Cricket

Dhruv Jurel, the young wicketkeeper-batter who made his India debut under Rohit Sharma's leadership, has praised the Indian skipper's approachable and relaxed demeanor. In an interview with Sports Tak, Jurel described Rohit as a "very chill" captain who makes it easy for junior players to feel comfortable in the team."To be honest, he is very chill. When you talk to him, it doesn't feel like he is a senior and you are a junior. He always talks very casually," Jurel said.The 23-year-old, who has represented India in three Tests and two T20Is so far, also revealed that Rohit goes out of his way to ensure that young players feel comfortable in the team."He always said, 'If you need any help just come over, I don't have any problem.' He makes you feel comfortable. When my name came up for Test cricket, Rohit bhaiya was the captain, so I spoke to him. It felt very good. Like everything is normal," Jurel added.Jurel's comments provide a glimpse into the team environment under Rohit Sharma's leadership, where the captain's down-to-earth nature and open communication style seem to be fostering a supportive atmosphere for young talents like him.Rohit Sharma, who took over the captaincy of the Indian team in all formats in 2021, has been praised for his leadership skills and ability to connect with players. Under his leadership, India has won several major tournaments, including the Asia Cup in 2022 and the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021.Jurel's praise for Rohit Sharma is a testament to the Indian skipper's ability to create a positive and supportive environment for his players. This is essential for the development of young players and the overall success of the team.

Samit Dravid, the son of legendary Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid, has showcased his impressive power-hitting abilities in the ongoing KSCA Maharaja T20 Trophy. Playing for Mysuru Warriors, the 18-year-old smashed a six in the 10th over of the innings against Gulbarga Mystics, sending the ball soaring over the deep-cover region.Samit's six, which came off the bowling of Praveen Dubey, has garnered significant attention on social media, with many fans drawing comparisons to his father's elegant strokeplay. The video of the shot has gone viral, highlighting the young batsman's potential.Samit's performance in the Maharaja Trophy is a continuation of his impressive form in age-group tournaments. He was part of the Karnataka under-19 side that won the Cooch Behar Trophy this season and has also represented KSCA XI against the visiting Lancashire side earlier this year.Mysuru Warriors acquired Samit's services for Rs 50,000, recognizing his talent and promise. A team official praised Samit's contributions, stating, "It's good to have him in our side as he has shown a lot of promise in various age-group tournaments for KSCA."In the match against Gulbarga Mystics, Samit scored 33 runs off 24 balls, including four boundaries and a six. His innings helped Mysuru Warriors post a strong total of 196/8 in their 20 overs. However, the Mystics emerged victorious, thanks to an unbeaten century from K Smaran.Despite the loss, Samit's performance has generated excitement among cricket fans, who believe he has the potential to follow in his father's footsteps and become a successful cricketer.

Glamorgan's Dan Douthwaite emerged as a match-winning hero, guiding his team to a 39-run victory over Warwickshire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup semi-final at Sophia Gardens.Douthwaite's all-round performance was crucial in securing Glamorgan's berth in the final at Trent Bridge next month. Batting first, Glamorgan found themselves in early trouble at 44 for 4, but Douthwaite's lusty 55, including four towering sixes, propelled them to a respectable total of 247 for 9. Colin Ingram (47) and Billy Root (46) also contributed valuable runs.Warwickshire's chase got off to a shaky start as Douthwaite's bowling removed Chris Benjamin and Kai Smith cheaply. Timm van der Gugten and Jamie McIlroy chipped in with wickets, while tight fielding and disciplined bowling kept the pressure on the visitors.Michael Burgess provided some resistance for Warwickshire, reaching a half-century with a flurry of sixes. However, his dismissal triggered a collapse, and despite some late resistance from Michael Booth, Warwickshire fell short of the target by 40 runs.Douthwaite's match-winning performance was a testament to his versatility and determination. His aggressive batting and incisive bowling played a pivotal role in Glamorgan's victory.

