SPORTS MANIA

India will open their Asia Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on Saturday in Pallekele. The two nations play each other only in ICC or multi teams tournaments owing to long-standing political tensions. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/asia-cup/india-vs-pakistan-memorable-odi-encounters-between-the-arch-rivals/articleshow/103268805.cms

As expected by many in industry circles, Viacom18 bagged the media rights of the Indian cricket board (BCCI’s) home international and domestic games for the next four-anda-half years — from September 2023 to March 2028 — for a cumulative figure of Rs 5,963 crores in an e-auction on Thursday. The newcomer, which broadcasts live action on its digital platform Jio Cinema and Sports18 television channel, won both digital as well as television rights, having agreed to shell out a price of Rs 67.8 crore per game, thus outbidding Disney Star and Sony. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/viacom18-bags-bcci-media-rights/articleshow/103262571.cms

Young Indian opener Prithvi Shaw is poised to make a comeback to the Northamptonshire County Cricket Club in 2024 after his tenure this year had been curtailed due to a knee injury. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/prithvi-shaw-to-make-northamptonshire-return-in-2024/articleshow/103247623.cms

Mohammed Shami said he has no ego and would only follow the team's instructions if asked to bowl in the ODIs with a used Kookaburra rather than a dazzling white one. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/asia-cup/i-dont-mind-bowling-with-the-new-ball-or-the-old-ball-mohammed-shami/articleshow/103243661.cms

source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/asia-cup/bangladesh-vs-sri-lanka-asia-cup-2023-live-score-updates-pallekele/liveblog/103242028.cms

Brimming with confidence after their crushing win over minnows Nepal in their Asia Cup 2023 opener, Pakistan captain Babar Azam said his team is 100 percent ready for much-awaited blockbuster against India. India and Pakistan will lock horns on September 2 in Pallekele. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/asia-cup/india-pakistan-will-always-babar-azam-ahead-of-high-octane-ind-vs-pak-asia-cup-clash/articleshow/103240021.cms

Read more on TOI Sports source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/asia-cup-2023-sri-lanka-bangladesh-look-for-winning-start/photostory/103207788.cms

Newly appointed captain Mitch Marsh's career-best unbeaten score of 92 propelled Australia to a commanding 111-run victory over the host team, South Africa, in the inaugural Twenty20 International held in Durban on Wednesday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/mitchell-marsh-tanveer-sangha-lead-australia-to-big-win-over-south-africa/articleshow/103227274.cms

Read more on TOI Sports source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/asia-cup/web-stories/asia-cup-2023-sri-lanka-bangladesh-look-for-winning-start/photostory/103207788.cms

Read more on TOI Sports source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/asia-cup/web-stories/asia-cup-last-chance-for-india-to-iron-out-areas-of-concern/photostory/103202746.cms

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are set to face off in the Asia Cup, facing significant challenges such as injuries and unimpressive ODI performances. The reigning Asia Cup champions, Sri Lanka, have faced numerous hurdles in the lead-up to the tournament, including injuries to key players and Kusal Perera's COVID-19 recovery. They are eager to secure a victorious start and gain momentum in the tournament. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/asia-cup/asia-cup-sri-lanka-bangladesh-seek-winning-start-amidst-challenges/articleshow/103199520.cms

Rahul Dravid, who has returned a mixed bag, when asked if the quadrennial extravaganza would define his legacy in his first stint as the senior team coach, said, “I’m not into legacies. As a coach I’m looking forward to the World Cup. I just stay in the present, worry about the job I have to do now and not about the future.” source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/asia-cup/asia-cup-2023-we-wont-have-any-home-advantage-says-rahul-dravid/articleshow/103197238.cms

Pakistan will begin their campaign in the Asia Cup on Wednesday taking on Nepal in the city's sweltering heat as multi-team international cricket returns to the country after nearly 15 years. It has been a long, rough road for Pakistan cricket ever since the militant attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March, 2009. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/asia-cup/pak-vs-nep-asia-cup-2023-when-and-where-to-watch-date-time-live-telecast-venue/articleshow/103196019.cms

