Rachin Ravindra ready for emotional test against India in his father’s birth city
Ravindra has played nine Tests since his debut in Kanpur in 2021, and has become a regular in the national team with his swashbuckling batting.
Rachin Ravindra
By Eastern EyeOct 16, 2024
NEW ZEALAND batter Rachin Ravindra said on Monday (14) playing India in Bengaluru in the birth city of his father will be a “special” moment, with his family cheering in the stands.
The Black Caps begin the three Test match series on Wednesday (16), but the Wellington-born Ravindra – who called himself “a Kiwi all the way through” – said facing India will be emotional.
“I am very proud of my Indian origin,” the 24-year-old told reporters. “To be able to play where a lot of my family is based is something special.”
Ravindra has played nine Tests since his debut in Kanpur in 2021, and has become a regular in the national team with his swashbuckling batting.
The left-hander enjoyed a prolific ODI World Cup in India last year, and then made an impression in his debut Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament for Chennai Super Kings.
He called them both “two pretty cool experiences to have”, but said playing a Test was “something different”.
“Test cricket is the pinnacle,” he said, adding that it “makes it extra significant because of the family connection” to play in Bengaluru.
“Dad will be here watching,” he said. “Those moments, you pinch yourself on the journey”.
Ravindra, who plays spin well on turning subcontinent pitches, amassed 578 runs including three centuries 10 World Cup matches in 2023. In the IPL, he scored 222 runs for five-time winners Chennai, at a strike-rate of over 160.
Having experienced cricket in India, he said he was eager for the challenge ahead.
“We know how passionate the Indian people are about cricket”, he said, praising the “hype and the buzz” around the game – and that he was “excited to have a fully fledged three-match series” to play.
But New Zealand face a stiff challenge in the series.
India, led by Rohit Sharma, remain firm favourites after their recent 2-0 sweep of Bangladesh. They will look to consolidate their position at the top of the World Test Championship table.
The hosts handed a bruising defeat to Bangladesh in the final Test, where more than two days were lost due to rain.
“We want to be a team that can make 400 runs in a day, and bat for two days to draw,” India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir said. “That’s called growth, that’s called adaptability – and that’s called Test cricket.”
New Zealand are on the last leg of their subcontinent tour, which started with a washout against Afghanistan near New Delhi.
The Kiwis then lost 2-0 in Sri Lanka after going down in a hard-fought opening Test.
But Gambhir urged caution from India, saying New Zealand should not be underestimated.
“New Zealand is a completely different challenge. We know that they’re a very, very good team,” he said.
“They’ve got some really high-quality players. They’ve got players who can hurt us.”
Harmanpreet Kaur and teammates celebrate their 2-1 series win after the 3rd ODI match between England and India at Banks Homes Riverside on July 22, 2025 in Chester-le-Street.
INDIA captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored a century to help her team win the third women’s ODI against England by 13 runs and take the three-match series 2-1.
Harmanpreet’s 84-ball 102 and a fifty from Jemimah Rodrigues guided India Women to 318 for five. The bowlers then restricted England to 305 all out in 49.5 overs in Bristol on Tuesday.
Kranti Goud, playing her fourth WODI, took 6/52 while Shree Charani finished with 2/68.
The ODI win followed India’s 3-2 victory in the five-match T20I series.
Harmanpreet, 36, had not made big scores in the first two ODIs, but brought up her seventh WODI century when it mattered most. This match also saw her complete 4000 runs in ODIs, coming in her 149th game.
Her knock helped India post their second-highest ODI total against England. Their highest remains 333/5, scored in September 2022 at Canterbury, where Harmanpreet also hit a century.
Most of her 14 boundaries came on the off side. She also hit some shots down the ground and one behind the wicket.
She added 81 runs for the third wicket with Harleen Deol (45), and 110 runs in 77 balls with Rodrigues. Richa Ghosh provided a quick finish with 38 off 18 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes.
India had earlier started strong with a 64-run opening stand between Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal. Mandhana attacked early and hit five fours before being dismissed for 45 off 54 balls in the 18th over, pulling Sophie Ecclestone to midwicket.
Rawal made 26 off 33 balls with two fours before she was caught behind off Charlie Dean in the 13th over, with England taking a review after the on-field umpire gave it not out.
Rodrigues hit seven fours in her 45-ball 50. She struck three fours off Dean in the 41st over and two more in the next before getting out.
Deol was dismissed for 45 off 65 balls, falling to a short ball from Lauren Bell after hitting four boundaries.
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KL Rahul hits a shot during Day One of the 4th Test Match between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford on July 23, 2025 in Manchester.
