Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana once again proved her dominance in the Women's World Cup as she shattered multiple records in India's match against Australia. With 1,000 runs in a calendar year and 5,000 career runs in the format, Mandhana became the youngest and fastest player to achieve these milestones. Despite losing the toss, Mandhana and Pratika Rawal's 155-run partnership put immense pressure on Australia and led India to a strong start in the high-stakes clash.
After being dropped for the England tour, Kuldeep Yadav made a stunning comeback in the ongoing Test series against West Indies with a five-wicket haul in just his second appearance. The young spinner showed his mastery over variations and took down key West Indian batsmen with deceiving turns and straight deliveries. With this feat, he has equalled the world record for most fifers by a left-arm wrist spinner and helped India enforce the follow-on, leading to a comfortable victory.
John Campbell's unbeaten 87 runs and Shai Hope's 66 not out helped the West Indies show rare resilience and stay in the game after being asked to follow on by India. The two batters put up a 138-run unbroken partnership, the only half-centuries of the series for the visitors so far. While India's victory seems inevitable, the counter-attack should boost the West Indies' confidence before their tour of New Zealand.
In a dramatic turn of events, Kuldeep Yadav's five-wicket haul helped India bowl out West Indies in their first innings for 248 runs. India then enforced the follow-on, but West Indies' openers John Campbell and Shai Hope showed resilience and fought back, leading the game to the fourth day. Campbell even hit a six off Ravindra Jadeja, while Hope took on Washington Sundar. Despite their efforts, India still maintains a strong lead of 270 runs.
Harleen Deol, an Indian cricketer, shared her definition of harmony within her team. She spoke about the team's daily routines during matches and tournaments, highlighting the small details that bring them joy, such as the sound of kitbag wheels and the knocking of a bat. Deol also reminisced about her maiden ODI century and the synchronised sound of the crowd's roar when a player hits a boundary or fifty. Team India is set to face South Africa in the World Cup on Thursday.
Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal shattered a long-standing record by achieving their sixth 100+ run opening partnership in women's ODIs during the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup. Their impressive partnership of 155 runs against Australia broke a 52-year-old record and solidified their position as the highest opening stand against Australia in the World Cup. This is also their fourth 100+ run partnership in a single calendar year, making them a force to be reckoned with in the Indian women's cricket team.
During India's crucial encounter against Australia in the Women's ODI World Cup 2025, Smriti Mandhana displayed her true talents by scoring a fluent 80 off just 66 balls. In the process, she became the first batter ever to score 1000 runs in a calendar year and also the fastest to reach 5000 runs in Women's ODIs. Although she fell short of a century, her innings helped India post a mammoth total and ultimately secure a victory against Australia.
India's opening duo of Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal showed impressive teamwork and skills in their stunning performance against Australia in the 2025 Women's World Cup. Breaking records and crossing milestones, the pair's partnership is now considered one of the best India has seen in ODIs. With the highest opening stand against Australia in a World Cup, they continue to make their mark in the cricketing world.
Abhishek Sharma, who was named the Player of the Tournament in the recently-concluded Asia Cup 2025, posted pictures with his mentor Yuvraj Singh on their flight back home after India's victory in the final. Yuvraj, known for his sense of humor, commented on the post, jokingly urging the youngster to take singles instead of just hitting sixes. Abhishek was also awarded a Haval H9 SUV for his impressive performance in the tournament, while Yuvraj congratulated him on his brilliant run and praised his teammate Tilak Varma for his unbeaten innings in the final.
In a nail-biting match, Namibia pulled off an upset against South Africa, defeating them by four wickets on the last ball of the T20I match in Windhoek. The team was led by Ruben Trumpelmann's all-round performance of 3/28 and 8-ball 11, while Zane Green's composed 23-ball 30* proved to be the winning factor. South Africa struggled to find their footing on the difficult pitch, with Namibia maintaining their discipline and securing a crucial win over a top-ranked team.