Cricket

Virat Kohli's Uncharacteristic Dismissal Stuns India in Pune TestIn a shocking turn of events, India's batting maestro Virat Kohli suffered an unexpected dismissal during the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. The incident occurred as Kohli attempted to negotiate a full toss from Mitchell Santner.Kohli, who had entered the crease following Shubman Gill's dismissal, misjudged the delivery and failed to connect with the ball. The ball slipped under his bat and crashed into the stumps, leaving Kohli visibly stunned and in disbelief.The dismissal marked a rare lapse in judgment for Kohli, who is renowned for his impeccable technique and shot selection. As he made his way back to the pavilion, his frustration was evident, clearly disappointed with the way his innings had ended.Kohli's dismissal came at a crucial juncture in the match, with India looking to build a solid foundation after losing the opening Test in Bengaluru. His departure left the team in a precarious position, with the middle order under pressure to deliver.The incident has raised questions about Kohli's form and focus, as he has struggled to find his rhythm in recent matches. In the opening Test, he managed scores of 0 and 70, failing to make a significant impact on the outcome.Kohli's dismissal has also highlighted the strength of New Zealand's bowling attack, which has consistently troubled the Indian batsmen throughout the series. Santner, in particular, has been a thorn in India's side, claiming the wickets of both Gill and Kohli in the second Test.As the series progresses, Kohli will be under immense pressure to regain his form and lead India to victory. His experience and leadership will be crucial if India is to level the series and avoid a humiliating defeat.

On the opening day of the third and final Test match between England and Pakistan, the pitch at Karachi's National Stadium presented a challenging surface for batters, resulting in a dramatic collapse of wickets.Pakistan's Sajid Khan emerged as the star performer, claiming six wickets for 128 runs in 29.2 overs. This marked the third time in his career that he has taken five or more wickets in an innings.England captain Ben Stokes, who won the toss and elected to bat first, saw his team make a solid start, reaching 56 without loss. However, the pitch's unpredictable behavior soon became evident, and Zak Crawley's dismissal for 29 triggered a rapid collapse.England lost five wickets for just 42 runs, slumping from 56-0 to 98-5 within 12.5 overs. The pitch's uneven bounce and variable pace proved to be a nightmare for the batters.Despite the difficult conditions, Jamie Smith emerged as a beacon of hope for England, scoring a gritty 89 runs. He formed a crucial 107-run partnership with Gus Atkinson, who contributed 39 runs, helping England recover from their precarious position of 118-6.By lunch, England had reached 110-5, and by tea, they had progressed to 242-8, thanks to Smith and Atkinson's efforts. England's innings eventually concluded with a total of 267 runs.Sajid Khan's impressive bowling performance was a major factor in Pakistan's dominance on the first day. His ability to extract bounce and movement from the pitch proved to be a handful for the English batters.The match is poised for an intriguing contest over the remaining days, with Pakistan holding a slight advantage after the first day's play.

Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket team's talismanic batter, is not only known for his aggressive batting but also for his lively on-field personality. His infectious energy and playful antics often steal the spotlight, adding an extra spark to the game.One such light-hearted moment occurred during the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru. As Kohli walked onto the field, fully padded up, he was caught on camera doing a humorous mimicry, much to the delight of the crowd. A fan humorously commented that Kohli appeared to be imitating Shubman Gill's walk, sending the audience into fits of laughter.Kohli's playful antics are not limited to the field. He is also known for his witty remarks and playful banter with opponents. During the same match, Kohli was involved in a light-hearted exchange with New Zealand's captain, Kane Williamson. After Williamson was dismissed, Kohli was seen playfully teasing him, saying, "You're not going to get a hundred today."Despite his playful nature, Kohli is a fierce competitor on the field. He is known for his aggressive batting and his determination to win. In the first Test against New Zealand, Kohli showcased his brilliance with the bat, scoring a solid 70. However, India eventually lost the match by eight wickets.Kohli's presence will be crucial for India as they head to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting November 22. India will be aiming for a historic hat-trick of series wins in the highly anticipated clash. With his form looking strong, Kohli will be one of the key players to watch in the upcoming series.

