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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kishan then took complete control of the innings.

The Ea

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#t20i

Smriti Mandhana's record-breaking 124 and a clinical bowling effort helped India crush Hong Kong by 137 runs in their Women's Asia Cup 2026 clash in Dubai. After posting 193/5, India bowled Hong Kong out for just 56 in 16.2 overs to seal a massive win and book their place in the semi-finals.
Hong Kong won the toss and elected to field, but Mandhana quickly put their decision under pressure. The India opener and Shafali Verma gave their side a strong start, with Verma smashing 28 off 17 ***** before departing.

Wickets began to fall regularly after the opening stand, but Mandhana continued to attack from one end. She reached her half-century in 40 ***** before dramatically increasing the tempo, bringing up her century in just 57 deliveries.

Mandhana finished with a sensational 124 off 64 ***** , hitting 14 fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of 193.75. The innings took her to 18 international centuries, moving her past Meg Lanning's tally of 17 and making her the leading century-maker in women's international cricket.

She also broke Chamari Athapaththu's record for the highest individual score in Women's T20 Asia Cup history, surpassing the Sri Lankan's unbeaten 119.

Mandhana's innings eventually ended in the final over when she was run out after a mix-up with Bharti Fulmali. Her dismissal, however, came after she had already powered India to a formidable 193/5.
Hong Kong's chase never got going as India's spin-heavy attack strangled the batting lineup from the beginning. They slipped to 32/3 and struggled to score freely against India's disciplined bowling.

Deepti Sharma led the attack with 3/9 from three overs, removing key batters Natasha Miles and Yasmin Daswani while keeping the scoring rate under control. Prema Rawat, Nandani Sharma and Shree Charani then continued to chip away at the Hong Kong batting order.

Marina Lamplough offered some resistance with 14, but Shree Charani eventually removed her before the lower order folded quickly. Nandani Sharma claimed two wickets, while Prema Rawat finished with two as India's spinners kept the pressure on.

Hong Kong were eventually bowled out for just 56 in 16.2 overs. Shree Charani completed the victory by stumping Shanzeen Shahzad after a sharp piece of work from Richa Ghosh.

#hong #India #sharma #shree

Ravindra Jadeja has been a mainstay of India's Test team for more than a decade, but former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta believes the time has come for the team to start looking beyond the veteran all-rounder in the longest format.

Jadeja aged 37, finished India's recent two-Test tour of Sri Lanka with eight wickets across four innings. However, Dasgupta felt the Indian spin attack failed to consistently exert pressure on the hosts, particularly on surfaces where the visitors would have expected their spinners to play a major role.

The former India player singled out the second Test in Colombo, where Sri Lanka were forced to follow on but managed to fight back strongly. Sonal Dinusha's century helped the hosts frustrate India and build a substantial lead before the match eventually ended in a draw.
While Jadeja picked up three wickets in Sri Lanka's second innings, Dasgupta felt India needed more penetration from their experienced spinners.

"Apart from Manav, our spinners didn't look as lethal as we expected. I'm not saying there is no ability. On such pitches, Jadeja has always been very destructive and lethal. I thought he would be crucial on the fifth day. He has been a great servant, but it's done now. He was not as accurate as he is. His action is very shoulder-dominant," Dasgupta said on his YouTube channel.
The Sri Lanka series also highlighted an issue with India's bowling discipline, with the spinners repeatedly overstepping. Saransh Jain, making his Test debut in Colombo, bowled four no-balls, while Jadeja overstepped once. Dasgupta believes such problems need to be addressed during training rather than waiting for them to surface in matches.

"If you are not careful in the nets, it will happen. Even when I was playing, a lot of them would bowl from ahead and say it would not happen in the match, but they would repeat the same thing in the match. You need to avoid this in the nets. This issue is not new with Jadeja; it has only gotten worse," he added.
133717849
India won the two-match series 1-0, with victory by 165 runs in the opening Test in Galle before the second Test in Colombo ended in a draw. India's next Test ******* ignments will come with a tour of New Zealand scheduled for November before Australia travel to India for a five match Test series beginning in January 2027.

#India #dasgupta #colombo #second

TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: In his first press conference of the tour, Shubman Gill termed qualifying for the World Test Championship as the "ultimate goal," a sentiment he maintained while preparing to leave the country. In between his two media interactions, the Indian captain saw his team register a comprehensive win in Galle and then settle for a draw in a fixture they were well positioned to win in Colombo. Although the series was won, the trophy secured, and his undefeated run as captain checked off crucial boxes, India left behind crucial WTC points needed to boost their win percentage.

As captain, he had his most challenging few days under the sun in Colombo when Sonal Dinusha and the Sri Lanka's tail frustrated the visitors and prevented them from getting the result they desperately wanted. There were moments he would helplessly stand and observe from the short-cover position, have an intense chat with head coach Gautam Gambhir when nothing worked and then even egg his teammates on when their shoulders started dropping.

"It gets very frustrating," he said regarding the challenges, explaining the questions that follow. "Was follow-on the best decision, was it not? But then you have to go back in the moment and see, what can I do? Did I make the best decision in that moment? Yes, I did. Then you can't do anything about it. You have to keep trying your best, and I think we did that," added the Indian captain.

While they struggled to remove the Sri Lankan tail in both innings, Gill was not ready to pin the blame on any of his teammates and lauded their effort.

"We tried all that we could, and at the end of the day, even from the players, you can expect them giving their 100%, their top efforts, and I don't think there was any lacking in intensity or the efforts that we put in," said Gill.
Highlighting the volume of overs the spinners bowled on a surface which became easier to bat as the game progressed, Gill gave them 10/10 for effort and intent, and continued to focus on the ultimate goal - the World Test Championship.

"The spinners bowled 50-60 overs on the trot for three days. Fielding for three days is not an easy task in these conditions with the heat. In terms of effort, I would say 10 out of 10 for the effort and the intent. A lot of learning, so many things won't always go as you plan, but as long as we still have a chance to qualify for the World Test Championship," added Gill.

India operated with in-out field positions for most of the match, offering significant protection against the sweep, especially when Sonal Dinusha was at the crease. While it did open up easy singles, Gill felt there couldn't have been a better plan as the slow turn off the surface meant bowled and LBW were the dismissals out of the equation.

