7 hours 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
3 days 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
3 days 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
6 days 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
6 days 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
8 days 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
10 days 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.
10 days 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
19 days 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'
22 days 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
23 days 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.
23 days 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.
23 days 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.
24 days 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).
24 days ago
First, Captain Suryakumar Yadav, and now Player of the Tournament Sanju Samson. Almost four months after winning the T20 World Cup, India have decided to move on from two key figures of the squad that defended the **** le at home. While Ajit Agarkar, chairman of the men's senior selection committee, held a press conference explaining the move regarding SKY, much was left to the imagination and interpretation when Samson was excluded from the Shreyas Iyer-led squad for Zimbabwe.
Not long ago, Samson was the toast of the nation for his knocks in the business end of the multi-nation tournament but the selectors have been wary of the inconsistency on either side of those outings. The opener only made the World Cup XI because the left-handed top-order struggled against off-spin. He repaid the faith, but the frustrating pattern of inconsistency returned even in the IPL and subsequent international fixtures. Add to this a red-hot Vaibhav Sooryavanshi making life uncomfortable for the decision-makers.
Samson was the coaching set-up's original choice and received backing in the press conferences, but the other crucial stakeholders in Indian cricket were not willing to make Sooryavanshi wait in the wings. The argument was simple: "How can you make him carry drinks? The whole argument of 'he will learn' sounds so kiddish right now. You don't make him learn by carrying towels and drinks. You throw him in the deep end to swim when he is riding high on confidence," explains a well-placed source.
Someone had to make way, and the options were Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Samson. While the southpaws have managed to stay amongst the runs, consistency has never been Samson's friend. Whether this sends the right message to the team and players is a separate discussion, but this move was purely aimed at giving Sooryavanshi the rope he has earned, even if it comes at the cost of snapping it for someone else.
Prabhsimran Singh's maiden international call-up sends another message. Even if Kishan, Sharma, or Sooryavanshi have failures or inconsistent outings, Prabhsimran is ready to grab his chance, and it could well be a tough road back for the experienced Samson. While he hasn't been the only player missing from the squad playing in England, he is the only one-format player left out. Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel have also missed the cut. Initially, there were suggestions to send a second-string side to Zimbabwe, under a new captain, but this did not translate into anything meaningful.
There are murmurs that the regular support staff might skip the Zimbabwe tour. While TimesofIndia.com couldn't confirm, discussions have occurred because the turnaround time between the ODIs against England and the Zimbabwe series is very less. It remains to be seen whether the Gambhir-led support staff boards the flight or if the Indian cricket board sends coaches from the CoE panel.
India announced their squad for the Asian Games l
Not long ago, Samson was the toast of the nation for his knocks in the business end of the multi-nation tournament but the selectors have been wary of the inconsistency on either side of those outings. The opener only made the World Cup XI because the left-handed top-order struggled against off-spin. He repaid the faith, but the frustrating pattern of inconsistency returned even in the IPL and subsequent international fixtures. Add to this a red-hot Vaibhav Sooryavanshi making life uncomfortable for the decision-makers.
Samson was the coaching set-up's original choice and received backing in the press conferences, but the other crucial stakeholders in Indian cricket were not willing to make Sooryavanshi wait in the wings. The argument was simple: "How can you make him carry drinks? The whole argument of 'he will learn' sounds so kiddish right now. You don't make him learn by carrying towels and drinks. You throw him in the deep end to swim when he is riding high on confidence," explains a well-placed source.
Someone had to make way, and the options were Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Samson. While the southpaws have managed to stay amongst the runs, consistency has never been Samson's friend. Whether this sends the right message to the team and players is a separate discussion, but this move was purely aimed at giving Sooryavanshi the rope he has earned, even if it comes at the cost of snapping it for someone else.
Prabhsimran Singh's maiden international call-up sends another message. Even if Kishan, Sharma, or Sooryavanshi have failures or inconsistent outings, Prabhsimran is ready to grab his chance, and it could well be a tough road back for the experienced Samson. While he hasn't been the only player missing from the squad playing in England, he is the only one-format player left out. Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel have also missed the cut. Initially, there were suggestions to send a second-string side to Zimbabwe, under a new captain, but this did not translate into anything meaningful.
There are murmurs that the regular support staff might skip the Zimbabwe tour. While TimesofIndia.com couldn't confirm, discussions have occurred because the turnaround time between the ODIs against England and the Zimbabwe series is very less. It remains to be seen whether the Gambhir-led support staff boards the flight or if the Indian cricket board sends coaches from the CoE panel.
India announced their squad for the Asian Games l
24 days ago
Change in Asian Games 2026 India squad: BCCI could tweak Indian team as doubt looms over Sanju Samson's future - Report originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The BCCI could make last-minute changes to India's squad for the 2026 Asian Games.
Doubt now looms over Sanju Samson's place following his recent omission from the Zimbabwe tour.
India appears to be prioritising teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as they move on from Samson.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The BCCI could make last-minute changes to India's squad for the 2026 Asian Games.
Doubt now looms over Sanju Samson's place following his recent omission from the Zimbabwe tour.
India appears to be prioritising teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as they move on from Samson.
24 days ago
NEW DELHI: World Cup-winning wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson was on Monday left out of India's squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe later this month after a poor run of form.
The selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, announced a 15-member squad with Shreyas Iyer as captain. Teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi retained his place after making his international debut against England.
Fast bowlers Ashok Sharma and Yash Thakur received their maiden India call-ups, while Punjab wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh also earned his first senior national team selection.
India will play three T20Is against Zimbabwe in Harare on July 23, 25 and 27.
