Sports

New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bringing in overseas all-rounder Liam Livingstone and Jack Edwards from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) via a trade deal marks a clear change in the franchise’s thinking, said former India batter Abhinav Mukund.

He also felt the move fills the need for more power in the middle order for CSK and get an overseas all-rounder in the process. In exchange for bringing in Livingstone and Edwards, CSK traded left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed and right-arm fast bowler Nathan Ellis to SRH.

“From CSK’s point of view, the trade move for Liam Livingstone and Jack Edwards feels like a definite shift in thinking. They want more power in the middle order, and they want an overseas all-rounder. Liam Livingstone fulfils that gap, as he can go bang-bang with the bat after the younger Indian players.

“Plus, he provides them the option of off-spin bowling, which will come in handy when they go up against sides that have a lot of left-handed batters in their playing XI. Jack Edwards, a brilliant young Australian fast-bowling all-rounder, bats with a high strike rate, chips in with useful bowling spells, and he’s a mystery for many teams as he’s recently burst onto the scene. CSK can use him as their trump card in the next season of the IPL,” said Mukund on JioStar.

Five-time champions CSK have missed the playoffs in the last two seasons, and they are reshaping their squad before the November 17 retention deadline for IPL 2027 under new head coach Zaheer Khan, as well as Albie Morkel, Gareth Batty and Mohit Sharma joining the coaching staff.

Mukund also thought that CSK may still hold on to Australian pacer Spencer Johnson. Also, CSK have a surplus of left-arm seamers, so Khaleel Ahmed moving to SRH need not be a bad thing for CSK, because they’ve already got Gurjapneet Singh and Mukesh Choudhary, and it looks like they might end up retaining Spencer Johnson.”

He also felt the recent trade deal reflected a franchise still working out what it wants to be as a unit, including how it splurged on young players Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma for Rs 14.2 crore each in last year’s auction.

“CSK, to me, are a side still struggling to figure out what their correct identity is. They changed their identity from Dad’s Army to youth because they found success in Ayush Mhatre and Urvil Patel, so they decided to back Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma.

“But they spent huge amounts to bring them into the squad, and that cost them in the auction and last season as well, because Prashant couldn’t perform in the limited number of games. Kartik did well but still couldn’t have a major impact in helping them win games.

“I felt that spending over Rs 28 crores on both of them was a bit of a big gamble. Unfortunately, Prashant Veer, for me, goes back into the auction pool, as CSK will need money to sort out the gaps in their squad, which means Prashant will have to be released,” added Mukund.

With Livingstone and Edwards joining the overseas group, former India opener Aakash Chopra said settling on the right combination of four foreign players would be one of Zaheer’s first big tasks, adding that trades matter more than usual ahead of a mini auction.

“Zaheer Khan is now the man in charge of CSK, and his way of thinking is very different from that of Stephen Fleming, so that combination of four overseas players becomes interesting as well. If Noor Ahmad is not going away and does get retained, he gives CSK a quality left-arm wrist spinner who can pick up wickets in the middle overs.

“There is also Akeal Hosein who can give them overs with the new ball. So that makes it two foreigners. If Overton is fit, he will be a starter too. Dewald Brevis is obviously there as an investment, and he is an automatic pick in the playing XI. He walks into it directly.

“So, with four overseas players in the mix, it is important to have an idea of your overseas combination, because not a lot of talent is going to come to the auction table. That is the story of every mini auction. So, you should do as much trading as you can, but how much you can do depends on what you can offer in return,” he added.

--IANS

nr/vi

Dubai, Nov 11 (IANS) Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah has scripted a piece of history by becoming the first cricketer from his country to break into the top 10 of any category in the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings, rising to seventh among batters following his impressive performance against Zimbabwe in Sharjah.

Rahmat climbed six places after scoring 173 in the opening Test of the two-match series, earning a career-best rating and moving ahead of several established names, including India captain Shubman Gill, South Africa’s Aiden Markram and Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis.

The 33-year-old’s knock was his fifth century in Test cricket and his second of the year. His rise marks another landmark moment for Afghanistan cricket, which has enjoyed a productive period on the international stage. Earlier this month, the team reached its highest-ever position in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, moving to sixth after winning a tri-series involving Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

Zimbabwe’s Craig Ervine was another major beneficiary of the latest Test rankings update. The veteran batter surged nine places to 48th after remaining unbeaten on a double-century in the second innings of the drawn Sharjah Test.