Time is running out. The Asia Cup, that starts in Multan on Wednesday with Pakistan taking on Nepal, is probably the last stop for five of the six nations that will also be part of the World Cup to firm up their final 15, if not the playing XI, for the quadrennial showpiece. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/asia-cup/road-to-icc-odi-world-cup-begins-with-asia-cup/articleshow/103189945.cms

20-year-old Tilak Varma from Andhra Pradesh has so far played only 7 T20I matches for India. But what the team management, his team-mates, the selectors and the fans have seen has been some impressive knocks. The left-hander who was spotted in the IPL while playing for the Mumbai Indians has so far scored 174 runs in 7 T20I innings at an average of almost 35 and a strike rate of over 138. He has so far bowled in one match and registered figures of 1/17. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/asia-cup/the-next-yuvraj-singh-or-suresh-raina-could-tilak-varma-be-the-answer/articleshow/103169245.cms

Read more on TOI Sports source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/web-stories/odi-batting-report-card-of-indian-batters-in-asia-cup-squad-in-the-last-1-year/photostory/103166556.cms

India's vice-captain and star batter Smriti Mandhana, who recent has opted out of this year's edition of Women's Big Bash League, which will be played from October 19 to November 26. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/smriti-mandhana-opts-out-of-wbbl-to-play-domestic-cricket/articleshow/103166200.cms

India wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is steadily progressing on the path to recovery following a car accident that occurred in December last year. Emerging from what could have potentially been a life-threatening incident, the left-handed batsman has dedicated his time to rigorous gym sessions aimed at enhancing his overall fitness. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/watch-grip-twist-paddle-rishabh-pants-rehab-video-goes-viral/articleshow/103161296.cms

Karnataka batsman Karun Nair, the only Indian batsman to score a triple century after Virender Sehwag, smashed a belligerent century off just 40 balls during the second semi-final match of Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2023 at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/watch-karun-nair-indias-triple-centurion-in-tests-smashes-40-ball-century/articleshow/103154472.cms

Rohit Sharma understands the gargantuan pressure that a home World Cup brings but the Indian captain wants to insulate himself from the outside chatter as he embarks on an arduous journey to win the country's first ICC trophy in a decade. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-world-cup/in-next-two-months-i-want-to-create-memories-with-this-team-rohit-sharma/articleshow/103133227.cms

India star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal's exclusion from India's Asia Cup 2023 squad raised quite a few eyebrows. The question - why Kuldeep over Chahal? - started doing the rounds of social media after the latter's exclusion from the continental event. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/asia-cup/asia-cup-2023-right-decision-by-rohit-sharma-and-selectors-to-pick-kuldeep-yadav-ahead-of-yuzvendra-chahal-abhishek-nayar/articleshow/103131191.cms

It's not just the Indian team that cricket-crazy fans are craving to watch in the ICC 2023 ODI World Cup in India in October-November. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-world-cup/2023-odi-world-cup-tickets-for-non-india-games-in-mumbai-and-bengaluru-sold-out-already/articleshow/103124743.cms

Experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade has replaced injured all-rounder Glenn Maxwell in the Australia squad for the limited overs tour of South Africa, the team said on Monday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/matthew-wade-replaces-injured-glenn-maxwell-in-australia-squad-for-south-africa-tour/articleshow/103122271.cms

The Trinbago Knight Riders etched their name as the first cricket team to be handed a red card on Sunday. This consequence befell Sunil Narine due to his team's sluggish overs-rate during a match in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/watch-sunil-narine-the-first-recipient-of-slow-overs-red-card-in-cpl/articleshow/103121212.cms

The Oval Invincibles clinched their maiden victory in the men's edition of The Hundred. Overcoming a challenging start, they orchestrated an impressive turnaround to defeat the Manchester Originals by a margin of 14 runs in the final showdown at Lord's on Sunday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/oval-invincibles-win-mens-hundred-tournament/articleshow/103119617.cms

