Rico Carty, Exceptional Hitter Who Was Stymied by Injuries, Dies at 85

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Rohit's Final Hug To Ritika Before Leaving For Aus, To Reach Perth On...

After missing the 1st Test in Perth, India captain Rohit Sharma left for Australia on Saturday. Rohit was spotted at the Mumbai International Airport, and was accompanied by wife Ritika Sajdeh, who came to see off her husband. Rohit and Ritika welcomed their second child last week, a baby boy. With Ritika's due delivery date close to the ongoing Perth Test, Rohit decided to stay back in Australia, thus missing the series opener at the Optus Stadium.

In Rohit's absence, Jasprit Bumrah is leading the team in Perth. It was earlier reported that Rohit is expected to land in Perth on Sunday.

Before leaving for Australia, Rohit gave a goodbye hug to Ritika, who had accompanied him to the airport. 

ROHIT SHARMA COMING.

- Captain Rohit has arrived at the Mumbai airport to leave for Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. pic.twitter.com/fUSctsdrzk

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 23, 2024

Rohit is likely to feature in the practice match against Prime Minister's XI before officially resuming his captaincy duties during the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, starting December 6.

Meanwhile, India built an ominous 218-run lead over Australia to take a stranglehold on the opening Test in Perth. Yashasvi Jaiswal hit a composed unbeaten 90 and KL Rahul a stylish 62.   

A determined and gritty effort by both men against a world-class attack put the visitors in the driving seat as they look to draw first blood in the five-match series.

Jaiswal faced 193 balls while Rahul fended off 153 to steer India to 172 without loss at the close on day two.

India have won their last two Border-Gavaskar trophy series in Australia but came into the Perth Stadium clash after a devastating 3-0 home loss to New Zealand. 

After making a miserly 150 on a lively pitch in their first innings, the pressure was again on. But their response proved admirable.

They took a 46-run advantage into the second innings after dismissing the hosts for a meagre 104 at lunch.

Dynamic skipper Jasprit Bumrah blitzed 5-30 and Harshit Rana grabbed 3-48.

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Hardik Achieves Historic First. Not Even Bumrah, Kohli Or Rohit Have It

Hardik Pandya led Baroda to an emphatic five-wicket win over Gujarat in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Indore. Making a rare appearance in the domestic circuit, Hardik smashed an unbeaten knock of 74 runs off 35 balls, striking 211.4 with six fours and five sixes. By doing so, Hardik etched his name in the history book with a never-before-seen record. He became the first Indian player register a unique double of 5000 runs and 100-plus wickets in the T20 format. The former India T20 captain has 5,067 runs and 180 wickets to his name. 

In the match against Gujarat, Hardik also took a wicket while conceding 37 runs in four overs as Gujarat made 184 for five.

Axar Patel made an unbeaten 43 off 33 balls. But in bowling, the India left-arm spinner could not pick up any wicket while giving away 31 runs in his full quota of overs. Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi took two wickets.

Meanwhile, Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami's first white ball outing since 2023 World Cup final was below par but Bengal survived a fine all-round effort by Arshdeep Singh to eke out a four-wicket win over Punjab.

Shami returned with figures of 4-0-46-1 in Punjab's total of 179 all out in 19.4 overs.

The Bengal man earlier made his red-ball return in a Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in Indore and was impressive while picking up seven wickets.

Abhishek Sharma (18 off 8 balls) did not fire but Prabhsimran Singh (35, 19 balls), Anmolpreet Singh (39 21 balls) and Arshdeep (23 not out, 11 balls) chipped in for Punjab.

Karan Lal took three wickets for Bengal.

In reply, Shahbaz Ahmed made a 49-ball 100 as Bengal overcame a good spell by pacer Arshdeep (2/21 in 3 overs) to reach the target with an over to spare.

Brief Scores: Group A: At Rajkot: Punjab: 179 all out in 19.4 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 35, Anmolpreet Singh 39, Arshdeep 23; Karan Lal 3/23) lost to Bengal: 181/6 in 19 overs (Shahbaz Ahmed 100 not out, Arshdeep Singh 2/21, Abhishek Sharma 3/37) by 4 wickets.

Group B: At Indore: Gujarat: 184/5 in 20 overs (Aarya Desai 78, Axar Patel 43 not out; Hardik Pandya 1/37, Atit Sheth 2/31) lost to Baroda: 188/5 in 19.4 overs (Hardik Pandya 74 not out, Shivalik Sharma 64; Ravi Bishnoi 2/23) by 5 wickets.

Group C: At Mumbai: Delhi: 233/3 in 20 overs (Priyansh Arya 102, Himmat Singh 77 not out, Bhunveshwar Kumar 1/29) beat UP: 186/8 in 20 overs (Rinku Singh 70, Nitish Rana 61; Ishant Sharma 2/23) by 47 runs.

Group E: At Hyderabad: Services: 149/9 in 20 overs (Mohit Ahlawat 41; Akhil Scaria 5/30) lost to Kerala: 153/ in 18.1 overs (Sanju Samson 75; Pulkit Narang 4/7) by 3 wickets.

(With PTI Inputs)

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"The Sound It Made...": Starc's Verdict On Controversial KL Rahul Dismissal

Australia's senior pacer Mitchell Starc on Friday played down the chatter around India batter KL Rahul's contentious caught behind dismissal on the first day of the opening Test here, saying it was a "regulation wicket". Rahul's dismissal kicked up a controversy with former players from both the countries questioning the third umpire's decision to overturn the on-field official's not out call. After on-field umpire Richard Kettleborough ruled in Rahul's favour following Australia's appeal, the home team used DRS to challenge the decision.

Third umpire Richard Illingworth, however, overturned the call despite not having the benefit of a split-screen view which would have given him a clearer picture of whether the Starc delivery actually grazed the bat or the snicko responded to a hit on the pads.

"It got overturned obviously, but I thought it was regulation, the sound it made, the timing of it, I thought it was just a regulation wicket," Starc said at a press conference.

Starc (2/14), who bagged the opening wicket of the series when he removed Yashasvi Jaiswal, will resume on six not out alongside wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who is unbeaten on 19, on Saturday, with Australia at 67/7 after India made 150 in their first innings.

A staggering 17 wickets fell on the opening day, a record on Australian soil, but the leading pacer believed batting is going to get easier in the second innings and they just need to survive the new Kookaburra ball.

"I think there was a fair bit of good bowling today. Obviously there was enough in the wicket and it probably felt like it was a hardball wicket," Starc said.

"When the ball started to get a little bit softer towards the the back end of that Indian innings, it probably didn't do as much. (There was) still enough there, but it didn't do as much as the brand new hardball.

"So I guess that's something for teams to take in the second innings.

"If you can get through the testing period, it does get slightly easier. That being said, the outfield is quite slow, so that probably made runs a bit hard to come by. That's probably the slowest outfield we've seen over in the west for a long time." While Starc gave the first breakthrough, his pace-bowling colleague Josh Hazlewood proved to be more successful on the day, returning with excellent figures of 4/29 in 13 overs before the peerless Jasprit Bumrah (4/17 in 10 overs) yet again displayed his extraordinary skills.

Starc is also not of the view that batting conditions were becoming harder across Australia.

"How many ways can you skin a cat? Bowlers are allowed to bowl good balls," he said.

