Cricket | DD News

November 16, 2025 5:19 PM

1st Test: Gambhir defends Kolkata pitch, Bavuma savours special knock

India coach Gautam Gambhir said there was no "demons in the pitch" despite his team's spectacular meltdown in the low-scoring opening test against South Africa on Sunday. Chasing 124 for victory, India folded for 93 on a minefield of a pitch where South Africa captain Temba Bavuma scored the only half-century of the match that finished inside three days. On an Eden Gardens surface where sharp spin and inconsistent bounce meant even the set batters could not convert their starts into big knocks...

November 16, 2025 5:05 PM

Relief for England as scans clear Mark Wood of injury ahead of Ashes

England's pace spearhead Mark Wood has been cleared of a hamstring injury, the country's cricket board (ECB) said on Saturday, a major relief for the side days ahead of their first Ashes test against Australia. Fast bowler Wood left the field on Thursday complaining of hamstring stiffness after bowling eight overs for an England XI against a second-string England Lions side during an Ashes warm-up game. "Following precautionary scans on Friday, England fast bowler Mark Wood has been cleared of...

November 16, 2025 4:01 PM

Australia hit with injury blow as Hazlewood ruled out of Ashes opener

Australia have suffered another blow ahead of the Ashes opener against England after fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was ruled out due to a hamstring injury on Saturday, further weakening their bowling attack after the loss of captain Pat Cummins. Hazlewood went to hospital for scans on a possible hamstring injury during a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday, but was initially cleared of a strain and was set to travel to Perth for the first Ashes test. However, later tests conf...

November 16, 2025 2:47 PM

1st Test: Harmer spins South Africa to thrilling win against India

Off-spinner Simon Harmer led South Africa's lion-hearted bowling effort as the Proteas registered a thrilling 30-run victory against India inside three days of the low-scoring opening test on Sunday. Harmer claimed 4-21 as India, chasing 124 for victory, folded for 93 in a remarkable batting meltdown in front of the nearly 40,000-strong crowd at Eden Gardens. Earlier, Temba Bavuma dragged South Africa back into the contest with an innings of tremendous grit. Having conceded a first-innings le...

November 16, 2025 3:25 PM

India vs South Africa: Shubman Gill out of Kolkata test with neck injury

India captain Shubman Gill will not take any further part in the ongoing opening test against South Africa after he was forced to retire hurt with a neck injury in the first innings, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Sunday. Gill hit a four before walking off the field rubbing his neck and did not bat again as India posted 189 in reply to South Africa's first innings total of 159. He was subsequently taken to a hospital and was under observation, the BCCI said. "He will take no further ...

November 16, 2025 11:47 AM

India’s women players cash in on World Cup glory

The brand value of India's top women cricketers has gone through the roof following their fairytale World Cup triumph on home soil with top sports marketing experts calling it a "watershed moment" for the sport. After a hat-trick of defeats nearly derailed their campaign, India stunned seven-times champions Australia in the semi-finals and outplayed South Africa in the November 2 final to claim their maiden 50-overs World Cup title. Since that midnight victory in front of a delirious capacity ...

November 16, 2025 1:53 PM

New Zealand great Southee appointed KKR bowling coach for IPL 2026

Former New Zealand captain Tim Southee has been appointed as the new bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the 2026 Indian Premier League season, the franchise announced on Friday. Southee, whose test haul of 391 wickets is second only to Richard Hadlee's 431 among New Zealand bowlers, retired from the longest format of the game in December last year. Southee takes over the role at KKR from Bharat Arun, who has joined Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as their bowling coach. The former sea...

November 14, 2025 9:48 AM

South Africa bat first vs India but Rabada out with injury

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma elected to bat after winning the toss for the opening test against India on Friday, but the visitors will be without Kagiso Rabada at Eden Gardens as the pace spearhead misses out due to a rib injury. Seam bowling all-rounder Corbin Bosch replaces Rabada. "It's on the dry side, not much grass," said Bavuma, who is returning to the side after a calf injury. "It's a typical Indian wicket. First-innings runs is the key." India picked a four-pronged spin attack w...

November 12, 2025 12:07 PM

Team India banks on old recipe of spin and first-innings heft against South Africa

India will look to reprise their home template of big first-innings totals and sustained spin in the short two-test series against South Africa beginning in Kolkata on Friday. Shubman Gill's side sit third in the World Test Championship rankings after beginning their 2025-27 cycle with a 2-2 draw in England followed by a 2-0 sweep at home against West Indies. Reigning world champions South Africa forced a 1-1 draw in Pakistan but the squad, despite being bolstered by the return of their fit-ag...

November 11, 2025 3:29 PM

Team India all-rounder Richa Ghosh eyes T20 glory after World Cup heroics

India all-rounder Richa Ghosh has set her sights on Twenty20 World Cup glory after playing a key role in her country's historic one-day international crown despite battling a hairline fracture. The 22-year-old from Siliguri in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal is confident that the Women's Premier League Twenty20 competition, in which she represents Royal Challengers Bengaluru, can help her prepare for the shortest format of the game ahead of the T20 World Cup in England next year. "The ...