Cricket world

J&K Ranji Trophy winners(left) Image:Revsportz. Gautam Gambhir at Kalighat Temple Kolkata(right) Image: Debasis Sen I woke up to visuals of India head coach Gautam Gambhir visiting the Kalighat temple in Kolkata ahead of the India versus West Indies match at Eden Gardens. Later in the afternoon came the first visuals of Jammu and Kashmir’s historic Ranji Trophy triumph. Interestingly, the former garnered eight times the views of the latter. In fact, the Gambhir videos attracted more engagement than Indian team practice clips, the match preview and even updates from the Pakistan–Sri Lanka game. Isn’t that a little strange? Look a little deeper and you may attribute this to social media being identity-driven rather than information-driven. People do not merely watch; they feel they are experiencing and consuming. One could argue it was about national sentiment, India were in a key fixture and a temple visit symbolises tradition and seeking blessings. Yet, when India played South ...

  Its India–West Indies clash tonight in Kolkata. Images: Debasis Sen I don’t know what Abhishek Sharma or Ishan Kishan do just before going out to bat. Every batter has their own drill. Whatever it is, the essence is to stay calm. No chatter, no hype, no over-the-top preparation. Just remain composed and in the zone. Before going out to bat in the 2003 Centurion game against Pakistan, Tendulkar simply had a banana and a bowl of ice cream. He wouldn’t speak to anyone, and even the coach, John Wright, left him alone. In fact, the instruction was to inform him only when the umpires walked out to the middle to call play. Sachin scored 98 off 78 balls, and the rest is history. The India–West Indies match tonight in Kolkata is one such occasion. It is a platform to become a national hero and bring a smile to the faces of a billion Indians. It will be a spectacle in every sense, and cricketers play for moments like this. You need to embrace it, for such occasions do not come often. ...

Molineux is expected to be back for the West Indies tour. (PC: Cricket Australia) Australia will not take any chances with their injured captain, Sophie Molineux, ahead of the T20 World Cup, which is set to be played later this year. Chief selector Shawn Flegler is optimistic about Molineux’s availability for the West Indies tour, which begins later this month. On Friday, Molineux was ruled out of the multi-format series against India due to persistent lower back pain in the lead-up to the second ODI in Hobart. Her injury has cast doubt over her participation in Australia’s next assignment in the Caribbean. With the T20 World Cup scheduled for later this year, Australia are unwilling to risk their captain. “Unfortunately Soph has developed a bit of lower back pain over the last few days, which means she’s going to miss the rest of the series,” Flegler told Channel Seven. “We’ll work towards Molineux being available for the West Indies series coming up. We don’t want to take any r...

Pakistan_defeated_Sri_Lanka (PC:ICC/X) Salman Ali Agha expressed disappointment after Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The Men in Green secured a narrow five-run win over Sri Lanka in the Super Eight stage on February 28 in Pallekele, but it was not enough to book a semi-final spot. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Agha pointed out that dew played a major role. He also admitted that apart from Sahibzada Farhan, the rest of the batters struggled, especially the middle order. He said: “But yeah, I think dew was a factor. I think we couldn’t bat well throughout the tournament. It was only Sahibzada Farhan, he batted exceptionally well. And during that period, if anyone could have helped him a bit more, could have been a different story. But yeah, the batting was always concerned throughout the tournament.” “Especially middle order. The middle order has been a problem for us for like a few years now. We need to sit down an...

Henry likely to comeback if NZ qualifies for the semis. (PC: X/ICC) New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has granted Matt Henry paternity leave and he is set to return home to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. His parental leave was planned before the tournament and was confirmed when the squad was announced in January. New Zealand head coach Rob Walter confirmed the development ahead of the New Zealand v England game, which the Kiwis lost. “Firstly, we’re all very excited for Matt and Holly on the arrival of their second child,” Walter said in a statement. “It’s a very significant moment for their family and we’re wishing them all the best.” Walter is hopeful of Henry returning to the side, subject to New Zealand qualifying for the semi-finals. “There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge, but we’re hopeful that the stars align for the team and for Matt and that we’ll see him back competing in the final phases of the competition.” Before flying out, Henry was in act...

Harry_Brook (PC: ICC/X) England captain Harry Brook expressed confidence ahead of the semi-final clash, regardless of the opponent. Brook’s side defeated New Zealand by four wickets on February 27 in their last Super Eight clash in Colombo. With this win, they confirmed their place in the semi-final from Group B at the top spot in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Brook said: “We’re not bothered. We’re just going to go out there and whoever we’re facing, they’re going to be a tough opponent anyway. We’ve already played against West Indies in the warm-up game already, so a little bit of experience there. It’s nice to go back to a ground that we’ve already played on as well. So yeah, both sides are very strong, very powerful teams and we’ve just got to go out there and try and do the little things well again.” After winning the toss, New Zealand elected to bat. England’s spinners bowled beautifully as Adil Rashid, Will Jacks ...

