12 hours ago
India will look to seal the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan when the two teams meet in the second match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.
India lead the series 1-0 after a convincing seven-wicket win in the first T20I. Afghanistan will need a much better performance to keep the series alive.
Afghanistan were in trouble early in the first T20I after losing five wickets for 43 runs inside the Power-play. Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi then put the innings back on track with an 83-run partnership.
Omarzai remained unbeaten on 64 off 44 **** as Afghanistan finished with 156/8. However, the total was not enough against India's strong batting line-up.
Arshdeep Singh was India's best bowler, taking 3/9. Jasprit **** rah also made an impact on his return to international cricket by picking up an early wicket. Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy also took wickets as Afghanistan struggled to build momentum.
India made the chase look easy thanks to an explosive innings from Abhishek Sharma.
The left-handed opener smashed 82 off just 32 **** , hitting seven fours and seven sixes. Ishan Kishan also made a useful contribution with 42.
India reached 157/3 in only 13.4 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Afghanistan's biggest concern will be their top order.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a duck in the first over of the opening T20I. Afghanistan will need their top-order batters to give the team a stronger start and provide a platform for players such as Omarzai, Nabi and Rashid Khan.
The visitors have several match-winners in their squad, including Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Naveen-ul-Haq.
Captain Ibrahim Zadran, who is leading Afghanistan in his first series as full-time T20I captain, will hope his team can turn its individual talent into a more disciplined performance.
India also have some selection decisions to make despite their comfortable win in the first T20I.
Abhishek's 82 has strengthened his position at the top of the order, while Sanju Samson scored only 10 runs.
Ishan Kishan also scored 42, giving India another option in the batting line-up. Teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could also be in contention after missing the first T20I.
India will also be without Harshit Rana, who has been ruled out after suffering a rectus femoris strain. Yash Thakur has joined the squad as his replacement.
A win on Tuesday will give India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Afghanistan, meanwhile, need a victory to take the series into a decider.
#first #lead #seven #need
India lead the series 1-0 after a convincing seven-wicket win in the first T20I. Afghanistan will need a much better performance to keep the series alive.
Afghanistan were in trouble early in the first T20I after losing five wickets for 43 runs inside the Power-play. Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi then put the innings back on track with an 83-run partnership.
Omarzai remained unbeaten on 64 off 44 **** as Afghanistan finished with 156/8. However, the total was not enough against India's strong batting line-up.
Arshdeep Singh was India's best bowler, taking 3/9. Jasprit **** rah also made an impact on his return to international cricket by picking up an early wicket. Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy also took wickets as Afghanistan struggled to build momentum.
India made the chase look easy thanks to an explosive innings from Abhishek Sharma.
The left-handed opener smashed 82 off just 32 **** , hitting seven fours and seven sixes. Ishan Kishan also made a useful contribution with 42.
India reached 157/3 in only 13.4 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Afghanistan's biggest concern will be their top order.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a duck in the first over of the opening T20I. Afghanistan will need their top-order batters to give the team a stronger start and provide a platform for players such as Omarzai, Nabi and Rashid Khan.
The visitors have several match-winners in their squad, including Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Naveen-ul-Haq.
Captain Ibrahim Zadran, who is leading Afghanistan in his first series as full-time T20I captain, will hope his team can turn its individual talent into a more disciplined performance.
India also have some selection decisions to make despite their comfortable win in the first T20I.
Abhishek's 82 has strengthened his position at the top of the order, while Sanju Samson scored only 10 runs.
Ishan Kishan also scored 42, giving India another option in the batting line-up. Teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could also be in contention after missing the first T20I.
India will also be without Harshit Rana, who has been ruled out after suffering a rectus femoris strain. Yash Thakur has joined the squad as his replacement.
A win on Tuesday will give India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Afghanistan, meanwhile, need a victory to take the series into a decider.
#first #lead #seven #need
2 days ago
India will begin their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in New Delhi on Sunday, with the team facing a selection call between young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and experienced wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson.
Sooryavanshi played in the first two T20Is during India's England tour before Samson returned to the playing XI for the final match. The team management now has another chance to ******* s both players ahead of the Asian Games in ******* an.
Samson and Abhishek Sharma have formed a more settled opening combination for India in T20Is. However, Sooryavanshi's attacking style gives the team another option at the top.
During Friday's net session, Samson appeared slightly more in control, while Sooryavanshi spent time facing Jasprit ******* rah and learning how to deal with movement off the surface.
The 15-year-old could enjoy the Afghanistan attack, with none of their bowlers matching ******* rah's quality. Afghanistan's pace could also suit Sooryavanshi's aggressive, stand-and-deliver style.
Samson's omission in England after three failures also raised questions, especially given his experience in the format.
India could also consider playing both Samson and Sooryavanshi if Ishan Kishan is ruled out.
Kishan had a back injury scare during Friday's net session. He comes into the series after a brilliant Duleep Trophy final, where he scored 270 and 80.
Kishan will be keen to play because T20Is remain the only format in which he is currently a regular for India.
The three-match series will give India's Asian Games-bound players valuable preparation against a strong Afghanistan side.
Afghanistan have a world-class spin attack featuring Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Facing them in three T20Is will be a major test for India's batters ahead of the Asian Games in ******* an.
When will the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I be played?
The first T20I between India and Afghanistan will be played on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
Where will the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I be played?
The match will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
What time will the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I start?
The first T20I will start at 7 PM IST on Sunday.
When will the toss take place?
The toss is expected to take place at around 6:30 PM IST, 30 minutes before the scheduled start of play.
Where can fans watch the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I on TV?
The match will be telecast live in India on the Sony Sports Network.
#played
Sooryavanshi played in the first two T20Is during India's England tour before Samson returned to the playing XI for the final match. The team management now has another chance to ******* s both players ahead of the Asian Games in ******* an.
Samson and Abhishek Sharma have formed a more settled opening combination for India in T20Is. However, Sooryavanshi's attacking style gives the team another option at the top.
During Friday's net session, Samson appeared slightly more in control, while Sooryavanshi spent time facing Jasprit ******* rah and learning how to deal with movement off the surface.
The 15-year-old could enjoy the Afghanistan attack, with none of their bowlers matching ******* rah's quality. Afghanistan's pace could also suit Sooryavanshi's aggressive, stand-and-deliver style.
Samson's omission in England after three failures also raised questions, especially given his experience in the format.
India could also consider playing both Samson and Sooryavanshi if Ishan Kishan is ruled out.
Kishan had a back injury scare during Friday's net session. He comes into the series after a brilliant Duleep Trophy final, where he scored 270 and 80.
Kishan will be keen to play because T20Is remain the only format in which he is currently a regular for India.
The three-match series will give India's Asian Games-bound players valuable preparation against a strong Afghanistan side.
Afghanistan have a world-class spin attack featuring Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Facing them in three T20Is will be a major test for India's batters ahead of the Asian Games in ******* an.
When will the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I be played?
The first T20I between India and Afghanistan will be played on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
Where will the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I be played?
The match will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
What time will the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I start?
The first T20I will start at 7 PM IST on Sunday.
When will the toss take place?
The toss is expected to take place at around 6:30 PM IST, 30 minutes before the scheduled start of play.
Where can fans watch the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I on TV?
The match will be telecast live in India on the Sony Sports Network.
#played
3 days ago
NEW DELHI: Social media has found a fun new way to bring the 1980s back, with AI turning modern-day pictures into vintage portraits. The trend has now reached the Indian cricket team, with several players enjoying a hilarious surprise ahead of their T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi.
Two days before the series, the Indian players gathered at their hotel for a photo session. But before it began, they found a table filled with AI-generated pictures of themselves.
The portraits, featured in a video shared by the BCCI, showed the players in classic 1980s looks, complete with bell-bottom jeans, big sunglasses and retro hairstyles.
India allrounder Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma picked up the portraits and burst out laughing as they showed them to their teammates. Jasprit ****** rah also joined in the fun.
Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube checked out their retro pictures and appeared amused by their new 1980s avatars.
Ishan Kishan, who recently led East Zone to Duleep Trophy glory, fully embraced the retro look. He held up his AI-generated picture, sang and posed for the camera as his teammates enjoyed the moment.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yash Thakur and Ravi Bishnoi also broke into smiles after seeing their 1980s avatars.
India and Afghanistan will face each other in a three-match T20I series, starting Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
The second and third T20Is will be played on Tuesday and Thursday at the same venue.
#portraits
Two days before the series, the Indian players gathered at their hotel for a photo session. But before it began, they found a table filled with AI-generated pictures of themselves.
The portraits, featured in a video shared by the BCCI, showed the players in classic 1980s looks, complete with bell-bottom jeans, big sunglasses and retro hairstyles.
India allrounder Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma picked up the portraits and burst out laughing as they showed them to their teammates. Jasprit ****** rah also joined in the fun.
Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube checked out their retro pictures and appeared amused by their new 1980s avatars.
Ishan Kishan, who recently led East Zone to Duleep Trophy glory, fully embraced the retro look. He held up his AI-generated picture, sang and posed for the camera as his teammates enjoyed the moment.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yash Thakur and Ravi Bishnoi also broke into smiles after seeing their 1980s avatars.
India and Afghanistan will face each other in a three-match T20I series, starting Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
The second and third T20Is will be played on Tuesday and Thursday at the same venue.
#portraits
3 days ago
India's search for consistency in T20I cricket will continue with a three-match series against Afghanistan, but the team's batting combination could once again come under scrutiny, particularly with vice-captain Tilak Varma's role yet to appear fully settled.
India, led by Shreyas Iyer, endured a difficult run following their second consecutive T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year. The team lost all six of its T20Is against Ireland and England before finally putting together a 3-0 clean sweep against Zimbabwe.
