Mumbai Indians on Friday announced their new-looked support staff for IPL 2027, appointing Robin Uthappa as batting coach, Mitchell McClenaghan as bowling coach, T. Dilip as fielding coach and Dhawal Kulkarni as development bowling coach.

The four will work alongside head coach Kieron Pollard, who replaced Mahela Jayawardene last week, as Mumbai Indians put together a new coaching group ahead of the next season.

Uthappa, McClenaghan and Kulkarni have previously represented Mumbai Indians as players. Pollard, meanwhile, has been ******* ociated with the franchise for 16 years.

Uthappa was part of India's squad that won the inaugural ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2007. He represented Mumbai Indians in 2008 and brings experience from Indian domestic and franchise cricket.

McClenaghan was part of Mumbai Indians' ******* le-winning campaigns in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. The New Zealand pacer represented the franchise between 2015 and 2020 and will now take charge of the bowling group.

Dilip joins Mumbai Indians after working with the India men's team. He was part of the coaching staff during India's ******* le wins at the 2024 and 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cups and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

Kulkarni, a two-time IPL champion with Mumbai Indians in 2013 and 2020, returns to the franchise after representing the team in two spells — from 2008 to 2013 and again in 2020-21.

The former Mumbai pacer will work closely with the coaching staff during the season, focusing on the development of the team's bowling resources, particularly young Indian bowlers. His role will continue throughout the year, providing support to players and helping the franchise strengthen its pool of bowling talent.

The coaching overhaul comes after Mumbai Indians, who are five-time IPL champions, performed below-average last season.

#Mumbai #indians #coach #bowling

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — India captain Shreyas Iyer won his fourth consecutive toss and chose to bowl Friday in the fourth Twenty20 cricket international against New Zealand at Eden Park.
Bowling first was a winning formula in the first three matches of the five-match series which India won by four wickets, four wickets and six wickets to take a 3-0 series lead.
Although the series is decided, Eden Park is sold out for the match and India has been encouraged by coach Gautam Gambhir to treat the remaining two matches as a separate series.
"We're going to leave no stone unturned," Iyer said. "It's important to be ruthless no matter what the results have been so far."
New Zealand will attempt to recover some pride after the mauling its bowlers suffered in the third match at Wellington on Tuesday in which India opener Abishek Sharma scored a century from 35 ****** .

#India #park

New Zealand vs India 4th T20I prediction, lineups and Eden Park pitch report — who will win? originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India have already won the series, and New Zealand are running out of bowlers. The fourth T20I at Eden Park on Friday (12.30pm IST) will offer the hosts little comfort.
India chased 199 in 13.2 overs in Wellington, scoring 118 in the first six, the highest powerplay total in men's T20I history. Now they move to a ground where the boundaries are very short.
India have scored at 10.45 an over across 38 T20Is this year, the best of any Full Member. New Zealand have managed 9.37 across 23 innings. Finn Allen apart, their batters do not hit with the same power, and their bowling attack has been stripped back further. Lockie Ferguson is out for the rest of the series, joining Matt Henry and Zak Foulkes on the injury list. Blair Tickner may play.
India have won 22 of their 34 T20Is against New Zealand, losing 11 with one tie, and they have taken eight of the last nine meetings. Their only real choice is how much to rest, with the ODI and Test series still to come. Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy and Shivam Dube have yet to play on this tour, and Mayank Yadav could return. Even so, the top order of Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer would be hard for any attack to contain.

#zealand #t20i #eden

Kieron Pollard has taken over from Mahela Jayawardene as head coach of Mumbai Indians, and the franchise has turned to one of its best-known former players to lead it into IPL 2027.
On Friday, it was announced that former India player Robin Uthappa will take over as the team's batting coach while former MI pacer Mitchell McClenaghan has been named the bowling coach.
Pollard spent the last four IPL seasons as MI's batting coach, after he retired from playing in the league ahead of the 2023 season. He now moves up to the top job, which is also the first time he has held a head coaching role.
At 39, he is still active on the franchise circuit, having played for MI New York in the MLC and for Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL this year. Earlier this month, Joburg Super Kings signed him in the SA20 player auction for the 2027 season.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

#batting #mahela

University finished third at the 2026 FHSAA boys bowling championships on Oct. 29.
The third-seeded ***** ans began their run with a sweep (207-188, 203-194, 255-214) over No. 14 Windermere, but that would be their last comfortable victory of the tournament.
University showed its resilience after trailing No. 6 Melbourne and No. 10 Leesburg 2-0 in Rounds 2 and 3, respectively. Melbourne beat the ***** ans 213-209 and 222-212 in the opening Baker matches, but University won 215-181, 203-162 and 248-185 to send the Bulldogs to the consolation bracket.
Leesburg beat University 226-184 and 235-217, but the ***** ans advanced with victories of 249-172, 176-136 and 213-187.
University lost to top-seeded Ridgeview 3-0 (234-213, 198-179, 203-158) in the winner's bracket semifinal and was sent to the consolation bracket. The ***** ans were eliminated against eventual state champion SLAM Tampa 3-2 (239-197, 258-144, 189-192, 219-279, 217-189) after nearly completing a third 2-0 comeback.

#Titans #seeded #consolation

The Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 brings together the hosts, England and Sri Lanka for a 50-over tournament that runs from October 18 to October 31.
All seven matches will be played at two venues, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with six league fixtures leading into a final between the top two sides.
The competition starts in Rawalpindi on October 18, when Pakistan take on Sri Lanka.
Pakistan's 16-member squad began its preparation at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi led the group through a three-hour session from 4 pm to 7 pm, held under head coach Mike Hesson and a support staff that includes batting coach Mike Smith, bowling coach Shaun Tait and fielding coach Mansoor Amjad.

