Cricket
Rs 12,51,10,64,000: LSG Owners Buy New Franchise Stake For Mega Price Sanjiv Goenka s RPSG Group, the owners of Indian Premier League side Lucknow Super Giants, on Monday won the race to partner Lancashire to run The Hundred franchise, Manchester Originals. RPSG Group came up with the highest bid to secure a 49 per cent stake in the franchise, according to Espncricinfo. RPSG Group, which had made an unsuccessful bid for London Spirit on Friday, finally secured a stake in the Manchester-based Hundred side reportedly for around 116 million pounds (approximately over Rs 1251 crore).
The two parties (Lancashire and RPSG Group) will now enter into an eight-week period of exclusivity in which they will discuss the exact terms of the deal. Lancashire have previously suggested that they are open to a discussion about selling some of their 51 per cent stake in the Originals if the price is high enough that it enables them to pay down a significant proportion of their bank debt, said the report.
According to the report, Lancashire issued a statement saying they had been looking for a partner, preferably from the IPL, and now that the deal has been secured they foresee an exciting future for the side.
We have been very focused on securing a great partner -- ideally from the IPL -- and RPSG has been our preferred bidder for some time, the club said.
We are delighted by the outcome and look forward to working together to create an exciting future. Together, we have a shared ambition to create a very special cricket team for the people of Manchester and the wider North West region. The chairman and founder of RPSG Group, Goenka, had bought the Lucknow franchise in the IPL for Rs 7,090 crore in 2021 before buying the Durban franchise in the SA20 in 2022.
Story Behind Kohli Dismissal By Himanshu Sangwan: Bus Driver Told, Bowl... Virat Kohli s much-fancied Ranji Trophy return after 12 long years was short-lived after he was dismissed for just 6 by Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan in the first innings of the match at Delhi s Arun Jaitley Stadium. Kohli didn t get to bat in the second innings as Delhi handed Railways a defeat by an innings in the group match. Despite the negative result his team incurred, Railways Himanshu Sangwan made headlines for the fact that he clean-bowled the great Virat Kohli.
Now, Sangwan has revealed what happened in the lead up to the delivery.
Before the match, there were talks about Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant going to play for Delhi. At the time, we didn t know that the match would be aired live. We slowly learned that Rishabh Pant wouldn t play, but Virat would, and the match would be streamed live. I am leading the Railways pace attack. Every team member told me that they thought I would dismiss Virat Kohli, Sangwan told Hindustan Times.
The bus in which we were travelling, even the bus driver told me that you know that you need to bowl at the fourth-fifth stump line to Virat Kohli, and then he will get out. I had self-belief. I just wanted to focus on my own strengths rather than someone else s weaknesses. I bowled to my strengths and ended up getting the wicket, he stated further.
Sangwan said Kohli appreciated the delivery that got him.
There was no specific plan for Virat Kohli in general. The coaches told us that the players from Delhi like to play attacking cricket. They are all stroke players. We were told to bowl a disciplined line, said Sangwan.
When our innings ended, I was going to the dressing room and Virat Kohli was coming to the field. Ayush Badoni and Virat were there. Virat Bhaiya himself shook hands with me and said, Very well bowled . He told me that I was bowling well. I then told him I wanted to take a picture with him during the lunch break. I went to Delhi s dressing room. I took the same ball with which I got him out. He even asked me whether it was the same ball. He then said jokingly, Oh teri ki. Maza aa gaya tujhe toh , he added.
Watch: Terrific Fielding Saves Four But Bowler Concedes 6 On Same Ball Bizarre things happen in sports. Same is with cricket. Sometimes such incidents occur which is strange and hilarious at the same time. In a video that is going viral on social media, one such incident occurs. The incident is from Indian Street Premier League. In the video it can be seen that a batter hits a powerful shot towards mid-wicket, but what follows is just stunning. The fielder stationed at the boundary saves a sure-shot four by leaping in the air and keeping the ball inside the boundary line. However, that was not the end of the story. The fielder comes back and throws the ball towards the bowler.
In an attempt to run out one of the batters, the bowler throws the ball so hard that it races to the boundary. By then, the batters had run two. Thanks to the bowlers inept act, six runs are conceded (four byes + two runs).
Saved a boundary but ended up conceding a SIX!!!!!!
CRICKET BELIEVE IT OR NOT pic.twitter.com/i9mIvRBqfy
Talking about cricket, the ICC Men s Champions Trophy 2025 Trophy Tour with DP World continued its scintillating journey across the globe with a stop in India. The prestigious trophy made unforgettable appearances at several iconic locations in Mumbai and Bengaluru, captivating cricket fans and adding a sense of anticipation ahead of the tournament, as per the ICC.
The Trophy Tour has covered all eight participating nations during its global journey and, with the conclusion of the India leg, it will now travel to its final stop in Pakistan. The tournament is set to take place in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates from February 19 to March 9 and the excitement is already building across the globe.