"The ball was spinning but the wickets were not in play. As a batsman, if you know that your bowlers do not have 2 modes of dismissal in play, then it becomes easier to bat. Unless you are play

NEW DELHI: India captain Shubman Gill on Thursday ruled out any injury concern for Mohammed Siraj after the pacer appeared to be below his best during the drawn second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Siraj bowled at a reduced pace and often used a shorter run-up during the Test. His fitness also came under the scanner after he landed heavily while trying to take a catch in Sri Lanka's first innings.

Gill, however, made it clear that Siraj was not carrying an injury.
Gill said Siraj had not been feeling his best even during the first Test in Galle and was also returning to international cricket after a break.

"Firstly, Siraj is not injured. He didn't feel well even in the first match (at Galle). He last played against Afghanistan in June…so he was playing almost after a couple of months. It takes time for someone to come back to the rhythm.

"Even in the first Test, we felt that his pace was slow. But sometimes when you play more, you come back to the rhythm. But as far as the injury is concerned, there is nothing," he said.

Siraj's lack of his usual pace was noticeable as India struggled to finish off Sri Lanka on the fifth day. The hosts batted through the final day, with Sonal Dinusha scoring an unbeaten 133 to secure a draw.
India had reduced Sri Lanka to 229/6 by the end of the fourth day but could not force the remaining wickets on the final day.

"It gets very frustrating. We attacked a lot in the beginning. But I think as the match went on, the wicket got slower. It was not like the ball was not moving and when the ball was spinning, the wickets were not in play. It was not like the wicket was very flat," said Gill at the post-match press meet.

The India captain said Sri Lanka's defensive approach made it difficult for his bowlers to create chances.

"Unless you are playing a shot and looking to make a run, then it is difficult to take a wicket. We tried all that we could, and I don't think there was any lack of intensity or the efforts that we put in. The spinners bowled 50-60 overs on the trot for three days.

"Fielding for three days is not an easy task in these conditions. I would say 10 out of 10 for the effort and the intent. They also played really well," he added.

Gill also felt India could have been in a better position if they had taken their chances on the fourth day.

"On day 4, we thought we had created chances. If there was a little more pressure, the wickets would have come and then maybe the result would have been better. But as long as we still have a chance to qualify for the World Test Championship (final), it's fine."
Gill was pleased with the progress made by Prasidh Krishna.

"I think he's been in the pick of our bowlers. When things are not happening, he's been our go-to bowler, especially this season. He's created chances, which is what I want as a captain. We want a go-to bowler when wickets are not guaranteed. I think he did that brilliantly," he said.

#India #siraj

The India-Sri Lanka series shifts venues for its decider, moving from Galle's spin-friendly track to the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, which is a ground known for offering a very different kind of contest.
Batting first has historically paid off at this venue, with teams regularly posting big totals early in matches, which makes Wednesday's toss potentially decisive.
Rain looms as a genuine concern too, with forecasts suggesting interruptions across all five days, while Colombo's heat is expected to sap energy from the bowling attacks. Spin has still had the upper hand recently, as spinners have picked up 45 wickets across the last three Tests here, compared to 35 for the pacers.
India arrive full of confidence following their commanding 165-run win in the series opener. Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, and Manav Suthar were the standout contributors in Galle. They will fancy their chances of completing a 2-0 sweep, a result that would also strengthen their push toward the 2027 World Test Championship final.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

#across #lanka #sports

BENGALURU: Some spinners rely on guile and variety, others on subtle change of pace. Abid Mushtaq prefers a simpler route to success— hit the right areas, make batters play and wait for them to commit mistakes.

The Jammu and Kashmir leftarm spinner was at his methodical best against West Zone on Day Two of the Duleep Trophy at the BCCI Centre of Excellence here on Monday. On a red-soil pitch he described as his "favourite", Abid claimed a five-wicket haul to bowl West out for 187 in 65.4 overs.

North Zone, who secured a 64-run first-innings lead, were 107/4 at stumps, stretching their advantage to 171 runs.

Abid admitted he got "goosebumps" when he saw the red soil, a surface he has only started training on regularly over the last 3-4 three years in J&K. He made the most of the familiarity, producing a spell built on accuracy rather than elaborate variations.

The 29-year-old, who was also invited to bowl in the Australian team's nets ahead of the 2023 BorderGavaskar Trophy in India, kept attacking the stumps and forcing batters to play.

Three of his five wickets — Shivalik Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Urvil Patel — came via LBWs. Gaikwad and Urvil fell within three ****** of each other, leaving West reeling at 70/5 in the 28th over.

"I bowled at the stumps as there was a lot of help on the wicket. I always try to land in good areas and not give away runs. I also use the crease. When it comes to bowling in red soil, I'm confident," Abid said.

His figures of 11-5-13-3 in the first session summed up his approach. He gave the batters little to work with and had already castled Prithvi Shaw on Sunday evening.

Abid, who has taken 63 wickets in his last three Ranji Trophy seasons, kept varying his angle, bowling from both sides of the wicket without compromising on his discipline.

Musheer Khan (31), who showed considerable patience against him, and Shams Mulani (52) briefly stemmed the collapse with a 63-run sixth-wicket partnership. But Abid returned to dismiss Tushar Deshpande (18), completing his five-for.

Anshul Kamboj (2/38) and Arshdeep Singh (3/53) also contributed with the ball as North Zone tightened their grip on the quarterfinal.
At the adjacent ground, Shahbaz Ahmed produced an allround performance to put East Zone firmly in control against North East Zone.

Resuming on 100, the left-hander went on to make 167 as East amassed 467 in 112.5 overs. His innings built on the foundation laid by Sudip Gharami's 146 on the opening day.

Shahbaz then took 3/20 as North East were bowled out for 111, with Abhijit Sarkar returning 5/20.

Forced to follow on, North East reached 7/0 from the only over possible before stumps.

Brief scores: North Zone 251 & 107/4 in 21 overs (Ayush Badoni 39*, Abdul Samad 30; Shams Mulani 2/34, Tanush Kotian 2/22) vs West Zone 187 in 65.4 overs (Shams Mulani 52, Musheer Khan 31; Abid Mushtaq 5/39, Arshdeep Singh 3/53, Anshul Kamboj 2/38).

