SPORTS

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson’s run in the Indian cricket team is set to come to an end after his disastrous run in the ODI and T20I series against the West Indies. After ending the ODI series with an impressive 51 in the third and final ODI, Samson has run of 12, 7 and 13 in the three T20I matches against West Indies in a series which India lost 2-3.

Although Samson has been picked for the three-match T20I series against Ireland beginning in Dublin on Friday, it is unlikely that the wicket-keeper batter will be selected for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, according to a report in Times of India newspaper on Thursday. If Samson is dropped for the Asia Cup 2023 it could also mean the end of the road for him for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 as well.

Hardik Pandya and Co. recently faced the wrath of netizens following India’s shock T20I series defeat at the hands of West Indies. 

Pandya, in particular, received harsh criticism for his remarks in the post-match conference on Sunday. When asked about the possibility of losing a series after 17 years, he replied: "It`s okay to be unique."

"In hindsight, one series here or there doesn`t matter, but the commitment to the goal is important,” Pandya continued.

Vinesh Phogat, who was given direct entry to the Asian Games, on Tuesday announced that she won't be able to compete at the quadrennial extravaganza in Hangzhou because of a knee injury that will require a surgery. The exemption from the Asian Games trials given to Vinesh and Bajrang Punia had created a huge controversy as the wrestling fraternity criticised the decision made by the ad-hoc panel.

However, as luck would have it, Vinesh would not be part of the sporting action in Hangzhou, starting September 23.

West Indies star Nicholas Pooran, regarded as one of the best T20I batters in modern-day cricket, played a key role in West Indies' first bilateral series win over team India since 2006 and was adjudged The Player of the Series for his heroics. The five-match T20I series between India and West Indies ended 3-1 with the hosts winning the series decider by eight wickets at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida on Sunday.

Meanwhile, left-handed batter Nicholas Pooran showed his bruises on social media, jokingly thanking Brandon King and Arshdeep Singh for the same. Chasing 166, Pooran 47(35) stitched a solid 107-run partnership for the second with Brandon King 85*(55) in the series decider between India and West Indies. The duo took away the game from India, helping their team crush the visitors by eight wickets and clinch the T20I series 3-2.

Tilak Varma was impressive in the T20I series against the West Indies with the bat. But on Sunday, August 13, the left-handed batter showed his usefulness with the ball in hand in the fifth and final T20I at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida.  

In the 14th over, Varma troubled an in-form Nicholas Pooran. In fact, it took him only two balls to dismiss the former Caribbean T20I skipper. On the first ball, Varma beat Pooran with an absolute beauty. India appealed for a stumping, but Pooran survived.