Mike Veletta, the former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman, who scored a 31-ball 45 not out in the 1987 Cricket World Cup final triumph over England, says he would’ve enjoyed playing T20 cricket. Veletta had a strike rate of 75.38 in his ODI career, quick in those days, when T20 was nowhere in the picture. “I was never a power-hitter. Steve Waugh wrote in his book I was one of those great improvisers. It was about using the pace of the ball and rotating the strike. I’d have loved to play T20. It’s an excuse to play bad shots. You’re almost gifted the opportunity to play shots that you wish to. I would love to be fielding of it. Things that Bobby Simpson [Australia coach] taught us about cutting off the angles, cutting down the twos, those parts of the game really excite me,” Veletta, in the city for a pleasure trip, told mid-day on Monday. Veletta, along with his long-time friend Peter Cutler, a banker by profession but largely a cricket fanatic serving the Western Australian Cricket Association as an independent board member, watched the CSK-SRH match in Chennai last week and the MI-LSG game in Mumbai on Sunday. “I loved it. They say the AFL grand final [in Australia] is the biggest event, the loudest and most emotional. Many said the IPL is like the AFL grand final on steroids. I’ve experienced it. It was very loud. In Chennai, they gave everyone whistles,” he said. Also Read: Bihar chief minister announces Rs 10 lakh reward Mike Veletta, part of Australia’s 1987 World Cup-winning team, in the city on Monday. Pic/G Krishnan Drama at the Tied Test Veletta was a member of the Australian squad that was involved in the Tied Test II in Chennai in September 1986, carrying out the 12th man’s duties and also fielding for an unwell Dean Jones, who fought his way to 210. Veletta, 61, who works in the property business in Perth besides coaching privately, recalled that Chennai tie: “It was extreme heat and the effort of Jones was beyond belief. It was his chance to cement himself as a great Test player. When he fell ill, he said to [captain Allan] Border ‘I’m ill, I’ve gotta leave the field’. And, Allan’s response was ‘you go and we’ll get a tough Queenslander out’. Being a Victorian, that was the fire that fuelled Jones to keep batting to a point where he lost control of all his bodily functions. Full credit to Border and Simpson, they had the courage to declare on the last day, giving India a run chase. It gives me goosebumps to recall I had the great fortune of playing with Allan, captain courageous, a fantastic leader and an awesome person. I was very grateful to be part of that era where Australia was starting to resurge.” Veletta was involved in the run out of Border in the 1987 World Cup final. He recalled that too: “We had a great experience in India 12 months before. We worked hard on our fielding and Allan had a simple game plan. In the final, Border took the crucial wicket of [Mike] Gatting. We were fortunate to have the support of the Indians because India had lost to England in Mumbai in the semi-final and we had beaten Pakistan in Lahore. So, that endeared us to the Indian crowd. That Border run out “Walking out to bat, I thought, ‘if I’m going to deliver, this is my great chance’. Many accused me of running Border out, but AB’s never ever accused me. Allan and I shared 73 for the fifth wicket. It was a great opportunity to bat with the captain.” And the rewards for winning the World Cup? Veletta said: “I did get my bonus cheque of $930. Though not very significant, it boosted our confidence.”
