BAN vs PAK | 2nd Test | Day 1: Babar Azam, Azhar Ali put Pakistan in commanding position

Will take decision on women's IPL in next 3-4 months: Sourav Ganguly

The talk about having a women’s Indian Premier League has been doing the rounds for quite some time now with experts arguing that India has more than enough talent to sustain a league similar to the men's edition of the competition. Discussions have picked further wind, especially after the Indian players featuring and performing in the tournaments like Women’s Big Bash League and The Hundred. Now Board of Control for Cricket in India President Sourav Ganguly has cleared the air and said that the board will be preparing a roadmap to organise the event. “Yes, we have it in our mind to get the women’s IPL properly done. We will decide it in the next 3-4 months and take the forward,” Ganguly said while talking to Boria Majumdar. Harmanpreet Kaur had a brilliant run during the WBBL and was in the top 10 of both runs scored and wicket taken rankings. She was the only Indian to feature in the team of the season as well. The former India captain lauded the right-hander’s efforts. “I’m extremely happy to see Harmanpreet play so well in the WBBL. She had a little bit of tough time in England and Australia,” he added. Ganguly also added that players like Harmanpreet, Smriti, Shafali Verma, Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami are important part of the unit. “Harmanpreet, Smriti, Shafali Verma, Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami are all strength to this team,” the former left-handed batsman said. Talking about the Indian team, the side is slated to tour New Zealand for one-off T20I and five-match ODI series.

IND vs NZ | 2nd Test, Day 2: Mohammed Siraj, Ashwin demolish Blackcaps to lowest total against India

After a commanding batting performance on the back of a fabulous 150 from Mayank Agarwal, India bundled New Zealand out for a mere 62 in the first innings of the second Test being played in Mumbai. Mohammed Siraj started the rout with three top-order wickets of Will Young, Tom Latham and Ross Taylor before the spinners came into action and dismantled any hopes of Kiwis’ revival in the game. No Kiwi batsman could bat for more than 36 balls and Kyle Jamieson was the only batsman to cross the 15-run mark in what turned out to be a shambolic batting performance. Ravichandran Ashwin was superb with his variety and control over them and was the most successful Indian bowler with four wickets. Axar Patel was also on the money and picked two wickets while Jayant Yadav, who has returned to Test cricket after a gap of four years, picked up one wicket. India achieved a big lead of 263 runs in the first innings and have decided against calling New Zealand for follow on. The pitch is only going to deteriorate further and hence the team management opted to make full use of the opportunity to bat New Zealand out of the game rather than bringing their spinners in the game by batting fourth.

It's surreal to achieve such a feat: Ajaz Patel on picking up 10-fer against India

New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel etched his name in record book after he scalped a ten-for against India in the first innings of the second Test in Mumbai. Patel is only the third bowler after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble to achieve the feat. Talking about his performance after the end of the second session on Day 2 at the Wankhede Stadium, Patel expressed his delight and said that it is special to achieve something of that sorts. “Quite a special occasion for me and not just me but my family. Unfortunately for me, they're not here because of Covid. Honestly, it's surreal and to be able to do that in my career is pretty special. The stars have aligned for me to do it in Mumbai,” he said. “I'm in very illustrious company with Kumble sir as well. Obviously, not a great start for us, but we have a few boys in the shed and put on some runs. Not anyone in particular and just trying to be repetitive and ask questions (which wicket did you enjoy more?),” the left-arm spinner added. Talking about the match, the home side was bowled out for 325 in the first innings but the bowlers rattled New Zealand’s batting line up to reduce them to 38/6 before the conclusion of the second session.

IND vs NZ | 2nd Test, Day 2: Fiery Mohammed Siraj wipes out New Zealand top order in new ball spell

A fiery Mohammed Siraj wiped out the New Zealand top order in the afternoon session of the second day of the second Test in Mumbai. He was in perfect rhythm and bowled his heart out and as per plan to dismiss Will Young, Tom Latham and Ross Taylor in his three overs. He dismissed Latham on the last ball of his second over and bowled Taylor neck and crop on the first ball of the third over to get close to taking a Test hat-trick, which he missed by a margin of a few centimetres. He trapped Henry Nicholls in front of the wicket but the ball was pitched outside the line of the leg stump and hence was denied the wicket and the hat-trick. He was bowling at a rapid pace as well and took two of his three wickets so far by squaring up the batsmen Young and Taylor. Young was edged to Kohl at second slip while Taylor’s off-stump was uprooted from the ground. He had a deep square leg placed for Latham, who has shown some signs of weakness against rapid short deliveries, and he bowled at the perfect height and angle and holed him out to Shreyas Iyer at the only deep fielder. New Zealand have been rocked hard with the new ball even before India introduced spin in the form of Axar Patel.