about how I can stay neutral, and this is the thing that keeps me moving forward. How can I do better? So, I think it's a good opportunity because, obviously, I belong to UP, from Agra, and playing for the UP team, I feel that connection is on a different level. When the family comes to see WPL, it's even more fun. It feels like we're at home, she said. In the WPL 2026 season, Deepti wasnt at her best - making 131 runs with the bat and picking up seven wickets. The finishers are those who finish the game at the end, and as a finisher, I've been given the role that I've been given in matches from the start. As a player, I always think about how I can stay neutral, and this is the thing that keeps me moving forward. How can I do better? So, I think it's a good opportunity because, obviously, I belong to UP, from Agra, and playing for the UP team, I feel that connection is on a different level. When the family comes to see WPL, it's even more fun. It feels like we're at home, she said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
WPL 2027: Perry's Availability Boosts All Departments, Says RCB Head Coach Rangarajan
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Australias premier seam-bowling all-rounder Ellyse Perry's decision to make herself available for the upcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 season has bolstered defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in every single department, said head coach Malolan Rangarajan. Perry, who missed RCB's title-winning 2026 campaign due to personal reasons, confirmed her availability in August this year. On the WPL 2027 retention deadline day. RCB opted to retain 13 players, comprising nine Indian and four overseas stars, while parting ways with Dayalan Hemalatha, Gautami Naik, Linsey Smith, and Grace Harris ahead of the player auction on October 28 in Kochi. The fifth edition of the WPL is scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, 2027. RCB has retained 13 players and Ellyse Perry has made herself available to play for RCB in the upcoming WPL. RCB has decided to release four players, Hemalatha, Gautami, Linsey and Grace Harris. It's really important to appreciate the effort and commitment with which these players play for RCB. They played an integral part in us winning our second title and I want to take this opportunity to thank them again for all the effort they put in, said Rangarajan in a video posted by the franchise on Monday. Speaking about Ellyses return for the five-team tournament, Rangarajan felt it made the retention strategy easy for RCB, who have also retained captain Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, K Prathyoosha, Sayali Satghare, Pooja Vastrakar, and Georgia Voll. It was a long-drawn process, the whole retention process, where we had our coaches and Smriti was involved in it. Perry indicated that she'd be more than happy to come back and play for RCB sometime in August and post which we got together and we thought about how we could improve our squad. With Perry returning to our squad, it bolsters the team in all departments. She comes in as a batter and that got us thinking about how we could balance our squad and look for options in the auction, he said. Rangarajan expressed confidence in the retained core while underlining that past success will not breed complacency when the team approaches the auction table, where RCB has a purse of Rs 1.15 crore. We've had the benefit and privilege to be able to retain a major core of our squad, 13 players - 9 Indians and 4 Overseas players. This is obviously a winning combination, but it's important for us to realize and the players to realize that we expect and they're expected to come in with improvements in their performance. The intent with which we're going to approach this auction is to improve our team, he said. Closing with an acknowledgement of the franchise's loyal supporters, Rangarajan reiterated the side's commitment to delivering an entertaining brand of cricket in WPL 2027. The 12th Man Army has always been there for the team, always supported us through thick and thin. This is obviously a winning combination, but it's important for us to realize and the players to realize that we expect and they're expected to come in with improvements in their performance. The intent with which we're going to approach this auction is to improve our team, he said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Youth Test: Lakshyas unbeaten double ton puts India u-19 in the box seat
Squad Revamp Necessary To Build 200-plus Firepower For WPL 2027, Says UPW Head Coach Nayar
If Deepti Sharma: Facing a dry run of four seasons without making a significant mark in the Women's Premier League (WPL), UP Warriorz (UPW) head coach Abhishek Nayar has said a thorough tactical overhaul was necessary to assemble a high-intensity batting order capable of matching the tournament's evolving 200-plus scoring standards. UPW, who finished at the bottom of the WPL 2026 points table, executed a sweeping squad cleanup on the retention deadline day by parting ways with international players Deandra Dottin, Chloe Tryon, and Amy Jones, alongside domestic names like Kiran Navgire, Shweta Sehrawat, and India leg-spinner Asha Sobhana. At the end of the season, when our coaches had a meeting, and even recently the coaches had a meeting at the end, we kind of gave a lot of the players certain things to work on and felt we wanted to assess how they go from there. In that, Asha was one of the players that we felt had obviously taken a lot of positive strides. So, it was sort of a hard decision for us. But we just felt coming into this auction, I felt when you take over for the first time, you try and understand the process of a franchise and what has gone on in the system. You always want to rely on the good before you can look at the bad, and I think having been here for one year, we felt sometimes a bit of a change is not a bad thing. So, we are taking kind of a punt in a lot of ways to try and see if we can change how we formulated the team last year and see if a different combination can give us better results, Nayar told Star Sports on the retention deadline show on Monday. Despite the exits, the franchise has retained an 11-member core that features premier overseas stars in captain Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Ecclestone, and Tara Norris. The retained Indian contingent is headlined by star all-rounder Deepti Sharma, alongside Harleen Deol, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud, Pratika Rawal, Shipra Giri, and Simran Shaikh. Explaining the shift in womens T20 batting dynamics, Nayar acknowledged that relying on older scoring benchmarks left the side under-resourced against opposition teams regularly breaching the 200-run barrier. I've always believed in being quite honest. I think one of the things at the end of the season, when we were thinking, and I was thinking about it a lot, I always felt that as a team, when we picked a side, sometimes players click or they don't. But somewhere I felt WPL took a step and a notch up last year. In the past, teams were reaching 200 more frequently than years before that. So when you rely on data, sometimes it can deceive you because 170-160 was a power score, and the team we sort of built was a team that could achieve that, we felt. But every time a team surpassed that 200-mark, it became really hard for us. We didn't have the firepower, and it's still going to be hard in this auction. An auction doesn't mean things are going to be changed. The things that are going to change are because we have money. But trying to become a team that can score 200 means a lot of the players in the current setup will also have to change their styles of play and will have to adapt and play the current form of T20 cricket, and that's the only way we turn things around this time around, he explained. Nayar outlined that releasing key names allowed UP Warriorz to enter the auction table with a purse of Rs 3.65 crore, the largest purse among all five franchises, to target explosive match-winners with the bat. The idea is to have enough money so that we can identify players in the auction that we felt we didn't do last time around, who could actually make an impact and help us achieve, say, a 171-75 to 200 with the bat. Touching upon individual retention decisions, Nayar backed India batter Pratika Rawal and experienced campaigner Harleen Deol, while extending warm wishes to long-serving players Kiran Navgire and Shweta Sehrawat, who have been with UPW since the tournaments inception in 2023. See, we haven't seen Pratika a lot in T20 cricket, but she obviously has the potential to do something special. She's just been included in the India T20 side. So, hopefully, we get some time to work with her. With Harleen, I think part of the thought process was: a lot of times you look at what is out there and what you have, and whether you feel there is someone out there who can give you more than what Harleen has been giving us. Having said that, she won us a game against Mumbai Indians last year. She had that potential, and I feel it's about her unlocking that in her mind and believing that she can keep playing to that tempo. We feel if that happens, then the best of Harleen Deol is in front of her. With Kiran and Shweta, they have been with us for four years and have been terrific in the dressing room. But sometimes a bit of a change is good, even for the cricketer and even for the franchise. So, they've been terrific while they were with us. They gave their best. It was never that they never tried hard, but sometimes, like I always say, when things don't work out in one franchise, maybe they do in another. So, it's just one of those things. But they are good players. We're looking for a change in the set-up, he explained. Addressing the release of Deandra, Nayar revealed that her recent dip in form with the bat forced the management's hand despite their mutual fondness. It's been hard because when we picked her, I'd followed her for a couple of years. Luckily, I saw her in CPL when I was there with the men's team, and I truly enjoyed watching the character behind it. I feel she had a lull last year, but her batting has gone downhill, and we really wanted someone who could give a lot with the bat. As I said, the emphasis was on someone who can play with that 130-140 strike rate, take the game away, something she did a lot. But I feel in the last year, she hasn't been at her best. Having said that, because we've had such a poor season last season, sometimes you sit back and think whether you want to back someone who