Harmanpreet Kaur shared her Player of the Match award with fast bowler Kranti Gaud
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won player-of-the-match award for an excellent century against England in the third and final ODI of the bilateral series which concluded on Tuesday in Chester-le-Street. Kaur scored 102 off 84 to help India post a match-winning total of 318 in reply to which England managed 305. In reply, England fought hard through Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 98 and her 162-run third wicket stand with Emma Lamb (68) but eventually ran out of steam as they were bowled out for 305. Kranti bagged her maiden five-wicket haul, finishing with 6 for 52 as India wrapped up the game by 13 runs with one ball remaining and clinched the three-match series 2-1. A major role in the historic achievement was played by rising fast bowler Kranti Goud who produced a sensational effort with the ball to finish with career-best bowling figures of 6/52 from 9.5 overs to help India win by 13 runs. Kranti became the fifth Indian bowler and the youngest to pick up a six-wicket haul in WODIs. She also became only the second Indian to achieve the feat against England after Jhulan Goswami (2005). In a video posted by BCCI Women on X, Harmanpreet acknowledged Goud’s career-best figures of 6/52 by sharing the POTM honour with the youngster. last wicket with captain Harmanpreet Kaur during the 3rd WODI against England. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Indian women’s team skipper Harmanpreet Kaur shared her player of the match award with youngster Kranti Goud after the team’s 13-run win over England in the third WODI at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday.The victory gave India a second straight series win in England with Harmanpreet named player of the match and player of the series for her efforts. After the end of presentation ceremony, in a heartwarming gesture, Kaur announced she’s going to share the player-of-the-match award with her young teammate whom she lavished with high praise. In a video posted by BCCI Women on X, Harmanpreet acknowledged Goud’s career-best figures of 6/52 by sharing the POTM honour with the youngster. “I want to share my player-of-the-match award with Kranti because she bowled one of the best spells of her career. It’s a great achievement for a bowler. We’ve been dying for a fast bowler like you. Well done, Kranti you deserve it. The 21-year-old Goud is a right-arm fast bowler hailing from Madhya Pradesh. She made her ODI debut in May against Sri Lanka in Colombo. She played her maiden T20I against England in Birmingham earlier this month. Earlier this year, she represented UP Warriorz in the WPL 2025 where she took six wickets in what was her maiden campaign of career. Growing up, Kranti took interest in fast bowling after watching bhaiyas play tennis ball cricket. For a long time, she didn’t know that there’s something called spin bowling in cricket and that is the reason she developed an interest in fast bowling.
Butt taunts yuvraj’s decision of cancelling pakistan match
Former Pakistan opening batter Salman Butt questioned the Yuvraj Singh-led India Champions team’s decision to withdraw from the contest against Pakistan. Butt sought a promise from the Indian team that they would maintain the same stance when the two teams are scheduled to play against each other in an ICC event. Whenever it comes to a cricketing contest between India and Pakistan, such narratives often become the talk of the town but it isn’t the same when other sporting contests between the two countries are scheduled. Butt wants India vs Pakistan sporting battles to be prohibited even in events like the Olympics. Salman Butt said on his YouTube channel. “The whole world is talking about them – what message have they sent to cricket as a whole and to the fans? What are you trying to show? What are you trying to prove? Now don’t play in the World Cup…don’t play against us in any ICC tournament. Make this a promise. See, we understand that everything has its own place. But now that you are interlinking, don’t play against us at any level or tournament. Not even the Olympics. Please do that. I would love to see. The stakes would be high, and I’d see how much nationalism they can show at that level, The former Pakistan cricketer said that the country wouldn’t forget what India pulled off at the World Championship of Legends, adding that they will keep reminding them of their nationalism if they break their stance in ICC tournaments. The veterans’ cricket match between India and Pakistan scheduled for Sunday in the World Championship of Legends in Birmingham has been cancelled after Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan, withdrew citing the Pahalgam terror attack in April. The decision came after Indian players faced criticism on social media for agreeing to play against Pakistan, leading to multiple players including Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan, and Irfan Pathan boycotting the match.The WCL explained that the India-Pakistan fixture was announced following a recent volleyball match between the two nations, with the hope of creating happy memories for fans. However, they acknowledged that the decision may have unintentionally hurt sentiments and caused discomfort to several Indian legends. In light of this, the match was called off. The WCL also issued an apology for causing any hurt. The statement read: “We at WCL have always cherished and loved cricket, and our only aim has been to give fans some good, happy moments. Hence, we have decided to call off the India vs Pakistan match. We sincerely apologise again for hurting the sentiments and hope people will understand that all we ever wanted was to bring a few happy moments to the fans.” According to a report by India Today, According to a report by India Today, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, and all-rounder Yusuf Pathan were among the first to opt out of the fixture. While the report did not confirm whether their withdrawals were officially communicated, it noted: “It is believed that the Pahalgam attack and its aftermath had a bearing on their decision.” Irfan Pathan also reportedly withdrew from the game. Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan confirmed on May 11 that he would not participate in the match against Pakistan. In a post on X, Dhawan shared an email he had sent to the tournament organisers, stating that the decision was made in light of the prevailing geopolitical situation.
