Cricket

New Zealand's triumph over India in the first Test was a testament to the team's resilience and the brilliance of all-rounder Rachin Ravindra. Ravindra, who was born to Bengaluru parents in New Zealand, played a pivotal role in the Kiwis' historic victory, scoring a magnificent 134 in the first innings and guiding his team to a comfortable win in the second.Ravindra's Indian heritage played a crucial role in his success against India's formidable spin attack. "I have Indian heritage and have played a lot of cricket in India, which has helped me develop those game plans," he said. "I am not a massive sweeper or reverse sweeper, so I stick to my strengths. I was able to play against the spin, and with fewer fielders on that side, it helped me accumulate runs."Ravindra's ability to manipulate the length of the ball and get into good positions to score was evident throughout the match. "I was able to get some good practice in Chennai before this series, and that definitely helped," he said.In the first innings, Ravindra's century helped New Zealand recover from a precarious position of 233/7 to post a respectable total of 402. His 137-run partnership with Tim Southee for the eighth wicket proved to be the turning point of the match.In the second innings, Ravindra played a composed knock of 39* alongside Will Young (48*) to guide New Zealand to a comprehensive victory. India's bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, posed some challenges, but the Kiwis remained unfazed and chased down the target with ease.Ravindra's performance was a reflection of his hard work and dedication. "I have always been a student of the game, and I am always looking for ways to improve," he said. "I am grateful for the opportunity to play for New Zealand, and I am determined to make the most of it."

New Zealand's historic victory in the first Test against India in Bengaluru marked a significant milestone for the visitors, who secured their first Test win on Indian soil in 36 years. Skipper Tom Latham hailed the team's performance, attributing their success to a combination of strategic planning and exceptional bowling.Initially intending to bat first, New Zealand's decision to bowl after losing the toss proved advantageous. Their bowlers, led by Matt Henry (5/15) and Will O'Rourke (4/22), wreaked havoc on the Indian batting lineup, bundling them out for a mere 46 runs in the first innings. This set the tone for the match, as India struggled to recover despite a valiant fightback from Sarfaraz Khan (150) and Rishabh Pant (99).Chasing a modest target of 107 runs on the rain-delayed final day, New Zealand lost early wickets but remained composed. Will Young (48 not out) and Rachin Ravindra (39 not out) forged an unbeaten 75-run partnership to guide the visitors to victory, securing a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.Latham praised Ravindra's contributions, highlighting his impressive performance in both innings. He also acknowledged the pivotal roles played by O'Rourke, Tim Southee, and Matt Henry, whose bowling prowess laid the foundation for the win.This victory elevates New Zealand to fourth place in the World Test Championship standings, surpassing England and South Africa. It is a testament to the team's resilience and determination, and sets the stage for an exciting remainder of the series.

The highly anticipated India vs New Zealand Test match in Bengaluru has reached a pivotal point, with all possible outcomes still on the table. However, the weather could play a decisive role in determining the fate of the match.After a rain-marred first day, the match commenced under overcast conditions. New Zealand's fast bowlers wreaked havoc on India's batting lineup, dismissing them for a paltry 46 runs. The visitors then amassed a formidable 402 runs, putting India under immense pressure.In response, India fought back with a resilient 462 runs, setting New Zealand a target of 107 runs to win. With all ten second-innings wickets in hand, New Zealand will resume their chase on the fifth and final day.However, the weather forecast for Bengaluru is casting a shadow over the match. The Indian Meteorological Department predicts "generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers" on Sunday. Accuweather also forecasts "thunderstorms in the area late Saturday night through Sunday evening."These weather conditions could prove advantageous for India, as they could limit the time available for New Zealand to score the required runs. Conversely, New Zealand will be hoping for a clear spell of cricket to allow them to chase down the target.The M Chinnaswamy Stadium boasts a world-class drainage facility and a subsurface aeration system, which enables play to resume quickly after rainfall. However, if the rain persists or becomes too heavy, it could force the match to be abandoned or result in a draw.As the match enters its final day, the tension is palpable. Both teams will be eager to secure a victory, but the weather could ultimately have the final say.

