News for 'First Ball'

India A vs Sri Lanka A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi falls after promising start

India A vs Sri Lanka A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi falls after promising start

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi India A's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dismissed early for the second match in a row against Sri Lanka A, in the Tri-Nation A Series match in Dambulla, on Monday.

My bowling was underutilised during England tour last year, alleges Shardul Thakur

My bowling was underutilised during England tour last year, alleges Shardul Thakur

Rediff.com1 Jul 2026

Shardul Thakur on Monday expressed his disappointment on not being "utilised properly" during India's 2025 tour of England last year for five Tests, saying that he had performed the last time he played for the country.

Ivory Coast Gear Up For Haaland Challenge In World Cup Clash

Ivory Coast Gear Up For Haaland Challenge In World Cup Clash

Rediff.com29 Jun 2026

Ivory Coast is set to face Norway in a World Cup Round of 32 match, with much attention on Norway's star striker Erling Haaland. While Ivory Coast's defence, featuring Ousmane Diomande, will focus on containing Haaland, their coach Emerse Fae also plans to unleash their own array of attacking talent, including Yan Diomande and Nicolas Pepe, to challenge Norway.

Cornered India Seek Consolation Win to Avert 0-4 Whitewash Against England

Cornered India Seek Consolation Win to Avert 0-4 Whitewash Against England

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

A struggling Indian team, led by Shreyas Iyer, is desperate to secure a consolation victory against England in the fifth T20 International in Southampton to avoid a humiliating 0-4 series whitewash.

IPL 2026: Sooryavanshi smashes 15-ball 50 as RR crush RCB to extend winning streak

IPL 2026: Sooryavanshi smashes 15-ball 50 as RR crush RCB to extend winning streak

Rediff.com11 Apr 2026

Rajat Patidar's aggressive innings helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru reach a total of 201 for 8 against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL match, after a shaky start.

Wood scores as Forest edge Villa in Europa League semi first leg

Wood scores as Forest edge Villa in Europa League semi first leg

Rediff.com1 May 2026

Chris Wood's penalty gives Nottingham Forest a 1-0 edge over Aston Villa in their Europa League semi-final first leg, extending their unbeaten run to nine matches.

Bellingham shines as England down Panama to top Group L

Bellingham shines as England down Panama to top Group L

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

Jude Bellingham's stellar performance, including a goal and an assist for Harry Kane, propelled England to a 2-0 victory over Panama. This win secured England's top position in Group L of the World Cup, allowing them to avoid a difficult knockout phase route. The match saw England dominate possession and overcome a flat first half, with Kane also breaking Gary Lineker's World Cup goal record for England.

'When it's your day, you make it count': Jaiswal's big message

'When it's your day, you make it count': Jaiswal's big message

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

With limited opportunities coming his way in the ODI format, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal said his focus was on making his starts count as he smashed a fine unbeaten century to guide India to a nine-wicket win in the third match against Afghanistan in Chennai on Saturday.

PSL Stars Deny Ball-Tampering Allegations After Lahore Qalandars-Karachi Kings Match

PSL Stars Deny Ball-Tampering Allegations After Lahore Qalandars-Karachi Kings Match

Rediff.com30 Mar 2026

Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sikandar Raza deny ball-tampering charges during a Pakistan Super League match, leading to an investigation and potential penalties for the Lahore Qalandars.

Brazil's fan mourn yet another early World Cup exit

Brazil's fan mourn yet another early World Cup exit

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

Brazil's national football team, the 'Selecao', suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Norway in the World Cup last 16, marking their sixth consecutive early exit and extending their title drought to 24 years. Fans criticised missed opportunities and manager Carlo Ancelotti's defensive tactics.

Advani Clinches Maiden National 9-Ball Pool Title in Dominant Display

Advani Clinches Maiden National 9-Ball Pool Title in Dominant Display

Rediff.com31 Mar 2026

Pankaj Advani, a multiple-time world champion in billiards and snooker, has added another title to his illustrious career by winning the National 9-ball pool title, defeating Nitin Sharma in the final.

Sudharsan, Jurel lead India A charge despite Gaikwad injury scare

Sudharsan, Jurel lead India A charge despite Gaikwad injury scare

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Sai Sudharsan's brilliant 168 and useful contributions from Dhruv Jurel and Saransh Jain helped India A reach 541/8 and take a commanding 175-run lead over Sri Lanka A in the second unofficial Test in Galle.

Why Did India Drop 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?

Why Did India Drop 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

India's decision to drop 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the fifth and final T20I against England, despite the series already being decided, has drawn criticism from former cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar and Graeme Swann, who argue the youngster should have been given more opportunities.