is not doing well even over a period of a year. That's the pressure that you're under in franchise cricket, unfortunately. As much as we would love to have all of them back and play with the same team, if we had qualified in a good season, then those releases would have been fewer. But because it's been four years of us not playing good cricket, and I had this last one year understand it, we just feel like moving in a different direction, and what's the worst that can happen? he said. Nayar concluded by reiterating that captain Meg Lanning and Deepti were central to all retention discussions. I've always believed when we go into an auction, the skipper is someone who I really rely a lot on. I've noticed that with Meg now having one season in the WPL and understanding our culture, even in this whole retention process, she's been an integral part, and we've had a lot of conversations with her and the support group. Deepti is also the same, and for me, it's about having enough conversations with each player, identifying their role before the season and creating that flexibility in the mindset of the player so that, as a team, we can achieve whatever success we have to, because eventually, no matter who we pick in the auction, this is still the core of the team. Nayar concluded by reiterating that captain Meg Lanning and Deepti were central to all retention discussions. I've always believed when we go into an auction, the skipper is someone who I really rely a lot on. I've noticed that with Meg now having one season in the WPL and understanding our culture, even in this whole retention process, she's been an integral part, and we've had a lot of conversations with her and the support group. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) Describing player retentions and releases as the most challenging aspect of his job, Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Jonathan Batty has said that four-time runners-up will enter the upcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 player auction with a singular focus on fine-tuning their starting eleven to finally break their finale jinx. New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) Describing player retentions and releases as the most challenging aspect of his job, Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Jonathan Batty has said that four-time runners-up will enter the upcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 player auction with a singular focus on fine-tuning their starting eleven to finally break their finale jinx. On the retention deadline day, DC released six players, including big overseas names in South Africa opener Lizelle Lee and Australia leg-spinner Alana King, alongside Indias off-spin bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana, wicketkeeper-batter Taniyaa Bhatia, as well as uncapped duo Pragati Singh and Srujana Eddla. It's always a really difficult time of year. Retentions and releases are probably the most challenging part of the job. You obviously want to have the right players in your team and in your squad to give you the best chance of going into the season. Delhi have always been really strong in terms of the quality of the playing eleven to the depth of the squad that we've always had. So for us, going into this retention-release cycle to try and work out how we can improve our starting eleven as a priority is really challenging. We had 11 super players who were in the starting eleven last year, and to try and improve on that is really, really difficult. So we've made some really difficult decisions. There's been a lot of debate and discussion around the management group and our scouts, to come to the point where we've obviously released those six players that we have - it's been a challenging time, said Batty to broadcasters Star Sports during the retentions announcement show on Monday. DC, though, have retained a formidable 13-member squad built around a star-studded core. The side features major international heavyweights in Marizanne Kapp, Laura Wolvaardt, Annabel Sutherland, Chinelle Henry, and Lucy Hamilton. The retained domestic contingent is headlined by skipper Jemimah Rodrigues and explosive opener Shafali Verma, alongside Minnu Mani, Deeya Yadav, Mamatha Madiwala, Nandni Sharma, Niki Prasad, and N Sree Charani. Having suffered heartbreak in all four WPL finals so far, Batty took pride in the team's consistent run to the summit clash while remaining confident that a title breakthrough is right around the corner. We're really proud of the performances that the DC girls have put in over the last four years, and getting to every final, you say it's an incredible achievement. We haven't reached our goal, which is always to try and win the tournament. So hopefully this year we'll get the icing on the cake and get over the line. As for the reasons why we've fallen short in the last couple of years, I don't think there's any set reason. Just on the day, the opposition have outplayed us in all those four finals. I think it's a testament, as you said, to the strength of the team that we keep doing that in terms of getting to the final. The way we've done it each year has been slightly different, he noted. Analysing how the competitive landscape of the WPL has evolved, Batty pointed out that equal squad strengths across franchises made last season's run to the final their toughest yet. Obviously, we were dominant through the first year. In subsequent years, obviously, we had a bit more of a challenge when the teams were more evenly balanced along the way. Last year, I felt that all the teams were the most evenly balanced they had been through the whole tournament. So it was much harder, I felt, for us to get there. We probably played our best game in the Eliminator last year and then obviously fell short in the final again. So we're constantly looking just to tinker and try and improve our starting eleven. But you look at the world-class players we've got within our starting eleven, if you keep getting yourself in finals, at some point you are going to win one, and so hopefully that will be this year, he stated. Batty further praised Jemimah for stepping up admirably and playing a hands-on role in the recruitment and retention decisions alongside the scouting setup. So Jemi obviously stepped in to take the captaincy on with Megs departure the previous year. I thought she went from strength to strength. She learnt a huge amount during the tournament. She was a wonderful captain on and off the field. You would always include your captain and leader in those discussions. She's obviously got a good knowledge of the domestic game as well as obviously the international players we make targets for, and we've always listened to that. The whole recruitment element for Delhi is a real collaboration. So we've got wonderful scouts out there. We've got a really good management group. We've got people behind the scenes who are really well-versed in auction strategy as well, he explained. Batty concluded by pointing out the human side of managing squad transitions ahead of the upcoming auction in Kochi on October 28, where DC will operate with a remaining purse of Rs 1.1 crore. We take all those different thoughts in and make the huge decisions whether to retain or release a player. We've been very good at the recruitment side, and we want to stay good at that. As a coach, it's really tough, obviously, talking to those players that you've released, trying to explain why that might be, and obviously making the players that you've retained very happy. So we want to keep them firing and playing well for Delhi as well.
Najmul Hossain Shanto ruled out of Asian Games due to illness
He has been suffering from fever since his arrival in Nagoya for men's cricket competition
WPL 2027: Every Auction A Fresh Challenge, Goal Is To Build Top Team, Says MI Mentor Jhulan
Mumbai Indians: Mumbai Indians bowling coach and mentor Jhulan Goswami has stated that player auctions present a unique challenge every season and added that the franchise's core objective remains assembling a top-tier squad capable of fighting for the Women's Premier League (WPL) title. Jhulan's remarks came after two-time champions Mumbai Indians parted ways with six players ahead of the WPL 2027 auction. The released list comprises five Indian players left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque, wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini, seam bowler Kranthi Reddy, batting all-rounder Poonam Khemnar, and left-arm spinner Triveni Vasistha, alongside Australian fast bowler Milly Illingworth. Auctions are always a different challenge for everyone because you don't know which player you are going to meet, but you have to prepare accordingly. So every year is a new challenge, and we try to accept that challenge and make the best team, so that our team is at the top, said Jhulan to broadcasters Star Sports during the retention announcement show on Monday. MI, who missed out on WPL 2026 playoffs, have preserved a formidable core of 11 players, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur. The retained squad features international stars - West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, England skipper Natalie Sciver-Brunt, New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr, South Africa pacer Shabnim Ismail, and Australias seam-bowling all-rounder Nicola Carey. The domestic core retained by the franchise includes seam-bowling all-rounder Amanjot Kaur, whos recovering from a back injury at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, batting all-rounder Sajeevan Sajana, wicketkeeper-batter Rahila Firdous, off-spin bowling all-rounder Sanskriti Gupta, and left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma. MI, who missed out on WPL 2026 playoffs, have preserved a formidable core of 11 players, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur. The retained squad features international stars - West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, England skipper Natalie Sciver-Brunt, New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr, South Africa pacer Shabnim Ismail, and Australias seam-bowling all-rounder Nicola Carey. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Raichandani 210* puts India Under-19 in commanding position
Hosts ended day two 213 runs ahead of Australia Under-19
WPL Retention 2027: Complete list of players retained and released of all teams
The WPL (Womens Premier League) 2027 season is looming on the horizon; ahead of the new season of the marquee tournament, the WPL is all set to host the mini-auction. The event will be held...