"When there's a lot of runs, it's like, 'Oh, the bowlers bowled badly. When there's wickets, the wickets are tough'. (But) you are allowed to bowl good balls and maybe credit should go to both teams and bowlers.

"Sure, there's plenty in the wicket when you put it in the right area and it was hard work for batting, but as I said, you're allowed to bowl good balls and there were plenty of those today." At stumps, Australia trailed by 83 runs thanks to the incredible comeback by the Bumrah-led Indian team, something that seemed improbable after they were all out for an under-par score and weeks after their unprecedented 0-3 drubbing to New Zealand at home.

Starc said he was not surprised by India's comeback.

"That was a completely different series, different conditions, different teams, so, yeah, that was entertaining to watch, that series .. but we know how good a team India are and they have shown that today.

"I thought we bowled quite well and perhaps an under par score and they have come out and matched us with the ball, so, no, I wouldn't say I was surprised as we know the skill they have got in that team with bat and ball, and they showed that with the ball today," Starc pointed out.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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India vs Australia 1st Test Weather Report: Rain To Play Big Role In Perth?

Just before the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series between India and Australia, a new and unprecedented problem came to the forefront - the threat of rain. As per reports, Perth, an area that generally does not receive any rainfall between November and May, was predicted to receive rainfall right on the week of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The threat of rain even brought the possibility of 'snake cracks' forming on the pitch at the Optus Stadium, where the first Test will be held. But recent weather forecasts show that rain is unlikely to hamper the first Test.

As per AccuWeather, rain is a possibility on only Day 1, with the percentage being as low as just one percent. However, there is a 40 percent chance of precipitation on November 21, the day before the first Test gets underway. Even thunderstorms are a possibility.

It barely rains in Perth from November-mid May.

Amazingly there will be wet weather this week, but it is forecast to clear in time for the first Test #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/2W0Sxzsn1z

— Tristan Lavalette (@trislavalette) November 18, 2024

The rest of the Test match is expected to be completely unaffected by rain. While conditions are expected to be pleasant and breezy on Day 2 and Day 3, it is forecast to get sunny and warm on Day 4 and Day 5.

Meanwhile, the pitch at the Optus Stadium in Perth has been reported to be quite green, meaning it could provide additional impetus to fast bowlers.

India are reportedly set to enter the game with three pure fast bowlers, along with handing a Test debut to pace-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. Only one frontline spinner is expected to play, with reports suggesting that Ravichandran Ashwin will be given the nod ahead of the first Test.

Captain Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack alongside Mohammed Siraj, while reports suggest that it is a toss-up between Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana for the third seamer role.

On the other hand, Australia's batting will face an adjustment of its own. 25-year-old Nathan McSweeney will debut as an opener, while Steve Smith will return to the No. 4 slot.

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Reading Books in College: A Lost Art?

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Manhattan D.A. Suggests Freezing Trump’s Case While He Is President

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Indian Blind Cricket Team Won't Travel To Pakistan For T20 WC. Reason Is...

The Indian blind cricket team will not compete in the T20 World Cup as the government has denied the permission to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns, the national federation said on Tuesday. The Indian team was supposed to cross the Wagah border on Wednesday for the event, scheduled to be held from November 23 to December 3. The team had got a No Objection Certificate (NOC), at no-cost to the government, from the sports ministry to participate in the tournament but apparently couldn't get clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). "We have been told unofficially that the blind team will not be permitted to travel to Pakistan. We were scheduled to travel to Wagah border tomorrow.

"But as of now, no clearance has come from the ministry officials. So, we are a bit disappointed," Shailendra Yadav, General Secretary of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), told PTI.

Yadav said that the decision could have been conveyed to the team a tad earlier so that they could have spared of the efforts to pick the team from a selection trial.

"They are saying when the mainstream cricket team is not safe how can you be safe there. Of course, we will accept the decision.

"But why hold the decision till the last minute, why not inform us a month or 25 days back. There is a process,” Yadav added.

The blind cricket is currently staying back in New Delhi, where they had conducted a 25-day training camp before selecting the World Cup squad.

It could also be mentioned that the government has not given clearance to the Indian national cricket team to travel to Pakistan for next year's ICC Champions Trophy.

The BCCI had informed the International Cricket Council about India's inability to travel to Pakistan and the global governing body, in turn, passed the information to the PCB.

Currently, talks are on about a possible ‘Hybrid Model', the PCB is yet to agree to it.

However, Yadav said the CABI has kept all the communication channels with the government officials open, hoping for a reversal of decision.

"We are still communicating with the ministry while staying back at New Delhi. Hopefully, there will be a favourable decision, even at the last minute,” said Yadav.

The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council had last week made it clear that whether India sends its team to Pakistan or not for the World Cup, the event will go ahead on schedule.

"Pakistan will be hosting the event on schedule and it makes no difference whether the Indian team comes or not,” Chairman Syed Sultan Shah said.

Shah said all arrangements for hosting the World Cup had been completed by the PBCC and there would be no change to the schedule at all. 

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Babar Surpasses Kohli To Achieve All-Time High, Set To Surpass Rohit Soon

Babar Azam on Monday surpassed Virat Kohli to rise to the second spot in the list of highest run-scorers in T20Is. Virat Kohli has 4188 runs in 117 innings while Babar Azam has 4192 runs in 119 innings. India captain Rohit Sharma leads the list with 4231 runs in 151 innings. Babar Azam achieved the feat during a match against Australia. With Rohit having retired from T20Is, Babar Azam is expected to surpass him in the list very soon.  

Marcus Stoinis slammed five huge sixes in an unbeaten 61 as Australia crushed Pakistan by seven wickets in Hobart on Monday to secure a 3-0 T20 series whitewash. Chasing a meagre 118, the hosts hit the target in the 12th over to hand Pakistan a reality check after the visitors won the preceding ODI series 2-1.

Stoinis was unstoppable once he got going, also blasting five fours in his 27-ball masterclass. "It's really nice to get another win and go 3-0 up," said Australia skipper Josh Inglis. 

"When he's going like that, it's really hard to stop," he added of Stoinis. "One of those sixes was probably the biggest I've seen."

The match at Bellerive Oval was a dead rubber after Australia won a rain-hit match in Brisbane by 29 runs and then in Sydney by 13 runs. After opting to bat, Pakistan raced to 62-1 before crumbling to 117 all out in the 19th over with Babar Azam top-scoring on 41 and Aaron Hardie taking 3-21.

Jake Fraser-McGurk began the run chase with consecutive boundaries from Shaheen Shah Afridi before the speedster dismissed Matt Short for two, caught at mid-on by Irfan Khan.

Fraser-McGurk (18) followed next over, undone by the sheer pace of Jahandad Khan in another mis-fire by the 22-year-old.

But Inglis kept the scoreboard ticking over alongside Stoinis, who let rip in the ninth over, punishing Haris Rauf for 20, including a massive six that landed on the stadium roof.

Their 55-run partnership ended when Inglis scooped Abbas Afridi to Rauf on 27, which brought Tim David to the crease.

He was bystander to Stoinis, who brought up his fifth T20 half-century with another giant six before seeing them home. "There's lots of positives, the way some of the players batted and bowled, these youngsters will come good," said Salman Agha, Pakistan's skipper for the night with Mohammad Rizwan rested.

"It's a big achievement for us to win a one-day series here after 22 years, we could have done better in the T20 series but we'll come back stronger." 