The Afghanistan series begins on September 13 (Saturday), with India also scheduled to play a historic T20I against ******* an before featuring in the Asian Games 2026.
With several established batters competing for places, former South Africa star AB de Villiers believes India could face a selection headache, particularly when it comes to deciding where Tilak Varma fits into the batting order.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers pointed to the number of batting options available to India and questioned how the team would accommodate its vice-captain.
"There will definitely be some selection issues with regard to the batters. Obviously, Shreyas, captain, Ishan Kishan, Samson, Sooryavanshi, and then there are all-rounders, Tilak Varma; I think that's where the balance is quite tricky. Where will he bat?" de Villiers said.
Tilak's recent numbers also underline why his position could become a talking point.
Since the 2026 T20 World Cup, the left-hander has scored 255 runs from 10 innings at a strike rate of 159.36, with three scores of 50 or more. However, the numbers need some context. One of those half-centuries came during the recent Zimbabwe series, while another was scored in the fifth T20I against England, by which point India had already conceded the series.
His overall returns therefore look stronger in isolation than his performances across the entire period suggest. Tilak endured a particularly difficult run during India's tour of the UK, and his inconsistency has remained a concern despite the occasional big score. That makes his position in India's batting order an even bigger talking point ahead of the Afghanistan series.
The presence of Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gives India several batting options, while the team also has to factor in its all-rounders.
For de Villiers, the challenge is not simply about selecting the strongest players but finding a combination in which every batter has a clearly defined role.
He believes India have enough quality in their squad to deal with Afghanistan, but stressed that clarity will be particularly important against a side he considers dangerous.
"Really, really strong squad, but the balance will be tricky to figure out. It is T20 cricket, so they can play around with the squad a little bit. There are different roles, but the role clarification will still be incredibly important for India, as
India, led by Shreyas Iyer, endured a difficult run following their second consecutive T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year. The team lost all six of its T20Is against Ireland and England before finally putting together a 3-0 clean sweep against Zimbabwe.
The Afghanistan series begins on September 13 (Saturday), with India also scheduled to play a historic T20I against ******* an before featuring in the Asian Games 2026.
With several established batters competing for places, former South Africa star AB de Villiers believes India could face a selection headache, particularly when it comes to deciding where Tilak Varma fits into the batting order.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers pointed to the number of batting options available to India and questioned how the team would accommodate its vice-captain.
"There will definitely be some selection issues with regard to the batters. Obviously, Shreyas, captain, Ishan Kishan, Samson, Sooryavanshi, and then there are all-rounders, Tilak Varma; I think that's where the balance is quite tricky. Where will he bat?" de Villiers said.
Tilak's recent numbers also underline why his position could become a talking point.
Since the 2026 T20 World Cup, the left-hander has scored 255 runs from 10 innings at a strike rate of 159.36, with three scores of 50 or more. However, the numbers need some context. One of those half-centuries came during the recent Zimbabwe series, while another was scored in the fifth T20I against England, by which point India had already conceded the series.
His overall returns therefore look stronger in isolation than his performances across the entire period suggest. Tilak endured a particularly difficult run during India's tour of the UK, and his inconsistency has remained a concern despite the occasional big score. That makes his position in India's batting order an even bigger talking point ahead of the Afghanistan series.
The presence of Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gives India several batting options, while the team also has to factor in its all-rounders.
For de Villiers, the challenge is not simply about selecting the strongest players but finding a combination in which every batter has a clearly defined role.
He believes India have enough quality in their squad to deal with Afghanistan, but stressed that clarity will be particularly important against a side he considers dangerous.
"Really, really strong squad, but the balance will be tricky to figure out. It is T20 cricket, so they can play around with the squad a little bit. There are different roles, but the role clarification will still be incredibly important for India, as
3 days ago
'His time will come': Ajinkya Rahane wants India to drop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to play Sanju Samson in Afghanistan T20Is originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ajinkya Rahane wants India to reinstate the T20 World Cup top three of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan for the Afghanistan series.
Rahane believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should play his natural game without overthinking, given how early this stage of his international career is.
Samson won the T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament but has struggled for consistency in the UK series since that triumph.
Ajinkya Rahane has thrown his weight firmly behind Sanju Samson, and urged the Indian team management to reinstate the wicketkeeper-batter in the top three for the Afghanistan T20I series ahead of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
#rahane #samson #ajinkya
Ajinkya Rahane wants India to reinstate the T20 World Cup top three of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan for the Afghanistan series.
Rahane believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should play his natural game without overthinking, given how early this stage of his international career is.
Samson won the T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament but has struggled for consistency in the UK series since that triumph.
Ajinkya Rahane has thrown his weight firmly behind Sanju Samson, and urged the Indian team management to reinstate the wicketkeeper-batter in the top three for the Afghanistan T20I series ahead of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
#rahane #samson #ajinkya
3 days ago
NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Ajinkya Rahane believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's time will come, but feels India should currently stick with the top-three combination that delivered the 2026 T20 World Cup ******* le, backing Sanju Samson to reclaim his place alongside Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan.
Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament during India's triumphant T20 World Cup campaign, was dropped after a string of low scores on the tour of England. Sooryavanshi was subsequently handed his international debut in Manchester and also opened during the T20Is against Zimbabwe.
With Samson now recalled for the three-match home series against Afghanistan, beginning at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, Rahane believes the experienced batter should return to the top order.
"I feel the top three should be the same that played in the World Cup. Samson has done well, but he got dropped after two or three bad innings. I want him to get another chance. Abhishek and Ishan also did well for us," Rahane said in a video on his YouTube channel on Friday.
"Vaibhav will get his opportunities, and his time will come. But for now, I feel the top three should be Samson, Abhishek, and Ishan, who were our contributors in the World Cup," he added.
Rahane welcomed Samson's return while pointing to the batter's impact during India's World Cup-winning campaign.
"I am happy to see Sanju Samson back in the team. He was the 'Man of the Series' in the World Cup. It has been up and down, and things were happening to him that were not in his control. But he is a match-winner, and his return strengthens the team," Rahane said.
For Sooryavanshi, Rahane's message was one of patience and freedom. The 15-year-old has made a rapid rise through domestic and franchise cricket, but the former India batter believes the teenager should not overthink his early international career.
"I think he should just play his game right now. He should back the game that led him to come into the Indian team. It is a very early stage for him in his career and in international cricket," Rahane said.
"As of now, there is no need for him to think a lot, and he should be set free. His game will eventually change after two or three years, as much as he keeps playing. It will be important for him to maintain balance. Apart from cricket skills, it is important to stay balanced off the field. That will be a challenge for him."
Sooryavanshi has already provided plenty of evidence of his ability. During the Duleep Trophy, he became the youngest player to score a half-century in the competition, reaching the landmark at 15 years and 175 days.
He made 92 off 81 ******* for East Zone, reaching his fifty from just 42 deliveries and breaking a 57-year-old record previously held by Laxman Singh, who was 16 years and 23 days old when he scored his Duleep Trophy fifty in 1969.
Rahane believes the teenager's next challenge is not
Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament during India's triumphant T20 World Cup campaign, was dropped after a string of low scores on the tour of England. Sooryavanshi was subsequently handed his international debut in Manchester and also opened during the T20Is against Zimbabwe.
With Samson now recalled for the three-match home series against Afghanistan, beginning at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, Rahane believes the experienced batter should return to the top order.
"I feel the top three should be the same that played in the World Cup. Samson has done well, but he got dropped after two or three bad innings. I want him to get another chance. Abhishek and Ishan also did well for us," Rahane said in a video on his YouTube channel on Friday.
"Vaibhav will get his opportunities, and his time will come. But for now, I feel the top three should be Samson, Abhishek, and Ishan, who were our contributors in the World Cup," he added.
Rahane welcomed Samson's return while pointing to the batter's impact during India's World Cup-winning campaign.
"I am happy to see Sanju Samson back in the team. He was the 'Man of the Series' in the World Cup. It has been up and down, and things were happening to him that were not in his control. But he is a match-winner, and his return strengthens the team," Rahane said.
For Sooryavanshi, Rahane's message was one of patience and freedom. The 15-year-old has made a rapid rise through domestic and franchise cricket, but the former India batter believes the teenager should not overthink his early international career.
"I think he should just play his game right now. He should back the game that led him to come into the Indian team. It is a very early stage for him in his career and in international cricket," Rahane said.
"As of now, there is no need for him to think a lot, and he should be set free. His game will eventually change after two or three years, as much as he keeps playing. It will be important for him to maintain balance. Apart from cricket skills, it is important to stay balanced off the field. That will be a challenge for him."
Sooryavanshi has already provided plenty of evidence of his ability. During the Duleep Trophy, he became the youngest player to score a half-century in the competition, reaching the landmark at 15 years and 175 days.
He made 92 off 81 ******* for East Zone, reaching his fifty from just 42 deliveries and breaking a 57-year-old record previously held by Laxman Singh, who was 16 years and 23 days old when he scored his Duleep Trophy fifty in 1969.
Rahane believes the teenager's next challenge is not
7 days ago
The allure of Hollywood isn't just about movies and music anymore — it's about moguls. Some of the most recognized celebrities have taken their star power from screens and stages to boardrooms and beauty labs, redefining what it means to be a modern icon. From launching fashion lines to founding billion-dollar beauty brands, these women have used their influence to build thriving businesses. Here's a closer look at the stars who have added 'businesswoman' to their ever-growing résumés.
LISA O'Connor / AFF-USA / MEGA
Known for her work onscreen and her influence off it, Shay Mitchell has established herself as a savvy entrepreneur. She founded BÉIS, a hugely popular travel fashion line, in 2018, which was recently announced to be acquired by luggage juggernaut Samsonite, as reported by People.
Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / MEGA
Kendall Jenner's journey from model to businesswoman has been marked by headline-making ventures. She founded 818 Tequila in 2021, and has gained recognition with the brand, earning 16 blind tasting awards across major industry competitions, according to a press release.
#press #beauty #founded #hollywood
LISA O'Connor / AFF-USA / MEGA
Known for her work onscreen and her influence off it, Shay Mitchell has established herself as a savvy entrepreneur. She founded BÉIS, a hugely popular travel fashion line, in 2018, which was recently announced to be acquired by luggage juggernaut Samsonite, as reported by People.
Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / MEGA
Kendall Jenner's journey from model to businesswoman has been marked by headline-making ventures. She founded 818 Tequila in 2021, and has gained recognition with the brand, earning 16 blind tasting awards across major industry competitions, according to a press release.
#press #beauty #founded #hollywood
9 days ago
Did Sreesanth ignore Sanju Samson in KCL 2026 final? Viral video makes fans speculate about strained relationship between Kerala cricket legends originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A viral video from the KCL 2026 final appears to show Sreesanth deliberately walking past Sanju Samson without a handshake.
The apparent snub follows Sreesanth's public claims that he arranged Samson's career-defining trials with Rajasthan Royals under Rahul Dravid.
Sreesanth has publicly accused Samson of telling different versions of his IPL discovery story to different audiences.
A clip from the Kerala Cricket League 2026 final presentation ceremony is making the rounds on social media, where Sreesanth is seen walking straight past Sanju Samson on stage without a handshake.
#sreesanth #kerala #viral
A viral video from the KCL 2026 final appears to show Sreesanth deliberately walking past Sanju Samson without a handshake.
The apparent snub follows Sreesanth's public claims that he arranged Samson's career-defining trials with Rajasthan Royals under Rahul Dravid.
Sreesanth has publicly accused Samson of telling different versions of his IPL discovery story to different audiences.
A clip from the Kerala Cricket League 2026 final presentation ceremony is making the rounds on social media, where Sreesanth is seen walking straight past Sanju Samson on stage without a handshake.
#sreesanth #kerala #viral
11 days ago
The punishment the NBA handed down to the Los Angeles Clippers for circumventing the league salary cap through no-show sponsorship deals signed by Kawhi Leonard is unprecedented in American professional sports.
The Clippers were stripped of five future first-round NBA Draft picks, received one-year suspensions for owner Steve Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker, and a six-month suspension for president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. In addition, the Clippers and Ballmer were fined $30 million.
While the draft-pick penalty mirrors the initial penalty for the Minnesota Timberwolves when they developed a scheme to sign Joe Smith in 2000, two of those picks were eventually restored. And the $3.5 million fine is no comparison, even with inflation, to the monetary penalty for the Clippers.
But for David Samson, it still wasn't enough.
Appearing on The Dan Le Batard Show, the former Miami Marlins executive said the severity of the salary cap circumvention called for even harsher punishment, perhaps up to and including firing the executives in question and forcing Ballmer to sell the team.
#show #picks
The Clippers were stripped of five future first-round NBA Draft picks, received one-year suspensions for owner Steve Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker, and a six-month suspension for president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. In addition, the Clippers and Ballmer were fined $30 million.
While the draft-pick penalty mirrors the initial penalty for the Minnesota Timberwolves when they developed a scheme to sign Joe Smith in 2000, two of those picks were eventually restored. And the $3.5 million fine is no comparison, even with inflation, to the monetary penalty for the Clippers.
But for David Samson, it still wasn't enough.
Appearing on The Dan Le Batard Show, the former Miami Marlins executive said the severity of the salary cap circumvention called for even harsher punishment, perhaps up to and including firing the executives in question and forcing Ballmer to sell the team.
#show #picks
12 days 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
26 days ago
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Cricket League (KCL) enters its third season on Thursday with a question that goes beyond who will lift the trophy: Who steps up to own Kerala's T20 stage in the absence of Sanju Samson?
Sanju, the league's biggest star and a key figure in Kochi Blue Tigers' ******* le-winning campaign last season, has opted out citing "personal reasons". It leaves a void, but also opens the door for a new generation to seize the spotlight. Kochi, led by Sanju's brother Saly Samson, will have to prove they can defend their crown without their biggest match-winner.
"Sanju will be missed. His experience was invaluable last season during our ******* le-winning run. But we have a core team of 10 players who performed for us, with seniors like Basil Thampi," Saly said.
The defending champions, who face Kollam Sailors on Thursday at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, however, are not looking beyond the immediate task. "There's added pressure on us because of the defending champions tag, but we're confident. We have prepared well for this tournament," he said.
The search for the next breakout star could be the defining subplot of KCL 3. Young players will have an opportunity to turn the league into a springboard to Kerala's senior side, the IPL and beyond. Saly reckoned the tournament's unpredictable nature could produce a surprise package.
"I believe that KCL has a knack for throwing up surprises. How you perform on the given day is what makes it count. Some young, relatively unknown player might come good and score a ton or pick up a five-for," he added.
The auction has added another layer of intrigue. Alleppey Ripples' ₹11.8-lakh purchase of Sibin Gireesh made him the league's most expensive player, while Krishna Devan and Sachin Baby also commanded big bids. Baby's move to Alleppey, where he will captain the side, adds another interesting storyline as the former Kerala skipper begins a new chapter.
The KCA has ******* embled a 15-member umpiring panel, including former Kerala captain and ICC elite panel umpire K N Ananthapadmanabhan and BCCI Level 2 umpire Tony Emmatty. Two BCCI-panel umpires will officiate in every game.
Adding another layer of technology is the Hawk-Eye, which will be used to ******* ist reviews and improve the accuracy of decision-making. With four umpires ******* igned to every game and Hawk-Eye enhancing the review process, KCL is aiming for greater professionalism.
As six teams converge on Greenfield, the moot question remains: Without Sanju, who becomes the new face of Kerala's T20 cricket?
133370622
#saly
Sanju, the league's biggest star and a key figure in Kochi Blue Tigers' ******* le-winning campaign last season, has opted out citing "personal reasons". It leaves a void, but also opens the door for a new generation to seize the spotlight. Kochi, led by Sanju's brother Saly Samson, will have to prove they can defend their crown without their biggest match-winner.
"Sanju will be missed. His experience was invaluable last season during our ******* le-winning run. But we have a core team of 10 players who performed for us, with seniors like Basil Thampi," Saly said.
The defending champions, who face Kollam Sailors on Thursday at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, however, are not looking beyond the immediate task. "There's added pressure on us because of the defending champions tag, but we're confident. We have prepared well for this tournament," he said.
The search for the next breakout star could be the defining subplot of KCL 3. Young players will have an opportunity to turn the league into a springboard to Kerala's senior side, the IPL and beyond. Saly reckoned the tournament's unpredictable nature could produce a surprise package.
"I believe that KCL has a knack for throwing up surprises. How you perform on the given day is what makes it count. Some young, relatively unknown player might come good and score a ton or pick up a five-for," he added.
The auction has added another layer of intrigue. Alleppey Ripples' ₹11.8-lakh purchase of Sibin Gireesh made him the league's most expensive player, while Krishna Devan and Sachin Baby also commanded big bids. Baby's move to Alleppey, where he will captain the side, adds another interesting storyline as the former Kerala skipper begins a new chapter.
The KCA has ******* embled a 15-member umpiring panel, including former Kerala captain and ICC elite panel umpire K N Ananthapadmanabhan and BCCI Level 2 umpire Tony Emmatty. Two BCCI-panel umpires will officiate in every game.
Adding another layer of technology is the Hawk-Eye, which will be used to ******* ist reviews and improve the accuracy of decision-making. With four umpires ******* igned to every game and Hawk-Eye enhancing the review process, KCL is aiming for greater professionalism.
As six teams converge on Greenfield, the moot question remains: Without Sanju, who becomes the new face of Kerala's T20 cricket?
133370622
#saly
28 days ago
Here comes some help for Atlanta's pass rush, and from a source that would have seemed mighty unlikely even a month ago.
The Falcons announced Tuesday morning that they had signed Za'Darius Smith to a one year contract, bringing the 34-year-old into the fold after the team lost Jalon Walker for the year to injury and learned they will be without James Pearce Jr. for the first eight games of the season. The three-time Pro Bowler has 70.5 career sacks to his name over an 11 year career that has seen him play for the Ravens, Packers, Vikings, Browns, Lions, and Eagles.
The reason this signing is a surprise is that until quite recently, Smith was retired. He un-retired and worked out for the Browns, where he was widely expected to sign, but then wound up joining Atlanta instead.
The appeal of Smith is very easy to understand for the Falcons, who need experienced, productive players in their edge group. While Smith appeared in just five games a year ago for the Eagles, he's been an ****** et as a pass rusher in every single year of his career and just had nine sacks back in 2024. ****** uming Smith is healthy and can ramp up quickly, he'll be a prominent piece of the rotation immediately, and both his size and history of providing solid run defense should earn him significant snaps out of the gate.
Smith will join Azeez Ojulari, Samson Ebukam, Cameron Thomas, and Bralen Trice at outside linebacker, and it would not stun me to see the team add one more player between now and Week 1.
#smith #Browns
The Falcons announced Tuesday morning that they had signed Za'Darius Smith to a one year contract, bringing the 34-year-old into the fold after the team lost Jalon Walker for the year to injury and learned they will be without James Pearce Jr. for the first eight games of the season. The three-time Pro Bowler has 70.5 career sacks to his name over an 11 year career that has seen him play for the Ravens, Packers, Vikings, Browns, Lions, and Eagles.
The reason this signing is a surprise is that until quite recently, Smith was retired. He un-retired and worked out for the Browns, where he was widely expected to sign, but then wound up joining Atlanta instead.