Who Is Vithya Ramraj? Meet The Indian Athlete Who Broke PT Usha
Vithya Ramraj has added another major chapter to her athletics career after winning bronze in the women's 400m hurdles at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The 28-year-old athlete from Coimbatore clocked a personal best of 54.75 seconds in the final
Is Virat Kohli really ahead of Sachin Tendulkar?
Virat Kohli reached 15,000 ODI runs 74 innings faster than Sachin Tendulkar, but changing rules and conditions make their numbers harder to compare.
Tom Westley Steps Down As Essex Captain After Six Years
Essex County Cricket Club: Tom Westley has stepped down as captain of Essex County Cricket Club after being in charge for six years, the club confirmed on Monday. Westley took over from Ryan ten Doeschate in January 2020 and will conclude his captaincy after the Glamorgan match. The English top-order batter reflected on his time as captain of the club. Captaincy of Essex has been, and always will be, my greatest honour. It has been a privilege to serve this great Club, and it saddens me that I havent been able to leave it in a better place, Westley said ,as quoted by Essex. Personally, I feel that my biggest value is scoring runs and contributing to Essex victories, something which I havent been able to achieve this year. For that reason, I feel now is the right time for a change and for the Club to explore a new direction. Westley is the longest-serving player of the club currently, having joined the academy in 2003. He made his first-team debut in 2007. It is an all-encompassing role which has been demanding at times, none more so than this current season, for which I will be accountable. No one is more disappointed than I am with the results of the second half of the year, Westley said. Westley is the longest-serving player of the club currently, having joined the academy in 2003. He made his first-team debut in 2007. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Westley went on to win a trophy in his first season as captain, leading Essex to victory in the Bob Willis Trophy final at Lords. Above all, I want to thank my family, who have to carry the highs and lows along with me. Thank you, he added. Article Source: IANS
Malaysia face Bangladesh in Asian Games quarter-final repeat from 2023
The last time these two teams met, Malaysia fell just two runs short
Tom Westley steps down as Essex captain after tough season
Veteran had been at helm since 2020, but resigns with club still in danger of relegation
WPL 2027: MI Let Go Of Kamalini, RCB Release Harris, DC Part Ways With Lee And Rana
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Two-time champions Mumbai Indians have surprisingly parted ways with promising wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini, while titleholders Royal Challengers Bengaluru have released Australias power-hitting batting all-rounder Grace Harris ahead of the 2027 Womens Premier League (WPL) season. Two-time champions MI, who missed out on playoffs in WPL 2026, made significant changes to their setup by releasing six players in total, after appointing Luke Williams as their new head coach. Alongside Kamalini, who recently won the Asia Cup with India and got the Asian Games gold medal earlier this month in Japan, the franchise also opted to part ways with Australian quick Milly Illingworth, India left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque, as well as uncapped players Kranthi Reddy, Poonam Khemnar, and Triveni Vasistha. Defending champions RCB trimmed their roster by releasing four players. Apart from Harris, the franchise also parted ways with England left-arm spinner Linsey Smith, alongside domestic players Dayalan Hemalatha and Gautami Naik. With Ellyse Perry making herself available for WPL 2027, as per head coach Malolan Rangarajan, it could be a reason behind the two-time winners releasing Grace. Four-time runners-up Delhi Capitals have let go of South Africa opener Lizelle Lee, Australia leg-spinner Alana King, who came as a replacement for Annabel Sutherland, and experienced India off-spin bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana. Wicketkeeper-batter Taniyaa Bhatia, Pragati Singh, and Srujana Eddla were the other players released by DC. UP Warriorz, after consecutive bottom finishes in the WPL, have executed a massive overhaul of their core unit by parting ways with international stars Deandra Dottin, Chloe Tryon, and Amy Jones, as well as India leg-spinner Asha Sobhana, batters Shweta Sehrawat, and Kiran Navgire. Gujarat Giants have released experienced England batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge, young India pacer Titas Sadhu, whos been out of action due to a hand injury sustained in WPL 2026, Aayushi Soni, and Shivani Singh ahead of the new season. The five WPL franchises will assemble at the Grand Hyatt in Kochi on October 28 for the player auction to complete their respective squads, with 18 being the maximum number of players they can have. The fifth edition of the WPL will take place from January 14 to February 7, 2027, with venues yet to be announced. WPL 2027 releases list: Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Grace Harris, Linsey Smith, Gautami Naik, and Dayalan Hemalatha Mumbai Indians: G Kamalini, Saika Ishaque, Milly Illingworth, Kranthi Reddy, Poonam Khemnar, and Triveni Vasistha Delhi Capitals: Lizelle Lee, Alana King, Taniyaa Bhatia, Sneh Rana, Pragati Singh, and Eddla Srujana Mumbai Indians: G Kamalini, Saika Ishaque, Milly Illingworth, Kranthi Reddy, Poonam Khemnar, and Triveni Vasistha Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Gujarat Giants: Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Aayushi Soni, Titas Sadhu, and Shivani Singh Article Source: IANS
Buttler out of Pakistan tour, and doubt for Australia, after hamstring injury
McCullum says Cox will be given extended opportunity in veteran's absence, ahead of World Cup
Virat Kohli dials Anushka Sharma, Vamika after India's win; netizens notice his iPhone Air
During the India vs. West Indies match, Virat Kohli was seen holding Apple's slimmest and lightest smartphone, the iPhone Air. Social media users reacted differently to the incident.
Kagiso Rabada returns as South Africa name preliminary squad for 1st Australia Test
The stage is set for the Test series between South Africa and Australia. After the conclusion of the ODI series, the two sides will lock horns across three Test matches. The first test is slated...
Ryan Campbell steps up as Durham director of cricket following promotion
Former head coach will lead search for his own replacement, as well as open discussions with Stokes over playing future
Ian Bishop heaps massive praise on Virat Kohli after latter's sensational century in first WI ODI
The Indian team got off to a great start to their ODI series against the West Indies. The two sides met at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27. Putting forth a dominant...
