With India's loss in the second T20I against South Africa, skipper Suryakumar Yadav accepts that he and his deputy Shubman Gill failed to provide a solid start to the team. He emphasizes the need for other batters to step up and not rely solely on Abhishek Sharma. Despite the loss, the series stands at 1-1 with the third match to be held in Dharamsala on Sunday. Yadav also reflects on his own performance, admitting his responsibility in not batting deeper in the lineup.
Andhra's Nitish Kumar Reddy, who recently represented India in Tests and ODIs, showed his talent with a hat-trick against Madhya Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League stage. Despite his impressive performance, MP was able to chase down a modest target of 113 thanks to a composed 73-run partnership between Rishabh Chouhan and Rahul Batham. MP secured a four-wicket victory with 15 balls to spare and earned four crucial points.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, who recently rejoined the Andhra team after the India-South Africa ODI series, put on a sensational bowling performance in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh. He took a hat-trick by dismissing Harsh Gawli, Harpreet Bhatia, and Rajat Patidar on the final three balls of the third over of the run-chase. Along with his impressive bowling, Reddy also made a useful contribution with the bat, scoring 25 runs off 27 balls.
In a heartwarming moment at the New Chandigarh Stadium, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh slipped into the Indian team's pre-match huddle to deliver a motivational talk, just moments after a stand in his name was unveiled. He expressed his pride in the team's growth and predicted their success in the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2026. Despite being on the other side, Yuvraj continues to support and inspire his former teammates.
Indian teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi stole the show in the opening game of the U19 Asia Cup with a record-breaking knock of 171 runs off just 95 deliveries at a strike rate of 180. Suryavanshi smashed 14 sixes, surpassing Michael Hill's 17-year-old record, as he led India U19 to a massive total of 433 runs in their 50 overs. The 14-year-old's performance broke a record that stood for 17 years and he just missed out on becoming the player with the highest individual score for India in Youth ODIs by seven runs.
Indian batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi showcased his incredible form as he smashed a brilliant hundred off just 56 balls in India's first match of the Under-19 Asia Cup against UAE. The star left-handed batsman hit 5 fours and 9 sixes, helping India bounce back from a shaky start and set up a dominating victory. This is Suryavanshi's fourth century this year, and his first in a List A tournament, adding to his impressive record of three T20 centuries.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a young star cricketer from India, made a massive impact in his first game of the U19 Asia Cup tournament against the UAE. Suryavanshi, known for his aggressive batting, scored a century in just 56 deliveries and went on to notch up 150 runs in the first innings. This talented player, who made his IPL debut earlier this year, shows no signs of slowing down and is a name to watch out for in the world of cricket.
In a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match between Andhra and Madhya Pradesh, Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy made headlines when he took a hat-trick for Andhra. Reddy's exceptional bowling skills earned him the wickets of Harsh Gawli, Harpreet Bhatia, and Rajat Patidar, all in the final three deliveries of the third over of MP's innings. This impressive feat has garnered praise from fans and fellow players alike, solidifying Reddy's position as a top performer in domestic cricket.
The ongoing T20I series between India and South Africa has put the spotlight on the major debate regarding who should open the batting with Abhishek Sharma. Despite Sanju Samson's exceptional form in 2024 where he scored three T20I hundreds as opener, vice-captain Shubman Gill has been given the spot ahead of him. However, Yadav's explanation for this strange decision is questionable, given Gill's recent failures compared to Samson's impressive numbers. With Gill's spot in the team now in question, it remains to be seen if the 26-year-old can retain his position given Samson's strong claim for the opener's spot.
Actress-model Mahieka Sharma, who is in a relationship with cricketer Hardik Pandya, took to Instagram to congratulate her boyfriend on his major feat in T20I cricket. The duo has been in the news for their romance, with Mahieka often sharing photos and posts of the couple on her social media. However, Hardik recently took to his Instagram to express his anger towards media for clicking photos of Mahieka from inappropriate angles, calling for basic respect and boundaries towards women. Mahieka, on the other hand, hailed her boyfriend's achievement in the T20I match against South Africa and posted his stills with a sweet caption.
Indian cricket team's fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah achieved a massive feat in the history of T20I cricket. He became the second Indian bowler, after Arshdeep Singh, to take 100 wickets in the shortest format of the game. Bumrah achieved this milestone in the first T20I of the five-match series against South Africa, and also became the first Indian bowler to take 100+ wickets in all three formats. His heroics with the bat also helped India secure a commanding win of 101 runs, as they went 1-0 up in the series.