Cricket

Star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant's injury scare during the first Test against New Zealand raised concerns for the Indian team. Pant suffered a blow to his operated knee on Day 2, forcing him to leave the field. Despite the injury, Pant returned to bat on Day 3 and played a crucial role in India's fightback.However, Pant's innings ended just one run short of a century, and India suffered another batting collapse. After the match, Pant shared a cryptic post on Instagram, hinting at his frustration. He also took to Twitter to thank the fans for their support and vowed that the team would bounce back.Pant's injury scare is a major concern for India, as he is a key player in the team's batting lineup. The wicketkeeper-batter has been in excellent form in recent months, and his absence would be a significant blow.New Zealand's victory in the first Test was their first in India since 1988. The win gives them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Will Young and Rachin Ravindra played crucial roles in New Zealand's victory, with Young scoring 48 not out and Ravindra scoring 39 not out.The second Test between India and New Zealand will be played in Pune from October 24. India will be looking to level the series, while New Zealand will be aiming to secure a series victory.

Yash Dhull, the former India U-19 World Cup-winning captain, has faced a significant challenge off the field this year. During a routine medical checkup at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), a hole in his heart was detected. This congenital condition required Dhull to undergo minor heart surgery.Despite the setback, Dhull has shown remarkable resilience. His recent unbeaten century for Delhi in the second-round Ranji Trophy clash against Tamil Nadu marks a "new innings" in his career. This century is his first in First-Class cricket since his recovery."This was a very important innings for me because this is after a surgery. When you come back to playing on such a platform and start a new innings, this (century) is good motivation and a positive sign," Dhull said. "This condition was there from the start. Normally the surgery happens after birth. Mine has happened very late. That we got to know was very important. Because after the age of 35, this would have harmed. Being back on the field makes me very happy."Dhull's recovery is a testament to his determination and the support he has received from his family, friends, and the medical team. He is now focused on regaining his form and contributing to Delhi's success in the Ranji Trophy.Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu pacer Gurjapneet Singh continued his impressive performance in the Ranji Trophy. He backed up his six-wicket haul on debut with another commendable shift, contributing two wickets in 23 disciplined overs."We were just executing our plan of being consistent on a length. All the bowlers did that, which is why our economy rates were good and we curtailed Delhi's scoring," he said.The match between Delhi and Tamil Nadu is poised for an exciting finish, with both teams looking to secure a victory.

Delhi's Yash Dhull, battling cramps and dirt-stained flannels, fought valiantly on day three of the Ranji Trophy clash against Tamil Nadu. With minutes remaining before the close of play, Dhull launched a six off Tamil Nadu seamer M. Mohammed, notching up his sixth First Class century.Dhull's unbeaten 103 took Delhi to 264 for 8 at stumps, but the home side still faces a daunting deficit of 410 runs against Tamil Nadu's mammoth 674 for six declared. Top-order batter Dhruv Kaushik is unlikely to bat after suffering a blow to his right thumb while fielding, leaving Dhull and Pranshu Vijayran, who is also nursing a side strain, as Delhi's last batting pair.Tamil Nadu's bowlers flexed their muscle on day three, with Gurjapneet Singh, M. Mohammed, and Washington Sundar claiming two wickets apiece. Sonu Yadav and S. Ajith Ram also contributed with one scalp each. The bowlers inflicted most of the damage during the opening session.Despite Gurjapneet's probing lengths, openers Sanat Sangwan and Harsh Tyagi managed to negotiate the first hour of play. However, Washington's off-spin yielded the opening breakthrough, leading to a cluster of wickets as Delhi slumped from 74 for one to 103 for five at the lunch interval.Dhull and Pranav Rajvanshi showed resilience, adding 75 runs for the sixth wicket in a wicketless second session. But in the very first over after tea, Rajvanshi was snaffled by Andre Siddarth at short leg off Washington, leaving Delhi's hopes of a fightback entirely on Dhull's shoulders.

