14 mins. ago
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
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
11 days ago
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
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
2 months ago
Reuters reported that Solstice Advanced Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOLS) and Element Solutions Inc (NYSE:ESI) mutually agreed to terminate their $14.5 billion merger agreement, the companies said on August 27, citing feedback from shareholders on both sides who preferred each to stay independent. Neither side will pay a termination fee.
Solstice Chairman Rajeev Gautam said the company valued that feedback, including shareholders' "excitement about Solstice's strategy and growth trajectory as an independent company." Solstice's board also authorized its first-ever buyback, up to $500 million, and reaffirmed its recently raised guidance. Solstice shares jumped 15% in after-hours trading, while Element gained 4%. The deal, announced July 6 just 10 months after Solstice's Honeywell spin-off, would have combined Solstice's refrigerants and specialty materials businesses with Element's electronics chemicals operations, paying Element holders $10 cash plus 0.5 Solstice shares per share. The original announcement got a rough welcome: Solstice fell nearly 15% that day, which CEO David Sewell blamed on arbitrage trading, not doubts about the deal.
Both companies continue to perform strongly on their own. Solstice's second-quarter net sales rose 11% to $1.148 billion, and the company raised its full-year sales guidance to $4.125 billion-$4.185 billion. Element delivered an even stronger quarter, with record net sales up 56% to $978 million and full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance raised to $690 million-$710 million.
Solstice Advanced Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOLS) sheds significant deal risk by walking away. The termination removes the financing and merger risks linked to the acquisition and eliminates the need to use the $4.685 billion bridge facility. It also lets Solstice maintain its 1.3x net leverage. Its new $500 million buyback, the company's first ever, also gives Solstice a direct way to return capital to shareholders while it focuses on organic growth.
Element Solutions Inc (NYSE:ESI) also maintains the strengths that its shareholders wanted to preserve. Chairman Ian Ashken said investors valued Element's management team, culture, and existing business portfolio. CEO Benjamin Gliklich said the company's growth remains compelling. Remaining independent allows Element to continue investing in its existing businesses and pursuing its own growth strategy without taking on the risks of a larger combination.
#billion #million #Growth
Solstice Chairman Rajeev Gautam said the company valued that feedback, including shareholders' "excitement about Solstice's strategy and growth trajectory as an independent company." Solstice's board also authorized its first-ever buyback, up to $500 million, and reaffirmed its recently raised guidance. Solstice shares jumped 15% in after-hours trading, while Element gained 4%. The deal, announced July 6 just 10 months after Solstice's Honeywell spin-off, would have combined Solstice's refrigerants and specialty materials businesses with Element's electronics chemicals operations, paying Element holders $10 cash plus 0.5 Solstice shares per share. The original announcement got a rough welcome: Solstice fell nearly 15% that day, which CEO David Sewell blamed on arbitrage trading, not doubts about the deal.
Both companies continue to perform strongly on their own. Solstice's second-quarter net sales rose 11% to $1.148 billion, and the company raised its full-year sales guidance to $4.125 billion-$4.185 billion. Element delivered an even stronger quarter, with record net sales up 56% to $978 million and full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance raised to $690 million-$710 million.
Solstice Advanced Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOLS) sheds significant deal risk by walking away. The termination removes the financing and merger risks linked to the acquisition and eliminates the need to use the $4.685 billion bridge facility. It also lets Solstice maintain its 1.3x net leverage. Its new $500 million buyback, the company's first ever, also gives Solstice a direct way to return capital to shareholders while it focuses on organic growth.
Element Solutions Inc (NYSE:ESI) also maintains the strengths that its shareholders wanted to preserve. Chairman Ian Ashken said investors valued Element's management team, culture, and existing business portfolio. CEO Benjamin Gliklich said the company's growth remains compelling. Remaining independent allows Element to continue investing in its existing businesses and pursuing its own growth strategy without taking on the risks of a larger combination.
#billion #million #Growth
2 months ago
NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is taking a long-term view of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's astonishing rise, with secretary Devajit Saikia revealing that the board is closely monitoring the 15-year-old and wants to ensure his early success translates into a long and distinguished international career.
Sooryavanshi's rapid emergence was among the matters discussed at Thursday's high-level BCCI review meeting in Mumbai, which was attended by Saikia, India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, head coach Gautam Gambhir, Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman and other senior officials.
The teenager has already gone from being an IPL sensation to becoming India's youngest men's international debutant, and the BCCI is now determined to ensure that his development is handled carefully rather than allowing the weight of expectation to derail his progress.
"We want Vaibhav Sooryavanshi or any player of his stature to continue and serve like Sachin Tendulkar did for the country or other players who in the past became legends," Saikia said.
"So we look at Vaibhav in a very serious manner. He's monitored from every angle and every step he is taking forward in his international career. The BCCI is taking a very close look at his future."
Saikia made it clear that the BCCI's objective is not simply to maximise Sooryavanshi's immediate impact but to build a career that can last for years.
"You see, the BCCI can be proud that we are promoting a player of the age of 15 years who is already making his mark in the international scenario and we are very cautious that every right step he should take forward so that it should not be a one series or one year wonder," he said.
The comparison with Tendulkar was particularly significant. Like Sooryavanshi, Tendulkar was thrust into the international spotlight as a teenager before going on to enjoy one of the longest and most successful careers in the history of the game.
The BCCI secretary stressed that Sooryavanshi's progress would be closely tracked at every stage.
"We want Vaibhav's relevance, or any player of his stature, to continue and serve as Sachin Tendulkar did for the country or other players who in the past became legends," Saikia said.
The teenager's rapid rise has given the board plenty of reason for optimism. He was India's youngest-ever men's international debutant after earning his maiden call-up following a sensational IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals.
Sooryavanshi scored 776 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 237.30, including a century and five fifties, while his 72 sixes set an IPL record for a single season. He subsequently won several awards, including the Orange Cap, Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player, Super Striker and Super Sixes honours.
He also made an immediate impact for India against Zimbabwe, scoring 151 runs in three matches as India completed a 3-0 sweep and claimed his maiden Player of th
Sooryavanshi's rapid emergence was among the matters discussed at Thursday's high-level BCCI review meeting in Mumbai, which was attended by Saikia, India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, head coach Gautam Gambhir, Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman and other senior officials.
The teenager has already gone from being an IPL sensation to becoming India's youngest men's international debutant, and the BCCI is now determined to ensure that his development is handled carefully rather than allowing the weight of expectation to derail his progress.
"We want Vaibhav Sooryavanshi or any player of his stature to continue and serve like Sachin Tendulkar did for the country or other players who in the past became legends," Saikia said.
"So we look at Vaibhav in a very serious manner. He's monitored from every angle and every step he is taking forward in his international career. The BCCI is taking a very close look at his future."
Saikia made it clear that the BCCI's objective is not simply to maximise Sooryavanshi's immediate impact but to build a career that can last for years.
"You see, the BCCI can be proud that we are promoting a player of the age of 15 years who is already making his mark in the international scenario and we are very cautious that every right step he should take forward so that it should not be a one series or one year wonder," he said.
The comparison with Tendulkar was particularly significant. Like Sooryavanshi, Tendulkar was thrust into the international spotlight as a teenager before going on to enjoy one of the longest and most successful careers in the history of the game.
The BCCI secretary stressed that Sooryavanshi's progress would be closely tracked at every stage.
"We want Vaibhav's relevance, or any player of his stature, to continue and serve as Sachin Tendulkar did for the country or other players who in the past became legends," Saikia said.
The teenager's rapid rise has given the board plenty of reason for optimism. He was India's youngest-ever men's international debutant after earning his maiden call-up following a sensational IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals.
Sooryavanshi scored 776 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 237.30, including a century and five fifties, while his 72 sixes set an IPL record for a single season. He subsequently won several awards, including the Orange Cap, Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player, Super Striker and Super Sixes honours.
He also made an immediate impact for India against Zimbabwe, scoring 151 runs in three matches as India completed a 3-0 sweep and claimed his maiden Player of th
2 months ago
NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has drawn up a roadmap to address India's recent overseas setbacks, mounting player injuries and preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with secretary Devajit Saikia revealing details of Thursday's high-level review meeting in Mumbai.
The meeting, attended by head coach Gautam Gambhir, Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, T20I captain Shreyas Iyer and Centre of Excellence director VVS Laxman, reviewed India's recent tours of Ireland and England as well as the team's preparations for the next phase of the international calendar.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar was absent, but Saikia said there was no controversy behind his non-participation and insisted no discussion took place about his future.
Saikia strongly rejected suggestions of a communication gap between the team management and the Centre of Excellence, particularly after several high-profile injury setbacks.
"Everybody is on the same page. BCCI is working in a very well like a well oiled engine," Saikia told reporters.
"There is proper coordination amongst all the wings of BCCI, whether it is women's teams committees or their technical staff or their coaches, vis-a-vis the COE, vis-a-vis the Indian men's team's coaching staff and the head coach. There is no difficulty in the coordination, everything is moving in the right direction."
However, he admitted that the frequency of injuries remains a major concern and said the board intends to address it through changes to the next Future Tours Programme (FTP).
"The only challenge which we are facing is that there are too many matches in the year and that is why in the next FTP we will do certain things, we will take certain measures."
The proposed changes will particularly affect preparation for tours to SENA countries — South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia.
"We have instructed our FTP persons who will be meeting very soon in various international forums that our FTP should be in such a way it should be scheduled that there is proper rest for the players as well as some kind of acclimatisation or some kind of friendly matches before any major series in SENA countries," Saikia said.
The comments come after India suffered a difficult run in overseas white-ball cricket, losing 0-2 to Ireland in the T20Is before a 1-4 defeat to England in the five-match series. India also lost the ODI series in England 1-2.
Saikia acknowledged India's shortcomings and said the review meeting focused on understanding why the team had struggled.
"We discussed (about) our team performed in England and Ireland and also about what we are going to do about the next one year. The road map has been prepared and we will be doing some exercises so that we have a very good performance in 2027 (ODI) World Cup," he said.
