As the T20 World Cup approaches, there is speculation about who will be a part of Team India. However, there are doubts about whether Sanju Samson should be included in the squad at all. With his inconsistent performances and repeated exclusion from the non-World Cup XI, it is doubtful if he deserves a spot in the team. Furthermore, with Rohit Sharma no longer the captain, Sanju cannot expect a pep talk to justify his exclusion.
After taking a hiatus from professional hockey due to mental health reasons, Dillon Dube has been signed to a professional tryout with the St. Louis Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. This decision follows a comprehensive review of his case and discussions throughout the organization. Dube's return to the rink comes after being one of five players from Canada's 2018 World Junior team charged with sexual assault.
South Africa's captain, Quinton de Kock, put on a masterclass performance, scoring 90 runs off just 46 balls to lead his team to a formidable total of 213/4 against India. In response, India's top-order failed to deliver, with Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav all departing within the powerplay. Despite a valiant effort from Tilak Varma (62 off 34), India fell to a 51-run defeat, with South Africa leveling the series at 1-1.
Indian cricketer Abhishek Sharma made history on Thursday when he became just the second player from a full-member nation to hit 50 or more sixes in T20Is in a calendar year. With this feat, he joined the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, who achieved the feat in 2022. Overall, Austrian batter Karanbir Singh holds the record for hitting the most sixes in a calendar year in T20Is in 2025, with five batters scoring at least 50 sixes in the same year.
The first T20I between India and South Africa saw the return of players like Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya, but hard-hitting finisher Rinku Singh didn't make the squad. This was a surprise for many as he was a regular face in the middle-order. South Africa captain Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bowl first, while India skipper Suryakumar Yadav shared his thoughts on the team's preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The Indian T20I team will be looking to assert their dominance in the first T20I against South Africa on Tuesday, after their recent whitewash in the Test series. With an unstoppable record since winning the 2024 World Cup, the team's powerful hitters like Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya have caught the world's attention. However, the upcoming T20I series presents an opportunity for some changes in the team, including the inclusion of Shubman Gill and the return of Sanju Samson to the middle-order. Stay updated with real-time live scores of all the action.
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.
As India takes on South Africa in the third T20I of the series, the struggling Shubman Gill may face the axe from the playing XI. In his place, Sanju Samson, who has previously opened for India in T20Is and is in good form, could make a comeback to the side. Another possible change in the lineup could see Harshit Rana replacing the expensive Arshdeep Singh, while Jitesh Sharma's spot in the team could also be up for review. The addition of Samson could also pave the way for either Washington Sundar or Kuldeep Yadav to join the team as a specialist bowler.
India's premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah had a rare off day in the second T20I against South Africa, conceding 45 runs in his four overs and getting hit for four sixes in a match for the first time in his T20I career. South African opener Quinton de Kock led the charge, smashing seven sixes on his way to a blistering 90 from just 46 balls. Despite a valiant effort from India's other bowlers, Bumrah's expensive spell proved to be the difference as the visitors secured a comfortable win.
Shubman Gill has been struggling to perform consistently since his comeback to the T20I team as vice-captain, while Sanju Samson was in great form as opener with three centuries in 17 innings. Despite his success, the selectors and team management have opted to tinker with the line-up, leading to a drop in Gill's performance. With only eight matches before the T20 World Cup, India must consider bringing back Samson as opener and giving him time to adjust to the role he excelled in before. The question is, will they do it?
The Malaysian national field hockey team is determined to maintain their dominant streak at the biennial Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and secure their 18th gold medal at the upcoming 2025 event in Thailand. The team, currently ranked 13th in the world, has set their sights on winning all their group stage matches against Myanmar, Indonesia, and Singapore before advancing to the semi-finals and ultimately aiming for the championship title. Despite their strong ranking, Malaysia's head coach Sarjit Singh acknowledges the growing competition from other ASEAN countries and emphasizes the team's respect for all opponents.