Cricket

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, the celebrated Indian cricketer and Bollywood actress duo, graced the Krishna Das kirtan event at Nesco, Mumbai on October 20. Their presence added a touch of stardom to the spiritual gathering, where they immersed themselves in the serene atmosphere and sought blessings.The event organizers shared captivating images of the couple enjoying the live performance from the front row. Anushka Sharma was seen clapping enthusiastically as the crowd rose in unison, while Kohli beamed with joy throughout the event. The organizers expressed their gratitude on social media, stating that the couple's presence enhanced the collective devotion and made the gathering even more special.A video captured by attendees showcased the couple's heartfelt engagement with the kirtan. This is not the first time Kohli and Sharma have attended a Krishna Das kirtan. Earlier this year, they were spotted at a similar event in London.Kohli's recent cricketing endeavors saw him participate in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, where India unfortunately lost by eight wickets. Despite his valiant efforts, scoring 0 and 70 in the two innings, India faced setbacks in both innings. The second Test of the three-match series between India and New Zealand is scheduled to commence on October 24.

Mumbai is on the cusp of victory in its Ranji Trophy Group A tie against arch-rival Maharashtra, thanks to three outstanding innings and two mini collapses. Despite centuries from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ankeet Bawane, and Sachin Dhas missing the landmark by just two runs, Maharashtra's second innings folded up for 388, conceding a 315-run innings lead.At stumps on Day three at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy ground, Mumbai had wiped out 13 runs of the target of 74. The day belonged to the three Maharashtra batters, despite bursts of brilliance with the ball. Shardul Thakur and Mohit Avasthi employed the short-ball ploy right away, but Gaikwad made his intentions clear, hooking the first ball of the day's play over the deep square-leg's head beyond the boundary.Gaikwad displayed his ability to convert good balls into boundary shots in abundance, impressing with his strokeplay and running between the wickets alongside Dhas. However, Dhas faltered into a pull shot off Mohit Avasthi, and Shardul ran in from deep square-leg to take the catch. Dhas was dismissed on 98, leaving captain Gaikwad to offer him a consolatory hug.Mulani was finally rewarded when Gaikwad edged one that pitched around leg-stump and turned, with Ajinkya Rahane not faltering at slips. Tanush Kotian then wreaked havoc by picking three wickets in eight balls, including a stunning Suryakumar Yadav catch at short midwicket to dismiss Arshin Kulkarni.Bawane, driving at his fluent best, found an ally in Satyajeet Bachhav. Mumbai's ploy of taking the new ball also worked in Maharashtra's favor as the duo batted without any trouble. Minutes after crossing his 24th First Class hundred, Bawane attempted a reverse sweep off Mulani and was bowled. That resulted in a chaotic finish to the innings with Mumbai picking the last four wickets for five runs.

Baroda's historic victory over Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy has sparked a wave of jubilation within the team and its supporters. The last time Baroda defeated Mumbai in this prestigious tournament was in 1998-99, a match that featured a remarkable nine-wicket haul by Yogendra Wakaskar.Wakaskar, now a member of the senior selection panel, was present at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium on Monday morning, witnessing the triumph that brought back fond memories. He was joined by chief selector Prayan Dave and Umang Patel, who were equally thrilled with the team's performance under the leadership of Krunal Pandya.The celebrations extended to the Baroda dressing room, where head coach Mukund Parmar expressed his delight at being involved in his first win against Mumbai. Parmar, a former Gujarat stalwart, refrained from viewing the victory as revenge for last year's quarterfinal exit in Mumbai."It's not revenge and all. What's past is past," Parmar said. "It obviously gives a huge fillip to the confidence of the bunch to have started the season by beating the defending Ranji and Irani champion and the domestic giant in a convincing manner. Our skill-sets have never been in question. I am delighted with the manner in which the boys bounced back when put under pressure."Mumbai had opportunities to tighten their grip on the match in both of Baroda's batting innings. Baroda managed to post a respectable 290 on a turner after being reduced to 90 for five in the first innings. In the second innings, they rallied from 41 for six to add 144 runs for the last four wickets, effectively taking the game away from Mumbai."We created opportunities but the 130-run partnership in the first innings (between Mitesh Patel and Atit Sheth) turned out to be decisive. Baroda obviously played better cricket than us overall. I just hope it's a learning lesson for our spinners. I am confident we will continue to improve as a team," said Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane.Baroda's victory is a testament to their resilience and determination. They have shown that they can compete with the best in Indian domestic cricket and will be a force to reckon with in the upcoming season.

