The ongoing India-South Africa series remains fiercely contested, with two possible outcomes before the final game and former Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn opined that India have ‘been the better team’ so far in the three games played. “I think it’s been a great series, and South Africa have probably exceeded expectations. Winning the Test series was outstanding, and they were very competitive in the ODIs. They might feel they let the first ODI slip after winning the toss and losing early wickets while chasing. Had they won that, they could have finished the ODI series 2–1. That said, out of the three T20Is so far, India have been the better team. “They bowled SA out cheaply in one game, conceded runs in another, but then dominated again in Dharamshala. If India win the series, I would say well played — they would deserve it. But I’m hoping South Africa turn it around. They’ve had a wonderful tour,” Steyn told JioStar. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 December,2025 09:20 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSFormer India captain and Mumbai Cricket Association’s Cricket Advisor Dilip Vengsarkar has expressed disappointment over Mumbai’s failure to defend their Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy title this season. The defending champions dominated the league stage in Lucknow, losing just a solitary game to Kerala and winning six matches. When the tournament moved to Pune for the Super League, India pacer Mohammed Siraj-powered Hyderabad outclassed Mumbai by nine wickets in the opener. Mumbai bounced back strongly, beating Haryana and Rajasthan, but a comparatively lower Net Run Rate (NRR) kept them out of the final despite having eight points like Hyderabad and finalists Haryana. Mumbai finished with a NRR of -0.701, compared to Haryana’s 2.325 and Hyderabad’s -0.413. “I’m disappointed, there’s no question about it, because you want to win [the trophy]. I understand in T20s anything can happen as there is no strong team and weak team. So, any team can beat the strongest team. But, we were definitely expecting much better results,” Vengsarkar, a veteran of 116 Tests, told mid-day on Thursday. India batter Ajinkya Rahane was Mumbai’s top-scorer with 395 runs from 10 games, followed by Sarfaraz Khan with 329 in seven matches. In the bowling department, medium pacer Sairaj Patil (14 scalps) and skipper Shardul Thakur (13) were the top two wicket-takers for Mumbai. MCA secretary Dr Unmesh Khanvilkar felt that one bad day in the office hurt the Mumbai side: “We played very well in the last two matches, but had we won the first game against Hyderabad, the story would have been different. One bad day cost us the final, and we failed to retain the trophy.”
19 December,2025 09:12 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureOut-of-favour India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan made a compelling case for a T20I recall with a belligerent hundred to power Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title with a 69-run victory over Haryana here on Thursday. Kishan went on a six-hitting spree, smashing 10 maximums en route to a breathtaking 49-ball 101, as Jharkhand piled up an imposing 262-3. Jharkhand bowlers, led by medium pacer Anukul Roy, then struck twice in his opening over while his team applied the brakes with regular wickets to bowl out Haryana for 193. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 December,2025 09:09 AM IST | Pune | PTIA pumped-up Australian bowling unit ripped through England’s fragile batting on Thursday to leave the tourists staring down the barrel of a third successive Test defeat with their Ashes campaign on the brink, barring a miracle. At stumps on a sweltering Day Two, the visitors had ground to 213-8, trailing by 158 after Australia added 45 to their overnight 326-8, with Mitchell Starc scoring his second fifty on the trot (54). A gutsy Ben Stokes battled through the day with 45 not out after facing 151 balls. Jofra Archer accompanied him to the dugout at stumps with an unbeaten 30.Australia skipper Pat Cummins, returning from a lower back injury after missing the first two Tests, made an immediate impact by dismissing England opener Zak Crawley (9) early, before Nathan Lyon — reinstated in the XI after being dropped at the Gabba — picked the wickets of Ollie Pope (3) and Ben Duckett (29) in his first over to leave England tottering. Lyon’s Test tally swelled to 564, going past the Glenn McGrath’s record in the process, leaving him ‘humbled.’ “I grew up Glenn McGrath. To think of being able to overtake Glenn... it’s pretty humbling to be honest,” said Lyon. Cummins then dismissed Joe Root (19) cheaply before Harry Brook’s counter-attacking 45 was nipped by Cameron Green. But then came a moment of controversy, as Jamie Smith (22) was adjudged caught behind with Snicko showing a small spike one frame after the ball passed the bat. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 December,2025 09:05 AM IST | Adelaide | AgenciesDefending champions Anjuman-I-Islam Allana English School (Fort) booked their spot in the final after beating Dnyandeep Seva Mandal High School (Nerul) by three wickets in the semi-finals of the Dream Sports Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) inter-school Harris Shield tournament at the MIG Cricket Club (Bandra) on Thursday. Resuming the final day (Day Three) on 34-1, Anjuman’s Umar Khute anchored the chase of 130, which they completed in 33.5 overs, with 48 off 77 balls. He was well supported by Yuvraj Bhingare (33 off 43), and Aarav Yadav (26 off 33). For Dnyandeep, Golu Pal was the standout bowler (5-56). In the other semi-final, Al-Barkaat MMI English School (Kurla) beat General Education Academy (Chembur) by five wickets, chasing down a daunting target of 292 in 38.4 overs.
