Smriti Mandhana, Shubman Gill

Smriti Mandhana is close to creating new records with her batting in 2025. The India opener has scored 1,703 runs across formats this calendar year, the most by any woman in a single year. She needs 62 more runs to become the highest run-scorer of 2025 across both men’s and women’s international cricket, going past Shubman Gill’s total of 1,764 runs.Mandhana’s run-scoring at the top of the order has played a key role in India Women’s results this season. She has scored runs in different formats and conditions while setting up innings for the team.

India Women will play Sri Lanka on Tuesday in the fifth T20I. India have already taken an unassailable lead in the series and will look to complete a 5-0 sweep.Mandhana recently became the second Indian and fourth overall among women players to complete 10,000 runs in international cricket. She reached the milestone during the fourth T20I of the five-match series against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield International Stadium on Sunday. She is the fourth woman batter after Mithali Raj, Suzie Bates and Charlotte Edwards, and the second Indian after Mithali Raj, to reach the mark.In Test cricket, Mandhana has scored 629 runs in seven matches and 12 innings at an average of 57.18, with two hundreds and three fifties. In ODIs, she has 5,322 runs from 117 matches at an average of 48.38, with 14 hundreds and 34 fifties, making her the sixth-highest run-scorer in the format. In T20Is, she has 4,102 runs from 157 matches at an average of 29.94, with a strike rate of 124.22, including one hundred and 32 fifties, and is the second-highest run-getter.In the fourth T20I, Mandhana scored 80 off 48 balls with 11 fours and three sixes, helping India post their highest women’s T20I total of 221 for 2. India defended the total and beat Sri Lanka by 30 runs to take a 4-0 lead in the series.

Sunil Gavaskar (File Image)

On This Day in 1983 – December 29, batting maestro Sunil Gavaskar achieved a major milestone in his career. Against the West Indies in the sixth Test in Chennai, Gavaskar scored a career-best 236 not out — then the highest score by an Indian in Test history — a day after leapfrogging Australian legend Don Bradman as the batter with the most Test hundreds (30).Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!A day earlier, Gavaskar had achieved a monumental feat, breaking Bradman’s long-standing record of 29 Test centuries, which had remained intact for more than three decades. Bradman retired from his celebrated Test career in 1948, and it took Gavaskar’s effort in 1983 to finally surpass the mark.

And on this day that year, Gavaskar’s highest individual score of 236 not out was five runs more than the previous Indian record of 231 by Vinoo Mankad against New Zealand in Chennai, set way back in January 1956. It remained India’s highest Test score for almost two decades before VVS Laxman’s epic 281 against Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001.Gavaskar went on to set the record for the most Test hundreds, retiring with 34 centuries in his 125-match Test career. He later became the first batter to score 10,000 Test runs in 1987, finishing his decorated career with 10,122 runs at an average of 51.12, including 34 hundreds and 45 fifties in 214 innings.Here’s how the India–West Indies match panned out, in which Gavaskar surpassed Bradman and registered the highest score by an Indian in Chennai:India entered the sixth and final Test of the series in Chennai trailing 0–3, after the visitors won the matches in Kanpur, Ahmedabad and Kolkata, while the Tests in Delhi and Mumbai ended in draws.The pressure was firmly on the hosts. West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd won the toss and elected to bat first on December 24, 1983. However, no play was possible on the opening day due to rain in Chennai, followed by a rest day on Christmas.

