Sports

Gambhir Lauds ‘Exceptional’ Kohli as India Advances to Champions Trophy Final

Published

11 months ago

March 6, 2025

Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of India, spoke highly of his team’s accomplishments at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 following their victory over Australia, which secured them a spot in the tournament’s final.

He expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, describing it as ‘flawless,’ while also suggesting that they have more in store for the final match.

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“What stands out is our consistent play throughout this tournament – the determination, commitment, and the desire to achieve something special for our country are always present in the dressing room,” he remarked at the post-match press conference.

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Gambhir continued, “There’s always room for improvement, whether in batting, fielding, or bowling, and with one more game to play, we hope to deliver a perfect performance. That’s who I am; I will never be completely satisfied with our performances. We aim for continuous improvement.”

“We want to maintain our humility while being ruthless on the field, and we also aim to foster a humble culture off the field. That’s the environment we strive to cultivate in the dressing room.”

He then set his sights on the crucial final scheduled for March 9 in Dubai, where India will face the winner between New Zealand and South Africa.

“We hope to play one more match and give it our best,” he stated.

After successfully bowling Australia out for 264 runs, India’s openers began the chase with confidence. However, they faced early setbacks with two quick wickets, but star batter Virat Kohli, along with the middle order, managed to stabilize the innings, ultimately guiding India to victory in the 49th over.

Gambhir took a moment to commend Virat Kohli’s performance during the match.

“He is an extraordinary one-day cricketer. He understands how to strategize his runs, whether batting first or chasing, and quickly adapts to the conditions. This is why experienced, high-quality players are crucial,” he noted.

For Gambhir, winning the ICC Champions Trophy is a personal priority, especially considering his tenure, which began in mid-2024, has faced challenges, highlighted by a disappointing outcome in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

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Sports

Pakistan Sets 3 Conditions to Play against India in T20 World Cup

Published

3 days ago

February 9, 2026

Namma Kudla

Dubai: Pakistan has placed three conditions before the International Cricket Council (ICC) to agree to play against India in the T20 World Cup.

Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) planned to boycott the match scheduled on February 15 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The ICC warned Pakistan about possible consequences after this decision.

Now, PCB is willing to consider playing the match but has made key demands. It has asked the ICC to increase compensation for Bangladesh, pay participation fees even if Bangladesh is left out of the tournament, and grant Bangladesh hosting rights for a future ICC event.

Some PCB officials support playing against India, but PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has not agreed yet. He is expected to meet Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday before making a final decision.

So far, PCB has not officially confirmed whether Pakistan will play the match.

Sports

T20 World Cup | Pakistan Edge Past Netherlands in a Close Contest

Published

5 days ago

February 7, 2026

Namma Kudla

Colombo: The T20 World Cup began today with an exciting match between Pakistan and the Netherlands. Pakistan secured a narrow three-wicket victory despite a strong bowling performance. However, the top-order batters failed to deliver. With this win, Pakistan made a positive start to the 10th edition of the tournament.

After losing the toss, the Netherlands batted first at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. The team was bowled out for 147 runs in 19.5 overs. Pakistan chased the modest target and scored 148 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 19.3 overs.

Pakistan started aggressively, but the Netherlands slowed their progress. Pakistan lost four wickets for 98 runs. Soon, they were in trouble at 114 for seven. Faheem Ashraf played a crucial role at the end and guided the team to victory.

For Pakistan, Sahibzada Farhan scored 47 runs, while Saim Ayub added 24 runs. Faheem Ashraf contributed an important 29 runs. The rest of the batters failed to score big. Star batter Babar Azam disappointed fans by scoring only 15 runs off 18 balls.

Earlier, Netherlands captain Scott Edwards scored 37 runs. Bas de Leede made 30 runs, Colin Ackermann added 20, and Michael Levitt scored 24 runs. The remaining batters were dismissed for low scores.

Sports

India Clinch Record Sixth Under-19 World Cup Title

Published

5 days ago

February 7, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: India defeated England by 100 runs to win the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 final at the Harare Sports Club. The victory marked India’s sixth title, making them the most successful team in the tournament’s history.

India batted first and posted a massive total of 411 for 9 in 50 overs. The innings was powered by 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who smashed a record-breaking 175 runs off just 80 balls. His knock included 15 fours and 15 sixes and became the highest individual score ever in an Under-19 World Cup final.

Suryavanshi also shared a crucial 142-run partnership with captain Ayush Mhatre, who scored 53 runs. Their strong batting display helped India set a daunting target of 412 for England.

England tried to fight back in the chase, with Caleb Falconer scoring 115 and Ben Dawkins adding 66. However, the team was eventually bowled out for 311, handing India a comfortable victory.

Suryavanshi was named Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament for his historic performance. The triumph once again highlighted India’s dominance in youth cricket on the global stage.