News for 'First Ball'

Pujara lauds Rohit Sharma's calm approach after record Lord's century

Pujara lauds Rohit Sharma's calm approach after record Lord's century

Rediff.com20 Jul 2026

Veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara praised Rohit Sharma for staying calm despite intense scrutiny and outside criticism after his historic century against England at Lord's on Sunday, July 29, 2026.

Ben Stokes Announces Retirement From International Cricket

Ben Stokes Announces Retirement From International Cricket

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

England Test captain Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from international cricket following the ongoing Test match against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Make India Debut in First T20I Vs Ireland?

Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Make India Debut in First T20I Vs Ireland?

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

Vaobhav Sooryavanshi, 15, stands a chance to become India's youngest international cricketer, potentially breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record.

Sri Lanka U-19 clinch ODI series vs India U-19 with one-wicket win

Sri Lanka U-19 clinch ODI series vs India U-19 with one-wicket win

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

VK Vineeth's superb 131 went in vain as Sri Lanka recovered from early jolts to notch up a thrilling one-wicket win off the last ball in the third and final Youth ODI and clinch the three-match series 2-1 in Hambantota on Thursday.

England Collapse As Henry Bowls New Zealand To Big Win

England Collapse As Henry Bowls New Zealand To Big Win

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

New Zealand pace bowler Matt Henry ran through England's tail to give his side a 253-run victory in the second Test at The Oval to level the series at 1-1 on Sunday.

Rohit Sharma Still Has Unfinished Business

Rohit Sharma Still Has Unfinished Business

Rediff.com22 Jul 2026

The Hitman still probably hurts over missing World Cup glory in 2011 and his stellar career rightfully deserves one last hurrah at the ODI World Cup.

Late bloomer Saransh Jain proves perseverance pays with India Test call-up at 33

Late bloomer Saransh Jain proves perseverance pays with India Test call-up at 33

Rediff.com30 Jul 2026

Age is just a number for uncapped off-spin allrounder Saransh Jain who at 33 years has earned his maiden Test call-up for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour on the back of consistent performances in the domestic circuit and India A.

IPL 2026: LSG vs CSK: Urvil Patel blasts 13-ball fifty as CSK sink LSG

IPL 2026: LSG vs CSK: Urvil Patel blasts 13-ball fifty as CSK sink LSG

Rediff.com10 May 2026

Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings rode on Urvil Patel's explosive 23-ball 65 to beat Lucknow Super Giants by five wickets in a tense IPL clash and keep their playoff hopes alive in Chennai on Sunday.

Why Indian Cricket Will Never Forget Ajinkya Rahane

Why Indian Cricket Will Never Forget Ajinkya Rahane

Rediff.com30 Jul 2026

Ajinkya Rahane, known as 'Jinx', has retired from international cricket at 38, leaving behind a legacy of quiet resolve, exceptional captaincy, and crucial innings that often came when India needed them most.

Alzarri Joseph's Shock Decision Rocks West Indies Ahead Of Pakistan Tests

Alzarri Joseph's Shock Decision Rocks West Indies Ahead Of Pakistan Tests

Rediff.com24 Jul 2026

West Indies head coach Darren Sammy has revealed that pacer Alzarri Joseph declined selection for the upcoming two-Test home series against Pakistan, despite being chosen.

Bowling Struggles, Fitness Woes: Why India Flopped In England ODIs

Bowling Struggles, Fitness Woes: Why India Flopped In England ODIs

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

A look at what went wrong for India in the England ODI series.

Farokh Engineer remembers Garry Sobers, the cricketer who never lost his wit

Farokh Engineer remembers Garry Sobers, the cricketer who never lost his wit

Rediff.com18 Jul 2026

Sir Garfield Sobers' wit was as effortless as his genius with bat and ball. Farokh Engineer recalled one such unforgettable moment on a golf course in Australia when the West Indies legend, watching Sunil Gavaskar repeatedly top the ball, quipped: "This is one game where you are allowed to hit the ball in the air."

Women's T20 World Cup: Shafali, Mandhana star as India trounce Netherlands by 95 runs

Women's T20 World Cup: Shafali, Mandhana star as India trounce Netherlands by 95 runs

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma sizzled with the bat as India coasted to an emphatic 95-run win over the Netherlands in their Women's T20 World Cup match.

First Test: Pacers run riot as England wrap up win over New Zealand inside four days

First Test: Pacers run riot as England wrap up win over New Zealand inside four days

Rediff.com7 Jun 2026

England exploited to the full a Lord's pitch once again offering erratic bounce and lateral movement on Sunday to win the rain-interrupted first Test against New Zealand by 115 runs with a day and two sessions to spare.

