KL Rahul firmly tells Rishabh Pant to be watchful before playing shots, wicketkeeper retorts: ‘Achhe se dekhta hoon’

KL Rahul firmly tells Rishabh Pant to be watchful before playing shots, wicketkeeper retorts: ‘Achhe se dekhta hoon’

Day 4 of the Leeds Test saw the calmness of KL Rahul and the madness of Rishabh Pant at the same time in the middle during the first session. Rahul, who completed his half-century, was watchful and disciplined with his approach, while Pant, on the other hand, didn’t shy away from playing his usual audacious shots. The left-handed batter attempted a slog sweep to scoop shot to get the scoreboard moving, while Rahul relied on traditional textbook shots to provide stability to the innings. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant stabilised Indian innings in first session on Day 4.(AP) The two batters were unbeaten at Lunch, and India was in a stable position at 153/3. Rahul scored an unbeaten 72, while Pant was batting on 32. The 61-run stand helped India recover from the early blow of skipper Shubman Gill, who was dismissed for 8. During their stand, Rahul played the senior batter’s role with perfection and kept reminding Pant to stay calm when he was looking to play some flashy shots. A video went viral on X, where Rahul was seen telling Pant to watch the ball carefully before hitting. Rahul told Pant, “Ball achhe se dekho.” To which the wicketkeeper batter replied: “Nahi aisa nahi hai aise hi ghuma du ball achhe se dekhta hoon.” In another video, Pant seen telling Rahul, “Paki hui waali ball, Itna Tamiz khelne ke chakkar me choot rahi hai. (That was a ripe delivery to put away, but he’s missing out by being overly cautious.)” Pant-Rahul stabilise India’s innings before Lunch on Day 4 Earlier, with the pitch offering significant help to the seamers, first-innings centurion Shubman Gill managed to add only two runs to his overnight total before falling to Brydon Carse for 8. Carse delivered a sharp, good-length ball that nipped back in off the seam, catching Gill off guard. The batter could only manage a thick inside edge, which ricocheted onto the stumps to end his stay early. England continued to create chances. Rahul was dropped by Harry Brook on 58 after reaching his 18th Test half century and Pant survived a DRS review for lbw. However, Rahul and Pant were watchful in the last half-hour of the session, playing cautiously. Weathering the early freshness of the wicket, they shared a 61-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

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'Zabardasti try kar raha': Rishabh Pant's self-talk on stump mic is pure gold - WATCH | Cricket News

‘Zabardasti try kar raha’: Rishabh Pant’s self-talk on stump mic is pure gold – WATCH | Cricket News

Rishabh Pant in action on Day 4 (BCCI | X) Rishabh Pant talking to himself in Hindi on the stump mic on Day 3 is absolute gold. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter, who has looked hurried in this innings, was telling himself to calm down and stop taking so many chances.“Waise zaruri nahi hai (It is not important). Maarna hai to seedha lag jayega na next ball (If you want to hit, do it with a straight bat next ball). Zabardasti try kar raha hai (Why are you trying to score forcefully),” Pant was caught saying on the stump mic.In the commentary box, former England captain Michael Atherton asked Dinesh Karthik to translate what Pant was telling himself.“First up, he said to himself that he should play with a straight bat and he will still middle it. Don’t try to do too much. He’s almost talking himself into saying he doesn’t need to do anything out of the ordinary,” translated Karthik.“He is pretty disappointed with what he did, and I hope he listens to himself,” he added.Pant, who scored a scintillating century in the first innings, has been caught between his natural game and holding himself back. IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant opens up on chemistry with Shubman Gill and England challenge “I mean, it’s interesting, isn’t it? Because it implies that he has played so much by instinct that instinct just takes over, no matter what he is telling himself to do,” said Atherton.India’s vice-captain slammed his seventh Test ton — and third in England — the best by any visiting wicketkeeper. He now holds the record for most Test hundreds as a wicketkeeper for India, going past MS Dhoni’s tally of six.The 27-year-old played a ferocious knock of 134 and was also involved in a crucial 209-run partnership with skipper Shubman Gill, who slammed 147 on his Test captaincy debut — also his highest score in the format.

