Saturday, May 02
Bangladesh cricketers express a strong desire to participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Star batter Najmul Hossain Shanto highlighted the players' eagerness to compete on the global stage. This comes as the Bangladesh Cricket Board maintains its stance against playing matches in India. The International Cricket Council Board is set to make a final decision on the matter soon.
Top stars advanced at the Australian Open, with Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff reaching the third round. Medvedev battled past Quentin Halys in four sets, while Alcaraz overcame Yannick Hanfmann in straight sets. Sabalenka cruised past Bai Zhuoxuan, and Gauff delivered a dominant win over Olga Danilovic. Elina Svitolina and Andrey Rublev also progressed to the round of 32.
Tilak Varma is closing in on full fitness and will report to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence for assessment. Ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand, the India No. 3 could return for the fourth match. Team India's ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has been added as cover meanwhile.
The BCCI is considering a major overhaul of its central contracts, potentially scrapping the Grade A+ category. This move could see senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, now focusing on ODIs, placed in Grade B. The proposed three-tier system aims to align contracts with workload and format involvement.
Jemimah Rodrigues’s unbeaten 51 guided Delhi Capitals to a crucial seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in the WPL. Chasing 155, Delhi recovered from a middle-overs wobble, with Marizanne Kapp finishing in style. Earlier, Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 66 not out lifted Mumbai, whose powerplay struggles continued in their fourth loss.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape have been to the SA20 playoffs each season. Twice they've been champions, once the runners-up and their fate this season is still to be decided. They come into the knockouts as the table-toppers this edition. Central to their success is Eastern Cape's very own Adrian Birrell.
India's recent series losses, particularly against an inexperienced New Zealand, have intensified scrutiny on head coach Gautam Gambhir. Despite a Champions Trophy win, the team has faltered in Test and ODI formats, raising questions ahead of the T20 World Cup. Gambhir's tenure has seen mixed results, with some strategic decisions proving beneficial.
