IND vs NZ 4th T20I 2026 results, highlights and scorecard as Glenn Philips' ton inflicts heavy 87-run defeat on India originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Captains: Mitchell Santner (New Zealand), Shreyas Iyer (India)
Toss result: India have won the toss and have opted to field
Live Telecast: Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV (India), Sky Sport (New Zealand)

#t20i

Mumbai Indians on Friday announced their new-looked support staff for IPL 2027, appointing Robin Uthappa as batting coach, Mitchell McClenaghan as bowling coach, T. Dilip as fielding coach and Dhawal Kulkarni as development bowling coach.

The four will work alongside head coach Kieron Pollard, who replaced Mahela Jayawardene last week, as Mumbai Indians put together a new coaching group ahead of the next season.

Uthappa, McClenaghan and Kulkarni have previously represented Mumbai Indians as players. Pollard, meanwhile, has been ******* ociated with the franchise for 16 years.

Uthappa was part of India's squad that won the inaugural ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2007. He represented Mumbai Indians in 2008 and brings experience from Indian domestic and franchise cricket.

McClenaghan was part of Mumbai Indians' ******* le-winning campaigns in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. The New Zealand pacer represented the franchise between 2015 and 2020 and will now take charge of the bowling group.

Dilip joins Mumbai Indians after working with the India men's team. He was part of the coaching staff during India's ******* le wins at the 2024 and 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cups and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

Kulkarni, a two-time IPL champion with Mumbai Indians in 2013 and 2020, returns to the franchise after representing the team in two spells — from 2008 to 2013 and again in 2020-21.

The former Mumbai pacer will work closely with the coaching staff during the season, focusing on the development of the team's bowling resources, particularly young Indian bowlers. His role will continue throughout the year, providing support to players and helping the franchise strengthen its pool of bowling talent.

The coaching overhaul comes after Mumbai Indians, who are five-time IPL champions, performed below-average last season.

#Mumbai #indians #coach #bowling

'Absolutely ridiculous selection decision': Gautam Gambhir slammed for benching Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in India's dead rubber 4th T20I vs NZ originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dropped for the fourth T20I against New Zealand despite scoring 45 off 19 ******* .
Ishan Kishan returned from injury and fell for a duck as India chased 260.
Fans on social media criticised Gautam Gambhir for the selection in a dead rubber.
MORE: IND vs NZ 4th T20I 2026 live scorecard, toss winner, winning probability, result and highlights from Eden Park, Auckland

#gautam #selection #rubber

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — India captain Shreyas Iyer won his fourth consecutive toss and chose to bowl Friday in the fourth Twenty20 cricket international against New Zealand at Eden Park.
Bowling first was a winning formula in the first three matches of the five-match series which India won by four wickets, four wickets and six wickets to take a 3-0 series lead.
Although the series is decided, Eden Park is sold out for the match and India has been encouraged by coach Gautam Gambhir to treat the remaining two matches as a separate series.
"We're going to leave no stone unturned," Iyer said. "It's important to be ruthless no matter what the results have been so far."
New Zealand will attempt to recover some pride after the mauling its bowlers suffered in the third match at Wellington on Tuesday in which India opener Abishek Sharma scored a century from 35 ****** .

#India #park

India squad for New Zealand ODI series 2026: Full updates and team lists for NZ vs IND ODIs originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India named their ODI squad for the New Zealand tour.
The ODI series begins at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4 and ends in Tauranga on November 15.
India picked a split squad, as some players will prepare with the red ball for the Wellington Test on November 19.
India's ODI series in New Zealand begins in Auckland on November 4. Five matches will be played across Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton and Tauranga, with the last on November 15. Two Tests follow straight after. The first starts in Wellington on November 19, and the second finishes in Christchurch on December 1. That short gap between formats is a big reason why this selection is being watched so closely.

