Cricket

Varun Chakaravarthy, the enigmatic spinner, has shed light on his three-year hiatus from international cricket, describing it as a "tough" period. He credits his return to form to the domestic grind and the clarity of role provided by new head coach Gautam Gambhir.In the second T20I against South Africa, the 33-year-old achieved career-best figures of 5 for 17. However, India suffered a three-wicket defeat in a low-scoring thriller."Definitely, the last three years were a little tough," Chakaravarthy said. "The only thing I could do was play lots of cricket. And I started playing a lot of the domestic league (TNPL) in India. And that definitely helped me understand my game better. And that's what helped me."As a member of the Kolkata Knight Riders, Chakaravarthy won the IPL title last season under the leadership of Gambhir, who was then appointed head coach of the Indian team. Chakaravarthy said Gambhir gave him guidance during the Bangladesh tour, helping him regain form."Yes, we played the Bangladesh tour and he was coaching the team. And definitely we spoke a lot and he gave me a lot of role clarity. He told me, even if you go for 30-40 runs, it doesn't matter. All you have to look is to pick wickets. So that's your role in the team. And yeah, the clarity which they gave definitely helped me."Chakaravarthy's remarkable spell helped reduce South Africa to 66 for 6 while they pursued a modest target of 125. However, a determined partnership between Tristan Stubbs (47) and Gerald Coetzee (19) guided the hosts home in 19 overs, ending India's 11-match winning streak.Chakaravarthy revealed that during the innings break, skipper Suryakumar Yadav urged the team to focus on giving their all without dwelling on the result. "During the innings break, Surya (skipper) came and told us that let's not think about the result and let's just go all out. And that's what we tried to do. We did our best and we could have pulled it off.""Obviously, the mindset has to be aggressive when the score is low. You have to pick wickets and that's when we can win the match. That has to be my approach in the next two games also because it's going to be a do-or-die match for us," he said.Performing well against a strong team like South Africa, according to Chakaravarthy, will give him confidence going into the remaining games. "Definitely, when we came to South Africa, we knew that it's going to be a challenging tour because the Proteas, they are one of the best teams right now and they have a powerful batting lineup.""Doing well against them definitely gives me motivation to do more better and definitely I can. Hopefully I can do well in the upcoming games."India will face South Africa in the third and final T20Is on Wednesday and Friday at Centurion and Johannesburg, respectively.

England's Jos Buttler unleashed a blistering 83 off 45 balls to power his team to a commanding seven-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second T20I in Barbados. The victory gives England a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.Buttler's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, as he smashed eight fours and six sixes to leave the West Indies bowlers helpless. The skipper's exceptional batting display earned him the well-deserved "Man of the Match" award.England's chase got off to a shaky start when Phil Salt was dismissed on the first ball of the innings. However, Buttler's arrival at the crease injected immediate momentum into the innings. The Windies bowling attack, missing key players like Alzarri Joseph and Andre Russell, struggled to contain Buttler's onslaught.Debutant seamer Terrance Hinds, in particular, had a challenging introduction to international cricket, facing the brunt of Buttler's aggression. Buttler seemed destined for his second T20I century, but after being dropped by Sherfane Rutherford in the 13th over, he was caught out on the very next ball, attempting another big shot.Will Jacks provided solid support to Buttler during their 129-run partnership for the second wicket. Jacks contributed 38 runs off 29 balls, hitting five fours and one six, before falling to Romario Shepherd.Earlier, the West Indies innings were bolstered by Rovman Powell's knock of 43 off 41 balls and Romario Shepherd's quickfire 22 off 12 balls. Liam Livingstone was the pick of the England bowlers, finishing with figures of two for 16.England's dominant performance puts them in a strong position to secure a series victory in the remaining three matches, which will be played in St. Lucia, starting next Thursday. The victory also offers England a chance to avenge their 2-1 defeat to the West Indies in the preceding ODI series.

Lockie Ferguson's Hat-Trick Seals New Zealand's Victory in Low-Scoring ThrillerNew Zealand's Lockie Ferguson unleashed a devastating spell on Sunday, claiming a hat-trick to help his team defend their lowest-ever target in men's T20I cricket. Facing a modest total of 108 against Sri Lanka in Dambulla, Ferguson's fiery bowling proved decisive in securing a thrilling five-run victory.After the Kiwis were dismissed for a paltry 108, Ferguson stepped up with a two-over spell that turned the tide of the match. His first victim was Kusal Perera, who edged a yorker to wicketkeeper Mitch Hay on the final ball of the Powerplay.In the following over, Ferguson struck twice in quick succession. Kamindu Mendis was trapped lbw by a 143kph delivery, while Charith Asalanka was caught down the leg side, handing Ferguson a hat-trick. The 33-year-old became the sixth Kiwi bowler to achieve the feat in T20Is.Ferguson's hat-trick shattered Sri Lanka's hopes of chasing down the target. Only three Lankan batters managed double-digit scores, as New Zealand's bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the innings. Off-spinner Glenn Phillips also chipped in with three wickets for the BlackCaps.Ferguson's exceptional performance earned him figures of 2-0-7-3, while Phillips finished with 3-1-13-3. The victory marked New Zealand's first in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.

