The return of Niroshan Dickwella to the Test spotlight, alongside the likes of his countryman Thisara Perera, Danesh Chancheler and Chaminda de Silva, has been a perfect mix of old and youthful talent and some intriguing decisions for the Sri Lanka Test Squad for its series in India. Pathum Nissanka, aged 33 and Kusal Mendis are out due to injuries suffered by Sri Lanka and Nissanka is coming back at an ideal time as the situation is challenging for the Sri Lankan team. However, the team also has left arm spinner Keshara Nuwantha and top order batter Pasindu Sooriyabandara, already not capped, and left arm quick Dilshan Madushanka, who has just made his first Test debut. The two-match BSL will start in Galle on Saturday before Sri Lanka’s home base, SSC Colombo, hosts the second Test on August 23. The ICC has announced Dhananjaya de Silva as the team’s captain. The return of Dickwella is the show winner. Kusal Mendis’ hamstring injury has allowed him to come back, and now has the space in the middle order and for the wicketkeeper. Dickwella brings in a lot of overseas experience, adding to the squad which has several emerging Australians who are still finding their foot in the spur of Test cricket competition. The Sri Lankan selectors may want to keep him in back of a possible India spin-off at 6th and 7th ahead of his aggressive style of batting. But his choice is not just for the sake of replacing an injured player it is also because he has someone with experience about how he has to play under pressure in international game. A significant factor in that selection is the lack of Pathum Nissanka. Nissanka can’t play tennis due to the wrist injury and will remain out for Sri Lanka’s first weekend before getting fit to replace his fearless top man in a different combination. With that said it is likely to be Nishan Madushka and Lahiru Udara who will be the most prominent to open as they took that responsibility in Sri Lanka’s last Test. Sooriyabendara is staying in the team and may play better given the lack of depth in the squad due to Nissanka’s absence. This is quite an opportunity for the uncapped batter as they have a chance to go up from being a squad man to becoming a potential debutante in Tests against one of the strongest teams in cricket. Nuwantha has also shown the ability to grab fans’ interest in the series. The 25-year-old offspinner already proved his worth against India A at Galle last month in the first innings. He then comes back with good bowlers results in Sri Lanka against India which he took three wickets for 97 runs in tour match. What those games have done, however, is make his case better, but he still has not had many first-class games. Nuwantha has only 15 first-class appearances to his name with 64 wickets, leaving the selectors with huge confidence and potential in an investment that could prove to be one of their best. An interesting aspect about Sri Lanka’s bowling squad is, the host nation has called four specialist fast bowlers for a home series. The pace to pair up with as it will be Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka will be available. Luca Pisanu goni has gone, leaving the captain Dhananjaya de Silva to look for a seam bowler to suit the team with allrounder Milan Rathnayaka available. The balance implies that Sri Lanka aren’t forced to stick to artificial spin-friendly home spin and perhaps they will make sartanaeby at some point of the Tests. Perhaps the biggest gamblish in Madushanka’s list is his own. The left-arm bowler has only made his debut Test appearance against Pakistan in 2023, and is yet to get a wicket in the highest format. He has limited his involvement in the four day Sri Lanka A fixtures in Sri Lanka as well as the four day Sri Lanka international tournament this year with a huge workload in his T20 series roles. His inability to play red-ball cricket though may make his presence in the selection a question mark, but his left-arm angle and pace-neutralizing ability may be something new for Sri Lanka’s attack. Meanwhile, Prabath Jayasuriya is still the focus of the spin ballroom. Sri Lanka have options with him as well but the expert left arm spinner is likely to be an ace for Indian spinners who are expected to perform at a slower tempo. Ramesh Mendis could give India another proven spin threat, while Nuwantha could not only give India another pleasant taste of spin but also provide a potential off-spinner threat that they don’t have much. Sonal Dinusha is another left arm spinning allrounder that adds that spice. The selectors accordingly have to work with many different combinations in the Galle surface and what help they’re looking for from the spinners. Sri Lanka is much easier to find a hole in with the bat. The middle-of-the-order trio Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva is likely to anchor at the No. 88, 89 and 90 positions, respectively. 3, 4 and 5 which is the experience and ball youngsters that the hosts have. Sharing spaces with the batting unit, Kamindu is building a trustworthy reputation as a Test allrounder and Chandimal is yet another source of experience. Play setup Srilanka will be tying up for the balance in behind which will competition between Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Sonal Dinusha and Rathnayaka. However, the biggest surprise is that Sri Lanka may be forced to adapt their team due to injuries. Nissanka and Kusal Mendis are regular parts of the batting order, but not with them and play opportunities have opened for those who might have been budging on the outside. It will be significant for Sooriyabandara and Nuwantha in an tournament with this team and will also allow Dickwella to prove his potential as an international. In

Shubman Gill made a timely return to the middle as India completed their preparations for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka with a comfortable chase against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo. Gill’s 44 off 54 balls came after a brief interval of struggle while Yashasvi Jaiswal produced an aggressive half-century, as India’s firecrackers gained time in the middle before the first Test on 15 August. The knock to the hand, before the practice game, condemned Gill to a spot of caution and he has been grounded in India’s first innings. When on the move on Thursday, though, he didn’t seem to show signs of any fatigue as he set up India’s 207-run pursuit. He was right at home with his job after just a few pitches and under applied pressure from the Sri Lankan bowlers. The India spin-bowling coach, Sairaj Bahutule, stated that the captain was completely fit and fit to compete against the UAE in the upcoming Tests. Bahutule says it was nothing more than the team management simply deciding not to risk Gill in the first innings of the practice game. This seemed to have been a stroke of good luck. The 54 balls played at the crease didn’t impact Gill and he managed to hit into the scorebook 7 times. That wasn’t the only useful point in the middle as he was also able to make the tour’s first Test of the tour. Similarly, Jaiswal was sensational at the bowler’s end. The left-hander, who had missed the recent tours to England and Zimbabwe, had the best of luck in his 61 from 46 deliveries. In his innings, he scored nine fours and two sixes and the team called him off. First, Jaiswal blasted the Sri Lankan spinners with his sweep, and continued going through the covers to put a lid on the Sri Lankan bowlers. The two scored 105 runs together for the opening wicket to give India a perfect start to the chase. It was a 50 off the first two for eight balls at the beginning of the one and ten of the boundaries. The equation gave yet another positive sign to India as they gear up for their Test campaign. However, Rishabh Pant has joined the middle after Jaiswal’s retirement, but didn’t get the momentum on his first few deliveries. He came up 21 balls short of a run and did not score his first run until after that. In search of another wicket, Dhruv Jurel came to play after which the duo was instrumental in chalking up 45 runs over eight overs. Gill also found his dismissal after taking a commendable delivery; it meant the end of another useful practice session. Lower level India maimed Jurel who was just playing a bit behind and no drama in the closing stages. This was completed in a very impressive way by Mohammed Siraj. The fast bowler scored 3 consecutive sixes to help India win, adding to the 32 unbeaten runs he scored. This was an entertaining end to a no-frills hitter-to-hit chase, as he failed to serve up a few moments before the ball.The late hitting made an otherwise routine chase fun. India had set 90 overs for their first innings earlier so, for the Sri Lanka Cricket XI, it was a target to chase. The change bowlers couldn’t wait to hit the ball and Siraj had her say from the off.The hosts initially kept the pressure on the change bowlers with Prasidh Krishna leading the bowlers. Nishan Fernando’s composed 63 (73) led the way for the SLC XI response. He established vital links with Pavan Rathnayake & Anjala Bandara, when the hosts were able to cross 100. Bandara also thumped the Indian spinners and scored 35 runs but, Ravindra Jadeja departed. The hosts finally declared at Tea on chasing 207 against SLC XI.After a Tea, India eventually set a Target of 207 at the middle off against SLC XI. The competitive game helped India in middle period of the practice match, Overs proved useful for the bowlers and good period for key bowlers to acclimatise themselves to the conditions in Colombo. The main thing that Shubman Gill was able to learn was his fitness. His resolute 44 showed that the finger problem is at least left behind him, as having to skip the first are of play was taken as a precaution. The first Test match will be upon us soon and the Indian skipper will now aim to take this pace forward throughout the series. We also got a lot of positives from the performances of Jaiswal, Siraj and other performers. Lastly with the prepare-to-play game over and main series next days, it’s all about the Test battle now on. The big conundrum for Gill and India starts on August 15. Instagram: @zeroto30s Facebook: Zeroto30s Twitter: @zeroto30s YouTube: Zeroto30s