Sunil Gavaskar's Warning For Next BCCI Chief Selector As Ajit Agarkar's Tenure Nears End
Ajit Agarkar's tenure as BCCI chief selector, which started in 2023, will end soon. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has said that after October 4, the board will officially declare its next course of action
Playing for numbers never works, aim is always to play for winning matches: Virat Kohli
Digital Desk | Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 28 (IANS) Talismanic India batter Virat Kohli has stated that chasing personal records can never sustain a long career in international cricket, adding that his sole focus over the years has been to steer the national team to victory from challenging situations. Tearing into the West Indies bowling attack in the first ODI at the Greenfield International Stadium, Kohli breached the 15,000-run mark in ODIs while making an unbeaten 139 - his 55th ton in the format and third-fastest overall. He now stands as only the second player in history to cross 15,000 mens ODI runs after the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Of course, I mean, if you look at it from a numbers perspective, it's a big number. But the goal is simple - to try and make the team win from difficult situations, and different situations. That's what I've tried to do over the years. You can only play for that long if you're looking to make the team win. You can't play for that long for numbers because in need to get numbers, you will compromise on the main goal and you can't play for long in that manner. So I'm lucky to have been in this position for so long. Of course, a big number like that to take it off along the way to another win is quite special, Kohli said in a video posted on BCCIs social media accounts on Monday. Speaking on his camaraderie with skipper Shubman Gill, who hit 110, Kohli highlighted his free-flowing nature and the lightness in the team environment with the senior players being at ease. I've known him since the time he came into the team. I've always shared like a very free flowing and a very fun filled camaraderie with him. At the end of the day, you make a conscious effort. Now he's in a leadership position. I've been in that position for a long time and now I'm a senior player. So, when senior players or the leaders in the team are smiling, laughing, keeping the environment light, all the other players feel like, yes, there's no problem. Like, even if it's a big pressure game, everyone's laughing. So it just relaxes all the other guys because we are not taking pressure. We are showing that it's fine. We can smile and have a good laugh, but be professional on the field, he elaborated. Detailing the secret of their partnerships being successful, Kohli noted that mutual understanding simplifies their communication while batting together. When you bat with a player like that, we don't talk much about the match we talk about the other and different things because he knows what to do and I know what to do. Sometimes on the basis of experience, or in some areas, if he's trying to hit, then I can chip in and say, maybe not this, maybe this. But more interactions happen on the field while we are fielding to bounce off ideas because the captain can have a lot of stuff going on. But batting with him, you don't need to say much because he knows what to do. Of course, he's got great skill. In the presentation, he was asking me, how do you feel batting with him? So I said, there's a reason why he's leading the team because he has the right perspective to look at the game in a way that he can make the team win, he added. Meanwhile, Gill expressed delight at being at the non-strikers end when his idol Kohli breached the historic 15,000 runs milestone. Very happy - growing up, I never thought I'll be alongside Virat bhai when he completes his 15,000 runs in ODIs. From watching him and idolising him, seeing what makes him so special and then being on the crease with him and sharing those moments, I think the journey has been great so far and hopefully it's going to be even better memories that we share. We can all see how much Virat bhai is enjoying his betting right now and I think whether be the banter on the field or off the field, the ease and the confidence that he's batting with right now, it also translates from off field to on field, he concluded.
Mohammad Rizwan In Trouble? Report Reveals New Twist In Betting Probe Investigation
Former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has allegedly failed to cooperate with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in its ongoing probe involving him and fellow batter Imam-ul-Haq.
Future Generations Will Truly Value Kohlis Legacy Only After He Retires: Bishop
Former West Indies: Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop believes the cricketing fraternity will only fully grasp the sheer magnitude of Virat Kohlis monumental achievements once the Indian batting maestro calls time on his illustrious playing career. Tearing into the West Indies bowling attack at the Greenfield International Stadium to give India a comfortable eight-wicket victory in the series opener, Kohli breached the 15,000-run mark in ODIs while making an unbeaten 139 on Sunday, while bringing up his 55th ton in the format - his third-fastest overall. He now stands as only the second player in history to cross 15,000 mens ODI runs after the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. You have to love what you do to evolve as he has done over such a long period of time. I think this puts him in a rarefied atmosphere, given that he has achieved 15,000 runs in 74 fewer innings than the great Sachin Tendulkar, whom I hold in high regard, having played against him. Where his legacy will end, he certainly has to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, batter in this format of the game. I mean, this is extraordinary. A lot of these fans watching on television and here on the ground appreciate it, but I dont think we will fully appreciate it until some time after he concludes his playing days, Bishop said on JioHotstar. Bishop, the acclaimed commentator, was particularly left in awe of Kohli's unmatched consistency and his legendary prowess in acing run-chases. Virat is different in that respect, the appetite that he has for runs, his calculation of how to chase a total, I think that is unsurpassed in this game. Virat has a sense of occasion that he may not confess to, but again, that's his evolution. I still cant believe 15,000... I know Sachin got there, but thats a heck of a lot of runs. So, if I had flowers right now, Id give them to him because he certainly deserves his flowers, he added. Calling on the younger generation of cricketers to draw inspiration from Kohlis work ethics, Bishop urged players across all disciplines to step outside their comfort zones and constantly refine their skills, regardless of age or experience. Its something that were all very aware of, because I have grown tired of hearing players say, This is the way I play, and people outside the game saying, When you reach a certain age, you cant learn new tricks. Calling on the younger generation of cricketers to draw inspiration from Kohlis work ethics, Bishop urged players across all disciplines to step outside their comfort zones and constantly refine their skills, regardless of age or experience. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories It shows that where there is a will, many times, if youre smart enough, you will find a way. And if any cricketer can take anything away from this, that is what I want them to remember: dont stay in your comfort zone. Batter, bowler, fielder, captain, get out of your comfort zone, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
Playing Alongside Kohli Is Surreal, Watching Him Bat Was Unbelievable, Says Prasidh
Greenfield International Stadium: India fast bowler Prasidh Krishna has described teammate Virat Kohlis brilliant unbeaten 139, giving them an eight-wicket win over the West Indies as unbelievable, while adding that playing alongside the talismanic batter gives a surreal feeling. Kohli left the Greenfield International Stadium dazzled when he smashed his 55th ODI century and became only the second batter in history to cross 15,000 mens ODI runs in the format after the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. It was unbelievable. Sitting outside we were thinking, what do we bowl to him at that moment? He was striking the ball really, really well. All of us have grown up watching Virat Kohli and to see him do what he did today was unbelievable. I think all of us were excited about it, said Prasidh at the conclusion of the game. Turning to his own performance, where he took 2-60, Prasidh credited clear communication and role clarity within the Indian dressing room for his recent consistency in 50-over cricket. Having broken into the ODI setup in 2021, Prasidh has emerged as Indias leading wicket-taker in the 50-over format this year through 15 scalps from eight matches. Every single session we go in, we are looking to improve at something and every game as well poses a different kind of a challenge. When you come in knowing what exactly has to be done, there is clarity within the team and in me as to what I do when I come in, there is enough communication going on. So all of those things accumulate and help me bowl well, he said. Heading the Indian pace bowling attack alongside relatively inexperienced options in Gurnoor Brar and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the ODI series opener, especially with Mohammed Siraj left out, Prasidh highlighted the importance of existing IPL camaraderie helping them ace the challenge. Gurnoor and I have spent two years now at Gujarat Titans. So I kind of know we have that rapport. Most importantly, it's the ability that you have within the team to talk to each other, and that happens. We have been working on communicating even during games. And knowing each other personally helps, because you know what somebody's working on, what somebody's good at, what his strengths and not-so-strengths are. So that just helps each other when you're under pressure and you can just go chat to each other and help them out, he added. Gurnoor and I have spent two years now at Gujarat Titans. So I kind of know we have that rapport. Most importantly, it's the ability that you have within the team to talk to each other, and that happens. We have been working on communicating even during games. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Every time we go into nets, we know the kind of bowlers that we're bowling amongst. And, yeah, that really helps. You're always communicating with each other, trying to push each other to do better and I would say Indian cricket, in terms of fast bowling, is in pretty good hands, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
Rabada Named In SA Preliminary Squad For First Test Against Australia; Nortje, Ackerman Called Up
Cricket South Africa: Ace speedster Kagiso Rabada has been named in South Africa's preliminary 18-member Test squad for the first Test against Australia starting on October 9 in Durban. Rabada, who is currently working his way back from a hamstring injury suffered during winter training this year, will have his match fitness evaluated during an intra-squad two-day game next week to determine his availability for the opening Test set to happen at Kingsmead. But Rabadas fellow seamers Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman, and Kwena Maphaka are all sidelined from selection due to their respective hamstring issues. The injury crisis has opened the door for tearaway quick Anrich Nortje to be included in the squad. Nortje is in line to play his first red-ball match for the Proteas since March 2023 despite no longer holding a central contract with Cricket South Africa (CSA). Joining Nortje in a seven-man pace attack are Gerald Coetzee, who makes his Test return after nearly two years, and veteran Dane Paterson, alongside regular all-round options Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, and Wiaan Mulder. Having a larger bowling group gives us the flexibility to cover all bases. We have different options across the squad and the next week will give us an opportunity to determine which combinations are best suited to the conditions. We also want to give Kagiso every chance of being available for selection for the first Test, and the two-day game will give us a clearer picture of where he is in terms of his match readiness, said head coach Shukri Conrad in a statement. The squad features a solitary new face in 30-year-old top-order batter Marques Ackerman, who earned his maiden Test call-up on the back of a prolific run for South Africa 'A', where he piled up over 1,000 runs across his last 10 first-class outings at a staggering average of 82.92, including hitting a career-best 256 against Bangladesh 'A' in August. Ackerman is expected to compete with Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, and Mulder for a spot in the top three. Meanwhile, middle-order batter David Bedingham retained his place following twin centuries for Western Province in domestic cricket, while young sensation Dewald Brevis missed out despite being part of the squad that won a Test series in India last year. Weve selected a preliminary squad because we have an extended build-up to the first Test, with the group getting together in Durban on 1 October. Well have a couple of training days, a two-day intra-squad match and scenario-based training, which will give us an opportunity to assess the group and conditions before settling on our final 15. On the batting front, weve stuck with our core group. Its great to have Marques in the squad. The way he has led the SA A side, both as captain and through his performances with the bat, has earned him this opportunity. Were looking forward to having him in the Test environment, added Conrad. Weve selected a preliminary squad because we have an extended build-up to the first Test, with the group getting together in Durban on 1 October. Well have a couple of training days, a two-day intra-squad match and scenario-based training, which will give us an opportunity to assess the group and conditions before settling on our final 15. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories South Africa preliminary squad for first Test: Temba Bavuma (captain), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne. Article Source: IANS
Bishnoi reveals why Asian Games medal feels special
Indian leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi shares his unique experience at the Asian Games, highlighting the distinct feeling of winning medals for India compared to trophies for the BCCI. He also discusses the team's accommodation and travel, and their desire to explore other sports.