"Yes, we did not do well. We lost matches in Ireland and England, so we wanted to know what the reasons were. We have to do certain soul searching about that
The meeting, attended by head coach Gautam Gambhir, Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, T20I captain Shreyas Iyer and Centre of Excellence director VVS Laxman, reviewed India's recent tours of Ireland and England as well as the team's preparations for the next phase of the international calendar.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar was absent, but Saikia said there was no controversy behind his non-participation and insisted no discussion took place about his future.
Saikia strongly rejected suggestions of a communication gap between the team management and the Centre of Excellence, particularly after several high-profile injury setbacks.
"Everybody is on the same page. BCCI is working in a very well like a well oiled engine," Saikia told reporters.
"There is proper coordination amongst all the wings of BCCI, whether it is women's teams committees or their technical staff or their coaches, vis-a-vis the COE, vis-a-vis the Indian men's team's coaching staff and the head coach. There is no difficulty in the coordination, everything is moving in the right direction."
However, he admitted that the frequency of injuries remains a major concern and said the board intends to address it through changes to the next Future Tours Programme (FTP).
"The only challenge which we are facing is that there are too many matches in the year and that is why in the next FTP we will do certain things, we will take certain measures."
The proposed changes will particularly affect preparation for tours to SENA countries — South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia.
"We have instructed our FTP persons who will be meeting very soon in various international forums that our FTP should be in such a way it should be scheduled that there is proper rest for the players as well as some kind of acclimatisation or some kind of friendly matches before any major series in SENA countries," Saikia said.
The comments come after India suffered a difficult run in overseas white-ball cricket, losing 0-2 to Ireland in the T20Is before a 1-4 defeat to England in the five-match series. India also lost the ODI series in England 1-2.
Saikia acknowledged India's shortcomings and said the review meeting focused on understanding why the team had struggled.
"We discussed (about) our team performed in England and Ireland and also about what we are going to do about the next one year. The road map has been prepared and we will be doing some exercises so that we have a very good performance in 2027 (ODI) World Cup," he said.
"Yes, we did not do well. We lost matches in Ireland and England, so we wanted to know what the reasons were. We have to do certain soul searching about that
2 months ago
NEW DELHI: BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has pushed back against growing speculation over Rohit Sharma's ODI future, insisting that the former India captain is continuing to perform at a high level and questioning why his place in the side is being debated.
Speaking after a high-level Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) review meeting in Mumbai on Thursday, Saikia offered a firm defence of the 39-year-old, whose future has again become a major talking point with the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching.
"He is playing superbly in all the matches. So, what more do you want? In the last match, he scored 138 runs. So, why there is a speculation? So, I don't want to give fodder to the speculations," Saikia said.
His comments came amid reports that selectors had considered moving on from Rohit in their ODI plans, potentially leaving his participation in the 2027 World Cup in doubt.
The speculation intensified during India's ODI tour of England earlier this year, with reports suggesting the Lord's ODI could be Rohit's final appearance in an India shirt.
Instead, Rohit responded in characteristic fashion — with a match-defining performance.
He smashed 138 at Lord's, becoming the oldest Indian to score an ODI century at the iconic venue, although his effort came in a losing cause. The innings once again demonstrated why questions over his future have been accompanied by equally strong arguments for his retention.
Following the England tour, Rohit made it clear that the constant speculation did not concern him.
"If there's no noise, there's no fun. My job is inside; their job is outside. That's how I look at it," he had said. "The noise since I made my debut was there. And till the time I'm going to stay here, it's always going to be there. It doesn't really matter too much. What matters is what I do on the field. I want to try and contribute to the success of the team. That's all my focus is."
Rohit retired from Test cricket in 2025 and from T20Is in 2024, leaving ODI cricket as his only remaining international format.
The latest comments from Saikia came after a meeting attended by head coach Gautam Gambhir, ODI captain Shubman Gill, T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, BCCI president Mithun Manhas and Saikia.
The secretary had already backed Rohit before the Lord's match, saying on July 17: "Rohit is a regular member of the Indian ODI team, and he will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things. In other words, the Lord's ODI won't be his last match."
Rohit's age remains an unavoidable part of the discussion. He will turn 40 in 2027, the year of the next ODI World Cup, and India will inevitably have to consider succession planning.
#speculation
Speaking after a high-level Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) review meeting in Mumbai on Thursday, Saikia offered a firm defence of the 39-year-old, whose future has again become a major talking point with the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching.
"He is playing superbly in all the matches. So, what more do you want? In the last match, he scored 138 runs. So, why there is a speculation? So, I don't want to give fodder to the speculations," Saikia said.
His comments came amid reports that selectors had considered moving on from Rohit in their ODI plans, potentially leaving his participation in the 2027 World Cup in doubt.
The speculation intensified during India's ODI tour of England earlier this year, with reports suggesting the Lord's ODI could be Rohit's final appearance in an India shirt.
Instead, Rohit responded in characteristic fashion — with a match-defining performance.
He smashed 138 at Lord's, becoming the oldest Indian to score an ODI century at the iconic venue, although his effort came in a losing cause. The innings once again demonstrated why questions over his future have been accompanied by equally strong arguments for his retention.
Following the England tour, Rohit made it clear that the constant speculation did not concern him.
"If there's no noise, there's no fun. My job is inside; their job is outside. That's how I look at it," he had said. "The noise since I made my debut was there. And till the time I'm going to stay here, it's always going to be there. It doesn't really matter too much. What matters is what I do on the field. I want to try and contribute to the success of the team. That's all my focus is."
Rohit retired from Test cricket in 2025 and from T20Is in 2024, leaving ODI cricket as his only remaining international format.
The latest comments from Saikia came after a meeting attended by head coach Gautam Gambhir, ODI captain Shubman Gill, T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, BCCI president Mithun Manhas and Saikia.
The secretary had already backed Rohit before the Lord's match, saying on July 17: "Rohit is a regular member of the Indian ODI team, and he will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things. In other words, the Lord's ODI won't be his last match."
Rohit's age remains an unavoidable part of the discussion. He will turn 40 in 2027, the year of the next ODI World Cup, and India will inevitably have to consider succession planning.
#speculation
2 months ago
Former India batter and Director of Cricket at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence, VVS Laxman, is set to travel with the Indian men's team to ******* an and will take charge as head coach in the absence of Gautam Gambhir for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya later this month.
Gautam Gambhir will remain with the senior side for India's home ODI series against the West Indies. The first ODI is scheduled to be played on September 27.
Laxman will be ******* isted by former India spinner Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh, according to the list of coaches released by the Sports Ministry. The development was earlier reported by TimesofIndia.com in July.
Laxman has previous Asian Games experience, having coached the Indian men's team at the 2023 edition in Hangzhou, China, where India won the gold medal.
The cricket competition at the Asian Games will begin on September 24, with India scheduled to play its opening men's match on September 28. India will defend its men's T20 ******* le under captain Shreyas Iyer, with teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also part of the squad. The men's team will face the second-placed side from Group A, which comprises Afghanistan, ******* an and Nepal.
The Indian women's team will also enter the tournament as defending champions and will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur. The women's side will enter the competition at the quarterfinal stage and face hosts ******* an. Amol Muzumdar will continue as the head coach of the women's team, with bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi and fielding coach Munish Bali completing his support staff.
Indian men's team: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish ******* ar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit ******* rah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Indian women's team: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Gunalan Kamalini, Bharti Fulmali, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Nandani Sharma.
#coach
Gautam Gambhir will remain with the senior side for India's home ODI series against the West Indies. The first ODI is scheduled to be played on September 27.
Laxman will be ******* isted by former India spinner Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh, according to the list of coaches released by the Sports Ministry. The development was earlier reported by TimesofIndia.com in July.
Laxman has previous Asian Games experience, having coached the Indian men's team at the 2023 edition in Hangzhou, China, where India won the gold medal.
The cricket competition at the Asian Games will begin on September 24, with India scheduled to play its opening men's match on September 28. India will defend its men's T20 ******* le under captain Shreyas Iyer, with teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also part of the squad. The men's team will face the second-placed side from Group A, which comprises Afghanistan, ******* an and Nepal.
The Indian women's team will also enter the tournament as defending champions and will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur. The women's side will enter the competition at the quarterfinal stage and face hosts ******* an. Amol Muzumdar will continue as the head coach of the women's team, with bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi and fielding coach Munish Bali completing his support staff.
Indian men's team: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish ******* ar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit ******* rah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Indian women's team: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Gunalan Kamalini, Bharti Fulmali, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Nandani Sharma.
#coach
2 months ago
Gautam Gambhir or VVS Laxman: Who will be head coach of India T20I team in Asian Games 2026? originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
VVS Laxman will lead India's men's cricket team at the Asian Games 2026 while Gautam Gambhir stays back for the West Indies ODIs.
Laxman previously coached India to a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, showing a proven track record.
Amol Muzumdar continues with the women's team, as both defending champions aim to retain their Asian Games T20 ***** les this year.
VVS Laxman, and not Gautam Gambhir, will be the man calling the shots for India's men's cricket team at the Asian Games 2026, set to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, ***** an, later this month.
#laxman #Cricket #Gambhir
VVS Laxman will lead India's men's cricket team at the Asian Games 2026 while Gautam Gambhir stays back for the West Indies ODIs.
Laxman previously coached India to a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, showing a proven track record.
Amol Muzumdar continues with the women's team, as both defending champions aim to retain their Asian Games T20 ***** les this year.
VVS Laxman, and not Gautam Gambhir, will be the man calling the shots for India's men's cricket team at the Asian Games 2026, set to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, ***** an, later this month.
#laxman #Cricket #Gambhir
2 months ago
Mumbai/New Delhi: The future of Rohit Sharma and the shape of India's ODI team for the next World Cup cycle are set to dominate discussions when the BCCI's top brass meets in Mumbai on Thursday for a wide-ranging performance review.
