Tilak Varma fight all alone as East Zone tightens its grip on Duleep Final
The final of the Duleep Trophy 2026 is being played between East Zone and South Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Three days of play have been completed in this match. By the end of the second day’s play, East Zone was all out for 708 runs in the first innings. Ishan Kishan top-scored for East Zone in the first innings with 270 runs, while Kumar Kushagra contributed 101 runs.
On the third day of the match, South Zone scored 242 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 56 runs. Chama Milind remained unbeaten on 2 runs. South Zone still trails East Zone by 466 runs. For the East Zone side, Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar took two wickets each. Kounain Qureshi and Shikhar Mohan took one wicket each.
“Pietersen will prove to be a great asset to the team”: Joe Root
England cricket team’s star batsman Joe Root has warmly welcomed the appointment of Kevin Pietersen as a special mentor in the England side. Root believes that Pietersen’s outspoken nature, deep knowledge, and boundless energy will prove highly beneficial for the group. He feels the dressing room needs someone capable of offering clear and honest opinions, adding that the current players are fortunate to have the opportunity to tap into Pietersen’s experience.
Speaking to Cricbuzz and in other media interviews, Joe Root said, “He is very knowledgeable, has an excellent understanding of batting, and possesses plenty of energy. I think he will prove to be a great asset to the team, and I look forward to working with him.”
Babar Azam breaks silence on exclusion of seven players
Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam says the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made changes to the team without consulting him. The Pakistan team was thrown into disarray after losing the second Test against England at Lord’s. The board dropped seven players and replaced them with new ones.
Babar said, “This was news to me as well. I found out about it later. The PCB can better explain the decision to make the change.” It’s worth noting that Babar was appointed Test captain before the West Indies and England tours, and now he too is facing a threat. Several former cricketers have advised him to step down from the captaincy.
Sreesanth did not shake hands with Sanju Samson in KCL final
Speculation has arisen regarding a rift between Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson and former cricketer S. Sreesanth. The two players did not shake hands during the final match of the Kerala Cricket League 2026. Following the emergence of a video showing this moment, rumors are circulating that all is not well between them. In the video, Sreesanth is seen interacting and sharing a laugh with others on stage, while Samson appears to be standing quietly.
Both Samson and Sreesanth are among Kerala’s prominent cricketers. Samson himself had previously acknowledged that Sreesanth played a significant role in helping him and other young players from Kerala secure IPL contracts; Sreesanth had also mentioned in an interview that he had assisted Samson in landing an IPL deal.
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