'Nobody can question us': FIFA refereeing chief hits back at critics

'Nobody can question us': FIFA refereeing chief hits back at critics

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina has staunchly defended the officiating in Argentina's 3-2 World Cup victory over Egypt, dismissing allegations of bias and asserting that match officials operated with complete independence, despite Egypt's complaints about unfair treatment.

England drop Crawley; pick uncapped Gay, Rew and Baker for first New Zealand Test

England drop Crawley; pick uncapped Gay, Rew and Baker for first New Zealand Test

Rediff.com13 May 2026

England have dropped opener Zak Crawley and selected Emilio Gay as Ben Duckett's opening partner in a reshaped squad for the first Test against New Zealand.

Amad Diallo strikes late as Ivory Coast stun Ecuador

Amad Diallo strikes late as Ivory Coast stun Ecuador

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Manchester United's Amad Diallo struck in the 90th minute as Ivory Coast stunned Ecuador 1-0 in their World Cup Group E opener on Sunday.

Australia spoil Turkey's return to World Cup stage with tense win

Australia spoil Turkey's return to World Cup stage with tense win

Rediff.com14 Jun 2026

Australia defeated Turkey 2-0 in their Group D World Cup opener, with goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, placing them second in the group.

Djokovic prevails in longest Wimbledon quarter-final; sets up Sinner clash

Djokovic prevails in longest Wimbledon quarter-final; sets up Sinner clash

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

Novak Djokovic defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime in a five-set thriller lasting over five hours to reach his eighth consecutive Wimbledon semi-final, setting a new record.

Diana Edulji On India's Tough Road To T20 World Cup Semifinals

Diana Edulji On India's Tough Road To T20 World Cup Semifinals

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

Former India captain Diana Edulji believes the Indian women's cricket team faces a significant challenge to qualify for the Women's T20 World Cup semifinals after their recent loss to South Africa. She highlighted the team's need to win their remaining matches against Bangladesh and Australia and discussed the team's T20 playing style.

Bangladesh crush Netherlands in women's T20 World Cup opener

Bangladesh crush Netherlands in women's T20 World Cup opener

Rediff.com14 Jun 2026

Bangladesh Women secured a six-wicket victory over tournament debutants Netherlands in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, powered by Juairiya Ferdous's half-century and a strong collective bowling performance. The Netherlands, making their historic T20 World Cup appearance, struggled against Bangladesh's disciplined attack despite a fifty from skipper Babette de Leede.

Kane focused on England team, not Haaland or Golden Boot

Kane focused on England team, not Haaland or Golden Boot

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

England captain Harry Kane addressed comparisons with Norwegian striker Erling Haaland ahead of their World Cup quarter-final match, downplaying direct comparisons while praising Haaland's physical prowess and finishing. Kane emphasised his priority is team success in the World Cup over individual accolades like the Golden Boot, despite being in contention. He also spoke about equalling Wayne Rooney's cap record and received high praise from coach Thomas Tuchel.

Babar Azam reappointed as Test captain for long-term stability: PCB

Babar Azam reappointed as Test captain for long-term stability: PCB

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

Senior PCB selector Aaqib Javed has revealed that Shan Masood's leadership and game management issues led to Babar Azam's reinstatement as Pakistan's Test captain. The PCB plans to give Babar a long-term run, backing him for two to three years to bring stability ahead of challenging tours to the West Indies and England.

Morocco edge Netherlands on penalties to reach World Cup last 16

Morocco edge Netherlands on penalties to reach World Cup last 16

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

Morocco triumphed over the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout to advance in the World Cup after a drama-filled 1-1 draw in their Round of 32 clash on Monday.

Cape Verde... and Messi magic to Argentina's rescue again

Cape Verde... and Messi magic to Argentina's rescue again

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

The noise at the Miami Stadium belonged to one nation, but the occasion belonged to one man as Lionel Messi scooped up another Man of the Match trophy.

New Zealand recover to 291/7 after early wobble on Day 1 of second Test vs England

New Zealand recover to 291/7 after early wobble on Day 1 of second Test vs England

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

New Zealand battled back to end an absorbing first day of the second Test on 291 for seven after England's new-look pace attack held sway early on at The Oval on Wednesday.

Jaiswal, Ferreira dazzle as Rajasthan Royals hand Punjab Kings first defeat of IPL 2026

Jaiswal, Ferreira dazzle as Rajasthan Royals hand Punjab Kings first defeat of IPL 2026

Rediff.com28 Apr 2026

Marcus Stoinis's explosive half-century propelled Punjab Kings to a competitive total against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL match, overshadowing a fine bowling performance from Yash Raj Punja.