The conclusion of the ICC World Test Championship series between Bangladesh and the West Indies also brought significant movement in the batting rankings. West Indies’ Kavem Hodge climbed 12 places to 52nd, while Bangladesh’s Towhid Hridoy moved into the top 60 at 60th. West Indies batter Amir Jangoo gained 28 positions to reach 62nd.

Among bowlers, West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican recorded a career-high rating after his Player of the Series performance against Bangladesh. He moved up 11 places to equal 19th in the Test bowling rankings and climbed four spots to 31st among all-rounders. His teammate Justin Greaves also advanced, moving up one position to share eighth place in the Test all-rounders’ list.

The latest update also brought gains for several players in the ODI rankings following the opening two matches of the India-New Zealand series.

India spinner Axar Patel rose 23 places to 21st among ODI bowlers after taking 2/28 in the second match in Wellington. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh moved up 11 spots to equal 31st following his four-wicket haul in the series opener in Auckland.

Pacer Gurnoor Brar, currently the leading wicket-taker in the series with seven scalps, made one of the biggest jumps, moving from outside the top 100 to 48th in the ODI bowling rankings.

New Zealand seamers Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson also improved their positions, with Duffy climbing eight places to 43rd and Jamieson advancing 24 places to 60th.

--IANS

vi/bc

New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) Former India batter Abhinav Mukund believes five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) should not even consider trading away young batter Ayush Mhatre, saying he’s the ‘next big thing’ for the franchise.

He also suggested that the five-time champions explore a trade for Urvil Patel ahead of the November 17 retention deadline for IPL 2027, before the auction happens on December 16 in Goa. Mhatre, who led India to this year’s U19 World Cup triumph, has undergone surgery for his right hamstring injury after suffering a tear on his return to action in the Ranji Trophy last month.

Mhatre is likely to remain on the sidelines for two to three months. Incidentally, Mhatre suffered a left hamstring tear while turning out for CSK in this year’s IPL and was ruled out of the competition. “I feel there is an opportunity for CSK to trade a player like Urvil Patel. CSK already have the likes of Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis and Sarfaraz Khan in their squad, and if all of these batters are fit, then Urvil sadly doesn’t find a place in the side.

“So, if CSK are investing in all of the above batters as their future, then they should trade Urvil Patel. He is someone who will benefit a team which needs top-order firepower and a wicketkeeper, and that could work very well. Ayush Mhatre is not a tradable option. He’s the next big thing for CSK, bats at number three, opens the batting, and gives them an explosive start.

“Right now, they have too many top-order batters. Everyone wants to bat in the top four, and that is a problem. So why not release Urvil and keep Sarfaraz as your backup? It would give CSK a more settled squad and give Urvil the game time he deserves,” Mukund said on JioStar.

CSK have missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, and there has been speculation over whether they could part ways with batting all-rounder Shivam Dube. Mukund, however, was firm that the left-handed batter, known to be a spin hitter, should stay in the team.

“There is a lot of trade talk about Shivam Dube, but I personally would keep him because I feel there is a need for a player of his skillset in this CSK team. He was a key player in their success in 2023 as well and he gives CSK a rare balance of a left-handed batter in the middle order who can take down spin, and on top of that, he can bowl a few overs of medium pace when needed.

“On slow, turning tracks at Chepauk, his bowling becomes even more useful because he hits the deck and gets the ball to grip. He is also a proven performer in pressure situations, and you need players like him in the squad.

“In case the Impact Player rule goes away, then his role in the side will become even more important. If CSK let him go, they will struggle to find a like-for-like replacement at the auction. So, Shivam Dube should stay and for me, keeping him is a no-brainer,” he added.

--IANS

nr/vi

New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has shortlisted 108 players for the Delhi men’s Under-19 selection trials ahead of the 2026-27 Cooch Behar Trophy, with the trials scheduled to take place at St. Stephen’s Cricket Ground on Thursday.

The shortlisted players have been asked to report at the venue by 8:30 AM, with the selection process set to begin at 9 AM under the supervision of the Junior Men’s Selection Committee.

As per the eligibility criteria, only players born on or after September 1, 2007, are eligible. The DDCA has also clarified that the exercise is not an open trial and participation will be restricted to those who have received the official call-up.

The association further stated that Aaryavir Sehwag, who is currently away on national duty, will join the team after returning. The trials will help the selectors assess the available pool before finalising the Delhi squad for the upcoming domestic tournament.