The appeal of Smith is very easy to understand for the Falcons, who need experienced, productive players in their edge group. While Smith appeared in just five games a year ago for the Eagles, he's been an ****** et as a pass rusher in every single year of his career and just had nine sacks back in 2024. ****** uming Smith is healthy and can ramp up quickly, he'll be a prominent piece of the rotation immediately, and both his size and history of providing solid run defense should earn him significant snaps out of the gate.
Smith will join Azeez Ojulari, Samson Ebukam, Cameron Thomas, and Bralen Trice at outside linebacker, and it would not stun me to see the team add one more player between now and Week 1.
#smith #Browns
29 days ago
As Hurricane Lala drenched parts of the Hawaiian Islands, the calm remained at sunny Father Bray Athletic Complex.
By 1:30 p.m., Edison kicked off to host 'Iolani, and the Chargers from Huntington Beach, Calif., put a jolt into the Raiders with a 41-27 win at Eddie Hamada Field. Sam Thomson threw three touchdown passes, while running backs Brett Dempsen and Gavyn Degiacomo combined for 183 yards and three TDs on 21 carries.
It was a 27-0 lead before the home team began to find its footing. Edison played a mix of reserves and starters from beginning to end. 'Iolani coach Patrick Samsonas found solace in his team's in-game resilience.
"I feel wet. It's a wet game," he said of the gusty, rainy conditions by game's end. We battled in the second and that was the test. They answered some of the calls. That's a really good team in the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation). I'm proud of our guys for battling. We've got a bye week before we get another mainland team."
'Iolani (1-1) hosts Westview (San Diego) on Aug. 29.
#edison #three #hawaiian #islands
By 1:30 p.m., Edison kicked off to host 'Iolani, and the Chargers from Huntington Beach, Calif., put a jolt into the Raiders with a 41-27 win at Eddie Hamada Field. Sam Thomson threw three touchdown passes, while running backs Brett Dempsen and Gavyn Degiacomo combined for 183 yards and three TDs on 21 carries.
It was a 27-0 lead before the home team began to find its footing. Edison played a mix of reserves and starters from beginning to end. 'Iolani coach Patrick Samsonas found solace in his team's in-game resilience.
"I feel wet. It's a wet game," he said of the gusty, rainy conditions by game's end. We battled in the second and that was the test. They answered some of the calls. That's a really good team in the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation). I'm proud of our guys for battling. We've got a bye week before we get another mainland team."
'Iolani (1-1) hosts Westview (San Diego) on Aug. 29.
#edison #three #hawaiian #islands
1 month ago
Atlanta Falcons edge James Pearce Jr. has been suspended for the first eight games of the 2026 NFL season for violating the league's personal conduct policy, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Friday afternoon.
"Falcons DE James Pearce Jr. is being suspended eight regular-season games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy," wrote Schefter. "Pearce was arrested in February, in Doral, Florida, after a domestic dispute involving his ex-girlfriend, Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson."
Pearce led all rookies with 10.5 sacks last season and finished as a finalist for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. His absence is another major blow to a defense that just lost starting edge Jalon Walker for the season with a torn ACL.
The Falcons have been preparing for Pearce's suspension, signing veteran edge rushers Azeez Ojulari and Samson Ebukam to one-year deals in free agency. Both players have starting experience and should have no trouble filling in for Pearce and Walker in defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich's defensive scheme.
"Whether a guy gets fined or hurt, there are always so many things at play at this level," Ulbrich recently said regarding Pearce's potential absence. "The guys that are here today are the ones we're going to ride with and develop and feature. We're just going to coach the guys we have the best we can and go from there."
#schefter
"Falcons DE James Pearce Jr. is being suspended eight regular-season games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy," wrote Schefter. "Pearce was arrested in February, in Doral, Florida, after a domestic dispute involving his ex-girlfriend, Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson."
Pearce led all rookies with 10.5 sacks last season and finished as a finalist for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. His absence is another major blow to a defense that just lost starting edge Jalon Walker for the season with a torn ACL.
The Falcons have been preparing for Pearce's suspension, signing veteran edge rushers Azeez Ojulari and Samson Ebukam to one-year deals in free agency. Both players have starting experience and should have no trouble filling in for Pearce and Walker in defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich's defensive scheme.
"Whether a guy gets fined or hurt, there are always so many things at play at this level," Ulbrich recently said regarding Pearce's potential absence. "The guys that are here today are the ones we're going to ride with and develop and feature. We're just going to coach the guys we have the best we can and go from there."
#schefter
1 month ago
World number two Elena Rybakina survived a huge scare to battle into the Canadian Open quarter-finals on Sunday in Toronto, while fourth-ranked Coco Gauff cruised through.
Kazakhstan's Rybakina recovered from 0-3 and two breaks down in the final set to beat Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 before American Gauff swept aside another Russian, teenage qualifier Alina Korneeva, 6-3, 6-1 in Toronto.
Rybakina will face a quarter-final against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who eliminated home hero Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-4.
Gauff reached the last eight in Canada for the first time since 2023 and will come up against either Swiss 12th seed Belinda Bencic or Alexandra Eala, the rapidly rising 21-year-old Filipina who won her first WTA **** le last Monday in Washington.
"My main focus today was let me try and close it out," said Gauff, who has not dropped a set in Canada.
#gauff
Kazakhstan's Rybakina recovered from 0-3 and two breaks down in the final set to beat Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 before American Gauff swept aside another Russian, teenage qualifier Alina Korneeva, 6-3, 6-1 in Toronto.
Rybakina will face a quarter-final against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who eliminated home hero Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-4.
Gauff reached the last eight in Canada for the first time since 2023 and will come up against either Swiss 12th seed Belinda Bencic or Alexandra Eala, the rapidly rising 21-year-old Filipina who won her first WTA **** le last Monday in Washington.
"My main focus today was let me try and close it out," said Gauff, who has not dropped a set in Canada.
#gauff
1 month ago
Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane has urged everyone to be patient with young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying it is too early to predict his future in Test cricket. Rahane said the teenager should be allowed to grow, adding that the Indian Premier League and international cricket are "completely different."
The 15-year-old Sooryavanshi had a mixed start to his international career. After struggling on his debut tour of England, he bounced back strongly in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, where he finished as the Player of the Series.
Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Rahane said: "It's tough to say or comment on right now. I don't want to say anything and put pressure on that young kid because people are already talking a lot about him. It's just two IPL seasons."
"What I've realised is that IPL and international cricket are completely different. The pressure when you represent your country is enormous. Chasing 70 runs in the IPL in four or five overs is easy. Chasing the same number of runs in international cricket is different. So, let him just play his game, let him just grow," he said.
Sooryavanshi earned his maiden India call-up after a brilliant IPL 2026 season.
Although he was selected for the Ireland and England tours, he did not feature in Ireland. He eventually made his debut in England after Sanju Samson's poor run with the bat.
The left-handed batter struggled in his first taste of international cricket, scoring 14, 13 and 15 in three T20Is before losing his place for the final match of the series.
Sooryavanshi quickly bounced back from the disappointment of the England tour with a match-winning display against Zimbabwe.
He began the three-match T20I series with a half-century, scored 20 in the second game and then blasted 81 off 49 ****** in the final match. India completed a 3-0 clean sweep, while the youngster finished with 151 runs at an average of 50.33 to win the Player of the Series award.
#Cricket #India
The 15-year-old Sooryavanshi had a mixed start to his international career. After struggling on his debut tour of England, he bounced back strongly in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, where he finished as the Player of the Series.
Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Rahane said: "It's tough to say or comment on right now. I don't want to say anything and put pressure on that young kid because people are already talking a lot about him. It's just two IPL seasons."
"What I've realised is that IPL and international cricket are completely different. The pressure when you represent your country is enormous. Chasing 70 runs in the IPL in four or five overs is easy. Chasing the same number of runs in international cricket is different. So, let him just play his game, let him just grow," he said.
Sooryavanshi earned his maiden India call-up after a brilliant IPL 2026 season.
Although he was selected for the Ireland and England tours, he did not feature in Ireland. He eventually made his debut in England after Sanju Samson's poor run with the bat.
The left-handed batter struggled in his first taste of international cricket, scoring 14, 13 and 15 in three T20Is before losing his place for the final match of the series.
Sooryavanshi quickly bounced back from the disappointment of the England tour with a match-winning display against Zimbabwe.
He began the three-match T20I series with a half-century, scored 20 in the second game and then blasted 81 off 49 ****** in the final match. India completed a 3-0 clean sweep, while the youngster finished with 151 runs at an average of 50.33 to win the Player of the Series award.
#Cricket #India
2 months ago
PROVIDENCE — The on-court summer work is done. A three-day team retreat with a select group of Navy SEALs awaits next week.
Providence will scatter from there before the start of first semester, the last real extended break before its 100th men's basketball season. The Friars have answered a few questions and hope to address a few more before two exhibition games in October and the opener in November.
Dink Pate's eligibility, Leonardo Marangon's arrival from Italy, another possible roster addition and minor injuries that sidelined Ryan Mela and Samson Aletan for Thursday's session at the Ruane Friar Development Center all linger. Providence still has time to sort out any challenges before Bryan Hodgson makes his formal coaching debut against Maine at Amica Mutual Pavilion.
"I feel like we got better," Hodgson said. "We've got a great group of young men. We were able to install not only things on the floor, but our culture — how we want things to look."
Pate was a headline commitment for the program after three seasons in the G League, the last with the Westchester Knicks. The rangy shooting guard declined both two-way and 10-day contracts offered by parent club New York with the intention of preserving his college eligibility. The Friars expect a favorable ruling from the NCAA while nearing the end of the process to add Pate for 2026-27.
