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PERTH, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 19: Mitchell Starc of Australia reacts while players walk from the field as rain halts play during game one of the One Day International series between Australia and India at Perth Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) In the first ODI between Australia and India, Mitchell Starc set up Virat Kohli beautifully and dismissed him for an eight-ball duck, but that wasnâ€t the highlight of his spell. Instead, it was a delivery to Rohit Sharma that took the internet by storm — Starcâ€s very first ball to the Indian skipper was clocked at a staggering 176.5 kmph, possibly the fastest ever recorded in ODI history.The speed gun graphic displayed a staggering 176.5 kph (109 mph), but it was clearly an error. Thankfully, other broadcasters†graphics later confirmed the actual speed to be 140.8 kph (just over 87 mph) — right around Starcâ€s usual pace.

Arshdeep Singh Press Conference After IND vs AUS 1st ODI: Praises Captain Gill, Backs Virat Kohli

Indian veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were on the receiving end after their underwhelming show in the first ODI of the three-match series against Australia. The duo walked out to bat in Perth after seven months.The veterans, who returned to international cricket for the first time since Indiaâ€s victory at the Champions Trophy earlier this March, gave plenty of reasons for fans and experts to feel disappointed with their rough show.

Rohit Sharma (Screengrab)

Opening the innings after being put to bat first, Rohit scored only eight runs off 14 balls before Josh Hazlewood dismissed him. After the former Indian captainâ€s disappointing innings, all eyes were on Kohli, as fans hoped he would help India recover after an early loss.However, Kohli also failed to deliver and was dismissed cheaply for an eight-ball duck. It was the first time Kohli had ever been dismissed for no score in ODI cricket in Australia.

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What do you think of Mitchell Starc’s bowling performance in the first ODI?

“Never easy when you lose three wickets in the powerplay, youâ€re always trying to play catch-up. There were a lot of learnings and positives as well,†said Gill after the match.This was Indiaâ€s first defeat in ODIs in 2025, bringing their run of eight successive wins to an end.

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Smriti Mandhana (ICC Photo) NEW DELHI: Four-time champions England booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Womenâ€s World Cup after a nail-biting four-run win over hosts India in Indore on Sunday. England posted a competitive 288/8, anchored by Heather Knightâ€s classy century, and held their nerve in the field to defend it, despite their bowling, usually their strength, being slightly off-colour.India looked on course for victory, needing just 62 runs from the last 10 overs with seven wickets in hand. But the dismissal of Smriti Mandhana shifted the momentum. The elegant left-hander, who had been anchoring the chase, danced down the track to left-arm spinner Linsey Smith but failed to clear long-off. Soon after, Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma fell in quick succession, leaving the tail exposed. As the match slipped away, Mandhana struggled to control her tears, a poignant reminder of how close India had come.Deepti Sharma, after reaching her half-century, attempted a risky slog sweep against Sophie Ecclestone and was caught at deep mid-wicket, sealing Englandâ€s victory.“We probably needed 300, but we did well to pull things back and I’m very happy. Didn’t contribute much in the last couple of games, so it felt good to come up with a match-winning hundred,” said Knight, whose 109 off 91 balls, laced with 15 fours and a six, powered Englandâ€s innings. Englandâ€s openers gave them a brisk start with 73 runs for the first wicket before Knight and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt stitched a 113-run stand to keep the scoreboard ticking. At one point, England seemed set to breach 300, but Knightâ€s run out during a second run triggered a slowdown. Deepti Sharma finished with four wickets, keeping India in the hunt.The defeat marked Indiaâ€s third consecutive loss, leaving their next clash against New Zealand a virtual knockout. Both teams are on four points, and only a win in both remaining games, along with favourable results elsewhere, will keep Indiaâ€s semi-final hopes alive.”Not sure how we lost this game. We had it in the bag. We’ve worked so hard and when the last five overs slip away from you, it’s heartbreaking. This is the third straight game we’ve lost after coming so close,” lamented India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, reflecting the anguish felt by the team and particularly by Mandhana, whose heartbreak underlined how agonisingly close India came to victory.

