Making his comeback from injury, Tilak Varma made a strong case for the Indian cricket team with a sensational century in the ongoing Duleep Trophy game between India A and India D at the Rural Development Trust Stadium, Anantapur. Varma on Saturday did no harm to his ambitions of keeping himself visible in the India scheme of things with an unbeaten 111 off 193 balls as India A declared their second innings closed at 380 for three. After racing to his hundred, Varma took off his helmet to acknowledge the cheer from the crowd. However, it was the celebration of his teammate Avesh Khan that has gone viral.

The cameras spotted Avesh in the stands making funny dance moves while celebrating the century of Varma.

Watch it here:

Tilak Varma brings up his

A calm and composed innings laced with 9 fours #DuleepTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank

Follow the match : https://t.co/m9YW0HttaH pic.twitter.com/wkCD4bln7E

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) September 14, 2024

Varma and Pratham made smooth hundreds to drive India A to a commanding position against India D after the third day of their Duleep Trophy match on Saturday. While Varma scored 111 not out, Pratham made an impressive 122 as India A declared their second innings at 380 for three.

It gave them an overall lead of 487, and India D have chiselled off 62 from the target of 488 for the loss of Atharva Taide.

Ricky Bhui (44) and Yash Dubey (15) were at the crease for India D.

Pratham, who resumed from the overnight 59, continued to play fluently and reached his 100 in 149 balls in the first session itself.

But the 32-year-old Railways batter fell to left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar close to the end of the opening session. Pratham added 104 runs for the second wicket with Varma.

However, Varma, who was once rated by Rohit Sharma as India’s next all-format player, held his end up well remaining unbeaten on 60, having brought up his fifty a bit earlier off 96 balls. India A took lunch at a solid 260 for two after starting the day from 115 for one.

But soon after resumption, India A lost Riyan Parag for 20 but Varma found an equally determined partner in Shashwat Rawat (64 not out, 88 balls, 7×4).

The fourth-wicket pair added 116 runs without getting separated that gave India A complete control of the proceedings.

Varma notched up his fifth First-Class hundred with a late cut to the third man region off off-spinner Saransh Jain that fetched the left-hander two runs. His hundred came off 177 balls.

India A went to tea break at 370 for three and then batted about 15 minutes into the final session before declaring the innings closed.

Though India D lost opener Taide in the third over to pacer Khaleel Ahmed, Dubey and Bhui ensured that their side will enter the final day without further damage.

(With PTI Inputs)

Avesh Khan faced RCB chants in Bengaluru© X (Twitter)

A hilarious moment was captured on Day 4 of the Duleep Trophy match between India A and India B in Bengaluru. Before the start of the final day’s play, India B star Rishabh Pant decided to poke fun at the India A players with a hilarious act. As India A captain Shubman Gill was giving a speech to the players, Pant sneaked his way into the team huddle. While Gill and some of the players were unfazed by Pant’s shenanigans, pacer Avesh Khan decided to have a conversation with the India B star.

Look who was there in the India A huddle before the start of the day’s play #DuleepTrophy| @IDFCFIRSTBank

Follow the match https://t.co/Oke5l0BJpq pic.twitter.com/MxL8Pv05dV

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) September 8, 2024

Here’s how internet reacted:

— The Pullshot (@The_pullshot) September 8, 2024

Agent Rishabh Pant

— Adi (@playerof11) September 8, 2024

Real imposter

— Rohit.Bishnoi (@The_Kafir_boy) September 8, 2024

Meanwhile, India B were closing in on a victory after reducing India A to 132/6 at Tea. KL Rahul was batting on 50 while Kuldeep Yadav was also not out on a score of 6.

Yash Dayal made early inroads with the ball after India B were bowled out for 184 in the second innings. Dayal claimed the wickets of Mayank Agarwal, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel to put India A on the backfoot.

On Day 3, a counter-attacking 61 by wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, where he showed glimpses of his best self with the bat, helped India B extend their lead to 240 runs against India A at stumps.

