Cricket

In the upcoming third T20 International against Zimbabwe in Harare, India faces a dilemma in selecting their opening batsman. Abhishek Sharma, with his aggressive style, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, known for his flamboyant batting, are both vying for the spot.With the return of Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Shivam Dube from the World Cup-winning squad, India's lineup will be strengthened. Jaiswal, with his impressive strike rate of 161 plus in 17 T20I matches, has a strong claim to open alongside skipper Shubman Gill.However, Sharma's century in his second game has also made a strong case for his inclusion. Captain Gill is unlikely to drop Jaiswal, his close friend, but it's possible that one of the left-handers will bat first.Samson, who bats third for Rajasthan Royals, may move to number five, while Ruturaj Gaikwad is likely to bat at number four. Jaiswal is expected to replace B Sai Sudharsan, while Samson will take over from Dhruv Jurel behind the stumps. Dube is likely to replace Riyan Parag, adding depth to India's batting lineup.Zimbabwe's batting has been inconsistent, with scores of 115 and 134 in the first two matches. Spinners Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar have been particularly effective on the Harare Sports Club pitch.India learned a valuable lesson from their 13-run loss in the first game and performed admirably in the second game. Captain Gill will be looking for a strong result, and the absence of express pace bowlers in the Zimbabwean squad could be a concern for the home team.

India's opening batter Abhishek Sharma etched his name in history with a blistering century as the visitors crushed Zimbabwe by 100 runs in the second T20I in Harare on Sunday.Sharma, playing only his second T20I, smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 47 deliveries, becoming the first Indian to score a century in the shortest format outside India. His knock was studded with seven fours and eight sixes, laying the foundation for India's mammoth total of 234 for 2.Ruturaj Gaikwad (77 not out) and Rinku Singh (48 not out) provided valuable support to Sharma, ensuring India posted a formidable target.In response, Zimbabwe's chase was derailed by the brilliance of Avesh Khan (3 for 15) and Ravi Bishnoi (2 for 11). The hosts were bowled out for a paltry 134, handing India a comprehensive victory.Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza acknowledged India's dominance, stating, "The world champions will eventually play like world champions." He admitted that his team's fielding lapses and inability to capitalize on batting opportunities proved costly.Despite the loss, Raza praised the fighting spirit of his batters, particularly Blessing Muzarabani, who impressed with his bowling. He also highlighted the need for improvement in batting consistency and experience.The victory leveled the five-match series 1-1, setting up an intriguing contest in the remaining three matches.

India's young opener Abhishek Sharma has emerged as a rising star in the cricketing world, showcasing his immense talent and determination. After making his international debut in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, Sharma has quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with.Despite a disappointing start with a duck in his first T20I, Sharma bounced back with a remarkable maiden century in the second game, guiding India to a resounding 100-run victory. His blistering 47-ball 100 was a testament to his exceptional batting skills and ability to handle pressure.Sharma's success is not solely attributed to his natural talent but also to the unwavering support and guidance of his mentor, Yuvraj Singh. The legendary all-rounder has played a pivotal role in shaping Sharma's career, both on and off the field."He's been very happy and proud just like my family," Sharma said of Yuvraj's reaction to his century. "It's all because of him as well, the hard work he has put in (shaping) me."Sharma's impressive performance in Zimbabwe has not only earned him praise from his mentor but also from the Indian cricket fraternity. Captain KL Rahul hailed Sharma's "special knock" and praised his ability to "take the game away from the opposition."The young opener's success is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and the support of his mentors. As he continues to develop his skills and gain experience, Abhishek Sharma is poised to become a key player for India in the years to come.

