Cricket

Rajasthan Royals have finalized their retention list ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, with Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Sandeep Sharma set to remain with the franchise.Samson, the team's captain, has been a consistent performer for the Royals, leading them to the playoffs in IPL 2024. He scored 531 runs in the season, his highest tally in the IPL. Jaiswal, the young opener, has also been impressive, scoring 435 runs in IPL 2024. Parag, a versatile all-rounder, had a breakout season in 2024, scoring 573 runs and making his T20I debut for India.Sandeep Sharma, the experienced pacer, has been a key part of the Royals' bowling attack, taking 13 wickets in IPL 2024. He qualifies as an uncapped player due to not playing international cricket for five years.However, England's Jos Buttler and India's Yuzvendra Chahal, who were key players in the Royals' run to the finals in IPL 2022, are not part of the retention list. The Royals can still use their two right-to-match options to buy them back at the auction.The Royals are also considering retaining wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who has impressed with his cameos in the lower order. If Jurel is retained, the Royals will lose at least INR 65 crore from their overall purse, leaving them INR 55 crore at the auction.The IPL has set minimum deductions from the auction purse for each player retained, but the franchises are free to pay more or less than those amounts. The Royals will lose at least INR 47 crore from their purse for retaining four players.The deadline for franchises to submit their list of retained players is October 31. The teams can retain up to six players each, with a maximum of five capped internationals and two uncapped players.

Sanju Samson's Linguistic Flair Enlivens India's Triumph Over BangladeshIn a moment of light-hearted camaraderie amidst India's resounding victory over Bangladesh in the second T20I, wicketkeeper Sanju Samson showcased his linguistic prowess, bringing a touch of humor to the field.As India secured the series with an emphatic 86-run win, Samson's playful encouragement stood out. During the 11th over of Bangladesh's run chase, with Riyan Parag on the mound, Samson, who had been conversing in Tamil with Varun Chakravarthy, seamlessly switched to Bengali to motivate Parag."Khub bhalo!" (meaning "very good" in Bengali) echoed from behind the stumps after Mahmudullah took a single, allowing Mehidy Hasan Miraz to take the crease. Commentator Sunil Gavaskar, amused by Samson's linguistic adaptability, chuckled in the commentary box, acknowledging the keeper's Bengali skills.The strategy proved effective, as Miraz, who understands Bengali due to its widespread use in Bangladesh, misjudged Parag's subsequent delivery. Coming down the pitch, he attempted to reach a wide ball but ended up hitting it directly to Ravi Bishnoi at long-off, leading to his dismissal.In the same over, Parag's experimental delivery was called a no-ball for an unusual reason. Attempting to change his bowling style on the fourth ball, Parag tried a peculiar sling action, reminiscent of former India batter Kedar Jadhav's wide action. However, this attempt backfired as Parag stepped outside the pitch tramlines, resulting in the ball being rightfully signaled as a no-ball.Samson's linguistic flair and Parag's unconventional delivery added a touch of entertainment to India's dominant performance. The series victory further solidifies India's position as a formidable force in T20 cricket.

Riyan Parag's Bizarre No-Ball: A Rare Occurrence in T20I CricketIn the second T20I between India and Bangladesh, a peculiar incident occurred when Riyan Parag's delivery was called a no-ball for an unusual reason. During the 11th over of Bangladesh's innings, Parag attempted to surprise the batters with a bizarre sling action, reminiscent of former India batter Kedar Jadhav's wide action. However, the tactic backfired as Parag's back foot stepped outside the pitch tramlines, resulting in a no-ball.According to Law 21.5 of the cricket rules set by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the bowler's back foot must land within the return crease and not touch the tramlines. Parag's foot not only landed outside the tramline but also outside the pitch altogether, prompting the umpire to signal a no-ball.Despite the setback, Parag quickly recovered and returned to his normal action on the free hit, preventing Mahmudullah from scoring any additional runs. Two balls later, he dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz with a catch in the deep.Parag also made a valuable contribution to India's batting innings, scoring 15 runs off just six balls, including two sixes. His cameo helped India reach a formidable total of 221 in 20 overs, putting pressure on the Bangladesh bowlers.