19 December,2025 08:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Rufus VedanayagamWhen Australia’s Glenn Maxwell battled severe cramps and literally batted on one leg to score an unbeaten 201 off 128 balls in a three-wicket win over Afghanistan in an ICC ODI World Cup match at the Wankhede Stadium in 2023, he instantly hit the headlines. Now, imagine a batter playing a big knock with just one hand! That’s exactly what India Seniors batter Shivashankara GS, 25, did against India ‘A’ in the third and final match of the inaugural Physically Disabled T20 Cricket Series at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Shivashankara, who lost his right hand in a road accident when he was just six years old, smashed the bowlers all over the park with just his left hand, which he used as the bottom hand to hold the bat. Close win for India ‘A’ Chasing 164 for victory, the India Seniors’s left-handed No. 7 batter hammered a 43-ball 67 (4x4, 5x6), before his team fell short by 24 runs. However, Shivashankara was named Player of the Match for his brilliance as India Seniors won the three-match series 2-1. Usually, it’s the top hand that plays a key role for a batter, but in Shivashankara’s case, he uses his bottom hand effectively, exhibiting both, classic cover-drives along the ground, as well as big sixes across the fence. Power is something Shivashankara has particularly worked on over the years. “I’ve been playing cricket for the last 10 years and have worked on my power by hitting the gym three to four times a week. But I think more than physical strength, it’s the mental strength that helps me every time I step out to bat. I have been playing cricket with normal cricketers in corporate tournaments at Bengaluru and have scored 30,000-plus runs,” Shivashankara, a Commerce graduate, who works for a private firm in Bengaluru, told mid-day. Trained by Paddikal’s coach Speaking about his initial days in the game, Shivashankara said. “It was a tough time for me when I lost my hand as a kid due to a road accident, but my parents constantly supported and motivated me. I started playing cricket seriously in 2016 under coach Irfan Shaikh, who is also coaching India batter Devdutt Padikkal,” he said. 67No. of runs scored by Shivashankara GS off just 43 balls on Thursday 5Sixes smashed by Shivashankara en route to his 67 on Thursday 2-1Series result in favour of India Seniors
19 December,2025 08:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureShubman Gill arrived here on Thursday with the Indian team for the fifth and final T20I against South Africa, even though he is under injury cloud after copping a blow to his toe in the lead-up to the fourth match. Gill was set to miss Wednesday’s fourth T20I in Lucknow after he was injured in the nets, but poor weather conditions forced the match to be abandoned. It remains to be seen if Gill, who has also struggled for runs, would be available for selection for the fifth T20I to be played here on Friday, or would Sanju Samson be picked in place of the Indian vice-captain. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 December,2025 08:40 AM IST | Ahmedabad | PTIUnbeatable at home Team India’s purple patch in bilateral series at home continues, remaining undefeated in every T20I series for more than six years now. Since September 2019, the hosts have won 15 series and drawn two. 100 per cent record India hold a 100 per cent win record in T20I series-deciders at home since November 2019. They have won all seven games. The SA connection Interestingly, SA are the only team against whom India failed to win a series twice at home since September 2019. The three and five-match series were drawn 1-1 and 2-2 in 2019 and 2022 respectively. Consistency at the top India are unbeaten in their last 13 T20I series or tournaments (home and away, including the ongoing T20I series vs SA). They have won 11 series or tournament and drawn one. Coincidentally, that one away draw also came against SA in December 2023. Lucky skipper Surya India skipper Suryakumar Yadav has not lost a T20I series or tournament (home or away) as captain. He currently has eight series or tournament wins under his belt, while one was levelled 1-1. Ahmedabad advantage today Team India have won five of the seven T20Is played in Ahmedabad. Both their defeats came in the five-match series against England in 2021.
