Cricket

Karnataka and Kerala were forced to share a point each after their Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C encounter at the Alur Grounds ended in a frustrating draw due to persistent rain. The match was marred by inclement weather, with only two sessions of play possible out of a total of 12.On the opening day, Kerala managed to reach 161 for three in the final session. However, the second day's play was completely washed out, leaving both teams with a solitary point. The result was particularly disappointing for Karnataka, who had also been forced to settle for a draw in their rain-affected opening tie against Madhya Pradesh.Kerala, on the other hand, had secured a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Punjab in their first game, giving them a total of six points. Karnataka, with just one point from two matches, will now travel to Patna to face Bihar from October 26. Kerala, meanwhile, will clash with Bengal in Kolkata.The draw has left both teams in a precarious position in the standings. Karnataka, the eight-time Ranji Trophy champions, will need to secure victories in their remaining matches to stay in contention for a place in the knockout stages. Kerala, too, will need to perform consistently to maintain their position in the top half of the table.The weather conditions have played a significant role in the early stages of the Ranji Trophy, with several matches being affected by rain. The BCCI will be hoping for better weather in the coming weeks to ensure that the tournament can be completed as scheduled.

Sanat Sangwan's defiant 83 and Navdeep Saini's strategic time-wasting tactics helped Delhi escape with a draw in their second-round Ranji Trophy match against Tamil Nadu at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday.Delhi, asked to follow on after conceding a 408-run first-innings lead, faced a daunting task of seeing out 85 overs to avoid an innings defeat. The visitors, led by N. Jagadeesan, were determined to force a result, but Delhi's resilience proved too strong.Sangwan played a pivotal role in Delhi's resistance, consuming 231 deliveries and frustrating the Tamil Nadu bowlers. His innings, which included 10 fours and a six, kept the visitors at bay for over six hours.As the shadows lengthened, Delhi's hopes of a draw rested on the shoulders of Saini and Himanshu Chauhan. With two wickets in hand and just two overs remaining, Tamil Nadu sensed an opportunity. However, Saini's clever time-wasting tactics, including a comical display of injury after being hit on the head, allowed Delhi to survive the final onslaught.Tamil Nadu's bowlers, led by Washington Sundar and S. Ajith Ram, had earlier put in a dominant performance, restricting Delhi to 266 in their first innings. Gurjapneet Singh and Sonu Yadav also chipped in with two wickets each.In their second innings, Delhi lost early wickets but Sangwan's marathon knock steadied the ship. Himmat Singh (36) and Jonty Sidhu (23) provided valuable support, but it was Saini's unbeaten 15 that ultimately sealed the draw.Tamil Nadu, despite their first-innings advantage, were left to rue their missed opportunities. Their decision to bat for a mammoth total in the first innings may have backfired, as it gave Delhi ample time to recover in the second innings.

Indian cricket star Shubman Gill has become a topic of discussion on social media after his name was mentioned in the popular Netflix series "Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives." In an episode of the show's third season, actress Neelam Kothari inquired about Gill's attendance at an upcoming event, prompting a humorous exchange among the cast.The conversation quickly shifted to the pronunciation of Gill's name, with the celebrities present struggling to utter it correctly. The incident sparked a viral trend on social media, with users sharing their own attempts at pronouncing the cricketer's name.Meanwhile, Gill's fitness has been a concern for the Indian team after he missed the first Test against New Zealand due to neck stiffness. However, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has hinted that Gill may be available for the second Test."Shubman Gill seems okay at this point in time," Sharma said in a post-match press conference.Gill was seen practicing in the nets during the first Test, indicating that he may have overcome his fitness issues. His return to the team would be a major boost for India, who suffered a disappointing defeat in the first Test.India's batting lineup struggled in the absence of Gill, with Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway scoring half-centuries for New Zealand. The hosts also faced a batting collapse after the introduction of the new ball, setting a target of just 107 runs for the Kiwis.Despite a valiant fightback from Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant, India's total proved insufficient as New Zealand chased down the target with ease. The defeat marked New Zealand's first Test win in India in 36 years.