The 108 players named for the trials include:

Aakarsh Bhatnagar, Aarav Garg, Abeer Sudan, Abhay Talwar, Abhiraj Gagan Singh, Aditya Aggarwal, Advitya Popli, Agastya Vats, Aman, Anirudh Meena, Aradhya Chawla, Arnav Bugga, Aryan Bhardwaj, Ashmit Jindal, Aum Parashar, Avyam Jain, Bhavin Bhatia, Daksh, Daksh Chahar, Dhanya Nakra, Dhruv Bindra, Dweep Gahlot, Gangesh Mishra, Garv Kumar, Gaurav Sharma, Harman, Hunny, Idhant Sharma, Ishaan Dabas, Kairav Singhania, Kanav Mehta, Kirit Kaushik, Lakshay Bansal, Lakshay Bhartwal, Lakshay Sekhri, Lalit Kumar, Madhav Aggarwal, Manepalli Janav, Mohak Kumar, Naitik Mathur, Naitik Yadav, Nikhil Sangwan, Noor Mohd., Ojasdeep Singh, Parikshit Singh Bhati, Parth Raj, Pioneer Joshi, Pradyuman Sanan, Prathamjot Singh, Prikshit, Rahul, Rudradev Yadav, Ruveer Kheterpal, Saiansh Vohra, Saksham Tyagi, Shaksham Sharma, Shantanu Yadav, Shoryaveer, Srihan Ahuja, Tanmay Chaudhary, Tarun Singh, Uday Chawla, Vansh Gemini, Varun Vanjani, Vedant Sehwag, Virat Yadav, Yashav Garg, Yatharth Singh, Yuvraj Singh Panwar, Divit Khandelwal, Ishan Aggarwal, Rohan Kumar, Aaryan Sejwal, Naman Khandelwal, Kushagra Aggarwal, Vedant Dua, Aanjaney Sharma, Khushhal Yadav, Rudra Bidhuri, Arnav Sharma, Paarth Goshain, Gautam Mahendru, Aarnav Saluja, Navneet Solanki, Arjun Malhotra, Tanubhav Gayen, Yuvraj Singh, Nakul Yadav, Aarush Singh, Manan Batra, Kunal Sharma, Hriday Sansanwal, Varun Sharma, Abhishek, Arihant Bhadana, Aditya Narang, Aayan Arora, Aditya Kumar, Garvit Wasson, Arpan Goyal, Suryansh Rana, Yash Kumar, Aaryan Tehlan, Naman Tholia, Shourya Singh, Suryansh Pathak, Prince Mishra and Dhiren Choudhary.

--IANS

vi/bc

New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) Punjab Kings (PBKS) CEO Satish Menon on Wednesday described the signing of premier seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya as an ‘important step’ in the franchise’s bid to win the Indian Premier League (IPL) title.

On Wednesday, the BCCI formally announced that Pandya joined the franchise from Mumbai Indians (MI) in a trade deal that sent left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh to the five-time champions ahead of the 2027 IPL season. The trade had been in the making for nearly a week.

PBKS is yet to win an IPL title – with their best-ever result being securing a runners-up finish in 2014 and 2025 seasons. “We are delighted to welcome Hardik to the Punjab Kings family. He is a proven match-winner who brings tremendous experience, confidence and a winning mentality. His ability to change the course of a game with both bat and ball makes him a valuable addition to our squad.

“As we enter the 20th season of the IPL, our focus remains on building a team capable of competing at the highest level and bringing the trophy home to Punjab. Hardik’s arrival is an important step in that direction,” Menon said in a statement on Wednesday.

The numbers support the faith of PBKS in him. Since making his IPL debut in 2015, Pandya has played 162 matches, scoring 2,955 runs and picked up 82 wickets. Pandya first arrived at MI as a raw youngster in 2015 and developed into one of the leading all-rounders in the cricketing world in the shortest format.

Pandya played a major role in four of MI’s title-winning campaigns in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020, before leaving for Gujarat Titans (GT), whom he led to IPL 2022 win. In 2024, Pandya moved back to MI from GT via a trade deal and took over as their captain, which didn’t give the desired results in terms of winning championships.

Pandya’s move to PBKS comes with a pay rise, as his fee goes up to INR 18 crore from the INR 16.35 crore he earned at MI. Arshdeep moves across on his current fee of INR 18 crore. Bringing in Hardik came at a price, though, as PBKS had to give up on Arshdeep, who made his IPL debut for the franchise in 2019.

Since then, he claimed 111 wickets in 96 matches for the franchise. In that time he became one of the team’s main weapons with the ball and is now the leading wicket-taker for India in men’s T20Is.

