Cricket - Loktej English

Abhishek Sharma's brilliance, scores the fastest T20 half-century for India in England

Loktej English Team — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 20:12:14 +0530

In the first T20 match between India and England, Abhishek Sharma became the fastest Indian to score a half-century on English soil, achieving it in just 20 balls. He scored a powerful 59 runs off just 24 balls, hitting 6 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 245.

Abhishek broke the record previously held by KL Rahul, who scored a half-century in 27 balls in a T20 match in 2018. In addition to Abhishek, captain Shreyas Iyer also showed great form, scoring 68 runs off 47 balls with the help of 6 fours and 1 six. However, Sanju Samson continued his poor performance from the Ireland series, getting out for just 1 run after facing 7 balls.

Ishan Kishan also failed to make an impact, getting run out without scoring. Tilak Varma scored 13 runs before getting out, while Shivam Dube remained unbeaten at 42 runs off 21 balls, hitting 2 fours and 3 sixes. Thanks to Shivam's explosive innings, the Indian team managed to score 189 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs.

However, the match was abandoned due to persistent rain that started after the Indian innings. The second match of the series is scheduled to be played on July 4 in Manchester.

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Announcement of Indian Team for Asian Games 2026, Harmanpreet Kaur tasked with defending the gold

Loktej English Team — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:22:43 +0530

Mumbai, June 30. The BCCI announced the Indian team for the Asian Games 2026 on Tuesday.

A 15-member Indian team has been announced under the captaincy of Harmanpreet Kaur. The selection committee has mostly relied on the same players who participated in the T20 World Cup. The BCCI made one change in the team, including left-handed batter and wicketkeeper G.

Kamalini in place of Yastika Bhatia. Team India will enter the 2026 Asian Games as the defending champion. The tournament will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from September 19 to October 4.

India had previously won a historic gold medal in the women's cricket competition at the Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China. In terms of the team, the batting responsibilities will rest on vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, along with Shefali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues. Star all-rounder Deepti Sharma will strengthen the middle order batting.

Richa Ghosh will take on the wicketkeeping responsibilities, with Kamalini included in the team as a backup wicketkeeper. For fast bowling, the responsibility will lie with swing specialist Renuka Singh Thakur and experienced Arundhati Reddy. Meanwhile, Radha Yadav and Shreyanka Patil will confuse opposing batsmen with spin.

The BCCI stated that Shreyanka's inclusion in the final squad will depend on her fitness clearance after being sidelined due to an ankle injury that kept her out of the T20 World Cup. The Indian squad for the Asian Games 2026 includes: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shefali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), G. Kamalini (wicketkeeper), Bharti Fulmali, Shri Charani, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil (fitness dependent), Radha Yadav, Nandini Sharma.

India A wins triangular series, defeats Sri Lanka A by 66 runs in final

Loktej English Team — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 12:16:20 +0530

Dambulla, June 21. India A has claimed the triangular series by defeating Sri Lanka A by 66 runs in the final.

In the match played in Dambulla, Sri Lanka on Sunday, India A batted first and scored 377 runs for 9 wickets in 50 overs. In response, Sri Lanka A was bowled out for 311 runs in 47.1 overs. The hero of India A's victory was 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who played a blistering innings of 94 runs off just 29 balls, hitting 11 sixes and 6 fours.

Vaibhav completed his half-century in just 11 balls, setting the record for the fastest fifty in List A cricket. Sri Lanka A had a poor start while chasing the big target of 378 runs. Opener Avishka Fernando was out for just 3 runs.

Following him, Niroshan Dickwella scored 25 runs off 17 balls before returning to the pavilion. The third wicket fell with Nuwandidu Fernando, who was out for 21 runs. After that, Sadira Samarawickrama and Sahan Arachchige tried to build the innings.

Both batsmen took the team's score past 100 runs, but Samarawickrama lost his wicket after scoring a half-century, making 52 runs off 44 balls with 9 fours. Ravindu Fernando was out for 19 runs at a score of 149. Arachchige also could not play a big innings and was out for 38 runs.

After that, V. Viyaskanth and Vanuja Sahan tried to bring the team closer to the target with a partnership of 77 runs, but first Viyaskanth scored 39 runs off 34 balls and then Vanuja Sahan returned to the pavilion after scoring 62 runs. In the 45th over of the innings, Dulaj Samuditha was out for 15 runs.

Finally, with the fall of Mohammad Shiraz's wicket, Sri Lanka's innings came to an end. Shiraz scored 21 runs. For India A, Yash Thakur and Vipraj Nigam took 3 wickets each.

