Team Indian cricketers are enjoying a lengthy break after their disappointing loss in the World Test Championship Final to New Zealand last month and on Tuesday (July 7), pacer Jasprit Bumrah chose to spend quality time with his better-half, Sanjana Ganesan, and that too at the Wembley stadium where the couple enjoyed Euro 2020 semifinal match between Italy and Spain.

Sanjana took to her social media handles to share a picture with Bumrah where the couple can be seen posing in the stands at Wembley stadium. However, the picture wasn’t met with great responses as many people questioned the couple for not wearing masks while suggesting that COVID-19 is still pretty much there in England and the star couple should have worn masks while attending the match.

Here are some reactions:

Mask wask laga ke rakho bhabhi. Situation in London is not good

— Dev Singh (@itsDevRA) July 7, 2021

Looking great together 
Bs mask pehn kr rkho , Eng is no more safe

— Robin Saroy (@RobinSaroy2002) July 7, 2021

Where is mask ??

—   (@AlwaysHitler45_) July 7, 2021

Notably, on Tuesday (July 6), seven members of the England men’s cricket team tested positive for COVID-19 and the entire team has gone into isolation because of the same, after which England had to announce an entirely new squad for the Pakistan ODI series.

Meanwhile, India’s Test regulars are making the most of their time away from the sport during their 20-day-long break in the UK. Earlier, wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant attended the England vs Germany Round of 16 game, and recently, head coach Ravi Shastri and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin attended Wimbledon 2021 games.

India will take on England in five-match Test series starting from August 4.

The five-match Test series between India and England will start next month. Team India’s star spinner R Ashwin, however, may play a Test game before the Test series against England. After getting a working visa, R Ashwin might reportedly play a first-class match for England’s county team Surrey. 

If Ashwin gets his work visa on time, he can play in the county match for Surrey from July 11. Ashwin is currently on a break like rest of his team members. Ashwin has played county cricket in the past as well. He has played county cricket for Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire.

If Ashwin gets a work visa for Surrey’s match against Somerset at The Oval, it could prove to be a good opportunity for him to practice on English soil before the Ind vs Eng Test series.

READ | Tokyo Stops Olympic Torch Relay In Light of Covid-19.

Team India will also play a practice match 

The fourth match of the India and England Test series will be played at The Oval. Reports claim that it is more or less confirmed that Ashwin will play a county match for Surrey, pending a formal announcement. 

After losing the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, Indian captain Virat Kohli said that the team demanded a first-class match before the title match but, he is not aware as to why it did not happen.

India is expected to play practice match before the Test series against England. The England and Wales Cricket Board has already said that it plans to organize a warm-up match for India against the combined county team ahead of the Test series.

Team India players are currently enjoying their holidays in England as BCCI allowed them a 20-day break before the five-match Test series against England.

During the break, most of the players are in London or its surrounding areas and are spending time with their families, while some have also gone to visit the countryside.

After this break, the players of the Indian team will gather in London on July 14. Indian captain Virat Kohli is not missing any chance to work hard and train himself even during the break. The star player shared a video on Tuesday, in which he was seen doing some intense workout.

New cases of Covid-19 are increasing continuously in England and in such a situation, all players and support staff members of India will be given a second dose of vaccination on July 7 and July 9, news agency ANI reported. Indian players have already received the first dose of Covishield vaccine in India.

Reportedly, most of the players are enjoying holiday in London and surrounding areas.  Players who had received the first dose of Covishield vaccine in India are now ready to take the second vaccine. Full immunization of Indian players has become extremely necessary as there have been several cases of the Coronavirus in the England team.

After seven members of the England cricket team, including three players, were found to be Covid positive, it has become more important for the Indian team to be given vaccine doses for their safety.

ECB had to select a completely new team for the limited overs series against Pakistan after seven members, including players in England’s men’s team, tested Covid-19 positive.

After losing the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final against New Zealand, Indian cricket team players are currently enjoying a 20-day break with their family in England’s Southampton. After the break, Team India is scheduled to play a five-match Test series against England from August 4, for which the players will enter the bio-bubble in London from July 14 and then start preparing for the Test series.

Before the India vs England Test series, Team India also has to play a three-day practice match against Select County XI. Meanwhile, there are reports that the players of the Indian team will be administered the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine before entering the bio-bubble.