India's bowlers fought valiantly for over 90 minutes, but Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee's blistering partnership before lunch propelled New Zealand to a commanding lead in the ongoing Test match.After India's dismal first innings total of 46, they needed a strong start with the ball. Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah delivered, keeping the New Zealand batsmen in check with accurate bowling. They claimed the wickets of Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry, who appeared rattled and lacking confidence.However, Southee, known for his aggressive batting, provided stability for Ravindra. Despite the previous two batters falling to straight deliveries, Ravindra remained composed, trusting his partner. Southee's resilience allowed Ravindra to flourish, and he raced to his second Test century, his second international hundred in his hometown.From the 70th over onwards, Ravindra accelerated, scoring 56 runs off 38 balls. He lofted Kuldeep Yadav for a six to reach his fifty and continued to push the boundaries. Southee, initially cautious, also joined the attack, hitting an overpitched delivery from Ashwin for a six.Ravindra's confidence soared as he dictated the terms to the bowlers. Southee, too, found his rhythm, waiting patiently for the right deliveries to attack. By lunch, the duo had added an unbeaten 112 for the eighth wicket, giving New Zealand a lead of 299 runs.India's bowlers, who had toiled tirelessly, were left frustrated by the late onslaught. Ravindra and Southee's partnership, the second-quickest 100-plus stand against India, has put the visitors in a commanding position.

New Zealand Dominate Day 2 of Bengaluru Test, India Collapse to Dismal 46New Zealand seized control of the rain-affected opening Test against India in Bengaluru, finishing Day 2 with a commanding 134-run lead. Opener Devon Conway's brilliant 91 anchored the Kiwis' response to India's disastrous 46 all out, the hosts' lowest-ever Test score at home.India's batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of Matt Henry's five-wicket haul and William O'Rourke's four wickets. Only Rishabh Pant (20) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) managed double figures as the Indian innings folded in just 31.2 overs.In response, New Zealand openers Conway and Tom Latham (22) forged a solid partnership, putting on 78 runs for the first wicket. Conway reached his half-century off just 54 balls, showcasing his excellent footwork against the Indian spinners.However, Conway's dismissal to Ravichandran Ashwin's reverse sweep left New Zealand at 105/2. Will Young (29) and Daryl Mitchell (14) then steadied the innings, taking the Kiwis to 180/3 at stumps.Earlier, India's decision to bat first under overcast conditions backfired spectacularly. Henry and O'Rourke exploited the bounce and seam movement to dismantle the Indian batting order. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Sarfaraz Khan all fell cheaply, leaving India reeling at 10/3.Pant's counter-attacking innings was cut short, and Jaiswal's patient knock ended with a stunning catch by Ajaz Patel. The dismissals of Rahul and Jadeja left India reeling at 34/6 at lunch, and the innings concluded just minutes into the second session.New Zealand's bowlers set the tone for the day, with Henry and O'Rourke generating troublesome bounce and Southee's wobble seam accounting for Rohit's wicket. The Kiwis will look to extend their lead on Day 3 and put India under further pressure.

England's promising start in the second Test against Pakistan was abruptly halted by the brilliance of Sajid Khan, whose incisive off-spin triggered a rapid batting collapse. After reaching a comfortable position of 211/2, England lost four wickets for a mere 14 runs, leaving them reeling at 225/6 at the end of Day 2 in Multan.Sajid's exceptional bowling performance proved pivotal, seizing control for Pakistan at a crucial juncture. The collapse began with the dismissal of England's talisman, Joe Root, who had looked settled until Sajid deceived him with a well-flighted delivery. Root's attempted sweep resulted in an inside edge onto his boot, sending the ball rolling into the stumps.Sajid's next victim was Ben Duckett, who had earlier anchored the innings with a fluent 114. Despite surviving multiple close calls, Duckett eventually succumbed to Sajid's persistent pressure. An aggressive drive off a full-length delivery found a thick outside edge, which Agha Salman at first slip gratefully accepted.With Duckett's departure, England's batting order crumbled. Harry Brook was bowled trying to punch a spinning delivery off the back foot, misjudging the sharp turn and allowing the ball to crash through the gap between bat and pad.England's woes were compounded by Noman Ali, who dismissed captain Ben Stokes for a mere 1. Stokes failed to adjust to Noman's turn, edging a defensive push onto his pad, which Abdullah Shafique at short leg completed with an outstanding diving catch.From a position of strength at 211/2, England were now in deep trouble at 225/6, leaving Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse to steady the ship before stumps. However, the pair managed to stabilize the innings and guided England to 239/6 by the end of the day.Sajid Khan finished the day with figures of 4/86, his devastating spell turning the match on its head. With Pakistan's bowlers firing on all cylinders and England trailing by 127 runs, Day 3 promises to be a pivotal chapter in this thrilling Test series at Multan.