#providence #hodgson #pate #things
Providence will scatter from there before the start of first semester, the last real extended break before its 100th men's basketball season. The Friars have answered a few questions and hope to address a few more before two exhibition games in October and the opener in November.
Dink Pate's eligibility, Leonardo Marangon's arrival from Italy, another possible roster addition and minor injuries that sidelined Ryan Mela and Samson Aletan for Thursday's session at the Ruane Friar Development Center all linger. Providence still has time to sort out any challenges before Bryan Hodgson makes his formal coaching debut against Maine at Amica Mutual Pavilion.
"I feel like we got better," Hodgson said. "We've got a great group of young men. We were able to install not only things on the floor, but our culture — how we want things to look."
Pate was a headline commitment for the program after three seasons in the G League, the last with the Westchester Knicks. The rangy shooting guard declined both two-way and 10-day contracts offered by parent club New York with the intention of preserving his college eligibility. The Friars expect a favorable ruling from the NCAA while nearing the end of the process to add Pate for 2026-27.
#providence #hodgson #pate #things
2 months ago
Abhishek Sharma's struggles in T20Is have come under renewed focus following another disappointing series against Zimbabwe, with former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth calling on the selectors to make a difficult decision if the opener's poor run continues.
The left-handed batter endured a forgettable three-match series, failing to register a double-digit score. His recent numbers have also become a concern, with Abhishek unable to cross 20 in each of his last six T20I innings. Since India's T20 World Cup triumph, he has managed just one half-century, putting his place in the side under the scanner as competition for the opening spot continues to grow.
The debate has intensified further after Sanju Samson, India's Player of the Tournament during the T20 World Cup-winning campaign, was left out of the Zimbabwe series despite his impressive performances. With several opening options available, Abhishek's extended lean spell has only added to the pressure on the ICC's former top-ranked T20I batter.
Reacting to the opener's dip in form, Srikkanth said rival teams have worked out a way to contain Abhishek and believes the selection panel may soon have to make a bold call. He also expressed confidence that Samson would return to the Indian setup.
"Abhishek Sharma has been sorted out (by opponents) in international cricket, right from the World Cup. I think a tough call has to be taken against him now. I feel Sanju will get his chance again now. He will receive a call back 100%. The selectors will have to take a tough call," he said in a video on his YouTube channel.
While Abhishek's form emerged as a talking point, India also found plenty to celebrate through the return of Mayank Yadav. The fast bowler made his comeback after a lengthy injury break, featuring in his first international match since October 2024.
Mayank made an immediate impact by claiming two wickets in the opening T20I before ending the series with a three-wicket haul in the final game. Bowling with genuine pace throughout the tour, he consistently troubled Zimbabwe's batting line-up and looked close to his best.
Srikkanth was delighted to see the pacer complete all three matches without any fitness concerns and urged the team management to continue investing in young talent.
132677455
"It was good to see Mayank Yadav playing all three games. So happy for him. Look at how consistent this boy was. The Indian future is very good. You have to back the right youngsters. I don't mind Ashok Sharma either," he said.
#three #World
The left-handed batter endured a forgettable three-match series, failing to register a double-digit score. His recent numbers have also become a concern, with Abhishek unable to cross 20 in each of his last six T20I innings. Since India's T20 World Cup triumph, he has managed just one half-century, putting his place in the side under the scanner as competition for the opening spot continues to grow.
The debate has intensified further after Sanju Samson, India's Player of the Tournament during the T20 World Cup-winning campaign, was left out of the Zimbabwe series despite his impressive performances. With several opening options available, Abhishek's extended lean spell has only added to the pressure on the ICC's former top-ranked T20I batter.
Reacting to the opener's dip in form, Srikkanth said rival teams have worked out a way to contain Abhishek and believes the selection panel may soon have to make a bold call. He also expressed confidence that Samson would return to the Indian setup.
"Abhishek Sharma has been sorted out (by opponents) in international cricket, right from the World Cup. I think a tough call has to be taken against him now. I feel Sanju will get his chance again now. He will receive a call back 100%. The selectors will have to take a tough call," he said in a video on his YouTube channel.
While Abhishek's form emerged as a talking point, India also found plenty to celebrate through the return of Mayank Yadav. The fast bowler made his comeback after a lengthy injury break, featuring in his first international match since October 2024.
Mayank made an immediate impact by claiming two wickets in the opening T20I before ending the series with a three-wicket haul in the final game. Bowling with genuine pace throughout the tour, he consistently troubled Zimbabwe's batting line-up and looked close to his best.
Srikkanth was delighted to see the pacer complete all three matches without any fitness concerns and urged the team management to continue investing in young talent.
132677455
"It was good to see Mayank Yadav playing all three games. So happy for him. Look at how consistent this boy was. The Indian future is very good. You have to back the right youngsters. I don't mind Ashok Sharma either," he said.
#three #World
2 months ago
'Abhishek Sharma sorted out': Kris Srikkanth believes Sanju Samson will return to India T20I side originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kris Srikkanth predicts Sanju Samson's recall after Abhishek Sharma's poor form.
Abhishek fails to cross 20 in six straight T20I innings.
Mayank Yadav impresses on his comeback, earns Srikkanth's praise.
Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth has predicted that Sanju Samson will soon find his way back into India's T20I setup, and argued that Abhishek Sharma's extended struggles have left selectors with little choice but to make a difficult call regarding his place in the side.
#srikkanth #samson #sharma
Kris Srikkanth predicts Sanju Samson's recall after Abhishek Sharma's poor form.
Abhishek fails to cross 20 in six straight T20I innings.
Mayank Yadav impresses on his comeback, earns Srikkanth's praise.
Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth has predicted that Sanju Samson will soon find his way back into India's T20I setup, and argued that Abhishek Sharma's extended struggles have left selectors with little choice but to make a difficult call regarding his place in the side.
#srikkanth #samson #sharma
2 months ago
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi announced himself on the international stage in spectacular fashion during India's first T20I against Zimbabwe on Thursday, becoming the youngest player ever to score a maiden T20I half-century.
The 15-year-old became the youngest player to score a maiden T20I half-century after racing to an 18-ball fifty in Harare. It was a timely response from the teenage batter, who had managed scores of 14, 13 and 15 in his first three appearances for India during the T20I series against England.
Following those outings, Sooryavanshi was left out of the playing XI for the fifth and final T20I. His exclusion came amid intense scrutiny over India's selection decisions. Earlier in the England series, Sanju Samson, who had been India's Player of the Tournament during their T20 World Cup-winning campaign, was dropped from the side, with Sooryavanshi brought into the XI. However, for the fifth match, the management reversed course, restoring Samson and leaving out the youngster. Samson was subsequently omitted from India's squad for the Zimbabwe tour.
Former India captain and ex-BCCI selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth admitted he was baffled by the decision to drop Sooryavanshi after only three failures and took aim at head coach Gautam Gambhir over the move.
"He (Sooryavanshi) has an effortless range of shots, yet, not one shot was cross-batted. This boy is really something special. How did Gautam Gambhir foolishly drop him, of all people, after three failures to crush his confidence?" said Srikkanth, speaking on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda.
With Gambhir not accompanying the team on the Zimbabwe tour, former India batter VVS Laxman is serving as the side's interim head coach.
Srikkanth also highlighted the youngster's commitment to improvement, revealing that Sooryavanshi immediately returned to work after the England series rather than taking a break.
"I salute Vaibhav for his dedication. After the England series, he didn't go home and instead went straight to the Rajasthan Royals camp. He has been working on his batting against the short ball because he wants to prove to the whole world that he is special," Srikkanth added.
The 1983 World Cup winner was equally impressed by the fearless approach shown by Sooryavanshi despite the pressure of retaining his place in the national side. According to Srikkanth, many young players would have opted for a safer route after a string of low scores, but the teenager remained committed to his attacking game.
"The ease at which he scores at a 250 strike rate is extraordinary. Normally, after three failures, other players would have tried to safeguard their place in the Indian team by taking singles and twos. But he played fearlessly without worrying about the consequences. Scoring a 50 off 18 **** has become child's play for him. That's his greatness," Srikkanth elaborated.
Sooryavanshi's explosive innings not only earned him a place in the record books bu
The 15-year-old became the youngest player to score a maiden T20I half-century after racing to an 18-ball fifty in Harare. It was a timely response from the teenage batter, who had managed scores of 14, 13 and 15 in his first three appearances for India during the T20I series against England.
Following those outings, Sooryavanshi was left out of the playing XI for the fifth and final T20I. His exclusion came amid intense scrutiny over India's selection decisions. Earlier in the England series, Sanju Samson, who had been India's Player of the Tournament during their T20 World Cup-winning campaign, was dropped from the side, with Sooryavanshi brought into the XI. However, for the fifth match, the management reversed course, restoring Samson and leaving out the youngster. Samson was subsequently omitted from India's squad for the Zimbabwe tour.
Former India captain and ex-BCCI selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth admitted he was baffled by the decision to drop Sooryavanshi after only three failures and took aim at head coach Gautam Gambhir over the move.
"He (Sooryavanshi) has an effortless range of shots, yet, not one shot was cross-batted. This boy is really something special. How did Gautam Gambhir foolishly drop him, of all people, after three failures to crush his confidence?" said Srikkanth, speaking on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda.
With Gambhir not accompanying the team on the Zimbabwe tour, former India batter VVS Laxman is serving as the side's interim head coach.
Srikkanth also highlighted the youngster's commitment to improvement, revealing that Sooryavanshi immediately returned to work after the England series rather than taking a break.
"I salute Vaibhav for his dedication. After the England series, he didn't go home and instead went straight to the Rajasthan Royals camp. He has been working on his batting against the short ball because he wants to prove to the whole world that he is special," Srikkanth added.