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‘Drank, ate and left!’ Harbhajan Singh shares Shikhar Dhawan anecdote from his wedding, leaves Rohit Sharma in splits | Cricket News

‘Drank, ate and left!’ Harbhajan Singh shares Shikhar Dhawan anecdote from his wedding, leaves Rohit Sharma in splits | Cricket News

Rohit Sharma and Ritika Sajdeh speaking on Harbhajan Singh’s podcast Who’s The Boss? (Image via YouTube/@WhosTheBossShow) Shikhar Dhawan’s fun-loving side came under the spotlight when Harbhajan Singh and Rohit Sharma recounted a hilarious episode involving the southpaw at Harbhajan’s wedding. Appearing on Harbhajan’s YouTube talk show ‘Who’s The Boss?’, co-hosted by wife Geeta Basra, the couple shared how Dhawan had gatecrashed their wedding festivities in Jalandhar back in October 2015, and left a cheeky surprise behind. “Shikhar came to our wedding. He danced, ate, drank, had a blast. While leaving, he slyly put an envelope in my pocket. When I opened it later — forget 101 rupees, it didn’t have even one rupee! It was empty!” Harbhajan laughed, sending co-guests Rohit Sharma and Ritika Sajdeh into a burst of laughter. Rohit Sharma also shared a hilarious incident regarding Dhawan. Asked if Dhawan had gifted him anything at his wedding, the Mumbai Indians stalwart, joined by wife Ritika Sajdeh said, “Nothing! He danced, ate, drank — and left!” Jasprit Bumrah press conference: Lashes out at critics, dropped catches and no balls Amid the laughter, Rohit praised Dhawan’s heart and the deep bond they share since their junior cricket days. From India A tours to forming one of India’s most prolific opening pairs in white-ball cricket, the Rohit-Dhawan relationship remains legendary. Dhawan retired from all forms of competitive cricket in August 2024, while Rohit, now focused solely on ODIs, has pledged to stay fit for the 2027 World Cup. The laughter, though, proves some partnerships never retire. Poll What aspect of Shikhar Dhawan’s personality do you find most entertaining? He announced his retirement from red-ball cricket on May 7, 2025, after which another stalwart from India’s Test squad – Virat Kohli – also called time on his Test career a few days later, on May 12.

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ENG vs IND, 1st Test Day 4: Ball-by-ball updates from Headingley

16:16 IST: 32.6: Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, What was Pant trying to do here? Quite an audacious attempt to scoop a fast bowler who is going more than 130 clicks. An appeal for LBW, but the umpire shakes his head. Brydon Carse looks certain that he has got his man, but the skipper Ben Stokes is a bit reluctant and gestures that he heard two noises, but eventually opts for a review. Coming to the delivery, Carse bowls this full and angling into the line of the stumps, from around the wickets. Rishabh Pant premeditates the shot, gets across and attempts to scoop it over short fine leg, but does not quite get the connection, and loses his balance completely before falling over on the pitch. Now, the question is whether the ball brushed off his bat. And yes, the UltraEdge does show a spike when the ball is next to the inside edge. It then thuds on the pad. Not Out and Pant stays, living a bit dangerously out there.

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Prithvi Shaw writes to MCA seeking approval to leave Mumbai

