This article discusses the extraordinary career of Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India's greatest match-winners in Test cricket. With 537 wickets, Ashwin has distinguished himself as the second highest wicket-taker in his country's history. But it is not just his impressive statistics that make Ashwin stand out - it is his unique approach to spin bowling, which combines classical techniques with modern innovations. Through his unwavering dedication and relentless quest to understand the true essence of spin bowling, Ashwin has solidified his place as one of the most formidable off-spinners in the game.
Despite the absence of India star Sanju Samson, Kerala secured a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Nagaland in the Group E match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 championship. Rohan Kunnummal's match-winning performance with a score of 57 demonstrated the team's dominance over their opponents, highlighting a considerable gap in the standard of play.
As excitement builds for the upcoming IPL auction in Saudi Arabia, a dozen lesser-known cricketers from Kerala have caught the attention of fans and franchises alike. With former India A star Sachin Baby leading the pack, players like Vishnu Vinod and Mohammed Azharuddeen also have IPL experience under their belts. But it's not just the established players - 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi is also making waves as the youngest player in the top base price category. The auction promises to be an unpredictable affair with big names like Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul also in the mix.
Tilak Varma made history in the recently concluded T20I series against South Africa, breaking multiple records and showcasing his batting prowess. The 22-year-old left-handed batter from Hyderabad scored a total of 280 runs in four matches, surpassing Virat Kohli's record for the most runs in a bilateral T20I series for India. Tilak's stellar performance earned him two Player of the Match awards and the Player of the Series award, making him the youngest Indian to win the latter in T20Is. He also equaled the record for most sixes in a T20I match for India, and with Sanju Samson, he became the first Indian batting pair to score over 200 runs for any wicket in a T20I match. Tilak's incredible performance has solidified his position as a rising star in Indian cricket.
In a thrilling T20I match against South Africa, Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma put on an electrifying display of batting, smashing a total of 19 sixes to propel India to a colossal total of 283/1. This proved to be too much for Proteas as they failed to match the relentless onslaught of the Indian openers. Samson and Varma both reached their respective centuries, establishing themselves as top T20I batsmen.
India ended their T20I campaign for the year with a bang, sealing a convincing victory over South Africa in the fourth and final match of the series. Led by record-breaking centuries from Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma, India posted a mammoth total of 283 for 1, the highest ever against South Africa in T20Is. The Indian bowlers then put in a dominant performance to clinch a 135-run win, making it their biggest T20I victory against the Proteas and ending their year on a high note.
In the ongoing T20I match between India and South Africa, a female fan was struck by a six hit by Indian batter Sanju Samson. A video of the incident has surfaced on social media, showing the woman in tears after being hit by the ball. Samson, along with teammate Tilak Varma, went on to put up a batting exhibition and helped India set a mammoth target of 284 for South Africa to chase down.
In an Indian cricketing triumph, Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma scored centuries and set a formidable target against South Africa in the fourth T20I. Samson created history by becoming the first player to score three T20I hundreds in a calendar year, while the duo also broke the record for the highest partnership among full-member nations. India's power-hitting prowess was on full display as they dominated South Africa with ease.
In an epic match at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, India showcased their dominance in the fourth T20I against South Africa, winning by 135 runs and securing a 4-1 series victory. The batting duo of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson set the tone for the first innings with a flying start. India's impressive 284-run target was too much for the Proteas, especially with the floodlights turning on and aiding the Indian pacers, who quickly took out South Africa's top batters. While the hosts tried to make a comeback, the spinners proved to be a menace and sealed India's victory.
India is on the brink of winning the T20I series against South Africa as they head into the final match with a 2-1 lead. The Indian team will look to their top performers, Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma, to continue their impressive performance from the previous match. They will also hope for a comeback from Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav, who have failed to score big runs in the last two matches. On the bowling front, Varun Chakrvarthy and Arshdeep Singh have been standouts and will be expected to deliver again.