Cricket now

Image: Tilak Varma A question is doing the rounds as to why the BCCI should send its best team to the Asian Games when the logistics aren’t the best at the moment. Players don’t have the kind of rooms they are used to and might even have to share if things aren’t sorted in the next few days. The question is pertinent because cricket is used to a certain degree of leverage in India. Having said that, the BCCI should, and will, send its best team to Nagoya. India is on the path to using sport as soft power and is a host for the 2030 Commonwealth Games while mounting a bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. If you don’t send your best team to the Asian Games, your bid falls flat because the signal it sends is that you aren’t serious about multi-sport events. The argument over rooms and logistics is a non-starter in front of the world. Traditionally, athletes have always celebrated living in the Olympic or Asian Games village, where the standard of accommodation is, at best, that of a three-st...

Duleep Trophy 2026 Final (PC: TNCA Insta) The Duleep Trophy final starting tomorrow is star-studded clash between East Zone and South Zone. The game promises a high-octane encounter as India’s finest domestic talent and seasoned international cricket stars will collide for the prestigious trophy.  The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has relocated the final from the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru to Chepauk. The move was specifically made in order to allow general public attendance and revive the charm of public interest in domestic first-class cricket.  Additionally, in order to ensure crowd attendance, vibrant atmosphere and a chance for everyone to witness this match, the TNCA and BCCI have announced completely free entry for spectators throughout the five days of the match, as fans can walk into the stadium directly through Gate 4 to watch the action unfold live.  At a press conference, South Zone skipper Tilak Varma has confirmed that KL Rahu...

India vs Pakistan (PC: BCCI Women) India all-rounder Deepti Sharma played down any perceived advantage India may have over Pakistan but admitted that her side have enjoyed the upper hand in their recent meetings and remain a step ahead of their arch-rivals. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led India are set to lock horns with Pakistan in their final Women’s Asia Cup 2026 league fixture at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 5. The two teams have met six times in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup, with India winning five of those encounters. India also got the better of Pakistan twice during the 2012 edition, including in the final, which was a low-scoring affair. Even in their last meeting, India emerged victorious against their arch-rivals. “Look, there is no advantage as such. The only thing is that whatever we have won against them (Pakistan), whether it is the Asia Cup or any other matches, we are always one step ahead of them. And that’s it,” Deepti said at the pre-match press con...

PC: Instagram (Asian Cricket Council) Indonesia and UAE faced each other in a one-sided contest, with Indonesia struggling to build partnerships before being bowled out for 73. UAE’s bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the innings, setting up a straightforward chase. In response, UAE reached the target with six wickets in hand. Sakarini Holds Indonesia Together Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini played a fighting innings for Indonesia, scoring 39 runs off 52 balls. With wickets falling regularly around her, she showed patience and stayed at the crease to give her team some stability. Sakarini rotated the strike well and made the most of the scoring opportunities that came her way. The right-handed batter struck four boundaries and a six, with the six showcasing her ability to take on the bowlers when needed. Her steady approach helped Indonesia keep the scoreboard moving during a difficult phase of the innings. She was eventually dismissed lbw by Esha Oza in the 16th over. UAE’s Bowl...

Ravi Kumar after winning the U-19 World Cup 2022. (Photo: ICC) Subhayan Chakraborty, Kolkata The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has widened its administrative purge, barring 65 players from registration and transfers due to documentation issues and age fraud. The sanctions render the full list of 65 cricketers ineligible for any tournament across the 2026–27 and 2027–28 domestic seasons. Among those penalised are 12 players who previously represented Bengal in age-group cricket and were subsequently found to have major date-of-birth discrepancies. Headlining this list are former India Under-19 World Cup winner Ravi Kumar and promising leg-spinner Rohit Yadav. The Case of Ravi Kumar Pacer Ravi Kumar, originally from Aligarh, was an instrumental figure in India’s victorious 2022 Under-19 World Cup campaign in the West Indies. He delivered a match-winning spell of 4 for 34 in the final against England, paving the way for India to secure a record-extending fifth U-19 world title. ...

  Rohit Sharma. Image :X Rohit Sharma continues to be the talking point in India’s cricketing circles. Ahead of the BCCI meeting yesterday, there was plenty of chatter on social media about Rohit and how his future would be a topic of discussion. A report also suggested that he had apparently agreed to give up during the ODI series in England. The truth is straightforward. Rohit will be a part of the India-West Indies series on the basis of his performances. And once he is picked, which he will be, it is Rohit who will have the agency over his future. If he continues to score runs, how can anyone contemplate dropping him? This applies to any player. If he scores and bats well, he stays. If he fails – not in one game, but over a slew of games – he has to make way. It is his bat that will decide his future, not trolls or media personalities who want to live their lives on social media. I also read a report claiming that Rohit had angrily conceded to giving up in England. The que...

Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues (PC: BCCI Women, Jemimah Insta) Jemimah Rodrigues’ adorable Instagram story for Smriti Mandhana went viral after the India opener smashed her second WT20I century against Hong Kong, China in the ongoing Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai on September 3. With her 124-run knock off 64 balls, Mandhana broke several records, with two of the most significant being becoming the leading century-maker in women’s international cricket with 18* centuries and the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket with 10,880* runs. To celebrate the milestone, Jemimah shared an adorable message on her Instagram story, writing: “My sister is a Legend! Leading run scorer in women’s international cricket.” The Smriti-Jemimah bond is well known among women’s cricket fans, especially in India. The duo are often referred to as the “Wrong Sisters” because of their sister-like friendship and close bond. Unfortunately, Jemimah is currently missing the ongoing Asia Cup due...