Cricket

Anshul Kamboj, the Haryana fast bowler, unleashed a devastating spell on Thursday, claiming all eight wickets to fall in his side's Ranji Trophy match against Kerala at the Chaudhary Bansi Lal Stadium.Kamboj, known for his restless energy on the field, channeled his intensity into his bowling, hustling the Kerala batters with his pace and accuracy. The 23-year-old started the day with three wickets and added five more, leaving the Kerala batting order in tatters."Yesterday we bowled a little too outside the off stump. We could have had more wickets, considering the way the ball was moving. So, today I bowled a little straighter so that the batter plays every ball," said Kamboj after the day's play.With Kerala down to its last two wickets, Kamboj now has a glorious chance to enter the history books. Only two players have ever achieved the feat of taking all 10 wickets in a Ranji Trophy innings – Bengal's Premangsu Chatterjee in 1957 and Rajasthan's Pradeep Sunderam in 1985.Kamboj is candid enough to admit that the possibility of a ten-wicket-haul entices him. "Since such a situation [ten wickets] doesn't come very often, I will try to get two more wickets. But if the team is getting the wickets, I am equally happy," said Kamboj with a nervous smile.Kamboj's performance has not only put Haryana in a commanding position in the match but has also brought him into the limelight. The young fast bowler has been making waves in domestic cricket with his impressive pace and wicket-taking ability.If Kamboj can complete the ten-wicket-haul, he will not only etch his name in the history books but also boost his chances of a call-up to the Indian national team. The Indian team is currently in search of a young and talented fast bowler who can provide them with the cutting edge in international cricket.

After a thick blanket of smog shrouded the morning session, Haryana and Kerala engaged in a spirited day of cricket in a Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match at the Chaudhary Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium.Haryana captain Ankit Kumar's decision to bowl first proved fruitful as pacer Anshul Kamboj dismissed B. Aparajith in the opening over. Kamboj and new-ball partner Aman Kumar maintained a tight line and length, forcing Kerala openers Rohan Kunnummal and Akshay Chandran to prioritize survival.The Kerala pair relied on sharp running between the wickets to counter the new-ball challenge, scoring only eight fours in their 91-run partnership. Kunnummal, the more assertive of the two, committed fully to the forward press, allowing him to drive when Haryana bowlers pitched it up. Chandran, on the other hand, stifled the opposition with assured defending.As the sun pierced through the dissipating smog, Haryana's desperation for a breakthrough grew. Jayant Yadav's introduction midway through the second session disrupted Kerala's rhythm. The off-spinner's clever variations in pace and release angle nearly got the better of both batters.However, Kunnummal and Chandran persisted with their methods, with the former reaching his fifty. Kunnummal's dismissal soon after tea, caught by Ankit at second slip off Kamboj, provided Haryana with a much-needed breakthrough.Kerala skipper Sachin Baby and Chandran saw off the rest of the day, with deteriorating light forcing an early stumps call. At the end of the opening day, Kerala had reached 138 for two, thanks to resolute fifties from Kunnummal and Chandran.

Haryana's Yashvardhan Dalal etched his name into the record books with an extraordinary batting performance in the Col. CK Nayudu Trophy encounter against Mumbai. The 22-year-old opener smashed an unbeaten quadruple century, amassing a staggering 426 runs, to establish a new tournament record.Dalal's marathon innings, which included 46 fours and 12 sixes, propelled Haryana to a commanding position in the match. Batting first after Mumbai's decision to field, Dalal and Arsh Ranga forged a formidable opening partnership of 410 runs. Ranga contributed 151 before being dismissed by Atharva Bhosale, but Dalal continued his relentless assault on the Mumbai bowlers.The right-handed batsman displayed exceptional strokeplay, punishing loose deliveries with boundaries and clearing the ropes with ease. His aggressive approach kept the Mumbai bowlers on the back foot throughout the second day's play.Dalal's record-breaking knock surpassed the previous highest individual score in the tournament, which was held by Uttar Pradesh's Sameer Rizvi (312). The Haryana opener's monumental innings helped his team reach an imposing total of 732 for eight wickets at the close of play on Day 2.Mumbai's bowlers struggled to contain Dalal's onslaught, with only Bhosale managing to break through the Haryana batsman's defenses. The Mumbai team now faces an uphill task in the remaining days of the match, as they trail Haryana by a significant margin.Dalal's remarkable achievement is a testament to his exceptional talent and determination. The young batsman has been in impressive form this season, and his quadruple century is a fitting reward for his hard work and dedication.

On a deteriorating pitch at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) XI set a formidable target of 353 runs for Haryana in the Buchi Babu tournament. TNCA XI's innings was anchored by B. Indrajith's unbeaten 75 runs, which included three boundaries and a six.Haryana had been bowled out for 218 in their first innings, giving TNCA XI a crucial 175-run lead. Captain R. Sai Kishore was the star performer with the ball, taking seven wickets for 76 runs. He dismissed Jayant Yadav (65) and Dheeru Singh (74), two of Haryana's top scorers.TNCA XI's second innings got off to a shaky start as openers S. Lokeshwar and G. Ajitesh were dismissed early. However, Pradosh Ranjan Paul (44) and Indrajith steadied the ship with a 46-run third-wicket partnership. Indrajith also shared an unbeaten 55-run sixth-wicket stand with R. Sonu Yadav, guiding TNCA XI to a commanding position.Haryana's bowlers struggled to contain TNCA XI's batsmen, with Nishant Sindhu and Jayant Yadav taking two wickets each. However, the target proved too daunting for Haryana, who were bowled out for 16 runs in their second innings.

Haryana CM Honors Yuzvendra Chahal for T20 World Cup TriumphNew Delhi: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini bestowed a special honor upon leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who played a pivotal role in India's triumphant T20 World Cup campaign. The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude for the team's victory and presented Chahal with a scarf and an idol.Despite being part of the 15-man squad, Chahal did not feature in any of India's matches during their undefeated run. However, his contributions to the team's success were acknowledged by the Chief Minister.India's team management opted for a change in their playing XI after their impressive victory in the Super 8 match on a challenging New York surface. In the West Indies, Kuldeep Yadav was preferred over Chahal due to the dual-faced nature of the pitches.However, following Mohammed Siraj's removal, Kuldeep Yadav emerged as a match-winner, claiming 10 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.95 in five games.India's dominant performance culminated in a resounding victory over South Africa in the final at Barbados. The team became the first to win the T20 World Cup without losing a single match, a testament to their exceptional skill and teamwork.