Cricket

Gujarat Giants Face Uphill Battle Against Delhi Capitals in Women's Premier LeagueBengaluru, India - The Gujarat Giants will face a formidable challenge when they take on the in-form Delhi Capitals in Match 10 of the Women's Premier League at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Giants have endured a difficult start to the tournament, suffering three consecutive defeats, while the Capitals have emerged as one of the early favorites with three impressive victories.The Giants' struggles have been evident in their batting, where they have failed to post a competitive total in any of their matches. Captain Harleen Deol has been the only consistent performer, but the rest of the lineup has struggled to find form. The Capitals, on the other hand, have a well-balanced batting unit led by the experienced Jemimah Rodrigues and the explosive Shafali Verma.The Giants' bowling attack has also been inconsistent, with only Sneh Rana and Mansi Joshi showing any signs of promise. The Capitals, in contrast, have a potent bowling lineup that includes the experienced Shikha Pandey and the young and talented Titas Sadhu.The Giants will need to find a way to improve their batting and bowling if they want to have any chance of upsetting the Capitals. Deol will need to lead from the front and inspire her teammates to perform at their best. The Capitals, meanwhile, will be confident of extending their winning streak and consolidating their position at the top of the standings.The match promises to be an exciting contest between two teams with contrasting fortunes. The Giants will be desperate to break their losing streak, while the Capitals will be looking to maintain their momentum and continue their march towards the playoffs.

Former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has shed light on his decision to appoint Rohit Sharma as the captain of the Indian men's cricket team, replacing Virat Kohli. Ganguly, who was the BCCI chief at the time, revealed that he saw immense potential in Rohit, particularly considering his impressive record in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Ganguly praised Rohit's leadership skills, highlighting his ability to guide India to the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup on home soil. Despite losing to Australia in the final, Ganguly believes India was the strongest team in the tournament. He expressed his admiration for Rohit's calm and composed demeanor during the high-pressure event."I am not surprised by the way he led," Ganguly said. "He became the captain when I was the BCCI president, and I am not surprised by the way he has led the team. I made him the Indian captain because I saw the talent in him, and I am not surprised by what he has done."Rohit's recent achievements include leading India to a 17th consecutive Test series win on home soil. After losing the opening match against England in Hyderabad, India has bounced back to take a 3-1 lead in the series.Meanwhile, Rohit has relinquished his captaincy at Mumbai Indians to Hardik Pandya. Hardik, who led Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in 2022, will now take charge of the five-time champions.

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes that the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) presents a golden opportunity for Ishan Kishan to reignite his career after being omitted from the BCCI's central contract list for 2023-2024.Kishan, 25, has been absent from the domestic circuit, citing personal reasons, despite not being on national duty since the tour of South Africa in December 2022. Chopra believes that this absence has fueled Kishan's hunger to prove himself."Ishan Kishan will be hungry, as he has not got a central contract. This is the only thing he is playing. What else is he playing?" Chopra said in a YouTube video.Chopra also highlighted Kishan's absence from the recent Test series against England, emphasizing that the IPL provides him with a platform to showcase his abilities and potentially earn a recall to the national team."Either he has himself opted not to play, or he won't be selected now. So this is his chance. If you make the IPL your own, you have chances of going forward. Then there is, of course, Wankhede's flat pitch. The ball will come nicely onto the bat and go far," Chopra added.The BCCI's decision to exclude Kishan from the central contract list has raised questions about his future prospects. However, Chopra believes that the IPL can serve as a catalyst for Kishan's resurgence."This is a big opportunity for Ishan Kishan. He has to make the most of it. He has to score runs, win matches, and show that he is still a force to be reckoned with," Chopra concluded.

