Cricket

India's Test woes continued as they suffered a humiliating 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand. The Rohit Sharma-led side's batting woes were exposed once again, with their struggles against spin bowling becoming a major concern.Former cricketers and fans alike have called for the return of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane to the national side. Both players have enjoyed success in Australia, and their experience and solidity could provide much-needed stability to the Indian batting line-up.Pujara has scored 602 runs in his last 20 innings before being dropped, averaging 33.4 with four fifties and a hundred. Rahane, on the other hand, has amassed 808 runs in his last 20 innings, averaging 42.5 with nine fifties and a hundred.In contrast, Rohit Sharma has scored 550 runs in his last 20 innings, averaging 28.9 with two fifties and two hundreds. Virat Kohli has scored 823 runs in his last 20 innings, but his average drops below 29 if his 186-run knock is removed.Former India captain Sachin Tendulkar has called for introspection and urged the team management to stop "needless experimentation" in the Test format. He also emphasized the need for better pitches.Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh echoed Tendulkar's sentiments, calling for a review of the team's performance and a focus on playing on more challenging surfaces.India's defeat marks the first time they have been whitewashed 0-3 at home. The loss has raised serious questions about the team's preparation, shot selection, and match practice.

Rishabh Pant's missed run-out opportunity on the final ball of the 22nd over during New Zealand's first innings in the third Test at the Wankhede Stadium has drawn criticism from former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik.On the opening day of the game, Daryl Mitchell played a reverse sweep on the bowling of Washington Sundar. He ran the first one hard and asked his partner Will Young for a second run. Pant collected the ball at the striker's end but failed to hit the stumps. What he failed to notice was that Young was still around the halfway mark when he collected the ball. A good throw at the non-striker's end could have caught the New Zealand batter short.Karthik pointed out that Pant needed game awareness and should have taken one glove off to throw the ball at the other end. "They (India) had their opportunity in the form of a run-out. Have a look at Will Young, he is thinking just a single. Rishabh Pant is the man you need to watch out for. He didn't remove his glove and you can still see Will Young scrambling. If he had removed his gloves, have a look at where Young is and a throw down the non-striker's end would have definitely been a much better chance. There was so much time and because Rishabh Pant didn't remove his gloves there, he didn't even have the opportunity to go at it at the other end. As a keeper, it is very important to be aware of what's happening. And (I) must admit that Rishabh Pant did miss an opportunity there for a run-out," said Karthik on-air.India ended the opening day at 86 for 4, trailing New Zealand by 149 runs. India were solidly put at 78 for 1 at one stage but they lost three wickets in 8 balls to hand advantage to New Zealand. Earlier, Ravindra Jadeja claimed his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket as India made a remarkable comeback to bowl out New Zealand for 235 runs. With four wickets to his credit, Washington Sundar also helped the hosts' cause. Daryl Mitchell top-scored for New Zealand with a terrific 82, while Will Young hit 71 after New Zealand skipper Tom Latham won the toss and opted to bat.

In the series-deciding third ODI between India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine won the toss and elected to bat first, continuing the trend of the series. Both teams made minor adjustments to their lineups, with India introducing Renuka Singh in place of Arundhati Reddy and New Zealand replacing Jess Kerr with Hannah Rowe.The pitch in Ahmedabad appeared dry and hard under sunny skies, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius. The series is currently tied 1-1, with India winning the first match and New Zealand leveling the series in the second. Notably, the team batting first has emerged victorious in both ODIs thus far.In the first ODI, India was dismissed for 227 in 44.3 overs, but their bowlers rallied to restrict New Zealand to 168 in 40.4 overs. In the second ODI, Devine excelled with both bat and ball, leading New Zealand to a 76-run victory.India's batting lineup for this match consists of Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Renuka Singh, Saima Thakor, and Priya Mishra.New Zealand's batting order includes Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Lauren Down, Sophie Devine, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Gaze, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, and Fran Jonas.After this series, India will embark on a three-match ODI tour of Australia beginning on December 5th. New Zealand, on the other hand, will host Australia for a three-game ODI series starting on December 19th.