Samson's omission comes after a disappointing run with the bat.
The Kerala wicketkeeper was dropped from India's playing XI for the second T20I against England after scoring just one run off seven ****** in the series opener at Durham.
Before that, he managed scores of 0 and 5 in the two-match T20I series against Ireland.
Despite playing a key role in India's recent T20 World Cup triumph and winning the Player of the Tournament award, Samson failed to build on that success and has now lost his place in the squad.
The selectors rewarded three players with their first senior India call-ups.
Rajasthan pacer Ashok, who was recently drafted into the India A squad for the tri-series in Sri Lanka, has now been included in the T20I squad.
— BCCI (BCCI)
Yash Thakur also earned his maiden call-up after impressive domestic performances.
Punjab wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran also received his maiden call-up after impressive performances in domestic circuit and IPL.
Express pacer Mayank Yadav also returned to the national squad for the first time since 2024.
The selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, announced a 15-member squad with Shreyas Iyer as captain. Teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi retained his place after making his international debut against England.
Fast bowlers Ashok Sharma and Yash Thakur received their maiden India call-ups, while Punjab wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh also earned his first senior national team selection.
India will play three T20Is against Zimbabwe in Harare on July 23, 25 and 27.
Samson's omission comes after a disappointing run with the bat.
The Kerala wicketkeeper was dropped from India's playing XI for the second T20I against England after scoring just one run off seven ****** in the series opener at Durham.
Before that, he managed scores of 0 and 5 in the two-match T20I series against Ireland.
Despite playing a key role in India's recent T20 World Cup triumph and winning the Player of the Tournament award, Samson failed to build on that success and has now lost his place in the squad.
The selectors rewarded three players with their first senior India call-ups.
Rajasthan pacer Ashok, who was recently drafted into the India A squad for the tri-series in Sri Lanka, has now been included in the T20I squad.
— BCCI (BCCI)
Yash Thakur also earned his maiden call-up after impressive domestic performances.
Punjab wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran also received his maiden call-up after impressive performances in domestic circuit and IPL.
Express pacer Mayank Yadav also returned to the national squad for the first time since 2024.
25 days ago
India vs England 3rd T20I 2026 lineups with potential return of Sanju Samson at Trent Bridge originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India faces England in the third T20I at Trent Bridge, trailing the five-match series 1-0.
Sanju Samson could return to India's XI after being dropped for the second match.
England named an unchanged XI under Harry Brook, buoyed by their four-wicket win in Manchester.
India arrives at Trent Bridge with their backs against the wall, trailing the five-match T20I series to England and desperate to avoid a further slip. As the tourists search for the right combination, one man's immediate future has become the central talking point.
India faces England in the third T20I at Trent Bridge, trailing the five-match series 1-0.
Sanju Samson could return to India's XI after being dropped for the second match.
England named an unchanged XI under Harry Brook, buoyed by their four-wicket win in Manchester.
India arrives at Trent Bridge with their backs against the wall, trailing the five-match T20I series to England and desperate to avoid a further slip. As the tourists search for the right combination, one man's immediate future has become the central talking point.
25 days ago
It’s officially the dog days of the NFL offseason, as it’s the stretch of time between the end of free agency, the NFL Draft, organized team activities, and team training camps—which will kick off later this fresh new month of July.
Without a first round pick, the Colts’ biggest moves this offseason were the re-signing of both starting quarterback Daniel Jones and lead wideout Alec Pierce to lucrative multi-year contract extensions.
Still, it’s one of the few offseasons in recent memory where the Colts have a handful of starting positional battles that are up for grabs during training camp, not just the usual one or two during the lengthy Chris Ballard era.
With OTAs now safely behind us, perhaps that’s given the Colts a little new perspective on those upcoming training camp positional battles. That’s why I’m curious what is the Colts biggest positional deficiency right now at least in the Horseshoe Faithful’s eyes:
A whopping 59% of Colts fans believe that it’s at defensive end, presumably opposite entrenched starter Laiatu Latu, in the wake of both Kwity Paye (Raiders) and Samson Ebukam (Falcons) departing earlier in free agency.
Without a first round pick, the Colts’ biggest moves this offseason were the re-signing of both starting quarterback Daniel Jones and lead wideout Alec Pierce to lucrative multi-year contract extensions.
Still, it’s one of the few offseasons in recent memory where the Colts have a handful of starting positional battles that are up for grabs during training camp, not just the usual one or two during the lengthy Chris Ballard era.
With OTAs now safely behind us, perhaps that’s given the Colts a little new perspective on those upcoming training camp positional battles. That’s why I’m curious what is the Colts biggest positional deficiency right now at least in the Horseshoe Faithful’s eyes:
A whopping 59% of Colts fans believe that it’s at defensive end, presumably opposite entrenched starter Laiatu Latu, in the wake of both Kwity Paye (Raiders) and Samson Ebukam (Falcons) departing earlier in free agency.
26 days ago
'Hope he comes back strong': Ex-CSK star sides with Sanju Samson amid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hype originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ambati Rayudu urges fans to spare a thought for Sanju Samson amid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's debut celebrations.
Samson dropped after scoring just 1 run in three consecutive low scores.
Sooryavanshi makes history as the youngest Indian international, but India lose second T20I.
Former Chennai Super Kings stalwart Ambati Rayudu has called on cricket fans to remember Sanju Samson's T20 World Cup brilliance even as the spotlight swung entirely towards Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following the teenager's historic debut at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Ambati Rayudu urges fans to spare a thought for Sanju Samson amid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's debut celebrations.
