Latest news with #DelhiCapitals
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Wiser, sharper and hungrier: Shafali Verma's next chapter as India player set to begin in England
New Delhi: In September 2019, a teenager with a jaw-dropping bat swing and a fearless attitude lit up Indian cricket. Shafali Verma, then just 15, exploded onto the international scene with a power game that left many opposition bowlers rattled. But in sports, evolution is inevitable, and in Shafali's case, it became essential. As India kick off its five-match T20I series against England in Nottingham, Shafali, now 21, returns to the national fold with the same aggression, but now layered with wisdom, sharpness in the game and a desire to get bigger scores at the international level. Dropped from the national set-up for almost eight months after last year's T20 World Cup and lean scores in subsequent ODI series against New Zealand, Shafali's tough times deepened as her father Sanjeev suffered a heart attack and was in the hospital. With the domestic season looming and Sanjeev pushing her through practice despite his own recovery needs, Shafali rigorously trained, improving fitness and honing her skills to now be back in national reckoning. The results have been there to see: Shafali was the leading run-scorer in the 2024/25 Senior Women's One-Day Trophy via 527 runs coming at an average of 75.29 and strike rate of 152.31. The Senior Women's One-Day Challenger Trophy was the next tournament to bring up big runs - 414 runs, at an average of 82.8 and strike rate of 145.26. A steady showing for Delhi Capitals in the 2025 Women's Premier League (WPL) - Shafali amassed 304 runs from nine innings with a strike rate of 152.76 – to be the side's leading run-getter. All of this was enough for Shafali to get back into the Indian team, albeit for the T20I tour. 'Everyone here is feeling good with her return to the Indian team and hopefully, she will do well. Our HCA camps, trainers, coaches - all of us had a role to play. Whenever she came to the academy, she spent time working on her game with us.' 'As they say in Bollywood terms, the superb first show on a film's release day, her entry in the Indian team was very much in that way. But as compared to the explosion she made suddenly in 2019, she is now back in the team with maturity and is keen on taking full responsibility in terms of how a senior player should play, and this is kind of hope everyone has from her now,' said Ashwani Kumar, Shafali's coach at the Shri Ram Narain Cricket Club in Rohtak, to IANS. Expanding on Shafali's development, Ashwani, a former Ranji Trophy player, highlighted her focus on shot selection. 'It happens many times that early shot selection wouldn't let her carry forward in the innings. But if you are against good bowling which is more aggressive all of a sudden, then how would you tackle that mentally - we chatted around these things and she took it very seriously.' Though Shafali continued to play her swashbuckling big hits, there was a visible restraint - an effort to value her wicket and bat deeper into the innings. According to Milap Mewada, fielding coach at Delhi Capitals in WPL 2025, this is precisely the next step in her evolution as an opening batter. 'No doubt in T20, you look to hit almost every ball and if you play 50 T20 games, there are 2-3 opportunities where you will bat for at least 20 overs as an opener. So I would love to see if she plays 65 balls at least in these T20 games. I want to see her play long first, and put a tag on her wicket, and don't give her wicket easily.' 'When a player gets dropped once or twice, then they realise the value of the India comeback. So I feel whatever happened was good, and I always believe that she will take learnings of last few months very far in her career. So the India T20I comeback has been very timely.' 'I feel her return to Indian team has happened at the right time because in WPL, she was scoring high. No doubt, 2-3 times she got out on 40s, but if she understands how to pass through that event, where she would often lost her wicket, then she can go for another 40-50 runs,' Mewada told IANS. Another important factor Mewada, who came off a stint with Afghanistan senior and emerging teams as their batting coach, noticed about Shafali was her putting in hard yards to counter her issues against short balls. 'While at DC, she was working on facing short balls and the ones going above abdomen height, as facing them was a little difficult for her previously.' 'But at the same time, she didn't get out that much of it. In T20s, even the bowler has limited overs and balls to bowl. So she was trying to elevate herself and optimise this situation - so that was a good sign.' That ability to play a longer innings - along with the importance of strike rotation to build her innings - could be Shafali's ticket to India's ODI team, especially in a World Cup year. Though Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol are in India's top order alongside Smriti Mandhana, Ashwani agrees the T20I series against England could shape Shafali's path for coming back into ODIs. 