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From Josh Hazlewood to Tim Southee, here is list of five bowlers to dismiss Virat Kohli most times in international cricket. The list also consists of top names like Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and James Anderson as they got the better of Virat Kohli on multiple occasions. 

From Josh Hazlewood to Tim Southee, here is list of five bowlers to dismiss Virat Kohli most times in international cricket. The list also consists of top names like Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and James Anderson as they got the better of Virat Kohli on multiple occasions.&nbsp;

From Josh Hazlewood to Tim Southee, 5 bowlers to dismiss Virat Kohli most times in international cricket

From Abhishek Sharma to Sanju Samson, here is a list of five Indian players set to make their Asia Cup debut. The list also consists of names like Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma and Rinku Singh ahead of India’s Asia Cup opening contest against UAE on Wednesday (Sep 10).

From Abhishek Sharma to Sanju Samson, here is a list of five Indian players set to make their Asia Cup debut. The list also consists of names like Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma and Rinku Singh ahead of India’s Asia Cup opening contest against UAE on Wednesday (Sep 10).

From Abhishek Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 Indian players set to make Asia Cup debut

Jacob Bethell finally smashed his maiden international hundred against South Africa in the ongoing 3rd ODI at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, prompting England to 414-5 in the final game of this three-match series. The hosts breached the 400-mark in the One-Dayers for the seventh time in history, equalling India’s record and for the first time this summer, at home and against the Proteas. Veteran Joe Root also completed a magnificent century, his 19th in the 50-over format, with former captain Jos Buttler remaining unbeaten on 62 off 32 balls, including one six and eight fours.&nbsp;England has lost the series but still had pride to play for in this dead-rubber in Southampton. Sent out to bat first after losing the toss, the English openers stitched a 59-run stand for the first wicket before Corbin Bosch broke the stand, removing Ben Duckett on 31.&nbsp; &nbsp;Joe Root joined Jamie Smith in the middle, with the pair making light work of the South African attack. While Smith completed his third fifty-plus score in four ODIs, hitting an impressive 62 off 48 balls, Root continued his Midas touch. Alongside Bethell, who shone in limited outings in 50-over cricket, the pair took the game away from the Proteas.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-csk-recruit-dewald-brevis-speaks-highly-of-veteran-ms-dhoni-awestruck-by-his-humility-1757252820376">IPL: CSK recruit Dewald Brevis speaks highly of veteran MS Dhoni, awestruck by his humility</a> &nbsp;Looking in fine touch, the left-handed rookie batter, who recently faced flak for a series of shallow scores, whacked 13 boundaries and three maximums, completing his first hundred in professional cricket. He raised his bat in ecstasy as the crowd cheered his sublime outing. Although he got out soon after (on 110), Root, who was holding the ground at the other end, rushed to his 19th One-Day hundred, putting England in the driver’s seat. &nbsp;His dismissal (on 100) brought all-rounder Will Jacks to the crease, who, alongside the former skipper Jos Buttler, ensured England went past the 400-run mark for the seventh time in history, equalling India’s tally. Australia, however, attained the top spot with eight 400-plus totals to their name. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Buttler also hit an impressive fifty, helping England score 414 for five - England’s fifth-highest score in the ODIs.&nbsp; &nbsp;For South Africa to win the match and complete a series whitewash, they must hunt 414; and should they succeed, it would be their second-highest run-chase in ODI cricket history.

It is the seventh instance in ODI cricket that England has surpassed the 400-run-mark in One-Dayers.

Jacob Bethell finally smashed his maiden international hundred against South Africa in the ongoing 3rd ODI at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, prompting England to 414-5 in the final game of this three-match series. The hosts breached the 400-mark in the One-Dayers for the seventh time in history, equalling India’s record and for the first time this summer, at home and against the Proteas. Veteran Joe Root also completed a magnificent century, his 19th in the 50-over format, with former captain Jos Buttler remaining unbeaten on 62 off 32 balls, including one six and eight fours. England has lost the series but still had pride to play for in this dead-rubber in Southampton. Sent out to bat first after losing the toss, the English openers stitched a 59-run stand for the first wicket before Corbin Bosch broke the stand, removing Ben Duckett on 31. Joe Root joined Jamie Smith in the middle, with the pair making light work of the South African attack. While Smith completed his third fifty-plus score in four ODIs, hitting an impressive 62 off 48 balls, Root continued his Midas touch. Alongside Bethell, who shone in limited outings in 50-over cricket, the pair took the game away from the Proteas. Also read | IPL: CSK recruit Dewald Brevis speaks highly of veteran MS Dhoni, awestruck by his humility Looking in fine touch, the left-handed rookie batter, who recently faced flak for a series of shallow scores, whacked 13 boundaries and three maximums, completing his first hundred in professional cricket. He raised his bat in ecstasy as the crowd cheered his sublime outing. Although he got out soon after (on 110), Root, who was holding the ground at the other end, rushed to his 19th One-Day hundred, putting England in the driver’s seat. His dismissal (on 100) brought all-rounder Will Jacks to the crease, who, alongside the former skipper Jos Buttler, ensured England went past the 400-run mark for the seventh time in history, equalling India’s tally. Australia, however, attained the top spot with eight 400-plus totals to their name. Meanwhile, Buttler also hit an impressive fifty, helping England score 414 for five - England’s fifth-highest score in the ODIs. For South Africa to win the match and complete a series whitewash, they must hunt 414; and should they succeed, it would be their second-highest run-chase in ODI cricket history.

It is the seventh instance in ODI cricket that England has surpassed the 400-run-mark in One-Dayers.

ENG vs SA 3rd ODI: Bethell the hero for England as hosts surpass 400 for first time this summer

South Africa batter Dewald Brevis is making inroads in international cricket this year, having already made headlines for his explosive outings in the T20Is against Australia earlier. With fame chasing him, he has someone to look up to and take inspiration from, and that person is none other than IPL and Chennai Super Kings veteran MS Dhoni, whose humility blew him away. Coming in as an injury replacement (at CSK) the past season, Brevis impressed all with his brief stint, including the management.&nbsp;Having played and spent time with MS Dhoni both on and off the field, Brevis learnt a lot about his gigantic aura, which everyone talks highly of and knew exactly why it happens so often. Awestruck by Dhoni’s humility, Brevis said, “The one thing I can just say from MS is his humbleness and who he is as a person. That stood out for me. How he is basically off the field, the time he has for players, for people. His room is always open. If he’s sleeping, that’s the only time it’s closed.” &nbsp;Brevis recalled how he, without hesitating, could enter Dhoni’s room and sit with him and chat with him about cricket and beyond.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-jitesh-sharma-likely-to-get-nod-in-playing-xi-sanju-samson-to-settle-for-a-place-on-bench-report-1757223791812">Asia Cup 2025: Jitesh Sharma likely to get nod in Playing XI, Sanju Samson to settle for a place on bench - Report</a> &nbsp;“I found myself a few times in his room just sitting there, chatting to him about his hobbies, watching cricket, or anything he was busy with,” Brevis said in a video shared by CSK. “That’s just amazing, to see how he is off the field. Everyone knows what he does on the field. It’s very special and I enjoyed my time there.” &nbsp;Meanwhile, Brevis made his chance count with limited CSK outings the past season. Against SRH in a low-scoring thriller, he scored an impressive 42 off 25 balls before contributing with the bat against KKR and Gujarat Titans, denting their progress in the tournament. Although he played 10 games for the Mumbai Indians across a couple of seasons earlier, his breakthrough in the cash-rich league came during IPL 2025. &nbsp;On the other hand, MS Dhoni was in the news the past week over remarks made by his former India and Rising Pune Supergiant’s all-rounder Irfan Pathan against him, alleging that Dhoni chose those players (for India) who used to prepare hookah for him.

Brevis recalled how he, without hesitating, could enter Dhoni’s room and sit with him and chat with him about cricket and beyond.

South Africa batter Dewald Brevis is making inroads in international cricket this year, having already made headlines for his explosive outings in the T20Is against Australia earlier. With fame chasing him, he has someone to look up to and take inspiration from, and that person is none other than IPL and Chennai Super Kings veteran MS Dhoni, whose humility blew him away. Coming in as an injury replacement (at CSK) the past season, Brevis impressed all with his brief stint, including the management. Having played and spent time with MS Dhoni both on and off the field, Brevis learnt a lot about his gigantic aura, which everyone talks highly of and knew exactly why it happens so often. Awestruck by Dhoni’s humility, Brevis said, “The one thing I can just say from MS is his humbleness and who he is as a person. That stood out for me. How he is basically off the field, the time he has for players, for people. His room is always open. If he’s sleeping, that’s the only time it’s closed.” Brevis recalled how he, without hesitating, could enter Dhoni’s room and sit with him and chat with him about cricket and beyond. Also read | Asia Cup 2025: Jitesh Sharma likely to get nod in Playing XI, Sanju Samson to settle for a place on bench - Report “I found myself a few times in his room just sitting there, chatting to him about his hobbies, watching cricket, or anything he was busy with,” Brevis said in a video shared by CSK. “That’s just amazing, to see how he is off the field. Everyone knows what he does on the field. It’s very special and I enjoyed my time there.” Meanwhile, Brevis made his chance count with limited CSK outings the past season. Against SRH in a low-scoring thriller, he scored an impressive 42 off 25 balls before contributing with the bat against KKR and Gujarat Titans, denting their progress in the tournament. Although he played 10 games for the Mumbai Indians across a couple of seasons earlier, his breakthrough in the cash-rich league came during IPL 2025. On the other hand, MS Dhoni was in the news the past week over remarks made by his former India and Rising Pune Supergiant’s all-rounder Irfan Pathan against him, alleging that Dhoni chose those players (for India) who used to prepare hookah for him.

Brevis recalled how he, without hesitating, could enter Dhoni’s room and sit with him and chat with him about cricket and beyond.

IPL: CSK recruit Dewald Brevis speaks highly of veteran MS Dhoni, awestruck by his humility

From Umar Gul to Hardik Pandya, here's a look at the top five bowlers with most wickets in India-Pakistan T20Is. 

From Umar Gul to Hardik Pandya, here's a look at the top five bowlers with most wickets in India-Pakistan T20Is.&nbsp;

Asia Cup: 5 bowlers with most wickets in India-Pakistan T20Is, 2 Indians on top, check full list

Pakistan's cricket board (PCB) announced on Sunday (Sep 7) it will host a Twenty20 international tri-series with Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in November, as teams get ready for next year's World Cup.&nbsp;"The series has been organised to provide all teams with valuable preparation ahead of next year's Men's T20 World Cup, to be staged in India and Sri Lanka," the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/blast-at-cricket-stadium-in-pakistan-kills-one-person-several-injured-police-1757180411352">Blast at cricket stadium in Pakistan kills one person, several injured: Police</a>&nbsp;The tri-series will begin on November 17 with Pakistan taking on Afghanistan at the Rawalpindi stadium.&nbsp;This will be the first time Pakistan play neighbours Afghanistan in a T20I match on home soil, the PCB said.&nbsp;Afghanistan have played two one-day internationals in the Asia Cup 2023 and three in this year's Champions Trophy in Pakistan, but they involved opponents other than the home team.&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-to-boycott-women-odi-world-cup-2025-opening-ceremony-in-india-report-1757164681460">Pakistan to boycott Women’s ODI World Cup opening ceremony in India – Report</a>&nbsp;Before the tri-series, Pakistan will host South Africa in a bilateral series of two Tests, three one-day internationals (ODIs) and as many T20Is from October 12 to November 8.<h3>Tri-series T20I schedule:</h3>&nbsp;<ul><li>17 November – Pakistan v Afghanistan, Rawalpindi</li><li>19 November – Sri Lanka v Afghanistan, Rawalpindi</li><li>22 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Lahore</li><li>23 November – Pakistan v Afghanistan, Lahore</li><li>25 November – Sri Lanka v Afghanistan, Lahore</li><li>27 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Lahore</li><li>29 November – Final, Lahore</li></ul>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The T20I tri-series will begin on November 17 with Pakistan taking on Afghanistan at the Rawalpindi stadium.

