Smriti Mandhana: 'Shafali Verma Deserves This Comeback, Really Happy To...'
India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana praised Shafali Verma's return after eight months, noting her domestic performances. The T20I series vs England preps for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
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News18
19 minutes ago
- News18
India Women vs England Women Live Score, 1st T20: Shafali-Mandhana Eye Attacking Start
IND-W vs ENG-W Live Cricket Score, 1st T20 (India Women National Cricket Team vs England Women National Cricket Team): India face hosts England in the first T20I of their five-match series at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Saturday, June 28. England won the toss and opted to bowl first. India would like to get accustomed to English conditions with the ICC Women's World Cup set to take place in England next year, especially after India's early exit in the previous edition. The team will use this tour to understand pitch behaviour and unpredictable weather, key aspects of playing in the UK. The squad welcomes back Shafali Verma, who is expected to open alongside Smriti Mandhana after Uma Chetry's underwhelming performances. Newcomers Kranti Goud, Sree Charani, and Sayali Satghare will look to make an impact, especially in the absence of injured pacers Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar. All-rounders Sneh Rana and Amanjot Kaur will also be in the spotlight, with Rana making a return after a strong WPL season. India, however, come off two practice match defeats against the ECB Development Squad and will face a formidable England team led by Nat Sciver-Brunt. With experienced players like Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont, and Sophie Ecclestone, as well as emerging talents Issy Wong and Alice Capsey, the hosts present a significant challenge. India will need standout performances from senior batters like Harmanpreet, Mandhana, and Jemimah Rodrigues to compete effectively.
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First Post
29 minutes ago
- First Post
Najmul Hossain Shanto steps down as Bangladesh Test captain after innings defeat against Sri Lanka
Shanto had quit as Bangladesh T20I captain in January and had recently been replaced as ODI captain by the Bangladesh Cricket Board in favour of Mehidy Hasan Miraz. And after the Tigers' innings and 78-run defeat in Colombo, the top-order batter has relinquished all forms of leadership. read more Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto leaves the ground after getting dismissed on Day 3 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. AP Najmul Hossain Shanto has stepped down as captain of the Bangladesh Test team following the Tigers' innings and 78-run defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in the second Test in Colombo on Saturday. After a high-scoring draw in the series opener at Galle, Bangladesh were thoroughly outplayed in the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club – getting bowled out for 247 and 133 in response on either side of the hosts' total of 458. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I have an announcement to make. I am stepping down from the Bangladesh Test captaincy. I don't want to continue as captain in this format, and I want to give a clear message to everyone: this is not a personal matter. It is entirely for the betterment of the team, and I believe this will help the team,' Shanto said at the press-conference after the match. Shanto not a fan of a different captain for each format The top-order batter, who had starred in the Galle Test – the first match of the 2025-27 cycle of the ICC World Test Championship – with twin centuries (148 and 125), added that Bangladesh did not need a different captain in each format. Shanto was leading Bangladesh in all three formats until recently, having overseen their campaigns in the 2023 ICC World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup as well as in the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year. The southpaw had stepped down from T20I captaincy in January, the role of which went to wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das, while the Bangladesh Cricket Board opted to name spin-bowling all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz as the ODI skipper. 'Over the last few years, I have had the opportunity to be in this dressing room, and I don't feel it is logical to have three captains for three formats. This is completely my personal opinion. The cricket board might think otherwise, and I fully respect that. In my view, having three captains will be difficult for the team. So, for the betterment of the team, I am stepping down,' he explained. 'If the cricket board feels they will continue with three captains in three formats, that will be their decision. I just hope people don't see this as a personal issue or think I did this because I felt bad about the ODI captaincy snub. I want to make it clear again: this is for the betterment of the team. There is nothing personal here,' he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I already informed the cricket operations department a few days back,' he said.
Indian Express
32 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Shafali Verma shares how watching Sachin Tendulkar's batting has helped to improve her batting
Shafali Verma, who returns to the Indian Women's team squad for the series against England, said watching videos of former Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar's batting helped her understand the advantages of playing every delivery on its merit. 'Earlier, I used to think of scoring a four or a six off every ball, but then I realised that it's important to give respect to a good ball. I saw Sachin (Tendulkar) sir's Test innings and got a lot of motivation from that,' said Shafali, speaking to BCCI. 'It reminded me of my childhood days when I used to not even miss a single game of his. I covered almost every match again. Watching that, I learned that the only way to build a good innings is by respecting the good deliveries,' she added. Amid a poor run of form, Shafali was dropped from the Indian side. 'Whenever you make a comeback, you encounter tough situations, but when you are back in the team environment, it is a very good feeling. I am very happy that I could make a comeback,' she reflected. 'Just 10 days before my selection (for the series against Australia), my dad suffered a heart attack. That was a very tough situation for me and after that, I did not get selected in the team. I did not know what was happening,' Shafali said. 'After my dad recovered, he made me work a lot on my fitness before the domestic season. It was an up-down period for me, and I think it's important to face such situations as only then you can become a strong person.' Speaking about her fitness, Shafali would go on to say, 'I worked on my fitness for 20-25 days. I picked up the bat after 20-25 days and I felt very good. That gave me a different kind of energy, a different feeling. Time teaches you a lot of things. I will do my best and leave the rest to destiny.'
