On song: Vihaan plundered the off-side in his exquisite innings.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: R. RAGU

Southpaw opener had a fruitful debut last season against Kerala, at the PCA New Cricket Stadium Ground B, Mullanpur in New Chandigarh on October 26, 2025, and should be in the mix again for Punjab in this edition.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

KKR Full Squad, IPL 2025: After buying back four players from their IPL 2024-winning squad, including all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for a sensational Rs 23.75 crore, Kolkata Knight Riders head into Day 2 of the IPL 2025 mega auction looking to fill gaps in their middle order and buy adequate backups for their existing stars. KKR enter Day 2 with an auction purse of Rs 10.05 cr, and still require at least five players to reach the minimum squad requirement of 18 players. (Full Squad)

Players Bought By KKR In IPL 2025 Auction –

1. Venkatesh Iyer – Rs 23.75 Crore

2. Quinton De Kock – Rs 3.6 Crore

3. Rahmanullah Gurbaz – Rs 2 Crore

4. Anrich Nortje – Rs 6.5 Crore

5. Angkrish Raghuvanshi – Rs 3 Crore

6. Vaibhav Arora – Rs 1.8 Crore

7.  Mayank Markande – Rs 30 lakh

8. Rovman Powell – Rs 1.5 crore

9. Manish Pandey – Rs 75 lakh

10. Spencer Johnson – Rs 2.8 crore

11. Luvnith Sisodia – Rs 30 lakh

12. Ajinkya Rahane – Rs 1.5 crore

13. Anukul Roy – Rs 40 lakh

14. Moeen Ali – Rs 2 crore

15. Umran Malik – Rs 75 lakh

Full list of retained players: Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana

Full list of released players: Shreyas Iyer, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Nitish Rana, Sherfane Rutherford, Phil Salt, KS Bharat, Manish Pandey, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Venkatesh Iyer, Suyash Sharma, Allah Ghazanfar, Dushmantha Chameera, Sakib Hussain, Vaibhav Arora, Mitchell Starc, Chetan Sakariya

KKR Full Squad, IPL 2025: Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders bought back as many as four players from their IPL 2024-winning squad, breaking the bank for all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer with a Rs 23.75 crore purchase on Day 1 of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Indian uncapped batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi, uncapped pacer Vaibhav Arora and Afghan wicket-keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz also returned to purple and gold. KKR also made a significant investment for two South Africans – Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje. While they failed to get Phil Salt and Shreyas Iyer despite going hard, KKR added to their already strong retentions list. (Full Squad)

Players Bought By KKR In IPL 2025 Auction –

1. Venkatesh Iyer – Rs 23.75 Crore

2. Quinton De Kock – Rs 3.6 Crore

3. Rahmanullah Gurbaz – Rs 2 Crore

4. Anrich Nortje – Rs 6.5 Crore

5. Angkrish Raghuvanshi – Rs 3 Crore

6. Vaibhav Arora – Rs 1.8 Crore

7.  Mayank Markande – Rs 30 lakh

Full list of retained players: Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana

Full list of released players: Shreyas Iyer, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Nitish Rana, Sherfane Rutherford, Phil Salt, KS Bharat, Manish Pandey, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Venkatesh Iyer, Suyash Sharma, Allah Ghazanfar, Dushmantha Chameera, Sakib Hussain, Vaibhav Arora, Mitchell Starc, Chetan Sakariya

South Africa captain Aiden Markram won the toss for the third consecutive time in the series and opted to field first in the third T20I against India in Centurion on Wednesday. Before the toss, Hardik Pandya handed the India cap to the debutant Ramandeep Singh. After the first two T20Is, the series stands level at 1-1. The winner in the third T20I will certainly have an edge over the opposition before heading to play the final match of the series on Friday in Johannesburg.

After winning the toss, South Africa captain Aiden Markram said, “We are going to bowl first again. The wicket looks good. Not quite at our best. We are making slow progress. The bowlers did a good job in the last game. The batters need to spend time in the middle and not be too desperate. We have full trust in our batting unit and hope we do something special tonight.”

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav said during the time of the toss, “It is okay. We have done well in the last two games while batting first. The boys have come out with clear plans and executing it, I have been really happy with that. Just be clear, go out and enjoy yourself. These boys have made my job easier. We have one change – Ramandeep makes his debut. Avesh has done well for us but one of the two bowlers had to make a sacrifice.”

South Africa (Playing XI): Ryan Rickelton, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen(wk), David Miller, Marco Jansen, Andile Simelane, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Lutho Sipamla

India (Playing XI): Sanju Samson(wk), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy.