Samson dropped after scoring just 1 run in three consecutive low scores.
Sooryavanshi makes history as the youngest Indian international, but India lose second T20I.
Former Chennai Super Kings stalwart Ambati Rayudu has called on cricket fans to remember Sanju Samson's T20 World Cup brilliance even as the spotlight swung entirely towards Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following the teenager's historic debut at Old Trafford on Saturday.
27 days ago
Elena Rybakina became the highest seed to fall at Wimbledon so far in a straight-set defeat by Elise Mertens.
Second seed Rybakina, who won the All England ******* le in 2022, was beaten 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 in the third round by her Belgian opponent.
It is the second successive year that Kazakhstan's Rybakina - who was crowned Australian Open champion in January - has failed to reach the second week at Wimbledon.
Her defeat on Court One also means Aryna Sabalenka will remain as the women's world number one, regardless of how deep into the tournament the Belarusian goes.
For Mertens, a fourth-round meeting with Marie Bouzkova awaits after the Czech 21st seed came from behind to defeat Liudmila Samsonova in three sets.
Second seed Rybakina, who won the All England ******* le in 2022, was beaten 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 in the third round by her Belgian opponent.
It is the second successive year that Kazakhstan's Rybakina - who was crowned Australian Open champion in January - has failed to reach the second week at Wimbledon.
Her defeat on Court One also means Aryna Sabalenka will remain as the women's world number one, regardless of how deep into the tournament the Belarusian goes.
For Mertens, a fourth-round meeting with Marie Bouzkova awaits after the Czech 21st seed came from behind to defeat Liudmila Samsonova in three sets.
27 days ago
India's T20 World Cup hero dropped: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's emergence came at the wrong time for Sanju Samson originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Sanju Samson's place in India's T20I team is no longer safe despite being Player of the Tournament at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's emergence and performances in the IPL 2026 created a huge selection dilemma.
Samson's recent struggles in the UK and abroad made the case for an immediate Sooryavanshi debut even stronger.
Just four months ago, Sanju Samson was the toast of Indian cricket. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star was never known for his consistency and questions kept popping up on whether he really belonged at the international level.
Sanju Samson's place in India's T20I team is no longer safe despite being Player of the Tournament at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's emergence and performances in the IPL 2026 created a huge selection dilemma.
Samson's recent struggles in the UK and abroad made the case for an immediate Sooryavanshi debut even stronger.
Just four months ago, Sanju Samson was the toast of Indian cricket. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star was never known for his consistency and questions kept popping up on whether he really belonged at the international level.
28 days ago
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in for Sanju Samson? India vs England predicted line-ups for 2nd T20I 2026 at Old Trafford originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi yet to debut despite a senior call-up for Ireland and England tours.
Sanju Samson scores just 5, 0 and 1 across three innings on the UK tour.
Sooryavanshi's 776 IPL runs and 72 sixes make his case impossible to ignore.
India will take on England in the second T20I at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, and before that, the million-dollar question is whether Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will finally be handed his senior international debut, with Sanju Samson's disappointing run making the decision harder to avoid with each passing match.
India's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi yet to debut despite a senior call-up for Ireland and England tours.
Sanju Samson scores just 5, 0 and 1 across three innings on the UK tour.
Sooryavanshi's 776 IPL runs and 72 sixes make his case impossible to ignore.
India will take on England in the second T20I at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, and before that, the million-dollar question is whether Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will finally be handed his senior international debut, with Sanju Samson's disappointing run making the decision harder to avoid with each passing match.
29 days ago
Former India cricketer Saba Karim believes it is too early to see 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a replacement for Sanju Samson in India's T20I team. He backed Samson's recent performances and said the youngster should be allowed to develop without comparisons.
Sooryavanshi has travelled with the Indian squad for the T20I series against Ireland and England but is yet to make his international debut. India have instead continued to back the top-order trio of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, all of whom played important roles in India's 2026 T20 World Cup triumph.
Asked if Sooryavanshi could replace Samson in the playing XI, Karim dismissed the suggestion.
“I don’t think so at this stage. Sanju Samson is a fabulous player. He has been a match-winner. He had a very good IPL season. Before that, he was the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup. What are we looking at? Sanju Samson would be thinking, ‘Why is everyone pointing the gun at me?'” Karim said on Star Sports, as quoted by News18.
Karim also said staying with the Indian team without immediately getting a game could benefit Sooryavanshi.
“Even for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, this is a good learning curve. He also gets to understand that to get into this Indian team XI, you have to earn your call-up. This environment will help him to grow as a player and as a human being. Although he has got such an incredible amount of talent, when you get into such a competitive environment, you need to bide your time,” he added.
Sooryavanshi has been one of the most talked-about young players after IPL 2026, where he scored 776 runs for Rajasthan Royals at a strike rate of 237.30 and was named Player of the Tournament.
India did not hand him a debut during the Ireland series, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat.
Despite that, Karim believes the teenager's time will come.
“I have full faith in his ability to score big runs. Not only Indian fans but the entire world is waiting to see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play in the same manner that he did in the IPL. I have high hopes for this young lad. Very soon, we will see him in all three formats. I am dead sure about it,” Karim said on JioStar, as quoted by news agency IANS.
India and England will play the second T20I on Saturday.
Sooryavanshi has travelled with the Indian squad for the T20I series against Ireland and England but is yet to make his international debut. India have instead continued to back the top-order trio of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, all of whom played important roles in India's 2026 T20 World Cup triumph.
Asked if Sooryavanshi could replace Samson in the playing XI, Karim dismissed the suggestion.
