Cricket

In a thrilling moment of deja vu, South African star batter David Miller's dismissal by Hardik Pandya during the 3rd T20I between India and South Africa on Wednesday evoked memories of the 2024 T20 World Cup final.Miller, attempting to pull a short delivery from Pandya in the 16th over, was caught spectacularly by Axar Patel at the boundary. This catch mirrored the iconic moment in the World Cup final where Miller was dismissed by Suryakumar Yadav in a similar fashion, sealing India's victory by seven runs.Pandya's bowling and fielding unit once again proved their mettle, with Axar's athleticism making up for an earlier dropped catch. His effort not only dismissed Miller but also curbed South Africa's scoring momentum.Pandya's impact as a game-changer shone through yet again as India won by a narrow margin of 11 runs, successfully defending their 219-run total. This win strengthened India's momentum on tour, giving them a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.The Men in Blue will take on the Proteas for the fourth and final T20I on Friday at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, aiming to seal the series victory.

India's young pacer Arshdeep Singh has emerged as a crucial cog in the team's T20I setup, showcasing his composure and skill under pressure. In the recently concluded third T20I against South Africa in Centurion, Arshdeep played a pivotal role in India's thrilling 11-run victory, dismissing the dangerous Marco Jansen in the final over to secure the win.Jansen had given India a scare, smashing the fastest T20I fifty ever recorded against them, reaching the milestone in just 16 balls. His late blitz, including 26 runs off Hardik Pandya in the penultimate over, brought South Africa within touching distance of a miraculous win. However, Arshdeep's calm and accurate bowling in the final over, where he took Jansen's wicket, ensured India held on for the victory.Arshdeep's impressive performance in the match earned him a new milestone—he became the leading wicket-taker among Indian pacers in T20Is, surpassing Bhuvneshwar Kumar's 90 wickets. Arshdeep achieved the feat in just 59 matches, significantly fewer than the 87 games it took Bhuvneshwar to take his 90 wickets.With 92 wickets, Arshdeep is now second overall in India's all-time T20I wicket-takers list, trailing only Yuzvendra Chahal, who has 96 wickets in 80 matches. Arshdeep has a chance to overtake Chahal in the final T20I match of the series, to be held in Johannesburg on Friday.Arshdeep's rise to prominence has been remarkable. He made his T20I debut in July 2022 and has quickly established himself as a reliable and effective bowler. His ability to swing the ball both ways and bowl at good pace makes him a potent threat to opposition batters.In the match against South Africa, India posted a massive 219/6 after being put into bat, thanks to Tilak Varma's sensational century (107 off 56 balls) and Abhishek Sharma's quickfire 50 off 25 deliveries. South Africa's chase faltered early, but Jansen's late heroics kept them in the hunt until Arshdeep's final over settled the contest, cementing his status as one of India's finest T20 bowlers.

The third T20I between India and South Africa in Centurion witnessed an extraordinary interruption due to a swarm of insects. After India posted a formidable target of 220, the match was halted when Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks scored seven runs in an over. The delay lasted over 30 minutes as groundsmen frantically attempted to clear the field of the insects, which commentators identified as "flying ants."The bizarre incident sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with users expressing amusement and disbelief. The match resumed after the insects were cleared, but the delay had a significant impact on the game's momentum.Earlier, Tilak Varma had propelled India to a massive total with a scintillating unbeaten century. Promoted to number three, Varma unleashed a barrage of boundaries, smashing eight fours and seven sixes in his 107-run knock. His maiden T20I century made him the second-youngest Indian batter to achieve the feat.Abhishek Sharma provided valuable support to Varma, contributing a 25-ball fifty. The duo shared a 107-run partnership for the second wicket, targeting the short square boundaries during the Powerplay.South Africa's bowlers struggled to contain the Indian onslaught, with Andile Simelane and Keshav Maharaj claiming two wickets each. However, the insect invasion proved to be the most unexpected and memorable moment of the match.