#India #tauranga

New Zealand arrive at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday with little to play for beyond their pride, as the fourth T20I against India begins with the series already out of reach. The hosts will be hoping to take the last two games and salvage something from a difficult few weeks.
India sealed the series with three convincing chases, and each one left the home bowlers searching for answers. They first reached targets of 226 and 181 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, then overhauled 199 in just 13.2 overs in Wellington, the most one-sided of the lot.
The visitors are still without Ishan Kishan, who has missed the last two matches because of a low-grade right adductor strain. According to the BCCI's latest update, he has not yet regained full match fitness, so his availability for Auckland remains in doubt.
New Zealand have their own selection issues to manage. Matt Henry has moved out of the T20I group to link up with the ODI squad, while Lockie Ferguson missed the Wellington game and is expected to be back for the final two matches of the series.
The Black Caps cannot change the result of the series any more, but wins in the remaining fixtures would at least restore some dignity. Ferguson's likely return should add pace and bounce to an attack that has been underwhelming, to say the least.

#least

IND vs NZ 4th T20I 2026 live scorecard, toss winner, winning probability, result and highlights from Eden Park, Auckland originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Captains: Mitchell Santner (New Zealand), Shreyas Iyer (India)
Toss result: TBD
Live Telecast: Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV (India), Sky Sport (New Zealand)

#park #result

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi looks likely to open the innings yet again in the 4th T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland.
With India already taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, they now have a wider berth to experiment with the batting order.
While the in-form Abhishek Sharma has made the opening slot his own, Sanju Samson and Sooryavanshi have alternated at the No. 3 spot in the last two matches.
With Ishan Kishan out with low-grade right adductor strain, India may continue with their top three in Auckland as well.
Kishan's injury opened the door for Sooryavanshi in the third T20I and the 15-year-old made a mark in the fourth match in Wellington, scoring a breathless 45 and setting the tone, along with Sharma, as India chased down a target of 199 in 13.2 overs

#sooryavanshi #India

New Zealand vs India 4th T20I prediction, lineups and Eden Park pitch report — who will win? originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India have already won the series, and New Zealand are running out of bowlers. The fourth T20I at Eden Park on Friday (12.30pm IST) will offer the hosts little comfort.
India chased 199 in 13.2 overs in Wellington, scoring 118 in the first six, the highest powerplay total in men's T20I history. Now they move to a ground where the boundaries are very short.
India have scored at 10.45 an over across 38 T20Is this year, the best of any Full Member. New Zealand have managed 9.37 across 23 innings. Finn Allen apart, their batters do not hit with the same power, and their bowling attack has been stripped back further. Lockie Ferguson is out for the rest of the series, joining Matt Henry and Zak Foulkes on the injury list. Blair Tickner may play.
India have won 22 of their 34 T20Is against New Zealand, losing 11 with one tie, and they have taken eight of the last nine meetings. Their only real choice is how much to rest, with the ODI and Test series still to come. Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy and Shivam Dube have yet to play on this tour, and Mayank Yadav could return. Even so, the top order of Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer would be hard for any attack to contain.

#zealand #t20i #eden

TOMARATA, New Zealand (AP) — Defending champion Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand salvaged a 1-over 71 in strong wind Friday in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship to take a two-stroke lead into the weekend at Te Arai Links.
A day after opening with an 8-under 63, Laopakdee began his morning round on the seaside layout bogey-bogey-birdie-bogey-bogey in 35 mph wind. The Arizona State senior also bogeyed the 10th, then birdied Nos. 12, 13 and 17.
"I had a 5‑footer two holes in a row and the ball just snapped 90 degrees," Laopakdee said. "I aimed a foot left from 5 feet and it went like 3 feet right. It's pretty tricky. Overall, it was a grind out there and I would take 7 under for the first two rounds."
The winner will receive spots in the Masters and British Open. Last year in Dubai, Laopakdee won the third hole of a playoff to become the first Thai champion in event history.
Three players from New Zealand followed on the leaderboard. Cooper Moore (70) was second at 5 under, Ryan Xie (71) was 4 under, and Zack Swanwic (67) 3 under. Kaito Sato of ****** an was 2 under after a 72.

#first #defending

Scarlets director of rugby Nigel Davies believes Macs Page is destined to earn his first Wales cap "sooner rather than later" after his late international call-up.
Page, who Davies previously highlighted as the first name on the Scarlets team sheet, has been called up to replace injured Dragons wing Rio Dyer.
The 21-year-old has enjoyed an impressive start to the 2026-27 season, scoring five tries, and will hope to shake off a head injury to earn his maiden cap.
Wales return to Nations Championship action next month, with home fixtures against **** an, New Zealand and Australia before meeting a southern hemisphere opponent on finals weekend at Twickenham.
"It's fully deserved. He's a special player, and I think we will see him play for Wales sooner rather than later, personally," said Davies.

