×
×
Harpreet Singh and Venkatesh Iyer’s explosive performances powered Madhya Pradesh to a successful chase of 174 against Saurashtra, sealing a six-wicket victory with four balls to spare in Alur. This win marks MP’s first entry into the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy semi-finals since the 2010-11 season, with Gaud and Harpreet also playing crucial roles in […]
Harpreet Singh and Venkatesh Iyer’s explosive performances powered Madhya Pradesh to a successful chase of 174 against Saurashtra, sealing a six-wicket victory with four balls to spare in Alur. This win marks MP’s first entry into the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy semi-finals since the 2010-11 season, with Gaud and Harpreet also playing crucial roles in the historic achievement.
Find the newest blog updates at IPLbookmakers.
Player of the Match, Venkatesh Iyer, delivered a match-winning all-round performance, finishing unbeaten on 38 off 33 balls after taking 2 for 23 from three overs with the ball. Harpreet Singh played a crucial role at the other end, blasting 22 not out off just nine balls to seal the victory for Madhya Pradesh. Before their 29-run partnership wrapped up the chase, Arpit Gaud (42 off 29), Subhranshu Senapati (24 off 16), and captain Rajat Patidar (28 off 18) kept MP firmly in control.
Saurashtra’s challenging total of 173 was primarily thanks to Chirag Jani’s explosive 80 not out off 45 balls. The next highest score came from Harvik Desai and Jay Gohil, who contributed 17 runs. Jani’s knock featured eight fours and four sixes, including a late surge that saw Saurashtra add 45 runs in the final three overs. From a steady 54 off 36 balls, Jani accelerated with two fours and two sixes in the 18th over. At the same time, Gohil also cleared the boundary twice. Despite this late flurry, Saurashtra’s total fell short as MP comfortably chased it down.
Travis Head and Temba Bavuma are among the batters, while Pat Cummins and Matt Henry are among the bowlers who have risen in the rankings this week.
Joe Root isn’t the No. 1 Test batter in the world anymore. The man he said was “far and away the best player in the world at the minute,” Harry Brook, has ascended to the top of the Test batter rankings following his impressive knocks of 123 and 55 in the second Test against New Zealand. This came after his 171 in the first Test, which had propelled him to second place. However, Brook holds a narrow lead at the top, just one point ahead of Joe Root, who scored 106 in the second innings of the same Test. England’s dominant 323-run victory, which gave them a 2-0 lead in the three-Test series, has set the stage for a thrilling contest in the third Test, starting December 14 in Hamilton. The outcome could decide whether Brook remains No. 1 or Root reclaims the top spot.
Root had held the No. 1 position since surpassing Kane Williamson, currently ranked No. 3, in July. Root has held the top ranking nine times throughout his career.
Brook was named Player of the Match in Wellington, and Root quickly praised his younger colleague. “Brooky is by far and away the best player in the world at the minute,” he had said. “He can absorb pressure; he can apply it. He can whack you over your head for six. He can scoop you over his head for six. He can smack spin. He can smack seam.”
At just 25 years old, Harry Brook has amassed 2,280 runs from 38 innings across 23 Tests, boasting an impressive average of 61.62. His remarkable tally includes eight centuries, highlighted by a stunning 317 against Pakistan in Multan in October 2024.
It has been a busy period for Test cricket, with Australia hosting India in a five-match series—two matches of which have already been played—and South Africa securing a 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka at home earlier this week. Travis Head, who scored 140 in the first innings of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Adelaide, helping Australia to a dominant ten-wicket victory, has surged six to fifth. Meanwhile, Temba Bavuma’s brilliant 78 and 66 in the second Test in Gqeberha lifted him three places to seventh on the rankings. Bavuma was also named Player of the Series for his impressive 327-run haul.
Marnus Labuschagne, who showed signs of returning to form with a solid 64 in the first innings of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, has moved up three spots to 13th in the rankings.
Jasprit Bumrah, the top-ranked Test bowler, solidified his position with a four-wicket haul in the first innings in Adelaide. However, Kagiso Rabada, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins are just slightly behind. Hazlewood missed the second Test, but Cummins’ impressive seven-wicket performance in the match propelled him from fifth to fourth, surpassing R. Ashwin. Rabada, with three wickets in Gqebera, maintained his second-place ranking, now sitting at 856 points, just 34 behind Bumrah’s 890.
Matt Henry was the other fast bowler to rise within the top ten, moving from tenth to ninth place after taking four wickets in Wellington.
Read More: Sutherland, Gardner Star in Australia’s 3-0 Sweep