“I don’t think so at this stage. Sanju Samson is a fabulous player. He has been a match-winner. He had a very good IPL season. Before that, he was the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup. What are we looking at? Sanju Samson would be thinking, ‘Why is everyone pointing the gun at me?'” Karim said on Star Sports, as quoted by News18.
Karim also said staying with the Indian team without immediately getting a game could benefit Sooryavanshi.
“Even for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, this is a good learning curve. He also gets to understand that to get into this Indian team XI, you have to earn your call-up. This environment will help him to grow as a player and as a human being. Although he has got such an incredible amount of talent, when you get into such a competitive environment, you need to bide your time,” he added.
Sooryavanshi has been one of the most talked-about young players after IPL 2026, where he scored 776 runs for Rajasthan Royals at a strike rate of 237.30 and was named Player of the Tournament.
India did not hand him a debut during the Ireland series, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat.
Despite that, Karim believes the teenager's time will come.
“I have full faith in his ability to score big runs. Not only Indian fans but the entire world is waiting to see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play in the same manner that he did in the IPL. I have high hopes for this young lad. Very soon, we will see him in all three formats. I am dead sure about it,” Karim said on JioStar, as quoted by news agency IANS.
India and England will play the second T20I on Saturday.
30 days ago
New Delhi: Hardik Pandya has become one of the most sought-after players since the all-rounder decided to leave Mumbai Indians (MI) after the five-time champions' disastrous campaign in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL).
The race to sign the 32-year-old has intensified, and TimesofIndia.com can confirm that seven franchises have expressed interest in acquiring the all-rounder. Only Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have remained spectators.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) entered the race late but have now set up an exciting contest with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), while Rajasthan Royals (RR) are also in the fray. Pandya is a perfect fit for CSK, especially in the post-MS Dhoni era, but there is no guarantee that he will wear the captaincy armband. Meanwhile, KKR are looking for a captain, and RR, too, are ready to offer both leadership and a long-term role. It will be interesting to see how MI positions itself, given the strong interest in their captain.
The communication channels are currently active between MI, CSK and KKR. While the three parties have not confirmed anything yet, various options are being explored. Who will CSK let go? Will it be an all-cash deal? Do KKR have a tangible **** et to trade? Or will it be a roadblock like the one in KL Rahul's case last year?
CSK have remained patient observers as the buzz around Pandya's movement has grown stronger. The five-time champions are timing their entry exactly the way they did during the blockbuster trade involving Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran last season. Currently, CSK are in a very strong position to sign Pandya, but late hiccups cannot be ruled out as player trades remain a tricky business in the IPL ecosystem. The role of an influential figure in the CSK set-up could hold the key to the trade's direction.
The most important aspect is player consent, and it will be interesting to see whether Pandya is keen to move to a franchise without the captaincy armband. Two highly respected former international captains have also expressed interest, one offered the captaincy, but the initial discussions did not materialise into anything meaningful. A fresh round of talks cannot be ruled out in the North, especially if conversations continue to gather pace in the South.
Pandya might not be the only high-profile Indian cricketer involved in a trade this season. It has been learnt that MI will have to finalise the all-rounder's move before addressing the future of one of his teammates. MI and the interested franchises are likely to factor that into their negotiations for Pandya. While this may not have a direct impact, it could influence the franchise's approach to the two possible transactions.
132107803
If MI agree to an all-cash deal for Pandya, will they do the same for his India and MI teammate? How will the other franchises position themselves? There are no immediate answers, but clarity is expected to emerge soon. One trade
The race to sign the 32-year-old has intensified, and TimesofIndia.com can confirm that seven franchises have expressed interest in acquiring the all-rounder. Only Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have remained spectators.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) entered the race late but have now set up an exciting contest with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), while Rajasthan Royals (RR) are also in the fray. Pandya is a perfect fit for CSK, especially in the post-MS Dhoni era, but there is no guarantee that he will wear the captaincy armband. Meanwhile, KKR are looking for a captain, and RR, too, are ready to offer both leadership and a long-term role. It will be interesting to see how MI positions itself, given the strong interest in their captain.
The communication channels are currently active between MI, CSK and KKR. While the three parties have not confirmed anything yet, various options are being explored. Who will CSK let go? Will it be an all-cash deal? Do KKR have a tangible **** et to trade? Or will it be a roadblock like the one in KL Rahul's case last year?
CSK have remained patient observers as the buzz around Pandya's movement has grown stronger. The five-time champions are timing their entry exactly the way they did during the blockbuster trade involving Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran last season. Currently, CSK are in a very strong position to sign Pandya, but late hiccups cannot be ruled out as player trades remain a tricky business in the IPL ecosystem. The role of an influential figure in the CSK set-up could hold the key to the trade's direction.
The most important aspect is player consent, and it will be interesting to see whether Pandya is keen to move to a franchise without the captaincy armband. Two highly respected former international captains have also expressed interest, one offered the captaincy, but the initial discussions did not materialise into anything meaningful. A fresh round of talks cannot be ruled out in the North, especially if conversations continue to gather pace in the South.
Pandya might not be the only high-profile Indian cricketer involved in a trade this season. It has been learnt that MI will have to finalise the all-rounder's move before addressing the future of one of his teammates. MI and the interested franchises are likely to factor that into their negotiations for Pandya. While this may not have a direct impact, it could influence the franchise's approach to the two possible transactions.
132107803
If MI agree to an all-cash deal for Pandya, will they do the same for his India and MI teammate? How will the other franchises position themselves? There are no immediate answers, but clarity is expected to emerge soon. One trade
1 month ago
MUMBAI: Batting great Sunil Gavaskar has backed teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make his India debut in the opening T20I against England in Durham on Wednesday, saying the 15-year-old could provide the spark India desperately needs after their disappointing 0-2 series defeat to Ireland.
