Cricket

Rising Indian stars B. Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal showcased their exceptional batting prowess on day two of the first 'Unofficial Test' against Australia-A, guiding India-A to a commanding position with a 120-run lead.Mukesh Kumar, the Bengal seamer, had earlier stolen the show with a remarkable six-wicket haul, restricting Australia-A to 195 in their first innings. Despite his heroics, the hosts managed to secure a crucial 88-run lead.India-A's second innings began with a shaky start, losing skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhimanyu Easwaran cheaply. However, Sudharsan and Padikkal steadied the ship with a resolute 178-run stand for the third wicket.Sudharsan, known for his aggressive strokeplay, struck nine boundaries in his 185-ball 96, while Padikkal played a patient yet composed knock, scoring an unbeaten 80 from 167 balls. Their partnership allowed India-A to seize control of the match.Sudharsan's innings was characterized by his ability to dispatch anything short, cutting and pulling with precision. Padikkal, on the other hand, worked the ball around for quick singles and capitalized on loose deliveries to reach his half-century.With two more days remaining in the four-day fixture, India-A now hold a significant advantage. The scores stand at: India-A 107 and 208/2 in 64 overs (Sai Sudharsan 96 batting, Devdutt Padikkal 80 batting) vs Australia-A 195 in 62.4 overs (Nathan McSweeney 39; Mukesh Kumar 6/46, Prasidh Krishna 3/59).

Tanush Kotian, a lanky all-rounder from Mumbai's Vikhroli suburb, has emerged as a rising star in Indian cricket. His journey has been marked by challenges and triumphs, shaping him into a determined and versatile player.Kotian's passion for cricket began at a young age, influenced by his father, a legend in tennis-ball cricket. Initially a pacer, he gradually developed a fondness for spin bowling. His talent was evident early on, as he helped Mumbai win the Ranji Trophy in 2023.However, a setback occurred in 2022 when Kotian's bowling action was deemed "suspect" during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Despite never being reported in any domestic game, this incident raised doubts about his future.Undeterred, Kotian used this episode as motivation to prove his worth. He worked tirelessly to refine his action and regain his confidence. His determination paid off when he was selected for India-A's shadow tour of Australia ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Kotian's versatility as a batting and bowling all-rounder has been a subject of debate. He believes in developing both aspects of his game equally, aiming to be a complete cricketer. This approach has been influenced by his coaches, who have emphasized the importance of thinking like a batter while bowling and vice versa.Kotian's success has not come without sacrifices. He spends countless hours away from home, honing his skills and pursuing his dream. His father's unwavering support has been a constant source of encouragement.In the 2024 Ranji Trophy, Kotian played a pivotal role in Mumbai's victory, earning the Player of the Tournament award. His impressive performance, including 502 runs and 29 wickets, catapulted him into national reckoning.Kotian's journey is a testament to his resilience, determination, and unwavering belief in his abilities. As he continues to navigate the challenges of professional cricket, he remains focused on achieving his ultimate goal of representing India at the highest level.

India Falls to Pakistan in Hong Kong Sixes OpenerIndia suffered a disappointing six-wicket defeat to arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening match of the Hong Kong Sixes 2024 at the Tin Kwong Road Cricket Ground on Friday.Despite a valiant effort from Bharat Chipli, who smashed 53 off 16 deliveries before retiring hurt, India could only muster 119 for 4 in their allotted six overs. Captain Robin Uthappa also contributed 31 off eight balls.Pakistan's batters, however, proved too strong for India's bowlers. Asif Ali played a pivotal role, blasting 55 off 14 balls to lay the foundation for a comprehensive victory. Muhammad Akhlaq (40 not out off 12) and Faheem Ashraf (22 not out off 5) completed the chase with one over to spare.The Hong Kong Sixes 2024 kicked off with an electrifying start, featuring explosive performances from batters across the board. Hosts Hong Kong and South Africa engaged in a thrilling encounter, with both teams showcasing aggressive batting. Hong Kong posted 92/0 in 6 overs, while South Africa chased down the target with 3 wickets in hand in just 4.4 overs.Nepal stunned England in the day's second match, clinching a 6-wicket victory after chasing down a target of 98 in just 4.2 overs. Captain Sundeep Jora led the charge with a blistering 50 off 12 balls.Pakistan continued their winning ways, edging past UAE by 13 runs. Led by Faheem Ashram, Pakistan posted 128/0 in 6 overs, with Muhammad Akhlaq and Asif Ali both retiring after half-centuries. UAE's Muhammad Zuhaib responded with a quickfire 53 off 14 balls, but Asif Ali's final over, yielding only 6 runs and taking two wickets, shifted the game in Pakistan's favor.Sri Lanka secured a comfortable 4-wicket win over Oman, while Hong Kong redeemed themselves by defeating New Zealand.