While recent defeats in Ireland, England and Sri Lanka will be ***** sed, board officials are understood to be more concerned about the lack of a clearly defined ODI roadmap at a time when preparations for the 2027 World Cup should be taking shape.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, president Mithun Manhas, head coach Gautam Gambhir, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and Centre of Excellence chief VVS Laxman will attend the meeting, with ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill and T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer also expected to be present.
At the centre of the discussions lies the most sensitive issue facing Indian cricket: Rohit's future. Though there is immense respect for the veteran opener's stature and achievements, selectors and members of the team management are increasingly aware of the need to prepare for a post-Rohit era.
According to sources, one option under consideration is to evaluate Rohit's role on a series-by-series basis rather than committing to a long-term plan through the entire World Cup cycle.
"It's very tough on a young captain like Shubman Gill when there is no clear direction. The dressing-room environment in the ODI team hasn't been the best, especially when it comes to dealing with stalwarts," a BCCI source said.
The uncertainty around Rohit reflects a broader concern. Of India's three national teams, the ODI side is regarded as the least settled. Injuries and workload management have prevented selectors from identifying a stable core, leaving several key positions unresolved.
The fast-bowling allrounder's role remains a particular headache. Hardik Pandya continues on a managed workload programme after recurring fitness issues, while Nitish ***** ar Reddy is yet to receive full clearance following rehabilitation.
"Hardik, at the moment, has been cleared to bowl six overs in a day. Reddy is still to clear his fitness tests. The ODI team doesn't have even half of the core ODI team ready. It has to be a joint effort between the CoE and the team management to zero in on players and formulate a roadmap to get them all on the park as soon as possible," the source said.
The review was initially planned after the Ireland and England tours but was postponed because of the subsequent Sri Lanka ***** ignment. It will now cover India's performances across multiple tours, including Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
India's 2-0 T20I series defeat in Ireland and the 4-0 drubbing in England raised alarm bells, with the 125-run loss at Nottingham viewed internally as one of the team's poorest performances in recent years. Gill's ODI side also lost the England series 2-1.
However, officials insist the exercise will focus on solutions rather than ***** igning blame, with particular emphasis on recurri
While recent defeats in Ireland, England and Sri Lanka will be ***** sed, board officials are understood to be more concerned about the lack of a clearly defined ODI roadmap at a time when preparations for the 2027 World Cup should be taking shape.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, president Mithun Manhas, head coach Gautam Gambhir, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and Centre of Excellence chief VVS Laxman will attend the meeting, with ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill and T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer also expected to be present.
At the centre of the discussions lies the most sensitive issue facing Indian cricket: Rohit's future. Though there is immense respect for the veteran opener's stature and achievements, selectors and members of the team management are increasingly aware of the need to prepare for a post-Rohit era.
According to sources, one option under consideration is to evaluate Rohit's role on a series-by-series basis rather than committing to a long-term plan through the entire World Cup cycle.
"It's very tough on a young captain like Shubman Gill when there is no clear direction. The dressing-room environment in the ODI team hasn't been the best, especially when it comes to dealing with stalwarts," a BCCI source said.
The uncertainty around Rohit reflects a broader concern. Of India's three national teams, the ODI side is regarded as the least settled. Injuries and workload management have prevented selectors from identifying a stable core, leaving several key positions unresolved.
The fast-bowling allrounder's role remains a particular headache. Hardik Pandya continues on a managed workload programme after recurring fitness issues, while Nitish ***** ar Reddy is yet to receive full clearance following rehabilitation.
"Hardik, at the moment, has been cleared to bowl six overs in a day. Reddy is still to clear his fitness tests. The ODI team doesn't have even half of the core ODI team ready. It has to be a joint effort between the CoE and the team management to zero in on players and formulate a roadmap to get them all on the park as soon as possible," the source said.
The review was initially planned after the Ireland and England tours but was postponed because of the subsequent Sri Lanka ***** ignment. It will now cover India's performances across multiple tours, including Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
India's 2-0 T20I series defeat in Ireland and the 4-0 drubbing in England raised alarm bells, with the 125-run loss at Nottingham viewed internally as one of the team's poorest performances in recent years. Gill's ODI side also lost the England series 2-1.
However, officials insist the exercise will focus on solutions rather than ***** igning blame, with particular emphasis on recurri
2 months ago
Few among us know NBA basketball like the players who make up that league. And while that may not come as much of a surprise to most fans of the sport, the fact that recency bias can warp the perception of historical greatness ought to not come as much of a shock either given not all of us (NBA stars or otherwise) are scholars of league history.
So when new Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball paid former Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown near the top of the mountain when it comes to all-time great Celtics on a recent episode of the semi-eponymous "Ball in the Family" podcast, one can hardly blame him, especially considering he was not all that far from the truth. "I have got to see all the accolades," said Ball (h/t to Yahoo Sports' Gautam Varier) with an understandable caveat, "but if you line up Boston's best players ever, he's in my top five."
Now if you were to say top at his position, that would be a more reasonable argument given the existence of players like Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Jo Jo White, Dave Cowens, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett. There are reasonable arguments to rank him three or maybe even four of those names, but after that it gets tough given all these Hall of Fame players accomplished in Boston. Ball seemed to acknowledge this dynamic, shifting the frame to a more positional one.
"Only two wings is better than him is Paul Pierce and Larry Bird," said the Minnesota guard. Hondo and White would like a word, but to be fair neither looms as large in the lore of the wider league as they ought to. Perhaps most interestingly, Ball also thinks Boston dealt their best player to the Philadelphia 76ers.
"I think Brown's a little better," said Ball. "He's low-key frying Bird ... I don't want to be disrespectful… Bird is baking him too, but he's baking Bird. Bird is baking him, too, but he is also getting to it ... Jaylen Brown has a better chance of guarding him than he has of guarding Jaylen Brown."
#bird #jaylen #league
So when new Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball paid former Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown near the top of the mountain when it comes to all-time great Celtics on a recent episode of the semi-eponymous "Ball in the Family" podcast, one can hardly blame him, especially considering he was not all that far from the truth. "I have got to see all the accolades," said Ball (h/t to Yahoo Sports' Gautam Varier) with an understandable caveat, "but if you line up Boston's best players ever, he's in my top five."
Now if you were to say top at his position, that would be a more reasonable argument given the existence of players like Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Jo Jo White, Dave Cowens, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett. There are reasonable arguments to rank him three or maybe even four of those names, but after that it gets tough given all these Hall of Fame players accomplished in Boston. Ball seemed to acknowledge this dynamic, shifting the frame to a more positional one.
"Only two wings is better than him is Paul Pierce and Larry Bird," said the Minnesota guard. Hondo and White would like a word, but to be fair neither looms as large in the lore of the wider league as they ought to. Perhaps most interestingly, Ball also thinks Boston dealt their best player to the Philadelphia 76ers.
"I think Brown's a little better," said Ball. "He's low-key frying Bird ... I don't want to be disrespectful… Bird is baking him too, but he's baking Bird. Bird is baking him, too, but he is also getting to it ... Jaylen Brown has a better chance of guarding him than he has of guarding Jaylen Brown."
#bird #jaylen #league
2 months ago
Bernstein expects Bitcoin (COIN:BTCUSD) to reach $300,000 by the end of 2029, with ***** yst Gautam Chhugani identifying the cryptocurrency as a major potential beneficiary of what he describes as the debasement trade.
The forecast ***** umes Bitcoin continues to broadly follow its historical four-year market cycle, with Bernstein also expecting the cryptocurrency to recover to a new record high of $150,000 by the middle of 2027.
"Following our price-to-marginal cost framework, we would expect the next market peak to be $300K by CY2029E and the market recovering to new all-time high of $150,000 by mid-2027E," Chhugani wrote in a note to clients.
Bernstein's longer-term Bitcoin outlook is partly based on its view that the four-decade period of declining interest rates has come to an end.
Governments are consequently facing higher debt-servicing costs at a time when sovereign debt levels have reached unprecedented levels, creating additional pressure on public finances.
#debt #levels
The forecast ***** umes Bitcoin continues to broadly follow its historical four-year market cycle, with Bernstein also expecting the cryptocurrency to recover to a new record high of $150,000 by the middle of 2027.
"Following our price-to-marginal cost framework, we would expect the next market peak to be $300K by CY2029E and the market recovering to new all-time high of $150,000 by mid-2027E," Chhugani wrote in a note to clients.
Bernstein's longer-term Bitcoin outlook is partly based on its view that the four-decade period of declining interest rates has come to an end.
Governments are consequently facing higher debt-servicing costs at a time when sovereign debt levels have reached unprecedented levels, creating additional pressure on public finances.
#debt #levels
2 months ago
New Delhi: India's team management and selectors are working on backups for the middle order ahead of the ODI World Cup next year. TOI has learnt that Tilak Varma's name has come up as a potential backup option for Shreyas Iyer in the top six of the batting lineup.
Tilak, being a left-handed batter, is seen as someone who can break the monotony of right-handers in the batting lineup. Tilak has been asked to work on his bowling since it is believed that his off-breaks have a lot of potential. The team management, in fact, has flagged the dearth of bowling options in the top order, citing it as a reason for extra pressure on the lower order and the bowlers.
The planning for the ODI World Cup will only begin in earnest when India reach New Zealand in October, since most of the first-choice players will not be available for the ODI series against West Indies at home from September 27. A full-strength T20 team is also scheduled to travel to ****** an for the Asian Games at the same time.
"Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill feel there isn't any backup ready for the middle order. With Hardik Pandya and Nitish ****** ar Reddy being ****** e to injuries, they want someone in the top order who can at least chip in with four overs in an ODI," a BCCI source said.
Over the last year, the team management has been compelled to play either Washington Sundar or Axar Patel at No. 5 or No. 6 to balance the playing XI. In the last series in England, Ishan Kishan was sent in ahead of vice-captain Iyer.
"The team has to be prepared for conditions in South Africa in the World Cup. Iyer got injured in Australia and his game against pace and bounce is untested of late. The team already has two ageing players in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. They are having niggles as well. KL Rahul too will be over 35 by the time the World Cup comes around. Ravindra Jadeja isn't a certainty either. The fielding of the team has suffered due to fitness issues. The team management feels that they need younger backups ready," the source said.