#october #Pakistan #lanka #england

Bengaluru: When batters are scoring at 11.46 runs an over, even quality bowling attacks can be made to look ordinary. India's T20I series against the West Indies has exposed the vulnerability of the hosts' pace unit, with flat pitches, dew and short boundaries proving a punishing combination for bowlers.

West Indies' stunning 250-run chase in Ranchi, completed with nine **** to spare, prompted a stern **** sment from India head coach Gautam Gambhir.

"These bowlers are our bowlers, not someone else's bowlers. Their careers are at stake," he had said, underlining the scrutiny facing the attack.

With the exception of Indore, where India successfully defended 223, the bowlers struggled to contain a fearless West Indies batting line-up. While the absence of Jasprit **** rah and, to an extent, Hardik Pandya has been felt, the bigger concern for the team management is the inconsistency shown by Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav.

The two young quicks, Mayank and Prince, have alternated between brilliance and waywardness during the series, highlighting the challenges of adjusting to different match situations. The fourth T20I in Hyderabad offered a clear example. India conceded 18 extras, including 13 wides. Arshdeep accounted for six, while Mayank and Prince leaked two and one, respectively. Their attempts to execute wide yorkers and fuller deliveries repeatedly missed the mark, allowing the West Indies batters to maintain the pressure.

India's lack of proven T20 pace-bowling depth has consequently become a talking point. That has put renewed focus on the return of Bhuvneshwar **** ar, whose recall after nearly four years away from the national side could prove timely.

The experienced swing bowler has enjoyed a productive run in the IPL, taking 45 wickets across the last two seasons. More importantly, his success has been built on control and execution rather than sheer pace, qualities that India's younger quicks have often lacked in this series.

Conditions, however, have offered little respite to bowlers. High-scoring surfaces and heavy dew have meant that even small lapses have come at a significant cost.

As India prepare for a demanding tour of New Zealand, they know the challenges ahead will be very different. The pitches may offer more **** istance, but the key question remains whether the bowling group can quickly adapt and improve its consistency.

On the eve of the rain-affected series finale in Bengaluru, fast-bowling coach Morne Morkel urged observers to consider the physical and mental demands placed on modern cricketers.

"We sometimes forget that mental fatigue plays a big part. We have to manage that and be smart with it. Some of the players went for the Asian Games and then straight into a full series against the West Indies. These guys are also human," Morkel said.

"Execution and skills become better when you've recovered, slept well and mentally refreshed. That's a challenge. We're going to N

Sep. 14—BEMIDJI — Oliver Peer is already winning 2026-27 CCHA honors.
The Bemidji State men's hockey team's top-line center was named the league's Preseason Player of the Year in the Coaches and Media Polls.
Bemidji State was picked to finish fifth in both polls. Michigan Tech was selected as the league's top team in both polls as well.
Peer, a native of Burlington, Ontario, had 20 goals and 16 ******* ists last year in his first season with the Beavers. He transferred from the University of New Brunswick (U Sports) ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Naturally, Peer was also selected to be on both of the All-CCHA Preseason Teams. Among coaches, Peer is joined by Michigan Tech forwards Max Koskipirrti and Isaac Gordon and Bowling Green's Ben Doran. Augustana's Hayden Hennen and Bowling Green's Breck McKinley round out the coaches' defender picks, while MTU goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz was selected as well.

#peer #polls

This was the 23rd week of full minor league play (stats are entering play on Monday, September 14th).
According to FanGraphs (which factors in age and proximity to the big leagues), prospect Theo Gillen tops the system and might just find himself in the running for Minor League Player of the Year. Gillen ranks 4th among all minor leaguers while Caden Bodine ranks 11th.
Meanwhile, Aidan Cremarosa is the top hurler in the system. Over his first professional season, Cremarosa has a 2.82 ERA | 3.02 FIP with a 29.8 K% & 6.0 BB% over 76.2 IP in Single-A. FanGraphs slotted the 22-year old as the 30th top prospect in the Rays system during their midseason rankings.
The Bowling Green Hot Rods lost to the Winston-Salem Dash in the South Division portion of the South Atlantic League playoffs.
Grady Emerson returned to action to pinch run for the Charleston River Dogs a few days after leaving a game early after being hit by a pitch

#league #system #year

India is all set to take on Afghanistan in the opening T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, September 13.
Shreyas Iyer's side looking to build momentum after a mixed white-ball summer that included series defeats in Ireland and England.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan will be hoping to avenge defeat in the one-off Test at Mullanpur earlier this year. Ibrahim Zadran's side has the perfectly volatile combination of a spin-heavy bowling attack and a batting lineup that's still trying to figure out their place.
With Jasprit **** rah and Washington Sundar also cleared just this week, India will be keen to prepare mentally for the upcoming Asian Games and New Zealand. The venue will also play a big part in the match.
Arun Jaitley Stadium has hosted only a handful of T20Is despite its status as one of India's most-used grounds across formats, and their most recent appearance produced one of the highest totals ever recorded there when India piled up 209 against Namibia in February 2026.

