Big Picture: NZ face unfamiliar opponents One misstep against Afghanistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup derailed New Zealand’s entire campaign. Two years later, New Zealand flipped the script despite injuries and illness, their opening win against Afghanistan in the group of death, which also includes South Africa, raising their chances of making the next…
Big picture: Sanju Samson or Ishan Kishan? When India’s squad for the T20 World Cup was announced, Ishan Kishan was supposed to be a back-up for Sanju Samson. He had last played a T20I in 2023 and was picked only because the selectors decided to change the team combination at the last moment. A lot…
Big picture – India flex their muscle and depth India ticked some key boxes in the second T20I in Raipur: Suryakumar Yadav ended his T20I fifty drought and Ishan Kishan seamlessly slotted into Tilak Varma’s slot. In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested, and Axar Patel, who is nursing a finger injury, Kuldeep…
Big picture – Last hurdle before World Cup New Zealand have pulled off series wins over India in India for the first time in Tests and ODIs in the span of just over a year. Can they pull off a first in a proper T20I series too, discounting the one-off match they won in 2012?…
India’s Virat Kohli (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Virat Kohli once again proved why he remains the heartbeat of India’s ODI batting, producing a majestic century against New Zealand in the third and final match of the series on Sunday. In a chase that looked to be slipping away early, Kohli stood tall, registering his record-extending 54th…
New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Daryl Mitchell is proving to be a nightmare for India in ODIs. His latest century, alongside Glenn Phillips, helped New Zealand post a challenging 338 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium on Sunday in the third and final ODI, with the series tied 1-1.Highest ODI Avg vs India (min…
NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli’s golden run in one-day internationals has taken him back to the very top of the game. The Indian great reclaimed the No.1 spot in the ICC ODI batting rankings following his sublime knock against New Zealand in the first ODI in Vadodara, marking a return to the summit for the first…