Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

After IPL, Pandya wants to win T20 World Cup with India

Pandya claimed three crucial wickets, including that of the tournament’s leading scorer Jos Buttler in IPL 2022 final

After IPL, Pandya wants to win T20 World Cup with India

After leading Gujarat Titans to the Indian Premier League (IPL) title in their first season, winning the Twenty20 World Cup with India is next on Hardik Pandya's bucket list.

Pandya led by example in Sunday's final against 2008 champions Rajasthan Royals as Gujarat triumphed by seven wickets in front of more than 100,000 fans at their home ground in Ahmedabad.


Pandya claimed three crucial wickets, including that of the tournament's leading scorer Jos Buttler, to restrict Rajasthan to a total which Gujarat chased down with 11 balls to spare.

It also proved Pandya has fully recovered from a back injury which had forced him to play purely as a batter over the last two seasons.

Gujarat Titans Gujarat Titans (Photo/Twitter: @hardikpandya7)

Asked what would be his next goal, the 28-year-old said: "Absolutely to win the World Cup for India no matter what happens.

"I am going to give it everything I have. Always been that kind of guy to put the team first. For me the goal will be simple: to make sure my team gets it the most.

"It has always been a pleasure for me to represent the country ... Long term, short term, I want to win the World Cup no matter what happens."

Former players including ex-India captain Sunil Gavaskar have praised Pandya's composed and deft leadership, which they believe was crucial to Gujarat's victory.

"Obviously this will be a little special because I have won it as a captain," said Pandya, who had won four IPL titles with Mumbai Indians before taking up the leadership role at Gujarat.

"I consider myself very lucky that I have played five finals, and have lifted the trophy five times.

"Obviously this will leave a legacy because we are a new franchise, playing for the first time, and we are champions in the first season."

Courtesy: Reuters

More For You

Buttler helps England beat West Indies in T20 series opener

Jos Buttler raises his bat as he walks to the pavilion after losing his wicket, LBW bowled by West Indies' Alzarri Joseph. Reuters/Lee Smith

Buttler helps England beat West Indies in T20 series opener

FORMER captain Jos Buttler scored a superb 96 off 59 balls, and Liam Dawson took four wickets on his international return, as England beat West Indies by 21 runs in the T20 series opener at Durham's Riverside ground on Friday (6).

After making a 3-0 winning start to Harry Brook's captaincy in the one-dayers, England kept the momentum in the shorter format with an innings of 188-6 after winning the toss and batting first.

Keep ReadingShow less
World Cup winner Piyush Chawla retires from cricket

FILE PHOTO: Piyush Chawla. (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)

World Cup winner Piyush Chawla retires from cricket

VETERAN leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, who played key roles in India's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup victories, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Friday (6) after more than two decades in the sport.

The 36-year-old made the announcement through an Instagram post, describing his decision as the end of an "incredible journey" while hinting at a new unspecified venture ahead.

Keep ReadingShow less
India’s wrestling

A kushti bout continues until one wrestler pins the other’s back to the mud, regardless of how long it takes

Getty Images

India’s wrestling dreams rise from rural training grounds

Crowds cheer as muscular men in tight loincloths slap sacred scented soil on their bulging thighs and arms for a mud wrestling bout in India.

“When we fight, we sweat,” said 33-year-old Mauli Jamdade, a wrestling star in Maharashtra state, rubbing red-brown earth onto his body for each clash.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tendulkar Anderson

Tendulkar is the highest run-scorer in Test history with 15,921 runs, while Anderson is England’s all-time leading wicket-taker.

Getty Images

England and India to play for new Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy

INDIA and England will play their upcoming five-Test series in the UK for a new trophy named after Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson.

According to a report by the BBC, the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy will be unveiled ahead of the series, which begins at Headingley on June 20. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) declined to comment, the report added.

Keep ReadingShow less
England shake up squad for India Test series; Archer eyes return

England's Ben Stokes with teammates. Reuters/Peter Cziborra

England shake up squad for India Test series; Archer eyes return

ENGLAND have named a 14-player squad for the first match of the Rothesay Test Series against India, which is set to begin on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds.

Ben Stokes will lead the squad as captain and Surrey bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton returns to the Test line-up for the first time since earning his sole cap against New Zealand at Headingley in June 2022.

Keep ReadingShow less