East Zone 467 in 112.5 overs (Shahbaz A

The India-Sri Lanka series shifts venues for its decider, moving from Galle's spin-friendly track to the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, which is a ground known for offering a very different kind of contest.
Batting first has historically paid off at this venue, with teams regularly posting big totals early in matches, which makes Wednesday's toss potentially decisive.
Rain looms as a genuine concern too, with forecasts suggesting interruptions across all five days, while Colombo's heat is expected to sap energy from the bowling attacks. Spin has still had the upper hand recently, as spinners have picked up 45 wickets across the last three Tests here, compared to 35 for the pacers.
India arrive full of confidence following their commanding 165-run win in the series opener. Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, and Manav Suthar were the standout contributors in Galle. They will fancy their chances of completing a 2-0 sweep, a result that would also strengthen their push toward the 2027 World Test Championship final.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

#spin #series

The India-Sri Lanka series shifts venues for its decider, moving from Galle's spin-friendly track to the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, which is a ground known for offering a very different kind of contest.
Batting first has historically paid off at this venue, with teams regularly posting big totals early in matches, which makes Wednesday's toss potentially decisive.
Rain looms as a genuine concern too, with forecasts suggesting interruptions across all five days, while Colombo's heat is expected to sap energy from the bowling attacks. Spin has still had the upper hand recently, as spinners have picked up 45 wickets across the last three Tests here, compared to 35 for the pacers.
India arrive full of confidence following their commanding 165-run win in the series opener. Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, and Manav Suthar were the standout contributors in Galle. They will fancy their chances of completing a 2-0 sweep, a result that would also strengthen their push toward the 2027 World Test Championship final.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

#series #club

The India-Sri Lanka series shifts venues for its decider, moving from Galle's spin-friendly track to the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, which is a ground known for offering a very different kind of contest.
Batting first has historically paid off at this venue, with teams regularly posting big totals early in matches, which makes Wednesday's toss potentially decisive.
Rain looms as a genuine concern too, with forecasts suggesting interruptions across all five days, while Colombo's heat is expected to sap energy from the bowling attacks. Spin has still had the upper hand recently, as spinners have picked up 45 wickets across the last three Tests here, compared to 35 for the pacers.
India arrive full of confidence following their commanding 165-run win in the series opener. Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, and Manav Suthar were the standout contributors in Galle. They will fancy their chances of completing a 2-0 sweep, a result that would also strengthen their push toward the 2027 World Test Championship final.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

#spin #lanka

The India-Sri Lanka series shifts venues for its decider, moving from Galle's spin-friendly track to the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, which is a ground known for offering a very different kind of contest.
Batting first has historically paid off at this venue, with teams regularly posting big totals early in matches, which makes Wednesday's toss potentially decisive.
Rain looms as a genuine concern too, with forecasts suggesting interruptions across all five days, while Colombo's heat is expected to sap energy from the bowling attacks. Spin has still had the upper hand recently, as spinners have picked up 45 wickets across the last three Tests here, compared to 35 for the pacers.
India arrive full of confidence following their commanding 165-run win in the series opener. Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, and Manav Suthar were the standout contributors in Galle. They will fancy their chances of completing a 2-0 sweep, a result that would also strengthen their push toward the 2027 World Test Championship final.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

#India #club

Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has questioned captain Shubman Gill's use of Kuldeep Yadav in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, saying the spinner's short spells suggested a lack of faith in him.

Kuldeep bowled only 25 overs across India's two innings in the Test and took one wicket, while left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja bowled around 44 overs each and shared 14 wickets. India won the Test by 165 runs.

Kaif, speaking on his YouTube channel, said Kuldeep is a rare type of bowler and needs the backing of the captain and team management.

"From how he was used, it is clear that Shubman Gill doesn't have enough faith in Kuldeep Yadav. From my point of view, you would not get a unique bowler like Kuldeep that often. They come just once or twice in history. We may get Ravindra Jadeja's replacement in the future, like we have Suthar; then we had Washington Sundar after Ashwin, but Kuldeep is a unique gift."

Kaif also said wrist-spinners need longer spells to settle into a rhythm and work on their mistakes.

"When you give a bowler a spell, especially a wrist-spinner, you need to give him a long spell. The short spells are not helping Kuldeep. Longer spells give you the chance to rectify mistakes. You need time to get into rhythm. Shubman Gill did not back him in that sense," he said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

Kaif backed former India head coach Ravi Shastri's ******* sment that Kuldeep is India's No. 1 spinner in overseas conditions. He said the left-arm wrist-spinner could be particularly important on flatter pitches where there is less ******* istance from the surface.

"I agree with Ravi Shastri, who said that Kuldeep is our No. 1 spinner in overseas conditions. You just need accuracy on turning tracks. You will somehow get a wicket by bowling at the same area. But you won't get such turning tracks in New Zealand. I feel Kuldeep will play a major role on flat pitches or pitches where there would not be much turn on offer. You will have to keep his confidence high as captain and team management," Kaif said.

India's next Test is in Colombo from August 23, and Kaif believes the team could consider handing a debut to Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain.

He pointed to Sri Lanka's left-handed batters Niroshan ******* wella and Sonal Dinusha, who scored runs in the first Test, as a possible reason for India to consider an off-spinner.

"I feel India might be considering playing Saransh Jain in Colombo. The two batters who scored runs, ******* wella and Sonal, are both lefties. There came a time when Shubman Gill was searching for an off-spinner when they were batting. Because of Sri Lanka's in-form lefties, maybe Kuldeep will have to face the axe. It was Suthar vs Saransh earlier; now it will be Kuldeep vs Saransh," he signed off.

Kuldeep, who made his Test debut in 2018, has played 19 Tests and taken 80 wickets at an average of 23.36. He has four four-wicket hauls and five five-wicket h

Devdutt Padikkal's long wait for a breakthrough in Test cricket has finally turned into a statement innings, and KL Rahul believes the left-hander's success in Galle is the reward for years of quiet work behind the scenes. Padikkal produced a magnificent 167 in the first Test against Sri Lanka, his maiden Test century, as India posted 462 all out in their first innings on Day 3. The left-hander's marathon knock, his third Test appearance, stood out as India built a commanding total despite rain interruptions and a late fightback from Sri Lanka's spinners.

