10 days ago
Bengaluru: For Tilak Varma, the number next to his name on the team sheet matters far less than the one on the scoreboard at the end of the match.
The India T20I vice-captain has seen his role evolve considerably in recent months, moving from the top order to the finisher's role as the team continues to fine-tune its combinations. While adapting to different batting positions is rarely straightforward, the 23-year-old has embraced the challenge and put the team's needs ahead of personal preference.
Having begun his T20I career near the top of the order, Tilak now often finds himself walking in at No. 5 or 6. With Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma opening, Ishan Kishan firmly established at No. 3 and skipper Shreyas Iyer occupying the next slot, opportunities higher up the order have become limited.
Rather than viewing it as a setback, Tilak sees it as another responsibility to master.
"Ishan is batting brilliantly at No. 3. So, for me, there is no option but to bat at 5 and 6 and do the job for the team. I am mentally prepared for that role and in the last few games, I have won matches from there. So, I am pretty confident," Tilak said after the rain-hit series decider against the West Indies in Bengaluru on Saturday.
The left-hander admitted that the transition from a top-order batter to a finisher has not been without its challenges.
"It's not easy to change from No. 3 to No. 5 or 6. It is slightly challenging. But I have been working on how I can finish games, and I love finishing games for the country," he said.
The demands of batting in the lower middle order are vastly different from those of a top-order role. There is little time to settle in, and the emphasis is on making an immediate impact rather than constructing an innings. Tilak said he has consciously altered his preparation to meet those demands.
"I have been working on it in the nets. Otherwise, it becomes tough. When you go in as a finisher and a slower ball comes into your arc, you need to be ready to hit it for six. In T20 cricket, if you bat at No. 5 or 6, you generally get only five or six overs, so I have had to change my approach."
Fortunately for Tilak, batting down the order is not entirely new territory.
"I batted lower down the order in my childhood as well. I have shots all around the ground and I am confident in my ability to adapt. Whether it is No. 3 or No. 5, I believe I have the technique to fit into any role for the team if I prepare well," he said.
#tilak #t20i
The India T20I vice-captain has seen his role evolve considerably in recent months, moving from the top order to the finisher's role as the team continues to fine-tune its combinations. While adapting to different batting positions is rarely straightforward, the 23-year-old has embraced the challenge and put the team's needs ahead of personal preference.
Having begun his T20I career near the top of the order, Tilak now often finds himself walking in at No. 5 or 6. With Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma opening, Ishan Kishan firmly established at No. 3 and skipper Shreyas Iyer occupying the next slot, opportunities higher up the order have become limited.
Rather than viewing it as a setback, Tilak sees it as another responsibility to master.
"Ishan is batting brilliantly at No. 3. So, for me, there is no option but to bat at 5 and 6 and do the job for the team. I am mentally prepared for that role and in the last few games, I have won matches from there. So, I am pretty confident," Tilak said after the rain-hit series decider against the West Indies in Bengaluru on Saturday.
The left-hander admitted that the transition from a top-order batter to a finisher has not been without its challenges.
"It's not easy to change from No. 3 to No. 5 or 6. It is slightly challenging. But I have been working on how I can finish games, and I love finishing games for the country," he said.
The demands of batting in the lower middle order are vastly different from those of a top-order role. There is little time to settle in, and the emphasis is on making an immediate impact rather than constructing an innings. Tilak said he has consciously altered his preparation to meet those demands.
"I have been working on it in the nets. Otherwise, it becomes tough. When you go in as a finisher and a slower ball comes into your arc, you need to be ready to hit it for six. In T20 cricket, if you bat at No. 5 or 6, you generally get only five or six overs, so I have had to change my approach."
Fortunately for Tilak, batting down the order is not entirely new territory.
"I batted lower down the order in my childhood as well. I have shots all around the ground and I am confident in my ability to adapt. Whether it is No. 3 or No. 5, I believe I have the technique to fit into any role for the team if I prepare well," he said.
#tilak #t20i
2 months ago
NEW DELHI: Social media has found a fun new way to bring the 1980s back, with AI turning modern-day pictures into vintage portraits. The trend has now reached the Indian cricket team, with several players enjoying a hilarious surprise ahead of their T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi.
Two days before the series, the Indian players gathered at their hotel for a photo session. But before it began, they found a table filled with AI-generated pictures of themselves.
The portraits, featured in a video shared by the BCCI, showed the players in classic 1980s looks, complete with bell-bottom jeans, big sunglasses and retro hairstyles.
India allrounder Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma picked up the portraits and burst out laughing as they showed them to their teammates. Jasprit ****** rah also joined in the fun.
Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube checked out their retro pictures and appeared amused by their new 1980s avatars.
Ishan Kishan, who recently led East Zone to Duleep Trophy glory, fully embraced the retro look. He held up his AI-generated picture, sang and posed for the camera as his teammates enjoyed the moment.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yash Thakur and Ravi Bishnoi also broke into smiles after seeing their 1980s avatars.
India and Afghanistan will face each other in a three-match T20I series, starting Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
The second and third T20Is will be played on Tuesday and Thursday at the same venue.
#portraits
Two days before the series, the Indian players gathered at their hotel for a photo session. But before it began, they found a table filled with AI-generated pictures of themselves.
The portraits, featured in a video shared by the BCCI, showed the players in classic 1980s looks, complete with bell-bottom jeans, big sunglasses and retro hairstyles.
India allrounder Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma picked up the portraits and burst out laughing as they showed them to their teammates. Jasprit ****** rah also joined in the fun.
Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube checked out their retro pictures and appeared amused by their new 1980s avatars.
Ishan Kishan, who recently led East Zone to Duleep Trophy glory, fully embraced the retro look. He held up his AI-generated picture, sang and posed for the camera as his teammates enjoyed the moment.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yash Thakur and Ravi Bishnoi also broke into smiles after seeing their 1980s avatars.
India and Afghanistan will face each other in a three-match T20I series, starting Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
The second and third T20Is will be played on Tuesday and Thursday at the same venue.
#portraits
2 months ago
India's search for consistency in T20I cricket will continue with a three-match series against Afghanistan, but the team's batting combination could once again come under scrutiny, particularly with vice-captain Tilak Varma's role yet to appear fully settled.
India, led by Shreyas Iyer, endured a difficult run following their second consecutive T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year. The team lost all six of its T20Is against Ireland and England before finally putting together a 3-0 clean sweep against Zimbabwe.
The Afghanistan series begins on September 13 (Saturday), with India also scheduled to play a historic T20I against ******* an before featuring in the Asian Games 2026.
With several established batters competing for places, former South Africa star AB de Villiers believes India could face a selection headache, particularly when it comes to deciding where Tilak Varma fits into the batting order.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers pointed to the number of batting options available to India and questioned how the team would accommodate its vice-captain.
"There will definitely be some selection issues with regard to the batters. Obviously, Shreyas, captain, Ishan Kishan, Samson, Sooryavanshi, and then there are all-rounders, Tilak Varma; I think that's where the balance is quite tricky. Where will he bat?" de Villiers said.
Tilak's recent numbers also underline why his position could become a talking point.
Since the 2026 T20 World Cup, the left-hander has scored 255 runs from 10 innings at a strike rate of 159.36, with three scores of 50 or more. However, the numbers need some context. One of those half-centuries came during the recent Zimbabwe series, while another was scored in the fifth T20I against England, by which point India had already conceded the series.
His overall returns therefore look stronger in isolation than his performances across the entire period suggest. Tilak endured a particularly difficult run during India's tour of the UK, and his inconsistency has remained a concern despite the occasional big score. That makes his position in India's batting order an even bigger talking point ahead of the Afghanistan series.
The presence of Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gives India several batting options, while the team also has to factor in its all-rounders.
For de Villiers, the challenge is not simply about selecting the strongest players but finding a combination in which every batter has a clearly defined role.
He believes India have enough quality in their squad to deal with Afghanistan, but stressed that clarity will be particularly important against a side he considers dangerous.
"Really, really strong squad, but the balance will be tricky to figure out. It is T20 cricket, so they can play around with the squad a little bit. There are different roles, but the role clarification will still be incredibly important for India, as
India, led by Shreyas Iyer, endured a difficult run following their second consecutive T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year. The team lost all six of its T20Is against Ireland and England before finally putting together a 3-0 clean sweep against Zimbabwe.
The Afghanistan series begins on September 13 (Saturday), with India also scheduled to play a historic T20I against ******* an before featuring in the Asian Games 2026.
With several established batters competing for places, former South Africa star AB de Villiers believes India could face a selection headache, particularly when it comes to deciding where Tilak Varma fits into the batting order.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers pointed to the number of batting options available to India and questioned how the team would accommodate its vice-captain.
"There will definitely be some selection issues with regard to the batters. Obviously, Shreyas, captain, Ishan Kishan, Samson, Sooryavanshi, and then there are all-rounders, Tilak Varma; I think that's where the balance is quite tricky. Where will he bat?" de Villiers said.
Tilak's recent numbers also underline why his position could become a talking point.
Since the 2026 T20 World Cup, the left-hander has scored 255 runs from 10 innings at a strike rate of 159.36, with three scores of 50 or more. However, the numbers need some context. One of those half-centuries came during the recent Zimbabwe series, while another was scored in the fifth T20I against England, by which point India had already conceded the series.
His overall returns therefore look stronger in isolation than his performances across the entire period suggest. Tilak endured a particularly difficult run during India's tour of the UK, and his inconsistency has remained a concern despite the occasional big score. That makes his position in India's batting order an even bigger talking point ahead of the Afghanistan series.
The presence of Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gives India several batting options, while the team also has to factor in its all-rounders.
For de Villiers, the challenge is not simply about selecting the strongest players but finding a combination in which every batter has a clearly defined role.