On a day on which 14 wickets fell, Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar led the way for India B to take a first-innings lead of 90 after bowling out India A for 231 in 72.4 overs. In their second innings, India B lost three wickets quickly – two of which were taken by Akash Deep.

Under pressure, Pant stitched a stand of 72 runs off 55 balls for the fourth wicket with Sarfaraz Khan (46 off 36 balls) and went to get his first fifty on return to red-ball cricket. But with him and Nitish Kumar Reddy falling in the last 30 minutes meant India A got something to smile, even though India B have a big lead in hand now.

In the morning, resuming from 134/2 in 35 overs, India B found early success as Yash Dayal strangled Riyan Parag down leg, with Pant moving across to his left to complete the catch. Saini came in to trap Dhruv Jurel lbw, followed by Washington Sundar getting some sharp dip and turning to castle a paddle-sweeping K.L Rahul.

Shivam Dube was in hit-and-miss mode during his stay at the crease, before edging to a second slip off Mukesh, who then trapped Kuldeep Yadav lbw. Tanush Kotian showed some fight, but an inside edge popping to the short leg off R Sai Kishore ended his resistance. After Mukesh had Akash caught at short leg, Kishore ended India A’s innings in 72.4 overs by castling Khaleel Ahmed.

(With PTI Inputs)

Gautam Gambhir’s single-minded objective of winning at all costs and striving to extract cent percent out of his players make him a ‘team coach’, reckons fast bowler Avesh Khan, who is aiming for a longer and consistent run in the national set-up under the newly-appointed gaffer. Gambhir, who was officially unveiled as India’s next head coach earlier this week, will start with an away white-ball series comprising three T20Is and as many ODIs in Sri Lanka from June 26. Avesh, who has played under Gambhir’s mentorship at IPL side Lucknow Super Giants, shared a few insights on his style on Friday.

“Whatever I have learned from him, it is about the mindset that you should always look to get the better of your opponent and give your 100 per cent,” Avesh told BCCI ahead of India’s fourth T20I here on Saturday against Zimbabwe.

“In team meetings, as well as one-on-ones, he would speak less but would convey his point as to what is to be done. He would assign tasks and roles to players and he has always been a ‘team coach’, he always wants to win and everyone to give their 100 per cent,” Avesh said.

With six wickets in three outings, Avesh said he has enjoyed bowling at the Harare Sports Club.

“We have played on different wickets here. We played the first two matches on the same deck, there was good bounce in the first match but in the second it had flattened out. The conditions are good, since it is an open ground the ball also swings a bit,” he said.

“But since these matches are played in daytime, sometimes the wicket dries up but as a bowler you should be prepared to bowl in all situations.” “I always try to take wickets for my team and with bigger boundaries here, as a bowler that is enjoyable,” Avesh added.

Talking about his evolution, Avesh said his focus has been on making his captain’s job easier.

“I try to give a freehand to the captain, in terms of using me whenever he wants to. If a captain has a bowler who can be used in all three stages — powerplay, middle overs and in the death — his number of options increases,” he said.

“As a bowler, I always think of providing that as an option, bring in new elements such as developing a slow bouncer or a leg-cutter from outside off-stump or near the wide line,” Avesh added.

Avesh said Jasprit Bumrah’s clarity of thoughts in execution as a bowler sets him apart, which is something he wants to emulate as well.

“Like Virat bhai said, he is once in a generation bowler, it is true and we all believe so. His style of bowling and his mindset are different, but main (thing) is his execution, for which we all practice,” he said.

“Whenever I speak with him, he tells me to focus on the execution. If you are thinking of sending down a yorker, then it has to be a yorker; it cannot be a full toss or a half volley, a bouncer has to be on the shoulders; a length ball has to be (aimed at) the top of off (stump),” Avesh added.