The 1983 World Cup winner was equally impressed by the fearless approach shown by Sooryavanshi despite the pressure of retaining his place in the national side. According to Srikkanth, many young players would have opted for a safer route after a string of low scores, but the teenager remained committed to his attacking game.
"The ease at which he scores at a 250 strike rate is extraordinary. Normally, after three failures, other players would have tried to safeguard their place in the Indian team by taking singles and twos. But he played fearlessly without worrying about the consequences. Scoring a 50 off 18 **** has become child's play for him. That's his greatness," Srikkanth elaborated.
Sooryavanshi's explosive innings not only earned him a place in the record books bu
2 months ago
After the bruising their T20 side endured on the UK tour, this Zimbabwe series could be just the ideal fillip India needed.
Having finally recorded their maiden win under new T20 captain Shreyas Iyer after seven winless matches at the helm, India will look to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead when they take on Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
Following a difficult run that saw them whitewashed by Ireland (0-2) and England (0-4), India's convincing sevenwicket victory in the seriesopener has restored some much-needed confidence.
Yet, even as the visitors look to build on that momentum, one player who will be under the scanner is explosive opener Abhishek Sharma.
Two years ago, Harare was the venue where Abhishek announced himself on the international stage with a breathtaking maiden T20I hundred in only his second game.
The stylish left-hander returns to the same ground searching for a spark after a worrying dip in form. Having begun the England series promisingly with scores of 59 and 43, Abhishek's returns thereafter have read 10, 16, 3 and 1. In Thursday's opener, his uncomfortable eight-ball 1 suggested a batter short on rhythm and confidence.
With competition for places intensifying, Abhishek knows he needs runs. Senior opener Sanju Samson, though absent on this tour, remains in the selectors' plans and has been named in India's squad for the Asian Games later this year. A substantial score in Harare would not only help India seal the series but also strengthen Abhishek's own case in a rapidly evolving T20 setup.
India, though, found a new hero in the opening match.
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a stunning 18-ball fifty, becoming the youngest player to score a T20I half-century.
The 15-year-old, who had endured a difficult England tour where pacy bowlers like Jofra Archer tested him relentlessly with short-pitched bowling, responded in style against Zimbabwe.
Taking on Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani fearlessly, he produced a blistering innings that underlined why he is so highly rated.
Supported by Ishan Kishan's brisk 35 and an unbeaten 28 from skipper Iyer, Sooryavanshi ensured India chased down the target with more than six overs to spare.
Head coach VVS Laxman would have been equally pleased by the performance of India's revamped pace attack. The biggest positive was the return of Mayank Yadav, who made an impressive comeback after two injury-ravaged years. The Delhi quick finished with figures of 2 for 18 and consistently touched high speeds, with his opening delivery to Brian Bennett at 150 kmph indidcating that his pace remains intact.
Prince Yadav also showed signs of improvement after a lean England tour, while debutant Ashok Sharma displayed enough promise to suggest he could become another exciting fast-bowling option.
#zimbabwe #harare #iyer
Having finally recorded their maiden win under new T20 captain Shreyas Iyer after seven winless matches at the helm, India will look to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead when they take on Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
Following a difficult run that saw them whitewashed by Ireland (0-2) and England (0-4), India's convincing sevenwicket victory in the seriesopener has restored some much-needed confidence.
Yet, even as the visitors look to build on that momentum, one player who will be under the scanner is explosive opener Abhishek Sharma.
Two years ago, Harare was the venue where Abhishek announced himself on the international stage with a breathtaking maiden T20I hundred in only his second game.
The stylish left-hander returns to the same ground searching for a spark after a worrying dip in form. Having begun the England series promisingly with scores of 59 and 43, Abhishek's returns thereafter have read 10, 16, 3 and 1. In Thursday's opener, his uncomfortable eight-ball 1 suggested a batter short on rhythm and confidence.
With competition for places intensifying, Abhishek knows he needs runs. Senior opener Sanju Samson, though absent on this tour, remains in the selectors' plans and has been named in India's squad for the Asian Games later this year. A substantial score in Harare would not only help India seal the series but also strengthen Abhishek's own case in a rapidly evolving T20 setup.
India, though, found a new hero in the opening match.
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a stunning 18-ball fifty, becoming the youngest player to score a T20I half-century.
The 15-year-old, who had endured a difficult England tour where pacy bowlers like Jofra Archer tested him relentlessly with short-pitched bowling, responded in style against Zimbabwe.
Taking on Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani fearlessly, he produced a blistering innings that underlined why he is so highly rated.
Supported by Ishan Kishan's brisk 35 and an unbeaten 28 from skipper Iyer, Sooryavanshi ensured India chased down the target with more than six overs to spare.
Head coach VVS Laxman would have been equally pleased by the performance of India's revamped pace attack. The biggest positive was the return of Mayank Yadav, who made an impressive comeback after two injury-ravaged years. The Delhi quick finished with figures of 2 for 18 and consistently touched high speeds, with his opening delivery to Brian Bennett at 150 kmph indidcating that his pace remains intact.
Prince Yadav also showed signs of improvement after a lean England tour, while debutant Ashok Sharma displayed enough promise to suggest he could become another exciting fast-bowling option.
#zimbabwe #harare #iyer
2 months ago
When India begin their three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday, the spotlight will not only be on the result but also on the fresh faces hoping to begin their international journeys.
Over the years, tours of Zimbabwe have evolved into India's preferred platform for testing emerging talent in the shortest format. Rather than fielding full-strength squads, the BCCI has consistently used these bilateral series to reward standout domestic and IPL performers with their maiden T20I caps.
The numbers underline that trend. A total of 22 Indian men's cricketers have made their T20I debuts against Zimbabwe, making the African nation one of India's most frequent proving grounds for future stars.
India's tradition of handing out debuts in Zimbabwe dates back to 2010. During the two-match T20I series, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin and Naman Ojha all made their debuts in the opening game as India secured a comfortable six-wicket win. Kohli remained unbeaten on 26, Ashwin impressed with figures of 1/22, while Ojha managed two runs. In the following match, Amit Mishra became the fourth debutant of the series and returned figures of 1/21.
That tour also marked another milestone, with Suresh Raina captaining India in T20Is for the first time.
Five years later, India again arrived in Zimbabwe with a youthful squad. The 2015 series featured first T20I caps for Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Stuart Binny, Axar Patel and Sandeep Sharma in the opening game, while Sanju Samson debuted in the second T20I.
Although several batters endured modest starts, Axar Patel stood out with an impressive spell of 3/17. Manish Pandey scored 19, Kedar Jadhav made 9, Stuart Binny contributed 11 and Sandeep Sharma went wicketless. Samson scored 19 off 24 ****** in his maiden appearance.
The same tour also witnessed Ajinkya Rahane making his captaincy debut in both ODIs and T20Is.
India continued the trend in 2016, handing opportunities to another crop of newcomers. KL Rahul, Mandeep Singh, Jaydev Unadkat, Rishi Dhawan and Yuzvendra Chahal all made their T20I debuts in the opening match. It proved a difficult initiation for several players as Zimbabwe posted 170/6. Unadkat, Dhawan and Chahal all endured expensive spells, while Rahul was dismissed for a first-ball duck. Mandeep Singh provided one of the few positives with 31 off 27 ****** , although India lost the match by two runs.
The second T20I brought more debutants. Barinder Sran enjoyed a dream start to his international career, producing figures of 4/10, which remain the best bowling figures by an Indian on T20I debut. Dhawal Kulkarni also debuted in that match and claimed 1/32.
India once again used the Zimbabwe tour in 2024 to blood a fresh batch of youngsters. Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel made their T20I debuts in the opening match of the five-game series. Sai Sudharsan was handed his maiden cap in the second T20I, while Tushar Deshpande made his de
Over the years, tours of Zimbabwe have evolved into India's preferred platform for testing emerging talent in the shortest format. Rather than fielding full-strength squads, the BCCI has consistently used these bilateral series to reward standout domestic and IPL performers with their maiden T20I caps.
The numbers underline that trend. A total of 22 Indian men's cricketers have made their T20I debuts against Zimbabwe, making the African nation one of India's most frequent proving grounds for future stars.
India's tradition of handing out debuts in Zimbabwe dates back to 2010. During the two-match T20I series, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin and Naman Ojha all made their debuts in the opening game as India secured a comfortable six-wicket win. Kohli remained unbeaten on 26, Ashwin impressed with figures of 1/22, while Ojha managed two runs. In the following match, Amit Mishra became the fourth debutant of the series and returned figures of 1/21.
That tour also marked another milestone, with Suresh Raina captaining India in T20Is for the first time.
Five years later, India again arrived in Zimbabwe with a youthful squad. The 2015 series featured first T20I caps for Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Stuart Binny, Axar Patel and Sandeep Sharma in the opening game, while Sanju Samson debuted in the second T20I.
Although several batters endured modest starts, Axar Patel stood out with an impressive spell of 3/17. Manish Pandey scored 19, Kedar Jadhav made 9, Stuart Binny contributed 11 and Sandeep Sharma went wicketless. Samson scored 19 off 24 ****** in his maiden appearance.
The same tour also witnessed Ajinkya Rahane making his captaincy debut in both ODIs and T20Is.
India continued the trend in 2016, handing opportunities to another crop of newcomers. KL Rahul, Mandeep Singh, Jaydev Unadkat, Rishi Dhawan and Yuzvendra Chahal all made their T20I debuts in the opening match. It proved a difficult initiation for several players as Zimbabwe posted 170/6. Unadkat, Dhawan and Chahal all endured expensive spells, while Rahul was dismissed for a first-ball duck. Mandeep Singh provided one of the few positives with 31 off 27 ****** , although India lost the match by two runs.