The Trophy Tour began with a bang in Mumbai, where the trophy visited the city s most popular spots, including the Wankhede Stadium, Shivaji Park, the Gateway of India, Carter Road, historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Bandstand, and other renowned locations. Fans were treated to the sight of the coveted silverware as it travelled through the vibrant streets of Mumbai, with many eager fans capturing the moment through photos and selfies.
A highlight of the Mumbai leg was the trophy s presence at the Wankhede Stadium s 50th anniversary celebration on January 19. The event saw India captain Rohit Sharma posing with the trophy alongside former India captains Dilip Vengsarkar, Ravi Shastri, Ajinkya Rahane and ICC Hall of Famers Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Diana Edulji.
The Trophy Tour then moved to Bengaluru, where the Nexus Shantiniketan Mall hosted the Trophy Carnival, drawing cricket enthusiasts from across the city.
The trophy continued its journey around the city, visiting some of Bengaluru s most beloved landmarks, including Bengaluru Palace, Freedom Park, KR Market, Town Hall, St. Mary s Basilica, M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Church Street, and Vidyarthi Bhavan. Fans in Bengaluru had the opportunity to witness the trophy up close, fuelling excitement for the upcoming tournament.
Aus WC Winner Scared By 4-Year-Old With Bumrah s Action, Gets Nightmare India s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah tormented Australia batters during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, picking up 32 wickets across five Tests. And it seems as if the nightmare of facing him has continued for all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who narrated a hilarious story about an unexpected challenge he is facing while playing backyard cricket with his four-year-old nephew. Speaking to cricket.com.au, Marsh revealed that his nephew had picked up Bumrah s action, and joked that seeing him do so continued Marsh s nightmare of facing India s pace talisman.
My little nephew Ted, he is four years old, we played backyard cricket the other day. He came in with Bumrah s action, and the nightmare continued, Marsh recalled hilariously.
The star Indian pace spearhead was a nightmare for Aussies to face during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy concluded recently. The 3-1 scoreline in favour of Australia, who won the trophy for the first time since 2014 and avoided a hat-trick of series losses to India at home, does not truly show how much fight Bumrah single-handedly put for India.
The nightmare continued
Mitch Marsh on fire again at the #AusCricketAwards pic.twitter.com/KPBNSS1Urs
He got 32 wickets in five matches at a stunning average of 13.06, with three five-wicket hauls and best figures of 6/76. He was the highest wicket-taker in the series and broke record after record in the five-match affair, becoming the Indian with the most Test fifers in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and South Africa) and outdoing spin legend Bishan Singh Bedi to have most wickets by an Indian in an away series.
The previous year s Allan Border Medal winner for Australian Player of the Year across all formats, Marsh had a poor series against India, scoring just 73 runs in four matches and seven innings at an average of 10.42, with best score of 47. He also could pick up just three wickets at an average of 46.33.
Marsh had a poor Test run last year, with 293 runs in nine Tests and 15 innings at a sub-par average of 18.86 and just two half-centuries. He could take just five wickets as his workload was affected by injuries. In the final Test of the BGT, he was dropped to bring Beau Webster into the side.
The lanky all-rounder, known for his humour and jokes, cracked a joke about how he felt love from Australian fans prior to December before his form nosedived.
I think (the successful year) it was capped off by the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, especially with 10 players, especially without me, they did very well, said Marsh as quoted by WWOS.
Prior to December, I felt a lot of love, Marsh said.
Post December, a bit of a different story. All jokes aside, over the past few years I have felt a lot of love from the Australian fans, he added.
With ANI inputs
It s High Time... : R Ashwin s Brutal Analysis Of SKY, Samson s Poor Form Ravichandran Ashwin may be retired from international cricket, but he remains an astute reader and watcher of the game, and provides his analysis on a number of things. In his latest video, Ashwin has implied that despite India s thumping 4-1 T20I series victory over England, all may not be rosy. Ashwin pointed out a flaw in the batting of captain Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson, stating that they re repeatedly getting out playing similar shots and on similar deliveries. To drive home his point, Ashwin even made a hilarious Rajinikanth movie reference.
There is a Tamil film called Thillu Millu, where Rajinikanth plays two different people, one with a moustache and one without a moustache. That is how it feels watching Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav, Ashwin said, speaking on his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat .
Using the example, Ashwin tore apart Samson and Suryakumar s shot selection and dismissals.
Same ball, same field, same shot, same mistake, same dismissal. I can understand it happening in one or two games, but this is surprising, Ashwin said.
When you know a tactic is being used against you, it becomes your responsibility to find a new answer. It is very surprising from both players, Ashwin stated.
Samson has repeatedly gotten out to short deliveries during the series, while Suryakumar s strength has been exploited into his weakness, as he has been dismissed playing his signature flick scoop shot multiple times.
Surya is a very experienced guy. He was part of the change of guard for Indian cricket in batting. But I think it s high time he changes his approach a little, Ashwin said.
For Samson, the mind will be playing tricks. If there are many questions in your head, it gets difficult, Ashwin advised.
Samson has tried different tactics to counter his short-ball weakness, including practising with a plastic ball and adopting a very different stance. But despite a couple of starts, Samson failed to score big.
