Author: WebDesk

A fresh era in Indian Test cricket is set to unfold as Shubman Gill leads a youthful Indian side against Ben Stokes’ experienced England in the opening Test of the five-match series at Headingley, Leeds. India, lacking in experience but rich in talent, enter the series as underdogs. The team hasn’t won a Test series in England since 2007, and to end that drought, they’ll need to read the conditions smartly, select the best XI, and adapt swiftly with both bat and ball. England, meanwhile, are unbeaten at home under Stokes since 2022 and continue to be a formidable force,…

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has shared heartfelt memories of his special connection with England — a country that played a defining role in his journey to greatness. In 1992, Tendulkar made history when he joined Yorkshire County Cricket Club as their first-ever overseas player at just 19 years old. But his connection with England began even earlier, when he scored his maiden international century — an unbeaten 119 — at Old Trafford, Manchester in 1990, a knock that saved the Test for India and signalled the arrival of a prodigious talent on the world stage. Over the course of his…

England Test captain Ben Stokes has played down the threat posed by Jasprit Bumrah, insisting his side has “no fear” of the Indian pace ace ahead of the first Test at Headingley, which kicks off on June 20. Bumrah, currently ranked the world’s No. 1 Test bowler, boasts a stellar record against England — 60 wickets in 14 matches at an average just above 22 — and has consistently troubled top-order batters like Joe Root, Ollie Pope, and even Stokes himself. Known for his mastery with the Dukes ball, Bumrah’s presence is expected to be key to India’s hopes of…

Brisbane Heat have secured the services of one of world cricket’s most fearsome pacers, Shaheen Shah Afridi, for the upcoming Big Bash League 2025 (BBL 2025) season. This marks Afridi’s first stint in the BBL, joining the likes of fellow Pakistani stars Shadab Khan, Yasir Shah, and Fakhar Zaman, who have previously represented the Heat. The 25-year-old left-armer, who debuted internationally as a teenager, has since become a key figure in Pakistan’s pace attack with a flourishing career across formats. Afridi has played 222 T20 matches, taking 310 wickets at an average of 20.99 and an economy of 7.95. A…

England captain and all-rounder Ben Stokes has joined a growing list of cricketers praising Virat Kohli following his retirement from Test cricket. Speaking ahead of the much-anticipated five-match Test series between India and England, starting on 20 June, Stokes highlighted how Kohli’s absence would be deeply felt by the Indian side. Ever since Kohli announced his retirement, several former and current players—including Chris Woakes, Ollie Pope, and Joe Root—have reflected on the void his departure creates. Adding his voice to theirs, Stokes, in a video shared by England Cricket, said: “I think what India will really miss is his fighting…

England have confirmed their playing XI for the opening Test of the five-match series against India, set to begin on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. Ollie Pope retains his position at number three, while Jacob Bethell misses out. Veteran all-rounder Chris Woakes returns to the side after missing the one-off Test against Zimbabwe. Pope had been under scrutiny following Bethell’s impressive Test debut during England’s winter tour of New Zealand. The Surrey batter had shifted down the order and taken over wicketkeeping duties in the absence of Jamie Smith during that series. However, Pope silenced critics with a commanding century…

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has shared his predicted India’s playing XI for the first Test against England, which starts on 20 June at Headingley, Leeds. India’s squad features a mix of seasoned players and promising newcomers, with the Test also marking Shubman Gill’s debut as captain. The selectors and team management face a few tricky decisions ahead of the opening match. Sharing his thoughts on the ICC Review, Shastri highlighted the importance of stability at the top of the order and backed the left-right combination of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul to open the innings. “I’d start with…

Fast bowler Harshit Rana has officially joined the Indian squad ahead of the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, starting June 20. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed Rana’s inclusion on Tuesday, June 17. As previously reported by RevSportz, Rana was expected to remain with the senior squad following his recent outings with India A. The right-arm seamer featured in two matches against the England Lions and also participated in an intra-squad match in Beckenham. After the game, it was communicated internally that he would continue to stay on with the national side, while the…

India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has returned to the top of the ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings for batters, reclaiming the No.1 position for the first time since 2019. In the latest rankings update released on Tuesday, Mandhana surged to the top with 727 rating points, edging out England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, who are now joint second with 719 points each. Mandhana’s rise comes on the back of her stellar form in the recent ODI tri-series involving South Africa and Sri Lanka. The elegant top-order left-hander scored 264 runs across five innings, including a match-winning 116…

India’s ODI captain Rohit Sharma has shared an emotional message for Angelo Mathews, who is currently playing his final Test match for Sri Lanka in Galle against Bangladesh. Mathews had earlier announced that he would retire from Test cricket following the opening match of the series. The veteran all-rounder, who made his Test debut at the same ground against Pakistan in 2009, has been a mainstay of Sri Lankan cricket for over 15 years — contributing significantly with both bat and ball, and also serving as captain. The ongoing match marks Mathews’ 119th Test appearance, in which he looks to…