In a bold move, former Australian opener Matthew Hayden reshaped the Indian squad for the upcoming World Cup 2023, making significant decisions. Hayden introduced wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson into the squad while simultaneously sidelining Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-world-cup/i-would-love-to-see-matthew-hayden-picks-india-squad-for-world-cup/articleshow/103101949.cms

Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja are leaving no stone unturned to gear up for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 as the star Indian players sweat it out at nets during the six-day conditioning camp in Bengaluru. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/asia-cup/watch-virat-kohli-and-ravindra-jadeja-bat-together-during-training-camp/articleshow/103101330.cms

Read more on TOI Sports source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/web-stories/pakistan-whitewash-afghanistan-3-0-to-top-odi-rankings/photostory/103099330.cms

Batting great and National Cricket Academy chairman VVS Laxman will be the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, while exIndia allrounder Hrishikesh Kanitkar will be the interim head coach of the Indian women’s cricket team for the Asian Games, which will be held in Hangzhou i from Sep 23 to Oct 8. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/vvs-laxman-hrishikesh-kanitkar-to-be-head-coaches-for-asian-games/articleshow/103098556.cms

In a commanding display, Pakistan ascended to the summit of the one-day international rankings by securing a convincing 59-run victory against Afghanistan in the third and final match held in Colombo on Saturday. This triumph marked a resounding 3-0 series sweep by Pakistan. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/pakistan-whitewash-afghanistan-3-0-to-top-odi-rankings/articleshow/103097567.cms

source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/afghanistan-vs-pakistan-3rd-odi-live-cricket-score-commentary-colombo/liveblog/103085391.cms

The cricket world was taken by storm on Wednesday when the news of former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak passing away broke out but in a major relief to his fans the news emerged a few hours later that the player is alive. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/extremely-sorry-that-i-took-it-as-gospel-henry-olonga-in-apology-note-over-false-news-of-heath-streaks-demise/articleshow/103084726.cms

It is no secret that MS Dhoni is a fitness freak and even after international retirement the former India skipper's video of hitting the gym keeps surfacing on the social media. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/watch-kaun-kaun-dieting-pe-hai-ms-dhoni-hilariously-asks-gym-friends-while-cutting-a-cake/articleshow/103083178.cms

Despite not initially making the cut in the original 15-member squad for England's World Cup title defence in India later this year, there's still a chance for Harry Brook to contribute, according to team captain Jos Buttler. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-world-cup/world-cup-door-not-closed-on-harry-brook-says-england-captain-jos-buttler/articleshow/103081088.cms

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has put forth the notion that Virat Kohli could be the solution to India's persistent dilemma at the No. 4 batting position for the upcoming ICC World Cup. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-world-cup/world-cup-ab-de-villiers-big-statement-on-virat-kohli-and-indias-no-4-conundrum/articleshow/103079439.cms

As Pakistan beat Afghanistan in an ill-tempered thriller by one wicket in Hambantota on Thursday to seal three-match ODI series, pacer Hasan Ali's insane prediction moments before the tense finish turned out to be a perfect one. Hasan on X (formally known as Twitter) had predicted that Pakistan will finish the game with a four off the edge and things turned exactly the same way when Naseem Shah collected a boundary off Fazalhaq Farooq to seal the win for his side in a final-over tense finish. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/supernatural-powers-hasan-alis-spot-on-prediction-moments-before-pakistans-win/articleshow/103064717.cms

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 tickets will be available for general sale on Friday at 8 pm IST, starting with non-India warm-up matches and non-India event matches. The ODI World Cup will take place in India from October 5 to November 19. The sale aims to manage ticket demand and provide fans with the best chance to see the world's best players. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-world-cup/tickets-for-2023-odi-world-cup-on-sale-from-friday/articleshow/103061495.cms

After Virat Kohli shared his Yo-Yo test score on social media platform Instagram on Thursday, the Indian cricket board was reportedly unhappy and communicated to the former captain and other players not to put confidential information in public domain. The players are currently undergoing a six-day preparatory camp at Alur, Bengaluru ahead of the start of Asia Cup. Kohli after his Yo-Yo test in the camp had put out on social media that he scored 17.2 in the fitness test. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/bcci-asks-virat-kohli-others-not-to-make-confidential-matter-public/articleshow/103060639.cms

