Page 10 - Cricket

I have no idea how that happened, lost for words: Kohli after win over Pak

Virat Kohli was lost for words after leaving the cricket world speechless with his cricket here on Sunday. In his own words, King Kohli had no idea how he had engineering India's epic win over arch-rivals Pakistan in their blockbuster T20 World Cup face-off. When all seemed lost at 31 for four in a stiff chase of 160 at the gargantuan Melbourne Cricket Ground, Kohli thought otherwise and spearheaded India to a remarkable four-wicket win with a knock that will go down as one of the best in the tournament's history. He found an able ally in star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who contributed an invaluable 40 during a fifth-wicket stand of 113 runs. Not surprisingly, the 82 not out 53 balls has been rated as his best knock. "Well, it's a surreal atmosphere. I honestly have no words. I have no idea how that happened," Kohli said after his incredible knock in the team's big-ticket tournament opener. The run-machine added," Hardik kept telling me, just believe we can stay till the end. I'm

T20 WC: Kohli's magical knock scripts sensational India win over Pakistan

Virat Kohli owned the grand stage with a knock for the ages as he powered India to an epic four-wicket over Pakistan in a heart-stopping T20 World Cup game, that unfolded at the MCG 'amphitheatre' which was packed with 90,000 boisterous fans, here on Sunday. King Kohli, as his fans call him, conjured up a magical and memorable 83-run knock to anchor a chase of 160 which became tricky after India were left in tatters at 31 for 4. Hardik Pandya, the most important cog in India's T20 wheel, struck 40 off 37 balls in a partnership of 113. His ability to win matches for India coming under the scanner due to a prolonged lean patch, Kohli sang the perfect redemption song on the grandest stage. It started in the 19th over when he sent one from Haris Rauf on his hunches and pulled off two back-to-back sixes. Cricket indeed is a leveller as Rauf, after 22 splendid deliveries bowled two bad ones and it changed the complexion of the game. With 16 needed off last six balls, Pandya holed out o

Cricket festival like never before: India-Pakistan fans light up MCG

If one has heard the 'Jana Gana Mana' at Johannesburg, Mirpur, Colombo, Kolkata, Birmingham, Adelaide, London and Manchester during an India-Pakistan game, he would vouch that Sunday was different at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Among the 90,293 people present at the ground, at least 60,000 were Indians and the 'Jaya He' chorus created an atmosphere like never before. It was even humbling for Indian team skipper Rohit Sharma, who looked a touch emotional as he looked heavenwards, trying hard to keep his emotions under check. "I am opening my first restaurant in Bangkok and there is a lot of pressure due to logistical issues. My visa got cancelled once and I had to reapply and got it on second go. "I bought air ticket worth Rs 1 lakh one way to reach on the day of the match," Kolkata- based Samiran Chowdhury couldn't stop grinning ear to ear as he proudly flaunted his match ticket. There wasn't any such tension for his friend Dipanjan Ghosh, a software professional, who has made .

T20 WC: Spinners, Mendis star in Sri Lanka's nine-wicket win over Ireland

Spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana took two wickets each while opener Kusal Mendis smashed an unbeaten 68 as Sri Lanka secured a clinical nine-wicket win over Ireland

World T20 2022: Can Rohit's Team India repeat the Dhoni magic of 2007

The business end of the championship starts today with the Super 12 stage

Aussie back-up wicketkeeper suffers freak injury; could be replaced in WC

Australia's back-up wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis has suffered a mishap on the golf course leaving him hospitalised just three days ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup Super-12 opener against New Zealand

Fan zones to influencers: ICC amplifies digital push at ICC T20 World Cup

For the first time, cricket's governing body has an AI-powered app, fan zones, social media influencers to promote the tournament

T20 WC: Scotland pulls off a giant-killing act, shock two-time champs WI

Scotland dished out a perfect all-round display to stun two-time champions West Indies by 42 runs in a rain-interrupted Group B fixture of the T20 World Cup here on Monday. Invited to bat, Scotland put on a challenging 160 for five on the back of opener George Munsey's sparkling unbeaten 66 off 53 balls, which was studded with nine fours. The Scots then defended the total in style as West Indies, the most successful side in the T20 World Cup, looked a shadow of their past and folded for 118 in 18.3 overs. West Indies now must win their next match against Zimbabwe on Wednesday to remain in contention for the Super 12 stage. The Richie Berrington-led side, on the other hand, need a win against European rivals Ireland to qualify for the Super 12 stage. "We haven't had as many T20 games as we would have liked but have played a lot of 50-overs cricket. It was about transferring those skills to the short form," Berrington said. Hailing their spinners effort, he added: "They have done i

Ad rates jump 15-20% for India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match on Sunday

Timing of encounter, Diwali season, and arch rivalry boost last-minute advertiser interest, say experts

A sporting proposition for BCCI

Indian cricket could benefit from much-needed transparency

Sachin Tendulkar partners with digital cricket NFT platform Rario

Digital cricket collectibles platform Rario on Thursday announced that it has partnered with former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to enter the non-fungible token (NFT) market