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R Ashwin and MS Dhoni (BCCI Photo) NEW DELHI: Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently found himself in a humorous situation when a person impersonating Australian cricketer Adam Zampa contacted him on WhatsApp, asking for the phone numbers of several Indian players.Ashwin shared screenshots of the conversation on Instagram, captioning it “Fake Adam Zampa tries to strike.†The post quickly went viral, with fans loving Ashwinâ€s sharp and witty replies to the impersonator.The fake Zampa asked Ashwin for the contact details of players such as Abhishek Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh, and Shivam Dube. Ashwin decided to play along, joking that he would send the list and asking if those names were enough.He then turned the tables by asking the impersonator if he had MS Dhoniâ€s number. When the fake Zampa replied that he did, Ashwin requested the number in return. The chat ended on a hilarious note, with Ashwin quipping that he was “Compiling in Excel†when the impersonator again pressed for the contacts.This wasnâ€t Ashwinâ€s first brush with online impostors. He revealed a similar incident involving someone pretending to be his former Chennai Super Kings teammate Devon Conway.“After the IPL got over, one guy messaged me, claiming to be Devon Conway, ‘Hi buddy, how are you?’ and I also responded, ‘We’ll stay in touch. You’re playing in MLC; I’ll watch the games.’ He then asked, ‘I’ve lost Virat Kohli’s number, can you share it?’ I thought, why is he asking for Virat’s number? I thought I should ask him, but I didn’t want Devon Conway to misunderstand. Then I picked up Virat Kohli’s card and gave him a different number,” Ashwin shared on his YouTube channel.In a separate development, Ashwin recently defended pacer Harshit Rana after earlier questioning his inclusion in Indiaâ€s ODI squad against Australia.”I have always reiterated that no player should be attacked below the belt. When the attack becomes too personal, the genre changes. I would like to talk about Sanjay Manjrekar, who has criticised me throughout my career. But I have never held any grudge against him. What they say might be right or wrong, as long as the criticism doesn’t get personal, I am fine with it,” Ashwin stated on his YouTube channel.Ashwin also voiced his concern over the psychological toll of harsh social media criticism on young players.”Assume Harshit sees the reel in which he is being harshly criticised, and he is about to play a match for India, wouldn’t he be shattered by this? And if his parents and friends see it, what will be their mindset? We can definitely criticise their skill, their style of cricket and the trade that they are plying. But it shouldn’t get personal. It may be funny once or twice, but it shouldn’t be a running theme. The reason they are doing this is that there is an audience for it. Negativity sells these days. They sell whatever is in demand. We should avoid consuming such content,” he added.

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India suffered a heartbreaking loss at the hands of England in the ICC Women’s World Cup in Indore (Images via AP) Indore: What transpired here has to be one of the most heart-breaking defeats ever suffered by the Indian Womenâ€s cricket team, and it puts their qualification to the semifinals of the 2025 Womenâ€s ODI World Cup in real danger.Riding on fine half-centuries by senior batters Smriti Mandhana (88 from 84 deliveries), captain Harmanpreet Kaur (70 runs from as many balls) and Deepti Sharma, who produced a brilliant all-round performance (50 from 57 deliveries and 4-51 in 10 overs), India looked set to chase down 289, which wouldâ€ve been their highest-ever run chase in WODIs, but fell just four runs short on a smoggy night at the Holkar Stadium on Sunday.Pulling off a thrilling win by keeping their nerves, England became the third team after Australia and South Africa to qualify for the semifinals, while India, who suffered their third loss in a row, must now defeat New Zealand at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on October 23 to sneak in as the fourth semifinalists. This was also the first time that the Indian women’s team played a WODI at the Holkar Stadium.The star of Englandâ€s victory was their former captain Heather Knight, who was removed as the skipper last year after England exited the semifinals of the Womenâ€s T20 World Cup and lost the Ashes to Australia 16-0. Playing in her landmark 300th international match, Knight indeed proved to be England’s ‘Knight in shining armour’ as she smashed a splendid century (109 off 91 balls, featuring 15 boundaries and a six) which helped her team post a competitive 288 for eight against the hosts. India needed 14 off the last over with allrounders Amanjot Kaur and Sneh Rana in the middle, but left-arm spinner Linsey Smith, who conceded just 1-40 in 10 overs in a high-scoring game, gave away just nine. Chasing 289 under lights, India suffered two early blows when opener Pratika Rawal (6) was caught behind off Lauren Bell in the third over, who returned to action after missing the last match due to illness and number 3 batter Harleen Deol (24 off 31 balls) caught plumb in front while trying to play across to off-spinner Charlie Dean. The duo of Harmanpreet and Mandhana put on 125 in 122 balls for the third wicket to raise visions of an easy win, but India kept losing wickets at the wrong time. Trying to cut the ball repeatedly towards third man, Harmanpreet was caught at short third off England captain Nat-Sciver Brunt in the 31st over. Tiring due to cramps, Mandhana holed out to long off off Smith in the 42nd over. Sciver-Brunt then had Richa Ghosh (eight off 10 balls) caught at cover in the 46th over, and suddenly, India, falling behind the required run rate, had no one to force the pace. Once Deepti slog-swept Sophie Ecclestone to deep mid-wicket in the 47th over, the game was in Englandâ€s hands. Earlier, displaying her amazing prowess at sweeping the spinners, the 34-year-old Knight powered to her third ODI ton and highest-ever score in WODIs. Rotating the strike brilliantly while unleashing boundaries too, she stitched a 113-run stand off 106 deliveries with skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt.Earlier in the competition, against Bangladesh in Guwahati, England had slipped to a precarious 103 for 6, before their former captain took them home with an unbeaten 79.However, it wasn’t just Knight alone who stamped her authority on the game. At a time when India were searching for answers after ‘keeper-bat Amy Jones (56 off 68) and Tammy Beaumont (22 off 43) provided England with a steady 73-run start in 97 balls, Deepti brought India back in the game by scalping both the wickets. Deepti finished with her best-ever figures in ODI World Cups and with 13 sticks in five matches, stands apart as the highest wicket-taker in the tournament.After Knight was finally gone – run out due to a brilliant work at deep square leg by Amanjot Kaur, who recovered quickly after a misfield and fired in a pin-point accurate throw in the 45th over – India bounced back in sensational fashion, taking five wickets for 39 runs. In fact, all that England, with their middle-order frailties exposed once again, managed to score, was 42 runs in their last six overs, losing five wickets, with two of them being run outs. Things wouldâ€ve been worse for England had they not managed to take 11 off the final over of the innings, bowled by Shree Charani.

