Clairvoyants Tilak and Rinku willed on Sept 6 exactly what they would do in final

 Tilak Varma played the innings of his life, guiding India to Asia Cup glory with a five-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan in the final. The young southpaw delivered a brilliant unbeaten 69* off 53 balls, steering India past a challenging target of 147 after the team had slumped to 20/3 within the first four overs.

Varma displayed immense composure under pressure, rotating the strike with maturity and forging crucial partnerships with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube, scripting a memorable victory for India. From the very first delivery, his calm demeanor showed he was ready to shoulder the responsibility.

It wasn't just Tilak who saw his wish come true. Rinku Singh, who had missed India's first six matches in the Asia Cup, due to team combination constraints, got his chance in the final after Hardik Pandya was ruled out with an injury he picked up on Friday against Sri Lanka.

Determined to make the most of the opportunity, Rinku was electric in the field, diving, chasing, and taking sharp catches.

Captaincy Hurting Suryakumar Yadav? Stats Reveal Worrying Trend Ahead Of Asia Cup 2025 Final vs Pakistan

 Suryakumar Yadav's downturn since donning the India skipper's hat continued, as he orchestrated a rusty knock against Sri Lanka in the Super Fours fixture at the ongoing Asia Cup in Dubai on Friday. In July last year, the captaincy baton was passed from Rohit to Suryakumar after the seasoned opener bid adieu to the format following India's fabled T20 World Cup title-winning campaign in Barbados. Since rising to the pinnacle of the leadership hierarchy, runs and form have eluded Suryakumar. The explosive swashbuckler walloped a ton against Bangladesh in October 2024, which remains his last fifty as captain. He had run rampant in Hyderabad with a rollicking 75 off 35 deliveries - a knock that was seen as an ominous sign by many.

After Jasprit Bumrah lashes out, Mohammed Kaif tries to defuse tension with pacer

 Former cricketer Mohammed Kaif has offered clarification about his post about Jasprit Bumrah after the India pacer lashed out at him on Thursday, September 25. Kaif stirred up debate by saying that he was surprised to see Bumrah being used more in the powerplay by captain Suryakumar Yadav in the Asia Cup 2025

"Bumrah under Rohit would generally bowl overs 1, 13, 17, 19. Under Surya, in Asia Cup, he bowled a three-over spell at the start. To avoid injury, Bumrah these days prefers to bowl while his body is warmed up. 1 over of Bumrah in the remaining 14 overs is a huge relief for batters. Against stronger teams at World Cup, this could hurt India," said Kaif on X.

KL Rahul, Jurel falter vs Australia A ahead of India's West Indies Test squad reveal

 With India's Test squad for the upcoming home series against West Indies set to be unveiled later today, several players vying for spots endured a forgettable outing against Australia A in Lucknow on September 24. The timing of these struggles could not have been worse, coming only hours before chief selector Ajit Agarkar and his panel are expected to finalise the squad in Dubai, ahead of India's Asia Cup Super Four clash against Bangladesh.

At the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium, Australia A dominated proceedings, piling up over 400 runs in their first innings. In reply, India A's top order faltered badly, with multiple contenders for the West Indies Tests failing to make an impression. Senior opener KL Rahul, desperate for a big score to strengthen his case, scratched his way to 11 from 24 deliveries before edging behind off Will Sutherland. His lean patch continues to cast doubt on whether he can reclaim a place in the red-ball side.

Amid IND-PAK catch controversy, Have a look at 1986 Test match which ENDED an Umpire’s caree

 A tie is considered incredibly rare. In fact, the probability of both teams finishing on the same score in a match is only 1 in 100. In a Test match, this probability drops to 0.001%. This illustrates how difficult it is for a Test match to be tied. In 148 years, 2,599 Test matches have been played, but only two have been tied. The first tied Test was Test No. 498, played between Australia and West Indies at Brisbane in 1960-61, while the second Test, Test No. 1052, was contested between Australia and India in Madras on this day, September 22nd. This Test is remembered not only for the thrilling final moments, but also for the historic LBW decision that led to a tie. This decision was so controversial that the umpire who gave it ended his career with the match.

Axar hurts his head while fielding, could be in doubt for Pakistan clash

 Axar Patel could be a doubt for India's Super Four match against Pakistan on Sunday after hurting his head while fielding during the Group A fixture against Oman in Abu Dhabi.

Running around from mid-off to intercept a skier from Hammad Mirza in the 15th over of Oman's chase, Axar juggled the chance and put it down, losing his balance in the process and hitting his head against the turf. He was seen clutching his head and the side of his neck while being ushered off the field by the physio. He did not return to the field for the remainder of Oman's chase.

Axar only bowled one over in the innings, conceding four runs, with India employing eight bowlers on their way to a 21-run win.

While T Dilip, India's fielding coach, suggested at his post-match press conference that Axar was "fine", the short turnaround between matches could prove a challenge. India have less than 48 hours to take the field for the match against Pakistan in Dubai.

Axar was among the many India middle-order batters who had a decent hit against Oman. Coming in at No. 5, he struck a 13-ball 26, dominating a quickfire 45-run stand for the fourth wicket with Sanju Samson, who top-scored with 56 in India's 188 for 8.

If Axar is ruled out of the Pakistan game, India may not be able to revert to the three-spinner combination they have used in all their Dubao matches so far, unless they fly in a reinforcement. Varun Chakravarthy, who was rested for the Oman match with India playing an extra seamer, and Kuldeep Yadav are the two specialist spinners in the squad.

The two other like-for-like options India can summon if required are Riyan Parag and Washington Sundar, who are both part of their reserves' list.