India's batting unit struggled throughout the Ireland series under new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, prompting calls for changes ahead of the five-match series against England. Gavaskar believes Sooryavanshi's unpredictability could work in India's favour.
"I'm hoping that Sooryavanshi plays the first game because it will be the start of a new series and he gets the team off to a flying start. It's the best way to recover from the series loss against Ireland," Gavaskar said.
He admitted fitting Sooryavanshi into the playing XI would be a challenge given the performances of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, but argued that England's lack of familiarity with the youngster could be a decisive factor.
"So, if he gets going, he can take the game away and I think that is what India needs at this particular point of time, after this loss, is for somebody to make the impact straight away. So, the host nation England is put on the backfoot straight away," Gavaskar added.
Despite Shreyas Iyer's poor start as India's T20I captain, Gavaskar urged patience, pointing out that adapting to leadership at the international level takes time.
"I think with any new relationship, there will always be just a little time taken for both to understand the support staff and the playing staff to understand what is expected of them," he said.
"Shreyas Iyer's leadership has been proven over the years in the T20 format. We have seen him win trophies, win ****** les and get teams into the knockouts and get teams into the final."
Gavaskar also felt India's batters needed to adapt better to conditions after struggling on seamer-friendly pitches in Belfast.
"In any form of the game and practically in any sport, I think you play the situation," he said, adding that shot selection and decision-making had let India down in Ireland.
Gavaskar also backed Rohit Sharma to silence doubts over his future during the upcoming ODI series against England.
"So, I think England is a very good platform for him to show that even a year-and-a-half down the road, he'll be there opening the batting for India," he said.
On England pacer Jofra Archer, Gavaskar said his impact often depended on his mindset on the day.
"He is a top class bowler and you know, if he's, if I might say, if I might use the word, if he's in the mood, he can cause problems for anybody," he said.
Gavaskar added that Ben Stokes' retirement did not surprise him entirely, although he had expected the England all-rounder to step away at the end of the home season rather than immediately.
(Watch India Tour of England 2026, England vs India, 1st T20I on July 1, 2026, from 10:00 PM IST live on So
India's batting unit struggled throughout the Ireland series under new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, prompting calls for changes ahead of the five-match series against England. Gavaskar believes Sooryavanshi's unpredictability could work in India's favour.
"I'm hoping that Sooryavanshi plays the first game because it will be the start of a new series and he gets the team off to a flying start. It's the best way to recover from the series loss against Ireland," Gavaskar said.
He admitted fitting Sooryavanshi into the playing XI would be a challenge given the performances of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, but argued that England's lack of familiarity with the youngster could be a decisive factor.
"So, if he gets going, he can take the game away and I think that is what India needs at this particular point of time, after this loss, is for somebody to make the impact straight away. So, the host nation England is put on the backfoot straight away," Gavaskar added.
Despite Shreyas Iyer's poor start as India's T20I captain, Gavaskar urged patience, pointing out that adapting to leadership at the international level takes time.
"I think with any new relationship, there will always be just a little time taken for both to understand the support staff and the playing staff to understand what is expected of them," he said.
"Shreyas Iyer's leadership has been proven over the years in the T20 format. We have seen him win trophies, win ****** les and get teams into the knockouts and get teams into the final."
Gavaskar also felt India's batters needed to adapt better to conditions after struggling on seamer-friendly pitches in Belfast.
"In any form of the game and practically in any sport, I think you play the situation," he said, adding that shot selection and decision-making had let India down in Ireland.
Gavaskar also backed Rohit Sharma to silence doubts over his future during the upcoming ODI series against England.
"So, I think England is a very good platform for him to show that even a year-and-a-half down the road, he'll be there opening the batting for India," he said.
On England pacer Jofra Archer, Gavaskar said his impact often depended on his mindset on the day.
"He is a top class bowler and you know, if he's, if I might say, if I might use the word, if he's in the mood, he can cause problems for anybody," he said.
Gavaskar added that Ben Stokes' retirement did not surprise him entirely, although he had expected the England all-rounder to step away at the end of the home season rather than immediately.
(Watch India Tour of England 2026, England vs India, 1st T20I on July 1, 2026, from 10:00 PM IST live on So
1 month ago
Mumbai: Teenaged batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's wait for his maiden India cap continued on Sunday when he wasn't included in the XI for the second T20I against Ireland at Belfast, with India's team management remaining firm on its decision to play openers Sanju Samson, India's 2026 T20 World Cup hero, and the explosive Abhishek Sharma, who hit a fifty in the visitors' stunning 34-run defeat to the hosts in the opening T20I on Friday.
India's decision to keep the 15-year-old wonderboy of world cricket on the bench for now has sparked a debate. Former England off-spin stalwart Graeme Swann feels that left to him, the destructive Bihar and Rajasthan Royals opener, whom termed as "generational talent," would be making his India debut immediately.
"Well, if I were an Indian captain or coach, I would have him in immediately. I've said this, I'm a huge fan of Vaibhav. He's a generational talent and I'd say get him in ASAP. The way he played in the IPL this year, having started last season and doing incredibly well, again, everyone's heads turning and thinking, who is this kid? I think there was an expectation that his performances would taper, would fall off this season. If anything, he got better and better. And that little mid IPL blip, one or two games where people thought, ‘oh, he's got a weakness if we bowl very full.’ And they got him out with Yorkers a couple of times. He got a couple of low scores. He immediately adapted and then scored at a terrific rate in the next few knocks. I think he is a sort of once in a generation talent, generational talent that comes around. And I think the sooner that India plays him, the sooner they expose him to international cricket. There is no reason why he cannot be the best player in the world for the next 15 years. I think he's that good," Swann said at an interaction on Sunday.