#rather

Sarina Wiegman has signed a two-year contract extension to remain England Women's head coach until the end of the 2029 European Championships.
The 56-year-old Dutch coach's contract with England was due to expire after next summer's Women's World Cup in Brazil.
The extension means Wiegman will remain in post through next summer's World Cup and Euro 2029, as well the 2027 Nations League campaign next spring which will serve as a qualification pathway for a Team GB squad at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Wiegman's backroom staff, including Janneke Bijl and Arvid Smit, who joined after the 2025 Euros, will remain in post as well as long-standing goalkeeping coach Darren Ward.
It is the second contract extension of Wiegman's England tenure since her appointment in September 2021, having signed a new contract in 2024 after reaching the World Cup final with England in Australia and New Zealand.

#contract #next

Swimmers brandishing short, curved sticks held their breath as they somersaulted and dove towards a weighted puck at the bottom of a Hong Kong swimming pool, vying for first place in a sport likened to voluntary drowning.
The annual underwater hockey tournament, ominously advertised as "physical ****** ", nevertheless drew a roster of hardcore enthusiasts from countries across Asia to the Chinese city over the weekend.
"You have to choose when to use your breath and when not to... Anyone that's got the puck, you know that they've got some level of suffering," Leo Lines, a ****** anese-New Zealander competitor from Hokkaido, told AFP.
"I love that."
Suited up in snorkel masks and fins, players only resurface for air when they absolutely have to, and their heads remain constantly underwater so they can monitor the game.

#swimmers #kong

Bengaluru: When batters are scoring at 11.46 runs an over, even quality bowling attacks can be made to look ordinary. India's T20I series against the West Indies has exposed the vulnerability of the hosts' pace unit, with flat pitches, dew and short boundaries proving a punishing combination for bowlers.

West Indies' stunning 250-run chase in Ranchi, completed with nine **** to spare, prompted a stern **** sment from India head coach Gautam Gambhir.

"These bowlers are our bowlers, not someone else's bowlers. Their careers are at stake," he had said, underlining the scrutiny facing the attack.

With the exception of Indore, where India successfully defended 223, the bowlers struggled to contain a fearless West Indies batting line-up. While the absence of Jasprit **** rah and, to an extent, Hardik Pandya has been felt, the bigger concern for the team management is the inconsistency shown by Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav.

The two young quicks, Mayank and Prince, have alternated between brilliance and waywardness during the series, highlighting the challenges of adjusting to different match situations. The fourth T20I in Hyderabad offered a clear example. India conceded 18 extras, including 13 wides. Arshdeep accounted for six, while Mayank and Prince leaked two and one, respectively. Their attempts to execute wide yorkers and fuller deliveries repeatedly missed the mark, allowing the West Indies batters to maintain the pressure.

India's lack of proven T20 pace-bowling depth has consequently become a talking point. That has put renewed focus on the return of Bhuvneshwar **** ar, whose recall after nearly four years away from the national side could prove timely.

The experienced swing bowler has enjoyed a productive run in the IPL, taking 45 wickets across the last two seasons. More importantly, his success has been built on control and execution rather than sheer pace, qualities that India's younger quicks have often lacked in this series.

Conditions, however, have offered little respite to bowlers. High-scoring surfaces and heavy dew have meant that even small lapses have come at a significant cost.

As India prepare for a demanding tour of New Zealand, they know the challenges ahead will be very different. The pitches may offer more **** istance, but the key question remains whether the bowling group can quickly adapt and improve its consistency.

On the eve of the rain-affected series finale in Bengaluru, fast-bowling coach Morne Morkel urged observers to consider the physical and mental demands placed on modern cricketers.

"We sometimes forget that mental fatigue plays a big part. We have to manage that and be smart with it. Some of the players went for the Asian Games and then straight into a full series against the West Indies. These guys are also human," Morkel said.

