R Ashwin stunned into silence in dugout after Varun Chakaravarthy cracks 10 runs in 2 balls in nerve-wracking TNPL chase
However, on Sunday, Varun showed a different side to his cricketing prowess, helping Dindigul Dragons seal a last-ball win with the bat against SKM Salem Spartans in the ongoing Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). Varun held his nerves in the thrilling chase, smashing 10 runs in the last two balls as the Dragons secured a two-wicket victory.
Chasing 189 runs at the Indian Cement Company Ground in Tirunelveli, Dindigul Dragons needed 11 runs to win in the last over. However, M Poiyamozhi kept Salem ahead in the contest as he dismissed M Karthik Saran on the second ball of the over, as he conceded just three runs in the first four balls.
However, an unfortunate no-ball from the bowler changed the momentum. Varun launched the penultimate ball for a six over long-on, before clobbering the final one for a boundary past the infield as he sparked a euphoric celebration in the Dragons' dugout.
But captain Ravichandran Ashwin was stunned into silence. Head down, hands over it, even as players celebrated around him — and then, he looked up and smiled in disbelief.
Earlier in the match, Ashwin gave his side a fiery start to the chase as he clobbered 35 runs in just 14 balls, comprising five boundaries and two sixes as the Dragons scored 50 runs in the first 20 balls without any loss.
Subsequent batters - Shivam Singh (34 off 24), R K Jayant (25 off 15), Hunny Saini (35 off 28) and Vimal Khumar - all chipped in with handy cameos as the defending champions secured their third win in the tournament thus far.
The former India cricketer also delivered with the ball, picking three wickets for just 22 runs in four overs.
Dindigul now stand third in the table with six points from five matches, behind top-placed Chepauk Super Gillies, who have already qualified for the playoffs, and IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, who have the same points as Ashwin's side, only separated by a higher net run rate.
The Dragons have two more matches to play in the league stage. They next face Nellai Royal Kings in Tirunelveli on June 26, followed by Trichy Grand Cholas at home on June 29. The playoffs will begin on July 1 and the reigning champions need to win both games to secure a place in the next round.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
'Where Were We Wrong?': WCL Owner Breaks Silence On India-Pakistan Match Cancellation
Last Updated: Harshit Tomar has defended the decision to initially proceed with the India-Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends. World Championship of Legends owner Harshit Tomar has questioned how he was wrong in going ahead with the league stage game between India and Pakistan, mentioning how India and Pakistan are going to play each other in the upcoming Women's World Cup as well as the Asia Cup. Former India cricketers Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan and Yusuf Pathan pulled out of the contest a day before the game and the organisers had to call the match off. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board on Sunday, August 3, announced a blanket ban on its cricketers' participation in future editions of the WCL, accusing the tournament organisers of being 'biased" and lacking sporting integrity. 'We are going ahead with the tournament in England, which means that everything was taken care of 8-10 months in advance. Our schedule was revealed in December. The Champions Trophy was played in February," Tomar said while speaking on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube channel. 'I cannot express my sadness at what happened in Pahalgam. We supported Operation Sindoor. The war happened and then it was stopped. Then, the sports between the two countries started to get normal," Tomar said. The World Championship of Legends owner said that he will always abide by what the Indian government says. 'The Women's World Cup is soon going to happen. India will take on Pakistan there. Asia Cup chatter is also there. You tell me, where were we wrong in wanting to go ahead with the match? It was next to impossible for me to change things at the last minute," Tomar said. 'We had all the permissions from the ECB. Cricket is an emotion. As the match got close, people realised the reality of India playing against Pakistan. They started to express their emotions," Tomar added. 'I felt really bad. You raised questions about me; I get that. But you raised questions on Yuvraj Singh, who was battling cancer and still he played the World Cup. We are Indians, we are emotional," Tomar said. Meanwhile, the decision by PCB follows a sequence of events in which India forfeited both their group-stage clash and semifinal against Pakistan, citing the nation's stand against bilaterial ties with Pakistan after the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
WCL owner breaks silence on why India vs Pakistan matches got cancelled last minute: ‘People raised questions on Yuvraj'
Harshit Tomar, the owner of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) tournament, has finally broken his silence on why the India versus Pakistan match was cancelled at the last minute in the group stage. Days ahead of the contest between the arch-rivals, there was intense scrutiny on social media with fans expressing their displeasure over former cricketers from India agreeing to play against Pakistan despite the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 tourists in Kashmir. WCL owner Harshit Tomar breaks silence on why India versus Pakistan match was cancelled Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan pulled out of the contest a day before the match, and eventually, the organisers had to call the game off. India Champions then also pulled out of the semi-final against Pakistan, resulting in the latter reaching the final. It must be mentioned that ever since the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, calls to boycott Pakistan in every aspect have been growing, and hence it is no surprise that the WCL organisers came under fire for wanting to go ahead with the match between India and Pakistan in the group stage. 