NAVI MUMBAI: Nandini Sharma’s maiden hat-trick went in vain as Sophie Devine starred with a breathtaking 95 and a superb final over under pressure to steer Gujarat Giants to a thrilling four-run win off the last ball over Delhi Capitals in a Women’s Premier League match on Sunday.This was Gujarat Giants’ second win on the trot, while DC slipped to their second loss.

Sent in to bat, Giants opener Devine smashed seven fours and eight sixes in her 42-ball knock, adding 94 runs for the opening wicket with Beth Mooney (19) to set the platform.Skipper Ashleigh Gardner kept the momentum going with a brisk 49 off 26 balls, but Nandini turned the tide with remarkable figures of 5 for 33, including a hat-trick, as Gujarat were bowled out for 209.Chasing a stiff target, opener Lizelle Lee struck a scintillating 86 off 54 balls, studded with 12 fours and three sixes. She put on 41 runs with Shafali Verma (14) before adding 90 off 55 balls with Laura Wolvaardt (77 off 38) to keep Delhi firmly in the hunt.Once Lee was dismissed by Kashvee Gautam (1/48) in the 15th over, Rajeshwari Gayakwad removed Chinelle Henry (7) to leave Delhi at 146 for three.Needing 64 off the last 25 balls, skipper Jemimah Rodrigues (15) joined Wolvaardt as the pair plundered 58 runs in 23 balls to bring the equation down to seven off the final five deliveries.Devine then returned to the spotlight, dismissing both batters and conceding just two runs in the final over to seal a dramatic win.Earlier, Devine set the tone early, striking three fours off Chinelle Henry before taking Nandini apart with two fours and a six in the fourth over. She was particularly severe on Sneh Rana, hammering two fours and four successive sixes in an over that yielded 32 runs and powered Gujarat Giants to 80 without loss in the powerplay.The New Zealander brought up her half-century in just 25 balls before Shree Charani broke the opening stand with a sharp caught-and-bowled effort in the ninth over to remove Mooney. Devine briefly regained control, hitting Charani for three sixes, but fell in the 11th over bowled by Nandini Sharma.Skipper Ashleigh Gardner kept Gujarat Giants on course with a brisk 49 off 26 balls, smashing four boundaries and three sixes to take the side past the 200-mark.Jemimah Rodrigues pulled off a fine catch to dismiss Georgia Wareham (3), while Henry removed Gardner and Bharti Fulmali (3).Nandini then capped a memorable outing by picking up four wickets in the final over, including three off the last three balls, to complete her maiden hat-trick.

NEW DELHI: India opened the three-match ODI series with a four-wicket win over New Zealand in Vadodara on Sunday, though the chase turned tense after a late collapse. Virat Kohli led the pursuit with 93 off 91 balls, while captain Shubman Gill contributed 56 as India reached 306 for six in 49 overs to chase down the target of 301 against Black Caps.India were well placed for most of the chase and appeared in control until Kohli’s dismissal in the 40th over. At that stage, India needed 67 runs from 66 balls with seven wickets in hand. However, New Zealand struck back quickly, picking up wickets to put pressure on the hosts.

Kohli fell seven runs short of a century when Kyle Jamieson had him caught at mid-on. Jamieson then removed Shreyas Iyer for 49 with an off-cutter and dismissed Ravindra Jadeja for four, briefly swinging momentum New Zealand’s way. Despite the wobble, KL Rahul held firm at the end with an unbeaten 29. He added 37 runs with Harshit Rana, who scored 29, before India crossed the line with Washington Sundar, who was nursing an injury, staying not out on seven. New Zealand also missed chances in the closing stages, dropping catches that eased the pressure.With his knock, Kohli became the fastest batter to reach 28,000 runs in international cricket and moved past Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer overall, behind Sachin Tendulkar.Kohli batted fluently from the start, finding boundaries early in his innings against both pace and spin. He played confidently against leg-spinner Adithya Ashok, scoring freely, and survived a moment of fortune when an inside edge off debutant Kristian Clarke missed the leg stump. Kohli added 118 runs for the second wicket with Gill, anchoring the chase even during a stretch where boundaries were hard to come by.Gill took time to settle before bringing up his 16th ODI half-century. He later appeared uncomfortable, stretching his legs and receiving on-field treatment. Soon after play resumed, he was dismissed for 56 off 71 balls, hitting a googly from Adithya Ashok straight to mid-off. His innings included three fours and two sixes.Rohit Sharma gave India early momentum with 26, striking boundaries off Zakary Foulkes and Jamieson. He also reached 650 sixes in international cricket before being dismissed in the ninth over when Jamieson induced a mistimed shot.Earlier, New Zealand posted 300 for eight after being sent in. Daryl Mitchell top-scored with 84 off 71 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes. He steadied the innings after a middle-order slide, following a solid opening stand between Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls. Conway made 56 off 67 balls, while Nicholls scored 62 off 69 as the pair added 117 runs for the first wicket.India pulled things back through Harshit Rana, whose second spell of 2 for 13 changed the course of the innings. New Zealand slipped from 117 without loss to 198 for five. Mitchell then rebuilt with support from the lower order, while debutant Kristian Clarke added a quick 24 not out off 17 balls to take New Zealand to the 300-run mark.India eventually completed the chase, but not without a late test from New Zealand’s bowlers.