READ | Happy Birthday MS Dhoni: 5 Bold Decisions By Mahi That Proved Game-Changer For Indian Cricket

News agency ANI has quoted sources as saying that the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine will be given to the players of Team India on July 7 and 9.  The source said, “The second dose has been planned for the cricketers and they will be given the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday and Friday.”

The Indian team touring England has already been given the first dose of the Covidshield vaccine. Covishield has been developed in India by AstraZeneca and Serum Institute of India.

After seven members of the England cricket team, including three players, were found to be Covid positive, it has become more important for the Indian team to be given vaccine doses for their safety.

ECB had to select a completely new team for the limited overs series against Pakistan after seven members, including players in England’s men’s team, tested Covid-19 positive.

New Delhi: Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri had an argument with the selectors of team India. The issue was about the replacement of the injured opener, Shubhman Gill. Team management has asked for Prithvi Shaw and Devdutt Padikkal who are currently part of India’s T20 and ODI squad. 

From what is being reported, it looks like all is not well between the Indian team’s management and the selection committee. Chief selector Chetan Sharma also pointed fingers towards the BCCI’s operations. 

As per sources, the team manager has written an email to the selectors regarding Shaw and Padikkal, but haven’t received any reply yet from the selectors. If sources are to be believed the selectors are ‘not happy’ with this demand. 

Also Read | ‘You’re Insulting Young Cricketers’: Kapil Dev On Including Prithvi Shaw As Third Opener

Virat and Shastri say that they need two replacements as the series in England is going to be a long one. “They (BCCI) sent just 24 cricketers to England, of which four are standbys. Abhimanyu Easwaran has done well in First-Class cricket but is it fair to make him debut against James Anderson, Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad. KL Rahul is not being considered as an opener but in the middle-order. So, if Gill’s injury demands a replacement, and if there’s time to fly in one, what’s the harm?” asked a source as quoted by TOI. 

Rahul Dravid too is in a state of dilemma after this situation has come up as he is currently coaching India’s ODI team which included Prithvi Shaw and Devdutt Padikkal. 

After Shubman Gill’s stress fracture on the left shin, there have been many reports emerging about the need for a third opening batsman. A report in TOI has suggested that the team management (read Kohli and Shastri) want Prithvi Shaw as the third option. Many including Kapil Dev think that bringing Shaw as an opener in the team when the team already has Rahul and Agarwal calls for an “unnecessary controversy”. 

India vs England

The Indian Test squad is currently on a two-week break in the United Kingdom after playing the ICC World Test Championship Final against New Zealand last month. But, Kohli once again showed why he is a fitness freak as the 32-year-old cricketer took to Instagram to share a video of his intense workout on Tuesday (July 6).

India skipper Virat Kohli and boys are currently on a break in the UK ahead of the five-match Test series against England and the cricketers will be administered their second dose of COVID-19 vaccines on July 7 and 9.

Speaking to ANI, sources in the know of developments said the second round of vaccination has been planned for the boys.

“The second dosage has been planned for the cricketers and they will be vaccinated on Wednesday and Friday,” the source said.

While the Team India players are currently on a break after the completion of the World Test Championship, they are set to go into quarantine in Durham from July 14.

The Indian players are also set to play a warm-up game from July 20 to 22 after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requested the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to arrange for a practice game before the first Test gets underway on August 4.

While speaking to the media in the virtual press conference at the end of the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, Kohli had said his side wanted first-class games ahead of the series against England, but they have not been given that.

Meanwhile, India opener Shubman Gill has been ruled out for eight weeks after he suffered a shin injury post the final encounter at Ageas Bowl in Southampton. Incidentally, pacer Ishant Sharma had suffered an injury to his bowling hand while stopping a ball during the WTC final at the Ageas Bowl and had to get three stitches. But the pacer is set to be fit in time for the England Tests.

“Ishant hurt his bowling hand while stopping the ball and had to get three stitches. But he will be ready for the Tests against England which starts on August 4,” a source had said.

The five-match Test series between India and England, beginning from August 4 is set to be played in front of full capacity crowds after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday announced the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

The British PM said that they will lift the limit on the number of people attending concerts and sports events.

“We’ll move away from legal restrictions and allow people to make their own informed decisions about how to manage the virus,” Sky Sports quoted British PM as saying.