Pakistan's cricket board (PCB) announced on Sunday (Sep 7) it will host a Twenty20 international tri-series with Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in November, as teams get ready for next year's World Cup. "The series has been organised to provide all teams with valuable preparation ahead of next year's Men's T20 World Cup, to be staged in India and Sri Lanka," the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement. Also read | Blast at cricket stadium in Pakistan kills one person, several injured: Police The tri-series will begin on November 17 with Pakistan taking on Afghanistan at the Rawalpindi stadium. This will be the first time Pakistan play neighbours Afghanistan in a T20I match on home soil, the PCB said. Afghanistan have played two one-day internationals in the Asia Cup 2023 and three in this year's Champions Trophy in Pakistan, but they involved opponents other than the home team. Read More | Pakistan to boycott Women’s ODI World Cup opening ceremony in India – Report Before the tri-series, Pakistan will host South Africa in a bilateral series of two Tests, three one-day internationals (ODIs) and as many T20Is from October 12 to November 8. Tri-series T20I schedule: 17 November – Pakistan v Afghanistan, Rawalpindi 19 November – Sri Lanka v Afghanistan, Rawalpindi 22 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Lahore 23 November – Pakistan v Afghanistan, Lahore 25 November – Sri Lanka v Afghanistan, Lahore 27 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Lahore 29 November – Final, Lahore Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The T20I tri-series will begin on November 17 with Pakistan taking on Afghanistan at the Rawalpindi stadium.

Pakistan to host Afghanistan, Sri Lanka for T20I tri-series in November; check schedule

With the Asia Cup 2025 about to get underway (in the T20 format), and the India-Pakistan clash also on the horizon, it’s time we look at the top six highest run-scorers between them in the shortest format.

With the Asia Cup 2025 about to get underway (in the T20 format), and the India-Pakistan clash also on the horizon, it’s time we look at the top six highest run-scorers between them in the shortest format.

Asia Cup: 6 Batters with most runs in IND-PAK T20Is; 3 Pakistani in top-four, check full list

The Indian cricket team will kick start its Asian Cup 2025 campaign on Wednesday (Sep 10) as they face hosts UAE at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The tournament, which will serve as the build up for the 2026 T20 World Cup, will have huge implications on India’s Playing XI. Ahead of the tournament, reports have emerged that India could use Jitesh Sharma as a wicketkeeper option ahead of Sanju Samson, which will likely accommodate vice-captain Shubman Gill in the Playing XI.<h2>Jitesh over Sanju?</h2>According to a report from prominent cricket website Espncricinfo, Jitesh will be ahead in the pecking order considering he makes place for vice-captain Gill. Samson, who is preferred in the opener’s slot or in No.3 place, could have to settle for a place on the bench as his inclusion will see either of Shubman Gill or Tilak Varma miss out from the Playing XI.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-india-s-probable-playing-xi-shubman-gill-to-open-sanju-samson-at-no-3-tilak-varma-to-miss-out-1755663441686">Asia Cup 2025, India's Probable Playing XI: Shubman Gill to open, Sanju Samson at No.3; Tilak Varma to miss out</a>&nbsp;Also, Jitesh Sharma has played in the No.6 position for RCB in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a position he is used to playing. However, that is not the case for Sanju, who has only preferred to play in the top order. His inclusion could also mean India could afford to drop Rinku Singh, as he Jitesh can play in the pitch-hitter’s role and bring Tilak Varma at No.3.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a><h2>What will be the best combination?</h2>In case Samson is dropped, then India will most probably open with Abhishek Sharma and Gill with Tilak Varma at No.3 followed by captain Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Jitesh Sharma. Jitesh will be the side’s wicketkeeping option.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-full-squads-complete-fixtures-date-time-venue-and-live-streaming-details-check-all-details-1755585771834">Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know - full squads, complete fixtures, date, time, venue and other key details</a><h2>India’s Predicted Playing XI for Asia Cup 2025</h2>Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav/Harshit Rana

In case Sanju Samson is dropped, then India will most probably open with Abhishek Sharma and Gill with Tilak Varma at No.3 followed by captain Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Jitesh Sharma. Jitesh will be the side’s wicketkeeping option.

The Indian cricket team will kick start its Asian Cup 2025 campaign on Wednesday (Sep 10) as they face hosts UAE at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The tournament, which will serve as the build up for the 2026 T20 World Cup, will have huge implications on India’s Playing XI. Ahead of the tournament, reports have emerged that India could use Jitesh Sharma as a wicketkeeper option ahead of Sanju Samson, which will likely accommodate vice-captain Shubman Gill in the Playing XI. Jitesh over Sanju? According to a report from prominent cricket website Espncricinfo, Jitesh will be ahead in the pecking order considering he makes place for vice-captain Gill. Samson, who is preferred in the opener’s slot or in No.3 place, could have to settle for a place on the bench as his inclusion will see either of Shubman Gill or Tilak Varma miss out from the Playing XI. ALSO READ | Asia Cup 2025, India's Probable Playing XI: Shubman Gill to open, Sanju Samson at No.3; Tilak Varma to miss out Also, Jitesh Sharma has played in the No.6 position for RCB in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a position he is used to playing. However, that is not the case for Sanju, who has only preferred to play in the top order. His inclusion could also mean India could afford to drop Rinku Singh, as he Jitesh can play in the pitch-hitter’s role and bring Tilak Varma at No.3. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) What will be the best combination? In case Samson is dropped, then India will most probably open with Abhishek Sharma and Gill with Tilak Varma at No.3 followed by captain Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Jitesh Sharma. Jitesh will be the side’s wicketkeeping option. ALSO READ | Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know - full squads, complete fixtures, date, time, venue and other key details India’s Predicted Playing XI for Asia Cup 2025 Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav/Harshit Rana

In case Sanju Samson is dropped, then India will most probably open with Abhishek Sharma and Gill with Tilak Varma at No.3 followed by captain Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Jitesh Sharma. Jitesh will be the side’s wicketkeeping option.

Asia Cup 2025: Jitesh Sharma likely to get nod in Playing XI, Sanju Samson to settle for a place on bench - Report

In shocking news, a targeted blast at a cricket stadium in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province killed at least one person while injuring several others. Per reports emerging out of the country, an IED blast at the Kausar Cricket Ground in Khar tehsil led to panic, with a viral video of people running around to save their lives with a thick cloud of smoke emerging in the background doing rounds on social media. The police confirmed the blast, as earlier reported by Dawn.&nbsp;The local police also informed that the ones injured were taken to the nearby district headquarters hospital, with no reports of anyone claiming responsibility for the attack out yet. It, however, claims that the security officials suspect this terrorist attack in response to Operation Sarbakaf – an anti-terrorism initiative launched by security forces some weeks ago.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-to-boycott-women-odi-world-cup-2025-opening-ceremony-in-india-report-1757164681460">Pakistan to boycott Women’s ODI World Cup opening ceremony in India – Report</a>&nbsp;Watch Video -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">IED Blast in Pakistan 🇵🇰🚨 One person was killed and several others injured in an explosion while a cricket match was being played in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. 📍 Kausar Cricket Ground in Khar tehsil of Bajaur district. Video 📷 <a href="https://t.co/OVXzD9HXJR">pic.twitter.com/OVXzD9HXJR</a>&mdash; Mayank (@mayankcdp) <a href="https://twitter.com/mayankcdp/status/1964359765414596984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, on the same lines, a police station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was under attack through a quadcopter last week, injuring a police constable and a civilian. &nbsp;Not only this, but last month too, on Pakistan’s Independence Day (Aug 14), the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) carried out coordinated gun and grenade attacks on police stations, checkpoints and patrols across several (seven) districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing half a dozen officers.<h3>Pakistan, cricket and terrorism</h3>Even though Pakistan co-hosted the eight-team ICC event (Champions Trophy), which was also the first on their soil since they co-hosted the 1996 ODI World Cup, the BCCI’s and the Indian government’s refusal to send the Indian Team across the border forced the ICC to introduce a hybrid model, with Dubai chosen as a neutral venue. &nbsp;Although the Pakistani media, their countless fans, influencers, experts, former cricketers and who’s who criticised the Indian government’s move, such blasts occurring now and then on their soil answer plenty of questions. It reflects why the BCCI was adamant and right in denying the Indian Team to Pakistan due to security concerns.

The local police also informed that the ones injured were taken to the nearby district headquarters hospital, with no reports of anyone claiming responsibility for the attack out yet.

In shocking news, a targeted blast at a cricket stadium in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province killed at least one person while injuring several others. Per reports emerging out of the country, an IED blast at the Kausar Cricket Ground in Khar tehsil led to panic, with a viral video of people running around to save their lives with a thick cloud of smoke emerging in the background doing rounds on social media. The police confirmed the blast, as earlier reported by Dawn. The local police also informed that the ones injured were taken to the nearby district headquarters hospital, with no reports of anyone claiming responsibility for the attack out yet. It, however, claims that the security officials suspect this terrorist attack in response to Operation Sarbakaf – an anti-terrorism initiative launched by security forces some weeks ago. Also read | Pakistan to boycott Women’s ODI World Cup opening ceremony in India – Report Watch Video -

The local police also informed that the ones injured were taken to the nearby district headquarters hospital, with no reports of anyone claiming responsibility for the attack out yet.

Blast at cricket stadium in Pakistan kills one person, several injured: Police

Sports have a legacy of their own, and every game is famous for its own reasons. For instance, cricket and tennis may be completely different in how they’re played, but both enjoy massive global followings. Cricket is played with a bat and a ball and in formats like Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, with red, white, or pink balls, whereas Tennis, on the other hand, is about racket battles on three surfaces: clay, grass, and hard courts. Both sports test athletes in very different ways and have produced some of the greatest champions we know. &nbsp; The big stages in these two sports are also different. Tennis has its four Grand Slams - the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, with Wimbledon being the oldest and most prestigious. Cricket, on the other hand, has its own major trophies - the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy, and World Test Championship.&nbsp;Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-players-wear-white-clothes-in-wimbledon-whats-behind-the-all-white-dress-code-rule-colonialism-imperialism-and-more-1751364331647"> What’s behind the Wimbledon all-white dress code rule? Colonialism, imperialism and more</a>&nbsp;But here’s the interesting twist. Despite all these differences, there is one thing that binds cricket and tennis. And it’s not the surface or the rules; it’s a year. The year 1877. Why is this year so important for both sports? Let’s dig in deep.<h2>Cricket: The First Test Match</h2>In March 1877, the very first official Test match was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between Australia and England. Australia's opening batter Charles Bannerman made history by scoring cricket’s first Test century, hitting 165 before retiring hurt. The hosts posted 245 in the first innings and added 104 in the second, setting England 154 to chase. England managed only 196 and 108, falling short by 45 runs to hand Australia the win. &nbsp; That game also saw English pacer James Southerton debut at 49 years and 119 days, making him the oldest Test debutant ever. More than just a match, it was the start of Test cricket, a format still seen as the toughest and most prestigious in the game.