Indian cricket team spinner Ravi Bishnoi pulled off a brilliant catch to leave both fans and experts stunned during the third T20I encounter against Zimbabwe on Wednesday. During the third over of the Zimbabwe innings, Brian Bennett chased a wide delivery from Avesh Khan and slammed it powerfully towards backward point. However, Bishnoi was positioned perfectly and he leaped in the air and grabbed the ball with both hands to complete a sensational dismissal. Bishnoi’s teammates rushed to him to celebrate while Bennett was left completely stunned by the catch. The video of the dismissal has already gone viral.

It’s a bird

It’s a plane

Watch #ZIMvIND LIVE NOW on #SonyLIVpic.twitter.com/yj1zvijSJu

— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) July 10, 2024

Stroke-filled innings from Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad fuelled India to 182 for four against Zimbabwe.

Opting to bat on a fresh pitch, Gill-led India made some interesting selection calls. They duly brought in World Cup winners Jaiswal (36 off 27), Sanju Samson (12 not out off 7) and Shivam Dube into the playing eleven, leaving out the likes of Riyan Parag in the middle order.

Pant ko nahi

Ise spider man bolana chatiye

Ravi bishnoi man

Spider man catch pic.twitter.com/p9DG3vD1sX

— AllRounderArena (@NivedhM38443) July 10, 2024

Sanju came to bat at number five with four specialist openers Jaiswal, Gill (66 off 49), Abhishek Sharma (10 off 9) and Gaikwad (49 off 28) occupying the top four positions respectively.

Jaiswal, who did not get a game in India’s triumphant campaign in the T20 World Cup, was happy to be back in the middle and went for his shots from the get go.

The southpaw collected couple of fours and a six over deep-midwicket in the opening over bowled by off-spinner Brian Bennett to set the tone.

Gill began with a gorgeous on drive off left-arm pacer Richard Ngarava before pulling him for a six over fine-leg.

Zimbabwe were poor in the field to say the least, conceding extra runs and grassing regulation catches throughout the innings. Pacer Blessing Muzarabani (2/25) once again got the extra bounce from length and was the pick of the bowlers.

After racing to 49 for no loss in four overs, India could not maintain that tempo reaching 55 in the powerplay with both openers in the centre.

Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who impressed again with the ball, got the breakthrough for his team as Jaiswal’s reverse sweep went straight into the hands of the fielder at backward point. Last game’s centurion Abhishek did not last long and was holed out in the deep off Raza.

Gaikwad, finding himself at an unusual batting position, was able to milk the spinners in the middle overs and ended with four boundaries and three sixes. 

(With PTI inputs)

Young Abhishek Sharma announced his arrival on the big stage with a breathtaking 46-ball century as India pummelled Zimbabwe by a whopping 100 runs in the second T20I to restore parity in a resounding fashion in Harare on Sunday. This is India’s biggest margin of victory in terms of runs against Zimbabwe in T20Is. The young Indian side didn’t carry the baggage of a shock-13-run defeat in the series-opener as left-handed opener Abhishek blended power with grace for a scintillating 100-run knock that propelled India to a massive 234 for two on a track where batting wasn’t exactly easy.

The ask was already stiff and Indian bowlers got breakthroughs at regular intervals to bowl out Zimbabwe for 134 in 18.4 overs to set the record straight.

Pacers Mukesh Kumar (3/37) and Avesh Khan (3/15) removed the top-order inside the Powerplay to kill the contest which became a formality after that.

The day certainly belonged to Abhishek, who mixed grace and power in equal measure in an innings, embellished with eight sixes and seven fours.

It made a normally stylish Ruturaj Gaikwad (77 not out off 47 balls) look pale in comparison during their 137-run stand for the second wicket.

His innings would also increase the headache for skipper Shubman Gill and stand-in coach VVS Laxman, who would need to take a tough call when Yashasvi Jaiswal is available from the third game.

After his century, there is no way that the Sunrisers Hyderabad opener can be dropped from the playing XI.

Having endured the disappointment of a four-ball duck on debut, Abhishek never looked under pressure on a track which his senior partner and current CSK partner Gaikwad found “difficult to feel set”. The hallmark of his innings was fearlessness as he took calculated risks which paid off and allowed Gaikwad at the other end to get into the groove after playing and missing for the better part of his innings.

