Sports

4,4,6,6,6,6: Devine intervention at DY Patil; Sophie carnage lights up WPL

Gujarat Giants opener Sophie Devine unleashed a devastating 32-run over against Delhi Capitals’ Sneh Rana, propelling her to a rapid half-century. Devine’s explosive innings of 95 runs off 42 balls, including six sixes in one over, was the highlight of the match. She narrowly missed a century as Gujarat Giants posted a strong total.

Massive! Rohit scripts history, surpasses Gayle to pocket this record

Rohit Sharma created history in the first ODI against New Zealand by becoming the leading six-hitter among openers in ODI cricket, surpassing Chris Gayle. He also became the first player to hit 650 international sixes. Rohit scored 26 runs, while New Zealand posted 300/8 after a strong start led by their openers.

Phillips defies physics at point; Kohli can’t believe his eyes – Watch

The moment came in the eighth over of India’s innings. Gill, batting on eight, attempted a cut shot off the fourth ball of Zak Foulkes’ over. The delivery was back of a length and outside the off stump. Gill stayed back and hit the ball hard towards the backward point region. Phillips moved quickly to his left, jumped and stretched out his left hand while airborne.

IND vs NZ: Bangar calls Hindi ‘national language of India’, faces backlash

Sanjay Bangar sparked controversy during the first IND vs NZ ODI by calling Hindi the “national language of India” on air. The remark, made during a discussion involving KL Rahul and Washington Sundar, drew heavy social media backlash, with fans pointing out that India has no national language. Meanwhile, New Zealand posted 300/8, led by Daryl Mitchell’s 84.

WPL, DC vs GG: Capitals fight back after Sophie Devine’s assault

‘Long live Iran’: France No. 1 Firouzja shares powerful message amid unrest

French No. 1 chess grandmaster Alireza Firouzja drew global attention after posting “Long live Iran” on social media and sharing the monarchial-era Iranian flag. The post was linked to ongoing protests and a humanitarian crisis in Iran. Though now a French citizen, Firouzja’s message showed strong solidarity with Iranians and highlighted his deep emotional ties to his country of birth.

‘Where is Arshdeep?’ – Memes flood internet after pacer dropped

India faced New Zealand in the first ODI at Vadodara, but team selection stole the spotlight. Arshdeep Singh’s absence from the playing XI surprised fans and sparked memes online, with Mohammed Siraj returning instead. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer made his comeback after injury, strengthening India’s batting. Shubman Gill chose to bowl first, aiming to test combinations in helpful conditions.

Bangladeshi umpire officiates IND vs NZ ODI amid Mustafizur row – who is he?

As per ICC regulations, umpires for ODIs are appointed under specific clauses. Clause 2.1.4 states that the ICC shall appoint one umpire for each ODI, who must not be from the same country as the participating teams and must be from the Elite Panel or International Panel. Clause 2.1.5 says the home board shall appoint one umpire.

‘Blue, green, red’: Jadeja undergoes unique training session – WATCH

Ravindra Jadeja is honing his bowling skills with a unique drill ahead of India’s ODI series against New Zealand. Guided by coach Morne Morkel, Jadeja practiced precise ball placement, aiming for coloured cones. The all-rounder is in excellent form, boasting a strong ODI record against the Black Caps, making him a key player for the upcoming matches.

Another milestone! Virat Kohli goes past Sourav Ganguly

Virat Kohli has achieved another milestone, becoming the fifth Indian with the most ODI appearances, surpassing Sourav Ganguly. With 309 matches played, he now trails only Tendulkar, Dhoni, Dravid, and Azharuddin. Kohli is also nearing a significant batting record, poised to become the second-highest international run-scorer across all formats.

‘Virat Kohli retired too early; he is a machine’: Donald

South African pace legend Allan Donald believes Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket prematurely but is confident the Indian star’s exceptional work ethic will see him compete in the 2027 ODI World Cup. Donald also expressed optimism about South Africa’s chances in the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing their well-balanced squad and India’s challenging batting conditions.

Shubman Gill makes bold call at toss – WATCH

India won the toss and elected to bowl first against New Zealand in the opening ODI, with Rishabh Pant ruled out due to injury and Dhruv Jurel replacing him. Captain Shubman Gill explained the decision was to assess bowling combinations and dew conditions.

SG puts sponsorship for top Bangladesh players in limbo

India’s leading cricket equipment manufacturer SG has put sponsorship contracts with top Bangladeshi cricketers, including captain Litton Das, on hold due to escalating India-Bangladesh tensions. This, coupled with a halt in equipment distribution and manufacturing supply lines, is set to financially impact Bangladesh’s sports industry.

IND vs NZ: Wickets keeps falling at one hand; India close in on victory

What happened to Rishabh Pant? A blow-by-blow account

Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand due to a side strain sustained during training. The wicketkeeper-batter suffered an oblique muscle tear after being hit by a delivery. This setback comes after his return from a toe fracture. Dhruv Jurel has been named as Pant’s replacement.

Dhruv Jurel joins India ODI squad as Rishabh Pant’s replacement

In-form wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has been drafted into India’s ODI squad as Rishabh Pant’s replacement after the latter was ruled out with a side strain. Jurel joins the team on the back of a prolific Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, where he has scored 558 runs and led Uttar Pradesh to the top of Elite Group B.

‘Mini VK’! Virat Kohli meets his childhood lookalike; fans go wild – WATCH

Virat Kohli’s preparation for the ODI series against New Zealand in Vadodara was marked by intense net sessions and a heartwarming fan interaction. A young fan’s striking resemblance to a younger Kohli drew widespread amusement online, with many dubbing him ‘Mini VK’. Kohli continues his impressive ODI form, aiming to maintain momentum against the Blackcaps.

‘Agar maar padh bhi jaati’: Virat Kohli’s powerful message to net bowler goes viral

Virat Kohli’s leadership shone during India’s training camp as he motivated a local net bowler, emphasising conviction in bowling. After an intense session, Kohli offered encouragement and signed a ball, demonstrating his commitment to developing talent and his own sharp form ahead of the ODI series.