Tristan Stubbs' unbeaten 47 guided South Africa to a thrilling three-wicket victory over India in the second T20I at St George's Park in Gqeberha. The 22-year-old, who grew up in Knysna, admitted to being "proper nervous" but managed to control his breathing and shepherd his team home.Stubbs entered the crease with South Africa struggling at 33 for 2 in the sixth over. He watched as his side slipped to 66 for 6 in the 13th and 86 for 7 in the 16th. However, he found vital support from Gerald Coetzee, with whom he shared an unbroken 42-run stand for the ninth wicket off just 20 balls."Fortunately, the run rate never got away from us," Stubbs said. "Once we lost the wickets, I had 30 in mind off the last three and then G [Coetzee] really came and played an innings to help that out and then, fortunately, we got over the line."Stubbs praised the Indian spinners, Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, who kept things tight and out-skilled the South African batters on a surface that was "typically staying low." However, he was pleased to stay till the end and take his side home."They both [Chakravarthy and Bishnoi] were doing just enough to beat you on either side," he said. "It wasn't easy to come in and just rotate even, let alone take them on. They are two of the best spinners in the world so when they are on, it's really tough and they got the better of us in the middle there by just outskilling us."Stubbs' performance has been a highlight of South Africa's recent resurgence in white-ball cricket. In February, he became just the 11th batter to score a first-class triple-century in South Africa. He has also racked up Test and ODI centuries in the last month and a bit.When asked about the maturity in his game, Stubbs said, "I don't actually know how to answer that. It's just been nice. I really enjoy the longer format because you can spend more time in the middle without feeling like you need to play a big ball and I really enjoy the graft of batting long.""I think the longer form cricket just naturally helps your T20 game and the batsmanship and spending time in the middle and not having to make a play really helps the rest of the formats. So I think that's been the biggest thing."

In a thrilling encounter at St George's Park, South Africa fought back valiantly to level the four-match T20I series against India 1-1. Despite a brilliant five-wicket haul from Varun Chakravarthy, the Proteas chased down a modest target of 125 with three wickets to spare.India's innings started promisingly, but they soon found themselves in trouble. Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav were dismissed cheaply, leaving India reeling at 15/3. Axar Patel and Tilak Varma provided some stability, but regular wickets prevented India from building momentum. Hardik Pandya's late surge (39 not out) offered some hope, but India could only muster 124/6 in their allotted 20 overs.South Africa's reply got off to a shaky start as they lost early wickets. Arshdeep Singh dismissed Ryan Rickelton, while Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks fell to Chakravarthy. However, Tristan Stubbs remained unyielding at the crease, striking crucial boundaries and keeping his side in the hunt.Despite a mid-innings wobble, South Africa stayed composed. Gerald Coetzee provided valuable support as the Proteas reached the target with just three wickets down. Chakravarthy's heroic performance couldn't save India, as South Africa leveled the series with a thrilling chase.The match showcased the resilience and determination of both teams. South Africa's ability to chase down a modest target under pressure was impressive, while India's bowling attack, led by Chakravarthy, showed their class. With two matches remaining in the series, both teams will be eager to gain an advantage and secure the series victory.

Allrounder Cooper Connolly's T20I aspirations have been dashed after he sustained a fractured left hand during the third ODI against Pakistan in Perth. The injury, which occurred when he was struck by a Mohammad Hasnain delivery, has ruled him out of the upcoming T20I series.Connolly, who made his international debut in September, was struck on the glove while attempting a pull shot in the 17th over. Despite facing one more delivery, he soon realized the severity of the injury and left the field for assessment. Subsequent scans confirmed the fracture to the fourth metacarpal of his left hand.The injury is a significant setback for the Australian selectors, who view Connolly as a promising all-rounder with potential for the 2026 T20 World Cup. His finishing skills with the bat and left-arm spin are highly valued in Australian cricket.Connolly's absence from the T20I series will also impact the Perth Scorchers, who are set to begin their BBL campaign on December 15. The Scorchers will closely monitor his recovery timeline, as he would have been a key player for them prior to the injury.The injury also affects Western Australia's Sheffield Shield campaign, as Connolly would have been available for their remaining two matches before the BBL.Connolly's debut tour of the UK in September saw him play two T20Is without batting or taking any wickets. He was part of the Australia A squad for the recent matches against India A, where he scored 37 in the first innings of the opening game.The Australian selectors will now need to find a replacement for Connolly in the T20I series against Pakistan. The injury highlights the importance of player depth and the challenges of managing workloads in a busy international schedule.