'The performances in this series hold huge importance in terms of her coming back to the ODI team. When people are tasked with making a comeback to the national team, a lot of them will say that something wrong happened with them due to this or that. But she understood it well why she got dropped and credit goes to her.' 'Here, the biggest principle of coaching is when a child knows what mistake she is making, then she has a chance to improve. If the children or anyone else does not know what mistake was made or is not ready to accept it, then the scope of improvement and comeback ends there,' says Ashwani. Mewada too expressed a similar sentiment. 'For how long did all the in-form openers in IPL 2025 lasted in their innings? They played nearly till the end or few lasted till the 20th over. If Shafali plays 15 or 16 overs in T20Is, she can even score a hundred.' 'She can capitalise on the powerplay and then play for long, which in turn will get her a chance to play in ODIs. I believe if she gets a start, then she should take it forward. When at DC, I would see her batting and thank God for making a very good player like her,' he added. While Shafali's batting is outstanding, Mewada notes that her fitness and fielding remain areas of further improvement. 'Suppose if I want to improve my fitness, I have to sweat out. If someone else sweats out, I cannot improve my fitness, and so I will have to work hard for that.' 'In the next 2-3 years, if her fitness improves, then her fielding will improve. For that, she has to conceive a pro-level thought process. But at the same time, she has a very good pair of safe hands. No matter how fast a batter hits a shot, she catches it easily because she is not afraid of catching it. But the only thing is her movement part which depends on her fitness.' 'Like going from point A to point B, how much time does she take to go? So that time if she can minimise, through improved fitness and speed, she will be the number one fielder. Then her running between wickets will be good and speed of reaching the ball will increase in fielding.' 'She can be a wonderful fielder because her pair of hands are safe. But she has to push herself for a lot of fitness training and have that mentality of 'I should be the fittest in the Indian team'. Shafali is like a jet engine who needs jet fuel to run her plane – and then only she can soar higher in all aspects of the game,' he elaborated. Shafali's strong performances in the T20I series against England could lead to her return to the Indian ODI team, a decision the Neetu David-led selection committee will then have to make before the World Cup takes centrestage. It's because no other female cricketer in India can rival Shafali's extraordinary abilities with the bat. The fireworks with the bat are still there - but now, there's a spark of something steadier, as England might witness the start of a new and mature chapter of Shafali's career as an Indian cricketer.
India.com
7 hours ago
- Sport
- India.com
From Hardik to Boult: Top IPL Trades That Rocked The League; Is Sanju To CSK Next?
photoDetails english 2923442 Updated:Jun 28, 2025, 11:45 AM IST Will Sanju Join CSK? 1 / 8 Reportedly, Sanju Samson is all set to be traded to Chennai Super Kings in exchange for Shivam Dube and Ravi Ashwin in IPL 2026. This potential deal has caught the attention of fans and experts alike, as it could drastically change the dynamics of both teams for the upcoming season. The Importance of IPL Trades 2 / 8 Trades in the IPL are often game-changing, influencing not just team strategies but also the fortunes of franchises. Throughout the years, several iconic trades have shifted the balance of power in the league, creating new champions and rivalries. Lets Take a look at Blockbuster trades in the past. Hardik Pandya: Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians 3 / 8 One of the most talked-about trades, IPL winning skipper Hardik Pandya's move from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians for a hefty 15cr cash deal sparked significant debate. This trade was instrumental in stabilizing Mumbai's lineup after several seasons of instability. Cameron Green: Mumbai Indians to Royal Challengers Bangalore 4 / 8 Following Hardik Pandya's trade, Mumbai Indians offloaded Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bangalore. This trade saw RCB securing a talented all-rounder, while Mumbai freed up valuable funds for the auction, making it one of the strategic moves in IPL history. Trent Boult: Delhi Capitals to Mumbai