Anukul Roy took 2 wickets, while Ashok Sharma and Tilak Verma took 1 wicket each. Earlier, India A batted first and scored 377 runs for 9 wickets in 50 overs. In this match, Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored 94 runs, while captain Tilak Verma contributed 67 runs.

Additionally, Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 40, Anukul Roy 39, Priyansh Arya 39, Kumar Kushagra 36 runs, and Vipraj Nigam contributed 27 runs. For Sri Lanka A, K. Mathulan, Fernando, and Sahan took 2 wickets each, while Shiraz, Arachchige, and Samuditha took 1 wicket each.

Women's T20 World Cup: Team India's star bowler Shreyanka Patil out of the tournament, RCB spinner gets entry

Loktej English Team — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 19:31:37 +0530

During the Women's T20 World Cup, the Indian women's cricket team faced a major setback. Star spinner Shreyanka Patil has been ruled out of the tournament due to an ankle injury.

She sustained the injury during a match against the Netherlands on Wednesday. After getting injured, she had to be carried off the field on a stretcher. While bowling the last over of the powerplay against the Netherlands, her ankle twisted badly, leading to her immediate exit from the game.

Following Shreyanka's withdrawal from the Women's World Cup, 24-year-old leg spinner Prema Rawat has been included in the Indian team, as per a report from Cricbuzz. Previously, Prema had played six matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the last two seasons of the Women's Premier League, taking 3 wickets during that time. In domestic cricket, Prema Rawat played a crucial role in helping Uttarakhand win the Senior Championship.

The Indian team's performance in the T20 World Cup has been impressive so far. In their first match, the Indian team defeated Pakistan by 64 runs, and in the second match, they crushed the Netherlands by 95 runs. In the match against the Netherlands, the Indian team batted first, scoring 209 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs.

Smriti Mandhana played a brilliant innings, scoring 74 runs off 47 balls, while Shefali Verma contributed 55 runs off 38 balls. In bowling, Shree Charani took 4 wickets for 19 runs, while Shefali Verma claimed 3 wickets. The Indian team will face South Africa in their next match in the tournament on Sunday.

Major change in Team India: Ashok Sharma replaces Yudhveer Singh in India 'A' squad

Loktej English Team — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 20:44:27 +0530

As of June 16, Team India 'A' is currently on a tour of Sri Lanka, where it is playing a tri-series with Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Under the captaincy of Tilak Varma, the team's performance has been mixed so far.

After winning the first match of the series, the Indian team faced consecutive losses against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Following these disappointing results, questions have been raised about the team's performance. In light of this, the BCCI decided to make a significant change in the squad.

Fast bowler Yudhveer Singh had to withdraw from the team due to a physical issue, and Ashok Sharma has been included in the Indian 'A' team in his place. The BCCI selection committee made this decision with immediate effect to strengthen the team's bowling unit for the upcoming matches. Yudhveer Singh's exit is a big blow for the team, but Ashok Sharma's inclusion provides a new option.

The Indian 'A' team will now try to bounce back in the remaining matches of the tri-series and regain its momentum. It will be interesting to see whether Ashok Sharma gets a place in the playing eleven. The team management is now working on a strategy to secure victories in the next matches of the series.

TG20 League Auction Concludes: Tilak Varma and Mohammed Siraj Become the Center of Attraction

Loktej English Team — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:00:00 +0530

Hyderabad, June 9. The auction for the first edition of the Telangana T20 Cricket League (TG20) witnessed tremendous enthusiasm in Hyderabad.

Eight franchise teams included a total of 160 young cricketers in their squads during this grand event held at Ramoji Film City. Team India's star player Tilak Varma became the most expensive player with a bid of 33 lakh rupees, while fast bowler Mohammed Siraj was bought by Warangal Warriors for 14 lakh rupees. The auction saw significant earnings for players and substantial investments in several domestic stars.

CV Milind was the second most expensive player with a bid of 17 lakh rupees, signed by Anvita Khammam Aces. The auction process was conducted by renowned auctioneer Charu Sharma. Teams participating in this league include Hyderabad E-Champions, Medak Falcons, Warangal Warriors, Ranga Reddy Risers, Nalgonda Knights, Palamur Strikers, Karimnagar Diamonds, and Khammam Aces.

The official launch of the cricket extravaganza TG20 League will take place on June 21. This tournament will last for 21 days, featuring exciting matches.