"Execution and skills become better when you've recovered, slept well and mentally refreshed. That's a challenge. We're going to N

India arrive in New Zealand as world champions, having beaten the same opponents by 96 runs in the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad in March.
The five-match series now shifts to the Black Caps' backyard, where the T20I history between the sides is far tighter than that result suggests.
Shreyas Iyer leads a 16-man India squad that welcomes back Bhuvneshwar **** ar, who last played a T20I in November 2022. Meanwhile, Mitchell Santner captains the home side.
India last played T20Is here in November 2022, when Suryakumar Yadav's unbeaten 111 at Mount Maunganui set up a 65-run win. They took that series 1-0 after Wellington was abandoned and a rain-hit Napier game ended in a tie, so the record is worth a closer look.
Before the bilateral series kicks off in Christchurch on Thursday, The Sporting News takes a look at the record books.

#India #november

Wales head coach Steve Tandy names his Nations Championship squad on Tuesday, 20 October and was given some late food for thought by the Welsh clubs in European action.
Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets made winning starts in the Challenge Cup while Cardiff competed hard but lost at Northampton on their return to the top-tier Champions Cup.
Wales will face ****** an, New Zealand and Australia in Cardiff before another fixture at Twickenham against a southern hemisphere opponent on finals weekend.
BBC Sport Wales looks at the players who grasped their last chance to make an impression on Tandy and his staff as opportunities run out before the 2027 World Cup.
Wales counting down the year until World Cup

#wales #tandy #championship #tuesday

Costco is expanding its same-day delivery network as it looks to grow e-commerce sales and compete with retailers like Walmart and Target.
The retailer this week launched collaborations with DoorDash (NASDAQ: DASH) and Uber (NYSE: UBER) to pick up online orders at U.S. stores and drive them to the customer's door. The arrangements give Costco more channels to reach customers through ultra-fast delivery, made possible by gig drivers who use the platforms to select ******* ignments.
DoorDash, best known for delivering restaurant food, announced that Costco (NASDAQ: COST) members can now order groceries, dry goods, household essentials and other products from its marketplace and then arrange fast delivery from their local store, all through the DoorDash app. The U.S. launch extends the existing relationship between the companies in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Iceland and Puerto Rico.
DoorDash now serves eight of the 10 largest food retailers in North America.
On Wednesday, Uber announced a major expansion of its partnership with Costco to deliver products in 47 states, up from 17 states. Nearly 600 Costco locations are now available on the Uber Eats app, where shoppers can arrange on-demand and scheduled delivery.

#Food #announced

India is all set to take on Afghanistan in the opening T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, September 13.
Shreyas Iyer's side looking to build momentum after a mixed white-ball summer that included series defeats in Ireland and England.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan will be hoping to avenge defeat in the one-off Test at Mullanpur earlier this year. Ibrahim Zadran's side has the perfectly volatile combination of a spin-heavy bowling attack and a batting lineup that's still trying to figure out their place.
With Jasprit **** rah and Washington Sundar also cleared just this week, India will be keen to prepare mentally for the upcoming Asian Games and New Zealand. The venue will also play a big part in the match.
Arun Jaitley Stadium has hosted only a handful of T20Is despite its status as one of India's most-used grounds across formats, and their most recent appearance produced one of the highest totals ever recorded there when India piled up 209 against Namibia in February 2026.

#september

Rugby's Greatest Rivalry - Fourth Test
South Africa (17) 43
Tries: de Allende (2), van den Berg, PS du Toit, Arendse, Hanekom Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), van den Berg, Libbok (2) Pens: Feinberg-Mngomezulu
New Zealand (14) 28
Tries: Taylor, Jordan, Blackadder, B Barrett Cons: McKenzie (4)

#greatest

The Women's National Team learned its opponent for the Under-20 World Cup round of 16 this Saturday (12). Brazil will face the United States on Wednesday (16) at 10 a.m. (Brasília time) at Arena Katowice in Poland.
The Canarinhas reached the knockout stage after a perfect campaign in the group stage. In Group B, the team coached by Camilla Orlando defeated Tanzania (4-1), Canada (3-0), and England (2-1).
The United States, meanwhile, was in Group D and advanced to the round of 16 after a 9-0 win over New Zealand, a 2-2 draw with ****** an, and a 2-1 loss to Italy.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

#team #round

Joe Root led England to a 3-0 Test series whitewash over Pakistan after scoring an unbeaten 62 in the third Test at Edgbaston. England were chasing 130 for victory but got off to a poor start. Ben Duckett was dismissed by Mohammad Abbas with the first ball of the innings, while opener Emilio Gay also fell later in the same over.