“From step four we will remove all legal limits on the numbers meeting indoors and outdoors. We will allow all businesses to reopen, including nightclubs, we will lift the limit on named visitors to care homes and the numbers of people attending concerts, theatre, and sports events,” he added.

The matches in the UK have been either played behind closed doors or have been opened to crowds with restricted numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“BREAKING: Full capacities will be allowed back in stadiums from the 19th of July,” England’s Barmy Army supporters of the England cricket team tweeted.

BREAKING: Full capacities will be allowed back in stadiums from the 19th of July  pic.twitter.com/28XDEC2bf7

— England’s Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) July 5, 2021

Reacting to the Tweet, England fast bowler Stuart Broad expressed excitement as he pointed out towards the first Test between the two sides which gets underway from August 4 in Nottingham.

“Trent Bridge 1st Test Vs India,” Broad tweeted.

Trent Bridge 1st Test Vs India  https://t.co/6UzGAnPvIz

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) July 5, 2021

The WTC final between India and New Zealand last month was played in front of limited fans.

After the WTC final, the Indian team got a 20-day break and the side will regroup in Durham around July 14. The Indian team is also set to play a warm-up game before the series starts. India and England are slated to lock horns in five Tests, beginning August 4.

Meanwhile, opening batsman Shubman Gill Gill injured his shin and has been ruled out for eight weeks. The batsman is unlikely to be a part of the first half of the five-Test series against England.

New Delhi: After Shubman Gill’s stress fracture on the left shin, there have been many reports emerging about the need for a third opening batsman. A report in TOI has suggested that the team management (read Kohli and Shastri) want Prithvi Shaw as the third option. India’s World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev has taken a different view on the situation and said that “It will be insulting” for players who are already waiting for the opening spot in the Test team. 

India is set to play a 5-match Test series in England from August 4 and is looking for opening batting options after Gill got injured.

Kapil Dev thinks that including Shaw as an opener in the team when the team already has Rahul and Agarwal calls for an “unnecessary controversy”. 

“We should respect the selectors. I am sure, the team would have been selected with their (Shastri ad Kohli) consultation. We have such brilliant openers, I don’t think it is right to look for a third option when we already have Mayank and KL Rahul,” Kapil Dev said on Wah Cricket, ABP News. 

England fast bowler Ollie Robinson, who was banned last month for his old racist and sexist tweets, got a major relief from England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). ECB on Saturday approved Ollie Robinson to play cricket.

Robinson had to face a lot of criticism for his old tweets. Robinson, however, gave an amazing performance in his debut Test against New Zealand. The speedster managed to take seven wickets in his first match. Robinson’s selection for the five-Test series against India to be played in August-September is almost certain.

READ | ‘Ready To Miss T20 World Cup To Be…’: Injured Steve Smith’s Big Statement

“Following a hearing on 30 June, the Discipline Commission Panel decided that Robinson should be suspended from playing cricket for eight matches, five of which will be suspended for two years,” read the judgement.

“As regards the three matches which are the subject of immediate suspension, the Panel has taken into account the suspension imposed by the England Team from the second Test against New Zealand, together with two of the T20 matches from which Robinson voluntarily withdrew himself from selection for Sussex due to the impact of these proceedings.

“Robinson is therefore free to play cricket immediately.”

The Panel said they took several factors into account in reaching their decision.

“The Panel took into account a number of factors including the nature and content of the tweets, the breadth of their discrimination, their widespread dissemination in the media and the magnitude of the audience to whom they became available,” they said.

“The Panel also considered there was significant mitigation, including the time that had elapsed since the tweets were posted, and a number of personal references which demonstrated that Robinson, who chose to address the Panel, is a very different person to the one who sent the tweets.

“It also took account of his remorse, admissions and cooperation as well as the huge impact which the revelation of these tweets and its consequences have had upon him and his family.”

Indian women’s Test and ODI team captain Mithali Raj has set a new world record on Saturday. She became the highest run-scorer in international cricket in women’s international cricket.

Mithali achieved this feat in the third ODI against England. She surpassed former England captain Charlotte Edwards to attain this big feat. Mithali now has 10277 runs in all three formats.

READ | Two West Indies Players Faint On Field In T20 Against Pakistan, Match Continued

The 38-year-old broke Charlotte Edwards’ record of 10273 runs in the 24th over while chasing a target of 220 runs in the third ODI against England. Mithali made a new world record by hitting a four off fast bowler Nat Sciver. New Zealand’s Suzie Bates is at number three in the list of highest run-scorers with 7849 runs.

