Category: Sports

For the women’s team of Soorma Hockey Club, the new season doesn’t begin with big declarations – it starts with familiarity, trust, and a group that knows how close it came. As they take the field for their first match of the Hockey India League 2025-26 against Shrachi Bengal Tigers on Monday, Soorma are focused less on making statements and more on settling into their rhythm.

After topping the points table in the inaugural season before narrowly missing out in the final, JSW Soorma Hockey Club will head into the second season of the Women’s HIL determined to go one step further as they mount another serious title challenge.

Co-Captain Insights

Co-captain Salima Tete says the team has drawn strength from how last season shaped them. “This season is about courage, not caution. We showed what we’re capable of when we stay together. We know what we’re capable of, and that gives us freedom. The plan is to trust our instincts and compete honestly in every moment.”

Co-captain and goalkeeper Savita Punia believes early matches reveal a team’s true character. “The first game is never about perfection. It’s about habits; how you defend as a unit, how you talk to each other under pressure, and how quickly you reset after a mistake. If we stay calm and connected, the results will follow.”

Coach’s Perspective

Head coach Jude Menezes feels the group has grown in maturity without losing their hunger to win. “This team has trained with good intent and honesty. The players understand that consistency comes from discipline and effort, not shortcuts. Our focus is on playing our game, staying patient, and letting the performance build.”

As Soorma Hockey Club steps into a new campaign, the clash against Shrachi Bengal Tigers offers a first look at a side grounded in belief—ready to trust its process and grow into the season.

India’s wicketkeeper batter Richa Ghosh spoke about her promotion up the order by head coach Amol Muzumdar in the recently concluded T20I against Sri Lanka, stating that her aim, batting at any position, is to “score runs and provide a good finish for the team.”

Mandhana Shines with Record Performance

Smriti Mandhana dazzled with a stunning world record as India beat Sri Lanka by 30 runs in the fourth T20I, leading the five-match series 4-0. Mandhana and Shafali Verma delivered aggressive performances, enabling the hosts to set an impressive total of 221 for 2 in 20 overs at the Greenfield International Stadium after being asked to bat first.

The pair set a record 162-run partnership, the highest for any wicket in Women’s T20Is for India. Smriti scored 80 off 48 balls, while Shafali Verma hit 79 off 46. Mandhana also overtook Mithali Raj as the fastest batter to reach 10,000 international runs in terms of innings. In pursuit of 222, Sri Lanka fought hard but were restricted to 191 for 6, despite a solid fifty from captain Chamari Athapaththu.

Team’s Fielding and Personal Goals

Speaking after the match during the press conference, Richa addressed the team’s fielding, saying, “We’re working on the fielding. If you see, we stopped the ball well and took good catches today. Everyone has a bad day, and catches are dropped. We’ve worked hard behind the fielding.”

“Whenever I get a chance, and whenever I am sent up, my motto is to score runs and provide a good finish for the team. The wicket was good for batting, and the ball was coming to the bat nicely. While the ball was holding up a little on slower deliveries, it was coming nicely. Shot selection was important, and we executed it well enough and got the runs,” she continued.

Impact of World Cup Victory

Shedding light on the changes that the World Cup victory has brought in the cricketers’ lives, Richa noted, “Obviously, life has transformed since the World Cup victory. Everyone is joyful, and whenever we go out, we are greeted warmly by the public. More people now recognise the players’ names, such as Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, and Shafali Verma. This increased recognition is a wonderful development following the World Cup win. After a World Cup win, you take the confidence into the next series, and that is quite visible in everyone in the team.”

Bhutan’s left-arm spinner Sonam Yeshey has made cricket history by becoming the first bowler ever to claim eight wickets in a T20 match, whether international or domestic.

Historic Performance Against Myanmar

The 22-year-old achieved this remarkable feat during the third T20I against Myanmar in Gelephu on Friday. Yeshey delivered a stunning spell of 8 for 7 from his four overs, dismantling Myanmar for just 45 runs while they chased Bhutan’s modest total of 127 for 9.

Series Overview

The series has been heavily one-sided, with Yeshey leading the charge. He has taken 12 wickets across four matches, with the final game scheduled for Monday.

Previous Records

Prior to Yeshey’s performance, the best figures in men’s T20 internationals were seven-wicket hauls, achieved only twice: Syazrul Idrus (7 for 8 for Malaysia against China in 2023) and Ali Dawood (7 for 19 for Bahrain against Bhutan in 2025).