At 2 for 2, Pakistan had a chance to put England under pressure. But Root and Jordan **** remained calm and slowly took control of the chase.

It was the first time England had whitewashed Pakistan in a home Test series.

Root survived a big scare when Mohammad Ali bowled him for 23, only for the delivery to be called a no-ball. It was Ali's 17th no-ball of the series.

Pakistan then missed another opportunity when Root, on 38, edged Abbas between first and second slip. Neither fielder went for the catch.

Root made Pakistan pay for the missed chances. His unbeaten 62 was his 110th Test innings of 50 or more, a tally that includes 41 centuries.

Cox remained unbeaten on 59 as England reached the target in the 25th over with eight wickets in hand.
Pakistan had shown more fight in the third Test after conceding a huge 320-run first-innings deficit.

Root said the difficult chase was useful for England after Pakistan had put them under pressure.

"Fair play to Pakistan, ?they threw some punches last night. They made it very difficult for us and in some ways it's a good thing to go through that," said Root.

"Test cricket is not always going to go your own way but to see us actually be quite clinical with the bat off the back of that was good too. So ?in many ways we're better for it.

"Of course there's things we will want to improve on but we ?came into this ?series with a lot of question marks and a lot of noise around the team and we've walked away 3-0 winners so ?in that respect I'm quite ?pleased."
The series came after a difficult period for England, who had been looking to recover from their defeat to New Zealand following the Ashes loss.

Root's return to the captaincy after Ben Stokes' retirement from international cricket ended with a series whitewash.

Pakistan had one major positive in the third Test. Debutant Razaullah scored an impressive 81 off 63 **** , giving his team hope and bringing energy to the contest at Edgbaston.
England's fast bowlers were once again too strong for Pakistan on helpful surfaces.

Ollie Robinson led the attack and finished the series with 21 wickets to be named England's player of the series.

"I'm a realist, I know it's not always going to be like this," said Robinson, England's player of the series.

"We know there's ?going to be tougher times ahead. We have some tough opposition coming up and we're looking forward to the challenge."

Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson also played important roles in England's dominant series win.

England's batting was less convincing, with no batter managing to score a century in the three Tests.

India's next Test **** ignment will take them to New Zealand for a two-match series beginning November 19, and former Kiwi fast bowler Trent Boult believes KL Rahul will be one of the Indian batters worth watching closely.

The two Tests will form part of India's marathon New Zealand tour, which begins on October 22 and features 12 matches across the three formats. With India needing a strong result to remain in contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, the spotlight is expected to fall on several key players, including captain Shubman Gill and pace spearhead Jasprit **** rah.

Boult, however, has picked Rahul and his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal as the two Indian batters he is particularly looking forward to seeing in action.

"I'm always a big fan of KL Rahul and his style of batsmanship. So he's a big player at the top of the order for the Indian side. And yeah, I believe Jaiswal is there as well. Two classy batters to see bat. So yeah, be interesting to see," Boult said in an interview to PTI.
The timing of the series could make conditions particularly interesting. Unlike India's previous Test tours of New Zealand, which have often taken place in the February-March window, this series will be played in late October and November.

Boult feels the timing could bring colder weather into play, while he is hoping the New Zealand pitches retain some grass and offer **** istance to the home attack.

"It's always an exciting chance when the Indian team comes down to play Test cricket in New Zealand," Boult said.

"The only thing I can see happening is it's going to be late October. I believe, just coming out of winter. So it's going to be quite cold. Hopefully, there's a bit of greenness in the wickets for some of our bowlers. It's going to be a good series, I'm sure," the star former Kiwi pacer added.
Boult also backed the current New Zealand bowling unit to make an impact against India, pointing to the variety available to the team.

Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Nathan Smith and Will O'Rourke bring different qualities to the attack, and Boult believes that gives New Zealand enough options to develop its own identity.

"I think the bowling is very well balanced. It's got bases covered in terms of a good pace, obviously, with Will O'Rourke. Obviously, a bit of swing and a bit of bounce from Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry with his accuracy.

