A Master’s Degree holder in psychology wins the challenge with ‘psychological strength’!
Pratika Rawal is a master’s Degree holder in psychology, and that reflected in her rock-solid innings of 122 against New Zealand along with Smriti Mandhana, guiding Indian women to ensure a berth in the semi-final of the ongoing women’s World Cup on Thursday. Amidst today’s fast-paced world, which hardly gives time and space to relax and often offers the grief of failure, psychologists quietly hold the power to resurrect mental well-being. For Pratika, however, she is her own therapist, her own guide—navigating the pressure cooker of international cricket with the calm precision of someone who understands the mind as well as the game. With over 75 per cent marks in her psychology degree, she has mastered theory—but it’s the practical application that shone brightest against the White Ferns. The start was not as seamless as her early career flares against the West Indies and Ireland. Momentum seemed elusive. Yet, as the game unfolded, Pratika showed composure and grit that have become her hallmark. She is not a product of the Women’s Premier League hype. Her journey has been forged on the hard grounds of domestic cricket with Delhi, tournaments that rarely command the attention or fanfare that the Ranji Trophy or Vijay Hazare Trophy do in the men’s game. Even when she played match-winning knocks, the recognition she deserved was often elusive. Like many greats, Pratika didn’t burst onto the scene as a teenage prodigy. It’s only in her mid-20s that she truly began to rise, quietly but steadily. Anjum Chopra, the first Indian woman to score a century in ODIs, praised her for her unwavering focus, her ability to stick to her game, and her determination to navigate challenging conditions with poise. In Pratika, perseverance isn’t just a trait—it’s a way of life. While speaking to Star Sports, Chopra explained, “For me, Pratika Rawal’s evolution is remarkable. Coming from domestic cricket without WPL experience, she stepped into the international team and made an immediate impact against Ireland and West Indies.” She continued, “Even when conditions were challenging in Bangladesh or Sri Lanka, she hung in there. She continued that form in the first two World Cup matches as well. The effort she’s put in under pressure and expectation is, to me, more significant than just reaching 1000 runs in 23 innings. Yes, that milestone is important, but the effort, especially playing her first World Cup, is top-notch,” Chopra added. Pratika Rawal’s childhood coach, Shravan Kumar, who has also coached Ishant Sharma and Harshit Rana, praised the youngster for her performance as well. Speaking to IANS, Kumar commended Rawal’s consistent outings with the bat, saying, “She has been playing consistently. Many had been critical of her for her scoring rate, saying her strike rate was low, even the coach. But more than strike rate, the consistency with which she has scored matters more. And her strike rate isn’t even that low.”
Rohit Sharma wins praise despite the slowest ODI fifty in 10 years
Rohit Sharma won praise for battling it out in tough conditions at the Adelaide Oval, even as Virat Kohli fell for a duck in the second ODI between India and Australia on Thursday. On a pitch offering movement and bounce for the Australian pacers, Rohit held one end, providing India with a solid platform to post a challenging total after a slow start to the innings. Rohit scored 73 off 97 deliveries, reaching his fifty in 74 balls – his slowest ODI fifty since 2015. However, caution was necessary on a pitch with some moisture, which assisted the Australian bowlers. After looking scratchy on his comeback to international cricket in the first ODI in Perth on Sunday, Rohit was far more cautious this time, giving himself sufficient time to negotiate the new ball. Josh Hazlewood, who had dismissed the former captain in the first ODI, troubled Rohit once again by bowling tight lines and not giving him room to free his arms. Rohit was prepared to look ugly, playing out two maiden overs at the start, maintaining composure and not throwing his wicket away. Though he appeared rusty initially in Adelaide, he remained patient and determined. By the end of the 15th over, Rohit had scored 26 off 56 deliveries, absorbing pressure after India lost Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli early. Gill had attempted to accelerate after Rohit struggled in the first five overs, only to throw his wicket away to Xavier Bartlett in the seventh over.