Indians 5 / 8 Trent Boult's trade from Delhi Capitals to Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2020 proved costly for DC. Boult played a key role in MI's triumphs, tormenting DC in all their encounters, including the final, making this trade one of the most impactful in IPL history. Ravichandran Ashwin: Punjab Kings to Delhi Capitals 6 / 8 Ravichandran Ashwin's move from Punjab Kings to Delhi Capitals helped DC strengthen their bowling attack. The experienced off-spinner's contributions with the ball, particularly in the powerplay, played a pivotal role in their successful seasons post-trade. Quinton de Kock: Royal Challengers Bangalore to Mumbai Indians 7 / 8 In 2018, Mumbai Indians secured Quinton de Kock from Royal Challengers Bangalore in a deal worth 1.9cr. The explosive batsman provided a solid foundation at the top of the order, contributing significantly to Mumbai's dominance in the IPL during his tenure. Trades That Shaped IPL History 8 / 8 Trades in IPL aren't just about transfers; they're strategic moves that alter team fortunes. Whether it's Sanju Samson's potential trade to CSK or the historic deals of the past, each trade has had a massive impact on how teams perform, making IPL one of the most unpredictable and exciting leagues.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ajinkya Rahane gets his own YouTube channel, joins the list of Indian cricketers in the creator space
India's seasoned batter Ajinkya Rahane has launched his official YouTube channel on June 20, marking a fresh chapter to his career. His entry into the creator space will show fans insightful content focused on the game he knows best. His first video saw him speak about India's ongoing Test series against England. He also gave an in-depth analysis of the first Test match, which saw the Shubman Gill-led India lose by five wickets. Rahane's channel will also deliver thoughtful cricket analysis, while sharing personal experiences, and offering behind-the-scenes look at life as a professional cricketer. He also joins a growing list of Indian cricketers who've turned to YouTube to engage with fans. Let's have a look at other cricketers who are using this platform. Ravichandran Ashwin The former India spinner launched his primary YouTube channel, called Ashwin, in April 2020. The channel features a range of cricket-related content, with the cricketer regularly appearing in videos to share insights, match analysis, and Indian Premier League (IPL) discussions - primarily in Tamil. He later expanded his reach with a second channel, Ash Ki Baat, aimed at Hindi-speaking viewers. This channel offers similar cricket content, presented entirely in Hindi, allowing Ashwin to connect with a broader national audience. Jasprit Bumrah Announcing the launch on social media, Bumrah said he was excited to connect with fans in a more direct and authentic way. The channel is designed to showcase a side of him rarely seen in the spotlight - making it a space for candid stories, exclusive content, and a deeper connection beyond the game. Shikhar Dhawan The former Indian cricketer launched his YouTube channel on October 22, 2021. According to the channel description, he identifies as a professional cricketer, philanthropist, and entertainer. He also runs a sports academy and a center of excellence, both of which he had established earlier - as noted in one of his video descriptions. His content mainly features YouTube Shorts, showcasing him playing cricket, dancing, or sharing humorous reels. The channel blends fun, fitness, and entertainment, giving fans a light-hearted glimpse into his post-cricket life. Arshdeep Singh The Indian fast bowler created his YouTube channel on October 20, 2015, but began posting regularly during the IPL 2025 season. His content includes travel vlogs with the Indian or IPL team, Q&A sessions, and personal moments - like surprising his mother with a brand-new car. Fans have been loving the lighter, funnier side of the pacer, who is known for his ever-jovial personality both on and off the field. His channel offers a refreshing mix of humour, warmth, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into his life beyond cricket. Rishabh Pant Launched on May 18, 2024, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter's YouTube channel offers fans a peek into his personal life and love for cricket. A day after Delhi Capitals (DC) were knocked out of the IPL 2024 league stage, Rishabh Pant announced the launch of the channel inviting viewers to join him beyond the boundary. Through vlogs and candid content, Pant shares moments off the pitch - capturing his journey, recovery, and passion for the game in a more personal, relatable way. Stay ahead of the game with the latest updates, match highlights, and insider stories from IPL, WTC, cricket, WWE, and more! Click here.