#september

This one started bowling shoe ugly and ended up Sam the Chinese Crested Dog ugly, with Bradley Hanner proving why he is the definition of the 26th man on a Major League roster. Gerrit Cole gave up more home runs, three of em while not making it out of the fifth inning, but Hanner wasn't any better, allowing two dingers while five men crossed the plate against him. All this is to say the Yankees were kicked around Saturday afternoon, losing 12-2 to the Mets
I don't know what it is about Gerrit Cole. He's always been a little bit homer ***** e, especially since coming to Yankee Stadium. Fastballs in the zone lead to some kinds of nasty contact, but the thing that's really been different about him since returning from Tommy John is how many pitches he's keeping in the zone. He's got the lowest walk rate of his career, and indeed he didn't walk a single batter today. He also has the highest Zone%, or, throws more pitches in the strike zone than any other season of his career.
In his last two starts he's allowed seven home runs. Only three today, though they still counted for four runs like last weekend against the Padres.
Part of this is just random variance, enough monkeys at enough typewriters for long enough. Any time you talk about two games' worth of data, you have to throw up your hands at the universe. He's also been stung by Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth, Francisco Lindor…guys that have been around the block. Lindor especially looked keyed up to swing in the game's first AB, the first dinger Cole allowed today. Former Baby Bomber Luis Torrens and rookie Carson Benge also homered off Cole to build a 4-0 lead.
View Link

#today #enough #lindor

Pakistan great Wasim Akram has expressed frustration over the country's continued struggles in Test cricket, arguing that the lack of quality batting talent emerging through the system has become a major concern.

Speaking to the media in Lahore on Friday, the former fast bowler said Pakistan's home-and-away Test series defeat to Bangladesh should have prompted the authorities to take immediate corrective measures. Instead, he felt little changed after what should have been a warning sign.

Akram pointed towards the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which has been running for a decade, and questioned whether the tournament had produced any significant batting talent for the national team.

"It has been 10 years since the PSL started, but has a single batter been produced by the PSL? Yes we have produced a few bowlers but tell me have we produced any noteworthy batting talent," he questioned.
Akram also highlighted the emergence of a 15-year-old batting talent in neighbouring India, an apparent reference to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, as an example of the kind of player Pakistan needs to produce.

"I think when we produce a batting talent like the 14-year old then we will see improvement coming through," Akram said.

While he felt Pakistan remained competitive in white-ball cricket, the former pacer was far less optimistic about the team's position in the longer format, describing the state of Test cricket as "bad".

Akram also played down the importance of who takes charge as Pakistan's coach, saying that whether the PCB appoints him or Gary Kirsten, the fundamental challenge would remain because the coach would still be working with the same pool of players.

Rather than repeatedly changing personnel, Akram called for the PCB's domestic structure to be given time to produce results. He believes the system should be allowed to operate for three to four years, with patience and long-term planning essential to any improvement.

Akram admitted that he was just as disappointed as any other Pakistani by the team's recent performances.

"Club cricket needs to be revived if we want improvement in red ball cricket. The PCB should spend 100 million rupees each in Karachi and Lahore, as talent comes from club cricket."

He also called for greater consistency in the national side, pointing out that Pakistan have continued to rotate players without addressing the underlying problems.

He said there should be consistency in the team, but the players remain the same -- they just keep coming and going.
Pakistan's ongoing Test series in England also came under scrutiny, with Akram criticising the team's approach against the home bowlers.

"In England in the ongoing series they didn't move their front foot forward, playing bowlers like Ollie Robinson while standing rooted in the crease. You need to play with courage, but for that, talent is essential."

Akram also offered his ******* sment of Pakistan's fast-bowling resources, arguing that raw pa

India's next Test **** ignment will take them to New Zealand for a two-match series beginning November 19, and former Kiwi fast bowler Trent Boult believes KL Rahul will be one of the Indian batters worth watching closely.

The two Tests will form part of India's marathon New Zealand tour, which begins on October 22 and features 12 matches across the three formats. With India needing a strong result to remain in contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, the spotlight is expected to fall on several key players, including captain Shubman Gill and pace spearhead Jasprit **** rah.

Boult, however, has picked Rahul and his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal as the two Indian batters he is particularly looking forward to seeing in action.

"I'm always a big fan of KL Rahul and his style of batsmanship. So he's a big player at the top of the order for the Indian side. And yeah, I believe Jaiswal is there as well. Two classy batters to see bat. So yeah, be interesting to see," Boult said in an interview to PTI.
The timing of the series could make conditions particularly interesting. Unlike India's previous Test tours of New Zealand, which have often taken place in the February-March window, this series will be played in late October and November.

Boult feels the timing could bring colder weather into play, while he is hoping the New Zealand pitches retain some grass and offer **** istance to the home attack.

"It's always an exciting chance when the Indian team comes down to play Test cricket in New Zealand," Boult said.

"The only thing I can see happening is it's going to be late October. I believe, just coming out of winter. So it's going to be quite cold. Hopefully, there's a bit of greenness in the wickets for some of our bowlers. It's going to be a good series, I'm sure," the star former Kiwi pacer added.
Boult also backed the current New Zealand bowling unit to make an impact against India, pointing to the variety available to the team.

Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Nathan Smith and Will O'Rourke bring different qualities to the attack, and Boult believes that gives New Zealand enough options to develop its own identity.

"I think the bowling is very well balanced. It's got bases covered in terms of a good pace, obviously, with Will O'Rourke. Obviously, a bit of swing and a bit of bounce from Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry with his accuracy.

"So yeah, I think the way me, Tim (Southee) and Wags (Neil Wagner) did it over the years was a unique way in itself. But there's other strengths and other game plans that our younger bowlers can follow," Boult further said.
134121390

