The Indian women’s cricket team cruised to a commanding 6-wicket victory over Ireland Women in the first ODI at Rajkot, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The chase of 239 was spearheaded by opener Pratika Rawal’s composed 89 and Tejal Hasabnis’ unbeaten 53, sealing the win in just 34.3 overs.

Ireland’s valiant effort

Opting to bat first, Ireland had a shaky start as Titas Sadhu and Sayali Satghare dismantled their top order, reducing them to 56/4 in the powerplay. Captain Gaby Lewis and Leah Paul then orchestrated a crucial 117-run partnership, stabilizing the innings. Lewis played a captain’s knock of 92, narrowly missing out on a century, while Paul contributed a gritty 59.

Late cameos by Arlene Kelly and Georgina Dempsey lifted Ireland to a competitive total of 238/7. Priya Mishra impressed with figures of 2/56, keeping the visitors in check during the death overs.

India’s emphatic chase

India’s reply began on a high note with stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana smashing a brisk 41 off 29 balls. During her explosive innings, Mandhana achieved a milestone, becoming the fastest Indian women’s cricketer to reach 4000 ODI runs.

After Mandhana’s dismissal, opener Pratika Rawal and middle-order batter Tejal Hasabnis took control. Rawal showcased her class with a 96-ball 89, striking 10 boundaries before being dismissed while attempting an ambitious lofted shot. Tejal Hasabnis, on the other hand, played a steady hand, remaining unbeaten on 53 to anchor the chase after Rawal’s departure.

Despite Aimee Maguire’s three-wicket haul, Ireland’s bowlers failed to trouble the Indian batters, who capitalized on loose deliveries and fielding lapses to maintain a dominant scoring rate.

Series outlook

The victory underlines India’s all-around strength, with both batters and bowlers stepping up to the occasion. Ireland, however, will aim to regroup and fight back in the second ODI to keep the series alive.

Senior Indian batter Rohit Sharma dismissed retirement rumors on Saturday, stating he is not going anywhere, and explaining that his recent poor form led him to “stand down” from the ongoing Sydney Test against Australia.

Struggling with consistency, Rohit decided to rest for the Sydney match and passed the leadership responsibilities to Jasprit Bumrah, which sparked speculation about his cricketing future. “I have not retired. I stood down, and that’s how I see it. The conversation I had with the coach and the selectors was straightforward. My runs haven’t been coming, and with the importance of this match, we need players who are in form,” Rohit shared with Star Sports.

He added, “Our batting lineup has been struggling, and we can’t afford to have too many players out of form. This was a key consideration for me. I’m not going anywhere.” The 37-year-old indicated that the team management and selectors supported his decision.

“I wanted to express my thoughts to the coach and selectors, and they backed my choice. They acknowledged that I’ve been playing for many years and understand my situation,” he noted. “Making this decision was challenging, but when I laid everything out clearly, it seemed the right thing to do. I won’t dwell on it too much.”

In Rohit’s absence, Shubman Gill was added to the Indian XI for the critical fifth match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with India currently trailing 1-2 in the series. Rohit struggled in Test cricket during 2024, managing only 619 runs in 26 innings over 14 matches, with a low average of 24.76. Before stepping down, he had scored just 31 runs in five innings in this series after rejoining the team following the Perth Test.

Rohit’s proactive decision raised speculations that he might consider retiring from Test cricket after this series. However, he clarified, “This is not a retirement decision. I am not leaving the game; there’s no such choice. I’m sidelined right now because my bat isn’t performing. But that doesn’t guarantee it won’t work again in two months or six months.”

He expressed hope for a revival of his form soon, stating, “In cricket, everything can change in an instant or over time. I have faith that things will improve. However, I also need to be realistic. Ultimately, those outside the game don’t dictate when I should play or when I should leave.”

When asked if his decision followed the Melbourne Test defeat, Rohit explained, “I made this decision after arriving in Sydney. With only two days between matches, one of which was New Year’s Eve, I didn’t want to discuss it then. But I was aware that my attempts weren’t yielding results, and I needed to accept that stepping aside was necessary.”

He emphasized the importance of focusing on the immediate future: “When I captain, I prioritize the here and now rather than what may happen in five or six months. Our focus was on winning these five matches to retain the trophy. Decisions like this are made with the team’s best interests in mind.”

Rohit also commended Bumrah for his leadership, stating, “Bumrah sets high standards with his bowling; he’s truly exceptional. Since I saw him for the first time in 2013, he’s consistently improved and strengthened his game.”

South Africa vs Pakistan, 2nd Test Day 2 LIVE Updates: South Africa will look to build on their commanding position as Ryan Rickelton targets his maiden Test double century on Day 2 of the second Test against Pakistan in Cape Town. The hosts resumed at 316/4 after an impressive Day 1, highlighted by a partnership of 235 runs between Rickelton and captain Temba Bavuma, who scored a well-crafted 106 off 179 balls.

The pair frustrated Pakistan’s bowlers throughout the first day, with Salman Ali Agha standing out for the visitors, picking up two wickets, including Bavuma’s dismissal late in the day. As South Africa resumes their innings, Rickelton, who is unbeaten on a stellar 140, will be looking to push his score further. Meanwhile, his partner Kyle Verreynne, also at the crease, will be eyeing further runs to propel the team’s total.

With 63 overs remaining in the day’s play, the afternoon session promises to be crucial for both teams. Pakistan will be hoping to break the South African partnership to prevent any more runs from flowing, while the hosts will be looking to build a sizable first innings score.

In the ongoing second Test, the game has been one-sided for the first two sessions, with Pakistan struggling to find breakthroughs. The only question that remains is whether they can break the partnership and get back into the contest.

Off the field, another cricketing story is making headlines as controversy arises from the ongoing fifth Test between Australia and India in Sydney. Australian coach Andrew McDonald has raised concerns about Indian players allegedly intimidating Sam Konstas after dismissing Usman Khawaja. McDonald suggested that Konstas appeared shaken after an intense celebration by the Indian team, which followed the dismissal.

While the situation has sparked debate, it’s important to consider both sides of the story. Konstas has been seen engaging in banter with Indian batters during the match, and tensions between the teams have been palpable throughout the series. The spirit of cricket remains at the forefront, with players being encouraged to maintain sportsmanship despite the intensity on the field.

As the second Test continues, the focus will shift to the final moments of the game, as India leads by 145 runs, with 4 wickets remaining in their second innings. The Test seems poised for an exciting finish on Sunday, with both teams desperate for a positive result.