The Indian cricketer, Ajinkya Rahane, leaves a legacy full of intrigue.The retirement of Ajinkya Rahane is synonymous with a career marked by intrigue and curiosity in Indian cricket. While he will not go down in the history of Indian cricket in the same league as Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli, he contributed much more than just numbers to the game. Rahane is a captain who has won the IPL and a veteran of three ICC World Cups, who has gone out of the big stage of international cricket leaving behind a legacy of selflessness, composure, and resilience instead of ceaseless publicity. As the first Indian woman to make her debut in the ICC World Cup as a batsman, Rahane’s journey is truly unique. He waited for a few years, even though he has been able to deliver whenever the Indian needs him, even when he was overshadowed by bigger names. There was no sultry showmanship—no too-early influx of scandal or controversy—about his career. Rather, it was established through discipline, patience and a firm dedication toward the team that does not always get the credit it deserves in this statistic and social media-centric era. Rahane’s debut was nothing like the glamour of cricket in the international arena. From his young days to later days when he grew up in Dombivli he used to go to Mumbai’s local trains and train on long distances. His early adversities changed his nature. There were many young cricketers who wanted to excel immediately, but Rahane worked quietly on his abilities, taking all the challenges that were thrown at him. Nothing could be better than that placid nature would turn into his powerhouse on the global stage. Eventually his time came, Rahane very quickly found his place as the most reliable overseas batsman for India. There were his great displays at events in New Zealand, then his great displays in England and Australia.He arrived as one of the world’s greatest travelling batsmen with first with NZ and then with unforgettable centuries in England and Australia. His superb 147 against Mitchell Johnson at the MCG was a fine fill in for a great 100 at Lord’s in 2014 against not just one of the world’s fastest bowlers, but a hugely courageous one to boot. But it was during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy when Rahane really started to make a name for herself. India had just been bowled out for 36 in Adelaide and regular captain Virat Kohli was out for the rest of the series. Rabbi Rahane was promoted as the captain because all expectations were ruftab, except that “without any drama or unnecessary speeches”. His measured century at MCG not only helped to define the Melbourne side’s match but the entire series. In an injury-prone Indian claiming it back from Australia, he led his side to the highlights of the cricketers’ comebacks.In highly scrimmaged Indian and led a comeback story in cricket format to beat Australia in Australia. That great achievement catapulted Rahane to the leadership heights. In contrast to numerous captains whose approach is to display aggression, Rahane oozed quiet confidence. He made his decisions well thought out, did not change his personality in pressure situations, and his teammates continually commended him for his dressing room management. With such circumstances comes the Melbourne hundred which was one of the standout moments in Indian cricket history. Even so Rahane didn’t face an easy time in her career. He was a success abroad, but was unsteady at home. His batting average slowly dropped, and a young breed of middle-order batters took over, and he became a more questionable choice for the Test side. Despite his strong position from within, the cards were against him and eventually it was he who fell. The same pattern was his career in white balls. Rahane mirrored her elegant upright top-order batting style in her early appearances, functioned poorly as the format of limited-overs changed into a flashy kind of the game. Though he shot three World Cups and now created a few pinch hit moments, slowly he played out of India’s schemes as power was required and flexibility. However, Rahane told everyone the importance of him during his stint with Chennai Super Kings in the 2023 IPL season reminded all the members of his class. He shed his ladylike reputation and adopted the aggressive technique of stroke play, the likes of which few people believed would come from a conservative player. That incredible campaign earned him yet another recall for India and proved that experience and adaptability could still flourish in today’s modern-day twenty-20 cricket. For Indian cricket, it’s farewell to another player who wasn’t around the spotlight but always in the biggest moments. He concludes his career with overseas centuries that are some of the best to ever come from India, an IPL Championship and memorable World Cup performances (not to mention captaining the Indian team for a historic victory in Australia in Tests). As far as his impacts are concerned, his numbers might qualify him to be just outside the club of all time great Indian players, but his influence has left a mark in other aspects as well. Rahane’s legacy is that of a consummate professional who always put the team first and so, there was always more to greatness than just stats! Follow Zeroto30s for more motorsport and sports coverage:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30sYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

Former NZ captain is tipped to replace Brendon McCullum as England Test coach after the former captain was let go early this month. The England and Wales Cricket Board hasn’t announced yet, but there are several reports that Fleming is now the front runner as numerous other top targets were left off the list or refused the job. The 53-year-old is likely to inherit an England side in search of a new direction following a dramatic collapse in Tests over the last two years. First, the appointment of Fleming will be one of the largest coaching changes in international cricket. The former New Zealand skipper has built an outstanding reputation since retiring from international cricket in 2009, becoming one of the most successful coaches in franchise cricket. His most success lie in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he has led Chennai Super Kings to five IPL titles and fostered a team culture that is beloved by cricket fans worldwide. In addition to his Indian experience, Fleming has also had the opportunity to work as a coach for teams in Major League Cricket, SA20, and The Hundred such as Texas Super Kings, Joburg Super Kings, and Southern Brave, respectively.Outside India, Fleming has also had coaching opportunities which include teams like Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket, Joburg Super Kings in SA20, and Southern Brave in The Hundred, where he has successfully built winning teams across the various competitions. But it would be a different challenge handling England’s Test side. Neither have several others contenders for the job been national team head coaches, and Fleming has never held the position. Despite this, he always played a composed role, who is well equipped with the knowledge and tactical sense of elite players that make him a respected icon in world cricket. He has an enduring association with England director of men’s cricket Rob Key and the ECB seeking a new look have been seen as helping him to consolidate his lead. The coaching job was left empty after Brendon McCullum was dropped from the Test match role earlier this month after underperforming and struggling through a few off-the-field issues. Although McCullum still leads the charge for England’s white ball sides, the Test side has been struggling to return the bounce off the ball that came in the early days of the “Bazball” approach. Going into the Ashes, England have lost eight of their last 11 Tests, after a run of 10 of their previous 12 under McCullum. The squad has won only 17 Tests and suffered 18 defeats in their latest 37 Test matchups, not winning a set of three-match Test series since December 2024. Ben Stokes’ unexpected departure from international cricket this June will make Fleming’s next big job that establishing England’s next permanent Test captain. With their backs to the wall due to political and National selectors revolving, it is likely Fleming will feature heavily in the team’s leadership development alongside Rob Key and national selector Marcus North. If England appoint a new captain for the next series before the three-match home test series against Pakistan (19 August) does not start, then assistant coach Marcus Trescothick could be in charge of the squad on a temporary basis if Fleming is not named before then. Harry Brook is still one of the key players when it comes to England’s long-term plans. The current white-ball captain and Test vice-captain, Brook was clearly seen as the favourite to replace Stokes early this summer. The ECB, however, didn’t rush his promotion, with one report stating that his performance on the tour proved to be a “failed nightclub in an off-field situation” last winter, affecting his promotion. Although Brook failed to get a taste of Test cricket at the start, he is still regarded as a viable protËg for Test team captaincy and is likely to play a key role in the England rebuild. Many prominent names have been rumored to sign on along the way either. Former England coach Andy Flower promptly declared himself out of the race, while former Australia head coach Justin Langer revealed he’d not had a call from the ECB despite the clamour. Other names that were floated were Stephen Fleming, Jonathan Trott, Richard Dawson, Gareth Batty, Tom Moody and Darren Lehmann who alongside Campbell are all Europeans, but it looks as though the experts here might have been right. Lastly, Fleming has a wonderful playing record to prove he’s competent, so that adds to his résumé. This included a run accumulation of over 7,000 runs in 111 Test appearances and having captained the Black Caps to a record 28 Test wins. He also has an intimate knowledge of English conditions given his successful time at Middlesex, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire (where he scored his County Championship in 2005). His intimate understanding of county cricket could prove to be a great asset when he starts to write in the next chapter of England’s Test exploits. The replacement of Gardiner.Likely to be an official announcement shortly, the signing of Stephen Fleming could mark the beginning of a new era for England’s red-ballers. He is one of the most respected players in world cricket because his ability to build a successful team, develop players and manage pressure in his team is great. Assuming the commissionership, all eyes will be on the weather eye of the storm as to whether Fleming can rescue the fortunes of England and bring the team back from the cheap seats to re-emerge as one of the world’s premier Test sides. 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West Indies pace attack has yet again brought the true essence of fast bowling into the cricket world. Their convincing defeat of Pakistan in the first Test at Tarouwa was more than just another win ahead of Pakistan in the ICC World Test Championship. It said there’s a “tension” between two countries which used to acquire identity through fearsome pace attacks. West Indies still have faith in high-quality fast bowlers who have the ability to secure victory but Pakistan seem to have lost touch with the footballing culture that once characterised them. This was his Jayden Seales’ version of the statement. He refused to fluctuate with Pakistan nine wickets down needing a little over 100 runs to victory. Finally, when the tension level was high with 13 balls left before the tea, Seales even shouted at Jomel Warrican to get him off and release the slowly moving ball so that Mohammad Abbas could come in at the boundary to find the boundary Babar Azam. Seales looked for his second chance to top the scoreboard after adding a hat trick to his tally, to mark a well-deserved five-wicketing draw. The competitive fire was a reflection of this West Indies bowling unit. Another reminder of Seales’ incredible record Istanbul showed a performance against Pakistan. He now has made his debut to the Test world in 2021 and has been a constant threat in their batting order ever since. Of his 130 wickets in Test cricket, almost 19% have been against Pakistan and his top score is a mere top-seeded bowling average, which comes to just over 17 runs per wicket. More significant, however, is his commitment to playing Test cricket over franchise opportunities, as he plays less T20 cricket than the majority of fast bowlers these days. The West Indies pace bowling attack follows suit. Kemar Roach is now the first West Indies pacer to achieve 300 Test wickets as he claimed victory against his former side of New Zealand last weekend.Kemar Roach took over the milestone of becoming with last weekend the first bowler from West Indies to reach 300 Test wickets since Curtly Ambrose. His home record is comparable with many great bats at least and his achievements deserve far greater their than even some of the legendary fast bowlers of the world. Almost 20 years on the field, Roach has only been in a handful of franchise leagues, favouriting West Indies cricket instead. Shamar Joseph is also one of the brightest pacers for the world of cricket. Having made his unforgettable impression against Australia, he has quickly become a real match-winner. He’s among the trio along with Seales and Roach—who can take the place of any batting line-up anytime matchup makes the most of any “plus” available. The trio display pace, aggressiveness and practice with a no hiding- clause mentality that attribute to the famous West Indies teams in the past. The situation is still totally different in Pakistan. Mohammad Abbas is still a class apart bowler with consistently fine accuracy and movement which hits the batters right in the eye. It is now up to him to lead an offensive which is devoid of pace. Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali may be able to play but both in similar style, neither variably nor intimidating. The Pakistan bowling attack is no longer an aggressive one but at least it is functional so that is good for a country that boasts the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif. With long time trends, the contrast is a bit more stark. West Indies have always had some of the top fast bowlers in the top wicket-taking club in the cricket archives ever since Seales’ debut. Reworld is the only one of the aforementioned who is not a top performer over that time and even he’s built a nice pair of tallies since his turn into world cricket. However, Pakistan have a tough time doing so as far as picking a fast bowler to be among the top wicket takers over the same period is concerned. But it’s not just about talent. Despite the lure of franchise cricket, West Indies have been able to keep a nucleus of fast bowlers who would always play in the longest format. In Pakistan, however, their pace bowlers have focused on T20 work, with the test side suffering from a lack of pace. The outcome is an attack which is not about threatening but accurate, a far cry from Pakistan’s identity. Interestingly, in the last few decades both countries have followed parallel paths. Both had been one of the best Test teams in the world but have both suffered from waning commercial power, global importance and spotty performances. They have come in at the bottom of the standings after last week’s World Test Championship and are still getting in a few more strengthening measures. However, on this Test they have indicated that they are going in separate directions. A potent pace attack that can turn a game with skill and pace and that relentless aggression is what West Indies are missing from every successful side they’ve looked up to in the past, possibly in the future as well. That’s the “formula” that Pakistan are still looking for. So until they make a comeback to making quality fast bowlers that can trouble the world’s best batters on a regular basis, the distance between these previously-tierra-cotta countries can widen even more significantly. The first Test wasn’t merely another result, it was an impressive reminder that real fast bowling still plays a vital role as one of the most potent weapons in the sport’s toolbox and West Indies currently hold the upper hand. 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In this Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Innings, India’s teenage sensation has been established as much more than just a fearless power-hitter. The 15-year-old’s performance in Harare was both mature and patient, as well as being intelligent with the ball, and helped India win a commanding 3-0 victory in the series. This knock had the makady of putting his flammability into perspective, as his ability to hit in spree had already been the topic of discussion worldwide; but, his learning to play a game that isn’t just him dominating it was more valuable. India, whose gaze is set on his future international appearances, had much to learn from Sooryavanshi’s latest outing, in that he showcased his exceptional change-making ability, which has been his other remarkable quality, rather than just his power. First off, the innings spoke of Sooryavanshi’s rapid growth as a cricketer. The Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, with his bowlers coming up with variations of delivery and thought for the youngster in positions, tried to mess him up several times but he did not look uncomfortable once. There was one memorable occasion when he advanced down the pitch and expelled a magnificent six which flew 102 metres in from long-off. The distance was noteworthy but it was the swing he made before hitting the ball that was equally impressive. Rather than just mere athleticism Sooryavanshi utilised the timing, balance and a speedy decision making to insure a comfortable over the boundary. It was a sort of attack in line with an awareness of technical skill but not wild or blind rage, and it was another important signpost on his development. Hanky-panky was necessary, though, for situations in Harare. With the wicket encountered before in another T20 match and not in good condition, it was becoming tougher and tougher to make it spin friendly. Unlike his first two games of the series, where he saw numerous runs tumble fast, Sooryavanshi knew it was no easy task. Though India could not produce any boundary, the youngster seemed undaunting in the face of multiple over periods. Rather, he would take singles and twos, run the scoreboard and lay off shots when they were loose. He took only 31 balls to reach a half-century, setting the example on the finely judged application of ballage that doesn’t demand any relent. After Ishan Kishan went out, the innings got even better! Sooryavanshi knew exactly when to switch gears as India requires an impetus to get competitive towards a total. He kicked the ball back past Wessly Madhevere with a rampaging half-court drive, and then threw over short third with a fairly audacious reverse sweep. The shot did not seem to be deliberate. Instead, it seemed like it was a calculated move when it saw the bowler’s line and alignment of the bowling. This kind of awareness is seldom linked to a player who is still 15-years-old. It was a sign of the confidence he had in himself and a culmination of hours of practice with various shots and scenarios a player can find on the floor. A big part of the innings was that Sooryavanshi was willing to sacrifice personal achievements for the benefit of the team. With over five overs left in the match and on 81, he had a great chance to come back and chase his maiden international 100. He instead kept searching for the boundaries and tried to quicken the pace of the game. An intent was visible all the way through his innings, although he eventually miscued to long-off. He’s keen to build up India to the maximum instead of safeguarding his own stats. Everyone at the Harare Sports Club applauded that and reinforced his impression that the youngster has a team first mentality for his age already. Sooryavanshi said post-the game that he has adhered to a hack-and-sack style of play throughout the series. His goal was to give India aggressive starts and then progressing to larger contributions if they were able to do so. He also revealed that the strokes he performed during innings were the same ones which he regularly practiced in nets, which goes on saying the importance of preparation and repetition. He played with shooting accuracy exceeding 165 but showed restraint in attacking shots and played attuned to the game. Those numbers showed that the batter had the ability to see what was happening rather than hitting everything, the specialization of the top of the lineup. The Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Innings will also be one of the innings to remember in terms of his Indian Journey from a Tenacious Teenager to an International all rounder. This innings is a reminder of his patience, tactical awareness and knowledge of being able to put an innings together in different situations but his towering sixes will always be a part of him. Though India has already found a fabulous youngster, Harare indicated they might have tapped a player with the tempers and intelligence to step into the limelight in all formats for a long time. If that’s the direction he goes, Sooryavanshi’s next outing can be considered the start of his innings as an evolution. Follow Zeroto30s for more cricket news, exclusive match analysis and the latest sports updates. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s/

