SPORTS MANIA

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald is confident that their "no tour game" policy on overseas tours will serve them well in the four match Test series in India in February-March. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/tour-game-not-needed-before-india-series-insists-australia-head-coach-andrew-mcdonald/articleshow/96659929.cms

Hardik Pandya, who will lead Team India in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka starting on January 3, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence on Saturday on the New Year's eve. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/it-was-an-honour-and-privilege-to-meet-you-hardik-pandya-meets-home-minister-amit-shah/articleshow/96647895.cms

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday announced free entry for spectators for the second and final Test against New Zealand at the National Bank Cricket Arena, starting on Monday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/pcb-announces-free-entry-for-second-test-against-new-zealand/articleshow/96646369.cms

Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) director Shyam Sharma on Saturday met Rishabh Pant at Max Hospital here and expressed satisfaction at the treatment being given to the cricket star at the facility. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/ddca-director-meets-pant-expresses-satisfaction-at-medical-treatment/articleshow/96644102.cms

The Delhi & District Cricket Association Director Shyam Sharma said a DDCA team will be at Max Hospital in Dehradun to monitor star Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant's health, who met with a terrible accident a day back, and if needed the batter-wicketkeeper would be airlifted to Delhi for his plastic surgery. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/rishabh-pant-likely-to-be-shifted-to-delhi-ddca-director-monitoring-his-health/articleshow/96638117.cms

Bollywood actors Anil Kapoor and Anupam Kher on Saturday met cricketer Rishabh Pant who is recuperating at Max Hospital here after suffering injuries in a car crash. India's star cricketer had a miraculous escape when his luxury car crashed into a road divider and caught fire after he dozed off at the wheel on the Delhi-Dehradun highway in the early hours of Friday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/actors-anil-kapoor-anupam-kher-meet-cricketer-rishabh-pant/articleshow/96637910.cms

Ten years after making a century on firstclass debut against Tamil Nadu, having managed to play just 20 games, Vaibhav Rawal scored a defiant unbeaten 95 on the last day of the Ranji match against the same opponents to help Delhi avert another loss in the season. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/ranji-trophy-vaibhav-rawals-defiance-helps-delhi-escape-with-draw/articleshow/96637506.cms

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialed Rishabh Pant's family to take stock of his health after the Indian cricketer met with a horrific accident at the Delhi-Dehradun highway in the wee hours on Friday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/pm-modi-speaks-with-rishabh-pants-family-inquires-about-his-health/articleshow/96628172.cms

Pakistan staved off a fifth consecutive defeat at home with a hard-fought draw in the first Test in Karachi on Friday despite career-best bowling figures from New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/1st-test-sodhis-best-in-vain-as-pakistan-salvage-draw-against-new-zealand/articleshow/96626746.cms

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday prayed for the good health of star cricketer Rishabh Pant, who has been injured in a road accident. Pant suffered multiple injuries when his car hit a road divider on the Delhi-Dehradun highway in the early hours of Friday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/pm-narendra-modi-wishes-good-health-to-cricketer-rishabh-pant/articleshow/96622965.cms

Rishabh Pant's plan to surprise his mother ahead of the new year turned into a horrific accident after his car collided with a road divider on the Delhi-Dehradun highway in the wee hours on Friday. The star India wicket-keeper batter was lucky to survive serious injuries due to his alertness, jumping off his Mercedes in the nick of time as the car went up in flames after hitting the divider. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/rishabh-pants-surprise-visit-to-mother-turns-into-horrific-car-accident/articleshow/96620710.cms

Vidarbha batters surrendered without showing any intent against Abid Mushtaq and lost by 39 runs at Civil Lines stadium on Day 3. Chasing 141, they were bowled out for 101 in 34 overs. Vidarbha’s last defeat at home was in the 2013-14 season against Gujarat. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/ranji-trophy-fort-vidarbha-breached-after-8-years-lose-to-jk-by-39-runs/articleshow/96617104.cms

India's star wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant suffered several injuries in a car accident on Friday. The car, which Pant was driving himself, collided with a road divider on the Delhi-Dehradun highway and caught fire. There was no one else traveling with him. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/rishabh-pant-get-well-soon-cricketing-world-prays-for-star-wicketkeepers-speedy-recovery-from-car-crash/articleshow/96612895.cms

India's wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was injured in a car accident near Roorkee while returning home. As per latest reports, he was shifted to the AIIMS hospital in Rishikesh and has suffered injuries on his forehead and leg. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/indias-wicketkeeper-batter-rishabh-pant-injured-in-a-car-accident/articleshow/96611281.cms

A week after he was snapped by Gujarat Titans for a whopping Rs 6 crore in the IPL mini-auction, Mavi celebrated another big moment of his career when he was selected in India's T20 squad for the upcoming three T20Is against Sri Lanka, starting January 3 in Mumbai. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/sri-lanka-in-india/want-a-game-against-sri-lanka-to-impress-hardik-pandya-says-shivam-mavi/articleshow/96594151.cms