The second T20I brought more debutants. Barinder Sran enjoyed a dream start to his international career, producing figures of 4/10, which remain the best bowling figures by an Indian on T20I debut. Dhawal Kulkarni also debuted in that match and claimed 1/32.
India once again used the Zimbabwe tour in 2024 to blood a fresh batch of youngsters. Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel made their T20I debuts in the opening match of the five-game series. Sai Sudharsan was handed his maiden cap in the second T20I, while Tushar Deshpande made his de
2 months ago
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza has backed teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to emerge as a "generational talent", urging people not to judge the 15-year-old after a difficult start to his international career.
Sooryavanshi endured a challenging debut T20I series in England, scoring 14, 13 and 15 in three appearances as India went down 0-4. The young opener also struggled against Jofra Archer's short-ball, falling to the England pacer twice during the series.
Despite the modest returns, Raza believes the youngster has the ability to become one of the game's brightest stars if his development is managed carefully.
"Vaibhav is a supremely talented cricketer. If a 15-year-old kid is playing international cricket, criticising him after just two or three matches isn't justified," Raza said on JioStar.
"I think Vaibhav has a lot of very good senior cricketers around him. If he is managed and handled well, I think Vaibhav could be a generational talent."
The India opener now returns to Harare, a venue that holds special memories for him after his remarkable 175 off 80 ****** against England in the Under-19 World Cup final in January helped India lift the ****** le.
With Sanju Samson unavailable for the Zimbabwe tour, Sooryavanshi is expected to receive another opportunity at the top of the order when the three-match T20I series gets underway on Thursday.
Raza said the teenager's rise through the ranks at such a young age is already an extraordinary achievement and stressed the importance of nurturing his talent.
"To see what he has done over the last year, what he has done for India Under-19, and the fact that he made his international debut at the same age, these are no small feats by any means.
"You don't get to hear such stories nowadays. Vaibhav is special. It will be important how he is managed and handled," he added.
Looking ahead to the series, Raza rejected suggestions that India would start as overwhelming favourites despite Zimbabwe facing the reigning T20 world champions.
"Both countries will have an equal chance in this series. But one thing I am very sure about is that because Zimbabwe has been playing very consistent and very entertaining cricket, I can say this for sure that this series will be very entertaining," Raza told Star Sports.
Zimbabwe head into the contest with confidence after a series of impressive results, including a memorable 23-run victory over Australia at the ICC T20 World Cup in Colombo in February, a result that played a key role in Australia's surprise group-stage exit. They have also registered wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh this year.
"As far as winning or losing is concerned, both countries have an equal chance to win the series," said Raza, who has represented Zimbabwe in 136 T20Is.
The experienced all-rounder acknowledged India's fearless batting approach, saying it can either overwhelm opponents or leave the door open if things do not go according to plan.
Sooryavanshi endured a challenging debut T20I series in England, scoring 14, 13 and 15 in three appearances as India went down 0-4. The young opener also struggled against Jofra Archer's short-ball, falling to the England pacer twice during the series.
Despite the modest returns, Raza believes the youngster has the ability to become one of the game's brightest stars if his development is managed carefully.
"Vaibhav is a supremely talented cricketer. If a 15-year-old kid is playing international cricket, criticising him after just two or three matches isn't justified," Raza said on JioStar.
"I think Vaibhav has a lot of very good senior cricketers around him. If he is managed and handled well, I think Vaibhav could be a generational talent."
The India opener now returns to Harare, a venue that holds special memories for him after his remarkable 175 off 80 ****** against England in the Under-19 World Cup final in January helped India lift the ****** le.
With Sanju Samson unavailable for the Zimbabwe tour, Sooryavanshi is expected to receive another opportunity at the top of the order when the three-match T20I series gets underway on Thursday.
Raza said the teenager's rise through the ranks at such a young age is already an extraordinary achievement and stressed the importance of nurturing his talent.
"To see what he has done over the last year, what he has done for India Under-19, and the fact that he made his international debut at the same age, these are no small feats by any means.
"You don't get to hear such stories nowadays. Vaibhav is special. It will be important how he is managed and handled," he added.
Looking ahead to the series, Raza rejected suggestions that India would start as overwhelming favourites despite Zimbabwe facing the reigning T20 world champions.
"Both countries will have an equal chance in this series. But one thing I am very sure about is that because Zimbabwe has been playing very consistent and very entertaining cricket, I can say this for sure that this series will be very entertaining," Raza told Star Sports.
Zimbabwe head into the contest with confidence after a series of impressive results, including a memorable 23-run victory over Australia at the ICC T20 World Cup in Colombo in February, a result that played a key role in Australia's surprise group-stage exit. They have also registered wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh this year.
"As far as winning or losing is concerned, both countries have an equal chance to win the series," said Raza, who has represented Zimbabwe in 136 T20Is.
The experienced all-rounder acknowledged India's fearless batting approach, saying it can either overwhelm opponents or leave the door open if things do not go according to plan.
2 months ago
Sanju Samson has revealed how Rohit Sharma's reassuring words during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 initially failed to convince him after being left out of India's playing XI in the latter stages of the tournament. However, the wicketkeeper-batter eventually rediscovered his confidence and responded with one of the defining knocks of India's campaign against the West Indies.
After Samson endured a disappointing five-match T20I series against New Zealand heading into the World Cup, Rohit made it clear that the Kerala batter still had an important role to play in India's campaign.
"Dukhi mat ho bhai. It is a long tournament, kabhi bhi mauka aa sakta hai." ("Don't be disheartened, brother. It is a long tournament. You'll get your chance. The opportunity can come anytime,") Rohit had told Samson while embracing him.
Reflecting on that difficult phase, Samson admitted he was too disappointed to believe his captain's words at the time.
"To be honest, I didn't believe him at that time. Sorry. He might have spoken from his heart or from his experience, but that day I wasn't able to see what he was seeing. You could see it on my face; I was a bit off that day," Samson told JioStar.
The Kerala batter said the disappointment lingered even after India's World Cup campaign began, making it difficult for him to move on immediately.
"Our World Cup campaign started two days after the New Zealand series, and it takes me at least a week to recover. I don't like to bottle things up, so it shows on my face if I'm not feeling 100 per cent. I went through that phase for four or five days before getting myself back on track," he added.
Samson said the setback eventually turned into an opportunity for self-reflection, helping him reconnect with his purpose as a cricketer.
"You know you've failed, so what's next? You're at the bottom, so from there, you can only go up. I started working on myself mentally. I started asking myself questions, why do I play cricket? What's my purpose? It was like I was rediscovering myself while the World Cup was going on. And then everything just came back," Samson said.
Sanju Samson scripted one of the greatest redemption stories in T20 World Cup history, finishing as the Player of the Tournament as India lifted the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup on home soil. After initially missing out on the playing XI following a lean run of form, Samson fought his way back into the side and ended the tournament as India's highest run-scorer and the third-highest overall, amassing 321 runs in just five matches at an outstanding average of 80.25 and a blistering strike rate of 199.37. He also smashed a tournament-record 24 sixes, the most by any batter in a single T20 World Cup edition.
#samson #World #campaign #back
After Samson endured a disappointing five-match T20I series against New Zealand heading into the World Cup, Rohit made it clear that the Kerala batter still had an important role to play in India's campaign.
"Dukhi mat ho bhai. It is a long tournament, kabhi bhi mauka aa sakta hai." ("Don't be disheartened, brother. It is a long tournament. You'll get your chance. The opportunity can come anytime,") Rohit had told Samson while embracing him.
Reflecting on that difficult phase, Samson admitted he was too disappointed to believe his captain's words at the time.
"To be honest, I didn't believe him at that time. Sorry. He might have spoken from his heart or from his experience, but that day I wasn't able to see what he was seeing. You could see it on my face; I was a bit off that day," Samson told JioStar.
The Kerala batter said the disappointment lingered even after India's World Cup campaign began, making it difficult for him to move on immediately.
"Our World Cup campaign started two days after the New Zealand series, and it takes me at least a week to recover. I don't like to bottle things up, so it shows on my face if I'm not feeling 100 per cent. I went through that phase for four or five days before getting myself back on track," he added.
Samson said the setback eventually turned into an opportunity for self-reflection, helping him reconnect with his purpose as a cricketer.
"You know you've failed, so what's next? You're at the bottom, so from there, you can only go up. I started working on myself mentally. I started asking myself questions, why do I play cricket? What's my purpose? It was like I was rediscovering myself while the World Cup was going on. And then everything just came back," Samson said.
Sanju Samson scripted one of the greatest redemption stories in T20 World Cup history, finishing as the Player of the Tournament as India lifted the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup on home soil. After initially missing out on the playing XI following a lean run of form, Samson fought his way back into the side and ended the tournament as India's highest run-scorer and the third-highest overall, amassing 321 runs in just five matches at an outstanding average of 80.25 and a blistering strike rate of 199.37. He also smashed a tournament-record 24 sixes, the most by any batter in a single T20 World Cup edition.
#samson #World #campaign #back
2 months ago
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Christian parents whose two daughters were seized by the Swedish government more than three years ago brought their custody battle to Washington, D.C., on Friday.
A crowd of Romanian Americans gathered outside the Swedish Embassy in Washington on Friday morning to show their support for Daniel and Bianca Samson, Christian parents who have been separated from their daughters, Sara and Tiana, since December 2022.
The years-long battle began after Sara, then 11, made a false abuse allegation against her parents, stemming from an argument over not being allowed to wear makeup or have a smartphone. Despite Sara quickly admitting she had lied, Swedish social services removed the girls from the home.
