Cricket

India's hopes of reaching the Women's T20 World Cup semifinals suffered a setback after a narrow nine-run defeat to Australia in their final Group A match. Chasing a target of 152, India fell short, finishing at 142 for 9, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur leading the way with an unbeaten 54 off 47 balls. Deepti Sharma contributed 29, while Shafali Verma added 20.Despite the loss, India remain in second place on the points table with two wins and two losses, but their net run rate has dropped to 0.322. Australia, on the other hand, became the first team from the group to advance to the last four with an unbeaten run, registering four wins in as many games.India's fate now hinges on Monday's match between Pakistan and New Zealand. A win for Pakistan would pave the way for India to reach the semifinals. New Zealand, currently in third place with four points, will secure the last semifinal spot if they win against Pakistan.If Pakistan triumphs, India, New Zealand, and Pakistan will all be tied with four points each. In this scenario, India will advance to the semifinals due to their superior net run rate (NRR). However, with a NRR of -0.488, Pakistan would need an extraordinary win to qualify for the semifinals alongside Australia from Group A.India's performance against Australia was a mixed bag. The bowlers restricted the defending champions to a manageable total, with Renuka Singh taking three wickets and Deepti Sharma claiming two. However, the batters struggled to build partnerships, with only Harmanpreet Kaur managing to score a half-century.India will now have to rely on Pakistan to beat New Zealand in order to keep their semifinal hopes alive. If Pakistan wins, India will need to improve their net run rate in their final match against Ireland on Tuesday.

Debutant pacer Gurjapneet Singh's exceptional spell (9-5-7-4) in the second innings propelled Tamil Nadu to a commanding position against Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy (Elite Group D) clash at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground on Sunday.TN, who resumed day three on 278 for three, were bowled out for 367 at the stroke of lunch, securing a 164-run first-innings lead. Gurjapneet, wicketless in the first essay, wreaked havoc on the Saurashtra top-order, leaving the opposition reeling at 16 for five.The tall left-arm seamer exploited the new ball effectively, coming around the wicket and shaping it away from the right-handers. He also judiciously employed the short ball and claimed his maiden wicket when Chirag Jani, surprised by a bouncer, pulled it straight to mid-wicket.Gurjapneet then dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara, trapping him plumb in front for a duck. Parshwaraj Rana was the next to go, edging a pull to the keeper down the leg-side before Prerark Mankad got squared up and was caught behind.Earlier in the day, another left-arm pacer and Saurashtra skipper, Jaydev Unadkat (six for 61), led from the front as he scythed through the TN middle order with the second new ball, claiming his 24th five-for in first-class cricket.The veteran pacer kept it full, swinging it both ways and pinning the batters to the crease in his seven-over burst (7-3-13-4) that saw the home team lose five wickets for 18 runs.However, 18-year-old debutant C. Andre Siddarth (38) played an assured knock and, alongside M. Mohammed, added 60 runs for the ninth-wicket to take the lead past 150.With rain expected on the fourth and final day, Sai Kishore's men will desperately hope for sunshine as they sense an opportunity to start the season with a big win.

Australian Test captain Pat Cummins has emphasized that representing his country in Test cricket remains his top priority, while acknowledging the need to balance his commitments with the Indian Premier League (IPL).Cummins, who led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the IPL 2024 final, is aware of the new IPL rules that could impact his future participation in the tournament. Under the revised regulations, overseas players who do not register for the player auction in a particular season become ineligible to participate in the following year's auction. Additionally, players who make themselves unavailable after being picked at the auction face a two-season ban."I'll work out in the next little bit what this season looks like. There's a bit of a tweak in the rules, but I don't know whether that would have affected me in the past, I've never pulled out after the auction. But it is one more factor to consider with the IPL," Cummins told The Sydney Morning Herald.Despite the potential implications, Cummins remains steadfast in his commitment to Test cricket. "Test cricket is the absolute No.1 priority, world cups are right up there, and then I think you use them as your tent poles and work out what else makes sense around that," he said.Cummins acknowledged the demanding nature of the international cricket calendar and the need to prioritize his commitments. "The calendar is never going to get any less busy, and I'm not going to get any younger, so these things have always been considerations, and moving forward will become even more so. But needless to say, playing cricket for Australia, particularly Test matches, is my number one job and priority," he added.Looking ahead to the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, Cummins expects a fiercely contested series. "The couple of home series I've played against India there's always an element of attrition to them. The last series came down to the last session at the Gabba on the last day of the last Test match," he said."That's a good thing to keep in mind; it is a long series, and it might be tightly held until the last game, so you've got to manage your resources throughout," the Australia captain added.