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How do you feel about India’s chances of qualifying for the semifinals after this loss?

Introduced into the attack in the 16th over, Deepti dislodged Beaumont’s leg stump after the batter missed a sweep, thus recording her 150th WODI scalp in her 117th WODI.Making a comeback at the expense of batter Jemimah Rodrigues, seamer Renuka Singh Thakur justified Indiaâ€s decision to play six bowlers by conceding 0-37 in eight overs, though she failed to make an early strike.

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Quinn Ewers steps up as Dolphins†QB backup (Image via: Getty images) The Miami Dolphins are making a bold quarterback move ahead of their Week 7 clash against the Cleveland Browns. Tua Tagovailoa remains the starter, but rookie Quinn Ewers will now serve as his backup, replacing Zach Wilson. Miami is preparing for a challenging game in Clevelandâ€s windy, wet conditions while testing their quarterback depth.

Quinn Ewers confirmed as Dolphins†backup to Tua Tagovailoa for Week 7

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Quinn Ewers will be active as the backup to Tua Tagovailoa for the Dolphins†matchup against the Browns. Zach Wilson has been moved to the third-string role. This marks Ewers†first time active in an NFL game, highlighting Miamiâ€s confidence in the rookieâ€s ability to step up under pressure. The move also gives Ewers a chance to make his NFL debut in a potentially high-stakes environment.Ewers, who played his final season at Texas, threw for 3,472 passing yards with 31 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, leading the SEC in touchdown passes. In the Dolphins†preseason, he went 23-of-43 for 273 yards and two touchdowns, taking four sacks but committing no turnovers. These performances signal that Ewers is ready to contribute when called upon.

Zach Wilson moved to third-string as Dolphins adjust QB depth chart

Miamiâ€s $6 million offseason signing, Zach Wilson, is now the third-string quarterback. This season, Wilson completed 29-of-45 passes for 327 yards, one touchdown, and seven sacks, avoiding turnovers. The Dolphins†decision to prioritize Ewers reflects their focus on building depth and evaluating rookie talent for long-term success.With Tua Tagovailoa starting and Ewers as the backup, Miami is prepared for any scenario in Cleveland. The windy and wet conditions could make the quarterback position crucial if a substitution is required. This move also gives Ewers a chance to make an early NFL impact and shows Miamiâ€s strategic approach to managing their quarterback room.The Dolphins†Week 7 quarterback change demonstrates the teamâ€s commitment to preparing for adversity and developing rookie talent. Quinn Ewers†elevation to backup marks a significant step in his NFL journey and could play a key role in Miamiâ€s Week 7 game against the Browns.Also Read: Could Dolphins†Anthony Weaver jump ship after 2025 disaster? Titans eye defensive coach for head job

