In the fifth T20I match against South Africa, Team India emerged victorious by 30 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With this, the "Men in Blue" clinched the series by 3-1. In an attempt to chase a target of 232 runs, the Proteas managed to reach 201 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs. Quinton de Kock was the highest run-scorer for the side. Facing 35 balls, he smashed 65 runs, including nine boundaries and three maximums. Dewald Brevis also scored 31 runs in 17 balls, with the help of three boundaries and two maximums. Team India's mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy returned with the figures of four wickets for 53 runs in four overs. Lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah registered two wickets to his name by conceding 17 runs in four overs. Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya managed to pick up one wicket each. Having put to bat first, Team India posted a total of 231 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs. Swashbuckling opening batsman, Abhishek Sharma, smashed 34 runs off 21 deliveries. His knock was laced with six boundaries and a maximum. Fellow opening batsman Sanju Samson accumulated 37 runs in 22 balls, including four boundaries and two maximums. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav continued his poor form as he returned to the pavilion on just five runs after facing seven balls. Tilak Varma delivered a blistering knock of 73 runs. Facing 42 balls, the left-hander smashed 10 boundaries and a maximum. Team India's premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya showcased his immense power. In just 25 balls, the right-hander smashed 63 runs, with the help of five boundaries and the same number of maximums. Later, Shivam Dube scored an unbeaten 10 runs in just three balls, including a boundary and a maximum. With this, the "Men in Blue" posted a total of 231 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs. Corbin Bosch was the most successful bowler for South Africa. Bowling three overs, he bagged two wickets by conceding 44 runs. George Linde and Ottniel Baartman registered one wicket each. Completing his quota of four overs, Linde was smashed for 46 runs, whereas Baartman leaked 39 runs in three overs. Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, and Donovan Ferreira went wicketless in the fifth T20I match against Team India. Bowling four overs, Ngidi gave away 29 runs, and Jansen was smashed for 50 runs. Ferreira also bowled two overs and leaked 20 runs.
19 December,2025 11:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the final match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Jharkhand defeated Haryana by 69 runs and clinched their first title in the league's history. Following the triumph, skipper Ishan Kishan has expressed confidence in Jharkhand team's future success by saying that every player in the side wants to dominate and win the matches. "We'll lift more trophies in the future. This year, our mindset shifted - every player wanted to dominate and win," he said. Speaking about expecting a call in Team India for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, the left-hander said that he is currently focused on performing in the matches. He is also aware of the tough competition to make the cut to the national team. "As for the World Cup squad selection, I focus on performing; that's my job. I don't worry about it. Every player hopes to make the Indian team, but it's tough competition, and we give our best shot," said Kishan. The 27-year-old cricketer last made his international appearance in November 2023 and has sent a loud message to national selectors and blazed his way to a 45-ball century, finishing with 101 runs. This victory marks the first time Jharkhand has ever lifted the premier domestic T20 trophy, joining the elite list of Indian domestic champions. For Ishan Kishan, the century was his fifth in SMAT history, equaling the record for the most hundreds in the tournament and cementing his status as one of the most explosive white-ball players in the country. Currently, the "Men in Blue" are leading the five-match T20I series 2-1 and will aim to secure a win in Ahmedabad to seal the series. The fifth and final clash of the series is scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 19, 2026. Later, the side will lock horns against New Zealand for the shortest format series. The five-match T20I series against the "Black Caps" would start from January 21. The series will also serve as a preparatory contest for both teams ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. (With ANI Inputs)
19 December,2025 10:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India's vice-captain, Shubman Gill, has sustained an injury on his right foot and will not feature in the fifth and final T20I match against South Africa. The final clash of the ongoing series between the "Men in Blue" and the Proteas is underway at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday. In a statement, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said that Gill sustained a blow to his right foot and will miss the series-deciding clash against the Aiden Markram-led South Africa. ππ©ππππ: Shubman Gill sustained an impact injury to his right foot while batting in the nets on 16th December in Lucknow. After consulting a specialist and getting treatment with the BCCI medical team, he is improving but will be unavailable for selection for the final… — BCCI (@BCCI) December 19, 2025 Team India's think tank has named Sanju Samson as the 26-year-old cricketer's replacement. Meanwhile, Markram won the toss and elected to bowl first against the Suryakumar Yadav-led Team India. The "Men in Blue" have made two changes ahead of the clash with Kuldeep Yadav making way for Washington Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah replacing Harshit Rana. South Africa, on the other hand, has picked David Miller ahead of Tristan Stubbs. Having a lead of 2-1 in the five-match T20I series, the "Men in Blue" under Yadav's leadership will be aiming to secure a win to clinch the series, while the Proteas will be looking to secure a draw. The series serves as a preparatory contest for both the teams ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, which will be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka. Before the global showpiece, the "Men in Blue" will also play a five-match T20I series against New Zealand. IND vs SA 5th T20I: Confirmed Playing XI India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy. South Africa: Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (C), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.