South Africa's Test resurgence continued in emphatic fashion as they secured a commanding seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first Test at Dhaka's Shere Bangla National Stadium. This triumph marks the Proteas' first Test win in Asia since 2014 and significantly boosts their standing in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25.Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto's decision to field first proved costly as South Africa's bowlers exploited the favorable conditions to skittle the hosts for a mere 106 runs in the first innings. Kagiso Rabada led the charge with 3/32, while Lungi Ngidi and Simon Harmer chipped in with two wickets each.In response, South Africa posted a solid 308, thanks to a resilient century from Kyle Verreynne (114 off 144 balls). Wiaan Mulder (54 off 112 balls) and Dane Piedt (32 off 87 balls) provided valuable support, giving the Proteas a substantial 202-run lead.Bangladesh's second innings started promisingly, but Rabada's impressive 6/46 reduced them to 112/6 at one stage. However, a gritty knock of 97 from Mehidy Hasan allowed Bangladesh to reach 307, setting South Africa a target of 106 runs to win.South Africa chased down the target with relative ease, with Tony de Zorzi contributing 41 off 52 balls and Tristan Stubbs finishing unbeaten on 30 off 37 balls. This victory not only gives the Proteas a 1-0 lead in the two-match series but also elevates them to fourth place in the WTC standings.India (68.06) and Australia (62.50) continue to hold the top two spots, with Sri Lanka at third with 55.56 point percentage. South Africa's win improved their point percentage to 47.62, allowing them to jump ahead of New Zealand and England. Meanwhile, Bangladesh's loss dropped their point percentage to 30.56, leaving them in seventh place.

England skipper Ben Stokes faced a moment of confusion during a press conference ahead of the third Test against Pakistan. A Pakistani reporter struggled to articulate a question about England's impressive 823-run total in the first Test, leading to Stokes requesting the question to be repeated three times.Despite the language barrier, Stokes remained composed and later apologized to the reporter for any miscommunication. England, looking to bounce back from their defeat in the second Test, will face a spin-friendly pitch in Rawalpindi. Stokes expressed confidence in his trio of spinners, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir, and Rehan Ahmed.Pakistan, on the other hand, have retained their spin-heavy bowling lineup, including Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Zahid Mahmood. With Pakistan hoping to build on their spin success from the previous match and England looking to dominate again, the pitch conditions will be crucial.Stokes emphasized the importance of batting first, as spin will become more significant as the match progresses. Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie echoed Stokes's sentiments, stating that the near-bald pitch is expected to favor slower bowlers.A victory for Pakistan would signal a significant turnaround in fortunes after a disappointing year in international cricket. Both teams will be looking to take advantage of the home conditions and secure a crucial win in the decisive encounter.

The Indian cricket team's home dominance was shattered in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, as they were humbled by a humiliating 10-wicket defeat. The Rohit Sharma-led side was dismissed for a paltry 46 in the first innings, their lowest Test score at home. New Zealand responded with a commanding 402, putting India on the back foot.Despite valiant efforts from Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant, India managed to surpass New Zealand's total. However, a lower-order collapse left them with a meager target of 107 runs. Surprisingly, Ravichandran Ashwin, the most prolific wicket-taker among active cricketers, was introduced late into the attack.Former India opener Aakash Chopra expressed astonishment at the decision. "We didn't get Ashwin to bowl at all. I'm not saying we would have won if he had bowled, but we didn't even give him a chance," Chopra said. "That was surprising and inexplicable."Chopra questioned the logic behind using Ashwin as the fifth bowling option. "You can understand Bumrah's long spell because he took both wickets. But Siraj was bowling well with the new ball. You could have brought in Jadeja or Ashwin earlier," he said."The match was over. There was no life left in it. You called Ashwin to bowl when only 15 or 20 runs were left. It would have been better not to bowl him at all," Chopra added. "This question should have been asked in the post-match press conference - 'Rohit bhai, what did you do?' India definitely missed a trick, and it's beyond my understanding why Ashwin wasn't bowled."