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Harshit Rana of India (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) India face mounting pressure following their disappointing loss in the first ODI against Australia at Perth’s Optus Stadium. The match, which was initially anticipated as a celebratory return for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, resulted in India conceding a 1-0 series lead.Australia won the toss and elected to field first. The Indian batting lineup struggled to cope with the challenging conditions in a rain-affected match.India managed to score 136/9 in their allocated 26 overs, with the target being adjusted to 131 for Australia through DRS. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had brief stays at the crease, scoring 8 off 14 balls and 0 off 6 balls respectively.In the bowling department, Arshdeep Singh provided an early breakthrough by dismissing Travis Head. However, the Australian team comfortably achieved the target with seven wickets in hand and 29 balls remaining.The entire Indian bowling attack appeared ineffective, with Harshit Rana receiving particularly harsh criticism from fans. His selection for the series has been a topic of debate, with some suggesting his inclusion was influenced by his association with coach Gautam Gambhir.Rana’s performance in his four-over spell yielded no wickets while conceding 27 runs. This outcome has intensified the scrutiny surrounding his selection and capabilities at the international level.The Indian team now needs to regroup quickly as they prepare for the second match of the three-game series. The upcoming game is scheduled for October 23rd in Adelaide.The pressure will be particularly intense for Harshit Rana, who needs to prove his worth at the international level. A loss in the next match would put India in a difficult position to salvage the series.The match has highlighted concerns about team selection and performance under pressure. The Indian team’s ability to bounce back will be tested in the upcoming Adelaide fixture.The rain-interrupted nature of the first match added to the complexity of the game, but the overall performance has raised questions about the team’s adaptability in challenging conditions.India’s batting collapse in the shortened format and the inability of their bowling unit to defend even a modest target has become a point of concern for the team management.The return of senior players Rohit and Kohli was expected to strengthen the team, but their early dismissals contributed to India’s struggles in the match.The upcoming match in Adelaide presents an opportunity for the team to address these issues and level the series. The focus will be on both individual and collective improvement.Australia’s commanding performance in chasing down the target has put additional pressure on India to respond strongly in the second ODI.The loss has sparked discussions about team selection strategies and the balance between giving opportunities to new players while maintaining team performance at the international level.The team management faces the challenge of making necessary adjustments while maintaining confidence in their selected players ahead of the crucial second match.

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Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill enjoying popcorn during the rain break Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar lost his cool in the commentary box after seeing Rohit Sharma munching on popcorn with captain Shubman Gill during the rain break in the first ODI at Perth.”Arey bhai usse popcorn mat de (Don’t let him eat popcorn),” Nayar said in commentary.Before the start of the match, Nayar had opened up on Rohit Sharmaâ€s remarkable fitness transformation, revealing the thought process behind the India skipperâ€s 11-kilo weight loss and his vision for the 2027 World Cup.“I think thereâ€s been a lot of talk about the weight loss,†Nayar told JioHotstar before the match.“The initial parts were obviously about getting fitter, getting leaner. I spoke about this before. There was this spitting image of him walking out of the airport after his holiday in the UK. So that was something he wanted to change. He wanted to come back.“The outlook was obviously the 2027 World Cup — to be fitter, stronger, lighter, and more agile. And the skill has always been there. The fitness has only amplified the skill. Itâ€s helped him move faster. His agility is the best itâ€s ever been.“Heâ€s excited. Heâ€s keen. He knows thereâ€s a bit of pressure and talk around whether heâ€ll reach the 2027 World Cup. The first statement was his weight. Hopefully, the second statement will be the runs he scores with the bat.â€

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Do you think Rohit Sharmaâ€s weight loss will positively impact his performance in the upcoming matches?

However, Rohitâ€s return didnâ€t go as planned. He scored only eight runs off 14 balls before Josh Hazlewood dismissed him.India were struggling at 52 for four in 16.4 overs when rain once again halted play.

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Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill (X) The much-anticipated return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli did not go as planned in the first ODI against Australia in Perth. Australia won the toss and elected to field, continuing Indiaâ€s 16th consecutive ODI toss loss, with the last win coming in the CWC 2023 semifinals against New Zealand at Wankhede. Once play began, the Australian bowlers made the most of the bouncy Perth deck. Josh Hazlewood trapped Rohit with a hard-length delivery, while Mitchell Starc bowled a wide that Virat chased, resulting in a duck for the first time in 30 ODI innings in Australia.

