Excitement aplenty: The Champions Trophy, returning after an eight-year hiatus, has provided the much-needed attention on one-dayers. | Photo Credit: AFP In psychology, there is a theory called the ‘middle-child syndrome’. One of the inferences is that the middle child in a family — stuck between the older and younger siblings — feels neglected or … Read more
Memorable knock: Dean Jones scored a splendid 210, despite the heat and humidity that forced him to throw up beside the pitch in the first test of the 1986 series. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives The Ashes and matches featuring India and Pakistan are often deemed the highest points in cricketing rivalry. But over … Read more
Rohit Sharma and others celebrate their win in the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai on March 9, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI Rohit Sharma came to the Champions Trophy party when it mattered the most with his customary attack upfront approach in the final, which had the vote of the erstwhile … Read more
Former Australian cricketer Aaron Finch stands next to the winners trophy during the presentation ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, on March 9, 2025. | Photo Credit: AP India defeated New Zealand by four wickets to win the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday (March 9, 2025), … Read more
RCB’s campaign ended with a whimper. | Photo Credit: PTI In a Women’s Premier League (WPL) season that has spanned more venues than the previous two years, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) would have perhaps preferred not taking the journey from Lucknow to Mumbai for the last leg of the tournament. Its fate is sealed, after … Read more
Captain Rohit Sharma with his New Zealand counterpart Mitchell Santner during the toss of the ICC Champions Trophy final in Dubai on March 9, 2025. | Photo Credit: AP New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat against India in the Champions Trophy final in Dubai on Sunday (March 9, 2025). … Read more
The ICC Champions Trophy title clash between India and New Zealand at Dubai promises to be an epic sequel to their final in the same competition 25 years back and a trophy win or loss could decide the stories of many stars across both sides for years to come. | Photo Credit: ANI/PTI The ICC … Read more
RCB’s Georgia Wareham, plays a shot, during the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 match. File. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar In a Women’s Premier League (WPL) season that has spanned more venues than the previous two years, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) would have perhaps preferred not taking the journey from Lucknow to Mumbai for … Read more
India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli during a practice session on the eve of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final match against New Zealand, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on March 8, 2025 | Photo Credit: ANI India and New Zealand will face each other today (March 9, … Read more
Georgia Voll was in smashing form as UP Warriorz defeated Royal Challangers Bengaluru in a WPL match in Lucknow on Saturday. | Photo Credit: SANDEEP SAXENA It was just over a week ago that Georgia Voll joined UP Warriorz as a replacement for Chamari Athapaththu. The short window hasn’t stopped Voll from leaving her imprint … Read more
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner with support staff inspects the pitch during a practice session ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final cricket match against India in Dubai on March 8, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI Mitchell Santner felt his side could take valuable lessons from last week’s loss to India into the final … Read more
Captain Rohit Sharma, vice-captain Shubman Gill and others are seen during a practice session ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai on March 8, 2025. | Photo Credit: ANI On the eve of the Champions Trophy final, India vice-captain Shubhman Gill believes the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph could herald … Read more
Coach Gautam Gambhir, skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli during a practice session ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final cricket match against New Zealand in Dubai on March 8, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI The last time India and New Zealand met in a final of an ICC white-ball tournament the world of … Read more
Despite three Champions Trophy matches in the country getting abandoned due to rain, fans losing interest after the national team’s premature exit, excessive spending on revamping stadiums, a hybrid model and suffocating security measures, experts in Pakistan still believe the marquee event was a success and could open the doors for more international events. Pakistan … Read more
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has picked India as the favourites in Sunday’s Champions Trophy summit clash against New Zealand but pointed out that the advantage will be miniscule, given that the Black Caps are a formidable side. India, who have played all their matches here, stormed into the final with an all-win record, … Read more
Wicketkeeper K.L. Rahul of India looks on as Mitchell Santner of New Zealand bats during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match between New Zealand and India at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 2, 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Fans are eagerly waiting for the D-Day of the ICC … Read more
File picture of former IPL chairman and Indian fugitive Lalit Modi | Photo Credit: Reuters Indian Premier League (IPL) founder Lalit Modi applied with the Indian High Commission in London to surrender his Indian passport, according to External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Responding to developments in the thorny case between the two countries, the … Read more
