Cricket

The highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan at the Women's T20 Asia Cup 2024 is set to kick off the tournament on July 19 in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. Here's an in-depth analysis of the match:Recent Form:India has enjoyed a strong run in T20Is over the past year, winning 10 out of 17 matches. They clinched the Asian Games gold and swept Bangladesh 5-0. However, they faced setbacks in series against England and Australia.Pakistan, on the other hand, has struggled in T20Is, winning only seven out of 19 matches. They lost series in Bangladesh, West Indies, and England. Their lone series win came against New Zealand.Head-to-Head Record:India holds a dominant edge in the head-to-head record against Pakistan, winning 11 out of 14 matches. At the Asia Cup, India has won five out of six encounters. However, Pakistan emerged victorious in their last meeting at the 2022 Asia Cup in Sylhet.Players to Watch:For India, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma are key players. Mandhana is a prolific run-scorer with over 3300 T20I runs, while Verma is a destructive opener with a high strike rate.Pakistan's star is captain Nida Dar, an all-rounder who contributes with both bat and ball. Sidra Amin has also been in impressive form, scoring 205 runs in eight innings this year.Broadcast Information:In India and Sri Lanka, the Women's Asia Cup 2024 will be telecast on the Star Sports Network. Live streaming will be available on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website in India.Conclusion:The India vs Pakistan match at the Women's T20 Asia Cup 2024 promises to be a thrilling encounter. India will be looking to maintain their dominance, while Pakistan will be eager to upset their rivals. With both teams boasting talented players, the match is sure to deliver excitement and drama.

Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana, two of India's most celebrated cricketers, have been honored by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as the "ICC Men's Player of the Month" and "ICC Women's Player of the Month" for June, respectively.Bumrah's exceptional performance in the T20 World Cup, where he claimed 15 wickets and was named Player of the Tournament, earned him the men's award. He was instrumental in India's historic triumph, becoming the first team to win the tournament without losing a single game.Mandhana, on the other hand, played a pivotal role in India's ODI series sweep over South Africa. She scored 343 runs at an average of 114.33, including two centuries, and was named Player of the Series. Her consistent batting helped India secure a comfortable victory in the three-match series.Bumrah expressed his delight at receiving the award, stating, "It's a special honor for me following a memorable few weeks spent in the USA and West Indies. We have had a lot to celebrate as a team, and I'm delighted to be able to add this personal accolade to the list."Mandhana also expressed her gratitude, saying, "I'm really glad to have won the ICC Women's Player of the Month for June. I'm really happy with the way the team has performed and I'm happy to have contributed."Both Bumrah and Mandhana have been praised for their exceptional skills and dedication to the sport. Their performances have not only brought glory to India but have also inspired aspiring cricketers around the world.

Indian women's cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana and music composer Palash Muchhal have sparked dating rumors for years, but their recent social media posts have seemingly confirmed their relationship. On Instagram, Muchhal shared a series of photos with Mandhana, celebrating their 5th anniversary with a cake. The caption simply featured the number "5" and a heart emoji.Mandhana's rumored boyfriend, Muchhal, is a 29-year-old music composer and filmmaker. His sister, Palak Muchhal, is a renowned Bollywood singer. Palash has composed over 40 music videos and directed a web series and a film.Mandhana, on the other hand, is a 27-year-old cricketer who holds the record as the most expensive player in Women's Premier League history. She was acquired by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Women's team) for a staggering Rs 3 crore 40 lakh.The couple's anniversary post has garnered much attention on social media. Palak Muchhal commented, "My cuties," while actor Parth Samthan and Rubina Dilaik also expressed their support.Earlier, Muchhal had shared a video of Mandhana learning to play the piano under his tutelage. The couple's public display of affection has fueled speculation that they are indeed in a relationship.While neither Mandhana nor Muchhal has officially confirmed their relationship, their social media posts and the reactions from their friends and family suggest that they are more than just friends. The couple's fans are eagerly awaiting further updates on their rumored romance.