Sahibzada Farhan opened the Pakistan batting with Azam in the absence of Rizwan. But on a chilly evening, he lasted just seven balls before top-edging a short one from Spencer Johnson -- fresh from taking five wickets in Sydney -- to Xavier Bartlett.

Azam produced a series of elegant strokes as he and Haseebullah Khan put on a quickfire 44 for the second wicket. But Kahn was no match for Adam Zampa's spin, collecting an outside edge on 24 to Short.

Pakistan's woes mounted with Usman Khan (3) caught on the ropes after slogging Hardie and Agha trapped lbw by the same bowler for one. It left them reeling on 72-4 at the halfway mark and when Zampa bowled Azam and Khan (10) was needlessly run out they were in deep trouble.

Shaheen Shah Afridi blasted the only six of the innings, but didn't last as the tailenders were mopped up.

With AFP inputs 

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What’s New in the Case of the Document Leaks Roiling Israel

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Betty White Stamp to Be Released in 2025

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Bopanna Parts Ways With Ebden, To Pair Up Again With Ex-Partner

The India-Australia men's doubles tennis duo of Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden, the Australia Open champions this year, announced that they would go separate ways after two great years as a team. The pair first teamed up in January 2023 and now end their association with a victory over Germany's Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in their final group match of the ATP Finals 2024 on Friday. However, it was not enough for them to reach the semifinals.

"Obviously, we were already out but to at least get one final win together, it was a great way to finish the partnership and it's been an amazing two years," Ebden reflected on the partnership in Turin, according to Olympics.com.

During their partnership, the duo secured three trophies, the Australian Open grand slam title and ATP Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells 2023 and Miami Open 2024.

Bopanna and Ebden also won the Qatar Open last year and reached the final of the US Open as well last year. They also hit the top of the doubles rankings this year following the Australian Open triumph.

"To finish on a win and at least get one win here at the ATP Finals, I think was fitting or deserving maybe. It was really nice to share one more big moment," the Australian tennis player, who secured the Paris Olympics gold with John Peers, added.

Ebden said that the duo were planning to part ways last year but decided to stick together for the 2024 season.

"I have to thank him (Bopanna) for his amazing effort and commitment and dedication at 44 years old. It's been a great effort. I wish him all the best for the future," Ebden added.

Bopanna will once again reunite with his former Croatian partner, Ivan Dodig, 39, for the 2025 tennis season.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Never Got Chance...": Gavaskar's Hilarious Response On Rivalry With Border

The excitement is palpable with less than a week left for the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia. Named after former Australia captain Allan Border and India batting great Sunil Gavaskar, the series holds major significance due to the rivalry between the two cricketing powerhouses, especially in recent times. India have won each of their last two Test tours of Australia, and will be bidding for a third straight success Down Under. This will be the first time since 1991-92 that India and Australia will be playing a series comprising of five Tests.

Ahead of the series-opener in Perth, Gavaskar shared an interesting anecdote about the rivalry he has had with Border over the years.

Gavaskar came up with a hilarious response on being asked if he and Border have the same intensity, even though the two have become friends after their retiring.

"Well, because he's (Border) got me out, that's the problem. You see, he's got me out. I never got a chance to bowl to him. If I got a chance to bowl to him and get him out it might have been different. But you know he's a little, you know, things that you know, used to come in and do this and bowl. And can you imagine he got one ball to turn, and I played that down the wrong line, top edge and I was out," Gavaskar told 7Cricket.

Maybe the origins of naming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy started 45 years ago.

Because of Allan Border's three career Test wickets v India, one of those was ... Sunil Gavaskar.

From 1979 to now, Sunny still can't get over it - due to AB reminding him all the time #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/BYcjtYL6oL

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) November 14, 2024

For the record, Border only took 4 wickets in 20 Tests against India, and Gavaskar was one of his preys. Gavaskar reveals Border still mocks him, having got him out in 1979.

"So you know, I am reminded of it every time I bump into him. He comes and says 'Hello Bunny, how are you?' What do I say to that?," he revealed.

When India will take to the pitch at the Optus Stadium in Perth for the first Test of the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, all eyes will be on star India batter Virat Kohli, who is perhaps battling the biggest form crisis of his career.

Across all formats in Australia, Virat has scored 3,426 runs at an average of 56.16, with 11 centuries and 19 fifties in 70 innings. His best score is 169.

(With ANI Inputs)

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Sanju, Tilak Shatter Massive World Record With Explosive Show Against SA

Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma produced a sensational batting performance as the duo shattered a massive world record during the fourth T20I encounter between India and South Africa on Friday. Both batters looked in brilliant form as they slammed centuries to take India to a mammoth total of 283/1 in 20 overs. They also stitched together a 210-run partnership for the second wicket and that was the highest T20I partnership for India ever. The 210-run stand was also the highest ever against South Africa in T20Is and the highest for second wicket or below by any side in the shortest format.

Partnership of 210* between Sanju & Tilak

Highest for any wicket for India

Highest for any wicket vs South Africa

Highest for second wicket or below for any team in all T20Is

Sanju Samson's precision met its match in Tilak Varma's muscular elegance as India toyed with South African bowling attack to post an imposing 283 for 1 in the fourth and final T20 International. This is by far India's highest T20I total overseas and highest by any country on South African soil.

Among the plethora of records that tumbled, the most special one will be two Indian batters scoring centuries in same T20I innings. Samson and Varma also posted the highest partnership for India in T20 Internationals --- 210 off just 93 balls for the second wicket.

Samson (109 not out off 56 balls), who smashed a superb century in the first game, once again pummelled the Proteas in company of Varma (120 not out off 47 balls) who has really come into his own with new found confidence and vigour at number three.

Samson now has three T20I tons in the last five knocks which also included two ducks while Varma has scored back-to-back T20I tons.

Samson completed his ton in 51 balls while Varma's (41 balls) took 10 balls less.

Abhishek Sharma (36 off 18 balls) should also get his share of credit for upping the ante in the Powerplay with four huge sixes.

On a good batting track with true bounce on offer, Indian batters hit a record 23 sixes as it was possible to hit through the line by just clearing one's front leg. Samson's nine maximums was one less than Varma's 10.

(With PTI inputs)

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Samson Scripts History, Becomes 1st Player Ever To Achieve Huge T20I Feat

Indian cricket team wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson became the first player ever to score three T20I centuries in a calendar year following his sensational knock against South Africa on Friday. The India opener looked in phenomenal form as he ended up scoring off 109 just 56 balls with the help of 6 fours and 9 sixes in the fourth T20I. Samson started the four-matches series with a brilliant century but he was dismissed for a duck in the next two matches. However, that did not affect his form at all as he seemed completely in control against the South Africa bowlers on Friday and his brilliant knock took India to 283/1.

Centuries from Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma guide India towards a mammoth total#SAvIND : https://t.co/nCcnyy7c2U pic.twitter.com/BLjrRC9L6n

— ICC (@ICC) November 15, 2024

Sanju Samson's precision met its match in Tilak Varma's muscular elegance as India toyed with South African bowling attack to post an imposing 283 for 1 in the fourth and final T20 International. This is by far India's highest T20I total overseas and highest by any country on South African soil.