He believes India have enough quality in their squad to deal with Afghanistan, but stressed that clarity will be particularly important against a side he considers dangerous.
"Really, really strong squad, but the balance will be tricky to figure out. It is T20 cricket, so they can play around with the squad a little bit. There are different roles, but the role clarification will still be incredibly important for India, as
2 months ago
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
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
2 months ago
Chennai: Veteran India speedster Mohammed Shami maybe out of India reckoning for now, but he still refuses to give up. When East Zone play South Zone in the Duleep final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Sunday, the 36-year-old will be appearing in his 100th First-Class match, with a prolific record of 382 wickets so far.
East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan was effusive in his praise of the senior bowler on the eve of the **** le clash, stressing that age remains irrelevant when backed by exceptional work ethic and fierce determination.
"For Shami, age is just a number. If he is working hard, it doesn't matter. Having someone like him in our team gives us immense confidence. His approach towards the game, his intensity, and his energy this season have been very different from how I've seen him in the past," Kishan said after a practice session.
Comparing this version of Shami to his sensational 24-wicket run at the 2023 ODI World Cup, Kishan stressed on the pacer's sheer appetite for a national comeback.
"It is 2026 now, three years since that World Cup. It is hard when you are not regularly playing for the Indian team to still summon that same motivation for domestic games...Who better than me can judge hunger right now? I see that hunger and drive in him, he wants to make that comeback and be part of the Indian squad again. You can see it in the way he helps me lead, constantly coming up with strategic options. You can instantly tell when a player is desperate to win you the match," the skipper added.
Kishan also hailed Shami's tireless attitude during East Zone's semifinal victory over Central Zone, where the veteran ran in and picked five wickets in the game.
"He is a legend of the game. Looking at his effort in the semifinal, as a captain, it felt incredible when Shami came up and asked for extra overs to break partnerships. That willingness gives a skipper immense confidence. Plus, he finished with two boundaries in the last game, so he's practically an allrounder nowadays," Kishan quipped.
South Zone captain Tilak Varma acknowledged the massive challenge awaiting his batting unit against Shami's probing spells with the red ball, but they are confident to face him.
"It will be great competition. We are up against a quality bowling attack led by Shami. Facing that calibre of bowling is why you love this sport," Tilak said.
#kishan #skipper #south #Indian
East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan was effusive in his praise of the senior bowler on the eve of the **** le clash, stressing that age remains irrelevant when backed by exceptional work ethic and fierce determination.
"For Shami, age is just a number. If he is working hard, it doesn't matter. Having someone like him in our team gives us immense confidence. His approach towards the game, his intensity, and his energy this season have been very different from how I've seen him in the past," Kishan said after a practice session.
Comparing this version of Shami to his sensational 24-wicket run at the 2023 ODI World Cup, Kishan stressed on the pacer's sheer appetite for a national comeback.
"It is 2026 now, three years since that World Cup. It is hard when you are not regularly playing for the Indian team to still summon that same motivation for domestic games...Who better than me can judge hunger right now? I see that hunger and drive in him, he wants to make that comeback and be part of the Indian squad again. You can see it in the way he helps me lead, constantly coming up with strategic options. You can instantly tell when a player is desperate to win you the match," the skipper added.
Kishan also hailed Shami's tireless attitude during East Zone's semifinal victory over Central Zone, where the veteran ran in and picked five wickets in the game.
"He is a legend of the game. Looking at his effort in the semifinal, as a captain, it felt incredible when Shami came up and asked for extra overs to break partnerships. That willingness gives a skipper immense confidence. Plus, he finished with two boundaries in the last game, so he's practically an allrounder nowadays," Kishan quipped.
South Zone captain Tilak Varma acknowledged the massive challenge awaiting his batting unit against Shami's probing spells with the red ball, but they are confident to face him.
"It will be great competition. We are up against a quality bowling attack led by Shami. Facing that calibre of bowling is why you love this sport," Tilak said.
#kishan #skipper #south #Indian
2 months ago
CHENNAI: There are five India 'A' 'Test' matches over the next two months against the Aussies at home and New Zealand away. The Duleep Trophy final here between East and South Zone here starting Sunday is an audition for that and the national selectors, including chairman Ajit Agarkar, will be in Chennai to check the performances of the aspirants.
The BCCI also wanted to add a bit of star quotient to the marquee domestic match with KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Siraj being asked to join the South sq-uad. While Padikkal and Siraj will play the game, Rahul made himself unavailable. Padikkal is coming on the back of a superb series in Sri Lanka and South captain Tilak Varma confirmed on Saturday after a practice session that the left-hander will bat at No. 3.
"Padikkal will strengthen our batting line-up, especially with the kind of form we have seen from him in the last few games. He has done really well, so it will be a big boost for us," Tilak said.
The final carries massive historic weight for East Zone, who reached the ****** le match after a gap of 14 years. Coincidentally, their last final appearance was also in Chennai, a match they won. This fixture also marks red-ball cricket's return to MA Chidambaram Stadium after two years.
"Yes, after 14 years. I was not part of each and every year, but I am part of East Zone this year, and we are in the finals...We played like an unit and cared for each other," East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan said. There's a lot of hype around 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who struck a crucial 92 in the semifinal against Central Zone.
#zone #east #match
The BCCI also wanted to add a bit of star quotient to the marquee domestic match with KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Siraj being asked to join the South sq-uad. While Padikkal and Siraj will play the game, Rahul made himself unavailable. Padikkal is coming on the back of a superb series in Sri Lanka and South captain Tilak Varma confirmed on Saturday after a practice session that the left-hander will bat at No. 3.
"Padikkal will strengthen our batting line-up, especially with the kind of form we have seen from him in the last few games. He has done really well, so it will be a big boost for us," Tilak said.
The final carries massive historic weight for East Zone, who reached the ****** le match after a gap of 14 years. Coincidentally, their last final appearance was also in Chennai, a match they won. This fixture also marks red-ball cricket's return to MA Chidambaram Stadium after two years.
"Yes, after 14 years. I was not part of each and every year, but I am part of East Zone this year, and we are in the finals...We played like an unit and cared for each other," East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan said. There's a lot of hype around 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who struck a crucial 92 in the semifinal against Central Zone.
#zone #east #match
2 months ago
MUMBAI: Former India captain Diana Edulji feels it's time to appoint vice-captain and superstar batter Smriti Mandhana as captain of the Indian women's team "in all three formats of the game."
Mandhana became the leading run-getter in women's internationals, en route to her hundred (124) in the Women's Asia Cup 2026 on Thursday against Hong Kong in Dubai. She broke former Indian women's captain Mithali Raj's record of 10,868 runs. Mandhana also broke the record for most centuries (18) in international cricket, the most by any batter in the women's game, surpassing Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt, who have 17 apiece. Mandhana has two hundreds in T20Is, two in Tests and 14 in ODIs. The elegant left-hander has 93 fifty-plus scores across formats in international cricket, the joint-most by any batter, alongside Raj.
It was also Mandhana's second T20I hundred, thus making the 30-year-old the first Indian woman to score multiple centuries in the shortest format of the game.
"I congratulate Smriti Mandhana on becoming the leading run-getter in women's internationals. I feel that it's high time that the national women's selection committee, led by Amita Sharma, appoints Smriti as the new captain in all three formats of the game. Harmanpreet Kaur can continue to play as a senior player in the side," Edulji said while talking to TOI.
Explaining the reasoning behind seeking a transition in captaincy, Edulji said, "All I'm saying is that Harman is already in her late 30s (37). When would you want her to give up the captaincy and give it to Smriti, who has just entered her 30s (30). I don't want Harman to be dropped from the Indian team. I've no ill-feeling towards her. She's still a great player, but I think Harman should be relieved of the captaincy pressure, and left to just concentrate on her batting, because runs aren't coming off her bat. Harman's form is crucial for our team to win more championships. This move will increase her time span in the India XI. It's very important that someone scores runs in the middle order, because we can't keep depending on our openers all the time. So, I think that this is the right time for Smriti to take over the India captaincy. Her confidence and skill level are high right now. And let Smriti take it forward from here, so that she has a long run (as a captain) then. At least give her white-ball captaincy for now, and maybe Harman can continue as a Test captain."
"After a few years, Smriti will be in her late 30s; then what do we do? Whom do we train after that (for India captaincy)? Right now, we can have Jemimah (Rodrigues) or Shafali (Varma) as the vice-captain, and train them (for the bigger responsibility)," Edulji said.
"Well deserved, Smriti! I've watched you grow from a young player into one of the finest batters India has produced. To see you go past my record and become the highest run-scorer in international cricket is a moment I'm genuinely proud of. Here's to many more runs and milestone
Mandhana became the leading run-getter in women's internationals, en route to her hundred (124) in the Women's Asia Cup 2026 on Thursday against Hong Kong in Dubai. She broke former Indian women's captain Mithali Raj's record of 10,868 runs. Mandhana also broke the record for most centuries (18) in international cricket, the most by any batter in the women's game, surpassing Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt, who have 17 apiece. Mandhana has two hundreds in T20Is, two in Tests and 14 in ODIs. The elegant left-hander has 93 fifty-plus scores across formats in international cricket, the joint-most by any batter, alongside Raj.
It was also Mandhana's second T20I hundred, thus making the 30-year-old the first Indian woman to score multiple centuries in the shortest format of the game.
"I congratulate Smriti Mandhana on becoming the leading run-getter in women's internationals. I feel that it's high time that the national women's selection committee, led by Amita Sharma, appoints Smriti as the new captain in all three formats of the game. Harmanpreet Kaur can continue to play as a senior player in the side," Edulji said while talking to TOI.