The selectors, it is learnt, are not comfortable with playing batters out of position. Last year, Ruturaj Gaikwad was played at No. 4 and scored a hundred against South Africa in Raipur. But he has not been picked in the ODI team since.
"Gaikwad was picked as backup opener since Gill was injured. The team management feels Tilak could have been tried in that place. That's why they don't want to rush Devdutt Padikkal in the ODI setup because he found his calling in white-ball cricket while opening the batting," the source said.
The team for the West Indies series, however, will be an anomaly since Iyer, Tilak, Ishan and Axar will not be available. The selectors are more focused on picking another wicketkeeper for the series.
The selection committee is due to meet by September 3 to pick the team for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi from September 13.
Sources said that the selectors are l
Tilak, being a left-handed batter, is seen as someone who can break the monotony of right-handers in the batting lineup. Tilak has been asked to work on his bowling since it is believed that his off-breaks have a lot of potential. The team management, in fact, has flagged the dearth of bowling options in the top order, citing it as a reason for extra pressure on the lower order and the bowlers.
The planning for the ODI World Cup will only begin in earnest when India reach New Zealand in October, since most of the first-choice players will not be available for the ODI series against West Indies at home from September 27. A full-strength T20 team is also scheduled to travel to ****** an for the Asian Games at the same time.
"Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill feel there isn't any backup ready for the middle order. With Hardik Pandya and Nitish ****** ar Reddy being ****** e to injuries, they want someone in the top order who can at least chip in with four overs in an ODI," a BCCI source said.
Over the last year, the team management has been compelled to play either Washington Sundar or Axar Patel at No. 5 or No. 6 to balance the playing XI. In the last series in England, Ishan Kishan was sent in ahead of vice-captain Iyer.
"The team has to be prepared for conditions in South Africa in the World Cup. Iyer got injured in Australia and his game against pace and bounce is untested of late. The team already has two ageing players in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. They are having niggles as well. KL Rahul too will be over 35 by the time the World Cup comes around. Ravindra Jadeja isn't a certainty either. The fielding of the team has suffered due to fitness issues. The team management feels that they need younger backups ready," the source said.
The selectors, it is learnt, are not comfortable with playing batters out of position. Last year, Ruturaj Gaikwad was played at No. 4 and scored a hundred against South Africa in Raipur. But he has not been picked in the ODI team since.
"Gaikwad was picked as backup opener since Gill was injured. The team management feels Tilak could have been tried in that place. That's why they don't want to rush Devdutt Padikkal in the ODI setup because he found his calling in white-ball cricket while opening the batting," the source said.
The team for the West Indies series, however, will be an anomaly since Iyer, Tilak, Ishan and Axar will not be available. The selectors are more focused on picking another wicketkeeper for the series.
The selection committee is due to meet by September 3 to pick the team for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi from September 13.
Sources said that the selectors are l
2 months ago
India head coach Gautam Gambhir praised his team for displaying the character and mental strength required in Test cricket after Shubman Gill's side secured a 1-0 series victory over Sri Lanka. India had a chance to complete a 2-0 sweep after winning the series opener in Galle, but Sri Lanka mounted a spirited fightback in Colombo to force a draw despite being asked to follow on.
Following the conclusion of the series, Gambhir took to social media to acknowledge India's performance while also highlighting the impact of Sri Lanka batter Sonal Dinusha.
"Test cricket needs character, patience and mental toughness that's shown by our boys! Special shoutout to Sonal Dinusha for his exceptional performance," Gambhir wrote on X.
Dinusha was the central figure in Sri Lanka's resistance. He scored centuries in both innings of the Colombo Test, including an unbeaten 133 in the second innings, frustrating India's efforts to wrap up the match.
India made a dominant start after choosing to bat first in Colombo. Devdutt Padikkal led the charge with a superb 117, while Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten on 115. Rishabh Pant added 63 and captain Gill contributed 50 as India amassed 503/9 before declaring. Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka's most successful bowler, finishing with four wickets.
Sri Lanka were dismissed for 290 in their first innings, but Dinusha once again stood out with a composed 103. Pasindu Sooriyabandara also played an important role, scoring 80, while India's Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar claimed three wickets each. Asked to follow on, Sri Lanka were in serious trouble at 218/6 and India appeared to be closing in on another victory. Dinusha, however, refused to give India an opening.
Dinusha joined forces with Keshara Nuwantha to produce a crucial 112-run partnership. Nuwantha's 46 came from 150 deliveries as the pair absorbed pressure and consumed valuable overs. Sri Lanka's lower order then provided further support, allowing Dinusha to remain at the crease until the close.
He finished unbeaten on 133 from 264 ****** , with eight fours and two sixes, as Sri Lanka reached 429/9 to secure the draw. The result ended India's hopes of a clean sweep but secured them a 1-0 series victory.
India had established their series advantage in the opening Test at Galle, where they secured a 165-run victory. Manav Suthar was the star of the contest, claiming his maiden 10-wicket haul in Test cricket, while Padikkal played a pivotal role with a 167 in India's first innings.
#dinusha #lanka #victory
Following the conclusion of the series, Gambhir took to social media to acknowledge India's performance while also highlighting the impact of Sri Lanka batter Sonal Dinusha.
"Test cricket needs character, patience and mental toughness that's shown by our boys! Special shoutout to Sonal Dinusha for his exceptional performance," Gambhir wrote on X.
Dinusha was the central figure in Sri Lanka's resistance. He scored centuries in both innings of the Colombo Test, including an unbeaten 133 in the second innings, frustrating India's efforts to wrap up the match.
India made a dominant start after choosing to bat first in Colombo. Devdutt Padikkal led the charge with a superb 117, while Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten on 115. Rishabh Pant added 63 and captain Gill contributed 50 as India amassed 503/9 before declaring. Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka's most successful bowler, finishing with four wickets.
Sri Lanka were dismissed for 290 in their first innings, but Dinusha once again stood out with a composed 103. Pasindu Sooriyabandara also played an important role, scoring 80, while India's Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar claimed three wickets each. Asked to follow on, Sri Lanka were in serious trouble at 218/6 and India appeared to be closing in on another victory. Dinusha, however, refused to give India an opening.
Dinusha joined forces with Keshara Nuwantha to produce a crucial 112-run partnership. Nuwantha's 46 came from 150 deliveries as the pair absorbed pressure and consumed valuable overs. Sri Lanka's lower order then provided further support, allowing Dinusha to remain at the crease until the close.
He finished unbeaten on 133 from 264 ****** , with eight fours and two sixes, as Sri Lanka reached 429/9 to secure the draw. The result ended India's hopes of a clean sweep but secured them a 1-0 series victory.
India had established their series advantage in the opening Test at Galle, where they secured a 165-run victory. Manav Suthar was the star of the contest, claiming his maiden 10-wicket haul in Test cricket, while Padikkal played a pivotal role with a 167 in India's first innings.
#dinusha #lanka #victory
2 months ago
Surrey groundsman Lee Fortis, who made headlines last year after a heated confrontation with India head coach Gautam Gambhir at The Oval, has been placed on leave following a separate altercation with an ECB employee.
Fortis was involved in a heated exchange with the employee while preparations were under way for a Hundred fixture. The ECB employee was reportedly left in tears following the incident.
The episode took place at The Oval on July 28, a day before MI London faced London Spirit at the venue, with both teams training at the ground.
Soon afterwards, Surrey chief executive Steve Elworthy was seen having a firm discussion with Fortis on the field. The groundsman subsequently left the playing area and has not returned to The Oval since.
It remains unclear whether Fortis will return, with some sources in the English game reportedly believing that he may not resume his role.
Fortis is a well-known figure around The Oval and attracted significant attention last year after an argument with Gambhir during India's Test against England.
The disagreement centred on the condition of the square, with Gambhir telling Fortis: "You're just a groundsman, nothing beyond that."
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak subsequently described Fortis as "arrogant".
Fortis has served as The Oval's head groundsman since 2012, taking up the role at the age of 30. He has since established himself as one of the leading groundsmen in English cricket, winning the ECB's Grounds Manager of the Year award three consecutive times from 2022 to 2024.
During that period, Surrey also won three successive County Championship **** les.
The latest incident has now left one of English cricket's most recognisable groundsmen, who stands around 6ft 10in tall, away from The Oval while the circumstances surrounding his absence remain unclear.
#oval #year
Fortis was involved in a heated exchange with the employee while preparations were under way for a Hundred fixture. The ECB employee was reportedly left in tears following the incident.
The episode took place at The Oval on July 28, a day before MI London faced London Spirit at the venue, with both teams training at the ground.
Soon afterwards, Surrey chief executive Steve Elworthy was seen having a firm discussion with Fortis on the field. The groundsman subsequently left the playing area and has not returned to The Oval since.
It remains unclear whether Fortis will return, with some sources in the English game reportedly believing that he may not resume his role.
Fortis is a well-known figure around The Oval and attracted significant attention last year after an argument with Gambhir during India's Test against England.
The disagreement centred on the condition of the square, with Gambhir telling Fortis: "You're just a groundsman, nothing beyond that."
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak subsequently described Fortis as "arrogant".
Fortis has served as The Oval's head groundsman since 2012, taking up the role at the age of 30. He has since established himself as one of the leading groundsmen in English cricket, winning the ECB's Grounds Manager of the Year award three consecutive times from 2022 to 2024.
During that period, Surrey also won three successive County Championship **** les.
The latest incident has now left one of English cricket's most recognisable groundsmen, who stands around 6ft 10in tall, away from The Oval while the circumstances surrounding his absence remain unclear.
#oval #year
2 months ago
Bernstein ****** yst Gautam Chhugani has issued a bullish call on Bitcoin (BTC) amid institutional demand for the cryptocurrency and currency debasement.
