Cricket

Sri Lanka and New Zealand are set to face off in the third and final ODI of their series in Pallekele. The hosts, led by Charith Asalanka, are aiming for a 3-0 series sweep, while the visitors, captained by Mitchell Santner, are determined to end the series on a high note.Asalanka expressed his team's desire to win the series but also acknowledged the importance of giving opportunities to new players. Five changes have been made to the Sri Lankan playing XI, including the ODI debut of Chamindu Wickramasinghe.Santner, on the other hand, believes the wicket looks better for batting than in the previous game. He emphasized the need for his team to post a strong total and defend it effectively. New Zealand has also made two changes, with Zakary Foulkes and Adam Milne replacing Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy, respectively.Pitch expert Farveez Maharoof noted that the pitch has improved for batting due to reduced cracks. He suggested that chasing might be the preferred option due to the dew factor and potential rain.

New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, have opted to bat first in the opening T20I against Sri Lanka in Kandy. Santner expressed confidence in the pitch, describing it as "a good surface, maybe a touch on the slower side." With no rain expected, he felt comfortable batting first. Sri Lanka's captain, Charith Asalanka, also indicated that he would have chosen to bat first.Sri Lanka have retained the same XI that defeated West Indies in their previous T20I. Their bowling attack features fast bowlers Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara, along with spinners Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Dunith Wellalage.New Zealand, on the other hand, are fielding a depleted team due to the ongoing South Asian tour. Wicketkeeper-batter Mitch Hay is set to make his debut, while other lesser-known players include seamers Zakary Foulkes and Jacob Duffy, and allrounder Josh Clarkson.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the nominees for its Player of the Month awards for October, honoring exceptional performances in both men's and women's cricket.Men's Nominees:* Noman Ali (Pakistan): The Pakistani pacer impressed in the Test series against England, claiming 20 wickets at an average of 13.85 in two matches. His performance played a pivotal role in Pakistan's 2-1 series victory.* Mitchell Santner (New Zealand): Santner's impactful bowling in the second Test against India in Pune earned him a nomination. His figures of 7 for 53 in the first innings and 6 for 104 in the second innings were instrumental in New Zealand's historic series win.* Kagiso Rabada (South Africa): Rabada's outstanding bowling performance in South Africa's Test series victory against Bangladesh secured his nomination. He reached the milestone of 300 Test wickets and played a crucial role in South Africa's victory in the first Test with figures of 9 for 72.Women's Nominees:* Amelia Kerr (New Zealand): Kerr played a key role in New Zealand's victory at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in the UAE. She set a new record for wickets taken in the tournament, claiming 15 wickets and scoring 135 runs, earning her the Player of the Tournament award.* Deandra Dottin (West Indies): Dottin's impactful return to the West Indies team during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup earned her a nomination. Her all-round performance helped the team reach the semi-finals, with notable contributions against Scotland, Bangladesh, and England.* Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa): Wolvaardt's consistent performance as captain of the South African women's team during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup earned her a nomination. She finished as the tournament's highest run-scorer with 223 runs at an average of 44.60, leading South Africa to the final.The ICC Player of the Month awards recognize outstanding individual performances in international cricket. The winners will be announced in due course.

New Zealand's historic Test series victory in India, their first-ever on Indian soil, is a testament to their resilience, adaptability, and exceptional bowling performance. Led by captain Tom Latham, the Kiwis overcame challenging conditions and a formidable Indian team to secure a decisive 113-run triumph in the second Test in Pune.Latham's leadership was crucial throughout the series. He emphasized the importance of putting up runs early in the innings, a strategy that proved effective as New Zealand consistently set competitive totals. He also praised the exceptional bowling of Mitchell Santner, who claimed 13 wickets in the match and played a vital role in restricting India's batting.The varied conditions across the two Tests required New Zealand to adapt their approach. Latham commended his team's ability to adjust, saying, "Both surfaces were different, and we had to adapt, which we did very well."In the second Test, New Zealand's aggressive play on the third day allowed them to control the game. Latham explained, "The method we played with last night to put ourselves on the front foot was terrific."India, led by Rohit Sharma, presented a tough challenge, especially in the final session. However, New Zealand's bowlers remained disciplined and patient, eventually breaking through. Latham recounted the intensity of the final moments, saying, "Those last two wickets seemed to take forever, but when Tim took that catch, we were thrilled."This victory underscores a collective team effort, smart tactics, and adaptability, securing New Zealand's place in the record books with a series win in one of the most challenging cricketing environments worldwide.