Speaking in a video posted by the BCCI, Rahul revealed that Padikkal had spent the last couple of years patiently waiting for his opportunity while working on his game.

"In the last couple of years he's been waiting for his opportunity and quietly toiling in the nets and trying to get better at some aspects of his batting," Rahul said.
Padikkal's preparation for the Sri Lanka tour began well before the first Test. He had represented India A in Sri Lanka and also scored a century in the warm-up game, giving him valuable exposure to the conditions. Rahul said those experiences, combined with their conversations, helped Padikkal understand what would be required once he got his chance at the highest level.

"He's someone who's come here before, scored some runs in India A as well. So just getting used to the condition, he scored 100 in the warm-up game as well. He's been amongst runs, he's someone who loves batting and scoring big runs," Rahul added.

Padikkal walked in after India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early and gradually took control of the innings. He combined patience with elegant strokeplay, eventually reaching his maiden Test hundred and continuing all the way to 167, his highest score in the format. His innings included 15 fours and a six.
For Rahul, the significance of Padikkal's hundred goes beyond the numbers. He believes getting a first Test century early in a career can remove a major psychological barrier and allow a batter to play with greater freedom.

"I'm really happy that he could get the first hundred and that's really special for everybody and very important to get that early in your career so you can get that out of the way and then start enjoying your cricket and start enjoying your batting and take your batting to the next level," Rahul said.

"I think he's at a stage where he understands his batting really well and he's scoring lots of runs so I think he'll make that move into scoring bigger knocks for India and being more consistent," Rahul added.
India eventually finished on 462 in 116.4 overs, taking a substantial advantage into Sri Lanka's first innings. Padikkal was the star with 167, while Rahul contributed 82 and Dhruv Jurel added a valuable 51. Rishabh Pant made 39, while the lower order ensured India crossed the 450-mark despite Sri Lanka's late fightback.

Sri Lanka's spinners eventually made inroads, with Prabath Jayasuriya taking 4/109 and debu

Devdutt Padikkal marked his return to Test cricket in style, scoring his maiden century in the format during India's first innings of the Galle Test against Sri Lanka.

The Karnataka left-hander produced a composed yet attacking knock, handling the challenging conditions with maturity and putting pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers. Padikkal was particularly effective against spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha, combining caution with well-timed aggression.

The 26-year-old came into the Test on the back of a century against SLC XI in the warm-up game and continued his strong run of form when it mattered most.

Padikkal may have found it difficult to break into India's playing XI had Sai Sudharsan been fit and available for the series. However, his century has strengthened his case for a continued run at No.3.

Speaking after the close of play on Day 1, Padikkal revealed that determination was key to getting through a physically demanding innings in Galle, where the heat and humidity took a toll.

"In this knock, determination for me was playing through that tiredness and fatigue that I was feeling, especially towards the third session. I think it was getting really hot, and we were losing a lot of fluid. We were sweating all the time. So it was really important that I was determined enough to keep going and keep pushing forward," Padikkal said in a video shared by BCCI.

The batter also stressed the importance of maintaining concentration on a surface that did not make batting easy.

"It wasn't the easiest of wickets to bat on. I think we had to make sure that we didn't play too many last shots. We had to make sure that we kept our minds in the game as long as possible because, like I said, again, when you get tired, it's easy to lose that discipline, and I think as a team we did that well today," he added.

Padikkal shared a 150-run partnership with KL Rahul before Rahul retired hurt on 77 after suffering from cramps. For Padikkal, the century was particularly significant as he had not played a Test for India since 2024 and had waited almost two years for another opportunity.

His return to the side came after a prolific run across domestic cricket and the IPL. Strong performances in the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, along with his IPL form, helped him force his way back into the reckoning.

Padikkal admitted that the long wait had tested his patience but also gave him time to improve his game.

"Patience for me, I think it was more to do with what I've gone through before this game. I think my last Test was in 2024. So it's been a long time coming, and I've had to patiently wait, look on from the outside. It's never easy. But at the same time, it gave me time to really work on my game and perfect things that needed perfecting. And I'm really glad that all that hard work came to effect today. It feels great," said Padikkal.

The left-hander also revealed that he felt nervous as he approached the thr

Devdutt Padikkal made a strong statement in India's first Test against Sri Lanka, dominating the opening day in Galle and strengthening his case for a permanent place at No. 3. Drafted into the playing XI after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out with an injury, Padikkal produced a magnificent unbeaten 131 on Day 1. He looked completely at ease against Sri Lanka's spinners and helped India finish the rain-curtailed opening day on 288/2 after 73 overs.

His performance has now earned high praise from former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar, who believes Padikkal's ability against spin makes him an ideal No. 3 option for India even after Sudharsan returns.
While Padikkal was compiling his century, Manjrekar took to X to highlight the batter's impressive technique against spin.

"Devdutt Padikkal god sent for India v spinners. Excellent technique, both in defence & attack."
Manjrekar later elaborated on Padikkal's strengths during a discussion on Sony Sports, pointing to his ability to combine defence, strike rotation and attacking strokes against spin.

"Devdutt Padikkal was the big change that India had, I really think selection is so good that when you see Padikkal walk in and play spin so comfortably, because he's good in defense against spin, he's good at picking 1s and 2s when the field is slightly deep, and then he's also good at playing attacking shots, and that too off the back foot on slow, turning pitches, " Manjrekar said.
Padikkal repeatedly used the depth of the crease to negate Sri Lanka's spinners while also stepping out whenever the bowlers offered him an opportunity. One of the standout moments came when he charged Prabath Jayasuriya and lofted the left-arm spinner over long-on for a six.

For Manjrekar, however, it was Padikkal's ability to score off the back foot on a slow, turning surface that particularly impressed him.

"That's something remarkable. On slow, turning pitches, to hit shots off the back foot with a straight bat and the pull shot tells you that it's somebody who wants to get onto the back foot, and the best way to play spin on a slow, turning pitch is to play the majority of the bowling off the back foot, " he added.

"Along with that, he's also got this knack of going down the pitch and hitting the ball over the sight screen. So on pitches where there is going to be an emphasis on spin, India should bat him at number 3 even if Sai Sudharsan comes back, because he looks such a formidable player against spin, I think it was godsent for India, Devdutt Padikkal at No. 3 with the kind of spin talent he has," Manjrekar said.
Padikkal was handed the No. 3 role following Sudharsan's injury and responded with a career-defining performance. His unbeaten 131 also made him the first Indian batter to score a Test century on Independence Day, while he became only the second Indian cricketer after Virat Kohli to score an international century on August 15.