India lost to South Africa in the second T20I encounter© AFP

Multiple Indian Premier League (IPL) stars are expected to make their India debut in the 1st T20I of a four-match series against South Africa in Kingsmead, Durban. St George’s Park in Gqeberha will host the second T20I on November 10, with the third game scheduled for SuperSport Park in Centurion on November 13. The series concludes with the fourth T20I at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on November 15. The Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team arrived in South Africa on the back of posting a mind-boggling 297/6 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad, the highest score by a full member nation in T20Is.

South Africa will come hard at India, in what will also be the first meeting between the two teams since the T20 World Cup final at Barbados in June.

With Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal set to leave for Australia for a five-match Test series later this month, southpaw Abhishek Sharma will continue to open alongside veteran wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, who smashed a ton during the record-breaking encounter against Bangladesh in Hyderabad last month.

With Riyan Parag recovering from an injury at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Tilak Varma will be shipped straight into the team, despite blowing hot and cold in the recently-concluded Mens T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024.

Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh will add much-needed stability in the middle-order, with the trio also enjoying also coming into the series with plenty of runs under their belts against Bangladesh.

Another player who’s coming on a high is pace bowling all-rounder Ramandeep Singh, who’s retained by Kolkata Knight Riders. Ramandeep had a strike-rate of 201.61 in KKR’s IPL 2024 win and earned a reputation of being a handy seamer and gun fielder. He recently hit 64 not out for India A in the Emerging Men’s Asia Cup semi-final against Afghanistan A, though it didn’t take the side in the final.

Varun Chakravarthy could be the sole spinner for the series-opener in Durban, while Arshdeep Patel and Avesh Khan will lead the pace attack.

Karnataka pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak is contention to make his debut as the third pacer in the side.

India likely XI vs South Africa in 1st ODI:

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Vijaykumar Vyshak

(With IANS Inputs)

Ramandeep Singh’s valiant half-century went in vain as Afghanistan A put up a clinical display to defeat India A by 20 runs and set up a summit clash against Sri Lanka A in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup T20 tournament, here on Friday. Opting to bat first, Afghanistan A capitalized on a commanding 137-run opening partnership between Sediqullah Atal (83 off 52 balls) and Zubaid Akbari (64 off 41 balls) to post the tournament’s highest total, reaching 206/4.

In response, India A struggled, losing half their lineup by the 13th over before Ramandeep launched a spirited fightback with Nishant Sindhu, building an exhilarating 68-run stand in just 31 balls.

With India needing 53 runs from the last three overs, the momentum swung as Nishant (23 off 13 balls) was run out following a miscommunication.

Tasked with defending 30 runs in the final over, Abdul Rahman (2/32) held his nerve, dismissing Ramandeep on the last delivery and restricting India to 186/7, sealing Afghanistan’s place in the summit clash.

In the first semifinal, Sri Lanka A put up a splendid bowling show to restrict Pakistan Shaheens to a modest 135/9 before cruising to a seven-wicket win. They chased down the target in 16.3 overs.

Leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha was the architect of their win, returning with 4/21, while Nipun Ranskika and Eshan Malinga bagged two each.

The final is slated on Sunday.

Afghanistan A ended the powerplay on a high, amassing 20 runs in the sixth over to reach 61 without loss, as Zubaid and Sediqullah dismantled the Indian bowling attack.

Zubaid hammered four sixes and five fours, while Sediqullah contributed with four sixes and seven boundaries in a thrilling partnership.

Following Zubaid’s exit, Karim Janat maintained the momentum with a swift 20-ball 41, featuring two sixes and four fours.

Pacer Rasikh Salam then delivered an inspiring death-over spell, claiming three crucial wickets, including two in consecutive balls, to stymie Afghanistan’s scoring surge.

Rasikh first bowled Sediqullah around his legs in the 18th over, followed immediately by Darwish Rasooli (0), who dragged one onto his stumps.

Karim continued the onslaught but was finally dismissed by Rasikh in the penultimate delivery, ending an electrifying innings.

Unlike Afghanistan A, India A suffered a jittery start and lost three wickets inside the powerplay to leave their chase in disarray.

Allah Mohammed Ghazanfar accounted for Abhishek Sharma (7) and Prabhsimran Singh (19) while skipper Tilak Varma (16) fell to Abdul Rahman to reduce India to 48/3 in 5.4 overs.

Ayush Badoni (31; 24b) and Nehal Wadhera (20; 14b) then kept the scoreboard ticking before Afghanistan again triggered a collapse.

