Cricket

Smriti Mandhana, the Indian women's cricket team's star opener, has etched her name in the annals of history by equaling Mithali Raj's record for the most centuries in women's One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Mandhana's scintillating knock of 136 runs against South Africa in the second ODI at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium marked her seventh ODI century, bringing her level with the legendary Raj.Mandhana's remarkable achievement is a testament to her exceptional talent and consistency. Her back-to-back centuries in the series against South Africa make her the first Indian woman to achieve this feat in ODI cricket. In the series opener, she had scored a brilliant 117 runs, setting the tone for India's dominance in the series.The match against South Africa began cautiously for Mandhana, who was kept quiet by the South African bowlers during the first powerplay. However, she gradually found her rhythm and began to dominate the bowlers. Her composed approach paid off as she reached her century in just 103 balls, eventually scoring 136 off 120 balls.Mandhana's knock was adorned with 18 boundaries and two sixes, showcasing her ability to both accumulate and accelerate runs. Her efforts propelled India past the 200-run mark inside the 40th over, setting a strong foundation for a formidable total.Supporting Mandhana at the other end was captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who also slammed an 87-ball century. The duo's partnership was crucial in maintaining the momentum and putting pressure on the South African bowlers.However, Mandhana was dismissed in the 46th over scoring 136 of 120 deliveries, attempting to hit Nonkululeko Mlaba over the cover region. India posted a mammoth total of 325 for three in 50 overs with the help of centuries by Mandhana and skipper Kaur.Mandhana's record-equaling century is a significant milestone in her illustrious career. It is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and unwavering determination. As she continues to shine on the international stage, Mandhana is poised to break even more records and inspire generations of young cricketers.

Wesley Hall Gifts Book to Virat Kohli, Praises Indian CricketersAhead of India's Super 8 clash against Afghanistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup, legendary West Indian fast bowler Wesley Hall met with Indian batting star Virat Kohli and presented him with a copy of his book, "Answering to the Call."Hall, known for his blistering pace during his playing days, expressed his admiration for Kohli, calling him a "great player" and wishing him continued success with the Indian team. The book, published in November 2022, chronicles Hall's illustrious cricketing career and his journey to becoming one of the most feared pacers in the game's history.In addition to Kohli, Hall also gifted copies of his book to Indian head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma. "I gave three books today. I gave a book to the captain, another one to the coach, and Virat Kohli. All three of them are great players. It's good to see people getting rewarded. Sometimes, you are a good player, and you haven't made it. I think they have done very well for India," Hall told ANI.Hall, now 86 years old, revealed that he closely follows Kohli's statistics and expressed his hope that the Indian batter would reach the milestone of 100 international centuries. "I follow your stats, so I know you're on some 80 centuries. Get 100 centuries," Hall said to Kohli.India, who won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, will be eager to improve upon their performance in the previous edition, where they failed to reach the final. The team has been in impressive form in the group stage of the ongoing tournament and will look to maintain their unbeaten record as the competition intensifies.

Smriti Mandhana, India's vice-captain, has ascended two positions to claim the third spot in the ICC Women's ODI batting rankings. This surge follows her match-winning century in India's 143-run victory over South Africa in the recently concluded three-match series.Mandhana's impressive performance, which included a maiden century on home soil, has propelled her to a total of 715 points. She now trails Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu, who has slipped to second place, and England's Natalie Sciver-Brunt, who has regained the top spot after scoring an unbeaten 124 against Pakistan last month.India's all-rounder Deepti Sharma has also made significant progress, climbing three places to 20th in the batting rankings. Pooja Vastrakar has similarly moved up three positions to 38th.Vastrakar has also made a notable jump in the ODI all-rounders' rankings, rising four places to 18th. South Africa's Marizanne Kapp remains the undisputed No. 1 ODI all-rounder.In the bowling department, Deepti Sharma has moved up one place to fourth after her economical performance in the series opener, where she claimed figures of 2/10. England's Sophie Ecclestone continues to dominate the ODI bowlers' rankings, maintaining a comfortable lead at the top.This surge in rankings for Indian players reflects their impressive performances in the recent series against South Africa. Mandhana's century and Sharma's all-round contributions have been instrumental in India's success.