India's young team, led by Shubman Gill, bounced back from their opening defeat in the T20I series against Zimbabwe with a resounding 100-run victory in the second match in Harare.The visitors posted a formidable 234 for 2, thanks to a blistering century from Abhishek Sharma (100 off 47) and a solid 77 not out from Ruturaj Gaikwad (77 off 47). Rinku Singh provided the late fireworks with an unbeaten 48 off 22.Gill praised the efforts of Sharma and Gaikwad, who shared a 137-run partnership for the second wicket. "With the way Abhishek and Rutu batted, it was not easy, especially in the powerplay, with the ball moving around. But Abhi and Rutu built the innings brilliantly," he said.Zimbabwe's chase never got going, as they were bowled out for 134 in 18.4 overs. Wessly Madhevere top-scored with 43, while Avesh Khan (3 for 15), Mukesh Kumar (3 for 37), and Ravi Bishnoi (2 for 11) shared the wickets for India.Gill admitted that his team had struggled to handle the pressure in the first match but learned from their mistakes. "Yesterday, it was more about not being able to handle the pressure. It's a young side and many of them are new to international exposure. It was actually good to have pressure in the first game and we knew what to expect coming into this game," he said.The victory levels the series at 1-1, with three matches remaining. Gill expressed optimism about his team's chances, saying, "We have got three matches to go and we are looking forward to them. It's always good to have more options rather than not having options."

Abhishek Sharma, the Indian opener, has revealed that he used the bat of his childhood friend and current captain, Shubman Gill, in the second T20I against Zimbabwe. Sharma credited the bat as a "lucky charm" in a "pressure game" for him.After being dismissed for naught in the first match, Sharma hammered seven fours and eight sixes in his even hundred, laying the foundation for India's comprehensive 100-run win. He described his journey with Gill as "beautiful," starting from the under-12 category."It has been quite beautiful, starting as kids of 11-12 years. Yeah, we are playing together from Under-12. When I was selected for the country, the first call I received was from Shubman," said Sharma in the post-match press meet.Sharma said playing with Gill's bat has been a practice that he follows from the age-group cricket. "Today, I played with his bat, so special thanks to the bat. It happened from the under-12 days, as whenever I play a pressure game I ask him for a bat. It had happened in the IPL as well. Today was no exception as it went well as it usually happens," said Sharma.The left-hander also thanked former India batter Yuvraj Singh and his own father for the fearless cricket that he was able to play now. "Yuvi paaji (Yuvraj Singh) has made a big contribution. I don't consider myself as sixer-king or something like that. Special thanks to my dad for allowing me to play lofted shots. Generally, coaches don't allow a young batter to hit lofted shots. But my dad always said if you wanted to play a lofted shot then it should go out of the ground. So, I wanted to follow that," he elaborated.Despite the pressure of making his T20I international debut in the first game, Sharma remained composed. "I think the IPL plays a big role in this (handling pressure). We did not feel much pressure when we came here to represent the country as debutants. Unfortunately, we didn't start well in the first match. But my mindset and approach were pretty much similar – to show the right intent."Sharma was ousted in the opening over itself for a four-ball duck in the first match. But for him, it was not enough to transform his mindset or approach. "This is my game and I will go for the shot from the first ball if it's there in my slot. If it's my day then it works out, and if it does not, then I don't mind. I practice a lot for this mindset," he said.However, Sharma said he implemented his gameplan much better in the second match. "Of course, my execution was better today than yesterday. I was just calculating the risk that I should take in the first over, or whether to play according to the merit of the ball. Whenever I get boundaries or sixes in the first few balls then I believe that it's my day," he signed off.

Persistent rain washed out the second women's T20 International between India and South Africa in Chennai on July 8, leaving the visitors with a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. India must now win the third and final T20I on Tuesday (July 9) to avoid a rare home series defeat.The match began 15 minutes late due to rain, which continued to interrupt play throughout South Africa's innings. However, the heavens opened during the innings break, forcing both teams to remain in their dressing rooms.As the overs began to dwindle, the nagging drizzle made it impossible to meet the cut-off time for a five-over-a-side contest, prompting the umpires to abandon the match.Earlier, Tazmin Brits played a measured half-century as South Africa overcame some mid-innings jitters to post a challenging 177 for six after being asked to bat first. Brits (52 off 39 balls) received solid support from Anneke Bosch (40 off 32 balls), helping the Proteas reach their second-highest T20I total against India.Openers Laura Wolvaardt (22 off 12 balls) and Brits put on a 42-run opening stand before pacer Pooja Vastrakar dismissed Wolvaardt in the fifth over. Brits continued her brisk scoring alongside Marizanne Kapp (20 off 14 balls), as they accumulated 66 runs during the powerplay.Brits reached her 11th T20I half-century, but her partnership with Bosch ended at 38 when Deepti Sharma dismissed her in the 14th over, with the score reading 113 for three.The Indian bowlers, particularly the spinners, kept the South Africans in check, forcing them to use sweep shots frequently. Vastrakar bowled the final over and dismissed Nadine de Klerk (14 off 9 balls), but Jemimah Rodrigues dropped Annerie Dercksen (12 not out), who punished the Indians with three fours in a row off the last three balls of the innings.Vastrakar and Deepti claimed two wickets each for the hosts.