Young Indian Squad Seeks Unassailable Lead In Zimbabwe T20I Series

Young Indian Squad Seeks Unassailable Lead In Zimbabwe T20I Series

Rediff.com24 Jul 2026

India, led by Shreyas Iyer, aims to secure an unassailable lead against Zimbabwe in the second T20I after a convincing seven-wicket victory in the opener. Young talents like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Mayank Yadav were instrumental in the first match, showcasing strong batting and pace bowling performances.

Shubman Gill Closes In On No 1 Ranking In ODIs

Shubman Gill Closes In On No 1 Ranking In ODIs

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

England's Harry Brook and India's Shreyas Iyer have made significant advancements in the ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings, with Brook entering the top 10 and Iyer rocketing 62 spots.

Axar Patel Achieves Landmark 100 T20I Wickets For India

Axar Patel Achieves Landmark 100 T20I Wickets For India

Rediff.com5 Jul 2026

Indian all-rounder Axar Patel achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first Indian spinner and fourth overall bowler to take 100 T20I wickets during the second T20I against England. Despite his record-breaking performance and a competitive total set by India, England secured a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Why India's Historic Lord's Win Demands More Women's Test Cricket

Why India's Historic Lord's Win Demands More Women's Test Cricket

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

Former India captain Shantha Rangaswamy advocates for the expansion of red-ball cricket in the women's game, citing India's emphatic 270-run victory over England at Lord's. She urges the BCCI to revive longer-format domestic competitions across all age groups, emphasizing that Test cricket is crucial for developing technically sound players.

How Shreyas Iyer Inspired India's Zimbabwe Win

How Shreyas Iyer Inspired India's Zimbabwe Win

Rediff.com27 Jul 2026

Shreyas Iyer urged his players to shed fear and forget the past: 'Be in the present. Maximise the opportunity you're getting. Tomorrow is a new day.' Simple words, but they struck deep.

Rohit Sharma hails T Dilip's 'magic' and 'workhorse' efforts for Indian cricket

Rohit Sharma hails T Dilip's 'magic' and 'workhorse' efforts for Indian cricket

Rediff.com4 Aug 2026

Indian batter Rohit Sharma lauded former fielding coach T Dilip for his significant contributions, including two T20 World Cup wins and the Champions Trophy, calling him a 'legend' and a 'workhorse' who 'created magic within the group.' Dilip, who served from 2021 until recently, expressed gratitude for his tenure, especially cherishing the popular fielding medal ceremony.

Jude Bellingham's brace takes England past Norway to World Cup semis

Jude Bellingham's brace takes England past Norway to World Cup semis

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

Jude Bellingham scored twice as England fought back to defeat Norway 2-1 in the third World Cup quarter-final at Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday.

I have Learnt So Much From Ashish Nehra; He Is My Mentor: Ashok Sharma

I have Learnt So Much From Ashish Nehra; He Is My Mentor: Ashok Sharma

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

Rookie pacer Ashok Sharma credits the mentorship of Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra, along with advice from Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Siraj, for his evolution as a bowler and his selection for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe.

Ajinkya Rahane Leaves Behind a Legacy Built on Grace, Grit and Gabba

Ajinkya Rahane Leaves Behind a Legacy Built on Grace, Grit and Gabba

Rediff.com30 Jul 2026

Ajinkya Rahane's retirement prompts a reflection on his remarkable career, marked by India's historic Gabba triumph, his quiet leadership, and a lingering question: was he an under-achiever or simply under-appreciated in the Indian cricketing ecosystem?

Qatar hail first World Cup point after late goal stuns Switzerland

Qatar hail first World Cup point after late goal stuns Switzerland

Rediff.com14 Jun 2026

Qatar celebrated their first World Cup point after a late own goal forced a 1-1 draw against Switzerland and sent the Gulf nation into jubilation on Saturday.

Yuvraj Rings The Bell At Lord's Ahead Of England-India 3rd ODI

Yuvraj Rings The Bell At Lord's Ahead Of England-India 3rd ODI

Rediff.com19 Jul 2026

Yuvraj Singh rang the five-minute bell at Lord's on Sunday to signal the start of play for the third One-Day International between England and India.

Root Back as England Test Captain, Fleming Appointed Head Coach

Root Back as England Test Captain, Fleming Appointed Head Coach

Rediff.com30 Jul 2026

Joe Root has been reappointed as England's Test captain, marking his return to the leadership role, while former New Zealand batter Stephen Fleming has been named the new head coach, following the departures of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.

How Axar ended his batting slump with one change

How Axar ended his batting slump with one change

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

Indian all-rounder Axar Patel attributed his match-winning half-century against England in the opening ODI to a renewed focus on timing the ball, a strategic shift from his previous T20 approach of hitting too hard.