India A has extended its lead over India C in the final round of the Duleep Trophy fixtures in Anantapur. Resuming the third day with a 63-run advantage, India A's Riyan Parag and Shashwat Rawat played crucial knocks to bolster their position.Parag, who had not scored a half-century in the competition prior to this match, struck a fluent 73. Rawat, the 23-year-old Baroda batter, continued his impressive form with a second big score in the match, following his 124 in the first innings. His 53 helped India A extend their lead to 333 at stumps with four wickets remaining.The pair added 105 for the fourth wicket, with the partnership broken when left-arm spinner Manav Suthar dismissed Rawat. Kumar Kushagra, the Jharkhand wicketkeeper, remained unbeaten on 40 at the close of play, with Tanush Kotian providing support.India C's hopes of chasing down India A's first-innings total of 297 were dashed by Avesh Khan, who claimed two of the three wickets to fall. India C managed to add just 18 runs to their overnight total, with left-arm spinner Shams Mulani picking up the other wicket.India A, currently placed third in the four-team competition, need an outright victory to have a chance of winning the Duleep Trophy.

Riyan Parag, the young and talented all-rounder from Assam, has once again showcased his exceptional batting skills with an effortless six over long-off in the ongoing Duleep Trophy match between India A and India D. The shot, which has been widely shared on social media, has left fans and experts in awe of Parag's ability to hit the ball with power and precision.Parag, who is representing India A in the tournament, played a crucial cameo of 39 runs off just 27 deliveries in the first innings. His innings was characterized by aggressive strokeplay, with the six over long-off being the highlight. The shot came off the bowling of Arshdeep Singh, who is known for his pace and accuracy.Parag's six has garnered widespread attention on social media, with fans and his IPL team, Rajasthan Royals, expressing their admiration for the shot. The official Twitter handle of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared the video of the six, captioning it as "That shot by Riyan Parag! It was the first 6 of India A's innings."Rajasthan Royals, who have witnessed Parag's big-hitting prowess firsthand in the IPL, also shared the video on their Twitter handle, praising the young batsman's skills. "Riyan Parag, you beauty!" the caption read.Parag's performance in the Duleep Trophy comes after he missed out on a maiden Test call-up for the series against Bangladesh. However, his impressive form in the domestic tournament could put him back in contention for a place in the national team.Parag made his white-ball debut for India earlier this year in July, playing in a T20I on the tour of Zimbabwe. He has since played six T20Is and one ODI for India, impressing the selectors with his aggressive batting style and ability to hit the ball cleanly.Parag's six in the Duleep Trophy is a testament to his talent and potential. The young batsman has shown that he has the ability to play at the highest level, and he will be one to watch in the years to come.

Sanju Samson's return to the Indian T20I team after being benched in the first match against Sri Lanka was short-lived, as he was dismissed for a golden duck while opening the innings. This move raised questions about Samson's role in the team, especially considering the prominence given to Riyan Parag.Parag has emerged as a key figure in the Indian team under new head coach Gambhir, occupying the middle-order batting spot that many expected Samson to fill. Parag's ability to bowl a few overs gives him an advantage over Samson, who is primarily a wicket-keeper batter.Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes that Parag's bowling ability will give him a long rope in the middle-order, especially in T20I cricket. "You will see Riyan Parag getting many chances due to his bowling ability. As a top-order batsman, not many in the country have the ability to roll their arm over. This is where Riyan Parag will get an extra advantage, and rightly so," Pathan said.Samson's situation in the Indian team has been puzzling, with the talented wicket-keeper batter being shuffled across different roles and positions since his debut. Despite his undeniable talent, Samson has struggled to cement his spot in the team, as he continues to be tried and tested in various roles.The first two matches under Gambhir's leadership have made it clear that Parag is part of his long-term plans. This raises questions about Samson's future in the team, as he may have to adapt to a different role or face the prospect of being overlooked for selection.

