Author: WebDesk

Despite being released by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Venkatesh Iyer hopes to represent his former franchise once again to repay the faith the team has shown in him over the years. Ahead of the November 15 deadline, KKR released the highest number of players among the ten franchises. Iyer was one of the most notable releases, alongside Andre Russell. The team management had appointed Iyer as vice-captain after he was acquired for Rs 23.75 crore by the Knight Riders in the mega auction. “For players like us, it’s the opportunity to play in the IPL that matters. It doesn’t…

Ollie Pope has been named in the 12-man squad announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) a day prior to the start of the first Ashes Test, which begins in Perth on November 21. Pope has pipped Jacob Bethell in the race for the number three spot after scoring a century in the warm-up game against the England Lions. There are no surprises in the probables named for the Ashes opener. Four frontline pacers have been named – Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood, who is returning from a long injury lay-off. Shoaib Bashir, the…

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday (November 19) issued an update on Shubman Gill ahead of the second and final Test of the two-match series, which will be played in Guwahati. Gill suffered a neck injury during the second day of the Kolkata Test, which kept him on the sidelines for the remainder of the game. Later in the day, he was admitted to hospital, where he was kept for a day before being discharged. According to the latest update from the BCCI, Gill will travel to Guwahati on Wednesday, and a call on his…

Bangladesh Women’s team skipper Nigar Sultana Joty took a subtle dig at Harmanpreet Kaur while responding to her teammate Jahanara Alam’s accusations of assaulting and humiliating junior players in the team. “Why would I hit anyone? I mean, why would I strike the stumps with my bat? Am I Harmanpreet, that I would go around hitting the stumps like that? Why would I do it? In my personal space, if I’m cooking or something, I might bang my bat around or hit my helmet—that’s my own business,” Joty said in an interview with Daily Cricket. Earlier this year, Jahanara made…

Lungi Ngidi has linked up with the South Africa team in Kolkata ahead of the second and final Test match of the series, which is scheduled to be played from November 22 at Guwahati’s Barsapara Stadium. Three days before the start of the series decider, Ngidi landed in Kolkata on Tuesday morning (18 November). The right-arm pacer has not yet been officially included in the squad, but it is understood that this will be done in due course. Ahead of the first Test in Kolkata, South Africa’s pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada was ruled out due to a rib injury sustained…

Australia’s stand-in captain for the first Ashes Test, Steve Smith, has heaped praise on Scott Boland, calling him one of the best bowlers in the world. Boland has played just 14 Tests since making his debut in Melbourne in the 2021–22 Ashes series. With an extraordinary average of 16.53, the Victorian has taken 62 wickets. Despite not being a regular part of the line-up, Boland has been a constant presence in the squad and was involved in memorable wins in the 2023 WTC final and the home series against India last summer. Boland will form a pace attack with Mitchell…

Dasun Shanaka will lead Sri Lanka’s T20I side for the upcoming tri-series involving Pakistan and Zimbabwe. This move comes after incumbent captain Charith Asalanka was ruled out by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) due to illness. Returning home along with Asalanka is Asitha Fernando, who is also out through sickness. Pavan Rathnayake, who has played a solitary ODI, has been drafted into the squad as a replacement. “Two players returning home: captain Charith Asalanka and fast bowler Asitha Fernando, both suffering from illness, will return home. The two players will not take part in the upcoming tri-series featuring Sri Lanka, Pakistan,…

In a unique feat, Services bowler Amit Shukla bagged five wickets without conceding a single run en route to his eight-wicket haul in an innings against Haryana during their Ranji Trophy 2025–26 round five match in Lahli. Amit bowled 20 overs, including eight maidens — five of which came on the bounce. The left-arm spinner conceded 27 runs and claimed eight wickets. On Day 1, he claimed five wickets before conceding a single run. The following day, he went on to pick up three more wickets. His career-best bowling figures helped Services bowl out Haryana for 111 and take a…

Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lanka captain, will assume dual responsibilities at the Rajasthan Royals after his reappointment as the franchise’s head coach for IPL 2026. Sangakkara returns to the role after Rahul Dravid parted ways with the franchise earlier this year. Appointed last year as head coach, Dravid couldn’t produce the desired results, as the Royals finished second last in the points table. Instead of bringing in a new head coach, the Royals have doubled Sangakkara’s responsibilities, as he is also the Director of Cricket at RR. Under Sangakkara, the Royals reached the 2022 final and also qualified for…

Former England pacer James Anderson has tipped Australia as favourites to retain the Ashes on home soil in the five-match series, while also acknowledging that England have a chance to expose cracks in the home team. “I don’t think England are quite favourites; I’d say Australia are still favourites in Australia,” Anderson told TNT Sports. “They probably just edge out England in terms of being favourites, but I don’t think there’s much in it. It’s a tough one to call, so I’d say Australia, just.” Australia will head into the first Ashes Test with uncertainty around the top-order formation, as…