Bhargav Bhatt's exceptional bowling performance propelled Baroda to a rare Ranji Trophy victory over defending champions Mumbai on Monday. The left-arm spinner's 18th five-wicket haul in First-Class cricket proved decisive as Baroda secured an 84-run triumph at the Vadodara International Cricket Academy.Baroda had only defeated Mumbai four times in their 66 previous encounters, with their last win coming in 1998-99. History repeated itself as Bhatt's 6/55 dismantled Mumbai's batting lineup.At the start of the final day, Mumbai needed 220 runs with eight wickets in hand to chase down a target of 262. However, the deteriorating pitch made their task challenging. Captain Ajinkya Rahane's early dismissal by Bhatt set the tone for Mumbai's collapse.Bhatt continued to torment the Mumbai batters, trapping opener Ayush Mhatre and then removing Shreyas Iyer, who had attempted to counterattack. The Mumbai allrounder trio of Shams Mulani, Shardul Thakur, and Tanush Kotian fell without resistance, leaving only Siddhesh Lad to offer any resistance.Lad, returning to the Mumbai team after four and a half years, scored a solid fifty. However, Bhatt's relentless bowling proved too much for him, as he accepted a return catch to end the match.Baroda's victory was a testament to Bhatt's exceptional bowling skills. The 26-year-old spinner has now taken 10 wickets in a match against Mumbai for the second consecutive time.

The festive spirit of Navratri extended to the outskirts of Vadodara as Baroda dominated the second day of their Ranji Trophy opener against defending champions Mumbai. The lower order added a crucial 49 runs to help Baroda post 290 runs on a turning track at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium. The bowling unit, led by veteran left-arm spinner Bhargav Bhatt, then dismissed Mumbai for 214, securing a handy 76-run lead.Baroda's captain, Krunal Pandya, and coach's tactics proved effective as they shared the new ball with left-arm spin duo Bhargav Bhatt. Krunal dismissed Prithvi Shaw, while Ranji debutant Ayush Mhatre and Hardik Tamore saw off the morning session. Mhatre impressed with his inside-out lofted drive and ability to rotate strike. However, after reaching his maiden fifty, he miscued a pull shot, ending his promising innings.Mumbai's batting collapsed as they lost three wickets for one run in 18 balls. Tamore, Rahane, and Shreyas Iyer departed, leaving Mumbai reeling at 141 for five. Left-arm pacer Akash Singh then restricted Mumbai's lower order. He bowled a yorker that Siddhesh Lad played onto his stumps and an inswinger that rattled Tanush Kotian's stumps. Akash fittingly ended the innings by forcing Shardul Thakur to whip one to deep midwicket.Baroda's top-order must rectify their mistakes from the first innings to increase their chances of an outright win against Mumbai. The day belonged to the home team, who celebrated the last day of the Navratri festival.

Prolific Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan will miss the team's Ranji Trophy opener against Baroda due to his inclusion in the National Cricket Academy (NCA) camp. The 25-year-old played a pivotal role in Mumbai's Irani Cup triumph last week, scoring an unbeaten 222.Khan's absence is a significant blow to Mumbai, who are the defending Ranji Trophy champions. The team will face Baroda in an away fixture from October 11 and Maharashtra at home from October 18. The latter match coincides with the India-New Zealand first Test in Bengaluru from October 16.Despite his absence, Khan is expected to retain his place in the India squad. The Mumbai selectors have picked a strong squad for the first two matches, led by Ajinkya Rahane. Other notable players include Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, and Shams Mulani.