If fielding highlights had a recurring theme, Glenn Phillips would feature in most chapters. In Vadodara on Sunday, during the first ODI between India and New Zealand, Phillips came close to adding another moment to that collection, nearly pulling off a catch that would have removed Shubman Gill early in the chase.The moment came in the eighth over of India’s innings. Gill, batting on eight, attempted a cut shot off the fourth ball of Zak Foulkes’ over. The delivery was back of a length and outside the off stump. Gill stayed back and hit the ball hard towards the backward point region. Phillips moved quickly to his left, jumped and stretched out his left hand while airborne. He almost completed the catch but closed his palm a fraction early, and the ball fell short. The effort surprised many, and Virat Kohli was seen reacting from the dressing room.Earlier, New Zealand posted 300 for 8 in their allotted overs after choosing to bat first in the opening ODI in Vadodara.Daryl Mitchell anchored the innings with 84 off 71 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes. His knock helped New Zealand recover after losing wickets in the middle overs. Mitchell came in after a solid opening stand between Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls.Conway scored 56 off 67 balls, including six fours and a six, while Nicholls made 62 off 69 deliveries with eight fours. The pair added 117 runs for the first wicket and kept India in check for the first 21 overs.India struck back through Harshit Rana, whose second spell changed the course of the innings. Rana finished with figures of 2 for 65, including two wickets in a spell of 2 overs for 13 runs. From 117 without loss in the 22nd over, New Zealand slipped to 198 for five by the 38th.Mitchell then built partnerships to steady the innings. Debutant Kristian Clarke provided support towards the end, scoring an unbeaten 24 off 17 balls, which included three fours, as New Zealand crossed the 300-run mark.

Delhi Capitals Women vs Gujarat Giants Women Live Score: Delhi Capitals will be keen to see a stronger showing from their top order after a disappointing outing against Mumbai Indians. Chasing 196, DC lost Lizelle Lee, Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues and Marizanne Kapp inside the first seven overs, never allowing the chase to settle. Batting depth was expected to be DC’s strength, given the relative inexperience in their bowling attack, but that advantage did not materialise. With another game coming quickly, the focus will firmly be on getting early runs and setting a platform this time around.

Gujarat Giants will take confidence from their opening win over UP Warriorz, a result that addressed early questions around their squad composition. Despite fielding several young and uncapped Indian players alongside overseas stars, GG delivered a complete performance to win by 10 runs. One of the standout contributors was 22-year-old Anushka Sharma, who scored a fluent 44 off 30 balls at No. 3. Her partnership with Ash Gardner formed the backbone of the innings and helped the Giants post a competitive total. GG also benefit from a slightly longer break after playing the afternoon game on Saturday.

NEW DELHI: During the first ODI between India and New Zealand on Sunday, a commentary moment sparked major controversy. Former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar was on commentary duty. He was part of the Hindi commentary panel. During the match, he referred to Hindi as the “national language of India.” The comment quickly drew criticism. The incident happened during the 13th over of the match. India had won the toss and decided to bowl first. Washington Sundar was bowling that over. Wicketkeeper KL Rahul looked unhappy with Washington’s pace.