Rohit Sharma's journey to becoming one of the world's premier batters has been marked by challenges and triumphs. After making waves in the domestic circuit and winning the T20 World Cup in 2007, Rohit's performances dipped, leading to his omission from the 2011 ODI World Cup squad.This setback proved to be a turning point for Rohit. Determined to regain his place in the team, he embarked on a rigorous fitness regimen. Kolkata Knight Riders assistant coach Abhishek Nayar played a pivotal role in motivating Rohit to transform his physique.Nayar recalled an incident that sparked Rohit's determination. "When Rohit was not picked for the 2011 World Cup, I told him to work hard because he had gained weight," Nayar said. "There was an ad that showed Rohit and Yuvraj Singh standing, with a circle marked around Rohit's tummy. Rohit said he had to change that perception."After the World Cup announcement, Rohit's approach to his career underwent a dramatic shift. He became known as "Hitman" due to his aggressive batting style and unwavering determination."People used to say a lot of things about him, like 'two-minute Maggi-man,'" Nayar added. "But he said to me, 'I'll do whatever you say, but when the IPL gets over, people should say he is not the same Rohit Sharma.'"Rohit's hard work and dedication paid off. He established himself as a key member of the Indian team, leading them to victory in the 2013 Champions Trophy and the 2019 ODI World Cup. He also became the first Indian to score three double centuries in ODIs.Rohit's transformation serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and anyone facing adversity. It demonstrates the power of perseverance, determination, and the ability to overcome challenges to achieve success.

India's exceptional bowling performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup has garnered widespread acclaim, with former spinner Piyush Chawla hailing the current lineup as "one of the all-time greats." Chawla emphasized the remarkable transformation of India's bowling attack in recent years, attributing its success to the formidable pace quartet of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya, complemented by the skillful spinners Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Axar Patel.Chawla highlighted the bowlers' resilience in low-scoring encounters, particularly in the crucial clash against Pakistan. "Over the past few years, India's bowling attack has truly transformed," he said. "We now have one of the most complete and formidable bowling units in the world that has provided balance to the side allowing the batsmen with more freedom to play their natural game."Chawla praised the bowlers' ability to step up in crucial moments, citing instances where they outperformed the batters. "There have been many such occasions where our bowlers stepped up and contributed more than our batters," he said. "With the lethal pace quad of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh and top-notch spinners like Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel this is surely one of all time great bowling attack of India."India's dominance in Group A, with three wins and a washout against Canada, has earned them a spot in the Super Eight, where they will face Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Australia. Their first Super Eight clash will be against Afghanistan in Barbados on Thursday, June 20.

Niranjana Nagarajan Retires from Cricket: A Journey of Gratitude and AccomplishmentsIndian fast bowler Niranjana Nagarajan has bid farewell to the sport she has dedicated 24 years of her life to. In an emotional social media post, the 35-year-old announced her retirement from all forms of cricket.Nagarajan's journey began at the tender age of 19 when she made her international debut in an ODI against England in Bath. She went on to represent India in two Tests, 22 ODIs, and 14 T20Is between 2008 and 2016.Her Test debut in Wormsley in 2014 was a memorable one. She claimed four wickets in the first innings, helping India bowl out England for a mere 92 runs. Nagarajan also contributed with a gritty 27 runs, paving the way for India's historic fourth Test win overall and second against England.Throughout her career, Nagarajan picked up 24 wickets in ODIs and nine in T20Is. She last played for India in a T20I against Sri Lanka in Ranchi in 2016.Beyond her international exploits, Nagarajan was a key figure for Railways and Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket. Her contributions to the sport have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Arjuna Award in 2012.In her retirement announcement, Nagarajan expressed her gratitude for the opportunities cricket has given her. "Playing cricket at a professional level has been the best thing that could have happened to me," she said. "It gave me a vision, ambition, and reason to look forward in life."Nagarajan's retirement marks the end of an era for Indian women's cricket. She leaves behind a legacy of determination, resilience, and a love for the game that will continue to inspire future generations.