India Today
a day ago
- Sport
- India Today
Country first: How KL Rahul paused new dad duties to prepare for England tour
Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani has hailed KL Rahul's unwavering commitment to Indian cricket, highlighting how the senior batter chose country over comfort by flying to England early - just weeks after becoming a father for the first now the senior-most batter in the Indian Test side following the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, welcomed his first child with wife Athiya Shetty in March. Despite the emotional demands of early fatherhood and having just come off a taxing IPL 2025 campaign, Rahul voluntarily made himself available for the India 'A' tour to England, featuring in the second unofficial Test against the England early arrival and proactive approach bore immediate fruit. Opening the batting in the India A match, Rahul struck a composed century, setting the tone for his red-ball form on English soil. He carried that momentum into the first official Test at Leeds, scoring a gritty second-innings hundred. Rahul began the England tour with a bang in Leeds, scoring 42 and 137 in the first Test. Including his performances in the unofficial (India 'A') and official matches, he now has scores of 116, 51, 42, and 137 across four innings on this on Rahul's commitment, Badani shared a personal anecdote that spoke volumes about the wicketkeeper-batter's priorities."Country first, Hemang bhai. I care for this team," Rahul told him before leaving for England, Badani revealed to The Times of really liked the fact that he was someone who said, 'I want to go to England early. I want to play the side game.' Forget about the hundred he got - that came later. The intent - that's what matters. The intent to be there early, to be prepared, to be with the side. Let's not forget, he's a young father, and I don't think his child is travelling with him initially. So for him to say, 'Country over my child' - that's a huge form has been exemplary on the tour so far, with scores of 116 and 51 in the unofficial game, followed by 42 and 137 in the opening Test. His experience and presence have proved invaluable to a relatively young Indian side navigating a transition phase."He could've easily said, 'I'm not playing the side game anyway, I'll just go straight to the Test match.' But he didn't," he revealed that KL Rahul told him he cared deeply for the Indian team and wanted to travel to England early to prepare better."KL made a statement I remember ahead of the Test series: 'I care for this team, and I want to be here.' He wanted to go to England. I could see the hunger in his eyes and in his words. In the absence of Rohit and Virat, he becomes the senior-most batter - and he has played that role really well," the DC coach said.- EndsMust Watch
NDTV
2 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
"Country Over My Child": KL Rahul's 'Huge Call' Before India v England Test Series Revealed
India's star batter KL Rahul had a good start to the England Test series. He scored 42 runs in his first innings and followed it up with a well-crafted 137, albeit in a losing cause in the first Test in Leeds. Rahul has been opening the batting for India in the ongoing series after Rohit Sharma called time on his career in May this year. Rahul, who has mostly been used as a floater in India's batting line-up, has lived up to the expectations so far. Talking about his performance in the first Test against England, the credit for it goes to his commitment. Despite welcoming his baby in March, Rahul left no stone unturned to prepare himself for the England Test series. Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani has pointed out Rahul's commitment. He said that the player preferred the country over his newborn. "I really liked the fact that he was someone who said, 'I want to go to England early. I want to play the side game.' Forget about the hundred he got - that came later. The intent - that's what matters. The intent to be there early, to be prepared, to be with the side. Let's not forget, he's a young father, and I don't think his child is travelling with him initially. So for him to say, 'Country over my child' - that's a huge call," Hemang Badani told Times of India. "He could've easily said, 'I'm not playing the side game anyway, I'll just go straight to the Test match.' But he didn't," he added. Rahul was part of the Intra-Squad match that took place between India and India A. This was the only match simulation for the Indian cricket team ahead of the games vs England. "KL made a statement I remember ahead of the Test series: 'I care for this team, and I want to be here.' He wanted to go to England. I could see the hunger in his eyes and in his words. In the absence of Rohit and Virat, he becomes the senior-most batter - and he has played that role really well," said Badani. "He's played in England before. And in terms of maturity and technique, you can clearly see he's more focused now. He knows he has to fill the vacuum left behind. The rest of the squad - apart from Karun - are mostly under 30. So he has to guide players like Sai Sudharsan, Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Nitish Kumar Reddy - all of whom are new to this level," he added.