England's historic Test victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi marked a significant milestone in the annals of cricket. The hosts, despite posting a formidable 579 runs in their first innings, succumbed to an innings and 47-run defeat, becoming the first Test-playing nation to suffer such a fate after scoring over 500 runs in the opening innings.Pakistan's batting woes continued on the final day as they were bowled out for 220 within the first session. Salman Ali Agha (63) and Aamer Jamal (55 not out) provided some resistance with their fighting half-centuries, but it was not enough to prevent England from securing a memorable triumph.Left-arm spinner Jack Leach played a pivotal role in England's victory, claiming all three wickets on the final morning to finish with figures of 4/30. Fast bowlers Gus Atkinson and debutant Brydon Carse had earlier dismantled Pakistan's top order on Day 4.The result extended Pakistan's dismal run in Test cricket under captain Shan Masood, who has now overseen six consecutive defeats. It was also Pakistan's seventh loss at home in 11 Test matches.Pakistan's last Test victory came in July 2023, when they defeated Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs in Colombo. Since then, they have played six Test matches and lost all.The defeat in Rawalpindi also marked Pakistan's seventh consecutive Test loss at home, a streak that dates back to February 2021. Their last home victory came against South Africa in Rawalpindi, a staggering 1342 days ago.England's victory, on the other hand, was a testament to their resilience and determination. They had been outplayed by Pakistan in the first innings, but they fought back admirably to secure a famous win.

Pakistan's cricket team has endured a humiliating defeat in the Multan Test against England, becoming the first Test-playing nation to lose by an innings and 47 runs after scoring over 550 runs in the first innings. This unprecedented setback has cast a dark shadow over Pakistan's cricketing history.Despite their impressive first-innings total, Pakistan's bowlers failed to deliver, allowing England to take a commanding lead. Skipper Shan Masood expressed his disappointment, emphasizing that the team's batting unit cannot shoulder the entire blame."When you put up 550 on the board, it's important to back it up with 10 wickets," Masood said. "220 runs in the third innings can be a good score, but England found a way to get those 20 wickets. We also have to find a way to do that."Masood acknowledged that Pakistan's recent Test performances have been disappointing, including a 0-2 loss to Bangladesh. He stressed the need for consistency and a squad mentality to overcome these challenges."We're in the middle of the series, and we've talked about squad mentality and consistency," Masood said. "No matter how the pitch is, we have to find a way out. England showed that. It's a non-negotiable of Test cricket to perform on a consistent basis."Masood expressed his frustration over the team's inability to deliver the results that Pakistan deserves. "We're obviously hurt by the results, hurt as a nation," he said. "What hurts is that we're not getting the results that Pakistan cricket deserves. We are trying to turn it around."Pakistan's bowlers will need to step up and deliver in the remaining matches of the series if they hope to salvage some pride. The team's batting unit has shown its potential, but it is the bowlers who must now prove their worth.

Former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin has lauded Indian skipper Rohit Sharma for his astute leadership in guiding India to a remarkable victory in the rain-affected Kanpur Test against Bangladesh. Haddin believes that India's aggressive approach and unwavering determination to win, even in challenging conditions, bodes well for their upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign in Australia.Despite losing two days of play due to rain and a wet outfield, India managed to pull off a stunning victory by dismissing Bangladesh for 146 in their second innings and chasing down a modest target of 95. Haddin praised India's attacking mindset, which allowed them to create opportunities to bowl out Bangladesh within the remaining time."They gave themselves a chance to win the game," Haddin said. "It was not about 'How many runs I score', it is about finding enough time to bowl Bangladesh out. They played a great brand of cricket, but it was all about giving them enough time."Haddin highlighted Rohit Sharma's leadership as a key factor in India's success. "Rohit had nothing to lose," he said. "How good was it to watch! It's a wonderful way to win Test cricket."Haddin believes that India's performance in Kanpur is a testament to their ability to adapt and overcome adversity. "The mindset of Rohit Sharma to find a way to manipulate a result... teams are scared to go 10 runs/over in 20 overs cricket! So, I take my hats off to India," he concluded.As India prepares for the Border-Gavaskar series in Australia, Haddin is optimistic that they can replicate their aggressive and determined approach. "I actually do (If India will play same cricket in Australia). Because if you look at this result... the worst result for India would have been a draw. There was no way India would have lost it," he said.The Border-Gavaskar series kicks off on November 22 with the first Test in Perth. India will be aiming to retain the trophy they won in 2018-19, while Australia will be eager to reclaim it on home soil.