Indian pace spearhead Mohammad Shami has hailed young pace sensation Mayank Yadav as the future of Indian bowling, highlighting the depth and talent within the team's pace attack.Shami, who has recently declared himself fully fit and ready to bowl, believes that youngsters like Yadav and Harshit Rana possess the potential to carry forward the legacy of Indian pace bowling. The 34-year-old, who played the 2023 ODI World Cup with an injury, was instrumental in India's runner-up finish, taking 24 wickets at an astonishing average of 10.70."The best thing that has happened for Indian cricket is that our pace bowling strength has really gone up," Shami said at an event organized by Eugenix Hair Sciences in Gurugram. "Earlier, we used to have only a few bowlers who used to bowl 140-145 km/h, but now even those bowlers who are on the bench are bowling above 145. One of the names that have really impressed me in pace bowling is Mayank Yadav. He is really impressive, he is someone who will carry the baton of Indian pace bowling in the future."Shami's praise for Yadav is a testament to the young pacer's impressive performances in recent times. Yadav, who made his international debut in 2022, has quickly established himself as a reliable option for the Indian team, showcasing his ability to swing the ball both ways and generate good pace.Shami's return to full fitness is a major boost for the Indian team, especially with the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia on the horizon. The veteran pacer has been working diligently on his recovery at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru after undergoing surgery in February in London."I have worked as a unit since 2014," Shami said. "India never had three bowlers at a time who could bowl over 140kph. Now we have some on the bench who can bowl 145kph. This generation knows how to fight back, and we've shown that overseas."Shami's return to action will provide the Indian team with a much-needed boost, as they look to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from Australia. The pacer's experience and skill will be invaluable in the challenging conditions of Australia, where the ball often swings and seams.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction for the 2025 season is set to clash with the first Test between India and Australia, creating a scheduling headache for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and broadcasters.According to Cricbuzz, the proposed dates for the auction, November 24 and 25, coincide with Day 3 and Day 4 of the Test match. This poses a significant challenge for the Disney Star network, which holds the broadcasting rights for both events.The report suggests that Saudi Arabia's capital city, Riyadh, is the frontrunner to host the mega auction. BCCI officials have reportedly visited the city and are considering it alongside Jeddah as potential venues.While IPL franchises would have preferred an Indian host city, it is no longer a possibility. The BCCI is urging franchises to finalize the auction venue to facilitate travel arrangements for delegation members.The mega auction is expected to take place in the final week of November, with the retentions list of all franchises to be announced on October 31. Each franchise is allowed up to six direct retentions, including a maximum of two uncapped players.The clash between the auction and the Test match has raised concerns among fans and stakeholders. The BCCI is exploring options to avoid a direct conflict between the two events, but the timing of the match and the auction may make it difficult.The IPL mega auction is a highly anticipated event that attracts global attention. It is a crucial opportunity for franchises to build their squads for the upcoming season. The clash with the India-Australia Test match adds an additional layer of intrigue to the proceedings.

Jos Buttler's return to the helm of England's white-ball team has been further delayed due to a persistent calf injury. The 34-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has been sidelined for four months and will miss the upcoming ODI leg of the Caribbean tour.Buttler's injury woes began in June during England's T20 World Cup campaign. He has not played a competitive match since their semi-final defeat to India. Despite missing the Hundred and the T20I and ODI series against Australia, Buttler was expected to make his comeback in the Caribbean.However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that Buttler has suffered a "slight setback" in his rehabilitation. As a result, he will fly directly to Barbados for the five-match T20I series starting on November 9.In Buttler's absence, Liam Livingstone will captain England in the ODIs. It will be his first time leading the team in this format. Harry Brook, who stood in for Buttler against Australia, is currently in Pakistan preparing for the third Test.England will announce a replacement player in due course. Jordan Cox and Rehan Ahmed are potential candidates, as they were originally intended to join the tour as additional players.Buttler's continued absence has raised concerns about his international future. However, incoming white-ball coach Brendon McCullum has assured that Buttler remains a key part of his plans. McCullum has praised Buttler's leadership and ability to inspire his teammates.Marcus Trescothick, England's interim white-ball coach, has also expressed confidence in Buttler's return. He believes that Buttler will seamlessly reintegrate into the team and continue to contribute significantly.

