Meaningful return to domestic cricket benefitted southpaw after axe from India set-up in 2023The Times of India in Colombo: With a day to go for the clash against India, the entire discussion around the Pakistani contingent at the Premadasa Stadium was around the fitness of Abhishek Sharma. They forgot a name in the process — Ishan Kishan.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!While Abhishek has been the crazy diamond of this Indian top-order, Kishan returned from a two-year international exile looking like a rocket-launcher that is ready to destroy anything in its vicinity.

The cobwebs of the mind that had affected Ishan when he was dropped and later axed from the contracts list, seem to have been cleared. Ishan looks hungry and fearless, but there’s a method in his approach that is making the wicketkeeper-batter stand out.Those who know Ishan closely indicate that it has a lot to do with channelizing his thoughts in the right direction, and that has made a lot of difference. First off, he has gone back to playing First Class cricket and wants to play Test cricket for India again.He played most of the matches for Jharkhand in this Ranji season, which helped him get the basics of his game right once more. That was followed by his conquests in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which brought him right back into contention. It helped Ishan’s cause that Shubman Gill’s T20 form dropped and Sanju Samson became very patchy with the bat.It’s not that Ishan wasn’t a serious threat with the bat in his ‘first innings’. Let’s not forget, he had scored a superb 82 against Pakistan in the 2023 Asia Cup in SSC after a top-order wobble in a game that was eventually washed out. He was there in India’s ODI World Cup side as well, but once he was dropped from the playing XI, things went south for him very fast.

Sunday’s 40-ball 77 wasn’t just a case of one good day in the office, a lot of thought and hard work had gone into it. The chief difference between the two Ishans — the one of 2023 and the current 2.0 version — is that he is more judicious in his approach. “I did work a lot on my off-side game, so that I could have them bowl to my area of strengths. Premadasa is a big ground and there was intent to hit the gaps and try to take two runs,” Ishan explained how meticulous his planning was.Captain Surya Kumar Yadav, too, was all praise for the dynamic southpaw. “He has been batting the same way in the last few games and domestic cricket. At 0-1, someone needed to take responsibility and he did that amazingly,” the skipper said.

While Ishan was quite superb in the way he batted, there were areas where Pakistan got it wrong with him. Ishan has always been good against left-arm pacers, yet skipper Salman Ali Agha decided to bowl a woefully out-of-form Shaheen Afridi in the second over after dismissing Abhishek with spin in the first over. In his show, Indian spin legend R Ashwin pointed out how it was crucial for Pakistan to use another spinner from the other end.“Somebody like a Saim Ayub could easily have been introduced in the second over against the two left-handers (Ishan and Tilak Varma). Instead they bowled Afridi, who didn’t do anything to bother Ishan,” Ashwin said.It was just the release Ishan was look-ing for as he used the pace of the bowler to hit a couple of big hits and bring the pressure down. Ishan took a heavy toll of Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed, who did bowl to him in the Powerplay.Pakistan coach Mike Hesson had an explanation for that, acknowledging that “Ishan is fearless”. “He’s able to score on both sides of the ground, he isn’t just committed to the leg-side. We know he’s incredibly strong there, but he can reverse. So if you’ve got spin, especially in the Powerplay, it can be a challenge. In the form that he is in, Ishan applied a lot of pressure on our spinners and probably took them away from the basics,” Hesson said.The highlight of the match was the 87-run partnership off 46 balls that Ishan shared with Tilak, who is also known to be a destructive southpaw. But the two decided to take contrasting approaches on Sunday. While Ishan took 39 balls in that partnership and scored 76, Tilak contributed only 11 off seven.The Mumbai Indians left-hander explained later how they worked things out. “The ball was coming a little better in Powerplay and the intent that Ishan showed was great. Even I felt like going for the shots, but decided otherwise because of his form. I told him, ‘Bhai tera lag raha hain (Bro, you are striking it well), so you keep hitting, I will take care of the other end and put the ball in the gaps’,” Tilak, who was Man of the Match in the Asia Cup final not too long ago, said.It’s the collective effort that has been the cornerstone of India’s success in recent times in T20 cricket. At some point, Abhishek too will be back in his elements and with Ishan doing what he is, it will need a massive upset to stop the Indian juggernaut in this World Cup.