Former Indian fast bowler Sreesanth has strongly advocated for the inclusion of wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson in India's playing XI for the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, Sreesanth's suggestion is not to replace first-choice wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant but to play Samson as a pure batsman in place of Shivam Dube.Sreesanth's reasoning is based on the premise that if Shivam Dube is not bowling, Team India would be better off selecting a more capable batsman like Samson. He believes that Samson should be included as a finisher, given his exceptional batting skills."If they (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli) are opening, I don't see any reason to change the XI. Axar Patel is bowling well. If you look at Shivam Dube, yes, he hasn't played well in the first two games, but we know what he can do with the bat. But I would like to see one change, and that is Sanju Samson come in the team," Sreesanth told ANI."If Shivam Dube is not bowling, then Sanju (Samson) should be given an opportunity; we know he is good enough," Sreesanth emphasized.Sreesanth's suggestion stems from his belief that Samson is a hungry and talented player who deserves an opportunity to showcase his abilities. He also highlighted Samson's exceptional fielding skills, which would be a valuable asset to the team."I spoke to him the other day; he is hungry for an opportunity," Sreesanth said. "He is also a Superman fielder."Sreesanth and Samson share a common bond as they both hail from the state of Kerala in India. Despite Samson typically batting at number 3 in the IPL, Sreesanth believes he should be deployed as a finisher in the T20 World Cup."I feel Sanju comes in last along with Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. I think we can finish on a big score if we are chasing, with Virat being the chase master king. I don't see any score being that difficult for us to chase," said Sreesanth, a winner of the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 Cricket World Cup.Dube played a crucial role in India's victory against the USA. Coming in to bat with India lying at 39-3, Dube and Suryakumar Yadav ensured India reached home safely and qualified for the Super 8 stage.Samson enjoyed his most successful IPL to date before the T20 World Cup. He finished as the fifth-highest run-getter in IPL 2024, with 531 runs from 15 innings for the Rajasthan Royals.India are confirmed to face Australia and Afghanistan in the Super 8.

Suryakumar Yadav's Fine-Leg Dominance Earns Praise from Navjot Singh SidhuFormer Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has lauded Suryakumar Yadav for his unbeaten half-century against the United States in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Despite a slow start in the first two matches, Suryakumar bounced back with a 50-run knock off 49 balls, which included two fours and two sixes, at a strike rate of 102.04.Sidhu highlighted that a significant portion of Suryakumar's runs against the USA came in the fine-leg area. "He has made areas where playing shots was considered a crime. Almost 40 per cent of the runs in his innings were in the fine-leg area. He is playing in the reverse V. He is doing a 360-degree attack. So you cannot set a field. When you cannot set a field, you are left stunned," Sidhu said.The former Indian opener also emphasized Suryakumar's scoring pace, suggesting that if he surpasses the 50-run mark, he can lead his team to victory. "The pace at which he scores, if he scores more than 50, he will win the match. Very few players play at that pace. Maybe Hardik Pandya and Travis Head, that too with the new ball against the short ball. There are very few game-changers," the commentator added.India finished the first round atop Group A with seven points, having already secured their spot in the Super 8 after defeating the co-hosts USA. The Rohit Sharma-led team is set to face Afghanistan in their first Super 8 match on Thursday at Kensington Oval Barbados.

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has defended Virat Kohli's poor start to the 2024 T20 World Cup, attributing it to the challenging batting conditions at New York's Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. Kohli has managed only five runs in the tournament so far, raising concerns about his form.Harbhajan emphasized that it would be unfair to judge Kohli's performance on a pitch that was not conducive to batting. "I do not want to judge anyone on that pitch as batting was difficult on that pitch," he said. "Virat Kohli didn't score runs because the conditions were like that. You cannot judge a player in those conditions."Instead, Harbhajan highlighted the need for consistency from the Indian batting unit, particularly in the opening overs. "Runs are obviously expected from Virat Kohli," he said. "We also need to consistently see partnerships that we aren't getting in the first six overs. Then your middle order is set. Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube have scored runs."Yadav and Dube played crucial roles in India's victory against the USA, guiding the team to a win after a shaky start. Kohli will have an opportunity to improve his form in the Super 8 stage, as India moves to Lauderhill, Florida.Despite Kohli's struggles, India has secured a spot in the Super 8, winning all three of their New York games. They are guaranteed to face Australia and Afghanistan in the next round, with Bangladesh likely to be the fourth team in the group.