Explaining the reasoning behind seeking a transition in captaincy, Edulji said, "All I'm saying is that Harman is already in her late 30s (37). When would you want her to give up the captaincy and give it to Smriti, who has just entered her 30s (30). I don't want Harman to be dropped from the Indian team. I've no ill-feeling towards her. She's still a great player, but I think Harman should be relieved of the captaincy pressure, and left to just concentrate on her batting, because runs aren't coming off her bat. Harman's form is crucial for our team to win more championships. This move will increase her time span in the India XI. It's very important that someone scores runs in the middle order, because we can't keep depending on our openers all the time. So, I think that this is the right time for Smriti to take over the India captaincy. Her confidence and skill level are high right now. And let Smriti take it forward from here, so that she has a long run (as a captain) then. At least give her white-ball captaincy for now, and maybe Harman can continue as a Test captain."
"After a few years, Smriti will be in her late 30s; then what do we do? Whom do we train after that (for India captaincy)? Right now, we can have Jemimah (Rodrigues) or Shafali (Varma) as the vice-captain, and train them (for the bigger responsibility)," Edulji said.
"Well deserved, Smriti! I've watched you grow from a young player into one of the finest batters India has produced. To see you go past my record and become the highest run-scorer in international cricket is a moment I'm genuinely proud of. Here's to many more runs and milestone
2 months ago
Former India batter and Director of Cricket at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence, VVS Laxman, is set to travel with the Indian men's team to ******* an and will take charge as head coach in the absence of Gautam Gambhir for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya later this month.
Gautam Gambhir will remain with the senior side for India's home ODI series against the West Indies. The first ODI is scheduled to be played on September 27.
Laxman will be ******* isted by former India spinner Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh, according to the list of coaches released by the Sports Ministry. The development was earlier reported by TimesofIndia.com in July.
Laxman has previous Asian Games experience, having coached the Indian men's team at the 2023 edition in Hangzhou, China, where India won the gold medal.
The cricket competition at the Asian Games will begin on September 24, with India scheduled to play its opening men's match on September 28. India will defend its men's T20 ******* le under captain Shreyas Iyer, with teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also part of the squad. The men's team will face the second-placed side from Group A, which comprises Afghanistan, ******* an and Nepal.
The Indian women's team will also enter the tournament as defending champions and will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur. The women's side will enter the competition at the quarterfinal stage and face hosts ******* an. Amol Muzumdar will continue as the head coach of the women's team, with bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi and fielding coach Munish Bali completing his support staff.
Indian men's team: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish ******* ar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit ******* rah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Indian women's team: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Gunalan Kamalini, Bharti Fulmali, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Nandani Sharma.
#coach
Gautam Gambhir will remain with the senior side for India's home ODI series against the West Indies. The first ODI is scheduled to be played on September 27.
Laxman will be ******* isted by former India spinner Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh, according to the list of coaches released by the Sports Ministry. The development was earlier reported by TimesofIndia.com in July.
Laxman has previous Asian Games experience, having coached the Indian men's team at the 2023 edition in Hangzhou, China, where India won the gold medal.
The cricket competition at the Asian Games will begin on September 24, with India scheduled to play its opening men's match on September 28. India will defend its men's T20 ******* le under captain Shreyas Iyer, with teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also part of the squad. The men's team will face the second-placed side from Group A, which comprises Afghanistan, ******* an and Nepal.
The Indian women's team will also enter the tournament as defending champions and will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur. The women's side will enter the competition at the quarterfinal stage and face hosts ******* an. Amol Muzumdar will continue as the head coach of the women's team, with bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi and fielding coach Munish Bali completing his support staff.
Indian men's team: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish ******* ar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit ******* rah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Indian women's team: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Gunalan Kamalini, Bharti Fulmali, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Nandani Sharma.
#coach
2 months ago
In the longer format, patience and discipline are traditional routes to building an innings. The beauty lies in embracing that challenge when the situation demands it.
South Zone found themselves in a similar situation on Monday. At 80/5, they were staring at the prospect of conceding first-innings lead to North Zone, who had posted 195 in their Duleep Trophy semifinal at the BCCI Centre of Excellence here.
What followed over the next 271 minutes was an exhibition of restraint and disciplined batsmanship as Tilak Varma (106 batting, 225b, 7x4) and Shreyas Gopal (87, 169b, 11x4) took centre stage with a 175-run sixth-wicket partnership. Their stand eventually turned the tide, helping South secure a first-innings lead. They were 285/9 at stumps, 90 runs ahead on the second day.
South, who resumed on 40/2, were rocked by the brilliance of pacer Gurnoor Brar (4/70), who arrived in the city from the Sri Lanka tour on Friday. Making the most of windy conditions, Brar produced a peach in his fifth delivery of the day to disturb Narayan Jagadeesan's stumps. He struck again soon after, producing a similar delivery to castle R Smaran's off stump before dismissing Kodimela Himateja for a duck.
With their backs against the wall, Tilak and Shreyas joined hands and tested the North bowlers' patience.
The Karnataka all-rounder brought up his first four off the 42nd ball he faced. Tilak did not find the boundary again until his 154th delivery, with that four taking South into the lead. Having curbed his instincts and reached his fifty without a boundary, the Hyderabad batter gradually shifted gears.
Shreyas, meanwhile, completed his fifty in 107 ******* and looked in control as he appeared on course for his seventh first-class hundred. But pacer Arshdeep Singh ended his vigil when he edged one through to stand-in wicketkeeper Abdul Samad.
With South's tail beginning to crumble, Tilak was in danger of missing out on a deserved century. The Hyderabad batter, though, held his nerve, smashing two successive fours off Gurnoor to bring up his eighth first-class hundred in 219 ******* .
Interestingly, all seven of Tilak's fours came after he reached his fifty — a reflection of the restraint that underpinned his innings. With South nine down, he will be eager to carry that momentum into the third day and stretch their lead into three figures and beyond.
Brief scores: North Zone 195 vs South Zone 285/9 in 94 overs (o/n: 40/2) (Narayan Jagadeesan 36, Tilak Varma 106 batting, Shreyas Gopal 87; Arshdeep Singh 2-59, Anshul Kamboj 2-53, Gurnoor Brar 4-70).
#lead
South Zone found themselves in a similar situation on Monday. At 80/5, they were staring at the prospect of conceding first-innings lead to North Zone, who had posted 195 in their Duleep Trophy semifinal at the BCCI Centre of Excellence here.
What followed over the next 271 minutes was an exhibition of restraint and disciplined batsmanship as Tilak Varma (106 batting, 225b, 7x4) and Shreyas Gopal (87, 169b, 11x4) took centre stage with a 175-run sixth-wicket partnership. Their stand eventually turned the tide, helping South secure a first-innings lead. They were 285/9 at stumps, 90 runs ahead on the second day.
South, who resumed on 40/2, were rocked by the brilliance of pacer Gurnoor Brar (4/70), who arrived in the city from the Sri Lanka tour on Friday. Making the most of windy conditions, Brar produced a peach in his fifth delivery of the day to disturb Narayan Jagadeesan's stumps. He struck again soon after, producing a similar delivery to castle R Smaran's off stump before dismissing Kodimela Himateja for a duck.
With their backs against the wall, Tilak and Shreyas joined hands and tested the North bowlers' patience.
The Karnataka all-rounder brought up his first four off the 42nd ball he faced. Tilak did not find the boundary again until his 154th delivery, with that four taking South into the lead. Having curbed his instincts and reached his fifty without a boundary, the Hyderabad batter gradually shifted gears.
Shreyas, meanwhile, completed his fifty in 107 ******* and looked in control as he appeared on course for his seventh first-class hundred. But pacer Arshdeep Singh ended his vigil when he edged one through to stand-in wicketkeeper Abdul Samad.
With South's tail beginning to crumble, Tilak was in danger of missing out on a deserved century. The Hyderabad batter, though, held his nerve, smashing two successive fours off Gurnoor to bring up his eighth first-class hundred in 219 ******* .
Interestingly, all seven of Tilak's fours came after he reached his fifty — a reflection of the restraint that underpinned his innings. With South nine down, he will be eager to carry that momentum into the third day and stretch their lead into three figures and beyond.
Brief scores: North Zone 195 vs South Zone 285/9 in 94 overs (o/n: 40/2) (Narayan Jagadeesan 36, Tilak Varma 106 batting, Shreyas Gopal 87; Arshdeep Singh 2-59, Anshul Kamboj 2-53, Gurnoor Brar 4-70).
#lead
2 months ago
'What happened to Ruturaj Gaikwad': Fans react to Tilak Varma being considered as back-up option in India middle-order for 2027 ODI World Cup originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India's team management is reportedly considering Tilak Varma as a backup middle-order option ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Selectors want a left-handed batter capable of bowling four overs, addressing a gap in bowling options up top.
Fans reacted angrily online, questioning why Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored a century at No. 4, has been overlooked.
India's planning for next year's ODI World Cup has already sparked a fresh wave of debate, with Tilak Varma reportedly emerging as a potential backup option for the middle order.
#tilak #varma #middle #Cricket
India's team management is reportedly considering Tilak Varma as a backup middle-order option ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Selectors want a left-handed batter capable of bowling four overs, addressing a gap in bowling options up top.
Fans reacted angrily online, questioning why Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored a century at No. 4, has been overlooked.
India's planning for next year's ODI World Cup has already sparked a fresh wave of debate, with Tilak Varma reportedly emerging as a potential backup option for the middle order.
#tilak #varma #middle #Cricket
2 months ago
New Delhi: India's team management and selectors are working on backups for the middle order ahead of the ODI World Cup next year. TOI has learnt that Tilak Varma's name has come up as a potential backup option for Shreyas Iyer in the top six of the batting lineup.
Tilak, being a left-handed batter, is seen as someone who can break the monotony of right-handers in the batting lineup. Tilak has been asked to work on his bowling since it is believed that his off-breaks have a lot of potential. The team management, in fact, has flagged the dearth of bowling options in the top order, citing it as a reason for extra pressure on the lower order and the bowlers.