Abhishek got a reprieve on 27 when Wellington Masakadza dropped a regulation skier off Luke Jongwe. He never looked back after that.

Having started his international run account with a pulled six off-spinner Brian Bennett, who had got the better of him on Saturday.

His fifty came off another pulled six behind square off medium pacer Dion Myers, whose 28-run over actually opened the floodgates during the back-10 for the visitors.

The shot that was most pleasing to the eye was his inside out six off rival skipper Sikandar Raza, lofting his off-break with the turn over extra cover boundary. If that was elegance personified, the manner in which he muscled left-arm spinner Masakadza into the orbit with back-to-back sixes was a testimony to his brute power.

He raised his milestone hundred when he guided a wayward full-toss on leg-stump behind the square for a maximum before being dismissed off the very next delivery.

On return to the dug-out, he was congratulated by his skipper and best friend Shubman Gill, who once again had an indifferent outing.

The poor fielding effort also hurt Zimbabwe as they also dropped Gaikwad’s catch, who took off from where Abhishek had left, creaming off 87 runs off 36 balls for the third wicket with Rinku Singh (48 not out off 22 balls), who also made merry with five huge sixes.

The total was India’s highest against Zimbabwe in T20 Internationals, surpassing previous best of 186, a fitting comeback after an inexplicable batting collapse in the opening game.

The Indian pacers despite the usage of long handle by No. 3 Bennett (26 off 9 balls) were on target as Mukesh cleaned up two batters with slightly back of the length off-cutters.

Avesh’s nasty snorter was something that opposition skipper Sikander Raza least expected while trying to fend being hit on the helmet.

Once Ravi Bishnoi (2/11 in 4 overs) and Washington Sundar (1/28 in 4 overs) came into operation, the Zimbabwe batters weren’t able to hit them.

The difference certainly was extra bounce generated by off-spinner Washington and the pace at which Bishnoi consistently bowled his googlies.

With the series levelled at 1-1, it is expected that Sanju Samson will replace Dhruv Jurel behind the stumps, Shivam Dube with his all-round skills will come in place of Sai Sudharsan and Riyan Parag might have to sacrifice his place for Jaiswal in the match scheduled on July 10.

Eat, sleep. bowl and repeat. Avesh Khan has simplified the mantra of success and it is paying dividends as one saw his performances during key games for Rajasthan Royals in this year’s IPL. With 16 wickets from 15 matches, mostly played on flat decks, an economy rate of 9.81 is praiseworthy and his control at the death has made him look a different bowler this time around. “I have simplified my cricket — I have to sleep (well), I have to eat (well) and I have to bowl (well) and there is nothing else to it,” said Avesh, who took a three-for to help Rajasthan Royals reach Qualifier 2 in IPL here on Wednesday.

“The more you would think… cricket is like a circle, the smaller you keep it, the better it will be. You expand this circle more and you will find (more and more) gaps,” he added.

“This has changed my life too and also impacted my cricket,”he said.

The 27-year-old, who is among India’s reserve players for next month’s T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA, on Wednesday revealed that analysing his strengths and weaknesses after a heavy domestic season followed by IPL last year helped him find the better version of himself.

“Last year when I played for LSG, I had played 10 matches of Ranji Trophy wherein I bowled about 320 overs. The body was not responding to the efforts I was putting in,” he said.

He also needed to be aware that playing too much can cause wear and tear.

“It happens, sometimes as a bowler you just end up playing so much. Even in the IPL, you may think that it’s a four-over game or a 20-over game but still, there is a lot of effort that goes in. The body starts giving up and there are mental and physical fatigues too,” he added.

“Your execution could go off the mark, but if you are mentally and physically fresh you will be able to execute better. I was not fresh last year so I did not have a successful IPL. I (also) realised later that there is no good in taking so much tension,” he added.

Avesh said going back to the drawing board and working with his coach in order to work on his bowling action and setting up right routines for training and recovery have helped him immensely.

