India's Varun Chakravarthy put on a spectacular show with his 5-wicket haul against South Africa in the second T20I, but it was not enough as the hosts managed to break India's 11-match winning streak with their victory. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav had high praise for Chakravarthy's incredible performance, but it unfortunately came in a losing cause.
Varun Chakravarthy's Spectacular Performance Despite India's Loss to South Africa
Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy delivered a mesmerizing performance in the second Twenty20 International (T20I) against South Africa, claiming a five-wicket haul. However, India's winning streak of 11 matches came to an end as the hosts snatched victory.
Match Summary
Batting first, South Africa posted a competitive total of 150/9, with Rassie van der Dussen scoring 75 off 55 balls. In response, India struggled to gain momentum, losing early wickets.
Chakravarthy emerged as a beacon of hope for India, bowling with precision and guile. He dismissed David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi in quick succession, finishing with remarkable figures of 5/20 in his four overs.
Skipper's Praise
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav acknowledged Chakravarthy's extraordinary effort despite the defeat. "Varun Chakravarthy was outstanding. He bowled exceptionally well, mixing up his pace and variations," said Yadav.
Losing Cause
Despite Chakravarthy's heroics, India's batting line-up failed to capitalize on his efforts. Suryakumar Yadav (34 off 31) and Deepak Hooda (26 off 24) made brief contributions, but India ultimately fell short by 49 runs.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Who is Varun Chakravarthy? Varun Chakravarthy is a 31-year-old Indian cricketer who specializes in leg-spin and batting in the middle order.
2. What is his batting and bowling style? Chakravarthy bowls with a deceptive action, delivering a variety of deliveries, including leg-spin, googlies, and sliders. He is also a capable batsman, known for his ability to strike the ball cleanly.
3. How many wickets did he take in the second T20I? Chakravarthy claimed five wickets in the second T20I against South Africa, his best haul in international cricket.
4. Has he played in the Indian Premier League (IPL)? Yes, Chakravarthy has played for the Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He was a key performer for KKR in their title-winning campaign in 2021.
5. What is his current international record? As of January 2023, Chakravarthy has played 12 T20Is for India, taking 19 wickets at an average of 12.63.
Indian boxer Neeraj Goyat earned a spot in the World Boxing Council (WBC) world rankings after a convincing victory over Brazilian fighter Whindersson Nunes. Goyat, who was born on November 11, 1991, has been dominating the sport with his explosive and tactical fighting style. He previously won the prestigious WBC Asia "Honorary Boxer of the Year" award in 2017 and defeated Chinese boxer Xu Can, who went on to become a World Boxing Association world champion. Goyat's latest victory solidifies his place as one of India's top professional boxers and the first Indian to be ranked by the WBC.
In an exhilarating showdown, West Indies claimed a nail-biting victory over England in the fourth T20 international, winning by five wickets in a successful chase of 219. The thrilling match had fans on the edge of their seats as the West Indies team staged an impressive comeback to seal the victory. This win marks a major upset in the series, as England had previously dominated with three consecutive wins.
Star forward Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal thrashed Poland 5-1 in a Nations League match, securing their place in the quarter-finals. With this result, Portugal have wrapped up the top spot in Group A1 with a game to spare. Despite Poland starting strongly, it was Portugal who dominated in the second half, scoring four goals in the last 20 minutes. Ronaldo, who had a quiet first half, came alive after the break and played a crucial role in his team's victory.
The West Indies and England are set to clash in the 4th T20 of their closely contested five-game series in St. Lucia. The visitors currently hold a 3-0 lead and will be looking to continue their dominance, while the West Indies will be hoping to bounce back and narrow the gap. Stay tuned for score updates and insightful analysis on this exciting match.
In a tightly contested T20I match between Pakistan and Australia, Pakistan's newly appointed captain Mohammed Rizwan made a crucial mistake by allowing three bowlers to bowl two overs each instead of one or two, as per the revised regulations. This went unnoticed by the umpires and match referee, as Australia posted a strong total of 93/4. Despite some late resistance, Pakistan's batting collapsed, giving Australia a 29-run victory. Glenn Maxwell played a key role for Australia, surpassing 10,000 T20I runs and leading the team to victory.
Indian boxer Neeraj Goyat made history by becoming the first Indian to win a fight on the undercard of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Netflix event. Goyat defeated Whindersson Nunes in a super-middleweight bout by a unanimous decision, with a dominating 60-54 score in the six-round, non-title fight. This victory solidifies Goyat's spot in the WBC rankings and showcases the rising talent of Indian boxers on the global stage.
Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma and his wife Ritika Sajdeh have welcomed a baby boy, expanding their family with their second child. While details about the birth are yet to be confirmed, fans eagerly await an official announcement from the couple. Rohit's absence from the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy has sparked speculation about his availability as captain, leaving vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah to potentially lead the team. This also opens the door for a new opener, with both Abhimanyu Easwaran and KL Rahul in contention for the role. Fans and the cricketing fraternity eagerly await Rohit's updates on his son's birth and his availability for the highly awaited tournament.
After a dominating performance by India in the T20 series against South Africa, the young Indian cricketer Tilak Verma received the "impact fielder of the series" award in the final match. With his brilliant performance in the series, Verma left everyone in awe and even impressed coach VVS Laxman with his catch of South African captain Aiden Markram. In a comical turn of events, captain Suryakumar Yadav revealed the winner in a unique and entertaining manner, leading to a moment of celebration for the team. The video of this moment was shared by BCCI, showcasing the camaraderie and talent of Team India.
Netherlands national team coach Ronald Koeman has decided to drop Manchester United star Joshua Zirkzee from the squad for the upcoming Nations League games against Hungary and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Zirkzee has had a difficult start to his career at Old Trafford, having gone 16 matches without scoring for the Red Devils. Koeman had previously expressed his concerns about the striker's performance and has now taken the decision to leave him out of the squad. This latest blow adds to Zirkzee's already difficult season, where he has been struggling to find form and game time under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Share your thoughts on whether Zirkzee should stay at Manchester United in the comments below.
Shaheen Afridi's dominant performance in the recent series against Australia has propelled him back to the top spot in the ICC ODI Bowler Rankings. He is joined by his compatriot and team captain Babar Azam, who remains at the top of the ODI batting rankings. Pakistan's bowlers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah also saw significant improvements in their rankings, while other players from England, Bangladesh, and India have also made strides in the T20I rankings.