As a result, the match effectively began on Boxing Day, officially the second day of the contest.India managed to take five West Indies wickets that day while keeping the visitors quiet. The West Indies went into stumps on 207/5, with Jeff Dujon batting on 48 and Winston Davis on 4.Dujon went on to score a half-century the next day — the only batter to cross fifty for the Windies. With as many as nine batters reaching double figures, the visitors were eventually bowled out for 313 on December 27.For India, captain and pace spearhead Kapil Dev returned figures of 4 for 44, while spinner Maninder Singh picked up 3 for 41. Roger Binny also chipped in with 2 for 48, while Ravi Shastri (1/72) and Shivlal Yadav (1/96) were also among the wickets.India suffered a disastrous start to their innings, losing opener Anshuman Gaekwad and No.3 Dilip Vengsarkar for ducks to Malcolm Marshall, slumping to 0/2. Gavaskar steadied the innings alongside Navjot Sidhu (20), with the pair adding 54 runs for the third wicket.Andy Roberts broke the stand, and India lost another wicket in Ashok Malhotra (9) to Roger Harper before stumps on December 27, returning to the pavilion at 69/4.On December 28, India lost Shivlal Yadav (3) early in the morning session. From there on, however, it was hard toil for the famed West Indies bowlers. Gavaskar found an able partner in Ravi Shastri, and the duo frustrated the visitors with resolute batting.Gavaskar, who had already equalled Bradman’s tally of 29 hundreds, went past the legend with a superb century — his 30th in Test cricket. He also put on a massive 170-run partnership with Shastri, who scored 72 batting at No.7.The stand gave India a huge boost as they ended December 28 on 262/6, with Gavaskar unbeaten on 149.On the final day of the contest, Gavaskar completed his double hundred and added two crucial partnerships with Kapil Dev and Syed Kirmani. He added 39 runs for the eighth wicket and an unbeaten 143-run stand for the ninth wicket with Kirmani before India declared at 451/8.Kirmani contributed 63 not out, while Gavaskar remained unbeaten on his career-best 236, sealing the highest individual score by an Indian in Test history.The record stood for 18 years before Laxman’s iconic 281 against Australia at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2001.Today, Gavaskar’s famous knock ranks 15th on the list of highest Test scores by an Indian, topped by Virender Sehwag’s 319, followed by his 309. The third triple century belongs to Karun Nair, who scored an unbeaten 303 against England.Incidentally, both Sehwag’s 319 against South Africa and Nair’s 303 not out came in Chennai as well — a venue that has proven to be a happy hunting ground for Indian batters since that fateful day on December 29, 1983.

Desert Vipers topped the ILT20 Season 4 standings and will push for their first title. (Image: Creimas)

NEW DELHI: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) came through in a do-or-die game to become the fourth team to book their place in the ILT20 playoffs. They will join Dubai Capitals (DC), Desert Vipers (DC) and MI Emirates (MIE) in making a final push to lift the trophy.In the first Qualifier, Desert Vipers will take on MI Emirates and the Eliminator will pit ADKR against the defending champions Capitals. As the rules go, the losing team from Qualifier 1 will then go up against the winning team of the Eliminator for a place in the final.

HistoryOf the four teams that have qualified for the playoffs, the DC and MIE have lifted the ILT20 trophy before, in 2025 and 2024, respectively.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The Vipers, however, have reached the final on two occasions, in 2023 and 2025, but never gone all the way. ADKR are into the ILT20 playoffs for the second time, having been to the knockouts in 2024.Form guideDesert Vipers had a blazing start to the season with six wins on the trot including close victories against ADKR (by 2 wickets with 3 balls remaining), Gulf Giants (in a Super Over), MI Emirates (by 1 run) and Dubai Capitals (by 5 wickets with 2 balls remaining). Eventually they finished with 8 wins out of 10 league matches to top the table.MI Emirates finished second in the points table despite a mixed start to the campaign. They lost three in the first five matches before staging a remarkable turnaround to clinch five consecutive wins – all by comfortable margin.

MI Emirates enter the ILT20 Season 4 playoffs as the in-form team with five wins in a row. (Image: Creimas)

Both Dubai Capitals and ADKR had patchy pushes to the playoffs during the league stage. DC, who are now led by Mohammad Nabi, strung three wins in a row only after a formation of two losses, two wins and two losses. They closed out the league stage with yet another defeat.ADKR, who had four wins and six losses in the group stage, had a poor campaign but not worse than Gulf Giants and Sharjah Warriorz who had three wins and seven defeats. Jason Holder-led ADKR were bottom of the standings halfway through the league stage with four defeats in five matches.Consecutive wins, against DV and GG, steered them up the standings. One final push, also against the Gulf Giants, on Sunday, helped them into the playoffs.Standout performers

Sam Curran has had the most impact this ILT20 season with 285 runs and 7 wickets for Desert Vipers. (Image: Creimas)

Sam Curran had made a rollicking start with the bat for Desert Vipers. The England international has had the most impact so far this season with 285 runs at an average of 35.62, a strike rate of 123.91 with standout innings of an unbeaten 67 and 52, against Giants and DC, respectively. He has been less effective with the ball, picking 7 wickets, but has been an all-round asset for the table toppers.Equally decisive for the franchise has been Max Holden – the leading run-scorer (318 runs) going into the ILT20 playoffs. From the infamy of not being stumped on purpose and being retired out a ball later, against the MI Emirates on December 9, the 28-year-old has turned a leaf.Since that night of 37-ball 42, Holden has produced a 64-ball 41 vs Gulf Giants; 22-ball 34 vs Dubai Capitals; 43-ball 52 vs ADKR and Player of the Match winning 46-ball 66 against Sharjah Warriorz.Dubai Capitals have seen multiple strong individual performances so far. Jordan Cox (311 runs), Shayan Jahangir (302 runs), Waqar Salamkheil (17 wickets) and Mustafizur Rahman (15 wickets) have been the star acts.Green Belt holder (most runs): Max Holder of the Desert Vipers (318 runs)White Belt holder (most wickets): Waqar Salamkheil of the Dubai Capitals (17 wickets)Red Belt holder (Most valuable player): Sam Curran of the Desert Vipers (285 runs and 7 wickets)Blue Belt holder (best UAE player): Muhammad Waseem of the MI Emirates (293 runs)