Batting vigorously for Sooryavanshi's inclusion, Swann said that he was doing so while factoring in the logic of "dropping someone who doesn't necessarily deserve to be dropped," purely because "Sooryavanshi has outperformed them all in the IPL."
"Of course, I do understand the sensibilities of just picking him, and dropping someone who doesn't necessarily deserve to be dropped. And that's where India have a bit of an issue at the minute, because when you look at the first XI, you look at the batting lineup, there's not really anyone who you'd say, well, they deserve to be dropped on performances. You could argue that, well, Sooryavanshi has outperformed them all in the IPL, which he did. Let's face it, his stats don't lie. He hit more sixes than Chris Gayle. He scored more runs at a better rate than anybody. So, I would build an attack, a batting line-up around him. And yes, someone will miss out and it will be tough on them on the back of winning world trophies and everything like that and then potentially missing out. But if you can find a way of getting him in and exposing him, he can hit the best b
India's decision to keep the 15-year-old wonderboy of world cricket on the bench for now has sparked a debate. Former England off-spin stalwart Graeme Swann feels that left to him, the destructive Bihar and Rajasthan Royals opener, whom termed as "generational talent," would be making his India debut immediately.
"Well, if I were an Indian captain or coach, I would have him in immediately. I've said this, I'm a huge fan of Vaibhav. He's a generational talent and I'd say get him in ASAP. The way he played in the IPL this year, having started last season and doing incredibly well, again, everyone's heads turning and thinking, who is this kid? I think there was an expectation that his performances would taper, would fall off this season. If anything, he got better and better. And that little mid IPL blip, one or two games where people thought, ‘oh, he's got a weakness if we bowl very full.’ And they got him out with Yorkers a couple of times. He got a couple of low scores. He immediately adapted and then scored at a terrific rate in the next few knocks. I think he is a sort of once in a generation talent, generational talent that comes around. And I think the sooner that India plays him, the sooner they expose him to international cricket. There is no reason why he cannot be the best player in the world for the next 15 years. I think he's that good," Swann said at an interaction on Sunday.
Batting vigorously for Sooryavanshi's inclusion, Swann said that he was doing so while factoring in the logic of "dropping someone who doesn't necessarily deserve to be dropped," purely because "Sooryavanshi has outperformed them all in the IPL."
"Of course, I do understand the sensibilities of just picking him, and dropping someone who doesn't necessarily deserve to be dropped. And that's where India have a bit of an issue at the minute, because when you look at the first XI, you look at the batting lineup, there's not really anyone who you'd say, well, they deserve to be dropped on performances. You could argue that, well, Sooryavanshi has outperformed them all in the IPL, which he did. Let's face it, his stats don't lie. He hit more sixes than Chris Gayle. He scored more runs at a better rate than anybody. So, I would build an attack, a batting line-up around him. And yes, someone will miss out and it will be tough on them on the back of winning world trophies and everything like that and then potentially missing out. But if you can find a way of getting him in and exposing him, he can hit the best b
1 month ago
NEW DELHI: Jai Moondra admitted he was still struggling to believe what had just happened after inspiring Ireland to one of the greatest moments in the country's cricket history, as emotional celebrations broke out following the hosts' stunning 2-0 T20I series sweep over reigning world champions India.
The software engineer from Rajasthan's Tonk, who only made his international debut for Ireland in the series, was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series after dismantling India's star-studded batting line-up once again. Moondra claimed 3 for 32, removing Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and captain Shreyas Iyer, as Ireland defended 154 to seal a dramatic one-run victory at Stormont.
Videos released after the match captured jubilant scenes, with Ireland players celebrating a landmark triumph that secured their first-ever series win over India in any format and ended the visitors' 16-series winning streak in T20Is.
Despite becoming the unlikely hero of the series, Moondra said the magnitude of the achievement was yet to fully register.
"Still trying to sink in the feeling. I know it's hard to describe in one word. It's an amazing feeling playing against the best, testing yourself," he said.
The left-arm pacer revealed that his approach throughout the series was simply to stick to the basics.
"So just doing the basic for longer, that was the plan. Credit to team members and management. Keep it simple. There are gonna be tough times, but keep calm and composed and do your thing," he explained.
Moondra also reflected on the setbacks he had overcome before reaching this stage of his career.
"Everyone has ups and downs, so you just have to hang in there and keep going through that. Nothing more."
WATCH: Ireland players celebrate historic win
— cricketireland (cricketireland)
The 29-year-old credited Ireland's dressing-room environment for helping him settle seamlessly into international cricket.
"They made me feel like I was one of them, nothing different from that. It was amazing, good environment, good people. So just doing the duty they have given to me," he said.
Asked about bowling to experienced opener Sanju Samson, Moondra said he never deviated from his plans despite the challenge.
"Just keep it simple, do what you have been doing. It's gonna be tough, little margin for error. So just keep what you have been doing and stick to the plan," he added.
His disciplined execution paid rich dividends as he dismissed Samson and Abhishek Sharma for first-ball ducks before sending back Iyer to leave India reeling at 35 for 4.
Even after collecting the Player of the Series award after just two international appearances, Moondra admitted the fairytale was difficult to comprehend.
"Oh, I'm still trying to process it," Moondra said.
