Cricket

Dion Myers' return to international cricket has been a revelation for the Zimbabwean batter. After taking a break to pursue his university studies in the UK, Myers has returned with a renewed perspective and a hunger to succeed.In his third international innings upon his return, Myers struck an unbeaten 65 off 49 balls against a formidable Indian side. It was a performance that showcased his talent and determination, and it has given Zimbabwe fans hope for the future."Over the last few years, there's been a lot of self-introspection," Myers said. "Watching a lot of cricket, along with my own training, helps you see what you can achieve or what you can do better to give to the team. The time away from the game was a blessing in disguise."Myers' absence from the Zimbabwean team has coincided with the retirement of several senior players, including Sean Williams and Craig Ervine. This has created an opportunity for young players like Myers and Clive Madande to step up and take on leadership roles.In the third T20I against India, Myers and Madande formed a crucial 77-run partnership that helped Zimbabwe recover from a precarious position. Myers was particularly impressive against spin, taking Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, and Abhishek Sharma for a combined 44 off 31 balls."It was the sort of wicket where you couldn't really come in straightaway and start going at 150-200 strike rate," Myers said. "I just tried to play it my way, hitting it on the ground early on, and as the innings goes on, you pick more areas of the ground."Myers' return to form has been a welcome boost for Zimbabwe, who are looking to rebuild their team after a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign. With his talent, experience, and leadership qualities, Myers is poised to play a key role in Zimbabwe's future success.

India's tour of Sri Lanka in late July and early August will mark a significant milestone for both teams as they embark on a new era under their respective head coaches. The series will comprise three T20Is and as many ODIs, providing an opportunity for both sides to assess their progress and prepare for upcoming challenges.The tour will commence with back-to-back T20Is on July 26 and 27 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The action will then shift to the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo for the ODI series, which will begin on August 1. Each ODI will be separated by a two-day gap.For India, this series will be the first assignment under the leadership of newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir, a former India opener, will be tasked with continuing the team's success following their triumph at the T20 World Cup 2024 under Rahul Dravid.Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be guided by interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya. Jayasuriya, a legendary all-rounder, will be aiming to revive Sri Lanka's fortunes after their disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup.India's last tour of Sri Lanka in July 2021 saw them emerge victorious in the ODI series (2-1) while Sri Lanka claimed the T20Is by the same margin. This time around, both teams will be eager to prove their mettle and establish themselves as contenders in the international arena.The T20I series will be India's second since their T20 World Cup triumph, following their ongoing tour of Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from their early exit from the T20 World Cup and showcase their talent in front of their home crowd.With a mix of experienced and emerging players in both squads, the India-Sri Lanka series promises to be an exciting and competitive affair. The matches will provide valuable insights into the teams' strengths and weaknesses as they prepare for future challenges, including the upcoming ODI World Cup in 2026.

Avesh Khan Lauds Shubman Gill's Leadership as "Bowler's Captain"India's fast bowler Avesh Khan has heaped praise on captain Shubman Gill, describing him as a "bowler's captain" who provides immense support and freedom to his bowlers. Khan's comments come after India's 23-run victory over Zimbabwe in the third T20I match in Harare, where he played a crucial role with figures of 2 for 39.Gill's leadership style has been instrumental in Khan's success in the series, with the captain granting him the autonomy to set his own fields and execute his plans. "Shubman Gill is a bowler's captain. He gives a lot of freedom to the bowlers. He gives them a chance to set their own fields. He always backs you if you are executing your plans," Khan said in a post-match interview with Sony Sports.Khan also highlighted Gill's ability to intervene with his own plans when necessary, providing valuable guidance and support. "If things go slightly awry and you get hit, he brings his own plan and tells you what needs to be done. That always helps a lot. He has contributed to me getting one or two wickets," Khan added.Khan's praise for Gill's leadership is a testament to the positive and supportive environment he has created within the team. This has allowed Khan to thrive and showcase his skills, contributing significantly to India's success in the series.In addition to his leadership qualities, Gill has also impressed with his batting performances. In the third T20I, he top-scored with a 49-ball 66, setting a challenging target of 183 for Zimbabwe. His innings laid the foundation for India's victory and helped them take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.Khan's own performances have been equally impressive, with the fast bowler securing six wickets at an economy rate of 7.54 in the first three games. His best performance came in the second game, where he achieved figures of 3/15, contributing significantly to India's 100-run victory.With two more matches remaining in the series, India will be looking to maintain their momentum and secure a series victory. Khan's bowling and Gill's leadership will be crucial to their success, as they aim to continue their dominance over Zimbabwe.

India's young guns, led by skipper Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad, put on a batting masterclass before the bowlers stepped up to secure a comfortable 23-run victory over Zimbabwe in the third T20I in Harare.Gill, who has been in scintillating form throughout the series, once again led the charge with a fluent 66 off 49 deliveries. The right-hander struck seven boundaries and two sixes, setting the tone for India's innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal, making his T20I debut, also impressed with a brisk 36 off 27 balls, while Gaikwad chipped in with a valuable 49 off 28 deliveries.Zimbabwe's bowlers struggled to contain India's aggressive batting, with Blessing Muzarabani being the only exception. The tall pacer extracted extra bounce from the pitch and finished with figures of 2/25.In response, Zimbabwe's chase got off to a shaky start as Avesh Khan removed opener Wessly Madhevere in the second over. The home team continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, with Washington Sundar and Avesh Khan sharing five wickets between them.Dion Myers provided some resistance with a gritty 65* off 49 balls, but his efforts were not enough to prevent Zimbabwe from falling short of the target. Clive Madande also contributed with a useful 37 off 26 deliveries, but the Indian bowlers maintained their discipline to restrict the hosts to 159/6.The victory gives India a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, with the next game scheduled for Saturday, July 13. The young Indian team has shown great resilience and adaptability throughout the series, and they will be confident of sealing the series in the upcoming matches.