ILT20 Playoff Squads as of 28th December

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders International Players: Alex Hales, Andre Russell, George Garton, Jason Holder, Khary Pierre, Liam Livingstone, Michael Pepper, Phil Salt, Piyush Chawla, Olly Stone, Sherfane Rutherford, Sunil Narine. UAE Players: Ajay Kumar, Alishan Sharafu, Ibrar Ahmed, Mayank Chowdary. Associate Players: Abdul Manan (Saudi Arabia), Adnan Idrees (Kuwait), Brandon McMullen (Scotland), Shadley Van Schalkwyk (USA), Unmukt Chand (USA). Dubai Capitals International Players: Dasun Shanaka, David Willey, Dushmantha Chameera, Gulbadin Naib, Jimmy Neesham, Jordan Cox, Leus du Plooy, Mohammad Nabi, Navin Bidassey, Rovman Powell, Scott Currie, Sediqullah Atal, Toby Albert, Waqar Salamkheil. UAE Players: Farhan Khan, Haider Ali, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah. Associate Players: Anudeep Chenthamara (Kuwait), Kaleem Sana (Canada), Rushil Ugarkar (USA), Shayan Jahangir (USA), Usman Najeeb (Saudi Arabia). Desert Vipers International Players: Daniel Lawrence, David Payne, Fakhar Zaman, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Hassan Nawaz, Jason Roy, Max Holden, Naseem Shah, Qais Ahmad, Sam Curran, Usman Tariq, Wanindu Hasaranga, Zafar Gohar. UAE Players: Khuzaima Tanveer, Matheesha Khan, Sanjay Pahal, Vritiya Aravind. Associate Players: Andries Gous (USA), Bilal Tahir (Kuwait), Faisal Khan (Saudi Arabia), Tom Bruce (Scotland). MI Emirates International Players: Allick Athanaze, Allah Ghazanfar, Andre Fletcher, Arab Gul, Chris Woakes, Daniel Mousley, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kadeem Alleyne, Kieron Pollard, Naveen-ul-Haq, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Shakib Al Hasan, Tom Banton. UAE Players: Muhammad Rohid, Muhammad Waseem, Usman Khan, Zahoor Khan. Associate Players: Mohammed Shafeeq (Kuwait), Nosthush Kenjige (USA), Sanjay Krishnamurthi (USA), Sunny Patel (USA), Zain Ul Abidin (Saudi Arabia).

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (PTI Photo)

Bihar have continued to be dominant in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Plate 2025-26. On Monday, they picked up an easy eight-wicket win over Meghalaya at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi. This was Bihar’s third win in a row, and they did it in convincing fashion by eight wickets.With Bihar winning the toss and deciding to bowl first, Meghalaya struggled to build partnerships and kept losing wickets.

Their top order failed to settle as the pressure continued to go up. Ram Gurung was the standout batter for Meghalaya. He played an unbeaten knock of 56 runs from 64 balls and tried to hold the innings together. Anish Charak also chipped in with 32 runs, while Akash Choudhary added a quick 26 off just eight balls at the end. Still, Meghalaya could only manage 217 for 9 in their 50 overs.Bihar’s bowlers were disciplined throughout. Sabir Khan was the pick of the attack with three wickets. Mangal Mahrour and Himanshu Tiwari picked up two wickets each and kept the scoring under control. Meghalaya never really looked like posting a big total.Chasing 218, Bihar got off to a fast start. However, they lost Mangal Mahrour early for four runs. The highlight of the early chase was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s short but explosive knock. In his latest appearance for Bihar, Vaibhav scored 31 runs off just 10 balls. He smashed six fours and one six, scoring at a strike rate of over 300 before getting out in the fifth over.After Vaibhav’s dismissal, Piyush Singh and Akash Raj took the lead in the chase. With Piyush playing a brilliant innings, scoring an unbeaten 100 off 88 balls. Having hit 14 fours and one six, he looked calm and confident throughout. Akash Raj supported him well with an unbeaten 75 from 90 balls. The duo shared a huge partnership as they made sure there were no further hiccups. Bihar reached 220 for 2 in just 32.3 overs. With this win, Bihar boosted their position in the Plate group.

