Cricket

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.

Bangladesh's batting woes continued in the Dhaka Test against South Africa, with the top four batsmen failing to deliver. The team's total of 105 runs in the match was their worst performance this year, highlighting the need for improvement.The collapse on the first day of the match proved costly, with only the lower order, led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, preventing an innings defeat. Mehidy's 97 in the second innings forced South Africa to bat again, but it was not enough to salvage the match.Mehidy attributed the team's struggles to poor decision-making and a lack of runs on the board. He emphasized the importance of the top order contributing to the total, as it makes life easier for the rest of the batters."We did it in Pakistan where the top four were contributing to the total," Mehidy said. "When the openers start well, it makes life easier for the rest of the batters."Mehidy also acknowledged the pressure on the bowlers when the batters fail to score. "Batters have to take more responsibility," he said. "Lack of runs on the board makes life difficult for the bowlers."Despite the team's struggles, Mehidy remains optimistic about the future. He is leading Bangladesh's batting charts in this World Test Championship cycle and is confident that the team can improve."I am mentally trying to prepare myself to score runs," he said. "I am always trying to get better."Bangladesh have four days to prepare for the Chattogram Test, where they will have one last opportunity to get a score in familiar conditions before embarking on assignments in the UAE and the West Indies.

England fought back on the opening day of the series-deciding third Test in Rawalpindi, reducing Pakistan to 73/3 at close. Home spinner Sajid Khan starred with a six-wicket haul, while Jamie Smith's rearguard 89 helped England post 267.On a dry and spin-friendly pitch, 13 wickets fell on day one, with all but one going to the spinners. Pakistan's Sajid and Noman Ali dominated the morning session, bowling unchanged for 42 overs and taking 9 wickets between them.England's spinners came to the fore in the final session, with Shoaib Bashir dismissing Abdullah Shafique and Jack Leach accounting for Saim Ayub. Gus Atkinson was the only fast bowler to grab a wicket, dismissing Kamran Ghulam.Smith's 89, which included six towering sixes and five fours, enabled England to add 149 for their last four wickets. He shared a 105-run partnership with Gus Atkinson (39) for the seventh wicket.Sajid completed his third five-wicket haul by removing Rehan Ahmed and Jack Leach. England lost captain Ben Stokes early in the afternoon session, but Smith and Atkinson's partnership kept them in the game.The morning session was dominated by Sajid and Noman, who exploited the turning and low-bouncing pitch. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett made a confident start, but England lost three wickets in quick succession.Noman had Crawley caught off a miscued drive, while Sajid removed Pope and Root leg before. Duckett was trapped lbw by Noman for 52, and Harry Brook was bowled behind his legs by Sajid for five.Both teams included three spinners on a grassless pitch, which Pakistan dried with fans and heaters. Sajid and Noman shared all 20 wickets in Pakistan's second Test win to level the series at 1-1.

The India-Pakistan clash in the women's T20 World Cup on October 6, 2024, shattered records by attracting the highest attendance ever witnessed at a group stage match in the tournament's history. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that the match, held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, drew an astounding 15,935 spectators."The India versus Pakistan match at the Dubai International Stadium on 6 October set a new record for the highest attendance at a group stage match in Women's T20 World Cup history," the ICC stated. "This Group A clash in the 2024 edition drew an impressive crowd of 15,935, showcasing the intense rivalry between the two neighbors."The ICC also highlighted the remarkable growth in attendance for the women's T20 World Cup 2024, with a total of 91,030 fans attending matches, representing a significant 30% increase from the previous edition."The thrilling final between New Zealand and South Africa at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday saw 21,457 fans in attendance, a remarkable 68% increase from the last final in South Africa," the ICC said. "The group stages and semi-finals also witnessed strong support, attracting 69,573 fans, a 21% rise compared to the previous edition, highlighting the expanding global appeal of women's cricket."The ICC attributed the impressive turnout to the growing interest in women's cricket among diverse audiences. "Women's cricket is reaching new heights, and the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in the UAE is a shining example of the sport's expanding impact," said ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice. "The impressive turnout demonstrates the growing global support for women's cricket and the potential for hosting elite women's sport in this region."

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has denied the Cricket Association of Bengal's (CAB) request to reschedule two home domestic matches due to the impending Cyclone Dana. The CAB had sought to postpone the Ranji Trophy and U-23 Col CK Naidu Trophy matches against Kerala and Railways, respectively, scheduled for this week in Kolkata and Kalyani.The Bengal senior team was set to host Kerala at the Jadavpur University Campus' second Ground in Kolkata for the third round of the Ranji Trophy, commencing on Saturday. The CAB had hoped for a longer gap between matches this season, but the BCCI declined their request. After the Bengal-Kerala encounter, both teams will have a week's break before their next fixtures.The Bengal Under-23 team was scheduled to host Railways Under-23 from October 27 to 30 at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani. However, the recent Bengal vs Bihar Ranji Trophy match at the same venue was washed out due to heavy rain, raising concerns about the upcoming match. The Under-23 team will have a week-long break before their next match against Vidarbha in Nagpur from November 8 to 11.Meanwhile, the Bengal senior team will be without key players Abhimanyu Easwaran, Abhishek Porel, and Mukesh Kumar for the next two Ranji Trophy rounds. The trio has been selected for India A's shadow tour of Australia.The BCCI's decision to reject the CAB's request has left the association disappointed. However, the matches will proceed as scheduled, with the Bengal teams hoping to overcome the challenges posed by the weather and the absence of their star players.