Suryakumar Yadav made just 28 runs in five innings, including two ducks, during the T20I series.
We Are Not A Great Aus Team... : Lyon s Brutally Honest Take, Gives Reason Australian spinner Nathan Lyon feels that despite their side s success over recent years, there are still important milestones to be reached before they can be considered a truly great team. Ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka taking place in Colombo on Wednesday, Lyon stated that he believes that the current lot is still a long way from achieving greatness as a Test team. Despite Australia s outstanding summer of red-ball cricket, where they dominated India at home to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade and secured their biggest-ever win in the subcontinent with an innings and 242-run victory over Sri Lanka in Galle-Lyon still holds the belief that the team is far from being considered up there.
We want to become a great Australian team. We are on that journey, we are not there yet. That is our end goal, he said as quoted by ICC.
Part of that journey is making sure that when we close the window, we nail it shut. It is all about being ruthless and doing our best thing for long periods of time, he added.
The 37-year-old believes that this ICC World Test Championship-holding Australian team still has a long way to go before being considered one of the greats.
He emphasised that winning in India (which Australia did in 2004) and securing an Ashes series win away from home (something they last achieved in 2001) are key milestones.
Well, there are a few things, we have not won in India, We have retained the last two Ashes (via drawn series), away, said Lyon.
So, there are a few things that for me, this is only me and my thoughts as well. But, we have got some great players within that changing room. There is no point hiding behind that, you look at Smithy (Steve Smith) bringing up 10,000 (runs).
You have got Starcy (Mitchell Starc) in my eyes, who has got around the corner from Test matches. So, there are great players, but I feel like we are on the journey to become a great Australian team. And I think that is an incredible journey to be a part of it, he continued.
The spinner also spoke about his spin-bowling partners, Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy, and what it is like to bowl as a trio of spinners in a team that traditionally relies on pace bowlers.
We are three totally different bowlers with three different mindsets as well. I feel like I am learning from Todd and Matt, and I feel like they are pushing me to try and get better as well. Hopefully, I am passing on a little bit of knowledge here and there, he said.
The trio claimed 17 of Australia s 20 wickets in Galle, but the chances of them playing together again after the second Test is slim, as Australia s next tour of the subcontinent is not until 2027 when they face India.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
IPL Did For Men... : Mandhana On How WPL Is Changing Women s Cricket Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Smriti Mandhana said on Monday that the Women s Premier League has changed the conversations surrounding women cricket and she hoped to see similar success stories in other disciplines. Mandhana had led the RCB to the WPL triumph last year, the team s first title in franchise cricket. “We used to play in the Big Bash League etc even before the WPL, and everyone used to ask us when we would have our own league, and the WPL came and changed the conversations around women s cricket,” Mandhana said during unveiling the report — Sports-Forward Nation.
The Mandhana-led RCB will eye title defence during the third season of the WPL, beginning from February 14.
“The IPL has done a lot for men s cricket, and it s like wow, the WPL can do something similarly to women s cricket. Similarly, it will be inspiring to witness stories like these (WPL) coming from across other disciplines as well,” she added.
Rajesh Menon, the Chief Operating Officer of the RCB, said participation at grassroots level needed to be improved for the country to develop as a true blue sporing power.
“We need more involvement and investment at the grassroots level. But to be a champion nation in sport, we need to provide our athletes with the right environment for development. It requires right decisions by the stakeholders at the right time,” said Menon.
Mandhana was delighted to see the progress women s sport has made in the country in the last few years, but she wanted more penetration at grass roots level.
“My ultimate dream is to see two women s teams playing some gully sport and fully enjoying it. If that happens then we can say we have inspired girls to take up a sport and that will be a win for us in our life as sportspersons,” she noted.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Not Cummins Or Smith, This Australia Star Wins Allan Border Medal For 2024 Star batter Travis Head was named the winner of the prestigious Allan Border Medal for the top Australian men s cricketer, while young all-rounder Annabel Sutherland was awarded the Belinda Clark Medal at the Australian Cricket Awards held here on Monday. Head, who had an outstanding year across all three formats with 1,427 runs since the start of the polling period, received 208 votes to secure the top honour, surpassing Josh Hazlewood (158 votes) and Pat Cummins (147 votes).
Pretty hard to believe. It s been a good year. Very pleased I ve been able to fit in, do a role, and lucky I ve been able to play all formats. It s a nice accomplishment, and I ll enjoy it, Head said in a recorded interview from Galle.
The 31-year-old Head also took home the Men s ODI Player-of-the-Year award and finished second in the Twenty20 and Test Player-of-the-Year awards.
Head won the ODI honours despite figuring in just five of the 11 ODIs that Australia played during the eligibility period. His standout performance, including a magnificent 154 not out against England at Trent Bridge, helped him edge past Alex Carey, Steve Smith, and Xavier Bartlett for the top prize.
For Sutherland, it was a first Australian Cricket Award, which came just days after her maiden Test century at the MCG, becoming the first woman to make a ton on that ground.
