Author: WebDesk

Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour has been appointed as the batting coach of the Sri Lanka men’s team ahead of the home white-ball series and the T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed the short-term appointment on January 8. Rathour will link up with the squad ahead of Sri Lanka’s home white-ball series against England. He will remain with the Sri Lankan team from that point until March 10. The final of the T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is scheduled for March 8. This is the second high-profile signing made by SLC within…

India batter Tilak Varma has been ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand, and his participation in the final two matches of the five-match series will be determined in due course, the BCCI said in a release on January 8. No replacement has been named by the selectors. Tilak underwent surgery for testicular torsion in Rajkot on Wednesday (January 7) after reportedly experiencing abdominal issues. Following a successful surgical procedure, the 23-year-old batter was discharged from hospital on Thursday morning and is scheduled to fly back to Hyderabad on Friday. As per details shared by the BCCI,…

Former India batter Aakash Chopra suggested that out-of-form Suryakumar Yadav should start batting at number three again in order to regain his mojo with the bat ahead of the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7. Ever since Suryakumar took charge as T20I captain, the Indian team has remained unbeaten. While he boasts a stellar record as captain, his stocks as a batter have declined. “Kudos to him, as the team is doing very well under his captaincy and haven’t lost a series,” Chopra said on RevSportz’s show Back Stage with Boria. Suryakumar sacrificed his position to give Tilak…

England batter Jacob Bethell credited his stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2025 for his growth, saying that he became a better cricketer after taking part in the cash-rich league. Bethell could not take part in the Test series against Zimbabwe as he was plying his trade with RCB. Ollie Pope, who was under pressure, scored a century and secured his position at number three for the home series against India, with Bethell unavailable. However, the 21-year-old batter has no regrets about playing in the IPL. “I wouldn’t say I gave it away for the IPL,” he…

Michael Bracewell, stand-in captain for the upcoming ODI series against India, reckons that the limited-overs series in India will leave the team better prepared for the T20 World Cup. New Zealand are scheduled to play three ODIs and five T20Is in India in the build-up to the World Cup. This will be the team’s final assignment, and they will be playing against the defending champions in their own backyard. India are one of the two host nations of the tournament. “To be here and get used to the weather is definitely going to put us in a better position for…

New Zealand Cricket have named a strong and experienced 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7. Mitchell Santner will lead the team, which features Jacob Duffy, for whom it will be a first 20-over World Cup. Duffy, a former number-one-ranked bowler, will bolster the fast-bowling attack, which includes the likes of Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry and Adam Milne. Ferguson and Henry are anticipating the arrival of their children and will therefore be given short-term paternity leave. “With Ferguson’s and Henry’s partners due to give birth during the tournament period, it is likely they will be…

Despite a poor run of form with both bat and ball, former Australia batter Michael Clarke has urged the selectors to continue backing Cameron Green, who is expected to take valuable learnings from a tough tour. Green has amassed 149 runs at an average of 21.28 in the ongoing Ashes series so far. Even with the ball, the right-arm seamer has failed to make an impact, taking just four wickets at an average of 60.75, without taking more than one wicket in an innings in the series. In his last eight Tests prior to the Sydney Test, Green has managed…

Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman is unfazed by losing a hefty sum of INR 9.2 crore following his exclusion from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad ahead of the IPL 2026 season. On the advice of the BCCI, the Knight Riders were forced to leave out Mustafizur, who had become the most expensive signing by a Bangladeshi player in IPL auction history. Despite missing out on the opportunity to play in the cash-rich league, as well as the substantial amount involved, Mustafizur remains “completely chill”, according to Bangladesh assistant coach Mohammad Ashraful. “He (Mustafizur) is completely chill. He is not worried at…

Australia’s assistant coach Daniel Vettori acknowledged that pitches in Australia have become more seam-friendly, which has diminished the role of spinners in red-ball cricket. Vettori’s remarks came on the heels of Australia’s decision to field an all-seam attack for the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It marked the first time since 1888 that Australia did not select a frontline spinner for a Test match at the SCG. In the Brisbane Test as well, the hosts went with the same four-pronged seam attack. “Seamers have been so effective that it’s hard to move away from them,” Vettori explained…

England Test vice-captain Harry Brook has lauded Brendon McCullum as the best coach he has played under, saying that the New Zealander instils so much confidence in his players. Brook has played the majority of his cricket under McCullum ever since making his debut. The Yorkshireman, who has been a flag-bearer of the Bazball approach, has 3,130 runs to his name in 35 matches at an impressive average of 55.89. He credited McCullum for his success at the highest level. “I am enjoying playing under Baz and [Ben] Stokes, and it has been a highlight of my career so far.…