Juned Khan's journey to the Mumbai cricket team is a testament to his determination and the power of opportunity. Hailing from Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, Khan moved to Mumbai in search of a job to support his family. He worked in a garment factory and drove an autorickshaw as a minor.Fate intervened when Khan found himself at the Sanjeevani Cricket Academy, run by former Mumbai wicketkeeper Manish Bangera. Despite his limited experience in cricket, Bangera encouraged him to pursue bowling. Khan faced challenges, including a lack of funds for proper gear, but received support from well-wishers.A breakthrough came when Abhishek Nayar, then assistant coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, spotted Khan's talent while he played for PJ Hindu Gymkhana. Khan impressed in the Buchi Babu and KSCA tournaments, earning him a debut for Mumbai in the Irani Cup.In his debut match, Khan made an immediate impact, taking the prized wicket of Ruturaj Gaikwad. "I couldn't sleep at all ever since I was told on the match eve that I will be playing my first match for Mumbai, that too in the Irani Cup," Khan said. "The wicket was a bonus. Just to find myself here is like a dream in itself."Khan's journey mirrors that of Mohammed Shami, another Uttar Pradesh native who played domestic cricket for a different state. Khan aspires to emulate Shami's success and is determined to make the most of his opportunity.

In the recently concluded Irani Cup, a thrilling cricket match between Mumbai and Rest of India, a debutant from Mumbai named Juned Khan stole the show. Hailing from Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, Juned's journey to the big stage is a testament to his determination and the power of dreams.Growing up in Kannauj, Juned faced financial challenges. To support his family, he left home a decade ago and moved to Mumbai. Initially, he worked in a garment factory and later as an autorickshaw driver. However, his passion for cricket burned brightly within him.One day, while driving his autorickshaw, Juned stumbled upon the Sanjeevani Cricket Academy. Intrigued, he started practicing there, despite not having proper gear. His talent caught the attention of former Mumbai wicketkeeper Manish Bangera, who encouraged him to pursue cricket full-time.With the support of Bangera and others, Juned's career took off. He impressed in local tournaments and was eventually selected for the Mumbai team in the Buchi Babu and KSCA tournaments. His performance in these tournaments earned him a place in the Mumbai squad for the Irani Cup.In his debut match, Juned made an immediate impact. He dismissed Rest of India captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, a testament to his skill and determination. His wicket was a fairytale beginning for a young man who had overcome adversity to reach the pinnacle of Indian cricket.Juned's story is an inspiration to aspiring cricketers everywhere. It shows that with hard work, dedication, and the support of others, dreams can come true. Despite his humble beginnings, Juned has proven that talent and perseverance can triumph over challenges.

Rest of India (RoI) batter Abhimanyu Easwaran narrowly missed out on a double century on Day 4 of the Irani Cup final against Mumbai in Lucknow. Easwaran's dismissal on 191 runs off 292 balls, including one six and 16 fours, left him visibly frustrated.The incident occurred in the 103rd over of RoI's innings, bowled by Shams Mulani. Easwaran attempted to sweep a flighted delivery outside leg, but the ball ballooned off the top edge and was easily caught by Tanush Kotian at short leg.Easwaran's anger stemmed from his shot selection, as he was just nine runs short of his double century. His innings was a testament to his resilience and determination, as he anchored RoI's response to Mumbai's first-innings total of 537.In response, RoI showed great resistance, reaching 416 thanks largely to Easwaran's contribution. India star Dhruv Jurel also made a significant contribution with an impressive 93, while the rest of the RoI batters struggled to make an impact.On Day 3, RoI made quick work of Mumbai's innings, with Mukesh Kumar dismissing Mohammed Juned to end the innings at 537. Sarfaraz Khan remained unbeaten on 222 off 286 balls, with 25 fours and four sixes. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane (97 off 234 balls, with seven fours and a six) and Shreyas Iyer (57 off 84 balls, with six fours and two sixes) had stabilized the innings after Mumbai was reduced to 37/3.Tanush Kotian (64 off 124 balls, with six fours) and Shardul Thakur (36 off 59 balls, with four boundaries and a six) also made valuable contributions. Mukesh (5/110) was the top bowler for RoI, while Yash Dayal and Prasidh Krishna took two wickets each. Saransh Jain claimed one scalp.