Travelling to Pakistan not BCCI's call, government will decide: Roger Binny

The BCCI can't take a call on its own on whether the Indian team will travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup or not as it relies on the government to make such decisions, new Board president Rogery Binny said on Thursday. Speaking at an event organised by Karnataka State Cricket Association here, Binny said the BCCI has not approached the government yet on travelling to Pakistan next year but eventually the central government will only decide on the matter. "That is not BCCI's call. We need government's clearance to leave the country. Whether we leave the country or teams coming into the country, we need clearance. "Once we get clearance from the government then we go with it. We can't make decision on our own. We have to rely on the government. We have not approached them yet," said World Cup winner Binny. The Asia Cup is scheduled to be played in Pakistan in September next year, ahead of the ODI World Cup in India. Binny's comments came after BCCI secretary Jay Shah said the

T20 WC: Clinical SL seal Super 12 berth; Netherlands qualifies despite loss

Kusal Mendis stood tall with a gritty 79 as Asian champions Sri Lanka bounced back from their early debacle to seal their Super 12 berth with a 16-run win over the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup here on Thursday. Despite the loss, the Dutch joined the Lankans in the Super 12 with UAE handing them a huge favour by winning against Namibia in the group A finale here later in the day. This was UAE's first ever victory in the T20 World Cup. Facing an early elimination after being shocked by Namibia in the T20 World Cup opener at the same venue on Sunday, Sri Lanka first crushed UAE by 79 runs and then on Thursday they come out on top against the Dutch to post a stiff 162 for six with wicketkeeper-batter Mendis leading the show in his 44-ball knock. In reply, the Dutch, who led group A with wins over Namibia and UAE, managed 146 for 9 as the Lankan spin twins Wanindu Hasaranga (4-0-28-3) and Maheesh Theekshana (4-0-32-2) stymied their chase with perfect death over execution. For the ..

ICC poll: Sourav deprived to secure someone else's interests, claims Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday targeted her guns on the BJP-led Central government for allegedly depriving former Indian cricket skipper Sourav Ganguly by not nominating him for the ICC chairman's post, terming it an act of "shameless political vendetta". Banerjee, who said she would have spoken out on the issue even if master batsman Sachin Tendulkar was similarly deprived, alleged that Ganguly was deprived of the chance to fight the election to secure someone else's interests. Why was he not sent to ICC? It is to secure someone's interest (in the cricket board). I had spoken to various BJP leaders, but he was not allowed. He has been deprived.... This is a shameful political vendetta," she told reporters here. Earlier this week, the TMC boss expressed shock over Ganguly's "removal" as BCCI President and sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention so that he is allowed to contest the elections for International Cricket Council head. Roger Binny, a 19

'BCCI will look into it':Thakur on PCB's threat to boycott next WC in India

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said that the BCCI will look into the matter after the statement by Pakistan Cricket Board that holding Asia Cup 2023 at a neutral venue could affect visit to India

England seamer Reece Topley ruled out of T20 WC; Mills named as replacement

England seamer Reece Topley has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to an ankle injury, dealing a major blow to the team's campaign beginning here on Saturday. Left-arm pacer Tymal Mills, who has not played since August because of a toe injury, will replace Topley. The 28-year-old left-armer rolled his left ankle during a fielding drill in Brisbane on Monday ahead of England's final warm-up match against Pakistan. It is understood that the scans taken after the injury have revealed significant damage. "England's Tymal Mills who is already in Australia comes in for Reece Topley who has an injured left ankle," the ICC said in a statement. Any replacement, however, requires the approval of Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad. Topley is England's leading wicket-taker in T20 Internationals in 2022, with 17 scalps in 16 games at an average of 28. He became an integral part of England's T20 bowling attack, operating with the ne

T20 World Cup: WI stays in race to Super 12s with 31-run win over Zimbabwe

Fast bowling duo of Alzarri Joseph and Jason Holder shared seven wickets as two-time champions West Indies defeated Zimbabwe by 31 runs in a Group B match in the first round of ICC Men's T20 World Cup

Rain washes out India's second T20 WC warm-up game against New Zealand

India's second and final warm-up game against New Zealand was on Wednesday abandoned without a ball being bowled due to persistent rain at The Gabba here. Both the Indian and New Zealand teams failed to hit the ground as heavens opened up during Pakistan's chase of 155 against Afghanistan at the same venue in the first practice match of the day. India had earlier defeated hosts Australia by six runs in their first warm-up match here on Monday. Against Australia, India rode on half-centuries from KL Rahul (57) and Suryakumar Yadav (50) to post 186 for 7, a target which they defended despite skipper Aaron Finch's return to form with a 54-ball 76. Drafted into the side in place of an injured Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami (3/4) starred for India with the ball in the final over, which effected four dismissals, including three wickets for the right-arm pacer. India will open their T20 World Cup campaign in a blockbuster clash against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

BCCI gives nod to women's IPL at 9th annual general meeting in Mumbai

Although BCCI has not finalised the WIPL schedule, it will end before the men's IPL

New BCCI president Binny wants to reduce player injuries, improve pitches

Right after taking charge, new BCCI president Roger Binny on Tuesday said frequent injuries to top India players is a matter of concern and promised to "get to the bottom of it all". Improving the pitches for domestic cricket is also high on his agenda. "We will look to improve on what we can do to reduce the injuries to players," Binny told reporters here after taking over BCCI presidency from Sourav Ganguly. "Players getting frequently injured is a concern, and we wish to get to the bottom of it all and see how it can be changed for the better. "We have excellent doctors and trainers at the National Cricket Academy (in Bengaluru), but we must look to reduce the injuries and improve recovery." India have fielded as many as 40 players across formats in 2022, with injuries being the main reason, apart from multiple series being held simultaneously. The team will be without its premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah and star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, all thanks to injuries. While Bumrah