India vs Oman Asia Cup 2025 Predicted Playing 11: Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson OUT, Arshdeep Singh and Jitesh Sharma IN before Super 4 stage

 

Defending champions Team India have booked their place in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2025. Suryakumar Yadav's side have notched up two wins in two matches the second one coming against arch-rivals Pakistan by seven wickets in Dubai on Sunday.

Indians will wrap up their league stages campaign with an inconsequential clash against minnows Oman in Abu Dhabi on Friday. It is an opportunity for Team India to give rest to top players like Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson ahead of tougher encounters in the Super 4 stages.

‘Behaviour of not shaking hands…’: Pakistan team makes a BIG move against Indian players, They have lodged a…

 Pakistan have lodged a protest with the Asian Cricket Council over the Indian players’ refusal to shake hands with them following their Asia Cup game here, labelling it “unsporting” and escalating the tension between the two sides.

In a statement late on Sunday night, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said India’s actions were against the spirit of the game after the seven-wicket win for the Suryakumar Yadav-led unit.

How an 11-year-old Shubman Gill found his calling in a U23 cricket match

 While there were reservations from the coaches about playing him in a match where the opposition was twice his age, young Shubman shocked everyone and played a 90-run knock. Shubman said in the podcast that it was at this moment that he realised that he wanted to become a cricketer.

"Honestly, I realised this is going to be my career when I was 11. There was a camp going on for under-23 Indian fast bowlers, and I was only 11. Most of the players there were more than double my age, and they were a batsman short. One of my closest friends, Kush Pri, who I practiced with and who was in that camp as a fast bowler, asked the head coach if he could bring me in because they needed a batsman for the match," Shubman Gill said on the Apple Music podcast.

"At first, they said, 'Oh, he's too young, he's just 11, he won't be able to play here.' But Kush insisted, saying, 'He plays with me, I bowl to him all the time, he can handle this.' Eventually, they agreed."

Shreyas Iyer opens up on injuries, being dropped from BCCI central contract: 'People see athletes as robots

 Indian star batter Shreyas Iyer recently revealed that when a back injury derailed his international career, he was paralysed in one leg, adding that this kept him away from all forms of cricket for a while, reported News18.

Iyer cited that this lengthy absence and eventual breaks led to a drop from the central contract.

Also Read | Does Shreyas Iyer's captaincy credentials cost him Asia Cup 2025 spot?

Despite 2025 having brought incredible highs, Iyer was confined to an English hospital bed two years ago and struggled through a lot of pain.

Over the years, Iyer's back injury had worsened he managed through a series of cortisol injections and painkillers with the wear and tear on his spine and hip.

Tempers might flare in India vs Pakistan, hint Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Agha

 There is no way that India and Pakistan can be played without aggression on the field, said Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Agha ahead of the clash of the arch-rivals. The duo spoke in the pre-tournament press conference.

Why chasing will be best option in Asia Cup due to dew and grassy pitches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

 Less than six months after winning the Champions Trophy when they beat New Zealand in Dubai, India can expect vastly different conditions to what they encountered then. If slow and tired pitches were the norm then, a totally different challenge awaits India.

With this being peak summer in the UAE – the organisers have already pushed back the start timings by half-an-hour 6.30pm local time so that the temperature comes down to mid-30s – there are plenty of natural elements and conditions that India needs to overcome.

Primarily two challenges await them: the pitches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and dew. Tony Hemming, who was the head curator from 2007 to 2017, overseeing the making of pitches in the ICC International Academy and the Dubai International Stadium says as much.

Women's World Cup: ICC announces cheapest-ever tickets, prices as low as Rs 100

 The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced ticket sales for the Women's World Cup 2025 at a record low price for any global ICC event.

Shamsi leads spinners' show to thump Knight Riders as Kings make playoffs

 

Did Rohit Sharma & Other Indian Cricketers Undergo Bronco Test In BCCI's CoE In Bengaluru? Report Reveals Truth

 

According to a report by The Times of India, the players underwent basic health check-ups, agility examinations, followed by the customary yo-yo test to end the day. But the new strength and conditioning coach Adrian le Roux's recommendation Bronco test wasn't part of the drill. As per one of the sources, quoted by The Times of India, it was mentioned:

"It could happen when the squad assembles in Dubai for the Asia Cup. The team will start leaving late tonight (early morning of September 4) and have their first session at ICC Academy on September 5. So if the management and the S&C want to do a Bronco assessment, it could happen in Dubai. If at all it happens."

Although the Asia Cup begins on September 9, India will open their campaign on September 10 against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dubai. The marquee match against Pakistan is on September 14 at the same venue.

Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma Continue Indian Dominance In ICC ODI Rankings

 Indian batting mainstays Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma continued to remain at the top of the rankings for ODI batters with Virat Kohli at number four, even as Australian players made big gains after feasting on South Africa in the recent series finale in Mackay. Gill (784 rating points) and Rohit (756) held the number one and number two spot respectively with Pakistan's Babar Azam (739) rounding out the top three. Kohli has got 736 points. The Indians have not featured in ODIs in recent months but Kuldeep Yadav (650) and Ravindra Jadeja (616) still remained static at number three and number nine in the latest ODI rankings for bowlers.

Thank you for making my job easier…’: Indian legend Virat Kohli wrote a beautiful message for Cheteshwar Pujara

 The Indian legend Virat Kohli congratulated the great test player Cheteshwar Pujara after announcing his retirement from all the formats of cricket. Pujara posted about his retirement on his social media platform.

The legendary Indian test player Cheteshwar Pujara announced his retirement from all formats of cricket on his social media platform. However, the greatest of all time, Virat Kohli, praised Pujara and wished him all the best for the future.