After a total of 32 matches, the final will be played on July 11. The unique initiative by the Hyderabad Cricket Association aims to provide a large platform for the state's talented cricketers to showcase their skills and make a name for themselves on a larger scale.

Big Blow to Team India: Virat Kohli Out of Afghanistan ODI Series Due to Injury

Loktej English Team — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:39:04 +0530

The Indian cricket team has suffered a major setback just before the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan. Star batsman Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the series due to a hamstring injury.

Kohli sustained this injury during the IPL 2026 final, where he played brilliantly to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore to victory. His absence poses a significant challenge for Team India's batting order. Fans and the team are facing increased difficulties as Kohli's form in IPL 2026 had been outstanding, leading to high expectations for him in this ODI series.

The news of Kohli's exclusion has disappointed both the team management and fans. The three-match ODI series between India and Afghanistan will begin on June 14 in Dharamshala, followed by matches in Lucknow and Chennai. With Kohli out, all eyes are now on team selection and batting balance.

The series schedule is quite busy, and the team will need to establish a strong middle order without Kohli. The ODI squad for Team India has already been announced, and changes are now likely. Fans hope that other young players will seize this opportunity to prove their worth and help India secure victory in the series.

Team India's New Spin Coach: BCCI Appoints Sairaj Bahutule

Loktej English Team — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:02:32 +0530

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed former all-rounder Sairaj Bahutule as the new spin bowling coach for the senior men's team. Team India is gearing up for the upcoming home series against Afghanistan starting June 6 in New Chandigarh.

Bahutule's selection is based on his extensive coaching experience, which will strengthen the team's spin department. Although his international career was limited, he has excelled in first-class cricket and coaching. He has served as the head coach for domestic teams like Vidarbha, Kerala, and Bengal, and has also played the role of spin coach for Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings in the IPL.

Bahutule, who was part of the coaching staff of the Under-19 World Cup winning team, has played a significant role in nurturing young talents at the National Cricket Academy. His appointment adds balance to the coaching staff under head coach Gautam Gambhir. Other staff members include Ryan ten Doeschate (assistant coach), Morne Morkel (fast bowling coach), and T.

Dilip (fielding coach). Expressing pride in his appointment, Bahutule stated that he is fully excited to work with the players and help the team perform better in all formats.

The storm of Suryavanshi continues in IPL, now RR's 'Vaibhav' aims to break Chris Gayle's record of 100 sixes

Loktej English Team — Fri, 29 May 2026 19:19:00 +0530

Vaibhav Suryavanshi has stunned everyone with his explosive batting in IPL 2026. At just 15 years of age, he has set records that many veterans have not achieved in their entire careers.

In the eliminator match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Vaibhav scored a blistering 97 runs off just 29 balls, hitting 12 sixes, leading Rajasthan Royals to a spectacular victory. His innings broke several old records. Suryavanshi now has the opportunity to break Chris Gayle's significant record, as he prepares to face Gayle's record of 100 sixes in IPL.

The IPL 2026 Qualifier-2 match will be played between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals at Mullanpur Stadium in New Chandigarh. If Vaibhav manages to hit 11 sixes in this match, he will become the batsman to reach 100 sixes in the fewest innings in IPL history. Currently, this record is held by Chris Gayle, who achieved this feat in 37 innings.

Vaibhav has already hit 89 sixes in 22 innings across 22 matches in IPL, scoring 932 runs with an average of over 42. His batting style at such a young age has impressed cricket experts. Notably, Vaibhav remains unfazed under pressure while playing big shots and plays a crucial role in giving the team a quick start.

In addition to breaking Gayle's record, Vaibhav has another significant achievement within reach. The record for the fastest 100 sixes in IPL is currently held by Andre Russell, who accomplished this in 657 balls, while Vaibhav has faced only 402 balls so far. Furthermore, if he scores 68 runs in Qualifier-2, he will also complete 1000 runs in IPL, placing him jointly in second place for the fewest innings to reach 1000 runs.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi expresses his pain after getting out, explains where he went wrong otherwise he would have set a world record

Loktej English Team — Thu, 28 May 2026 21:29:33 +0530

Dharamshala, May 28. In the second eliminator match of IPL 2026, Vaibhav Suryavanshi's explosive innings thrilled the audience.

Playing at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, Vaibhav scored a stunning 97 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) while opening the innings for Rajasthan Royals (RR). After the RR innings, Vaibhav mentioned that he was aware it was a knockout game and a big match. However, all the coaches had advised him to stick to what he practiced, enjoy the game, and not feel the pressure of the match.