Outside the international arena, seven-wicket hauls have been recorded just twice more—by Colin Ackermann (7 for 18 for Leicestershire against Birmingham Bears in 2019) and Taskin Ahmed (7 for 19 for Durbar Rajshahi against Dhaka Capitals in 2025).

Women’s Cricket Benchmark

In women’s cricket, the benchmark remains Indonesia’s Rohmalia, who took an extraordinary 7 for 0 against Mongolia in 2024—the best bowling figures in women’s T20Is and T20s.

Other seven-wicket hauls in women’s T20 internationals have come from Frederique Overdijk (7 for 3 for the Netherlands vs France), Alison Stocks (7 for 3 for Argentina vs Peru), and Samanthi Dunukedeniya (7 for 15 for Cyprus vs the Czech Republic), with four additional feats recorded in women’s T20 matches overall.

Yeshey’s T20I Journey

Yeshey made his T20I debut in July 2022 against Malaysia, immediately making an impact with figures of 3 for 16. While wickets came more steadily in the years that followed, this historic spell has propelled his tally to 37 wickets in 34 T20 internationals.

Head coach Andrew McDonald is cautious about making too many changes for the upcoming series finale, as crucial ICC World Test Championship points are on the line. The Australian team aims for a third consecutive appearance in the final.

The Aussies head to the SCG for the fifth Test of the series, holding an unassailable 3-1 lead. However, they are eager to bounce back from a disappointing four-wicket defeat to England in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

McDonald Emphasizes Importance of WTC

“WTC is something that we aim and strive for. Every Test match is vitally important, and we like to think we just pick the best Test team for that surface based upon that opponent, because the WTC is something that is held in such high regard by this group. We like to be consistent,” McDonald stated to reporters in Melbourne.

Khawaja’s Position Assured

Usman Khawaja has been confirmed to feature in Sydney, with McDonald dismissing any speculation about the veteran batter announcing his retirement from international cricket. Khawaja started the Ashes series as one of Australia’s openers, a position he has held since his return in early 2022. However, he faced severe back spasms during the Perth Test, which hindered his ability to open the batting and caused him to miss the subsequent Brisbane Test.

Khawaja made a strong comeback in Adelaide, scoring 82 and 40 after being granted a last-minute reprieve when Steve Smith was ruled out of the match.

“There’s no indication at my end that he’s calling it in Sydney. His performance in this calendar year has been good enough to warrant selection so I’d say he’ll be there marking centre in Sydney,” McDonald said.

Khawaja shows no signs of retiring ahead of the fifth Test, which starts on January 4.

“I think Uz will come to us if he’s going to retire, there’s no doubt about that. And then after this Test match, we’ve got eight months until the next one, so we’ve got a lot of time as a selection group to make that decision,” McDonald added.

Selection Dilemmas Revealed

McDonald also indicated that spinner Todd Murphy would be considered strongly for the SCG contest. Additionally, all-rounder Beau Webster is a candidate to replace Cameron Green.

“It’s a nice problem to have. People are going to debate selection. They’re going to debate where Cameron’s at at this point in time and how he fits,” McDonald commented.

“We know we’ve got a quality player (in Webster) sitting there waiting. We’ve got a batting order that we’d like to think can function at a higher capacity, so we’ll be having conversations leading into Sydney,” he noted.

With regard to the SCG pitch, McDonald believes it may favor the selection of a specialist spinner, and he is keen to see what Murphy can bring to the team.

“It takes a lot for us to not pick a spinner, and we have been pushed into making that decision,” McDonald explained.

“Red-ball games, that’s the first time in a long time that we haven’t picked a spinner (in Melbourne). It’s not something that we like doing. I don’t think it’s something that will happen moving forward.”

“I’d love to pick Todd. I’d love to see what he’s got to offer. We think he’s back to his best, and what we’ve seen when he’s come closer to the camp has been excellent. We’d love to pick him,” he stated.

New Zealand all-rounder Doug Bracewell has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The 35-year-old ends a career that included 28 Tests, 21 ODIs, and 20 T20Is from 2011 to 2023.

Bracewell retires with a total of 74 Test wickets. In just his third Test appearance, he famously helped New Zealand defeat Australia in Hobart with a man-of-the-match performance, taking 6-40 in a nail-biting final innings that secured victory by seven runs. This match remains the last instance of New Zealand overcoming their trans-Tasman rivals on Australian soil at the Test level.