Disciplined Sarfaraz Khan Loses 17 Kgs, Here’s How
Cricketer Sarfaraz Khan left his fans shocked when he shared his dramatic weight loss transformation picture on his Instagram Stories. Sarfaraz Khan, who has played six Tests scoring 371 runs, was not picked for the India squad that is currently playing in England. He, however, featured in the India A Tour of England Sarfaraz Khan has shown the world how turn rejection into redemption, courtesy of his dramatic body transformation and a renewed focus on elite-level fitness. Overlooked for India’s ongoing tour to the English shores, the 27-year-old responded with a dramatic physical transformation. His leaner self is not only going viral on social media but also shows how he changed his body with intent. Sarfaraz, was often questioned for his fitness despite raking up tons of runs in the Ranji Trophy but now he has shown how to change the narratie by shedding 17 kilograms. Behind the scenes of this transformation is a carefully designed nutritional overhaul. In an interview earlier this year, Sarfaraz’s father and coach, Naushad Khan, revealed the family’s collective commitment to a cleaner diet. “We stopped having roti, rice, sugar, flour, and anything bakery-related,” Naushad shared in an earlier conversation with Hindustan Times. “Our meals now include grilled fish, chicken, boiled eggs, fresh salads, broccoli, cucumber, and avocados. We’ve even switched to green tea and green coffee. It’s been 1.5 months of this strict routine.” The shift wasn’t temporary. It reflects a long-term vision to improve energy levels, muscle recovery, and overall well-being, all of which are crucial for elite performance. A Doctor Suggests on Weight Loss Journey: However, such transformations are not just limited to athletes but to individuals of all walks of life. Dr. Chirag Tandon, Director of Internal Medicine at Sharda Care Health City, shared his own weight loss journey to explain the importance of lifestyle changes and mental resolve. Sarfaraz Khan “I made both dietary and physical changes. I started taking the stairs instead of the lifts during hospital rounds, increased my cardio, and introduced some weight training. I cut down on carbs, rice, and excess protein, and shifted to a more fruit- and vegetable-rich diet,” explained Tandon. “While I’m a foodie at heart and have had my fair share of cheat days, I believe that diet and fitness are more about mindset than deprivation. Once you’re mentally in, it gets easier to stay consistent.” About Sarfaraz Khan Born in Mumbai in 1997, Sarfaraz first gained national attention during the U-19 World Cup and went on to become one of the most consistent run-scorers in the Ranji Trophy. A prolific talent in domestic cricket, he represents Mumbai and has made a mark with consistent performances over the years. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he has played for franchises including Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
No Arshdeep Singh for fourth Test, Nitish Kumar Reddy ruled out of series
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that Arshdeep Singh is indeed ruled out of the 4th Test between India and England in Manchester. The southpaw suffered a cut to his hand during training last week, following which he received stitches. Meanwhile, it has also been confirmed that Nitish Kumar Reddy is ruled out of the remainder of the series. As per the BCCI’s press release, Arshdeep suffered an impact injury to his left thumb during training. The BCCI medical team is monitoring him and has ruled him out of the 4th Test. “Arshdeep Singh has been ruled out of the fourth Test against England at Manchester. He sustained an impact injury to his left thumb while bowling in the nets at a training session in Beckenham. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress,” the release stated. Furthermore, the release stated that Nitish is scheduled to fly back to India after sustaining an injury to his left knee. The all-rounder tasted success with the ball in the Lord’s Test, picking up three wickets. With the bat, he played a handy 30-run knock in the 1st innings. “All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the remaining two Tests owing to a left knee injury. Nitish will fly back home, and the team wishes him a speedy recovery,” the release added. On Sunday, reports came that Nitish Kumar Reddy injured himself while training in the gym. The all-rounder was taken for scans subsequently, and results showed he had ligament damage in his knee.
