Mumbai Indians' captain and all-rounder Hardik Pandya reflects on his journey from facing criticism to winning widespread acclaim after playing a vital role in India's T20 World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy triumphs. He emphasized on the importance of perseverance and self-belief to turn things around.
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Travis Head tormented Indian bowlers again, smashing a magnificent 152 in the third Test at the Gabba, his second consecutive century of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He had scored 140 to win the Adelaide Test for Australia. Head also shared a massive 241-run stand with Steve Smith (101), who also scored a century.
India's fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah revealed teammate Mohammed Siraj bowled with a niggle during the third Test against Australia. Despite the injury, Siraj showed fighting spirit, picking up two wickets. Bumrah praised Siraj's commitment and positive attitude, even when not fully fit, emphasising his valuable contribution to the team.
Ryan Rickelton led MI Cape Town to victory against Joburg Super Kings with a stunning 89 off 39 balls. Joe Root's unbeaten 92 powered the Royals to an eight-wicket win over Pretoria Capitals. Faf du Plessis crossed 11,000 T20 runs, and remarkable catches by fans were celebrated in both matches.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius, an 18-year-old talent, scored a formidable 83 off 52 balls, leading Paarl Royals to a six-wicket victory over MI Cape Town at Boland Park. Pretorius' excellent performance, aided by teammates, helped the Royals move to joint second place in the SA20 standings.
Steve Smith confirms Travis Head will open alongside Usman Khawaja in the first Test against Sri Lanka, with Sam Konstas being considered for the middle order. Smith notes the experience will benefit Konstas, even if he doesn't play, recalling his own development in similar situations.
Ravi Shastri praises the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series as proof that Test cricket is thriving. Shastri emphasizes the need for a two-tier system to ensure the best teams compete regularly, maintaining the excitement and significance of the five-day format, especially after record-breaking attendance figures for the India-Australia Melbourne Test.
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir had a private discussion with Jasprit Bumrah at the SCG before meeting chief selector Ajit Agarkar, quelling rumors of dressing room unrest. Gambhir emphasized honesty in communication, strategies to win, and confirmed Akash Deep's injury, with replacement decisions pending pitch assessments. This interaction further fueled speculation about unrest in the dressing room, but Gambhir promptly dismissed such reports as unfounded.
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In the ILT20 match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Dubai Capitals defeated Desert Vipers by nine wickets, thanks to Gulbadin Naib's unbeaten 55 and Qais Ahmad's brilliant four for 25. This win secured the Capitals' second place in the standings, setting up a Qualifier 1 clash with the Vipers. Naib's aggressive batting ensured a commanding chase to victory.
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