At the 11th edition of the World Cup on July 12, 2017, Mithali had surpassed Charlotte Edwards to become the highest run-scorer in ODIs. In a match against Australia, she became the first woman cricketer to score 6000 runs in ODI format.

Mithali scored fifty in the first two matches of the three-match ODI series against England. The star player has scored 57 fifties in ODIs. Mithali Raj retired from T20 cricket in the year 2019.

In 89 T20 Internationals, Mithali has scored 2364 runs with the help of 17 fifties. Mithali Raj has scored 669 runs in 11 Tests with the help of 1 century and 4 fifties. Last month, she became the only second international cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to complete 22 years in international cricket. Mithali Raj is one win away from becoming the most successful captain in women’s ODIs.

India skipper Mithali Raj has recovered from the neck pain and will lead the team against England in the third and final game here on Saturday. Mithali had felt the pain during the second women’s ODI against England.

Vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur had led the side in England’s run chase in the second game after Mithali did not take the field after scoring her second successive half-century of the series.

Also Read|Mithali Raj Now Has More ODI 50s In England Than Dravid, Kohli & Rohit

“Captain @M_Raj03 has recovered and is training with the girls as we prepare for the 3rd WODI tomorrow here at New Road, Worcester,” the BCCI tweeted with photos of Mithali training with the team.

Having already lost the series, India will be looking for a consolation win in the third ODI.

In the second ODI of the series, the bowlers raised the level of their game and performed better, but the team faced defeat due to poor batting performance. The fall of wickets at frequent intervals increases pressure on Mithali Raj, and adversely affects her batting performance. 

The biggest concern for the team is the shoddy batting of vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur, whose performance has not been consistent for the last 4 years. After a brilliant inning of 171 runs in the 2017 World Cup against Australia, she has scored half-centuries in only two matches. During this period, she got the opportunity to bat 22 times in 28 matches. 

The inability of players like Mithali, Jemima Rodrigues, Poonam Raut, Deepti Sharma, and Tania Bhatia to play big shots increases pressure on openers Smriti Mandhana and 17-year-old Shefali Verma. 

The teams are as follows-

India: Mithali Raj (Captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Poonam Raut, Harmanpreet Kaur (Vice Captain), Deepti Sharma, Tania Bhatia (WK), Sneh Rana, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Jemima Rodrigues, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar , Ekta Bisht, Radha Yadav, Poonam Yadav, Priya Poonia, Indrani Roy (wk). 

England: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Kate Cross, Nate Sciver, Sophia Dunkley, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Anya Shrubsole, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Amy Jones (wk), Freya Davies, Tash Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Maddy Villiers, Fran Wilson, Sarah Glenn, Emily Arlott. 

Karachi: Pakistan’s former wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal said that he was shocked to see a young Virat Kohli playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008 IPL. Akmal also played for Rajasthan Royals during IPL 2008. 

“I had played the first edition of the IPL. At that time, I was so surprised when I saw Virat Kohli. I used to wonder what cricket he would play at such a young age,” Akmal said on Sawera Pasha’s YouTube Channel. “He became a brilliant captain and proved his metal,” Akmal added. 

Virat Kohli had just scored 165 runs in 13 matches in IPL 2008 but eventually, he became the highest run-scorer in the T20 league. 

“But he has changed himself totally now, and he has become a role model for youngsters,” Kamran Akmal added.
Kamran Akmal was all praises for the Indian captain and said that Virat is an amazing player and winning tournaments is just a matter of luck. 

“He is an amazing player, amazing captain, and no one can guarantee that if India changes the captain, they will win ICC tournaments. It is a matter of luck,” he concluded.

“There is this culture in India and Pakistan to defame players through media but I think Virat must be getting affected by any of this. It is not easy to be so consistent in cricket. He is so strong mentally. To have 70 centuries at such an age is not easy.

“One Test match loss should not be a point to question his (Virat’s) captaincy. India should win 4 out of 5 Test matches in England, they have such a great team,” Kamran concluded. 

“

Team India head coach Ravi Shastri on Thursday took some time off and went to watch Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer’s second-round match in the ongoing Wimbledon tournament on Centre Court in London.

Federer will lock horns with French tennis player Richard Gasquet in the second round of the tournament on Centre Court.

