Cricket

Mumbai Indians (MI), the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, face a crucial challenge in the upcoming mega auction with a limited budget of Rs 45 crore. Despite retaining their core Indian stars, MI must fill their squad strategically.Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra predicts that MI will target an Indian spinner, particularly Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal, the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, was surprisingly released by Rajasthan Royals. His consistent performance, with 18 or more wickets in the last six IPL seasons, makes him a valuable asset.Another potential target for MI is Washington Sundar, who was released by Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sundar's impressive performances in T20Is and Test cricket for Team India could fetch him a high price in the auction.Chopra also suggests that MI may bid for Ishan Kishan, but his high price tag may be prohibitive. Instead, he recommends alternatives such as Quinton de Kock, Jitesh Sharma, or Phil Salt for the wicket-keeper batter role.MI's strategy will likely involve building an Indian batting lineup and an overseas bowling lineup, with a couple of Indian spinners. The IPL mega auction will be held in Jeddah on November 24 and 25, and MI's ability to fill their squad effectively with their limited budget will be crucial to their success in IPL 2025.

India's Spin Duo Dominates Day 1 of Mumbai Test, But Sundar's No-Balls Disappoint GavaskarThe opening day of the Mumbai Test between India and New Zealand witnessed a dominant performance from India's spin duo, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. The pair combined to claim nine wickets, bowling out the Kiwis for 235 runs.While Sundar continued his impressive form from the Pune Test, one aspect of his bowling left legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar visibly frustrated. During commentary, former India coach Ravi Shastri revealed that Gavaskar had smashed his plate in anger after witnessing Sundar repeatedly bowl no-balls."Sunil Gavaskar was having lunch. He smashed the plate on the wall," Shastri said on-air. "Thank god he's not fielding in the slip. Washington would have been close to Washington DC."No-balls are an uncommon occurrence for spinners, and Sundar's repeated overstepping drew criticism from former New Zealand cricketer Ian Smith. "Oh dear. Another no-ball. Where is Sunny G? He is going to run after them with a mic in hand," Smith quipped.Gavaskar himself joined in the banter, saying, "Yeah, don't worry. I have my running shoes on. But on a serious note, it's something that needs to be looked at.""With a fast bowler, it is understandable, that the momentum of the body can sometimes take your foot over the line. But spinners? Players keep saying that there are things that are not under our control. Well, this is one thing under control, so might as well, be cautious," he added.Despite Sundar's no-ball issue, Jadeja and Sundar's combined efforts put India in a strong position with the ball. However, the Indian batting unit once again faltered, losing four wickets before stumps, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and nightwatchman Mohammed Siraj.

India's batting woes continued on the opening day of the third and final Test against New Zealand in Mumbai, as they slumped to 86 for four at the close of play. The hosts, already trailing 0-2 in the series, had earlier bowled out the visitors for 235, thanks to impressive performances from Ravindra Jadeja (5/65) and Washington Sundar (4/81).However, India's batting collapsed in the final 20 minutes of the day, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma all falling cheaply. Jaiswal was dismissed for 18, attempting an extravagant reverse slog-sweep, while Kohli was run out for 4 after a lapse in judgment. Sharma, playing his second Test at the Wankhede Stadium, failed to capitalize on an early chance and was caught for 18.India's batting collapse highlighted their shaky confidence, with Shubman Gill (31 not out) and Mayank Agarwal (17 not out) the only batsmen to show any resistance. The hosts ended the day still 149 runs behind New Zealand's first innings total.Earlier, Jadeja and Sundar had combined for nine wickets to restrict New Zealand to 235. Jadeja achieved his 14th five-for in Tests, surpassing Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma to move up to fifth on India's all-time Test wicket-taker list.Will Young (71) and Daryl Mitchell (82) played well for New Zealand, but they struggled against India's spinners on a spin-friendly pitch. Young looked poised for a century, but Jadeja ended his knock with a turning delivery that clipped the bat's shoulder. Mitchell, the highest scorer with 82 off 129 balls, showed resilience and hit three fours and three sixes in his fighting knock.India desperately need a win in this Test to stay in contention for the World Test Championship final, but their batting collapse on the opening day has put them in a challenging position.