'We are going ahead with the tournament in England, which means that everything was taken care of 8-10 months in advance. Our schedule was revealed in December. The Champions Trophy was played in February. Players from both India and Pakistan met there, and government officials from both contingents also met each other,' said Tomar during a conversation with Shubhankar Mishra on the latter's YouTube channel. Also Read: WCL denies any 'on-field interaction' between India, Pakistan Champions in hard-hitting rebuttal of 'semi-final' video 'I cannot express my sadness at what happened in Pahalgam. We supported Operation Sindoor. The war happened, and then it was stopped. Then, the sports between the two countries started to get normal. We weren't the first ones to hold the match between India and Pakistan. Meanwhile, we approached the England and Wales Cricket Board, informing them about the geopolitical situation between the two countries. After having a long conversation with the ECB and authorities, they said 'This is good to go,' he added. 'Our stand is simple' The WCL owner also said that he will always abide by what the Indian government says. He stated that if the government clearly directs against engaging with Pakistan in any competition, then he will fully abide by it. Tomar said that he cannot be faulted for wanting to go ahead with the WCL match between India and Pakistan as the two teams will square off in the Women's World Cup and the Men's Asia Cup later this year. 'The Women's World Cup is soon going to happen. India will take on Pakistan there. Asia Cup chatter is also there. You tell me, where were we wrong in wanting to go ahead with the match? It was next to impossible for me to change things at the last minute. I just had the option of not going ahead with the tournament this year,' said Tomar. 'We had all the permissions from the ECB. Cricket is an emotion. As the match got close, people realised the reality of India playing against Pakistan. They started to express their emotions. We then had to take a call. We realised the enormity of the situation two days before the match. There was a campaign on social media,' he added. However, Tomar agreed that he failed to read the emotions of the Indian audience, saying the match between India and Pakistan should not have been scheduled in the first place. 'I felt really bad. You raised questions about me; I get that. But you raised questions on Yuvraj Singh, who was battling cancer, and still he played the World Cup. We are Indians, we are emotional. We were being bashed on social media, and we didn't want to do anything wrong. We failed to read the emotions, and it was premature on our part to want to go ahead with the match,' said the WCL owner. 'The entire Indian team had the stance of not going ahead with the match against Pakistan. All 15 players decided not to play against Pakistan,' he concluded.
India.com
13 hours ago
- India.com
Shubman Gill Recreates Virat Kohli's 2016 Magic: 1,800+ Runs in Just 7 Months In 3 Different Formats
photoDetails english 2940655 Updated:Aug 03, 2025, 08:34 AM IST Baton Passes 1 / 8 Here's a look at two of Indian cricket's most spectacular years. In 2016, Virat Kohli set an impossible standard for batting across all formats. Now, a decade later, Shubman Gill is having a year that seems to be echoing that very same benchmark, showcasing a similar level of multi-format dominance and consistency. ODI Greatness 2 / 8 In 2016, Virat Kohli was a dominant force in ODIs, amassing a staggering 739 runs in just 10 innings. A decade later, Shubman Gill delivered a similar performance on a smaller stage, scoring a magnificent 447 runs in the Champions Trophy. Both performances showcased a relentless ability to score runs under pressure. IPL Dominance 3 / 8 The T20 format saw both players at the peak of their powers in their respective years. In 2016, Virat Kohli set the IPL alight with an incredible 641 runs, including four centuries. In 2025, Shubman Gill followed suit, scoring a brilliant 650 runs to lead his team from the front, proving his mettle in the high-pressure league. Test Match Prowess 4 / 8 The long format of the game also saw a similar level of excellence. Virat Kohli had a magnificent 2016, scoring a massive 1215 runs over 18 innings. Shubman Gill's Test performance in 2025 was equally brilliant in a single series, as he scored a phenomenal 754 runs against England, showcasing his prowess in red-ball cricket. The Golden Standard of 2016 5 / 8 Virat Kohli's 2016 stands as a golden standard in cricket, a year where he shattered records and redefined consistency. His collective performances across ODIs, T20Is, and Tests remain a benchmark for batting excellence. It was a period that saw him elevate his game to a level few have ever reached. New Era Begins 6 / 8 While Kohli's 2016 stands alone, Shubman Gill's 2025 is a powerful echo of that same multi-format brilliance. His ability to perform with exceptional skill across different formats and pressure situations is a testament to his class. His monumental Test series against England is a perfect example of his ability to excel on the biggest stage. A Legacy of All-Format Excellence 7 / 8 Both players have shown a remarkable ability to adapt and dominate across all three formats of the game. Their incredible years are defined not just by the sheer volume of runs, but by their unflinching consistency and hunger for big scores. They are a true embodiment of the modern, all-format batsman. Still 5 Months Left 8 / 8 While Virat amassed 2,595 runs in international cricket in 2016 and 973 runs in IPL, Shubman has big shoes to fill but still has 5 months left in the year to score more runs.