After the disappointing loss in the first ODI, the New Zealand women's cricket team bounced back with a strong performance in the second match, posting a competitive total of 259 for nine. Skipper Sophie Devine led from the front, scoring a superb 79 off 86 balls, making up for her bizarre run-out in the previous game. She was ably supported by Suzie Bates, who contributed 58 off 70 balls, and Georgia Plimmer, who added 41 off 50 balls.The middle order also chipped in with valuable contributions. Maddy Green played a fine knock of 42 off 41 balls, while Amelia Kerr added 28 off 32 balls. The Indian bowlers struggled to contain the New Zealand batters, with Radha Yadav being the most successful with four wickets for 69 runs. However, it was her brilliant fielding that caught the eye, as she pulled off a stunning catch to dismiss Bates.Deepti Sharma also bowled tidily, taking two for 30 from 10 overs, while the other bowlers conceded runs at an economy rate of around five or more. India's chase got off to a shaky start, as they lost Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma cheaply. Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur steadied the innings with a 50-run partnership, but both fell in quick succession.Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma then put on a 40-run stand, but the Indian innings faltered after Ghosh's dismissal. India eventually fell short by 30 runs, with Radha Yadav remaining unbeaten on 25. The New Zealand bowlers shared the wickets, with Jess Kerr and Hayley Jensen taking two each.The victory gives New Zealand a 1-1 draw in the three-match ODI series. The final match will be played on October 29, with India needing a win to clinch the series.

The second Test match between India and New Zealand at the MCA Stadium in Pune witnessed an intriguing first day, marked by a spirited comeback from the Indian bowlers and a resilient batting performance from the Kiwis.After New Zealand opted to bat first, openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway provided a cautious start. However, the introduction of spin proved pivotal as Ravichandran Ashwin struck in his first over, dismissing Latham for 15. Will Young joined Conway, but their partnership was cut short when Young edged one to Rishabh Pant, giving Ashwin his second scalp.Conway, however, remained unfazed and continued to attack the Indian bowling. He reached his second half-century of the series in 109 balls, with six fours. Rachin Ravindra, who joined Conway at the crease, also played with confidence and brought up his fourth fifty in 93 balls.The 62-run partnership between Conway and Ravindra was broken by Ashwin, who got Conway for 76 in 141 balls. Daryl Mitchell joined Ravindra, and the duo continued to frustrate the Indian bowlers. Ravindra reached his half-century in 93 balls, with three fours and a six.Washington Sundar provided another breakthrough for India, dismissing Ravindra for 65 in 105 balls. Tom Blundell was then removed by Sundar for three, leaving New Zealand at 201/5 heading into tea break.The Indian bowlers, led by Ashwin and Sundar, showed great resilience to mount a comeback after a difficult period against Conway and Ravindra. The crowd at the MCA Stadium played their part, urging Indian skipper Rohit Sharma to give Virat Kohli a bowl.

India vs New Zealand: A Crucial Clash in the Women's T20 World CupIndia's quest for their maiden Women's T20 World Cup title begins with a formidable challenge against New Zealand, a team known for their resilience and determination. While New Zealand may not be as highly regarded as their Trans-Tasman rivals Australia, they pose a significant threat to India's aspirations.India's recent performances in global events have been marred by mental fragility at crucial moments. To address this issue, the team underwent counseling sessions during their preparatory camp at the National Cricket Academy. However, the true test of their mental fortitude will come on the field.Harmanpreet Kaur, India's skipper, is likely making her final appearance in the T20 World Cup. She has witnessed numerous near misses and disappointments, including India's defeat to Australia in the 2020 final. This Indian team boasts an abundance of talent, but they must execute their strategies flawlessly to overcome the reigning champions Australia.India's batting lineup will be under the spotlight against New Zealand. Senior players like Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Harmanpreet Kaur will need to deliver stellar performances to provide a solid foundation for the team.