Catches Win Matches: Motie's Spectacular Catch Stuns Buttler in T20I OpenerIn the thrilling first T20I between West Indies and England at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, a breathtaking catch by Gudakesh Motie turned the tide of the match. England captain Jos Buttler, returning from a four-month injury layoff, was the unfortunate victim of Motie's brilliance.After winning the toss and electing to bat first, West Indies posted a competitive 182/9, thanks to Saqib Mahmood's 4/34 and Adil Rashid's 3/32. England's chase got off to a solid start, with Buttler looking in good touch.However, in the seventh over, Motie produced a moment of magic. Facing a short, slower delivery from Romario Shepherd, Buttler cut the ball towards third-man. Motie, positioned slightly wide, reacted with lightning speed, sprinting to his left and extending his left hand.In a gravity-defying moment, Motie snatched the ball out of thin air, inches from the boundary ropes. The official broadcaster captured the stunning catch on video, showcasing Motie's athleticism and quick reflexes.Buttler's dismissal proved to be a turning point in the match. Despite Philip Salt's unbeaten 103 and Jacob Bethell's unbeaten 58, England were unable to maintain the momentum. The Windies bowlers kept the pressure on, and England eventually fell short by 8 wickets.Motie's catch not only showcased his exceptional fielding skills but also highlighted the importance of fielding in modern cricket. With fitness levels at an all-time high, fielders are now capable of making spectacular saves and catches that can change the course of a match.

Former South African captain AB de Villiers has expressed his admiration for Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, who has been excelling in his new role as opener in the national T20I set-up. De Villiers revealed that he and Samson have been in touch for a while, and suggested that something has changed in the latter's game.Samson has smashed two centuries in as many games in the format, including a 50-ball 107 with the help of 10 sixes and 7 fours in the series opener against South Africa on Friday. De Villiers believes that Samson has discovered "another gear" in his game."He scored a 100 once at the Chinnaswamy Stadium against RCB, I was on the park and I realized that day, that this guy is something special and he is proving me right," de Villiers said in a video on his YouTube channel. "For those of you who have followed Sanju Samson, I haven't often seen him bat at a strike rate of more than 200, he is generally more conservative, he is usually between 140-160 and both these hundreds he has scored back-to-back have been very very fast and especially this last hundred."De Villiers doesn't feel that the current Indian team management has had any influence in Samson's redemption. Instead, he believes that Samson has reached a point in his career where he can only improve and take his batting to another level."Something has triggered there, something has clicked in his game which is absolutely great to watch," de Villiers said. "The thing about him is that he makes it effortless out there. I don't see much experimentation going out there. Not a lot of creativity in terms of funny shots, doesn't seem that he wants to entertain the crowd and please someone, he just sticks in his little bubble and he just is easy on the eye.""Sanju has upped the gear in his game. I hope the selectors are watching this for all the formats. I want to see this guy play all the formats. I think he is someone who is really really special, someone who can play all the formats, in all conditions around the world. Something has clicked in the Sanju Samson world, whether it's the coaching staff, I doubt it. No disrespect to VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Ryan ten Doeschate and Morne Morkel, whoever is a part of the coaching group. I just feel that this guy has reached the maturity point, he has realized something. It is exciting to all of us Samson fans. I think there is another gear, a sixth gear, I want to see it unfold."

Arshdeep Singh, India's star pacer, is on the cusp of etching his name in the record books as he stands just five wickets away from surpassing Bhuvneshwar Kumar's record for most wickets by an Indian bowler in T20Is during a single calendar year. With 33 wickets in 21 T20Is this year, Arshdeep has an average of 18.12 and best bowling figures of 4/37.Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the previous record holder, had taken 37 wickets in 32 matches at an average of 19.56, with best figures of 5/4 in 2022. Arshdeep will have the opportunity to break this record when India faces South Africa in the second T20I of the four-match series at Gqeberha on Sunday.In the first T20I, India emerged victorious by 61 runs, with Arshdeep playing a pivotal role. He bowled a spell of 1/25 in three overs, claiming the wicket of South African skipper Aiden Markram.The highest wickets taken by any bowler in T20Is during a calendar year belongs to Uganda's Alpesh Ramjani, who took 55 wickets in 30 matches at an average of 11.29 and best figures of 4/9 last year.