Chhugani said he expects Bitcoin's price to reach approximately $125,000 by the end of 2026 under both base and bull cases.
Related: Coinbase CEO weighs leaving California over wealth tax
In a base case, he expects Bitcoin to hit a new all-time high (ATH) of $150,000 by mid-2027 and then reach around $300,000 in 2029.
The ****** yst thinks Bitcoin will continue its historical four-year cycle, but soaring national debt ($40 trillion currently) and dollar debasement could even spark a Bitcoin rally to $200,000 by mid-2027 and $500,000 in 2029 in a bull case.
#chhugani #expects #reach
Chhugani said he expects Bitcoin's price to reach approximately $125,000 by the end of 2026 under both base and bull cases.
Related: Coinbase CEO weighs leaving California over wealth tax
In a base case, he expects Bitcoin to hit a new all-time high (ATH) of $150,000 by mid-2027 and then reach around $300,000 in 2029.
The ****** yst thinks Bitcoin will continue its historical four-year cycle, but soaring national debt ($40 trillion currently) and dollar debasement could even spark a Bitcoin rally to $200,000 by mid-2027 and $500,000 in 2029 in a bull case.
#chhugani #expects #reach
2 months ago
India have won seven of the nine Women's Asia Cup editions played so far, across ODI and T20I formats, making them the most successful team in the history of the tournament.
Given the historic dominance of the Indian team in the tournament, former India cricketer and ex-women's team coach WV Raman believes anything less than a **** le in the upcoming 2026 Women's Asia Cup would be a "major disappointment" for Harmanpreet Kaur's team.
"Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be tough competition for India, and let's not also discount Thailand, because they've shown a lot of enthusiasm, they've shown they've got some real good talent there, and you cannot take them lightly, too. As far as the Indian team is concerned, I think anything less than a victory will be seen as a major disappointment," Raman said in an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com, organised by Sony Sports Network.
India lost the 2024 Women's Asia Cup final to Chamari Athapaththu's Sri Lanka by eight wickets in Dambulla, and Raman said "India can regain the Asia Cup" in Dubai.
However, the road ahead is not as smooth for India as it seems. India have been missing two of their pace-bowling all-rounders, Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee Gautam, for over five months, and just before the Asia Cup they faced another setback as Jemimah Rodrigues was also ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury.
Pratika Rawal has received her maiden India T20I call-up as Jemimah was ruled out of the tournament, and is expected to walk straight into the playing XI when India face Thailand on Sunday. However, the bigger question is where the right-handed batter fits into India's batting order.
"Pratika Rawal has done extremely well in Test cricket. She's done well in ODIs, but in T20s, we haven't seen much of her so far. And also the other thing that they need to work out is her slot in the batting order. So where does she bat is something they've got to try and work out," former women's team coach Raman said.
Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana will most likely not be separated as an opening pair, and Bharti Fulmali and Richa Ghosh could play the role of lower-order enforcers. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur bats at four when Jemimah plays at three in T20Is; however, Raman argued that Kaur should instead bat at three in the Asia Cup.
"I doubt if they will have Pratika Rawal at number three. I would rather imagine that Harmanpreet Kaur herself might bat at number three because she needs to spend a lot of time there at the crease, have more overs at her disposal to try and pace the innings," WV Raman said in an interview with TimesofIndia.com, adding, "Will India play Pratika at number four is something that will be a big question. As I see it, they need to obviously find ways and methods to use the 20 overs allotted to them in the most productive manner possible. So it's up to them to try and see."
Fulmali ended her seven-year exile from international cricket earlier this year when she was picked
Given the historic dominance of the Indian team in the tournament, former India cricketer and ex-women's team coach WV Raman believes anything less than a **** le in the upcoming 2026 Women's Asia Cup would be a "major disappointment" for Harmanpreet Kaur's team.
"Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be tough competition for India, and let's not also discount Thailand, because they've shown a lot of enthusiasm, they've shown they've got some real good talent there, and you cannot take them lightly, too. As far as the Indian team is concerned, I think anything less than a victory will be seen as a major disappointment," Raman said in an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com, organised by Sony Sports Network.
India lost the 2024 Women's Asia Cup final to Chamari Athapaththu's Sri Lanka by eight wickets in Dambulla, and Raman said "India can regain the Asia Cup" in Dubai.
However, the road ahead is not as smooth for India as it seems. India have been missing two of their pace-bowling all-rounders, Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee Gautam, for over five months, and just before the Asia Cup they faced another setback as Jemimah Rodrigues was also ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury.
Pratika Rawal has received her maiden India T20I call-up as Jemimah was ruled out of the tournament, and is expected to walk straight into the playing XI when India face Thailand on Sunday. However, the bigger question is where the right-handed batter fits into India's batting order.
"Pratika Rawal has done extremely well in Test cricket. She's done well in ODIs, but in T20s, we haven't seen much of her so far. And also the other thing that they need to work out is her slot in the batting order. So where does she bat is something they've got to try and work out," former women's team coach Raman said.
Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana will most likely not be separated as an opening pair, and Bharti Fulmali and Richa Ghosh could play the role of lower-order enforcers. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur bats at four when Jemimah plays at three in T20Is; however, Raman argued that Kaur should instead bat at three in the Asia Cup.
"I doubt if they will have Pratika Rawal at number three. I would rather imagine that Harmanpreet Kaur herself might bat at number three because she needs to spend a lot of time there at the crease, have more overs at her disposal to try and pace the innings," WV Raman said in an interview with TimesofIndia.com, adding, "Will India play Pratika at number four is something that will be a big question. As I see it, they need to obviously find ways and methods to use the 20 overs allotted to them in the most productive manner possible. So it's up to them to try and see."
Fulmali ended her seven-year exile from international cricket earlier this year when she was picked
2 months ago
Surrey groundsman Lee Fortis who tiffed with Gautam Gambhir in 2025 put on leave after row with ECB employee originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Surrey's head groundsman Lee Fortis has been placed on leave following a heated argument with an ECB employee.
The incident took place during Hundred preparations at the Oval, involving Fortis and a member of the ground staff.
Fortis previously drew attention for clashing with India coach Gautam Gambhir over pitch conditions in 2025.
Surrey's head groundsman Lee Fortis has reportedly been sidelined from his role at the Oval after a heated confrontation with an ECB staff member.
#fortis #employee #head #heated
Surrey's head groundsman Lee Fortis has been placed on leave following a heated argument with an ECB employee.
The incident took place during Hundred preparations at the Oval, involving Fortis and a member of the ground staff.
Fortis previously drew attention for clashing with India coach Gautam Gambhir over pitch conditions in 2025.
Surrey's head groundsman Lee Fortis has reportedly been sidelined from his role at the Oval after a heated confrontation with an ECB staff member.
#fortis #employee #head #heated
2 months ago
TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: In his first press conference of the tour, Shubman Gill termed qualifying for the World Test Championship as the "ultimate goal," a sentiment he maintained while preparing to leave the country. In between his two media interactions, the Indian captain saw his team register a comprehensive win in Galle and then settle for a draw in a fixture they were well positioned to win in Colombo. Although the series was won, the trophy secured, and his undefeated run as captain checked off crucial boxes, India left behind crucial WTC points needed to boost their win percentage.
As captain, he had his most challenging few days under the sun in Colombo when Sonal Dinusha and the Sri Lanka's tail frustrated the visitors and prevented them from getting the result they desperately wanted. There were moments he would helplessly stand and observe from the short-cover position, have an intense chat with head coach Gautam Gambhir when nothing worked and then even egg his teammates on when their shoulders started dropping.
"It gets very frustrating," he said regarding the challenges, explaining the questions that follow. "Was follow-on the best decision, was it not? But then you have to go back in the moment and see, what can I do? Did I make the best decision in that moment? Yes, I did. Then you can't do anything about it. You have to keep trying your best, and I think we did that," added the Indian captain.
While they struggled to remove the Sri Lankan tail in both innings, Gill was not ready to pin the blame on any of his teammates and lauded their effort.
"We tried all that we could, and at the end of the day, even from the players, you can expect them giving their 100%, their top efforts, and I don't think there was any lacking in intensity or the efforts that we put in," said Gill.
Highlighting the volume of overs the spinners bowled on a surface which became easier to bat as the game progressed, Gill gave them 10/10 for effort and intent, and continued to focus on the ultimate goal - the World Test Championship.
"The spinners bowled 50-60 overs on the trot for three days. Fielding for three days is not an easy task in these conditions with the heat. In terms of effort, I would say 10 out of 10 for the effort and the intent. A lot of learning, so many things won't always go as you plan, but as long as we still have a chance to qualify for the World Test Championship," added Gill.
India operated with in-out field positions for most of the match, offering significant protection against the sweep, especially when Sonal Dinusha was at the crease. While it did open up easy singles, Gill felt there couldn't have been a better plan as the slow turn off the surface meant bowled and LBW were the dismissals out of the equation.
"The ball was spinning but the wickets were not in play. As a batsman, if you know that your bowlers do not have 2 modes of dismissal in play, then it becomes easier to bat. Unless you are play
As captain, he had his most challenging few days under the sun in Colombo when Sonal Dinusha and the Sri Lanka's tail frustrated the visitors and prevented them from getting the result they desperately wanted. There were moments he would helplessly stand and observe from the short-cover position, have an intense chat with head coach Gautam Gambhir when nothing worked and then even egg his teammates on when their shoulders started dropping.
"It gets very frustrating," he said regarding the challenges, explaining the questions that follow. "Was follow-on the best decision, was it not? But then you have to go back in the moment and see, what can I do? Did I make the best decision in that moment? Yes, I did. Then you can't do anything about it. You have to keep trying your best, and I think we did that," added the Indian captain.
While they struggled to remove the Sri Lankan tail in both innings, Gill was not ready to pin the blame on any of his teammates and lauded their effort.
"We tried all that we could, and at the end of the day, even from the players, you can expect them giving their 100%, their top efforts, and I don't think there was any lacking in intensity or the efforts that we put in," said Gill.