First Test: New Zealand three down in chase of 254 vs England

First Test: New Zealand three down in chase of 254 vs England

Rediff.com6 Jun 2026

New Zealand need 254 runs to defeat England in the opening Test of the three-match series after bowling the hosts out for 226 in their second innings at Lord's on Friday.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Can't Be Demoralised By Anyone

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Can't Be Demoralised By Anyone

Rediff.com24 Jul 2026

At 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has not just won a match. He has led from the front, lifted a struggling side, and announced -- loudly and clearly -- that he is here to stay, applauds R K Nayar.

Pujara, Nayar pinpoint reasons for India's T20I series defeat in England

Pujara, Nayar pinpoint reasons for India's T20I series defeat in England

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara and ex-assistant coach Abhishek Nayar have offered critical insights into India's recent T20I series defeat against England, highlighting issues with middle-order depth, all-rounders, poor fielding, and struggles against short balls.

DSP Siraj Dons The Uniform; Meets Telangana DGP C V Anand

DSP Siraj Dons The Uniform; Meets Telangana DGP C V Anand

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, who recently assumed charge as a Deputy Superintendent of Police in the Telangana Police, paid a courtesy call on Telangana Director General of Police CV Anand.

Lord's ODI decider: All eyes on Rohit amid retirement buzz

Lord's ODI decider: All eyes on Rohit amid retirement buzz

Rediff.com18 Jul 2026

Rohit Sharma faces intense scrutiny over his form and future as India prepares for the series-deciding third ODI against England. Despite BCCI assurances, his recent struggles have fuelled speculation, especially concerning his ability to last until the 2027 ODI World Cup. The match is crucial for both Rohit to regain form and for India to clinch the series.

From World No. 2 to Asian Games Medal Hope: Manav Thakkar's Next Big Mission

From World No. 2 to Asian Games Medal Hope: Manav Thakkar's Next Big Mission

Rediff.com4 Aug 2026

'Being World No. 2 will give us good confidence when we compete at the Asian Games.'

Former India Coach Constantine Weighs In On Messi's Legacy

Former India Coach Constantine Weighs In On Messi's Legacy

Rediff.com18 Jul 2026

Former India coach Stephen Constantine shares his views on Lionel Messi, ranking him below Pele, Maradona, and Ronaldinho due to his reliance on teammates for defensive work. He also predicts Spain will win the upcoming final against Argentina, despite acknowledging Argentina's experience and Messi's match-winning ability. Constantine further discusses England's semi-final exit and criticises hydration breaks and refereeing controversies.

Senuja Wekunagoda's unbeaten 203 puts Sri Lanka U19 in command

Senuja Wekunagoda's unbeaten 203 puts Sri Lanka U19 in command

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

Senuja Wekunagoda's imposing unbeaten double hundred helped Sri Lanka Under-19 take control of the first Youth Test against India Under-19, posting a formidable 344/4 on the opening day in Galle.

Plucky Spain throttle France to reach World Cup final

Plucky Spain throttle France to reach World Cup final

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot and Pedro Porro added another goal as Spain advanced to its first World Cup final since winning in 2010 with a 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday.

'Back Our Own Strengths': Shafali's Simple Plan To Beat Australia

'Back Our Own Strengths': Shafali's Simple Plan To Beat Australia

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

Shafali Verma believes that keeping the game plan simple is the best way for India to get the better of Australia in their must-win Women's T20 World Cup clash at Lord's on Sunday.

FIFA World Cup: Qatar hold Switzerland for first ever World Cup point

FIFA World Cup: Qatar hold Switzerland for first ever World Cup point

Rediff.com14 Jun 2026

Qatar snatched their first ever World Cup point with a stoppage-time goal to draw 1-1 with Switzerland in an energetic and one-sided Group B opener on Saturday.

Ajinkya Rahane's Top 5 Career-Defining Test knocks

Ajinkya Rahane's Top 5 Career-Defining Test knocks

Rediff.com31 Jul 2026

From his iconic Melbourne centuries to Lord's heroics, revisit Ajinkya Rahane's five greatest Test knocks that shaped his remarkable India career.

3rd ODI: Morkel confident Rohit Sharma will overcome slump in form

3rd ODI: Morkel confident Rohit Sharma will overcome slump in form

Rediff.com18 Jul 2026

India bowling coach Morne Morkel has expressed confidence in Rohit Sharma's ability to overcome his recent struggles in the ongoing ODI series against England, highlighting the calmness he brings to the team. Morkel also discussed the team's batting concerns, the need for middle-order breakthroughs, and his potential role in the 2027 World Cup.