Vaibhav missed out on breaking Chris Gayle's record for the fastest century. In response, he stated that he played that shot looking at the fielder, which is why he mistimed it. If he had aimed for the third man, it would have cleared easily.

However, he tried to hit it straight, which led to his shot missing. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, opening for Rajasthan Royals, scored 97 runs off just 29 balls, hitting 12 sixes and 5 fours. He narrowly missed setting the record for the fastest century in IPL history, which is held by Chris Gayle, who scored a century in just 30 balls in 2013.

Despite this, Vaibhav broke Chris Gayle's record for the most sixes in a season. Following Vaibhav's innings, there have been 65 sixes in IPL 2026. Chris Gayle had hit 59 sixes in IPL 2012.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi was out as the first wicket after scoring 97 runs, with RR's score at 125 runs in 8 overs. After that, SRH's bowlers made a comeback, restricting RR to 243 runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs. RR could only manage 36 runs in the last 5 overs and just 5 runs in the final over.

KL Rahul Joins the 'Hitman' Club, Matches Rohit Sharma's Special Record in IPL

Loktej English Team — Mon, 25 May 2026 19:51:04 +0530

Kolkata, May 25. The final league matches of IPL 2026 are showcasing remarkable performances from batsmen.

KL Rahul, the experienced batsman of Delhi Capitals, once again displayed his class against Kolkata Knight Riders, contributing significantly to the team's score with a brilliant half-century. This innings not only helped Delhi reach a strong total but also placed Rahul in a special club in IPL history. In the match played at Eden Gardens, Rahul entertained the audience with his fast-paced batting.

He hit several attractive shots and consistently applied pressure on the bowlers. Rahul scored 60 runs off 30 balls in this match, including 5 fours and 4 sixes. With this half-century, he reached the milestone of scoring 50 or more runs for the 51st time in IPL history, thereby equaling the record of Mumbai Indians' star batsman Rohit Sharma.

Now both players have recorded 51 instances of scoring 50+ runs in IPL. This achievement reflects Rahul's consistency and impressive performance in T20 cricket over a long period. The most 50+ runs in IPL are held by: 76 – Virat Kohli, 66 – David Warner, 53 – Shikhar Dhawan, 51 – Rahul*, 51 – Rohit Sharma.

Throughout the season, Rahul's batting has been outstanding. In IPL 2026, he scored 593 runs in 14 innings at an average of 45.61, including one century and five half-centuries. He took responsibility for the team on several occasions and scored runs even in challenging situations.

His batting showcased an excellent balance of patience and aggression, making him one of the most successful batsmen of the season. Rahul's most talked-about innings this season came against Punjab Kings, where he scored a blistering 152 runs, setting a record for the highest runs by an Indian batsman in a single innings in IPL history.

However, despite KL Rahul's individual brilliance, the Delhi Capitals team could not reach the playoffs. Nevertheless, this season stands as another strong testament to Rahul's batting ability and consistency.

Demand for a new point system in IPL, qualification calculations may change

Loktej English Team — Fri, 22 May 2026 19:40:30 +0530

Mumbai, May 22. The playoff race in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is always exciting, but discussions about the point system arise from time to time.

This time, former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has suggested a change that has sparked a new debate among cricket fans. He believes that teams achieving big wins in the tournament should receive additional points, making the competition even more interesting. Currently, what is the rule in IPL?

The IPL started in 2008, and since then, there has been no major change in the point system. According to the current rule, the winning team in any match receives two points, while the losing team receives no points. If a match is abandoned due to rain or other reasons, both teams receive one point each.

Interestingly, regardless of how large the victory margin is, the points remain the same. Whether a team wins by one run on the last ball or by 100 runs, they receive only two points. The advantage of a large victory margin is only reflected in the net run rate.

Aakash Chopra has suggested that a bonus point system should be considered in the IPL. He shared his opinion on the social media platform X, stating that he wishes the IPL would adopt the option of bonus points for big wins. In fact, Aakash Chopra believes that this would motivate teams not just to win but to achieve impressive victories, and viewers would also get to see more aggressive and competitive cricket.

This rule is already in place in the South African T20 league SA 20, where if a team wins the match while chasing the target within 16 overs, they receive an additional point. The team batting first receives a bonus point if they restrict the opposing team to more than 20 percent below their score. The purpose of this rule is to encourage big and impressive wins.

If such a rule is implemented in the IPL in the future, the calculations in the points table could change completely. Sometimes, a team with fewer match wins could rise up the table with the help of bonus points. This would keep the playoff race open until the final stages, increasing the importance of every match.