Virat Kohli’s swansong at Adelaide ends with a duck again, waves goodbye to fans
It was not expected. Virat Kohli is the former Indian captain and the highest scorer at Adelaide Oval as a visiting batsman. His much-awaited swansong ended in disappointment on Thursday in the ongoing second One Day International (ODI) at Adelaide. He returned to the pavilion, dismissed for another duck after he had bagged his first ODI duck at Perth. Kohli was trapped LBW after failing to cover the line of an in-swinging delivery from medium pacer Xavier Bartlett. Kohli appeared distraught after being given out by the on-field umpire. He walked back after facing just four deliveries in the second ODI at one of his favorite hunting grounds. Australia struck twice in the seventh over, removing captain Shubman Gill and Kohli after a cautious start from India, who were sent in to bat. In a poignant moment, Kohli acknowledged the Adelaide crowd with a wave as he walked back to the pavilion. The fans responded with a standing ovation, aware that it might have been his final outing at the iconic venue. Kohli ends his career at Adelaide Oval with 976 runs — the most by a visiting batter at the ground. However, Rohit Sharma who was also a failure in the team’s first ODI at Perth, looks surviving at Adelaide as he is unbeaten 44 off 68 deliveries so far, having shown patience as he has hit only three boundaries. With Shreyas Iyer accompanying him with 29 off 36 deliveries India are 84 for the loss of two wickets.
Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed blames Gambhir on Sarafraz Khan’s non-selection
Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed on Wednesday accused head coach Gautam Gambhir of religious bias, criticising the non-selection of Sarfaraz Khan for senior national team assignments. The selection committee’s decision to exclude Sarfaraz from the India-A squad on Tuesday reignited debate over the alleged unfair treatment of one of domestic cricket’s most consistent performers. It raised many questions whether the prolific Mumbai batter is now even being considered for the second-string side. Mohamed took to X and questioned if Sarfaraz wasn’t being selected because of his surname. The Congress leader’s comments came after Sarafraz was not picked for India-A squad that will take on a visiting South African team in October-November in Bengaluru. “Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected because of his surname! We know where Gautam Gambhir stands on that matter,” said Mohamed on X, referring to Gambhir’s stint in the Bharatiya Janata Party Sarfaraz last played for India during the home series against New Zealand in November 2024 and didn’t get a chance to play the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. This is not the first time Shama Mohamed has stirred controversy with her views on cricket. Earlier this year, the Congress leader faced backlash for her comments on Rohit, calling him “fat for a sportsperson” and the “most unimpressive” captain in India’s history.
Rishabh returns against South Africa-A: Shami shown the door!
Rishabh Pant is returning to mainstream cricket after July. Before the series between India and South Africa, he was chosen as the captain of the India-A squad against South Africa-A for two four-day matches, scheduled to start on 30th October. So, India’s Test vice-captain will be missing the Ranji Trophy. The wicketkeeper-batsman was ruled out of the game for three months with a broken foot, which forced him to miss the Asia Cup, Test series against West Indies, and the Australia tour. South Africa Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma will also feature in the 2nd four-day match ahead of the India-South Africa Test series. Bavuma missed out on the Pakistan tour as he was sidelined with an injury. India will also play three One-Day matches against South Africa-A, starting 13th November. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s participation in the matches has not yet been confirmed. The BCCI has not yet announced the squad for those three One-Day matches yet. The 1st four-day match will have young players from India’s Test squad, including Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal. It is also an opportunity for Rajat Patidar to impress as he is eying a Test comeback on the back of scintillating red-ball form. However, one surprising omission is of Sarfaraz Khan, who continues to be absent since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year. While Rishabh Pant will continue to lead the squad in the 2nd match, he will have India’s Test regulars. KL Rahul, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj, who are not in India’s T20I squad for the Australia tour, will play the 2nd match against South Africa A. Significantly, Mohammed Shami continues to be neglected by the BCCI selection committee. It seems that the selectors are not willing to bring him back to at least Test cricket. Despite proving fitness, and having shown his class in Bengal’s Ranji Trophy opening match against Uttarakhand, Mohammed Shami has not found a place in the India-A squad for South Africa-A series. He picked up 7 wickets for Bengal against Uttarakhand. Shami recently made headlines when he countered BCCI chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar’s, claims about his fitness. Agarkar said he was not fit ahead of Asia Cup. He was also not considered for the ODIs against Australia. However, his absence in the India-A series raises the question of whether selectors have planned to show him the door permanently!
