Author: sekhar

The stage is set for a thrilling encounter at the T20 World Cup as Afghanistan, riding a wave of momentum, takes on the undefeated South Africa in the first semi-final. This clash promises to be a fascinating battle between Afghanistan’s potent bowling attack and South Africa’s well-rounded batting lineup. Afghanistan’s Meteoric Rise Afghanistan’s journey to the World Cup semi-final is a remarkable story. Having played their first official international match in 2004, they’ve achieved this feat in just two decades, a testament to their rapid development. Their bowling attack, spearheaded by the world-renowned Rashid Khan, boasts the most wickets in…

Kingstown, St. Vincent – June 24, 2024: In a nail-biting encounter filled with rain interruptions and fluctuating emotions, Afghanistan secured a historic victory against Bangladesh to clinch their first-ever berth in the semi-finals of a men’s senior World Cup. The dramatic win, achieved by a narrow margin of eight runs via the DLS method, also resulted in Australia’s elimination from the T20 World Cup 2024. Twin Spin Attack Wrecks Bangladesh Batting Afghanistan’s bowling attack, spearheaded by the spin duo of Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq, proved too much to handle for Bangladesh. Both bowlers picked up four wickets each, restricting Bangladesh…

India secured a convincing 24-run victory over Australia in St Lucia to book their place in the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Rohit Sharma’s breath-taking knock of 92 runs off just 41 balls proved to be the difference maker, while Kuldeep Yadav’s timely spell with the ball put the brakes on Australia’s chase. Rohit’s Masterclass Takes Center Stage India’s innings hinged on a dominant performance by Rohit Sharma. He single-handedly revived the innings after the early dismissal of Virat Kohli, taking on Australia’s premier fast bowler, Mitchell Starc, and smashing him for a four-six onslaught in…

Sri Lanka kicked off their three-match T20I series against West Indies with a convincing four-wicket victory in Hambantota. This win marks their first triumph over the Caribbean side in women’s T20Is since 2015. The architects of Sri Lanka’s success were bowlers Chamari Athapaththu and Inoshi Priyadharshani. Athapaththu, the veteran pacer, scalped a career-best 4 for 29, while the off-spinning Priyadharshani chipped in with a crucial 3-wicket haul (3-28). Their combined efforts restricted a strong West Indies batting line-up to a manageable 134 for 8. West Indies’ innings started on a shaky note as Stafanie Taylor, their star batter, suffered a…

South Africa’s T20 World Cup campaign has been a masterclass in resilience. After six tense victories, they’ve defied the odds once again, securing a semi-final berth with a dramatic win over co-hosts West Indies. This dominant group stage finish likely avoids a clash with India in the last four, fueling the burning question: could this finally be South Africa’s time to claim an elusive ICC trophy? The narrative surrounding the Proteas has long been one of near misses and heartbreak. Yet, a newfound tenacity seems to be rewriting their script. They’re winning close encounters, reminiscent of the Springboks’ nail-biting victories…

India continued their dominant run in the T20 World Cup Super Eight stage, defeating Bangladesh by a convincing 50 runs on Saturday in Antigua. This victory puts them on the cusp of a semi-final berth, pending the outcome of the Australia vs Afghanistan match. Early Jitters Don’t Derail India’s Momentum While the opening partnership of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failed to click again, India managed to overcome this hurdle. Their strategy of a star-studded middle order, packed with big hitters, proved successful once more. Despite a slow pitch that stifled scoring, cameos from various batsmen propelled India to a…

The International League T20 (ILT20) has unveiled the player retention list for its upcoming 2025 season, featuring a star-studded line-up across all six franchises. The likes of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, David Warner, Nicholas Pooran, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Sikandar Raza are set to return to the high-octane T20 league. A Total of 69 Players Retained A total of 69 players have been retained by the six franchises, with each team holding onto two UAE players. The player acquisition window is now open until September 15th, allowing franchises to bolster their squads with new signings. Importantly, each team will need to…

Indian cricket fans rejoice! The BCCI and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have announced a four-match T20I tour of South Africa in November 2024. This series completes the postponed T20Is from India’s 2021 tour, which were rescheduled due to a surge in Covid-19 cases. The matches will be played between November 8th and 15th across four iconic South African venues: Durban’s Kingsmead Stadium, St George’s Park in Gqeberha, Centurion’s SuperSport Park, and the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Rematch After a Memorable Tour This tour provides an opportunity for both teams to reignite the competitive spirit witnessed during India’s tour of South…

Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav produced a dazzling display of batting brilliance in their opening T20 World Cup Super Eight match against Afghanistan on Thursday. Yadav’s knock left bowlers helpless on a Bridgetown, Barbados pitch, showcasing his exceptional talent on the big stage. The 33-year-old smashed a magnificent 53 runs off just 28 deliveries, peppering the boundary with five fours and three sixes. His innings proved to be the backbone of India’s score of 181/8, a total that ultimately proved too much for Afghanistan. Yadav’s knock set the tone for a convincing 47-run victory for India, putting them firmly on the…

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a packed home season for the Indian cricket team in 2024-25. The schedule features tours by Bangladesh, New Zealand and England, with a total of five Tests, three ODIs and eight T20Is on the agenda. Season Kicks Off with Bangladesh Test Series The cricketing extravaganza kicks off on September 19th, 2024, with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh. This marks Bangladesh’s third Test tour of India, following a one-off Test in 2017 and a two-match series in 2019. Chennai will play host to the opening Test, while Kanpur takes…