The First Test Match

<h2>Tennis: The First Wimbledon</h2>A few months later, in July 1877, tennis had its own landmark moment. The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club decided to host a lawn tennis tournament to raise money for roller repairing. That event became the first-ever Wimbledon Championship. Twenty-two players entered, and Spencer Gore won the final against William Marshall in straight sets. Around 200 people watched the match, and Gore took home a silver cup and prize money of 12 guineas. That humble beginning gave birth to what is now the world’s most iconic tennis tournament held annually at SW19.

The First Wimbledon

<h2>1877: A Shared Beginning</h2>So, in the same year, cricket saw its first Test, and tennis saw its first Wimbledon. Two very different sports, two different continents, but one year that became a turning point in their history.

A Shared Beginning

<h2>Bonds Beyond Sports</h2>Over time, cricket and tennis have also built strong connections off the field. Virat Kohli and Novak Djokovic often speak about their mutual respect, while legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Joe Root are regulars at Wimbledon.

Cricket and tennis are two iconic sports with massive global followings, and surprisingly, they share something in common. Let’s know this unique connection here.

Sports have a legacy of their own, and every game is famous for its own reasons. For instance, cricket and tennis may be completely different in how they’re played, but both enjoy massive global followings. Cricket is played with a bat and a ball and in formats like Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, with red, white, or pink balls, whereas Tennis, on the other hand, is about racket battles on three surfaces: clay, grass, and hard courts. Both sports test athletes in very different ways and have produced some of the greatest champions we know. The big stages in these two sports are also different. Tennis has its four Grand Slams - the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, with Wimbledon being the oldest and most prestigious. Cricket, on the other hand, has its own major trophies - the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy, and World Test Championship. Also read | What’s behind the Wimbledon all-white dress code rule? Colonialism, imperialism and more But here’s the interesting twist. Despite all these differences, there is one thing that binds cricket and tennis. And it’s not the surface or the rules; it’s a year. The year 1877. Why is this year so important for both sports? Let’s dig in deep. Cricket: The First Test Match In March 1877, the very first official Test match was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between Australia and England. Australia's opening batter Charles Bannerman made history by scoring cricket’s first Test century, hitting 165 before retiring hurt. The hosts posted 245 in the first innings and added 104 in the second, setting England 154 to chase. England managed only 196 and 108, falling short by 45 runs to hand Australia the win. That game also saw English pacer James Southerton debut at 49 years and 119 days, making him the oldest Test debutant ever. More than just a match, it was the start of Test cricket, a format still seen as the toughest and most prestigious in the game.

Cricket and tennis are two iconic sports with massive global followings, and surprisingly, they share something in common. Let’s know this unique connection here.

What is the one link that ties cricket and tennis together? EXPLAINED

Zimbabwe levelled a Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka in Harare with a five-wicket victory in a low scoring match on Saturday (Sep 6). Sri Lanka were all out for 80 -- their second lowest T20 total -- and Zimbabwe made 84-5 in reply at Harare Sports Club to win with 34 balls remaining. The tourists won the first match by five runs, and the series will be decided by the third and final match on Sunday.&nbsp;"We have been playing good cricket and were upset with recent losses because we got close in the previous three games," said Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza. "To our credit, we did not panic despite the disappointments. Hopefully this victory will give us belief."&nbsp;Rival skipper Charith Asalanka said: "We lost too many wickets in the powerplay. When I went to bat I thought it was a 130 to 140-run pitch."&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/struggling-england-cannot-take-2027-odi-world-cup-rankings-for-granted-marcus-trescothick-1757169731665">Struggling England cannot take 2027 ODI World Cup rankings for granted: Marcus Trescothick</a>&nbsp;Kamil Mishara top scored for Sri Lanka with a run-a-ball 20 before misjudging a yorker from Brad Evans, which uprooted his off-stump.&nbsp;Asalanka (18) and Dasun Shanaka (15) were the only other Sri Lankan batters to reach double figures. Raza (3-11) and Evans (3-15) inflicted the most damage with the ball for the home side.&nbsp;Zimbabwe also struggled with the bat, slumping to 27-3 before Brian Bennett (19) and Ryan Burl (20 not out) put on 26 runs for the fourth wicket to bring the hosts within sight of victory.&nbsp;Tashinga Musekiwa (21 not out) won the match by striking fours off the first and second deliveries of the 14th over. Dushmantha Chameera (3-19) was the most successful of the tourists' bowlers.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sri Lanka were all out for 80 -- their second lowest T20 total -- and Zimbabwe made 84-5 in reply at Harare Sports Club to win with 34 balls remaining.

Zimbabwe levelled a Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka in Harare with a five-wicket victory in a low scoring match on Saturday (Sep 6). Sri Lanka were all out for 80 -- their second lowest T20 total -- and Zimbabwe made 84-5 in reply at Harare Sports Club to win with 34 balls remaining. The tourists won the first match by five runs, and the series will be decided by the third and final match on Sunday. "We have been playing good cricket and were upset with recent losses because we got close in the previous three games," said Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza. "To our credit, we did not panic despite the disappointments. Hopefully this victory will give us belief." Rival skipper Charith Asalanka said: "We lost too many wickets in the powerplay. When I went to bat I thought it was a 130 to 140-run pitch." Also read | Struggling England cannot take 2027 ODI World Cup rankings for granted: Marcus Trescothick Kamil Mishara top scored for Sri Lanka with a run-a-ball 20 before misjudging a yorker from Brad Evans, which uprooted his off-stump. Asalanka (18) and Dasun Shanaka (15) were the only other Sri Lankan batters to reach double figures. Raza (3-11) and Evans (3-15) inflicted the most damage with the ball for the home side. Zimbabwe also struggled with the bat, slumping to 27-3 before Brian Bennett (19) and Ryan Burl (20 not out) put on 26 runs for the fourth wicket to bring the hosts within sight of victory. Tashinga Musekiwa (21 not out) won the match by striking fours off the first and second deliveries of the 14th over. Dushmantha Chameera (3-19) was the most successful of the tourists' bowlers. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sri Lanka were all out for 80 -- their second lowest T20 total -- and Zimbabwe made 84-5 in reply at Harare Sports Club to win with 34 balls remaining.

Zimbabwe level T20I series after dismissing Sri Lanka for their second-lowest total

Marcus Trescothick accepts a struggling England one-day international side must "climb those rankings" if they are to secure their place at the 2027 World Cup. Successive losses to South Africa mean England are already 2-0 down in a three-match series ahead of Sunday's finale in Southampton. The defeats have left then eighth in the International Cricket Council standings for 50-over cricket. This represents a significant decline for an England side who were world champions as recently as 2019. It leaves them facing awkward questions regarding their automatic place at the next edition of the global showpiece.&nbsp;Co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe are already guaranteed spots, with the next eight places determined by the ICC rankings.&nbsp;England still have plenty of time to pull clear of Bangladesh and the West Indies, but assistant coach Trescothick accepts the slump needs to come to an end.&nbsp;"If you look solely in terms of making sure we qualify for the World Cup, that is the situation we find ourselves in at the moment," Trescothick told reporters on Saturday. "We're in an interesting position where we need to climb those rankings. Longer term there's also a bigger picture and we need to look at being at the top of those rankings and beyond. We want to go and compete in the biggest competitions like we did in 2019."&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-to-boycott-women-odi-world-cup-2025-opening-ceremony-in-india-report-1757164681460">Pakistan to boycott Women’s ODI World Cup opening ceremony in India – Report</a>&nbsp;The former England opening batsman added: "No doubt it's been a challenging period and a sustained amount of time where you're trying to adapt and get back to the formula we want.&nbsp;"The journey hasn't been easy, of course not, but I definitely feel we're improving and moving in the right direction even though the last two results have been disappointing."&nbsp;England have made just one change for Sunday's match with Jamie Overton, who this week announced he was stepping away from longer-form red-ball cricket, replaces fellow paceman Saqib Mahmood.&nbsp;That leaves the balance of the side&nbsp; unchanged, with part-time spinners Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell -- who between then conceded a costly 112 runs in 10 overs during a five-run loss to South Africa at Lord's on Thursday -- set for another bowling stint.&nbsp;Opening batsman Ben Duckett has kept his place despite being sufficiently weary and short of form to be withdrawn from next week's T20 series against South Africa. He has one more innings to find some rhythm before a much-needed rest ahead of a showpiece Ashes tour of Australia gets underway in November.&nbsp;"We need certain players to be firing and Ben is certainly one of those," said Trescothick. "At this point in time, this (break) is the best way to maximise performances going forward as we head into a big winter.&nbsp;"We need the boys firing going into November, December, January. That's not to say things aren't important coming up but sometimes you just have to take your foot off the gas a bit and rejuvenate the mind. Then you can get back on the horse and crack on."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe are already guaranteed spots, with the next eight places determined by the ICC rankings.

Marcus Trescothick accepts a struggling England one-day international side must "climb those rankings" if they are to secure their place at the 2027 World Cup. Successive losses to South Africa mean England are already 2-0 down in a three-match series ahead of Sunday's finale in Southampton. The defeats have left then eighth in the International Cricket Council standings for 50-over cricket. This represents a significant decline for an England side who were world champions as recently as 2019. It leaves them facing awkward questions regarding their automatic place at the next edition of the global showpiece. Co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe are already guaranteed spots, with the next eight places determined by the ICC rankings. England still have plenty of time to pull clear of Bangladesh and the West Indies, but assistant coach Trescothick accepts the slump needs to come to an end. "If you look solely in terms of making sure we qualify for the World Cup, that is the situation we find ourselves in at the moment," Trescothick told reporters on Saturday. "We're in an interesting position where we need to climb those rankings. Longer term there's also a bigger picture and we need to look at being at the top of those rankings and beyond. We want to go and compete in the biggest competitions like we did in 2019." Also read | Pakistan to boycott Women’s ODI World Cup opening ceremony in India – Report The former England opening batsman added: "No doubt it's been a challenging period and a sustained amount of time where you're trying to adapt and get back to the formula we want. "The journey hasn't been easy, of course not, but I definitely feel we're improving and moving in the right direction even though the last two results have been disappointing." England have made just one change for Sunday's match with Jamie Overton, who this week announced he was stepping away from longer-form red-ball cricket, replaces fellow paceman Saqib Mahmood. That leaves the balance of the side unchanged, with part-time spinners Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell -- who between then conceded a costly 112 runs in 10 overs during a five-run loss to South Africa at Lord's on Thursday -- set for another bowling stint. Opening batsman Ben Duckett has kept his place despite being sufficiently weary and short of form to be withdrawn from next week's T20 series against South Africa. He has one more innings to find some rhythm before a much-needed rest ahead of a showpiece Ashes tour of Australia gets underway in November. "We need certain players to be firing and Ben is certainly one of those," said Trescothick. "At this point in time, this (break) is the best way to maximise performances going forward as we head into a big winter. "We need the boys firing going into November, December, January. That's not to say things aren't important coming up but sometimes you just have to take your foot off the gas a bit and rejuvenate the mind. Then you can get back on the horse and crack on." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

England still have plenty of time to pull clear of Bangladesh and the West Indies, but assistant coach Trescothick accepts the slump needs to come to an end.