Sanju Samson's recent batting performances have been a tale of two extremes. After a remarkable run of form with consecutive hundreds, the Indian batter has unexpectedly found himself on the opposite end of the spectrum, recording back-to-back ducks.The shift in performance has taken fans by surprise, as Samson was previously celebrated for his consistent and impactful scoring. During the second match of the series at Gqeberha, Samson's stumps were rattled by fast bowler Marco Jansen. The wicketkeeper-batsman struggled against the left-arm quick Jansen, who dismissed him in a similar fashion during the third encounter on Wednesday.In contrast, Samson's performance in the first game of the series in Durban was nothing short of explosive. He delivered an impressive 107 off just 50 balls, striking at an impressive rate of 214.00. His innings featured seven fours and ten towering sixes.Prior to this, Samson had scored his maiden T20I century against Bangladesh in the third and final match in Hyderabad last month. In the process, Samson, who got to his hundred in 40 balls, also surpassed skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who did it in 45 balls, to become the second fastest Indian to get to the landmark.Samson's recent struggles have raised questions about his consistency and ability to handle pressure. However, the wicketkeeper-batter remains confident in his abilities. "I feel honestly, I have faced a lot of failures in my career. Actually, I have had more failures than success in my career. When you go through that fear, you tend to doubt yourself a lot. People will say a lot and social media will play its role. But you also think a lot about yourself...," Samson said.The wicketkeeper-batter added that he has shot-making ability against spin and pace. "But with my experience, I know my abilities. If I spend some time on the wicket, I have the shot-making ability against spin and pace. I know I can help the team with my contributions. So I always used to tell myself that, even if you have lows, the upside is also good," he added.It remains to be seen whether Samson can regain his form and help India secure a series victory against South Africa. However, his recent struggles serve as a reminder that even the most talented players can experience setbacks.

South Africa and India faced off in the third T20I of their series at SuperSport Park in Centurion, with the series tied at 1-1. South Africa captain Aiden Markram won the toss for the third consecutive time and opted to chase, a decision that was met with approval from India captain Suryakumar Yadav, who would have also chosen to bat first on the pitch that promised runs.Both teams made changes to their lineups. South Africa brought in Lutho Sipamla, a top performer in the recent CSA domestic T20, to replace legspinner Nqaba Peter, leaving them with only one specialist spinner in Keshav Maharaj. India, on the other hand, handed a debut to Ramandeep Singh, a hard-hitting all-rounder, in place of Avesh Khan.The weather conditions were favorable for play, with no rain expected until later in the evening.South Africa:1. Ryan Rickelton (wk)2. Reeza Hendricks3. Aiden Markram (capt)4. Tristan Stubbs5. Heinrich Klaasen6. David Miller7. Marco Jansen8. Andile Simelane9. Gerald Coetzee10. Keshav Maharaj11. Lutho SipamlaIndia:1. Sanju Samson (wk)2. Abhishek Sharma3. Suryakumar Yadav (capt)4. Tilak Varma5. Hardik Pandya6. Rinku Singh7. Ramandeep Singh8. Axar Patel9. Arshdeep Singh10. Ravi Bishnoi11. Varun Chakravarthy

Australia's recent ODI series loss to Pakistan has sparked criticism, but the upcoming T20I series presents a different challenge. With a focus on building towards the 2026 T20 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, Australia is fielding a diminished side, providing opportunities for emerging players.Josh Inglis, the permanent wicketkeeper, will captain the team, while Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk will open the batting. Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, and Spencer Johnson will bolster the bowling attack.Pakistan, on the other hand, will seek to replicate their ODI bowling success, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf leading the charge. However, they may need to adjust their batting strategy, as Saim Ayub is not included in the squad.Tim David, Australia's T20 gun for hire, will be under scrutiny as he aims to regain his form as a finisher. Babar Azam, Pakistan's star batter, will also be in the spotlight, with his strike rate under examination.Australia will have at least three forced changes from their last T20I, while Pakistan is set to make at least five. The Gabba pitch is expected to provide pace and bounce for the fast bowlers, with the threat of rain and thunderstorms.