JASPRIT BUMRAH has been named in India's team for the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, starting Wednesday.
Before the series began, it had been announced that Bumrah, the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, would feature in only three of the five matches to manage his workload after a back injury.
However, with India trailing 2-1 following a 22-run loss at Lord’s — a match Bumrah played — he was included in the XI for the must-win Test in Manchester.
India made three changes to their side. Batsman Sai Sudharsan came in for Karun Nair, while Shardul Thakur and debutant Anshul Kamboj replaced injured fast bowlers Nitish Kumar Reddy and Akash Deep.
Rishabh Pant, who suffered a finger injury, was cleared to keep wicket.
England had already confirmed their playing XI. They made one change, with Liam Dawson returning to the Test team after eight years, replacing Shoaib Bashir, who was ruled out of the series with a finger injury sustained at Lord’s.
England captain Ben Stokes won the toss on Wednesday and chose to field on an overcast morning.
No team has won a Test at Old Trafford after winning the toss and bowling first.
India are yet to win a Test match at Old Trafford. They have lost four and drawn five of their nine previous matches at the venue.
Teams England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wkt), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (capt), Rishabh Pant (wkt), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Umpires: Ahsan Raza (PAK), Rod Tucker (AUS) TV Umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ)
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Bangladesh's players celebrate their team's win at the end of the second Twenty20 international cricket matchagainst Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on July 22, 2025. (Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
BANGLADESH survived a late onslaught by Faheem Ashraf and Ahmed Daniyal to pull off a narrow eight-run victory in the second T20I match on Tuesday (22), winning a first-ever series in the format against Pakistan.
Ashraf hit an aggressive 32-ball 51 while debutant Daniyal smashed an 11-ball 17 but holed out off the second ball of the final over as Pakistan were all out for 125 in their chase of 134 to win in Dhaka.
Earlier, Jaker Ali struck a 48-ball 55 as Bangladesh -- sent in to bat -- were bowled out for 133 in 20 overs, with Salman Mirza taking 2-17 and Daniyal close behind on 2-23.
Left-arm Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam picked up his best T20I figures of 3-17 on a slow-paced Mirpur pitch as Pakistan lost their first five wickets for just 15 runs by the fifth over.
Ashraf cracked four sixes and as many boundaries to raise hopes of a comeback win, but spinner Rishad Hossain bowled him in the penultimate over.
Ashraf and Abbas Afridi, who scored a 13-ball 19, had revived the innings from 47-7 with a 41-run stand, but Bangladesh had the last laugh.
Bangladesh won the first match at the same venue by seven wickets and took an unassailable 2-0 lead with the final match on Thursday (24), also in Dhaka.
This was Bangladesh's first T20I series win over Pakistan in four tries.
Pakistan lost opener Saim Ayub to a run out for one in the first over before Islam dismissed Fakhar Zaman (8) and Mohammad Haris (0) to hit Pakistan hard at the top.
Bangladesh skipper Litton Das praised a team effort.
"It's wonderful to win back-to-back series," said Litton, who also led the team to a 2-1 T20I series in Sri Lanka last week. "This shows good improvement in our standards."
Pakistan captain Salman Agha rued his side's batting lapses.
"We thought 134 would be gettable but we lost too many wickets early on and that's something we must address quickly," said Agha.
Earlier, Jaker smashed five sixes and a boundary for his third T20I half century.
Bangladesh had lost four wickets for 28 by the sixth over before Jaker and Mahedi Hasan revived the innings with a 53-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Mahedi scored a 25-ball 33 with two sixes and as many boundaries.
(AFP)
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India captain Shubman Gill speaks with coach Gautam Gambhir and selector Ajit Agarkar during a net session at Emirates Old Trafford on July 21, 2025 in Manchester. (Photo: Getty Images)
INDIA may be forced to shift from its usual playing combination when it faces England in the fourth Test at Old Trafford starting Wednesday, with key injuries disrupting its settled approach.
The visitors, trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, are yet to win a Test at this venue in nine previous attempts — with four losses and five draws — and will aim to level the series in Manchester.
India had fielded three all-rounders in the eleven after the first Test in Leeds, including Nitish Reddy, who has now been ruled out of the remainder of the tour with a knee injury.
With spin-bowling all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar providing batting depth till number eight, India’s balance could be tested. The team may not have that luxury at Old Trafford.
Shardul likely replacement for Reddy
Shardul Thakur, who played the opening Test, is the likely replacement for Reddy, though he does not offer the same batting contributions. He will also need to deliver with the ball, as Reddy had taken important wickets at Lord’s.