“I could not find the answers back then, but after the IPL last year, I analysed that there were some technical changes in my bowling. I worked with my coach Anand Rajan and I did well with him,” he said.

“I played in the Deodhar Trophy and Duleep Trophy which was followed by my comeback into the Indian team.” Avesh said leaving LSG for Rajasthan Royals also had specific benefits for him as a bowler.

“I understood my body and when the trade was made this year, I was also happy because anything can happen to you at any time in IPL,” said Avesh.

“The trade was not in my hands, but I took it positively, and Rajasthan’s (home) ground is also quite big, the team is also good… as a bowler you need such margins,” he said.

While acknowledging that various methods help player develop mental toughness, Avesh said there is no better teacher than going through the grind regularly.

“I get up only at 2:00pm on match days so there is no time to think that much,” Avesh replied when asked what he does to develop mental toughness.

“You can do whatever you can to build mental toughness but until you are not in a position to have faced the challenges repeatedly, you cannot overcome them. I acknowledge all that, but when (as a batter) you need 10-12 runs in an over, you forget everything and focus on execution,” he added.

The pacer acknowledged RR’s dugout was tense during a close finish against RCB in the Eliminator here but he said the team perhaps remembered head coach Kumar Sangakkara’s message before the game.

“The talk was simple — either we would win or go back home. We had to give it our all,” he said.

“We were top two till the last game of the (league stage) and we finished third. (Kumar) Sangakkara said whether we win or lose, there should not be any regrets,” Avesh added.

Yet another umpiring controversy rocked the IPL 2024. This time it happened in the RR vs RCB IPL 2024 Eliminator with Dinsh Karthik’s perceived LBW at the centre of it all. After Rajasthan Royals reigned supreme to reduce Royal Challengers Bengaluto to five down, the onus was on Dinesh Karthik to take the latter to a respectable total. But the batter was given LBW in the 15th over on the first ball that he faced. Karthik was given LBW off Avesh Khan‘s bowling. 

The full and straight delivery, that bent late, hit the pads. After much deliberation, Karthik went for DRS. It showed a big spike on UltraEdge, but it was hard to decipher if it was because the bat was hitting pad or the ball. The ball was close to the bat as well. RR players Avesh Khan and Riyan Parag looked shocked as Karthik was given not out. RR Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara fumed and went to talk to the umpires. 

Sunil Gavaskar had a clear verdict on air when the replay was being played. “The bat hit the pads and not the ball. If you’ve edged, you go straight up. You don’t walk to the other end to confirm,” he said. 

“I don’t think the umpire got it right,” Kevin Pietersen said.

Dinesh Karthik survives! What a review

Kumar Sangakkara wants to have a meeting with the umpires #IPL2024 #RRvRCB #tapmad #HojaoADFree pic.twitter.com/XUx8ucuu72

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) May 22, 2024

#RCBvsRR

This TV umpire should be REMOVED from panel of @BCCI @IPL

Shocking decision.

Looks like he had pre-decided 2 give not out. @DineshKarthik shud hv walked.

For RCB -TV umpire their impact player @RCBTweets .@rajasthanroyals @KumarSanga2 we are with you pic.twitter.com/5YozXFxAc2

— Anu Modi Mukarji (@AnuMukarji) May 22, 2024

Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and elected to bowl first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Eliminator clash of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Wednesday.

The winner of the Eliminator will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 at Chennai on Friday. RCB made it to the playoffs after winning their last six consecutive league matches, while RR came on the back of four consecutive losses and their last league game being washed out in Guwahati.

After winning the toss, Samson said Shimron Hetmyer is back in the playing eleven after recovering from injury and is expected to be slotted in when RR begin their chase.

“Would like to bowl first looking at the conditions and the wicket. There was dew last night. It’s all about the mindset. Really excited to come and play in this fabulous stadium,” he said.

“Great energy here. Looking at what has cricket taught us. When you have bad days, need to have character and confidence. That has been the challenging part – fitness and injuries,” he added.