Shubman Gill in action during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal between India and Australia, in Dubai, UAE, on March 4, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI Riding on his superb performance in the ODI series against England last month, ace India top-order batter Shubman Gill has been nominated along with Australia’s Steve Smith and New Zealand’s … Read more
Two World Cups. IPL titles with multiple teams. Franchise-cricket coach. And mental health advocate and expert. Shane Watson takes pride in every phase of his professional life on and around a cricket field. The burly all-rounder, currently representing Australia Masters in the International Masters League, opened up on various facets of cricket. Excerpts: Why does … Read more
Harleen Deol powered Gujarat Giants to a victory against Delhi Capitals in a WPL match in Lucknow on Friday. | Photo Credit: SANDEEP SAXENA Harleen Deol hasn’t been in India’s scheme of things in the T20 format since July 2023. On the evidence of Friday’s fixture in the Women’s Premier League, the 26-year-old from Chandigarh … Read more
The spinners’ impressive performances have been crucial for the Indian team. | Photo Credit: AP India’s preparation for the Champions Trophy has been built around the mantra ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Two years ago, Rohit Sharma’s men enthralled the cricketing world by dominating the ODI World Cup, clinically breezing past its opponents. It took … Read more
Indians batting practice during a training session ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final cricket match, in Dubai, UAE, on March 7, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak was pleased that every batter contributed to the team’s cause in its run to the final and felt the side is well-prepared, … Read more
Farokh Engineer being presented the ‘Cricketing Excellence award,’ a cheque for ₹5 lakh, by Epson. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement True to his witty personality, Farokh Engineer entered the Madras Cricket Club (MCC) banquet hall, where he was being felicitated on Friday, with a wisecrack. Arriving on his mobility scooter, the 87-year-old said to the … Read more
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead feels that the mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy holds the key for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 finals in Dubai on March 9, 2025. | Photo Credit: Getty Images New Zealand is sweating on the fitness of its pace spearhead, Matt Henry, ahead of Sunday’s (March 9, 2025) Champions Trophy … Read more
Mumbai Indians’ Harmanpreet Kaur plays against UP Warriorz in the WPL match at Ekana Stadium, in Lucknow on March 6, 2025 | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was fined 10% of her match fee for breaching the Code of Conduct in the victory against UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League … Read more
A woman crosses herself in front of a picture of Pope Francis during the celebration of Ash Wednesday at the Basilica San Jose de Flores in Buenos Aires on March 5, 2025. | Photo Credit: AFP The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has apologised for a social media post that joked the hospitalised Pope … Read more
England’s Ben Stokes in action. File. | Photo Credit: Reuters England’s Test captain Ben Stokes is being considered as a potential replacement for Jos Buttler as the limited-overs skipper with ECB’s director of men’s cricket, Rob Key emphasising that it would be “stupid” not to explore the option, given his leadership qualities and the need … Read more
South Africa’s David Miller in action against New Zealand during the Champions Trophy semifinal in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 5, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters Frustrated with the scheduling of Champions Trophy’s second semifinal after to-and-fro flights between Pakistan and Dubai in a span of just 12 hours, South African batter David Miller is now … Read more
Australia’s Paul Reiffel and England’s Richard Illingworth will be the on-field umpires, while Sri Lanka’s Ranjan Madugalle will be the match referee for the Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand here on Sunday. Reiffel, 58, a former Australian fast bowler with more than 200 Test and ODI wickets, was one of the on-field … Read more
Sri Lanka will host a women’s ODI tri-series involving India and South Africa from April 27 to May 11, the country’s cricket board said on Thursday. The tri-series will be crucial in their build-up for the 50-overs World Cup slated to be held later this year in India. The three competing teams will play four … Read more
New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner in action during the Champions Trophy semifinal match against South Africa in Gadaffi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan on March 5, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner on Thursday said a slower pitch in familiar territory for India in Dubai will make for a tight contest in the Champions … Read more
K.L. Rahul’s gigantic six off Glenn Maxwell on Tuesday night was significant for more reasons than one. Not only did it formalise India’s entry into the final of the Champions Trophy for the fifth time in the tournament’s history — and the third time on the bounce — it also thrust Rohit Sharma into the … Read more
Hayley Matthews en route her fifty. | Photo Credit: SANDEEP SAXENA Hayley Matthews’ sparkling half-century and Amelia Kerr’s first five-for in the Women’s Premier League took Mumbai Indians to a six-wicket win against UP Warriorz at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Chasing 151, MI knocked off the target in 18.3 overs, hampering Warriorz’s hopes … Read more
