Author: Sandip Pawar

India seamer Harshal Patel said the batters have been trying to anticipate his variations for the past two years but as a bowler, he has to stay one step ahead. After getting hammered around in the first T20I of the series against South Africa, Patel made a strong comeback in the following two matches. After the game, the 31-year-old said he is not concerned about the batters trying to work out his pattern. In the first match at Delhi, Harshal was smashed by Rassie van der Dussen for three sixes and a four. In the post-match interview, VDD said he was expecting…

Indian Premier League-winning captain Hardik Pandya will have an opportunity to showcase his leadership skills for India in the Ireland T20I series. Rahul Tripathi received his maiden call-up while Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson are also back. India announced a 17-member squad for the tour of Ireland, where they are slated to play two T20 internationals. With several players unavailable for the series due to India’s one-off Test against England at Edgbaston, Pandya has been given an opportunity to showcase the leadership skills he displayed in Gujarat Titans’ title-winning campaign in IPL 2022. Credit: IPL Tripathi finally received his call-up to the Indian…

The five-match T20I series between India and South Africa has lived upto the expectations so far. The visitors won the first two clashes while the hosts made a strong comeback in the third. The two teams will now meet at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on June 17. The third game Visakhapatnam saw Rishabh Pants’ men hammer the Proteas by 48 runs. Temba Bavuma won the toss and put India to bat first for the third time in a row. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who had a difficult start to his international career, showed his true class on Tuesday as he blasted his way to 57 off 35 balls. Gaikwad…

Jonny Bairstow played one of the craziest knocks while chasing, blasting 136 off just 92 while Ben Stokes scored an unbeaten 75 off 70 to take England to a remarkable victory over the Black Caps in the second Test at Trent Bridge. One year after England refused to chase down 273 in 70-odd overs against the same opponent, the team under the new leadership of captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum showed it is indeed a start of a new era. The hosts were given a target of 299 in 72 overs on the fifth day of the Trent Bridge Test, they did it in just 50. …

Pakistan batsman Shan Masood has spoken on the reason given by Babar Azam for his exclusion from the recently concluded ODI series against West Indies, saying he can bat in the middle order if needed and batting position does not define him. Masood has been in superb form but could not make it to the national team’s squad, who have beaten Windies 3-0 just recently. The left-hander has responded to the reasoning provided by Pakistan captain Babar on Masood’s exclusion from the squad. The 32-year-old has been in incredible form, currently playing for Derbyshire and leading the County Championship batting charts with 893 runs…

England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who announced his retirement from the longer format last September, has reversed his decision after speaking to new England coach Brendon McCullum and due to family connections. Ali has confirmed that the door is open for his return to Test cricket when England tour Pakistan this year. The 34-year-old announced that he’s “officially unretired” from Tests following a discussion with McCullum. Credit: Chennai Super Kings He retired from the longer format in September last year after bagging 195 wickets in his career from 64 Tests and scoring 2914 runs at an average of 28.29 with five centuries. At the time of retirement, he revealed he no…

Confidence will be sky high for Sri Lanka after clinching a spectacular victory in the third T20I against Australia. The focus now moves to the ODI leg but it will not be a part of the ICC CWC Super League. The two teams will lock horns in the first ODI at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on June 14. Australia bagged the T20I series with victories in the first two games. The third game, however, turned out to be a historic feat for the Lankan Lions. Chasing the target of 176, the hosts looked down and out at one point with 58 required off…

The Men in Green posted 275/8 in the first innings on the back of Babar Azam and Imam ul Haq’s fifties. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz picked four for 19 as they claimed the win by 120 runs at Multan Cricket Stadium on June 10. Unlike the first ODI of the series, Pakistan made easy work of the Windies in the second game by registering a comprehensive win. With this victory, the Babar Azam-led team took an unassailable lead of 2-0 with one match to go.  Babar and ul Haq continued their magnificent form with the bat with individual fifties, while bringing in…

Jason Holder has been granted his request for rest from Bangladesh’s tour of West Indies. Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Raymon Reifer and Devon Thomas have received call-ups for the first Test. Cricket West Indies have named their 12-man squad for the first Test of the series against Bangladesh starting June 16. All-rounder Jason Holder will sit out of the two-match series as his request for rest and recovery has been granted by the board. Credit: Windies Cricket Kemar Roach will also be unavailable for the hosts as he recovers from a hamstring injury picked up during his County Championship stint with Surrey. According to CWI, the 33-year-old…

South Africa are on a tour of India to play five T20Is as a part of their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup down under. Five different venues will host the five matches, with the first one taking place at Arun Jaitley stadium in Delhi on June 9.  With some of their top players resting, India have an opportunity to try out their backup options ahead of the mega event. KL Rahul will lead the side in Rohit’s absence with Rishabh Pant as his deputy. South Africa, on the other hand, are coming with a full strength squad led…