The 23-year-old all-rounder began the 12-month voting period with an impressive 210 against South Africa at the WACA and later scored her third Test century -- a brilliant 163 in the Ashes.
Sutherland received 168 votes, surpassing Ashleigh Gardner (143 votes) and Beth Mooney (115 votes) to win the Belinda Clark Medal.
Pretty surreal. To win an award named after Belinda Clark is pretty special, said Sutherland.
Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood claimed the Men s Test Player-of-the-Year award. It marked his first Australian Cricket Award, with Hazlewood taking 30 wickets at just 13.16 in Tests against the West Indies, New Zealand, and India.
Young cricketer Sam Konstas, who made an impressive debut at 19 during the Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, was named Young Cricketer of the Year. Konstas scored 113 runs across the last two Tests, including a memorable 60 off 65 balls on debut.
He became an instant sensation after he took down star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who had been a menace to Australian batters throughout the five-Test series, which Australia ultimately won 3-1.
Though the award night was devoid of the stars, as they were busy in the ongoing Test series in Sri Lanka, allrounder Mitchell Marsh stole the spotlight with a hilarious Bumrah anecdote that had the audience in stitches at the Crown Casino here.
My little nephew, Ted, is four years old. We played backyard cricket the other day, and he came in with Bumrah s action... and the nightmare continues, Marsh joked.
In other awards, Ashleigh Gardner was named Women s ODI Player of the Year after finishing as Australia s leading run-scorer in the format with 385 runs. Beth Mooney was crowned Women s T20 Player of the Year for the third time, having scored 618 runs during the voting period.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa won Men s T20I Player of the Year after taking 35 wickets in 21 T20Is, edging out Head by three votes. Cameron Green was awarded the Community Impact Award for his efforts in raising awareness about kidney disease.
The award ceremony also saw Michael Clarke, Michael Bevan, and Christina Matthews inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
Other awardees included Beau Webster and Georgia Voll, who won Men s and Women s Domestic Player of the Year, and Chloe Ainsworth, who was named Young Cricketer of the Year. Glenn Maxwell and Cooper Connolly were named joint winners of the BBL Player of the Tournament, while Ellyse Perry and Jess Jonassen shared the WBBL Player of the Tournament award.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Abhishek, Gill Are Afraid Of Me : India Great Puzzled By Duo s Behaviour Abhishek Sharma lit up the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday as he scored a scintillating 135 off just 54 balls to help India defeat England by a massive 150 runs in the final T20I of a five-match series. The 24-year-old Abhishek, who made his First-Class debut in 2017 for Punjab and even played the 2018 U-19 World Cup, reached the triple figures in just 37 balls - the second fastest by an Indian. India great Harbhajan Singh, who also hails from Punjab, saw Abhishek Sharma rise up through the ranks from a young age.
This team is ready for the 2026 T20 World Cup. India defeated England by defending as well as chasing. We have players who can break the opposition. Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill made their debut under me. When I was the captain, I asked for them to be included in the Ranji Trophy. I am so happy to see their progress, Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube channel.
I want Abhishek Sharma to bowl regularly. When he came the first day, I told him he is a good bowler. His seam position is great. He does not work hard on his bowling as much as he does on his batting. I always tell him, he can improve his bowling. He has all the qualities to be a good left-arm spinner. His father has worked hard on him. Abhishek is making his family proud. It s not easy to score 100 off 37 balls. Kya kha raha hai bhai breakfast mein (What are you having for breakfast)?
Harbhajan said that Abhishek s quality of being fearless makes him special.
He is a fearless batter be it any format. I am happy to see his progress. It gives me immense pride that both of them are from Punjab. Both Shubman and Abhishek don t joke much with me. I don t know why they are afraid of me. Maybe when they are together, they do mazaak. But when I come, they become serious. Maybe it s because of respect. Then I leave, Harbhajan Singh said.
I am looking forward to the day Shubman, Abhishek and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the permanent top 3 in white ball format. May be in the next six months that will happen.
Bumrah Reaches Bengaluru For Scans Amid Champions Trophy Concerns: Report India s marquee pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah continues to stand under the clouds of uncertainty over his ICC Champions Trophy participation. Bumrah had sustained an injury in the 5th and final Test against Australia in Sydney and has since not played a single game for the national team. He isn t expected to feature in the upcoming ODI assignment against England too, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team looks to buy time to have him ready for the Champions Trophy.
Other veteran stars in India s ODI team like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, etc. have all played domestic cricket in the Ranji Trophy since returning from Australia and will be ready to test themselves against England in the upcoming bilateral assignment. Even Mohammed Shami is back in the team for the high-profile series. But, there continue to remain doubts over Bumrah s situation.
As per a report in the Times of India, Bumrah has reached Bengaluru to have fresh scans on his back injury that saw him even miss a part of the Sydney Test. Based on the scans, the BCCI medical team is expected to submit a report to the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee. Then, a call would be taken over Bumrah s return to competitive cricket.