The RCB skipper Faf du Plessis said he would have liked to bowl first too, if the coin toss had fallen in his favour and added his side is unchanged from their 27-run win over defending champions Chennai Super Kings.

“Watching the game last night, there was assistance for the seam bowlers early on. This looks on the drier side with some fake grass on top. We’ve had that mindset right through. Focusing on your own skills, being true to the way you want to play.”

With IANS inputs

Skipper Sam Curran played the lead act hitting a well-paced fifty and taking two wickets, as Punjab Kings consigned Rajasthan Royals to a five-wicket defeat in their IPL match in Guwahati on Wednesday. The target was a mere 145, but Kings made heavy weather of it on a sluggish track here but Curran (63 not out, 41b, 5×4, 3×6) had a calm head and skills to lift them to their fifth win of the season. PBKS made 145/5 in 18.5 overs. The Englishman received good support from Jitesh Sharma (22, 20b) as the pair added 63 runs in a fluent fifth wicket partnership.

For Royals, it was their fourth defeat on the trot, but they remained second on the table with 16 points with a qualification to the playoffs to boot with.

The Kings’ chase began on a shaky note as they lost Prabhsimran Singh in the first over itself to Trent Boult.

But bigger jolts were in store as an impressive Avesh Khan (2/28) scalped two wickets in the fifth over.

The right-arm pacer first plucked the important wicket of Rilee Rossouw, who played some strong shots in his 13-ball 22, and then jettisoned in-form Shashank Singh for a two-ball naught.

Shashank failed to connect a fuller, straighter one from Avesh while attempting a flick, and the 141 kmph delivery thudded on his bat. Shashank did not even bother to use DRS as he walked away.

Punjab gained some ground through the alliance between Curran and Jitesh, who smoked R Ashwin for two sixes.

Curran too gave a dose of punishment to the veteran offie, lofting him for a wonderful six over extra cover.

But the blossoming stand was snapped by Yuzvendra Chahal (2/31), leaving PBKS at 111 for five in the 16th over.

However, Curran and Ashutosh Sharma (17 not out, 11 balls) knocked off the remaining runs without further drama.

Earlier, despite a well-tuned 48 from local hero Riyan Parag, RR struggled against an array of accurate bowlers on a rather slow pitch, meandering to a sub-par 144 for nine.

R Ashwin (28, 19b, 3×4, 1×6) and Parag (48, 34, 6×4) tried to accelerate during their 50-run stand for the fourth wicket but it could only bring in a temporary momentum for RR.

In fact, lethargy had set in very early in the Rajasthan innings after the early loss of Jaiswal, who chopped a Curran (2/24) delivery back on to his stumps.

Sanju Samson (18), who went past 500-run in a season for the first time in his IPL career, and Tom-Kohler Cadmore (18, 23b) stitched 36 runs for the second wicket but took six overs for it.

But with Curran and Arshdeep finding a hint of swing and maintaining a good line, scoring was not an easy proposition for the RR batters.

Eventually, Samson, who tried a hopping cut off pacer Nathan Ellis, gave a simple catch to Rahul Chahar at point in the seventh over.

Cadmore too returned to the dugout in the next over, as his almighty heave off leg-spinner Chahar (2/26) could not progress beyond Jitesh in the deep.

Those twin dismissals actually paved the way for the best phase in the Royals’ innings as Ashwin and Parag pressed their foot on the right pedal.

Ashwin displayed his batting skills, smashing Chahar for 17 runs in the 12th over that included a sequence of 6, 4, 4 and the first four was a stunning reverse scoop over backward point.

But he could not further extend his innings, lofting Arshdeep to Shashank.

Parag, usually a free-flowing batter, had to curb his flair in front of a hugely adoring home crowd because of the regular fall of wickets at the other end.

But a late cut off Curran that sped to third man stood as a testament of his ability and timing as he also moved past the 500-run mark for the season, before getting trapped in front of the wicket by Harshal Patel.

However, apart from conquering those little peaks the RR batters failed to slip into the top gear consistently.