ENG W vs IND W: Mithali Raj becomes leading run-getter in women’s international cricket

ENG W vs IND W | Watch: Smriti Mandhana takes a stunner to dismiss Nat Sciver

Indian Women did what they claimed they would in the third and last match of the ODI series against England Women. They were fearless and brave and it showed in the field as well. Smriti Mandhana’s catch of England vice-captain Nat Sciver on the bowling of Deepti Sharma was actually the epitome of those two words. Her magnificent dive near long on having run all the way from midwicket and still be able to hold on to the ball was an amazing work, well appreciated by all in the stands and those who watched it on the television as well. The Indian team, on the back of such brave efforts, reduced England to 197-9 in the 45th over of a 47 over a side affair. But a quick 10th wicket partnership between Kate Cross and Sarah Glenn managed to take the home team to 219 all out after utilising all their overs. For India, Sharma was the pick of the bowlers. The off-spinning all-rounder picked 3-47 in her 10 overs while the rest of the five bowlers picked a wicket each as Gleen as run out on the last ball of the match. The Indian batters have their task cut out as they have struggled in the first two games. But 220 isn’t that big a total and they would fancy having a consolation win before the T20I series begins.

Virat Kohli inspires his teammates to give 200 per cent says KL Rahul

One of the most stylish Indian batsmen KL Rahul heaped praises on skipper Virat Kohli and said that he always operates at 200 per cent and has an unbelievable ability to inspire his teammates to do the same. "Playing with and under Virat Kohli, he is a different sort of captain. He is a very passionate individual. He operates at 200 (per cent). 100 is the best you possibly can be at, but he operates at 200 (percent)," Rahul said in a video for Forbes India. "He has the unbelievable ability to carry the other 10 guys and pull them from 100 to 200 (per cent),” he further added. Kohli has been India’s most successful captain in the longest format and also boasts of a very good record when it comes to limited-overs format. However, when it comes to multi-national tournaments and world championships, India tends to falter in crucial junctures and is yet to win an ICC Trophy since their memorable Champions Trophy win in 2013. Under his captaincy, India lost the 2017 Champions Trophy final against Pakistan and suffered a heartbreaking loss at the hands of the Blackcaps in the 2019 World Cup semi-final. They were again beaten in the inaugural WTC final against the same opponents. Meanwhile, Rahul is currently in England along with the Indian contingent for the upcoming five-match Test series against England. He was part of the World Test Championship final against New Zealand but didn’t get his opportunity in the playing XI. With Virat Kohli hinting at changes for the five-match series against England starting from 4th August, Rahul might get a look in especially with Shubman Gill out for the first three Tests.

Tom Banton stays as England name unchanged squad for ODI series against Pakistan

The England and Wales Cricket Board named an unchanged squad for the ODI series against Pakistan starting July 08. The team is currently involved in a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka and the board decided to name the same players for the Pakistan series as well. Tom Banton, who was called up in the side as a replacement for Dawid Malan who left the team bubble for personal reasons, will remain with the squad. England will name their squad for the T20I series against Pakistan later this month. The series against Pakistan begins with the first ODI at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on July 08th while the third and final game of the series would be played in Edgbaston, Birmingham on July 13. England ODI Squad Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) Captain, Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Sam Billings (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Tom Curran (Surrey), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), George Garton (Sussex), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), David Willey (Yorkshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham) ENG vs PAK ODI Series Schedule 1st ODI: England v Pakistan, Thursday 8 July 2021, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (1.00 pm BST) 2nd ODI: England v Pakistan, Saturday 10 July 2021, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London (11.00 am BST) 3rd ODI: England v Pakistan, Tuesday 13 July 2021, Edgbaston, Birmingham (1.00 pm BST)

My ears were numb: Ishan Kishan reveals his first meeting with legend Sachin Tendulkar

India wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan cannot forget the moment when he first met legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar, someone who he worshipped as a child. Revealing his first meeting with the master, Ishan said that he couldn’t even listen to Sachin’s words because his ears were just buzzing with excitement and nervousness. “The most exciting moment was when I saw Sachin Paaji. It was the first practice game for me when I was selected for Mumbai Indians and he came to oversee the session and I was batting with Rohit Sharma,” Ishan said in an interview with Cricbuzz. “I asked Rohit [Bhaiya] how to talk to a godly figure like Sachin and he said just relax and talk to him. Eventually, Sachin came to me when I was sitting alone. We had a great chat, only that my ears were numb and I don’t remember any word of that chat and afterwards I tried to copy his style of talking [laughs],” he added. Asked about why he chose to be a wicket-keeper the Patna born blamed it on a chance intervention by luck as the reason. “In a game, I was asked to keep as our designated wicketkeeper didn’t turn up. Since I was a good fielder so they thought I would be good with the gloves as well. I took two catches and did a stumping as well. I started enjoying and thus began the journey,” said Ishan. Ishan has always mentioned his love for Jharkhand and India legend MS Dhoni and thus, there was no doubt on who his idol was. “Always MS Dhoni because I learn a lot from him and the way he carries himself. That one year when I scored around 800 runs in First Class, Dhoni had given me a lot of tips,’ said the 22-year-old, who also represents Jharkhand, the state that MS Dhoni played for. Talking about a meeting with Dhoni and how the former India captain helped him, Ishan said, “I asked him that ‘Bhaiya, I get the start but am not able to convert it’, so he replied, ‘No doubt you are an attacking batter but in days’ game, switching on and switching off is a process which you would have to understand.’ and that sort of helped me a lot.” Once the captain of the India Under-19 team under the coaching of Rahul Dravid, Kishan would be vying for a place in the senior ODI team of India under the same coach in Sri Lanka. The Mumbai Indians star batsman had something to say about Dravid as well. “Rahul sir is a legend, I used to enjoy a lot being with him during the U-19 days. He has a unique style of addressing players, he would always say, ‘Boss, what are you doing?’. He always told us how to read the game and how to take it forward instead of forcing us to make any changes in the technique,” said Ishan, who has so far represented India in two T20Is.