FIFA World Cup: Cunha and Vinicius shine as Brazil cruise past Haiti

FIFA World Cup: Cunha and Vinicius shine as Brazil cruise past Haiti

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

Brazil secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Haiti, with Matheus Cunha scoring twice and Vinicius Junior adding another goal. The win keeps Brazil in contention for the top spot in Group C, though their decision to ease off in the second half could impact goal difference in a tight race with Morocco.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Brazil rally to edge Japan in Round of 32 thriller

FIFA World Cup 2026: Brazil rally to edge Japan in Round of 32 thriller

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

Five-times champions Brazil came back strongly from a one goal deficit to beat Japan 2-1 in their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash at the Houston Stadium on Monday.

Haaland Brace Guides Norway Past Senegal into Last 32

Haaland Brace Guides Norway Past Senegal into Last 32

Rediff.com23 Jun 2026

Erling Haaland scored two goals, leading Norway to a 3-2 victory over Senegal in a World Cup match. This win puts Norway level on points with France at the top of Group I, setting up a decisive final group game.

India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI: India captain Gill hails debutants Brar, Dubey

India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI: India captain Gill hails debutants Brar, Dubey

Rediff.com14 Jun 2026

Shubman Gill praised pacer Gurnoor Brar and left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey for their impressive debuts in India's one-sided victory over Afghanistan in the rain-curtailed first ODI.

Kylian Mbappe's penalty takes France into World Cup quarter-finals

Kylian Mbappe's penalty takes France into World Cup quarter-finals

Rediff.com5 Jul 2026

Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty in the 70th minute to give France a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the World Cup last 16, setting up a quarter-final clash with Morocco. The goal also brought Mbappe level with Lionel Messi as the tournament's top scorer.

Latham's Milestone: Joins Crowe In Elite Test Century Club

Latham's Milestone: Joins Crowe In Elite Test Century Club

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

New Zealand opener Tom Latham has equalled legendary Martin Crowe's record of 17 Test centuries, becoming the joint third-highest century-scorer for his country. This milestone was achieved during his impressive 151-run knock against England in Nottingham, further solidifying his place in New Zealand's cricketing history.

Own Goal Surge Marks Early Stages Of World Cup 2026

Own Goal Surge Marks Early Stages Of World Cup 2026

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

The 2026 World Cup has witnessed an unusual number of own goals in its opening 10 days, with seven already recorded, making it the second-highest tally in tournament history. The United States has benefited from two such incidents. This trend is notable given the tournament's expansion and could surpass the 2018 record of 12 own goals. Several players from different nations have contributed to this statistic, highlighting a peculiar aspect of the early matches.

Trossard double fires Belgium into World Cup knockouts with 5-1 rout of New Zealand

Trossard double fires Belgium into World Cup knockouts with 5-1 rout of New Zealand

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

Belgium secured top spot in Group G and a place in the World Cup round of 32 after a dominant 5-1 victory over New Zealand.

FIFA World Cup: Mbappe Magic As France Sink Senegal

FIFA World Cup: Mbappe Magic As France Sink Senegal

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

Kylian Mbappe became France's all-time leading scorer with a double to power his team to victory against Senegal on Tuesday.

'I let myself get distracted': Mbappe blames VAR confusion for penalty miss

'I let myself get distracted': Mbappe blames VAR confusion for penalty miss

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

Kylian Mbappe admitted VAR confusion distracted him before his missed penalty against Morocco but said France's talented squad still has plenty to prove despite reaching the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a 2-0 victory.

Colombia, Portugal make last 32 stage after goalless draw

Colombia, Portugal make last 32 stage after goalless draw

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

Portugal and Colombia played to a 0-0 draw in their final World Cup Group K match, with Colombia securing the top spot and Portugal finishing second. Both teams advanced to the last 32, setting up future clashes against Ghana and Croatia respectively.

Neymar returns for Brazil but there's a new Junior in town

Neymar returns for Brazil but there's a new Junior in town

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

Neymar Junior returned to international football after a 981-day absence, playing 20 minutes as a substitute in Brazil's 3-0 World Cup victory over Scotland.

Third Test: England respond in style after Latham-Conway onslaught

Third Test: England respond in style after Latham-Conway onslaught

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

Ben Duckett led England's reply with a brisk counterattack as the hosts reached 73 for 1 at tea on Day 2 of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge on Friday, responding to the tourists' 438.

Devdutt Padikkal Stars Before Weather Ends India A-Sri Lanka A Test in Draw

Devdutt Padikkal Stars Before Weather Ends India A-Sri Lanka A Test in Draw

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

Devdutt Padikkal scored a patient 67 as India A set Sri Lanka A a target of 312, but persistent rain forced the opening unofficial Test in Galle to end in a draw.