Dhruv Jurel, the young wicketkeeper for India A, impressed with his second century in the second unofficial Test against South Africa A. Jurel reached the milestone in 159 deliveries, hitting 12 fours along the way. With India extending its lead to 370, Jurel's century has put the team in a strong position and highlights his potential as a rising star in Indian cricket.
In a stellar performance against South Africa A, Dhruv Jurel joined an elite group of Indian cricketers as he scored twin centuries for India A, matching the feat achieved by Naman Ojha in 2014. Jurel's impressive form continued as he notched his second hundred in as many innings, solidifying his position as a top contender for the senior Test XI. Along with Harsh Dubey, Jurel guided India A to a commanding lead of 416 runs, with the latter remaining unbeaten on 127.
In a rain-affected fifth and final T20I against Australia, Indian opener Abhishek Sharma achieved the milestone of scoring 1,000 runs in T20Is, becoming the fastest Indian to do so in terms of balls faced. He also became the second-fastest Indian after Virat Kohli in terms of innings played. Despite being dropped early on, Abhishek was able to reach the milestone before play was stopped due to rain, with his opening partner Shubman Gill also looking in good touch.
In a crucial series decider, India has decided to rest their struggling batsman Tilak Varma and hand an opportunity to Rinku Singh in the fifth T20I against Australia. With the series currently tied at 2-2, both teams will be looking to bounce back to secure a win. Meanwhile, Australia has won the toss and elected to bowl first, hoping to avoid their fourth consecutive T20I series defeat. Captain Mitchell Marsh has noted that the surface looks good for batting and there's a lot to play for at the Gabba. India's Suryakumar Yadav also shared that the team will be flexible with batting positions in the absence of Varma, who is resting for the match.
In the fifth T20I match between India and Australia, Rinku Singh has replaced Tilak Varma in the Indian playing XI. This decision was made on Tilak Varma's 23rd birthday, after he had a string of poor performances in the first four T20I matches. The Australian team, on the other hand, has opted to play with the same team. If India wins this match, it will be Suryakumar Yadav's sixth consecutive T20I series win as India's captain.
As the IPL 2026 approaches, Chennai Super Kings are making moves to strengthen their team, with talks of a potential trade with Rajasthan Royals for star player Sanju Samson resurfacing. Delhi Capitals have reportedly pulled out of negotiations, giving CSK an opportunity to swoop in. Other interested teams include Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants, who see Samson as an ideal fit for their squads. All eyes are on CSK's internal meeting this November, as they look to finalize their retentions for the upcoming season.
With all eyes on Hardik Pandya's absence on the ongoing India's tour of Australia, Shivam Dube has stepped up and proved himself as a key player in the team. Not only has he been impressive with the bat, but Dube has also showcased his skills with the ball, outperforming even Jasprit Bumrah in the death overs. With the team's trust and backing, Dube has continued to excel and make a mark for himself in the international cricket scene.
In an unfortunate turn of events, two Australian women cricketers were allegedly inappropriately touched by a motorcyclist in Indore on Thursday. They were walking to a nearby cafe from their hotel when the incident occurred. The BCCI and Madhya Pradesh Police have responded swiftly, with the BCCI vice-president calling the incident "very unfortunate" and promising necessary steps to prevent it in the future. The BCCI Secretary also expressed his disapproval and commended the police for their prompt action.
With a strong 6-2 start to the season, the Los Angeles Lakers are facing their biggest challenge yet as they take on the 5-1 San Antonio Spurs led by phenom Victor Wembanyama. Despite battling injuries, the Lakers have been carried by the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves who have formed a formidable chemistry on the court. Meanwhile, Wembanyama, who is averaging impressive stats this season, looks forward to facing off against one of the toughest players in the league, Doncic, and hopes to come out on top. With both teams showcasing their international superstars and the potential for a playoff preview, this game is sure to be a must-watch for all basketball fans.
During their meeting with PM Modi, the Indian women's cricket team had an interesting interaction where Harleen Deol inquired about his skincare routine. The team also recalled their meeting with the Prime Minister in 2017 after losing the World Cup and how their happiness has doubled with their recent win. Meanwhile, in other sports news, there are concerns about Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins' availability for the remaining Ashes Tests due to an injury.