Highlighting the volume of overs the spinners bowled on a surface which became easier to bat as the game progressed, Gill gave them 10/10 for effort and intent, and continued to focus on the ultimate goal - the World Test Championship.
"The spinners bowled 50-60 overs on the trot for three days. Fielding for three days is not an easy task in these conditions with the heat. In terms of effort, I would say 10 out of 10 for the effort and the intent. A lot of learning, so many things won't always go as you plan, but as long as we still have a chance to qualify for the World Test Championship," added Gill.
India operated with in-out field positions for most of the match, offering significant protection against the sweep, especially when Sonal Dinusha was at the crease. While it did open up easy singles, Gill felt there couldn't have been a better plan as the slow turn off the surface meant bowled and LBW were the dismissals out of the equation.
"The ball was spinning but the wickets were not in play. As a batsman, if you know that your bowlers do not have 2 modes of dismissal in play, then it becomes easier to bat. Unless you are play
2 months ago
The rally in Circle (CRCL) stock could just be starting.
The call: With bitcoin (BTC-USD) prices coming back to life as the Treasury injects liquidity into the bond market, Circle shares have been rocking. The stock is up 23% in the past five days and trading at its highest level since mid-June, per Yahoo Finance AlphaSpace data.
Bernstein ***** yst Gautam Chhugani reiterated his Outperform rating on the stock and set a $140 price target in a note on Monday, implying at least 75% upside.
Chhugani outlined three main bullish points on Circle:
"We believe the recent momentum in crypto markets can be enduring, and we could be at the beginning of a new expansion cycle driven by macro regime change, real-world blockchain capital markets, stablecoin payments adoption (not just crypto) and some nascent signs of a stablecoin-led agentic economy."
#circle #markets #crcl #finance
The call: With bitcoin (BTC-USD) prices coming back to life as the Treasury injects liquidity into the bond market, Circle shares have been rocking. The stock is up 23% in the past five days and trading at its highest level since mid-June, per Yahoo Finance AlphaSpace data.
Bernstein ***** yst Gautam Chhugani reiterated his Outperform rating on the stock and set a $140 price target in a note on Monday, implying at least 75% upside.
Chhugani outlined three main bullish points on Circle:
"We believe the recent momentum in crypto markets can be enduring, and we could be at the beginning of a new expansion cycle driven by macro regime change, real-world blockchain capital markets, stablecoin payments adoption (not just crypto) and some nascent signs of a stablecoin-led agentic economy."
#circle #markets #crcl #finance
2 months ago
Bernstein's Gautam Chhugani carries a $330 Street-high target on COIN, implying 77% upside despite three consecutive earnings misses and a 38% one-year decline.
HOOD is down just 4% YTD and CRCL is up 11%, making COIN's 18% year-to-date slide the clearest dislocation signal among crypto-adjacent peers.
Act now: the ****** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Coinbase didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) currently trades at $186.49, while Bernstein ****** yst Gautam Chhugani carries a Street-high price target of $330 on the stock. That implies roughly 77% upside if his call plays out.
Coinbase runs the largest US crypto exchange plus subscription products, stablecoin revenue tied to USDC, the Base blockchain, and a fast-expanding derivatives and prediction markets business. The company is reinventing itself as a "everything exchange" just as core trading fees shrink.
#Coinbase #street #year
HOOD is down just 4% YTD and CRCL is up 11%, making COIN's 18% year-to-date slide the clearest dislocation signal among crypto-adjacent peers.
Act now: the ****** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Coinbase didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) currently trades at $186.49, while Bernstein ****** yst Gautam Chhugani carries a Street-high price target of $330 on the stock. That implies roughly 77% upside if his call plays out.
Coinbase runs the largest US crypto exchange plus subscription products, stablecoin revenue tied to USDC, the Base blockchain, and a fast-expanding derivatives and prediction markets business. The company is reinventing itself as a "everything exchange" just as core trading fees shrink.
#Coinbase #street #year
2 months ago
The rally in Circle (CRCL) stock could just be starting.
The call: With bitcoin (BTC-USD) prices coming back to life as the Treasury injects liquidity into the bond market, Circle shares have been rocking. The stock is up 23% in the past five days and trading at its highest level since mid-June, per Yahoo Finance AlphaSpace data.
Bernstein **** yst Gautam Chhugani reiterated his Outperform rating on the stock and set a $140 price target in a note on Monday, implying at least 75% upside.
Chhugani outlined three main bullish points on Circle:
"We believe the recent momentum in crypto markets can be enduring, and we could be at the beginning of a new expansion cycle driven by macro regime change, real-world blockchain capital markets, stablecoin payments adoption (not just crypto) and some nascent signs of a stablecoin-led agentic economy."
#circle #treasury
The call: With bitcoin (BTC-USD) prices coming back to life as the Treasury injects liquidity into the bond market, Circle shares have been rocking. The stock is up 23% in the past five days and trading at its highest level since mid-June, per Yahoo Finance AlphaSpace data.
Bernstein **** yst Gautam Chhugani reiterated his Outperform rating on the stock and set a $140 price target in a note on Monday, implying at least 75% upside.
Chhugani outlined three main bullish points on Circle:
"We believe the recent momentum in crypto markets can be enduring, and we could be at the beginning of a new expansion cycle driven by macro regime change, real-world blockchain capital markets, stablecoin payments adoption (not just crypto) and some nascent signs of a stablecoin-led agentic economy."
#circle #treasury
2 months ago
'Gambhir has no work': Kris Srikkanth slams India coach over handling of Devdutt Padikkal in Indian team originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kris Srikkanth has criticised Gautam Gambhir over talk of replacing Devdutt Padikkal.
Padikkal scored 167 in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle.
Srikkanth also expects Kuldeep Yadav to be dropped for the second Test.
Devdutt Padikkal answered every question asked of him in Galle, and Kris Srikkanth cannot understand why any further questions are being asked at all. The former India captain has aimed Gautam Gambhir over suggestions that the left-hander's place remains up for discussion.
#kris #India #Cricket #test
Kris Srikkanth has criticised Gautam Gambhir over talk of replacing Devdutt Padikkal.
Padikkal scored 167 in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle.
Srikkanth also expects Kuldeep Yadav to be dropped for the second Test.
Devdutt Padikkal answered every question asked of him in Galle, and Kris Srikkanth cannot understand why any further questions are being asked at all. The former India captain has aimed Gautam Gambhir over suggestions that the left-hander's place remains up for discussion.
#kris #India #Cricket #test
2 months ago
On August 18, 2008, a 19-year-old Virat Kohli walked out at Dambulla and scored 12 on his India debut. Eighteen years later, the boy who was once a surprise selection has become one of the defining figures of modern cricket: a batter, captain, standard-setter, survivor and, perhaps most importantly, a player who changed what Indian cricket expected from itself.
Virat Kohli is not just an athlete; he has become a brand of cricket, inspiring a generation through his mindset, skills and, most importantly, his hunger for the game. That hunger made him more intense, more furious and, at his best, almost unbeatable. Across his career, Kohli has achieved almost everything: the U19 World Cup, ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy and Asia Cup.
There was nothing particularly prophetic about Virat Kohli's first international innings.
On that day at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Sri Lanka, the teenager walked out to open India's innings. He faced 22 **** , made 12 and was trapped lbw by Nuwan Kulasekara.
India lost by eight wickets. There was no century. No match-winning chase. No hint, at least in the scorecard, that something extraordinary had begun.
Eighteen years later, the numbers have become difficult to ignore.
As of August 2026, Kohli has played 314 ODIs and scored 14,941 runs at 58.59, with 54 hundreds and 79 fifties. He has 9,230 Test runs from 123 matches, including 30 centuries, and finished his T20I career with 4,188 runs from 125 matches. Across international cricket, that is 28,359 runs and 85 centuries.
Long before Dambulla, there was a December morning in 2006 that revealed something about Kohli that statistics never could. He was 18, playing for Delhi against Karnataka in a Ranji Trophy match at the Feroz Shah Kotla. He was unbeaten on 40 overnight when his father, Prem Kohli, died suddenly. Kohli returned to the ground the next morning. He scored 90. It was not just an innings. It was an early declaration of character.
Two years later, he was leading India at the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia. India won the tournament. Kohli scored 235 runs in six innings at an average of 47.
He had a modest start to his international career during the Sri Lanka tour. In the fourth ODI of that 2008 series, Kohli made 54, his first international half-century. A year later came his first hundred: 107 against Sri Lanka in Kolkata.
By 2011, Kohli was no longer a prospect. He was part of India's World Cup-winning side. He scored a century against Bangladesh in India's opening game and later walked into the **** hede dressing room during the final when India were 31 for 2.
He made 35. Not the sort of number that usually survives in a career built on hundreds. His 35 helped India recover alongside Gautam Gambhir, before MS Dhoni's 91 finished the job against Sri Lanka.
India won the World Cup. Kohli was just 22.
#kohli #dambulla
Virat Kohli is not just an athlete; he has become a brand of cricket, inspiring a generation through his mindset, skills and, most importantly, his hunger for the game. That hunger made him more intense, more furious and, at his best, almost unbeatable. Across his career, Kohli has achieved almost everything: the U19 World Cup, ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy and Asia Cup.
There was nothing particularly prophetic about Virat Kohli's first international innings.
On that day at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Sri Lanka, the teenager walked out to open India's innings. He faced 22 **** , made 12 and was trapped lbw by Nuwan Kulasekara.
India lost by eight wickets. There was no century. No match-winning chase. No hint, at least in the scorecard, that something extraordinary had begun.
Eighteen years later, the numbers have become difficult to ignore.
As of August 2026, Kohli has played 314 ODIs and scored 14,941 runs at 58.59, with 54 hundreds and 79 fifties. He has 9,230 Test runs from 123 matches, including 30 centuries, and finished his T20I career with 4,188 runs from 125 matches. Across international cricket, that is 28,359 runs and 85 centuries.