Brazil Parents Face Prison Sentence For Homeschooling After Court Accuses Them Of 'Intellectual Neglect'
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Christian parents whose two daughters were seized by the Swedish government more than three years ago brought their custody battle to Washington, D.C., on Friday.
A crowd of Romanian Americans gathered outside the Swedish Embassy in Washington on Friday morning to show their support for Daniel and Bianca Samson, Christian parents who have been separated from their daughters, Sara and Tiana, since December 2022.
The years-long battle began after Sara, then 11, made a false abuse allegation against her parents, stemming from an argument over not being allowed to wear makeup or have a smartphone. Despite Sara quickly admitting she had lied, Swedish social services removed the girls from the home.
Brazil Parents Face Prison Sentence For Homeschooling After Court Accuses Them Of 'Intellectual Neglect'
2 months ago
NEW DELHI: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly criticised the selectors for leaving Sanju Samson out of India's T20I squad for the upcoming Zimbabwe tour, calling the decision "just unfair". Ashwin also warned that frequent changes in the team could create insecurity among players and hurt India's T20 setup.
Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin said he completely disagreed with the decision.
"I mean, what can I even say? It's just unfair. Just unfair. I don't agree with it. But it is what it is. I mean, I don't know. Seriously, it's difficult."
Ashwin questioned the logic behind dropping Samson after a few poor scores and wondered who would be next if the team continued to lose.
"Sanju has been dropped because of losses and form. He has been left out. We've already lost two games. If we lose again, will someone else be dropped too? Who is next? That's wrong. I really hope the Indian team finds itself. Indian cricketers should not be put in an insecure position."
Samson's omission has become one of the biggest talking points in Indian cricket. The wicketkeeper-batter, who was named Player of the Tournament at this year's T20 World Cup, managed scores of 5, 0 and 1 in his last three innings against Ireland and in the opening T20I against England.
Samson was replaced in the playing XI by 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and was later left out of the Zimbabwe-bound squad.
Ashwin said such decisions can make players think more about protecting their place than winning matches.
"As I had said earlier after the SKY incident, players will go insular. They will start thinking only about themselves. In T20 cricket, that is disastrous."
"If batters start thinking that they will be dropped if they don't score runs, they will begin playing only to protect their place in the team, which is extremely dangerous."
Ashwin added that even if Samson gets another opportunity, the pressure of keeping his place could affect the way he bats.
"Even now I'm saying, imagine Sanju gets another chance. He too will start thinking about himself. And you can't even say that's wrong."
"If Sanju scores 45 or 48 off 25 **** and takes two more deliveries to reach his fifty, you can't say that's wrong because he is trying to protect his place in the team. I really hope... I really hope they find a solution to this."
Ashwin further argued that a good domestic season should not automatically guarantee an India call-up, while responding to suggestions that players like Prabhsimran Singh deserved opportunities after impressive performances.
"In our TNPL team, there's a player named Hunny Saini. He's a very good player and an excellent finisher. He also wants a chance. There's BR Sharad from Bengaluru Dragons, who is playing well too. If you're asking when they should get an opportunity, then send them to Zimbabwe as well. I'll send Hunny Saini too."
"See, I have all the time for Prabhsimr
Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin said he completely disagreed with the decision.
"I mean, what can I even say? It's just unfair. Just unfair. I don't agree with it. But it is what it is. I mean, I don't know. Seriously, it's difficult."
Ashwin questioned the logic behind dropping Samson after a few poor scores and wondered who would be next if the team continued to lose.
"Sanju has been dropped because of losses and form. He has been left out. We've already lost two games. If we lose again, will someone else be dropped too? Who is next? That's wrong. I really hope the Indian team finds itself. Indian cricketers should not be put in an insecure position."
Samson's omission has become one of the biggest talking points in Indian cricket. The wicketkeeper-batter, who was named Player of the Tournament at this year's T20 World Cup, managed scores of 5, 0 and 1 in his last three innings against Ireland and in the opening T20I against England.
Samson was replaced in the playing XI by 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and was later left out of the Zimbabwe-bound squad.
Ashwin said such decisions can make players think more about protecting their place than winning matches.
"As I had said earlier after the SKY incident, players will go insular. They will start thinking only about themselves. In T20 cricket, that is disastrous."
"If batters start thinking that they will be dropped if they don't score runs, they will begin playing only to protect their place in the team, which is extremely dangerous."
Ashwin added that even if Samson gets another opportunity, the pressure of keeping his place could affect the way he bats.
"Even now I'm saying, imagine Sanju gets another chance. He too will start thinking about himself. And you can't even say that's wrong."
"If Sanju scores 45 or 48 off 25 **** and takes two more deliveries to reach his fifty, you can't say that's wrong because he is trying to protect his place in the team. I really hope... I really hope they find a solution to this."
Ashwin further argued that a good domestic season should not automatically guarantee an India call-up, while responding to suggestions that players like Prabhsimran Singh deserved opportunities after impressive performances.
"In our TNPL team, there's a player named Hunny Saini. He's a very good player and an excellent finisher. He also wants a chance. There's BR Sharad from Bengaluru Dragons, who is playing well too. If you're asking when they should get an opportunity, then send them to Zimbabwe as well. I'll send Hunny Saini too."
"See, I have all the time for Prabhsimr
2 months ago
India step onto the County Ground in Bristol this Thursday knowing only a win in the fourth T20 international can keep their hopes alive in the five-match series against England.
Sitting 0-2 down, another defeat would mean suffering back-to-back bilateral series losses in the format.
Vice-captain Tilak Varma's underwhelming run with the bat has placed his position in the eleven under the microscope, and he looks likely to be replaced by Sanju Samson, who could walk back into the side after sitting out the last two games.
Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament at the 2026 T20 World Cup, featured in the series opener before being dropped to make room for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Sitting 0-2 down, another defeat would mean suffering back-to-back bilateral series losses in the format.
Vice-captain Tilak Varma's underwhelming run with the bat has placed his position in the eleven under the microscope, and he looks likely to be replaced by Sanju Samson, who could walk back into the side after sitting out the last two games.
Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament at the 2026 T20 World Cup, featured in the series opener before being dropped to make room for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
2 months ago
India vs England 4th T20I 2026 lineups with potential return of Sanju Samson at Bristol originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India face a must-win fourth T20I in Bristol, trailing 0-2 in the series.
Sanju Samson may return, with Tilak Varma's spot under the scanner.
Gautam Gambhir faces pressure to fix the middle-order and avoid series defeat.
With their backs against the wall and a string of selection headaches still unresolved, Shreyas Iyer's India walk into Thursday's fourth T20 international in Bristol knowing anything less than a win could end the series.
India face a must-win fourth T20I in Bristol, trailing 0-2 in the series.
Sanju Samson may return, with Tilak Varma's spot under the scanner.
Gautam Gambhir faces pressure to fix the middle-order and avoid series defeat.
With their backs against the wall and a string of selection headaches still unresolved, Shreyas Iyer's India walk into Thursday's fourth T20 international in Bristol knowing anything less than a win could end the series.
2 months ago
'Bring back Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav': Shreyas Iyer's captaincy under fire after India's worst-ever T20I defeat originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
England thrash India by 125 runs, India's biggest-ever T20 defeat.
Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue skittle India for 76; England lead series 2-0.
Fans slam India's batting collapse and question Shreyas Iyer's captaincy online.
Trent Bridge witnessed a one-sided demolition as England crushed India in the third T20 international, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series with two games still to play.
England thrash India by 125 runs, India's biggest-ever T20 defeat.
Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue skittle India for 76; England lead series 2-0.
Fans slam India's batting collapse and question Shreyas Iyer's captaincy online.
Trent Bridge witnessed a one-sided demolition as England crushed India in the third T20 international, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series with two games still to play.
2 months ago
India batter Ajinkya Rahane expressed disbelief regarding Sanju Samson’s omission from India’s T20I squad for the Zimbabwe tour. He expressed surprise and hoped that the selectors had communicated the decision to him.
Rahane took to Instagram and posted a story throwing his weight behind Samson, saying he expected the wicketkeeper-batter to return to the national side soon.
"Hope there has been some communication with Samson. Find it odd that the hero of our recent T20 WC win has been left out of the T20 squad to Zimbabwe. Hope to see him back in the team soon," Rahane wrote on his Instagram Story.
The veteran shared his remarks following the announcement of India’s squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, which marked Samson’s absence.
The 31-year-old was omitted despite his significant contribution to India’s successful ICC T20 World Cup campaign.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced a 15-member squad for the Zimbabwe tour, with Prabhsimran Singh and Yash Thakur earning their maiden India call-ups.
The T20I series will commence on July 23, with all three matches scheduled to be played in Harare. The team will take the field under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy. Tilak Varma, on the other hand, will be the vice-captain.
Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who replaced Samson in the second T20I against England, keeps his spot.
Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Varun Chakaravarathy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (WK).
Rahane took to Instagram and posted a story throwing his weight behind Samson, saying he expected the wicketkeeper-batter to return to the national side soon.
"Hope there has been some communication with Samson. Find it odd that the hero of our recent T20 WC win has been left out of the T20 squad to Zimbabwe. Hope to see him back in the team soon," Rahane wrote on his Instagram Story.
The veteran shared his remarks following the announcement of India’s squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, which marked Samson’s absence.
The 31-year-old was omitted despite his significant contribution to India’s successful ICC T20 World Cup campaign.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced a 15-member squad for the Zimbabwe tour, with Prabhsimran Singh and Yash Thakur earning their maiden India call-ups.
The T20I series will commence on July 23, with all three matches scheduled to be played in Harare. The team will take the field under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy. Tilak Varma, on the other hand, will be the vice-captain.
Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who replaced Samson in the second T20I against England, keeps his spot.
Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Varun Chakaravarathy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (WK).
