Bihar’s Vaibhav Suryavanshi (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra)

India’s young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi produced a performance for the ages on Tuesday, announcing himself on the big stage with a breathtaking century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Playing against Maharashtra at Eden Gardens, the 14-year-old left-hander became the youngest player in the tournament’s history to reach three figures. Bihar, batting first, put up 176 for 3 in their 20 overs, with Vaibhav carrying his bat for a stunning 108 not out off just 61 balls. His innings, decorated with 7 fours and 7 towering sixes, was the heartbeat of the Bihar total. He completed his hundred in the 20th over, sending the first delivery from Arshin Kulkarni to the boundary to reach the milestone in 58 balls.

This knock comes at a crucial moment in the teenager’s early domestic career. Vaibhav had been searching for runs after three modest scores of 14, 13 and 5. The innings at Eden Gardens not only broke that streak but also reaffirmed the immense talent he showed during his blistering 42-ball 144 against UAE in the Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha. On Tuesday, the youngster displayed patience early and power later, pacing his innings like a seasoned professional despite his age — just 14 years and 250 days. Bihar’s total was built almost entirely around his effort, as he took charge from the first ball, opening the innings and staying unbeaten till the last. While Vaibhav stole the spotlight of the day, another impressive performance unfolded in Ahmedabad, where Devdutt Padikkal hammered a brilliant century for Karnataka against Tamil Nadu. Opening with Mayank Agarwal, Padikkal raced to a fifty off 26 balls and eventually reached his hundred in 45 deliveries. His unbeaten 102 featured 10 fours and six sixes, helping Karnataka post a commanding 245 for 3 in their 20 overs. But the moment of the day — and perhaps of the tournament — belonged entirely to Vaibhav Suryavanshi. His century at 14 not only rewrote record books but also signalled the rise of a prodigy who continues to deliver extraordinary moments long before most players even enter senior cricket.

More than 1,300 players have registered for the Indian Premier League (IPL) mini-auction, turning the December 16 event in Abu Dhabi into one of the most competitive bidding days. According to a Cricbuzz report, a staggering 1,355 players feature on the 13-page auction register, reflecting a massive surge in both domestic and overseas aspirants eager to secure IPL contracts.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!From India, several well-known names such as Mayank Agarwal, KS Bharat, Rahul Chahar, Ravi Bishnoi, Akash Deep, Deepak Hooda, Venkatesh Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Mavi, Navdeep Saini, Chetan Sakariya, Kuldeep Sen, Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Tripathi, Sandeep Warrier and Umesh Yadav have thrown their hats into the ring. Only two Indians — Ravi Bishnoi and Venkatesh Iyer — have entered the auction with the highest base price of Rs 2 crore.

The overseas aspirants are equally star-studded. Australia’s Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Matthew Short have registered. England’s Jonny Bairstow, Jamie Smith, New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra, and Sri Lankan stars Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana headline the long list of overseas entries. In all, 43 overseas players have set their base price at Rs 2 crore.The diversity of the list stands out, with players from 14 countries, including rare entries from Malaysia and the USA. Among them is India-born Malaysian all-rounder Virandeep Singh, listed at a base price of Rs 30 lakh.Following the November 15 retention deadline, the 10 IPL teams collectively hold Rs 237.55 crore to spend. Kolkata Knight Riders lead with a wallet of Rs 64.30 crore, followed by Chennai Super Kings with Rs 43.40 crore. A total of 77 slots, including 31 overseas places, will be up for grabs, ensuring a highly competitive and closely watched auction day.

Usman Khawaja plays a shot during an Australia nets session at The Gabba on December 01, 2025 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo/Getty Images)

Usman Khawaja made progress towards being available for the day-night Ashes Test at the Gabba, but Australia are still assessing whether his back can handle a full five-day match. The 38-year-old, who missed batting in the fourth innings of the Perth Test because of back spasms, returned to the nets in Brisbane for a careful training session.Khawaja had suffered back spasms during the first Ashes Test in Perth. Monday’s training was his first hit since the Pirth Test. He remains short of full fitness with three days left before the second Test at the Gabba, cricket.com.au reported.

After light running drills on the Gabba outfield, Khawaja showed some discomfort during a net session of around 30 minutes with the pink ball. He only faced throw-downs from assistant coach Michael Di Venuto and played several pull shots on practice strips with uneven bounce.At one stage, Khawaja gave thumbs-up to physio Nick Jones, according to Brisbane Times. He batted for roughly half an hour, showing occasional discomfort but appearing more at ease than he did in Perth.He also kept batting for around ten minutes longer than what team doctor Leigh Golding had first signalled.Meanwhile, Travis Head said he is open to batting in any position as discussions continue over his role for the Brisbane Test. Head scored a century while opening in the Perth Test’s fourth innings after replacing Khawaja at short notice.“We’ve obviously talked about the replacement for David Warner, and I always threw my name up and always threw the option there. Obviously I do it in international white ball cricket. So, I threw myself as an option if that’s what was necessary for the team and best suited for the team. We’ve been in and out of that conversation a fair bit over the last two years. We’re back at it again. So, for me, it’s just about working out where Pat (Cummins), Steve (Smith), Ron (Andrew McDonald), Bails (George Bailey) and those guys see me best in the team and where I can best contribute and how we win games of cricket,” Head said as quoted by SEN.Marnus Labuschagne supported Khawaja ahead of the second Test. “Usman’s a high-quality player. You look at his record … what he’s done for Australian cricket, especially since he’s come back, he’s been super consistent, he’s been really the rock of at the top there,” Labuschagne told reporters, as quoted by cricket.com.au.The second Ashes Test starts on December 4 at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Mohammed Shami (PTI Photo)

