Author: Snehasis Mukherjee

After finishing third in the group stage and being knocked out by the Mumbai Indians in the playoff during the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2023, UP Warriorz slipped to fourth place in the following season. For the next edition, the franchise showed confidence in its core by retaining 15 players and entering the mini-auction in Bengaluru with three slots to fill. Under Alyssa Healy’s leadership, Warriorz fans will be hoping for a strong comeback this year. Retained squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Anjali Sarvani, Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris, Kiran Navgire, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone, Tahlia…

The Delhi Capitals (DC) will aim to break their final jinx in the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) season, having been runners-up in both previous editions. With former Australian captain, Meg Lanning, leading the team, the squad is ready to roar once again. Before the mini-auction in Bengaluru, DC had four spots to fill, which they did by acquiring three young Indian talents and one foreign player. With their retained world-class, experienced internationals and a strong Indian core, this could finally be the year for Delhi to lift the prestigious trophy for the first time. Retained squad: Alice Capsey, Arundhati Reddy,…

The rain-affected third Test at the Gabba ended in a draw. The ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) is now tied at 1-1, with two matches left in Melbourne and Sydney. One partnership from the match will always be remembered for saving the game for India. Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep’s heroics lifted the dressing room’s mood by helping India avoid the follow-on in their first innings. This is not the first time a surprising partnership from the lower order has saved India, especially in the last five years. Here are some significant game-changing partnerships: 47 runs – Jasprit Bumrah and…

The third Test between Australia and India at the Gabba ended in a draw on a rain-affected day five. Shortly after the match, a video went viral showing Virat Kohli chatting with Ravichandran Ashwin in the dressing room. The veteran spinner was hugged by the former India skipper, and Ashwin appeared emotional, with teary eyes. This incident made cricket fans suspicious and sparked rumours that Ashwin might be retiring from his illustrious career. During the post-match press conference, Ashwin joined skipper Rohit Sharma and announced he was putting the curtains down on his international cricket journey. He said: “I would…

Hayley Matthews delivered an outstanding all-round performance in the second women’s T20I, as the West Indies defeated India by nine wickets at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. After restricting the hosts to 159, Hayley’s unbeaten 85-run knock blew them away. The series is tied 1-1, with one match remaining. Hayley’s effort earned her the Player of the Match award. Hayley won the toss and opted to bowl. For India, Smriti Mandhana led the team because Harmanpreet Kaur was out with a knee niggle sustained while batting in the previous game. The Windies made two changes, bringing in off-spinner Ashmini…

Mumbai Indians (MI) could not defend their Women’s Premier League (WPL) title last year. Fans will expect a stronger performance in 2025. The team looks settled under Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership. At the mini-auction in Bengaluru, they added one overseas player and three promising Indian talents. Retained squad: Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Chloe Tryon, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Hayley Matthews, Jintimani Kalita, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Pooja Vastrakar, Saika Ishaque, Yastika Bhatia, Shabnim Ismail, Amandeep Kaur, S. Sajana, Keerthana Mumbai will once again rely heavily on Amelia Kerr, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, and Harmanpreet. After recent questions about her captaincy, this WPL will be a…

The defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), are ready for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 season. Before the mini-auction, they had four spots to fill and therefore, signed four Indian players at the mini-auction in Bengaluru. With six foreign players in the squad, they look balanced and have enough options to adapt to different conditions. They have also included some promising young domestic players who can perform well under Smriti Mandhana’s leadership. Retained squad: Smriti Mandhana (c), Sabbineni Meghana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh, Sophie Molineux, Ekta Bisht, Kate Cross,…

India Women started the three-match T20I series with a convincing win against the West Indies at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues shone with the bat, while Titas Sadhu’s three-wicket haul played a key role in their commanding 49-run victory. After a poor series against Australia, they got back to winning ways. Windies skipper Hayley Matthews won the toss and chose to bowl first. Interestingly, India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur had also expressed her preference to bowl first if the toss had gone in her favour. Harmanpreet confirmed that Saima Thakor was handed…

Australia completed a clean sweep with an 83-run win over India in the third ODI at the WACA Ground, Perth, securing the three-match series 3-0. Annabel Sutherland’s century, Tahlia McGrath’s counter-attacking fifty, and Ashleigh Gardner’s all-round brilliance took the game away from Harmanpreet Kaur’s team. Smriti Mandhana’s century went in vain as India collapsed at the end, losing their last seven wickets for just 26 runs. Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to bowl first. Priya Mishra, who conceded 88 runs in the previous game, was dropped, along with injured opener Priya Punia. Titas Sadhu and Arundhati Reddy made…

The Indian women’s cricket team suffered a 122-run defeat against Australia, in the second ODI at Brisbane. With this win, Australia secured the three-match series 2-0, with one game still to play. Georgia Voll and Ellyse Perry’s centuries, along with Annabel Sutherland’s four-wicket haul, were the highlights of Australia’s commanding performance. After winning the toss, Tahlia McGrath chose to bat. Voll opened the innings with Phoebe Litchfield, and they started with an aggressive approach. The duo added 130 runs for the opening partnership in just 19.2 overs. Litchfield scored a brisk 60 off 63 balls, striking at 95.23. Voll, playing…