Among the plethora of records that tumbled, the most special one will be two Indian batters scoring centuries in same T20I innings. Samson and Varma also posted the highest partnership for India in T20 Internationals --- 210 off just 93 balls for the second wicket.

Samson (109 not out off 56 balls), who smashed a superb century in the first game, once again pummelled the Proteas in company of Varma (120 not out off 47 balls) who has really come into his own with new found confidence and vigour at number three.

Samson now has three T20I tons in the last five knocks which also included two ducks while Varma has scored back-to-back T20I tons.

Samson completed his ton in 51 balls while Varma's (41 balls) took 10 balls less.

Abhishek Sharma (36 off 18 balls) should also get his share of credit for upping the ante in the Powerplay with four huge sixes.

On a good batting track with true bounce on offer, Indian batters hit a record 23 sixes as it was possible to hit through the line by just clearing one's front leg. Samson's nine maximums was one less than Varma's 10.

It only helped India that the opposition's best fast bowler Gerald Coetzee seemed to be carrying a niggle. The two medium pacers Andile Simelane (0/47 in 3 overs) and Lutho Sipamla (1/58 in 4 overs) seemed like lambs for slaughter. The Indians hit 10 sixes from Simelane and Sipamla.

(With PTI inputs)

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Kohli, Rohit Told To Hit 'Reset Button' By Aus Great: "Why They Failed..."

Former Australian pacer Brett Lee has advised India skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli to hit the "reset button", work on their technique and hit the ground running in the five-Test series against Australia, beginning in Perth in less than 10 days' time. The two batting stalwarts will be keenly observed during the Border-Gavaskar series Down Under following their underwhelming performance in the 0-3 Test whitewash by New Zealand recently.

"When you have a couple of bad runs back to back, that's when the pressure gets set in. So, I guess the thing now is that someone like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, they've just got to go back to the drawing board," Lee said on his YouTube channel.

"They are champions because they do the basics better than anybody else. Then, just hit the reset button, almost." Lee also warned that the Australian pacers would be aiming to attack Rohit and Kohli with the new ball, and that they should quickly sort their batting.

"(They should) work on their technique, freshen up, get away from cricket for as much as they can and then hit the ground running when they go to Australia because I can promise you the Australian fast bowlers will be attacking Rohit Sharma with that brand-new ball," he added.

Rohit has managed 588 runs in 11 Tests at an average of just 29.40 this year, while Kohli has accumulated 250 runs in six Test at an average of 22.72.

Lee felt the tendency of the two batter to be too aggressive might have resulted in their poor show so far this year.

"It's hard to put your finger on why they (Rohit and Kohli) failed. If you first look at the way that Rohit Sharma got out, a lot to the quicks.

"So, I can't say there's a technical fault there because I've seen him play for the last decade. I still believe he's one of the best players of the pull shot in world cricket, but maybe he's a little bit too aggressive.

"Maybe there were a couple of shots... was there a technique issue? Was his bat leaving his pad a bit too early? Was he getting that far forward or not enough forward? Or, was he sort of being a little bit hesitant?" Lee wondered.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Bizarre: Flying Ants 'Attack' Stops Ind vs SA T20I. Internet Reacts - Watch

The third India vs South Africa T20I in Centurion saw a bizarre stoppage. After India had set hosts South Africa a target of  220, Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks scored seven in one over when play had to be stopped as insects caused the play to stop. And it was not a brief delay as the groundsmen tried hard to make the conditions suitable for play. The commentators kept telling that it was 'flying ants' that caused the delay. However, internet could not keep calm.

Breaking News: Ind vs SA match stopped due to Dragonfly.
Ind Vs SA #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/KeTLUKMd1b

— SciTech (@autoscienc78209) November 13, 2024

Play Halted bcz of insect #SAvsIND #T20 #T20Cricket #T20Iseries #tilakverma #INDvSA #RamandeepSingh#sanju_samson #rinkusingh #SuryakumarYadav #centurions #CricketUpdates pic.twitter.com/iyKYicJgK3

— Bhanu Pratap Singh (@imbhanuprsingh) November 13, 2024

SuperSport Park Stadium, Centurion, South Africa is under Insect Attack.

Play suspended. #INDvSA

— Aijaz Abdullah (@AijazAbdullah) November 13, 2024

Earlier, Tilak Varma made his promotion to number three count by hitting a terrific unbeaten 107 off 56 balls – his maiden century in T20Is - as India posted a massive 219/6 against South Africa in the third game at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.

Coming out to bat in the opening over on a two-paced wicket, Varma took on the attack from the word go and upped the ante on meeting a favourable match-up as he smashed eight fours and seven sixes in his 107 not out – making him the second youngest Indian batter and 12th overall from the country to score a hundred in men's T20Is.

In all 71 of Varma's runs came from the leg-side boundary, as the left-handed batter dazzled with some eye-catching stroke-play while pacing his innings very well. He was ably supported by Abhishek Sharma, who broke his lean run with a 25-ball fifty, as the duo had a 107-run stand for the second wicket, where targeting short square boundaries in Power-play stood out.

For South Africa, Andile Simelane and Keshav Maharaj picked two wickets each. Pushed into batting first, India didn't have a great start as Sanju Samson bagged back-to-back ducks after being castled by a slightly nipping-away delivery from Jansen. But from there, Abhishek and Tilak seized the initiative wonderfully to push South Africa on the back foot.

Varma began by slicing Jansen for four and six before Abhishek Sharma took his time to smash Gerard Coetzee for two fours and six in a 15-run second over. While Varma pulled and produced a straight drive to get two fours off Lutho Sipamla, Sharma pulled and dispatched Simelane for a brace of sixes as India ended the Power-play at 70/1.

The boundaries continued to flow for India after the Power-play, as Sharma danced down the pitch to hit Aiden Markram for four, while Varma nailed a reverse sweep off him for six and followed it up with a hook off Coetzee going for another maximum on a no-ball. Sharma danced down the pitch to dispatch Maharaj over long-on for six, before getting his fifty with a single. But the left-arm spinner bounced back by having Sharma stumped. This setback was followed by Suryakumar Yadav giving a catch to sweeper cover off Simelane.

Hardik Pandya hit three elegant boundaries before being trapped lbw by a straight delivery from Maharaj. Verma, who had reached his fifty by then off 32 balls, used his reach to slam Maharaj over extra cover for four, before sweeping him for four and six respectively.

He welcomed Coetzee with a clean lofted six over long-on on an overpitched delivery and followed it up with a wristy whip to hit another maximum over deep square leg, before lapping him for a four.

After a struggling Rinku Singh was castled by Simelane, Ramandeep Singh blazed on debut by hitting a six over long-on on his first ball in international cricket, before bringing out a wristy drive past mid-off for four more.

Varma reached his hundred in 51 balls by chipping a straight drive past mid-off for four off Sipamla, before scooping him over fine leg for six on a free-hit delivery. Though Ramandeep was run out in the final over, Varma ensured India got a massive total on board via a whirlwind knock.

With IANS inputs 

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R Ashwin Confident He Has "Figured Out" Smith, Shares Tactical Insight

Senior India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin says he has figured out ways to tackle Australian batting mainstay Steve Smith in the upcoming five-match Test series, extending their fascinating, decade-old rivalry in top-flight cricket. The two seasoned campaigners will face off during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting November 22 in Perth. They have in the past spent time together at IPL franchises Rising Pune Supergiant and Delhi Capitals, helping Ashwin to "break down the game plans" of Smith.