Shastri shared a picture of him from the stadium on Thursday.

“Great to be back on a sunny day at @Wimbledon. Great tradition. Centre court beckons in a bit,” Shastri tweeted.

Great to be back on a sunny day at @Wimbledon. Great tradition. Centre court beckons in a bit  pic.twitter.com/tZ1PCIzhQr

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) July 1, 2021

On Tuesday, Federer had survived a scare in his opening match to register a win over Adrian Mannarino.

Federer staged a comeback against Mannarino to level the game before the French tennis player was forced to retire.

The game 6-4, 6-7(3), 3-6, 6-2 was at level with Federer winning the fourth set but Mannarino retired just at the start of the fifth essay and Swiss tennis maestro got a walkover.

In the first set Federer came out with flying colours but Mannarino levelled up against the star player after a dominant second set tie-break.

Mannarino stunned Federer in the third set when he won an easy game but the Grand Slam champion won the fourth set to stage a comeback and was finally given a walkover as he reached the second round of the tournament.

Earlier in the day, Star India player Sania Mirza and her doubles partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands sailed into the second round of the ongoing Wimbledon Championships.

Sania and her American partner easily defeated the doubles pair of Desirae Krawczyk and Alexa Guarachi in the first round of women’s doubles.

Krawczyk, Guarachi gave a tough fight to Sania and Mattek-Sands in the first set however, the Indian tennis star along with her partner clinched the opening set 7-5.

Riding on the winning momentum, Sania and Mattek-Sands thrashed sixth seed pair of Krawczyk- Guarachi in the second set with a 6-3 win to kick off the quest of Grand Slam in style.

Indian opener Shubman Gill could miss the entire five-Test series against England owing to an undisclosed internal injury, which might lead to standby Abhimanyu Easwaran making the main squad.

It is still not clear whether Gill’s condition warrants a surgery ahead of the series starting August 4.

‘There is a chance that Shubman could be ruled out of the whole Test tour even though it is still a month away. The injury is serious is what we have come to know,’ a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

It is believed that the Punjab batsman has either sustained a calf muscle injury or hamstring tear which could take considerable time to heal. It is not clear how and when he picked up the injury.

As of now, he is supposed to be in England where physio Nitin Patel and strength and conditioning coach Sohum Desai will monitor his progress.

Since it’s a five-Test series, there could be a slim outside chance that he might make a comeback in the final Test of the series.

Gill, one of the heroes of the Australia tour earlier this year, has not been in great form having failed to score a fifty in four successive Test matches and was troubled by the seam and swing against New Zealand in the World Test Championship final.

Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul are the other two openers in the squad and if Gill is ruled out, Easwaran is the likely replacement from the standby list.

New Delhi: International Cricket Council (ICC) has released a new schedule for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2. India vs England Pataudi series that is to be played from August 4 will mark the start of a new cycle of WTC. 

India will play against England, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Australia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh between the period of August 2021 to June 2023. ICC did announce some changes in the rules of the format for the second edition of WTC. 

In this cycle, each team plays six series’ with three series at home and three away. England vs India and Australia vs England (The Ashes) are the only two 5-match series in the entire WTC cycle. Rest all the matches are either two or three-Test match series with an exception of Australia vs India series that will have four matches. 

New Delhi: International Cricket Council (ICC) has released a new schedule for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2. India vs England Pataudi series that is to be played from August 4 will mark the start of a new cycle of WTC. 

India will play against England, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Australia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh between the period of August 2021 to June 2023. ICC did announce some changes in the rules of the format for the second edition of WTC. 

In this cycle, each team plays six series’ with three series at home and three away. England vs India and Australia vs England (The Ashes) are the only two 5-match series in the entire WTC cycle. Rest all the matches are either two or three-Test match series with an exception of Australia vs India series that will have four matches. 

The five-match Test series between India and England beginning on August 4 will start the second cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC).

India and England will be locking horns in the first Test from August 4 while Australia will play England in five Tests later this year in Ashes.

According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, these tours will be the only two series having five Test matches in the second WTC cycle.

As per the report, Australia will tour India in 2021 for four Tests. The ICC has not yet decided on the schedule and the venue for the summit clash.

Teams will play three home and as many away series and the tours which were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the opening WTC cycle will not be carried forward.

India will play 19 Tests while Australia and South Africa will lock horns in 15 matches. England will compete in 21 Tests the most by any team in the second WTC cycle.