Rohit Sharma's Test Woes Continue as Tim Southee Strikes AgainIndian captain Rohit Sharma's struggles in Test cricket extended on Thursday as he was dismissed for a duck on the opening day of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. Kiwi pacer Tim Southee delivered a venomous delivery that left Rohit bamboozled, marking the 14th time Southee has dismissed the Indian skipper across all formats.Southee's delivery was a masterclass in seam bowling. Pitched on a good length around middle and off, the ball moved away off the seam, leaving Rohit completely squared up in defense. As he attempted to defend from the crease, the ball nipped away slightly, clipping the top of off stump after a slight deflection off his back pad.Rohit's dismissal was a major setback for India, who were looking to bounce back from their defeat in the first Test. However, Washington Sundar provided a much-needed boost, making a spectacular return to the Test side with a seven-wicket haul.Sundar's off-spin proved too much for the New Zealand batsmen, as he ripped through their middle order. Fellow off-break bowler Ravichandran Ashwin also chipped in with three wickets, as New Zealand were bundled out for 259 in 79.1 overs.At the close of play, India were 16 for 1, with Yashasvi Jaiswal on six and Shubman Gill on ten. The hosts trail by 243 runs, but will be hoping to make a strong comeback on day two.

South Africa's decade-long wait for a Test victory in the subcontinent has finally come to an end, with their triumph in Mirpur marking a significant milestone for the young and inexperienced squad. The victory, their first in the region since 2014, has instilled a renewed sense of confidence and belief within the team.Despite the absence of experienced players in the subcontinent, South Africa's stand-in captain Aiden Markram hailed the win as a testament to the team's potential. "It's special. We're a pretty young, slightly inexperienced group, so to come to the subcontinent and get a win is great for us and the environment," Markram said.The victory is particularly significant given South Africa's recent struggles in the subcontinent. After their last Test win in Galle in 2014, they endured a string of heavy defeats, losing 10 out of 14 Tests. However, the win in Mirpur has sparked memories of a time when South Africa were a dominant force in the region.Between 2007 and 2014, South Africa lost only three out of 15 Tests in the subcontinent, racking up series wins over Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the UAE. They were the most successful team in Asia during that period, apart from India and Sri Lanka.However, their dominance ended in 2015, when they were outplayed 3-0 in India. Since then, they have struggled against spin bowling, which has been their Achilles heel in the subcontinent.In Mirpur, spin once again proved to be a major threat, with South Africa losing five of their top six to Taijul Islam in the first innings. However, Kyle Verreynne's brilliant century, his second in Tests, helped South Africa take a healthy lead.Verreynne's innings was particularly impressive, as he faced 115 deliveries from spinners, scoring almost half his runs with sweeps. His ability to play spin effectively was crucial to South Africa's success.The victory has also highlighted the importance of Kagiso Rabada, who took a six-for in the second innings. Rabada's wicket-taking ability is second to none, and his performance in the subcontinent has further enhanced his reputation.The win in Mirpur has given South Africa a much-needed boost ahead of their return to the subcontinent next year. They will face Pakistan and India in two Tests each, and the experience gained in Bangladesh will be invaluable."The biggest thing we take from it is the belief and the confidence that we actually can do well here as a team," Markram said. "I believe that's where a lot of the game is played, from a confidence and belief and a mental side of things. It will help the team a lot as far as moving forward and seeing if we can put back-to-back performances together goes."

Water Woes Mar India-New Zealand Test in PunePune, October 24, 2024: The opening day of the second Test between India and New Zealand at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) stadium was marred by a severe shortage of drinking water, causing extreme inconvenience to spectators.As temperatures soared and humidity levels remained high, free water kiosks in all the stands ran out of water around lunchtime. The situation was particularly dire in the North Stand, where it took nearly three hours to restore supply. In the South, East, and West stands, water supply was intermittent for up to an hour.Spectators in the North Stand, exposed to the scorching sun, grew impatient and attempted to breach barricades in search of water. The situation escalated into a fracas when unknown vendors sold half-liter bottles at exorbitant prices. A group of fans resorted to vocal protests, calling out specific office-bearers by name.MCA secretary Kamlesh Pisal apologized for the inconvenience, stating that the issue had been addressed and free drinking water would be supplied without interruption for the remainder of the match. He explained that the MCA had attempted to serve chilled water to spectators, but the supply was interrupted at two or three points in the North Stand.Pisal, along with MCA apex council members and chief operating officer Ajinkya Joshi, directed the event management agency and water supply vendor to double the number of water supply kiosks from Day Two.The water shortage raised concerns about the MCA's preparedness for the high-profile Test match. Spectators expressed their disappointment and frustration, with some calling for accountability from the stadium authorities.

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.