Author: Vaibhav Tripathi

The 18th-ranked USA pulled off an unforgettable World Cup upset with a dramatic five-run victory in the super over against the 2022 T20 World Cup runners-up, Pakistan, on Thursday, marking their biggest win ever. Pakistan had a shaky start with the bat, losing two wickets in the first three overs. Captain Babar Azam top-scored with 44, though it was a slow innings after a cautious Powerplay. Despite this, the US bowlers, especially Nosthush Kenjige, maintained pressure. Kenjige finished with figures of 3-30. Shadab Khan’s rapid 40 helped Pakistan reach 159-7. In response, Monank Patel’s composed 50 off 38 balls…

In another thrilling encounter of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024, Scotland outclassed Namibia to secure their first-ever win over the African nation, and kick-start their campaign after their first game against England was called off due to rain. Chasing a target of 156, Scotland’s openers were cautious against the new ball, ensuring minimal damage. Michael Jones and Brandon McMullen then started to accelerate despite losing George Munsey early. However, Namibia’s captain Gerhard Erasmus struck back, dismissing both threatening batters. Scotland’s skipper Richie Berrington and Michael Leask then formed a match-changing partnership. Leask took on the role of the…

In a low-scoring encounter on a slow pitch in Guyana, Uganda made history by securing their first ICC T20 World Cup victory in only their second-ever game. Bowling first, they dismantled the Papua New Guinea batting lineup, bundling them out for 77. Despite some initial setbacks, Uganda managed to chase down the target. Chasing 78, Uganda faced early setbacks again, putting them under immense pressure. The openers failed to make an impact, and they lost four wickets inside the Powerplay, soon finding themselves at 26/5. It was Riazat Ali Shah who brought his experience to bear, holding one end strongly.…

In the last T20 World Cup held in 2022, Ravindra Jadeja was unable to participate due to a knee injury. Similarly, Axar Patel suffered an injury before the ODI World Cup last year, preventing him from playing in the tournament. Now, as India prepare for their first match in the ongoing T20 World Cup, both Jadeja and Axar are fit and available for selection. There is a plausible scenario where both could be included in the playing XI, but let’s consider the situation where India opt to select only one spin-bowling all-rounder. In that case, who would be the preferred…

Afghanistan couldn’t have asked for a better start to their ICC 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. In their match against Uganda in Guyana on June 3, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran put on an impressive 154-run partnership for the opening wicket, propelling Afghanistan to a total of 183/5. Fazalhaq Farooqi then delivered a stunning performance, taking 5/9, and leading his team to a commanding 125-run victory. This victory marked Afghanistan’s third-largest win in T20 World Cup history. Chasing a target of 184, Uganda faced immediate trouble, collapsing to 18 for 5 within the first five overs. Riazat Ali Shah and…

The grand spectacle of T20 cricket, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, has finally arrived, featuring 20 teams divided into four groups. As the tournament unfolds, numerous talking points emerge. Will India finally end their trophy drought? Can Pakistan or Sri Lanka secure a second title? Might South Africa defy expectations and emerge victorious? And what about USA, Ireland, and the Netherlands? Could they potentially cause upsets in the group phase? With so many questions, anticipation runs high. Additionally, who will fall short and miss out on progressing to the next phase? Here’s an overview of Groups A and D…

A low-scoring thriller unfolded in the Group B clash between Namibia and Oman, where the African side emerged victorious by setting a record for the most runs in a Super Over in T20 World Cup history. This marked the first Super Over of the tournament. David Wiese excelled both with the bat and ball, helping Namibia score 21 runs in the Super Over and then successfully defend it to launch their ICC T20 World Cup campaign with a dramatic win. Given the opportunity to bat in the Super Over, Wiese delivered an outstanding performance, propelling Namibia to 21 runs. He…

In their first-ever match at an ICC World Cup, co-hosts USA made a stunning debut as vice-captain Aaron Jones spearheaded a dominant seven-wicket victory over Canada in the T20 World Cup. Jones’ explosive 94 off just 40 balls helped the USA chase down Canada’s total of 194 for five with 14 balls to spare. Canada, after being put in to bat first, started strongly with openers Aaron Johnson and Navneet Dhaliwal. Johnson showcased his attacking prowess, capitalising on the fielding restrictions, and the pair put up 43 runs before Harmeet Singh claimed the first wicket of the tournament, dismissing Johnson…

As the T20 World Cup approaches, the cricketing world is abuzz with predictions and analyses. Set against the unique backdrop of the United States and the Caribbean, this edition promises to be unlike any other. There’s a lot of uncertainty regarding the conditions and how the pitches will behave. Some of the pitches in the Caribbean are traditionally spin-friendly. The United States, a relatively new host for international cricket, presents an intriguing variable. If the pitches tend to remain slow and low, then it will help the spinners. Pace bowlers will have to use their variations. No wonder that teams…

Rishabh Pant has been the talk of the town ever since he was declared fit before IPL 2024. When Pant was deemed fit, the left-hander was almost certain to make it to the T20 World Cup squad. BCCI secretary Jay Shah said Pant would be a ‘big asset’ for Team India in the World Cup. However, it was important for the Delhi-based cricketer to have a good run with the bat in the IPL. And guess what? He did just that. The Delhi Capitals skipper, who missed one game due to a suspension for a slow over-rate, amassed 446 runs…