Swashbuckling Indian batters Suryakumar Yadav and Smriti Mandhana were on Thursday nominated for the men's and women's T20 Cricketer of the Year awards, respectively, for their exploits in 2022. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/suryakumar-yadav-smriti-mandhana-among-nominees-for-icc-t20-cricketer-of-the-year-honour/articleshow/96593476.cms

South Africa captain Dean Elgar said inexperience in his batting lineup was hurting the team but demanded his players restore some pride in the badge after they suffered their heaviest defeat in Australia in the Melbourne Test on Thursday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/aus-vs-sa-inexperience-hitting-south-africa-hard-says-dean-elgar/articleshow/96591348.cms

India's chances of sealing the second spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) table and make it to the final received a boost on Thursday when Australia thrashed South Africa by an innings and 182 to runs in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/australia-boost-indias-world-test-championship-final-hopes-by-thrashing-south-africa/articleshow/96588648.cms

For the second time in 12 months, selectors and Team India management have pressed the reset button. On Tuesday night, the selectors announced a T20I team and an ODI team to play a home series against Sri Lanka from next week, which indicates that they are looking at a future beyond established names of Indian cricket. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/sri-lanka-in-india/india-vs-sri-lanka-hardik-pandya-in-lead-role-as-india-press-reset-button/articleshow/96583991.cms

Former Australia captain Simon Katich has termed South Africa skipper Dean Elgar's tactics and decision-making in the second Test against Australia as "terrible" and added that the field he set on day two at the MCG defied logic. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/australia-vs-south-africa-2nd-test-dean-elgars-tactics-and-decision-making-were-terrible-says-simon-katich/articleshow/96567996.cms

The third day of the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi witnessed a bizarre incident with confusion arising over who is leading the home side in absence of regular skipper Babar Azam. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/watch-sarfaraz-or-rizwan-confusion-over-pakistan-captain-in-absence-of-babar-azam/articleshow/96566575.cms

Russell Domingo has stepped down from his post as Bangladesh head coach, two days after his side lost the home Test series to India. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/russell-domingo-steps-down-as-bangladesh-coach/articleshow/96565417.cms

Read more on TOI Sports source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/web-stories/sky-moments-how-suryakumar-yadav-dominated-t20is-in-2022/photostory/96562545.cms

A maiden century by wicketkeeper Alex Carey pushed Australia closer to a series-sealing victory in the second Test as South Africa's batsmen were left with a mountain to climb at the end of a rain-hit Day 3 on Wednesday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/alex-carey-ton-puts-australia-in-box-seat-in-second-test/articleshow/96564082.cms

Australian allrounder Cameron Green on Wednesday was ruled out of the third Sydney Test against South Africa with a fractured finger, and he will not bowl again in Melbourne. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/fractured-finger-rules-australias-cameron-green-out-of-sydney-test/articleshow/96557357.cms

Read more on TOI Sports source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/web-stories/india-vs-sri-lanka-top-10-highest-run-getters-in-t20is/photostory/96542819.cms

South African white-ball specialist and former T20I skipper Farhaan Behardien announced his retirement from professional cricket on Tuesday. The 39-year-old, who played 59 ODIs and 38 T20Is and captained the Proteas in a three-match T20 series against Sri Lankan in 2017, took to social media to announce his decision to retire. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/former-south-africa-white-ball-specialist-farhaan-behardien-calls-it-a-day/articleshow/96542183.cms

Opener David Warner battled through searing heat to hit an epic unbeaten 200 in his 100th Test on Tuesday before retiring in pain as Australia consolidated their advantage against South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/2nd-test-david-warners-double-century-powers-australia-to-386/3-on-day-2-against-south-africa/articleshow/96538811.cms

Read more on TOI Sports source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/web-stories/biggest-cricket-moments-of-2022/photostory/96537172.cms

Australia's veteran opener David Warner roared back to form by slamming a century in his 100th Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/david-warner-becomes-second-batter-to-score-a-double-hundred-in-100th-test/articleshow/96532775.cms

Australia's veteran opener David Warner roared back to form by slamming a century in his 100th Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/david-warner-hits-century-in-100th-test/articleshow/96532775.cms

England Test captain Ben Stokes has hit out at the International Cricket Council (ICC) for not paying enough attention to scheduling, adding that the rising popularity of domestic T20 leagues across the world is threatening the existence of the longest format of the game. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/ben-stokes-hits-out-at-icc-for-not-paying-enough-attention-to-scheduling/articleshow/96518460.cms

Ravichandran Ashwin has taken a slight dig at people who perceive him as an "overthinker" of the game following his match-winning performance against Bangladesh in the second Test in Mirpur. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-in-bangladesh/overthinking-is-a-perception-that-has-followed-me-since-my-debut-ashwin/articleshow/96514046.cms

