India beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the final played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat. With this victory, India secured its third T20 World Cup title and became the first team to win the tournament twice in a row.

Nitish Kumar praised captain Suryakumar Yadav for his leadership during the tournament. He also congratulated all players, coaches, and support staff for their dedication and teamwork.

The Bihar Chief Minister gave special appreciation to Patna-born cricketer Ishan Kishan. He said Kishan’s strong performance made Bihar and the whole country proud.

Nitish Kumar expressed confidence that the Indian team will continue to achieve great success and bring more glory to the nation in the future.

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Bumrah has impressed with an economy rate of 6.3 in the Super Eights. He has conceded only three sixes in the tournament. India has used him flexibly in different matches. Gavaskar said dismissing key batters like Jos Buttler and Harry Brook early could tilt the match.

He also praised Bumrah’s ability to hide variations. Gavaskar noted that the pacer keeps adding new skills to his bowling. He compared reading Bumrah’s deliveries to how Andre Agassi decoded Boris Becker’s serve. He said Bumrah offers no visible clues to batters.

Gavaskar warned about England all-rounder Will Jacks, who has excelled with bat and ball. He said pitch conditions will decide his impact. Gavaskar added that India’s right-handers must handle him carefully in the semi-final.

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Chants of “Kohli, Kohli” echoed across the airport as supporters tried to catch a glimpse of the star batter. Security arrangements remained tight, yet brief chaos followed when Kohli exited the terminal. Officials later escorted him safely to his vehicle. Teammate Nitish Reddy also reached Vadodara, while other squad members are expected soon.

Kohli recently returned to domestic cricket after 15 years by featuring in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He impressed with scores of 131 and 77 in two matches. During the tournament, he became the fastest batter to cross 16,000 List A runs, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record.

The 37-year-old continues his strong run in international cricket after a successful Australia tour and a century-filled ODI series against South Africa. Kohli now stands just 25 runs away from becoming the fastest player to reach 28,000 international runs. He also enjoys an excellent ODI record against New Zealand, with 1,657 runs in 33 matches.

The post Virat Kohli Sparks Frenzy Ahead of New Zealand ODIs appeared first on India Podcast.

This development comes after Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was originally named Maharashtra’s captain for the T20 tournament, earned a call-up to the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series against South Africa starting November 30 in Ranchi. With Gaikwad unavailable, the Maharashtra selectors now appear ready to hand over the leadership duties to Shaw.

Interestingly, while announcing the 16-member squad on Friday, the Maharashtra selection committee did not name a vice-captain—a move that now seems intentional in light of Gaikwad’s national duty.

Sources within the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) have reportedly confirmed that Shaw has been the frontrunner for the captaincy and was informed earlier to be ready for the role. Shaw, who has been working to revive his domestic career, will now have an opportunity to lead a new side and make a fresh start.

A formal announcement confirming Shaw’s captaincy is likely to be made on Monday.

The post Prithvi Shaw Maharashtra Captain: Likely to Lead Team as Gaikwad Joins India appeared first on India Podcast.

Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, are looking to level the series 2-2 after trailing 1-3. Marsh said the pitch looks great and expressed hope of finishing the tour on a positive note. “Lots to play for, both teams have played some great cricket. India bowled superbly last game,” he added.

Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav once again lost the toss, prompting laughter among teammates. He said the team is focused on expressing themselves and sticking to their plan. “Until you’re winning games, losing tosses doesn’t matter. Everyone understood the conditions last match. We want to continue the same approach,” he said.

India aim to maintain their record of never losing a T20I series in Australia. The playing XIs are unchanged for Australia, while India’s lineup features Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah among others.

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Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the team played with confidence and lifted the trophy for the first time. Tendulkar shared his joy on X, saying the win would inspire many young girls to play cricket. He called it a defining moment for women’s cricket in India.

India scored 298 runs with superb knocks from Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma. Both players also shined with the ball. Shafali dismissed Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp, while Deepti took five wickets to seal the victory.

Shafali won the Player of the Match award. Deepti was named Player of the Tournament for her 200-plus runs and 20 wickets. India’s victory ended their long ICC trophy wait and brought pride to the entire nation.

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Iyer fell awkwardly while taking a catch, which caused a spleen cut and internal bleeding. Doctors acted quickly and stopped the bleeding through a minor procedure. Medical teams in Sydney and India closely monitored his treatment.

The BCCI thanked Dr Kouroush Haghigi’s team in Sydney and Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala in India for their expert care. Iyer will stay in Sydney for follow-ups and return to India once he is fit to fly.

Sharing an update on social media, Iyer thanked fans for their support. “I’m feeling better every day, and your wishes mean a lot,” he wrote, expressing gratitude to everyone praying for his speedy recovery.

The post Shreyas Iyer’s Recovery Update After Abdominal Injury appeared first on India Podcast.

Prachura compared chess phases to hockey gameplay. The opening represented a strong start, the middle game highlighted controlling the midfield, and the endgame focused on finishing moves. He used examples from India’s Tokyo Olympics Bronze-medal game to demonstrate precision and mental toughness.

Players explored chess pieces as hockey positions. Pawns symbolized defense, rooks and bishops created structure, knights represented unpredictability, and the queen embodied versatility. Players actively engaged and tried chess themselves, with Vivek Sagar Prasad and Captain Harmanpreet Singh participating first.

Coach Craig Fulton praised the initiative, noting it sharpened players’ thinking and strategy. Vivek and Harmanpreet shared that learning chess enhanced their approach to hockey. The session is expected to encourage future interdisciplinary learning, strengthening the team’s tactical and mental skills.

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Constantini highlighted that the team trained in China for a month and gained valuable experience. “We finished fourth last year and earned a direct entry to the quarterfinals. A medal will depend on one crucial match,” he said. The coach added that strong teams like Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong will challenge India, but the squad is closing the gap.

He emphasized that performing well in the Asian Championship could reflect India’s global potential, including at the Olympics. “This young team has great energy and focus,” Constantini noted.

Praising Odisha’s sports infrastructure, he said the state has built a “citadel of sports.” He added, “Investing in sports means investing in the future. Odisha’s commitment will inspire athletes to perform better.” This is Odisha’s first time hosting an Asian-level table tennis event and marks another milestone for India’s sports capital.

The post India Eyes Strong Show at Asian TT Championships: Coach Constantini appeared first on India Podcast.

Thakkar said Team India is fully prepared and motivated. “Playing at home gives us an advantage. I’ve won bronze before, but this time I aim for silver or gold,” he said. The team hopes home support boosts their morale.

Thakkar praised Odisha’s sports facilities. He noted the massive indoor stadium, excellent accommodations, and the Sports Science Centre, calling it one of the largest sports campuses he has seen.

Currently ranked 39th in singles and 7th in doubles, Thakkar has won a bronze at the Asian Games and Asian Championships. He also secured gold at the Commonwealth Championship. He hopes to continue his winning streak at the Asian Table Tennis event.

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