Team India against Zimbabwe at Chepauk. Image: BCCI Finally, India got the combination right and it showed. Sikandar Raza couldn’t use himself against Sanju Samson and India, much like before the World Cup, were off to a flier. Samson did the job and when Ishan Kishan joined Abhishek Sharma, the early jitters had been dealt with. What followed was absolute carnage. Each batter played to perfection and India asserted themselves over Zimbabwe by the halfway stage. Tilak Varma too found his mojo and the finish was picture-perfect. This is the India that fans wanted to see and they finally got what they had asked for. That things were going well was evident when the cameras caught Gautam Gambhir laughing. Laughing, not smiling – and clearly, the pressure was finally off. India now have their fate in their own hands and the game against West Indies at the Eden Gardens is a straight shoot-out. South Africa vs West Indies. Image :X A word on South Africa is in order here. They played ...

Incredible batting display in the IND vs ZIM match ( PC- Indian Cricket Team, Instagram) Team India stepped into their second Super 8 game against Zimbabwe with a plethora of changes to their Playing XI. Sanju Samson returned to the side in place of Rinku Singh, Axar Patel replaced Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma dropped down to No. 5 in the batting order. On a fresh wicket, Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to field. This was the first time in T20Is that India batted first at Chepauk and they put a mammoth 256 on the board, the highest total in the tournament. Unable to chase it down, Zimbabwe were handed a massive 76-run defeat. After posting 256, India took the field with confidence. Zimbabwe managed 44 runs in the powerplay, half of what India had scored, without losing a wicket. Following a dropped catch by Rinku, usually one of India’s safest fielders, Tadiwanashe Marumani fell to Axar Patel. India began with Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, who bowled two overs each in the ...

Rachin Ravindra (PC: X) Rachin Ravindra delivered a match-winning all-round performance to guide New Zealand to a commanding 61-run victory over Sri Lanka in their Super Eight clash of the ICC T20 World Cup on February 25 in Colombo. During the post-match presentation, Ravindra reflected on the win and said, “It’s always pleasing to take a win like that. Amazing, specially at their home, awesome performance. I guess understanding that slower was better, and a few stats were put out there… Under 85ks. Santner is obviously a master at that craft, so we decided slower is the plan.” Ravindra made an impact throughout the game. With the bat, he scored 32 off 22 balls and helped stabilise the innings. With the ball, he was equally effective, picking up four crucial wickets in his four overs while conceding just 27 runs. His spell broke the back of Sri Lanka’s batting line-up and earned him the Player of the Match award. Speaking about playing in Sri Lanka, Ravindra said, “The Sri Lanka...

India Deaf Team wins the inaugural ADCA T20I Asia Cup ((Image: ADCA) In a thrilling final, the Indian men’s cricket team created history by lifting the inaugural ADCA T20I Asia Cup, finishing the tournament as undefeated champions. India edged past Sri Lanka by six wickets in a nail-biting summit clash at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. The contest evoked memories of the previous encounter between the two sides, but this time the script was flipped. India held their nerve in another down-to-the-wire finish, with last-ball drama once again keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Opting to field first, India restricted Sri Lanka to 144 for 7 in their 20 overs. Sri Lanka fought hard in defence, but India chased down the target with a ball to spare. Sri Lankan opener Gimadu L Malkam provided early momentum with a fluent 62 off 46 deliveries, but support from the other end was limited. Captain Alanrose Kalep (22) was the only other batter to cross the 20-run mark. For India, Yashwa...

Harry_Brook (PC: ICC/X) England captain Harry Brook expressed his delight at their narrow two-wicket win over Pakistan in the Super Eight fixture, which secured them a place in the semi-finals of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony after being adjudged Player of the Match, Brook said: “Very happy with the way we played there. It’s just nice to get through to the semi-finals now. We’ve got one more game against New Zealand and we’ll focus on that, but the bigger prize is on the other side. In T20 cricket, getting early wickets is crucial. Jofra Archer has been brilliant – I think he’s taken eight powerplay wickets now. He’s been doing that for years and it really puts the opposition on the back foot.” Batting first, Pakistan got off to a poor start as the England bowlers made two early breakthroughs within the fourth over. After that, Sahibzada Farhan stitched together a 46-run partnership with Babar Azam, which provided some stabi...

