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Simon Harmer stars, India slips and Rahane dropped – November 16 Cricket highlights

Aakash Saini

South Africa and India [Source: AFP]South Africa and India [Source: AFP]

Simon Harmer blanked India on Day 3 to headline South Africa’s emphatic win in Kolkata. Team India also slipped on the latest ICC WTC 2025-27 charts. In other news, seasoned pro Ajinkya Rahane was dropped from the Mumbai cricket team in the 2025-27 Ranji Trophy season.

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 Sunday, November 16.

Simon Harmer humbles India with twin four-fers

South African spinner Simon Harmer jolted India with his second four-wicket haul of the match, considering he picked up figures of 4-21 in the decisive innings to envelop the entire Indian line-up for just 93 in 35 overs. Defending 124, Harmer’s spell, coupled with Marco Jansen’s opening burst helped South Africa secure a thrilling 30-run win at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata as the visitors took a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.

Simon Harmer also fittingly bagged the ‘Player of the Match’ award for picking up eight wickets across both innings.

India slips to number four on WTC 2025-27 standings

Team India also lost a rung to slip to number four position on the latest ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 charts, falling below table-toppers Australia, reigning WTC holders South Africa and number three Sri Lanka. The Indian cricket team, under the leadership of Shubman Gill, has registered four wins at an expense of three defeats in this Championship cycle so far, and has garnered 52 points from eight Tests. Team India’s PCT currently reads 54.17, i.e., barely above Pakistan’s 50.

Jasprit Bumrah approaches Temba Bavuma for forgiveness

Shortly after South Africa clinched a 30-run win over India at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Day 3, stranded batter and legendary fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah approached visiting skipper Temba Bavuma, seemingly asking for ‘forgiveness’ over his controversial remark from earlier in the game.

It is worth noting that Bumrah was caught on the stump mic on Day 1 as he jokingly described Bavuma as “bauna”, a Hindi slur which means “short” or “dwarf”. The incident soon gained traction online, prompting even the South African cricket officials to issue an official statement over the matter.

Daryl Mitchell muscles New Zealand to close win vs WI

New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell plundered a near run-a-ball 119 to tonk his seventh ODI century, doing so in the first ODI of the three-match series against West Indies. Batting first in Christchurch, New Zealand accrued 269-7 in 50 overs. Apart from Daryl Mitchell, opener Davin Conway and Michael Bracewell scored 49 and 35 respectively, while Jayden Seales picked up three wickets in the innings for the visitors.

A three-fer from Kyle Jamieson later in the game rendered Sherfane Rutherford’s 55 in vain as New Zealand secured a tight seven-run win to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Ajinkya Rahane dropped from Mumbai team in Ranji Trophy

Senior man Ajinkya Rahane was dropped from the Mumbai cricket team for their Elite Group D match of the ongoing 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season against Puducherry at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. While no explanation was given over the exclusion of the veteran Indian cricketer, one can assume that he was dropped from the team following his lean patch with the bat this tournament.

The cricketer has accrued just 209 runs in his six innings for Mumbai this season, which included an epic 159 in a single innings against Chhattisgarh last month.