19 December,2025 08:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Rohan KoliIndia would hope that the challenging home assignment against South Africa, which has exposed a few chinks in the armour and thrown up difficult questions on selection, ends on a positive note when the two sides clash in the fifth and final T20I here on Friday. After being blanked 0-2 in the Tests, India bounced back to win the ODI series and now have an unassailable 2-1 lead in the T20Is after the fourth game was abandoned due to poor weather conditions in Lucknow on Wednesday. That India cannot lose the series should be comforting to embattled head coach Gautam Gambhir given that the other two leaders in the camp — skipper Suryakumar Yadav and his deputy Shubman Gill — are battling challenges of their own with less than two months to go for the T20I World Cup. For someone who was ranked World No. 1 not so long ago, Suryakumar’s form has sharply nosedived in the only format he is assured a place in the XI for India.Adding to it is the Gill conundrum. His return as vice-captain in the T20I format might have been perceived as one which put Suryakumar on notice a few months ago, but the former’s ordinary run with the bat since his comeback and the latest injury setback only hampers the team’s cause. A toe injury suffered before the fourth T20I is likely to keep Gill out of the final T20I here as India would want to take a cautious route, more so when there is a ready replacement for the top order slot in Sanju Samson. Earlier, Gill had missed most of the two-Test affair following an injury to his neck, which he suffered in the series-opener in Kolkata. For South Africa, who have blown hot and cold particularly with the bat in the T20I series, Friday’s contest will be an opportunity to end with the satisfaction of drawing a series against India. ZeroNo. of T20I half-tons for Suryakumar Yadav so far this year. It’s a first for him in a calendar year since making his debut in March 2021 14.20Suryakumar Yadav’s average this year in 20 T20Is, well below his career average of 35.67 This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 December,2025 08:34 AM IST | Ahmedabad | PTIFrom Ashes' action to the series deciding clash between Team India and South Africa, here are all the sporting events that will keep you glued to the screens this week from December 19 to December 24th: December 19, Friday Time Sport Event Match 5.30 AM Cricket Ashes England vs Australia 3rd Test- Day 3 1.45 PM Cricket Big Bash League 2025/26 Brisbane Heat vs Perth Scorchers 7.00 PM Cricket India vs South Africa T20I series India vs South Africa: 5th T20I 7.00 AM Badminton BWF 2025 BWF World Tour Finals Group Stage Session 1 Court 1 7.00 AM Badminton BWF 2025 BWF World Tour Finals Group Stage Session 1 Court 2 2.30 PM Badminton BWF 2025 BWF World Tour Finals Group Stage Session 2 Court 1 2.30 PM Badmintnon BWF 2025 BWF World Tour Finals Group Stage Session 2 Court December 20, Saturday 5.30 AM Cricket Ashes Australia vs England, 3rd Test - Day 4 1.45 PM Cricket Big Bash League 2025-26 Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers 7.00 AM Badminton BWF 2025 BWF World Tour Finals Semi-finals Session 1 Court 1 2.30 PM Badminton BWF 2025 BWF World Tour Finals Semi-finals Session 2 Court 1 6.00 PM Football Premier League 2025-26 Newcastle United vs Chelsea 8.30 PM Football Premier League 2025-26 Bournemouth vs Burnley 11.00 PM Football Premier League 2025-26 Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool Football Premier League 2025-2 Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool December 21, Sunday 5.30 AM Cricket The Ashes 2025-26 Australia vs England, 3rd Test - Day 5 1.45 PM Cricket Big Bash League 2025-26 Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes 7.00 PM Cricket IDFC First Bank India W vs Sri Lanka W T20I Series India (W) vs Sri Lanka (W): 1st T20I 1.30 AM Football Premier League 2025-26 Everton vs Arsenal 1.30 AM Football Premier League 2025-2 Leeds United vs Crystal Palace 10.00 PM Football Premier League 2025-26 Aston Villa vs Manchester United 11.00 AM Badminton BWF 2025 BWF World Tour Finals - Final December 22, Monday 1.45 PM Cricket Big Bash League 2025-26 Sydney Thunder vs Brisbane Heat December 23, Tuesday 1.45 PM Cricket Big Bash League 2025-26 Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars 7.00 PM Cricket IDFC First Bank India W vs Sri Lanka W T20I Series India (W) vs Sri Lanka (W): 2nd T20I 1.20 AM Football Premier League 2025-26 Fulham vs Nottingham Forest December 24, Wednesday 9.00 AM Cricket Vijay Hazare Trophy Pondicherry vs Tamil Nadu 9.00 AM Cricket Vijay Hazare Trophy Hyderabad vs Uttar Pradesh
18 December,2025 06:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOn day 2 of the third Test match of the Ashes series against England, Australia's star spinner Nathan Lyon achieved a historic feat. Having completed 22 overs, he claimed two wickets by conceding 51 runs. With this, he surpassed iconic pacer Glenn McGrath to become Australia's second-highest wicket-taker in the history of the longest format of the game. Above him is just legendary spinner Shane Warne, who has 708 wickets to his name in 145 Test matches. Speaking about his huge achievement, Lyon said growing up, he idolised McGrath and Warne, and surpassing the former pacer is "pretty humbling" for him. "I grew up idolising Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath and these guys in my childhood were my heroes," he said. "And to think of being able to overtake Glenn ... it's pretty humbling to be honest with you, and it's something that I'll look back on at the end of my career, or even tonight," added the spinner. He also credited his teammates by saying the accomplishment of the feat would not have been possible without them. "I'll sit back and try and have a moment because it is an extremely special moment for myself. But I haven't been able to do that without the guys at the other end, my teammates," said the 38-year-old spinner. Next in his sights is England seamer Stuart Broad, who has 604 wickets, then Indian great Anil Kumble's 619 scalps. Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan, with 800 wickets, is the all-time top wicket-taker, followed by Warne (708 wickets) and England's Jimmy Anderson (704 wickets). Currently, the "Three Lions" are trailing by 158 runs in the ongoing third Test match against the Aussies. They have concluded day 2 with a score of 213 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 68 overs. England skipper Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer will resume day 3 with the scores of an unbeaten 45 and 30 runs, respectively. The Aussies are leading the five-match Ashes Test series by 2-0. They will look to secure a win in the ongoing third match to seal the series. On the other hand, the Englishmen will be eager to register their first win of the contest in order to keep the series alive. (With AFP Inputs)
18 December,2025 04:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