“Arshdeep has been an integral part of Punjab Kings for many years, and this is also an emotional moment for us. We have seen him grow into one of the finest fast bowlers in the country, and we are incredibly proud of his journey.

“He has contributed immensely to the franchise, both on and off the field, and will always hold a special place in the Punjab Kings family. We thank him for everything and wish him continued success,” added Menon.

--IANS

nr/bc

New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) Five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) said they will take their time to pick a new captain for the 2027 Indian Premier League (IPL) season after trading their last two seasons' captain, Hardik Pandya, to Punjab Kings on Wednesday and bringing in left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh in return.

The swap leaves the five-time champions without a leader for the first time since Hardik took charge in 2024. Though the chatter in cricketing circles has been about Rohit Sharma possibly returning to the leadership role, with Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah as other contenders, MI have made it clear that they will not rush into a decision.

“As Mumbai Indians look ahead to the upcoming season, the franchise will take a considered approach to evaluating its captaincy options. An announcement regarding the team’s captaincy will be made at the appropriate time,” said the side in its statement.

That wording puts the leadership question at the centre of MI’s plans for the upcoming retention deadline on November 17 and subsequent auction planning ahead of the mini-auction happening in Goa on December 16. The MI dressing room is set to look quite different from the one Hardik led.

Hardik’s exit marks the end of a long and eventful association with MI. He first arrived at MI as a raw youngster in 2015 and developed into one of the leading all-rounders in the cricketing world in the shortest format. He played a major role in four of MI’s title-winning campaigns before leaving, and returned from Gujarat Titans (GT), whom he led to the IPL 2022 win, in 2024 to take over as captain.

MI owner Akash Ambani paid tribute to a departing Pandya. “Hardik has shared some very special moments with Mumbai Indians. We have seen him grow as a cricketer, make his mark on the world stage and then return to lead the team.

“His contribution, his energy and the competitive spirit he brings to the field have been valuable to Mumbai Indians. I have great respect for him, both as a cricketer and as a person, and wish him nothing but the very best for everything that lies ahead,” he said.

Pandya’s move to PBKS comes with a pay rise, as his fee goes up to INR 18 crore from the INR 16.35 crore he earned at MI. Arshdeep moves across on his current fee of INR 18 crore. In 162 IPL matches, Pandya has amassed 2,955 runs at a strike rate of 146.28 and picked up 82 wickets.

For Arshdeep, the switch ends his eight-season stint at PBKS, the franchise where he made his IPL debut in 2019. The left-arm pacer leaves as their highest wicket-taker of all time with 111 scalps in 96 games. He claimed 21 wickets in the 2025 edition and added 14 more in 2026. Arshdeep also holds the record for the most wickets by an Indian bowler in men’s T20Is.

Arshdeep’s arrival gives MI one of India’s leading fast bowlers in T20Is, who can pair up well with ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah to share the new ball. Arshdeep is also a reliable death-overs bowler and is expected to make the MI fast-bowling attack sharper and more versatile.

“Arshdeep’s arrival adds an exciting dimension to our bowling attack. We are always looking to build a team with the right balance of experience, skill and hunger to compete, and Arshdeep brings all of these qualities. We welcome him along with the MI Paltan as he takes the field in Blue and Gold,” added Ambani.

--IANS

nr/

Indian Wells, Nov 11 (IANS) Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini became the first doubles pairing to book a place in the semifinals of the WTA Finals after overturning a one-set deficit to beat Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez in Group 2.

The eighth-seeded Italian duo recovered to register a 3-6, 6-2, 10-7 victory over their fourth-seeded opponents in an hour and 29 minutes, extending their unbeaten run in the group to two matches.

Having opened their campaign with a win over second seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova, Errani and Paolini moved to the top of Group 2 and secured qualification with a match still to play. The result also marked a significant breakthrough for the Italians, who had failed to progress beyond the round-robin stage in their previous two appearances at the season-ending championships.

The victory was their second in three meetings against Bucsa and Melichar-Martinez, who will now have to fight for the remaining semifinal spot in the group.

Earlier in the day, Townsend and Siniakova kept their campaign on track with a straight-sets win over Ellen Perez and Demi Schuurs. The second seeds prevailed 7-6 (2), 6-3 in one hour and 38 minutes to register their first victory of the group stage.

The American-Czech combination has now beaten Perez and Schuurs in all three of their meetings, with each win coming in straight sets during the 2026 season.