India's women's cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, faced off against South Africa in the second T20I match of their three-match series in Chennai on July 7. South Africa had won the first match, giving them a 1-0 lead in the series.India made one change to their lineup, bringing in wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry in place of Richa Ghosh, who had suffered a concussion in the previous match. South Africa, on the other hand, fielded an unchanged eleven.India won the toss and elected to bowl first. The South African openers, Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, got off to a solid start, putting on a 40-run partnership before Wolvaardt was dismissed by Deepti Sharma for 21. Brits continued to anchor the innings, scoring a well-paced 44 off 40 balls.Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tryon then took over the scoring duties, adding 46 runs for the third wicket. Kapp played a blistering knock of 34 off 22 balls, while Tryon contributed with a steady 22 off 25 balls.Nadine de Klerk and Anneke Bosch provided some late fireworks, scoring 18 and 16 runs respectively, to help South Africa post a competitive total of 147/6 in their allotted 20 overs.In response, India's batting lineup struggled to get going. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana were dismissed cheaply, leaving India reeling at 12/2. Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma tried to steady the ship, but both fell in quick succession, leaving India in a precarious position at 43/4.Harmanpreet Kaur and Pooja Vastrakar then put on a brief partnership of 26 runs, but both were dismissed within a span of three overs, leaving India's hopes hanging by a thread.Arundhati Reddy and S Sajana showed some resistance in the lower order, but their efforts were not enough as India fell short by 27 runs, losing the match by 120/9.South Africa's Ayabonga Khaka was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/19 in her four overs. Nonkululeko Mlaba and Sinalo Jafta also chipped in with two wickets each.With this victory, South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The final match of the series will be played on July 9 in Chennai.

India, facing a must-win situation to keep the T20I series alive against South Africa, opted to bowl first after winning the toss in a rain-affected Chennai. The hosts made several changes to their lineup, with Richa Ghosh ruled out due to a head injury sustained in the series opener.In Ghosh's absence, 21-year-old Uma Chetry made her international debut as wicketkeeper, becoming the second female Assamese cricketer to represent India. Arundhati Reddy replaced pace spearhead Renuka Singh, while Sajeevan Sajana was given an opportunity at No. 3 in place of D Hemalatha.India's bowling department also underwent a tweak, with allrounder Shreyanka Patil replacing legspinner Asha Sobhana to join the three-pronged spin attack. South Africa, on the other hand, fielded an unchanged XI from their victory on Friday.

Abhishek Sharma's blistering century in his second T20I match against Zimbabwe has etched his name in the annals of Indian cricket history. The 23-year-old left-hander not only became the highest scorer for India against Zimbabwe in T20Is but also set a new record for the quickest century by an Indian batsman in this format, achieved in just two innings.Sharma's century came off just 46 balls, studded with seven fours and eight sixes. He reached his milestone with three consecutive sixes, scoring his first 50 runs in 33 balls and his next 50 in a mere 13 balls. His aggressive batting put immense pressure on Zimbabwe's bowlers, who struggled to contain his onslaught.With this knock, Sharma has joined an elite list of young Indians to score a century in T20Is. He is now the fourth-fastest Indian to reach this milestone, behind Deepak Hooda (three innings), KL Rahul (four innings), and Suresh Raina (five innings).Sharma's innings was particularly impressive considering the pressure he was under. India had lost Shubman Gill early in the innings, and the onus was on him to provide stability and momentum. He did so with aplomb, taking the attack to the Zimbabwean bowlers from the outset.His partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad flourished, crossing the 100-run mark. Gaikwad played a supporting role, rotating the strike effectively and allowing Sharma to dominate the proceedings.Sharma's innings came to a dramatic end when he tried to cut Wellington Masakadza and edged the ball to Dion Myers. However, his contribution had already secured India a comfortable victory.Sharma's century is a testament to his talent and potential. He has shown that he has the ability to play with aggression and flair, and he could be a valuable asset to the Indian team in the future.