Cricket

Pakistan's spin duo of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan wreaked havoc on England's batting lineup, leading Pakistan to a resounding nine-wicket victory in the third and decisive Test in Karachi. The triumph secured a memorable 2-1 series win for the hosts.Pakistan seized the initiative early on, establishing a crucial 77-run first-innings lead on a pitch that favored spinners from both sides. Noman and Sajid then turned the screws in England's second innings, bowling them out for a paltry 112.Noman claimed six wickets for 42 runs, while Sajid chipped in with four for 69. The duo accounted for 19 of England's 20 wickets in the match, with Pakistan's lone seamer, Aamer Jamal, remaining unused.Since being drafted into the team mid-series, Noman and Sajid have taken 39 of England's 40 wickets in the last two Tests. Their dominance has highlighted the spin-friendly conditions in Pakistan and exposed England's vulnerability against turning tracks."If you give England players even a slightly spinning track, they get nervous," Sajid remarked in a viral video. "Because the conditions they usually dominate make us nervous, but here it's they who get nervous."Pakistan's victory in the Test series is a significant boost ahead of their upcoming tour of Australia, where they will play three ODIs and three T20Is. The limited-overs series begins on Monday in Melbourne.

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli showcased his playful side during the third Test match against New Zealand in Mumbai on Friday. As fans erupted in song with the Bollywood hit "My Name is Lakhan," Kohli couldn't resist joining in, performing the hook step on the field. This lighthearted moment captured on camera highlights Kohli's infectious energy and love for the game.Meanwhile, India's bowlers dominated the opening day, with Ravindra Jadeja claiming his 14th five-wicket haul and Washington Sundar bagging four wickets. The duo exploited the turning Wankhede Stadium pitch to their advantage, bowling out New Zealand for 235.Will Young and Daryl Mitchell provided some resistance for the visitors, sharing an 89-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Young scored a patient 71, while Mitchell top-scored with 82, hitting three fours and three sixes. However, the Indian bowlers maintained their grip, with only four New Zealand batters reaching double figures.India's Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Mohammed SirajNew Zealand's Playing XI: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, William O'Rourke

Pakistan's Test captain Shan Masood believes that Babar Azam's temporary absence from the Test squad will ultimately benefit the star batsman. Babar was omitted from the Pakistan squad for the last two Tests against England, which Pakistan won to claim the series 2-1, after a prolonged lean patch.Masood, in an interview with BBC Stumped, expressed his confidence in Babar's abilities, stating that he is "one of the best batsmen in the world" and has the potential to be "one of the greatest batsmen in Test cricket." He emphasized that sometimes players need a break to regain their form.Pakistan has indicated that Babar's absence from the Test side is temporary, as he has been called up for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia. Masood expects Babar to "come back a stronger player" after his break.Masood also discussed his role as captain and the changes in the selection process. He emphasized the importance of collective decision-making and praised the new selectors for their collaboration. He stated that the team's focus is on taking 20 wickets and that they believe playing on used pitches with three spinners will benefit them.Regarding the controversial post-match interview with commentator Ramiz Raja, Masood expressed no hard feelings. He stated that he is open to constructive criticism and is focused on reflecting his character in a positive way.

Former BCCI and Team India selector MSK Prasad has raised concerns over the selection of Nitish Kumar Reddy in the Indian squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Reddy, who has played only 21 first-class matches, has been fast-tracked into the Test squad after impressing in IPL 2024 and in T20Is for India.Prasad believes that Reddy should not be expected to perform like Hardik Pandya, who is a more experienced all-rounder. "He is not Hardik, who bowls at 140. He just bowls at 125 to 130kmph," Prasad said.Prasad also expressed concern over Reddy's lack of experience in red-ball cricket. "I'm concerned because of the kind of role we gave to Hardik back then after whatever Test cricket he had played," Prasad added.Hardik's Test career lasted only 11 Tests, and he hasn't played a red-ball game in over six years. He has often been bogged down by injury and needed workload management.Prasad has similar worries about Reddy, who has only 708 runs and a solitary century in first-class cricket. "His batting numbers are far from brilliant," Prasad said.Despite his concerns, Prasad acknowledged that Reddy has taken 55 first-class wickets at a good average of 26.01. However, he believes that Reddy's selection is a gamble."It's a gamble. He's a talented player, but he's not ready for Test cricket yet," Prasad said. "I hope he proves me wrong, but I'm not convinced."

Rishabh Pant's missed run-out opportunity on the final ball of the 22nd over during New Zealand's first innings in the third Test at the Wankhede Stadium has drawn criticism from former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik.On the opening day of the game, Daryl Mitchell played a reverse sweep on the bowling of Washington Sundar. He ran the first one hard and asked his partner Will Young for a second run. Pant collected the ball at the striker's end but failed to hit the stumps. What he failed to notice was that Young was still around the halfway mark when he collected the ball. A good throw at the non-striker's end could have caught the New Zealand batter short.Karthik pointed out that Pant needed game awareness and should have taken one glove off to throw the ball at the other end. "They (India) had their opportunity in the form of a run-out. Have a look at Will Young, he is thinking just a single. Rishabh Pant is the man you need to watch out for. He didn't remove his glove and you can still see Will Young scrambling. If he had removed his gloves, have a look at where Young is and a throw down the non-striker's end would have definitely been a much better chance. There was so much time and because Rishabh Pant didn't remove his gloves there, he didn't even have the opportunity to go at it at the other end. As a keeper, it is very important to be aware of what's happening. And (I) must admit that Rishabh Pant did miss an opportunity there for a run-out," said Karthik on-air.India ended the opening day at 86 for 4, trailing New Zealand by 149 runs. India were solidly put at 78 for 1 at one stage but they lost three wickets in 8 balls to hand advantage to New Zealand. Earlier, Ravindra Jadeja claimed his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket as India made a remarkable comeback to bowl out New Zealand for 235 runs. With four wickets to his credit, Washington Sundar also helped the hosts' cause. Daryl Mitchell top-scored for New Zealand with a terrific 82, while Will Young hit 71 after New Zealand skipper Tom Latham won the toss and opted to bat.

