Virat Kohli says Hardik Pandya can make a big impact for India as a specialist batsman in the T20 World Cup as "you cannot create overnight" what the India all-rounder brings at number six.
Pandya continues to be troubled by a long-standing back injury but will be in the India side for their first match of the World Cup against fierce rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
India captain Kohli is backing Pandya to deliver with the bat for the tournament favourites despite his lack of runs in the Indian Premier League.
Kohli said: "Honestly, I feel that Hardik presently with his physical condition is getting better in terms of being prepared to bowl at least two overs for us at a certain stage in this tournament.
"We strongly feel that we can make the most of the opportunity at hand until the time he starts bowling, we've considered a couple of other options to chip in for an over or two.
"So, we're not bothered about that at all. What he brings at that number six spot is something you cannot create overnight."
Pakistan have lost all five of their T20 World Cup matches against India - including the final in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2007.
Yet Babar Azam's side are on an 11-match T20 winning streak in the United Arab Emirates and the skipper says they can get the better of their biggest rivals in their Super 12 Group 2 opener.
Babar said: "We have forgotten what happened in the past and we are trying to focus on the future. We want to use our ability and confidence on the day of the match so that we can get a better result.
"Records are meant to be broken. The matches between Pakistan and India are always full of intensity so we need to perform well in all three departments of the game.
"The boys are excited to play the World Cup and we have a crucial match on Sunday. A winning impact is necessary and then we will go match by match."
Athanaze, Greaves, Louis lead Windies rise in Test rankings
West Indies’ emphatic 201-run triumph over Bangladesh in the first Test in Antigua has not only bolstered team morale but also catapulted several players up the ICC Test rankings.
The performance, though not the most polished, was a statement of intent that showcased a balanced team effort spearheaded by emerging stars and seasoned campaigners alike.
Alick Athanaze, one of the shining lights of the victory, has climbed 18 places to 62nd in the batting rankings after his crucial knocks of 90 and 42. The 25-year-old’s maturity under pressure has been a revelation, solidifying his status as one of the brightest prospects in West Indies cricket.
Justin Greaves (up 43 places to 81st) and Mikyle Louis (up 25 places to joint-86th) also made significant gains, highlighting the depth and promise in the West Indies’ batting ranks.
The Caribbean fast-bowling trio of Jayden Seales, Kemar Roach, and Alzarri Joseph has reaped the rewards for a disciplined and hostile display in Antigua. Seales, who led the attack with precision, has moved up three places to a career-best 11th in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings.
Roach’s masterclass of swing and seam bowling, coupled with his ability to dismantle top-order batters, has pushed him four spots to 17th. Meanwhile, the fiery Alzarri Joseph has climbed three places to 29th, reflecting his growing reputation as a strike bowler capable of rattling opposition line-ups.
Bangladesh’s Taskin Ahmed stood out with a six-wicket haul, 6-64, in the second innings, lifting him from 67th to 51st in the bowling rankings, while Litton Das and Mominul Haque have inched up a slot each to 32nd and 47th positions in the batting rankings.
Meanwhile, India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has regained the top spot in the men’s Test bowling rankings after leading his team to a resounding 295-run victory over Australia in the first match of their ICC World Test Championship series in Perth.
Bumrah’s hauls of five for 30 and three for 42 have helped him overtake Josh Hazlewood and Kagiso Rabada and reach a career-best 883 rating points, the highest rating points tally ever by an India seam bowler. Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin (904) and Ravindra Jadeja (899) are the only bowlers from India to record higher points tallies.
This is the third time that Bumrah has been top of the rankings this year. He was top ranked for two one-month stretches each starting in February and October.
India’s huge victory in the first of five Tests is reflected in gains for several other players including centurions Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli.
Opener Jaiswal has overtaken Harry Brook and Kane Williamson to reach a career-best second position after top-scoring in Perth with 161 in the second innings, while Kohli’s unbeaten 100 has lifted him nine spots to 13th position after being outside the top 20 batters for the first time in 10 years.
KL Rahul has advanced from 60th to 49th position and Nitish Kumar Reddy has entered the batting rankings in 74th position, while Mohammad Siraj has moved up three spots to 25th position in the bowling rankings.
Australian Travis Head is back in the top 10 after notching a fighting 89 in the second innings while Alex Carey (up one place to 39th among batters) and Mitchell Marsh (up 10 places to 68th among bowlers) are among others to progress after their performances in Perth. Steve Smith, who could only manage zero and 17, has slid down to seventh place, his lowest position since December 2014.
CWI announces West Indies Women squad for India tour; Stafanie Taylor absent
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has named the squad for the West Indies Women’s tour of India in December 2024, a series that includes three T20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals. The tour presents a key opportunity for the team to test their mettle against India, currently ranked third in both formats. Notably absent from the squad is veteran all-rounder Stafanie Taylor, who is continuing her rehabilitation from injury.
The series kicks off on December 15 with the first T20I at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai, followed by the ODI series at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium starting December 22. The ODI matches hold added significance as they contribute crucial points toward the ICC Women’s Championship.
