Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inaugurated the India-New Zealand Under-20 International Rugby Sevens Series in Nalanda district. The event, held from October 23 to 28 at the Rajgir Sports Complex, marks 100 years of bilateral sporting relations and aims to promote rugby in Bihar. Matches were played between the men's and women's teams, with the Indian women's team securing a victory.
The Esports Federation of India (ESFI) and the New Zealand Esports Federation (NZ Esports) have drafted a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation and exchange knowledge in the esports sector. This initiative coincides with the 100 Years of Unity Through Sport celebrations, featuring Indian gamers competing in eFootball and Clash Royale in Auckland.
India boast of a superior head-to-head record against New Zealand, having won six out of the nine T20I series played against the Kiwis.
Shreyas Iyer celebrated India's thrilling T20I victory over New Zealand with an emotional hug for his parents after Sanju Samson and Namn Dhir powered a successful 226-run chase.
'Bhuvi should be the first choice with the new ball, based on the conditions, because of the skill he possesses of swinging the ball.'
India A were denied a sensational come-from-behind victory against New Zealand A in the first unofficial 'Test' due to bad light, despite pacer Auqib Nabi's incisive spell and Devdutt Padikkal's near double-century setting up a thrilling chase.
New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell has attributed India's 2-0 lead in the ongoing T20I series to their exceptional death bowling. Bracewell noted that the Indian bowlers effectively built pressure in the final overs, preventing the Black Caps from posting higher totals despite high-scoring games. He acknowledged the challenge posed by India's in-form openers and highlighted the need for New Zealand to deliver a complete performance to turn the tide.
With the T20 series already secured, India is set to experiment with its squad in the fourth match against New Zealand in Auckland, potentially offering game time to spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy, who have been on the sidelines.
Such is the depth of riches in Indian cricket that Shubman Gill, despite boasting of a good record in T20Is and IPL, finds himself out of contention in India's T20 team.
Australian veteran batter Steve Smith has been cleared of serious neck damage following scans and is expected to be fit for the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand in December.
Virtual Eye will now provide the full suite of DRS technology to assist umpires and enhance the viewing experience during India's tour of New Zealand involving five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests.
The Indian cricket team is set to face New Zealand in the third T20 International on Tuesday, aiming for a series-clinching victory. The match, held in Wellington, will test India's bowling attack, particularly Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and the team's ability to handle challenging conditions and a resilient New Zealand side.
India is set to host New Zealand's U-20 rugby teams for a historic series starting October 23 in Rajgir. This event celebrates a century of sporting ties and marks the first time New Zealand's U-20 rugby teams have visited India for such a series. The series will include joint training sessions and cultural exchanges.
India vice-captain Tilak Varma expressed immense pride after his unbeaten 51 off 26 balls guided India to a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second T20I, securing a 2-0 series lead. Varma credited head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak for their belief in his ability to finish the game.
'There is more trust in Shivam Dube because he has done it for India. Nitish Kumar Reddy has bowled well for SRH, but so far for India in T20Is, unfortunately, he hasn't played that role yet.'
The real victory in New Zealand is not about winning every match but returning from it knowing exactly what kind of team India should have for the future, points out K R Nayar.
Jasprit Bumrah is likely to feature in the third unofficial Test against New Zealand A, while Rishabh Pant is also in contention as both prepare for India's upcoming Test series.
India Test captain Shubman Gill is taking an unprecedented step to prepare for the upcoming red-ball series in New Zealand by personally funding four to five net bowlers to accompany him on the tour. This move highlights his dedication to Test cricket, especially as he balances ODI commitments and skips India A matches, opting instead for a Ranji Trophy fixture before his early departure to acclimatise.
India fast bowler Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out of the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand due to a hamstring injury. He is undergoing recovery and fitness tests, with the team management prioritising his readiness for Test cricket.
New Zealand has announced several squad changes for the ongoing T20I series against India, with key pacers Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry managing niggles and workload. The adjustments aim to balance player fitness with a busy summer schedule, bringing in new players like Blair Tickner and Josh Clarkson while others like Kyle Jamieson will play domestic cricket before rejoining the national team.
New Zealand paceman Jacob Duffy has acknowledged India's 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as an 'incredible talent' but expects home conditions to challenge the power-hitter in the upcoming Twenty20 series.
A sell-out crowd of approximately 40,000 fans is anticipated for the fourth T20 International between India and New Zealand at Eden Park, marking the third-biggest attendance in the venue's history for an international cricket match.
New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson believes the coming tour of New Zealand will present significant challenges and exciting opportunities for 15-year-old Indian cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, despite his impressive recent performances.
Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer's inconsistent T20I batting form will be under the spotlight as Team India commences its five-match T20I series against New Zealand in Christchurch.
Shreyas Iyer-led India, unbeaten in their last two T20 series in New Zealand, will rely on their formidable batting lineup to overcome the relatively inexperienced New Zealand side in the upcoming five-match T20I series, despite having minimal time to acclimatise.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner discussed India's young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar ahead of the five-match T20 International series.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated that the historic Free Trade Agreement with India, now in effect, will help grow both economies, allowing Kiwi businesses to reach over a billion more customers with significantly reduced tariffs, leading to 'more jobs and higher wages for Kiwis'.
New Zealand Cricket will don a special limited-edition 'Kotahitanga' jersey, featuring lotus flowers and mandala art, during their upcoming ODI series against India to commemorate 100 years of sporting ties between the two nations.
New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips acknowledged India's successful chase of 226 in the first T20I, attributing their win to strong execution and adaptation. Phillips highlighted areas for improvement for his team, specifically the need to take more wickets in the middle overs and enhance fielding performance, despite defending their overall effort.
India A were bundled for a lowly 113 as five of their batters perished for ducks before captain Rhys Marius's half-century helped New Zealand A take the lead on Day 1 of the 1st unofficial Test.
New Zealand head coach Rob Walter expressed disappointment over his team's missed opportunities in the first two T20Is against India, acknowledging that while they played well for large parts, they failed to capitalise on crucial moments, leading to two close defeats.
Tilak Varma starred with a match-winning fifty to power India to a thrilling victory in the second T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday.
New Zealand fast bowler Will O'Rourke has been officially ruled out of the highly anticipated home series against India and is expected to return in late December.
New Zealand has announced the return of Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson, and Tim Seifert to their One-Day International squad for the upcoming home series against India, with coach Rob Walter emphasising the importance of these matches for World Cup preparations.
Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the first two India A matches against New Zealand due to a left side strain, with Kumar Kushagra named as his replacement.
The BCCI has announced a 15-member India A squad for three unofficial Tests against New Zealand A, starting October 24. The squad includes senior players like KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, and Rishabh Pant (subject to fitness), raising questions about their availability for all 'A' matches due to overlapping ODI commitments.
New Zealand batters Mark Chapman and Zak Foulkes have been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against India due to injuries, with Josh Clarkson and Blair Tickner named as replacements.
New Zealand head coach Rob Walter has revealed plans to utilise explosive batter Finn Allen in a middle-order role during the upcoming ODI series against India.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the surprise inclusion in the Indian team for the upcoming T20I series in New Zealand starting later this month.
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has relaid Pitch 9 at Lord's after it received an "unsatisfactory" rating from the ICC following England's Test against New Zealand in June. The pitch, which saw all 40 wickets fall in just 166 overs, will be out of use for at least the next two seasons. MCC has launched a comprehensive review of pitch preparation and plans to use hybrid surfaces to mitigate the impact.