Townsend and Siniakova are aiming to reach the semifinals for a third successive year. They finished as runners-up in 2024 before making the last four in 2025, and remain in contention for another deep run this season.

The final Group 2 encounter on Thursday will determine who joins Errani and Paolini in the knockout stage. Townsend and Siniakova, along with Bucsa and Melichar-Martinez, are both level at 1-1 and will meet in a direct contest for the second qualifying position.

Perez and Schuurs, meanwhile, have suffered defeats in both their group matches and are out of contention for a semifinal place.

--IANS

vi/bc

New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) Australia consultant Mike Hussey has called for Travis Head to move back to the middle order and push Smith to No.3, while also stating that Alex Carey is best placed at No. 7 in Tests ahead of the upcoming series against New Zealand.

Labuschagne was dropped from the Test team for the second time in the space of 17 months when selection chair George Bailey confirmed that the incumbent No. 3 will not hold his place for Australia's series opener against New Zealand, starting December 9 in Perth.

Smith's return to the side will likely be the first piece of the puzzle after he missed the decider in Cape Town with a neck injury, as the selectors pick the Test squad to take on New Zealand at the end of the next round of the Sheffield Shield.

While selectors will weigh up whether Cooper Connolly holds his spot, Hussey wants Smith to bat No. 3, allowing Cameron Green to remain No.4.

"I am not sure what the selectors will do. For me, I would like Travis Head to move back down to No.5, push Steve Smith up to three, Cameron Green at four, have Josh Inglis at six, and Alex Carey at seven.

"That's the way I'd personally go, I feel like that's a really strong middle order in particular. Now there's going to be some questions over that. We've been told Steve Smith would prefer not to bat at No.3. But (if) it was up to me, that order looks good to me, and I think it's an opportunity for an opener to come in," Hussey said at Kayo’s summer of cricket launch in Sydney, as quoted by cricket.com.au.

Meanwhile, Hussey said he preferred Carey at No. 7 after a move to No. 6 last summer. "He bats so well with the tail, it's not an easy role ... And you are quite often contending with the second-new ball. He can do that. Plus, it gives you a little extra respite if he's been out keeping for a long period of time," he added.

Labuschagne has opened up about his Test omission for the second time in over a year and said he has no doubt he will be back in the national Test team, adding that his "path back to the Australian team will work itself out."

Hussey said Labuschagne’s international career is not over, and he will definitely return to the national setup.

“I think he can definitely get back, but I don’t think necessarily it will be in the short term,” he said. “He just has to get back to playing for Queensland, enjoying his cricket, and finding his best mental state when he’s playing his best cricket."

“Maybe there’s a little technical adjustment he might find as well, but it is more mentally about freeing up his mind and playing clearly and freely and playing the way we know Marnus can play. At his best, he is a world-class performer. A break will do him some good to refresh.”

--IANS

bc/vi

New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) Sporting Club Delhi’s Lalrinliana Hnamte has been called up to the Indian senior men’s national team for the upcoming international friendlies against New Zealand, scheduled for November 12 and 15.

The midfielder’s selection marks a significant milestone, earning him a place in the 23-member squad announced by head coach Khalid Jamil for the two-match series. India will take on New Zealand at Go Media Stadium in Auckland on November 12, then face the hosts again in the second friendly at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on November 15.

Hnamte’s inclusion also marks a major milestone for Sporting Club Delhi, underscoring the club’s commitment to providing emerging Indian footballers with a platform to showcase their talent and reach the highest levels of the game.

Sharing his thoughts on the selection, Hnamte said, “It is a proud moment for me to earn another call-up to the senior national team. Having previously represented India at the U-23 level, this is another important step in my journey, and I am grateful for the opportunity. My time at Sporting Club Delhi has played an important role in my development, and I look forward to making the most of this opportunity.”

For Sporting Club Delhi, Hnamte’s call-up marks an encouraging step toward its broader vision of building a competitive football ecosystem in the capital, one that not only competes at the highest level but also contributes meaningfully to the growth and development of Indian football talent.

Speaking on the occasion, Dhruv Sood, CEO, SC Delhi, said, “At Sporting Club Delhi, we believe that our role goes beyond simply competing in the ISL. We want to be a club that contributes to the larger Indian football ecosystem by giving talented players the opportunity, exposure and environment to take the next step in their careers. Hnamte’s selection for the national team is a proud moment for everyone associated with the club and reinforces what we are working towards. We hope to see many more players from our setup earn opportunities to represent the country.”

--IANS

vi/bc