"So yeah, I think the way me, Tim (Southee) and Wags (Neil Wagner) did it over the years was a unique way in itself. But there's other strengths and other game plans that our younger bowlers can follow," Boult further said.
134121390

#test

South Africa and New Zealand conclude the inaugural Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series with a last meeting in Baltimore in the United States.
The Springboks have secured at least a draw after winning the final match on home soil last weekend to take a 2-1 lead into this encounter.
Rassie Erasmus's side will be in no mood, though, to let the All Blacks square affairs, with a strong selection named by the world champions as they search for another statement performance.
Can New Zealand hit back in what should be an enjoyable occasion at the home of the Baltimore Ravens?
Here's everything you need to know:

#zealand #home #south

During a beach outing, then-5-year-old Terry Potter Hedden III — now "Trey" to NMSU teammates and fans — picked up a football and threw a perfect spiral to his stepmom. It was then Hedden was destined to be a quarterback with a supportive blended family. His parents and stepparents "made sure I made every tryout. They took me to camps. They helped me meet the coaches I wanted to learn from." And they attended every game, including during his two years at Furman and this season with the Aggies. After a 10-percentage-point jump in accuracy from his freshman season, Hedden entered the portal to "raise the ceiling a little bit" in pursuit of future pro opportunities. NMSU head coach Tony Sanchez's spread attack offered protection (312 pounds an O-lineman) and speedy targets. Slot receiver TK King has been GPS-clocked at nearly 23 mph and laser-timed at 20.74 seconds over 200 meters. "The biggest thing for me is I've got to remember that on game day, he's a little bit faster than he is in practice," Hedden said of King. "When he's running a route, you can throw it out there and he'll turn it on. We talk about it in the meeting room. Go make him run 100 meters to catch the ball." King's average target depth is 21 yards. He has catch-and-dashes of 46, 42 and 34 yards. The Aggies have sets of four and five receivers or up to two tight ends. Running back James Jones has no fumbles or negative-yard rushes in 30 carries. Jones also is an effective blocker who can roll into the flats. Hedden is 80% accurate on screens, hitches and check-down throws. "The quarterback in this offense is really a distributor," Hedden said. "We really focus on the things we're good at, and we repeat those things, and find new ways to do those things every week. It's really been a lot of fun to play in this offense with these coaches."
The Aggies' base is chaos, with shifts, movements and glove-to-glove combat in the trenches and running lanes. "When things get so cranky, like how many blitzes and stunts, it looks like Star Wars to us," weakside linebacker Sone Aupiu said. His first two NMSU seasons, Aupiu played middle linebacker. He moved to will linebacker last year but still trains at all second-tier positions, including jack, the stand-up edge defender. Helped by playing on the narrow side of the formation, Aupiu has freedom to jump lanes. "When it comes to gap schemes, that's what I love," he said. "Coming my way to the boundary, I'm looking to hit 'em." His father grew up in Samoa, his mother in New Zealand, where rugby was the favored sport. He said he aspires to play professional rugby. But for now, Aupiu said, "I chose a different route, which was football. Everybody else on my mom's side chose rugby." Aupiu received a few college offers. But after an official visit to Las Cruces, he decided to be an Aggie. He said he had to adjust to the culture change from Long Beach, Calif., such as green chili served with everything. And to fatherhood — he and his wife have a 3-yea

The International League T20 (ILT20) Season 5 was officially launched with a glittering event in Dubai, with fast-bowling legends Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar among the star attractions on an evening celebrating the league's rapid rise and growing influence across the Gulf region.

The event brought together leading figures from cricket, sport, business and government, with ILT20 chairman Khalid Al Zarooni and league commissioner, ICC board director and ECB general secretary Mubashshir Usmani highlighting the tournament's contribution to the development and expansion of cricket in the UAE and the wider region.

Al Zarooni reflected on the league's growth while thanking its stakeholders and partners.

"What began as a dream has grown into one of the world's leading cricket leagues, bringing together top players and major franchises, while helping grow cricket in the UAE, the region and beyond," he said.

He also acknowledged the support of franchise owners, commercial and strategic partners, with a special mention for Zee Network, while welcoming SPORTFIVE as a new commercial partner.
A special panel discussion hosted by former New Zealand international Simon Doull explored the changing landscape and future of cricket in the region and globally.