England vs India 3rd ODI was everything that cricket fans could have hoped for at Lord’s: record breaking batting, indelible individual performances and a nail-biting decider this time, when it was fit for England. England were thumped for 387 for 3 before the hosts held their fort and the ball came to them to take a 27-run win with a sensational 141 from Ben Duckett. Rohit Sharma contributed one of his finest ODI knocks of his career (138) and Virat Kohli added a classy 74 to propel India to 360 for 7 but their spirited pursuit came to a sorry conclusion as England went on to complete a first ODI series defeat in 13 years against India with a 2-1 win. However, it was immediately obvious from the first over that England were looking for a decisive victory. In an effort to put the Indian bowlers under pressure, Duckett and Jacob Bethell struck without let up to build a brilliant 192-run first wicket stand, giving hosts the edge of the match. For the past three series, Duckett displayed a poised combination of class and courage, not only hitting his fourth ODI cental but also leaving the میز for 141. A glut of flattering articles was dedicated to her as Bethell delivered an impressive 91 to keep England competitive against a desperate Ziesel, despite missing the boffins top two targets by a few runs. But England had not lost the game yet amid the first partnership’s collapse. Joe Root was again a testament to his great batting ability at the ODI level ending unbeaten on 74 from 48 deliveries. Jos Buttler was then given a chance to recapture the past with an awe-inspiring unbeaten 41 off just 13 balls, hitting three sixes in an intense late attack. The duo contributed useful 65 runs in the last over to give England their best List A performance at Lord’s and 387 is the highest conceded ODI performance by them at Lord’s. The indomitable Indian bowling unit went out of their form and didn’t find any balance throughout the spell, but it was in the death overs where the studs seemed to wobble most. There was a complete lack of a bowlers’ arsenal in the form of Jasprit Bumrah, but England relied on almost every chance for the scoring list to build up. The pace attack didn’t manage to chase England from their stunning batting lineup with Axar Patel India proving to be economical for his efforts. The end of the inning was particularly costly as England added offensive swash to put up big numbers and India would need some exceptional extra spinners to solve the problem. The first was Rohit Sharma who responded with a very special stroke in reply to this challenge. The Indian skipper – who was under a lot of pressure and with speculation on his international future – played a captain’s innings, one of the biggest stages in cricket. His 138 balls came off in just 112 deliveries; 15 boundaries and followed by six towering sixes from him. As a result, Rohit claimed yet another historic firsts in his distinguished ODI career to become the first Indian male cricketer to score an ODI hundred in London’s iconic Lord’s. Shubman Gill played the role of a perfect partner to him denoting a classy 77 as the Umtata top five formed a strong duo to build a 147-run partnership. The stand was soon propped up slightly giving India the opportunity to score at a reduced rate and create pressure for England. It was Gill’s dismissal to Adil Rashid, though, that gets the ball rolling in the chase. Virat Kohli then pulled India back in with yet another classical knock and maintained a fight for glory. He showed his on-trend timing, excellent strike rotation, and some delightful sixes that had India fans thrilled with his power at Lord’s on his 74. But the requisite run-rate kept gnawing, as English bowlers tightened their bow. Then it was Sam Curran who turned the tables and with precise deliveries and disciplined lengths, he took Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan while going in and out in the final stumps. Under pressure, he was consistently consistent and India was unable to call the last shot necessary to cross the goal line with the mammoth target in play. Lastly, England’s calm hands carried the day in both the game’s innings. Duckett’s century took the headlines but Bethell, Root and Buttler had scored to make it almost impossible for India to respond. Rohit’s magnificent 100 would go a long way to remember in Indian history as the finest ODI knock by Rohit on Lord’s, while Kohli’s composed fifty was not only a source of inspiration to everyone but will also remind Indian cricket of his class. But despite that it’s a team game and England has performed as a team at a time when they needed it most. The England vs India 3rd ODI will be a Legendary ODI in which both sides left no stones unturned in their fearless batting. The English side melded explosive pairings and disciplined execution to get a clutch series win and the Indian side were studs-in-the-mugs as they were to be, but still accounted for some iconic performances. The end of what has been a good series with a satisfactory conclusion to show why the 50 overt cricket continues to be memorable. Follow Zeroto30s for more cricket updates and breaking sports news. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

Rohit Sharma is no stranger to having a lot of questions but not enough answers as he is all set to impose himself on Lord’s, India. His 26 off 47 deliveries was not only a slow knock, but a look of a batter who wanted to get a feel for the rhythm when India requires the most experienced batter to start the day with a bang. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has supported the veteran, and the pressure on Rohit has further increased before he and his side could face some of his best moments in ODI cricket. India’s bid for consistency at the top has largely relied on Rohit’s fine art of hitting high-quality shots in the power play and in this edition, that too was non-existent in Cardiff. He did not seem to set the rules but rather came with reluctance from the start. Although he took a few brilliant catches at the wicket, in the main he was in a lot of trouble, especially on the field of play. All of his dot balls appeared to raise the bar and he found it to be one of his most frustration-filled ODI bowling spells of late. The discomfort was apparent soon into the innings. The disciplined opening spell saved England’s skippers from any scoring possibilities as Sam Curran’s bowlers consistently did not allow Rohit to get the lengths he usually collects his arms. Rohit didn’t seem to feel like he had a glide path to set and then stretch with ease like Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli did, but he had his challenges. Momentum just wouldn’t materialize. Add to the concerns the dismissal himself. Rohit missed a great opportunity to beat the straight ball on a Rohing to toe ahead of Will Jacks, so Jos Buttler took the ball easily. The shot didn’t come off and marked his third occasion of dismissing an easy batsman (and the second in ODI cricket) off such an attempt against Curran. The ongoing errors indicate not only poor execution, but poor pressure sale decision making as well. But India senior technical expert Sitanshu Kotak has said there’s no need to panic. Post-match, Kotak said that Rohit wasn’t in trouble as “he just was not getting deliveries in his comfort zone”. He added that the ball bounce in the area was erratic and also made it difficult for Rohit to ‘hat trick’ his shots through the area. Kotak also pointed out that veteran players have their moments of funky phases in which it is hard to find the rhythm and urged the opener to give a different performance at Lord’s. From a surface point of view, the Cardiff surface had its role to play. Early in the innings, Jofra hit Rohit with a fast short ball awkwardly up to his ribs. He had a shot on target nearly sent him packing, but it was lost by Gus Atkinson in the box. But that setback couldn’t deter the progress of the game. Rohit did not get more confident by the ball as expected, and appeared to be more uncertain and less fluid with the white ball too, as opposed to the conditions he faced in ODIs. This slump in form at this time comes at the worst possible moment. This Cardiff ODI saw reports that Rohit’s international career is already up for discussion, and it is being speculated whether his Lord’s night career could be his last ODI game for India. The chatter has been just as it is for cricket today, but there’s no confirmation yet. Every innings will be looked in detail as at age 39, there are talented youngsters waiting to see something. However, Rohit’s legacy is indisputable. Over the years, he has changed the way Indian bowlers play in white-ball cricket; holds several ODI records and has always performed when it matters the most. India set a new benchmark for starts at the 2023 World Cup with his fearless response as he didn’t hesitate to let go of his personal goals in the pursuit of team success. Those achievements have given him a good degree of respect but he still has his expectations as to how he should live in the present. Performing in the moment is the essence of this sport. Football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have demonstrated that age has made them more closely under the spotlight, and every match is scored afresh, and not by taking into account whether they have made history or finished on top. Never is cricket any different. Opportunity can only be created via reputation, but in order to earn a place in that playing 11, one must perform. It is Lord’s now that Rohit Sharma has the perfect platform to raise all questions. If he manages to put in a good innings, it will cure the doubts, as well as end those guesses and set mind at ease as to why he is one of the best ODI players in India. Then it will not be just the Indian captain who has a better chance of winning the series but they will also get the feel good vibes that the experienced opener has a lot more to give. The pressure is undeniable and so is Rohit’s reply when it’s most needed. Follow Zeroto30s for the latest motorsport and sports updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