Arshdeep Singh's Stellar T20 World Cup Performance Earns Him Test Team ConsiderationIndian selectors are contemplating the inclusion of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh in the Test squad for the upcoming tour of Australia. Despite his limited experience in red-ball cricket, Singh's impressive showing in the recent T20 World Cup has caught the attention of the selectors.During India's triumphant T20 World Cup campaign, Singh emerged as the tournament's leading wicket-taker, alongside Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi, with 17 scalps. His ability to swing the ball effectively in white-ball matches has prompted the selectors to consider him as a potential trump card alongside Jasprit Bumrah in the Test arena.To enhance his chances of selection, Singh may be asked to participate in domestic red-ball matches, beginning with the Duleep Trophy on September 5. The selectors are also keen on adding another left-arm pace option to the white-ball side, which is why Khaleel Ahmed was included in the squads for the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka.Meanwhile, Riyan Parag's selection for the Sri Lanka tour was facilitated by an injury to middle-order batsman Tilak Varma. Parag has shown significant improvement in his attitude and is now focused on staying at the wicket. His ability to bowl decently and field exceptionally makes him a valuable asset to the team.The selectors are also nurturing pacer Harshit Rana for a specific role in white-ball cricket. Rana's ability to bowl yorkers, slower balls, and other variations at the death makes him a suitable option for limited-overs matches.

Riyan Parag, the Indian all-rounder, expressed his delight at making his international debut alongside his former U19 teammate Abhishek Sharma. Parag, who played a crucial role in India's series win against Zimbabwe, praised skipper Shubman Gill's leadership skills.After India's 42-run victory in the fifth and final T20I, Parag reflected on his journey. "It was special to make my debut with Abhishek," he said. "We opened our jerseys together, remembering our time at the 2018 U19 World Cup."Parag also spoke about his partnership with Sanju Samson, his Rajasthan Royals teammate. "We had a chat about having a partnership like we used to have at RR," he said. "We're glad we could do well."Parag lauded Gill's captaincy, saying, "He has been like a captain even when he wasn't. He's been exceptional in the field."Despite his impressive IPL performance, Parag had a modest debut, scoring just 24 runs in two innings. However, India secured a 4-1 series victory.In the match, Zimbabwe elected to field first and restricted India to 167/6. Samson (58) and Parag (22) led the Indian batting, while Blessing Muzarbani took two wickets.Zimbabwe started well in the chase, but Shivam Dube's spell and a crucial run-out of Sikandar Raza turned the tide. Mukesh Kumar then cleaned up the tail, dismissing Zimbabwe for 125.Dube was named 'Player of the Match' for his all-round performance, while Washington Sundar, who scored 28 runs and took eight wickets in the series, received the 'Player of the Series' award.

Riyan Parag, the 22-year-old cricketer from Assam, has etched his name in the annals of Indian cricket history by becoming the first male cricketer from the state to represent the Indian national team. The momentous occasion unfolded before the first T20I against Zimbabwe, where Parag's father, Parag Das, a former professional cricketer for Assam, had the honor of presenting him with the coveted India cap.Parag's achievement is a testament to his exceptional talent and unwavering determination. His journey to the Indian team began with his impressive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, where he emerged as the third highest-scorer for the Rajasthan Royals, amassing 573 runs in 15 matches with an impressive strike rate of 149.22.The occasion was imbued with a profound sense of pride and accomplishment, particularly in light of India's recent triumph in the T20 World Cup against South Africa. As the Indian team embarked on a new chapter with a youthful side in Zimbabwe, Parag found himself at the heart of this emotional narrative.Parag's debut was made even more special by the presence of his family. His father, Parag Das, who represented Assam in 43 first-class matches and 32 List-A games, beamed with pride as he placed the India cap on his son's head. His mother's warm embrace added to the heartwarming moment.Parag's debut, along with those of Abhishek Sharma and Dhruv Jurel, marked a significant milestone for Indian cricket. With the World Cup-winning players rested for this five-match T20I series, Parag and his fellow debutants have a golden opportunity to make their mark on the international stage.