MS Dhoni's future in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a subject of intense speculation, with many experts and fans suggesting that IPL 2024 could be his final season. However, Dhoni's childhood friend, Paramjit Singh, has provided a significant update that suggests otherwise.Paramjit, who played a pivotal role in securing Dhoni's first bat sponsorship, believes that Dhoni will continue playing for at least one or two more seasons. "I do not think this will be his (Dhoni's) last season. He is still fit. I think he will play one or two more seasons. He will definitely play one more season. The reason is he is fit," Paramjit told OneCricket.Dhoni's recent practice sessions, where he was spotted with a 'Prime Sports' sticker on his bat, have further fueled speculation about his future. Prime Sports is a shop owned by Paramjit, and the image of Dhoni using his bat has gone viral, highlighting their enduring friendship.Paramjit has also shed light on Dhoni's gesture of giving him a signed bat. "I'm feeling very proud! MS has always been there with us, that's our friendship. He's given me his signed bat," Paramjit said in a video uploaded by Sports Tak.Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in August 2020, has remained active as a player in the IPL. He led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a record-equaling fifth title last season, defeating Gujarat Titans in a thrilling final.While Dhoni has not officially announced his plans for the future, Paramjit's comments suggest that he is likely to continue playing for at least one more season. This will come as welcome news to CSK fans and cricket enthusiasts alike, who are eager to witness the legendary wicketkeeper-batter in action for a few more years.

Tamil Nadu's R Sai Kishore has etched his name in the annals of Ranji Trophy history by becoming only the third bowler from his state to claim 50 wickets in a single season. The left-arm spinner achieved this remarkable feat during the semifinal clash against Mumbai at the BKC Ground on Sunday.Sai Kishore's exceptional performance came on the back of a sterling five-wicket haul that dismantled the Mumbai middle-order on Day Two of the semifinal encounter. Despite Tamil Nadu enduring a batting collapse on the opening day, Sai Kishore's inspired bowling performance turned the tide in his team's favor.The 27-year-old spinner's pivotal role in the match was evident from the outset, as he swiftly made inroads into the Mumbai batting lineup. Trapping opener Bhupen Lalwani leg-before, Sai Kishore set the tone for his dominant display with the ball. His relentless pressure continued in the opening session, culminating in the dismissal of night-watchman Mohit Avasthi.The defining moment of Sai Kishore's spell arrived when he accounted for the prized wicket of Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane, inducing an outside-edge that was pouched by the slip fielder. Sai Kishore capped off his virtuoso performance by claiming successive scalps in the 48th over, dismissing the well-set Musheer Khan and then dismantling Shams Mulani's stumps with a vicious delivery that spun sharply.Sai Kishore's sensational form in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season has been nothing short of remarkable. With at least four wickets in each of his last four innings, including a stellar nine-wicket haul in the quarterfinal against Saurashtra, the left-arm spinner has emerged as a potent force in Tamil Nadu's bowling arsenal.By joining the esteemed company of legendary spinners S Venkataraghavan and Aashish Kapoor, Sai Kishore has solidified his status as one of the premier bowlers in domestic cricket. His 10th First-Class five-for across 39 matches underscores his consistency and impact on the field.With six four-wicket hauls and three five-fors in the ongoing Ranji season, Sai Kishore's stellar performances exemplify his unwavering commitment to excellence and his invaluable contributions to Tamil Nadu's quest for glory in the prestigious tournament.

New South Wales (NSW) has taken a commanding lead over South Australia (SA) in their Sheffield Shield encounter in Sydney, thanks to centuries from Daniel Hughes and Oliver Davies.Hughes and Davies both scored 114 runs, anchoring NSW's innings and giving them a strong position heading into the final day. Hughes' knock was particularly impressive, as he started the day on 71 and brought up his century during the morning session.Davies, who was making his second Shield century of the summer, also played a crucial role in NSW's resurgence. He and Hughes put on a 150-run partnership for the second wicket, which laid the foundation for NSW's strong total.Moises Henriques and Jack Edwards also contributed valuable runs, helping NSW reach 465 for 8 at stumps on day three. Chris Green and Ryan Hadley will resume batting on Monday, looking to extend NSW's lead even further.SA's bowlers toiled hard throughout the day, but were unable to make significant inroads into NSW's batting lineup. Nathan McAndrew was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 for 63, while Ben Manenti claimed 2 for 114.Despite the deficit, SA remains in contention for an outright win. The Redbacks will need to bowl NSW out quickly on Monday and then chase down a challenging target.