#devdutt #good

Timesofindia.com in Galle: Quick single, a punch in the air followed by a jubilant jump before unleashing another punch. The helmet came off in a flash, and his arms spread wide to acknowledge the applause from the dressing room and the spectators braving the heat on the grass banks. It was a memorable moment for Devdutt Padikkal, who notched up his maiden Test hundred, and it couldn't have come at a better time, both for him and the country.

Playing a Test for the country after 632 days, he walked into bat after a moment of chaos between Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, who were involved in a terrible mix-up, but took the mantle seamlessly from the opener. Devdutt got off the mark with a boundary, danced down the track to launch Prabath Jayasuriya for a maximum early in the innings and showcased excellent footwork against both spin and pace. There wasn't much happening off the surface in the first session, but the odd delivery did surprise the batters, mostly because of the drift caused by the crosswinds.

Off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha, introduced in the ninth over on his debut, got one to drift in and hold its line after pitching, but the bounce saved Devdutt, who wore a look of disbelief. No one expected that kind of ***** istance from the surface that early in the contest, and the remainder of the day showed that what happened in the 13th over was an anomaly. Except for the occasional delivery with more drift than usual, there wasn't much turn on offer, and Devdutt remained very busy and breezy in his approach, outscoring his senior partner, Rahul, with ease.

Like the spinners, pacers Lahiru ***** ara and Asitha Fernando also found little ***** istance. The two had their moments, but their effort wasn't consistent enough to challenge the visitors in the beautiful batting conditions. After the first rain break, Asitha bowled a testing spell to both Rahul and Devdutt, but both were seasoned enough to navigate the period, when moisture might have seeped into the surface because of the strong shower, and then feasted on some ordinary bowling.
While Rahul was happy to switch to blockathon mode, Devdutt kept the board moving at a fair clip. The Karnataka batters, who spend a lot of time off the field bonding over their mutual love for coffee, complemented each other really well. Rahul, who unfortunately retired hurt due to cramps, enjoys batting with Devdutt as the left-hander's positive approach allows him to switch to zen mode.

Devdutt remained in the driving seat of the 150-run stand, which put India in a dominant position on the opening day, maximizing the crucial toss Shubman Gill had won earlier. With the pitch expected to deteriorate in the coming days, India's best shot at winning the Test is to bat once and bat big, and both Devdutt and Rahul laid a solid foundation for that.

A couple of weeks ago, Devdutt was nowhere close to the playing XI, but an ill-timed injury to Sai Sudharsan opened up the No. 3 slot. The management, not

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have announced a 16-member squad for the opening Test of their two-match series against India, with veteran wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan ******* wella making his return to the Test side.

Dhananjaya de Silva will captain the team, while Kamindu Mendis has been named his deputy. ******* wella has been included as the wicketkeeper after Kusal Mendis was ruled out of the first Test with an injury.

Batter Pathum Nissanka has also been left out of the squad for the opening match.

Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Sonal Dinusha make up the rest of Sri Lanka's batting options.

The hosts have three specialist spinners in Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha. Their pace department includes Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru ******* ara, Vishwa Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka.

The first Test will be played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium from August 15 to 19. The two-match series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.

India, led by Shubman Gill, are currently fifth in the World Test Championship standings. They have recorded four wins and four losses in nine matches, with a Points Percentage (PCT) of 48.150.

Sri Lanka are sixth in the standings, having registered one win, one draw and two defeats.

With home conditions expected to play a role in the series, Sri Lanka will look to their experienced players, including Chandimal and the returning ******* wella, as they prepare to take on India's Test side.

Sri Lanka squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis (vc), Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan ******* wella (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru ******* ara, Vishwa Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.

#fernando

NEW DELHI: Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has opened up about an incident that led to his expulsion from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru in 2000.

Harbhajan, who was among the first group of trainees at the NCA, recalled how he tore up a diet chart after repeatedly complaining that the food being served did not match the prescribed diet. He said the incident was later used as the reason for his removal.
Harbhajan said the NCA had a fixed diet plan for its trainees, but the food served did not follow the chart. According to him, repeated complaints did not lead to any change.

The former India spinner said his frustration eventually boiled over and he tore the diet chart.

"Waha se mujhe nikaal diya gaya. Woh meri galti nahi thi. Main aaj bhi is baat ko khule aam kehta hoon, kyunki woh hamara haq tha. Jo hamara khaana tha, woh achha nahi tha. [They removed me from there. It was not my mistake, I say this openly even today. It was our right. The food was not good there]," the former India spinner said on cricketnextofficial.

"Wahan jo rules aur regulations the, woh yahi the ki humein bahut kuch padhaya ja raha tha, sikhaya ja raha tha. Ek chart lagaya tha, ***** ein tha ki ye diet honi chahiye, expert ki diet ke hisaab se humein woh diet milni chahiye. Lekin woh khaana mil nahi raha tha. [Back then, the rules and regulations were such that we were told and taught a lot, and a chart was put up for the diet. But we were not getting food as per that diet. Despite complaining many times, the food did not improve. So one day I tore that chart. This was my only mistake, that I tore the chart]" Harbhajan said.

Harbhajan said he believed his decision to speak up was necessary because the problems with the diet plan would not have been addressed otherwise.

"But maybe till someone does something like this, things don't change. I was fighting for the rights. If I had not stood up, even today the same diet plan would have been followed. The plan changed, I was also removed, that is a different thing, but it was not my fault. There were some people in the BCCI who did not want someone who could stand up and question them," Harbhajan added.

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Harbhajan went on to become one of India's most successful spinners. He represented India from 1998 to 2016 and finished his international career with more than 700 wickets across formats.

He played 103 Tests and took 417 wickets, including 25 five-wicket hauls and five 10-wicket match hauls.

In 236 ODIs, Harbhajan claimed 269 wickets, including three five-wicket hauls. He also played 28 T20Is and took 25 wickets.