Deepti Sharma's Heroics Lead London Spirit to The Hundred Women's TitleIn a thrilling finale at Lord's, Deepti Sharma's match-winning six propelled London Spirit to a four-wicket victory over Welsh Fire Women, securing their maiden The Hundred Women's title.Chasing a modest target of 116, London Spirit faced a stern test after losing six wickets for 110 runs. However, Deepti remained unfazed, guiding her team to victory with an unbeaten 16 off 16 balls.Earlier, Welsh Fire Women had posted a competitive 115-8, thanks to Tammy Beaumont's 21 off 16 and Jess Jonassen's 54 off 41. London Spirit's bowlers, led by Tara Norris and Sarah Glenn, kept the pressure on, restricting Welsh Fire to a manageable total.As the chase reached its climax, London Spirit needed 11 runs from the last 12 balls. Deepti, who had already contributed with the ball by taking 1-23, stepped up with the bat. Her calculated shots and composure ensured that London Spirit stayed on track.With 4 runs needed off 3 balls, Deepti displayed nerves of steel, launching Hayley Matthews' delivery over the boundary to seal the victory. Her six not only won the match but also capped off an incredible tournament for the all-rounder.London Spirit's innings saw several key contributions, with captain Heather Knight's 24 off 18 and Georgia Redmayne's 34 off 32 providing a solid foundation. However, it was Deepti's finishing touch that stole the show.

The Gabba, an iconic cricket venue in Brisbane, faces an uncertain future as an international cricket ground. The Queensland government has signed a two-year hosting agreement with Cricket Australia, leaving the venue's long-term status in doubt.The Gabba has witnessed numerous historic Test moments, including the 1960 tie, Ian Botham's last great innings, and Shane Warne's career-best performance. However, its viability as a modern cricket stadium is nearing its end in 2030.Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympics, and initial plans to rebuild the Gabba were scrapped due to costs. Instead, a renovation is expected, but its impact on the stadium's usability during the renovation remains unclear.Queensland Cricket has expressed frustration and concern over the uncertainty, fearing it could impact participation and fan engagement in the state. Former Australia captain Allan Border has called for a new multipurpose venue to be built in Brisbane.Tasmania is also vying to host indoor Test cricket in its proposed new Hobart stadium, which could potentially challenge the Gabba's status as a regular Test venue. However, Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird emphasized the importance of Brisbane remaining part of the Test schedule.Queensland has other smaller international venues, such as Allan Border Field and the Gold Coast, which could host international matches. The Future Tours Programme includes winter home cricket in Australia, potentially opening the door for venues like Cairns and Townsville.The Gabba's future remains uncertain, but Cricket Australia is working with the AFL to find a long-term solution for a major cricket venue in Brisbane. Queensland Cricket remains hopeful that Test cricket will return to the Gabba after 2026-27, despite the current lack of clarity.

South Africa's recent Test series victory against the West Indies has reignited their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final next year. The Proteas' 40-run triumph in Georgetown marked their second win in six Tests during the 2023-25 cycle, propelling them to fifth position in the standings.To maintain their chances of reaching the final, South Africa must secure victories in at least five of their upcoming six matches. This includes two away Tests against Bangladesh in October (yet to be confirmed) and two each against Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home later this year.The second Test against the West Indies proved to be a closely contested battle, with the home side pursuing a target of 263 runs to secure victory. However, South Africa's bowling attack excelled, dismissing the West Indies for 222 runs and sealing the series win."It was very satisfying because winning away from home is never an easy feat, and you should never take it for granted," said South Africa captain Temba Bavuma.South Africa had a full-strength Test side in the Caribbean for the first time since February, when they had to send a second-string team to New Zealand because of the T20 league commitments of most of their players.The rain-affected first match in Trinidad ended in a draw."Our goal was to come to the Caribbean and win the series, and we're happy that we were able to do so. And I think along the way as well, we've played some good cricket," Bavuma said."We were put under pressure, and we were able to have answers in those periods. I think we can obviously get better and improve, but I think for this young group of players, there's a lot of learnings and confidence that we can take from here," he told reporters.South Africa's victory against the West Indies has given them a much-needed boost in their quest for a place in the WTC final. However, they face a challenging road ahead, with tough matches against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan still to come.

Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik, renowned for his wicketkeeping and batting prowess, has recently retired from the sport. With an illustrious career spanning 180 international matches and 257 IPL games, Karthik has amassed an impressive 1025 runs in Tests, 1752 runs in ODIs, and 686 runs in T20Is.Beyond his cricketing achievements, Karthik is an active social media presence, engaging his fans with witty posts. Recently, he provided a humorous response to a fan's confusion, leaving everyone amused.A fan mistakenly congratulated Karthik on Twitter for his performance in the film "Phir Aayi Haseen Dilruba," mistaking him for actor Vikrant Massey. Karthik's witty reply, "Oh wow !!! Thanks," sparked laughter among his followers. The confusion may have stemmed from the similar bearded appearances of Karthik and Massey."Phir Aayi Haseen Dilruba," starring Vikrant Massey, Taapsee Pannu, and Sunny Kaushal, is a sequel to the 2021 romantic-thriller "Haseen Dilruba." It was released on Netflix on August 9.In a significant development, Karthik has been signed by Paarl Royals for the third season of the SA20, becoming the first Indian cricketer to participate in the South African league. He expressed his excitement about returning to competitive cricket and contributing to the Royals' success.Karthik's last T20 outing was for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2024, where he scored 326 runs in 14 matches with an impressive strike rate of 187.36. His final international appearance was against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022.

The ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup 2025 is set to ignite the global cricket stage from January 18 to February 2 in Malaysia. Defending champions India will embark on their title defense alongside West Indies, Sri Lanka, and hosts Malaysia in Group A.The tournament will feature 16 teams, including first-time participants Samoa, who will compete in Group C alongside New Zealand, South Africa, and an Africa qualifier. Group B boasts England, Pakistan, Ireland, and USA, while Group D comprises Australia, Bangladesh, Scotland, and an Asia qualifier.The event will showcase the future stars of women's cricket across four venues in Malaysia. Bayuemas Oval in Selangor will host the Group A games and the final, while the Dato' Dr. Harjit Singh Johor Cricket Academy (JCA Oval) in Johor will host Group B. Sarawak's Borneo Cricket Ground will be the venue for Group C fixtures, and the UKM YSD Oval in Selangor will host Group D matches.The tournament will kick off with a triple-header on January 18, featuring Australia vs. Scotland, England vs. Ireland, and Samoa vs. the Africa qualifier. India will begin their campaign on January 19 against West Indies.ICC CEO Geoff Allardice emphasized the significance of the event in promoting women's cricket globally. "This is a special event to the ICC and forms an important part of our Global Growth Strategy of raising the profile of women's cricket and further growing the game around the world," he said.Host tournament director Dinesh Muthuraman expressed Malaysia's pride in hosting the event. "Malaysia is proud to host the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup in 2025, continuing our tradition of supporting the growth of cricket on the global stage," he said.The tournament was originally scheduled to be co-hosted by Thailand, but their withdrawal resulted in Malaysia hosting all games. Malaysia previously hosted the Men's Under-19 World Cup in 2008, which featured future stars like Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson.

Australia's Test captain Pat Cummins has decided to take a two-month break from cricket to prepare for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. Cummins has been playing non-stop since the World Test Championship final 18 months ago and feels that he needs a break to rejuvenate himself both physically and mentally."Everyone that comes back after a break is a little bit fresher, you never regret it," Cummins told Fox Sports. "I've basically been bowling non-stop since the World Test Championship final, nearly 18 months ago. This gives me a good seven or eight weeks completely off bowling so the body can recover, then you start building up again for the summer."Cummins' decision to take a break has been supported by Cricket Australia, who believe that it will help him to be at his best for the upcoming summer. Cummins is determined to lead Australia to victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which they have not won since 2017."It's the trophy I haven't won before... this is the one trophy a lot of our group haven't ticked off," Cummins said. "We've achieved some amazing things over the last few years as a Test group. You kind of back yourself to win every series at home. I think you need to try and be up there in the upper echelon of teams."Cummins is also looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where cricket will be included for the first time. Cummins is hoping to be part of the Australian team that competes in the Olympics."Watching the Olympics, it got us all excited. You want to be part of it right there in the middle," Cummins said. "I'd love to be on that side (at LA 2028). I think I'll be 35 or something, so hopefully still there or thereabouts."