#test

Over the past few days, several national college football publications and websites have released power ranking lists for all 138 FBS college football teams following Week 0 and Week 1 of the 2026 college football season. None of these sites have been particularly kind to Rutgers following their season-opening 37-21 loss to UMass, with almost all of them dropping the Scarlet Knights by double-digit rankings. The most brutal of these sites was The Athletic, which dropped Rutgers 57 spots from 79 to 136.
First off, the ******* le of the article is "Re-ranking 138 college football teams after Week 1: LSU starts on top, Rutgers hits a new low"- not a fun start by any means. The rest of the parts of the article that mention Rutgers aren't much better.
"The most shocking win was, of course, UMass' 37-21 victory at Rutgers, ending a 16-game losing streak and 23-game Football Bowl Subdivision losing streak. For that, the Minutemen rise to No. 100. It's the first time since early in the 2025 season that UMass is not ranked last, and it's the first time in 10 years of these rankings that UMass is inside the top 100. The Minutemen's previous high was No. 102 late in the 2018 season. Congrats to UMass," said Athletic writer Chris Vannini in the article.
"Rutgers falls all the way to No. 136 for that blowout loss to UMass, which wasn't as close as the 16-point final margin would indicate. This is the new lowest position for a Power 4 team in 10 years of these rankings," said Athletic writer Chris Vannini in the article.
While Rutgers' performance against UMass is inexcusable and has put the Knights in the same ranking bracket as teams like Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, Utah State and Charlotte in the eyes of the Athletic. While Rutgers' loss to UMass is an incredibly tough pill to swallow, being rated in the bottom three teams in the country still seems a little low. Even a terrible Big Ten team should be able to stay out of there.

#Athletic

PORT ST. LUCIE — In its first season as an FHSAA school, Indian River Charter High School made its first bit of history on the lanes.
Caleb Crowe rolled a perfect game during the Wolves' match against Fort Pierce Central on Wednesday, Sept. 10 from St. Lucie Lanes.
The freshman, who was voted as TCPalm's Boys Athlete of the Week for the Aug. 31-Sept. 5 playing period, became the first bowler to roll a 300 since Nathan Mondo accomplished the feat for the Cobras in 2024.
TCPalm All-Area Boys Bowling: Who knocked down the most pins in 2025?
More: Fortunate break lands Martin County boys their first bowling ***** le since 2016

#first #school

The International League T20 (ILT20) Season 5 was officially launched with a glittering event in Dubai, with fast-bowling legends Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar among the star attractions on an evening celebrating the league's rapid rise and growing influence across the Gulf region.

The event brought together leading figures from cricket, sport, business and government, with ILT20 chairman Khalid Al Zarooni and league commissioner, ICC board director and ECB general secretary Mubashshir Usmani highlighting the tournament's contribution to the development and expansion of cricket in the UAE and the wider region.

Al Zarooni reflected on the league's growth while thanking its stakeholders and partners.

"What began as a dream has grown into one of the world's leading cricket leagues, bringing together top players and major franchises, while helping grow cricket in the UAE, the region and beyond," he said.

He also acknowledged the support of franchise owners, commercial and strategic partners, with a special mention for Zee Network, while welcoming SPORTFIVE as a new commercial partner.
A special panel discussion hosted by former New Zealand international Simon Doull explored the changing landscape and future of cricket in the region and globally.

The panel featured Usmani, Dr Mohamed Abu Hamra, Eisa Sharif of the Dubai Sports Council, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Deputy CEO and CFO Mukund Galgali, SportFive President Venu Nair and Bisleri Global Director Sales & Marketing Tushar Malhotra.

Doull later brought Lee and Shoaib together for another engaging discussion, with the two legendary fast bowlers speaking about the ILT20's growing impact on UAE and regional cricket.

The pair also looked back on their playing careers, recalling an era in which their blistering pace made them two of the most feared fast bowlers in world cricket.

The evening also featured a spell-binding performance by celebrity mentalist Karan Singh Magic, while the league unveiled its new brand identity for Season 5.
Season 5 will be played in November and December across the UAE's three iconic venues — Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Dubai International Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Defending champions Desert Vipers will enter the fifth season aiming to retain their crown. Gulf Giants won the inaugural season, followed by MI Emirates in Season 2 and Dubai Capitals in Season 3.

#stadium

India continue to make their presence felt at the top of the Women's T20I bowling rankings, with Sree Charani holding on to the No. 1 spot and Deepti Sharma making a two-place jump to sixth following her strong showing at the Asia Cup 2026.

Deepti has been one of India's standout performers in the tournament, claiming eight wickets in three matches as the team booked its place in the semi-finals.
The right-arm spinner's consistent performances have earned her a significant rise in the latest rankings. Deepti, who had previously reached the top spot in December last year, is now within 60 rating points of Charani. Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Nonkululeko Mlaba and Lauren Bell are the four bowlers positioned between the two Indian stars.

With Charani and Deepti occupying the top two positions, India continues to dominate the upper reaches of the T20I bowling rankings.
Several players also made significant gains in the latest T20I rankings after their performances at the Asia Cup. Bangladesh's Marufa Akter was among the biggest movers, climbing 19 places to 18th in the bowling rankings. Chamari Athapaththu moved up five spots to 28th, while Sultana Khatun gained nine places to share 37th.

Thailand's Thipatcha Putthawong rose four places to 47th, while teammate Suleeporn Laomi jumped 10 spots to 53rd. There were also gains among Bangladesh's batters, with Sobhana Mostary moving up three places to 36th and Dilara Akter climbing five spots to 62nd.
The latest ODI rankings also saw notable movement following England's home series against Ireland. Stand-in England captain Charlie Dean moved up one place to jointly occupy ninth in the ODI all-rounders' rankings. She also climbed two spots to share 11th among ODI bowlers after taking three wickets in the three-match series.

England's Lauren Filer made an impressive 14-place jump to 39th, while Ireland's Cara Murray rose 16 places to 50th in the ODI bowling rankings.

Ireland youngster Amy Hunter emerged as the biggest winner among ODI batters, moving up nine places to 11th. England's Maia Bouchier climbed 13 spots to 42nd, while Sophia Dunkley made an even bigger leap of 26 places to reach 43rd.

#rankings #places #three #latest

Karnataka batter Karun Nair has taken a subtle but pointed swipe at South Zone after being overlooked for the playing XI in the ongoing Duleep Trophy final against East Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Nair, who was part of the South Zone squad, was left out of the XI for both the semi-final and the final. After a post on X (formerly Twitter) described his omission as 'inexplicable', Nair reposted it with his own response.