Former fast bowler Varun Aaron was also on commentary. He mentioned that KL Rahul and Washington Sundar spoke in Tamil. Aaron said that KL told Washington he was bowling at the pace of a medium pacer. After this, Varun Aaron asked a question on air. He wondered if Washington Sundar understands Tamil better. At this point, Sanjay Bangar joined in and said he believes in Hindi, subsequently calling Hindi the “national language of India.” Soon after the comment, backlash followed on social media. Many fans reacted strongly. Several users pointed out that India does not have a national language. Hindi is one of the official languages of India. Many accused Bangar of making a factual mistake. The topic began trending online during the match. While the debate continued off the field, the game moved on. New Zealand posted a strong total. Daryl Mitchell played a key role, having scored an attacking 84. Thanks to that, New Zealand reached 300 for 8. India’s bowlers struck at regular intervals. Mohammed Siraj took two wickets. Harshit Rana took two wickets. Prasidh Krishna also picked up two wickets. New Zealand’s openers started well. Devon Conway scored 56. Henry Nicholls scored 62. The pair added 117 runs. Harshit Rana broke the partnership. He dismissed Nicholls. He then bowled Conway in the next over. Siraj removed Will Young for 12. Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Glenn Phillips for 12. Prasidh Krishna bowled Mitchell Hay for 18. Daryl Mitchell remained steady. He registered another strong ODI knock. He was run out after a direct hit from Shreyas Iyer. Debutant Kristian Clarke stayed unbeaten on 24. The ODI series will be followed by five T20 matches. The games will lead into the T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka.

NEW DELHI: French No. 1 chess grandmaster Alireza Firouzja gained global attention after a social media post. The post on X (formerly Twitter) read, “Long live Iran.”The message spread quickly online. Many fans linked it to unrest in Iran. Firouzja also shared the monarchial-era Iranian flag with the caption: “Live free or die”. Many see this flag as a sign of resistance. Many also see it as a symbol of hope.

Firouzja also shared the monarchial-era Iranian flag, which many see as a symbol of resistance and hope for change.The timing of the post matters. Iran is facing widespread anti-government protests. People across the country are demanding change. Rights groups say the situation is serious as they describe it as a humanitarian crisis. Authorities have reportedly shut down internet services. Phone services have also been restricted. This has cut millions off from the outside world. Dozens of people have reportedly died since the protests began. Global concern continues to grow. Many saw Firouzja’s message as support for ordinary Iranians. Firouzja is now a French citizen. However, his roots remain connected to Iran, where he was born on June 18, 2003. He is seen as one of the top chess talents of his generation. He became a grandmaster at age 14. He later broke Magnus Carlsen’s record by becoming the youngest player to cross a FIDE rating of 2800.Firouzja’s journey has not been without challenges. In 2019, he left the Iranian Chess Federation due to Iran’s policy of refusing to compete against Israeli players. For a period, he played under the FIDE flag before becoming a French citizen in 2021 and officially representing France. Despite the change in nationality, his recent post shows that his emotional bond with Iran remains strong.

Ties between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have come under strain after IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) chose to exclude Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for the 2026 season, despite buying him for Rs 9.2 crore at the mini auction.Following the decision, Bangladesh banned broadcasts of the Indian Premier League in the country. This is the first time IPL broadcasts have been banned in Bangladesh since the league began in 2008.

The BCB has also decided not to send its team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing safety concerns. The board said the decision was taken “following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India.” The BCB has said it is still waiting for a response from the International Cricket Council (ICC) on its concerns about playing at Indian venues.At the same time, Bangladeshi umpire Sharfuddoula has been officiating in the first ODI of the three-match series between India and New Zealand, which is being played in Vadodara on Sunday.Follow live updates

Who is Bangladeshi umpire Sharfuddoula?

Sharfuddoula has been appointed as the TV umpire for the first India vs New Zealand ODI match. Born in Dhaka, he has officiated in 32 Tests, 118 ODIs, 75 T20Is, 17 women’s ODIs, and 28 women’s T20Is.In 2024, during the Australia vs West Indies Test in Brisbane, he became only the second Bangladeshi umpire to stand as a neutral umpire in a Test match. A former left-arm spinner, Sharfuddoula represented Bangladesh in the ICC Trophy in 1994, taking six wickets in three matches. He later worked briefly as a coach before joining the BCB in an administrative role.He umpired his first domestic match in 2007 and made his international umpiring debut in 2010, standing alongside Simon Taufel in a Bangladesh-Sri Lanka ODI. In March 2024, he became the first Bangladeshi to be included in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.