India vs England ODI week takes center stage at Edgbaston as two of cricket’s biggest rivals embark on a three match ODI series that has the potential to significantly influence their preparations for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup. The Asian giants return after a toughly-bowled T20I match, during which England covered itself with glory in all departments while India looked average on the cards. The return of their key players brings a new level of experience, leadership and quality to a team emerging from a lean winning streak in the 50 overs format. Recently India ODI record is in mixed bags. They are down a series 3 in 2 from Sri Lanka (7/2024), Australia (7/24) and New Zealand (6/2024) since the latter month of July 2024. But senior players come back and make the team strong. Rohit’s record against England is still one of the finest of the visiting side (and he scored seven ODI centuries in the country with an excellent average at Edgbaston). He will be expected to give India a heavy kick in the guts in the top of the order alongside captain Shubman Gill. The return of Virat Kohli is also crucial. The former captain has been playing formsterly in ODIs and even had some of the fifty-plus scores in the last few matches, in addition to his IPL season which has proved to be successful. Kohli’s temperament of controlling the innings and his ability to rotate the strike and play accelerate when required makes him one of the best possession of India in overseas conditions. India will feel that they will have the cavalry to beat England on the soft ball with KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer also contributing for the side. But the greatest potential help might be that of Jasprit Bumrah. The bowler will make his first ODI appearance in 968 days after the World Cup final and will be coming back from a period of drought. He brings in another reliable Indian batsman who has the ability to reap wickets off the bowlers new ball and at the death. Bumrah’s experience comes into the equation, even more so in the absence of Mohammed Siraj. He will get Arshdeep Singh to lead the attack and other bowlers are likely to be Prasidh Krishna or Gurnoor Brar. England will come into the series with an edge up following their domination of India in T20 Is. The hosts are an unpredictable outfit in ODI cricket but the back home environment makes them a very dangerous side. Harry Brook and his team of players are on an adrenaline rush to get going before the next World Cup. Joe Root brings a lot of that balance to the England front-line, where experience is needed along with accompanying aggression. England’s most reliable ODI batsman is still England’s R (which will be notated R for the righty). He has led the team in run-courses on the international format since the beginning of 2024 and was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s series win over Sri Lanka recently. He is the one who has the ability to span positions and will help England pull different cogs in the gear to get to the wicket and off. He is surrounded by a group of wingers who bring England’s trademark attacking approach to white-ball cricket such as Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, and Jos Buttler. There is also comfort to be drawn from Edgbaston as England have already had their day of glory there. It has turned into a fortress for ODI cricket with the hosts dominating this venue with seven consecutive wins since 2015. Jofra Archer’s pace and aggression will again play a pivotal role for England while Josh Tongue, who impressed in the ODI series, has a chance to make a difference for the first time since playing his debut T20I game. Middle overs is likely to be the responsibility of Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson while they are also expected to be answerable for finishing key partnerships. Although India are lucky to have their odds-up players back for the team, there are some selection issues that remain. The absence of Hardik Pandya has created a balance shortage in the side and that of the all-rounder is a spot which management will have to fill up between Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar. The move may prove to be vital depending on the surface at Edgbaston: Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel are good at spin and important to have in the middle and if they do come on to bat later in the game if the game slows down will prove to be great assets. The ball-field should feature support for fast bowlers when the game starts and should turn into a good batting area towards the end. That means the first 10 overs will be very crucial. The early breakthroughs will be important for both sides as much as things ease up for the batters. Warm and dry weather are forecasted and will make for a seamless contest. Recent history slightly favours India. They currently have the best win streak against England in ODIs (5-0) since the three-game matchup at Nottingham on the latter half of 2006. But England will be looking at home advantage and confidence in the form of a golden opportunity to put that right. The series opener is made more significant due to the return of three key players such as Rohit, Virat and the unbeatable Jasprit Bumrah in Indian colours. It is not only about winning the game, it’s about creating momentum, making combinations and laying the groundwork for a successful World cup run. It’s the opportunity for England to demonstrate their white-ball comeback is in full swing. For those who enjoy the game of cricket, it will be an interesting matchup between two talented, experienced, and ambitious teams. 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Yastika Bhatia then delivered her finest international innings with a fantastic century at Lord’s as she pulls off an emotional comeback from a career-ending serious knee injury. The Indian keeper-batter’s sensational knock off not only took her to the Page of Honour honoured by Lord’s but also helped India inch nearer a historic Test win all England. But there is something here about overcoming adversity and having the right people at the right time, as in the case of Bhatia, where teammate Smriti Mandhana’s words during rehabilitation proved to be the recipe for one of the most inspirational comeback stories in women’s cricket this year. First, Bhatia’s innings was about much more than reaching three figures. She composed 113 under pressure to put India in a heady situation to go 456 runs up against England. The knock was delivered in one of the world’s most iconic locations and put Bhatia on the “Lost Batters”, which records the Lord’s Test sides since the innings were first recorded in 1930. It was an historic success – and quite a distinction to come so far from where she was a few months ago. Bhatia suffered an ACL injury during a training camp, went for knee surgery last October and missed from cricket for several months. The setback had denied her a chance to become the first woman to captain India in the successful home ODI World Cup this time and the ongoing Women’s Premier League season. Going abroad after over 18 months wasn’t easy for Bhatia, but she gradually found her confidence back when she made her maiden half century in the T20Is against England during their tour of India before producing the innings of her dreams in the one match Test à la carte. Yet, Bhatia feels it was mental fortitude that helped her make a comfortable return to her game, to the same extent physical recovery was. This all changed when Mr. Bhagwati and Smriti Mandhana spoke on just one phone call. An ACL injury cost Mandhana dearly in her earlier days as a player and she knew her teams’ emotions and pain firsthand much better than anyone else in the Indian dressing room. “Large injuries are, in fact, a big moment for the career of a player,” told Bhatia Mandhana. She urged her to accept the rehabilitation, remain patient and trust it will happen, but that it would take her to higher levels of cricket and mentality. Those words stuck in Bhatia’s mind during several months of recovery, during many months of doubt and a lack of self-confidence. The Indian opener hugged her teammate and told her that she’ll make it if she works hard. Also he said that her efforts will never go unnoticed. Admitting that those talks kept her levelled off during the toughest time in her career, Bhatia looked back after scoring her first century in her only international appearance. When rehab felt like it lasted a little too long, this advice was used as motivation. There was this moment in Bhatia’s convalescence when he was recovering from an emotional ordeal which had nothing to do with the bat. Believe it or not, post-surgery she was able to perform her first skill in Cricket – Wicket Keeping. For a long time before returning to the nets with the bat she used to take very basic catches behind a stump, and started to put her trust in her knee. Bhatia said that it was as though she was seeing the game of cricket for the first time again, like a kid. Even wearing the wicketkeeping gloves and doing the required drills brought back the fun she had with the game in the beginning. Those little triumphs were big achievements while in rehab and aiding in her mental positivity even before competitive cricket could be played again. This new love of the game was in evidence all day at Lord’s. Bhatia continued to defy the odds as wickets fell around her, being calm and patient as well as technically proficient. She went on to form a valuable 73-run stand with Mandhana before joining Deepti Sharma to put on an anchor partnership for India. Each time his teammates ran made up for the months he’d been recovering, not worrying about time missed. Finally, Bhatia’s, long-standing late-night shot put India on the backfoot in the Test match. After three days England gave away six wickets and still had 327 runs to deliver an improbable win. The disciplined bowlers axis helped the hosts with their struggle, leaving them with one of the hardest 4th innings to face at Lord’s in recent years. But, more than that, Bhatia’s performance is a significant boost to Indian women’s cricket outside of the match. From surgery to a 100-year-old game bathed in a century of cricket, her is a testament to the resilience in this Indian side. It also reflects the strong culture of a positive environment for its players which has seen such experienced cricketers such as Mandhana helping their younger teammates get over the hurdles brought to their career. Bhatia feels that it is a duty for the international players to inspire the world in the future and act modestly. Her account will most likely be inspiring to young sports people who have suffered injuries or have experienced setbacks in their sports, who will realize that bad things can turn into good things when one’s life. As India moves towards a once-in-a-lifetime Test triumph, the name of Yastika Bhatia will not only be associated with a memorable hundred, but also the mindset of the player. Her stellar recovery both month-by-month and especially at Lord’s is a testament to a turnaround that is truly remarkable and a testament to how much belief and patience – along with indefatigable effort – can turn things around and make history. Find all the latest cricket news, match analysis, exclusive features and global sports coverage from Zeroto30s. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/zeroto30s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