Varun has been mighty impressive. | Photo Credit: PTI Varun Chakaravarthy’s career has been filled with bursts of highs and lows. Starting as a professional only at 26, he found instant success moving from the TNPL and IPL to the national team in a dizzy three-year spell before falling out of favour just as quickly … Read more
Mohammed Shami throws the ball towards the sumps during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal cricket match between India and Australia at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. | Photo Credit: AP The national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, said on Thursday (March … Read more
Momentary lapse: Khurasiya said Baby was batting exceptionally well on a difficult surface before his uncharacteristic slog-sweep straight to deep midwicket. | Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: Nirmal Harindran Amay Khurasiya has done for the Kerala cricket team what no coach before him could. He took Kerala to the Ranji Trophy final. And he recorded this … Read more
Pakistan batter Saud Shaki was timed out after he reportedly fell asleep while waiting for his turn to bat during the final of the President’s Cup first-class tournament. File | Photo Credit: PTI Pakistan batter Saud Shakil, who struck a half-century against India in the Champions Trophy recently, was timed out after he reportedly fell … Read more
South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder. File | Photo Credit: AP South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder on Thursday (March 6, 2025) replaced Brydon Carse in the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) after the English allrounder sustained a toe injury. Also Read | Ajinkya Rahane named KKR captain ahead of IPL 2025 The 27-year-old … Read more
File picture of Jason Gillespie Former Pakistan Test coach Jason Gillespie labelled his successor Aaqib Javed a “clown” and accused the former fast bowler of undermining him and ex-white-ball coach Gary Kirsten in order to take charge of the national team across all formats. Gillespie’s comments were in reply to a social media post containing … Read more
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, right, and batting partner Rachin Ravindra run between the wickets during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal match against South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan | Photo Credit: AP New Zealand’s Kane Williamson reckons India have “real clarity” on how they want to operate in Dubai for the Champions Trophy … Read more
Australia’s Steve Smith in action during the Champions Trophy semifinal clash against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on March 4, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters Unlike many who believed India had the advantage of staying in one city, Australia skipper Steve Smith did not use Rohit Sharma-led team’s extended stay in … Read more
Virat Kohli moved up a spot to reach fourth place in the ICC ODI rankings while Rohit Sharma dropped two positions to fifth. | Photo Credit: PTI India batting superstar Virat Kohli on Wednesday moved up a spot to reach fourth place in the ICC ODI rankings for batters after his match-winning 84 against Australia … Read more
File picture of Bangladesh player Mushfiqur Rahim. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Bangladesh’s seasoned wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim announced his retirement from ODIs after their Champions Trophy campaign concluded on a bitter note. Mushfiqur took to Instagram on Wednesday to announce his retirement from the format. The 37-year-old revealed that he made his decision after going … Read more
Upgrade: Priya is aware of her strengths and is keen on fine-tuning her skills. | Photo Credit: Sportzpics Priya Mishra slots into the archetype of a modern-day leg-spinner favouring the bustling nature of the white-ball formats. All of 20 years old, the diminutive bowler from Delhi likes to home in on the stumps and deceive … Read more
Rohit and Shami are delighted to see the back of Smith. | Photo Credit: ANI One thing that unites fans worldwide, regardless of the sport, is the tendency to look for patterns from the past before a crucial game for one’s team in a mega event. Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal between India … Read more
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson celebrates after scoring a century during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, March 5, 2025. | Photo Credit: AP Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson hit fluent centuries to propel New Zealand to a mammoth 362 for six … Read more
New Zealand’s Will Young plays a shot during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. | Photo Credit: AP New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat against South Africa on Wednesday (March 5, 2025) in the … Read more
Mohammed Shami, right, celebrates with captain Rohit Sharma after the dismissal of Australia’s captain Steve Smith during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal. | Photo Credit: AP Mohammed Shami conceded that operating as India’s lone front-line pacer after coming back from a lengthy injury layoff has been a heavy “responsibility” but said he is trying to … Read more
Mumbai’s captain Ajinkya Rahane after losing the Ranji Trophy Semifinal Match Mumbai vs Vidharbha at the Vidharba Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane has credited his success in the Indian Premier League and domestic T20s to playing “fearless cricket” while remaining calm. The 36-year-old topped … Read more
Australia’s Steve Smith celebrates his half-century during the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final cricket match between India and Australia in Dubai, UAE, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI Two-time World Cup winner and one of the modern cricket greats Steve Smith announced his retirement from one-day international cricket on Wednesday (March 5, 2025) … Read more