Brook smashed his maiden T20I ton in Pallekele. (PC: X.com) On one of the grass embankments at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, British tourists outnumbered the locals. The midday sun here is sweltering enough to cause hyperpigmentation. Evenings, though, are pleasant. A few St. George’s Cross flags hung over the railing. The Barmy Army is not here, so ‘Jerusalem’ was conspicuous by its absence. Out there in the middle, Pakistan had to bite the bullet and send Babar Azam at No. 4. The power play was on, but they had to eschew the attacking intent for a while. Pakistan bat deep, but the batting isn’t trustworthy, always two-three quick wickets away from an implosion. Babar’s role in the T20Is these days has been restricted to an anchor if the team loses early wickets. The pitch was described as a “good one” by both captains, Salman Agha and Harry Brook, at the toss. Jofra Archer was still beating the Pakistan batters for pace. Saim Ayub tried to pull a delivery that got big...

Auqib Nabi ( PC- X) It took about 22 years for Jammu and Kashmir to register their maiden Ranji Trophy win, with J&K defeating Services by four wickets in the 1982–83 season. A little more than four decades later, in the 2024–25 season, for a brief moment, one wondered whether it could be J&K’s annus mirabilis. Unfortunately, it was not to be, as they suffered heartbreak against Kerala, with the latter eking out a lead of just one run in the quarter-final to enter the semi-finals. The battle-hardened cricketers from J&K did not give up, though. The very next season, they have marched to the summit clash of the Ranji Trophy, where the Paras Dogra-led side will lock horns with Karnataka in Hubli today. Around four months ago, there did not seem to be any fairytale story in store for J&K as they had just lost to Mumbai in a see-saw battle. Instead of wallowing in a defeatist attitude, they went on to finish second in their group. That was followed by victories over fo...

Mitchell has been given a new role in the T20I team. (PC: BCCI) New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell has shed light on his new role as a finisher in the team ahead of their Super Eight clash against Sri Lanka, scheduled for February 25. Mitchell has batted only twice in the tournament so far. On both occasions, he came in at number six, scoring 25 not out and 32. In the five-match series against India prior to the start of the World Cup, Mitchell played a similar role. Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman have been batting above him, with Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Rachin Ravindra forming the top order. “I have a finisher’s role from the 10-over mark onwards – trying to read and adapt to the situation of the game and help us win those moments at the back end of the innings,” Mitchell told Reuters. Allen and Seifert have done the bulk of the scoring for the Kiwis in the World Cup. Mitchell hopes the opening pair continue their strong form at the top, while also acknowledging the balance ...

India vs South Africa (PC: BCCI) Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav remained calm and aimed for improvement after South Africa defeated India by 76 runs in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on February 22 in Ahmedabad. The defeat broke India’s unbeaten streak in the tournament as they began the Super Eight stage with a loss. During the post-match presentation, Suryakumar addressed the result and said, “We were always in the game when we started. Bowled really well in the beginning. From 7-15, they batted really well and then we come back. Bowled really wellbut could have batted better. Sometimes, you have to think you cannot win the game in the powerplay but you can lose it. Did not have the partnerships we needed. Part of the game. We will learn from it. Sit back and bounce back.” Praising Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah, he added, “Everyone knows their combination has been lethal. Both bowled eight overs, picked five wickets and gave up 45-50 runs. They bowl well in partnerships...

Babar_Azam (PC: ICC/X) Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has criticised head coach Mike Hesson for his recent remarks about Babar Azam’s role in the team. Ahead of Pakistan’s Super Eight match against New Zealand in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Hesson addressed the media and clarified Babar’s batting position. The Pakistan white-ball coach said that Babar is not opening the batting due to his low strike rate. Taking a jibe at the remarks, Hafeez said on the show Game On Hai: “He made a statement about Babar Azam that I didn’t understand. He said he’s not a powerplay batter because his strike rate is 100… I read this statement 15 times, but I still didn’t understand it, which is why I am asking you, as you are like an elder brother, maybe you’ll understand. He said that Babar can’t bat in the first six overs because his strike rate is quite low; he gave that stat, nor can he bat after the 10th over. Toh woh khel kyun raha hai? (Why is he playing?)” Hesson told r...

  During Team India’s practice session. Image: Debasis Sen Playing a World Cup at home is a privilege but it arrives gift-wrapped in high expectations. For Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian skipper who has been taking a backseat – not playing his natural cricket, and taking on a more conservative role – there is no attempt to disguise that reality. “It is very difficult to say that there is no pressure or it is easy to handle,” he admitted on the eve of the Super 8 stage. “When you are playing such a big event on your home soil, you definitely feel pressure. It is not that you can run away from it.” The pressure here is not abstract, it is tangible. It is felt when the team walks through a new hotel lobby, it is felt when the team bus drives through a throng of fans, and it is felt the most when a player  walks out on the field with thousands of fans expecting them to win the game. Fans constantly remind players of the shared goals. “Of course, there is pressure,” Suryakum...