Adelaide Curator uses heat lamps to dry pitch before second ODI
The rain played spoilsport in India’s first One Day International (ODI) at Perth. The match was finally completed in 26 overs each due to continuous rain throughout India’s innings. So, in a bid to protect the pitch from the interruption of rain at Adelaide Oval for the 2nd ODI, the curator has been using Heat Lamp 48 hours before the match on Thursday to dry the pitch. According to reports from Australian media, the pitch curator in Adelaide deployed heat lamps on the centre wicket to dry them as there is a 99% chance of rain through Tuesday night. In the subcontinent, many have witnessed hairdryers, wood-fire, pedestal fans and even helicopter to dry pitches. But in Australia and England, the stadium authorities deploy modern measures. Heat lamps are nothing but high wattage bulbs that generate more heat than traditional light-bulbs and LED lights. These lamps emit infrared radiation to generate heat, which is directed towards the wet patches on the pitch. As a result, it evaporates the moisture on the soil and grass. Heat lamps are used in various purposes, including bathrooms and animal farms, to help speed up the drying process. Pitch curators across the world also turn to an array of heat lamps to quickly dry outfields and pitches. The best pitch of the lot is traditionally expected at the Adelaide Oval. The pitch generally offers a flat surface with even bounce. However, for the 2nd ODI, it could be a little different. With a lot of rainfall predicted on Monday and Tuesday, the pitch will remain under covers. Although, the forecast for Thursday is great with lot of sunlight, the fact that the pitch would remain under cover for at least 48 hours before the match day, there will be moisture. Australia’s fast bowlers, such as Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Ellis, could benefit if India bat first because moisture in the pitch may create seam movement, making batting challenging early on. As heat lamps continue to dry the surface during the day and sunlight increases, the pitch is expected to lose moisture, making conditions easier for batters later in the match. With India down 0-1 in the three-match series, it’s a do-or-die for India to restore parity. India have not won an ODI series in Australia since 2019.
Ajit Agarkar reveals ‘real disagreement’ with former India coach Rahul Dravid!
Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector of the Indian cricket team, has revealed a real disagreement with former India head coach Rahul Dravid. Agarkar was appointed as the chairman of selectors in July 2023 when Dravid was the head coach of India. Agarkar’s journey has not been easy so far, as he had to face the wrath of fans and many former Indian cricketers over his selection calls. For instance, he was heavily criticised for overlooking Shreyas Iyer for the Asia Cup 2025 despite the latter’s brilliant show in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Moreover, when Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their sudden retirement from test cricket in May, many fans blamed Agarkar for the cause behind the incident. Ahead of India’s tour of Australia 2025, the former Indian pacer was slammed for ignoring Sanju Samson in the ODI squad and picking uncapped Dhruv Jurel as the secondary wicket-keeper. Speaking during the NDTV World Summit on Friday, 17th October, Agarkar revealed that he had many disagreements with Dravid during selection meetings. However, he also noted that both of them had the best intentions for the Indian Cricket Team. “I mean, Rahul Dravid was coach before this – he’s a dear friend – and we’ve had some, I won’t call it bust-ups, but we’ve had some real disagreements with regards to what he wants. But that’s because we are trying to do what’s in the interest of the team,”he said. Agarkar also mentioned that disagreements between selectors and the coach or captain are bound to happen as they need to be part of the discussion in selection meetings. “Eventually, it’s our decision to make. Whether it was with Rahul before or Gautam Gambhir now, and even with captains – Rohit before this and Shubman now – we discuss things. Our job is to try and give the best possible 15 so that the captain and coach can have their life made a little bit easier. And if you don’t involve them in the discussion, it’ll be foolish,”he added. Dravid, who guided India to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 win, has always been perceived as a calm person in Indian cricket; however, he reportedly got engaged in heated arguments with Agarkar during his tenure as head coach. After Dravid quit as India’s head coach in June 2024, Gautam Gambhir was appointed as the next coach in July 2024.