Brief Scores: Afghanistan A 206/4; 20 overs (Sediqullah Atal 83, Zubaid Akbari 64, Karim Janat 41; Rasikh Salam 3/25) beat India A 186/7; 20 overs (Ramandeep Singh 64) by 20 runs.

Ramandeep Singh and Vijaykumar Vyshak earned maiden India call-ups on Friday as the BCCI announced squad for an upcoming T20I tour of South Africa. Pacer Mayank Yadav, who recently made his India debut during the T20I series against Bangladesh, has not been included in the squad for the trip to South Africa, owing to an injury. “Mayank Yadav and Shivam Dube were unavailable for selection owing to injuries,” the BCCI said in a release.

All-rounder Riyan Parag was also unavailable for selection. As per BCCI’s release, the is currently at The BCCI Centre of Excellence for long term resolution of his chronic right shoulder injury.

Suryakumar Yadav will continue to lead the side, while the BCCI didn’t name any designated vice-captain for the four-match series.

The series will get underway on November 8, while the final game will be on the 14th of November. The matches will be played in four different venues — Durban, Gqeberha, Centurion and Johannesburg, respectively.

There was no place in the squad for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is expected to lead India ‘A’ during their upcoming tour of Australia.

Meanwhile, Ramandeep’s inclusion comes on the back of his stellar performance in the ongoing ACC T20 Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup. However, India’s campaign came to an end after a defeat to Afghanistan in the semi-finals.

Along with the T20I squad, the BCCI also named the Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia, starting November 22. Three uncapped Test players Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana and Abhimanyu Easwaran are in line for their long-format debut. Since India are scheduled to play five Tests, the BCCI has named a big travelling contingent, also comprising of three reserve players.

India’s squad for 4 T20Is against South Africa: 

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.

Ramandeep Singh left everyone stunned with a sensational catch during the Emerging Asia Cup clash between India A and Pakistan A on Saturday. During the much-anticipated encounter, Pakistan A opener Yasir Khan was looking in fine form after scoring 33 off 22 balls. Yasir went for a big shot through mid-wicket but Ramandeep sprinted towards the boundary and pulled off a perfect dive to complete the catch. The effort left everyone stunned with former India wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik taking to to X (formerly Twitter) to label it as “one of the greatest catches ever by an Indian.”

Coming to the match, India’s top order fired in unison as it posted 183 for 8 with Tilak Verma top-scoring with a 35-ball 44 after opting to bat.

Pacers Anshul Kamboj (3/33) and Rasikh Salam (2/30) and spinner Nishant Sindhu (2/15) shared eight wickets amongst themselves to restrict Pakistan to 176/7.

WHAT DID YOU JUST DO RAMANDEEP!

A stunning catch from Ramandeep Singh gets rid of the dangerous Yasir Khan!

Watch#EmergingAsiaCupOnStar | #INDvPAK, LIVE NOW! pic.twitter.com/EyyDkEbsM7

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 19, 2024

Not only did India shine with the bat and ball, they also delivered an impressive performance in the field, particularly through Ramandeep Singh, who made a stunning catch and saved vital runs in the closing moments.

Openers Abhishek Sharma (35 off 22) and Prabhsimran Singh (36 off 19) unleashed an aggressive assault on the pace attack, sending the ball flying across the field.

Abhishek slapped consecutive boundaries in the first over, while Prabhsimran followed suit by dispatching Zaman Khan for a four and a six in the next over, setting a vibrant tone.

Together, they struck eight boundaries and five sixes, propelling India A to an impressive 68 without loss during the Powerplay.

However, the introduction of spin after the Powerplay slowed their momentum, leading to the loss of both Abhishek and Prabhsimran in quick succession. This brought skipper Verma (44) and Nehal Wadhera (25) to the crease.

As the pitch became increasingly sluggish, Verma took on the anchor role, while Wadhera and Ramandeep (17) found the boundaries.

After losing two wickets to the pace of all-rounder Anshul Kamboj early in the chase, Yasir Khan (33) and Qasim Akram (27) began to attack fiercely.

However, a spectacular catch by Ramandeep at deep midwicket broke their partnership, dismissing Yasir. In the same over, left-arm spinner Nishant made his mark by removing Akram.

Arafat Minhas top-scored for Pakistan with 29-ball 41 but it was Abdul Samad who blazed away to 25 off 15 balls.

Samad walked in when Pakistan needed 58 more to win but the 26-year-old hit a six and two back-to-back boundaries off Vaibhav Arora in the 16th over to bring down the equation to 42 off 24 balls.

Samad continued to chip in with Pakistan needing 17 off the last over but the big-hitter was sent marching off the first ball by Anshul with India completing a memorable win.

(With PTI inputs)