The planning for the ODI World Cup will only begin in earnest when India reach New Zealand in October, since most of the first-choice players will not be available for the ODI series against West Indies at home from September 27. A full-strength T20 team is also scheduled to travel to ****** an for the Asian Games at the same time.
"Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill feel there isn't any backup ready for the middle order. With Hardik Pandya and Nitish ****** ar Reddy being ****** e to injuries, they want someone in the top order who can at least chip in with four overs in an ODI," a BCCI source said.
Over the last year, the team management has been compelled to play either Washington Sundar or Axar Patel at No. 5 or No. 6 to balance the playing XI. In the last series in England, Ishan Kishan was sent in ahead of vice-captain Iyer.
"The team has to be prepared for conditions in South Africa in the World Cup. Iyer got injured in Australia and his game against pace and bounce is untested of late. The team already has two ageing players in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. They are having niggles as well. KL Rahul too will be over 35 by the time the World Cup comes around. Ravindra Jadeja isn't a certainty either. The fielding of the team has suffered due to fitness issues. The team management feels that they need younger backups ready," the source said.
The selectors, it is learnt, are not comfortable with playing batters out of position. Last year, Ruturaj Gaikwad was played at No. 4 and scored a hundred against South Africa in Raipur. But he has not been picked in the ODI team since.
"Gaikwad was picked as backup opener since Gill was injured. The team management feels Tilak could have been tried in that place. That's why they don't want to rush Devdutt Padikkal in the ODI setup because he found his calling in white-ball cricket while opening the batting," the source said.
The team for the West Indies series, however, will be an anomaly since Iyer, Tilak, Ishan and Axar will not be available. The selectors are more focused on picking another wicketkeeper for the series.
The selection committee is due to meet by September 3 to pick the team for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi from September 13.
Sources said that the selectors are l
Tilak, being a left-handed batter, is seen as someone who can break the monotony of right-handers in the batting lineup. Tilak has been asked to work on his bowling since it is believed that his off-breaks have a lot of potential. The team management, in fact, has flagged the dearth of bowling options in the top order, citing it as a reason for extra pressure on the lower order and the bowlers.
The planning for the ODI World Cup will only begin in earnest when India reach New Zealand in October, since most of the first-choice players will not be available for the ODI series against West Indies at home from September 27. A full-strength T20 team is also scheduled to travel to ****** an for the Asian Games at the same time.
"Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill feel there isn't any backup ready for the middle order. With Hardik Pandya and Nitish ****** ar Reddy being ****** e to injuries, they want someone in the top order who can at least chip in with four overs in an ODI," a BCCI source said.
Over the last year, the team management has been compelled to play either Washington Sundar or Axar Patel at No. 5 or No. 6 to balance the playing XI. In the last series in England, Ishan Kishan was sent in ahead of vice-captain Iyer.
"The team has to be prepared for conditions in South Africa in the World Cup. Iyer got injured in Australia and his game against pace and bounce is untested of late. The team already has two ageing players in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. They are having niggles as well. KL Rahul too will be over 35 by the time the World Cup comes around. Ravindra Jadeja isn't a certainty either. The fielding of the team has suffered due to fitness issues. The team management feels that they need younger backups ready," the source said.
The selectors, it is learnt, are not comfortable with playing batters out of position. Last year, Ruturaj Gaikwad was played at No. 4 and scored a hundred against South Africa in Raipur. But he has not been picked in the ODI team since.
"Gaikwad was picked as backup opener since Gill was injured. The team management feels Tilak could have been tried in that place. That's why they don't want to rush Devdutt Padikkal in the ODI setup because he found his calling in white-ball cricket while opening the batting," the source said.
The team for the West Indies series, however, will be an anomaly since Iyer, Tilak, Ishan and Axar will not be available. The selectors are more focused on picking another wicketkeeper for the series.
The selection committee is due to meet by September 3 to pick the team for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi from September 13.
Sources said that the selectors are l
3 months ago
India's domestic cricket season kicks off later this month as Duleep Trophy returns for its 63rd edition.
The tournament follows a zonal structure, with six teams representing different regions competing across three rounds of matches scheduled between August 23 and September 10.
Five captains for the tournament have been unveiled. Tilak Varma takes charge of South Zone, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been handed the captaincy of West Zone, East Zone will be led by Ishan Kishan, India pacer Arshdeep Singh will be at the helm for North Zone while Rajat Patidar will lead Central Zone.
The captain for North East zone hasn't been announced yet.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source
#east #north #duleep #five
The tournament follows a zonal structure, with six teams representing different regions competing across three rounds of matches scheduled between August 23 and September 10.
Five captains for the tournament have been unveiled. Tilak Varma takes charge of South Zone, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been handed the captaincy of West Zone, East Zone will be led by Ishan Kishan, India pacer Arshdeep Singh will be at the helm for North Zone while Rajat Patidar will lead Central Zone.
The captain for North East zone hasn't been announced yet.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source
#east #north #duleep #five
3 months ago
NEW DELHI: Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has continued his dream start to international cricket, making a stunning 230-place leap in the latest ICC Men's T20I Batting Rankings after starring in India's 3-0 series sweep over Zimbabwe.
The 15-year-old's meteoric rise headlines the latest rankings update, while Ishan Kishan tightened his grip on the world No. 1 spot after registering the third-highest batting rating in T20I history during the Harare series.
Sooryavanshi announced himself on the international stage with a memorable series against Zimbabwe, scoring 151 runs in three matches at an average of 50.33. His performances, which included two half-centuries, earned him the Player of the Series award and a remarkable rise of 230 places in the ICC rankings.
The teenage opener is now ranked 48th among T20I batters with 536 rating points, marking a new career-best ranking.
While he still trails India's senior stars, the leap underlines the rapid impact he has made in international cricket and reinforces his status as one of the game's brightest young talents.
At the top of the batting rankings, Ishan Kishan retained his position as the world's No. 1 T20I batter with 910 rating points, comfortably ahead of Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan, who is second with 848 points.
Kishan had briefly reached a career-high 916 rating points after his brilliant 81-run knock in the second T20I against Zimbabwe. That tally is the third-highest batting rating ever recorded in T20I cricket, behind only Abhishek Sharma (931) and England's Dawid Malan (919).
Although his rating dipped slightly after the final match, Kishan's career-best figure of 916 remains higher than the peak ratings achieved by Indian greats Suryakumar Yadav (912) and Virat Kohli (909).
As the ICC noted, "Sooryavanshi's rating of 536 points is well adrift of his more experienced teammates, but Kishan can now boast of having a better career batter rating than more accomplished Indian players like Suryakumar Yadav (912) and Virat Kohli (909)."
India enjoyed a productive week across the T20I rankings.
Tilak Varma climbed two places to sixth among batters, while captain Shreyas Iyer gained seven spots to 24th after the Zimbabwe series.
Among bowlers, Ravi Bishnoi surged 31 places to 41st following his three wickets in the series. Varun Chakravarthy, who missed the tour through injury, slipped three places but remained inside the top 10.
Zimbabwe also had reason to celebrate despite the series defeat. Ryan Burl climbed six places to joint 85th among T20I batters, while fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani rose 10 spots to 26th in the bowling rankings.
#series #batting #points #Career
The 15-year-old's meteoric rise headlines the latest rankings update, while Ishan Kishan tightened his grip on the world No. 1 spot after registering the third-highest batting rating in T20I history during the Harare series.
Sooryavanshi announced himself on the international stage with a memorable series against Zimbabwe, scoring 151 runs in three matches at an average of 50.33. His performances, which included two half-centuries, earned him the Player of the Series award and a remarkable rise of 230 places in the ICC rankings.
The teenage opener is now ranked 48th among T20I batters with 536 rating points, marking a new career-best ranking.
While he still trails India's senior stars, the leap underlines the rapid impact he has made in international cricket and reinforces his status as one of the game's brightest young talents.
At the top of the batting rankings, Ishan Kishan retained his position as the world's No. 1 T20I batter with 910 rating points, comfortably ahead of Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan, who is second with 848 points.
Kishan had briefly reached a career-high 916 rating points after his brilliant 81-run knock in the second T20I against Zimbabwe. That tally is the third-highest batting rating ever recorded in T20I cricket, behind only Abhishek Sharma (931) and England's Dawid Malan (919).
Although his rating dipped slightly after the final match, Kishan's career-best figure of 916 remains higher than the peak ratings achieved by Indian greats Suryakumar Yadav (912) and Virat Kohli (909).
As the ICC noted, "Sooryavanshi's rating of 536 points is well adrift of his more experienced teammates, but Kishan can now boast of having a better career batter rating than more accomplished Indian players like Suryakumar Yadav (912) and Virat Kohli (909)."
India enjoyed a productive week across the T20I rankings.
Tilak Varma climbed two places to sixth among batters, while captain Shreyas Iyer gained seven spots to 24th after the Zimbabwe series.
Among bowlers, Ravi Bishnoi surged 31 places to 41st following his three wickets in the series. Varun Chakravarthy, who missed the tour through injury, slipped three places but remained inside the top 10.
Zimbabwe also had reason to celebrate despite the series defeat. Ryan Burl climbed six places to joint 85th among T20I batters, while fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani rose 10 spots to 26th in the bowling rankings.
#series #batting #points #Career
3 months ago
Former Utah Jazz wing Johnny Juzang has left the NBA – at least, for now – and will continue his career in Turkey next season.
Juzang has signed with EuroLeague side Fenerbahce, whose name gets almost invariably attached to all fringe NBA players at some point, yet who have already officially announced this deal. It gives the 25-year-old swingman an opportunity to further establish himself overseas following four NBA seasons, three of which came with the Jazz – including by far his best one as a professional to date.