Jacob Bethell (PC: X) Jacob Bethell’s cheeky remark on Australia’s early exit from the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has gone viral on social media. In a recent video, the 22-year-old was speaking to BBC Test Match Special and said it was a shame for Australia not to make the Super Eight stage. Bethell said: “It was good to see. They just didn’t seem like they got firing in the tournament. And in those group stage matches if you don’t hit the ground running, you’re in danger of that happening. So yeah, it was a shame for them.” Australia began with a convincing win over Ireland but failed to maintain the momentum. They lost to Zimbabwe by 23 runs and then to hosts Sri Lanka by eight wickets. Although they ended their campaign with a win over Oman, both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe finished above them in the group. Australia’s early exit surprised many fans and critics. Since the 2024 T20 World Cup, they have won five of their eight T20I series, losing two and drawing one. In the 202...

Hardik Pandya with his coach Jitendra Singh Anil Kumble famously transitioned from a medium pacer to a legendary leg-spinner. Ravichandran Ashwin began his cricketing journey as a fast bowler before evolving into a world-renowned off-spinner. Even Yuzvendra Chahal started as a medium pacer before establishing himself as a world-class leg-spinner. The same goes for Kuldeep Yadav , who wanted to replicate the great Wasim Akram but ended up becoming one of the finest left-arm wrist-spin bowlers. In today’s Internet age, unearthing these fascinating career pivots takes nothing more than a quick click. But Google’s archives do not know everything. They certainly do not hold the complete, meticulous history of every cricketer – especially not the origin story of Hardik Pandya . How many people actually know that the ‘Baroda Bomber’ was once a leg-spinner? Or that his genesis as one of India’s finest fast-bowling all-rounders happened entirely by accident during an unassuming local c...

Team India practice session at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Image: Revsportz For almost a year, India’s white-ball batting template has been fairly uncomplicated: attack early and dominate. But World Cups have a way of demanding nuance and adaptability. At this marquee tournament, surfaces have required assessment before unleashing unbridled aggression, and India’s shift in approach has been intentional rather than reactive. On match day minus two, ahead of the high-octane clash between India and South Africa, Morne Morkel acknowledged the role of surfaces in shaping how India have been batting. “Our mindset is to take the game on and put the opposition under pressure,” he said. “However, the smart approach is to quickly assess the conditions and play the crucial moments well. To be honest, it hasn’t always been easy to hit cleanly through the line of the ball.” Also read India Dial Up Intensity in Ahmedabad Practice Session He also spoke about how it is nearly impossibl...

Image: Debasis Sen/Star Sports “History repeat karenge, padosi ko defeat karenge” chant a bunch of India fans as they mimic a Rohit Sharma … but so far removed from the flamboyant former India captain’s part lazy Sunday stroll, part “haan bhai, trophy toh meri hi thi” energy. “Greatest rivalry hai” reminds the Pakistani fan in green. Who would say that in everyday conversation? This is what I call lazy advertising — poor scripting, poorer creative imagination and a lame attempt to infuse humour. I can almost imagine the product brief would have mentioned that this is the tournament’s greatest rivalry and the marketing task would have been to aggregate unprecedented reach. What the creative team needed to have done is to bring alive the rivalry from an emotional or humourous persepctive like the iconic Mauka Mauka campaign…but to just say “greatest rivalry” is like describing Diwali simply as the festival of lights. Just when I thought that it could get no worse, comes the India ve...

Agentic AI and IPL (PC: X and IPL) Last week I came across an interesting update about how the Lalia is embracing agentic AI and this got me thinking about the implications for cricket in India and in particular, the IPL. Let me start with a simple definition. Agentic AI is artificial intelligence that does not merely respond – it acts. It sets sub-goals, makes decisions across multiple systems, adapts in real time and moves toward an outcome without waiting to be prompted at every step. If traditional AI is a calculator, then Agentic AI is a strategist. And if you apply that lens to cricket in the Indian subcontinent, the possibilities are enormous. In India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, cricket produces staggering volumes of data. Ball tracking. Wagon wheels. Pitch maps. Fantasy points. Engagement curves. TRP spikes. Social chatter in multiple languages. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: most of this data is passive – this is collected, visualised and debated but does no...

The picturesque Nandi Hills, a little over an hour’s drive from Bengaluru, stands at around 1,500 metres above sea level. Somehow, the cool and pleasant weather, alongside the height of the hills, comes to mind while watching Karnataka’s promising batter, Ravichandran Smaran. Consider the Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Mumbai to gauge the left-hander’s unflappable temperament. By the time KL Rahul was dismissed, Smaran had raced to 65 off just 82 deliveries. Karnataka then lost a couple more wickets and slipped to 285 for 6. With about 40 more runs needed to cross the line, the question was: what would be the young batter’s approach? Especially with Mumbai spreading the field for him. The southpaw smartly looked to pinch singles and farm the strike. Even when Mumbai’s pacers tested him with the short ball, Smaran’s only aim was to keep the pull along the ground and rotate the strike. It helped that Vidyadhar Patil, the lower-order batter, used the long handle to good effect and ...