The panel featured Usmani, Dr Mohamed Abu Hamra, Eisa Sharif of the Dubai Sports Council, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Deputy CEO and CFO Mukund Galgali, SportFive President Venu Nair and Bisleri Global Director Sales & Marketing Tushar Malhotra.

Doull later brought Lee and Shoaib together for another engaging discussion, with the two legendary fast bowlers speaking about the ILT20's growing impact on UAE and regional cricket.

The pair also looked back on their playing careers, recalling an era in which their blistering pace made them two of the most feared fast bowlers in world cricket.

The evening also featured a spell-binding performance by celebrity mentalist Karan Singh Magic, while the league unveiled its new brand identity for Season 5.
Season 5 will be played in November and December across the UAE's three iconic venues — Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Dubai International Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Defending champions Desert Vipers will enter the fifth season aiming to retain their crown. Gulf Giants won the inaugural season, followed by MI Emirates in Season 2 and Dubai Capitals in Season 3.

#stadium

Bengaluru: The BCCI's decision to send a full-strength squad to the Asian Games later this month has brought one name into focus - Jasprit ***** rah. The premier India pacer has not played for India since the second ODI against England in Cardiff in July, when he limped off after suffering an impact injury to his left knee. He has since been undergoing rehabilitation and is part of India's squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, although his participation is subject to fitness clearance.

With the Asian Games in ***** an beginning later this month, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes the tournament could provide ***** rah with valuable game time ahead of India's next major ***** ignment, the New Zealand tour.

The Asian Games, then, is the perfect opportunity for ***** rah to ease back into competitive cricket before that series. "There's a fair gap between the Asian Games and the New Zealand series, so playing ***** rah in the Asian Games is actually a good idea because he has to get some bowling under his belt. In Sri Lanka, we heard Mohammad Siraj was not quite in rhythm because he hadn't played enough in competitive matches. The bowlers need to get some overs and ***** rah getting them is very essential," Gavaskar said.

Although Shreyas Iyer has lost six of the seven T20Is he has led India in this year, Sunil Gavaskar backed him. "He's very experienced as a captain, having led Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings. I don't think there should be any pressure on him at the Asian Games. "

'Asian Games ***** le defence won't be easy'

Gavaskar was quick to add that the ***** le defence won't be an easy ride for India. "It's going to be tough because it's a T20 tournament. Bangladesh are in form, Pakistan are always dangerous and Sri Lanka are a terrific team, not to forget Afghanistan, so it's not going to be easy at all," he said. Gavaskar pointed out that the Asian Games will be a huge learning experience for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. "To be able to meet sportspersons from other sports from across Asia can be an absolute treat. For Sooryavanshi, I hope it turns out to be even more inspirational because he will get to rub shoulders with athletes who he's looked up to."

(This interaction was facilitated by Sony Sports Network)

#asian #easy #sunil #zealand

CHENNAI: The road to the World Test Championship (WTC) final for India is getting tougher, with every series carrying greater significance. The task has become even more challenging after they failed to win the final Test against Sri Lanka recently.

India's next step takes them to New Zealand for a two-Test series, having not won there in a decade and a half. NZ's premier left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who is leading Edinburgh Castle Rockers in the ongoing European T20 Premier League (ETPL), told TOI in an exclusive chat that India's pace attack, led by Jasprit ***** rah, will play a major role in the final outcome of the series. Excerpts...

How crucial will it be for India to adapt to conditions given only a few players from the current set-up have played Tests in NZ?

The first thing is to try and understand the conditions as quickly as possible. A few players have been there before and done well. In Oct-Nov, the pitches can play differently compared to Feb-March. So, early in the season in New Zealand, the ball might move around a little bit. It is about getting your head around that.

What's your take on India's pace attack?

Bumrah leading the attack and being able to nip and swing the ball will hold the key. (Mohammed) Siraj has done it for a long time as well and (Prasidh) Krishna is obviously bowling well. There is a lot of variety, which is what you need.

Did you have a look at Manav Suthar?