'Inexplicable would be an understatement,' he wrote, accompanied by a laughing emoji.
The decision has gained further attention after South Zone endured a difficult first two days of the final, with East Zone piling up 708 runs before being bowled out.

Nair did not remain with the South Zone squad after learning that he would not feature in the final. Instead, he returned home to join the Karnataka State Cricket ******* ociation's pre-season red-ball camp.

The batter then made an immediate impact, scoring a century for KSCA Secretary XI against Chhattisgarh.

South Zone have not provided an explanation for Nair's omission from the playing XI for the final. His absence had already raised eyebrows before the previous match against North Zone, when captain Tilak Varma explained that Nair's exclusion was a tactical call.

At the time, Varma said Nair was 'just unlucky' after opting for Hyderabad's left-handed batter Kodimela Himateja in the middle order.

"Karun is just unlucky. He has scored a lot of runs in domestic seasons," Tilak had said while addressing the media at the CoE.

"I have chosen Himateja in place of Karun as they have good left-arm spinners. So we wanted a leftie in the middle order. He has also scored a decent amount of runs in domestic cricket. I was just backing him. As a youngster, he also has a good career. At the same time, it is very unfortunate for Karun."

However, Himateja's opportunity did not work out. He was dismissed for a two-ball duck and subsequently dropped for the final.

South Zone replaced him with another left-hander, Devdutt Padikkal, rather than bringing Nair back into the XI.
The omission of Nair has become an even bigger talking point after South Zone's bowling attack struggled to contain East Zone in the final.

East Zone resumed the second innings on 385/4 and continued to dominate from the outset. South Zone took the new ball after one over, hoping Mohammad Siraj and MD Nidheesh could make early inroads, but neither managed to break the partnership between Ishan Kishan and ******* ar Kushagra.

Kishan immediately attacked Siraj and Nidheesh, while Kushagra provided strong support from the other end. South Zone subsequently turned to Tripurana Vijay and Shreyas Gopal, but the change in bowling did little to halt the scoring.

Kushagra eventually completed his sixth first-class century, making 101 from 132 ******* with eight fours and five sixes before falling to Vijay shortly before lunch.

Kishan then took complete control of the innings.

The Ea

Bengaluru: The BCCI's decision to send a full-strength squad to the Asian Games later this month has brought one name into focus - Jasprit ***** rah. The premier India pacer has not played for India since the second ODI against England in Cardiff in July, when he limped off after suffering an impact injury to his left knee. He has since been undergoing rehabilitation and is part of India's squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, although his participation is subject to fitness clearance.

With the Asian Games in ***** an beginning later this month, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes the tournament could provide ***** rah with valuable game time ahead of India's next major ***** ignment, the New Zealand tour.

The Asian Games, then, is the perfect opportunity for ***** rah to ease back into competitive cricket before that series. "There's a fair gap between the Asian Games and the New Zealand series, so playing ***** rah in the Asian Games is actually a good idea because he has to get some bowling under his belt. In Sri Lanka, we heard Mohammad Siraj was not quite in rhythm because he hadn't played enough in competitive matches. The bowlers need to get some overs and ***** rah getting them is very essential," Gavaskar said.

Although Shreyas Iyer has lost six of the seven T20Is he has led India in this year, Sunil Gavaskar backed him. "He's very experienced as a captain, having led Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings. I don't think there should be any pressure on him at the Asian Games. "

'Asian Games ***** le defence won't be easy'

Gavaskar was quick to add that the ***** le defence won't be an easy ride for India. "It's going to be tough because it's a T20 tournament. Bangladesh are in form, Pakistan are always dangerous and Sri Lanka are a terrific team, not to forget Afghanistan, so it's not going to be easy at all," he said. Gavaskar pointed out that the Asian Games will be a huge learning experience for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. "To be able to meet sportspersons from other sports from across Asia can be an absolute treat. For Sooryavanshi, I hope it turns out to be even more inspirational because he will get to rub shoulders with athletes who he's looked up to."

(This interaction was facilitated by Sony Sports Network)

#asian #easy #sunil #zealand

CHENNAI: The road to the World Test Championship (WTC) final for India is getting tougher, with every series carrying greater significance. The task has become even more challenging after they failed to win the final Test against Sri Lanka recently.

India's next step takes them to New Zealand for a two-Test series, having not won there in a decade and a half. NZ's premier left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who is leading Edinburgh Castle Rockers in the ongoing European T20 Premier League (ETPL), told TOI in an exclusive chat that India's pace attack, led by Jasprit ***** rah, will play a major role in the final outcome of the series. Excerpts...

How crucial will it be for India to adapt to conditions given only a few players from the current set-up have played Tests in NZ?

The first thing is to try and understand the conditions as quickly as possible. A few players have been there before and done well. In Oct-Nov, the pitches can play differently compared to Feb-March. So, early in the season in New Zealand, the ball might move around a little bit. It is about getting your head around that.

What's your take on India's pace attack?

Bumrah leading the attack and being able to nip and swing the ball will hold the key. (Mohammed) Siraj has done it for a long time as well and (Prasidh) Krishna is obviously bowling well. There is a lot of variety, which is what you need.

Did you have a look at Manav Suthar?

He has been very impressive since he made his debut. He gets nice and tight to the stumps and gets good shape on the ball. He does bowl with good overspin when he needs to and that is the key in NZ, trying to get a bit of bounce especially if there is grass. I think there is still a role for a spinner in NZ, especially in Tests alongside the quicks, whether it is first or second innings when the pitch might be holding up. On days four and five, it could spin a bit. Whether it is Jadeja or Suthar, both are very good options.