India's Test dominance at home has been shattered by New Zealand, who secured their first-ever series victory on Indian soil in nearly 70 years. The crushing 113-run defeat in the second Test in Mumbai has exposed India's vulnerability against quality spin bowling, particularly against Mitchell Santner.Rohit Sharma, India's captain, expressed disappointment after the loss, acknowledging that his team failed to respond to the challenges posed by New Zealand. "We failed to capitalize on certain moments and respond to those challenges," Sharma said. "We didn't bat well enough to get runs on the board."Santner's dominance was evident throughout the match, as he claimed 13 wickets, including seven in the first innings. India's batters, once considered the best players of spin bowling, struggled against Santner's variations.In pursuit of 359, India's batting collapsed once again. Only Yashasvi Jaiswal (77) and Ravindra Jadeja (42) offered any resistance, as the hosts were bowled out for 245.This defeat marks India's first Test series loss at home since 2012-13, when England vanquished them. It is also only their fourth Test series defeat in their own backyard since the turn of the century.The Kiwis' victory has broken India's string of 18 consecutive Test series wins at home. It is a significant achievement for New Zealand, who have been touring India since 1955 but had never been able to break the Indian citadel.India will now look to salvage some pride in the third and final Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. However, they will need to address their batting frailties and find a way to counter Santner's spin if they want to avoid a series whitewash.

India's World Test Championship (WTC) aspirations have suffered a significant setback following their historic home series defeat to New Zealand. After losing the first Test in Pune, India succumbed to a 113-run defeat in the second Test, marking their first home Test series loss since 2012.The second Test witnessed India collapsing to 245 all out in their second innings, handing New Zealand a series victory. Despite Yashasvi Jaiswal's valiant 77 off 65 balls, India crumbled under the relentless pressure of Mitchell Santner, who claimed 13 wickets over two innings. A promising 62-run stand between Jaiswal and Shubman Gill had raised hopes, but New Zealand's disciplined bowling proved too much for the Indian batting lineup.India's position in the WTC standings has taken a hit. Before the second match, Rohit Sharma's team led the table with a percentage (PCT) of 68.06. However, back-to-back losses to New Zealand have dropped their PCT to 62.82, narrowing their path to the final. Australia sit close behind at 62.50, followed by Sri Lanka at 55.56.To stay on course for the WTC final at Lord's next summer, India must perform impeccably in their remaining fixtures. They have one more match against New Zealand before heading to Australia for a crucial five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Winning at least four of these six remaining games will give them a strong chance of securing a spot in the final.However, if India falter, they'll have to rely on favourable outcomes from other series. Australia, Sri Lanka, and South Africa's upcoming clashes will heavily influence India's prospects. Notably, Sri Lanka's matches against Australia and South Africa could make or break India's hopes.Though the road ahead is steep, India remain in the hunt. Success against Australia will be critical if they aim to reach their third consecutive WTC final. The team now faces the challenge of rediscovering form and maintaining consistency under pressure.