Struggling England cannot take 2027 ODI World Cup rankings for granted: Marcus Trescothick

The Indian Team landed in Dubai on Thursday for the eight-team tournament and began preparations in their first intense training session the next day at the ICC Academy. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, who linked up with the main squad on Thursday, alongside everyone, as instructed by the BCCI top brass, sent out a motivating message to set the tone of the practice session. It also marked the squad’s first collective training session since the conclusion of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, with captain Suryakumar Yadav, his deputy Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson among others participating in the extended batting and fielding drills.&nbsp;With the board and the management deciding against holding a preparatory camp at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, acclimatising in the UAE conditions was the chosen option. The BCCI (on Saturday, Sep 6) shared a behind-the-scenes video of the training session, with the leadership group sharing their inputs. &nbsp;All-rounder Shivam Dube echoed head coach Gambhir’s words, saying, “There is always one thing which the coach has said to every player - 'whenever you play for your country, you get an opportunity to do something new'. &nbsp;Newly-appointed Test captain Gill also shared his inputs, saying, “Very excited obviously. I think it's a great group. And the way we have been playing the T20 these days is nothing short of entertaining and terrific cricket. So, very excited to join the group.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shreyas-iyer-named-india-a-captain-for-four-day-games-against-touring-australia-a-check-schedule-1757153960282">Shreyas Iyer named India-A captain for four-day games against touring Australia-A; check schedule</a> &nbsp;On the other hand, T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav lauded the assembled unit, saying it’s a brilliant bunch of players with an unbelievable skill set.&nbsp; &nbsp;“To have such a brilliant bunch around with unbelievable skill sets. I always have a smile on my face when I see those boys on the ground. Because the way they put their body on the line, that's what I want from them. And they just enjoy on the ground,” he said. &nbsp;Meanwhile, India will open its Asia Cup 2025 campaign against the venue hosts (the UAE) (on September 10) before facing arch-rivals Pakistan four days later in Dubai in the marquee tournament clash. The Men in Blue will then take on Oman in their final group game (on September 19) in Abu Dhabi. &nbsp;Should India top Group A, they will advance to the next round (Super Fours), and upon staying in the top two in that, they will reach the finale to be played (on September 28) in Dubai.&nbsp;

With the board and the management deciding against holding a preparatory camp at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, acclimatising in the UAE conditions was the chosen option.

The Indian Team landed in Dubai on Thursday for the eight-team tournament and began preparations in their first intense training session the next day at the ICC Academy. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, who linked up with the main squad on Thursday, alongside everyone, as instructed by the BCCI top brass, sent out a motivating message to set the tone of the practice session. It also marked the squad’s first collective training session since the conclusion of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, with captain Suryakumar Yadav, his deputy Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson among others participating in the extended batting and fielding drills. With the board and the management deciding against holding a preparatory camp at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, acclimatising in the UAE conditions was the chosen option. The BCCI (on Saturday, Sep 6) shared a behind-the-scenes video of the training session, with the leadership group sharing their inputs. All-rounder Shivam Dube echoed head coach Gambhir’s words, saying, “There is always one thing which the coach has said to every player - 'whenever you play for your country, you get an opportunity to do something new'. Newly-appointed Test captain Gill also shared his inputs, saying, “Very excited obviously. I think it's a great group. And the way we have been playing the T20 these days is nothing short of entertaining and terrific cricket. So, very excited to join the group.” Also read | Shreyas Iyer named India-A captain for four-day games against touring Australia-A; check schedule On the other hand, T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav lauded the assembled unit, saying it’s a brilliant bunch of players with an unbelievable skill set. “To have such a brilliant bunch around with unbelievable skill sets. I always have a smile on my face when I see those boys on the ground. Because the way they put their body on the line, that's what I want from them. And they just enjoy on the ground,” he said. Meanwhile, India will open its Asia Cup 2025 campaign against the venue hosts (the UAE) (on September 10) before facing arch-rivals Pakistan four days later in Dubai in the marquee tournament clash. The Men in Blue will then take on Oman in their final group game (on September 19) in Abu Dhabi. Should India top Group A, they will advance to the next round (Super Fours), and upon staying in the top two in that, they will reach the finale to be played (on September 28) in Dubai.

With the board and the management deciding against holding a preparatory camp at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, acclimatising in the UAE conditions was the chosen option.

India’s Asia Cup preparations underway in Dubai: Here’s what Suryakumar Yadav, Gambhir and Gill have to say

Following escalating cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan earlier this year, the Pakistan women’s cricket team will boycott the opening ceremony of the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in Guwahati, India, on Tuesday (Sep 30). The latest reports from Pakistan suggest that neither team captain, Fatima Sana, nor any representative will attend the grand opening ceremony in India, which kicks off the eight-team tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.&nbsp;Geo News in Pakistan were the first to report that the Pakistan women’s cricket team decided against travelling to India to honour PCB’s agreement in principle (with the BCCI) not to visit or play any cricket in India for the next three years. This decision came on the back of a mutual understanding between the two boards over disallowing their respective teams to play any cricket, bilateral or multilateral, in their neighbouring country.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shreyas-iyer-named-india-a-captain-for-four-day-games-against-touring-australia-a-check-schedule-1757153960282">Shreyas Iyer named India-A captain for four-day games against touring Australia-A; check schedule</a> &nbsp;It was the BCCI that first denied sending its team across the border for the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan (earlier this year) due to security concerns, forcing the ICC to urge the host board (the PCB) to acknowledge the hybrid model, allowing Team India’s participation in the tournament.&nbsp; &nbsp;Although the PCB took its time before accepting the hybrid model, it put a stipulation that, should they agree to it, the BCCI will also have to ensure they take the hybrid model route every time an ICC or an ACC (Asia Cup) event is hosted in India, considering Pakistan's participation, with the two boards mutually agreeing to it. &nbsp;Moreover, what unfolded in India’s Kashmir (on April 22) rocked the diplomatic ties between both countries. The Pahalgam terror attack, where Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 innocent lives in broad daylight, all tourists from India and abroad, shocked the entire country, with India reverting with Operation Sindoor a fortnight later, destroying militant camps and bases across PoK and in Pakistan with precise air-strikes. &nbsp;Even though the Indian government broke all ties with Pakistan across almost all fronts, the two respective cricket boards agreed to play against each other in the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE.&nbsp;<h3>Pakistan squad for ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - &nbsp;</h3>Fatima Sana (captain), Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (vice-captain), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wicket-keeper) and Syeda Aroob Shah. Non-travelling reserves: Gull Feroza, Najiha Alvi, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar

The latest reports from Pakistan suggest that neither team captain, Fatima Sana, nor any representative will attend the grand opening ceremony in India, which kicks off the eight-team tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Following escalating cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan earlier this year, the Pakistan women’s cricket team will boycott the opening ceremony of the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in Guwahati, India, on Tuesday (Sep 30). The latest reports from Pakistan suggest that neither team captain, Fatima Sana, nor any representative will attend the grand opening ceremony in India, which kicks off the eight-team tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Geo News in Pakistan were the first to report that the Pakistan women’s cricket team decided against travelling to India to honour PCB’s agreement in principle (with the BCCI) not to visit or play any cricket in India for the next three years. This decision came on the back of a mutual understanding between the two boards over disallowing their respective teams to play any cricket, bilateral or multilateral, in their neighbouring country. Also read | Shreyas Iyer named India-A captain for four-day games against touring Australia-A; check schedule It was the BCCI that first denied sending its team across the border for the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan (earlier this year) due to security concerns, forcing the ICC to urge the host board (the PCB) to acknowledge the hybrid model, allowing Team India’s participation in the tournament. Although the PCB took its time before accepting the hybrid model, it put a stipulation that, should they agree to it, the BCCI will also have to ensure they take the hybrid model route every time an ICC or an ACC (Asia Cup) event is hosted in India, considering Pakistan's participation, with the two boards mutually agreeing to it. Moreover, what unfolded in India’s Kashmir (on April 22) rocked the diplomatic ties between both countries. The Pahalgam terror attack, where Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 innocent lives in broad daylight, all tourists from India and abroad, shocked the entire country, with India reverting with Operation Sindoor a fortnight later, destroying militant camps and bases across PoK and in Pakistan with precise air-strikes. Even though the Indian government broke all ties with Pakistan across almost all fronts, the two respective cricket boards agreed to play against each other in the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE. Pakistan squad for ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fatima Sana (captain), Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (vice-captain), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wicket-keeper) and Syeda Aroob Shah. Non-travelling reserves: Gull Feroza, Najiha Alvi, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar

The latest reports from Pakistan suggest that neither team captain, Fatima Sana, nor any representative will attend the grand opening ceremony in India, which kicks off the eight-team tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan to boycott Women’s ODI World Cup opening ceremony in India – Report

From Jasprit Bumrah to Shaheen Afridi, here is a look at the top five pacers to watch out for in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. This list also includes Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mustafizur Rahman and Matheesha Pathirana.

From Jasprit Bumrah to Shaheen Afridi, here is a look at the top five pacers to watch out for in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. This list also includes Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mustafizur Rahman and Matheesha Pathirana.

From Jasprit Bumrah to Shaheen Afridi, 5 pacers to watch out for in upcoming Asia Cup 2025

Shreyas Iyer is back in the mix in Indian Cricket after being left out of the Asia Cup 2025 squad, as the BCCI named him the India-A captain for two four-day games against Australia-A in Lucknow, starting Tuesday (Sep 16). Nitish Kumar Reddy, who suffered a knee injury during India’s previous Test tour (against England), has also been included in the 15-man squad. Keeper-batter Dhruv Jurel is Iyer’s deputy, while star opener KL Rahul and top seamer Mohammed Siraj are also named, but for the second game only; however, the BCCI release hasn’t mentioned who they would replace.&nbsp;Besides these first-team players, Prasidh Krishna, Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanyu Easwaran – all part of the Anderson-Tendulkar five-match series, which India drew 2-2, have also been included, while spare keeper-batter N Jagadeesan, who replaced injured Rishabh Pant in the squad for the final Test, is also picked.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/team-india-kicks-off-asia-cup-2025-campaign-with-first-training-session-in-dubai-1757087738381">Team India kicks off Asia Cup 2025 campaign with first training session in Dubai</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, Iyer's return to the red-ball setup also boosts his chances of making a comeback to the Test side, with the home season starting shortly after the conclusion of the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE. The batting mainstay last played a Test for India against England at Vizag in 2024. Although he remains in the tight scheme of things for the away Australia ODI series (in mid-October), his performance could push his case for a recall in the T20I side too, considering next year’s home T20 World Cup.<h3>Reddy’s return a win for India</h3>Reddy emerged as the top emerging all-format all-rounder for India, having played and impressed on two away tours (Down Under and in the UK). On Saturday (Sep 5), he bowled extended spells to left-handed Sudharsan at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.&nbsp; &nbsp;Besides, Delhi and Lucknow Super Giants (in the IPL) batter Ayush Badoni, who smashed a cracking double hundred against East Zone in the ongoing Duleep Trophy, has also been rewarded with a call-up.&nbsp; &nbsp;While Chennai Super Kings quick Khaleel Ahmed, Yash Thakur and Gurnoor Brar are among the other seamers, Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey and Tanush Kotian offer spin bowling options to Iyer. &nbsp;The first four-day game begins on September 16, with the second one starting on the 23rd. &nbsp;Here is India-A squad for the Australia series –&nbsp; &nbsp;Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran, N Jagadeesan (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (vice-captain, wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Harsh Dubey, Ayush Badoni, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tanush Kotian, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel Ahmed, Manav Suthar, Yash Thakur, KL Rahul*, Mohammed Siraj* * only for the second match

Despite making headlines in the T20 setup as a captain and a batter, the selectors ignored him for the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025. 