What do you think about India's struggles in Test cricket recently?

I think it has always been a challenge. They always play the best teams, and then having to adapt to the conditions quickly is the main thing. But they have got all bases covered.

How important is ETPL for the European players, who don't always get to play a lot of top-quality cricket?

It is perfect for Scottish, Irish and players from Holland. It gives them more exposure and opportunity to play against some good players. We have seen how good they are in their own right. To be fair, in the last few years, we have had some great games against Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. You throw a few overseas players in, and the tournament (ETPL) is really strong.

There is some great cricket on show already, which is good. And we are only halfway through.

#players

Former Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has launched another scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), accusing the governing body of playing a major role in the national team's recent struggles.

Ajmal, who claimed 362 wickets across international cricket for Pakistan before his career was brought to an early end by an issue with his bowling action, has repeatedly expressed his frustration with the PCB. The former spinner has maintained that the board failed to support him during a difficult phase of his career.

His latest criticism comes after Pakistan suffered another heavy defeat against England in the Lord's Test. Following the loss, the PCB made a series of sweeping changes, sacking head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul while also sending seven players back home.

Among those sent back was Imam-ul-Haq, who did not bat in either innings and was subsequently accused of faking his calf injury.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi later attempted to defend the players and urged critics to stop demotivating the team. Ajmal, however, questioned the sincerity of that message and instead accused the board itself of undermining Pakistan's cricketers.

"The board itself has demotivated the players more than anyone else. The board is not letting any player stand. There are players who have done well, who have also been dropped. There are players who have been humiliated by the PCB," Ajmal said.
The former Pakistan spinner also directed his criticism towards Director High Performance and selector Aaqib Javed and white-ball head coach Mike Hesson.

With Hesson also asked to take charge of the Test side for the third match against England, Ajmal claimed the pair have significant control over Pakistan cricket and held them responsible for the team's current situation.

"Aaqib Javed and Mike Hesson (who has been asked to take over the Test team for the third Test) are a team. These two are controlling everything and are responsible for this whole mess. The whole issue is about egos," Ajmal said on Samaa TV.

Ajmal further criticised the PCB's long-term planning, claiming Pakistan's cricket structure had regressed considerably.

"Our team has gone back 10 years. We have not planned for the future," he added.

Pakistan have already surrendered the Test series against England and are now facing the prospect of a clean sweep. The third and final Test is scheduled to begin at Edgbaston on Wednesday, with Hesson set to take charge of the Test side.
Naqvi, meanwhile, had earlier attempted to explain the reasoning behind the PCB's decision to make such extensive changes after the Lord's defeat.

Speaking to Geo Network, the PCB chairman insisted that the decisions were not motivated by personal issues and said the board had little choice when players were not producing results.

"Every match of a series is important for us, and we are not left with any option if a player is not performing but to look for his replacement. The

Rinku Singh trumps Bhuvneshwar ***** ar in final as Meerut Mavericks win UPT20 league 2026 ***** le originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India star Rinku Singh's Meerut Mavericks secured the UP T20 League 2026 ***** le with a merciless 94-run thrashing of the Lucknow Falcons.
Divyansh Joshi reduced the Lucknow bowling attack to dust, scoring 105 runs off just 40 deliveries.
The Falcons' chase completely collapsed under scoreboard pressure, folding for just 109 in a woefully one-sided finale.
Everyone who saw the fixture for the finals of the 2026 UPT20 expected a steady battle between the bat and the ball. Rinku Singh's Mavericks had impressed in all their games heading into the decider, while Bhuvneshwar ***** ar's Falcons had also narrowly edged the Kashi Rudras by one run.

#falcons #meerut

Ishan Kishan led from the front with a superb unbeaten century as East Zone finished Day 1 of the Duleep Trophy 2026 final on 385/4 against South Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, Kishan anchored a strong batting display from East Zone, scoring 111 not out off 135 ****** . His innings featured 14 fours and two sixes as he took control of the contest in the final session.

Kishan found an excellent partner in ****** ar Kushagra, who remained unbeaten on 63 off 75 ****** . The pair added an unbeaten 144-run partnership for the fifth wicket off 160 ****** , completely taking the game away from South Zone towards the end of the day.
East Zone made a solid start through Abhimanyu Easwaran (72) and teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (44). Easwaran and Sooryavanshi gave the side a strong platform before both departed. Sudip ****** ar Gharami was then dismissed for 6, bringing Shikhar Mohan to the crease. Mohan played a composed knock of 85 off 120 ****** , helping East Zone build another important partnership before Chama Milind ended his innings at 241/4.

That dismissal brought Kishan and Kushagra together, and the pair ensured there were no further setbacks.

Kishan accelerated as the innings progressed and brought up his century in style, remaining unbeaten at the close. His knock was particularly important given his role as captain, with East Zone now firmly in control after the opening day.
South Zone's bowling attack found little ****** istance from a placid batting surface, while the bowlers also struggled with consistency. Chama Milind was the most successful bowler, finishing the day with figures of 2/56 from 13 overs. Tripurana Vijay picked up one wicket but conceded 114 runs from his 22 overs.

Mohammed Siraj, meanwhile, went wicketless despite bowling 14 overs and conceded 96 runs. East Zone also benefited from a late surge, scoring 74 runs without losing a wicket in the final 10 overs. Kishan and Kushagra's partnership allowed them to finish the day strongly at 385/4.

With Kishan unbeaten on 111 and Kushagra on 63, East Zone will resume on Day 2 with an opportunity to push towards a total of 400 and beyond. South Zone, meanwhile, will desperately need early wickets with the second new ball to prevent East Zone from building an even bigger first-innings total.

