'Cricket was never the plan': Jitesh Sharma opens up on his unplanned journey

IANS | February 27, 2026 4:05 PM

New Delhi, Feb 27 (IANS) India wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma has opened up about his unconventional journey into professional cricket, revealing that the sport was never part of his original life plan and that a chance decision at school trials set him on the path to international cricket.

2nd ODI: Harmanpreet, Pratika fifties carry India to 251/9 against Australia

IANS | February 27, 2026 1:31 PM

Hobart, Feb 27 (IANS) Half-centuries from captain Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Pratika Rawal carried India to 251/9 in their 50 overs against Australia in the second ODI of the women’s multi-format series at the Bellerive Oval on Friday. The total, though, may prove to be below-par on a benign surface that offered little assistance to the bowlers.

T20 WC: WI cannot be taken for granted; India needs a smart plan to handle their batting threat, says Gavaskar

IANS | February 27, 2026 12:18 PM

Chennai, Feb 27 (IANS) Defending champions India registering a comfortable 72-run win over Zimbabwe may have steadied nerves in the camp, but legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar stated that they cannot afford to take two-time champions West Indies lightly and the Men in Blue need to come up with smart plans to tackle the Windies batting threat when the two teams meet in a cracking winner-takes-it-all Super Eights showdown in Kolkata on Sunday.