He has been very impressive since he made his debut. He gets nice and tight to the stumps and gets good shape on the ball. He does bowl with good overspin when he needs to and that is the key in NZ, trying to get a bit of bounce especially if there is grass. I think there is still a role for a spinner in NZ, especially in Tests alongside the quicks, whether it is first or second innings when the pitch might be holding up. On days four and five, it could spin a bit. Whether it is Jadeja or Suthar, both are very good options.

What do you think about India's struggles in Test cricket recently?

I think it has always been a challenge. They always play the best teams, and then having to adapt to the conditions quickly is the main thing. But they have got all bases covered.

How important is ETPL for the European players, who don't always get to play a lot of top-quality cricket?

It is perfect for Scottish, Irish and players from Holland. It gives them more exposure and opportunity to play against some good players. We have seen how good they are in their own right. To be fair, in the last few years, we have had some great games against Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. You throw a few overseas players in, and the tournament (ETPL) is really strong.

There is some great cricket on show already, which is good. And we are only halfway through.

#players

The 18-race 2026 IndyCar season has officially come to an end. After Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou had already clinched his fifth championship before the Grand Prix of Monterey, Palou finished just eighth at Laguna Seca – the worst finish of his career at the track.
Instead, it was Scott McLaughlin claiming his first victory of the season to close things out. Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood finished second to clinch second in the championship, just 10 points ahead of Arrow McLaren's Christian Lundgaard.
With the season coming to an end, here are five thoughts to wrap up another year in IndyCar.
It had been 35 races since McLaughlin was in victory lane. After going through the longest drought of his career at any level, the 33-year-old went out on top in 2026.
This season has been about baby steps for McLaughlin and the crew on his No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet. After the team shuffled the personnel around McLaughlin – mainly rehiring former Team Penske president Tim Cindric as strategist and making accomplished IMSA engineer Raul Prados the race engineer – the New Zealander had to adjust to new folks around him.

#palou #championship #Career

Andrew Symonds once produced one of the rarest scoring feats in Test cricket, collecting eight runs from a single delivery during Australia's Test against New Zealand at the Gabba in Brisbane in 2008-09.

The bizarre sequence involved an all-run four followed by four overthrows, with New Zealand fast bowler Iain O'Brien at the centre of the drama. There was an added twist to the incident, as O'Brien had seen Symonds dropped off the previous delivery before eventually dismissing him just two ****** later.
Australia were 124 for four in the 46th over after Ricky Ponting had decided to bat in Brisbane.

O'Brien opened the over with a bouncer, which Symonds ducked under. The bowler went short again with his next delivery, and this time Symonds pulled the ball towards mid-wicket.

However, Aaron Redmond put down the chance.

O'Brien responded as fast bowlers often do after a missed opportunity, sending down another short delivery. This time, the ball was outside off-stump and Symonds attacked it ferociously with a pull.

The enormous Gabba outfield slowed the ball down, but Symonds and Michael Clarke had already completed three runs by the time Redmond got to it.

The pair then decided to push for another run, hoping to take advantage of the throw.

That decision produced chaos.

New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum moved across to collect the return. He gathered the ball, turned and threw it towards the stumps, only to discover that Symonds had already made his ground.

There was another problem for New Zealand. ****** ody was positioned behind the wicketkeeper to stop the throw.

The ball therefore continued all the way to the boundary. Symonds had effectively turned a pull shot into an extraordinary eight-run haul.

Umpire Rudi Koertzen then signalled the total by raising eight fingers, meaning eight runs were added to Australia's score and Symonds' tally.

It was two more than the figure commonly described as the maximum possible from a single delivery and even one more than the total India received in a penalty-run incident against Bangladesh at Chattogram.
Symonds' eight-run delivery was only the fourth known instance of eight runs being scored from a single ball in Test cricket at that point.

The first recorded example came in Melbourne during the 1928-29 series, which was also the final Test of Don Bradman's first series.

England's Patsy Hendren scored eight after completing four runs and then benefiting from four overthrows off Australian debutant Percy Hornibrook.

Another unusual eight-run delivery occurred in Melbourne during the 1980-81 season.

New Zealand's John Wright was the beneficiary on that occasion. He ran four before four overthrows followed after Rod Marsh collected the fielder's return and threw the ball towards the stumps. The throw escaped and Wright picked up the additional runs off Lenny Pascoe's delivery.

The other known instance before Symonds came in Port-of-Spain during the

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