Cricket

India, having secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, will aim for a clean sweep in the final encounter in Hyderabad on Saturday. The series has provided an opportunity for India to assess the progress of their emerging talents and identify potential backup options for future international events.Despite the series victories, India's openers, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, have failed to impress. Samson has managed only 29 runs in two innings, while Sharma has contributed 15 and 16. Their inconsistency has put pressure on the middle order, with India struggling to 41 for three in the power play during the second T20I.Head coach Gautam Gambhir and the coaching staff are evaluating potential support players for the upcoming ICC event next year. Fast bowler Mayank Yadav and spinner Varun Chakravarthy have impressed in their limited opportunities. Yadav, returning from injury, has bowled at speeds over 150 km/h, while Chakravarthy claimed three wickets in his comeback match.Nitish Kumar Reddy has also made a significant impact, scoring a 34-ball 74 and taking two wickets in the Delhi T20I. The think-tank is also considering including other talented players from the bench, such as leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi and all-rounder Harshit Rana.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be desperate for a victory to salvage some pride from the tour. They will need stronger performances from senior players like captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, and Mustafizur Rahman, who have not lived up to expectations so far.

India's Under-19 cricket team capped off a dominant 3-0 series sweep against Australia with a thrilling seven-run victory in the third and final Youth ODI on Thursday.Batting first, India posted a formidable total of 324 for 8, thanks to half-centuries from opener Rudra Patel (77 off 81) and skipper Mohamed Amaan (71 off 72). Hardik Raj (30 off 18) and Chetan Sharma (18 not out off 9) provided valuable contributions in the lower order.Australia's chase got off to a strong start, with skipper Oliver Peake (111) and Steven Hogan (104) putting on a 180-run partnership for the third wicket. However, India's bowlers fought back in the death overs, with Hardik (3/55) and Kiran Chormale (2/59) removing the set batters and Alex Lee Young in quick succession.Aidan O'Connor (35 off 20) tried to revive Australia's hopes, but Bengal fast bowler Yudhajit Guha (2/40) held his nerve in the final over to secure the victory for India.The Indian team's success was built on their consistent batting performances throughout the series. Patel and Amaan led the way with their half-centuries, while Raj and Sharma provided crucial support in the lower order.Australia's batting also impressed, with Peake and Hogan scoring centuries in the third ODI. However, their inability to finish the chase in the final overs proved costly.India's bowlers also played a key role in the series sweep. Hardik and Chormale were particularly effective in the death overs, while Guha's performance in the final over was crucial.The victory marks a significant achievement for India's Under-19 team, who have now won three consecutive Youth ODI series against Australia. It also bodes well for the future of Indian cricket, as these young players continue to develop and gain experience at the international level.

Bangladesh's historic Test series sweep over Pakistan has been celebrated with a heartwarming gesture by skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto. Following in the footsteps of Indian captain Rohit Sharma, Shanto shared a photo on social media of himself asleep beside the series trophy, accompanied by the caption "Good morning."This light-hearted moment has drawn comparisons to Rohit Sharma's iconic post after India's T20 World Cup 2024 victory, where he was seen sleeping next to the trophy in a hotel room in Barbados. Both posts symbolize the immense joy and relief after hard-fought victories.Bangladesh's 2-0 triumph over Pakistan marks their first-ever Test series win against their South Asian rivals. It also ends a 12-match winless streak against Pakistan and is only their fourth-ever series whitewash in Test history. More significantly, it is their first against a top-tier cricketing nation like Pakistan, making them only the second team after England to achieve a clean sweep in a Test series in Pakistan.The Bangladesh team's victory was hard-earned, especially after being reduced to 26/6 in the second Test. However, led by centurion Litton Das and all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was instrumental with both bat and ball, Bangladesh staged an incredible comeback. Miraz's five-wicket haul in the second Test was pivotal in dismantling Pakistan's batting lineup, paving the way for this momentous win.Bangladesh's success is a testament to their growing strength in Test cricket. They have now won four of their last six Test series, including victories over New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and West Indies. This series sweep over Pakistan is a major milestone for Bangladesh cricket and will undoubtedly boost their confidence going forward.

The West Indies cricket team celebrated a resounding 3-0 series sweep against South Africa in the T20 International series, culminating in an emphatic eight-wicket victory in the final match at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. The match was marred by rain, but the West Indies emerged triumphant, showcasing their resilience and dominance on home soil.Shai Hope led the charge for the West Indies, smashing an unbeaten 42 off just 24 deliveries. Nicholas Pooran provided valuable support with a rapid 35 off 13 balls. The revised target of 116 in 13 overs, set by the Duckworth-Lewis method, proved to be no match for the West Indies' aggressive batting approach. They reached the target in a mere 9.2 overs, hitting nine sixes and seven fours in the process.South Africa, batting first in the rain-shortened game, managed to post a modest 108-4 in their allotted 13 overs. Romario Shepherd's disciplined bowling played a crucial role in restricting South Africa's scoring, earning him the Man of the Match award. Shepherd's two overs yielded just 14 runs and two wickets.The West Indies' victory was a testament to their aggressive batting strategy in the shortened game. Captain Roston Chase praised his team's performance, saying, "We wanted to win the series 3-0. In a shortened game, we want guys to go and play their natural game. The guys came out and played brilliantly."South Africa's captain, Aiden Markram, acknowledged the challenges faced by his team but remained optimistic about future improvement. "Tough one today," Markram admitted. "Probably got the tougher of the conditions. That being said, we can improve as a team. It's going to take a little bit of time; there's a bit we can take from it, but it's never great to lose."The series win marks a resurgence for the West Indies, who displayed their resilience and skill to dominate South Africa and complete the clean sweep. It is a significant achievement for the team, who had previously suffered a disappointing loss to South Africa in the T20 World Cup.