Author: Vaibhav Tripathi

As Rishabh Pant hobbled out to bat, the Old Trafford crowd rose in appreciation, offering a warm round of applause for the injured Indian vice-captain. Hampered by his leg injury, Pant couldn’t contribute much to India’s total, as the visitors added just 94 runs to their overnight score of 264, folding for 358. England capitalised with the second new ball — Ben Stokes claiming a five-wicket haul, while Jofra Archer chipped in with three. In reply, openers Ben Duckett (94) and Zak Crawley (84) set the tone with a commanding 166-run stand, guiding England to 225/2 by stumps and firmly…

England captain Ben Stokes has issued a strong message ahead of the fourth Test in Manchester, saying that his team won’t shy away from returning fire if India bring aggression to the field. The ongoing series has been marked by intense verbal battles, with players like Stokes, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, and Jofra Archer often seen engaging in animated exchanges. After fiery exchanges in the previous matches, particularly at Lord’s, Stokes made it clear that England will stand their ground. “I don’t think either team would want things to heat up unnecessarily but during…

India pacer Akash Deep is unlikely to play the fourth Test against England, scheduled to begin on July 23 at Old Trafford in Manchester. The Indian team hit the nets on Sunday, two days ahead of the crucial series-deciding encounter. Akash Deep, who picked up a groin injury during the Lord’s Test, was present but did not take part in the fielding drills, which lasted about 30 minutes. Instead, he bowled for the same duration in what appeared to be a fitness assessment rather than a full-intensity session. The session was closely monitored by bowling coach Morne Morkel and team…

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued an update regarding Rishabh Pant’s finger injury, confirming that he will not take up wicketkeeping duties on Day 2 of the ongoing Lord’s Test. Dhruv Jurel will continue behind the stumps as Pant is closely monitored by the medical team. India’s Test vice-captain sustained a blow to the tip of his left index finger while attempting to stop a wayward delivery from Jasprit Bumrah down the leg side during the 34th over. Although he initially resumed keeping after on-field treatment, Pant soon walked off clutching his finger in pain.…

After shattering a plethora of records with his sensational knock of 269 at Edgbaston on Day 2 of the second Test, Shubman Gill revealed that he had worked on a few aspects of his game before flying to England — adjustments that have paid off so far in the five-match series. It was a memorable day for Team India and their captain. The visitors posted a mammoth first-innings total of 587, with 269 of those runs coming from Gill’s bat. His marathon innings featured 30 fours and three sixes during a 387-ball stay at the crease. This was Gill’s maiden…

Australian all-rounder Cameron Green is preparing for a potential shift in responsibility as he eyes the No. 3 batting spot in the upcoming ICC World Test Championship final against South Africa, set to begin on 11 June at Lord’s. Green, who underwent back surgery last October and missed Australia’s home summer, is now poised to return to the national side. Although head coach Andrew McDonald has confirmed his inclusion in the playing XI, he has yet to reveal Green’s exact position in the order. Speculation suggests Green may be promoted to the No. 3 slot—an unfamiliar position in his First-Class…

In front of a packed Narendra Modi Stadium, with fireworks lighting up the sky and the crowd in full voice, a long-awaited dream was finally fulfilled—not just for a team, but for an entire city and its devoted fanbase. As the final ball was delivered and Royal Challengers Bengaluru sealed their maiden IPL title, Virat Kohli—the beating heart of the franchise—was overcome with emotion. Tears welled up as the magnitude of the moment sank in, and within seconds, Kohli was surrounded by jubilant teammates, lost in celebration. “This win is as much for the fans as it is for the…

“Ee Sala Cup Namde” — the iconic chant of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) — finally rang true after 17 long seasons. The Rajat Patidar-led RCB ended their IPL title drought with a 20-run victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final at a packed Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where the majority of fans were backing the Bengaluru side. The standout performer in RCB’s triumph, especially with the ball in the second innings, was Krunal Pandya. The spin-bowling all-rounder delivered a superb four-over spell, conceding just 17 runs and claiming two crucial wickets. Although RCB were probably short by a…

Mumbai Indians (MI) had never lost an IPL match while defending a total of over 200 — until now. Punjab Kings (PBKS) weren’t just chasing 204; they were chasing history. It was a monumental task, and it required a special effort. That brilliance came from Shreyas Iyer, whose sublime 87 guided PBKS to a five-wicket win, booking their place in the IPL 2025 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on June 3. After their Qualifier 1 loss to RCB, Iyer had remarked, “We’ve lost the battle, not the war.” Few could have predicted that he would lead Punjab’s comeback with…

Punjab Kings (PBKS) have sealed their place in Qualifier 1 and will play on their home turf in Mullanpur after cruising to a seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in their final league match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. MI will play the Eliminator. It turned out to be a comfortable chase for PBKS. Though they lost Prabhsimran Singh during the powerplay, a match-defining, second-wicket stand between Priyansh Arya and Josh Inglis put them firmly in control. Both batters looked in sublime form, bringing up their fifties and adding 109 crucial runs together, taking the team to the brink…