Johnny Juzang Fenerbahçeâde! ðð
Fenerbahçe Erkek Basketbol Takımımız, Amerikalı forvet Johnny Juzang (2.01cm – 2001) ile 1 yıllık anlaÅmaya varmıÅtır.
Amerika Kolej Ligiânde Kentucky (2019-20) ve UCLA (2020-22) formaları giyen Johnny Juzang, 2021 yılında UCLA formasıyla⦠pic.twitter.com/1lfXtvCToV
#jazz #utah
Juzang has signed with EuroLeague side Fenerbahce, whose name gets almost invariably attached to all fringe NBA players at some point, yet who have already officially announced this deal. It gives the 25-year-old swingman an opportunity to further establish himself overseas following four NBA seasons, three of which came with the Jazz – including by far his best one as a professional to date.
Johnny Juzang Fenerbahçeâde! ðð
Fenerbahçe Erkek Basketbol Takımımız, Amerikalı forvet Johnny Juzang (2.01cm – 2001) ile 1 yıllık anlaÅmaya varmıÅtır.
Amerika Kolej Ligiânde Kentucky (2019-20) ve UCLA (2020-22) formaları giyen Johnny Juzang, 2021 yılında UCLA formasıyla⦠pic.twitter.com/1lfXtvCToV
#jazz #utah
3 months ago
India's 'Best Attitude Award' winners during Zimbabwe T20I series: Full list and why stand-in coach VVS Laxman introduced it originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
VVS Laxman introduces 'Best Attitude Award' during the Zimbabwe T20I series.
Award recognises effort, commitment beyond just skill or stats.
Tilak Varma wins inaugural medal for on- and off-field intensity.
Interim India coach VVS Laxman has rolled out a fresh initiative during the ongoing T20I series against Zimbabwe, introducing what he's calling the 'Best Attitude Award' to recognise players for qualities that don't always show up on a scorecard.
#best #zimbabwe #t20i #laxman
VVS Laxman introduces 'Best Attitude Award' during the Zimbabwe T20I series.
Award recognises effort, commitment beyond just skill or stats.
Tilak Varma wins inaugural medal for on- and off-field intensity.
Interim India coach VVS Laxman has rolled out a fresh initiative during the ongoing T20I series against Zimbabwe, introducing what he's calling the 'Best Attitude Award' to recognise players for qualities that don't always show up on a scorecard.
#best #zimbabwe #t20i #laxman
3 months ago
NEW DELHI: India's stand-in bowling coach Sunil Joshi has urged everyone to keep the spotlight firmly on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's batting, lavishing praise on the teenage sensation after his record-breaking knock in the opening T20I against Zimbabwe while revealing that the youngster's bowling will be developed gradually at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE).
Sooryavanshi lit up the Harare Sports Club with a breathtaking 18-ball half-century, becoming the youngest player to score a T20I fifty. His whirlwind innings, featuring four fours and four sixes, turned India's chase of 126 into a one-sided affair as the reigning T20 World Cup champions sealed victory with 40 ****** to spare and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Ahead of the second T20I, Joshi said the teenager's explosive batting should remain the primary focus.
"I think the first thing is, let's focus on his batting. He's been sensational and I'm glad that he has done well. This is a happy hunting ground for him. He performed well in the U19 World Cup finals here. He had a good performance yesterday as well," Joshi told reporters.
The former India spinner also disclosed that Sooryavanshi's bowling is part of the long-term plan.
"Vaibhav has been very comfortable with his batting. Whenever we get time in his bowling, I'll work with him in the CoE. Whenever we see him bowling well, we'll definitely and quickly focus on that," he said.
Joshi also called for patience with emerging seam-bowling all-rounder Suryansh Shedge, who has drawn comparisons with established stars such as Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube.
The stand-in bowling coach insisted every player has their own journey and warned against making premature comparisons.
"Look, we shouldn't compare. Suryansh is making his place in the Indian team. Hardik has made his place. Shivam has also made his place. So, he's a rising talent. We have to persist with him. He's working on good things and good areas. That's what we want in the T20 format," he said.
Joshi also highlighted the bowling depth available in India's squad, pointing to top-order batters Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, who can also contribute with the ball.
"I think all three are good bowlers and all-rounders, although Abhishek Sharma has improved a lot. The coaches always want him to improve every time for the better. We also have Tilak Varma with us. He's another optional bowler. We have conversations with him about not giving too many runs, bowling more dot ****** , and focusing on the basics," he further added.
Joshi also praised leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, revealing that a minor adjustment to his run-up helped him bounce back after a difficult outing against England earlier this month.
Bishnoi endured a forgettable spell of 0/60 in Manchester, where England batter Jacob Bethell smashed 29 runs in a single over. However, the leg-spinner responded impressively in Harare with figures of 1/24 from four overs.
According to Joshi, t
Sooryavanshi lit up the Harare Sports Club with a breathtaking 18-ball half-century, becoming the youngest player to score a T20I fifty. His whirlwind innings, featuring four fours and four sixes, turned India's chase of 126 into a one-sided affair as the reigning T20 World Cup champions sealed victory with 40 ****** to spare and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Ahead of the second T20I, Joshi said the teenager's explosive batting should remain the primary focus.
"I think the first thing is, let's focus on his batting. He's been sensational and I'm glad that he has done well. This is a happy hunting ground for him. He performed well in the U19 World Cup finals here. He had a good performance yesterday as well," Joshi told reporters.
The former India spinner also disclosed that Sooryavanshi's bowling is part of the long-term plan.
"Vaibhav has been very comfortable with his batting. Whenever we get time in his bowling, I'll work with him in the CoE. Whenever we see him bowling well, we'll definitely and quickly focus on that," he said.
Joshi also called for patience with emerging seam-bowling all-rounder Suryansh Shedge, who has drawn comparisons with established stars such as Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube.
The stand-in bowling coach insisted every player has their own journey and warned against making premature comparisons.
"Look, we shouldn't compare. Suryansh is making his place in the Indian team. Hardik has made his place. Shivam has also made his place. So, he's a rising talent. We have to persist with him. He's working on good things and good areas. That's what we want in the T20 format," he said.
Joshi also highlighted the bowling depth available in India's squad, pointing to top-order batters Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, who can also contribute with the ball.
"I think all three are good bowlers and all-rounders, although Abhishek Sharma has improved a lot. The coaches always want him to improve every time for the better. We also have Tilak Varma with us. He's another optional bowler. We have conversations with him about not giving too many runs, bowling more dot ****** , and focusing on the basics," he further added.
Joshi also praised leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, revealing that a minor adjustment to his run-up helped him bounce back after a difficult outing against England earlier this month.
Bishnoi endured a forgettable spell of 0/60 in Manchester, where England batter Jacob Bethell smashed 29 runs in a single over. However, the leg-spinner responded impressively in Harare with figures of 1/24 from four overs.
According to Joshi, t
3 months ago
India finally ended their seven-match winless run under captain Shreyas Iyer, defeating Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the first T20I at Harare on Thursday. The match also witnessed teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi script history by becoming the youngest player to score a T20I half-century.
After winning the toss, Iyer opted to bowl first, and India's pace attack justified the decision with a clinical performance.
Returning to international cricket for the first time since October 2024 after recovering from a stress fracture, Mayank Yadav made an immediate impact. The express pacer dismissed Brian Bennett with the very first ball of the match before removing Dion Myers, consistently clocking speeds in excess of 145 kmph.
Zimbabwe were reduced to 26/3 inside the powerplay and slipped further to 32/4 after Shivam Dube dismissed captain Sikandar Raza.
A fighting partnership between Wessly Madhevere (39) and Ryan Burl (26), along with an unbeaten 27 off 20 from Tadiwanashe Marumani, helped the hosts recover to 125/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Debutant Ashok Sharma recovered well after an expensive first over, while Ravi Bishnoi bowled economically to finish with 1/24.
Chasing 126, India suffered an early setback when Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for just 1. However, it proved to be Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's day.
The 15-year-old prodigy unleashed a breathtaking ****** ault, smashing 50 off just 19 ****** with four fours and four sixes. In the process, he became the youngest player ever to score a T20I half-century, putting India firmly in control of the chase before falling immediately after reaching his milestone.
Captain Shreyas Iyer anchored the innings with an unbeaten 28 off 24 ****** , while Ishan Kishan chipped in with a quick 35 off 24. Tilak Varma struck the winning runs as India completed the chase comfortably with seven wickets in hand.
For Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, dismissing Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, while Richard Ngarava claimed the prized scalp of Sooryavanshi.
The victory marked Shreyas Iyer's first win as India's T20I captain, ending a frustrating seven-match winless streak that included the tours of Ireland and England, while Sooryavanshi's record-breaking knock stole the headlines in Harare.
#seven #shreyas
After winning the toss, Iyer opted to bowl first, and India's pace attack justified the decision with a clinical performance.
Returning to international cricket for the first time since October 2024 after recovering from a stress fracture, Mayank Yadav made an immediate impact. The express pacer dismissed Brian Bennett with the very first ball of the match before removing Dion Myers, consistently clocking speeds in excess of 145 kmph.
Zimbabwe were reduced to 26/3 inside the powerplay and slipped further to 32/4 after Shivam Dube dismissed captain Sikandar Raza.
A fighting partnership between Wessly Madhevere (39) and Ryan Burl (26), along with an unbeaten 27 off 20 from Tadiwanashe Marumani, helped the hosts recover to 125/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Debutant Ashok Sharma recovered well after an expensive first over, while Ravi Bishnoi bowled economically to finish with 1/24.
Chasing 126, India suffered an early setback when Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for just 1. However, it proved to be Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's day.
The 15-year-old prodigy unleashed a breathtaking ****** ault, smashing 50 off just 19 ****** with four fours and four sixes. In the process, he became the youngest player ever to score a T20I half-century, putting India firmly in control of the chase before falling immediately after reaching his milestone.