19 December,2025 10:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the fifth T20I match against Team India, South Africa skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to bowl first at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The "Men in Blue" have made two changes for the clash — Kuldeep Yadav has made way for Washington Sundar while Jasprit Bumrah has replaced Harshit Rana. Also, Sanju Samson was included in place of Vice-captain Shubman Gill. The Indian Vice-Captain was ruled out of the last two games due to a toe injury. Meanwhile, the South African side has picked David Miller over Tristan Stubbs. After winning the toss, the visitors' captain, Markram, said, "We'll bowl first, hoping for dew later and a batting-friendly surface. The Ahmedabad pitch looks good, and we aim to chase down a target. There's a lot at stake, not just for the series but also with the World Cup on the horizon. Our focus is on finishing the tour positively and levelling the series. George Linde comes in for Anrich Nortje, adding spin to our attack". With a lead of 2-1 in the five-match T20I series, the "Men in Blue" under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav will be aiming to secure a win to clinch the series. On the other hand, the Proteas will be looking to secure a draw by winning the clash in Ahmedabad. Following the toss, Suryakumar said, "We were keen to bat first, given the wicket's promising look. The pitch should hold up well, with minimal dew expected later, so we plan to stack up runs and defend them. The Narendra Modi Stadium is an incredible venue, with an electric atmosphere even when it's not fully packed. We're focused on playing fearless cricket and expressing ourselves, rather than just thinking about the series. Our team combination has a couple of changes, with Bumrah in for Harshit and Washington replacing Kuldeep". The series serves as a preparatory contest for both the teams ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. IND vs SA 5th T20I: Confirmed Playing XI India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy. South Africa: Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (C), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.
19 December,2025 10:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn an interview with the Indian Premier League (IPL), Jinal Mehta, Director, Torrent Group and Chairman, Gujarat Titans, and Shaan Mehta, Director, Torrent Group and Director, Gujarat Titans, shared their perspectives on the squad, the team's journey so far, the confidence they carry into the upcoming seasons and Shubman Gill's leadership, as per a release. Jinal Mehta, Director, Torrent Group and Chairman, Gujarat Titans, said, "We came into the auction with our core in place and we made minimal changes to our squad. We changed only five players. We came in with very specific requirements. We needed a couple of fast bowlers, an all-rounder and a middle-order batter. We're happy with the outcome and have achieved all of our objectives. I think we have achieved what we wanted. We welcome all of these new signings and look forward to the next season," as quoted from a release. "We have made it to the playoffs three times in the four seasons that we have played, including winning in our inaugural season and being runners-up in the second season. We're looking forward to building on this journey with the squad that we have in place. I think we will have a great season," he said. Talking about Shubman Gill's leadership, Jinal Mehta, Director, Torrent Group and Chairman, Gujarat Titans, said, "I think GT spotted Shubman's batting talent and his leadership capabilities early on. He has done wonderfully well for both GT and India." Shaan Mehta, Director, Torrent Group and Director, Gujarat Titans, added: "The team bonding that has happened over the last few years continues and Shubman continues to lead us going forward for many years to come." Commenting on Narendra Modi Stadium, Jinal Mehta, Director, Torrent Group and Chairman, Gujarat Titans, said, "We are very lucky to have the world's largest stadium as our home. The atmosphere at the stadium is electrifying whenever Gujarat Titans are playing. That really builds the right setting for our players to perform, and I think we couldn't have had a better home than the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
