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Samson’s breezy ton, Lloyd’s prophecy, and Gomes: the ‘Six Appeal’ mentor

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By K.R. Nayar   Following a cricketer with immense talent is always a delight. The journey with such a player often brings fond memories. Reports on the player can also play a role in boosting their career. All of the above relates to Sanju Samson. It was heartening to see praises being heaped on Samson after he smashed a breezy 111 off just 47 balls for India against Bangladesh in Hyderabad.   When television reporters asked him about the five sixes he hit in one over, he responded: “My mentor told me, ‘You have to hit five sixes in one over, and I’m waiting for that.’ I was chasing it, and it happened today.” The mentor he referred to was Raiphi Vincent Gomes, who had once hit five sixes in an over for Kerala against a star-studded Hyderabad team in the 2010 Subbaiah Pillai One Day tournament. Since I am always on the alert for such exceptional moments, I had reached out to Gomes after that knock and written a story for Gulf News. The headline for the piece was “Kerala batsman
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Why didn’t any subcontinent team reach the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup semi-finals?

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By K.R. Nayar From Dubai International Stadium   It is very strange that none of the subcontinent teams reached the semi-finals of the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup. The tournament was held in subcontinent conditions—familiar and almost identical to those in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh—yet all the four teams performed poorly.   The semifinalists are Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies.   New Zealand's  off spinner Eden Carson who won the Player of the Match award against Pakistan Disappointing Show by Asia Cup Champions The reigning Asia Cup T20 Women’s champions, Sri Lanka, were the worst performers, losing all four of their matches. Bangladesh, the tournament hosts, lost three out of four games. Their performance would have been even more disappointing had they played this poorly on home soil, in front of their fans. Pakistan showed little resistance, never really threatening their opponents at any stage of the tournament.   Preserving the India-
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Sharjah Cricket Stadium’s last-ball six legacy and lessons from India’s defeat to Australia

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By K.R. Nayar From Sharjah Cricket Stadium It is always worth being aware of a stadium’s history before playing an important match. Sharjah Cricket Stadium has always been known for its thrilling finishes. As a reporter and commentator, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve witnessed last-ball sixes deciding victories on this ground. Undoubtedly, the biggest amongst all these has to be Pakistan’s Javed Miandad’s last-ball six that secured a win against India on April 18, 1986, in the Austral-Asia Cup final. Last-ball six  Whether chasing a score or setting a total in Sharjah, the last ball of the innings must be bowled carefully. Teams that hit the last ball of the innings for a six often emerge victorious. In the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup match between India and Australia on October 13, 2024, Australia crossed the 150-run mark thanks to a last-ball six by Phoebe Litchfield off Shreyanka Patil. India lost the match by just nine runs. Without that six, the target could have be
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Sachin Tendulkar Stand at Sharjah Cricket Stadium fuels Indian Women Cricketers' dreams

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By K.R. Nayar From Sharjah Cricket Stadium Indian women cricketers have drawn inspiration from a special landmark at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium — the Sachin Tendulkar stand. All Indian players, upon on arrival at the stadium, could be seen looking at this stand which gives them the feeling that they are playing in one of their home venues. This is the feel the players are hoping to get when they take on Australia in a crucial match on October 13, 2024 here.   The Sachin Tendulkar stand at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium  Asha Sobhana, one of the Indian team player, remarked that she decided to become a cricketer after watching Tendulkar’s innings from this stadium on television when she was just eight years old. The Sachin Tendulkar stand is situated where the "Master Blaster" hit some of his iconic sixes during his remarkable knock of 143 on April 22, 1998, followed by a score of 134 in the finals of the Coca-Cola Cup against Australia two days later. The 143-run innings,
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Indian fans rejoice over big win against Sri Lanka, look ahead to clash with Australia

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By K.R. Nayar From Dubai International Stadium It was delightful to witness Indian fans rejoice with joy as their women’s team secured a big win over Sri Lanka on October 9. While in Mumbai, I noticed all newspapers prominently celebrated the victory, praising openers Shafali Verma (43) and Smriti Mandhana (50), as well as skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 52. I could sense the high expectations among Indian fans, who are eager to see their team lift the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup.   Indian skipper  Harmanpreet Kaur leads from the front  Now, all eyes are on the India-Australia match on October 13 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, scheduled to start at 6 PM. India’s loss to New Zealand on October 4 has added significant pressure to this match. In the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup format, one defeat can dramatically impact the stakes. As it stands, every upcoming match carries immense importance. Only the teams that avoid further losses will progress to the next stage.   Hindustan
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Tendulkar wants to play again and create more memories both on and off the cricket field

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By K.R. Nayar From Mumbai   Sachin Tendulkar, who will lead India in the International Masters League (IML) to be held from November 17 to December 8, captivated everyone with an inspirational speech at the event's launch held at Taj Lands End.   Sachin Tendulkar acknowledges the ovation during the launch of the International Master's League. Photo by K.R. Nayar  Tendulkar began by explaining why he had decided to return to the field for this tournament: "The reason we all started playing cricket was our passion for the game. Today’s launch of the International Masters League gives my colleagues and me another chance to play the game we love for our well-wishers. We're all set to create more unforgettable memories," he said.   He then reflected on the nostalgic feeling of participating in the event: "These are all my colleagues, players I've competed against for several years. We've shared so many incredible memories on the field, and some o
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