Long before Dambulla, there was a December morning in 2006 that revealed something about Kohli that statistics never could. He was 18, playing for Delhi against Karnataka in a Ranji Trophy match at the Feroz Shah Kotla. He was unbeaten on 40 overnight when his father, Prem Kohli, died suddenly. Kohli returned to the ground the next morning. He scored 90. It was not just an innings. It was an early declaration of character.
Two years later, he was leading India at the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia. India won the tournament. Kohli scored 235 runs in six innings at an average of 47.
He had a modest start to his international career during the Sri Lanka tour. In the fourth ODI of that 2008 series, Kohli made 54, his first international half-century. A year later came his first hundred: 107 against Sri Lanka in Kolkata.
By 2011, Kohli was no longer a prospect. He was part of India's World Cup-winning side. He scored a century against Bangladesh in India's opening game and later walked into the **** hede dressing room during the final when India were 31 for 2.
He made 35. Not the sort of number that usually survives in a career built on hundreds. His 35 helped India recover alongside Gautam Gambhir, before MS Dhoni's 91 finished the job against Sri Lanka.
India won the World Cup. Kohli was just 22.
#kohli #dambulla
2 months ago
NEW DELHI: Devdutt Padikkal's alertness gave KL Rahul a second chance during India's second innings in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Tuesday. India had lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early, with Asitha Fernando getting him caught behind with the third ball of the first over. But Rahul and Padikkal then steadied the innings and added 59 runs to take India's lead to 237.
KL Rahul looked set to walk back when Prabath Jayasuriya trapped him on the back pad in the 11th over. The ball came in with the arm and KL Rahul was beaten on the inside edge before being hit on the back pad. The decision looked plumb to the naked eye.
KL Rahul was not confident about taking the review and was almost walking back. But Padikkal quickly asked him to review the decision.
It turned out to be a crucial call.
The replays showed there was no bat involved and the impact was in line. However, the ball was going over the stumps, meaning the on-field decision was overturned.
KL Rahul looked relieved and gave Padikkal a big hug, thanking his partner for convincing him to take the review.
The pair had already put together a 50-plus partnership in the innings, adding to a rare list of Indian opening and top-order pairs who have managed 50-plus stands in both innings of a Test in Sri Lanka.
Sadagoppan Ramesh and Shiv Sunder Das did it in Colombo in 2001, while Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir achieved the feat in Galle and Colombo in 2008. VVS Laxman and Suresh Raina also did it in Colombo in 2010.
Rahul and Padikkal became the latest Indian pair to join the list in Galle in 2026.
#innings #decision
KL Rahul looked set to walk back when Prabath Jayasuriya trapped him on the back pad in the 11th over. The ball came in with the arm and KL Rahul was beaten on the inside edge before being hit on the back pad. The decision looked plumb to the naked eye.
KL Rahul was not confident about taking the review and was almost walking back. But Padikkal quickly asked him to review the decision.
It turned out to be a crucial call.
The replays showed there was no bat involved and the impact was in line. However, the ball was going over the stumps, meaning the on-field decision was overturned.
KL Rahul looked relieved and gave Padikkal a big hug, thanking his partner for convincing him to take the review.
The pair had already put together a 50-plus partnership in the innings, adding to a rare list of Indian opening and top-order pairs who have managed 50-plus stands in both innings of a Test in Sri Lanka.
Sadagoppan Ramesh and Shiv Sunder Das did it in Colombo in 2001, while Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir achieved the feat in Galle and Colombo in 2008. VVS Laxman and Suresh Raina also did it in Colombo in 2010.
Rahul and Padikkal became the latest Indian pair to join the list in Galle in 2026.
#innings #decision
3 months ago
Devdutt Padikkal marked his return to India's Test setup in style, smashing his maiden Test century during the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. The left-hander, who has won two IPL ***** les with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, produced a fluent and ***** ured knock at No. 3 to make a strong case for himself in India's middle order.
Padikkal became only the second Indian left-handed batter in the 21st century to score a Test century from No. 3, after former captain Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly had scored 136 against Zimbabwe in Delhi in 2002.
Overall, Padikkal is the sixth Indian left-hander to score a Test hundred from the No. 3 position. The list is led by Vinod Kambli with four centuries, followed by Ganguly with three, while Salim Durani, Bapu Nadkarni, Ajit Wadekar, Eknath Solkar, Surinder Amarnath and now Padikkal have one each.
Padikkal's century also ended a prolonged wait for an Indian batter to score a Test hundred from No. 3. The last Indian to achieve the feat was Shubman Gill, who scored a century against Bangladesh in Chennai in September 2024. Since then, India had used seven different batters at No. 3 across 19 Tests, with the position collectively averaging just 27.28 and producing only five scores of 50 or more in 35 innings.
The 25-year-old had also enjoyed a productive 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, averaging 60.33, and carried that confidence into Galle. After reaching his century, Padikkal celebrated with a fist pump and a punch of the air before removing his helmet and raising his bat towards the crowd and his teammates.
India captain Shubman Gill congratulated him in the middle, while head coach Gautam Gambhir applauded from the dressing room. BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar was also present at the venue and joined in the celebrations.
#test #padikkal #Indian #score
Padikkal became only the second Indian left-handed batter in the 21st century to score a Test century from No. 3, after former captain Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly had scored 136 against Zimbabwe in Delhi in 2002.
Overall, Padikkal is the sixth Indian left-hander to score a Test hundred from the No. 3 position. The list is led by Vinod Kambli with four centuries, followed by Ganguly with three, while Salim Durani, Bapu Nadkarni, Ajit Wadekar, Eknath Solkar, Surinder Amarnath and now Padikkal have one each.
Padikkal's century also ended a prolonged wait for an Indian batter to score a Test hundred from No. 3. The last Indian to achieve the feat was Shubman Gill, who scored a century against Bangladesh in Chennai in September 2024. Since then, India had used seven different batters at No. 3 across 19 Tests, with the position collectively averaging just 27.28 and producing only five scores of 50 or more in 35 innings.
The 25-year-old had also enjoyed a productive 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, averaging 60.33, and carried that confidence into Galle. After reaching his century, Padikkal celebrated with a fist pump and a punch of the air before removing his helmet and raising his bat towards the crowd and his teammates.
India captain Shubman Gill congratulated him in the middle, while head coach Gautam Gambhir applauded from the dressing room. BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar was also present at the venue and joined in the celebrations.
#test #padikkal #Indian #score
3 months ago
India pacer Gurnoor Brar produced a late burst with the bat on the second day of the three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI, hitting four sixes in the final over to finish unbeaten on 36 off 18 ***** .
India were 332 for eight going into the final over of the day, with Devdutt Padikkal unbeaten on 141. Padikkal took a single off the first ball from spinner Dilum Sudeera, giving Brar the strike.
The left-handed Brar then hit two sixes from the next two deliveries. He refused to take a single off the fourth ball, backing himself to continue the attack. He then hit two more sixes off the fifth and sixth deliveries to take India past 350 and end the day on 357 for eight.
Brar hit sixes off the second, third, fifth and sixth ***** of the 90th over. He also struck two fours and added 51 runs from 30 ***** with Padikkal.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen clapping and smiling after Brar's final-over hitting. He also gave the young fast bowler a standing ovation.
Brar has played six ODIs for India since making his international debut against Afghanistan in June 2026.
Padikkal was the main contributor for India on the second day, remaining unbeaten on 142. Ravindra Jadeja scored 63 before retiring out, while Manav Suthar made 41 on his first overseas international ***** ignment.
Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel, however, could not make the most of the batting conditions.
India ended the second day on 357 for eight in 90 overs, six runs behind Sri Lanka Cricket XI's first-innings total.
#balls
India were 332 for eight going into the final over of the day, with Devdutt Padikkal unbeaten on 141. Padikkal took a single off the first ball from spinner Dilum Sudeera, giving Brar the strike.
The left-handed Brar then hit two sixes from the next two deliveries. He refused to take a single off the fourth ball, backing himself to continue the attack. He then hit two more sixes off the fifth and sixth deliveries to take India past 350 and end the day on 357 for eight.
Brar hit sixes off the second, third, fifth and sixth ***** of the 90th over. He also struck two fours and added 51 runs from 30 ***** with Padikkal.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen clapping and smiling after Brar's final-over hitting. He also gave the young fast bowler a standing ovation.
Brar has played six ODIs for India since making his international debut against Afghanistan in June 2026.
Padikkal was the main contributor for India on the second day, remaining unbeaten on 142. Ravindra Jadeja scored 63 before retiring out, while Manav Suthar made 41 on his first overseas international ***** ignment.
Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel, however, could not make the most of the batting conditions.
India ended the second day on 357 for eight in 90 overs, six runs behind Sri Lanka Cricket XI's first-innings total.
#balls
3 months ago
It's been a year since a young Indian team came out of a grueling five-Test tour of England with a memorable 2-2 scoreline. "Our next four Test matches are going to be in India. And that's going to be a different challenge. We have enough talent. This series was very important for us. Every player would feel a lot mature after the end of the series and that would really help us in the long run in this WTC cycle," Shubman Gill, otherwise measured with his words during the tour, found an ***** ertive tone to his speech after the dramatic win in the fifth Test at The Oval.
Well, the subsequent home season ended up derailing India's World Test Championship campaign with South Africa steamrolling India in the two Test matches in Nov. If the heroics in England was deemed as India's Test redemption for the preceding forgettable tour of Australia, the consolidation post the English summer never arrived. Instead, an undeniably edgy Indian team has now arrived in Sri Lanka for a two-Test series with the desperation of staying alive in the WTC.
Gill became the face of India's Test cricket in England. But the mind was undoubtedly head coach Gautam Gambhir's. Gill arrived in England understandably like deer in the headlights after being thrust to captaincy post the debacle in Australia which saw the retirements of three stalwarts in Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin. Gambhir was his shepherd in the chaos. "Before the start of the series, Gauti bhai (Gambhir) said we are a young team but we want to be looked at as a gun team," Gill had revealed Gambhir's nerve-settling words.