How IPL is influencing english clubs to survive
Will the investment by IPL owners in The Hundred competition ease the financial struggles of the majority of 18 county clubs in England? It is a “make or break” question facing the struggling clubs in the county circuit right now. According to the recently-released Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report, the gap between the top clubs and the smaller ones is widening with the big three — Surrey, Lancashire and Warwickshire — generating 44 per cent of the total revenue of all 18 first-class counties in 2023. The smaller clubs like Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire are hugely reliant on the funding from the parent body — the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The sale of equity in the eight franchises of The Hundred is expected to raise approximately 520 million pounds, a part of which would be shared with the county clubs. The ECB decided to sell stakes of the eight franchises ahead of The Hundred’s fifth season that begins on August 5, day after the conclusion of the Test series between India and England. Four out of the eight teams have attracted investments from IPL franchise owners connected to Mumbai Indians (49 per cent of Oval Invincibles), Sunrisers Hyderabad (100 per cent of Northern Supercharges), Delhi Capitals (49 per cent of Southern Brave) and Lucknow Super Giants (70 per cent of Manchester Originals). The other four teams — Welsh Fire, Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Trent Rockets — have drawn huge sums from American investors. The eight counties hosting The Hundred teams, including the hosts of Test matches in the summer, are sitting pretty but the majority of the remaining 12 face an existential threat. “The Hundred money allows the 18 first-class counties to look to the future rather than simply survive from one summer to the next,” said former England captain Michael Vaughan in the report. In a separate interaction with PTI, Vaughan said the fresh investments into The Hundred would help England produce better cricketers. “There is an expectation that it’s (Hundred investments) going to help County cricket. What it does do is help England produce better players because some of our players go to the IPL and mix with some of the legends of the game and coaches and they come back better players. “The IPL is not going to move and it’s not going to get any smaller, so the game is going to accelerate,” he said, referring to the money pumped in by the IPL teams. Stuart Cain, CEO of Warwickshire County Cricket Club believes the fresh influx of cash in English cricket will help all 18 counties but in the long run they need to develop multiple revenue streams, that money will help red-ball cricket and T20 cricket thrive in all the counties. Cain said there is also plenty to learn on the operation front from the IPL biggies besides stressing on the important of creating different revenue streams for clubs that don’t have teams in The Hundred. Farokh Engineer former India stumper and Lancashire great said With more cash in hand, the clubs would be able to attract better players and improve the standard of red ball game he also added county cricket’s standard has fallen down, in his time time there was myself and Clive Lloyd playing for Lancashire. There was Gordon Greenidge, Barry Richards playing for Hampshire, Andy Roberts, Ian Botham and all these guys are playing.” “The standard of county cricket was very high then, with Indian money coming in, let’s hope county cricket standards will improve.