Daryl Mitchell, the New Zealand batsman, attributed his team's remarkable turnaround on the first day of the second Test against India to the famed Kiwi resilience. After India's collapse from a promising 78/1 to a precarious 86/4, Mitchell's gritty 82 propelled the Black Caps to a position of strength.Mitchell emphasized the collective effort and unwavering determination that characterized New Zealand's performance. Despite the early onslaught from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, the Kiwis refused to succumb to pressure. "We were lucky today to build some pressure," Mitchell said. "There was a nice partnership going between Shubman and Jaiswal. But as it happens in Tests, you get one, you try and get two and you keep trying to put the pressure on the opposition."Mitchell lauded the contributions of his teammates, particularly Rachin Ravindra's tireless fielding and Matt Henry's sharp catch that dismissed Virat Kohli. "Our motto is to just keep giving to the team," he explained. "The way Rachin and some of the other guys chased the ball right to the boundary, that's the stuff that we pride ourselves on. It means everyone's engaged. It's nice that it paid off tonight."Despite their strong finish, Mitchell acknowledged the formidable challenge posed by India's world-class batting lineup. "We put a total on the board (and) hopefully now we can take a few more wickets," he said. "The game is evenly poised right at the moment."Mitchell also dismissed any concerns about the pitch conditions, stating that the Kiwis were well-prepared for the bounce and turn of the red soil. "It's the nature of the red soil," he said. "It's going to have bounce and a little bit of turn. We knew what to expect."

The Indian cricket team's recent Test series loss to New Zealand has raised concerns about the aging of key players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Former Australian cricketers Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor have expressed their views on the matter, highlighting the need for India to address its batting problems.Chappell pointed out that Kohli and Sharma are both in their late 30s and may be starting to feel the effects of age. He noted that both players have not been performing to their usual standards in recent times, which has put pressure on the younger players in the team.Taylor echoed Chappell's sentiments, stating that India's decision to move on from experienced batsmen like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane has left a void in the team. He emphasized that Kohli and Sharma, as the team's best players, need to step up and make significant contributions.The former Australian captain also highlighted the importance of senior players making "bulkier runs," which has been lacking in India's batting lineup over the past year or so. He pointed to the contributions of Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin, but stressed that the team needs its top batsmen to perform consistently.Chappell and Taylor's comments come at a time when India is facing a transitional phase in its Test team. The team has lost its last three Test series, including a humiliating defeat to New Zealand at home. The selectors have been experimenting with different combinations, but have yet to find a settled lineup.The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia will be a major test for India's aging stars. If Kohli and Sharma fail to deliver, it could further intensify the debate about their future in the Test team.

Ravindra Jadeja, India's premier all-rounder, has expressed his disappointment over India's recent Test series loss at home against Bangladesh. This marks the first time India has lost a Test series at home since 2012, when Jadeja was a rookie in the team.Jadeja, who has been a key figure in India's Test success over the past decade, admitted that the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. "I was scared of this. I didn't want to lose a single series in India until I played, but it has happened," he said.The left-arm spinner, who picked up his 14th five-wicket haul in the series, believes that the team's mindset played a role in their downfall. "When you are down in the series and such a situation comes up, obviously it feels like if you are down 2-0 in the series, that's why you panicked and you made a mistake," Jadeja explained.Jadeja also pointed out that India's high expectations may have contributed to their struggles. "We have raised our expectations so high that we have not lost a single series for 12 years, and in 12 years, I have been involved in only five losses at home. As a team, it is a lesson. We need to pick up positives from this."Despite the disappointment, Jadeja remains optimistic about India's future. "We have a young team and we have a lot of potential. We just need to learn from our mistakes and come back stronger," he said.

Ravindra Jadeja's exceptional bowling performance in the ongoing Test match against Australia has earned him another five-wicket haul, his 14th in Test cricket. However, the all-rounder acknowledged the challenging conditions on the slow-turning pitch, which made bowling a demanding task.Jadeja's success stemmed from his ability to mix up his deliveries, targeting good length spots and exploiting the variable bounce and abrasive surface. He admitted that the wicket required significant effort to generate pace, indicating that Ravichandran Ashwin may have lost some velocity in his deliveries."I thought you need to mix and match (in terms of speed). The wicket has bounce but off the surface, the ball isn't taking off. Unless you put in a lot of shoulders and get the revs, it is difficult," Jadeja explained.Despite the arduous conditions, Jadeja praised the collective effort of the team, including Washington Sundar's impressive bowling performance. He emphasized the importance of the batters performing well to secure a first-innings lead.When asked about surpassing Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma in terms of Test wickets, Jadeja revealed that he only checks statistics when not actively involved in a series.Reflecting on the loss of three quick wickets towards the end of the day, Jadeja set a target of batting well enough to gain a 150-run lead on Saturday.