MS Dhoni's potential involvement in the T10 format has sparked speculation, with T Ten Global Sports Founder and Chairman Shaji Ul Mulk expressing optimism about the possibility. Dhoni's future in the Indian Premier League (IPL) remains uncertain, raising questions about his retirement plans.Despite his age and recent knee injury, Dhoni's participation in the T10 format could be a viable option. The format has attracted top former and current stars, including David Warner. Several retired Indian players, such as Robin Uthappa, Suresh Raina, and Irfan Pathan, have also participated in T10 leagues."We can expect MS Dhoni to be playing T10 when he makes up his mind," said Shaji. "Almost all the big names of India have come to play T10."The Abu Dhabi T10, scheduled for 2024, has already secured 179 international megastars from 11 different nations. The tournament's global appeal is evident in the participation of players from the West Indies, UAE, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, England, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.Abu Dhabi Cricket CEO Matthew Boucher believes the T10 format has the potential to take off globally. "It seems like T10 is having a fantastic couple of years," he said. "It is something that is taking to take off on a global perspective."Dhoni's decision to participate in the T10 format will depend on his physical condition and retirement plans. However, the prospect of seeing the Indian icon in the fast-paced and exciting T10 format remains a tantalizing possibility for fans.

KL Rahul's Touching Gesture Sparks Retirement Speculation After India's Test LossTeam India's recent defeat to New Zealand in the first Test at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium has ignited speculation about KL Rahul's future in Test cricket. Following India's eight-wicket loss, a video emerged on social media showing Rahul touching the pitch, a gesture reminiscent of Sachin Tendulkar's farewell moment during his final Test.Rahul's recent form has been under scrutiny, with disappointing scores of 0 and 12 in the match against New Zealand. His second-innings failure was particularly crucial as it came after a promising partnership between Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant.With Shubman Gill likely to return for the upcoming Test in Pune and Sarfaraz Khan's impressive 150-run performance in Bengaluru, speculation is mounting that Rahul may be dropped for the critical match. The viral clip of Rahul touching the pitch has further fueled these rumors, with some fans suggesting the right-hander could be considering retirement from Test cricket.Rahul's struggles have been evident in his last five innings, where he has managed just one fifty during India's recent series against Bangladesh. Despite scoring a half-century against England and a century in South Africa earlier this year, his inconsistency has raised questions about his place in the Test squad.The gesture in Bengaluru has only intensified the speculation surrounding Rahul's future in the format. While some fans believe it could be a sign of his impending retirement, others suggest it may simply be a moment of reflection after a disappointing performance.The Indian team management has not yet commented on Rahul's future, but the speculation is likely to continue until he addresses the issue or his performance improves significantly.

Virat Kohli, the fiery Indian batter, displayed an uncharacteristic restraint during the first Test against New Zealand. Known for his passionate and aggressive on-field demeanor, Kohli's muted reaction to a controversial dismissal raised eyebrows.In the 89th over of New Zealand's innings, Rachin Ravindra was given out caught behind off Mohammed Siraj's bowling. The entire Indian team erupted in celebration, including umpire Michael Gough. However, replays revealed that the ball had not touched Ravindra's bat, but rather a separate noise had occurred.Commentators Harsha Bhogle and Ian Smith noticed that Kohli, positioned at first slip, remained unmoved throughout the proceedings. Replays confirmed that Kohli had indeed not celebrated, despite the initial jubilation from his teammates.Bhogle remarked that Kohli, known for his expressive nature, was at the top of the list of "most expressive people in the world." He suggested that Kohli's muted reaction may have hinted at his belief that the dismissal was not legitimate.Kohli's restraint stood in stark contrast to his usual on-field persona. As India's former captain, he had earned a reputation for wearing his heart on his sleeve and approaching every game with an aggressive, but fair, demeanor.The incident highlights the complexities of the game of cricket and the importance of fair play. While the Indian team initially celebrated the dismissal, Kohli's muted reaction served as a reminder that the spirit of the game should always prevail.Despite India's strong batting performance on Day 3, they suffered a setback when Kohli was dismissed caught behind on the final ball of the day. India ended the day on 231/3, still trailing New Zealand by a significant margin of 125 runs.