"Steve Smith is especially fascinating as a player against spin. He has a unique technique, even playing fast bowling," Ashwin said in an interview with '7Cricket'.

"But with spin, I think he came in with sound game plans and sound preparations, and yeah, he used to execute it come what may. And over the years, I've found ways and means to break it down.

"His time at Delhi Capitals, his time at RPSG, all these net sessions that I've seen him go about his business gave me an insight as to how he prepares and what he likes and doesn't like." Ashwin, who first bowled to Smith during India's 2013/14 tour of Australia, lauded his fierce rival for being a "thinking cricketer", who has so far scored 348 runs in 570 balls while facing the ace spinner. Smith has got out to Ashwin three times.

"He's a very thinking cricketer as well. He wants to get one up on you all the time. But, he's got unique ways of practising and battling out with you in the middle.

"And sometimes, as a bowler, when you're watching a batter go through his process, you do identify whether you have him or not. And several times in these years of having played with Steve Smith, I've felt he has me.

"But several times, much later, when I think I've figured out what he does or how he bats, I've had an edge over him. I've had the wood over him." A modern-day batting great, Smith will be desperate to play some big knocks following his subdued stint as an opener after the retirement of David Warner, managing only 171 runs in four Tests at an average of 28.50.

Ashwin is the third-highest Test wicket-taker for India in Australia with 38 scalps, behind Anil Kumble (49) and Kapil Dev (51).

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U19 50-over Asia Cup: Mohammad Amaan To Lead India

Uttar Pradesh middle-order batter Mohammad Amaan will lead India in the 50-over ACC Under-19 Asia Cup, which will take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) later this month. India will open their campaign against Pakistan at Dubai on November 30. India have in their ranks some youngsters who have impressed in the domestic circuit like Mumbai's Ayush Mhatre, Bihar's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tamil Nadu's C Andre Siddarth, Kerala leg-spinner Mohammed Enaan and Karnataka batter Hardik Raj and state-mate Samarth Nagaraj.

Apart from India and Pakistan, the Group A features Japan and the hosts UAE. Group E will have Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal.

Ahead of the tournament, India will take on Bangladesh in a practice match on November 26 in Sharjah.

The semifinals of the tournament are scheduled on December 6 while the final is slated for December 8.

India U19 squad: Ayush Mhatre, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, C Andre Siddarth, Mohammad Amaan (C), Kiran Chormale (VC), Pranav Pant, Harvansh Singh Pangalia (WK), Anurag Kawde (WK), Hardik Raj, Mohammad Enaan, KP Karthikeya, Samarth Nagaraj, Yudhajit Guha, Chetan Sharma, Nikhil Kumar.

Non-travelling reserves: Sahil Parakh, Naman Pushpak, Anmoljeet Singh, Pranav Raghavendra, D Dipesh.

India U19's schedule (All matches start at 10.30am IST)

November 30: India vs Pakistan at Dubai.

December 2: India vs Japan at Sharjah.

December 4: India vs UAE at Sharjah.

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"Gukesh Is The Favourite": Praggnanandhaa On World Championship Match

On current form, D Gukesh is the favourite to win the World Chess Championship title against his Chinese opponent, Ding Liren, believes Indian teenage Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa. The World Championship is scheduled to be played from November 25 till December 13 in Singapore. Gukesh, who at 17 became the youngest player to win the Candidates Tournament in April, has had a remarkable 2024, leading India to a historic gold medal at the 45th Chess Olympiad. In contrast, Liren has struggled this year, failing to secure a single victory in the Classical format since January.

"Gukesh is definitely the favourite, considering his recent form. But the World Championship is a different tournament altogether. I'm sure Gukesh is preparing really well. We'll see how the match goes," said Praggnanandhhaa, who is here for the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz Tournament.

The 19-year-old has been pitted against world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen on the opening day of the tournament, which will begin with the Rapid format on Wednesday.

Carlsen, who has won both the Rapid and Blitz formats in previous editions, returns to the tournament for the second time.

"It would be quite exciting to open with Magnus. I'm hoping to give my best and see what happens," Praggnanandhaa said.

"For sure, everyone is excited to play Magnus. It's also good for the tournament. He is the best player. It's really exciting for all players." Having played in most editions of the tournament in Kolkata, Praggnanandhaa noted that his past experience would be beneficial.

"I've played a lot in Kolkata; except for 2019, I've played in all editions. My past experience has definitely helped me," he added.

Filipino-American GM Wesley So, also a part of the 10-member open field, echoed the sentiment, backing Gukesh for the upcoming 14-round World Championship.

"I'm looking forward to it. World Championship matches are some of my favourite events to watch in any sport. One of the best was the 2018 Magnus vs. Fabiano match; I watched till 3 in the morning. It was an explosion of ideas. It's going to be interesting," Wesley said.

"I know 99.9 per cent of the people are rooting for Gukesh because we're in India, and I'm also rooting for Gukesh. I talked to many GMs, and they think it won't last 14 games. We'll see what happens." The World Championship, scheduled from November 25 to December 13, will consist of 14 games, with a time control of 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remaining moves, and a 30-second increment starting from move 41.

The first player to score 7.5 points will win, and if the score is tied after 14 games, a tiebreaker will determine the next world champion. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Lou Donaldson, Soulful Master of the Alto Saxophone, Dies at 98

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Chakaravarthy's 5/17 In Vain As India Lose To South Africa In 2nd T20I

Spinner Varun Chakravarthy's magical craftiness en route a maiden fifer remained a mere footnote as South Africa rode on the stubbornness of Tristan Stubbs to eke out a three-wicket win over India in a low-scoring second T20I in Gqeberha on Sunday. The four-match series is now level at 1-1. But SA's victory, which also halted India's 11-match winning streak, did not come without its share of drama. The first hint of a topsy-turvy night came when India limped to 124 for six on a quick, bouncy pitch after getting the invitation to bat first.

The Proteas were at one stage 66 for six and 86 for seven, which eventually transpired into 128 for seven, as Chakravarthy continued his international resurgence with a five-wicket haul (5/17).

But SA found two valiant soldiers in determined Stubbs (47 not out, 41b, 7x4) and aggressive Gerald Coetzee (19 not out, 9b, 2x4, 1x6) who added a precious 42 runs for the eighth wicket alliance to carry their side past the tape.

However, Chakravarthy deserves credit for making the match a thrilling affair. The Tamil Nadu man came to the party after pacer Arshdeep Singh dismissed opener Riyan Rickelton in the third over.

Chakravarthy started his dismantling job going through the defences of SA skipper Aiden Markram, who failed to read a wrong'un.

Reeza Hendricks (24, 21b, 3x4, 1x6) looked comfortable until he failed to pick Chakarvarthy's googly that rearranged his woodwork.

But the home side did not look in any great danger even at 34 for two after the Power Play, but Chakravarthy's twin blow in the 13th over pegged the Proteas back.

Heinrich Klaasen, a capable player of spin, chose to go aerial route only to find Rinku Singh in the deep.

David Miller's tentative prod off the first ball he faced met with thin air as the straight one from the Indian spinner, which quickened after pitched, crashed onto his off-stump.

But Stubbs and Coetzee, who put pacers Arshdeep and Avesh Khan through the wringer, had enough steam in them to give their side a win, as India strangely used left-spinner Axar Patel for only one over on a pitch where tweakers took six wickets.