#diet #chart

CHENNAI: Australia have decided against playing a practice game ahead of next year's highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India. Tony Dodemaide, who is managing Australia's development squad that is currently training in Chennai, and is also part of the national selection group alongside George Bailey and Andrew McDonald, explained that the tight international schedule leaves little room for a conventional warm-up fixture.

Australia's fourth Test against New Zealand is scheduled to finish on Jan 8, while the first Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy is slated to begin on Jan 21.

"It gets over about 10 days before the first (Test) here...So we're playing Test cricket, as soon as the game finishes, we get on a plane and come here and have practice, and then straight into the first Test," Dodemaide told TOI on the sidelines of an event.

However, he added that players who are not part of the playing XI for the final Test against New Zealand will arrive in India early to get accustomed to the conditions. "We need to win the Test match against New Zealand. But the players in the touring squad who aren't playing in that Test will come early to get more acclimatised," he said.

The five match Test series will begin in Nagpur before moving to Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi and Ahmedabad.

The Aussie pace department may still be relying on the experience of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat ******* mins, but Dodemaide said the next generation of pacemen is not too far behind. "Scott Boland, Michael Nesser and Brendan Doggett have been really good for us, while we have some very exciting talent coming through. Jhye Richardson, Lance Morris and Xavier Bartlett have also played some one-day cricket for us."

Among the younger crop, Dodemaide pointed to Sheffield Shield performers Nathan McAndrew, Lance Morris and Fergus O'Neill, "The challenge for our bowlers back home this summer is to set themselves apart to be the next players to come through," he said.

Dodemaide also highlighted the importance of Australia's current development camp in India, particularly for their young spinners. The squad has been brought to India specifically to experience conditions that are difficult to replicate back home.

"In Australia, we can't replicate the very dry, red soil and spin conditions. We don't have the same soil types and find it very difficult to get pitches that are dry at home. But it's not just the playing conditions. It's the Indian experience, the heat, the crowds, the crowded places. If these players come back to play for Australia, they'll have all of that to deal with. This gives them familiarity and allows us to see how they respond to that challenge," he added.

Players like Joel Davies, Jason Sangha, Lloyd Pope and Hugh Weibgen are part of the squad. Dodemaide said the presence of several young players reflects Australia's belief in their potential. "The younger the players are, the more uncertain it is. But through the Under-19s,

TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: Big strides, ****** ured footwork, smart use of the crease, fluent shots and solid defence. These were the highlights of Devdutt Padikkal's unbeaten 142 off 164 ****** at the Nondescript Cricket Club in Colombo on Saturday. The classy left-hander was not a starter when the squad was picked for the series. Still, the moment team management received the update on Sai Sudharsan's niggle, all efforts focused on keeping Padikkal ready for the opportunity. When the chance came, he delivered. And how.

It wasn't a raging turner, nor were the opposition spinners posing tough questions, but runs always do the confidence a world of good, especially when they coincide with the update on Sudharsan. Since coming into bat in the first over of the second day's play, Padikkal exuded confidence and scored his runs at a brisk pace even when KL Rahul was happy to buy time at the other end.

He controlled the ball and showed equal confidence against both spin and pace, remaining unfazed by the off-spin challenge when Ramesh Mendis and Keshara Nuwantha bowled in tandem. He met most ****** under his eyes, and the side-on view of his big strides and the balance with which he operated made it a treat. The 26-year-old hasn't featured in a multi-day fixture for India since November 2024 but has been making the right noise with the India A side and Karnataka in the domestic circuit.

Keeping the calendar in mind, he specifically worked on his game against spin and spent a lot of time perfecting the craft. Even when the management persisted with Sudharsan as the No.3 bat, Padikkal was busy upgrading. When he played the two multi-day fixtures at Galle last month, the left-hander hit two half-centuries and served another reminder of his readiness.

It was more of the same at the NCC; in front of a handful of spectators, the timing was ideal. Before the fixture got underway, there was optimism around Sudharsan joining the camp, if not in Colombo, then in Galle. Little did Padikkal know that as he closed in on a brilliant century, Sudharsan's hopes of boarding the flight evaporated.

Come August 15, India won't need to sweat much over the No. 3 position with Padikkal ready and raring to go. A lot of hard work went on behind the scenes, which was reflected in the ease with which he operated.

Back in 2024, chief selector Ajit Agarkar's addition of Padikkal to India's Test squad for the home series against England was a surprise pick. The Indian camp was hit by injury concerns, and KL Rahul's unavailability opened the door for Padikkal, who then made his debut in Dharamsala. One knock in the Ranji Trophy was all it took for the chairman to fast-track the left-hander into the set-up. Padikkal would have certainly thanked his stars that Agarkar's rare appearance for domestic games included the Tamil Nadu vs Karnataka game in Chennai.

The left-hander, at No.3, hit a 218-ball 151 which included 12 boundaries and six sixes. The oppos

Rashid Khan produced a sensational six-wicket haul as Afghanistan thrashed Ireland by 92 runs in the second ODI at Bready Cricket Club on Friday, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

After the opening ODI was abandoned without a toss due to rain, the second game was also delayed by inclement weather and eventually reduced to 47 overs per side. Afghanistan, led by Ibrahim Zadran, posted 299 for 8 before Rashid ripped through Ireland's batting line-up, bowling them out for 207 in 33.4 overs.
Asked to bat first in overcast conditions, Afghanistan initially found it difficult against Ireland's new-ball movement. Mark Adair opened with a maiden, but Jai Moondra struggled to contain Rahmanullah Gurbaz, conceding four boundaries in his first two overs.

Gurbaz briefly took Moondra apart with a six and a four in the left-arm seamer's third over, but the bowler had the last laugh when the opener attempted another big shot and holed out.

Sediqullah Atal kept the scoring moving, while Ibrahim initially played a more measured innings. Afghanistan reached 65 for 1 before the pair took control, putting together a 116-run partnership.

Ibrahim shifted gears and brought up his half-century from 52 ******* . Atal's dismissal in the 25th over ended the stand, but Ibrahim continued to anchor the innings.

The Afghanistan captain then added 43 with Rahmat Shah before both fell within two overs. Another 43-run partnership between Azmatullah Omarzai and Darwish Rasooli kept Afghanistan on course, while Hashmatullah Shahidi provided a late flourish with a 21-ball 36, including four boundaries in the final two overs.