Rabada in South Africa's preliminary squad for Australia Tests
Fast bowler's fitness will be assessed in an intra-squad match before the series
When P T Usha Met Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha met the Indian men's cricket team in Nagoya, expressing her pride and wishing them well for their Asian Games campaign.
Nitish Kumar Reddy becomes first Andhra fast bowler to lead Indias pace attack
The 23-year-old from Gajuwaka shares the new ball with Prasidh Krishna, recovers from an 18-run first over and takes a wicket in the final over
Asian Games 2026: Ankita-Rutuja pair bow out; rain pushes Nagals match to September 29
The Indian pair lost 7-5 3-6 5-10 to the Kazakh duo in a contest that went down to the deciding match tie-break.
Molineux Injury Cloud Hangs Over Australias Bangladesh ODI Series
National Cricket League: Australia could be without captain Sophie Molineux for their upcoming three-match ODI assignment against Bangladesh after the all-rounder suffered a hip injury. Molineux was left out of Victorias squad for the opening round of the Womens National Cricket League, which begins tomorrow, adding uncertainty to her availability for Australias next international campaign. The national squad for the Bangladesh series is expected to be announced on Wednesday. The three ODIs are scheduled to be played in Brisbane on October 9, 11 and 14. A Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed that Molineux is being monitored but stopped short of putting a definitive timeline on her recovery. Sophie has an injury to her hip joint and her involvement in the upcoming series will continue to be assessed, a CA spokesperson was quoted as saying by Cricinfo. The latest setback is another interruption in what has been an injury-affected period of Molineuxs career. A back problem disrupted the beginning of her tenure as Australia captain earlier this year and forced her to miss the West Indies tour as a bowler, although she featured as a batter. She subsequently returned to an all-round role at the T20 World Cup, where Australia successfully defended their title under her leadership. Reflecting on the difficulties she has faced with injuries, Molineux recently said, I suppose the injuries have taken up a large chunk of the last few years for me, Molineux told Cricinfo recently. But the lessons that you learn from going through it just make me really grateful to be sitting here today with some pretty special memories under my belt. Australia face a packed international schedule in the coming months. The Bangladesh ODIs will be followed by three T20Is against New Zealand in October, before New Zealand return in March for a three-match ODI series. The latter assignment comes after the inaugural Champions Trophy in India. Should Molineux be unavailable, Australia have established leadership alternatives in Tahlia McGrath and Ashleigh Gardner, who were appointed joint vice-captains earlier this year. McGrath led Australia during the West Indies tour in Molineuxs absence, although she did not feature in the playing XI during the T20 World Cup. Gardner, meanwhile, retained the boards backing as vice-captain in August after Cricket Australia addressed her relationship with Georgia Voll, following the breakdown of Gardners marriage. McGrath led Australia during the West Indies tour in Molineuxs absence, although she did not feature in the playing XI during the T20 World Cup. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories I am grateful that the CA Board has chosen to support my continued leadership. I look forward to playing a strong role as a leader and providing the best possible support for my teammates in the season to come. Article Source: IANS
Nepal vs Sri Lanka - cracking contest on the cards if the rain stays away
Nepal have been on a winning streak, but whether they can continue that run against Sri Lanka, who have lost their last four T20Is, depends on the weather
The hunger in Virat Kohli is evident in the way the batting maestro is peaking ahead of the 2027 World Cup
Asian Games 2026: Indian cricket team advance to semis after Afghanistan QF abandoned
The defending champion side made it to the last four as it is ranked No.1 in the ICC T20I rankings while Afghanistan is currently placed 10th
'What Can Youth Learn From Virat Kohli?'
Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has lauded Virat Kohli's exceptional form in ODIs, highlighting his fitness, hunger, dedication, and consistency as qualities for youth to emulate. Kaif recalled how Kohli overcame criticism after a lean patch to score over 900 runs in 11 innings, including four centuries, and recently achieved a record-breaking 139 not out against West Indies, surpassing 15,000 ODI runs.
Asian Games: Indian men's team in cricket semis after washout
The Indian men's cricket team has advanced to the Asian Games semi-final after their quarter-final match against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain, with India progressing based on their superior ICC T20I ranking.
Amid 2027 ODI World Cup Spot Race, Star Pacer's Positive Outlook Wins Hearts
Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna, who delivered a strong two-wicket spell against West Indies in the first T20I, said that clarity within the team and in himself as to what needs to be done, and good communication within the team, have helped him thrive as a bowler this year.
It mirrored the outcome of the first quarterfinal between Pakistan and Hong Kong, China, which was also abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain as the Nisshin weather played spoilsport.
India vs West Indies 1st ODI: Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill centuries power India to eight-wicket win
India take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. A comfortable win in the end for the men in blue. With the ball, they fought back after West Indies made a great start. With the bat, India always looked in total control.
Molineux a doubt for Bangladesh ODIs with hip injury
A CA spokesperson said Molineux's involvement in the series 'will continue to be assessed'
The Asian Games 2026 cricket campaign was all set to begin for the Indian mens cricket team. The Men in Blue were slated to take on Afghanistan in the quarter-final of the event at the...
Virat Kohli has become only the second batter to reach 15,000 ODI runs, getting there 74 innings faster than Sachin Tendulkar. He reached the landmark in 46 balls against West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram.
David Boon Named Interim Cricket Australia Chair As Mike Baird Steps Down Amid BBL Dispute
Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird announced he was standing down on Monday amid a backlash over the partial privatisation of the Big Bash Twenty20 competition. Domestic body Cricket NSW withdrew support for Baird after Cricket Australia forged ahead with the sale of the struggling Melbourne Renegades franchise. After much consideration I have decided to stand down as CA Chair and Director, Baird said in a statement. I believe Australian cricket continues to be well lead by the CA Board. Baird will leave the role after Cricket Australia's annual meeting in late October. Cricket Australia has named former Test opener David Boon as Baird's interim replacement. Renowned for his bushy moustache, Boon is something of a cult figure in Australian cricketing circles. Boon's teammates once claimed he downed 52 cans of beer on a flight between Australia and England in the late 1980s. Following his playing career, Boon has held positions as a national team selector and state cricket administrator. It is an enormous honour to take the role of Interim CA Chair during what is a hugely exciting and also challenging time for cricket, Boon said. Cricket Australia has courted private investment in the domestic Twenty20 competition as it looks to shore up the game's financial future. But privatisation has been a thorny issue. An initial proposal to sell stakes in each of the BBL's eight teams stalled earlier this year amid concerns about a loss of control for the game's local custodians. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories While the Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania cricket associations voiced support and South Australia said it was open to the idea, New South Wales and Queensland rejected the move.