New ODI Captain Shubman Gill speaks out on Virat, Rohit and taking Indian cricket forward

Shubman Gill managed a couple of boundaries but was eventually dismissed leg before. Together, the trio scored just 18 runs, the lowest combined total in an ODI where all three batted, breaking the previous mark of 25 against Pakistan in 2023.Amid the difficult start, the rain brought a pause to the proceedings, offering a rare lighter moment. During the second rain delay, all eyes were on the dressing room where Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were spotted enjoying some popcorn together. The pair were first seen in a serious discussion, likely analysing the pitch conditions and batting strategy. The mood soon shifted as they shared jokes and laughed, munching on popcorn while watching the rain outside.Click here towatch the video.The moment was a heartwarming reminder that despite changes in leadership and the pressures of international cricket, camaraderie remains strong between the experienced Rohit and the young captain Gill.

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Virat Kohli dismissed for duck on ODI comeback as India reduced to 37/3 After 224 days, cricket fans around the world were eager to watch the iconic duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in action for India. With the start of Diwali week, excitement and joy returned to fans as they tuned in to see the ODI series, marking the return of Rohit and Kohli after a long break following Indiaâ€s Champions Trophy win. Both had retired from T20Is and Test cricket, but expectations were high. Unfortunately, the start did not live up to the hype.Australia won the toss and elected to field, continuing Indiaâ€s 16th consecutive ODI toss loss, with the last win coming against New Zealand in the CWC 2023 semifinals at Wankhede.

‘Unfair at this stage!’: Virat Kohli’s childhood coach on the treatment of senior duo Virat-Rohit

Once the match began, Australiaâ€s bowlers exploited the bouncy Perth deck. Josh Hazlewood struck with a hard-length delivery that trapped Rohit, while Mitchell Starc bowled a wide that Virat Kohli chased, resulting in a duck for the first time in 30 ODI innings in Australia. Shubman Gill managed a couple of boundaries but was eventually pinned leg before. The trio combined for only 18 runs, the lowest aggregate for Rohit, Gill, and Kohli in an ODI where all three batted. The previous record was 25 runs against Pakistan in Pallekele in 2023.Shortly after these dismissals, play was halted briefly due to rain. This was also Rohit Sharmaâ€s 500th international match, but the start of the milestone game was underwhelming, adding to a series of disappointing personal scores in landmark matches: 100th match – 15, 200th – 21, 300th – 8, 400th – 15 and 46, and today, 8.Despite the rocky start, the match is still in its early stages, and India will look to recover quickly as fans hope the Men in Blue can counter disciplined Australian bowling on a tricky Perth deck.

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Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File) Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has removed Lahore Qalandars from his social media bio, following his countryâ€s decision to withdraw from the upcoming tri-nation T20I series in Pakistan. The withdrawal comes in protest against recent Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, which reportedly killed eight civilians, including three young cricketers.

Rashid Khan X handle

Rashid, widely regarded as one of Afghanistanâ€s most influential cricketers, had previously listed all his major teams on X (formerly Twitter), including the national side, Gujarat Titans in the IPL, Adelaide Strikers in the BBL, and Lahore Qalandars in the PSL. The latest update now shows the Qalandars removed, leaving only his IPL and BBL affiliations alongside the Afghanistan national team.

Pak-Afghan Border Clash: Airstrike Kills 3 Afghan Cricketers, ACB and Rashid Khan Blast Islamabad

The change followed a strongly worded statement from Rashid condemning the airstrikes and expressing support for the Afghanistan Cricket Boardâ€s (ACB) decision to pull out of the series scheduled in Lahore from November 17 to 29. The tri-series was to feature Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe.

Rashid Khan post on X

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani aerial strikes — a tragedy that claimed women, children, and young cricketers aspiring to represent Afghanistan on the global stage,†Rashid wrote on X. “These unlawful actions are a grave violation of human rights. I fully support the ACBâ€s decision to withdraw. Our national dignity must come first.â€The ACB confirmed that the three cricketers killed in the attacks — Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon — were from Paktikaâ€s Urgun district, while seven others were injured.Afghan players have expressed strong reactions to the incident. All-rounder Gulbadin Naib posted: “This brutal act by the Pakistani army is an assault on our people, pride, and independence, but it will never break the Afghan spirit.â€The move by Rashid Khan, both in public statements and his bio update, underscores the growing tension and the emotional toll of the attacks on Afghan cricket, as the team takes a firm stand on national dignity and respect for the lives lost.

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