Despite losing three wickets for 21 runs late on, Afghanistan finished with a formidable 299 for 8.
Ireland made a confident start in the chase, reaching 65 for 1 despite losing Paul Stirling early.

Andy Balbirnie looked fluent, while Cade Carmichael, playing only his fourth ODI, launched an aggressive counterattack. Carmichael smashed Saleem Safi for 21 runs in the 14th over and went on to bring up his maiden ODI fifty from 44 ******* .

But Afghanistan's spinners soon changed the game.

Rashid struck twice in quick succession to remove Balbirnie and Harry Tector, leaving Ireland in need of a substantial partnership. Carmichael and Lorcan Tucker attempted to rebuild, but their 38-run stand ended when Tucker was run out after losing track of the ball during an LBW appeal.

Carmichael followed in the next over for 62, leaving Ireland at 152 for 5.

Ben Calitz and Curtis Campher briefly threatened to revive the chase, smashing 41 runs in three overs, including five fours and two sixes. Rashid ended that ******* ault by dismissing Calitz, triggering a stunning collapse.

Ireland lost their final four wickets for just nine runs, with Rashid claiming three of them to complete remarkable figures of 6-34.

The third ODI will be played on Monday, August 10, at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast.
Brief Scores: Afghanist

Rashid Khan took six wickets as Afghanistan hammered Ireland by 92 runs in the second one-day international.
Victory saw Afghanistan take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after the first ODI was washed out.
Ireland lost seven wickets for 63 runs on Friday as they were bowled out for 207 chasing a target of 300 at Bready Cricket Club in the Northern Irish village of Magheramason.
Khan, one of the outstanding leg-spinners of his generation, took four of the last seven wickets to fall as he finished with impressive figures of 6-34 – his third "six for" in ODI cricket. His best bowling in the format remains 7-18 against the West Indies in 2017.
Rashid struck two early blows, firstly having Andy Balbirnie caught behind to end a promising stand of 72 with Cade Carmichael.

#khan #Cricket

Pakistan climbed one place in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 points table after beating the West Indies by eight wickets in the second Test in Trinidad. The win helped Pakistan level the two-match series 1-1 and move above the West Indies in the standings.

Earlier, Pakistan had slipped to the bottom of the table after losing the opening Test. They now have two wins from six matches and a points percentage (PCT) of 22.22.
Pakistan also ended their eight-match away losing streak in Test cricket with the victory.

Chasing a target of 77, Pakistan reached 77/2 shortly after lunch on Day 4. Abdullah Shafique, who scored a century in the first innings, remained unbeaten on 24 along with captain Babar Azam, who also finished on 24 not out.

Babar sealed the win by hitting back-to-back sixes off left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican.

West Indies had won the first Test by 90 runs in Tarouba, but Pakistan bounced back strongly in the second match. Spinners Sajid Khan and Ali Usman made the most of the conditions at Queen's Park Oval as Pakistan remained unbeaten in a Test series against the West Indies since 2000.
1. Australia (1st): Australia remain at the top of the World Test Championship standings. They have won seven of their eight matches, lost one, collected 84 points and have the best Points Percentage (PCT) of 87.50.

2. South Africa (2nd): South Africa are second with three wins and one defeat in four matches. They have 36 points and a PCT of 75.00.

3. New Zealand (3rd): New Zealand are third after winning four of their six Tests. They have one loss and one draw, with 52 points and a PCT of 72.22.
Pos

#test #match

Futures League
Bravehearts at Spinners, 7 p.m.
Kingsway Summer League
Playoffs (Second round)
At Crompton Park

#spinners #summer #park

NEW DELHI: Pakistan moved closer to a rare away Test win after reducing West Indies to 103/6 at stumps on Day 3 of the second and final Test. Despite West Indies holding a lead of 60 runs, the hosts have only four wickets left, giving Pakistan the upper hand heading into the fourth day.

West Indies ended the day on 103/6, leading by 60 runs with only four wickets remaining.

Pakistan will look to dismiss the remaining batters quickly on Day 4 and chase a modest target to secure their first away Test victory since 2023. West Indies, meanwhile, are aiming to complete a 2-0 series sweep after winning the opening Test by 90 runs.

Shafique's 160 helps Pakistan take first-innings lead

Pakistan began the day still behind West Indies' first-innings total of 344, but Abdullah Shafique produced a superb unbeaten 160 to guide his team to 387.

His innings helped Pakistan secure a 43-run first-innings lead before the visitors were bowled out.

Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican starred for West Indies with six wickets for 112 runs. He cleaned up the Pakistan lower order after already removing key batters earlier in the innings.

Babar Azam's wait for Test hundred continues

Pakistan captain Babar Azam once again missed out on a Test century.

He was run out for 88 after a brilliant direct hit from Brandon King ended his 183-run partnership with Shafique. Pakistan were still trailing by 63 runs when the wicket fell.

Babar attempted a quick single after pushing the ball into the off side, but Shafique changed his mind and sent him back. King collected the ball and hit the stumps with a flat throw, leaving Babar short of his ground despite a desperate dive.

It was Babar's highest Test score in 35 innings, but he is still waiting for his first Test century since scoring one against New Zealand in Karachi in December 2022.

King injured after match-changing run-out

Brandon King's brilliant fielding effort came at a cost.

The West Indies batter injured his lower back after landing awkwardly while throwing down the stumps. He had to be taken off the field, and it remains unclear whether he will be able to bat on Day 4.

Warrican leads West Indies bowling attack

Warrican was the pick of the bowlers for West Indies.

He dismissed debutant Awais Zafar for 1 before Shamar Joseph trapped Salman Ali Agha lbw. Warrican then bowled Mohammad Rizwan for 18 with the second new ball and later finished the innings by taking three wickets in four deliveries to complete a six-wicket haul.

Pakistan strikes back with the ball

West Indies made a solid start to their second innings as Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Kavem Hodge added 40 runs for the opening wicket.

However, Pakistan's spinners quickly took control.

Sajid Khan removed Chanderpaul and Amir Jangoo before West Indies recovered through a partnership between Shai Hope and captain Roston Chase.