Captain Shreyas Iyer anchored the innings with an unbeaten 28 off 24 ****** , while Ishan Kishan chipped in with a quick 35 off 24. Tilak Varma struck the winning runs as India completed the chase comfortably with seven wickets in hand.
For Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, dismissing Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, while Richard Ngarava claimed the prized scalp of Sooryavanshi.
The victory marked Shreyas Iyer's first win as India's T20I captain, ending a frustrating seven-match winless streak that included the tours of Ireland and England, while Sooryavanshi's record-breaking knock stole the headlines in Harare.
#seven #shreyas
3 months ago
Shreyas Iyer was officially handed the reins of India's T20I side as the team geared up for its tour of Ireland and England across June and July.
Alongside this appointment, Tilak Varma took over as his deputy, stepping into the vice-captain's role previously held by Axar Patel.
The squad announcement also brought attention to 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who had earned his maiden senior call-up on the strength of a sensational IPL campaign with Rajasthan Royals.
Iyer's elevation to the national captaincy hasn't come out of nowhere. It stems almost entirely from the leadership credentials he built across various IPL franchises over the years.
#across #shreyas #iyer #england
Alongside this appointment, Tilak Varma took over as his deputy, stepping into the vice-captain's role previously held by Axar Patel.
The squad announcement also brought attention to 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who had earned his maiden senior call-up on the strength of a sensational IPL campaign with Rajasthan Royals.
Iyer's elevation to the national captaincy hasn't come out of nowhere. It stems almost entirely from the leadership credentials he built across various IPL franchises over the years.
#across #shreyas #iyer #england
3 months ago
Shreyas Iyer captaincy record in all formats - Tests, T20Is, ODIs, IPL and more originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Shreyas Iyer was named India T20I captain months after T20 World Cup triumph; Suryakumar Yadav dropped from the squad.
Tilak Varma replaced Axar Patel as the new T20I vice-captain.
Shreyas Iyer went on a seven-match winless run as captain in the UK before finally winning his maiden game against Zimbabwe in Harare in the first match of the three-match T20I contest.
Shreyas Iyer took the helm as India's new T20I captain as they faced Ireland in the tour of Ireland and England in June and July.
#iyer #match
Shreyas Iyer was named India T20I captain months after T20 World Cup triumph; Suryakumar Yadav dropped from the squad.
Tilak Varma replaced Axar Patel as the new T20I vice-captain.
Shreyas Iyer went on a seven-match winless run as captain in the UK before finally winning his maiden game against Zimbabwe in Harare in the first match of the three-match T20I contest.
Shreyas Iyer took the helm as India's new T20I captain as they faced Ireland in the tour of Ireland and England in June and July.
#iyer #match
3 months ago
Shreyas Iyer returns as India T20I captain for the three-match series in Zimbabwe, starting with the first T20I on Thursday.
The visitors will be eager to bounce back after recent T20I series defeats to Ireland and England, with a squad that combines experienced names such as Iyer, Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan with several emerging players.
Zimbabwe, led by Sikandar Raza, will look to make the most of home conditions and challenge a relatively inexperienced Indian pace attack.
While India start as favourites on paper because of their stronger batting depth, the hosts will hope to capitalise on familiar conditions and push the visitors in what promises to be a competitive opening contest.
#India
The visitors will be eager to bounce back after recent T20I series defeats to Ireland and England, with a squad that combines experienced names such as Iyer, Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan with several emerging players.
Zimbabwe, led by Sikandar Raza, will look to make the most of home conditions and challenge a relatively inexperienced Indian pace attack.
While India start as favourites on paper because of their stronger batting depth, the hosts will hope to capitalise on familiar conditions and push the visitors in what promises to be a competitive opening contest.
#India
3 months ago
India's T20I vice-captain Tilak Varma has hit back at criticism surrounding his strike rate during the recent T20I tours of Ireland and England, insisting that he always bats according to the team's requirements rather than personal milestones.
The left-hander faced scrutiny after scoring 178 runs in seven T20Is across the two tours at a strike rate of 131.85. While he registered two half-centuries 55 against Ireland in the second T20I and 53 against England in the fifth and final T20I questions were raised over his approach in the middle overs.
However, ahead of India's T20I series against Zimbabwe, Tilak made it clear that he is capable of attacking from the very first ball but chooses his approach based on the match situation and the team's needs.
Explaining his batting philosophy, Tilak said adapting to different batting positions and overseas conditions required him to take responsibility rather than chase an aggressive strike rate.
"In this game, you have to bat in different positions, and especially in those conditions, it isn't easy. At the same time, I've always said that I do whatever the team requires. If I have to grind it out for the team, I'll do that. If I have to hit from ball one, I can do that as well," Tilak told reporters during the pre-match press conference.
The 23-year-old pointed out that India's repeated top-order collapses on the Ireland and England tours forced the middle order to rebuild the innings instead of playing freely.
"From Ireland to England, we were losing four or five wickets inside the powerplay or within the first 10 overs in several matches. Going in and trying to accelerate immediately in that situation doesn't make sense. That's always in my mind. I know I can hit the first ball, but I'm playing for the country, and that comes with responsibilities," he added.
Tilak further revealed that as India's vice-captain, he is entrusted with specific responsibilities by the team management and prefers to execute those plans rather than focus on individual statistics.
"Everything depends on what the team needs at that moment. Sometimes I have to bat till the end, and sometimes the team's plans change according to the match situation. As vice-captain, the management gives me certain responsibilities after careful planning, and I want to fulfil those responsibilities. That's why I play according to the team's plans," Tilak said.
Tilak Varma finished the 2026 UK and Ireland tour with an overall T20I strike rate of 131.85, scoring 178 runs off 135 ******* faced. While his tour featured highly explosive cameos, such as a blistering 212.00 strike rate (53 runs off 25 ******* ) in the final T20I at Southampton.
Match
#tilak #match
The left-hander faced scrutiny after scoring 178 runs in seven T20Is across the two tours at a strike rate of 131.85. While he registered two half-centuries 55 against Ireland in the second T20I and 53 against England in the fifth and final T20I questions were raised over his approach in the middle overs.
However, ahead of India's T20I series against Zimbabwe, Tilak made it clear that he is capable of attacking from the very first ball but chooses his approach based on the match situation and the team's needs.
Explaining his batting philosophy, Tilak said adapting to different batting positions and overseas conditions required him to take responsibility rather than chase an aggressive strike rate.
"In this game, you have to bat in different positions, and especially in those conditions, it isn't easy. At the same time, I've always said that I do whatever the team requires. If I have to grind it out for the team, I'll do that. If I have to hit from ball one, I can do that as well," Tilak told reporters during the pre-match press conference.
The 23-year-old pointed out that India's repeated top-order collapses on the Ireland and England tours forced the middle order to rebuild the innings instead of playing freely.
"From Ireland to England, we were losing four or five wickets inside the powerplay or within the first 10 overs in several matches. Going in and trying to accelerate immediately in that situation doesn't make sense. That's always in my mind. I know I can hit the first ball, but I'm playing for the country, and that comes with responsibilities," he added.
Tilak further revealed that as India's vice-captain, he is entrusted with specific responsibilities by the team management and prefers to execute those plans rather than focus on individual statistics.
"Everything depends on what the team needs at that moment. Sometimes I have to bat till the end, and sometimes the team's plans change according to the match situation. As vice-captain, the management gives me certain responsibilities after careful planning, and I want to fulfil those responsibilities. That's why I play according to the team's plans," Tilak said.
Tilak Varma finished the 2026 UK and Ireland tour with an overall T20I strike rate of 131.85, scoring 178 runs off 135 ******* faced. While his tour featured highly explosive cameos, such as a blistering 212.00 strike rate (53 runs off 25 ******* ) in the final T20I at Southampton.
Match
#tilak #match
4 months ago
New Delhi: Mumbai Indians' (MI) top brass will meet in England next week to thoroughly review the previous season and make key decisions for the road ahead. It is understood that everything, from captaincy to coaching to trade talk, will be on the table when the management, including the ownership, reviews head coach Mahela Jayawardene's post-season report.
While the dressing room unrest and trade talk involving Hardik Pandya have hogged most of the limelight, Jayawardene's return to the set-up has slipped under the radar. Under the 49-year-old, the five-time champions finished fourth in 2025 and a disappointing ninth in the 2026 edition. It remains to be seen whether he holds on to his position as the franchise aims to press the reset ******* on in the hope of returning to its glory days.
As TimesofIndia.com reported, there is a lot of interest in a Hardik Pandya trade, and clarity will emerge after the MI season review. The franchise's position will be key, and it will be interesting to see how they position themselves to get the best out of the deal. The trade talk is unlikely to be restricted to just the all-rounder, as another former India captain's name has also generated interest among franchises.
Bumrah or Tilak?
Apart from the coaching and trade talk, Mumbai Indians need to figure out their captain for the 2027 edition. They are known to be a unit that doesn't believe in stop-gap arrangements, so the direction they take next week will be very crucial. Will they choose Jasprit ******* rah or invest in the young Tilak Varma, who is also rising on the India leadership ladder?
Bumrah is a strong candidate and has hardly missed games for the team over the last three seasons. While Tilak is young, his returns with the bat have been far from consistent. Some believe he is still a work in progress as a T20 batter, and captaincy will only weigh him down.
The 32-year-old, who made his Mumbai Indians captaincy debut in the IPL 2026 clash against Punjab Kings in the absence of both regular captain Hardik Pandya and stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav, hinted at his captaincy ambitions.
"I didn't think that I would be a Test captain before becoming MI captain," he had said at the toss.
