Sports
I’m Always at My Best with the Ball: Arshdeep on Preparing for Tests
Left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh is diligently preparing for the upcoming five-match Test series in England, where he may have the chance to make his red-ball debut.
Having previously played county cricket for Kent, Arshdeep is expected to get an opportunity during the series, particularly since lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah is expected to be rested at times to manage his workload.
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The 26-year-old, primarily known for his white-ball performances, is excited about the prospect of bowling with the red ball and is determined to challenge England’s batters when the opportunity arises.
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“Today’s training was all about finding my rhythm—how my body feels and how the red ball comes out of my hand,” he shared with bcci.tv. “Since all players have been using the white ball for a while, I really enjoyed this transition.”
“As we progress, the intensity will ramp up, making it increasingly challenging for the batters. Bowling to them was enjoyable; they appeared solid, and there was a competitive edge even during practice. It made the session even more enjoyable.”
“We had to stay focused and devise solid plans to take wickets. Sai has joined the team for the first time and appears very well-prepared. The skipper seems in good form, and I’ll aim to keep improving and getting them out more frequently,” added the left-arm speedster.
Talking about Bumrah’s presence, Arshdeep believes it inspires other pacers to elevate their game.
“Whenever I have the ball, I feel like I’m the best. But with a player like Jasprit Bumrah in the squad, comparisons become irrelevant,” he noted. “My focus is on mutually enhancing our skills and supporting the team.”
The first Test between India and England is set to kick off at Headingley, Leeds, on June 20.
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru created history in the Women’s Premier League by scoring the highest number of runs in the first over of a match. RCB scored a massive 23 runs in the opening over, setting a new WPL record.
This historic moment took place during the match against Gujarat Giants at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Gujarat Giants bowler Renuka Singh Thakur conceded 23 runs in the first over, making it the most expensive opening over in WPL history.
Renuka began the over with a wide delivery. The ball went past the wicketkeeper and crossed the boundary, resulting in five runs. RCB batter Grace Harris then took charge of the over. She smashed four consecutive boundaries, putting the Gujarat Giants under pressure.
During the over, Renuka Singh bowled two more wides, adding extra runs to the total. On the final delivery of the over, Grace Harris struck another boundary. This completed a dramatic and record-breaking first over for RCB.
With this, Renuka Singh Thakur recorded the most expensive first over ever bowled in the Women’s Premier League. The previous record was held by Tanuja Kanwar. She had conceded 21 runs in the first over while playing for Gujarat Giants against Mumbai Indians in the 2023 season.
In the same match, Royal Challengers Bengaluru batted first and put up a strong total. RCB scored 182 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. The team showed aggressive batting throughout the innings.
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Gujarat Giants chased the target but failed to keep up with the required run rate. They were bowled out for 150 runs in 18.5 overs. As a result, Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the match by 32 runs.
This victory strengthened RCB’s position in the tournament and added a historic achievement to the Women’s Premier League records.
On the first day of the second Test between India and South Africa at Barsapara Stadium, South Africa made a strong start, reaching 247 for 6 at stumps.The venue, Barsapara Cricket Stadium, hosted its very first Test match in history — making the day special for Guwahati and cricket in Assam.
South African skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and chose to bat first.Their openers, Aiden Markram (38) and Ryan Rickelton (35), gave a solid start with a partnership of 82 runs.Later, Tristan Stubbs added 49 before getting out, while Bavuma made 41.
India fought back well thanks to a strong performance by spinner Kuldeep Yadav. He picked up 3 wickets and gave away only 48 runs in 17 overs.Ravindra Jadeja also chipped in with an important wicket, dismissing Bavuma. In the final over before stumps, Mohammed Siraj struck, getting Tony de Zorzi out.At the end of play, Senuran Muthusamy was unbeaten on 25, and Kyle Verreynne was 1 not out.
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The light became a concern late in the day. As visibility dropped, play was stopped, and light issues forced the umpires to call it a day early.Overall, India ended Day 1 with a degree of satisfaction. The bowling attack showed discipline, especially through their spinners, and they managed to check the South African momentum.
India A began their Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 campaign with a huge total against the UAE in Doha. Captain Jitesh Sharma won the toss and chose to bat first. Vaibhav Suryavanshi then produced a stunning innings. He scored 144 runs from just 42 balls. His knock included 11 fours and 15 sixes.
Suryavanshi reached his fifty in 17 balls. He completed his century in only 32 balls. He added 163 runs for the second wicket with Naman Dhir, who made 34. Jitesh Sharma also played a quick innings and scored a fast fifty.
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India A finished at 297 for 4 in 20 overs. The team now holds a strong position in the match.
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