Greg Chappell’s Tips to Shubman Gill on improvement of captaincy
Former India head coach Greg Chappell also said that Shubman Gill will have to accept that his bat won’t always do the talking and the 25-year-old will have his “biggest examination” as captain in the Manchester Test next week. Greg Chappell noted Jadeja’s solid performance but stressed he should have batted aggressively. He called on Shubman Gill to improve communication. Gill should have directly told Jadeja to go for the win while the tail hangs around “The truth is, Jadeja was the only recognised batter left. If India were to chase down the target, he had to take calculated risks. His job wasn’t to leave balls and collect singles – it was to win the match. That clarity should have come from the dressing room, from the captain. He needed to be told directly: “You are the man who has to get this done. The tail’s job is to hang in there with you, but you must go for the win. “We saw exactly that from England’s Ben Stokes against Australia in Leeds in 2019. In a similar situation, he backed himself and produced one of the best innings of the past 50 years. “And this is where Gill’s leadership challenge becomes very real. He must start setting those expectations – clearly, proactively, and consistently. Chappell said that great captains are always great communicators, and Gill must develop this skill quickly. According to Chappell, whether it’s during training, in the middle of a match, or in the dressing room, clear and calm communication is essential. “Gill must define what sort of team he wants India to be. The captain sets the tone – not just with words, but with actions, clarity of purpose, and visible standards. That means demanding discipline in the field. India cannot afford to slip back into being a poor fielding side. The best teams are superb in the field. They don’t give easy runs. They don’t drop chances,” He noted that Gill cannot rely solely on his batting to lead and must learn to speak in a manner that aligns the team, fosters belief, and builds trust. The former Australia skipper also added that while Gill’s animated on-field self, like the one during his altercation with England opener Zak Crawley on the third day of the Lord’s Test was fine viewing, it must only come on the back of confident preparation.
Hanuman Chalisa In Dressing Room of Team India To Boost Morale
Indian team played the Hanuman Chalisa, a devotional hymn in praise of the Hindu god Hanuman, in their dressing room to lift their spirits ahead of the fourth Test match against England, which will be held in Manchester next week. Currently India is down 1-2 in the five-match series and looking to bounce back. the squad seemed determined to shake off the disappointment — not through intense drills, but by invoking good vibes through a unique blend of music in the dressing room. Listening to the Hanuman Chalisa before training seemed to be a way for the team to stay positive and focused. Along with the Chalisa, the team also played English pop songs and popular Punjabi music, creating a light and relaxed atmosphere in the dressing room. For the unversed, the Hanuman Chalisa is a famous Hindu prayer made up of 40 verses. It praises Lord Hanuman, a powerful and loyal devotee of Lord Rama. The prayer tells stories of Hanuman’s strength, bravery, and dedication. One important verse talks about Hanuman discovering his true power, which he had forgotten because of his humility. The message of the Hanuman Chalisa is that staying humble and serving others with devotion leads to greatness. Some fun moments happened too. Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah were joking around with journalists who were watching practice from below. When a reporter tried to call out to Pant, he replied, “I can’t hear anything,” because of the loud music. Bumrah jumped in and joked, saying, “Today Duggal Ji can’t hear,” It was a reference to a line from a popular Hindi movie. While the vibe was light-hearted, Team India were dealt an injury concern when left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh hurt his bowling hand. The 26-year-old was bowling alongside Prasidh Krishna when he attempted to stop a fiercely struck ball from Sai Sudharsan. The ball clipped his fingers, leaving a visible cut and forcing him off the nets. Bumrah, on the other hand, did not have a bowl and neither did Mohammed Siraj as part of workload management. It remains to be seen if either of them is rested in the next Test with the series on the line.