Sanju Samson's recent scintillating form in T20 Internationals has solidified his position as India's go-to opener, according to former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik. Samson's promotion to the opening slot by India's new captain Suryakumar Yadav has proven to be a game-changer, with the wicketkeeper-batter delivering consistent performances at the top of the order.Karthik believes that Samson's recent success has cemented his spot as an opener, and that the duo of Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal could be India's opening combination for the foreseeable future in T20Is. "I think he [Samson] has cemented his spot as an opener. Yashasvi Jaiswal and him will be the openers at least for some time to come in the T20 format," Karthik stated.Former India pacer Zaheer Khan highlighted the fierce competition for spots in India's T20I top-order, which he referred to as a "traffic jam" of talented batters from positions 1 to 7. He noted that this depth is a positive sign for the team's future but added that consistent performances will be crucial for players to retain their spots."Performance speaks for itself. Now, from 1-7 there is a traffic jam. That's a very positive sign for Indian cricket in this format. So for anyone, it is going to be only and only about consistent performances. No one will be able to take their eyes off the ball. You've got to be focused through and through," Zaheer explained.Zaheer also pointed to a specific moment during Samson's recent knock of 107 against South Africa in Durban, where Samson played a remarkable shot off Keshav Maharaj, showcasing his skill and maturity as a top-order batter. "The shot he hit against Keshav Maharaj was something special. He was not in the best position to play it, he was way off, but he still managed to time it so well that it went all the way for six," Zaheer recalled.Karthik further analyzed the shot, emphasizing the evolution in Samson's game, especially in his ability to hit sixes. He explained how Samson's composure and technical adjustments have made him a standout performer."He has made a lot of technical changes, especially suited to this format. He focused a lot on six-hitting. Against Keshav Maharaj, he stepped out but missed the length of the ball. Maharaj did brilliantly to beat him in the air, but Sanju held his position and waited on the shot, hitting it over covers. That's a man who, even when he misses the length, doesn't panic and holds that extra second. That's a very tough skill to have, but he does it very well. That's what makes him very special," Karthik explained.With his recent performances, Samson seems to have found his groove as India's go-to opener in T20Is, further strengthening the team's options at the top.

Alzarri Joseph has been recalled to the West Indies squad for the final three matches of their T20I series against England, replacing Shamar Joseph. Joseph was suspended for two matches after leaving the field without permission during the third ODI against England. Andre Russell has been ruled out of the series with a left ankle sprain, with Shamar Springer coming in as his replacement.West Indies are 2-0 down in the series heading into the final leg in St Lucia. They need to win the third T20I on Thursday to keep the series alive.Joseph's return is a boost for the West Indies, who have struggled with their bowling in the first two matches. They have conceded 159 and 183 runs respectively, losing just five wickets across both fixtures in Barbados.Springer, who made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka last month, gives West Indies captain Rovman Powell more options to work with.The loss of Russell is a blow to the West Indies, who are already without several key players, including Kieron Pollard, Jason Holder, and Fabian Allen.Russell suffered the injury during the first T20I, and his absence will be a major setback for the West Indies. He is one of the most destructive batsmen in the world, and his bowling can also be very effective.West Indies T20I squad:* Rovman Powell (capt)* Roston Chase* Matthew Forde* Shimron Hetmyer* Terrance Hinds* Shai Hope* Akeal Hosein* Alzarri Joseph* Brandon King* Evin Lewis* Gudakesh Motie* Nicholas Pooran* Sherfane Rutherford* Romario Shepherd* Shamar Springer

Arshdeep Singh, the young left-arm seamer, has emerged as a formidable death-overs specialist in international cricket. With 89 wickets in just 58 T20I matches, Arshdeep has established himself as a reliable performer under pressure.Arshdeep's success stems from his ability to keep things simple and maintain composure in high-stakes situations. He adapts his plans to the conditions and the team's needs, focusing on executing accurate yorkers at high speeds."My plans depend on the conditions, the wickets, what kind of situations we are faced with," Arshdeep explained. "It's not that I have tasted success every day while bowling in the death."Despite his impressive record, Arshdeep remains level-headed and avoids overthinking. "We have to be level-headed, not think too much about death bowling," he said. "I just try to keep things simple, not complicate them, and look to fulfill the team's needs."Beyond his bowling prowess, Arshdeep is also striving to improve his batting skills. "I love a half volley from a spinner," he said. "But yes, I am trying my best to contribute with the bat as well whenever I get a chance."Arshdeep has benefited immensely from sharing the dressing room with experienced players like Jasprit Bumrah. "I have got a really good bowling partner in Jassi (Bumrah) bhai," he said. "He has helped me enormously in taking a lot of wickets by creating pressure at the other end."Arshdeep also praised T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav for his leadership qualities. "The way he controls his emotions, the way he manages his highs and lows, he is so strong mentally," he said.Looking ahead to the third T20I against South Africa, Arshdeep emphasized the importance of containing the Proteas' batters early on. "They are struggling against spinners, so the aim is to contain them early on and give a good platform to the spinners," he said.