India’s headcoach Gautam Gambhir with players Hardik Pandya, centre, captain Suryakumar Yadav and others during the fifth T20I in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade)

NEW DELHI: According to former Australia cricketer Tom Moody, India has so much talent that picking the best team has become very difficult. While this is a good situation to be in, it also puts a lot of pressure on selectors and captains.

“One of the issues with Indian cricket is that there is too much talent. There are simply too many options. It’s a wonderful problem to have, but it becomes a nightmare for a selector or a captain,” Moody said on JioHotstar.Former England captain Eoin Morgan also shared his views, especially on white-ball cricket. He stressed the importance of a strong bowling unit in winning big tournaments. Morgan believes that when a team can defend low scores, it builds confidence and belief. This mindset, he feels, can make a team very dangerous in competitions like the World Cup. He said, “In white-ball cricket, bowling attacks win you tournaments. When you can defend low scores, it creates a belief within the team that you can win a game from anywhere. That belief becomes a big threat for any team in a World Cup.”These comments come at a time when India has announced its squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the team in his first ICC tournament as captain, with Axar Patel named as vice-captain. The squad was unveiled earlier this month by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia at the board’s headquarters, alongside chief selector Ajit Agarkar.India’s batting looks aggressive and flexible. Abhishek Sharma, known for his explosive style and high strike rate, is likely to open the innings with Sanju Samson. Ishan Kishan has returned to the T20 setup as a backup opener and wicketkeeper after last playing in 2023.The middle order appears strong, with players like Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Rinku Singh providing both power and balance. In bowling, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy lead the spin department, while Jasprit Bumrah heads the fast-bowling attack along with Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.India have been placed in Group A with Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan and the United States. The team will begin its World Cup campaign against the USA on February 7 in Mumbai.

Dhruv Jurel, Ishan Kishan, and Rishabh Pant

NEW DELHI: One spot. Three contenders. And no obvious answer. The backup option for KL Rahul‘s wicketkeeper spot has quietly turned into a happy headache for the men’s senior selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar.With the T20 World Cup around the corner, the ODIs have taken a backseat. However, the race for the second wicketkeeper’s role in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11, has heated up, with Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel the contenders.

In the ODI series against South Africa, Pant was slotted as the backup option, with Jurel picked purely as a batter. With Ishan bolting back into the T20 national reckoning after an exhilarating campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he has emerged as a strong contender.Ishan, who led Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, hammered 517 runs and was brought into India’s squad for the T20 World Cup as a backup opener. Kishan also became only the second player to score a century (off 45 balls) in the tournament final.After a two-year absence from the national team, Ishan Kishan’s stock is rising again. The southpaw was asked to take rest by the BCCI after his blistering 39-ball 125 against Karnataka in Jharkhand’s opening fixture of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy but has now been instructed by the selectors to play two more matches, TimesofIndia.com has learnt.“He (Ishan Kishan) has been given rest by the BCCI team. He has gone back home. He will be back on January 2,” Kumar Kushagra, Jharkhand’s stand-in captain, had said at the toss ahead of their match against Rajasthan.Kishan, who is in Patna, will join the Jharkhand squad on January 2 and will play the fixtures against Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, scheduled for January 3 and 6, respectively. “He is in the contention for sure,” a source tracking the developments tells TimesofIndia.com.The 27-year-old was very close to a return for the ODI series against South Africa, but his selection didn’t get the required support from the men who matter.“When I was not selected in the Indian team, I felt quite bad because I was doing well. But I told myself that if I am not selected with this sort of performance, then maybe I have to do more. Maybe I have to make my team win. Maybe we have to do well as a unit,” Kishan had said after the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final.If Kishan gets the nod, it could be a bit unfair to Rishabh Pant as the Test vice-captain has been warming the bench in ODIs for over a year now. He has been playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but the Delhi captain’s returns have been mixed: in three matches, he has managed 97 runs, including a 70.Jurel, meanwhile, batting at No. 3 for Uttar Pradesh, is in red-hot form, hammering 307 runs in three matches, including his maiden List A hundred against Baroda. He was also picked for South Africa ODIs but as a specialist batter.