Shreyas Iyer is back in the mix in Indian Cricket after being left out of the Asia Cup 2025 squad, as the BCCI named him the India-A captain for two four-day games against Australia-A in Lucknow, starting Tuesday (Sep 16). Nitish Kumar Reddy, who suffered a knee injury during India’s previous Test tour (against England), has also been included in the 15-man squad. Keeper-batter Dhruv Jurel is Iyer’s deputy, while star opener KL Rahul and top seamer Mohammed Siraj are also named, but for the second game only; however, the BCCI release hasn’t mentioned who they would replace. Besides these first-team players, Prasidh Krishna, Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanyu Easwaran – all part of the Anderson-Tendulkar five-match series, which India drew 2-2, have also been included, while spare keeper-batter N Jagadeesan, who replaced injured Rishabh Pant in the squad for the final Test, is also picked. Also read | Team India kicks off Asia Cup 2025 campaign with first training session in Dubai Meanwhile, Iyer's return to the red-ball setup also boosts his chances of making a comeback to the Test side, with the home season starting shortly after the conclusion of the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE. The batting mainstay last played a Test for India against England at Vizag in 2024. Although he remains in the tight scheme of things for the away Australia ODI series (in mid-October), his performance could push his case for a recall in the T20I side too, considering next year’s home T20 World Cup. Reddy’s return a win for India Reddy emerged as the top emerging all-format all-rounder for India, having played and impressed on two away tours (Down Under and in the UK). On Saturday (Sep 5), he bowled extended spells to left-handed Sudharsan at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Besides, Delhi and Lucknow Super Giants (in the IPL) batter Ayush Badoni, who smashed a cracking double hundred against East Zone in the ongoing Duleep Trophy, has also been rewarded with a call-up. While Chennai Super Kings quick Khaleel Ahmed, Yash Thakur and Gurnoor Brar are among the other seamers, Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey and Tanush Kotian offer spin bowling options to Iyer. The first four-day game begins on September 16, with the second one starting on the 23rd. Here is India-A squad for the Australia series – Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran, N Jagadeesan (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (vice-captain, wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Harsh Dubey, Ayush Badoni, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tanush Kotian, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel Ahmed, Manav Suthar, Yash Thakur, KL Rahul*, Mohammed Siraj* * only for the second match

Despite making headlines in the T20 setup as a captain and a batter, the selectors ignored him for the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025.&nbsp;

Shreyas Iyer named India-A captain for four-day games against touring Australia-A; check schedule

BCCI, the wealthiest cricket board, is about to get richer after raising jersey branding rights prices, with the new rates set to blow the roof off. The latest reports suggest that the Indian Cricket Board has raised the stakes for jersey sponsors looking to connect with the BCCI, with the board welcoming bidders for a fresh three-year sponsorship cycle. While the (new) jersey sponsors will have to pay INR 3.5 crore per match for bilateral fixtures, the number reduces to INR 1.5 crore per match for multilateral matches (ICC/ACC).&nbsp;A Cricbuzz report states that these rates reflect a modest increase from BCCI’s previous partnership with Dream 11, which was INR 3.17 crore per bilateral game and INR 1.12 crore for ICC and ACC events, reflecting a targeted uplift of over 10 per cent in bilateral fixtures’ valuation and nearly three per cent for multi-team tournaments.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/team-india-kicks-off-asia-cup-2025-campaign-with-first-training-session-in-dubai-1757087738381">Team India kicks off Asia Cup 2025 campaign with first training session in Dubai</a> &nbsp;Although the discrepancy between the two categories revolves around the visibility factor, with sponsors gaining prominent reach while being placed in front of Indian jerseys during bilateral games, the ICC and ACC events restrict the branding exposure to mere sleeves. &nbsp;The new sponsorship deal will cover nearly 130 matches over the next three years, including major ICC events, the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, considering the reported rates, the BCCI could pocket close to INR 400 crore in this window, with the number potentially going much higher depending on the bidding outcome.&nbsp; &nbsp;Also, considering the bidding date is scheduled for September 16, the Men in Blue will feature in the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025, which starts Sep 9 (in the UAE) without a lead sponsor, with a senior BCCI official confirming that an interim sponsor is unlikely. &nbsp;Meanwhile, (earlier) on September 2, the BCCI issued an Invitation for Expression of Interest (EOI) for the lead sponsors' right, also outlining restrictions for several categories of companies, including gaming, betting, crypto and tobacco brands, from applying. The board also excluded companies dealing in sportswear, banking and finance, non-alcoholic cold beverages, fans, mixers, grinders, safety locks and insurance due to potential conflicts with existing sponsors.

While the (new) jersey sponsors will have to pay INR 3.5 crore per match for bilateral fixtures, the number reduces to INR 1.5 crore per match for multilateral matches (ICC/ACC).

BCCI, the wealthiest cricket board, is about to get richer after raising jersey branding rights prices, with the new rates set to blow the roof off. The latest reports suggest that the Indian Cricket Board has raised the stakes for jersey sponsors looking to connect with the BCCI, with the board welcoming bidders for a fresh three-year sponsorship cycle. While the (new) jersey sponsors will have to pay INR 3.5 crore per match for bilateral fixtures, the number reduces to INR 1.5 crore per match for multilateral matches (ICC/ACC). A Cricbuzz report states that these rates reflect a modest increase from BCCI’s previous partnership with Dream 11, which was INR 3.17 crore per bilateral game and INR 1.12 crore for ICC and ACC events, reflecting a targeted uplift of over 10 per cent in bilateral fixtures’ valuation and nearly three per cent for multi-team tournaments. Also read | Team India kicks off Asia Cup 2025 campaign with first training session in Dubai Although the discrepancy between the two categories revolves around the visibility factor, with sponsors gaining prominent reach while being placed in front of Indian jerseys during bilateral games, the ICC and ACC events restrict the branding exposure to mere sleeves. The new sponsorship deal will cover nearly 130 matches over the next three years, including major ICC events, the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, considering the reported rates, the BCCI could pocket close to INR 400 crore in this window, with the number potentially going much higher depending on the bidding outcome. Also, considering the bidding date is scheduled for September 16, the Men in Blue will feature in the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025, which starts Sep 9 (in the UAE) without a lead sponsor, with a senior BCCI official confirming that an interim sponsor is unlikely. Meanwhile, (earlier) on September 2, the BCCI issued an Invitation for Expression of Interest (EOI) for the lead sponsors' right, also outlining restrictions for several categories of companies, including gaming, betting, crypto and tobacco brands, from applying. The board also excluded companies dealing in sportswear, banking and finance, non-alcoholic cold beverages, fans, mixers, grinders, safety locks and insurance due to potential conflicts with existing sponsors.

While the (new) jersey sponsors will have to pay INR 3.5 crore per match for bilateral fixtures, the number reduces to INR 1.5 crore per match for multilateral matches (ICC/ACC).

Rich BCCI to get wealthier as Indian cricket board welcomes jersey sponsor bids – Report

Team India has officially started its Asia Cup 2025 journey, with players assembling in Dubai for their first practice session. The team hit the nets on Friday (Sep 5) evening at the ICC Academy, just days before their opening match against the UAE on Wednesday (Sep 10). As per the new plan by the BCCI, the team did not hold a training camp in India this time. Instead, all players were asked to directly report to Dubai by September 4, and the squad got together for their first full practice session on September 5.&nbsp;Leading the team is captain Suryakumar Yadav, who looked energetic and focused during the session. Vice-captain Shubman Gill was also present, along with other key players like Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, and Abhishek Sharma.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/top-5-highest-individual-scores-in-asia-cup-t20i-babar-ranks-second-but-not-from-pakistan-1756990820627">Top 5 highest individual scores in Asia Cup T20I – Babar ranks second, but not from Pakistan</a>&nbsp;The players arrived in batches, but by Friday evening, the entire squad had assembled. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also joined the team and supervised the training session.&nbsp;This is India’s first major assignment after an overseas Test series against England. The Asia Cup 2025 marks the beginning of India’s preparation for the T20 World Cup 2026, which is just a few months away.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Team India has won the Asia Cup eight times and will be looking to lift the trophy once again under Surya’s leadership. The team looks strong on paper, with a good mix of experienced players and young talent.&nbsp;As the Asia Cup 2025 is about to commence, all eyes are on India’s first match on September 10, followed by the much-awaited clash against Pakistan on September 14 and then against Oman on September 19.<h2>Asia Cup 2025 format</h2>There are eight teams in the continental tournament, and they are divided into two groups.<ol><li>Group A - India, Pakistan, UAE, Oman</li><li>Group B - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong</li></ol><h2>Group Stage</h2><ol><li>Each team plays one match against every other team in its group.</li><li>So, each team plays three matches in this stage.</li><li>The top two teams from each group move to the Super Four round.</li></ol><h2>Super Four</h2><ol><li>The four qualified teams now play against each other once again.</li><li>So, each team plays three more matches here.</li><li>The top two teams from the Super Four go to the final.</li></ol><h2>Final</h2><ol><li>The final will be held on September 28 in Dubai.</li><li>The winner of the final will be crowned the Asia Cup 2025 champion.</li></ol>

As Team India gets ready for the Asia Cup 2025 without senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the team has begun practice in Dubai under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, aiming for a strong title defence.

Team India has officially started its Asia Cup 2025 journey, with players assembling in Dubai for their first practice session. The team hit the nets on Friday (Sep 5) evening at the ICC Academy, just days before their opening match against the UAE on Wednesday (Sep 10). As per the new plan by the BCCI, the team did not hold a training camp in India this time. Instead, all players were asked to directly report to Dubai by September 4, and the squad got together for their first full practice session on September 5. Leading the team is captain Suryakumar Yadav, who looked energetic and focused during the session. Vice-captain Shubman Gill was also present, along with other key players like Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, and Abhishek Sharma. Also read | Top 5 highest individual scores in Asia Cup T20I – Babar ranks second, but not from Pakistan The players arrived in batches, but by Friday evening, the entire squad had assembled. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also joined the team and supervised the training session. This is India’s first major assignment after an overseas Test series against England. The Asia Cup 2025 marks the beginning of India’s preparation for the T20 World Cup 2026, which is just a few months away. Meanwhile, Team India has won the Asia Cup eight times and will be looking to lift the trophy once again under Surya’s leadership. The team looks strong on paper, with a good mix of experienced players and young talent. As the Asia Cup 2025 is about to commence, all eyes are on India’s first match on September 10, followed by the much-awaited clash against Pakistan on September 14 and then against Oman on September 19. Asia Cup 2025 format There are eight teams in the continental tournament, and they are divided into two groups. Group A - India, Pakistan, UAE, Oman Group B - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong Group Stage Each team plays one match against every other team in its group. So, each team plays three matches in this stage. The top two teams from each group move to the Super Four round. Super Four The four qualified teams now play against each other once again. So, each team plays three more matches here. The top two teams from the Super Four go to the final. Final The final will be held on September 28 in Dubai. The winner of the final will be crowned the Asia Cup 2025 champion.