Cricket fans have been in awe of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s electrifying performances, but as every promising talent in the field encounters their own hurdles, some of them must cross a line of crisscrossed tension that is a test of both skill and temperament. The test that has come calling is for India’s teenage hot property, from England pacemaker Jofra Archer. Archers short-ball strategy, as usual in his T20 career, dominated the game of the match, getting the young batsman stitched in the fourth game in Bristol for the second straight match.As it was in his T20 career, the light side of the ball dominated in Bristol as the young batter was dismissed the second game running. The match between the veteran fast bowler and the unbeatable lad has emerged as one of the talking points of the India-England T20I series so far. England’s victory meant they secured the series, but it was the battle between Archer and Sooryavanshi that has been as thrilling as the matches. This is a race of quickness, boldness, versatility and respect for one another. Prior to the international cricket career of Sooryavanshi, he was impressing some of the among the biggest names in the game. Former RCB skipper and director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara discussed Archer’s emergence in the Indian Premier League, when there was some hesitation initially in facing him by the young batter. Yet, when Sooryavanshi took the ball, he made some clean shots which left everybody in a state of disbelief to watch Archer bowl so aggressively from a new ball. Even the able Archer was left with a smile, with the teenager pelting one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket. But the two got their chance in international cricket, and Sooryavanshi was definitely on the scoreboard when he put Archer for two on a first ball six at Old Trafford. It was yet another amazing achievement for the teenager as they all had faced them just off his sixth ball in his T20 debuts against them. But few hitters let alone a teenager debuting internationally are so confident. Instead of chipping away at the ball by pitching it up, England’s master fast bowler adopted a more decided route of trying to hit the body or head of the batsman forwards with a great deal of bouncers, mixed into a barrage of carefully placed yorkers. The aim was straightforward: to take away any opportunities for Sooryavanshi to maneuver his arms and bring him under unnatural hook and pull angles. Archer had a knack for accelerating his balls into young Ferguson, hitting speeds of more than 145 km/h at Trent Bridge. Sooryavanshi would soon put Archer ahead of the curve by hitting a short ball to his then wicketkeeper Jos Buttler in the gloves. However, knowing exactly what they were looking for, Archer, yet again, declined to make any width or full driveable deliveries. On the contrary, he did his duty over and over again to hit bone-shattering short balls and spickle precision yorkers. DespiteSooryavanshi’s natural attacking style, however, he found it difficult to coherently hit a few middle hooks in succession before miscalculating an attacking stroke into a waiting glans. But to say that Sooryavanshi is outplayed altogether is too harsh a judgement. The teenager did not have a trouble-free match against any other England bowler, even off Archer’s good spells of bowling, as boundaries fell against Josh Tongue. His elusiveness and his ability to recover and keep attacking remains one of his best attributes. So today’s skirmish may not so much be over ‘flaws’ as about decision making. The hook shot is a shot that has a lot of potential for danger against Archer’s pace, accuracy and experience. modern T20 cricket is a game of fearlessness in batting, but also for selecting shots. It’s sometimes better, to be respectful to one challenge, and to mix in the next set of which the first was not so threatening. This is something many T20 legends, such as Chris Gayle, have learnt to do and he made use of it quite frequently he knew when to play aggressively and when to take some pressure before he could once again strike back. Sooryavanshi’s ability to master such an interesting facet of the game has the potential to take his name to the next level. He already has an extraordinary talent, he is very confident and has the rare ability to intimidate world class bowlers but at the age of just 15. The challenge now is to combine with patience and match awareness to an already explosive batting style. What is their great rivalry is the respect that is given between them. While Sooryavanshi has exhibited no doubt isn’t bringing his fast bowling saffron into a school that the teenager hasn’t yet joined, Archer has never had a superior attitude towards him when it comes to age. It is top-notch sporting activity at its most basic, where reputations have little value when the competition kicks off. While the T20I series is decided, the eyes of cricket fans will now be fixed on the last game of the series where they will once again be awe-struck by yet another chapter in this intriguing series. But every great batter has experienced some kind of a down in his career and what might matter more than the runs scored by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the manner in which he deals with the patch. His stellar form thus far is unlikely to deter him from his superstar trajectory for long, given this next hurdle. Follow Zeroto30s for the latest cricket and sports updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

England Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final is now sealed and they did it with a performance that blended batting class, bowling discipline and sheer competitive will They did not start off on the right footing. Amy Jones was caught behind off Chinelle Henry after having bowled the fifth ball in the match and Sophia Dunkley was then also caught, followed by an offspinner attempt of her own which was caught by Munisar off Drake with her sweetshops, as dumped prints trapped her bowled ball. Why early at Lord’s, in that heat in particular, faced by West Indies winding up with potential wickets falling by the wayside, did England require somebody to take responsibility in the middle of the text and start their innings? That’s what Danni Wyatt-Hodge did, and it flew off her hands. Wyatt Hodge stepped into the ring on opening night in this tournament, and made a devastating impression with her century.Then she made another great impression when it mattered most, Wyatt-Hodge (continuing her heroics from opening night with a stunning century. She was elusive of the hit if it wasn’t quite there and had the elegance of one who knows her team’s needs as a batter. Her half-century came on the 32rth ball off her back foot, with the ball off the pads—and as confident as anything seen here this summer at Lord’s. A 65-run partnership with Alice Capsey saved the ship and when the heat finally got to her and Wyatt-Hodge lost her legs in a run-out she had scored 64 off 42 balls and was sitting 2nd on the league table for run-scoring, her 2nd appearance in the history of the tournament. Heather Knight came on and instantly speeded things up, coming out for the visitors and bowling 43 off 26 for a quite purposeful and crisp shot-stromping batter with such clean shots that should remind all of what it’s important to have on this England side. With her team of Wyatt-Hodge, she put up 40 key runs before they both lost it in quick succession Knight went out, Wyatt’s collapsed to the ground. But England had got what they deserved. They bowlers were able to rise to a very substantial offering of 186 runs for 7. To begin with the West Indies threatened to make a point of it. During the powerplay Deandra Dottin was brilliant with her 15 runs in off her first ball that included doubles of four and a thumping six over long-on. But Dean had the final say and tempted Dottin to make an over-hit attempt for the boundary, and from then, the chase began to go wrong. The middle order of West Inds were harshly dealt with by Charlie Dean/Sophie Ecclestone/Linsey Smith in the spinners’ world class combination of relentless accuracy and clever variation through the middle of the order in the middle overs. The highlight of the evening, however, was when the fourth over of the West Indies chase gave us what we really wanted. Despite one shot of UltraEdge’s field with daylight between ball and bat, and the warning ‘play with the ball!’, captain Hayley Matthews was honest enough to be given out caught behind for 14 when England started a review. Matthews was quite clear in her display of dissent, not only from the umpiring bench on the ground, but also at the dugout — and with the fourth umpire outside the boundary. There were inevitable comparisons with last year’s Ashes Snicko controversy with Alex Carey but TV umpire Nimali Perera ruled. Matthews was gone and so too was West Indies’ best chance of a significant challenge. Chinelle Henry and Jahzara Claxton, however, held up in the last 43 runs to bring some dignity to the fifth wicket stand, before heading 2-0 to scoring partnership accolades. But Henry was able to complete the match unbeaten on 51 while West Indies bowled out 148 runs shy, all of which they had to chase. They finished once again with a pretty good win, a spot in the semi-final and were riding a winning streak on a team that is certainly maturing at the right moment in this competition. The path to the knockouts is still open and bumpy for West Indies. There’s no going back for England and right now it seems like a very ripe environment in which to gaze at them. Follow all the latest Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 action with Zeroto30s across all platforms — Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/ | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s | Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

Cricketing world was reminded again that Ellyse Perry, scored a fantastic all-round performance in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup as Australia drove past Pakistan by 113 runs. The veteran was dished out a tremendous 71 off 48 delights, before concluding a brilliant game with two wickets. But above all, the show demonstrated the unstoppable momentum that has propelled Ellyse Perry onto the international cricket stage for almost 20 years now. Australia had to settle for an early breakthrough as Beth Mooney left early on in the first over. But, Ellyse Perry was soon at ease at No. 3, and dominated the game herself. Phoebe Litchfield was injured and Perry was promoted up the order, sat side by side with Georgia Voll and they formed a partnership which turned the tide in Australia’s favour. It was a partnership that offered stability, as well as aggression. Voll did his job brilliantly, but it was Ellyse Perry who was impeccable with her incomparable composure and accuracy. Her knock of 71 runs from just 48 deliveries marked her first half-century in ten editions of the Women’s T20 World Cup, a surprising statistic considering her remarkable achievements in the game. Although the milestone was achieved, Perry is still working to get better. After securing her Player of the Match honours, she revealed that she has scope for improvement in T20 cricket. Her remarks made an interesting read into her mental philosophy that has made her one of the most revered athletes in the world sport arena. So, for Ellyse Perry, success has never been still. Since making her international debut as a 16-year-old in 2007, she has continually adapted her game to meet new challenges. A prolific frontline bowler who had been playing in the lower order the last few years, she has developed into a reliable order fielder in world cricket. This is no coincidence. This is characterized by a resoluteness to learn, grow and find new means to impact her team positively. The greatest innings of that has been the latest. Perry was quite at ease with all challenges put on by Pakistan, as he changed the strike and then kicked off the moment the opportunities came. Her ability to take the risk and reap the rewards enabled Australia to establish a strong total and put pressure onto their rivals. But the performance is even more impressive if you take into account her challenges in the past few years. Ellyse Perry was cut from the T20 bowlers for Australia for 2022 and then handed a diagnosis of back stress fracture later. Many players can have felt this as the start of their downfall. Perry, however, had the opposite reaction, adding refinement to her game, and taking on new opportunities in both domestic and franchise athletics. She has gained experience in playing the shortest format of cricket through various tournaments, including the Women’s Premier League, The Hundred and the Women’s Big Bash League. Those experiences have proved to be of great value on the largest stage and Perry remains instrumental in Australia’s success. Her power was not restricted to only Pakistan. The ball had to be played around as well and Perry took 2 wickets, keeping a classy control. In all-round display, she showed the world the reasons why she is still one of the most complete cricketers in the world. Now, Australia are upbeat and with the advantage in this important match against India. It has been the defending champion who have swept up all four group-stage games to firmly put them in one of the favourites’ sections for the winning. Of course, all attention will be on the team effort, however Australia’s form so far is an added advantage as the tournament moves towards the third weekend and the countdown to match day two begins. The win also brought to the forefront how tough Beth Mooney was after dislocating the same finger twice during the game, yet still playing while contributing to the game. One of the things that impressed Perry was that she thrived in difficult situations, which she described as one of her best attributes on the team. Ellyse Perry is still leading us up to the knockout stages of the Women’s T20 World Cup, and it doesn’t take a record, or trophies, to define greatness. Considering how difficult it is to gain any more experience from the game, it requires one to become flexible and adapt to their current surroundings even after having reached the end goal of it. Now 35, Perry is one of the most valuable players in cricket, and such displays demonstrate that good form hasn’t ended. Follow Zeroto30 Seconds for more sports updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

