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India vs Australia 2nd T20I: Hardik Pandya’s heroics help India to take 2-0 lead in 3-match T2OI series

Leading the inning in the middle overs, Virat Kohli scored 40 runs in just 24 balls which helped the team in gaining momentum for the last five overs. Australian bowler Daniel Sams dismissed Kohli in 17th over of the game.

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Hardik Pandya

India beat Australia by six wickets in the second T20 International match to clinch the three-match series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday. A fifty from Shikhar Dhawan and solid cameos from Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli helped India to chase down the target of 195 runs.  

After winning the toss India has invited Australia for batting, Australian wicket-keeper batsman and stand-in captain Matthew Wade set the tone of the innings with a quickfire 58 off 32 balls in the absence of Aaron Finch. In his 58 runs innings, Wade hit 10 fours and a six in the powerplay while his opening partner D’Arcy Short departed early as T Natarajan once again gave wicket to India in powerplay. India’s bowlers were expensive but the one who stood out was T Natarajan, finishing with 2/20 with the wickets of D Arcy Short and Moises Henriques. Steve Smith’s 46 off 38 helped the team to set a good total of 195 runs.

Chasing a total of 195, India got off a solid start with openers KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan who have added 50-runs for the team in the powerplay. The team, however, had lost its way in the middle overs after the dismissals openers and Sanju Samson. Leading the inning in the middle overs, Virat Kohli scored 40 runs in just 24 balls which helped the team in gaining momentum for the last five overs.  Australian bowler Daniel Sams dismissed Kohli in 17th over of the game.

Read Also:India vs Australia, 3rd ODI: Kohli’s men beat Australia by 13 runs in pointless victory

As the team needed crucial runs in the death over, the partnership between Hardik Pandya and Shreayas Iyer has scored winning 37 runs in the last three overs. With 14 runs needed off in the final over of Daniel Sams, Pandya stole a double on the first delivery, sent the second flying for a six, missed out on third and smashed fourth for another six to take the team through.

India had won the first T20I by 11 runs on Friday while the third T20I will be played in Sydney on Tuesday.

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No Pakistani player picked in The Hundred 2025: Here’s why

Pakistani players were not selected in The Hundred 2025 draft, leading to concerns over a ‘soft ban’ following IPL franchise investments. Scheduling conflicts may also be a reason.

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The Hundred, Pakistan cricket, IPL franchises, PCB NoC, England cricket, cricket news, SA20, Pakistan players

In a surprising development, not a single Pakistani cricketer was selected in the 2025 draft for The Hundred, raising speculation about a possible ‘soft ban’ following the involvement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises in the tournament.

A total of 45 Pakistani players had registered for the men’s draft, while five female cricketers were also in contention. While Pakistani women have not been selected in the past, this marks the first instance of no men’s cricketers being picked since the league’s inception.

Possible IPL influence?

Four of the eight teams in The Hundred now have partial or complete ownership by IPL franchises: Oval Invincibles (Mumbai Indians), Manchester Originals (Lucknow Super Giants). Northern Superchargers (SunRisers Hyderabad) and Southern Brave (Delhi Capitals)

This scenario mirrors the SA20 league in South Africa, where no Pakistani cricketer has participated in three seasons, fuelling concerns over potential influence from IPL franchise owners.

Scheduling conflicts with Pakistan’s international commitments

However, reports suggest that the main reason for Pakistani players’ exclusion could be their uncertain availability. Pakistan is expected to play a three-match ODI and T20I series against the West Indies from late July to mid-August, coinciding with The Hundred’s schedule. There is also speculation about additional T20Is against Afghanistan and Bangladesh before the Asia Cup in September.

Furthermore, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has previously withheld No Objection Certificates (NoCs) for players, as seen last season when pacer Shaheen Afridi pulled out of The Hundred due to personal reasons, only to later be denied an NoC by the PCB.

ECB dismisses ownership concerns

Despite the speculation, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chair Richard Gould previously assured that Pakistani players’ participation in The Hundred would not be affected by ownership changes. “We’re aware of that in other regions, but that won’t be happening here,” Gould stated last month.

Meanwhile, no Indian male cricketers participated in the draft, consistent with the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) policy. However, Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma will represent London Spirit in the women’s competition.