Gambhir did the heavy-lifting to ensure Gill the batter didn't succumb to the pressures of leading an inexperienced team in England. One can't write off Gambhir's overbearing influence in Test and T20 teams in the last one year. Perhaps, it's time Gill came out of Gambhir's shadow to resurrect India's reputation as a Test team.
When he steps out for the toss in Galle on Aug 15, it will be his 10th Test as India captain which includes a Test against South Africa where he was ruled out due to a neck injury after playing three ***** in the game. He has led in 12 ODIs. Technically, his captaincy career is still in its nascent stage. But current circumstances won't allow him much time before the swords are pulled out.
It's unusual for Indian cricket to have a captain playing the second fiddle in the engine room. Every Indian team is eventually remembered by the captain it had. TOI understands that the power forces in the BCCI have been encouraging Gill to have a firmer say in planning. If the last two ODI series are anything to go by, one may say that Gill has been taking the initiative to drive his point across with the senior players in the team. He was ***** ertive in his demand for bigger windows for preparing for crucial Test series.
The team management, with Gambhir facing the heat for India's Test performances, would want to retain Gill batting with as
Well, the subsequent home season ended up derailing India's World Test Championship campaign with South Africa steamrolling India in the two Test matches in Nov. If the heroics in England was deemed as India's Test redemption for the preceding forgettable tour of Australia, the consolidation post the English summer never arrived. Instead, an undeniably edgy Indian team has now arrived in Sri Lanka for a two-Test series with the desperation of staying alive in the WTC.
Gill became the face of India's Test cricket in England. But the mind was undoubtedly head coach Gautam Gambhir's. Gill arrived in England understandably like deer in the headlights after being thrust to captaincy post the debacle in Australia which saw the retirements of three stalwarts in Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin. Gambhir was his shepherd in the chaos. "Before the start of the series, Gauti bhai (Gambhir) said we are a young team but we want to be looked at as a gun team," Gill had revealed Gambhir's nerve-settling words.
Gambhir did the heavy-lifting to ensure Gill the batter didn't succumb to the pressures of leading an inexperienced team in England. One can't write off Gambhir's overbearing influence in Test and T20 teams in the last one year. Perhaps, it's time Gill came out of Gambhir's shadow to resurrect India's reputation as a Test team.
When he steps out for the toss in Galle on Aug 15, it will be his 10th Test as India captain which includes a Test against South Africa where he was ruled out due to a neck injury after playing three ***** in the game. He has led in 12 ODIs. Technically, his captaincy career is still in its nascent stage. But current circumstances won't allow him much time before the swords are pulled out.
It's unusual for Indian cricket to have a captain playing the second fiddle in the engine room. Every Indian team is eventually remembered by the captain it had. TOI understands that the power forces in the BCCI have been encouraging Gill to have a firmer say in planning. If the last two ODI series are anything to go by, one may say that Gill has been taking the initiative to drive his point across with the senior players in the team. He was ***** ertive in his demand for bigger windows for preparing for crucial Test series.
The team management, with Gambhir facing the heat for India's Test performances, would want to retain Gill batting with as
3 months ago
Former India captain Rohit Sharma paid tribute to T Dilip after the former India fielding coach was replaced by Subhadeep Ghosh, thanking him for his work with the team over the last five years.
Taking to Instagram Stories, Rohit wrote: "You are a legend, Dilip garu. You created magic within the group and [you are] a behind the scenes workhorse. Best wishes ahead."
Dilip worked as India's men's fielding coach under both Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir. He first joined the support staff in 2021 and served until the end of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He returned for a second stint during India's Test tour of England in 2025 on a one-year contract but was not retained after it ended.
During his time with the Indian team, India won the T20 World Cups in 2024 and 2026, along with the 2025 Champions Trophy.
One of Dilip's most recognised ideas was the 'Best Fielder of the Match' medal, introduced during the 2023 ODI World Cup. The post-match fielding medal ceremony became popular among fans because of the creative ways in which the winner was announced.
The initiative was aimed at building a stronger fielding culture within the team and encouraging players to take more risks and improve their athleticism in the field. Players such as KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were among the medal winners during the ceremony's run.
After his departure, Dilip shared a farewell message on Instagram, thanking the team and reflecting on his journey.
"Five years. It is difficult to find the right words for a journey that has meant so much. When I first walked into this setup, I came in with one simple intention, to give everything I had every single day. Fielding has always been my way of contributing to the game I love, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have played a part in this team's journey."
He also said the fielding medal ceremony would remain one of his favourite memories.
"The fielding medal will always hold a very special place in my heart. Seeing the excitement it created in the dressing room, the smiles it brought and the value the players attached to it are memories I'll carry with me forever."
#dilip
Taking to Instagram Stories, Rohit wrote: "You are a legend, Dilip garu. You created magic within the group and [you are] a behind the scenes workhorse. Best wishes ahead."
Dilip worked as India's men's fielding coach under both Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir. He first joined the support staff in 2021 and served until the end of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He returned for a second stint during India's Test tour of England in 2025 on a one-year contract but was not retained after it ended.
During his time with the Indian team, India won the T20 World Cups in 2024 and 2026, along with the 2025 Champions Trophy.
One of Dilip's most recognised ideas was the 'Best Fielder of the Match' medal, introduced during the 2023 ODI World Cup. The post-match fielding medal ceremony became popular among fans because of the creative ways in which the winner was announced.
The initiative was aimed at building a stronger fielding culture within the team and encouraging players to take more risks and improve their athleticism in the field. Players such as KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were among the medal winners during the ceremony's run.
After his departure, Dilip shared a farewell message on Instagram, thanking the team and reflecting on his journey.
"Five years. It is difficult to find the right words for a journey that has meant so much. When I first walked into this setup, I came in with one simple intention, to give everything I had every single day. Fielding has always been my way of contributing to the game I love, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have played a part in this team's journey."
He also said the fielding medal ceremony would remain one of his favourite memories.
"The fielding medal will always hold a very special place in my heart. Seeing the excitement it created in the dressing room, the smiles it brought and the value the players attached to it are memories I'll carry with me forever."
#dilip
3 months ago
Wall Street brokerage Bernstein has lowered its price target on the stock of stablecoin issuer Circle Internet Group (NYSE: $CRCL).
In a note to clients, Bernstein lowered its price target on CRCL stock to $140 U.S. from $190 U.S. while keeping a Buy-equivalent outperform rating on the shares.
Crypto ****** yst Gautam Chhugani writes that the Open USD consortium that pressured the stock is a lesser threat than the market realizes.
More From Cryptoprowl:
TokenInsight Q2 2026 Report: TradFi Momentum Lifts MEXC to No. 2 in Commodity Perpetuals
#bernstein #crcl
In a note to clients, Bernstein lowered its price target on CRCL stock to $140 U.S. from $190 U.S. while keeping a Buy-equivalent outperform rating on the shares.
Crypto ****** yst Gautam Chhugani writes that the Open USD consortium that pressured the stock is a lesser threat than the market realizes.
More From Cryptoprowl:
TokenInsight Q2 2026 Report: TradFi Momentum Lifts MEXC to No. 2 in Commodity Perpetuals
#bernstein #crcl
3 months ago
MUMBAI: Ryan ten Doeschate has stepped down as India's men's ***** istant coach, bringing an end to his two-year stint with the national team, while Subhadeep Ghosh will be India's new fielding coach after T Dilip's contract came to an end and was not renewed, TOI has learnt.
Ten Doeschate and Dilip's final ***** ignment was India's white-ball tour of England. Both will, thus, not travel with Team India for their two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in August, while it will be the first international ***** ignment for Subhadeep, who has been the fielding coach of India A teams in the past.
During India's England tour, Ten Doeschate informed the BCCI of his decision to leave, despite being offered an extension until 2027 by the board. Although the BCCI was keen to retain him, the former Netherlands all-rounder declined the offer, citing personal reasons. With a young family, Ten Doeschate opted to step away from the demands of international cricket and its relentless travel schedule.
Meanwhile, fielding coach T Dilip is parting ways with the national team following the completion of his tenure. He will not travel with the squad for the upcoming Test tour of Sri Lanka.
Ten Doeschate joined the Indian coaching setup in July 2024 after former India opener Gautam Gambhir succeeded Rahul Dravid as the head coach following India's T20 World Cup triumph. Having worked closely with Gambhir during their successful stint at Kolkata Knight Riders, the former Netherlands all-rounder was brought into the national setup by Gambhir alongside bowling coach Morne Morkel.
During Ten Doeschate's stint, India won the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup in 2025 and successfully defended the 2026 T20 World Cup, although the Test side endured a difficult period, losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia before suffering series defeats against New Zealand (3-0) and South Africa (2-0) at home.
#doeschate #India #Gambhir
Ten Doeschate and Dilip's final ***** ignment was India's white-ball tour of England. Both will, thus, not travel with Team India for their two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in August, while it will be the first international ***** ignment for Subhadeep, who has been the fielding coach of India A teams in the past.
During India's England tour, Ten Doeschate informed the BCCI of his decision to leave, despite being offered an extension until 2027 by the board. Although the BCCI was keen to retain him, the former Netherlands all-rounder declined the offer, citing personal reasons. With a young family, Ten Doeschate opted to step away from the demands of international cricket and its relentless travel schedule.
Meanwhile, fielding coach T Dilip is parting ways with the national team following the completion of his tenure. He will not travel with the squad for the upcoming Test tour of Sri Lanka.
Ten Doeschate joined the Indian coaching setup in July 2024 after former India opener Gautam Gambhir succeeded Rahul Dravid as the head coach following India's T20 World Cup triumph. Having worked closely with Gambhir during their successful stint at Kolkata Knight Riders, the former Netherlands all-rounder was brought into the national setup by Gambhir alongside bowling coach Morne Morkel.
During Ten Doeschate's stint, India won the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup in 2025 and successfully defended the 2026 T20 World Cup, although the Test side endured a difficult period, losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia before suffering series defeats against New Zealand (3-0) and South Africa (2-0) at home.
#doeschate #India #Gambhir