Earlier, Indian batters too were all at sea on a springy St George's Park deck against disciplined South African bowlers.

The Proteas bowlers hit the back of length line and the natural bounce on the pitch did the rest. Abhishek Sharma's dismissal was an example for this.

The left-hander's underwhelming outings in T20Is continued as his miscued pull off a climbing delivery from Coetzee ended in the hands of Marco Jansen, who made the first strike dismissing Sanju Samson.

Samson, who had become the first Indian batsman to score back-to-back T20I hundreds, gave himself space to carve Jansen over mid-off, but the opener paid a heavy price for needless pre-meditation to get bowled.

Jansen started off with a wicket maiden and the rest of the SA bowlers hardly offered any freebies for Indian batters to shake off the pressure.

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who shuffled across a tad too much, missed a fuller delivery from Andile Simelane to get trapped in front of the stumps, and it was the pacer's maiden international wicket.

Axar (27, 21b), who was moved up the order played a couple of delectable shots including a punch through the covers off Keshav Maharaj for a four, was India's most assured batter on the night.

But the left-hander backed up a bit too far as Hardik Pandya's straight drive took a deflection off spinner Peter Nqabayomzi's hand before rattling the stumps. Axar did not even wait for the review to walk away.

In the interim, India went through a boundary-less period between the 10th and 16th over, which was ended when Arshdeep mowed leg-spinner Peter for a six.

Even an accomplished hitter like Hardik Pandya (39, 45 balls) had to wait till his 28th delivery to find a boundary reflected India's struggles.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Doing Well In IPL, Why Not Internationally?": Samson Recalls His Struggle

Nov 9 India batter Sanju Samson reflected on his early struggles in international cricket, saying that a string of failures made him doubt his ability, but self-belief and support of the captain and coach helped him stage a strong comeback. Samson hit back-to-back centuries in T20 Internationals with a breathtaking 50-ball-107 to headline India's comfortable 61-run win over South Africa in the opening game on Friday. "I have faced a lot of failures in my career. I think when you go through that failure, you have lot of doubts in your mind. People definitely say that social media definitely plays a role," Samson told reporters in the post-match press conference.

"But you also think a lot about yourself. Sanju, are you not made for international level? I think you are doing well in IPL. Why are you not doing well internationally? So I have a lot of such thoughts. But after so many years of experience, I know what my ability is.

"If I spend some time in the wicket, then I have a shot-making ability in spin and pace and I know that I can definitely contribute well to the team. I can win the match. This is also a reality. There are definitely a lot of downs happening but the upside is also really good. So I kept telling myself that."

Samson, who turns 30 on Monday, has often been criticised for not fulfilling his potential despite abundant talent. He had scored successive ducks in Sri Lanka but responded with a 111 against Bangladesh in the third T20I and followed it up with another ton on Friday.

The Kerala batter acknowledged the crucial support he received from captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir during his low phase.

"When you have a supporting captain like Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam bhai and VVS Laxman sir, they all support you during failures. The way they communicate with you in your failures is very important. Everyone knows that if we are going through a negative phase, then the player can get lost there," he said.

"So at that time, I received a lot of phone calls from Gautam bhai and Surya, telling me what to work on. Your spin is a little bit like that. You collect all the spinners in Kerala and practice in rough wickets there. You do this, you do that.

"So if your Indian team's captain is calling you and telling you how to practice after a duck, then you have confidence that the captain is trusting you. He wants you to do well. So I think all those small, small things plays a huge role, I think, coming back here," Samson said.

"I'm very grateful about the trust shown on me. I think I've been able to give it back to my team management. I feel that it's just a start. I would like to just practice hard, train hard, just be very grateful walking out to play for my country and just look to contribute and win games for my country every time I walk in." His innings included as many as 10 monstrous sixes which propelled India to 202 for 8 in 20 overs.

"When you score 100 for your country, it's definitely a very special feeling. The wicket was a little more bounced, a little spongy in the beginning. It's been raining here for 3-4 days, so I think it was a bit more challenging condition," Samson said.

"So according to that, we are talking to the team and we are preparing accordingly. Even when it rained for 3-4 days, our team came here and practiced. We did batting for 2-3 hours, so it was a little beneficial."

"We're the World Champions and we need to play like that"

Samson said they are focused on playing an aggressive brand of cricket, regardless of conditions, to live up to their reputation as world champions.

"What we have been talking in the dressing room from so many seasons right after winning the World Cup or even from last 2-3 years is even if you lose the toss and even the conditions are tough, we have to go all in.

"We can't think that we will have to look for something like 160-170 in these wickets because I think chasing becomes a bit easier. We were just looking to attack even knowing that the condition is slightly helping the bowlers," he said.

"We are definitely the world champions at the moment. So I think we have to play like that and just keep on looking to dominate in this format."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Qatar Tells Hamas Leaders They Are Unwelcome, Officials Say

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Cómo descubrí que me robaron al nacer

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"The Word 'Marvelous'...": Afridi's Flowery Words After Pak's Win vs Aus

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi praised skipper Mohammad Rizwan and the entire team following their nine-wicket victory over Australia in the second ODI at Adelaide on Friday. Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, and Abdullah Shafique led Pakistan's dominant comeback, securing a powerful nine-wicket win over Australia to level the three-match series 1-1. After the match, Afridi took to X, expressing that "when a captain inspires, the team fires". He also commended Rizwan, Haris, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saim, and Abdullah for their "marvellous" performances.

"When a captain inspires, the team fires! What a phenomenal comeback performance by Pakistan in Adelaide - securing our first-ever nine-wicket win over world champions Australia on their home turf! This victory is a huge confidence booster for the ODIs ahead. The word 'marvellous' barely does justice to today's stellar display from Rizwan, Haris, Shaheen, Saim, and Abdullah. Lads, keep believing in yourselves, and inshallah, even more successes are just around the corner," Afridi wrote in his post.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that worked in their favour. Except for Steve Smith (35 off 48 balls, with five fours and a six), no Australian batter could surpass the 20-run mark, with Australia bowled out for 163 in 35 overs.

Haris Rauf (5/29) bowled a superb spell across eight overs, while Shaheen took three wickets for 26 runs. Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain chipped in with a wicket each.

Chasing 164, Saim Ayub (82 off 71 balls, with five fours and six sixes) and Abdullah Shafique (64* off 69 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes) displayed brilliant batting, securing the win with nine wickets in hand and more than 23 overs to spare.

Rauf was awarded 'Player of the Match' for his match-winning performance.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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A Classic Holiday Dessert Reimagined

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Lower Rates, Rising Yields: What to Make of the Bond Market Right Now

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KKR Fix Replacement For Starc, Set To Target This India Pacer In IPL Auction

Indian Premier League (IPL) reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will have to rebuild in the IPL 2025 mega auction, having had to release most of their title-winning squad. One of KKR's key performers in IPL 2024 was Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who won the Player of the Match award in both the Qualifier 1 and the final. However, with Starc released, KKR reportedly have one big Indian pacer. That is none other than left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh, who was India's highest wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup 2024.

According to a report by Mint, KKR are set to go all out for Arshdeep in the mega auction. The left-arm pacer took 19 wickets in 14 games in IPL 2024, as well as 17 wickets in the T20 World Cup 2024.