In white-ball cricket, Bracewell claimed 46 wickets for New Zealand. His most recent international appearance was at Test level against Sri Lanka in Wellington in 2023, but a recent rib injury has forced him to conclude his career with the domestic side Central Districts.

“It’s been a proud part of my life, and something I aspired to as a young cricketer. I will always be grateful for the opportunities I have had through cricket, and the chance to play for my country, as well as for Central Districts, throughout my domestic career,” Bracewell stated.

“I would like to take this time to acknowledge all the teammates I have played alongside and the coaches and management who have been on this journey with me, for everything they have done for me. It’s a privilege to play first-class and international cricket, and I’m grateful to have played and enjoyed the game for as long as I have,” he added in a statement via Central Districts.

Bracewell retires as one of the few modern all-rounders in New Zealand cricket to have achieved the elite first-class double of 4,000 runs and 400 career wickets, with 3,029 of those runs and 258 of the wickets coming for Central — the best all-round record in the team’s history.

Besides domestic cricket for Central Districts, Bracewell had stints in England’s County Cricket for Essex and Northamptonshire. He also played for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in IPL 2012, the Joburg Super Kings at SA20 2024, and Central Stags in the Global Super League earlier this year.

England have suffered a blow with news that fast bowler Gus Atkinson will miss the final Test of the Ashes series at the SCG due to injury.

Atkinson hurt his left hamstring while bowling on the second day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and failed to return to the field. Other fast bowlers stepped up in his absence, bowling out Australia for 132 in the second innings, leading to a four-wicket victory. This marked England’s first overseas Ashes Test win since January 2011.

“England seamer Gus Atkinson has been ruled out for the remainder of the Ashes tour after scans confirmed he has sustained a left hamstring injury,” England Cricket announced in a statement.

“The Surrey right-armer left the field after bowling his fifth over of Australia’s second innings during England’s victory at the MCG in the fourth Test.”

“England will not call up a replacement for the fifth Test, which gets under way in Sydney on 4 January,” it added.

Atkinson arrived in Australia as England’s attack leader but struggled to maintain his pace and incisiveness across the first two Tests. He went wicketless in Perth and took 3-151 from 33 overs in Brisbane before being dropped for the must-win game in Adelaide. The 27-year-old had taken six wickets at an average of 47.33 during the series.

England have already lost pace duo Jofra Archer and Mark Wood to injury on this tour.

Atkinson’s injury opens the door for fellow quicks Matthew Fisher and Matthew Potts for a call-up. Potts has taken 36 Test wickets at an average of 29.44, with his most recent ten appearances dating back to December 2024.

The fifth and final Ashes Test between Australia and England gets underway at the SCG on January 4.

England squad: Ben Stokes (c), Harry Brook (vc), Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma for their blistering 162-run partnership, leading the team to a 30-run victory over a spirited Sri Lanka in the fourth women’s T20I at the Greenfield International Stadium on Sunday.

Outstanding Performances

Smriti, named Player of the Match, and Shafali delivered impressive innings of 80 and 79 runs, respectively. Richa Ghosh secured 40 not out, while Harmanpreet played a crucial role in finishing the innings, propelling India to a total of 221/2, their highest score ever in this format.

“We were getting short on time, and I wanted everyone to be on time. I didn’t want the last over with three fielders outside. I have been playing for ages, so I try to improve after each game. We should give credit to Smriti and Shafali for the start they gave. Also to Richa and me for finishing the innings. We thought we would give a chance for Harleen, but how the game went, we thought Richa would finish the game and didn’t give her a chance to bat,” said Harmanpreet in the post-match presentation ceremony.

Smriti’s Milestone

During her innings, Smriti crossed the milestone of 10,000 international runs, noting the challenge of switching back to T20 cricket after numerous ODIs. “After playing a lot of ODI cricket, it was hard to get into T20 mode. Playing six months of ODI and coming back to T20 was a bit hard mentally. The plans were similar; I had some game plans against them. I came early and tried to work on that,” she added.

She also praised Shafali’s knock and the team camaraderie. “To watch Shafali bat from the other end is always a treat for the eyes. We complement each other well. Happy with the way she has matured with her batting. In the last year, there’s been a different team building that has happened. We are happy with each other’s success, and when she took the catch, we were all happy.”