#balls

Young left-arm spinner Shree Charani said India's spin bowlers plan their strategy together before matches and then focus on executing it on the field after Indian spinners helped bowl Pakistan out for 55 in their Women's T20 Asia Cup clash.

Charani returned figures of 3/7, while Prema Rawat took 3/9 and Deepti Sharma claimed 2/5 as India's spinners took control of the match. Pakistan were bowled out for their lowest-ever T20I total of 55 before India chased down the target with 68 ***** to spare and registered a seven-wicket win on Saturday.

India had already secured a semifinal place from Group A before the match. They finished top of the group with six points after winning all three games.

Charani, who dismissed Shawaal Zulfiqar, Gull Feroza and Ayesha Zafar, said the team's spin bowlers discuss their plans before every match and then try to follow them on the field.

"In the meeting, we three sit together... Prema, me, Deepti di and Radha (Yadav) di and we discuss what to do (in the match). So, we just try to implement that here (on the field) whatever Deepti and Radha di say," said Charani.
Pakistan had raced to 27 without loss, but Charani struck twice in the sixth over to leave them at 29/3. They could not recover after that and were eventually bowled out for 55.

The 22-year-old is now one wicket away from completing 50 T20I wickets. She said her approach was to keep things simple and concentrate on getting the basics right.

"It's just about myself. Like I just want to focus on my things... I want to do my things correct," she said.

After looking at the pitch and expecting it to help the spinners, Charani said she focused on bowling at the stumps and allowing the pitch to do the rest.

"I just tried to bowl on the stumps. By seeing the pitch, we know it may turn so I just focused on that."

#t20i

Chennai: Veteran India speedster Mohammed Shami maybe out of India reckoning for now, but he still refuses to give up. When East Zone play South Zone in the Duleep final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Sunday, the 36-year-old will be appearing in his 100th First-Class match, with a prolific record of 382 wickets so far.

East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan was effusive in his praise of the senior bowler on the eve of the **** le clash, stressing that age remains irrelevant when backed by exceptional work ethic and fierce determination.

"For Shami, age is just a number. If he is working hard, it doesn't matter. Having someone like him in our team gives us immense confidence. His approach towards the game, his intensity, and his energy this season have been very different from how I've seen him in the past," Kishan said after a practice session.

Comparing this version of Shami to his sensational 24-wicket run at the 2023 ODI World Cup, Kishan stressed on the pacer's sheer appetite for a national comeback.

"It is 2026 now, three years since that World Cup. It is hard when you are not regularly playing for the Indian team to still summon that same motivation for domestic games...Who better than me can judge hunger right now? I see that hunger and drive in him, he wants to make that comeback and be part of the Indian squad again. You can see it in the way he helps me lead, constantly coming up with strategic options. You can instantly tell when a player is desperate to win you the match," the skipper added.

Kishan also hailed Shami's tireless attitude during East Zone's semifinal victory over Central Zone, where the veteran ran in and picked five wickets in the game.

"He is a legend of the game. Looking at his effort in the semifinal, as a captain, it felt incredible when Shami came up and asked for extra overs to break partnerships. That willingness gives a skipper immense confidence. Plus, he finished with two boundaries in the last game, so he's practically an allrounder nowadays," Kishan quipped.

South Zone captain Tilak Varma acknowledged the massive challenge awaiting his batting unit against Shami's probing spells with the red ball, but they are confident to face him.

"It will be great competition. We are up against a quality bowling attack led by Shami. Facing that calibre of bowling is why you love this sport," Tilak said.

#kishan #skipper #south #Indian

NEW DELHI: The no-handshake saga between India and Pakistan continued in women's cricket as Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana once again refrained from exchanging the customary gesture during the toss ahead of their Women's Asia Cup 2026 clash in Dubai on Saturday.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and elected to bat first, with the latest India-Pakistan encounter beginning with the now-familiar absence of a handshake between the two captains.

The no-handshake stance has continued across India-Pakistan cricket encounters since last year, with the protocol also observed when the two sides met during the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup in Birmingham.

The focus, however, quickly shifted to the contest itself, with Pakistan looking to post a challenging total after opting to bat.

"We're gonna bat first because we want to put a maximum total here. [Did the last game influence this decision?] Yeah, because we know we have a good bowling side, so we will try to restrict them. [How have you addressed the batting wobble?] We had a good chat with the team, and we just want to play according to the pitch," Sana said.
India entered the contest in a strong position after winning their opening two matches against Thailand and Hong Kong, China, and securing a place in the semi-finals. Pakistan, meanwhile, began their campaign with a win over Thailand and still have a group-stage game against Hong Kong, China after the India clash.

India have also enjoyed a dominant recent record against their neighbours in T20Is, having won nine of their last 10 meetings, with their only defeat in that stretch coming during the 2022 Asia Cup.

Harmanpreet said India were happy to bowl first, backing their bowling attack to restrict Pakistan to a manageable total.

"Our bowling is doing great in this tournament, and good to get the opportunity to bowl first. [How challenging is chasing?] I think while batting it's always about giving ourselves some time and then going for your shots. And I think the first two games we did really well in that department, and hopefully we'll continue. [On leading for the 150th time in T20Is] Great achievement. But the key is to keep enjoying yourself on the field, and that is key; I try to keep up with that. [What score would you like to chase?] We'll try to restrict them to a short total, so there won't be pressure while chasing," she said.
The India captain also entered the record books on Saturday, becoming the first cricketer — male or female — to captain in 150 T20I matches.

Harmanpreet's landmark came in the same match in which India are aiming to complete a perfect three wins from three in the group stage.

Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu is second on the list with 121 matches as captain, followed by Australia's Meg Lanning on 100.