India's pace spearhead Prasidh Krishna's fitness concerns have resurfaced after he sat out the third day of Karnataka's Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in Indore. The 28-year-old, who was recently named as a traveling reserve for India's upcoming Test series against New Zealand, had bowled only eight overs on the opening day of the match.Krishna's absence on day three raised eyebrows, especially considering his recent injury history. He had missed eight months of action due to a quadriceps injury sustained in January during Karnataka's previous Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat.Sources close to the team indicate that Krishna experienced some discomfort while running on the rain-battered outfield at the Holkar Stadium. The outfield conditions were challenging for all players, leading to the cancellation of an entire day's play on Saturday.Krishna's fitness is a major concern for the Indian team management ahead of their five-match tour of Australia starting late next month. The speedster is highly rated by the Indian think-tank, and his form and physical well-being are crucial for India's chances in the upcoming series.Karnataka missed Krishna's services badly on day three, as they struggled to bowl out Madhya Pradesh and secure the first-innings lead. The match is now evenly poised, with both teams having a chance to win.Krishna's fitness will be closely monitored in the coming days. If he is unable to recover in time for the Test series against New Zealand, it could force the Indian team to make a late change to their squad.

Mayank Markande's six-wicket haul and Gurnoor Brar's three-wicket contribution propelled Punjab to a first-innings lead over Kerala in the Ranji Trophy match at the KCA-St. Xavier's College ground on Sunday.Markande, known for his guile and control, exploited the variable bounce of the track to bamboozle the Kerala batters. He dismissed opener Rohan Kunnummal, captain Sachin Baby, and Aditya Sarwate with precise deliveries that exposed their indecision.Brar, introduced late into the attack, made an immediate impact. He broke the promising stand between Akshay Chandran and Jalaj Saxena, inducing an edge from Chandran with a delivery that moved away. Saxena, who had started well, wasted his start by slapping a short ball from Brar to Anmolpreet Singh at mid-on.Kerala's middle order failed to provide any resistance, with Salman Nizar, Mohammed Azharuddeen, and Vishnu Vinod all falling cheaply. Markande returned to dismiss Sarwate and Basil Thampi off successive balls, giving Punjab a crucial 15-run lead.In their second innings, Punjab lost three early wickets to Kerala's spinners. However, the match remains evenly poised heading into the final day, with Punjab needing to bat cautiously to set up a challenging target for Kerala.

India Swaps Sobhana for Yadav in Final Group FixtureIn a last-minute change, India has replaced legspinner Asha Sobhana with left-arm spinner Radha Yadav for their crucial final group match against Australia in the Women's T20 World Cup. The swap required Australia's consent, which was granted.Sobhana suffered a knee injury during the warm-up session before the toss and was unable to participate in the game. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring her progress.Yadav's inclusion provides India with an additional bowling option and lower-order batting depth. She has not started in the first three games but made a significant impact in the win over Sri Lanka with a spectacular catch at extra cover.Australia also suffered a major setback with captain Alyssa Healy ruled out due to a leg injury. Healy, who injured her right foot in the previous game, was seen using crutches to walk. Fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck was also ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup after dislocating her right shoulder in the same match.India's head coach, Amol Muzumdar, had a lengthy one-on-one bowling session with Yadav on the eve of the match, indicating her importance to the team's plans.The change in India's playing XI highlights the unpredictable nature of the tournament and the importance of having a versatile squad capable of adapting to different situations.