Sri Lanka’s Response

Sri Lanka mounted a spirited chase but fell short, scoring 191/6 in 20 overs—their highest total in women’s T20Is. Captain Chamari Athapaththu acknowledged the improvement in her team’s batting but lamented the inexperience in the bowling lineup.

“At least we improved in our batting areas. We still need to better our power-hitting. They (India) batted really well according to their plans. Our bowlers didn’t bowl well, but it is a young bowling attack and a lot of inexperience. They learn a lot from these tournaments because they’re playing with the best team in the world at the moment. I hope they’ll perform their best in the next game,” she said.

Chamari also praised left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma, who took 2 wickets for 24 runs. “She has been bowling really well; she’s improved a lot because she played Under-19. I saw how she played. She doesn’t play WPL, but she bowled really well according to the plan. The most important thing is how she planned her spells. I saw how Harmanpreet managed her, which is really good for India.”

SG Pipers produced a masterclass of defensive steel and attacking flair to overpower Ranchi Royals 2-0 in the opening match of the 2025-26 Season, marking a stellar start to their campaign in the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium on Sunday.

Impenetrable Defence

SG Pipers’ rock-solid defence, anchored by Indian veteran Udita, junior women’s team captain Jyoti Singh, and Spain’s world-class Lola Riera, was an impenetrable fortress in the opening quarter. Despite Ranchi Royals’ relentless possession and numerous circle penetrations fuelled by home crowd energy, the Pipers absorbed every wave of pressure with supreme composure. This heroic backline performance set the tone for the Pipers’ dominance, securing a flawless goalless quarter.

Dynamic Goalkeeping

In the second quarter, SG Pipers’ elite goalkeeper Bansari Solanki produced a string of breathtaking saves, including thwarting a penalty corner, to repel Ranchi Royals’ early raids and keep the scoreboard level.

Then, the Pipers unleashed their attacking flair late in the half, dismantling the Royals’ defence with dynamic raids. Indian star and team captain Navneet Kaur converted a penalty corner in the 27th minute, blasting an unstoppable rocket past the keeper for a sublime goal that electrified the pitch and propelled SG Pipers into half-time with a 1-0 advantage.

Cohesive Attack and Defence

Fueled by their 1-0 lead, SG Pipers attacked as a cohesive powerhouse while defending like an impenetrable unit, effortlessly neutralizing Ranchi Royals’ desperate bids for a comeback. Indian sensation Deepika and Uruguay’s prodigious talent Teresa Viana shone brightly, creating a flurry of superb scoring opportunities that had the Royals’ defence in tatters. The Pipers came agonizingly close to doubling their advantage on multiple occasions.

The penultimate quarter ended goalless, but SG Pipers’ efficient performance preserved their commanding 1-0 lead heading into the fourth and final quarter of the match.

Explosive Final Quarter

SG Pipers exploded out of the blocks in the last 15 minutes, guns blazing in pursuit of a killer second goal that showcased their unrelenting attacking prowess. Australian superstar Kaitlin Nobbs delivered a pinpoint, world-class pass straight to Teresa Viana inside the circle. The Uruguayan maestro stayed ice-cool under pressure, deftly evading the onrushing Royals goalkeeper to slot home a sublime finish in the 46th minute.

Viana’s electrifying strike handed the Pipers a commanding 2-0 cushion, extinguishing any flicker of a Ranchi Royals comeback in the opening match of the Women’s HIL 2025-26 season. SG Pipers kept a clean sheet and clinched the game without much trouble.

Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma struck fluent half-centuries to set up India’s record total of 221/2 before the bowlers held off a spirited Sri Lankan chase to clinch a 30-run victory in the fourth women’s T20I at the Greenfield International Stadium.

Record Opening Partnership

Asked to bat first for the first time in the series, Smriti and Shafali shared a blistering 162-run opening stand, India’s highest ever partnership for the first wicket in T20Is. The performance was a delight for the enthusiastic fans as India posted their highest-ever score in the shortest format. Shafali continued her rich vein of form by scoring 79 off 46 balls, her third consecutive half-century, which included 12 fours and a six. Smriti took her time before matching her partner stroke for stroke with a knock of 80 off 48 balls, hitting 11 fours and three sixes.

Although both fell in successive overs, Richa Ghosh provided vital finishing touches with an unbeaten 40 off just 16 balls. Her late innings, along with Harmanpreet Kaur’s 16 not out off 10 balls, ensured India added 63 runs in the last five overs.