New Zealand has made history by securing their first-ever Test series victory in India. After seven decades of waiting, the Black Caps have finally triumphed in emphatic fashion, dominating the hosts for the second consecutive week.India's 12-year-long unbeaten series record at home has been shattered. The World Test Championship final spot is now in jeopardy, and the team faces a mountain of questions before heading to Mumbai for the Diwali Test.New Zealand's dominance began in the first Test in Bengaluru, where they won after 36 years. In the second Test in Pune, the Kiwis thrashed India by 113 runs, completing a comprehensive victory.This is the first Test series loss for India at home in 12 years. The team has won 18 consecutive Test series, a remarkable streak that has now come to an end.After winning the toss and electing to bat first, New Zealand posted a competitive 259, thanks to half-centuries from Devon Conway (76) and Rachin Ravindra (65).India's response was feeble, as they were dismissed for a paltry 156. Mitchell Santner proved to be the nemesis for the Indian batsmen, claiming seven wickets in the first innings.New Zealand's captain, Tom Latham, led from the front in the second innings, scoring a brilliant 86 to take the team's lead past 300. Tom Blundell remained unbeaten on 30, ensuring a commanding position for the Kiwis.Washington Sundar, who replaced Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test, bowled superbly and took his career-best 7 for 59. Ravichandran Ashwin also contributed with three wickets.In the first Test at Bengaluru, Indian batsmen succumbed to New Zealand's pace bowling, posting their lowest total at home of 46. In the second Test, they fell prey to the guile of Mitchell Santner (7 for 53), who dismissed them for 156, giving New Zealand a crucial 103-run lead.In the second innings, New Zealand's Tom Latham played some brilliant shots to score 86. Tom Blundell (41) and Glenn Phillips (48 not out) contributed to give a massive lead of 358 for India. Chasing a target of 359, India were on the backfoot with the dismissal of their captain Rohit Sharma for just 8. But Yashasvi Jaiswal (77) and Shubman Gill (23) played positive cricket to lift Indian hopes. However, the quick dismissal of Jaiswal and Gill opened the gates for New Zealand bowlers, particularly Mitchell Santner.Mitchell Santner played a crucial role in New Zealand's second Test win. Santner took 13 wickets in this match and scored crucial runs in the first innings.

Virat Kohli's struggles against spinners in Asian conditions continued in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. Chasing a daunting target of 359, India lost two quick wickets before Kohli and Washington Sundar steadied the innings with a 20-run partnership.However, Mitchell Santner dismissed Kohli leg-before wicket for 17, leaving India in a precarious position. Kohli's dismissal marked the first time a left-arm spinner had dismissed him in both innings of a Test match.Santner's brilliance continued as he bowled Sarfaraz Khan for 9, completing his second five-wicket haul of the match. He became the first New Zealand spinner to claim two five-wicket hauls in a single Test on Indian soil since Steve O'Keefe in 2017.Santner's performance put New Zealand in a commanding position as India struggled to chase down the target. His guile and accuracy proved too much for the Indian batters, who were unable to cope with his variations.Kohli's dismissal highlighted his ongoing difficulties against spinners in Asian conditions. Despite his impressive record against pace bowlers, he has struggled to adapt to the slower, turning pitches of the subcontinent.Santner's success against Kohli and the Indian batters demonstrated the importance of spin bowling in Asian conditions. Spinners can exploit the dry, dusty pitches to create turn and variation, making it difficult for batters to score runs.As the series progresses, India will need to find a way to counter the threat posed by Santner and other spinners. If they are unable to do so, they may struggle to win the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

India's hopes of a comeback in the second Test against New Zealand at the MCA Stadium in Pune appear bleak, according to former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali. The visitors have taken a commanding lead of 301 runs at the end of day two, thanks to a brilliant performance by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner.Santner's 7-53 dismantled India's batting lineup, bowling them out for just 156 in response to New Zealand's 259. India's batting woes continued from their 46 all-out debacle in Bengaluru, with Ravindra Jadeja top-scoring with 38."If Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli score runs, there might be a possibility (of a comeback)," said Basit Ali on his YouTube channel. "But the chances are very low right now. New Zealand are in a very strong position to win the match."New Zealand extended their lead to 198-5 in their second innings, with Tom Latham scoring a solid 86. Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell (30 not out) and Glenn Phillips (9 not out) remained unbeaten, steering New Zealand closer to a historic Test series win in India.India's bowlers, led by Washington Sundar, showed some resistance. Sundar picked up four wickets, bringing his match tally to 11, while Ravichandran Ashwin chipped in with a key breakthrough. However, New Zealand's batters extended their lead, leaving India in a tough spot."Before the Australia tour, this is not a good sign for India," added Basit Ali. "Let's see what happens."India's batting collapse has exposed their vulnerabilities, particularly against spin. Santner's dismissals of Virat Kohli for just one and Sarfaraz Khan for 11 were crucial.With New Zealand already 1-0 up in the three-match series, India face an uphill task to level the series. Their struggles with the bat are particularly concerning ahead of their upcoming Australia tour.