India-Australia Clash: A Battle for Supremacy in Group AThe highly anticipated clash between India and Australia in the Women's T20 World Cup Group A is set to unfold at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. With both teams vying for a spot in the semi-finals, this match promises to be a thrilling encounter.Australia, the defending champions, have been in dominant form, winning all three of their group matches with an impressive net run rate. Led by stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath, they have opted to bat first on a pitch that appears more favorable than previous surfaces in Sharjah.India, on the other hand, has had a mixed tournament so far, losing their opening match to New Zealand but bouncing back with victories over Pakistan and Sri Lanka. They have made two changes to their team, bringing in Pooja Vastrakar and Radha Yadav in place of S Sajana and S Asha.The absence of Alyssa Healy and Tayla Vlaeminck has forced Australia to make adjustments to their lineup. Grace Harris returns to the XI to open with Beth Mooney, while Darcie Brown replaces Vlaeminck.India's batting lineup boasts the likes of Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues, who will be crucial in chasing down Australia's total. They also have the advantage of having trained at Sharjah ahead of the match, giving them valuable insights into the conditions.The match is not only a must-win for India but also an opportunity to improve their run rate. Australia's current net run rate of 2.786 puts them in a strong position, and India will need to chase aggressively to close the gap.With the echoes of past encounters between these two cricketing giants still lingering, the stage is set for a captivating battle. India will be determined to prove their mettle against the defending champions, while Australia will aim to maintain their dominance and secure their place in the knockouts.

India's Fearless Approach Powers T20I DominanceIn the realm of international cricket, the Indian team has emerged as a formidable force, driven by a fearless and attacking approach. This philosophy has propelled them to the pinnacle of the ICC Men's T20I rankings and the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup title.The recent three-match T20I series against Bangladesh showcased the unwavering commitment to this aggressive style. India dominated the visitors from start to finish, securing a seventh consecutive bilateral T20I home series win.At the heart of this success lies the belief that individual failure is an acceptable risk in pursuit of team victory. This mindset was exemplified by Sanju Samson's explosive knock in the final outing. Despite two previous failures, Samson embraced the challenge and delivered a magnificent 47-ball 111.Samson's performance is a testament to the unwavering support he has received from the leadership group. After a pair of ducks in the preceding T20I series against Sri Lanka, Samson's confidence could have been shaken. However, the captain and coach stood firmly behind him, providing the necessary encouragement to bounce back.The early communication from the management also played a crucial role in Samson's preparation. Three weeks prior to the series, he received a message confirming his role as opener. This advance notice allowed him to tailor his training and gain an extra edge.Samson's success is a reflection of the team's ethos. He is a highly skilled talent who remains true to his strengths, embodying the best of modern Indian cricketers. "I like to go out and fail or succeed on my own terms," Samson said. "This is what I have stuck to ever since I started playing cricket."The Indian team's fearless approach is not without its risks. However, the rewards have been undeniable. By embracing a mindset that prioritizes attacking play, they have established themselves as one of the most formidable teams in the world.

The highly anticipated first T20I between Sri Lanka and West Indies commenced in Dambulla, with a massive turnout of enthusiastic spectators. The atmosphere was electric as the teams took to the field, their national anthems reverberating through the stadium.West Indies captain Rovman Powell elected to bowl first, citing the overcast conditions and damp outfield. He expressed confidence in his bowlers' ability to exploit the conditions. Powell also acknowledged the team's impressive form over the past year.Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka echoed Powell's sentiments, stating that they too would have preferred to bowl first. He emphasized the importance of starting preparations for the 2026 World Cup.The West Indies lineup featured several key players, including Evin Lewis, Brandon King, Shai Hope, and Roston Chase. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, fielded a strong team led by Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, and Wanindu Hasaranga.The toss proved crucial, as West Indies' bowlers immediately made an impact. The Sri Lankan openers struggled to find their rhythm, with Pathum Nissanka dismissed early by Alzarri Joseph. Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera also fell cheaply, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 33/3.West Indies continued to dominate, with Romario Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie sharing the wickets. Sri Lanka's middle order failed to provide any resistance, and they were eventually bowled out for a paltry 101 in 18.4 overs.In response, West Indies openers Evin Lewis and Brandon King got off to a solid start. However, they were both dismissed in quick succession, leaving the visitors at 32/2. Shai Hope and Roston Chase steadied the innings, but Sri Lanka's bowlers kept them in check.Despite a late surge from Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford, West Indies fell short of the target, finishing on 93/7. Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana were the standout bowlers for Sri Lanka, claiming three wickets each.Sri Lanka secured a narrow victory by eight runs, taking an early lead in the three-match T20I series. The remaining two matches will be played in Dambulla, while the subsequent three ODIs will be held in Pallekele.