For Ireland, the celebrations reflected far more than just another bilateral series victory. After backing up their opening win with another inspired performance, Lorcan
The software engineer from Rajasthan's Tonk, who only made his international debut for Ireland in the series, was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series after dismantling India's star-studded batting line-up once again. Moondra claimed 3 for 32, removing Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and captain Shreyas Iyer, as Ireland defended 154 to seal a dramatic one-run victory at Stormont.
Videos released after the match captured jubilant scenes, with Ireland players celebrating a landmark triumph that secured their first-ever series win over India in any format and ended the visitors' 16-series winning streak in T20Is.
Despite becoming the unlikely hero of the series, Moondra said the magnitude of the achievement was yet to fully register.
"Still trying to sink in the feeling. I know it's hard to describe in one word. It's an amazing feeling playing against the best, testing yourself," he said.
The left-arm pacer revealed that his approach throughout the series was simply to stick to the basics.
"So just doing the basic for longer, that was the plan. Credit to team members and management. Keep it simple. There are gonna be tough times, but keep calm and composed and do your thing," he explained.
Moondra also reflected on the setbacks he had overcome before reaching this stage of his career.
"Everyone has ups and downs, so you just have to hang in there and keep going through that. Nothing more."
WATCH: Ireland players celebrate historic win
— cricketireland (cricketireland)
The 29-year-old credited Ireland's dressing-room environment for helping him settle seamlessly into international cricket.
"They made me feel like I was one of them, nothing different from that. It was amazing, good environment, good people. So just doing the duty they have given to me," he said.
Asked about bowling to experienced opener Sanju Samson, Moondra said he never deviated from his plans despite the challenge.
"Just keep it simple, do what you have been doing. It's gonna be tough, little margin for error. So just keep what you have been doing and stick to the plan," he added.
His disciplined execution paid rich dividends as he dismissed Samson and Abhishek Sharma for first-ball ducks before sending back Iyer to leave India reeling at 35 for 4.
Even after collecting the Player of the Series award after just two international appearances, Moondra admitted the fairytale was difficult to comprehend.
"Oh, I'm still trying to process it," Moondra said.
For Ireland, the celebrations reflected far more than just another bilateral series victory. After backing up their opening win with another inspired performance, Lorcan
1 month ago
Tilak Varma's fighting half-century was one of the few positives for India in their dramatic one-run defeat to Ireland in the second T20I on Sunday, but the left-hander also found himself on an unwanted list after registering one of the slowest fifties by an Indian in T20 Internationals.
Walking in with India in deep trouble after a top-order collapse, Tilak reached his half-century in 45 deliveries during the chase of 155 at Stormont. The knock is now tied as the sixth-slowest T20I fifty by an Indian and stands as the slowest-ever half-century by an Indian batter against Ireland in the format.
Slowest T20I 50s for India (by ******* )
56 KL Rahul vs SA Trivandrum 2022
54 G Gambhir vs Aus Melbourne 2012
49 SK Yadav vs USA New York 2024
48 V Kohli vs SA Bridgetown 2024
45 V Kohli vs Pak Dubai 2021
45 T Varma vs Ire Belfast 2026 *
The circumstances, however, were far from ordinary. India were rocked in the opening over when software engineer-turned-cricketer Jai Moondra, who hails from Tonk in Rajasthan and still holds an Indian passport, dismissed Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for first-ball ducks before removing captain Shreyas Iyer to leave the visitors reeling.
India slipped to 35 for 4 inside the Powerplay after Ishan Kishan was run out, leaving Tilak with the task of rebuilding the innings on a surface offering movement, uneven bounce and seam throughout the chase.
Unlike several of his teammates who struggled to adjust to the conditions, Tilak adopted a patient approach, absorbing pressure before stitching together a valuable partnership with Axar Patel. He eventually brought up his fifty by launching Matthew Hollard over deep mid-wicket for India's first six of the innings.
The milestone, however, proved short-lived. Attempting another attacking stroke off the very next ball, Tilak mistimed a lofted drive to extra cover and departed for 55 off 46 deliveries, ending India's best hope of completing the chase.
Harshit Rana's late cameo of 21 from just 10 ******* briefly revived India's hopes, but Ireland held their nerve to restrict India to 153 for 9, sealing a famous one-run victory and completing a historic 2-0 series sweep over the reigning T20 World Cup champions.
The defeat also ended India's run of 16 consecutive T20I series victories dating back to 2023, while Ireland celebrated their first-ever bilateral T20I series triumph over India.
Walking in with India in deep trouble after a top-order collapse, Tilak reached his half-century in 45 deliveries during the chase of 155 at Stormont. The knock is now tied as the sixth-slowest T20I fifty by an Indian and stands as the slowest-ever half-century by an Indian batter against Ireland in the format.
Slowest T20I 50s for India (by ******* )
56 KL Rahul vs SA Trivandrum 2022
54 G Gambhir vs Aus Melbourne 2012
49 SK Yadav vs USA New York 2024
48 V Kohli vs SA Bridgetown 2024
45 V Kohli vs Pak Dubai 2021
45 T Varma vs Ire Belfast 2026 *
The circumstances, however, were far from ordinary. India were rocked in the opening over when software engineer-turned-cricketer Jai Moondra, who hails from Tonk in Rajasthan and still holds an Indian passport, dismissed Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for first-ball ducks before removing captain Shreyas Iyer to leave the visitors reeling.
India slipped to 35 for 4 inside the Powerplay after Ishan Kishan was run out, leaving Tilak with the task of rebuilding the innings on a surface offering movement, uneven bounce and seam throughout the chase.