Robin Minz, the 21-year-old tribal cricketer from Jharkhand, who made headlines at the IPL 2024 auction, has met with an accident, his father confirmed on Sunday. The promising left-handed batter, known for his big-hitting abilities, was bought by the Gujarat Titans for a whopping Rs 3.60 crore.According to reports, Minz was riding a Kawasaki superbike when he collided with another bike and lost control. The accident resulted in severe damage to the front half of his bike, and Minz sustained bruises on his right knee. He is currently under observation, but his father, Francis Minz, assured that his condition is not serious.Minz's cricketing journey has been guided by experienced coach Chanchal Bhattacharya, who also mentored former Indian captain MS Dhoni. Originally from Gumla district in Jharkhand, Minz came into the spotlight when he was noticed by the Mumbai Indians, who facilitated his training in the United Kingdom.Despite not yet representing Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy, Minz has been part of the state's U19 and U25 teams. He has also undergone trials with various IPL franchises, including Lucknow Supergiants, Delhi Capitals, and Kolkata Knight Riders.In the lead-up to the IPL 2024 auction, Minz garnered attention during the mock auction, with former India cricketer Robin Uthappa describing him as the "left-handed Kieron Pollard." His impressive performances in domestic tournaments and his potential as a big-hitter made him a sought-after player in the auction.Minz's accident is a setback, but his father expressed confidence that he will recover quickly and continue his cricketing journey. He is expected to make his IPL debut in the upcoming season, where he will likely compete with experienced Indian keeper Wriddhiman Saha for a spot in the playing XI.

Nepal's cricket team emerged victorious in their fifth match of the ongoing Tri-Series, defeating the Netherlands by six wickets. The match, which also featured Namibia, saw Nepal's bowlers shine as they restricted the Dutch to a modest total of 120 runs.Pratis GC led the bowling attack for Nepal, claiming three wickets. The Netherlands' batting lineup struggled to gain momentum, with only Max ODowd managing to score over 30 runs.In response, Nepal's batsmen chased down the target with ease, reaching 121 runs in just 15.2 overs. Skipper Rohit Paudel top-scored with 46 runs, while Gulsan Jha contributed 38.One of the highlights of the match was a stunning fielding effort by Kushal Bhurtel. In the 19th over of the Netherlands' innings, Bhurtel leaped to prevent a certain six from crossing the boundary line. He then quickly threw the ball to wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh, who ran out Vivan Kingma for 4.This dismissal proved crucial as it helped Nepal bundle out the Netherlands for 120 runs in 19.3 overs.With this victory, Nepal moved to second place in the points table, behind the Netherlands who have won two out of their three matches.

Shreyas Iyer Disappoints in Ranji Trophy Semifinal as Tamil Nadu Fights BackOut-of-favor India batter Shreyas Iyer's return to domestic cricket proved underwhelming as he failed to make an impact in the Ranji Trophy semifinal match between Mumbai and Tamil Nadu. Representing Mumbai, Iyer was dismissed for a mere 3 runs by Tamil Nadu pacer Sandeep Warrier in the first innings.Mumbai, led by Ajinkya Rahane, had a promising start, with Rahane and Musheer Khan putting on a 43-run partnership. However, Iyer's dismissal, followed by the fall of Rahane, left Mumbai reeling at 96/5.Tamil Nadu skipper B Sai Kishore led the charge with the ball, claiming five wickets for 31 runs in 20 overs. Mumbai struggled at 125/7 at lunch on the second day, but managed to reduce the first-innings deficit to just 21 runs by the end of the first session.Iyer's poor performance was a disappointment, as he had hoped to impress on his return to domestic cricket after failing to secure a BCCI central contract. Unfortunately, he failed to deliver in the first innings.Tamil Nadu's remarkable comeback put Mumbai under pressure after a dismal opening day, where they were bowled out for just 146. The visitors' resurgence was led by Sai Kishore's five-wicket haul and a disciplined bowling performance.