Allrounder Cameron Green took a career-best 5-27 as Australia ripped through South Africa's fragile batting before piling on late runs to seize control of the second Test in Melbourne on Monday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/2nd-test-cameron-green-takes-five-as-australia-seize-control-against-south-africa/articleshow/96513307.cms

Australia's men's Test Player of the Year award has been renamed to honour legendary spinner Shane Warne, the country's cricket board announced on Monday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/cricket-australia-renames-test-player-of-the-year-award-in-honour-of-shane-warne/articleshow/96511813.cms

Former India opener and noted commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned Punjab Kings (PBKS) for removing Anil Kumble as head coach as they had not made many changes to their squad in the mini-auction ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/top-stories/aakash-chopra-questions-pbks-strategy-in-ipl-auction-ouster-of-anil-kumble-as-head-coach/articleshow/96509176.cms

source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/pakistan-vs-new-zealand-1st-test-live-cricket-score-commentary-updates-karachi/liveblog/96507320.cms

source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/australia-vs-south-africa-2nd-test-live-cricket-score-updates-from-boxing-day-test-melbourne/liveblog/96505746.cms

Read more on TOI Sports source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-in-bangladesh/web-stories/how-india-denied-bangladesh-a-historic-test-win/photostory/96493322.cms

As Ravichandran Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer scripted a dramatic come-from-behind win for Team India in the second Test against Bangladesh, India's stand-in skipper KL Rahul admitted that there were nerves in the dressing room, but he trusted the batting unit to do the job. India edged Bangladesh by 3 wickets in a thrilling Day-4 finish in Dhaka on Saturday to sweep the two-Test series 2-0. The visitors had won the first Test by 188 runs. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-in-bangladesh/india-vs-bangladesh-2nd-test-there-were-nerves-but-r-ashwin-shreyas-iyer-did-it-with-ease-and-style-says-kl-rahul/articleshow/96493424.cms

India came back in heroic fashion on Friday to overcome a batting collapse and deny Bangladesh a historic win as Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin forged a decisive partnership to help the visitors to a three-wicket win in the second Test on Day 4 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. India swept the two-match series 2-0. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-in-bangladesh/india-vs-bangladesh-2nd-test-india-claw-back-with-r-ashwin-shreyas-iyer-to-complete-series-sweep/articleshow/96492047.cms

source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-in-bangladesh/india-vs-bangladesh-2nd-test-live-cricket-score-commentary-mirpur/liveblog/96489722.cms

New Zealand will play all their matches in the upcoming tour of Pakistan in Karachi after the PCB was forced to reschedule the fixtures due to adverse weather conditions in the Punjab province. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/karachi-to-host-entire-new-zealand-series-pcb/articleshow/96479421.cms

The cricket management committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) headed by Najam Sethi is trying to convince South African Mickey Arthur to return as head coach of the national team, according to sources. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/pcb-trying-to-bring-back-mickey-arthur-as-pakistan-head-coach-sources/articleshow/96478847.cms

Pakistan and New Zealand will hope for a reversal of fortune in the two-match Test series starting in Karachi from Monday after both were whitewashed 3-0 by England in their last series. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/1st-test-pakistan-and-new-zealand-seek-revival-after-england-battering/articleshow/96477334.cms

Ahead of his 100th Test for Australia in a Boxing Day match against South Africa in Melbourne, David Warner vowed to keep fighting despite having his back "up against the wall" after his recent struggles in the longest format. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/david-warner-defiant-ahead-of-100th-test/articleshow/96474272.cms

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spent the third highest amount for a single player at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction on Friday when they bought England's high-profile all-rounder Ben Stokes for Rs 16.25 crore. And if expert opinion is to be believed, it's a move to pass on the baton of CSK captaincy from MS Dhoni to Stokes. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/top-stories/will-ben-stokes-take-over-csk-captaincy-from-ms-dhoni/articleshow/96473839.cms

Defending champions Gujarat Titans shelled out Rs 4.40 crore to get Josh Little in their camp, making the fast bowler first Ireland player to bag an IPL deal before the players' auction ahead of the 2023 season concluded on Friday. And he is 'delighted' to be a 'Titan'. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/top-stories/josh-little-delighted-to-be-in-hardik-pandya-camp-as-first-irishman-in-ipl/articleshow/96472620.cms

source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-in-bangladesh/india-vs-bangladesh-2nd-test-live-cricket-score-commentary-mirpur/liveblog/96469254.cms

Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer missed out on respective centuries as India were all out for 314 on Day 2 of the second Test against Bangladesh, but the duo's partnership earned the visitors a decent first-innings lead of 87 runs at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-in-bangladesh/india-vs-bangladesh-2nd-test-day-2-highlights-rishabh-pant-shreyas-iyer-put-india-in-command/articleshow/96455172.cms