Rashid Khan condemns Pakistan after air strikes kill three Afghan cricketers: calls attack ‘absolutely immoral and barbaric’
In a tragic incident in Afghanistan on Friday, air raids from Pakistan struck the Afghan civilians directly, causing the deaths of nearly 40 people. Among the victims were also three cricketers from Urgun district in Paktika Province. The Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan, deeply saddened by the incident, lashed out at Pakistan following the killing of three local cricketers in air strikes on civilian areas, describing the attack as “absolutely immoral and barbaric.” His remarks came after the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced the team’s withdrawal from next month’s tri-nation series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The ACB’s decision follows a series of Pakistani air strikes along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border that claimed several civilian lives, including the three young players. The tri-series, scheduled to be held in Lahore and Rawalpindi from November 5 to 29, has now been thrown into uncertainty. Rashid also released a statement expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy and solidarity with the victims’ families. The three players killed were identified as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, while five others also lost their lives in the attack. The fighting, which has claimed dozens of lives on both sides, resulted in a brief 48-hour ceasefire that was later broken after Pakistan launched air strikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, targeting residential areas in the Argun and Bermal districts along the Durand Line. The Taliban denounced the strikes as a breach of the truce, even as delegations from both nations were in Doha for talks aimed at defusing the crisis.
Virat’s preparation for Australia and the 2027 ODI World Cup comes from an ‘intense training’ in London’, says former India teammate
Virat Kohli is not sitting idle in London. With the 2027 ODI World Cup already in his sights, he had a rigorous preparation before his upcoming assignment with India—an ODI series in Australia starting Sunday in Perth. To prepare for both the ODI series in Australia and the distant 2027 ODI World Cup, the former Indian captain has been undergoing intense training sessions in London. After the IPL 2025 season ended, Kohli continued these meticulous workouts during his break. Dinesh Karthik, Kohli’s former RCB and India teammate, noted in a social media video that Kohli has been training every week in pursuit of World Cup readiness, despite the tournament being still two years away. Kohli would be 39 when the tournament is played in Africa in late 2027. “In London, he was training during this big layoff that he’s had after a long time in his life,” Karthik said. “And I also know he was practicing cricket easily, two to three sessions a week,” said Karthik. Last year, Kohli started the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour at the same venue with a century before his series tapered off, ending with one of his poorest returns in a contest overseas. While both Kohli and Karthik are set to return to action after months without competitive matches, there is speculation about their roles in the ODI squad. This comes as Shubman Gill steps in as the 50-over captain for the upcoming Australia tour.
BCCI scorers mix up Musheer Khan with brother Sarfaraz on the opening day of Ranji Trophy!
The opening day of the Ranji Trophy match between Mumbai and Jammu & Kashmir at Srinagar took off with an uncertain start as the BCCI scorers had reportedly mixed up the names of Mumbai batsmen and brothers Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan. The scorers apparently mistook Musheer for Sarfaraz and recorded his score as 0 at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, 15th October. According to social media posts, the official scorecard on the BCCI website initially showed Sarfaraz Khan opening the batting for Mumbai and being dismissed for a duck by Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi. However, it later emerged that it was actually Musheer who had opened the batting and was dismissed as early as the third delivery on the opening day of the contest. The BCCI quickly realised the error and corrected the scorecard, replacing Sarfaraz’s name with Musheer’s. Nevertheless, the slip-up led many on social media to wonder why Mumbai would send Sarfaraz to open the batting when the talented batter is seeking a return to the Indian Test team as a middle-order player. While Musheer fell early, young Ayush Mhatre and former captain Ajinkya Rahane steadied the innings with a 61-run stand. However, their partnership did not flourish further, as Yudhvir Singh dismissed Mhatre in the 19th over before striking again in the 23rd to remove Rahane for 27. Eventually, Sarfaraz walked out to bat at No. 5 and struck three boundaries early in his innings, transferring the pressure back onto Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir will be looking to make an impact in the Ranji Trophy season opener, buoyed by their victory over Mumbai late last season. J&K had defeated a star-studded Mumbai side at the BKC ground in a match that saw Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal feature for the Ranji powerhouses. Mumbai, however, will be aiming to regain their lost glory this season. Having released opener Prithvi Shaw to Maharashtra, the 42-time champions are being led by all-rounder Shardul Thakur.
