Category: Cricket

On a special Thursday in Australia, Afghanistan’s women cricketers played their first match since escaping the Taliban three years ago. Captain Nahida Sapan hopes this game will inspire change for women everywhere.

In August 2021, when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, many female athletes had to flee the country. They faced strict rules that stopped them from playing sports and getting an education. Most of the women from the national cricket team settled in Australia, where they got together for the first time to play a charity match in Melbourne.

“We’re not just a team; we’re a movement for change,” Captain Sapan shared before the game. “We have big dreams for this match because it can help Afghan women have better education and opportunities in sports.”

In November 2020, the Afghanistan Cricket Board began offering contracts to 25 talented women cricketers. Sadly, before they could play together, the Taliban took control of Kabul and banned women from cricket.

Cricketer Firooza Amiri expressed how special it was to be back with her teammates after losing so much in Afghanistan. “We’re here to represent millions of Afghan women who are denied their rights,” she said.

Of the 25 women who had contracts, 22 now live in Melbourne and Canberra. Some players want to create a refugee team with official support from the International Cricket Council (ICC). They hope this will allow all Afghan women to unite and represent their country, as expressed in a letter they wrote last year.

Unfortunately, the ICC has not responded to their requests. The charity match took place at Melbourne’s Junction Oval, a famous cricket ground. The Afghan team played against a representative team from Cricket Without Borders, which encourages young women to get involved in cricket.

Cricket Australia has supported this match and promised to promote the Afghan women’s team on bigger stages. “I am extremely proud of everyone in Australian cricket who has helped the players since they arrived here,” said Cricket Australia’s chief Nick Hockley.

Due to human rights issues, Australia has not played several matches against the male Afghan cricket team in recent years.

Former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli is about to play in his first domestic match since 2012! He will join the Delhi team for their last Ranji Trophy game of the 2024/25 season against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Although Delhi is not going to the next round, many fans are excited to see Kohli back in action, making this a special event.

Kohli recently practiced in Alibaug with former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar before heading to Delhi. He focused on improving his batting skills, especially since he has faced some criticism for his performance in India’s last two Test series. Kohli had a great time and enjoyed being with his new teammates.

Despite being a huge star, Kohli remains down-to-earth. Delhi’s team manager, Mahesh Bhati, who coached Kohli when he was a young player, shared a funny story. During practice, even though he was offered help, Kohli carried his own kit bag. Bhati explained, “He is still the same Virat for everyone.” Kohli said, “It’s my gear; I’ll carry it myself,” showing that he hasn’t changed much.

Bhati also talked about the fun they had joking together during practice. They reminisced about the past, and Kohli even asked, “Don’t boys play on matting anymore?” to which Bhati laughed and responded, “You won’t find matting anywhere in Delhi anymore.” Kohli remembered how much fun it was to play on mats and how enjoyable hitting pull shots felt!

New Delhi: After being away for 12 years, Virat Kohli returned to play for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, and it felt like he had never left. When he arrived at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, everyone could feel a special energy in the air. The buzz among the staff and media was different, especially for those who have been in cricket for a long time.

Kohli arrived on time, showing the kind of discipline the team hasn’t seen in years. The practice on Tuesday was full of excitement and focus, much different from the usual routine. Delhi, currently sixth in their group, has a match against Railways coming up, and suddenly everyone’s paying attention.

The practice started with the team warming up and playing football. Kohli reconnected with Mahesh Bhati, the team’s manager, who had seen him grow as a player. Kohli was focused during his batting practice, working with younger players like Ayush Badoni. He faced different bowlers, spending time on his timing and footwork.

During the practice, Kohli focused on avoiding getting out and practiced how to handle the ball better. Many people watched, including an eight-year-old boy named Kabir. Kabir’s father, who played cricket with Kohli in their younger days, encouraged his son to learn from the star. After practice, Kohli took time to talk to Kabir and signed his drawing, telling him to do his best.

Kohli finished his training by joining his teammates for catching practice. This is the last Ranji game of the season for Delhi, and it’s uncertain if Kohli will continue to support his home team in the future. But this week, his return to the Ranji Trophy is a reminder of how much he can inspire young players.