As Team India gets ready for the Asia Cup 2025 without senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the team has begun practice in Dubai under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, aiming for a strong title defence.

Team India kicks off Asia Cup 2025 campaign with first training session in Dubai

England announced on Friday (Sep 4) they were resting opening batsman Ben Duckett from an upcoming T20 series against South Africa following successive one-day international losses to the Proteas, with Sam Curran recalled for the first time this year. Duckett, a first-choice all-format player, was out for scores of five and 14 in this week's two ODIs, with defeats at Headingley and Lord's leaving England 2-0 down in a three-match contest ahead of Sunday's finale in Southampton.&nbsp;&nbsp;The usually lively left-hander has looked weary after being one of a handful of England cricketers involved throughout a gruelling five-Test series at home to India before a month of action in the domestic 100 balls per side Hundred competition.&nbsp;&nbsp;Duckett is set for a key role at the top of England's order when they bid to regain the Ashes in Australia starting in November. It remains to be seen if he will keep his ODI place at Hampshire's Rose Bowl ground this weekend.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/yuvraj-singh-suggests-abhishek-sharma-shubman-gill-to-play-golf-to-enhance-their-game-ahead-of-asia-cup-2025-1757075489181">Yuvraj Singh urges Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill to turn attention to golf for Asia Cup glory</a>&nbsp;England white-ball captain Harry Brook had rejected suggestions Duckett should be rested immediately after Thursday's five-run loss at Lord's, but team management appears to have changed course. They also seem to have had a rethink about the role of Surrey all-rounder Curran, whose England exile has coincided with head coach Brendon McCullum taking over as limited-overs boss in addition to his Test duties.&nbsp;&nbsp;Curran was a key figure as the Oval Invincibles won a third straight Hundred title. As well as being added to the England T20 squad to face South Africa, he will also join the three-match trip to Ireland. His value as a seam-bowling all-rounder was thrown into sharp focus as South Africa secured an ODI series win at Lord's after plundering part-time spinners Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks for 112 runs in 10 overs.&nbsp;England great Stuart Broad, speaking before Friday's announcement, urged some of the all-format players to be given a break ahead of the Ashes.&nbsp;"I thought England looked a bit tired," he told Sky Sports. "It's understandable."&nbsp;"They played 25 days solid, hard cricket against India in the Test series, and two days later, they were straight into The Hundred. Now they're playing a white-ball series, and the winter is only getting busier.&nbsp;"Now they have lost this series, I would be half-tempted to send Ben Duckett and Joe Root up the M1 (motorway to go home) rather than down to Southampton," the former paceman added.&nbsp;"I think there are some jaded minds," said Broad.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Duckett is set for a key role at the top of England's order when they bid to regain the Ashes in Australia starting in November.

England announced on Friday (Sep 4) they were resting opening batsman Ben Duckett from an upcoming T20 series against South Africa following successive one-day international losses to the Proteas, with Sam Curran recalled for the first time this year. Duckett, a first-choice all-format player, was out for scores of five and 14 in this week's two ODIs, with defeats at Headingley and Lord's leaving England 2-0 down in a three-match contest ahead of Sunday's finale in Southampton. The usually lively left-hander has looked weary after being one of a handful of England cricketers involved throughout a gruelling five-Test series at home to India before a month of action in the domestic 100 balls per side Hundred competition. Duckett is set for a key role at the top of England's order when they bid to regain the Ashes in Australia starting in November. It remains to be seen if he will keep his ODI place at Hampshire's Rose Bowl ground this weekend. Also read | Yuvraj Singh urges Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill to turn attention to golf for Asia Cup glory England white-ball captain Harry Brook had rejected suggestions Duckett should be rested immediately after Thursday's five-run loss at Lord's, but team management appears to have changed course. They also seem to have had a rethink about the role of Surrey all-rounder Curran, whose England exile has coincided with head coach Brendon McCullum taking over as limited-overs boss in addition to his Test duties. Curran was a key figure as the Oval Invincibles won a third straight Hundred title. As well as being added to the England T20 squad to face South Africa, he will also join the three-match trip to Ireland. His value as a seam-bowling all-rounder was thrown into sharp focus as South Africa secured an ODI series win at Lord's after plundering part-time spinners Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks for 112 runs in 10 overs. England great Stuart Broad, speaking before Friday's announcement, urged some of the all-format players to be given a break ahead of the Ashes. "I thought England looked a bit tired," he told Sky Sports. "It's understandable." "They played 25 days solid, hard cricket against India in the Test series, and two days later, they were straight into The Hundred. Now they're playing a white-ball series, and the winter is only getting busier. "Now they have lost this series, I would be half-tempted to send Ben Duckett and Joe Root up the M1 (motorway to go home) rather than down to Southampton," the former paceman added. "I think there are some jaded minds," said Broad. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Duckett is set for a key role at the top of England's order when they bid to regain the Ashes in Australia starting in November.

England rest opener Ben Duckett for Proteas T20Is and recall Sam Curran

There are ways to get better at things you do for fun or as a profession, and with cricket, different things work for people. While some hit the nets, grind in the outfield or bat more to get back in rhythm, others find solace and peace in playing different sports to regain form; Yuvraj Singh perhaps belongs to that category. Admitting to having missed out on an opportunity that could have enhanced his cricket career, Yuvraj suggests that the Indian Team's young guns, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, must avoid making the same mistake that he made during his playing days. &nbsp;With both gearing up for the continental tournament (Asia Cup 2025) in the UAE, starting September 9, Yuvraj urges them to find time to play golf, which he explained is a stress-buster and improves hitting abilities.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watching-ipl-is-expensive-but-not-women-odi-world-cup-as-icc-releases-affordable-ticket-prices-1757072086816">Watching IPL is expensive but not Women’s ODI World Cup as ICC releases ‘affordable’ ticket prices</a>&nbsp;Yuvraj, known for his flamboyant style and free-flow game, admitted missing out on playing golf back in the day, which could have helped him add at least 3000 more runs to his international tally, something he wants Gill and Sharma to learn from and take advantage of. &nbsp;"I have told them to play golf, and I encourage them to play. It's very hard to find time, but I think the IPL is a good time for them to actually find time and hit some balls," Yuvraj said at an event. "It's up to them. Now they are superstars of the game, and they have to decide what's going to help them be better. If golf can be something, then they have to decide that. But I encourage all athletes to play golf. I think it's a great way to unwind, and it's great for the mind." &nbsp;When asked about how golf will benefit them, Yuvraj said, "I feel that any sport that helps you relax is going to be less taxing on the body and more fruitful for the mind. If you see the culture of golf in Australia, South Africa, and England, the majority of the best cricketers have played golf from a very young age.” &nbsp;"You see a lot of these guys actually play a lot of golf and do less cricket practice during tours. You can't change something in a game in three days. &nbsp;"But how can you recover and be mentally fresh for a game? So I just feel it's not just cricket. For any sportsperson in the world, they should play golf because eventually it will bring out the best in them in their sport,” he continued.<h3>Gill and Abhishek at Asia Cup 2025 &nbsp;</h3>The pair is likely to open in this eight-team tournament, with India set to face the venue hosts (the UAE) in their opener (on September 10). India will next face Pakistan in the marquee clash next Sunday (Sep 14) before facing Oman in their last league game (Sep 19).&nbsp; &nbsp;Reflecting on what golf would have done to his cricket career, Yuvraj noted,&nbsp;&nbsp;"I would have scored 3,000 more runs. I tell all the young cricketers to try and play golf, hit the ball, see how you feel. Because sometimes too much practice is also not good for you. Sometimes when you're not scoring runs, you want to practice more, and with golf as well, you want to hit more balls. But sometimes it's good to relax," he said.

Yuvraj suggests that the Indian Team's young guns, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, must avoid making the same mistake that he made during his playing days.

There are ways to get better at things you do for fun or as a profession, and with cricket, different things work for people. While some hit the nets, grind in the outfield or bat more to get back in rhythm, others find solace and peace in playing different sports to regain form; Yuvraj Singh perhaps belongs to that category. Admitting to having missed out on an opportunity that could have enhanced his cricket career, Yuvraj suggests that the Indian Team's young guns, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, must avoid making the same mistake that he made during his playing days. With both gearing up for the continental tournament (Asia Cup 2025) in the UAE, starting September 9, Yuvraj urges them to find time to play golf, which he explained is a stress-buster and improves hitting abilities. Also read | Watching IPL is expensive but not Women’s ODI World Cup as ICC releases ‘affordable’ ticket prices Yuvraj, known for his flamboyant style and free-flow game, admitted missing out on playing golf back in the day, which could have helped him add at least 3000 more runs to his international tally, something he wants Gill and Sharma to learn from and take advantage of. "I have told them to play golf, and I encourage them to play. It's very hard to find time, but I think the IPL is a good time for them to actually find time and hit some balls," Yuvraj said at an event. "It's up to them. Now they are superstars of the game, and they have to decide what's going to help them be better. If golf can be something, then they have to decide that. But I encourage all athletes to play golf. I think it's a great way to unwind, and it's great for the mind." When asked about how golf will benefit them, Yuvraj said, "I feel that any sport that helps you relax is going to be less taxing on the body and more fruitful for the mind. If you see the culture of golf in Australia, South Africa, and England, the majority of the best cricketers have played golf from a very young age.” "You see a lot of these guys actually play a lot of golf and do less cricket practice during tours. You can't change something in a game in three days. "But how can you recover and be mentally fresh for a game? So I just feel it's not just cricket. For any sportsperson in the world, they should play golf because eventually it will bring out the best in them in their sport,” he continued. Gill and Abhishek at Asia Cup 2025 The pair is likely to open in this eight-team tournament, with India set to face the venue hosts (the UAE) in their opener (on September 10). India will next face Pakistan in the marquee clash next Sunday (Sep 14) before facing Oman in their last league game (Sep 19). Reflecting on what golf would have done to his cricket career, Yuvraj noted, "I would have scored 3,000 more runs. I tell all the young cricketers to try and play golf, hit the ball, see how you feel. Because sometimes too much practice is also not good for you. Sometimes when you're not scoring runs, you want to practice more, and with golf as well, you want to hit more balls. But sometimes it's good to relax," he said.

Yuvraj suggests that the Indian Team's young guns, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, must avoid making the same mistake that he made during his playing days.

Yuvraj Singh urges Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill to turn attention to golf for Asia Cup glory

The Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 is just around the corner, with the ICC releasing ticket prices for the multi-team tournament. While the Indian government’s decision to increase goods and services tax (GST) on IPL tickets (from 28% to 40%) made it costlier for fans to watch a live game from next season onwards, the ICC did the opposite regarding women's cricket, ensuring the splurge of fans into the stadiums for the grandest event this year by keeping the ticket fare as low as INR 100 (USD 1.14). Such low prices have made this event the most affordable one in ICC history.&nbsp;Meanwhile, to put these prices in context, the previous edition (in 2022 in New Zealand) cost NZD 7 for kids and NZD 17 for adults, which excluded any additional charge. It, however, translates to INR 350 (USD 4.45) for kids and INR 850 (USD 10) for adults, which is eight-and-a-half times the cost of the current WC ticket prices.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wwe-cricket-world-strongest-man-mark-henry-visits-barbados-royals-in-cpl-2025-watch-1757069134750">WWE x Cricket: World’s strongest man Mark Henry visits Barbados Royals – WATCH</a> &nbsp;Also, the tickets have gone on sale with less than a month to go before co-hosts India and Sri Lanka square off in the tournament opener on September 30 in Guwahati. &nbsp;The 13th edition of the Women’s ODI World Cup will see eight teams fighting for the coveted crown, with Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, England, South Africa and the two above-mentioned co-hosts featuring in it.&nbsp; &nbsp;The apex body, however, also increased the prize money for the forthcoming edition, setting aside USD 13.88 million, which is nearly four times the prize money of the previous edition (USD 3.5 million).<h3>Here is the Indian Women’s Team ODI World Cup squad –</h3>Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud. Reserves: Tejal Hasabnis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Minnu Mani and Sayali Satghare

The tickets have gone on sale with less than a month to go before co-hosts India and Sri Lanka square off in the tournament opener on September 30 in Guwahati.

The Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 is just around the corner, with the ICC releasing ticket prices for the multi-team tournament. While the Indian government’s decision to increase goods and services tax (GST) on IPL tickets (from 28% to 40%) made it costlier for fans to watch a live game from next season onwards, the ICC did the opposite regarding women's cricket, ensuring the splurge of fans into the stadiums for the grandest event this year by keeping the ticket fare as low as INR 100 (USD 1.14). Such low prices have made this event the most affordable one in ICC history. Meanwhile, to put these prices in context, the previous edition (in 2022 in New Zealand) cost NZD 7 for kids and NZD 17 for adults, which excluded any additional charge. It, however, translates to INR 350 (USD 4.45) for kids and INR 850 (USD 10) for adults, which is eight-and-a-half times the cost of the current WC ticket prices. Also read | WWE x Cricket: World’s strongest man Mark Henry visits Barbados Royals – WATCH Also, the tickets have gone on sale with less than a month to go before co-hosts India and Sri Lanka square off in the tournament opener on September 30 in Guwahati. The 13th edition of the Women’s ODI World Cup will see eight teams fighting for the coveted crown, with Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, England, South Africa and the two above-mentioned co-hosts featuring in it. The apex body, however, also increased the prize money for the forthcoming edition, setting aside USD 13.88 million, which is nearly four times the prize money of the previous edition (USD 3.5 million). Here is the Indian Women’s Team ODI World Cup squad – Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud. Reserves: Tejal Hasabnis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Minnu Mani and Sayali Satghare

The tickets have gone on sale with less than a month to go before co-hosts India and Sri Lanka square off in the tournament opener on September 30 in Guwahati.

Watching IPL is expensive but not Women’s ODI World Cup as ICC releases ‘affordable’ ticket prices

Cricket and WWE are two popular sports and entertainment businesses, respectively, followed by billions worldwide. With a massive fan base across continents, both continue to flourish and grow among countless fans; the recent fusion of former WWE champion, once the world’s strongest man and a two-time Olympian with the USA, Mark Henry, visiting a cricket franchise in the CPL is all that the internet needed. The fans woke up to this viral video that was doing rounds on social media, showing Mark Henry visiting Barbados Royals’ camp in the ongoing CPL, sharing his thoughts on this growing sport in the West.&nbsp;Speaking with Royals’ captain and West Indies star T20I batter, Rovman Powell, Henry admitted to watching cricket on TV, especially during his time in the UK and India, where it remains the biggest sporting affair. Powell and Royals’ head coach Trevor Penny also handed Henry a customised jersey, with the World’s Strongest Man written on it, alongside the ‘01’ number.<h3>Watch Video -&nbsp;</h3>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The World’s Strongest Man just became a Royal! 😯🔥💗 <a href="https://t.co/XX7fc7v1lB">pic.twitter.com/XX7fc7v1lB</a>&mdash; Barbados Royals (@BarbadosRoyals) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarbadosRoyals/status/1963605532566024490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, a former world champion in power lifting and a WWE in-ring performer, Henry, 54, was a super heavyweight weightlifter who competed at two Summer Games (1992 in Barcelona and 1996 in Atlanta). During the 90s, Henry competed in several powerlifting and strongman events, winning titles and medals before joining the pro-wrestling industry (WWF then) in 1996.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mike-tyson-floyd-mayweather-fight-date-time-venue-streaming-details-1757054853732">Mike Tyson-Floyd Mayweather fight: Retired boxing legends to get in ring for exhibition bout</a> &nbsp;However, following his successful stint with the WWE, wherein he won several titles and was also part of memorable storylines, the most famous of which was his fake-retirement segment, also involving John Cena, Henry won the Arnold Strongman Classic, an annual competition named after Arnold Schwarzenegger, also featuring strength athletes from all over the world. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the Royals are yet to open their account this season, having lost all four of their contested matches, with one of their games ending in a no-result. Lingering at the bottom of the points table, the Royals’ NRR reads -0.547.

The fans woke up to this viral video that was doing rounds on social media, showing Mark Henry visiting Barbados Royals’ camp in the ongoing CPL, sharing his thoughts on this growing sport in the West.

Cricket and WWE are two popular sports and entertainment businesses, respectively, followed by billions worldwide. With a massive fan base across continents, both continue to flourish and grow among countless fans; the recent fusion of former WWE champion, once the world’s strongest man and a two-time Olympian with the USA, Mark Henry, visiting a cricket franchise in the CPL is all that the internet needed. The fans woke up to this viral video that was doing rounds on social media, showing Mark Henry visiting Barbados Royals’ camp in the ongoing CPL, sharing his thoughts on this growing sport in the West. Speaking with Royals’ captain and West Indies star T20I batter, Rovman Powell, Henry admitted to watching cricket on TV, especially during his time in the UK and India, where it remains the biggest sporting affair. Powell and Royals’ head coach Trevor Penny also handed Henry a customised jersey, with the World’s Strongest Man written on it, alongside the ‘01’ number. Watch Video -

The fans woke up to this viral video that was doing rounds on social media, showing Mark Henry visiting Barbados Royals’ camp in the ongoing CPL, sharing his thoughts on this growing sport in the West.

WWE x Cricket: World’s strongest man Mark Henry visits Barbados Royals – WATCH

Former New Zealand batter Ross Taylor has come out of the retirement to represent Samoa in the Asia-East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers. The 41-year-old, considered on the of greatest New Zealand batters, last played in international cricket in 2022. He holds Samoan passport through his mother had to serve a cooling off period of three years from his last international match to be eligible to play for them in international cricket. The 2026 T20 World Cup qualifiers start in October next month and will be held in Oman.<h2>Why did Taylor come out of retirement?</h2>Taylor had played 112 Tests, 236 ODIs and 102 T20Is for New Zealand since his debut in 2006 and retirement in April 2022. He scored 7683, 8607 and 1909 runs in the three formats, respectively and was one of the best Kiwi batters to ever play the game. He now has been named in Samoa's 15-man squad for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup qualifiers for Asia-East Asia-Pacific region, something which he described on his Instagram account as "huge honour to represent my heritage, culture, villages, and family."Also Read - &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mike-tyson-floyd-mayweather-fight-date-time-venue-streaming-details-1757054853732">Tyson-Mayweather fight: Retired boxing legends to compete in exhibition bout</a><h2>Which teams are in Asia-EAP T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers</h2>Samoa reached the 2026 T20 World Cup qualifiers stage after overcoming &nbsp;Vanuatu, Cook Islands and Fiji. They join Papua New Guinea and Japan as the other East Asia-Pacific contenders. The other teams in their region which will also be competing are &nbsp;Oman, Nepal, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar and UAE. Taylor's performance will be crucial if Samoa were to qualify for the main event. The batter, however, last played in the format in November 2020.Samoa T20I squad for T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiersCaleb Jasmat (capt), Ross Taylor, Darius Visser, Sean Solia, Daniel Burgess, Douglas Finau, Sam French, Kurtis Hynam-Nyberg, Ben Mailata, Noah Mead, Solomon Nash, Samson Sola, Fereti Sululoto, Saumani Tiai, Ili Tugaga

Ross Taylor had last played for New Zealand in 2022 before retiring. He now has come out of the retirement to represent his mother's country Samoa in upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers in the Asia-East Asia-Pacific region next month.

Former New Zealand batter Ross Taylor has come out of the retirement to represent Samoa in the Asia-East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers. The 41-year-old, considered on the of greatest New Zealand batters, last played in international cricket in 2022. He holds Samoan passport through his mother had to serve a cooling off period of three years from his last international match to be eligible to play for them in international cricket. The 2026 T20 World Cup qualifiers start in October next month and will be held in Oman. Why did Taylor come out of retirement? Taylor had played 112 Tests, 236 ODIs and 102 T20Is for New Zealand since his debut in 2006 and retirement in April 2022. He scored 7683, 8607 and 1909 runs in the three formats, respectively and was one of the best Kiwi batters to ever play the game. He now has been named in Samoa's 15-man squad for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup qualifiers for Asia-East Asia-Pacific region, something which he described on his Instagram account as "huge honour to represent my heritage, culture, villages, and family." Also Read - Tyson-Mayweather fight: Retired boxing legends to compete in exhibition bout Which teams are in Asia-EAP T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers Samoa reached the 2026 T20 World Cup qualifiers stage after overcoming Vanuatu, Cook Islands and Fiji. They join Papua New Guinea and Japan as the other East Asia-Pacific contenders. The other teams in their region which will also be competing are Oman, Nepal, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar and UAE. Taylor's performance will be crucial if Samoa were to qualify for the main event. The batter, however, last played in the format in November 2020. Samoa T20I squad for T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers Caleb Jasmat (capt), Ross Taylor, Darius Visser, Sean Solia, Daniel Burgess, Douglas Finau, Sam French, Kurtis Hynam-Nyberg, Ben Mailata, Noah Mead, Solomon Nash, Samson Sola, Fereti Sululoto, Saumani Tiai, Ili Tugaga

Ross Taylor had last played for New Zealand in 2022 before retiring. He now has come out of the retirement to represent his mother's country Samoa in upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers in the Asia-East Asia-Pacific region next month.

Ex-New Zealand batter Ross Taylor comes out of retirement to represent THIS team in T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers

For the first time since the sad and infamous June 4 stampede episode that rocked the cricket world, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will host cricket matches. Per the latest report, the venue, outside which 11 people lost their lives and more than 50 got injured during the mismanaged RCB’s victory parade following the franchise’s maiden IPL title win, has been granted permission to stage cricket games.&nbsp;The M Chinnaswamy Stadium is one of the hosts for Karnataka State Cricket Association's (KSCA) K Thimmappiah Memorial Trophy, and will stage six matches in the competition (from September 26), including one semi-final and the final; however, fans are not allowed inside the stadium. A red-ball multi-day pre-season tournament consisting of 16 teams, including (from) Mumbai, Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal and Chhattisgarh, among others, will see some of the top names like Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Vijay Shankar and Shashank Singh participating.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/after-irfan-pathan-hookah-remarks-yuvraj-singh-father-yograj-accuses-ms-dhoni-of-treating-teammates-like-shit-1757001659988">After Irfan Pathan’s ‘hookah' remarks, Yuvraj's father accuses MS Dhoni of treating teammates like s**t</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, cricket returning to M Chinnaswamy also coincides with the IPL franchise breaking their social media silence over the tragic stampede. Last week, RCB took to the internet, launching their RCB CARE campaign, where they extended INR 25 lakh to the families of the deceased, while also committing long-term action towards better crowd safety and management. &nbsp;Besides being stuck in an ongoing tussle between the KSCA, Karnataka Government and the state police, all of whom have been under investigation alongside the IPL team, the venue had its power cut off due to non-compliance with fire safety regulations. With the venue failing to acquire an NOC as of Wednesday (Sep 3), as reported by ESPNcricinfo, M Chinnaswamy is using generators and solar power for its functioning. &nbsp;As a result, the police denied KSCA permission to host the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup matches, as they lost out on five possible games, including the tournament opener, one of the two semi-finals and the grand finale on November 2. &nbsp;Moreover, the Maharaja Trophy, the state’s franchise-based T20 competition, also had to be staged elsewhere after the state police rejected KSCA’s proposal to host the tournament behind closed doors. The tournament, however, was staged in Mysore without fans.&nbsp;

M Chinnaswamy Stadium was deemed unsafe to host large-scale events after what unfolded inside its premises a day after RCB won its maiden IPL title.