Indian spinner Ravi Bishnoi showcased his exceptional fielding skills during the third T20I encounter against Zimbabwe, leaving fans and experts in awe. In the third over of Zimbabwe's innings, Brian Bennett attempted a powerful shot towards backward point, but Bishnoi was perfectly positioned and leaped into the air to grab the ball with both hands, completing a sensational dismissal. The video of the dismissal has gone viral, highlighting Bishnoi's athleticism and quick reflexes.India's batting lineup also impressed, with Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ruturaj Gaikwad contributing to a total of 182 for four against Zimbabwe. Gill led the charge with a stroke-filled 66 off 49 deliveries, while Jaiswal (36 off 27) and Gaikwad (49 off 28) provided valuable support.Zimbabwe's fielding was a major concern, as they conceded extra runs and dropped catches throughout India's innings. Pacer Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets for 25 runs.Despite the fielding lapses, Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza impressed with the ball, dismissing Jaiswal and Abhishek Sharma. However, Gaikwad's ability to rotate the strike and hit boundaries in the middle overs helped India maintain a healthy run rate.With the series already in India's favor, the fourth T20I will be played on Friday, July 12, in Harare. India will be looking to complete a clean sweep, while Zimbabwe will be determined to salvage some pride.

India, led by Shubman Gill, elected to bat first in the third and final T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare. The decision came after Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza expressed his preference for bowling first, citing the pitch conditions.India made three changes to their lineup, welcoming back Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Shivam Dube, who were part of India's T20 World Cup-winning squad. They replaced B Sai Sudharsan, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel. Mukesh Sharma was also brought in for Khaleel Ahmed.Zimbabwe, on the other hand, made two changes. Richard Ngarava returned to the side in place of Luke Jongwe, while Tadiwanashe Marumani replaced the injured Innocent Kaia.The series is currently tied at 1-1, with Zimbabwe winning the first match and India dominating the second.

India's women's cricket team displayed an exceptional performance in the third T20I against South Africa, securing a comprehensive 10-wicket victory. Opting to bowl first, India's bowlers, led by Pooja Vastrakar and Radha Yadav, put on a dominant display, restricting South Africa to a mere 84 runs in 17.1 overs.Pooja Vastrakar was the star of the show, claiming four wickets for just 13 runs, while Radha Yadav chipped in with three wickets for six runs. Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, and Deepti Sharma also contributed with a wicket each.South Africa's batting lineup struggled to cope with India's disciplined bowling attack. Tazmim Brits top-scored for the visitors with a 23-ball 20, while Anneke Bosch and Marizanne Kapp made 17 and 10, respectively.In response, India's openers, Shafali Varma and Smriti Mandhana, made light work of the target, scoring 88 runs without losing a wicket in just 10.5 overs. Shafali Varma contributed 27 runs, while Smriti Mandhana remained unbeaten on 54, guiding India to a comfortable victory.The win leveled the three-match series 1-1, with the final T20I scheduled to be played on Thursday. India will be looking to secure the series victory, while South Africa will be determined to bounce back and force a decider.

India and South Africa faced off in the second T20I in Chennai, with the hosts opting to bowl first after winning the toss. The decision was in line with South Africa's preference, as captain Laura Wolvaardt also expressed her desire to bat first.Both teams fielded unchanged lineups from the previous match, which was washed out due to rain. South Africa had posted a formidable 177/6 in that game, thanks to half-centuries from Tazmin Brits and Anneke Bosch.India, on the other hand, continued to miss the services of wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who was ruled out due to a concussion. Assam's Uma Chetry once again took her place behind the stumps.For South Africa, this match marked their final outing before the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. A victory would provide them with a much-needed boost after a disappointing tour that included losses in the ODI series and the one-off Test.India, meanwhile, will travel to Sri Lanka next week to participate in the Asia Cup.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, the rising star of Indian cricket, acknowledges the daunting task of filling the void left by Virat Kohli's retirement from the number three position in T20Is. Recognizing the immense legacy of the legendary batsman, Gaikwad emphasizes the importance of focusing on his own contributions rather than attempting to replicate Kohli's achievements.Despite the departure of experienced players like Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja from the T20 format, Gaikwad remains unfazed. He believes that this transition presents opportunities for emerging talents like himself to step up and make a mark. With his impressive batting skills, Gaikwad has the potential to secure the number three spot in the batting order.However, Gaikwad is not fixated on a specific batting position. He is willing to adapt to any role that the team management assigns him. His primary focus is on making significant contributions to the team's success, regardless of where he bats.In the initial two T20Is against Zimbabwe, Gaikwad has been entrusted with the crucial number three spot. However, he clarifies that he has no specific preference regarding his batting position. He believes that there is not much difference between opening and batting at number three, as both roles require facing the new ball.Gaikwad's experience as captain of the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has enhanced his involvement in the game. He feels more responsible and engaged, but emphasizes that this added responsibility has not impacted his batting performance.Abhishek Sharma, a young opening batsman, recently praised Gaikwad's guidance and support during his explosive century in the second T20I match against Zimbabwe. Gaikwad highlights the importance of communication and sharing insights with batting partners to maintain a balanced outlook and make informed decisions during matches.