Prithvi Shaw writes to MCA seeking approval to leave Mumbai

File photo of Prithvi Shaw. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Embattled India batter Prithvi Shaw wants to snap ties with his home team Mumbai and has sought a No Objection Certificate from the MCA to sign up with a new domestic side for his “growth and development as a cricketer”. Shaw has been out of reckoning from the red ball set-up for some time but has played white ball cricket. However, his off-field disciplinary issues have grabbed more air time than his on-field performances. A senior MCA (Mumbai Cricket Association) official confirmed to PTI on Monday (June 23, 2025) that the governing body has received a letter from Shaw seeking NOC for a transfer. “Yes, we have received a letter from him and it has been forwarded to the apex council for approval, and a decision on the same would be taken by the evening hopefully,” the MCA source informed. In the letter that he has sent to the MCA, the 25-year-old said he was grateful for the time he spent in the Mumbai team, for which he made his debut in 2017, but desires to move on now. “I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for the valuable opportunities and unwavering support extended to me during my time representing the association. “It has truly been an honor and a privilege to be part of the MCA setup, and I am deeply grateful for the exposure and experience I have gained here,” he wrote in the letter. He then went on to state his reasons for the wanting to leave the team. “At this juncture in my career, I have been presented with a promising opportunity to play professional cricket under another State Association, which I believe will further contribute to my growth and development as a cricketer. “In light of this, I kindly request you to issue me a No Objection Certificate (NOC) that will enable me to officially represent the new State Association in the upcoming domestic season,” he said. Shaw said his decision has been made after “careful consideration, and with utmost respect for the MCA.” “I remain ever grateful to the association for the guidance and platform provided over the years.” Shaw, who has played five Tests and six ODIs for India, was dropped from the Mumbai Ranji side last year on grounds of poor fitness and lack of discipline. Having missed the rest of the Ranji Trophy season, Shaw last played for Mumbai in the final of the premier domestic tournament Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy against Madhya Pradesh, which his side won by five wickets. Shaw’s fitness levels and discipline were not only severely criticised by administrators over the course of last season, but Shreyas Iyer, who led Mumbai to the title win in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, also seemed trifle unhappy. “He needs to get his work ethics right, and if he does that, the sky is the limit for him,” Iyer told reporters in Bengaluru. “We can’t babysit anyone, right? Every professional who is playing at this level, they need to know what they should be doing. “And he has also done it in the past; it’s not that he hasn’t. He has to focus, he has to sit back, (and) put a thinking cap on, and then figure out himself. He will get the answer by himself,” he added. Published – June 23, 2025 02:34 pm IST

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R Ashwin stunned into silence in dugout after Varun Chakaravarthy cracks 10 runs in 2 balls in nerve-wracking TNPL chase

R Ashwin stunned into silence in dugout after Varun Chakaravarthy cracks 10 runs in 2 balls in nerve-wracking TNPL chase

India bowler Varun Chakaravarthy is more known for his exploits with the ball, having earned the tag ‘mystery’ spinner over the course of his career, which even saw him break into the national side. More recently, he was part of the title-winning Champions Trophy squad, where he was the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, picking up 9 wickets in just three matches. Varun Chakaravarthy smashed 10 runs in the last two balls However, on Sunday, Varun showed a different side to his cricketing prowess, helping Dindigul Dragons seal a last-ball win with the bat against SKM Salem Spartans in the ongoing Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). Varun held his nerves in the thrilling chase, smashing 10 runs in the last two balls as the Dragons secured a two-wicket victory. Chasing 189 runs at the Indian Cement Company Ground in Tirunelveli, Dindigul Dragons needed 11 runs to win in the last over. However, M Poiyamozhi kept Salem ahead in the contest as he dismissed M Karthik Saran on the second ball of the over, as he conceded just three runs in the first four balls. However, an unfortunate no-ball from the bowler changed the momentum. Varun launched the penultimate ball for a six over long-on, before clobbering the final one for a boundary past the infield as he sparked a euphoric celebration in the Dragons’ dugout. But captain Ravichandran Ashwin was stunned into silence. Head down, hands over it, even as players celebrated around him — and then, he looked up and smiled in disbelief. Earlier in the match, Ashwin gave his side a fiery start to the chase as he clobbered 35 runs in just 14 balls, comprising five boundaries and two sixes as the Dragons scored 50 runs in the first 20 balls without any loss. Subsequent batters – Shivam Singh (34 off 24), R K Jayant (25 off 15), Hunny Saini (35 off 28) and Vimal Khumar – all chipped in with handy cameos as the defending champions secured their third win in the tournament thus far. The former India cricketer also delivered with the ball, picking three wickets for just 22 runs in four overs. Dindigul now stand third in the table with six points from five matches, behind top-placed Chepauk Super Gillies, who have already qualified for the playoffs, and IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, who have the same points as Ashwin’s side, only separated by a higher net run rate. The Dragons have two more matches to play in the league stage. They next face Nellai Royal Kings in Tirunelveli on June 26, followed by Trichy Grand Cholas at home on June 29. The playoffs will begin on July 1 and the reigning champions need to win both games to secure a place in the next round.

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