Cricket

Tilak Varma, the rising star of Indian cricket, expressed his sincere appreciation for captain Suryakumar Yadav after his remarkable century in the third T20I against South Africa. Varma's exceptional knock of 107 not out off 56 balls steered India to an 11-run triumph, securing a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.Varma revealed how Suryakumar, fondly called 'SKY,' generously offered him the No. 3 batting spot for the match, paving the way for Varma's extraordinary performance. "When Suryakumar knocked on my hotel room door and told me I'd bat at No. 3, I was filled with gratitude. He said, ‘Go out there and express yourself. It's a good opportunity.’ I promised him that I wouldn't let him down," Varma said after the match.Staying true to his promise, Varma delivered a spectacular performance, reaching his century in just 51 balls, with his second fifty achieved in a mere 19 balls. His innings was highlighted by seven powerful sixes and eight fours, showcasing his batting prowess, particularly against his former Mumbai Indians teammate Gerald Coetzee, the fastest bowler of the day.Upon reaching his century, Varma acknowledged his captain's gesture by blowing a flying kiss toward the Indian dugout, recognizing the faith entrusted in him. "It was for 'SKY' because he gave me the chance to bat at number three. I love batting at that position, and I wanted to repay the trust he placed in me," he said.Varma's 107-run partnership with young talent Abhishek Sharma, who contributed a crucial half-century, played a pivotal role in India's impressive total of 219/6. Varma, the second-youngest Indian to score a century in T20I history, shared his experiences of battling injuries that led to him missing international tours to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka earlier this year."It was frustrating to miss two series because of finger injuries, but I knew my time would come. I stayed patient, focused on my process, and worked hard. Today, that hard work paid off," Varma said.Recognized for his powerful batting, Varma is also diligently working on his off-spin, aiming to become a valuable all-rounder for the team. "I've worked hard on my bowling. The ball is coming out well, and I want to be seen as an all-rounder who can contribute to the team's success," he added.Varma's century is a testament to his talent and determination. With his exceptional performance, he has cemented his place in the Indian team and has emerged as a future star of Indian cricket.

South African all-rounder Marco Jansen has emerged as a hot prospect ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, following his scintillating performance in the third T20I against India. Jansen's explosive batting and impressive bowling skills have caught the attention of cricket pundits and fans alike.In the high-scoring encounter, Jansen played a pivotal role in South Africa's chase of India's 219/6. Coming in at number seven, he unleashed a whirlwind innings of 54 off just 17 balls, setting a new record for the fastest T20I fifty against India. His innings was a display of power-hitting, featuring four boundaries and five sixes.Jansen's aggressive batting put India under immense pressure in the crucial final overs. Despite his heroics, South Africa fell short by 11 runs, but Jansen's performance left an indelible mark on the match.Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn took to social media to predict a substantial payday for Jansen in the upcoming IPL auction. "Marco Jansen. A 10 crore player? I'd say so," Steyn tweeted.Jansen, who was released by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) after the 2023 season, will be a sought-after player in the auction. His ability to bowl at high speeds and contribute crucial runs with the bat makes him a valuable asset.The cricketing world is abuzz with discussions about Jansen's power-packed innings, solidifying his position as a prime target in the IPL 2025 auction. The mega auction will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on November 24-25.

South Africa's captain, Aiden Markram, expressed pride in his team's performance despite their 11-run loss to India in the third T20I of the four-match series. Markram acknowledged the contributions of the lower order and emphasized the importance of executing their plans."We're proud of the effort to get that close," Markram said. "It was good to see the contributions from the lower order. We just need to execute what we discussed."India's victory was largely due to Tilak Varma's unbeaten century and Arshdeep Singh's three-wicket haul. Varma's 107 runs off 56 balls included eight fours and seven sixes, while Singh's 3/37 in four overs proved crucial in restricting South Africa's chase.Markram highlighted the challenges of chasing a high total at the SuperSport Park. "This is a ground where you can chase 220," he said. "It's almost an over-by-over thing. If you win those overs, you have a great chance."South Africa's bowlers, led by Andile Simelane and Keshav Maharaj, had earlier restricted India to 219/6. Abhishek Sharma's 50 off 25 balls and Varma's century were the standout performances for India.In the chase, Heinrich Klaasen (41 off 22) and Marco Jansen (54 off 17) kept South Africa in contention. However, Arshdeep's wickets in the death overs proved decisive.Markram expressed confidence in his team's ability to improve for the fourth and final match of the series. "We will see areas to improve for the next game," he said.

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.