Ahead of the start of the England series, Agarkar had said that Bumrah is definitely out of the first two ODIs against England. But, depending upon his recovery, he could come back in the side ahead of the final match of the series.
Bumrah has been told to off-load for five weeks after he won t be available for the first two ODIs against England. We are waiting on his fitness and will know his status in early February from the medical team. We ll probably find out a bit more around that time, what exactly, and with regards to what his medical condition is, I m sure BCCI might just put something out, from the physio itself, Agarkar had said.
Jofra Archer s Brutal Delivery Fractures India Star s Finger, Out For... Star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has fractured his index finger after being hit by a Jofra Archer scorcher during the fifth T20 International against England in Mumbai and will be out of action for more than a month, side-lining him from the upcoming Ranji Trophy quarterfinals. It is learnt that Sanju has returned to his home base Thiruvananthapuram and will only start training after completing his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He would need NCA s green light before returning to competitive action.
Samson has fractured his right index finger. It will take him five to six weeks before he can resume proper nets. So there is no chance of him playing the Ranji Trophy quarter-final for Kerala (vs J&K) in Pune from February 8-12, a BCCI source in the know of things told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
In all likelihood, his comeback will happen in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals, he added.
Samson, who had a poor series against England and is not a part of the ODI set-up, was hit off the third ball bowled by Archer which was close to 150 clicks.
While he hit another six and four, the swelling increased once he was back in the dug-out. The scans showed a fracture.
Samson, who came into the T20I series after a stupendous run against Bangladesh and South Africa with three centuries in seven games, missed the Champions Trophy selection as he hadn t played a single Vijay Hazare Trophy game.
The England series turned out to be an underwhelming one for the flamboyant Rajasthan Royals skipper, who scored only 51 in five games with 26 in the opening game at the Eden Gardens being his top score.
He was consistently troubled by the short deliveries from Archer, Mark Wood, and Saqib Mahmood and was mostly dismissed within the first Powerplay.
With India not due to have any white-ball assignments after Champions Trophy till end of July, the 30-year-old Samson will have to wait considerably for his next opportunity, which would be an away series against Bangladesh in August.
Sehwag Was Crying... : BCCI VP Reveals Details, And What Sachin Did Next The Indian cricket team reached new heights under coach John Wright. He was the first foreign coach to be at the helm of the Indian cricket team from 2000 to 2005. Under him, India won a memorable Test series at home against Australia (which included a win despite being asked to follow-on), drawing a Test series in Australia in 2003–04, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan in a series, and reaching the final of the ODI Cricket World Cup. However, there was one controversy, where Wright s name got involved.
Virender Sehwag, one of India s greatest openers, revealed that Wright once pulled him by his collar after the Indian batter was dismissed cheaply in an ODI match during a tour of England in 2004.
I was pushed around by John Wright (ex-head coach of team India) in 2004 England tour. He pulled me by my collar after I got out cheaply. I was very angry and said to (the then manager) Rajiv Shukla, How can a gora hit me. Later Amrit Mathur and Rajiv Shukla got me and Wright to patch up, said Virender Sehwag.
Shukla, who is a top official in the BCCI, revisited the incident recently and revealed how Sachin Tendulkar helped calm the tempers.
“When the Virender Sehwag incident happened, India coach John Wright pushed him. Sehwag was very sad, and said that he pushed me, and he was almost crying,” Shukla said on Ranveer Allahbadia s YouTube channel.
“Everyone decided, the players, to demand John Wright to apologise to Sehwag. I agreed and went to his room, told him that his mandate wasn t to touch or push players. He said that whatever he did, he did because he takes Sehwag as his disciple, like what a father or guru would do. I told him not to play a particular shot, but he played it again. Today I wanted him to get a century and he couldn t make it. So how a father or guru gets angry, I got angry. What he said was genuine and I told that to Sehwag. He understood but he was under pressure from everyone to demand for an apology. So, Sachin took me to a corner and told me that if I made John Wright apologise, Wright will lose his authority over his players.
“He would always give sensible advice and then I made Sehwag understand. Then he himself said that Wright doesn t need to apologise,” he added.
Team India Fielding Awards Are Back, Dramatic SKY Gives Medal To... The Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian cricket team finished the five-T20I series against England on a high on Sunday after a huge 150-run win in Mumbai. The result ensured that India wrap up the series 4-1. Abhishek Sharma was the star of the final match as he scored a 54-ball 135. Varun Chakravarthy was the Player of the Series with 14 wickets in five matches. However, Team India Fielding Awards went to someone else. While earlier, the norm was to give Fielding Awards after every match, this time an Impact Fielder of the series has been given.
After the final match, fielding coach T Dillip said: Phenomenal stuff. Fielding is not just about skill, it s an attitude thing. When we are on the ground, we are not sure home many balls come our way but we can show awareness. Special mention to Varun. It s just a start. We are giving this fielder of the Series award for the consistency throughout the tournament.