Bumrah has led India in Test cricket and captained the team to a win over Australia in Perth in the first of five Tests during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Not to forget, ******* rah was the franchise's highest-paid retention ahead of the mega auction in November 2024.
132408152
So, is ******* rah the best bet for at least the 2027 season before the overhaul happens in the next cycle?
Surely, that's not the only tough call the decision-makers will make when they ******* emble.
While the dressing room unrest and trade talk involving Hardik Pandya have hogged most of the limelight, Jayawardene's return to the set-up has slipped under the radar. Under the 49-year-old, the five-time champions finished fourth in 2025 and a disappointing ninth in the 2026 edition. It remains to be seen whether he holds on to his position as the franchise aims to press the reset ******* on in the hope of returning to its glory days.
As TimesofIndia.com reported, there is a lot of interest in a Hardik Pandya trade, and clarity will emerge after the MI season review. The franchise's position will be key, and it will be interesting to see how they position themselves to get the best out of the deal. The trade talk is unlikely to be restricted to just the all-rounder, as another former India captain's name has also generated interest among franchises.
Bumrah or Tilak?
Apart from the coaching and trade talk, Mumbai Indians need to figure out their captain for the 2027 edition. They are known to be a unit that doesn't believe in stop-gap arrangements, so the direction they take next week will be very crucial. Will they choose Jasprit ******* rah or invest in the young Tilak Varma, who is also rising on the India leadership ladder?
Bumrah is a strong candidate and has hardly missed games for the team over the last three seasons. While Tilak is young, his returns with the bat have been far from consistent. Some believe he is still a work in progress as a T20 batter, and captaincy will only weigh him down.
The 32-year-old, who made his Mumbai Indians captaincy debut in the IPL 2026 clash against Punjab Kings in the absence of both regular captain Hardik Pandya and stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav, hinted at his captaincy ambitions.
"I didn't think that I would be a Test captain before becoming MI captain," he had said at the toss.
Bumrah has led India in Test cricket and captained the team to a win over Australia in Perth in the first of five Tests during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Not to forget, ******* rah was the franchise's highest-paid retention ahead of the mega auction in November 2024.
132408152
So, is ******* rah the best bet for at least the 2027 season before the overhaul happens in the next cycle?
Surely, that's not the only tough call the decision-makers will make when they ******* emble.
4 months ago
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced two changes to India's squads for the upcoming series of England and Zimbabwe after injuries to Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy.
Fast bowler Prince Yadav has replaced Harshit Rana in India's squad for the ODI series against England. Harshit has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, meanwhile, has been drafted into India's squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe later this month, replacing Varun Chakravarthy.
Bishnoi was not part of the original squad but has now been included after it was confirmed that Varun will need more time to recover from the hamstring injury that also ruled him out of the final two T20Is against England.
Bishnoi featured in the first two matches of India's five-match T20I series in England. India did not bowl in the opening game after rain washed it out. In the second T20I at Old Trafford, Bishnoi conceded 60 runs in his four overs. He also bowled three back-foot no-balls and gave away two sixes and a four from the resulting free-hits.
Varun will now report to the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru for further ****** sment and rehabilitation. Harshit Rana will also join him there after suffering a hamstring injury that has ruled him out of the three-match ODI series against England.
Varun had only recently returned to action during the T20I series in Ireland before playing the first two T20Is against England. The latest injury is another setback after he fractured his left toe during the latter stages of IPL 2026. He played through the injury before missing the T20I series against Afghanistan and Ireland while recovering at the CoE.
Chakravarthy also struggled for form in England, taking just one wicket while conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.28.
India's updated squad for England ODIs: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit ****** rah, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav
India's updated squad for Zimbabwe T20Is: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Ravi Bishnoi
Fast bowler Prince Yadav has replaced Harshit Rana in India's squad for the ODI series against England. Harshit has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, meanwhile, has been drafted into India's squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe later this month, replacing Varun Chakravarthy.
Bishnoi was not part of the original squad but has now been included after it was confirmed that Varun will need more time to recover from the hamstring injury that also ruled him out of the final two T20Is against England.
Bishnoi featured in the first two matches of India's five-match T20I series in England. India did not bowl in the opening game after rain washed it out. In the second T20I at Old Trafford, Bishnoi conceded 60 runs in his four overs. He also bowled three back-foot no-balls and gave away two sixes and a four from the resulting free-hits.
Varun will now report to the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru for further ****** sment and rehabilitation. Harshit Rana will also join him there after suffering a hamstring injury that has ruled him out of the three-match ODI series against England.
Varun had only recently returned to action during the T20I series in Ireland before playing the first two T20Is against England. The latest injury is another setback after he fractured his left toe during the latter stages of IPL 2026. He played through the injury before missing the T20I series against Afghanistan and Ireland while recovering at the CoE.
Chakravarthy also struggled for form in England, taking just one wicket while conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.28.
India's updated squad for England ODIs: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit ****** rah, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav
India's updated squad for Zimbabwe T20Is: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Ravi Bishnoi
4 months ago
NEW DELHI: India have handed Priya Punia her maiden Test call-up after opener Pratika Rawal was ruled out of the one-off women's Test against England at Lord's with a knee injury.
The Women's Selection Committee named Punia as Rawal's replacement after the opener failed to recover in time for the match, which begins on Friday.
Rawal suffered a cut around her right knee while playing for India A in the second One-Day match against England A in Taunton. The injury required stitches, forcing her to miss the Lord's Test.
Head coach Amol Muzumdar confirmed the news ahead of the match.
"Pratika has been ruled out of the Test match due to her injury in the India A match. She has got a cut on her knee which required some stitches. She is out for the Test match and Priya Punia has been added into the squad," said Muzumdar.
Born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Priya Punia is a right-handed top-order batter who can also bowl right-arm medium pace. The 29-year-old has represented India in limited-overs cricket but is yet to make her Test debut.
Punia made her international debut in a T20I against New Zealand on February 6, 2019. Since then, she has represented India in both ODIs and T20Is.
Punia's selection for the one-off Test against England comes on the back of an excellent series for India A against England A.
She scored 23 in the opening match before following it up with 87 and 61 in the next two games. She finished as India A's highest run-scorer in the three-match One-Day series with 171 runs and played a key role in India's 2-1 series victory.
So far, Punia has played 12 Women's ODIs, scoring 273 runs at an average of 27.30. Her highest score is an unbeaten 75, and she has hit two half-centuries in the format.
In T20 Internationals, she has featured in three matches, scoring nine runs.
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Varma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wicketkeeper), Nandini Sharma, Harleen Deol, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Sneh Rana and Priya Punia.
The Women's Selection Committee named Punia as Rawal's replacement after the opener failed to recover in time for the match, which begins on Friday.
Rawal suffered a cut around her right knee while playing for India A in the second One-Day match against England A in Taunton. The injury required stitches, forcing her to miss the Lord's Test.
Head coach Amol Muzumdar confirmed the news ahead of the match.
"Pratika has been ruled out of the Test match due to her injury in the India A match. She has got a cut on her knee which required some stitches. She is out for the Test match and Priya Punia has been added into the squad," said Muzumdar.
Born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Priya Punia is a right-handed top-order batter who can also bowl right-arm medium pace. The 29-year-old has represented India in limited-overs cricket but is yet to make her Test debut.
Punia made her international debut in a T20I against New Zealand on February 6, 2019. Since then, she has represented India in both ODIs and T20Is.
Punia's selection for the one-off Test against England comes on the back of an excellent series for India A against England A.
She scored 23 in the opening match before following it up with 87 and 61 in the next two games. She finished as India A's highest run-scorer in the three-match One-Day series with 171 runs and played a key role in India's 2-1 series victory.
So far, Punia has played 12 Women's ODIs, scoring 273 runs at an average of 27.30. Her highest score is an unbeaten 75, and she has hit two half-centuries in the format.
In T20 Internationals, she has featured in three matches, scoring nine runs.
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Varma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wicketkeeper), Nandini Sharma, Harleen Deol, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Sneh Rana and Priya Punia.
4 months ago
India step onto the County Ground in Bristol this Thursday knowing only a win in the fourth T20 international can keep their hopes alive in the five-match series against England.
Sitting 0-2 down, another defeat would mean suffering back-to-back bilateral series losses in the format.
Vice-captain Tilak Varma's underwhelming run with the bat has placed his position in the eleven under the microscope, and he looks likely to be replaced by Sanju Samson, who could walk back into the side after sitting out the last two games.
Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament at the 2026 T20 World Cup, featured in the series opener before being dropped to make room for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Sitting 0-2 down, another defeat would mean suffering back-to-back bilateral series losses in the format.
Vice-captain Tilak Varma's underwhelming run with the bat has placed his position in the eleven under the microscope, and he looks likely to be replaced by Sanju Samson, who could walk back into the side after sitting out the last two games.
Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament at the 2026 T20 World Cup, featured in the series opener before being dropped to make room for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
4 months ago
India vs England 4th T20I 2026 lineups with potential return of Sanju Samson at Bristol originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India face a must-win fourth T20I in Bristol, trailing 0-2 in the series.
Sanju Samson may return, with Tilak Varma's spot under the scanner.
Gautam Gambhir faces pressure to fix the middle-order and avoid series defeat.
With their backs against the wall and a string of selection headaches still unresolved, Shreyas Iyer's India walk into Thursday's fourth T20 international in Bristol knowing anything less than a win could end the series.
India face a must-win fourth T20I in Bristol, trailing 0-2 in the series.
Sanju Samson may return, with Tilak Varma's spot under the scanner.
Gautam Gambhir faces pressure to fix the middle-order and avoid series defeat.
With their backs against the wall and a string of selection headaches still unresolved, Shreyas Iyer's India walk into Thursday's fourth T20 international in Bristol knowing anything less than a win could end the series.