For many young cricketers in Delhi, meeting Virat Kohli is a dream come true. Except for Navdeep Saini, no one on the Delhi team has shared a dressing room with the superstar. When Kohli came back to play a first-class game for the first time since 2012, everyone was thrilled. The streets around the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground buzzed with excitement before the Ranji Trophy match against Railways.

Usually, not many people attend Ranji Trophy matches, but Kohli’s presence brought in a crowd. Even during practice, excitement was in the air. Kohli told the young players to show their Delhi spirit and play confidently despite having a tough season. Delhi is currently in 6th place with only 14 points, so they can’t qualify for the next rounds, but finishing strong would be a great goal, especially with Kohli in the team.

How was Kohli’s first practice session with Delhi after 12 years? For the younger players, it was a memorable moment, but for Kohli, it felt like just another day. He kicked things off with a 35-minute warm-up, including a bit of football and some light sprints.

When it was time for batting practice, Kohli encouraged captain Ayush Badoni to continue batting before it was his turn. He practiced for almost an hour, focusing on pull shots, and then faced some spinners and fast bowlers. Kohli looked very comfortable, especially as he worked on playing balls close to the line. With the Champions Trophy coming up, this was good practice for him.

Kohli appreciated the quality of the practice pitches, giving credit to the young curator. After the practice, he said he enjoyed batting and wanted to come back the next day, making it an exciting time for everyone involved

Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin shared his thoughts on why England is struggling in the ongoing T20 series against India. He pointed out that the English players didn’t understand the Indian pitches well and that only Jos Buttler really tried to fight back. The England openers and middle-order hitters like Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone have not performed well.

Ashwin compared England’s batting to driving in Bengaluru traffic. He explained, “England has not played well. They made many mistakes. In India, you can’t always go fast. If you’re driving in Bengaluru, you can’t stay in fourth gear all the time (laughs).”

In the second T20I match at Chepauk, England didn’t adjust to the slow pitch, kept playing aggressively, and missed out on scoring enough runs after losing wickets too quickly.

Ashwin also praised India’s fearless batting style under captain Suryakumar Yadav but reminded them to be mindful of the pitch conditions. He said, “Being fearless is good, especially in the powerplay. But you must respect the conditions. Not every situation is suitable for aggressive batting. Remember, the conditions matter in cricket.”

As England prepares for the next match, they have announced their lineup a day before the game again. With the series on the line, the third T20I is very important for them. Led by Jos Buttler, England lost badly in the first match but fought back better in Chennai.

Veteran Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin recently shared his thoughts on England’s batting during the T20I series against India. He pointed out some mistakes that led to England’s losses in the first two matches. The English batters struggled to adapt to the Indian pitches, with only Jos Buttler showing some good performance in the middle of the order. The openers did not perform well, and neither did power hitters like Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone.

Ashwin compared England’s batting style to driving a car in Bengaluru traffic. He explained, “England has played incomplete cricket. They made several mistakes. In India, you can’t play the same way all the time. If you’re driving in Bengaluru traffic, you can’t always go fast. Sometimes, you can’t even shift into a higher gear!” he joked on his YouTube channel.

In the second T20I at Chepauk, England did not read the slow pitch well. They continued to play aggressively but ended up scoring 15-20 runs less than they needed due to regular wicket losses.

Ashwin also talked about India’s batting style under their captain Suryakumar Yadav. He said, “India’s fearless approach is good, especially during the powerplay. But it’s important to respect the playing conditions because not every match will be perfect for aggressive batting. In cricket, the conditions matter the most.”

England has continued announcing their playing XI a day before each T20I. After losing the first two matches, the team is close to being out of the series, but they stuck to the same team from the last match. The third T20I will be very important for them. The team, led by Jos Buttler, lost badly in the first game but put up a better fight in the second match in Chennai.

Mitchell Owen is flying high after scoring an amazing century that helped the Hobart Hurricanes win their first Big Bash League title. He hit 108 runs off just 42 balls, helping his team chase down 183 runs set by the Sydney Thunder. The win took place at Bellerive Oval, with excited fans cheering him on.