He then called upon captain Suryakumar Yadav to announce the winner. Yadav went to different players as suspense built up, and then finally awarded the medal to Dhruv Jurel.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Team India (@indiancricketteam)
Meanwhile, after the dominating series win, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan took a subtle dig at the England team after India shattered records at Wankhede to secure a resounding 150-run victory over the touring side.
In the final game of the enticing five-match series, India broke the shackles to script an emphatic win over England, concluding the series on a high note.
The five-match affair saw a couple of heated remarks from current and former English players. After India cruised to a comfortable 7-wicket victory in the series opener at Eden Gardens, Harry Brook made a comment that triggered India fans and forced a reaction from former cricketers.
Brook blatantly blamed smog in Kolkata, which made it hard for the England batters to pick India spinner Varun Chakravarthy during a press conference.
Chakravarthy is an exceptionally good bowler. He is tough to pick, and actually, with the smog the other night, it was a lot harder to pick as well. Hopefully, the air is a bit clearer here, and we can see the ball a bit easier, the England vice-captain had said as quoted from Wisden.
After India s memorable success at Wankhede Stadium, Irfan took a cheeky dig at the English team. He hinted at Brook s smog remark while congratulating India for an emphatic 4-1 series win.
The score line of #INDvENG was Smog & trouble-free for team India well done boys, Irfan wrote on X.
U-19 Women s WC: Trisha, Kamalini, Aayushi, Vaishnavi In Team Of The Tournament Newly-crowned champions India dominated the ICC s Team of the Tournament for the just-concluded women s Under-19 T20 World Cup with four players from the country, including the swashbuckling G Trisha, finding a place in the line-up. India outclassed South Africa by nine wickets in the final here on Sunday to defend the title that they had first won in 2023. The hard-hitting Trisha, who was named Player of the Tournament, her opening partner G Kamalini along with left-arm spin pair of Vaishnavi Sharma and Ayushi Shukla made it to the team, the ICC said in a statement.
Trisha was also the top run-getter in the tournament, making 309 runs with a hundred against Scotland, the first-ever three-digit score in the showpiece.
She averaged 77.25 and made runs at a strike rate of over 147. She also picked up seven wickets with her handy leg-spin.
Kamalini gave solid support to Trisha at the pole position, making 143 runs and her most important innings was an unbeaten 56 from 50 balls against England in the semifinal to send India into the final.
Aayushi took 14 wickets in the tournament and she grabbed two for 9 against SA in the final.
Vaishnavi, who bagged 17 wickets, recorded a sensational 5/5 against Malaysia including a hat-trick.
South Africa s Jemma Botha, England s Davina Perrin, and Australia s Caoimhe Bray, all of whom scored more than 100 runs over the course of the competition, too found a place in the team.
Sri Lanka s Chamodi Praboda, Puja Mahato of Nepal and England s Katie Jones were the other members of the team, with South Africa s Kayla Reyneke as the captain.
Proteas seamer Nthabiseng Nini was named 12th player following her six wickets across the tournament.
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ICC Men s Champions Trophy 2025 Trophy Tour Concludes With India Tour The ICC Men s Champions Trophy 2025 Trophy Tour with DP World continued its scintillating journey across the globe with a stop in India. The prestigious trophy made unforgettable appearances at several iconic locations in Mumbai and Bengaluru, captivating cricket fans and adding a sense of anticipation ahead of the tournament, as per the ICC. The Trophy Tour has covered all eight participating nations during its global journey and, with the conclusion of the India leg, it will now travel to its final stop in Pakistan.
The tournament is set to take place in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates from February 19 to March 9 and the excitement is already building across the globe.
The Trophy Tour began with a bang in Mumbai, where the trophy visited the city s most popular spots, including the Wankhede Stadium, Shivaji Park, the Gateway of India, Carter Road, historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Bandstand, and other renowned locations. Fans were treated to the sight of the coveted silverware as it travelled through the vibrant streets of Mumbai, with many eager fans capturing the moment through photos and selfies.
A highlight of the Mumbai leg was the trophy s presence at the Wankhede Stadium s 50th anniversary celebration on January 19. The event saw India captain Rohit Sharma posing with the trophy alongside former India captains Dilip Vengsarkar, Ravi Shastri, Ajinkya Rahane and ICC Hall of Famers Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Diana Edulji.
The Trophy Tour then moved to Bengaluru, where the Nexus Shantiniketan Mall hosted the Trophy Carnival, drawing cricket enthusiasts from across the city.
The trophy continued its journey around the city, visiting some of Bengaluru s most beloved landmarks, including Bengaluru Palace, Freedom Park, KR Market, Town Hall, St. Mary s Basilica, M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Church Street, and Vidyarthi Bhavan. Fans in Bengaluru had the opportunity to witness the trophy up close, fuelling excitement for the upcoming tournament.
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Tickets For India s Champions Trophy Matches To Go On Sale From... The tickets for India s three group-stage Champions Trophy matches and the first semifinal scheduled to take place in Dubai will begin on Monday evening, the ICC announced. This edition of the Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held across Pakistan and Dubai from February 19. India will be playing their games in Dubai. The tickets, which start from AED 125 (INR 2,900 approx), will be available for purchase starting 5:30pm IST. Ticket sales for the 10 matches scheduled in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, have already gone on general sale last week.