However, Arshdeep's economy rate was over 10 in IPL 2024, something that will concern sides pursuing him.

As arguably the most attractive Indian pacer in the auction pool, Arshdeep will be highly sought-after by a number of teams, and may see his price go beyond Rs 15 cr.

Arshdeep has represented Punjab Kings since 2019, but was not retained directly by the franchise ahead of the mega auction. However, with Rs 110.5 crore in their auction purse and four Right to Match (RTM) cards at their disposal, Arshdeep could still end up back at Punjab.

Kolkata Knight Riders have already retained two high quality spinners in Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, as well as two pacers in the form of Harshit Rana and Andre Russell. While Starc's boots will be hard to fill, Arshdeep could provide a similar solution. KKR will be entering the mega auction with Rs 51 cr in their purse.

Starc did not have a great start to IPL 2024, having been bought for an IPL record fee of Rs 25 cr. But he came good in the busines end of the tournament, tearing apart Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1 and the final, with a combined five wickets in those two games.

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Kohli's "New Team" Post Sends Internet Into Frenzy. Fans Say, "Gave Shock"

Virat Kohli was one of the three retained players by Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. He became the costliest Indian player to be retained at Rs 21 crore. On the international front, Kohli has not been going through a smooth phase. Virat Kohli's scores in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand read 0, 70, 1, 17, 4, 1. And the reflection of that performance is clear on his ICC Test ranking. Courtesy his scores of 4 and 1 in the Mumbai Test that India lost, Kohli has dropped down eight places to 22nd. This is the India star's lowest in over 10 years. In August 2014, he was ranked 24th after a lean tour of England. 

In the midst of this, a social media post where Virat Kohli talked about entering a 'new chapter' with a 'new team' sent social media in to frenzy. However, the post was regarding a team 'Sporting beyond' which will work with the former India captain on his business interests. 

Ngl, it was scary for a moment!

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 7, 2024

Virat gave a shock to the whole nation for a moment

— Adithya Thatipalli (@adi_thatipalli) November 7, 2024

Aise kaun new chapter announce karta hai

Can I work in the marketing team ?

— Jerry Jose (@jrryjs) November 7, 2024

The lack of domestic cricket taunts continue haunt Indian cricket team's seniors, with experts refusing to turn down the intensity of their criticism after 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand. Many still feel that the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would've benefitted had they decided to feature in the Duleep Trophy. Some even suggest that the duo should play the ongoing Ranji Trophy. Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif also holds a similar stance, suggesting the top stars should let go of their big cars, flights and VIP treatment and go back to domestic cricket.

"Absolutely. They need form, and they need to bat hours there. If they end up scoring a hundred, then it will benefit them immensely and serve as a morale booster," Kaif said in a video shared on social media.

Kaif also shared a Rishabh Pant reminder from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020 series where the wicket-keeper batter came into the team on the back of a century in a practice match and helped India make history Down Under.

"Let me remind you of Rishabh Pant here. He ended up scoring the winning run in Gabba, but he was neither part of the ODI nor the T20I squad in that tour. He only went for the Test series, where Wriddhiman Saha played ahead of him. But India incurred that '36 all out' and we lost the match, Pant was included. But remember, Pant had played a practice match in that tour, in a Pink Ball match supposedly, and scored a century, after which he was included in the XI so he emerged as a whole different player then," he said.

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The world is preparing for Trump’s return.

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Neeraj Chopra Bids Heartfelt Farewell To Coach Klaus Bartonietz

Neeraj Chopra on Wednesday bid an emotional farewell to his German coach Klaus Bartonietz who ended his five-year partnership with the star Indian javelin thrower, citing family commitments. The 75-year-old coach, who guided Chopra to a historic gold at the Tokyo Olympics, a silver at the Paris Games this year, and several other medals, had earlier expressed his inability to continue, as reported by PTI in October. "I write this without knowing where to begin. Coach, you are more than just a mentor to me. Everything you taught has helped me grow both as an athlete and person. You have gone out of your way to make sure I was mentally and physically prepared for every competition," Chopra wrote in X in an emotional tribute.

"You stood by me through injury. You were there through the highs, and you were there even more through the lows." Chopra also highlighted the coach's quiet yet impactful presence, noting that while the laughter and pranks will be missed.

"You were one of the quietest in the stands, but your words to me rang the loudest in my ears when I threw.

"I will miss the pranks and the laughs we shared, but more than anything, I will miss US as a team.

"Thank you for being a part of my journey. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of yours," he added.

I write this without knowing where to begin.

Coach, you are more than just a mentor to me. Everything you taught has helped me grow both as an athlete and person. You have gone out of your way to make sure I was mentally and physically prepared for every competition. You stood... pic.twitter.com/kJxaPqmHmm

— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) November 6, 2024

Indian athletics chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair said the German's contract expired after the Paris Olympics and a new coach is likely be appointed before the end of the year.

"Yes, Dr Klaus will no longer be Neeraj's coach. The AFI and Neeraj will together look for a coach for him," Indian athletics chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair told PTI.

"Probably, we may have a coach for him before the end of this year. He (Dr Klaus) wants to be with his family. His contract with Neeraj has ended after the Paris Olympics." The German first came on board as a biomechanics expert but he later became Chopra's coach after Uwe Hohn fell out with the Athletics Federation of India and the Sports Authority of India.

Under Bartonietz, Chopra won Tokyo Olympics gold, Paris Games silver, became world champion and Diamond League champion, besides becoming Asian Games gold medallist.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Kohli, Rohit's Condition Is Like Babar": Ex-Pakistan Star Draws Parallel

Indian cricket team star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have come under a lot of criticism following their side's 0-3 series defeat against New Zealand. Both superstars failed to impress with the bat as the Indian cricket team lost three consecutive Test matches in the series. While Rohit finished the series with 91 runs an average of 15.16, Virat scored 93 runs at an average of 15.50. Former Pakistan cricket team star Basit Ali was extremely critical of the duo and he said that both of them are struggling in the same manner as Babar Azam.

“Babar ke baad, Rohit aur Virat ki bhi wahi situation ho gayi hai, form kharaab (After Babar, Rohit and Virat are also in the same situation, poor form),” Basit Ali said while speaking on his YouTube channel.

Basit even cited an example when explaining that Rohit's foot movement was not up to the mark during Day 3 of the third Test match against New Zealand in Mumbai.

"When Rohit missed two deliveries, struck on the pads and then on the lower abdomen, he stepped out to hit a four. This shows that his feet are not moving, form is not good. Then he hit a four off a reverse sweep," Basit Ali said.

The former Pakistan cricketer also said that both Virat and Rohit should play domestic cricket before the series against Australia as he felt that "Test match practice" was missing.

"Virat Kohli, out of touch, not in form at all. He needs to play domestically before flying to Australia, Rohit also. Test match practice cannot be seen," Basit Ali said.

“It was the mandate that you must make yourself available for domestic cricket to be eligible for India selection. Everyone played, all of them performed in patches - Shubman Gill, Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal...but these two (Rohit and Virat) were given a free hand and allowed to exclude themselves,” he added.