Marizanne Kapp again showed the reason why she should be considered as one of the most influential all-rounders in world cricket, as she pitched to win South Africa a come-back at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Illness, pressure and a “must win” situation didn’t dampen the sparks as Kapp demonstrated amazing with both bat and ball as the Proteas pulled victory from India. Every performing her part in this tournament with harrowing consequences and her role may ultimately be seen as South Africa’s chance to come back to life. The ones before the game weren’t promising by any means. After the match, Marizanne Kapp admitted that she had been poorly through a warm up and even cried in the warming rooms before stepping onto the pitch. But on game day, there wasn’t much sign that she was in trouble physically. Instead, she was contractive and aggressive, the way she has been for over 10 years in her international career. First, the ball was under the control of Kapp. Then early in the game, India’s first two batsmen hit back toughly against South Africa and put them under pressure during the power play. South Africa bowlers had limited success in building issues, while Shaikh Mahdy Aziz and his stylish side-armer Shaikh Anjum and the co-ordinated bowlers Ashish Baraq, Siddharth Singh, and Goklemesh Nair contributed plenty to the fight against breaking.Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana hit singly and South Africa bowlers were unable to put on the pressure. Kapp got stitched up on several strokes in her first bowling spell, which clearly upset the all-singing, all-dancing player. But in comparison to the rest, what makes the elite player better is when he/she is able to react when everything isn’t working. Instead of going to his defence, Marizanne Kapp reinvented his approach, and pulled it off brilliantly. She changed her run to the stumps as her angle and hit a ramp attempt which she mistakenly played instead of it being a slip, straighting her for the run.When she changed her angle when she took Mandana’s ramp down, she found the opposite straight away when she played a shot off the ramp instead of the one in the slip position. The win helped to turn the tide of the game and South Africa once more took control. From that point onwards, Kapp tightened the screws. Her strict discipline and some ingenuity limited India’s scoring rate in vital moments of one of the most important innings of the game. The bowlers seemed to rally behind the energy and determination of Kapp during the early part of the match, which helped South Africa survive some difficult moments.Early on, South Africa appeared to be a team in trouble but the bowlers stepped up and revived the show with Kapp’s energy and determination. In turn, the pressure started to return to the Indian side with wickets becoming hard to hold on to and boundaries becoming tougher to find with the pressure. Kapp came back at the death to make another superb contribution. She played with slower output and sometimes changed pace in an unconventional manner to contain a hard-hitting finisher Richa Ghosh and only allowed six runs to come in during the final over. At the start this was a shot away far past 180; then it was circled back to a much easier target. It was a prime instance of pressure-addiction and a testament to the fact that Kapp is one of the most round players in the women’s game. But her pen and paper work was unfinished. The chase from South Africa, however, got off to a bad start. Soon wickets began to fall, as the team found it difficult to get to 25 for 2, and the required run-rate kept rising above the nine-run-per-over pace. Key Hitters were in the pavilion and India were in a much better position to take control and so it was left to Marizanne Kapp to stabilise the innings. The seasoned multi-instrumentalist took the challenge with a calm, intelligent mind. Instead of making the decision sharply she played it safe and set about developing a relationship with Tazmin Brits. They combined for 97 runs to force a change in fortunes, and gradually jumpstart the momentum in South Africa’s favour of this matchup. Kapp was outstanding in his composure in this chase, which also benefited from an important contribution from the Brits who drove in 40 runs. Marizanne Kapp started preparing her shots on target as the game continued. Making straight boundaries on a slow surface was going to be tough, so she skillfully found holes behind square on the leg side. Justice Midday’s sweeps, scoops and ramps showed undeniable proficiency in hitting India’s bowlers many times over, and kept South Africa in good posture. The occasion that escalated to the turning point was when Kapp ended the rookie spinner Prema Rawat. Pressure was soon eased – straight away with a number of innovative strokes – and the intention of South Africa’s shown. The morale boost provided by such shots trickled down from the month to the entire batting order and left India on the backfoot. The middle order had one stumble and Brits had been let go, but never did a panic over take the players. But Kapp never lost control, skillfully leading the chase to its finale. Her shots were solid and powerful, and intelligent in how she attacked and carried out her aims. The score could not have been set in any other way by the time she hit two hitting an edge off Deepti Sharma in the last over. Last then, South Africa finished to register one of their best wins of the tournament. The reaction of Kapp was interesting, since it showed his reaction to the amount of effort used in the performance. She did not dance, but went down and prayed, visibly tired after making it to the other side of the affair in her streaky shirt. Marizanne Kapp’s performance was about much

In a very spectacular fashion, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his stand in one of the most Impactful in List A cricket for India A against Sri Lanka A in the tri-series finale at the Dambulla venue when the victors won by 66 runs. The sensation in his teens managed to play with a clock speed that left a world record for half a century to be broken, and ended with a breathing down his neck, 6 minutes and 24 seconds before 100, accumulating a staggering 94 on the first 29 deliveries. The unlikely captain came up with an outstanding knock and helped set up an enormous effort of 377 for 9 which proved to be Sri Lanka A’s undoing despite their spirited efforts. Having come into the final, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was yet to build the big knocks that everyone hoped for from him in this event. He had also caused a stir with the Sri Lanka A players during a critical situation in the group stage game against Sri Lanka earlier in the week. The young opener had no need to tune out due to all the noise, but instead, he played his best. His mindset was set when he made his way to the crease. The opener was immediately under pressure after dropping the first five balls of the game  four fours, two towering sixes up and off to the outside boundary. The rest of the night was a display of modern unyielding batting. Then, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi reached 50 in 11 balls, stoking the excitement of the record books and rowing the bowlers frantically for answers. He was free to hit anything that was loose and even picked up good deliveries just like hotcakes. His shooting was as much an asset as was his power. From his lofted ball rolling high over extra cover to his short deliveries going deep into the stands, or his scrambling and deflections making the ball sound effective without those short wickets coming, the teenager had a variety of strokes which are rarely used by those at his age. The whole audience was enchanted by one particular moment. With the delivery looking too fast to score from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finessed it last moment into the keeper’s hands. He had just bowled a wide yorker from backward point for six moments earlier, which wowed both the opposition and teammates. India A stormed to 132 in the first half of the match by the time his exceptional 95* singed by 101 deliveries had come to an end: In the end, he fell while trying to get to the plate, as Sri Lanka A had Wanuja Sahan Arachchige as their skipper when they lost the game. Although his name was in the news all round, India A had to rely on the support of its obviously unbowed-down rest of the batting order to make the explosive start into a match-winning effort. Sri Lanka A’s bowlers then took over the contest as there was a significant decrease in scoring during their absence. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Tilak Varma helped to firm up the fight and found the solution between them to register a valuable 84-run third wicket stand. Gaikwad tossed in 40 runs whilst taking control of the scoreboard with a serious 67 from 90 deliveries. India A looked set to cross the 400-run milestone with ease at one stage in the match. But, a st Did halt that aspiration. Then, Anukul Roy came up with a game-changer as the game turned the tables in favour of his side. Roy fired the boundary four times to hammer 39 runs from 15 deliveries, helping India A to cement their strong end in the game. Vipraj Nigam also contributed a fun-loving 27 as India A built an impressive 377 for 9. But Sri Lanka A needed a strong start to keep on the chase and India A’s pace bowling attack hit the top of them early. Yash Thakur then let loose his killing machine and got all three top-order batsmen in front of the bowlers, at least till the first half of the chase. Niroshan Dickwella was bowled while attempting an ‘ambitious’ stroke, Avishka Fernando edged behind to slip and Nuwanidu Fernando picked off the single to touch the boundary frisk, with a poor throw and timing. Sri Lanka A blitzedly got themselves in touch with the refute while those early breakthroughs left them in trouble straight away. Sri Lanka A did not give up after the failures. Sadeera Samarawickrama hit the ball at the bases of the counterattack effort with a fine half-century and had the potential to set the scoreboard. But debutant Ashok Sharma came up with the bull’s eye at a crucial moment to put the seasoned man behind 52. Sharma played the match with a veritable pace off his chip and convincingly sent in the late variations as well, even when he didn’t have to deal with a wicket right away. The hosts went the length of the opposition with a spirited performance from captain Wanuja Sahan with 62 runs off 69 balls. He was the third major name to join Vijaykanth Viyaskanth in a nice partnership which briefly revived Sri Lanka A’s hopes. It went down to an interesting end when the ball was in the middle of play but then Anukul Roy gave evidence of another strike for the side. His Viyaskanth retirement brought a halt to an all-bitter couple and put things back in Indian favour. After that, the bowlers in India got the screws to loosen. Roy got two wickets and Vipraj Nigam and Yash Thakur both were responsible for getting three wickets. Finally, disciplined spin and hard pace had its effect and Sri Lanka A were bowled out in the 48th over for 311. Though the final score was in India’s favour, the day belonged to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He had a beautiful 94 off 29 balls, which made a huge contribution to India’s score space and turned the tables against Sri Lanka