For the first time since the sad and infamous June 4 stampede episode that rocked the cricket world, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will host cricket matches. Per the latest report, the venue, outside which 11 people lost their lives and more than 50 got injured during the mismanaged RCB’s victory parade following the franchise’s maiden IPL title win, has been granted permission to stage cricket games. The M Chinnaswamy Stadium is one of the hosts for Karnataka State Cricket Association's (KSCA) K Thimmappiah Memorial Trophy, and will stage six matches in the competition (from September 26), including one semi-final and the final; however, fans are not allowed inside the stadium. A red-ball multi-day pre-season tournament consisting of 16 teams, including (from) Mumbai, Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal and Chhattisgarh, among others, will see some of the top names like Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Vijay Shankar and Shashank Singh participating. Also read | After Irfan Pathan’s ‘hookah' remarks, Yuvraj's father accuses MS Dhoni of treating teammates like s**t Meanwhile, cricket returning to M Chinnaswamy also coincides with the IPL franchise breaking their social media silence over the tragic stampede. Last week, RCB took to the internet, launching their RCB CARE campaign, where they extended INR 25 lakh to the families of the deceased, while also committing long-term action towards better crowd safety and management. Besides being stuck in an ongoing tussle between the KSCA, Karnataka Government and the state police, all of whom have been under investigation alongside the IPL team, the venue had its power cut off due to non-compliance with fire safety regulations. With the venue failing to acquire an NOC as of Wednesday (Sep 3), as reported by ESPNcricinfo, M Chinnaswamy is using generators and solar power for its functioning. As a result, the police denied KSCA permission to host the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup matches, as they lost out on five possible games, including the tournament opener, one of the two semi-finals and the grand finale on November 2. Moreover, the Maharaja Trophy, the state’s franchise-based T20 competition, also had to be staged elsewhere after the state police rejected KSCA’s proposal to host the tournament behind closed doors. The tournament, however, was staged in Mysore without fans.

M Chinnaswamy Stadium was deemed unsafe to host large-scale events after what unfolded inside its premises a day after RCB won its maiden IPL title.

Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium set to host matches after IPL stampede episode, but are fans allowed?

MS Dhoni is back in the headlines but for all the wrong reasons, despite not doing anything about it. Dhoni remains Team India’s most successful white-ball captain, having won all three ICC titles; however, there is a darker side to his success story, something which former Indian seamer Irfan Pathan disclosed during a now-viral interview. While Pathan revealed how those who used to prepare hookah for Dhoni (in his hotel room) were the ones getting regular opportunities in the team, Yuvraj Singh’s father, Yograj Singh, accused Mahi, as the fans used to call Dhoni, of ill-treating his teammates.&nbsp;During an old interview with Sports Tax, Pathan revealed, “Yes, I asked him. During the 2008 Australia series, Mahi bhai's statement came out in the media that Irfan wasn't bowling well. I thought I had bowled well throughout the series, so I went and asked Mahi bhai,” Pathan said.&nbsp; &nbsp;“I don't have a habit of setting up a hookah in someone's room or talking about this. Everyone knows. Sometimes, if you don't speak about it, it's better. A cricketer's job is to perform on the field, and that is what I used to focus on."&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/verdict-on-pakistan-cricket-haider-ali-involvement-in-uk-rape-case-is-out-1756987185666">Verdict on Pakistan cricket Haider Ali's involvement in UK rape case is out, batter is…</a> &nbsp;Amid the controversy, Yograj Singh, known for speaking his heart out, further accused Dhoni of mistreating his teammates, like how former Indian captains Kapil Dev and Bishan Singh Bedi did (as per Yograj), and was one of the major reasons behind destroying the careers of those World Cup winners. &nbsp;“It is not only about Irfan Pathan. You see Gautam Gambhir speaking about it. Virender Sehwag openly said about it as well. Harbhajan Singh spoke about how he was put out of the team like a fly. You should arrange a jury on why he did what he did. MS Dhoni doesn’t want to answer. One who doesn’t want to answer has a guilty conscience,” Yograj said in a chat with InsideSport. &nbsp;“I talk about Bishan Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev, and MS Dhoni. I can talk about people whom I have been with. They have treated people like s**t. (Jo galat hai wo galat hai) Whatever is wrong is wrong. Two wrongs cannot make one right. I say this openly that our cricketers and team were destroyed by our captain,” he continued. &nbsp;Meanwhile, MS Dhoni, as always, remains unavailable for a comment on such accusations against him, as he continues to spend time with his family and near ones away from cricket.&nbsp;

Amid the ‘hookah’ controversy that again gripped MS Dhoni's legacy, Yuvraj Singh's father accused him of ill-treating his teammates.

MS Dhoni is back in the headlines but for all the wrong reasons, despite not doing anything about it. Dhoni remains Team India’s most successful white-ball captain, having won all three ICC titles; however, there is a darker side to his success story, something which former Indian seamer Irfan Pathan disclosed during a now-viral interview. While Pathan revealed how those who used to prepare hookah for Dhoni (in his hotel room) were the ones getting regular opportunities in the team, Yuvraj Singh’s father, Yograj Singh, accused Mahi, as the fans used to call Dhoni, of ill-treating his teammates. During an old interview with Sports Tax, Pathan revealed, “Yes, I asked him. During the 2008 Australia series, Mahi bhai's statement came out in the media that Irfan wasn't bowling well. I thought I had bowled well throughout the series, so I went and asked Mahi bhai,” Pathan said. “I don't have a habit of setting up a hookah in someone's room or talking about this. Everyone knows. Sometimes, if you don't speak about it, it's better. A cricketer's job is to perform on the field, and that is what I used to focus on." Also read | Verdict on Pakistan cricket Haider Ali's involvement in UK rape case is out, batter is… Amid the controversy, Yograj Singh, known for speaking his heart out, further accused Dhoni of mistreating his teammates, like how former Indian captains Kapil Dev and Bishan Singh Bedi did (as per Yograj), and was one of the major reasons behind destroying the careers of those World Cup winners. “It is not only about Irfan Pathan. You see Gautam Gambhir speaking about it. Virender Sehwag openly said about it as well. Harbhajan Singh spoke about how he was put out of the team like a fly. You should arrange a jury on why he did what he did. MS Dhoni doesn’t want to answer. One who doesn’t want to answer has a guilty conscience,” Yograj said in a chat with InsideSport. “I talk about Bishan Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev, and MS Dhoni. I can talk about people whom I have been with. They have treated people like s**t. (Jo galat hai wo galat hai) Whatever is wrong is wrong. Two wrongs cannot make one right. I say this openly that our cricketers and team were destroyed by our captain,” he continued. Meanwhile, MS Dhoni, as always, remains unavailable for a comment on such accusations against him, as he continues to spend time with his family and near ones away from cricket.

Amid the ‘hookah’ controversy that again gripped MS Dhoni's legacy, Yuvraj Singh's father accused him of ill-treating his teammates.

After Irfan Pathan’s ‘hookah' remarks, Yuvraj's father accuses MS Dhoni of treating teammates like s**t

The defending Asia Cup champions India are gearing up for the latest edition starting September 9 in the UAE. The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has ordered all squad players to assemble in Dubai by Thursday (Sep 4) – the venue for India’s first two group games, including one against Pakistan (Sep 14) - before their full-strength training session gets underway on Friday. On the other hand, the team is also not travelling together, unlike the last time, with no preparatory camp arranged as well.&nbsp;While team captain Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya are due to fly from Mumbai, head coach Gautam Gambhir is scheduled to reach Dubai on Thursday evening, with newly-appointed Test captain Shubman Gill flying from Bengaluru. The board has asked everyone to assemble directly in Dubai for their extended run of practice sessions before their tournament opener against the host (the UAE) on September 10.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/blind-ranking-odi-batters-makes-rcb-hero-ab-de-villiers-a-villain-who-rates-himself-better-than-sachin-tendulkar-virat-kohli-1756991799094">Blind ranking ODI batters makes RCB hero a villain, who rates himself better than Sachin Tendulkar</a> &nbsp;Team India’s first full training session is scheduled from 6 to 9 PM on Friday (Sep 5) at the ICC Academy in Dubai. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the eight-team tournament gets underway next Tuesday (Sep 9), with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi in the opener.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following India’s opening match against the UAE, they face arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday (Sep 14) in the Asia Cup‘s marquee game. The Men in Blue conclude their group stage proceedings against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi. &nbsp;Also, if India and Pakistan top Group A, both will qualify for the Super Fours, with the chances of them facing each other again in that stage increasing. However, should both stand tall in the second stage, the two heavyweights would then collide in the first-ever Asia Cup final on September 28.<h3>Team India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad – &nbsp;</h3>Surya Kumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh

The eight-team tournament gets underway next Tuesday (Sep 9), with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi in the opener. 

The defending Asia Cup champions India are gearing up for the latest edition starting September 9 in the UAE. The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has ordered all squad players to assemble in Dubai by Thursday (Sep 4) – the venue for India’s first two group games, including one against Pakistan (Sep 14) - before their full-strength training session gets underway on Friday. On the other hand, the team is also not travelling together, unlike the last time, with no preparatory camp arranged as well. While team captain Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya are due to fly from Mumbai, head coach Gautam Gambhir is scheduled to reach Dubai on Thursday evening, with newly-appointed Test captain Shubman Gill flying from Bengaluru. The board has asked everyone to assemble directly in Dubai for their extended run of practice sessions before their tournament opener against the host (the UAE) on September 10. Also read | Blind ranking ODI batters makes RCB hero a villain, who rates himself better than Sachin Tendulkar Team India’s first full training session is scheduled from 6 to 9 PM on Friday (Sep 5) at the ICC Academy in Dubai. Meanwhile, the eight-team tournament gets underway next Tuesday (Sep 9), with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi in the opener. Following India’s opening match against the UAE, they face arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday (Sep 14) in the Asia Cup‘s marquee game. The Men in Blue conclude their group stage proceedings against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi. Also, if India and Pakistan top Group A, both will qualify for the Super Fours, with the chances of them facing each other again in that stage increasing. However, should both stand tall in the second stage, the two heavyweights would then collide in the first-ever Asia Cup final on September 28. Team India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad – Surya Kumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh

The eight-team tournament gets underway next Tuesday (Sep 9), with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi in the opener.&nbsp;

Asia Cup 2025: BCCI orders all players to assemble in Dubai amid no group departure, preparatory camp

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After Pathan’s ‘hookah' remarks, Yograj Singh accuses MS Dhoni of treating...

Asia Cup: BCCI orders all players to assemble in Dubai amid no group departure