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult, Jacob Duffy, and Ish Sodhi.

Canada: Dilpreet Bajwa (c), Ajayveer Hundal, Ansh Patel, Dilon Heyliger, Harsh Thaker, Jaskarandeep Singh, Kaleem Sana, Kanwarpal Tathgur, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Ravinderpal Singh, Saad Bin Zafar, Shivam Sharma, Shreyas Movva, Yuvraj Samra.

NEW DELHI: Steve Smith has been drafted into Australia’s T20 World Cup squad to replace the spot left vacant by Josh Hazlewood and is likely to feature in their must-win clash against Sri Lanka on Monday. Smith reached Sri Lanka last week and became eligible for selection after the International Cricket Council cleared his inclusion, completing Australia’s 15-man squad.Sean Abbott had initially been summoned as cover for Hazlewood, who pulled out on the eve of the tournament, but the pacer was never officially added to the squad, leaving a vacancy.

Smith responded to an SOS last week, flying to Sri Lanka after captain and regular opener Mitchell Marsh was struck by a throw-down during batting practice in Colombo.With Marsh — who has missed Australia’s first two matches — still doubtful for Monday’s encounter in Kandy due to bleeding from a testicle, Smith is poised to open the innings.“ICC regulations stipulate any squad change must be submitted and activated at least one day prior to a match,” said Australia selector Tony Dodemaide.“With Steve here, along with some uncertainty around Mitch and Marcus Stoinis, it made sense he is activated and available for selection in time for the match, if required.”The in-form Smith remains one of Australia’s most seasoned performers and a strong player of spin.He was controversially left out of the original T20 World Cup squad despite his explosive run in the Big Bash League as an opener.“Smitty’s obviously here, so if he gets his chance, he’ll be ready to go. He’s the ultimate professional,” Australia all-rounder Stoinis told reporters in Kandy late Sunday.Australia are already without injured frontline pacers Pat Cummins and Hazlewood.Power-hitter Tim David has only recently returned from a hamstring tear sustained in December, while Stoinis hurt his hand while fielding during the shock loss to Zimbabwe — a result that pushed Australia to the brink of elimination.If Australia fall to Sri Lanka in Group B, it would mark their second defeat. A Zimbabwe win over Ireland on Tuesday or Sri Lanka on Thursday would then knock out the 2021 champions.Stoinis, however, indicated he expects to be fit for the decisive fixture.“The hand’s pretty good,” Stoinis said.“Got the scan and there’s no break there or anything like that, so it’s just a bit battered and bruised, much better than I thought, to be honest.”

The upcoming T20 World Cup Group B fixture between Zimbabwe and Ireland is far more than just another league game — it could decide Australia’s fate and shape the Super 8 line-up.On Monday, Sri Lanka stormed into the Super 8s with a dominant eight-wicket win over Australia. Pathum Nissanka’s breathtaking unbeaten 100 off 52 balls powered the chase of 182, while the Sri Lankan spinners derailed Australia after a flying 104-run opening stand between Mitchell Marsh (54) and Travis Head (56). The result left Australia teetering on the brink.With three wins in three matches, Sri Lanka have already sealed qualification. Zimbabwe sit second with two wins in two games and a healthy net run rate (NRR) of +1.984. Australia, now third with one win in three matches and an NRR of +0.414, are in serious danger. Ireland, placed fourth with one win in three games (NRR +0.150), are still mathematically alive. Oman are eliminated.The equation is simple yet dramatic.If Zimbabwe beat Ireland, they will qualify for the Super 8s — and Australia will be knocked out of the tournament. However, if Ireland win, the group opens up dramatically. Net run rate will then come into play, with Australia needing a strong victory over Oman and hoping the NRR swings in their favour.Zimbabwe have already shown their pedigree by outplaying Australia earlier in the tournament. But Ireland, fighting for survival, will view this as a golden opportunity.In essence, the Zimbabwe-Ireland clash is a virtual knockout — not just for themselves, but for Australia too.

Other Fixtures – Tuesday, 17 February

The Daytona 500 was meant to be a milestone moment for Michael Jordan and his NASCAR team. Instead, a brief interaction during the celebrations has become the centre of attention. Jordan attended the race to support driver Tyler Reddick, whose last-lap move secured victory in what is widely regarded as NASCAR’s most prestigious event. The win marked the first Daytona 500 triumph for Jordan’s co-owned team, 23XI Racing, and prompted emotional celebrations on the track. Reddick described the moment as “just incredible how it all played out” and admitted he had already “lost my voice from screaming.” But while the result carried sporting significance, a short clip filmed during the celebrations quickly began circulating online and shifted the conversation away from the race itself.

The moment that sparked debate

The footage shows Jordan standing behind Reddick’s six-year-old son Beau during the post-race celebrations. As the crowd gathered and drinks were sprayed, Jordan repeatedly reached toward the back of the child’s shirt, making small pinching motions, before his hand briefly brushed the back of the boy’s legs. Beau turns around, apparently reacting to the contact. There is no indication of wrongdoing in the clip and the child does not appear distressed. Still, once the video spread across social media, interpretations diverged sharply. One user wrote, “This is another level of weirdness.” Another added, “Tugging/tickling a kid in a crowded celebration might look off without context. Hope it’s just over-the-top excitement, but optics matter.” A third posted, “That’s inappropriate unless that’s his child or they have a good relationship.” More hostile reactions also appeared. “Straight to jail,” one person wrote, while another declared, “Goat debate is over. MJ is no longer the goat.” Others went further, posting, “Michael Jeffrey Epstein Jordan is disgusting,” and “searches the Epstein files for Michael Jordan”. At the same time, a different group of viewers interpreted the clip as harmless. “He’s obviously just playfully teasing the kid,” one fan wrote. Another said, “Looks to me like he’s getting his hand wet off the kid’s shirt then wiping it on his leg. I don’t see anything weird.” Some suggested the child had been drenched during the celebration: “His driver’s son got drenched during the celebration and he was only trying to help get it off him. Honestly, who would want their child drenched in beer?” Others believed there was a practical reason, writing, “Maybe there is more to it, someone said the kid got ice down his shirt.” The authenticity of the clip was also questioned. “Has someone verified this video?” asked one user, while another insisted, “This is lighthearted, I don’t see anything wrong with this.”

Context around the relationship

Those defending the moment pointed to the long-standing relationship between Jordan and the Reddick family. Jordan and Reddick share close ties through NASCAR, and the connection stretches back further than the team itself. Reddick previously said Jordan knew his father-in-law, former baseball pitcher José DeLeón, during his time around the Chicago White Sox organisation. He believes there may even be a photo of Jordan holding his wife Alexa as a baby, recalling: “I’ve seen a couple photos Alexa and her mom have… I think there’s even a picture, I could be wrong, of MJ holding Alexa as a baby.” Because of that history, some viewers saw familiarity rather than intrusion. “Oh stop it. That’s the winner’s oldest son. MJ is clearly like FAMILY,” one comment read. Another added, “Normal behaviour with kids. Sometimes you gotta bother them to get them to talk to you.” Jordan himself has spoken about the personal meaning NASCAR holds for him, recalling watching races with his family for hours in North Carolina and saying the sport connects him to home. The Daytona victory therefore carried emotional weight beyond competition, something visible in the celebrations before the video surfaced online.

A celebration overshadowed

The debate unfolded during what had otherwise been a major achievement for 23XI Racing. Reddick led only a single lap of the race, but it was the one that mattered, taking the chequered flag in front of more than 150,000 spectators and lifting the Harley J. Earl Trophy alongside Jordan. Neither Jordan nor the team has addressed the viral clip publicly. The moment remains a brief fragment of a crowded celebration, interpreted in opposing ways by viewers who either saw an awkward gesture or a familiar one.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi launched a scathing attack on the senior core of the Pakistan national cricket team after their crushing 61-run defeat to India national cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at R Premadasa Stadium.Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India dominated the Group A clash on Sunday, handing Pakistan a heavy blow and leaving them in a must-win situation against Namibia to have any chance of reaching the Super 8s.

Afridi, speaking on Samaa TV, did not hold back and urged the team management to make bold calls ahead of the crucial fixture. He called for the exclusion of senior players including Babar Azam, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi, stating that they had been given ample opportunities over the years without delivering consistent results. Notably, Shaheen is married to Afridi’s daughter Ansha.“Drop Shaheen, drop Shadab, and drop Babar. Try fresh faces against Namibia and give the new players a chance to build confidence. They’ve been playing for a long time. Whenever we expect them to perform, they don’t. If these senior players aren’t giving us the performances we desire, then play the juniors who are sitting on the bench. What is the difference?”, Afridi said during a Live show.Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha admitted after the match that the spinners failed to deliver on a surface that offered assistance.“We were believing in our spinners, and they had an off day today. Execution was missing in some parts of the game. We were obviously going to always believe our spinners, because they’ve done really well in last six month. And with the batting I think we didn’t start well and in T20 games if we lose 3 or 4 wickets in powerplay, you are always chasing the game,” he said in the post-match presentation ceremony.Salman also criticised the batting unit for not adapting to the conditions.“I think, to be very honest, like in first inning it was a bit tacky. The ball was gripping as well. So, the execution was, I think, missing when it comes to bowling, but I think the pitch better played better in the second inning than first inning. But our bowlers like, we didn’t bowl according to the situation. And when it comes to batting, we didn’t apply ourselves and gave us a chance to go deep in the game,” he said.

NEW DELHI: Axar Patel stood with his arms outstretched, a broad smile lighting up his face. Moments earlier, he had Pakistan batter Usman Khan stumped by Ishan Kishan by a considerable margin for 44. The wicket left Pakistan reeling at 73 for five, virtually sealing their fate in pursuit of 176 in the high-voltage T20 World Cup clash on Sunday.From a match standpoint, the left-arm spinner’s celebration may have stemmed from the awareness that he had nearly extinguished Pakistan’s hopes.

Axar Patel press conference: ‘We see them as a team, don’t see rivalry’ after India beat Pakistan

But it might also have carried a personal undertone.Usman had taken a liking to Axar, striking six boundaries in his 34-ball knock, including two instances of consecutive fours.Yet, the decisive moment of his dismissal lacked any dramatic flourish.There was none of the sorcery that Kuldeep Yadav or Varun Chakravarthy often produce — no ripping delivery from outside off-stump or a darting missile that flashes past the batter.Then again, Axar has never relied on theatrics.Even on supportive surfaces like the one at the Premadasa, it is his intelligent variations in length — born out of sharp observation — that make him such a difficult proposition.Axar subtly dragged his length back, anticipating Usman’s charge down the track. The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter could only swing in hope as Kishan completed the formalities behind the stumps.Axar later outlined his approach.“Basically, what was happening on the wicket, the odd ball was skidding a little more, and some other balls were spinning more. When we came to bowl in the second innings, I realised that the new ball was skidding a little more,” Axar said in the post-match press conference.“So the plan is to observe what the batsman wants to do, in which area he wants to target me. After that I change my line or length. And the second dismissal (Usman) happened when he was stepping out. So I again went for my length. So, yeah, I plan like that,” he added.Earlier, Axar had also ended Babar Azam’s uneasy 16-minute stay at the crease.Detecting Babar’s rising impatience, the 32-year-old slipped in a fuller delivery on off-stump, tempting the former Pakistan captain into a release shot.The attempted slog sweep backfired, with Babar losing his stumps.“He has always been a kid with a big heart. His biggest asset is his ability to observe, and put those observations into practice. He clearly knows what are his strengths and what are his limitations. It is a good quality to have for sportspersons,” said Amrish Patel, Axar’s childhood coach.“Axar has long strides and he puts it into good use, as he can quickly adjust his lengths without any obvious signals to the batsmen. He has a very flexible mind,” he added.Axar carries that adaptability into his batting too, although his skills with the bat were not required against Pakistan.More than his batting slot or the number of runs he contributes, Axar remains focused on fulfilling the team management’s directives.He has slotted in at positions ranging from No. 4 to No. 8 in white-ball cricket.While many batters prefer stability in their batting roles, Axar sees flexibility as an asset.“The job of an all-rounder is that you can bowl or bat at any order. I always think that if the team needs me, then that means they are showing confidence in me that I will work in such a situation.“And I will get them out of this situation. So, it is a plus point for me. And, yeah, maybe in the upcoming match, you can see me (bat) higher up also – you never know,” said Axar.For now, though, Axar the batter is content to play a supporting role to Axar the bowler — the version India need most in this T20 World Cup.

Durban was where it all truly ignited. When India met Pakistan in the inaugural ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007, the contest felt like the beginning of a new chapter. India tied one thriller and then edged a nerve-shredding final in Johannesburg to lift the trophy. At that point, India already held a 4-0 advantage over Pakistan in 50-over World Cups, yet that dramatic T20 finale suggested a rivalry that might finally find balance.Nearly two decades on, that promise has faded. Nineteen years later, the pattern remains painfully familiar for Pakistan. India continue to dominate them at World Cups, irrespective of format. Sunday’s result marked India’s eighth win over Pakistan at the T20 World Cup, further extending a streak that has stripped the contest of its once-feared unpredictability.

What was once celebrated as the ‘Mother of all Battles’ has become distressingly one-sided. Through the 1980s, 1990s and even the early 2000s, an India-Pakistan clash guaranteed drama and high tension. Today, anticipation is often replaced by resignation. Each tournament brings renewed hope from Pakistan’s media and former players, only for India to assert control yet again.Pakistan’s lone T20 World Cup triumph over India came in 2021 in Dubai, a crushing 10-wicket win. But since then, they have not beaten India in any format or tournament. India’s victories in 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2022, 2024 and 2026 underline the widening gap in quality.The emotional toll was evident when former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis reacted on air. As Pommie Mbangwa remarked, “The domination of this fixture by India would undoubtedly be annoying for Pakistan. 11th consecutive win in Men’s ICC T20 World Cups,” Waqar interjected: “Alright! Enough. Leave it there. We’ve had enough of that. India have been too good in the last 15-20 years, I would say.”Waqar has endured this narrative personally. He was head coach when Virat Kohli crafted a sublime half-century at Eden Gardens in 2016 to steer India home. As a player, he also featured in Pakistan’s 50-over World Cup defeats to India in 1996 in Bengaluru and in 2003 at Centurion. Few have witnessed the rivalry’s painful tilt as closely as he has.

Pakistan’s crushing 61-run defeat to arch-rivals India in the T20 World Cup has largely been framed around their shortcomings, especially after they were bowled out for just 114. Much of the discussion has centred on Pakistan’s lack of intensity and inability to match the defending champions, particularly with the bat.However, former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif believes that narrative has unfairly overshadowed India’s own excellence on the night. While acknowledging that Pakistan fell well short of the required standard, Kaif argued that India’s quality and composure under pressure deserved far greater recognition.

Speaking on ABP News, Kaif expressed frustration at the way the debate was shaped, singling out Shoaib Akhtar for focusing heavily on Pakistan’s struggles rather than India’s performance.“Ever since we started the show I’m not happy, because you have been saying the Pakistan team is anyway weak, is an unenergetic team. If that team had won today, then 100% Shoaib Akhtar would be saying right now that BCCI is prideful, that the players had too much ego,” argued Kaif.“I want to say that by showing Pakistan as weak, you are taking away India’s excellence. You have just been showing that Pakistan is in trouble, that there’s no system, but what does that matter for India?” he continued.Kaif pointed to Ishan Kishan’s match-winning 77 off 40 balls as an example of India thriving under extreme pressure. The opener, playing his first game against Pakistan, delivered one of the standout knocks in India-Pakistan T20 World Cup history despite the challenging surface.“We are talking about India, the Indian captain, Ishan Kishan who has played against Pakistan for the first time – how much pressure he must have on him, we aren’t talking about that. Give India’s players the credit because they are playing in a circumstance where imagine if they lost, then it would have been an outcry,” Kaif pointed out.He also underlined the intense scrutiny Indian players face in such high-stakes clashes, recalling how criticism can spiral after defeats like the 2021 World Cup loss.“You would say Suryakumar Yadav isn’t shaking hands and now the team has lost, they think they are so brave. Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah, all would have been on trial if they lost this match today,” stated Kaif.With India now through to the Super 8 stage, Kaif’s remarks serve as a reminder that victories in contests of this magnitude are built not only on opposition errors but on skill, temperament and the ability to withstand enormous pressure.