Owen reached his century in just 39 balls, matching the record for the fastest century in Big Bash history! After the game, Hurricanes captain Nathan Ellis praised Owen, saying it was a special moment for him. Ellis believes that this tournament will change Owen’s life and open great opportunities, especially in white-ball cricket around the world.

At just 23 years old, Owen was not known much before this season but has impressed everyone with his performance. He is the only player to score two centuries in this season and has made a total of 452 runs with an average of 45.20, surpassing big names like David Warner.

Australia’s cricket selectors are keen on finding new talent as the next T20 World Cup is coming up in just over a year. Owen thanked his captain Ellis and coach Jeff Vaughan for their support. He expressed that he was focused when he batted and was happy that he could help his team win.

“It’s a dream come true,” Owen said. “I wanted to lift that trophy and win without making it too stressful for my team.”

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina recently shared his thoughts on playing with star batter Virat Kohli. Raina explained that he loved fielding alongside Virat because of his strong passion and determination to win. In an interview with Star Sports, Raina said that Virat is always “switched on” and practices with a fierce attitude that says, “We won’t stop until we succeed.”

Raina emphasized how different Virat’s mindset is. He added that Virat is a great teammate because, when things get tough, he’s the first to encourage everyone to keep fighting and working hard. Raina noted, “I really enjoyed fielding with him because when he’s diving for the ball, everyone feels more motivated.”

Now, Virat is getting ready to train with the Delhi team for his first Ranji Trophy appearance since 2012, which starts on January 30. Delhi’s coach, Sarandeep Singh, confirmed that Virat will join the team for their match against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Recently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India decided that Indian international stars should take part in domestic cricket more often. Photos of Virat practicing with former coach Sanjay Bangar have appeared on social media.

The last round of Ranji Trophy matches will end on February 2, just before India’s ODI series against England. Virat has an impressive record in First-Class cricket, with 11,479 runs in 155 matches. However, his performance in Test matches has been a bit disappointing since 2020, with an average of just 30.72 in 39 matches. In 10 Tests last year, he only scored 417 runs, ending a tough year for him.

Rajkot, India: Before the third T20I match between India and England, Axar Patel, the vice-captain of the Indian cricket team, tried something new—he made a Vlog! On Monday, Axar recorded the team’s journey from Chennai airport to their hotel in Rajkot, where the exciting match will take place.

In the Vlog, Axar chatted with his teammates and coaches. He spoke with bowling coach Morne Morkel, fellow all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ramandeep Singh, as well as leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi. He also had conversations with young players like Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Dhruv Jurel. At the end of the video, the team received a warm welcome from the hotel staff when they arrived.

Axar Patel, a left-arm spinner, is doing great in this T20I series. He is currently the second-highest wicket-taker with four wickets in just two matches, averaging 13.50. The third T20I match will be held on Tuesday at Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, starting at 7 PM IST.

Team Squads:
– India: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Mohammed Shami, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel, Harshit Rana.
– England: Ben Duckett, Philip Salt, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Saqib Mahmood, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith, Rehan Ahmed.

Right now, one of the biggest mysteries in Indian cricket isn’t just about Rohit Sharma’s future or Virat Kohli’s form – it’s why Mohammed Shami isn’t playing in matches. Surprisingly, he has missed the first two T20 games, and this has got fans wondering if he’s unfit or not part of the plan. But here’s the good news: Shami is completely healthy and eager to play!

The Indian team management is being smart. With Jasprit Bumrah’s future uncertain, they want to save Shami for upcoming ODI matches. Everyone is impressed with how well he has recovered and is fit now. The team feels that it’s wise not to overuse him in T20 matches right now, especially since the focus is on the longer format of the game.

Shami has even lost 2kgs and is bowling at his best! However, he’s not needed much in T20s. So, it looks like he won’t be playing in the third T20 International, especially since India won the first two matches. It’s likely that coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav won’t change the team too much.

Shami hasn’t played for India in over a year since the World Cup final due to a serious ankle injury. He needed surgery, and his recovery took longer than expected. Fans got frustrated as they waited for updates on his health. Eventually, Shami was named in India’s squad for the upcoming T20s and ODIs, which is great news!

Shami has been fantastic in past World Cups, so having him fit is crucial as the team prepares for another big tournament.