ICC has decided to give each Test the same number of points. A tie will give each team six points while a draw will earn them four. 12 points will be given to the winning team for each match while one point can be deducted for slow over rates.

“Instead of each series being worth the same number of points, 120, irrespective of whether the series is played over two Tests or five Tests, the next cycle will see each match being worth the same number of points – a maximum of 12 per match,” ESPNcricinfo quoted ICC’s acting chief executive officer Geoff Allardice as saying.

“Teams will be ranked on the percentage of available points they won from the matches they have played.

“The aim was to try and simplify the points system and to allow teams to be meaningfully compared on the table at any point, though they may have played differing numbers of matches and series,” he said.

Virushka

The image was liked by more than 400,000 fans within 15 minutes of Anushka Sharma sharing it and moments later Kohli reposted the same picture on his Instagram account.

After losing the World Test Championship title against New Zealand, team India has completely shifted its focus on the upcoming five-match Test series against England.  India’s last three tours of England have made it clear that its batsmen struggle a lot while playing against the duke ball.

Team India last won a Test series in England in 2007 under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid, but then lost 0-4, 1-3, 1-4 in 2011, 2014 and 2018 respectively. There’s a need for consistent effort to turn things around this time and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar feels it can be started by altering India’s opening combination.

READ | Here’s When ‘Sixer King’ Yuvraj Singh Might Return To Competitive Cricket

Gavaskar feels that the Indian team management should try pairing Mayank and Gill in practice matches before fielding either Mayank Agarwal or Shubman Gill along with Rohit Sharma as the opener in international matches. 

“Mayank Agarwal has done a really good job for India, twice he’s scored a double century opening the innings. It’s a good thing that the BCCI and Jay Shah have taken the initiative to conduct some warm-up matches before the England Tests so there you can decide who between Gill and Agarwal can open for India,” Gavaskar told Sports Tak.

India have been playing with Rohit and Gill since the Test series against Australia at the end of last year.  But for 21-year-old Gill, technical mistakes are proving to be an issue for him. Gavaskar believes that making Gill and Mayank open together will reveal whose technique is better.

“Make them open the innings together because Rohit Sharma is a certainly and he can be rested for a game. That would give you an idea who has the better technique for English conditions. And then based on that, they can make a decision whether they want to play Mayank Agarwal or Shubman Gill.” 

The first ODI between the Indian women’s cricket team and the England women’s cricket team was played on Sunday in Bristol. Shefali Verma has created history by making her ODI debut for India. She has become the youngest Indian cricketer to debut for India in all three international formats of cricket. The sensational young cricketer scored 15 runs in her ODI debut.

Shefali, who hails from Haryana, took 17 years and 150 days to debut in all three formats of international cricket. She is at number five in the all-time list of youngest to debut in all three formats of international cricket. Mujeeb ur Rahman of Afghanistan is at the top of this list.

Mujeeb made his debut in all formats of international cricket at the age of 17 years and 78 days.  He is followed by England’s Sarah Taylor (17 years and 86 days), Australia’s Alice Perry (17 years and 104 days) and Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir (17 years and 108 days).

17-year-old Shafali Verma created history during the one-off Test between India and England. She broke the 26-year-old record to become the highest run-scorer Indian woman cricketer in a Test debut match. The teenager broke Chandrakanta Kaul’s (75 runs, 1995) record.

The Indian Women’s Cricket Team will start the ODI series against England from Sunday. The way the Indian team performed in the only Test match of the tour boosted their confidence. In this match, all eyes will be on Indian team’s young star Shafali Verma who is ready for her ODI debut.

Shefali made her debut in T20 and Test formats and now fans are eager to see her perform in ODIs.  Shefali has played 22 T20 Internationals so far in which she showcased her great batting form. Shefali was not selected for the last home ODI series against South Africa in which India had to face defeat.

The three-match ODI series will start from June 27. The third and last ODI match will be played on July 3. From July 9, the Indian women’s team will play a T20 series with England.

Where will the first ODI match between India and England women’s team be played?

The match between India and England women’s team will be played on Sunday, 26 June at the County Ground in Bristol.

When will the first ODI match between India and England women’s team start?

The ODI match between India and England women’s team will start at 3.30 pm Indian time. The toss will take place at 3 pm.

Where will the first ODI match between India and England women’s team be broadcast live?