Tickets for the much-anticipated final, set to take place on Sunday, 9 March, will be released following the conclusion of the first semi-final in Dubai, the ICC said.
The Champions Trophy will feature the world s top eight teams, competing in 15 high-stakes matches over 19 days, with every game crucial in the quest to reign in the coveted white jackets.
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This Is How Life Is : Pakistan Star Drops Cryptic Post After CT 2025 Snub Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq dropped a cryptic post after being snubbed from Pakistan s squad for the forthcoming Champions Trophy. The defending champions, Pakistan, was the only team left to announce its squad for the tournament, but the wait finally ended on Friday. Before the announcement, the rumour mill constantly suggested the inclusion of experienced southpaw in the 15-member squad. With opener Saim Ayub ruled out of the tournament due to injury, the Pakistan management decided to take a different route. Fakhar Zaman was named in the squad, with Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel emerging as potential candidates to open alongside the southpaw.
There was a scope for another opener, but the board decided to go heavy on middle-order batters, giving them much-needed explosiveness along with added depth.
With the inclusion of Kamran Ghulam, Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir and Khushdil Shah, there was no room left for Imam in Pakistan s 15-player squad.
Not the outcome I expected, but the journey isn t over. This is how life is-- it s all about growth and getting stronger with every hurdle. Patience and trust in Allah is the key! Imam wrote on X.
Imam s last ODI appearance for the Men in Green dates back to October 27, 2023, against South Africa in the ODI World Cup. He last featured for Pakistan on the international stage in a Test match against Australia in Melbourne in December 2023.
After delivering an underwhelming performance, Imam was dropped from all formats. On the journey to recover his lost form, Imam shifted his focus to the domestic format. He returned to competitive cricket in the recently concluded Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25.
While representing Multan, Imam ended the tournament as the third-highest run-getter. In nine innings, the experienced star boasted 635 runs at an average of 79.37, including three centuries and a fifty.
Pakistan squad for Champions Trophy 2025: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), Khushdil Shah, Salman Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah.
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High Risk, High Reward : SKY Reiterates Gambhir s Words After 150-Run Win India captain Suryakumar Yadav was elated by the sensational batting by opener Abhishek Sharma in the fifth T20I and brilliant bowling by Varun Chakravarthy in the series and termed it a byproduct of his team s high-risk, high-reward style of play that resulted in a 4-1 victory against England in the five-match series. With Abhishek Sharma hammering a 54-ball 135 to help the hosts post a massive 247/9 and Mohammed Shami claiming 3-25 to help bundle out England for 87, India handed the visitors a 150-run thrashing, securing their second-highest victory by a run margin.
While England at no time looked capable of chasing the massive target, Surya threw the ball to part-timers Shivam Dube and Abhishek Sharma, both of who claimed a couple of wickets to hasten England s demise.
Suryakumar said one has to be a bit instinctive on the ground as a T20 captain and the success of Abhishek, Shivam, and Varun Chakravarthy sit well with India s no-holds-barred style of play.
It s always about being a little instinctive on the ground, whoever you feel might do something, throw them the ball. This is what we ve sat down and spoken about, what brand of cricket we want to play, and we want to keep sticking to it. It s a high-risk, high-reward game, but at the end of the day, we re getting the results, said SKY in the post-match presentation ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
As Punjab left-hander Abhishek Sharma hammered a scintillating century, the second fasted by an Indian in T20Is, with his family watching from the stands, Surya said he was happy that the batter did well in front of his family.
I m very happy for his family as well, they must have enjoyed his innings. It was great, said SKY.
The India captain also praised mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy who emerged as the most successful bowler in this series with 14 wickets in 14 wickets in five innings. Surya said the spinner from Tamil Nadu has been working hard on his fielding and the results are evident.
He s been relentlessly working hard with our fielding coach Dilip sir (T Dilip), whenever he gets time in our practice sessions. Today he put his hand up and said he wants to field in the outfield, and you saw the results. He s a process-oriented man [with the ball], always wants to work on something new, said the India captain as India, the reigning World Champions, maintained their dominance in T20I cricket.
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Asked About Competition With Gill & Jaiswal, Abhishek Gives Blunt Answer After firing a record-breaking ton in the fifth T20I at the Wankhede Stadium, Abhishek Sharma downplayed the competition for the opening slot between him, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. With Gill and Jaiswal being cooped up in the ODI and Test formats, Abhishek has been the preferred candidate for the opening slot. After an underwhelming run in South Africa, the young southpaw made the most of the opportunity by turning the tides against England. After making a promising start to the series with a belligerent 79(34), Abhishek stored his best for the last T20I of the five-match affair. He brought thunder down at the Wankhede with a swashbuckling performance, toppling numerous records on his way to 135(54), second fastest century for India.
With India having some time on their hands before appearing in the T20I once again, Abhishek made a strong case for himself to avoid jostling for a spot when the star duo return to the format in future.