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has expressed surprise over Mohammed Shami’s exclusion from the Indian squad for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa.Shami has not been part of the Indian cricket team since the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, despite being India’s joint-highest wicket-taker with nine wickets in the tournament.

The 35-year-old pacer has continued to perform well in domestic cricket, securing 20 wickets in eight innings during the Ranji Trophy. His contribution was instrumental in Bengal’s undefeated streak in their first four matches.The Indian team management has opted for a younger pace attack featuring Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna for the South Africa ODI series.Kaif shared his thoughts on Shami’s exclusion, emphasising that Shami’s experience could benefit the younger bowlers.“The question is valid. No matter what kind of pitch it is, a bowler like Shami does not care if it is flat. He has so much class that he finds ways to pick wickets there as well. I don’t know why he is not playing still, because Bumrah and Siraj have been rested. The young pacers would also benefit from his presence. There is no senior pacer to tell the likes of Prasidh, Harshit, and Arshdeep what to do under pressure. India missed this,” the former all-rounder said on his YouTube channel.Shami’s recent form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) has been noteworthy. He has claimed four wickets in three matches in the ongoing tournament. Bengal’s upcoming SMAT match against Himachal Pradesh is scheduled for November 2, where Shami will have another opportunity to showcase his skills.The veteran pacer’s consistent performances across domestic tournaments have raised questions about the selection committee’s decision to overlook his experience and skill set.The absence of senior pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who have been rested, makes Shami’s exclusion more notable, particularly given his proven track record in international cricket.Shami’s ability to take wickets on various surfaces and his experience in handling pressure situations could have been valuable assets for the Indian team, especially with a young pace attack.The current Indian pace bowling lineup lacks experienced mentorship, which could have been provided by Shami’s presence in the dressing room.His recent performances in domestic cricket, including the Ranji Trophy and SMAT, demonstrate his continued effectiveness and fitness levels despite being 35 years old.

Lockie Ferguson during the captain’s press meet. (Image source: ILT20)

TimesofIndia.com in Dubai: Desert Vipers captain Lockie Ferguson feels the mushrooming T20 leagues around the world are not a big threat to international cricket. The New Zealand speedster said the increase in the number of T20 leagues is great for the sport. The fourth season of the ILT20 begins on Tuesday with a rematch of last season’s final between defending champions Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers.“I think they can coexist for sure,” Ferguson told reporters on eve of the fourth season of the ILT20.“What’s great about these franchise tournaments—this one in particular—is I remember being on a journey myself, working with the Blackcaps senior bowlers, and you learn so much so quickly. I can imagine local young players coming into these groups and learning from the guys who are on the big stage. Their development will be so quick.

“From the franchise point of view, it’s great. Obviously, international cricket has been working in and around it. I know the players are passionate about playing for their country. It’s a different style of play that they adopt. From a cricketing point of view, it’s on the up, and it’s great to see the sport doing so well internationally,” he added.

Ferguson, who led the Desert Vipers to the final last season—their second in the ILT20—said a well-balanced bowling unit will help his side do well this time around as well.“We played great cricket throughout the tournament last season, so this year we’re looking to do even better. We have some new faces, so I’m excited about it. I’m looking forward to working alongside Naseem Shah, David Payne and Khuzaima Tanveer in what is a well-balanced bowling attack.“What’s great about this tournament is that the young players get a chance to learn very quickly,” said Ferguson.The presence of Indian playersThe arrival of Indian players Dinesh Karthik, Piyush Chawla and former India U-19 World Cup-winning captain Unmukt Chand will lend a new edge to ILT20 Season 4. Karthik will represent Sharjah Warriorz, while the Chawla-Chand duo will bolster the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.“Three Indian players will be great. Of course, we know Indian fans love Indian players. So we’re really, really looking forward to that,” ILT20 CEO David White said.“The quality of cricket is going to be really high with nine overseas players per team. Now we’ve also introduced some Kuwait players and Saudi players as well. We see the future of this league being very much a Gulf region league, not just the UAE.”This edition marks a new chapter in the league’s journey, with ILT20 organising its first-ever player auction and including players from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for the first time.“Starting on UAE National Day, there are already a lot of overseas visitors in the city. So we think we’re going to have big crowds.“We’re lucky that we have a fantastic fan base of not only Pakistanis, Indians, Bangladeshis and Afghans, but this year we have also tried to incorporate the wider community,” said White.

Faf du Plessis on the left (Photo Credits: IPL)

Former England cricket all-rounder Moeen Ali has decided to participate in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026, choosing not to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.The 38-year-old’s announcement follows a similar decision made by Faf du Plessis to play in the PSL.Revealing his decision on X, he wrote, “I’m really excited to be joining PSL in its New Era. The league has earned a reputation for top-level T20 cricket, with high-quality competition and world-class talent across every team. Playing in Pakistan is always incredible; quality of cricket is outstanding and the passion and intensity from the crowd push you to bring your best. I’m looking forward to being part of it all and creating some great memories along the way. Ready for another special experience Insha’Allah!”Moeen Ali has been consistently playing in the IPL since 2018, representing teams including Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders.In his IPL career spanning 73 matches, he has accumulated 1167 runs and claimed 41 wickets.During the 2025 IPL season, he played six matches for Kolkata Knight Riders before being released prior to the mini-auction.Moeen, who has played 92 T20 internationals for England, has previous PSL experience with nine matches for Multan Sultans.Former South African captain Faf du Plessis has also withdrawn from the upcoming IPL auction, making his announcement on November 29, two weeks before the IPL auction on December 15.Du Plessis began his IPL journey with Chennai Super Kings in 2013, quickly becoming an essential team member. He spent seven seasons with CSK and played for Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016 and 2017.His most successful IPL season was in 2021 with CSK, scoring 633 runs and nearly winning the Orange Cap.After CSK released him, Royal Challengers Bengaluru signed him as captain for 2022-24. He excelled in this role, scoring 730 runs in 2023.In 2025, he played for Delhi Capitals, scoring 202 runs in nine matches before an injury ended his season.Du Plessis’s IPL career statistics are impressive, with 4,773 runs in 154 matches at an average of 35.10 and a strike rate of 135.79.“After 14 seasons in the IPL, I’ve decided not to put my name into the auction this year. India has a special place in my heart… this certainly isn’t goodbye.”Du Plessis will now focus on the PSL, where he previously played for Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators.“A new country. A new environment. A new challenge,” he expressed about his PSL participation.

Team India players praised Virat Kohli after his century helped India secure a 17-run win over South Africa in the first ODI in Ranchi. Kohli scored 135 off 120 balls, his 52nd ODI hundred, giving India a strong start to the series. Several teammates described what it meant to watch another major innings from the former captain.Tilak Varma said it felt special to see Kohli reach a hundred from close range.“We have seen one of the best knocks again. I am very happy that I have seen 100 of Virat bhai live,” Tilak said in a video posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).“He has always been electrifying in the field, the batting, fielding, everything. He is absolutely top. I have learnt a lot, and it’s a pleasure to watch him live. I will keep talking to him and learn as much as I can. If I get an opportunity in the coming games, I can implement it in those games as well,” he said.Kuldeep Yadav, who began his career when Kohli was captain, said the innings reminded him of Kohli’s strong years.“My career started with Virat bhai when he was the captain. The way he batted, I felt I had gone back 8-9 years, the way he was batting in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2016,” Kuldeep said.“It was a very good innings, and he looked very confident. Whatever his shot selection was, the ball was coming nicely off the bat. It feels good to be with him. You get to learn a lot. Even in bowling, you get inputs as to what you can do. It feels good to be with the seniors. There is energy and intensity in the team. As you have seen in the field, we are very lucky with it,” he said.Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said India wanted a strong first-innings total on a pitch expected to become easier later.“Nice to get back to winning ways. It was very pleasing as the guys identified that we needed a premium score on that wicket,” he said.“We knew the dew was going to come in, and the way the batters went about it and obviously Virat, a big 100 in a row. Getting us out of the blocks, finishing off to get us a score that was above what you normally need in a wicket like this was good,” he said.Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said discussions about Kohli’s ODI future were unnecessary.“I really don’t know why actually we need to look at all this,” Kotak said after India’s 17-run win.“He’s batting so well. Why do we need to talk about his future? The way he’s performing, the way his fitness is — there are no questions about anything,” Kotak said.In the match, South Africa sent India in to bat. Yashasvi Jaiswal made 18 before getting out. Rohit Sharma (57 off 51) and Kohli added 136 for the second wicket. India lost Rohit, Ruturaj Gaikwad (8) and Washington Sundar (13) quickly, reaching 200/4, but further stands kept the innings going. KL Rahul made 60, sharing a 76-run stand with Kohli and later adding 65 with Ravindra Jadeja (32 off 20). India finished with 349/8.In the chase, South Africa slipped to 11/3 after early wickets by Indian fast bowlers. Tony de Zorzi (39 off 37) and Matthew Breetzke added 66, and Dewald Brevis scored 37 off 28, but South Africa were still five down at 130. Breetzke (72 off 80) and Marco Jansen (80 off 39) then put on 97 and kept the contest alive before Kuldeep dismissed both. South Africa were 227/8 and later pushed again through Corbin Bosch, who made 67 off 51, but fell short by 17 runs. Harshit Rana finished with 3/65.India now lead the three-match ODI series 1-0.