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Indore: Sunday proved to be a disappointing day for Indian cricket as New Zealand defeated India by 41 runs in the third ODI at Holkar Stadium, Indore. With this win, New Zealand clinched the three-match series 2-1, marking the first time the Kiwis have won a bilateral ODI series in India. The historic loss triggered a wave of criticism targeting India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir on social media. New Zealand Post Massive TotalBatting first after losing the toss, New Zealand amassed a commanding 337/8 in 50 overs. Early breakthroughs from Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana provided some hope, but centuries from Daryl Mitchell (137) and Glenn Phillips (106) derailed India’s bowling attack. The Indian spin department struggled to make an impact, allowing the Kiwi batsmen to pile up runs. Mitc...

Brisbane: In a crucial Big Bash League 2025-26 clash, the Sydney Sixers secured a 5-wicket win over Brisbane Heat, guaranteeing their place in the playoffs. However, despite the team’s victory, Pakistan star Babar Azam’s ongoing poor form remained a concern for the Sixers’ management. Babar Falls Early at The GabbaChasing a challenging 172-run target, the Sixers looked to their opening duo, Steve Smith and Babar Azam, for a solid start. While Smith coped well with the conditions, Babar struggled against the helpful pitch. He faced 7 balls, scoring just 1 run, before edging a delivery from Xavier Bartlett behind the stumps. This dismissal added to Babar’s disappointing season, highlighting ongoing concerns about his batting approach and strike rate. Pressure from Smith and Strike Rate...

New Delhi: Known as cricket’s “Run Machine,” Virat Kohli has amassed 54 ODI centuries, most of which have propelled India to victory. Yet, there have been 9 notable occasions when his brilliant individual performances could not prevent defeat—highlighting that cricket is ultimately a team game, where even a masterful innings can be overshadowed by collective shortcomings or superior opposition strategies. Recent Examples Against South Africa and New ZealandKohli’s recent centuries against South Africa and New Zealand are the latest examples. In the second ODI against South Africa, he scored a commanding 102 runs, helping India post 359, yet the bowlers were unable to defend the total, and South Africa won by 4 wickets. Against New Zealand, Kohli’s 124-run innings in the third ODI at Hol...

Indore: India suffered a historic home defeat, losing the ODI series against New Zealand 2-1—the first time under Shubman Gill’s captaincy that the team has been unable to clinch a home series. Speaking after the decisive third ODI at Holkar Stadium, where India fell short by 41 runs while chasing 338, Gill acknowledged the bright spots in the team while admitting the need for improvement. Despite Virat Kohli’s 54th ODI century and all-round contributions from Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, India was bowled out for 296 in 46 overs. Gill said in a post-match interview:"After the first match and reaching 1-1 here, we are disappointed with how we played. There are several areas we need to observe, reflect on, and improve. Virat’s batting form is always a positive, and Harshit Rana...

New Delhi: Vidarbha made history by winning the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, defeating Saurashtra by 38 runs in the final held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru. This is Vidarbha’s first-ever Vijay Hazare Trophy title, while Saurashtra, winners of the inaugural 2008 season and champions twice overall, had to settle for runners-up. Astounding Batting by Atharv TideAfter losing the toss, Saurashtra captain Harvik Desai opted to field. Vidarbha posted a formidable 317 for 8 in their 50 overs. Opener Atharv Tide starred with a magnificent 128 off 118 balls, hitting 15 fours and 3 sixes. Ravikumar Samarth added 25 crucial runs, while Yash Rathore scored a valuable 54 off 50 balls, including 2 fours and 2 sixes, helping Vidarbha set a challenging target. Saurashtra Fell Short in ...

New Delhi: The three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand concluded with the visitors claiming a historic 2-1 series win, marking the first time New Zealand has won an ODI series on Indian soil. In the decisive third ODI at Holkar Stadium, Indore, New Zealand posted a challenging 337/8, and India was restricted to 296 all out, losing by 41 runs. While individual brilliance was evident, several key Indian players failed to perform under pressure, contributing to India’s defeat. Here’s a look at five players whose performances hurt India’s chances: 1. Rohit SharmaFormer captain and senior opener Rohit Sharma struggled with the bat, managing only 11 runs. India needed his experience to chase a massive 338, but he failed to deliver. The “Hitman” had an underwhelming series over...

Indore: India suffered a stunning 41-run defeat to New Zealand in the third ODI at Holkar Stadium, handing the visitors a 2-1 series win—the first time New Zealand has claimed an ODI series on Indian soil. Despite a valiant century from Virat Kohli, India’s batting faltered at key moments, leaving fans disappointed. Kohli’s 85th International Century Not EnoughVirat Kohli scored a brilliant 124 off 108 balls, registering his 85th international century and 54th in ODIs. He found support from Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana, who contributed half-centuries of their own. Kohli and Reddy stitched together an 88-run partnership in 88 balls, while Kohli and Rana added 99 runs in 69 balls. However, India’s innings collapsed in the 46th over, with Kohli dismissed as the 9th wicket and Kuldee...

New Delhi: Tennis legend Venus Williams has made history at the 2026 Australian Open by becoming the oldest player to compete in a women’s singles match at the Grand Slam, at the age of 45. However, her historic run came to an end in a hard-fought first-round clash against Olga Danilovic, losing 7-6 (5), 3-6, 4-6. Williams had a strong start, at one point leading 4-0 in the third set, but Danilovic staged a remarkable comeback to seal the victory. With this achievement, Venus surpassed Japan’s Kimiko Date, who had previously held the record as the oldest women’s singles player at 44 years. Venus on Her PerformanceReflecting on the match, Venus said, “I’m proud of my performance today. I focus on improving my game with every match, and I’m happy with how I competed.” Other Notable ...

New Delhi: India’s former captain and prolific run-machine Virat Kohli is back in scintillating form reminiscent of his 2016 peak. In the third ODI against New Zealand at Holkar Stadium, Indore, Kohli produced yet another masterclass, smashing his 85th international century. Kohli’s innings came off 91 balls, during which he struck 10 fours and 3 sixes, scoring 124 runs before being dismissed. This was also his 54th ODI century, underlining his consistency and dominance on the global stage. Breaking Sehwag’s RecordThe 37-year-old superstar also broke a long-standing record held by India legend Virender Sehwag. Previously, Sehwag held the record for the most centuries by an Indian in ODIs against New Zealand, with six. Kohli now tops the list with 7 centuries against the Kiwis, becomi...

Indore: In the third and final ODI between India and New Zealand, young Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy delivered a brilliant performance at Holkar Stadium in Indore, capturing the hearts of cricket fans. Facing a challenging Kiwi bowling attack, Nitish played fearlessly, scoring a crucial half-century and celebrating in signature “Pushpa” style, delighting the crowd. Steady Partnership with KohliChasing a daunting target of 338 runs, the Indian innings needed stability. Nitish Kumar Reddy joined forces with the experienced Virat Kohli, and together they forged a vital 88-run partnership off 88 balls. Their seamless coordination eased pressure on the Indian side, with Nitish displaying an array of attractive shots around the ground. Although his dismissal brought India back under ...