India could revert to the combination used in Leeds, where only Jadeja played as a spinner and the batting line-up extended to number six, featuring Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan.
Uncapped pacer Anshul Kamboj and Prasidh Krishna are also options if Akash Deep does not recover in time from a groin injury. Kamboj, who was part of the India A tour of England, showed promise during the team’s first outdoor training session and can generate seam movement similar to Deep.
Fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are set to retain their spots in the eleven.
Top order eyes recovery after Lord’s loss
India’s batting unit faltered at Lord’s for the first time in the series. Captain Shubman Gill, despite a low score in the third Test, has scored over 600 runs so far and will look to return to form.
Jofra Archer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal twice at Lord’s, and the Indian opener will be aiming to adjust to the England pacer’s speed in the upcoming match.
KL Rahul has looked composed throughout the series and remains a key part of the top order. Rishabh Pant appears to have recovered from a finger injury and is expected to resume his dual role behind the stumps and in the middle order.
Nair, if selected again, will aim to convert his starts into a significant score. Jadeja, who has scored four consecutive 50-plus innings, will be expected to contribute more with the ball.
India last played a Test at Old Trafford in 2014, and the last Indian century at the ground came from Sachin Tendulkar in 1990.
England, meanwhile, go into the fourth Test with the series lead and unchanged confidence.
England unchanged apart from Dawson in for Bashir
England captain Ben Stokes named his playing eleven ahead of the game, with Liam Dawson replacing injured spinner Shoaib Bashir. Dawson last played a Test in July 2017.
The weather forecast includes light rain throughout the five days, and the recent rainfall in Manchester could leave moisture on the surface for the fast bowlers early on.
Tensions between the two teams have increased through the series. Gill addressed his exchange with England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley on day three at Lord’s.
"The English batsmen on that day had seven minutes of play left. They were 90 seconds late to come to the place. Not 10, not 20, 90 seconds late," Gill said. "Yes, most of the teams use this. Even if we were in a position, we would have also liked to play fewer overs, but there's a manner to do it.
"If you get hit on your body, the physios are allowed to come on and that is something that is fair. But to be able to come 90 seconds late on the grass is not something that I would think comes in the spirit of the game."
England batter Harry Brook said, “Every game we’ve played so far has gone into the last hour of the game, which you do not see very often. I’ve had a lot of people come up to me saying ‘it’s been an amazing series, thank you’. Everybody said that the Lord’s game was one of the best games that they’ve watched, so it’s been an amazing series and I’m looking forward to the rest of it.”
England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (vc), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.
(With inputs from agencies)
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She says she wishes Serena would join her in competition once again
Venus Williams is set to return to professional tennis at the DC Open after more than a year.
She says she wishes Serena would join her in competition once again.
Serena, who retired in 2022, was recently seen hitting powerful shots in a training video.
Venus praised her sister’s enduring talent and technique.
The 45-year-old last played on the WTA Tour in March 2024.
Venus eyes return while reflecting on sister Serena’s enduring skill
Venus Williams, 45, will return to professional tennis at the DC Open this week, marking her first match since March 2024. Ahead of her comeback, she told reporters she wishes her sister Serena would join her on the court once more.
“The only thing that would make this better is if she was here,” Venus said, referencing their long history of competing side-by-side. “We always did everything together, so of course I miss her.”
Serena Williams, 42, retired after the 2022 US Open, ending a career that included 23 Grand Slam singles titles, 14 doubles titles with Venus, and two mixed doubles titles. But a recent video on social media showed Serena effortlessly hitting powerful groundstrokes, prompting speculation about a possible return.
"She clocks it clean" – Venus praises Serena’s striking form
Venus recounted a recent training session during which Serena briefly joined her on court. Despite the time away, Venus said her sister had not lost her touch.
“She can take six months off and she clocks it clean,” she told reporters. “You can’t teach that kind of talent. She’s just so good.”
While Venus did not speculate on Serena’s intentions, she said, “If she comes back, I’m sure she’ll let y’all know.”
Venus returns unranked but inspired
Venus Williams last competed in March 2024 at the Miami Open, where she lost in the first round to Russia’s Diana Shnaider. Her most recent tour-level singles win came in 2023 against Veronika Kudermetova at the Cincinnati Open.
Now listed as “inactive” and currently unranked on the WTA website, Venus is returning to competition driven by personal motivation and support from loved ones.
“You know, I believe in love and those around me—my family, my friends,” she said. “They keep me going and keep me grounded.”
Reflecting on the emotional highs and lows of professional sport, she added: “The love always gets you through.”