The West Indies Women, ranked sixth in both T20Is and ODIs, will aim to replicate their 3-0 T20I series win from their last white-ball tour of India in 2016. However, they face a formidable challenge against an Indian team fresh off a 2-1 ODI series win over reigning ICC Women’s T20 World Cup champions New Zealand.
Led by captain Hayley Matthews, the squad features a mix of experienced players and promising talent. Matthews will be supported by vice-captain Shemaine Campbelle and veterans like Deandra Dottin and Shamilia Connell. Rising stars such as Zaida James and Nerissa Crafton add depth to the team, signaling the focus on developing future leaders in West Indies cricket.
Head Coach Shane Deitz expressed confidence in the team’s potential following their semifinal finish at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year. “We want to take the good momentum we gained at the T20 World Cup into this series. We showed that we can compete against the top teams, which was pleasing,” Deitz said. “The consistency of high-level performance is what we need to keep working towards, and this is a good opportunity to play six matches against one of the best teams in the world.”
Deitz also emphasized the importance of the Indian tour in showcasing players to franchise cricket scouts, particularly those involved with the Women’s Premier League (WPL). “It is good for our ladies to start getting their names in front of those people, to hopefully open some opportunities in the future,” he added.
The tour will be preceded by a 10-day acclimatization camp in India, allowing the team to adjust to local conditions and prepare for the challenge ahead.
West Indies Women’s Squad for India Tour:
Hayley Matthews (Captain)
Shemaine Campbelle (Vice-Captain)
Aaliyah Alleyne
Shamilia Connell
Nerissa Crafton
Deandra Dottin
Afy Fletcher
Shabika Gajnabi
Chinelle Henry
Zaida James
Qiana Joseph
Mandy Mangru
Ashmini Munisar
Karishma Ramharack
Rashada Williams
Team Management:
Head Coach: Shane Deitz
Manager: Sheena Gooding
Assistant Coaches: Ryan Austin, Damien Wright
Team Analyst: Gary Belle
Physiotherapist: Angelica Holder
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Antonia Burton
Performance Coach: Dr. Nadine Sammy
Media & Content Officer: Nicholas Maitland
The West Indies Women’s series against India promises to be a compelling contest and a critical step in the team’s development as they continue to solidify their place among the world’s elite cricketing nations.
Pretorius stars in Amazon Warriors’ dominant victory over Qalandars in GSL opener
The Guyana Amazon Warriors kicked off the inaugural Global Super League with an emphatic six-wicket victory over the Lahore Qalandars on Tuesday, thrilling their home fans with a clinical all-round performance in Providence. The win, sealed with 12 balls to spare, showcased the Warriors' depth and intent to make a strong statement in this groundbreaking competition.
After winning the toss, Amazon Warriors captain Imran Tahir elected to field first. The decision paid immediate dividends as Tanzim Hasan Sakib claimed the tournament’s first wicket in the second over, trapping Mirza Baig lbw. However, Baig’s opening partner, Adam Rossington, counterattacked with a quick-fire 32, striking two sixes and three boundaries before being caught by Dwaine Pretorius.
Despite Rossington’s early aggression, the Qalandars struggled to maintain momentum as Tahir, Gudakesh Motie, and USA spinner Hassan Khan stifled the scoring with disciplined spells. Tom Abell anchored the innings, but with regular wickets falling, Lahore’s progress remained muted.
The game-changing moment came in the penultimate over when Pretorius, already influential in the field with two catches, delivered a stunning display of death bowling. The South African all-rounder ripped through the Qalandars’ lower order, picking up four wickets in the over, including Abell, Carlos Brathwaite, Asif Afridi, and Faheem Ashraf. Pretorius ended with stellar figures of 4-21, leaving the Qalandars reeling at 121-9.
The collapse was completed in the next over as Salman Mirza was dismissed, setting the Amazon Warriors a modest target of 125.
Shai Hope was steady with 45 from 43 balls
Chasing 125, the Warriors’ innings mirrored the match's earlier stages—steady but with moments of brilliance. Shai Hope, in his typically assured style, anchored the innings with an unbeaten 45 off 43 balls, ensuring the team remained on track despite a few hiccups along the way.
With 17 runs needed from 18 balls, the match hung in the balance until Mirza's final over. However, Keemo Paul provided the fireworks, smashing 20 runs in the over, including a towering six to finish on 27 from just 13 balls. The Warriors cruised home, sending the Providence crowd into jubilation.
Pretorius’ all-round heroics were instrumental in the Warriors’ victory. His four wickets in one over, coupled with two key catches, earned him the Player of the Match award.
The Amazon Warriors’ commanding win sets the tone for the Global Super League, establishing them as early favorites in the competition. With a balanced team featuring star performers in both bowling and batting, they’ve already laid down a marker for the rest of the tournament. The Qalandars, meanwhile, will look to regroup and address their late-innings collapse as they prepare for their next match in this highly anticipated league.
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