India's vice-captain Rohit Sharma made no bones about the fact that "decision-making" during the first two games of the ongoing T20 World Cup, against Pakistan and New Zealand, was a result of fatigue that has set in after being on the road for a long time.
Images from the first One-Day International between New Zealand and India in Hamilton, on Wednesday.
Images from the first T20 International between India and New Zealand, in Jaipur, on Wednesday.
Images from the second T20 International between India and New Zealand, in Ranchi, on Friday.
Victory left New Zealand on 10 points and in pole position to bag the last semi-final spot and join India, South Africa and Australia. Pakistan will now need to beat England by a massive margin to leapfrog New Zealand on net run rate.
World number one India suffered a seven-wicket defeat in less than three days as New Zealand completed a 2-0 series sweep in the second Test, in Christchurch, on Monday. India were all out for 124 in their second innings to set New Zealand an easy target of 132 to win the match. The hosts cruised to victory, with openers Tom Latham (52) and Tom Blundell (55) both hitting half-centuries.
Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra smashed rapid unbeaten centuries to set up New Zealand's successful pursuit of a 283-run victory target, which came with 13.4 overs to spare.
Images from the third T20 International between India and New Zealand, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on Sunday.
India defeated New Zealand by five wickets in the first T20 International in Jaipur on Wednesday, but captain Rohit Sharma was quick to admit that his team was made to sweat for victory.
Three days after stunning defending champions England in New Zealand, the plucky Afghans briefly kindled hopes of another upset when New Zealand's top order suffered a mini-collapse.
Lucknow Super Giants pacer Matt Henry was in awe of the "world-class batsmanship" of skipper KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock, saying the century-plus opening stand between the duo helped them outclass a "very good" Chennai Super Kings bowling attack in the IPL match in Lucknow on Friday.
A dominant Afghanistan crushed Papua New Guinea by seven wickets to storm into the Super Eight of the T20 World Cup in Trinidad on Thursday.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said forgetting about results and getting the simple things right helped his side recover from the 3-0 drubbing by Australia to beat India, the world's top ranked Test side, by 10 wickets on Monday.
Images from Day 2 of the first Test between Australia and New Zealand in Perth on Friday
Despite the glossiness of their victory over New Zealand, Indian captain Rohit Sharma was candid enough to admit that the team felt a few strands of pressure going into the World Cup semifinal in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Images from Day 3 of the ICC World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand, at The Hampshire Bowl, in Southampton, on Saturday.
Images from Day 5 of the first Test between India and New Zealand, at Green Park in Kanpur, on Monday.
Chasing a record 468 for victory, New Zealand were teetering at 31 for two at the break with Tom Latham 10 not out and Ross Taylor unbeaten on five. Images from Day 4 of the first Test between Australia and New Zealand in Perth on Sunday.
Images from Day 6 of the ICC World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand, at The Hampshire Bowl, in Southampton, on Wednesday.
The legendary Sunil Gavaskar dismissed conspiracy theories around the pitch for the World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand, asking the "morons" to shut up and stop taking potshots at the hosts.
Mohammed Shami's 7/57 is the best figures by an Indian bowler in the World Cup.
New Zealand held their nerve under the floodlights to beat Bangladesh by two wickets in a dramatic low-scoring Cricket World Cup match at The Oval on Wednesday.
A clinical South Africa skittled Afghanistan for 56 on their way to a comprehensive nine-wicket victory in the first Twenty20 World Cup semi-final.
Dravid was particularly happy with how Shreyas Iyer has been showing consistency at the back-end of the tournament.
Afghanistan have rebounded from defeat at the World Cup and can do so again, coach Jonathan Trott said after Tuesday's three-wicket loss to Australia in Mumbai.
Captain Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor combined to put New Zealand in a strong position in the first Test before India struck back late on Saturday to remove both just as their partnership threatened to take the match away from the tourists. Images from Day 2 of the first Test between New Zealand and India in Wellington on Saturday.
Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra scoring centuries in the same game is the first instance of two Kiwi batters scoring a century each in a World Cup match. It was also the first time two Kiwi batters scored a century each on World Cup debut.
Skipper Kane Williamson says New Zealand are looking forward to a World Cup semi-final with India if the are fortunate enough to make it.
Liam Livingstone smashed his second half-century in two games as England claimed a 79-run win over New Zealand in the rain-affected second ODI.
Four years ago he watched the World Cup final in a Bengaluru pub. On Thursday, Rachin Ravindra scored a 100 in the World Cup 2023 opening game.
Shreyas Iyer sparkled with a half-century on debut, while Ravindra Jadeja also hit an unbeaten fifty to keep New Zealand at bay on Day 1 of the first Test in Kanpur on Thursday.
Shubman Gill on Wednesday retired hurt on 79 after suffering cramps on his left leg
New Zealand humiliated Bangladesh by 10 wickets in the third one-day international at Queenstown on Monday to complete a 3-0 series clean sweep.
Dawid Malan's half-century and Harry Brook's fiery knock helped England rout New Zealand by seven wickets in the first T20 International.
Current calculations point to a World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand in Mumbai, and pacer Trent Boult expressed hope that the aggressive approach of Rohit Sharma's side will give the Kiwis a chance to snap the hosts' red-hot run.
Former Pakistan cricketers and the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Mohsin Naqvi came down heavily on the team management and the players, after their six-run loss to India on Sunday.
An ill Tim Southee and superb debut from Kyle Jamieson helped New Zealand to a tense 22-run victory over India in their second one day international at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday and clinch the three-match series with a game to spare. India were dismissed for 251 in 48.3 overs with Ravindra Jadeja (55) producing a superb rearguard fightback after he came to the crease with his side in trouble at 96-5 and almost won the game in partnership with fast bowler Navdeep Saini (45). New Zealand had scored 273-8 in their innings with Ross Taylor following up his century in the first match in Hamilton with 73 not out.
The match against New Zealand will be a repeat of their 2019 semi-final in Manchester which the Kiwis won by 18 runs.
South Africa sealed a comprehensive 190-run victory over New Zealand on Wednesday for their sixth win in seven matches.
The 42-year-old, who last played for India in 2019, had undergone a knee surgery last year.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances