![Abhishek Sharma and Rishabh Pant [Source: AFP, @BCCI/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1761928631774_aus_vs_ind.jpg?type=hq)
Abhishek Sharma and Rishabh Pant [Source: AFP, @BCCI/x]
Indian opener Abhishek Sharma charted a record half-century against Australia at the MCG in the second T20I of their five-match series. Rishabh Pant failed to get going with the bat in his comeback match for India A. In other news, legendary all-rounder Hardik Pandya will reportedly make his return to the Indian team in time for the home series against South Africa.
Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest cricketing news that emerged out of Friday, October 31.
Abhishek Sharma charts record 50 vs Australia in second T20I
Abhishek Sharma carved 68 fighting runs from 37 balls against Australia in the second T20I of their five-match series. The blistering Indian opener raced to his half-century from just 23 balls to record his sixth T20I fifty. Notably, the innings also marked the seventh occasion where Abhishek Sharma charted a 50-plus score in less than 25 deliveries of a T20I innings, thus levelling up with Phil Salt, Evin Lewis and Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav for the all-time record among players from full member nations.
Hardik Pandya to return for South Africa series: Report
Seasoned Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya will likely make his national comeback through India’s upcoming white-ball series against South Africa at home, as reported by the Times of India. Pandya suffered a quadriceps injury last month in the UAE during the 2025 Men’s T20 Asia Cup, thus forcing him out of India’s away series against Australia. The report indicated that the cricketer is still at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru and is working towards his full recovery. In race against time, India’s white-ball series against South Africa will commence from November 30 onwards.
Romario Shepherd grabs a hat-trick vs Bangladesh
West Indies fast bowler Romario Shepherd picked up a sensational hat-trick against Bangladesh in the third T20I of their three-match series in Chattogram. The cricketer picked up the wickets of Nurul Hasan, Tanzid Hasan and Shoriful Islam, all during the slog overs to claim figures of 3-36, restricting Bangladesh to 151 all out at the halfway stage. Shepherd’s tight death-overs spell, coupled with half-centuries from captain Roston Chase and Ackeem Auguste set up a comprehensive five-wicket win and a 3-0 series sweep for the visiting West Indies team.
Rishabh Pant fails in comeback match vs South Africa A
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant failed with the bat in the first innings of his comeback match. Leading India A against South Africa in a four-day affair at the BCCI CoE in Bengaluru, the cricketer was dismissed for just 17 from 20 balls by visiting fast bowler Okuhle Cele. Teenage sensation Ayush Mhatre scored a courageous 65 at the top of the order to top-score in India A’s first innings total of 234 in 58 overs. By stumps on Day 2, South Africa A reached 30-0 in their second innings to take a 105-run unbeaten lead.
Mohammad Abbas joins James Anderson for huge first-class record
Pakistan fast bowler and Test reject Mohammad Abbas picked up figures of 5-32 for Lahore Region Whites against Multan Region in match 25 of the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025 season. The spell marked the 51st five-wicket haul of his first-class career, and his second in succession this tournament as he continues to fight for a place in Pakistan’s national XI. Moreover, Mohammad Abbas also joined former England pacer James Anderson and Pakistan’s Abdur Rauf as one of only three bowlers to snare more than 50 five-fers in first-class cricket since 2001.