India Women and Pakistan Women once again threw a familiar script at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup as the hosts pulled off a stellar display and outgun the hosts to beat their rivals away from home, before an enthusiastic and fervent crowd at the iconic Edgbaston. Both teams had an atmosphere of a big international final but within a few minutes the competition was a one-sided affair as India proved themselves better with bat and ball. The famous Birmingham venue was awash in blue long before the first ball was bowled. Edgbaston was the backdrop to a blistering atmosphere, with thousands of Indians rooting for their beloved team Harmanpreet Kaur, who were basking in the glory of such a fantastic evening. Players did not pay attention to the support. Indian leading batter Deepti Sharma also said that crowd was overwhelming as if it were a home match and not in England. That energy turned into a game day occasion, as India went into action to gain the up momentum in the competition with a total team effort. India’s problems with the bat were minor at the start though. There were fleeting moments of hope in the book of Pakistan as they got rid of Shafali Verma after an attacking start and soon followed Jemimah Rodrigues. Pakistan bowlers seemed to have the potential to apply pressure on India’s all time order for a brief while. But India’s Cox and Bexar stood to the fore once again. In a time when batswoman Smriti Mandhana was moving in tandem with the captain Harmanpreet Kaur, she was also instrumental in retaining the bat and start the momentum. Despite setbacks in the early game, their partnership kept India in the game for the rest. The climax was felt as Richa Ghosh put on a big finish during the end-overs of the innings. She had hit the ball so hard in her competitive form that it was a difficult target to hit. India, however, was able to take the ball out of the hands of Pakistan’s bowlers as they were getting their horses out of the race. However, it was an important supporting role for Deepti Sharma even on the explosive conclusion. Her aggressive hitting gave India a considerable lead in the battle that set the stage for the Indian all-out assault in the final over in which Pakistan was put on the back foot. But India’s real day was when they came to the crease to defend their score. Pakistan got off to a flying start, with their two openers Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza ticking off some boundaries and stifling the majority crowd of Indians for a while. In their first match, they left India with the hope of having their chances at the major ICC tournaments. But not for long .Deepti Sharma pushed in straight from the off with a fiery beginning to the contest. In speed, off-speed and the ability to build pressure quickly, she wreaked havoc on the Pakistan Arsenal. The all rounder, who had had considerable experience in bowling, struck first, and laid the parameters for the Indian bowling campaign to follow. India’s spinners got better as the game rolled on and slowly surged towards the Pakistan skin.The Indians gradually closed in on the Pakistan complacency during the innings. The pressure kept mounting and batters were rushed into shots and errant errors. As Indian fans awaited a great win over their rivals yet again, everyone inside Edgbaston was self-conscious about the sound. Pakistan failed to make any partnerships or keep its momentum going. India always struck back in the form of a break when a batter tried to be aggressive. Deepti continued to be the anchor of the bowling attack and played with calmness and confidence. In the meantime India’s bowling lineup brought another dose of superiority. Pakistan never found any rhythm in chasing either because of their sharp catches ability, athletic ground fielding and being conscious of the game. Finally, it was Pakistan who capitulated altogether and India consolidated a sweeping triumph. Deepti came off as one of the most outstanding posters and proved to be extremely valuable to her team in all aspects of the game. The match not only showed the popularity of cricket but also the rise of women’s cricket. The Lord’s was filled with over 20,000 fans, making it the ideal setting for the event. The contest is still kept alive and brings great excitement, but the difference between the two teams is still great. India have now built an extraordinary tally as a failure- and solution-fuelled team in ICC tournaments, who are always under pressure and can almost always control the largest match displays. Their experience, depth, and match winning ability remains unrivalled. Overall, India Women vs Pakistan Women proved to be a memorable moment for Indian cricket fans as Harmanpreet Kaur’s team secured a big win. At Edgbaston, India struck a note of discipline, finish and superb bowling to secure yet another convincing win over the opposition. Deepti Sharma has left no room to doubt the team’s formidable strength as she led India to the winter league, and the team played in all the departments, again reminding the world that they are one of the best sides to watch you will be heading to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at Australia. Follow the Social Media Channels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s\ Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

It was a close call that decided the first game of the one-day tri-series in Dambulla as India A got a 100-run win with a Vijay-like Ruturaj Gaikwad Century. Against a difficult opponent who put a lot of pressure on the batters, Gaikwad’s looked style of century was the backbone of India’s innings and their able response by Suryansh Shedge and Anukul Roy kept the visitors in check in the dramatic manner. Indian A teenager sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, also took a chance at debut for his fabulous performance in the match. The 15-year-old proved he saved a couple of times with his ball during short burst on the crease, but he was clearly one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket, reminding everyone why. Ultimately, India A were able to firm their hold and boost their competition credentials for their Sri Lanka campaign with a much-needed win in a nerve-racking run chase. Sooryavanshi gives a glimpse of future. First of all, players’ focus before the match was mainly focused on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. From when he first touched the pitch in Sri Lanka, the young batsman has already caught the fancy of all the fans, media as well as the cricket stars. Soon after the wait started. Sooryavanshi gave a direct hit on the very first ball of his career after a composite opening stand with India A. In his few innings he played some pretty good shots, and showed both a lot of braveness and desire. His 14 runs were from 12 deliveries of which he hit four boundaries. The innings came to a close when he poured one on an ambitious lofted delivery that was brilliantly stuck by Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige, but it sure was an entertaining knock to suggest further grand displays may be in the cards for him. However, Sooryavanshi still had a long way to go in his case in India A. There will be plenty of chances for him to make a better impression as he heads to Ireland as the senior squad for India, with other matches to be played in the tournament ahead of him. Gaikwad delivers a Masterclass Under Pressure He, however, really did shine when it came to Gaikwad. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 100 was the perfect stroke of luck at the right time and is a good reason why the veteran batsman is one of the most reliable players of the game in the 100-over format. The brilliance of Gaikwad in making that catch came as a replacement for injured Riyan Parag, the first position up for grabs. His number 4 stint went off without a wrinkle at neglegging pace and he was able to control himself. Rather than depending on the limitations heavily, Gaikwad were at the centrel of rotating the attack and forming alliances. He knew perfectly what the conditions were like, during 114 balls to 101 runs from a long innings. On the 49, Sri Lanka A missed a stumping chance but Gaikwad was quick enough on his second attempt and added another fine century to his tally. This was an important milestone on a career in which he reached it in the quickest time in List A history, having become the 21st batsman of all-time to achieve the milestone. He scored a valuable 150 with captain Tilak Varma to launch a spirited 277 partnership into India’s innings. Alexandra O’Callahan and Noelle Schiestl Change the Momentum In the meantime, the all-rounders of India made deadlines. Suryansh Shedge, representing his second Test appearance for the sruke playing in Sri Lanka, then added a classy 26 from a mere 14 balls for the net. Those runs eventually made the difference in a close game where each and every run was pivotal. The value added he brought did not end at the bat. Shedge, however, had something to offer to create movement and to create bounce with the ball and it was a regular feature of Sri Lanka A’s top order to be held up. He got to give people a glimpse of his change of form and has solidified the perception of him being a good seam bowler all rounder. Meanwhile, Anukul Roy dished out one of the match grammar. While his figures of 2 wickets might not look particularly impressive, the way he had done them made a dramatic difference to the course of the chase. Roy broke an undeniable alliance to come back in his next spell to hit again. Those bowlers’ wickets turned Sri Lanka A’s complacency to one of uncertainty and allowed India A the chance to take back the control. Sri Lanka A Fall Short, Arachchige’s Fight Lastly, Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige came up with an impressive 74 in Sri Lanka’s resistance. He played some innings that denied the hosts from taking the lead and seemed to give him a shot at the goal multiple times in the pursuit of the hosts’ goals. Things changed when the pressure mounted in the last overs, though, as the Indians A bowlers held their line and failed to inject the required pace. Sri Lanka A were decided to be out of the race after their wickets fell regularly, recycling the effort of Lakshmi a number of times.Sri Lanka A’s efforts were disrupted regularly with wickets just falling, easily passed on along the way to Lakshmi. After being backed out 269 over in the 49th over, the hosts missed their target by eight runs. A brilliant game finally saw the end in a great bout. Along with enlightened contributions from Tilak Varma, Suryansh Shedge and Anukul Roy, it helped India A register a hard fought win to begin the tri-series campaign on a good note. Equally importantly, the match gave a gusto-filled prospectus of the future of the country’s cricketing scenario in the shape of debutant Vaibhav Sooryavanshi whose career is just about to begin. Follow Zeroto30 Seconds for more cricket news and analysis: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

Manav Suthar Six Wicket Haul produced the standout moment as India sealed their biggest-ever win in Test cricket in New Chandigarh, beating Afghanistan by 300 runs and an innings in the country’s first-ever Test at this venue. The first-innings men from India had already set the tone high with a higly marvellous 564 for 8 on the board and the left arm spinner took the rest of the game from the opposing side. The young spinner made a fine debut that will be treasured for years and a 6-wicket haul in Afghanistan’s first innings gave the Indian batsman a decisive edge. Suthar’s skipper debut, remarkable as it was, helped India finish the game in three days and restate their supremacy at home thanks to a pair of brilliant Wakepicks, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav. Suthar Announces Himself on the International Stage There was of course the fact that all eyes were kept on Manav Suthar when the play started again on day 3. The debutant had taken three wickets so far on day two and when he got back onto the field, he appeared to come tailored for success and looked beyond his years in winning it. Coupled with that the left-arm spinner was able to extract turn, bounce, and drift from what looked to be a position providing hardly any help to his other teammates. Suthar consistently whirled the ball around the 90 km per hour mark, got the ball in the hands of startled Afghanis and pitched it out of both the hands and the boundary. He made his breakthrough early and got Sharafuddin Ashraf’s delivery off straight, which swatted the ball past the batter. But his finest moment was to take Rahmat Shah, who had given excellent effort to save Afghanistan for the second time. At a hard-fought half-century, Rahmat went for an expansive sweep but lost his stumps when he missed yet another fine delivery from the spinner. The out ended Suthar’s first-ever 5-wicket demolition in Test cricket. He didn’t stop there either. He caught Mohammad Saleem similar to a front catch in the meantime to build up an impressive record of six wickets on debut, after which he became a name in Indian cricketing folklore. The Afghan resistance is lacking in effectiveness. But amidst all the collapse, Afghanistan did manage moments to stand firm. The first batters of the visitors, Rahmat Shah pulled in a purposeful 60 with the batter still determined to emerge unbowed in the face of a spirited Indian response. Unfortunately for Afghanistan, there was a challenge to building partnerships. India bowlers enforcers didn’t give rights any respite as they applied pressure so long that they did not allow them to breathe at either end. Prasidh Krishna was a very helpful supporting actor. The fast bowler was giving the Afghanmen plenty of trouble with his attractive off the pitch bounce, and his boot action too, was lively and also interesting. His scalping of Azmatullah Omarzai early on day three put India on the front foot. Eventually, Afghanistan were bowled out for 152 by the time they were eliminated and India had no hesitation in forcing the battle to be continued. Washington Sundar Takes Charge in the Second Innings Meanwhile, Afghanistan tried another attacking shot during their second innings. Sediquillah Atal was the driving force to neutralise the Indian spinners with his runs whenever he got a chance to make runs down the pitch. At one time, the plan seemed to be working. Atal blunted balls and even outplayed Suthar with a six at the close of an attempt to upset his spinners though. But, Washington Sundar came up with a great answer. The off-spinner played an intelligent game of cricket, without any heavy turn, by outsmarting the opposition with his calculated balls. He was able to sink into difficult zones and made mistake after mistake, as a result imposing pressure. Washington took four wickets and was pivotal in dealing the death-blow to the resistance of the Afghans. His sacking of Rahmat Shah and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi put an end to any dreams of a prolonged battle. Kuldeep Yadav and India’s Bowlers Take the Job Off. On the flipside, Kuldeep Yadav refused to bite the bullet as he raised more questions even though he didn’t create the same sharp turn he had in the past. There wasn’t a better player than the wrist-spinner to wait for the ball to fly, and to entice batters into dangerous shots. Eventually, they reaped rewards for that approach. After looking dangerous in a fast and furious innings, Rahmanullah Gurbaz was wayward with an attacking shot and gave Kuldeep a golden catch. The pressure mounted on the spinner and he went on to pick three wickets. The lower order of Afghanistan went on an all-out attack in the game as it continued. Some boundaries came in at intervals to give the crowd a moment’s respite but wickets kept falling. Suthar got back in the game to pick up some more wickets and some of the Afghan batsmen lost their lives trying some feeble hops over the bowlers. One of the biggest ever Indian performances in Test cricket was sealed off by the final dismissal. A Historic Win, Unstoppable Demonstration of a New Star Emerges Lastly, the Manav Suthar Six Wicket Haul will stand out as the iconic moment of an historic of a Test match. India’s victory was their biggest by margin in the longest of formats, and they’ve found a new promising spin talent that could wreak havoc at the highest level. Indian’s depth was brought to light by the efforts of Washington Sundar, who collected four wickets, who was assisted by Suthar’s heroics, Kuldeep Yadav who made welcome strong contributions and batsmen who were fantastic in their actions. For Afghanistan, there was a lot to be learned and significant experience in dealing with one of the most powerful Test sides in the world. This match was, however, Manav Suthar’s for India. The sensational display made