IND vs PAK Playing XIs:
India XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Nandani Sharm

Charlie Woods is now officially affiliated with one of the world's biggest golf brands.
Woods, a senior at the Benjamin School and son of legendary golfer Tiger Woods, signed an NIL contract with TaylorMade in a deal announced on Friday, Sept. 4.
A Florida State golf commit, Woods is currently in Ponte Vedra Beach competing in the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. He shot 71 (1-under) in the first round to enter the clubhouse in the tournament's top 10.
TaylorMade has become a prominent brand in Woods' junior golf career.
In 2025, Woods won the Team TaylorMade Invitational in May 2025 at the Streamsong Resort's Black Course in Bowling Green, Florida. He prevailed in an elite field of junior golfers, including No. 1-ranked Miles Russell, in the biggest American Junior Golf ******* ociation (AJGA) victory of his young career.

#junior #benjamin

India are set to renew their rivalry with Pakistan in their final league-stage match of the Women's Asia Cup on Saturday, with senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma confident that the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side can maintain its recent dominance over its neighbours.

India have already secured their place in the semifinals after registering convincing victories over Thailand and Hong Kong. They currently sit at the top of Group A and will enter the Pakistan clash as clear favourites.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Friday, Deepti pointed to India's strong record against Pakistan and said the team would aim to maintain that edge.

"Look, there is no advantage as such. The only thing is that whatever we have won against them (Pakistan), whether it is the Asia Cup or any other matches, we are always one step ahead of them. And that's it," Deepti said.
Deepti stressed that India would not get distracted by Pakistan's strengths and instead concentrate on maintaining their own balanced approach.

"The whole team is performing well. If you look at the bowling unit or the batting unit, I think both things are balanced. The one who has a good day, she tries to do better and take the game further. And those around her, they try to stay positive things so that they step in more in their game," she said.

Asked about Pakistan's bowling attack, Deepti acknowledged the threat but insisted India would stick to their plans.

"Our team is also good and their bowlers are also good. We know that. But we focus more on the strengths we have. And as I said, we want to play a good brand of cricket. That's what we are focusing on. We just want to play good cricket. As a bowling unit, as a batting unit, the team should be as compact as we are playing in two games. That's the mindset," she added.
India have dominated the rivalry in women's T20Is, winning 14 of their 17 meetings with Pakistan, while Pakistan have three victories. The recent record is even more emphatic. India defeated Pakistan by 64 runs in the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup, while also winning their previous two meetings in the 2024 T20 World Cup and Asia Cup.

Pakistan's most recent victory over India came in the 2022 Women's Asia Cup, when they secured a 13-run win.

#deepti #good #team #recent

NEW DELHI: Anshuman Hooda bursts into laughter when asked to choose between his office laptop and his cricket ball. "My cricket ball is my best friend," he tells TimesofIndia.com.

His elder brother, Vikram Hooda, says their mother, Prem Lata Singh, a primary class teacher at a Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) school, is happy to see Anshuman pursue cricket, especially now that he has a stable job. "Earlier, they used to say that he needed a job. Now that he has one and is doing well, she is happy," Vikram says of their parents.

Anshuman had a breakout 2026 Delhi Premier League (DPL) season -- emerging as the Purple Cap winner with 22 scalps -- which played a crucial role in South Delhi Superstarz's **** le triumph.

But there was a time when Hooda thought cricket had run its course. Two attempts at the Under-23 trials had gone by without success. There was no age-group cricket on his résumé, no traditional pathway through Delhi's junior system and no obvious route into first-class cricket. He had an engineering degree from Delhi Technological University (DTU) and a job at EY. The sensible thing, he thought, was to move on.

"I tried for Under-23 for two years, but I couldn't make it. I thought it would be very difficult because I hadn't played any professional cricket or age-group cricket. It would have been very difficult to directly get selected for the Ranji Trophy or first-class cricket," Anshuman recollects.
"So at that time, I thought I should quit cricket and pursue my career in engineering or something."

But just when he thought of walking away from the game, his coach Harish Dagar, who runs a cricket academy named Delhi Cricket Hub in Delhi's Paschim Vihar, and trains youngsters at DTU, stepped up.

"It was in 2023. He had just graduated. He had got the job through campus placement and was ready to move on with his life. I pleaded with him to give it one more year. I asked him to come to my academy four days a week for a year, and if nothing would pan out, I would let him pursue his corporate job," reminisces Dagar.
Then came the Delhi Premier League (DPL). And with it came a completely different possibility. For a young man who had arrived late to leather-ball cricket, DPL became the stage on which his raw pace, athleticism and appetite for fast bowling could finally be seen. The numbers followed. The attention followed, and now Anshuman is finally ready to become a full-time cricketer.

"I have seen some substantial progress in my cricket in recent months and in this tournament. So in the coming times, I might shift my whole focus to cricket and give it my all," he says.
Anshuman is 25 and, in cricketing terminology, he can be called a late bloomer. But the most unusual thing about Anshuman's story is perhaps where it began. Not with a cricket academy. Not with a junior tournament. Not with a childhood obsession with bowling. With roller skates.
Growing up, Anshuman was a national-level roller skater. Cricket e

Jasprit ***** rah availability update for 2026 Asian Games, Afghanistan T20Is as 'serious prospect' identified as backup: Report originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jasprit ***** rah's participation in India's upcoming T20Is remains uncertain due to fitness.
Selectors have identified Prince Yadav as a serious backup option following his recovery.
Management wants ***** rah to play a first-class match before the New Zealand Test tour.
India's fast-bowling is back under the microscope as the national selectors await final fitness clearances for Jasprit ***** rah ahead of the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan and the Asian Games. With the squad set to ***** emble in Delhi on September 10, the medical team is taking zero chances with their marquee ***** ets.

#asian #selectors