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AB de Villiers says Rohit has no reason to retire, will be among best ODI captains

Rumors about Rohit’s possible retirement from ODIs circulated following the Champions Trophy, but the 37-year-old quelled those speculations by guiding India to an unprecedented third title.

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Rohit Sharma is in no need of retirement, according to South African cricket legend AB de Villiers, who believes the Indian captain could become one of the greatest ODI leaders ever.

Rumors about Rohit’s possible retirement from ODIs circulated following the Champions Trophy, but the 37-year-old quelled those speculations by guiding India to an unprecedented third title.

“Look at Rohit’s win percentage—almost 74%, which is significantly higher than any other captain historically,” de Villiers remarked on his YouTube channel. “If he continues on this path, he could cement his legacy as one of the all-time great ODI captains. Rohit has stated he’s not retiring and has asked for the rumors to cease.”

In the final against New Zealand held in Dubai, Rohit played a crucial role by scoring 76 runs off 83 balls, helping India successfully chase down a challenging target of 252, earning him the player-of-the-match honor.

“Why would he step away with such a remarkable record, both as a captain and a batsman? His performance in the final laid the groundwork for our success and showcased his leadership under pressure,” de Villiers noted.

De Villiers praised Rohit’s incredible achievements as a batsman and captain, highlighting how the Indian skipper has evolved his ODI batting style over the past three years, during which he claimed the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy within nine months.

“Rohit Sharma has absolutely no reason to consider retirement or to face any criticism. His statistics speak volumes. Moreover, he has successfully transformed his game,” de Villiers emphasized.

“He had a relatively low strike rate in the Powerplay as an opening batsman, but since 2022, it has surged to 115 during that phase, which is what differentiates the good from the great. It’s all about continuous improvement—you can always learn and enhance your skills,” he concluded.

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Gautam Gambhir set to break trend as Team India head coach with India ‘A’ tour

Breaking the trend set by his predecessors, Gautam Gambhir is keen to travel with India ‘A’ to England to evaluate the nation’s red-ball reserves firsthand.
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Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir is poised to make history as the first-ever Team India head coach to travel with the India ‘A’ team on an overseas tour. Unlike his predecessors, Rahul Dravid and Ravi Shastri, who primarily focused on the senior squad, Gambhir is set to accompany the India ‘A’ side ahead of the senior team’s England tour in June.

A shift in coaching approach

For years, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has relied on National Cricket Academy (NCA) coaches to guide India ‘A’ and U19 teams during overseas assignments. Under this structure, stalwarts like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have mentored young talents before taking up key coaching roles with the senior side.

However, Gambhir, who recently guided India to Champions Trophy success, is keen to deepen his involvement in talent development. According to reports, he has already informed the board about his decision to travel with the India ‘A’ squad, breaking away from the usual protocol.

Why is Gambhir keen on the India ‘A’ tour?

Gambhir’s primary motive behind this move is to strengthen India’s red-ball cricket by assessing the depth of the talent pool. Since India’s recent struggles in Test cricket, particularly after their underwhelming tour of Australia, the coach aims to scout emerging players firsthand.

A BCCI source revealed, “Gambhir has been in discussions with the board since returning from Australia. He wants to closely observe the reserve players and assess their readiness for senior team selection.” The source further added that after successfully backing certain wildcard picks for India’s Champions Trophy win, Gambhir may continue asserting his selection strategies.

Focus on India ‘A’ tours revival

Another major aspect Gambhir is advocating for is an increase in India ‘A’ tours. He believes the current number of such assignments is insufficient for developing the next generation of cricketers. Since Rahul Dravid’s departure from NCA, there has been a dip in India ‘A’ tours, with most recent ones being mere shadow tours for marquee series.

“One of the key areas Gambhir has identified is the need to revive India ‘A’ tours. He believes there should be more frequent overseas assignments to better prepare young players for international cricket,” the source added.

A significant shift in India’s coaching methodology

If this move materializes, it will mark a major shift in India’s coaching methodology, setting a new precedent for future head coaches. While it remains to be seen whether Gambhir will travel as an observer or actively coach the side, his involvement in nurturing young talent could reshape the way India approaches player development.

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