4 months ago
India batter Ajinkya Rahane expressed disbelief regarding Sanju Samson’s omission from India’s T20I squad for the Zimbabwe tour. He expressed surprise and hoped that the selectors had communicated the decision to him.
Rahane took to Instagram and posted a story throwing his weight behind Samson, saying he expected the wicketkeeper-batter to return to the national side soon.
"Hope there has been some communication with Samson. Find it odd that the hero of our recent T20 WC win has been left out of the T20 squad to Zimbabwe. Hope to see him back in the team soon," Rahane wrote on his Instagram Story.
The veteran shared his remarks following the announcement of India’s squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, which marked Samson’s absence.
The 31-year-old was omitted despite his significant contribution to India’s successful ICC T20 World Cup campaign.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced a 15-member squad for the Zimbabwe tour, with Prabhsimran Singh and Yash Thakur earning their maiden India call-ups.
The T20I series will commence on July 23, with all three matches scheduled to be played in Harare. The team will take the field under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy. Tilak Varma, on the other hand, will be the vice-captain.
Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who replaced Samson in the second T20I against England, keeps his spot.
Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Varun Chakaravarathy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (WK).
Rahane took to Instagram and posted a story throwing his weight behind Samson, saying he expected the wicketkeeper-batter to return to the national side soon.
"Hope there has been some communication with Samson. Find it odd that the hero of our recent T20 WC win has been left out of the T20 squad to Zimbabwe. Hope to see him back in the team soon," Rahane wrote on his Instagram Story.
The veteran shared his remarks following the announcement of India’s squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, which marked Samson’s absence.
The 31-year-old was omitted despite his significant contribution to India’s successful ICC T20 World Cup campaign.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced a 15-member squad for the Zimbabwe tour, with Prabhsimran Singh and Yash Thakur earning their maiden India call-ups.
The T20I series will commence on July 23, with all three matches scheduled to be played in Harare. The team will take the field under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy. Tilak Varma, on the other hand, will be the vice-captain.
Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who replaced Samson in the second T20I against England, keeps his spot.
Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Varun Chakaravarathy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (WK).
4 months ago
Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth criticised Tilak Varma following India's shocking one-run defeat to Ireland in the second T20I in Belfast on June 28.
Chasing 155 to level the two-match series, India were reduced to 19/3 in the third over when Tilak Varma walked in to bat. The 23-year-old tried to steady the innings but managed only a slow-paced 55 off 46 ******* . The rest of the batting line-up also struggled as India fell one run short, suffering a 0-2 series defeat.
Criticising Tilak and the other batters on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth said, "Tilak Varma tried to take it till the end and become the hero. He thought of winning it in the end and celebrate by lifting his jersey. These targets have to be chased down with an over to spare and not go till the end.
"You can't play the way India did in the middle phase, especially Tilak Varma, Dube and Axar. All their strike rates were poor. You have to stabilize a bit and then start attacking in the middle phase. Otherwise, you'll be finished if you fail in the middle phase. India lost the game in the middle phase. Tilak Varma was just playing for himself by sneaking in ones and twos. Axar Patel was the same."
Tilak had also struggled in the first T20I, scoring 21 off 19 ******* as India lost by 34 runs.
Srikkanth also criticised India's approach during the middle overs of the second T20I. The visitors went seven overs without hitting a single boundary, with Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel unable to score freely.
"There was a stage when there were 45 ******* without a boundary in the middle phase. How can you win a T20 match like that? It's shameful that a medicore Ireland bowling has finished this Indian batting lineup. Even in the IPL, look at how many of these top Indian batters scored in Lucknow? Because in Lucknow, the wicket helped the swing and seam bowlers. Very few Indian batters scored in Lucknow. India needed to attack in the middle and not take it till the end," said Srikkanth.
Before this series, India had won all eight of their previous T20Is against Ireland. The 0-2 defeat marked India's first-ever series loss to Ireland in the format.
Chasing 155 to level the two-match series, India were reduced to 19/3 in the third over when Tilak Varma walked in to bat. The 23-year-old tried to steady the innings but managed only a slow-paced 55 off 46 ******* . The rest of the batting line-up also struggled as India fell one run short, suffering a 0-2 series defeat.
Criticising Tilak and the other batters on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth said, "Tilak Varma tried to take it till the end and become the hero. He thought of winning it in the end and celebrate by lifting his jersey. These targets have to be chased down with an over to spare and not go till the end.
"You can't play the way India did in the middle phase, especially Tilak Varma, Dube and Axar. All their strike rates were poor. You have to stabilize a bit and then start attacking in the middle phase. Otherwise, you'll be finished if you fail in the middle phase. India lost the game in the middle phase. Tilak Varma was just playing for himself by sneaking in ones and twos. Axar Patel was the same."
Tilak had also struggled in the first T20I, scoring 21 off 19 ******* as India lost by 34 runs.
Srikkanth also criticised India's approach during the middle overs of the second T20I. The visitors went seven overs without hitting a single boundary, with Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel unable to score freely.
"There was a stage when there were 45 ******* without a boundary in the middle phase. How can you win a T20 match like that? It's shameful that a medicore Ireland bowling has finished this Indian batting lineup. Even in the IPL, look at how many of these top Indian batters scored in Lucknow? Because in Lucknow, the wicket helped the swing and seam bowlers. Very few Indian batters scored in Lucknow. India needed to attack in the middle and not take it till the end," said Srikkanth.
Before this series, India had won all eight of their previous T20Is against Ireland. The 0-2 defeat marked India's first-ever series loss to Ireland in the format.
4 months ago
NEW DELHI: Former India batter Ambati Rayudu has admitted he was "not really surprised" by India's stunning 0-2 T20I series defeat to Ireland, saying the reigning world champions were simply not prepared for the vastly different conditions after the high-scoring Indian Premier League season.
India, led by Shreyas Iyer, suffered a historic series whitewash after losing the second T20I by one run in Belfast, with their batters struggling to adapt to the slow, two-paced surfaces.
"No, I'm not really surprised because I don't think they were prepared well enough for the conditions that they have encountered," Rayudu told PTI. "It's always very, very difficult to go from really flat tracks to slightly spongy wickets which have some lateral movement as well."
The former India international felt the transition from batting-friendly IPL pitches to testing conditions in Ireland exposed technical shortcomings within the batting unit.
"Most of the guys are so used to having these really fast bat-swings, the in-between game and the control of the down-swing is a major concern," the 40-year-old explained.
Rayudu also highlighted an area that India vice-captain Tilak Varma needs to improve despite his fighting 55 in the second T20I.
"More than his mental approach, his game against slow bowling on slow surfaces has been kind of a struggle for a while," Rayudu said. "Whenever he encounters wickets on which the ball does not really come on to the bat, that is where we have seen him struggle a little bit to up the tempo."
According to Rayudu, Tilak's reluctance to use his feet against spin limits his scoring options on slower tracks.
"Against spinners, he likes to access the square boundaries a lot more... he doesn't use his feet as much. He doesn't sweep on the pitch of the ball and there are a lot of shots that he does not play in a conventional manner. If he improves that side of his game, raising the tempo will be secondary, a by-product of that," he explained.
The former Chennai Super Kings batter also weighed in on the growing calls for 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make his India debut after being left out of both matches against Ireland.
"It's always good to go with your seasoned openers who have done really well (and) have won the World Cup. Giving them the first go, ample opportunities is very, very important," Rayudu said.
"He is experiencing what the Indian team dressing room is like, what to expect, what must be his role. So, there are so many things that he'll be learning on this tour, which will eventually help him. But I wouldn't really rush to get him in a bilateral just because we didn't win a couple of games," he added.
Despite India's disappointing results, Rayudu believes the upcoming five-match T20I series in England will present an entirely different challenge.
"I wouldn't really read much into it because going into England, those wickets are far, far better than what they have
India, led by Shreyas Iyer, suffered a historic series whitewash after losing the second T20I by one run in Belfast, with their batters struggling to adapt to the slow, two-paced surfaces.
"No, I'm not really surprised because I don't think they were prepared well enough for the conditions that they have encountered," Rayudu told PTI. "It's always very, very difficult to go from really flat tracks to slightly spongy wickets which have some lateral movement as well."
The former India international felt the transition from batting-friendly IPL pitches to testing conditions in Ireland exposed technical shortcomings within the batting unit.
"Most of the guys are so used to having these really fast bat-swings, the in-between game and the control of the down-swing is a major concern," the 40-year-old explained.
Rayudu also highlighted an area that India vice-captain Tilak Varma needs to improve despite his fighting 55 in the second T20I.
"More than his mental approach, his game against slow bowling on slow surfaces has been kind of a struggle for a while," Rayudu said. "Whenever he encounters wickets on which the ball does not really come on to the bat, that is where we have seen him struggle a little bit to up the tempo."
According to Rayudu, Tilak's reluctance to use his feet against spin limits his scoring options on slower tracks.
"Against spinners, he likes to access the square boundaries a lot more... he doesn't use his feet as much. He doesn't sweep on the pitch of the ball and there are a lot of shots that he does not play in a conventional manner. If he improves that side of his game, raising the tempo will be secondary, a by-product of that," he explained.
The former Chennai Super Kings batter also weighed in on the growing calls for 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make his India debut after being left out of both matches against Ireland.
"It's always good to go with your seasoned openers who have done really well (and) have won the World Cup. Giving them the first go, ample opportunities is very, very important," Rayudu said.
"He is experiencing what the Indian team dressing room is like, what to expect, what must be his role. So, there are so many things that he'll be learning on this tour, which will eventually help him. But I wouldn't really rush to get him in a bilateral just because we didn't win a couple of games," he added.
Despite India's disappointing results, Rayudu believes the upcoming five-match T20I series in England will present an entirely different challenge.
"I wouldn't really read much into it because going into England, those wickets are far, far better than what they have
4 months 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.