Darren Gough, the former England fast bowler, has emerged as the frontrunner to become the head coach of Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Gough's appointment as head coach of Qalandars in the Global Super League (GSL), which begins in Guyana on November 26, is seen as a stepping stone towards a permanent role in the PSL.Aaqib Javed, who served as head coach and director of cricket operations for Qalandars for eight years, resigned last month to join the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a member of the selection committee for the Pakistan men's national team. Qalandars won back-to-back PSL titles in 2022 and 2023 but finished bottom of the table this year.Gough, who retired in 2006 as England's leading ODI wicket-taker, is eager to take on the role. The GSL is seen as an opportunity for him to gain experience before a permanent decision is made.Gough previously served as managing director at his former club, Yorkshire, after being appointed in December 2021 following the racism allegations that rocked the club. He parted ways with Yorkshire in March this year. Before that, he had a stint as England's bowling consultant in 2020.In 2021, Yorkshire launched a partnership with Qalandars aimed at "nurturing talent [by] reducing barriers to entry" following the racism crisis."I'm really excited about this opportunity because I've been fortunate to work with the Qalandars in Lahore on several occasions, assisting with their PDP [player development programme]," Gough said in a statement. "We know that Lahore Qalandars are all about giving young players opportunities they've never had before -developing their skills and shaping them into players who can go on to represent the Qalandars, and hopefully make Pakistan cricket proud."Sameen Rana, co-owner of Qalandars, said Gough's vision aligned "seamlessly with our commitment to player development", referring to the appointment as an embarkation on "a new journey".The GSL will feature five teams: Qalandars, Hampshire Hawks from the T20 Blast, Rangpur Riders from the BPL, Victoria from Australia, and the hosts, Guyana Amazon Warriors. The final will take place on December 7.

Amidst the fervor of the Indian Premier League (IPL) retentions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend MS Dhoni celebrated Diwali with family and friends. The festivities coincided with the announcement of CSK's five retentions ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.Dhoni, the former India and CSK captain, was retained as the 'uncapped' player for Rs 4 crore. This move was made possible by a rule allowing players who have not played international cricket or been centrally contracted to the BCCI for five or more years to be retained as 'uncapped' players.Dhoni's retention puts to rest rumors of his retirement. He has expressed his desire to enjoy the "last few years" of his career, indicating that he still has cricket left in him.CSK also showed faith in Ruturaj Gaikwad, who took over captaincy from Dhoni. Gaikwad was retained for Rs 18 crore, the same fee paid to retain Ravindra Jadeja. Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana and Indian middle-order powerhitter Shivam Dube were also retained by CSK.As a result, CSK retained four players as capped and one as uncapped, leaving them with one Right to Match (RTM) card to use at the auction. Players like Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, and Sameer Rizvi are potential candidates for CSK's RTM.The IPL auction is expected to take place in the last week of November. CSK will be looking to strengthen their squad with the remaining slots and RTM card.

India's No-Ball Woes Mar Impressive Start in Mumbai TestThe third and final Test between India and New Zealand in Mumbai got off to a lively start, with the Indian bowlers making early inroads but also struggling with a surprising number of no-balls.Off-spinner Washington Sundar led the Indian attack with two wickets, while Akash Deep claimed the first breakthrough. However, the bowlers' performance was marred by a series of no-ball infractions, with Sundar alone responsible for five. Jadeja and Akash also contributed three no-balls, bringing the total to eight by the middle of the second session.The no-ball problem drew the attention of commentator Ravi Shastri, who quipped that former Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar would have been furious. "Sunil Gavaskar was having lunch. He chucked the plate on the wall," Shastri said. "Thank god he's (Gavaskar) not fielding in the slip otherwise Washington would have been close to Washington DC."Gavaskar, who became the first cricketer to score 10,000 Test runs, has been a vocal critic of no-balls in cricket.Despite the no-ball issues, the Indian bowlers managed to restrict New Zealand to 92 runs for the loss of three wickets at lunch break. The visitors opted to bat first after winning the toss, hoping to sweep the series.The Indian bowlers' struggles with no-balls will be a concern for captain Virat Kohli, who will be keen to avoid a repeat of the second Test in Kanpur, where India conceded 39 no-balls.