India celebrated the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3's lunar module on the moon's surface on Wednesday. Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was one of the several excited citizens who waited to witness this historic moment. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/watch-ms-dhoni-celebrates-the-successful-landing-of-chandrayaan-3/articleshow/103056053.cms

Former Australia Test captain Tim Paine has taken up a role as an assistant coach for the Adelaide Strikers in the upcoming season of the Big Bash League (BBL). source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/former-australia-test-captain-tim-paine-joins-adelaide-strikers-as-assistant-coach/articleshow/103046512.cms

Pakistan's star allrounder Shadab Khan played a brilliant cameo as the Green Shirts registered a thrilling one wicket win against Afghanistan in the second ODI at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/watch-afghanistans-fazalhaq-farooqi-runs-out-shocked-shadab-khan/articleshow/103040799.cms

As India's wait for an ICC Trophy stretches over a decade, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly feels there is no need to press the panic button, adding that if Rohit Sharma and co. are to lift the ODI World Cup this year, the batters need to perform well. India last won an ICC title in 2013 when MS Dhoni-led side beat England in the Champions Trophy final. Prior to that in 2011, India won the ODI World Cup after 28 years. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-world-cup/india-will-win-world-cup-if-what-sourav-ganguly-feels-about-teams-chances/articleshow/103029385.cms

One of the finest top-order batters and World Cup winner, Gautam Gambhir on Thursday took a jibe at the social media culture, pointing out that there has been a tendency to celebrate individuals more than the team in the country. Gambhir's remarks came in context to the the 2011 World Cup triumph as he reiterated that the title win was a collective effort. Pointing out that social media has been biased, Gambhir felt that other performers apart from MS Dhoni aren't celebrated enough. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/social-media-is-biased-and-gautam-gambhirs-sharp-world-cup-remark/articleshow/103027579.cms

source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/afghanistan-vs-pakistan-2nd-odi-live-cricket-score-commentary-hambantota/liveblog/103020062.cms

source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/latest-videos/shreyas-iyer-a-good-candidate-for-india-captaincy-after-rohit-sharma/videoshow/103013147.cms

When it comes to fitness, India captain Virat Kohli is unbeatable. He is known for his disciplined, rigorous and unparalled fitness routine. Virat, who is now gearing up for the Asia Cup 2023, on Thursday, shared a post on his Instagram stories and revealed his Yo Yo test score. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/asia-cup/virat-kohli-goes-full-throttle-in-training-reveals-his-yo-yo-test-score-ahead-of-asia-cup-2023/articleshow/103011789.cms

India cricket legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni's daughter Ziva celebrated the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3's lunar module on the moon's surface. In a video shared by Dhoni's wife on her Instagram stories, Ziva can be seen cheering the historic moment. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/off-the-field/watch-ms-dhonis-daughter-ziva-celebrates-successful-landing-of-chandrayaan-3/articleshow/103005793.cms

It was a superb 199-run knock that Shreyas Iyer hit in a practice tie in Bangalore which convinced the selectors that the middle-order batsman was now fit and ready for a comeback into Team India for the Asia Cup. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/asia-cup/asia-cup-how-shreyas-iyers-199-sealed-his-comeback-bid/articleshow/103001094.cms

Pakistan star pacer Haris Rauf claimed a maiden five-wicket haul to hand Pakistan a resounding 142-run victory over Afghanistan in the opening ODI at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota on Tuesday. With this win, Pakistan took 1-0 lead in the three-match series. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/watch-haris-rauf-knocks-over-rashid-khan-with-sheer-pace/articleshow/102965568.cms

Who should be handed over Team India's captaincy baton once Rohit Sharma hangs up his boots? Undoubtedly, there will be many who will be throwing their hats in the ring. One name which has done the rounds before is that of Shreyas Iyer, who will be returning from a long injury lay-off in the upcoming Asia Cup. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/shreyas-iyer-a-good-candidate-for-india-captaincy-after-rohit-sharma-says-this-kkr-team-mate/articleshow/102978794.cms