India's Test woes continued as they suffered a humiliating eight-wicket defeat to New Zealand in the first Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Despite a valiant fightback in their second innings, India's poor batting display in the first innings proved costly.After being bundled out for a paltry 46 in the first innings, India showed resilience in the second, posting a respectable 462. Young batter Sarfaraz Khan emerged as a beacon of hope, scoring a magnificent 150 off 195 balls, studded with 18 fours and three sixes.Khan's heroics raised questions about the team's selection dilemma. With Shubman Gill recovering from a stiff neck and expected to return, the Indian team management faces a tough decision. KL Rahul or Sarfaraz, who will make way for Gill?Former India batter Aakash Chopra weighed in on the debate, drawing parallels to Karun Nair's fate. Nair, the only other Indian to score a triple-century after Virender Sehwag, was dropped from the playing XI after his historic 303 not out against England in Chennai in 2016.Chopra suggested that a similar theory could see Sarfaraz being dropped, but he believes the team management will retain the young batter in the playing XI. "One more thing is important in Indian cricket - outside noise - and that favours Sarfaraz right now," Chopra said.India's batting woes were evident in the first innings, where they were bundled out for their lowest Test score against New Zealand. The top order failed to fire, with only Cheteshwar Pujara (11) and Virat Kohli (12) reaching double figures.In the second innings, India showed more fight, with Khan leading the charge. However, the loss of wickets at regular intervals prevented them from building a substantial lead.New Zealand, in contrast, displayed their batting prowess, chasing down the target of 122 with ease. Tom Latham (52) and Devon Conway (54) anchored the chase, ensuring a comfortable victory for the visitors.The defeat has raised concerns about India's batting depth and their ability to compete against top-quality opposition. The second Test of the series will be played in Mumbai from December 3-7, where India will be desperate to level the series.

South Africa's batters faced a challenging first evening on a turning pitch in Dhaka, but Kyle Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder's resilient partnership of 32 guided them through without further damage. However, the pitch seemed to settle overnight, allowing Verreynne and Mulder to consolidate their position and extend their seventh-wicket stand to a decisive 119.Despite the threat of Bangladesh's three spinners, it was Hasan Mahmud's pace and reverse swing that proved most effective, claiming the only two wickets of the session. However, South Africa had already established a commanding 137-run lead by lunch, with Verreynne remaining unbeaten on 77.Bangladesh's spinners, Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan, struggled to extract turn on the second morning, while Verreynne and Mulder played with confidence and composure. They effectively utilized the sweep and reverse sweep, taking advantage of the slow surface and the lack of turn.Verreynne reached his half-century with a drilled sweep, while Mulder followed suit with a cut for four behind point. Mahmud's reintroduction into the attack brought about a brief setback, as he dismissed Mulder and Keshav Maharaj in consecutive deliveries.However, Verreynne remained unyielding, anchoring the innings and guiding South Africa to a comfortable lead. Dane Piedt provided valuable support at the other end, ensuring that South Africa maintained their momentum heading into the afternoon session.

In a stunning upset, New Zealand defeated India by 10 wickets in the first Test in Bengaluru, marking their first Test victory on Indian soil in 36 years. The Kiwis' historic win was fueled by a dominant bowling performance that dismissed India for a paltry 46 in the first innings, their lowest team total at home.New Zealand capitalized on their advantage, piling up 402 in their first innings to take a massive 356-run lead. India responded with a spirited second innings, overhauling the deficit, but faltered in the final session on the fourth day.The Kiwis then chased down a below-par 107 in the morning session on the final day, securing their first Test win in India since 1988. The match witnessed several notable records being broken:* New Zealand's only third Test win in India, after 36 years.* India's second home Test loss in the same year in the last 20 years.* New Zealand's first successful chase of a 100-plus target in India in 24 years.* Rishabh Pant's unfortunate dismissal on 99, making him the third Indian batter to be dismissed most times in the 90s in Tests.* India's lowest team total at home, with 46 all out.* The Indian team becoming the first to hit over 100 sixes in a calendar year.* Virat Kohli reaching the 9,000-run mark in Tests, becoming the fourth Indian to do so.* The 356-run lead taken by New Zealand, the fifth biggest ever by a visiting team in India.* The 137-run partnership between Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee, the second highest for the 8th wicket or lower on Indian soil.The victory was a testament to New Zealand's resilience and determination, while India will be looking to bounce back in the remaining two Tests of the series.