With a sensational three wicket performance, Manav Suthar Debut’s debut on the international stage was destined to be a defining moment of day two of the one-off Test match between India and Afghanistan in New Chandigarh. Suthar’s classy delivery with the ball brought the host side entirely under control on the pitch while valuable additions of Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant in the middle of the order helped India control the match for so many centuries. India started the day with a huge lead and expanded it to 564 for 8 in a declared stand. Many were inspired in Afghanistan by the six wickets scored by Mohammad Saleem for the first time, but it was not enough to provide the visitors with an answer in the face of a stern Indian bowling defence. Still trailing by 451 runs, Afghanistan were holding on for their lives, at 113 for 5, by the stumps. The starting period of India’s Batters is off to a flying start and they continue to build on their foundation. The first and foremost thing was India were able to create a lead for Afghanistan to be ruled out of the game. Hosts went on to score freely to regain their position from where they were sitting overnight. The hosts were able to make the visitors’ bowlers work hard in the difficult conditions. Shubman Gill followed up his effort of the night with another strike, before finally heading away for a brilliant 126. For the third time, the India skipper also displayed his newfound maturity in the attacks of the longest format, carrying the day with him. Muttiah’s century took the same toll as KL Rahul too, in his impressive comeback to red-ball cricket. Yet, the middle order also was critical. Rishabh Pant schooled the crowds with an underhand control that was all laid-back and aggressive as he knocked 81 in his CV, his 50th Test. Pant, however, was not like his previous efforts but was gentle before going rampage when given an opportunity. Then, Washington Sundar got India over the 550-mark. Realizing the importance of a low-order player in Test cricket, he did not let the Afghanistan bowlers beat him on 52. In what way does Mohammad Saleem face a solitary battle?How is Mohammad Saleem a lone man? In the end Moldova provided Afghanistan with a bright spot with Mohammad Saleem, even with India dominating. The fast bowler worked tirelessly and became the hero for the visitors. In Saleem’s time, India’s youth never got away with him on the balls. He shifted the gears by barring key players like Gill and Dhruv Jurel, kept the pressure on toughly though and into a long spell. His last 6 for 140 was more a measure of his perseverance than of his prowess. It was unfortunate that he did not get the assistance from the other bowlers that he needed, as was the case with the wicket-keeper for the Afghan. The lack of review opportunities and steady pressure from the other end enabled India to further strengthen ties during the day. However, Saleem’s six-wicket haul was an impressive personal record, and in the midst of a tough day on the ball, the best Africa could hope for. Manav Suthar announced his presence on the Big stage. But the most important point to consider stayed the **Manav Suthar Debut**. The young spinner was introduced into the attack shortly after tea, and was immediately at ease at Test level. After a season which lacked any real finesse, Suthar appeared confident and produced brilliant drift and turn from the surface. His control was as good as his wicket-taking. He regularly took the ball into uncomfortable positions, and did not give Afghanistan batters much respite from having to take the field. However, the moment finally came when Abdul Malik was given a shot to make things happen and he delivered an interesting carry with a shot that “took a deep dive.The breakthrough finally did come though when Abdul Malik fired an ambitious carry shot and did so in time to find a deep fielder. After the burning start, Suthar followed with another significant delivery to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz that skoled outside. His third wicket was late in the day, and ended a superb debut for him, giving India every reason to be hopeful of their spin-bowling future. Afghanistan Struggle Against India’s Attack Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s batting succeeded in not really gaining momentum. A very fine attempt at resistance was made by Rahmat Shah, who dished out an unbeaten 43, but the wickets tumbled at intervals. Sediqullah Atal and Hashmatullah Shahidi were eliminated by Prasidh Krishna’s good pomoc. Even though Kuldeep Yadav had a mediocre innings, he still caused some problems. Both the visitors had a tough time in balancing their attack and defence and making the turnovers they needed to respond to India’s mammoth 400 runs in the first innings. By the day’s end, survival was highly their focus. Afghanistan had already managed to lose half their team by stumps, and were still far from avoiding the follow-on. India Eye Early Victory Lastly, India have another great positive in the form of Manav Suthar, as the battle takes a pivotal turn towards a one-sided game. The hosts have taken the lead with both bat and ball and a few players have beefed up their individual profile. There was great depth in India’s batting marked by Gill’s century, Rahul’s hundred, the entertaining innings of Pant and Washington’s unbeaten half-century. However, it was Suthar’s poise and influence on his debut which was eye-catching. As both sides are tied by further 451 runs and have just five wickets to bowl out of, India will be looking to close out the match and secure a major win on day three. But if Suthar can maintain his bowlers’ level and him, then his debut may turn up to be one of the most memorable moments in the Indian debut for Test cricket in recent years. Follow Zeroto30

Virat Kohli missed out on Tests due to a muscle cramp, as Yashasvi Jaiswal has been called into the side for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan. The development is still less than a week after Kohli helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinch the IPL 2026 title, but that is succeeded by worries regarding his fitness. India selectors announced Saturday that Kohli will be excluded from the three ODIs against Afghanistan after getting injured in RCB’s successful IPL campaign on the hamstring. Although it was not thought to pose a long-term threat, it means there will be uncertainty about one of India’s most experienced players in what is a busy international calendar. However, with Kohli’s loss, Jaiswal picks up an opportunity. Firstly, India’s selection committee has promptly appointed Yashasvi Jaiswal as Kohli’s replacement. The young left-hander has mesmerised when he was given a chance and returning to the ODI batting order after that. Up to now, Jaiswal has appeared in just four ODIs for India, but has already made his mark at the international stage. His last try in the format was a December 2025 duel with South Africa after which he got a century to humble, with his maturity and attacking skills coming in handy. It is important to note that the change of introduction of Jaiswal into the squad is India’s brainchild. Whereas Kohli is still an integral part of the ODI side’s rotation of bowlers, the selectors are trying to pour in youth into their side who can look after them when required. Now, Jaiswal has another valuable opportunity to consolidate his dominance in white-ball preparations for India in Afghanistan. Agarkar Provides latest Kohli Fitness Update.Agarkar Provides Kohli Fitness Update. The depth of Kohli’s damage and when he will be available for action though, has been the zillion dollar question. In Mumbai, selectors chairman Ajit Agarkar said that the comeback of the former India captain is yet to be decided. The accident took place in the final of the IPL match, and the healing process is still underway. Agarkar said there was hope Kohli will come back as soon as possible for India’s ODI series against England which starts in July. Meanwhile, he emphasized that it would not be possible to guarantee anything until further evaluations are done. It’s a careful decision because Kohli is a key member of the Indian ODI team. Having played in the T20 format at international level as well as Test cricket has led to the 37-year-old now prioritising workload and fitness in the 50-over format. Kohli Was Playing In Excellent Form The injury at this time is disappointing given Kohli has been one of the best series of his club career. He last played an ODI series in the country, when he hit 240 runs as India’s top run-scorer against New Zealand earlier this year. Kohli was once more of a worth while player in the format, despite India losing the series. This momentum was sustained in the IPL. Kohli then had one of his best seasons as he posted 675 runs with an impressive strike rate. His performance helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the title and further proven his point as one of the best batters in the game. The defeat of the player is certainly a blow to the Indian team, especially when playing a team that will be considered underdogs down the Asia Cup. Focus Also on Rohit and Hardik The form of other senior players is being closely noted in the meantime. Hardik Pandya has been at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for assessment while Rohit Sharma is likely to join the facility soon. Both have come into the squad of India despite being troubled by injuries for some time now. Rohit is returning from a hamstring ailment which had ruled him out for a few IPL matches whereas Hardik has not played ODI cricket since India won the Champions Trophy in 2025. As the preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup continue, it is crucial for the team to keep Agarkar fit and ready for ODI cricket, the management said. He is one of the most useful batsmen in the team and excellent bowlers as well, so as to provide them a balance. India Prepare for Afghanistan Challenge Ultimately, the nation will have to revise its interest in the three-match ODI contest against Afghanistan. The series starts in Dharamsala then moves on to Lucknow and Chennai for the rest of the series. While Kohli is not in the picture, some of the onus of the capital unit is on the shoulders of captain Shubman Gill, the Mahanshir Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. Meanwhile, fans will be keen to watch whether Jaiswal will be able to grab the opportunity created by Kohli. The Virat Kohli Injury simply may have derailed the initial plans of the Indians but it will surely provide a platform for one of the finest young stars in the country. As India begin their preparations for a busy international season, all eyes will remain on Kohli’s recovery and Jaiswal’s chance to make a lasting impact in the ODI arena.’ Follow Zeroto30 Seconds for more cricket updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s