The first ODI match between India and England women’s team will be telecast live on Sony Sports Network.

Where will be the live streaming of the first ODI match between India and England women’s team?

The live streaming of the first ODI match between India and England women’s team will be live streamed on Sony Liv.

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly is regarded as one of the most prominent member of Indian cricket. The Prince of Calcutta, a name given to the left-handed batsman by his fans, scripted many insipring stories during his playing days and many believe it was Ganguly, who instilled the ability to play fearless cricket in the Indian cricket setup.  

While India were engaged in the World Test Championship finals against New Zealand, which Virat Kohli and his unit lost by eight wickets, the former India skipper celebrated his 25th anniversary of his Test debut. 

The match, which was played at Lords, surely remains a memorable event for the BCCI President as he is among the rare players, who kicked-off his career by scoring a ton in his maiden Test. 

Taking the fans down the memory lane, Ganguly in a recent interaction with Star Sports, went on to narrate a few tales from the contest, which also involved batting legend Sachin Tendulkar. 

“Not many get to play their first Test at Lords and I remember fielding at point – a packed stadium at the Lords. And it has always been a happy hunting ground for me – every time I have gone back since my debut. I was in awe to walk down the long room on the first day and luckily we fielded. Otherwise, as a batsman, I was supposed to bat at No.3.”

“I got a 100 on a Saturday, which is probably the best day for Test cricket, with every seat being full. It was my Test debut and get to a 100. They say it can’t get better and the mindset of that Test match was remarkable.”

“As you said, at the back-stands you get cheers for every shot you hit and then finishing at tea time on a 100 was special.”

“I remember, during the tea, I was batting at 100 and I was mentally tired – more than physical – because, first 100, the emotions, the happiness, the highs make you tired as well. I was putting tape around the bat handle because it has just started to soften up, because of the bounce and the ball hitting at the top of the handle. I remember Sachin coming up to me and saying – you relax, have your cup of tea.”

“So, I remember those moments I walked into the dressing room and everybody was standing outside the dressing room to cheer me, because of my achievement,” said Ganguly. 

Ganguly scored a brilliant 131 runs on his Test debut and also picked three wickets in the contest, which ended in a draw. 

Former India skipper Navjot Singh Sidhu is not one to mince his words – whether it is in the political arena or on the cricket field or even in dressing room. One of Sidhu’s most controversial moment as a cricketer was back in 1996, when he decided to walk out of India’s England tour after a much-published falling out with then skipper Mohammed Azharduddin.

Many years later, former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jaywant Lele revealed what went on behind closed doors between Sidhu and Azhar. Lele in his autobiography, ‘I was There – Memoirs of a Cricket Administrator’ that Sidhu could not stomach the constant bad mouthing of Azharuddin and abandoned the tour in a huff.

“Everyday, when they met, he used to say ‘Good morning’, okay, but this was invariably followed by filthy words. At the hotel, at the nets, while passing on instructions, even while chatting with him, Azhar would address him with a prefix!

“Sidhu said he was terribly upset and decided it was not tolerable! He had not come on the tour to listen to abuses from the skipper. He was upset. so he decided to leave the team quietly,” Lele wrote in the book.

Former India batsman Mohinder Amarnath was part of a BCCI panel investigating Sidhu’s decision to leave the tour abruptly. “He (Amarnath) insisted that Sidhu tell him the words used by Azhar. Ultimately Sidhu came out with the words: ‘Maa ke……’!

“Finally, Mohinder told him ‘Dear Sherry, okay, this is an abuse in North India. But, believe me, this is a very common naughty address to a dear one in Hyderabadi, often used by even ladies there! It means mother’s dear child. While calling you with that prefix, Azhar was not showing slightest disrespect to you, leave aside any offence!” Lele wrote in his book.

Sidhu turned out in 51 Tests and 136 ODIs in an international career spanning 16 years. The Punjab batsman notched up 3202 Test runs at an average of 42.13 with nine centuries including a top-score of 201 against West Indies. In ODIs, he scored 4,413 runs at an average of 37.08 with six hundreds and 33 fifties.

His most famous ODI knock was probably the 93 he scored in the 1996 World Cup quarter-final against Pakistan. Sidhu was the one who stabilized the Indian innings before Ajay Jadeja’s famous assault on Waqar Younis which sealed an amazing Indian win.