Unlike several of his teammates who struggled to adjust to the conditions, Tilak adopted a patient approach, absorbing pressure before stitching together a valuable partnership with Axar Patel. He eventually brought up his fifty by launching Matthew Hollard over deep mid-wicket for India's first six of the innings.
The milestone, however, proved short-lived. Attempting another attacking stroke off the very next ball, Tilak mistimed a lofted drive to extra cover and departed for 55 off 46 deliveries, ending India's best hope of completing the chase.
Harshit Rana's late cameo of 21 from just 10 ******* briefly revived India's hopes, but Ireland held their nerve to restrict India to 153 for 9, sealing a famous one-run victory and completing a historic 2-0 series sweep over the reigning T20 World Cup champions.
The defeat also ended India's run of 16 consecutive T20I series victories dating back to 2023, while Ireland celebrated their first-ever bilateral T20I series triumph over India.
1 month ago
Ireland scripted one of the biggest victories in their cricketing history on Sunday, edging past reigning T20 World Cup champions India by one run in the second T20I to complete a sensational 2-0 series sweep at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont.
The triumph marked Ireland's first-ever bilateral series win over India and brought an end to the visitors' remarkable run of 16 successive T20I series victories, a streak that had stretched back to 2023. Despite being without five regular first-choice players, Lorcan Tucker's side delivered two disciplined performances to outplay the Asian giants in both matches.
India's chase of 155 was held together by Tilak Varma, whose fifty kept the contest alive until the closing stages. However, Jai Moondra's blistering opening spell, followed by composed death bowling from the Irish attack, proved decisive as the hosts successfully defended a modest total.
Ireland's bowling unit once again stood out across the series, with Moondra and Matthew Hollard claiming three wickets apiece in the second game. For India, the defeat exposed familiar issues, particularly their struggles against left-arm pace and adapting to conditions outside the IPL.
The chase unravelled almost immediately. Moondra struck twice in his opening over to remove both Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for first-ball ducks. Samson, was trapped lbw after missing a flick to a skiddy delivery. Two **** later, Abhishek miscued a short ball and was caught at third man.
India's troubles deepened when captain Shreyas Iyer chopped one back onto his stumps off Moondra after scoring 10. Ishan Kishan attempted to rebuild alongside Tilak Varma, but confusion between the wickets resulted in a run-out for 12. With the scoreboard reading 39 for 4 inside the Powerplay, India had lost four wickets within the first six overs for only the 13th time in T20I history.
Varma responded with composure, finding successive boundaries off Moondra through the leg side before sharing a 32-run partnership with Axar Patel to steady the innings. A brief rain interruption disrupted play, but the pair ensured India remained in the contest despite the required rate continuing to climb.
Ireland struck again after the restart when Matthew Hollard dismissed Axar Patel. Attempting to guide the ball, Axar instead found Lorcan Tucker, who completed a brilliant diving one-handed catch to his left behind the stumps.
Shivam Dube briefly injected momentum with a pair of boundaries before holing out to deep square leg off Matthew Humphreys. Varma, meanwhile, continued to anchor the innings and reached his half-century in 45 **** by launching India's first six of the innings, sending Hollard over deep mid-wicket.
His stay, however, ended immediately afterwards. Looking to clear the infield again, Varma mistimed a lofted drive to extra cover, while debutant Suryansh Shedge soon followed after failing to clear the larger boundary and being caught at deep mid
The triumph marked Ireland's first-ever bilateral series win over India and brought an end to the visitors' remarkable run of 16 successive T20I series victories, a streak that had stretched back to 2023. Despite being without five regular first-choice players, Lorcan Tucker's side delivered two disciplined performances to outplay the Asian giants in both matches.
India's chase of 155 was held together by Tilak Varma, whose fifty kept the contest alive until the closing stages. However, Jai Moondra's blistering opening spell, followed by composed death bowling from the Irish attack, proved decisive as the hosts successfully defended a modest total.
Ireland's bowling unit once again stood out across the series, with Moondra and Matthew Hollard claiming three wickets apiece in the second game. For India, the defeat exposed familiar issues, particularly their struggles against left-arm pace and adapting to conditions outside the IPL.
The chase unravelled almost immediately. Moondra struck twice in his opening over to remove both Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for first-ball ducks. Samson, was trapped lbw after missing a flick to a skiddy delivery. Two **** later, Abhishek miscued a short ball and was caught at third man.
India's troubles deepened when captain Shreyas Iyer chopped one back onto his stumps off Moondra after scoring 10. Ishan Kishan attempted to rebuild alongside Tilak Varma, but confusion between the wickets resulted in a run-out for 12. With the scoreboard reading 39 for 4 inside the Powerplay, India had lost four wickets within the first six overs for only the 13th time in T20I history.
Varma responded with composure, finding successive boundaries off Moondra through the leg side before sharing a 32-run partnership with Axar Patel to steady the innings. A brief rain interruption disrupted play, but the pair ensured India remained in the contest despite the required rate continuing to climb.
Ireland struck again after the restart when Matthew Hollard dismissed Axar Patel. Attempting to guide the ball, Axar instead found Lorcan Tucker, who completed a brilliant diving one-handed catch to his left behind the stumps.
Shivam Dube briefly injected momentum with a pair of boundaries before holing out to deep square leg off Matthew Humphreys. Varma, meanwhile, continued to anchor the innings and reached his half-century in 45 **** by launching India's first six of the innings, sending Hollard over deep mid-wicket.
His stay, however, ended immediately afterwards. Looking to clear the infield again, Varma mistimed a lofted drive to extra cover, while debutant Suryansh Shedge soon followed after failing to clear the larger boundary and being caught at deep mid