I had met Jassu [Jaiswal] and Shubman yesterday [at the BCCI awards]. There has never been a competition among us - we are playing together since Under-16. There was just one dream - to play for India. The three of us are playing now, so there is no better feeling, Abhishek said as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.
The flamboyant southpaw looked effortless while dealing with boundaries. The sheer timing and the raw power overwhelmed England in the first innings as India surged to a herculean total of 249/9.
After his carnage ended at the Wankhede, Abhishek revealed it was captain Suryakumar Yadav s advice that helped him on his way to break the shackles and express himself freely.
I was in a zone where I was going to react to the ball. I didn t even know my score. I just asked Surya [Suryakumar] paaji What do you think? . He said, Since a wicket has fallen, you can take your time, take a couple of balls. That really helped me because of him, only I would say the hundred happened, and my highest score happened. At that time, I didn t realise I was going to hit the fastest hundred [second-fastest for India], he said.
Throughout his time on the crease, swiftness with aggression was a key aspect of the approach he adopted. He raced to his fifty in just 17 balls and then delivered the second-fastest century for India by completing the feat in 35 deliveries. His mesmerising display met its end at 135(54), the highest individual score by an Indian in the T20I format.
It never crossed my mind that I should play till the end. I react to the ball based on the team s situation. Luckily today, when I was in the 80s or 90s, Surya paaji came in and said you ve played well so far, worked hard, so you can take two or three balls. When the captain is [batting] with you and tells you something, I felt I should bat carefully, he said.
When Hardik [Pandya] came in, he said, Since wickets are falling, you have to play according to the situation and bat till the end since you are hitting the ball well . Then Axar came in... these three are senior players and have played well for India, so no better players to listen to in that situation, he added.
Abhishek went on to outline the role that his mentor and former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has played in his rise to stardom. The constant backing from seniors, including Suryakumar, Hardik Pandya and head coach Gautam Gambhir, has made Abhishek s life much easier.
Yuvi paaji was always there for me, and put all these things in my mind and believed in me. When Yuvraj Singh tells you that you are going to play for the country and win games, you also try to believe in yourself and give your best. I talk to him after every game. He is the one I listen to. He knows me better than me, he said.
When your captain and coach tell you that you have to play like this and we are backing you, we ll be there for you always, that is the biggest motivation for a young player in the team. In South Africa, I remember Hardik paaji and Suryapaaji telling me, you are 100 per cent going to make some runs, just believe in yourself. In this series, Gauti [head coach Gautam Gambhir] paaji came back, and I feel grateful that they believe in me, that s not normal and is the biggest motivation for any player, he added.
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Bowling Avg 100, Batting 9 : Akram Blasts Pak Star s CT 2025 Selection Pakistan great Wasim Akram isn t entirely in agreement over the selection of certain players in the national team for the upcoming Champions Trophy. Pakistan, being the hosts of the tournament, are among the favourites to go all the way, though some of their team selection picks have left Akram baffled. The pace great was specifically skeptical of Faheem Ashraf s selection in the team, highlighting his woeful stats as an all-rounder. Akram feels Pakistan should ve learned from the Indian team when it came to the selection of players in the team.
The team that has been announced, I haven t seen it properly yet. But couple of which I have seen, for instance, Faheem Ashraf is in the team. I wish him all the best. A talented cricketer. But in the last 20 matches, his bowling average is 100, and his batting average is 9. He came out of the blue, and Khushdil Shah also came out of the blue. And we are taking one spinner, a proper spinner. I think India has ordered 3-4 spinners in their squad. And there is a reason why they have selected them. Anyway, the team has been selected. I wish the Pakistan team all the best. There will be some pressure because of being hosts. We are expecting them to reach the semi-final, Akram said in a chat with Sports Yaari.
Wasim was also impressed with a few selections. He pointed out how relieved he was to see opening batter Fakhar Zaman getting the nod despite being in and out of the team over form issues of late.
There will be a problem of opening. A regular opener is Fakhar (Zaman), who has been picked. Thank God he is back in the squad. One of the main players in world cricket in white ball. Now with him, you have to play a middle-order batter. I would like to see Rizwan as a middle-order batter. And maybe tell Babar to open. Babar s technique is great. If Babar plays 50 overs, he will do 100 or 125. And fast bowlers, I think all of our pacers are very fast. Naseem (Shah) is back. Shaheen (Afridi) is there. Haris (Rauf) is there. And of course, Hasnain is there too.
Akram said that he would ve rather had Aamer Jamal in the squad for the all-rounder s spot but he was snubbed.
I was talking about an all-rounder. If you want to invest in someone for the long term, it was (Aamir) Jamal, but he is not in the squad, Akram added.
Look, I would love Pakistan to win. Obviously, being a Pakistani. But look, it won t be easy. Top 8 teams in world cricket are playing. And they are playing quite a few games. A big game is here in Dubai. India-Pakistan game is in Dubai. My gut feeling is that they (Pakistan) must come to the semi-finals. Then we will see what happens after that.