The 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle is nearing its conclusion, with India and Australia emerging as the frontrunners for a rematch of the previous WTC final, which Australia won. Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali believes that the final will once again feature India and Australia, but he has a suggestion for the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding future WTC cycles.Ali suggests that the ICC consider hosting India-Pakistan Test matches at neutral venues such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi to include these two teams in the WTC cycle. He emphasizes that India and Pakistan should be part of the competition, as they are the only teams that do not play bilateral series against each other."The Indian government always says no, but they play in ICC events like the World Cup," Ali said. "If PCB gives a suggestion, then they (ICC and BCCI) don't take it seriously, which is wrong."Currently, India leads the WTC table, followed by Australia and Sri Lanka. New Zealand's recent victory over India in the first Test of their series in Bengaluru has kept their hopes of finishing in the top two alive. India will face Australia in a five-Test series after their three-Test series against New Zealand.Ali believes that the WTC final will likely be between India and Australia, given their current form. "Four teams are in the top half (of WTC table) -- India, Australia, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. But according to me, there are only three -- India, Australia, and Sri Lanka. But the kind of cricket India and Australia are playing, the WTC final should be between these two teams," he said.

Prithvi Shaw, the enigmatic opening batter for Mumbai, has been dropped from the squad for their upcoming Ranji Trophy Group A match against Tripura. The decision was made after a meeting between the selectors and the coach, who discussed areas where Shaw needs to improve, including his fitness.Shaw has struggled for form this season, scoring just 139 runs in six innings at the top of Mumbai's order. His fitness has also been a concern since he returned from a knee injury earlier this year.The Mumbai selectors have recalled veteran Akhil Herwadkar, who last played for Mumbai in November 2018. Herwadkar will compete with Angkrish Raghuvanshi for the opening slot alongside Ayush Mhatre.Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav (personal commitments) and Tanush Kotian (India A duty) will also miss the next game. Left-arm spinner Karsh Kothari has been recalled to the squad after a hiatus.The Mumbai squad for the match against Tripura is as follows:* Ajinkya Rahane (Capt.)* Ayush Mhatre* Angkrish Raghuvanshi* Akhil Herwadkar* Shreyas Iyer* Siddhesh Lad* Suryansh Shedge* Hardik Tamore (wk)* Sidhaant Addhatrao (wk)* Shams Mulani* Karsh Kothari* Himanshu Singh* Shardul Thakur* Mohit Avasthi* Juned Khan* Royston Dias

Mumbai's formidable all-rounder duo, Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani, have been instrumental in the team's recent Ranji Trophy success. However, their partnership will be temporarily broken as Kotian prepares to join the India A squad for their tour of Australia.Mulani, the senior partner, expressed his admiration for Kotian's batting abilities, stating that he will miss him more as a batter than a bowler. "We have been bowling together and doing well together, but with the replacements we have, I am sure Himanshu (Singh) and I can also deliver in tandem," Mulani said.The Mumbai team recently secured a nine-wicket victory against Maharashtra, a crucial win after a disappointing loss to Baroda. Mulani emphasized the importance of bouncing back from the setback. "We reflected pretty hard on the loss. We went through the video footage extensively. Some people took responsibility for the loss. It feels nice for our side when the seniors club in and the others raise take responsibility. It feels nice with the way we bounced back on the first morning here that set the game up for us," he said.Kotian's departure for Australia presents an opportunity for other players to step up and fill his void. Himanshu Singh is expected to take over Kotian's role as the team's primary all-rounder. Singh has shown promise in the past, and Mulani is confident in his ability to contribute to the team's success.Despite the temporary separation, Mulani remains optimistic about the team's prospects. "All the best to Tanush, it's a huge opportunity to represent India A. I will not miss him that much (with the ball) but definitely will miss him as a batter," he said.