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Trump’s Crowds Are Dwindling as His Campaign Winds Down

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"No One Should Be Surprised...": England Great's Brutal Take On India-NZ

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen recently took to X to express his concerns about the declining quality of batting techniques in Test cricket. Pietersen highlighted the shift in focus towards aggressive, boundary-centric play, which he believes has led to a deterioration in traditional batting skills. "No one should be surprised by the lack of batting application and technique in Test Match cricket. Cricket is a 'smackers' game now and there is a disintegration of Test Match batting skill in the game. When it comes to playing spin, the only way, spend time playing against it for hours and hours and hours. There's no quick remedy!" Pietersen tweeted.

No one should be surprised by the lack of batting application and technique in Test Match cricket. Cricket is a 'smackers' game now and there is a disintegration of Test Match batting skill in the game.
When it comes to playing spin, the only way, spend time playing against it...

— Kevin Pietersen(@KP24) November 4, 2024

Pietersen's comments reflect a growing sentiment among cricket purists who worry that the emphasis on T20 and limited-overs formats is undermining the art of Test batting. His call for extensive practice against spin underlines the necessity for batters to invest significant time and effort to hone their skills in the longer format of the game.

As cricket continues to evolve, Pietersen's remarks serve as a reminder of the enduring value of traditional techniques and the need for a balanced approach to batting across all formats.

Recently, India was whitewashed in their home against New Zealand (NZ), where they struggled against spin. They lost the series 3-0, and suffered heavy losses in all three games.

Coming to the third Test match, chasing a target of 147 runs, India was five down at 29 runs. However, a fighting half-century by Rishabh Pant (64 in 57 balls, with nine fours and a six) kept India in the game. After his dismissal, India once again lost their footing in the game and was bundled out for 121 runs.

Ajaz (6/57) took a memorable six-wicket haul. Also, Phillips (3/42) was fine with the ball, taking timely and crucial wickets.

Earlier, Kiwis (NZ) were bundled out for 174, thanks to a five-wicket haul from Jadeja (5/55) and some fine bowling from Ravichandran Ashwin (3/62). A fighting half-century from Will Young (51 in 100 balls, with two fours and a six) was NZ innings highlight. Kiwis took a 146 run lead over India, who made 263 in their first innings while replying to NZ's first innings total of 235 runs.

In their first innings, India had taken a 28-run lead over New Zealand. India was 84/4 at one point, but a 96-run stand between Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant (60 in 59 balls, with eight four and two sixes) helped India recover. Gilll played a memorable knock of 90 in 146 balls, with seven fours and a six. A fine knock of Washington Sundar (38* in 36 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) pushed India towards a lead, taking them to 263.

Ajaz Patel (5/103) was the pick of the bowlers for Kiwis. Phillips, Ish Sodhi and Matt Henry took a wicket each.

Coming to the NZ first innings, Kiwis had won the toss and opted to bat first. Though spinners Jadeja (5/65) and Sundar (4/81) dominated the proceedings, half-centuries from Will Young (71 in 138 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) and Daryl Mitchell (82 in 129 balls, with three fours and three sixes) pushed NZ to 235. An 87-run stand between Young and Mitchell was what helped Kiwis get to a respectable score.

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He’s Running the N.Y.C. Marathon as Part of His Recovery From Addiction

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Badminton: Malvika Bansod Finishes Runner-Up At Hylo Open

Rising Indian shuttler Malvika Bansod's impressive run at the Hylo Open Super 300 concluded with a runner-up finish, as she fell to Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt 10-21, 15-21 in the final on Sunday.

The 23-year-old southpaw, who claimed notable wins en route to her first Super 300 final, including a victory over fourth seed Nguyen Thuy Linh of Vietnam, struggled to match Blichfeldt's pace, conceding the match in 43 minutes.

In the opening game, Blichfeldt capitalised on Malvika's errors, reeling off eight consecutive points to establish a 17-10 lead, ultimately closing out the game with ease.

Malvika fought back in the second game, even leading 11-8. However, Blichfeldt's powerful cross-court smashes allowed her to equalise at 12-all, then capture five consecutive points to secure the title.

This marks Malvika's second appearance in a major final, having previously reached the title round of the Syed Modi India International in 2022, where she was defeated by two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu.

In September, Malvika made headlines by upsetting Paris Olympics bronze medallist Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in the opening round of the China Open Super 100 before her quarterfinal exit. PTI TAP KHS

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Rohit 'Quashes' Ashwin's Suggestion On Ravindra Jadeja. Then This Happens

Whenever India play a Test match at home, the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin   play a crucial role in determining the result thof the match. If they both strike together, more often than not India emerge as the winner. If India go on to win the third India vs New Zealand Test, Jadeja and Ashwin will be credited a lot. In the first innings, Jadeja took five wickets while he has taken four in the second essay. Ashwin has so far taken three wickets in the second innings. 

On the second day, an interesting thing happened regarding change of bowling ends. In the final session, Ashwin went up to India skipper Rohit Sharma to suggest Jadeja be bowled from the other end. Sharma did not accept the request initially but then Jadeja was brought in from the other end and  he took the wickets of Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell. This was the same end from which the left-arm spinner took a fifer in the first innings.

Murali Kartik and Simon Doull, who were doing commentary, talked about it on air. 

"In between overs, Ashwin went up to Rohit, asking his captain to change the end Ravindra Jadeja is bowling from. Rohit immediately quashed it," said Murali Kartik.

"Jadeja is getting decent purchase from the end he is bowling from," he added.

However, the ends were changed a little later and Jadeja scalped Mitchell and Blundell.

Meanwhile, though his team was just 143 runs ahead with only one wicket in hand at the end of day two, New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel said they still have a chance of winning the third Test against India if they manage to score a few more runs and put the home batters in pressure in the fourth innings as the pitch is offering turn and variable bounce from both ends.

Patel, who claimed 5-103 to help his team bowl out India for 263 in the first innings after Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant had hammered 96 runs in quick time in the morning, restricting their lead to just 28 runs, was at the crease batting on seven New Zealand were reduced to 171/9 in their second innings.

"It's going to have to be whatever we score. We're going to have to try and do our best to restrict India and try and bowl them out, but it'll be interesting to see how the wicket continues to play tomorrow as well.

"The morning sessions have been a bit different to the afternoon sessions, so if the wicket continues to play like that, if we bowl well and do our best, I think we might have a decent chance," said Patel at the end of the second day's play on Saturday.

With IANS inputs 

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Who Abandoned Liberalism First, the Populists or the Establishment?

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Man Arrested After Burglary In Ben Stokes' House, Wife And Children Unharmed

A man has been arrested after England Test captain Ben Stokes' home was burgled while he was on tour in Pakistan, police said Friday. Stokes said his wife and two children were at home in County Durham, in northeast England, during the break-in by "masked" burglars on the evening of October 17, when valuables were taken. Durham Police said a 32-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of burglary. He has since been bailed.

Stokes was in Pakistan for a Test series when the incident occurred.

He said items stolen included a medal he received after he was recognised in the 2020 New Year Honours list, for helping England win the World Cup the year before.

Describing the break-in on his personal X account, Stokes posted images of the items taken from his home including a Christian Dior handbag, a gold ring with England cricket insignia and bracelets.

"By far the worst thing about this crime is that it was carried out whilst my wife and two young children were in the house," the 33-year-old wrote.

"Thankfully, none of my family came to any physical harm. Understandably, however, the experience has had an impact on their emotional and mental state.

"All we can think about is how much worse this situation could have been."

England lost their Test series in Pakistan 2-1.

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