On the opening day of the third Test between India and New Zealand in Mumbai, Sarfaraz Khan's fiery send-off to Rachin Ravindra marked a significant moment. Ravindra, a key performer for New Zealand, had been instrumental in their victories in the previous two Tests.During the first session, Washington Sundar's delivery crashed into Ravindra's stumps, leaving him bewildered. Sarfaraz, positioned at silly point, erupted in celebration and taunted Ravindra as he returned to the dressing room. Sundar's delivery was a masterstroke, earning him Ravindra's wicket for the third time in the series.Spinner Washington Sundar continued to shine, claiming two wickets as New Zealand ended the first session at 92/3. Will Young (38*) and Daryl Mitchell (11*) remained unbeaten.New Zealand's innings began poorly, with Akash Deep dismissing Devon Conway for four runs. Skipper Tom Latham and Will Young steadied the ship, but Sundar dismissed Latham for 28. Ravindra's dismissal for five runs further weakened New Zealand's position.Young and Mitchell guided New Zealand through the remainder of the session without further losses.India, trailing 0-2 in the series, will be determined to avoid a whitewash in the final Test. Mohammed Siraj has replaced the unwell Jasprit Bumrah in the Indian lineup, while Matt Henry has come in for Tim Southee for New Zealand.

Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar is set to enter the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction pool, scheduled for next month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sundar, who impressed with 11 wickets in the second Test against New Zealand, is unlikely to be retained by his current franchise, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH).According to reports, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Gujarat Titans have expressed interest in acquiring Sundar's services. The all-rounder is keen on entering the auction, where he could potentially command a significant sum.While SRH has the option to retain Sundar using the Right to Match (RTM) card, they are reportedly considering retaining only three players ahead of the mega auction. Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, and Abhishek Sharma are expected to be the retained players.Interestingly, Cummins, who captained SRH in 2024, will reportedly receive a pay cut of INR 2 crore, despite leading the team to the finals last season. SRH is expected to finalize the retentions of Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy soon.The IPL has set October 31 as the deadline for retentions. If SRH finalizes five retentions, they will have one RTM card available at the auction, which can only be used for an uncapped Indian player.Sundar's impressive performances in recent matches have made him a valuable asset for any IPL franchise. His all-round abilities, including his effective spin bowling and solid batting, make him a versatile player who can contribute in multiple ways.The upcoming IPL auction promises to be an exciting event, with several top players set to go under the hammer. Sundar's availability will undoubtedly attract the attention of multiple franchises, and he is likely to fetch a substantial contract.

The ongoing Test matches between India and New Zealand in Pune and Pakistan and England in Rawalpindi have witnessed the dominance of spin bowling, with tweakers etching their names in the record books.In Pune, India's decision to field three frontline spinners—Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin—proved fruitful on a spin-friendly surface. Sundar, playing his first Test in over three years, silenced critics by taking seven wickets in a row, triggering New Zealand's collapse from 197/3 to 259 all out. His career-best Test figures and maiden fifer, along with Ashwin's three wickets, marked the sixth instance of spinners claiming all ten wickets on day one of a Test in India.Sundar's five bowled dismissals placed him among the elite group of Indian players to achieve this feat in a Test innings. His figures were the third-best by an Indian against New Zealand in Tests and the joint-best with Ashwin in the 21st century. Ashwin, meanwhile, surpassed Nathan Lyon as the leading wicket-taker in the ICC World Test Championship with 189 scalps and became Test's seventh-highest wicket-taker with 531 scalps.In Rawalpindi, the pitch also favored spinners. England, who had scored over 500 runs in a day at the same venue in 2022, faced a different scenario this time. Sajid Khan's six-wicket haul, the third-best spell by a spinner at the venue, led Pakistan's spin attack to dismiss England for 267. All the overs in the innings were bowled by spinners, marking the first such instance in 142 years of Test cricket.Pakistan's spinners continued their dominance, taking all ten wickets in the first innings of a Test for the sixth time, including four against England. At the end of the day, Pakistan had reduced England to 73/3, with spinners Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed claiming two wickets each.The ongoing matches highlight the resurgence of spin bowling in Test cricket. Whether spinners will continue to dominate and single-handedly win matches for their teams remains to be seen.