India's Women's Asia Cup title defense will rely on a familiar core group. The squad selected for the tournament mirrors the 17-member roster currently facing South Africa in the ongoing T20I series, with Amanjot Kaur and Shabnam Shakil being the only omissions.Shweta Sehrawat, Saika Ishaque, Tanuja Kanwar, and Meghna Singh will serve as traveling reserves as India embarks on its journey to Sri Lanka, the host nation and the team they defeated in the 2022 edition.India's batting lineup boasts a formidable top order, featuring the explosive Shafali Verma and the experienced Smriti Mandhana, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur providing stability in the middle order. Richa Ghosh and Uma Chetry will share wicketkeeping duties.Pooja Vastrakar and Deepti Sharma's all-round abilities offer versatility to the team management, allowing them to adjust the XI based on conditions. India's first match in the Asia Cup will be against arch-rivals Pakistan on July 19. They will also face UAE and Nepal in the group stage, aiming to secure a spot in the knockout rounds.Dambulla will host all 15 matches of the tournament, including the semi-finals and the final. The Asia Cup serves as a crucial preparation for India ahead of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year.

South Africa's tour of India has been a tale of dominance for the hosts, who have swept the ODIs and Test match. As the series shifts to the T20I format, South Africa will look to salvage some pride and pose a challenge to the formidable Indian team.The Unstoppable MandhanaSmriti Mandhana has been in scintillating form throughout the series, amassing a staggering 492 runs across formats. Her ability to convert starts into big scores has been a key factor in India's success. South Africa will need to find a way to contain her if they want to have any chance of winning.The Wolvaardt-Kapp ThreatLaura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp are South Africa's most dangerous players. Wolvaardt has been in excellent form with the bat, while Kapp is a threat with both bat and ball. India will need to keep a close eye on these two if they want to maintain their dominance.Tryon's ReturnChloe Tryon is back in the South African team after missing the ODI and Test legs of the tour. The all-rounder is a valuable asset to her side, providing both batting and bowling options. Her experience in Indian conditions could also prove to be an advantage.Radha's Road to RedemptionRadha Yadav has been a key performer for India in the shortest format. She has learnt to harness her aggression and has showcased better control and accuracy of late. With South Africa's batting line-up stacked with right-handers, Radha could be a threat on the spin-friendly Chepauk surface.Recent FormIndia come into the series on the back of a 5-0 sweep of Bangladesh, while South Africa have struggled to get more wins in this format. However, the T20I format is unpredictable, and South Africa will be hoping to upset the odds.Pitch and ConditionsThe MA Chidambaram Stadium has traditionally been a high-scoring ground, but the recent Test match saw the Indian spinners dominate. The pitch is expected to be spin-friendly, which could favor India's bowling attack.

The recently concluded one-off Test between India and South Africa in Lucknow highlighted the compelling case for more international Tests in the women's game. The match showcased a captivating blend of individual brilliance, gritty performances, and challenging conditions.India's batting prowess was on full display as Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana slammed a double century and a century, respectively, setting the tone for the game. Off-spinner Sneh Rana emerged as the match-winner, claiming a historic maiden ten-wicket haul (ten for 188). Her career-best figures of eight for 77 in the first innings included five of the last six wickets on the third morning.Despite India's comprehensive 10-wicket victory, the match was far from one-sided. The South Africans, despite not playing any multi-day games at home, showed remarkable resilience. After conceding a massive 337-run lead in the first innings, they fought back valiantly in the second.Skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus led the charge with valiant centuries. The Proteas adopted a patient approach, adjusting to the slow nature of the surface and playing on the backfoot. They managed to overhaul India's deficit by 36 runs, forcing the game into the final session on the last day.While India's dominance in Tests was underscored with their third win in seven months, South Africa's performance served as a reminder of the importance of investing in the longer format. The match provided a platform for both teams to showcase their skills and highlighted the need for more competitive opportunities in women's Test cricket.