New Zealand's historic triumph in India after 36 years was a testament to their resilience and the emergence of young talent. Despite the absence of their injured batting stalwart Kane Williamson, the Black Caps rose to the occasion, led by the impressive performance of Rachin Ravindra.Ravindra, whose parents hail from Bengaluru, played a pivotal role in New Zealand's victory. His composed innings of 134 in the first innings set the tone for the match. After dismissing India for a mere 46 runs, the Black Caps posted a formidable total of 402.India fought back with a strong batting performance, scoring 462 in their second innings. However, Ravindra's composure guided New Zealand to a remarkable eight-wicket win on Sunday."Our first two innings were outstanding," said New Zealand captain Tom Latham. "Rachin was a huge part in that. The way he played... a 137-run stand with a number nine batsman (Tim Southee) is awesome."Ravindra's performance was particularly impressive considering his relative inexperience at Test level. With Williamson's return uncertain due to a groin injury, Ravindra's emergence provides New Zealand with a much-needed boost."Anyone of Kane's calibre, if he's right and able to come back into the side, would be great," said Latham. "Selection headaches are always great things to have and fingers crossed he'll be alright and can get over here as soon as possible."As the series moves to Pune and then Mumbai for the final match, New Zealand will be hoping to maintain their momentum. Ravindra's performance has shown that they have the depth and talent to overcome the absence of their star batsman.

The first ODI between Sri Lanka XI and West Indies XI commenced with West Indies winning the toss and electing to bat first. The pitch report by Russel Arnold indicated a dry surface with visible cracks, favoring batting first.West Indies openers Brandon King and Alick Athanaze began cautiously, facing the new ball from Asitha Fernando and Janith Liyanage. However, King soon found his rhythm, hitting a boundary off Fernando in the second over.Sri Lanka's spinners, Dunith Wellalage and Wanindu Hasaranga, were introduced early on. Wellalage troubled Carty with his variations, while Hasaranga struck in his first over, dismissing King with a googly that cleaned up his stumps.Athanaze and Carty steadied the innings, rotating the strike and picking up occasional boundaries. However, Wellalage continued to impress, finding the edge of Carty's bat in the eighth over.As the innings progressed, the Sri Lankan bowlers maintained a tight line and length, restricting the West Indies batters from scoring freely. Liyanage and Jeffrey Vandersay bowled economically, while Hasaranga and Wellalage picked up wickets at regular intervals.Carty top-scored for West Indies with 34 runs, while Athanaze contributed 22. The West Indies XI was eventually bowled out for 156 runs in 38.2 overs.For Sri Lanka, Wellalage was the standout performer with figures of 3/25, while Hasaranga claimed 2/28. Liyanage and Vandersay also chipped in with wickets.

India's Test series opener against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium ended in a disappointing eight-wicket defeat for the hosts. Skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged that the team's dismal first-innings total of 46 set them back significantly."We knew it would be a challenge with overcast conditions and a tricky pitch," Sharma said. "We didn't expect to be all out for 46, but credit to New Zealand. It set us back, and games like this happen."Despite the setback, Sharma expressed confidence in his team's ability to bounce back in the remaining two matches. "We've been here before, conceding home losses; these things happen," he said. "Two Tests to go, we know what it takes and will give it all in the next two Tests."In the second innings, India showed resilience with a counter-attacking 177-run stand between Sarfaraz Khan (150) and Rishabh Pant (99). Sharma praised the young batters for their performance."It was a good effort in the second innings with the bat," he said. "We knew what lies ahead, get as many as possible. A couple of guys stood out, was great to watch. When you're 350 behind, you can't think too much. Just have to try and bat the ball and see where the game goes."Sharma highlighted the importance of the partnership between Khan and Pant. "We could've easily been bowled under 350, it's something we're proud of," he said. "Everyone's on the edge of their seats when Pant and Sarfaraz bat. Pant's was a mature innings; he's done it for a while, and he played his shots too. Sarfaraz was very clear and mature in just his third or fourth Test."India now trails 1-0 in the three-match series and will travel to Pune for the second Test from October 24-28. The third and final game will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from November 1-5.