Middle order muddle

Fit-again captain Shubman Gill is all set to make a comeback. This means Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored his maiden ODI century against the Proteas, will be back on the bench.Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer will also return for the New Zealand ODIs and could force Ruturaj Gaikwad out of the Playing XI. TimesofIndia.com has also learnt that the team management wants at least a couple of left-handed batters in the batting order in an otherwise right-hander-heavy line-up.In the ODI series against South Africa, India played Washington Sundar at No.6 and No.5 in the first two matches and then included Tilak Varma in the playing XI for the third game.Further down, it will be interesting to see whether selectors opt for a left-handed wicketkeeper-batter to play as a specialist in the middle-order. Against Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Kishan batted at No. 6 and slammed a 33-ball century.He sent a strong message to the selectors and has thrown his hat into the ring if they are looking for an in-form southpaw in the middle order. Pant, too, is batting at No. 5 for Delhi.There isn’t much separating Kishan and Pant, but Kishan is a strong fielder in the outfield, unlike India’s Test vice-captain. This gives him an edge.

Arshdeep to turn up for Punjab

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh will represent Punjab in two Vijay Hazare Trophy fixtures on January 3 and 6. The 26-year-old missed the initial round after being asked to rest due to workload management, TimesofIndia.com has learnt.Arshdeep, who has been playing constant cricket since the Indian Premier League (IPL), last played on December 19 in the fifth and final T20I against South Africa. With Jasprit Bumrah likely to be rested for the three-match series against New Zealand, the left-arm quick, who impressed with the new ball against South Africa, is also in contention for the ODIs.The squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand is likely to be picked in the first week of January. The first game will be played on January 11 in Vadodara, and the ODI team is likely to assemble on January 7 or 8 in the city.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi has made Pakistan’s position clear on the issue of shaking hands with India during cricket matches. Ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Naqvi said Pakistan will not force any symbolic gestures if India are not willing to take part.Speaking to the media in Lahore, Naqvi said Pakistan has always believed that cricket and politics should be kept separate.

He added that this view has not changed over time and that the message has come from the highest level. According to him, Pakistan also does not want to be treated differently or unfairly.“Our belief remains the same even today, and believe me, the Prime Minister himself has told me twice that we shouldn’t let politics come into all of this. From day one, our stance has been that cricket and politics should remain separate. On that day, Sarfaraz must have told you what kind of attitude was shown, and what it was like,” Naqvi said.He further explained that Pakistan will not insist on shaking hands if India chooses not to. “If they don’t want to shake hands, then we have no particular desire to do so either. Whatever happens, it will happen on an equal footing with India. And you will see, this approach will continue going forward. It’s not possible for them to do one thing and for us to back down — that simply won’t happen.”The handshake issue between India and Pakistan has been ongoing for some time. Since the Pahalgam terror attack, players from both sides have avoided shaking hands in several tournaments. This was seen during the Men’s T20 Asia Cup, the Women’s Cricket World Cup, and the recent Under-19 Asia Cup.However, it all began during the Asia Cup 2025. After a match between India and Pakistan, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and his teammates refused to shake hands with the Pakistan players. India said this was done as a protest after the Pahalgam attack.

Anthony Joshua involved in a car accident in Nigeria

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua was involved in a serious car accident in Nigeria on Monday that resulted in the deaths of two other passengers. Joshua, who is Nigerian-British, was also injured and is currently receiving medical treatment.The accident was confirmed by Lagos State Commissioner for Information Gbenga Omotoso through a post on X. He said that emergency services were sent to the crash site immediately after the incident. Local media reports later said that Joshua was taken to a hospital, though details about his condition remain limited. The exact cause of the accident has not yet been made public.Images shared widely on social media showed a damaged vehicle and Anthony Joshua being pulled out by rescue workers. In the photos, the boxer appeared to be in visible pain as he was helped away from the wreckage. The crash happened on a busy road that connects Ogun State to Lagos, Nigeria’s main economic hub. This stretch of road is known for heavy traffic and frequent accidents.Police officials also confirmed Joshua’s hospitalisation.The police chief of the local station where the accident occurred told the Associated Press, “Anthony Joshua is in an undisclosed hospital being treated for his injuries.” He added that he did not have further details about the nature or seriousness of the injuries.Nigeria holds deep personal meaning for Joshua. It is the homeland of his parents, and he spent a short period of his childhood there. Joshua attended boarding school in Nigeria when he was around 11 years old, and he has often spoken proudly about his Nigerian roots.The accident comes just days after Joshua returned to the ring. Nine days ago, he defeated YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a high-profile bout in Miami. That fight was part of his effort to regain form and confidence as he prepares for a possible return to the top of the heavyweight division. Joshua lost his world titles in 2021 to Oleksandr Usyk and has since been working toward another title shot.Reports also suggest that Joshua has been in talks for a long-anticipated fight against fellow British boxer Tyson Fury in 2026. For now, however, the focus remains on his recovery as fans around the world await updates on his health.