Who appoints umpires for ODI matches

As per ICC regulations, umpires for ODIs are appointed under specific clauses. Clause 2.1.4 states that the ICC shall appoint one umpire for each ODI, who must not be from the same country as the participating teams and must be from the Elite Panel or International Panel. Clause 2.1.5 says the home board shall appoint one umpire from its own Elite or International Panel.Clause 2.1.7 states that in matches where the Decision Review System (DRS) is used, the ICC will appoint a third umpire, who will act as the emergency on-field umpire and handle DRS-related duties. This umpire must also not be from the same country as the participating teams and must be selected from the Elite Panel or International Panel.

NEW DELHI: India won the toss and chose to bowl first against New Zealand in the opening ODI of the three-match series at the Kotambi International Stadium (BCA) here.The hosts were dealt a significant setback ahead of the series opener, with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant ruled out of the entire series due to a right-side strain injury. Dhruv Jurel has been named as his replacement.

The spotlight will firmly be on stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both of whom are in fine form in the 50-over format across international and domestic cricket. Kohli, in particular, is also chasing multiple milestones and will be keen to make a big impact with the bat.Explaining the decision to bowl first after winning the toss, India captain Shubman Gill said: “Try different kinds of combinations, you know, see what combination suits us the best for different conditions, obviously when we play in India. Whenever you’re bowling second, there’s a bit of a challenge with the dew, and so try out what kind of combination suits our condition the best. It looks like a good wicket.“Hopefully, I think it’ll be a little bit easier to bat on in the second innings with the new coming in, and that was the thought process behind bowling first. I think playing a bit of Vijay Hazare series, everyone is coming after playing some matches, so everyone looks in good form. We’ve played a lot of cricket together, so you know, the environment is always nice and calm whenever we get together.”On the team combination, Gill took a big call. He said India have opted for six bowling options, with Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav handling spin duties, while Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana form the pace attack.Meanwhile, New Zealand have fielded a relatively inexperienced side and will be keen to put up a strong challenge against the Men in Blue.Stand-in skipper Michael Bracewell, who is leading the Black Caps in Mitchell Santner’s absence, said they too would have preferred to bowl first but were content with batting. “We have been used to the weather and have some great net sessions. It’s a big series for us, a proud moment every time we play for New Zealand. We’re playing a WC in India and it’s a big advantage for us. New faces, but some experience as well. Might play a bit lower – Kristian Clarke makes his debut today, and Aditya Ashok is our main spinner,” he said.Playing XIsIndia: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh KrishnaNew Zealand: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Adithya Ashok

NEW DELHI: South African pace great Allan Donald feels Virat Kohli may have stepped away from Test cricket a bit earlier than expected, but believes the Indian batting star still has the hunger to carry on until the 2027 ODI World Cup. Donald, who shared a strong rapport with Kohli during his stint as Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s bowling coach in the IPL in 2014 and 2015, pointed to the batter’s unmatched work ethic as the reason behind his belief.“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen hunger in a player other than Virat. I’ve got massive respect for him. I often talk about it in the dressing rooms and chats about being a champion trainer. There’s no one that trains as hard as him. He is just a machine,” Donald told a select media gathering during the SA20.

“I actually miss him in the Test match arena. I think he’s retired too early, but yeah, I look with no doubt we will see him in the white-ball arena in the World Cup very, very soon,” he added.Donald also spoke about South Africa’s prospects in the upcoming T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, saying the Proteas have assembled a well-balanced and competitive squad capable of performing strongly.“It’s going to be a a heck of a tournament in India, isn’t it? South Africa picked a very strong squad. There might always be question marks about who’s not going and who should have gone and all that kind of stuff. I think India have got the best T20 wickets on the planet. It’s just so hard for any bowler and I’ve seen it in the IPL with scores 124 in a power play. That’s just where the skill of batting has gone.“If you can win the inches from a bowling point of view and plot your way very carefully and smartly, then, you know, it’s going to come down to that again. So, I hope to see South Africa in the final as well,” he said.