Washout against Afghanistan sends India into semi-finals
Persistent rain and a damp outfield forced the abandonment of the quarter-final 16 minutes before the scheduled toss
Ex-Test Batter David Boon Named CA Interim Chair As Baird Steps Down
Annual General Meeting: Former Test batter David Boon has been appointed Cricket Australia (CA) Interim Chair with serving chair Mike Baird notified the CA Board he would not seek reappointment and would stand down from the role at next month's Annual General Meeting. Cricket Australia said the process to appoint a Cricket Australia chair will take place in the months after the AGM. Baird has served on the CA Board for six years and has been chair since February 2023. After much consideration I have decided to stand down as CA Chair and Director. I am delighted that David Boon has agreed to undertake the Interim Chair role while we complete the formal Chair process. I will undertake a transition process with David over coming weeks. I have been incredibly proud to play a role in the oversight of cricket on the CNSW Board and, over the last six years, the CA Board, including almost four as Chair, Baird said. Meanwhile, Boon was appointed to the CA Board in February 2025 after serving as Cricket Tasmania director for nine years on the Cricket Tasmania Board, including three years as Chair. Boon has a wealth of experience as an international player and administrator and served as an ICC Match Referee before taking his place on the CA Board. Previously, he was Cricket Tasmanias General Manager of Cricket and a member of the Australian selection panel from 2000-2011. It is an enormous honour to take the role of Interim CA Chair during what is a hugely exciting and also challenging time for cricket, Boon said in a statement shared by Cricket Australia. I look forward to leading the CA Board as we continue to make decisions that ensure the long-term health and prosperity of the game here and advancing Australias interests globally. Boon has a wealth of experience as an international player and administrator and served as an ICC Match Referee before taking his place on the CA Board. Previously, he was Cricket Tasmanias General Manager of Cricket and a member of the Australian selection panel from 2000-2011. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Mikes efforts to lead Australian Cricket, confront the many difficult decisions facing cricket and his influential role at the ICC should be appreciated by everyone throughout the game. Article Source: IANS
India vs Afghanistan LIVE Score, Asian Games 2026: Weather Threat Looms Over India's Asiad Opener
India vs Afghanistan LIVE Score, Asian Games 2026: With all eyes on the weather, India open their men's cricket campaign at Asian Games 2026 with quarterfinal match against Afghanistan on Monday in Nisshin.
'There is clarity within the team, there is clarity in me' - Prasidh on his growth as a bowler
The fast bowler is relishing leading an inexperienced pace attack in the ODI series against West Indies
Major Shake-Up In Cricket Australia As Chairman Resigns After Big Bash League Row
Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird announced he was standing down on Monday amid a backlash over the partial privatisation of the Big Bash Twenty20 competition.
India vs Afghanistan Live Streaming Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket Quarter-Final: India men's cricket team is all set to face Afghanistan in the quarterfinal match at Asian Games 2026 on Monday.
Pakistan through to Asian Games semi-finals after washout against Hong Kong
Pakistan qualified on the basis of being the higher ranked team over Hong Kong
Historic! 6 ODI Centuries In A Day!
Sunday, September 27, 2026, witnessed an unprecedented event in international cricket as six centuries were scored across three One-Day Internationals, marking a historic first for the sport.
Baird resigns as Cricket Australia chair amid BBL fallout
David Boon will take the role in an interim capacity at the AGM in late October while a long-term successor is appointed
Czech Republic beat Ukraine for 12th Billie Jean King title
The Czech Republic secured their 12th Billie Jean King Cup title by defeating Ukraine 2-0 in the final. Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova delivered dominant singles victories, with Muchova sweeping Anhelina Kalinina and Noskova overcoming Elina Svitolina. This victory marks the Czechs' first title since 2018, solidifying their position as the second-most successful nation in the competition's history.
England brace for challenging winter after turbulent summer
England cricket experienced a turbulent home summer marked by Ben Stokes's unexpected retirement, the sacking of Test coach Brendon McCullum, and several off-field disciplinary incidents. Despite these challenges, the team achieved mixed results in various formats. They are now preparing for a demanding winter schedule, with Stephen Fleming taking over as the new Test coach, aiming for a more measured approach.
IND vs AFG: Approaching Milestones and Records Ahead of Quarter-final, Asian Games 2026
IND vs AFG Quarterfinal,Approaching Milestones and Records :The Indian cricket team and the Afghanistan cricket team will be up against each other in the second quarterfinal of the Asian Games 2026. This match will be played at Korogi Sports Club in Nisshin on September 28 at 10:30 AM IST. Both teams will be aiming to get a win here. The semifinal spot is on the line, as the winner will move one step closer to the gold medal. India have a very strong side, and they beat Afghanistan's full-strength side earlier this month. But the way the match against Japan ended, there will surely be some talks in the camp to not take Afghanistan lightly. India are expected to win this game and Afghanistan have a really good spin unit. Surely the pressure will be on. The weather forecast is another issue, but one thing is guaranteed: if the match happens, we will see some big records getting broken. Here, we will talk about big records and milestones which are lined up and can be achieved in the IND vs AFG quarter-final at Korogi Sports Club in Nisshin. IND vs AFG: Approaching Test Records and Cricket Milestones Ahead of the IND vs AFG quarter-final at Korogi Sports Club 42 - Abhishek Sharma will carry a terrific form in the Asian Games 2026. He has scored 1858 runs in just 59 T20Is and needs 42 more runs to surpass Chris Gayle (1899) in the run-scoring chart. 21 - Indian captain Shreyas Iyer is just 21 runs away from completing 1500 T20I runs in his career. 3 - Najibullah Zadran has hit 97 sixes in T20Is. He needs three sixes to reach 100 T20I sixes. He will be only the third Afghan batter to do so. 5 - Arshdeep Singh is the leading wicket-taker for India (140) in T20Is. He needs five more wickets to enter the top ten wicket-takers in T20Is. 6 - Sanju Samson scored two consecutive half-centuries in the series against Afghanistan. He has hit 94 sixes in T20Is and needs six sixes more to reach 100 sixes. 49 - Shreyas Iyer has 7451 runs in T20 cricket and needs 49 more to reach 7500 T20 runs. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories 66 - Tilak Varma is 66 runs away from completing 5000 T20 runs in his career.
David Miller and Temba Bavuma smashed centuries for South Africa as Australia once again was exposed against spinners to lose the second cricket ODI by 32 runs on Sunday.
Pakistan vs Hong Kong Live Score, Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket Quarter-Final
Pakistan vs Hong Kong Live Score: Rain threat looms over the first quarterfinal of the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket competition between Pakistan and Hong Kong.
