Cricket

Abhishek Sharma's Explosive Cameo Powers India to a Big Total in JohannesburgAfter a slow start to the series, India's opening batter Abhishek Sharma has found his rhythm in the final two matches, tormenting South African bowlers with his aggressive batting. In the fourth and final T20I in Johannesburg on Friday, Sharma continued his impressive form, scoring a blistering 36 off just 18 balls to set the tone for a big total.Sharma's innings was a display of power and precision, as he smashed four sixes and two fours. The highlight of his knock came in the fifth over when he launched Proteas pacer Andile Simelane for a massive six out of the ground. Charging down the track, Sharma created room and smoked the ball over extra cover, sending it soaring onto the roof before it bounced out of the ground.Sharma's resurgence in the series is a welcome sign for India, who have been looking for consistency from their openers. In the third T20I in Centurion, Sharma found his mojo back with a blistering fifty off just 25 balls, which included five sixes and three fours.In the first two matches of the series, Sharma struggled to make an impact, scoring only 7 runs in the first T20I and 4 runs in the second. However, his dismissals in both innings were strikingly similar, as he was caught behind the wicket while attempting to play aggressive shots.Sharma's recent performances suggest that he has overcome his early struggles and is now ready to play a significant role in India's batting lineup. His ability to score quickly and aggressively makes him a valuable asset to the team, especially in the T20 format.

Amidst concerns over his form, former India captain Virat Kohli took the field on Friday for a match simulation ahead of the 1st Test against Australia at the Optus Stadium. Just a day after undergoing scans, the legendary batter scored 15 runs in the first innings of the simulation match at the WACA Ground in Perth.According to a report in the Times of India, Kohli batted without any discomfort despite undergoing a scan on Thursday. However, the report couldn't clarify the reason behind Kohli's injury scare."Virat Kohli is absolutely fine. He batted in the match simulation without any discomfort and also had a hit in the net after he got out. No concerns there," the report quoted a source as saying.KL Rahul, who is tipped to open in Perth Test in the absence for captain Rohit Sharma, was hit by a ball in the match simulation and couldn't bat any further. However, the report added that "there are no major concerns there as well".After being dismissed, Kohli also took throwdowns on the sidelines of the simulation match. Not only that, he also came out to bat for the second time in the match, scoring an unbeaten 30 before leaving the field.The Indian batters, in general, struggled against the bowlers in the match simulation. Prasidh Krishna and Nitish Kumar Reddy troubled the Indian batters, including Kohli and Rishabh Pant.While Kohli left the field unbeaten on 30, Pant was castled for the second time in the day.The much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia kicks off on November 22, with the first Test at Perth. The second Test, featuring the day-night format, will take place under lights at Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10. Fans will then turn their attention to The Gabba in Brisbane for the third Test from December 14 to 18.The traditional Boxing Day Test, scheduled from December 26 to 30 at Melbourne's iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, will mark the series' penultimate stage. The fifth and final Test will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7, promising an exciting climax to a highly anticipated series.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for its 2025 season with a mega auction set to take place on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A total of 574 players, including 366 Indians and 208 overseas players, will go under the hammer. This includes 330 uncapped players, of which 318 are Indian and 12 are from overseas.The auction will feature a total of 204 slots, with 70 available for overseas players. This is the first time since the 2018 auction that the marquee list has been split into two. The marquee list includes players who have a base price of INR 2 crore or more.The IPL auction is a crucial event for teams to build their squads for the upcoming season. Teams will be looking to acquire a mix of experienced and talented players to bolster their chances of success. The auction is also an opportunity for young and uncapped players to showcase their skills and earn a contract with an IPL franchise.The IPL has become one of the most popular cricket leagues in the world, attracting top players from around the globe. The league has also played a significant role in the development of Indian cricket, providing a platform for young players to showcase their talent and earn international recognition.The 2025 IPL season is expected to be another exciting and competitive one, with teams vying for the coveted trophy. The mega auction will play a key role in shaping the teams and determining the outcome of the season.

India and South Africa will face off in the fourth and final T20I match in Johannesburg on Friday, November 15, with the series win on the line. India currently holds a 2-1 lead after winning the third game by a narrow margin.In the opening match, India dominated with a 61-run victory, thanks to Sanju Samson's brilliant century (107 off 50 balls). However, South Africa bounced back in the second game, winning by 3 wickets despite Varun Chakaravarthy's five-wicket haul.In the third game, Tilak Varma shone with an unbeaten 107 as India edged past South Africa by 11 runs. The Proteas fought hard in the chase of 220 but fell short at 208 for 7.India will be aiming to seal the series win in the fourth T20I, while South Africa will be desperate to level the series. The match will be played at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, starting at 08:30 PM IST.The match will be telecast live on Sports18 and Colors Cineplex TV channels in India. It will also be streamed live on Jio Cinema app and website.

Virat Kohli, the enigmatic Indian batter, has arrived in Australia for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite his recent form struggles, the Australian media has accorded him a grand reception, recognizing his enduring status as a cricketing icon.Various Australian newspapers, including The West Australian and Sydney Morning Herald, have prominently featured Kohli on their front pages. However, their coverage has been a curious blend of admiration and scrutiny. While acknowledging Kohli's past brilliance, they have also highlighted his recent performance dip.The Sydney Morning Herald's front-page image of Kohli, captioned "A Heavy Crown," captures the duality of his current situation. The publication notes that Kohli's form has waned in recent years, particularly in Test cricket. Since 2020, he has averaged a modest 31.68, a far cry from his peak years between 2016 and 2019, when he averaged an astonishing 66.79.Kohli's struggles were evident in India's recent home Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, where he managed only 192 runs in 10 innings. This poor performance saw him drop out of the ICC Men's Test batting rankings Top 20 for the first time in a decade.Despite his recent struggles, Kohli remains a formidable force in Test cricket. His career average of 47.83 is a testament to his exceptional talent. Moreover, he has a remarkable record against Australia on their home turf, averaging 54.08 in 13 matches.The Australian media's intense focus on Kohli is a reflection of his enduring popularity and the high stakes of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Kohli will be eager to prove that he is still a world-class batter, while Australia will be determined to exploit his recent vulnerabilities. The series promises to be a fascinating contest between one of the greatest batters of all time and a formidable Australian team.