Sri Lanka’s Chase

Chasing 222, Sri Lanka mounted a spirited effort, racing to fifty in just 3.3 overs, with captain Chamari Athapaththu top-scoring with 52. All batters approached their innings with the intention to hit boundaries. However, they could not surpass India’s record score, finishing at 191/6, which is now their highest total posted in women’s T20Is.

India faced challenges for the first time in the series, as bowlers struggled with a wet ball and the fielding unit looked below par. Vaishnavi Sharma excelled with figures of 2-24 in her four overs, while Arundhati Reddy took 2-42. The rest of the attack found it hard to contain the Sri Lankan batters, but the advantage of a record batting effort proved decisive as India maintained their unbeaten run in the series.

Powerplay Performance

India raced to 61/0 at the end of the powerplay, with boundaries flowing freely from the bats of Smriti and Shafali, as each over yielded at least two fours. The Sri Lankan bowlers struggled to find a solution as captain Chamari cycled through her options without success.

During her innings, Smriti reached a significant milestone, becoming just the fourth woman and second Indian after Mithali Raj to reach 10,000 international runs. She brought up her fifty off 36 balls, while Shafali achieved her half-century in 30 balls.

After a brief slowdown in overs 7-9, where India managed just 14 runs, Shafali and Smriti exploded, plundering 74 runs in the next five overs. Their acceleration was remarkable: the first 50 runs took 32 balls, the next 50 came in 33 balls, and the final 50 needed just 21 deliveries.

Nimasha broke through in the 16th over by dismissing Shafali caught and bowled, before Smriti followed soon after, falling to Malsha when her top edge was caught at backward square leg.

Late Innings Onslaught

Richa then unleashed a powerful knock in the death overs, particularly targeting Kavisha Dilhari in the 19th over, smashing three sixes and a four in four consecutive balls. She and Harmanpreet added an unbroken 50-run partnership in just 24 balls, propelling India past their previous best of 217/4, set against the West Indies in Navi Mumbai last year.

Sri Lanka’s Bold Start

In the chase, Sri Lanka made their intentions clear from the first delivery, with Hasini Perera smashing three boundaries in the opening over off Renuka Singh Thakur. Arundhati Reddy, included in this match in place of a rested Kranti Gaud, faced a tough start to her spell.

Her first two legal deliveries went to the boundary, with the second coming off a no-ball and free hit that yielded 10 runs, as the second over went for 15 runs. India’s attempt to stem the flow by introducing spin backfired as Deepti Sharma’s first over leaked 13 runs, allowing Sri Lanka to race to 43/0.

Hasini and Chamari Athapaththu continued their aggressive approach through the powerplay, bringing up Sri Lanka’s fifty in the fourth over. The first breakthrough for India occurred in the sixth over when Arundhati dismissed the dangerous Perera for 33 off 20 balls.

Crucial Partnerships and Wickets

Though Sri Lanka’s momentum briefly stalled after the wicket, captain Chamari and Imesha Dulani steadied the innings through smart strike rotation. At the halfway mark, Sri Lanka stood at 95/1, exceeding India’s position at the same stage.

A moment of fortune arose for Imesha when Vaishnavi Sharma nearly had her stumped, but wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh missed the chance, and the delivery was ruled a no-ball. Chamari reached her fifty off just 31 balls, but she soon fell for 52 off 37 balls, holing out in the deep off Vaishnavi Sharma.

Despite Deepti misjudging a delivery and dropping a chance for Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha was run out by a good throw from Amanjot Kaur. In the following over, Harshitha was beaten in flight by Vaishnavi, and this time, Richa held on for the stumping.

Fielding errors continued as Richa missed another stumping, while Smriti dropped a catch at long-on, giving Nilashika Silva and Kavisha Dilhari second chances. Kavisha eventually fell for 13 off Arundhati, with substitute fielder G Kamalini taking the catch after three attempts. Though Deepti dropped another catch of Rashmika Sewwandi, she was castled by a slower full toss from Sree Charani, allowing India to regain control.

Final Scores

India: 221/2 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 80, Shafali Verma 79, Richa Ghosh 40 not out; Malsha Shehani 1-32, Nimasha Madushani 1-40)
Sri Lanka: 191/6 in 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 52, Hasini Perera 33; Vaishnavi Sharma 2-24, Arundhati Reddy 2-42)

India won by 30 runs.