Digital Desk | Kataka, Sep 27 (IANS) Sambalpur Warriors registered a convincing eight-wicket victory over Puri Titans in the Odisha T20 League CM Trophy at the Barabati Stadium, with Shantanu Mishra and Soumya R Lenka guiding the side to a successful chase of 164. Batting first, Puri Titans posted 163/7 in their allotted 20 overs after recovering from an early setback through a crucial partnership between Adithya Rout and Swayam Srivastava. The pair added 73 runs for the second wicket to steady the innings and lay the foundation for a competitive total. Srivastava scored 27 off 23 deliveries, while Rout continued to find the boundaries and top-scored with a fluent 75 off 50 balls. Sarbeswar Mohanty provided a late boost with 20 off 13 deliveries to help Puri finish strongly. In reply, Sambalpur Warriors also lost an early wicket but recovered through Shantanu Mishra and OM T Munde, who stitched together a 64-run partnership for the second wicket. Munde contributed 28 off 21 deliveries before being dismissed, but Shantanu continued to anchor the chase. Soumya R Lenka joined Shantanu and ensured the Warriors maintained control of the innings. With 16 runs required from the final two overs, the pair kept their composure and took Sambalpur across the finish line without further loss. Shantanu remained unbeaten on 78 off 59 deliveries, while Soumya provided an aggressive finish with an unbeaten 38 off 20 balls. Sambalpur completed the chase with more than an over to spare, securing two valuable points at the Barabati Stadium that has hosted international matches in the past. Reflecting on the victory and his performance, player of the match Shantanu Mishra said, It feels great to contribute to such an important win for the team. We knew Puri had put up a competitive total, so it was important for us to build partnerships and keep the chase under control. Soumya played a very important role towards the end, and Im happy we could finish the game strongly. These are crucial points for us, and hopefully we can carry this momentum into our upcoming matches.
Miller, Bavuma tons as SA whip Aus to seal ODI series
Australia's middle-order batting struggles, particularly against spin, led to their ODI series defeat against South Africa. Despite strong starts from openers, the team consistently faltered in the middle overs, a concern acknowledged by captain Mitch Marsh as a crucial learning experience ahead of the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
India will meet Afghanistan in the Asian Games quarter-finals, with a vastly different experience level separating the two sides. The defending champions arrive with a full-strength squad, while Afghanistan have brought a largely inexperienced group...
Pakistan vs Hong Kong Live Streaming Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket Quarter-Final Live Telecast: When And Where To Watch
Tom Banton hits maiden ODI century as England beat Sri Lanka by 223 runs to seal ODI series 2-1
England beat Sri Lanka by 223 runs to complete a 2-1 series victory in ODIs . The batters, particularly Tom Banton, set the tone before the bowlers produced a ruthless show to dismantle the visitors at The Oval on Sunday evening.
1st ODI: Felt Awkward Receiving Player Of The Match Award After Virat Bhai's Knock, Says Kuldeep
Kuldeep Yadav: Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav on Sunday admitted he felt awkward accepting the Player of the Match award ahead of Virat Kohli, even though his four-wicket haul had pulled India back into the first ODI against the West Indies here, as they eventually won by eight wickets. The wrist-spinner returned figures of 4-40 in his allocated ten overs and played a pivotal role in derailing the West Indies run-making in the middle overs. Kuldeep broke a 135-run opening stand by dismissing John Campbelll and then removed skipper Shai Hope, centurion Justin Greaves and Jewel Andrew to peg West Indies back. Kohli then smashed an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls, including crossing the 15,000 runs mark and skipper Shubman Gill made 110, with Kuldeep said their batting was what he enjoyed most about the day. I actually loved the batting from Shubman and Virat bhai, it was a special inning from them. It feels awkward to receive the Man of the Match award seeing the way Virat batted, it was an outstanding inning, Kuldeep said at the post-match presentation ceremony. Talking about his own spell, the left-arm wrist-spinner said everything had clicked in his favour. I think personally I like my rhythm, to be very honest. I was very calm in my rhythm and just trying to bowl whatever I felt like bowling, just varying the pace, variations were superb, just reading the batters, where they're going to hit me, and yeah, I bowled very, very, very good in rhythm. Kuldeep has been in and out of the Indian side, and didnt play the ODI series in England in July. He added that a spell like this goes a long way in restoring belief in his abilities. It always feels nice when you enjoy your bowling and that's where you achieve your best. When you are enjoying your bowling, when you are a bit relaxed as well, and then your performance comes at peak. So, sometimes it feels to get that confidence back, you have to have a bowling spell like this, definitely, you grow your confidence. Kuldeep has been in and out of the Indian side, and didnt play the ODI series in England in July. He added that a spell like this goes a long way in restoring belief in his abilities. It always feels nice when you enjoy your bowling and that's where you achieve your best. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories I personally feel there's still a chance to improve, and I'm going to stick with the same rhythm, that's the most important thing. Even if I play any format, it's just about you feeling comfortable in your rhythm and in your flow. Article Source: IANS
Damp squib closes out Lancashire's forgettable summer
Lancashire finish seventh, while Division Two champions Durham bump up winning margin to 47 points
SA vs AUS 2nd ODI: Temba Bavuma, David Miller Hit Centuries As South Africa Clinch Series
Centuries by Temba Bavuma and David Miller set up a series-clinching 32-run win for South Africa in the second one-day international against Australia at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday. It was South Africas sixth successive one-day series win against Australia since 2016/17. Captain Bavuma hit 103 and Miller slammed 142 to propel South Africa to 365 for nine after they were sent in to bat for the second time in the series. It was an overall good team performance, Bavuma said at the post-match presentation. It was tricky batting upfront but we were able to handle that challenge. It was an unbelievable performance by David, then the bowlers did well. They held their nerve, we knew they would put us under pressure. Australian captain Mitchell Marsh acknowledged his teams failure to build on a good start by Travis Head and himself. Marsh and Head both hit 84 but as in the first match Australia struggled in the middle overs against South Africas spinners. They were bowled out for 333 despite some powerful late hitting by Xavier Bartlett, who made 50 off 28 balls. Its really disappointing, said Marsh. We havent been able to execute in those middle phases, which is a great learning curve for some of our younger guys. But credit to South Africa, who bowled well in those phases. Bavuma and Miller shared a fourth wicket stand of 156 off 135 balls with Bavuma batting solidly while the left-handed Miller made a career-best score off just 93 balls, hitting 12 fours and nine sixes. It was the eighth one-day international century by the 37-year-old Miller and his fourth against Australia. They bring out the best in the guys, said Miller. Its good to compete against the best in the world. It was South Africas pink day with the players wearing pink to raise awareness of breast cancer. Instead of their own names the players wore the names of cancer survivors on their backs and Miller wore the name of his mother, Jenny. Shes been through a lot and it was nice to represent my mom and everything shes been through, he said. With high totals a regular occurrence at the Wanderers, Australia seemed well on the way to chasing down the target as Marsh and Head put on 130 for the first wicket inside 17 overs. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The match changed when Marsh was bowled by Fortuin and the innings gradually lost momentum against a three-pronged spin attack, with left-armers Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin and off-spinner Aiden Markram all bowling their full quota of ten overs.
Virat Kohli's 15,000-run ODI milestone may have put him in an elite club alongside Sachin Tendulkar, but the star batter insisted personal landmarks have never been his focus as he underlined his enduring hunger to up the ante for the team.
'I Just Want to Express Myself': How Kohli Reinvented His Batting
Virat Kohli, after becoming the second batter to reach 15,000 ODI runs and scoring his 55th ton, stated that personal milestones are not his primary focus.
1st ODI: Let Kohli Be Himself And He Will Win Matches For You, Says Shubman Gill
Greenfield International Stadium: India captain Shubman Gill on Sunday said the best way to get the most out of Virat Kohli is to let him be himself, after the talismanic batters unbeaten 139 off 88 balls powered India to an eight-wicket win over West Indies in the first ODI here at the Greenfield International Stadium. Gill made 110 and shared a 151-run stand with Kohli, who hit an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls, including crossing the 15,000 runs mark in the format, as India chased down 296 with 50 balls to spare and go 1-0 up in the three-match series. Honestly when I got out, I thought I should have finished the game. But it was a satisfying innings for me. He's batting superbly and I think he's enjoying the game a lot more, playing with freedom, those are the facts of his batting and he always had the game, the ability to clear the boundary at will, he's doing that right now. Someone like him, who's won so many games for India, you let him be and on the day he will win the matches for you, said Gill in the post-match presentation ceremony on Sunday. He also lauded wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, whose 4-40 pulled India back into the game after West Indies openers Justin Greaves and John Campbell had put on 135 runs for the opening stand. Someone like Kuldeep, especially in the middle overs if he is bowling well, he is a wicket-taker. We were on the backfoot with their opening partnership, he got us back in the game, at one point it looked like keeping them to 300 was great. Gill also said India were still looking for more depth in the batting. Ideally, yes, we would like an eighth batting option: someone who can contribute at least 20-30 runs. We weren't able to get the scores we wanted, but we are open to trying different combinations to see what works for us. West Indies captain Shai Hope admitted that the visitors failed to make the most of a strong start. For sure, we could definitely put more runs on the board. When you come in on surfaces such as good surfaces here in India, you have to make sure you put a good score on the board. Maybe 60 to 80 runs short, to be fair. But then in the way you're bowling, when you're trying to defend a target, close to 290, I think you gotta make sure everything goes right for you. West Indies were going at more than seven an over at one stage before Kuldeep's spell derailed them, and Hope agreed the middle overs cost them. That's it - when you got a platform like that, I thought the guys started really well. It's something that we were trying to improve on a lot for the last couple of series, the opening pair and must commend the guys for the start they gave us. They laid a very good foundation, but then we got stuck there in the middle and then it made it a lot more difficult for us in the back end to get a competitive total. Well again, we just got to grasp those key moments. Like I said, if we got a bit more runs, you never know, it could have changed the context of the game, he added. Hope also pointed out the dropped catches of Gill on 11 and of Kohli on 125. Also we had a couple of chances when we fielded, so we never knew what could happen there with that 290 score. They laid a very good foundation, but then we got stuck there in the middle and then it made it a lot more difficult for us in the back end to get a competitive total. Well again, we just got to grasp those key moments. Like I said, if we got a bit more runs, you never know, it could have changed the context of the game, he added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Greaves, who struck a maiden ODI hundred, did not take the field during India's chase, and Hope was unsure of the extent of the problem. Hopefully (hes fine). We've got to see now what's going on, but it's unfortunate he couldn't finish the game for us today. Asked about the remaining two ODIs and his own record in India, Hope was brief. Yes, for sure, I need some (runs). Article Source: IANS
'Feels awkward to receive POTM' - Kuldeep Yadav reacts to Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill's century
Chasing 295 runs against West Indies, India captain Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli played some meticulous cricket, scoring a century each. Gill initially stitched a partnership of 74 runs with Rohit Sharma before Kohli joined...
Achievements Come Along, Milestones Never My Focus: Kohli On Crossing 15,000 ODI Runs
Greenfield International Stadium: Talismanic batter Virat Kohli on Sunday said milestones have never been his focus and that he is excited to unlock a new version of himself at this stage of his career, after becoming only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to complete 15,000 ODI runs. The 37-year-old, who got to the landmark faster than anyone in mens ODI, smashed an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls his 55th ODI ton - as India beat West Indies by eight wickets in the first ODI here at the Greenfield International Stadium to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. Well, my focus has never really been on these milestones, so to say. It's just understanding the situation along the course of just doing the job for the team, whatever. Achievements come along. Obviously, I feel very grateful and very blessed to be in this position for having played for so long. Just keeping my head down, working hard, and thanking God for everything that I've been blessed with and the opportunities that I've gotten in my life to be where I am. We have a very blessed life and a blessed journey because so many people want to be here, but we get to be the lucky ones. So, we better put our head down and just work hard every day of our lives, said Kohli in a chat with broadcasters at the conclusion of the game. Kohli, who now plays only ODIs for India, said the key to his recent consistency in the 50-over format lay in staying fit and mentally fresh. I think just the understanding of the game firstly, also at the stage that I'm at - just keeping myself physically very fit, because the game's more or less in the mind. I've never been a guy who practiced a lot, even when I was playing all three formats, as you know. So it's just for me about staying mentally fresh, staying in the present moment and just expressing myself really out there to play in a certain way, get used to this template more often. The former captain said he had set himself the task of batting at a higher tempo in ODIs. I've got a challenge at this stage of my career to kind of up the ante and play a gear or two higher, and that was exciting for me to work on. Again, it excites you when you have to unlock a new version at this stage of your career, which will eventually help any team that you play for, be it playing for India or in the IPL. It's really helped me a lot to play with a free mind, and I think that's what's working for me. But I think to follow a free mind, you need a fit body. So for me it works the other way around. I stay physically fit and then I'm able to visualize the game in the way that I want to play, which allows me the best chance to go out there and execute in the way that I did tonight. Asked about his state of mind, Kohli spoke of the gratitude he feels for his journey. I'm just very grateful and happy, to be honest. Like, it's the only thing we need to do is just look back once and, where we came from. That's something that we tend to forget when we are caught up with the hustle of the world and the positions we get into with so much attention and fame and so much love from the fans. It can be very easy to forget where you came from. But I think just looking back at the journey from when you started as a child just makes you feel grateful. I enjoy each and every minute that I'm out there playing for India, because I understand that, as I said, I could have been a possibility that I wouldn't be standing here. I wouldn't have played for India at all. That could have been my reality as well. But I'm getting to live all these amazing moments representing my country, playing in front of such big crowds and doing the job for the team. As a cricket player, this is all that I dreamt of, and I'm getting it. So I have nothing but gratitude in my heart, and, as I said, I just want to put my head down, keep working hard, put a smile on my face, and hopefully make other people smile too, he explained. Kohli also had a message for young players who look up to him. It's a fact which we don't want to face as athletes, that even if everything ends after this game, you have to play the way you want to play the game and you have to remind yourself that every time you go out to play. That unlocks that positivity, that taking a risk, that unlocks that mindset which helps you to win games for your team. That's the only advice I would give to the young guys: don't think a lot about all the other stuff outside of the field. Once you enter the ground, this is everything, and it should be everything for you guys and just put your body on the line. As I said, put your head down. If you have to run four doubles in an over when you're batting at 150, you have to do it. There are no excuses. So if they play like that, then you should be fine, he added. With the 2027 ODI World Cup a year away, Kohli said playing a single format had given him clarity about his goals. Also clarity - I mean, we're a year away from the World Cup. I know what my goal is, and it's pretty clear for me that whatever games we get, I just need to keep working on different aspects of the game, keep myself physically fit, challenge myself to be out there, run from boundary to boundary in the last 15 overs if I can, field in the inner ring, show intensity. If I keep ticking all those boxes, as I said, I've got some time left to play in this format as well, and yeah, I just want to enjoy every day. So when I get an opportunity, I feel happy rather than feeling anxiety or pressure to make the most of it. I just want to express myself and play my game. As I said, I promised myself I'm going to play positively because I can. So I'm going to continue to play like that, but not be reckless. There's a fine line which, as a professional, as an experienced player, I should have the ability to execute in this way without playing reckless shots and get the team through, he added. Kohli, who added 151 for the second wicket with skipper Shubman Gill (110), was full of praise for his captain. There's a reason why he's leading the team. He's got the right perspective, as I said, to look at the game in the way that making the team win from different situations. When you play with a guy like that, it's not very difficult to string in a partnership, because he knows what needs to be done, I know what needs to be done. I just want to express myself and play my game. As I said, I promised myself I'm going to play positively because I can. So I'm going to continue to play like that, but not be reckless. There's a fine line which, as a professional, as an experienced player, I should have the ability to execute in this way without playing reckless shots and get the team through, he added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories He's probably up there with the best players in the world and obviously a very talented guy. So not having to say much to him while batting. In the field, when he needs my help, I'm always available, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