The visitors then lost three wickets in the final five overs of the day. S

New Delhi: On March 27 this year, Saransh Jain posted photos and videos on Instagram, thanking former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for the valuable lessons he learnt during a five-day camp at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

In the caption, Saransh mentioned a line Harbhajan Singh told him that touched him the most. It read: "Kuch paane ke liye kuch khona nahi, kuch karna padta hai (To achieve something, you don't have to lose something, you have to do something)." Saransh further wrote: "These aren't just words. They were deeply felt and will stay with me."
Now, months later, the 33-year-old has earned his maiden India call-up.

"He is a very humble guy who knows exactly what he needs to do. I wish him all the very best because this is a special moment for him, his family and everyone who has supported him," Harbhajan told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.

Saransh, who has played extensive First-Class cricket and has been a regular for Madhya Pradesh, impressed the selectors with his consistency during the domestic grind and was recently rewarded with an India A call-up. In his outing for India A against Sri Lanka A, Saransh picked up seven wickets in the two unofficial Tests. In the second match, he claimed six wickets and scored an unbeaten 70 in the first innings, paving the way for India's 10-wicket victory.
"He has worked incredibly hard and spent many years in domestic cricket, which, in many ways, is tougher than people realise. Bowling long spells of 40 or 50 overs across a match teaches you a lot. The more you bowl, the more you learn," says Harbhajan, while lauding Saransh's domestic grind.

Washington Sundar's injury opened the door for Saransh. With Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav in the squad, Saransh is the fourth spinner but the lone off-spinner. If he goes on to make his debut, Saransh will become the first India player to debut after the age of 33 since Robin Singh in 1998.

"At 33, he is still young for a spinner, but he now has the experience of bowling to some of the best players of spin in domestic cricket. I am grateful that I got the opportunity to spend four or five days with him," says Harbhajan, backing Saransh to do well.
Over the years, Saransh's flight, dip and high-arm action have proved difficult for batters to pick. Those are exactly the attributes that caught Harbhajan Singh's attention during the specialist camp for off-spinners at the CoE.

"The first thing I noticed was his action. He has a very good action and keeps things simple. He isn't trying too many fancy variations. He has a lot of experience, an excellent seam position and tremendous control. Those qualities make a big difference," says Harbhajan.

"Experience teaches you to trust your strengths and bowl the right line and length consistently. What impressed me the most was his attitude. His mindset is always about taking wickets. Today, many bowlers are focused on simply getting thr

Milford 17, Leominster 0: Nick Pedroli was 3 for 4 with four RBIs and three runs, and pitched four innings and allowed one hit as Post 59 blanked Post 151 in a State Tournament elimination game.
Milford's Gavin Metcalf went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs, Matt Pedroli was 2 for 2 with an RBI and three runs, Josh Bouchard had two hits and three runs, and Joey McGee college two hits, three RBIs and a run.
Pennsylvania 13, Lou Gehrig 5: Aaron Nguyen drove in Colin Dykas to tie the game at one in the bottom of the first and Lou Gehrig took the lead in the second when Joshua Regus was walked in and a sac fly by Dykas gave them a 3-1 lead, but Pennsylvania fired back with three runs in the third and pulled away with eight runs in the seventh as Lou Gehrig's season came to a close in the Junior League East Regional in Dubois, Pa.
Dominic Eilert led Lou Gehrig with three hits, an RBI and two runs.
Bravehearts 10, Spinners 0: Joey Hagen struck out eight and allowed one hit over 5.2 innings and Charlie Hess fanned one and gave up two hits in 1.1 innings as the visiting Bravehearts blanked the Spinners.

#innings #pennsylvania

Sri Lanka Women and Pakistan Women meet again in Hambantota on Saturday with the tourists holding a 1-0 lead after a comfortable five-wicket win in the Dafabet sponsored series opener.
Nashra Sandhu's three for 42 gave the Women in green early impetus in bowling before Gull Feroza's 78 and Sidra Amin's 57 barely broke their stride and chased down the the target.
Feroza in particular has become the story in Pakistan's success in last few matches. She has scored four successive half-centuries and her average is nudging 87, the kind of form that makes a top order feel settled rather than simply talented.
Sri Lanka, for their part, know exactly what went missing last time out.
Vishmi Gunaratne and Chamari Athapaththu gave them the fast start any captain would want, thirty-one runs inside the first five overs, only for the innings to quietly lose its shape once Pakistan's spinners took control.

#lanka #gave #saturday

Yastika Bhatia on Sunday became the first woman to score a Test century at the Home of Cricket as India closed in on a famous victory over England in the historic first-ever Women’s Test at Lord’s.

While vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was unfortunate to be caught down the leg side off Lauren Bell for 70 (130b, 9x4, 1x6), the less-fancied left-hander Yastika produced a sublime maiden Test hundred, scoring 113 off 158 ****** with 14 fours, as India declared at 341 for seven shortly before tea.

The visitors set England a daunting target of 457.

England, who had been bowled out for 170 in their first innings, ended Day Three reeling at 130 for six, still needing 327 runs with only four wickets in hand.

India’s seamers once again led the charge. Kranti Gaud (2-40), fresh from her first-innings five for 37 that made her the first woman to claim a Test five-wicket haul at Lord’s, struck twice early. She bowled Tammy Beaumont for a firstball duck in the opener’s farewell Test before removing former captain Heather Knight (13), who was caught behind by Richa Ghosh after being given a guard of honour by the Indian players following her retirement announcement on Saturday.

Gaud has figures of seven for 77 in the match. Sayali Satghare (2-19) provided excellent support, trapping Maia Bouchier (2) lbw before claiming another wicket.

Earlier, Yastika produced an innings to remember.

Resuming on her overnight 39, the 25-year-old enjoyed an early reprieve when a Lauren Bell delivery clipped her leg stump without dislodging the bails. She responded immediately by driving Bell straight down the ground for four and soon completed her second Test fifty. Batting with elegance and ****** urance, the Baroda wicketkeeper unfurled crisp cover drives, authoritative pulls and deft late cuts while using her feet confidently against the spinners.

On 91, she struck back-to-back boundaries off Issy Wong before nudging a single to deep extra cover to bring up a landmark maiden Test century.
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Brief scores: India 285 & 341/ 7 decl (Y Bhatia 113, S Mandhana 70, R Ghosh 50*, S Ecclestone 5/118) vs England: 170 & 130/6 (A Jones 52, S Satghare 2/19, K Gaud 2/40)