Specialist role for Rishabh Pant in 4th Test after Lord’s injury: ‘Keeping last part of process’
Ahead of a do-or-die fourth Test against England in Manchester, India are sweating over the availability of vice-captain Rishabh Pant, who suffered a left index finger injury while keeping in Lord’s Test. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate hinted that Pant might play as a specialist batter in Manchester after what he did with the bat despite his injury at Lord’s. Ten Doeschate said at the press conference “He will bat in Manchester before the Test. I don’t think you’re gonna keep Rishabh out of the Test no matter what. He batted with quite a lot of pain in the 3rd Test, and it’s only going to get easier on his finger. “Keeping is obviously the last part of the process to make sure that he can keep. We don’t want to go through that again where we have to replace the keeper halfway through in the innings. But he rested today. We’re just trying to give his finger as long as possible and hopefully he’s good to go in Manchester in the first training session,” said ten Doeschate in a press conference, on the sidelines of India’s practice session at Beckenham. He added In Pant’s absence, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel took up the keeping duties at Lord’s. Ten Doeschate did say Jurel was in the mix for Manchester if Pant isn’t fully fit. “He is in the equation. But I mean, obviously, if Rishabh is fit, he plays the next Test and does both,” Pant, who made 74 and nine at Lord’s was in visible pain after being hit on left index finger and did not keep wickets for the rest of the Test. Skipper Shubman Gill had said Pant will be fit to play in Manchester. “He will bat in Manchester before the Test. With India now 1-2 behind in the five-match series, ten Doeschate said the side is aiming to improve on the pattern of losing wickets in a heap, something which has hurt them in their losses at Headingley and Lord’s. India are playing a Test match in Manchester after 11 years, which brings an element of newness for a majority of team members. “I’m not sure Manchester is the same as Manchester of 10-15 years ago. Speaking to the media on Thursday after India’s first training session for the fourth Test, Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed Bumrah’s inclusion. “We’ll make that call in Manchester. We know we’ve got him for one of the last two Tests. I think it’s pretty obvious the series is on the line now in Manchester, so there will be a leaning towards playing him,” he said. If Bumrah play this will be Bumrah’s first appearance at the Old Trafford.
IPL to Blame? Brian Lara makes a huge comment on the West Indies’ batting disaster
Former West Indies cricketer Brian Lara, on Tuesday, took a veiled swipe at the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other T-20 franchise leagues, blaming the tournament for the dismal bating performance of West Indies in the third Test match against Australia, where the home team was dismissed for just 27 runs – the second-lowest total in a Test innings in history was just one run more than New Zealands 26 all out against England in 1955. In the wake of the horrendous batting display, Lara, speaking on the cricket podcast ‘Stick To Cricket’, indirectly blamed the IPL and other T20 franchise leagues for the decline of West Indies cricket. He claimed that players tend to use the national team as a stage to garner attention from T-20 leagues, as opposed to the culture back in his days, when cricketers used to rise through the ranks by playing domestic cricket and county cricket before earning an international debut. Meanwhile, former England cricketer David Lyod has blamed the top three cricket-playing countries, India, Australia, and England. Lyod said, “The big three, they take all the money. They get the big broadcast deals. You need to have a more even distribution to allow West Indies, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka to participate in the deal.” Former West Indies captain Carl Hooper, speaking on ABC Cricket, Hooper said he thinks a few heads should roll for these decisions. “They have made some wholesale changes, massive changes, that I think were not needed. … To make wholesale changes and then get results like this, Cricket West Indies have got to hold up their hands and be held accountable.”
Sanjoy Manjrekar appreciates Shubman Gill’s ‘Kohli-like’ aggression
India’s newly appointed skipper, Shubman Gill, has come a long way as a leader. In the three Tests against England so far, Gill has shown tremendous form. Additionally, in such an aggressive manner, the skipper is trying to guide his team on the field, has created similarity with Virat Kohli’s aggressive style, maneuvering the team as well as creating a buzz, whether Gill is showing the aggression to draw attention and publicity. But Sanjay Manjrekar, the former India cricketer, claims the captain is not doing it only for attention. Manjrekar said in a chat on JioHotstar that if somebody wants to build a brand by saying, “We are Indians, we are not less than anyone. This thought process will naturally draw attention. But Gill’s aggression is not to draw attention and mileage.” Manjrekar added, “Virat Kohli is different when compared to Gill. If Virat Kohli had come out to bat, he would have scored a hundred, but look at Shubman Gill’s body language. The man who batted like Bradman was so tentative in those nine balls that he seemed like he had gotten a pair. This is a clear sign that his aggression is not natural.” According to Manjrekar, Gill’s on-field altercation with England opener Zak Crawley remained a big talking point throughout the match. Some even thought England were charged by the incident and as its reflection, India find themselves 1-2 behind in the 5 match series.