19 December,2025 05:58 PM IST | Ahmedabad | ANITeam India spinner Kuldeep Yadav received an autographed jersey from Argentina's legendary footballer Lionel Messi during his visit to Delhi as a part of the "GOAT India Tour". The official handle of Adidas India, along with other athletes signed to the brand — including Kuldeep, India’s two-time Paralympic javelin champion and World Para Athletics champion Sumit Antil, and two-time Paralympic medallist and World Championship gold medallist para high-jumper Nishad Singh — posted a picture of Kuldeep receiving a signed jersey from Lionel Messi. The Indian spinner is a well-known football fan with a vocal preference for FC Barcelona. Messi has also represented FC Barcelona for several years before his stints with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and currently with Inter Miami. View this post on Instagram A post shared by adidas India (@adidasindia) During the footballer's visit to India, he was accompanied by two other players, Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez. Initially, the trio made their appearances in Kolkata and then went to Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. In Delhi, the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah presented India's national cricket team's jerseys to the football trio. Messi was presented with Team India's jersey bearing the number 10 by Jay Shah, while Suarez received number 9, and de Paul was given number 7, each customised with their names. The ICC chairman also invited Messi to attend the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 and also handed him a ticket. On the other hand, Kuldeep is busy featuring in the ongoing T20I series between Team India and South Africa. Currently, the "Men in Blue" are leading the five-match T20I series 2-1 and will aim to secure a win in Ahmedabad to seal the series. The fifth and final clash of the series is scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 19, 2026. Later, the side will lock horns against New Zealand for the shortest format series. The five-match T20I series against the "Black Caps" would start from January 21. The series will also serve as a preparatory contest for both teams ahead of T20 World Cup 2026. (With ANI Inputs)
19 December,2025 04:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy said that his preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 are based on backing his lengths, maintaining confidence and constantly challenging himself even in the matches that appear to be straightforward. "It is very important to keep putting pressure on yourself to get ready for the World Cup. You have to challenge yourself even when there is no challenge. If a match feels easy, you have to create that pressure mentally and start challenging yourself. Confidence, bowling the right lengths, and understanding the opposition are key. That is one major factor I want to take into the World Cup. With a better understanding of the opposition, I think I can do well," he said on JioHotstar. So far, he has made 32 T20I appearances for the "Men in Blue" and has bagged 51 wickets. His best bowling figures in the format are five wickets for 17 runs. The 34-year-old spinner's role will be crucial in India's title defence leading to the global showpiece. The marquee event is scheduled to be played in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. Chakaravarthy also revealed his plan by saying that he focuses on bowling at the right length. "My plan is simple, stick to the basics and bowl my length. Sometimes it works, and thankfully in the last three matches, it has worked well. I will try the same in the next match," he said. "When you are not confident, your mindset affects your skill. The key is to stay confident and back your skills. That is when you execute well, without much change. That is the secret to being consistent. At this level, you must be consistent, playing at the highest level is important to know where you stand," he added. The Karnataka-born cricketer then recalled the first match in which he represented India and said that he understood the mistakes and worked on them during the practice sessions. "In my first match at the international level, I struggled a bit initially and that's when I understood a few things. I went back to practice and made corrections. So, it is very important to keep playing at the highest level," concluded Chakaravarthy. He will now feature in the fifth and final T20I match between Team India and South Africa. The match is scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 19. Currently, the "Men in Blue" are leading the five-match T20I series 2-1 and will aim to secure a win in Ahmedabad to seal the series. (With PTI Inputs)