The Indian women's cricket team made history on the opening day of the Test match against South Africa, scoring a mammoth 525 for the loss of four wickets. This was the most runs scored by any team in a day's play in Test history, surpassing the previous record of 509 set by Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in 2022.Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana led the charge for India, scoring 205 and 149 respectively. Verma's double century was the highest individual score by an Indian woman in Test cricket, while Mandhana's century was her second in the format.South African spinner Delmi Tucker was the most successful bowler for the Proteas, taking two wickets for 141 runs. However, she praised the Indian batters for their stunning performance."We will look back and refresh today, sit down and have discussions about tomorrow. Nothing taking away from their (Indian) batters today; they were phenomenal," Tucker said.The pitch was expected to be spin-friendly, but it played more like a batting paradise on Friday. Misfields and overthrows also added to South Africa's woes.Tucker admitted that the visitors could not execute their strategies well on the day, but she remained optimistic about their chances in the remaining days of the Test."We did try a few things when Smriti and Verma were batting. We switched to around the wicket and changed the field. We were happy with it for some time, but they took it away," she said."We could have definitely been better on the field. Yeah, it's hot out there. Also, overthrows and misfields are not the best of things. But, staying positive and sharp could help in avoiding those misfields."The South African women do not have a proper red-ball setup back home, which has made their task tougher. However, Tucker said they are still learning and improving."We (SA Women) are still young (in) Test cricket, so we are still getting used to it. It's tough unlike T20s and ODIs, but we are still learning," she said."I don't think we did too bad. We did our homework and we knew what was coming."

Smriti Mandhana Slips in ICC ODI Rankings, Harmanpreet Kaur RisesSmriti Mandhana, India's vice-captain, has dropped one position to fourth in the latest ICC women's ODI batting rankings, while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has climbed two spots to ninth. Mandhana, with 738 rating points, maintains her top 10 position after an impressive performance against South Africa, amassing 343 runs in the three-match series.South Africa's captain Laura Wolvaardt continues her ascent towards the top spot, jumping three places to second. She now trails England's No.1 ranked batter Nat Sciver-Brunt by just 16 rating points. Wolvaardt's brilliant unbeaten 135 in the second game of the series in Bengaluru was a standout performance, which she followed up with a solid 65 in the final match.Marizanne Kapp, Wolvaardt's teammate, climbs two spots to seventh on the ODI batters list, while Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues (up four places to 29th) also makes progress after solid performances against South Africa.In the ODI bowlers rankings, South Africa spinner Nonkululek Mlaba (up five places to joint 22nd) makes significant strides following her four wickets in the series against India. Sri Lankan players Kavisha Dilhari (up eight places to 34th) and Udeshika Prabodhani (up six spots to 22nd) also improve their rankings after impressive performances in their series against the West Indies. India's Deepti Sharma, however, remains unchanged at the fourth position with 671 rating points.

India's 3-0 ODI series sweep against South Africa has provided a timely boost to the team's preparations for the T20 World Cup later this year. The series not only erased the bitter memories of the 0-3 loss to Australia earlier this year but also allowed the team to assess players' form, fitness, and overall fielding standards.Smriti Mandhana emerged as the star of the series, scoring a remarkable 117, 136, and 90 in her three outings. Her exceptional strokeplay and remarkable endurance, having spent 122.3 overs at the crease out of India's total of 140.4, were highly impressive.Captain Harmanpreet Kaur also returned to form, scoring a brilliant century in the second match, her first since September 2022. However, the form of Shafali Verma, who managed only 52 runs in three innings, raised concerns.India experimented with D. Hemalatha and Priya Punia at No. 3, a move that is likely to continue in the upcoming T20Is against South Africa. The series also witnessed promising ODI debuts for leg-spinner Asha Sobhana and pacer Arundhati Reddy.Asha, 33, made an immediate impact, taking a four-wicket haul in her first outing. Arundhati, 27, who has played 26 T20Is since her debut in 2018, also impressed with her bowling, particularly in the second ODI, where she bowled the penultimate over and helped India secure a narrow four-run victory.One of the most heartening aspects of the series was India's improved ground fielding. Jemimah Rodrigues was particularly impressive, saving more runs than the margin of victory in the second game. Coach Amol Muzumdar expressed his satisfaction with the team's fielding efforts, emphasizing the importance of saving runs.The 3-0 sweep has provided India with a solid foundation as they prepare for the T20 World Cup. The team will now play three T20Is against South Africa in Chennai before participating in the inter-zonal multi-day tournament. These matches will offer further opportunities to evaluate players and fine-tune their preparations for the global event.