New Zealand's stunning 2-0 Test series victory over India has left the hosts reeling, according to wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell. The Black Caps' historic triumph marks their first-ever Test series win in India and the first by a visiting team in 12 years.Blundell believes the Indian team has been caught off guard by New Zealand's unexpected dominance. "They're a little bit shell-shocked," he said. "When we first came over, they had a slogan on TV saying five-nil for their home summer. I'm pretty sure they wrote us off coming after Sri Lanka."The Black Caps' success has been built on a combination of strong batting, disciplined bowling, and astute captaincy. Blundell praised the team's ability to adapt to the challenging conditions in India. "We've come out and competed and played some really good cricket to beat these guys - one of the best teams in the world," he said.Despite their commanding lead, New Zealand is not taking anything for granted in the third and final Test in Mumbai. Blundell said the team is determined to complete a series sweep. "We've got a possibility of beating them 3-0," he said. "But regardless of that, we're pretty chuffed."The victory in India has given New Zealand a major boost ahead of their home summer, which includes three Tests against England. Blundell said the team will be filled with confidence after their historic achievement. "What we've achieved here is pretty immense," he said. "We're excited. We've got a possibility of beating them 3-0. But regardless of that, we're pretty chuffed."

Virat Kohli's Infectious Dance Moves Light Up Wankhede StadiumIndian cricket superstar Virat Kohli brought a touch of Bollywood flair to the third Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday. Amidst the intense competition, Kohli couldn't resist showcasing his playful side by dancing to the iconic Bollywood number "My Name is Lakhan" from the 1988 film Ram Lakhan.Kohli's infectious dance moves were captured on camera and quickly went viral on social media, delighting fans and teammates alike. The moment provided a lighthearted respite from the high-stakes match, showcasing Kohli's ability to find joy even in the most competitive of environments.The dance came just a day after Kohli was retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the next three IPL seasons. The Rs 21 crore contract makes Kohli the joint-second costliest retained player in the IPL 2025 retention list, alongside Nicholas Pooran of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Heinrich Klaasen of Sunrisers Hyderabad leads the list with a Rs 23 crore retention.Kohli's retention by RCB is a testament to his enduring value as a player and leader. The former Indian captain has been a cornerstone of the franchise since 2008, leading them to two IPL titles and numerous other accolades.Kohli's dance at the Wankhede Stadium is a reminder that even the most accomplished athletes can find moments of joy and levity amidst the pressures of competition. His infectious enthusiasm and playful spirit are a testament to his love for the game and his ability to connect with fans on a personal level.

Former Test paceman Peter Siddle, at the age of 39, continues to defy the odds, playing a pivotal role in Victoria's strong position on day one of their Sheffield Shield match against South Australia.Despite a weakened Victoria side due to Australia A commitments, Siddle's experience and skill proved invaluable. He struck twice in an over to remove Daniel Drew and Jake Lehmann, and later returned to clean bowl Liam Scott, ending the day with impressive figures of 3-44 from 18 overs.South Australia, batting first at the Adelaide Oval, struggled to find fluency, reaching a scoring rate of two runs an over only in the final moments of the morning session. Conor McInerney was the first wicket to fall, dismissed by Victoria captain Will Sutherland.Henry Hunt and Liam Scott both scored half-centuries, but it was Siddle's interventions that kept Victoria in control. He removed Hunt, edging to first slip off Doug Warren's first ball, and caught Alex Carey on the boundary off Mitch Perry's bowling.Carey's dismissal for 44 left South Australia at 159 for 5, but Scott played a crucial innings to revive the home side, assisted by Ben Manenti and debutant Henry Thornton.Victoria's young bowling line-up, featuring Cam McClure, Mitch Perry, and Doug Warren, complemented Siddle's experience. Despite an early gift of five penalty runs, South Australia ended the day on 286 for 9, with Siddle's performance highlighting that age is no barrier to excellence.