Author: Staff Reporter

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has criticised India’s team selection in the ongoing three-match ODI series against South Africa. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said: “If we are not able to find a place for Nitish Kumar Reddy in a team that does not have Hardik Pandya, then there is something wrong in the squad selection, seriously.” Hardik Pandya was injured during the Asia Cup 2025 in September, which ruled him out of the Australia tour and the ODI home series against South Africa. In the current South Africa series, Nitish Kumar Reddy has been picked in place of…

India’s star batter Virat Kohli’s majestic century in Ranchi in the first ODI against South Africa once again proved his strength. On a sluggish surface, Kohli smashed 135 runs off 120 balls, which included 11 boundaries and six maximums, at a strike rate of 112.50. In a video posted by the BCCI’s official handle on X (formerly Twitter), Kohli spoke about his game awareness. “For me, the core word is awareness — being aware of situations, being aware of your own feelings and thoughts when you succeed and when you fail, so that you try to be in the most…

Former India coach Ravi Shastri said that the players have to take responsibility for India’s extremely poor performance in the recently concluded two-match home Test series against South Africa. In a podcast teaser released by Prabhat Khabar, Shastri cited the example of the second Test in Guwahati, where India faced a collapse, to justify his point. “You tell me. What happened in Guwahati – from 100/1, you skip to 130/7 – this team is not that bad either. The team is not that bad; they have enough talent. Therefore, this is where the responsibility must also be taken by the…

India’s veteran batter Virat Kohli played a superb knock of 135 against South Africa in the first ODI of the three-match series at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. Speaking on Star Sports, South Africa great Dale Steyn explained Kohli’s strong fitness routine, based on a prior discussion he had with the star batter about how he maintains his top physical form. “I actually saw him (Kohli) last night at dinner. I had a chat with him and asked him ‘What do you do, because you play just one format?’, and he said, ‘I live in London now’. He…

England great Sir Geoffrey Boycott believes the current side are capable of beating Australia for the first time since the 2010–11 series. The former opener said the present Australian team are “not unbeatable” and that the visitors are, player for player, more talented than the hosts. While acknowledging England’s impressive talent pool, Boycott called for a more measured approach from Ben Stokes and his team. “England can beat Australia in Brisbane,” Boycott wrote in his column for *The Telegraph*. “Man for man, they are more talented than the Aussies, but it doesn’t help our chances of success if Ben Stokes…

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan praised ex-India captain Rohit Sharma after his superb knock of 57 off 51 balls against South Africa in the first ODI of the three-match series at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Irfan said that Rohit’s age is not visible because the batter has improved his fitness. “As for Rohit Sharma, he seems to be at his peak. It doesn’t look like he is 38, he has improved his fitness. But the way he is playing according to the conditions and batting flawlessly, the half-century only shows with what…

South African pacer Dale Steyn praised India’s star batter Virat Kohli after he scored a match-winning century in the first ODI against South Africa. Steyn said Kohli’s amazing energy and strong mindset even at the age of 37 is commendable. Virat scored his 52nd century in ODI cricket, which helped India secure a 17-run win in Ranchi on November 30. In a conversation with JioStar, Steyn said, “When you speak to most 37 or 38-year-olds, they say they hate leaving home, their dog, their kids. But he (Virat) is in a place mentally where he’s eager to be out there…

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket was a well-thought-out decision. Since the last few days, there were many reports that Virat Kohli was requested to come out of his retirement from Test cricket. But Kohli himself ended all those talks by confirming that he will only continue to play ODIs after his brilliant knock of 135 against South Africa that helped India win the first ODI of the three-match series in Ranchi. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said that these kinds of big decisions are not taken instinctively. “What’s there to…

Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne has shown strong support for Usman Khawaja, whose place in the playing eleven has come under scrutiny ahead of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane. With debates going on about the make-up of Australia’s opening order after the win in Perth, Labuschagne made it clear that Khawaja is an important player and that he himself will not be moving up the order, even if changes are made. Speaking at the Gabba, where the day–night Test will begin on Thursday, Labuschagne praised Khawaja’s experience and ability, saying, “I don’t think he needs advice,” he told reporters. “He’s…

Indian players Kuldeep Yadav and Tilak Varma shared their joy after watching Virat Kohli’s brilliant 135-run knock in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi. Both the young members highlighted what Kohli’s presence means to the team. In a video shared by the BCCI, Kuldeep said watching him bat in Ranchi reminded him of Virat’s captaincy days. “My career started with Virat Bhai when he was the captain. The way that he batted, I felt I had gone back 8-9 years. The way he was batting in 2017, 2018 and 2019,” said Kuldeep. He added, “It was a very…