Former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has joined Karnali Yaks for the inaugural season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL). This move comes after Dhawan was released by Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the 2025 IPL mega-auction.Dhawan's decision to join Karnali Yaks marks a new chapter in his illustrious career. The 38-year-old announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket in August 2024, bringing an end to a remarkable journey that saw him represent India across all formats.In his international career, Dhawan was a prolific run-scorer, particularly in ODIs. He amassed 6,793 runs in 167 appearances, including 17 centuries and 39 fifties. His average of 44.1 is a testament to his consistency and ability to score runs at a brisk pace.Dhawan also made significant contributions in Test and T20I cricket. In 34 Tests, he scored 2,315 runs at an average of 40.6, with seven centuries and five half-centuries. In 68 T20Is, he accumulated 1,759 runs at an average of 27.9, including 11 fifties.At the domestic level, Dhawan played 122 First-Class matches and scored 8,499 runs at an average of 44.26. He notched up 25 centuries and 29 fifties, showcasing his ability to dominate bowlers in the longer format.Dhawan's experience and leadership qualities will be invaluable to Karnali Yaks in the NPL. The franchise will be hoping that he can replicate his international success and help them make a strong impact in the tournament.

Kurtis Patterson's resurgence as a first-class cricketer continued on Friday as he notched up his third consecutive half-century for New South Wales, helping the Blues extend their dominance over South Australia in their Sheffield Shield clash.Patterson, who was dropped from NSW's Shield side for most of last summer and feared his career was over, has seized the opportunity presented by Australia A duties depleting the Blues' batting lineup. His 71 on day two at Karen Rolton Oval followed scores of 91 and 66 earlier this month.With NSW already in a strong position, Patterson's innings helped them post a formidable 394, giving them a first-innings lead of 284. South Australia, in response, stumbled to 53 for 3 at stumps, still needing 231 runs to avoid batting again.Patterson's innings was a patient one, with the two-time Test representative taking his time to settle in before unleashing his trademark cover drives. He eventually fell to Brendan Doggett, but not before giving NSW a solid foundation.Patterson was one of four NSW players to pass 50 against the previously undefeated South Australians. Nic Maddinson (69) set the tone on the opening evening, while Oliver Davies (56) and Matthew Gilkes (55) also made significant contributions.Davies, in particular, was impressive, using his feet to take on spinner Lloyd Pope and hitting him for a six and two fours in quick succession.Nathan McAndrew was the pick of the South Australian bowlers, taking 4 for 90, while Doggett claimed 3 for 90. However, no South Australian bowler could match the heroics of NSW veteran Jackson Bird, who took 7 for 46 in the first innings to set up the Blues' dominance.

India, with an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match T20I series against South Africa, is poised to secure a historic series victory. The Proteas, despite being unable to win the series, will aim to salvage a 2-2 draw.For the fourth and final match, India may consider handing debuts to pacers Vijakumar Vyshak and Yash Dayal. All-rounder Ramandeep Singh made his T20I debut in the third match, and the management may opt to give more players their first caps.India has utilized 12 of its 15 players in the series, and it remains to be seen if either Dayal or Vyshak will be given a chance to showcase their skills. Sanju Samson, who has struggled against Marco Jansen in recent matches, will be eager to break out of his slump.Skipper Surya Kumar Yadav may consider using Ramandeep Singh's medium pace in the final game, as he offers versatility and can field anywhere except as a wicketkeeper.Centuries from Samson and Tilak Varma have been crucial for India's success in the series, but the team will need a more collective batting effort to clinch a 3-1 victory.The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg has been a favorable venue for India, where they won the 2007 T20 World Cup final. Yadav, who has an impressive victory percentage of 81.25 as captain, will aim to improve upon the 1-1 draw in the previous series in South Africa.

The ongoing feud between India head coach Gautam Gambhir and former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has taken a new turn, with ex-cricketer Brad Haddin revealing the backstory behind the war of words.The conflict began when Gambhir responded to Ponting's comments on Virat Kohli's form, urging him to focus on Australian cricket. Ponting retorted by calling Gambhir a "prickly character."Haddin, who played under Ponting at Delhi Capitals in 2018, hinted at a deeper reason for the animosity. "Gambhir is a character that would use this as an us versus them mentality," he said. "His reaction was prickly, and you don't need your coach to get caught up in that sort of scenario unless his tactic is to build an us versus them."Haddin teased a forthcoming revelation about the backstory between Gambhir and Ponting. "I know what the backstory is. I'll tell you; just wait till later of the week. There was a little elbow, suspensions, and fines," he said.Haddin compared Gambhir's approach to that of Australian rugby coach Wayne Bennett, who often takes the spotlight to deflect pressure from his team. "It's out of the Wayne Bennett style of coaching," he said. "We're not talking about Rohit Sharma or Kohli now. We're talking about Gambhir and Ricky. He has bitten back, taken the pressure away from his team."While acknowledging Gambhir's "prickly" nature, Haddin questioned whether he was intentionally creating a distraction for his team, which is under pressure after losing the series to New Zealand. "Is he doing this now to take it away from his teammates?" he asked. "If it's an emotional reaction, then there's a problem. But if he's doing it to deflect things away and take it [attention] away from his team, that's a different thing."