19 December,2025 04:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe ongoing India-South Africa series remains fiercely contested, with two possible outcomes before the final game and former Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn opined that India have ‘been the better team’ so far in the three games played. “I think it’s been a great series, and South Africa have probably exceeded expectations. Winning the Test series was outstanding, and they were very competitive in the ODIs. They might feel they let the first ODI slip after winning the toss and losing early wickets while chasing. Had they won that, they could have finished the ODI series 2–1. That said, out of the three T20Is so far, India have been the better team. “They bowled SA out cheaply in one game, conceded runs in another, but then dominated again in Dharamshala. If India win the series, I would say well played — they would deserve it. But I’m hoping South Africa turn it around. They’ve had a wonderful tour,” Steyn told JioStar. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 December,2025 09:20 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSFormer India captain and Mumbai Cricket Association’s Cricket Advisor Dilip Vengsarkar has expressed disappointment over Mumbai’s failure to defend their Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy title this season. The defending champions dominated the league stage in Lucknow, losing just a solitary game to Kerala and winning six matches. When the tournament moved to Pune for the Super League, India pacer Mohammed Siraj-powered Hyderabad outclassed Mumbai by nine wickets in the opener. Mumbai bounced back strongly, beating Haryana and Rajasthan, but a comparatively lower Net Run Rate (NRR) kept them out of the final despite having eight points like Hyderabad and finalists Haryana. Mumbai finished with a NRR of -0.701, compared to Haryana’s 2.325 and Hyderabad’s -0.413. “I’m disappointed, there’s no question about it, because you want to win [the trophy]. I understand in T20s anything can happen as there is no strong team and weak team. So, any team can beat the strongest team. But, we were definitely expecting much better results,” Vengsarkar, a veteran of 116 Tests, told mid-day on Thursday. India batter Ajinkya Rahane was Mumbai’s top-scorer with 395 runs from 10 games, followed by Sarfaraz Khan with 329 in seven matches. In the bowling department, medium pacer Sairaj Patil (14 scalps) and skipper Shardul Thakur (13) were the top two wicket-takers for Mumbai. MCA secretary Dr Unmesh Khanvilkar felt that one bad day in the office hurt the Mumbai side: “We played very well in the last two matches, but had we won the first game against Hyderabad, the story would have been different. One bad day cost us the final, and we failed to retain the trophy.”
19 December,2025 09:12 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureOut-of-favour India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan made a compelling case for a T20I recall with a belligerent hundred to power Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title with a 69-run victory over Haryana here on Thursday. Kishan went on a six-hitting spree, smashing 10 maximums en route to a breathtaking 49-ball 101, as Jharkhand piled up an imposing 262-3. Jharkhand bowlers, led by medium pacer Anukul Roy, then struck twice in his opening over while his team applied the brakes with regular wickets to bowl out Haryana for 193. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 December,2025 09:09 AM IST | Pune | PTIA pumped-up Australian bowling unit ripped through England’s fragile batting on Thursday to leave the tourists staring down the barrel of a third successive Test defeat with their Ashes campaign on the brink, barring a miracle. At stumps on a sweltering Day Two, the visitors had ground to 213-8, trailing by 158 after Australia added 45 to their overnight 326-8, with Mitchell Starc scoring his second fifty on the trot (54). A gutsy Ben Stokes battled through the day with 45 not out after facing 151 balls. Jofra Archer accompanied him to the dugout at stumps with an unbeaten 30.Australia skipper Pat Cummins, returning from a lower back injury after missing the first two Tests, made an immediate impact by dismissing England opener Zak Crawley (9) early, before Nathan Lyon — reinstated in the XI after being dropped at the Gabba — picked the wickets of Ollie Pope (3) and Ben Duckett (29) in his first over to leave England tottering. Lyon’s Test tally swelled to 564, going past the Glenn McGrath’s record in the process, leaving him ‘humbled.’ “I grew up Glenn McGrath. To think of being able to overtake Glenn... it’s pretty humbling to be honest,” said Lyon. Cummins then dismissed Joe Root (19) cheaply before Harry Brook’s counter-attacking 45 was nipped by Cameron Green. But then came a moment of controversy, as Jamie Smith (22) was adjudged caught behind with Snicko showing a small spike one frame after the ball passed the bat. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 December,2025 09:05 AM IST | Adelaide | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
