Sports

Kuldeep Could Be the Unexpected Star for India Against England, Claims Venkatapathy Raju

Published

7 months ago

June 16, 2025

Despite being an international cricketer for seven years, Kuldeep Yadav’s presence in just 13 Test matches is somewhat surprising. A combination of diminished form, a serious knee injury, and stiff competition from other spinners has hindered his ability to secure a place in the Indian Test team.

The last time Kuldeep took the field in a Test in England was during a forgettable match at Lord’s in 2018, where he struggled on a green pitch affected by rain. He conceded 44 runs in nine overs and failed to score as a batter, marking a significant misstep in India’s selection strategy.

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With Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement, the Indian spin-bowling unit is in need of a sharp edge. All eyes will be on Kuldeep as the series in England kicks off in Leeds on June 20. Former Indian left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju believes Kuldeep has the potential to be a surprise match-winner.

“Kuldeep is tricky for new batters to read. I believe he could turn out to be a surprise match-winner in this series. His international experience, both in white-ball and red-ball cricket, will be crucial,” said Raju.

“We also have Ravindra Jadeja, an experienced spinner, but over the years, his pace has noticeably decreased. Washington Sundar, on the other hand, is still finding his footing, having participated in just a few Tests in India and Australia.”

“As the tour progresses, weather conditions will get hotter, and the wickets will dry, making both Kuldeep’s and Jadeja’s contributions vital, particularly in the second innings,” Raju stated during an exclusive conversation with IANS via Sony Sports Network.

With the retirements of Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli—along with Mohammed Shami’s fitness issues—Jadeja stands as the sole survivor from the original Test team. His experience is increasingly important, particularly with his history of touring England and participating in two World Test Championship finals.

“While we highlight Kuldeep, we shouldn’t underestimate Ravindra Jadeja’s significance. He’s super fit in his mid-30s and can contribute with the bat. Unfortunately, he has often been labeled just a second-innings bowler suited for turning tracks,” Raju noted.

“However, he has the capability to control the game throughout. As he approaches the later stages of his career, his contributions are crucial” Raju added. “The initial Tests will put Jadeja to the test, but his experience needs to translate into breakthroughs that aid the fast bowlers.”

With favorable dry conditions expected in England, Indian spinners are set to capitalize based on their adaptability. “Initially, the conditions may favor pace bowlers and batters, but as the match progresses into the third or fourth day, spinners can thrive due to footmarks and dry patches,” Raju explained.

“We’ve seen that in England, red soil often provides good bounce, emphasizing Jadeja’s role. The combination of Jadeja and Kuldeep could be pivotal for India,” he concluded. Raju also elaborated on the necessary adjustments spinners need to make while using the Dukes ball, noting the differences in seam and pitch conditions compared to what they are accustomed to in India.

“Length is crucial; given the slower wickets, a slightly shorter length is vital to prevent batters from being able to execute cut shots comfortably. In England, patience is also key—it’s not about searching for a wicket with every delivery; rather, it’s about maintaining a good line and length to build pressure on batters.”

Catch the India tour of England live on Sony Sports Ten 1 & Sony Sports Ten 5 channels from 3:30 PM on June 20.

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Sports

Storm in the First Over: RCB Create New WPL Record

Published

2 days ago

January 17, 2026

Namma Kudla

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.

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.

Sports

Historic Test Debut in Guwahati as South Africa Reach 247/6 on Day 1

Published

2 months ago

November 23, 2025

Namma Kudla

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.

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.

Sports

India A Post 297/4 as Vaibhav Suryavanshi Smashes 144 Off 42 Balls

Published

2 months ago

November 14, 2025

Namma Kudla

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.

India A finished at 297 for 4 in 20 overs. The team now holds a strong position in the match.