Virat Kohli's Practice Session Electrifies Pune Crowd After Day 1 of India-New Zealand TestAfter a thrilling first day of the second Test between India and New Zealand in Pune, a significant portion of the crowd remained at the stadium to witness Virat Kohli's extended practice session. The atmosphere crackled with excitement as fans eagerly observed Kohli's meticulous technique and fine-tuning of his skills in the nets.Kohli's dedication and focus captivated the spectators, who cheered him on enthusiastically. The routine practice transformed into a memorable experience for those present, especially after Kohli's recent struggles with the bat. In the two-match Test series against Bangladesh and the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, he had failed to make a significant impact. However, in the second innings of the Bengaluru Test, he bounced back with a solid 70, hinting at a return to form.Earlier in the day, Washington Sundar delivered a career-best performance, claiming seven wickets to dismantle New Zealand's batting lineup. Spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin chipped in with three wickets, bowling out the visitors for 259. India ended the day at 16 for 1, losing captain Rohit Sharma early to a Tim Southee delivery. Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 10, while Yashasvi Jaiswal was not out on six at stumps.Sundar's inclusion in the side proved to be a masterstroke, as he justified his selection by ripping through New Zealand's middle and lower order. His impressive figures of 7 for 59 played a crucial role in India's strong position at the end of Day 1.

Rishabh Pant's on-field antics and witty remarks have become a staple of Indian cricket. During the first day of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune, Pant's stump mic captured a hilarious exchange with spinner Washington Sundar.As New Zealand's tailender Ajaz Patel approached the crease, Pant suggested to Sundar, "Washi aage daal sakta you can bowl a little fuller, thoda bahar daal sakta hai." Sundar obliged, delivering a tossed-up ball that Patel swung through for four runs.Pant's disappointment was evident as he muttered, "Yaar mereko kya pata issey Hindi aati hai." (I didn't know he understood Hindi.)Sundar's seven-wicket haul played a crucial role in restricting New Zealand to 259. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also contributed with three wickets, dismissing the Kiwis in just 79.1 overs.In response, India lost captain Rohit Sharma for a duck, leaving Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill at the crease with a deficit of 243 runs.Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra led New Zealand's batting effort with scores of 76 and 65, respectively.

Washington Sundar's remarkable return to the Indian Test team was marked by a career-best performance in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. Replacing Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI, Sundar made an immediate impact, claiming a seven-wicket haul to bowl out the Kiwis for 259 in their first innings.Sundar's introduction into the attack came with New Zealand at 32/1 after 8 overs. Despite bowling six overs in his first spell, he failed to make a breakthrough. However, his persistence paid off in his third spell, when he dismissed Rachin Ravindra with a beautiful delivery that drifted in on off, landed around a length, and turned sharply to clip off stump.As the match progressed, Sundar's bowling improved with each over. He showcased his exceptional drift and dip on a pitch that offered decent turn. Five of his seven dismissals were clean bowled, demonstrating his mastery of the conditions.Sundar's career-best spell of 7/59 was not only his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket but also his first in all First Class cricket since August 2022 and his first on Indian soil since October 2017. His performance was instrumental in turning the game in India's favor.Sundar's return to form is a testament to his resilience and determination. Having last played a Test match in 2021, he has worked tirelessly to regain his place in the Indian team. His performance in Pune has not only solidified his position but also given India a valuable all-rounder who can contribute with both bat and ball.