Author: Subhayan Chakraborty

South Africa delivered a clinical performance to defeat India by 51 runs in the second T20I at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Thursday, levelling the five-match series 1-1. Batting first after losing the toss, the Proteas posted a formidable 213/4 in 20 overs, powered by Quinton de Kock’s explosive 90 off 46 balls. India crumbled in the chase, bowled out for 162 in 19.1 overs, with Tilak Varma’s fighting 62 off 34 balls the only notable resistance. De Kock prefers India De Kock powered South Africa’s innings with his 18th fifty-plus score in T20Is. The…

Belgium, ranked world No. 3 just two years ago, now clinging to their last golden generation for one final charge. Egypt arrive with Mohamed Salah being banished from the Liverpool first team by manager Arne Slot after the player’s spectacular outburst in the media — the “thrown under the bus” comment. They, however, aim for the knockout-stage breakthrough the African nation has been chasing since 1934. Iran, five-time qualifiers, bring solid organisation and a knack for bloodying bigger noses. New Zealand, back for only their third World Cup, still dine out on holding Italy to a draw in 2010. Four…

In the high-stakes arena of T20 cricket, where fortunes can flip in a single over, consistency and impact are necessities. Yet, for India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill, it’s been an area which is yet to come to fruition. Their latest outing in Cuttack against South Africa, a match India won by a whopping 101 runs, served as a stark reminder of this nagging issue. Gill departed after facing just two balls for four runs, while Suryakumar scratched around for 12 off 11 deliveries. Hardik Pandya’s blistering knock and a ruthless bowling display salvaged the day, but as…

Jitesh Sharma lauded Hardik Pandya for bringing versatility and experience to the Indian T20I side, highlighting the healthy competition he has with Sanju Samson for the wicketkeeper’s slot. He was speaking after the Men in Blue sealed a comfortable 101-run victory against South Africa at Barabati Stadium on Tuesday. Hardik came in to bat when India were struggling at 78/4 after 11.4 overs before producing one of his finest T20I knocks, scoring 59 off just 28 deliveries with four sixes and six boundaries at a strike rate of 210.71, powering India to 175 in 20 overs. “He (Hardik) brings a…

The floodlights are on, the soil is red, and the stakes are massive. After wrapping up the ODI leg, a completely different looking Indian unit is set for the first of five T20Is against South Africa. Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, still nursing memories of a 20-minute blackout during an India-England ODI in February, will attempt to redeem itself under the same towers that once betrayed it. This isn’t just another bilateral series for the world champions. It is the first of the 10 T20Is India will play at home before they head into the 2026 T20 World Cup on these…

With a few thousand fans in attendance at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, the Indian team began preparations in earnest with an intense practice session on Monday ahead of the first T20I of the five-match series against South Africa, which begins on Tuesday. Having recovered from a neck spasm, Shubman Gill was the centre of attention as the entire squad, except Hardik Pandya, who had a solo practice session on Sunday, turned up for the nets. After a hectic travel schedule that took him from Kolkata to Guwahati, Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru, Gill finally looked back to his best, having…

Suryakumar Yadav, India’s T20I captain, said his team wouldn’t be making too many changes in the combination as the road to the T20 World Cup starts with the five-T20I series against South Africa, commencing Tuesday at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. The skipper also gave a bit of an insight on why the team management went to Shubman Gill as the opener while dropping Sanju Samson in the middle order role. With India set to play 10 T20Is on the road to the marquee tournament, Surya is content with the kind of performances the team has been showcasing in the shortest…

After recovering fully from the quadriceps injury sustained during the Asia Cup earlier this year, Hardik Pandya returned to India colours by training solo at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack ahead of the first match of the five-T20I series against South Africa. Having recently played for Baroda in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Pandya familiarised himself with the conditions in Cuttack, fine-tuning both his batting and bowling during the session before the series opener. With the Indian team arriving in batches in Cuttack, Pandya reached the city on Saturday evening and decided to have a hit on Sunday. Mindful of…

What started as a morning of quiet English consolidation turned into a rollercoaster that ended with Australia taking a 44-run lead at stumps on Day 2 at the Gabba, as the hosts finished with 378/6 on the board. England were rolled over in the first hour, Australian openers, with Travis Head promoted up the order, providing a solid start. Then Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne counter-attacked brilliantly before the likes of Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis and Michael Nesser added on to the total to help the hosts go in ascendency on Day 2. Earlier, Brendan Doggett needed only…

Joe Root was mocked and ridiculed by the Australian press for his lack of a century on their soil, especially after the crushing defeat in the Perth Test. The Englishman bounced back in style at the Gabba, flipping the narrative while keeping the Ashes alive and kicking. Less than a fortnight after being dismissed as a “dud” Down Under, Root broke a decade-old drought with his first Test century in Australia on Thursday, breathing life into England’s Ashes campaign in Brisbane. The England maestro finished unbeaten on 138 from 206 balls, steering his side to a competitive 334 all out…