30 April,2025 08:23 AM IST | Mumbai | G KrishnanThe cricket world stands captivated by his audacious stroke-play but for 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, stuff like first-ball sixes is a “normal thing” as he remains unfazed by the grandeur of the stage. Also Read: Bihar chief minister announces Rs 10 lakh reward “It was a normal thing for me. I have played Under-19 for India and also at the domestic level, where I have hit first ball sixes. I was not under pressure to play out the first 10 balls. In my mind I was clear that if the ball comes in my radar, I will hit it,” Suryavanshi told the IPLT20 website. “Yes, there was an international bowler [in front of me] and the stage was big, but I was just playing my game,” he added. 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
30 April,2025 08:19 AM IST | Jaipur | PTIBihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday lauded 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi for becoming the youngest-ever centurion in T20 cricket, and announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for his stellar performance. Also Read: Sunil is KKR's shining Knight “I had the opportunity to meet Vaibhav and his father in 2024... After his outstanding performance in the IPL, I congratulated him over phone. He will also be given a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh by the state government.,” Kumar said on X. 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
30 April,2025 08:17 AM IST | Patna | PTIHis farm land was lost in pursuit of his son’s cricketing dream but Sanjiv Suryavanshi was a picture of gratitude after Vaibhav’s blitzkrieg set the IPL ablaze. The 14-year-old left-hander shattered records books when he became the youngest centurion in T20 cricket with a 35-ball hundred for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans on Monday night in Jaipur. The Suryavanshis hail from Samastipur town. “He has made our village, Bihar and the whole of India proud. We could not be happier and are celebrating. I want to thank the Rajasthan Royals who worked on him extensively in the last three-four months,” said Sanjiv in a video released by Bihar Cricket Association. Also Read: Sunil is KKR's shining Knight “I want to thank head coach Rahul Dravid and the rest of the support staff for improving Vaibhav’s game. He himself has worked very hard on his game and this hundred is a result of that. “I also want to thank Bihar cricket chief Rakesh Tiwary for giving Vaibhav an opportunity to represent the state at the senior level at such a young age,” Sanjiv added. Royals invested in Suryavanshi’s talent by spending R1.10 crore at the mega auction last year, almost four times his base price of R30 lakh. He has already played for the India U-19s and made his first-class debut against Mumbai in January 2024. RR had called Suryavanshi for trials in Nagpur where the franchise batting coach Vikram Rathour was instantly impressed by the teenager’s talent. 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
30 April,2025 08:14 AM IST | Patna | PTIDefending champions Kolkata Knight Riders bounced back brilliantly, thanks to Sunil Narine’s 3-29, to beat Delhi Capitals by 14 runs in an Indian Premier League match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday night. Just when DC opener Faf du Plessis (45-ball 62) seemed to be making light work of their 205-run chase, Narine effected his dismissal. Narine also accounted for another big DC wicket by sending back their skipper Axar Patel, who was batting well on 43 off 23. Also Read: "You don’t care whether he’s 14 years old...": Shastri on Vaibhav Suryavanshi Narine then had Tristan Stubbs (one) clean bowled, for his third wicket, after which DC capitulated under pressure to finish on 190-9 in their 20 overs. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy picked up 2-22 for KKR. Earlier, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh stitched up a fine partnership of 61 for the fifth wicket to help KKR post 204-9. Initially watchful, the duo later picked up pace with Raghuvanshi scoring a 32-ball 44 while Rinku struck 36 off 25 balls. The final two overs of the innings had it all. After pacer Dushmantha Chameera conceded 14 runs in the penultimate over, the final over by Mitchell Starc was even more dramatic. The Australian quick’s first ball was dispatched for a six, before he went on to pick up the wickets of Rovman Powell and Anukul Roy, while Andre Russell was run-out off the penultimate delivery of the innings. It was a must-win game for DC having lost two of their previous four, but they got it wrong by electing to bowl first after winning the toss. They went in with the same team as their previous match here while KKR made one change — bringing in all rounder Anukul Roy for batter Ramandeep Singh. At the toss, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane was spot-on when he said that it was hard to read the wicket. Brief scoresKKR 204-9 in 20 overs (A Raghuvanshi 44, R Singh 36; M Starc 3-43, A Patel 2-27, V Nigam 2-47) beat DC 190-9 in 20 overs (F du Plessis 62, A Patel 43; S Narine 3-29, V Chakravarthy2-39) by 14 runs
30 April,2025 08:11 AM IST | New Delhi | Neeru BhatiaFormer India all-rounder Ravi Shastri has issued some golden words of advice to Rajasthan Royals and Bihar cricket with respect to Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s development, after he burst onto the scene with a spectacular ton against Gujarat Titans at the tender age of 14. As a former coach of the Indian national team, Shastri is well aware that Suryavanshi’s batting might be micro-managed in order to mitigate the risks from his game. However, Shastri would rather see him continue his care-free, hard-hitting exploits. Also Read: "What were you doing at 14?": Yuvraj, alongside other cricketers hail Vaibhav “He’s young, just let him play. You don’t care whether he’s 14 years old or 12 years old or 20 years old.” said Shastri, via the ICC Review show. Shastri is averse to terming him the next big thing just yet, as Suryavanshi’s bound to face bigger challenges ahead “People [bowlers] will come up with new things. Once we see him handling that, then you can make a proper judgement,” he added. 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
30 April,2025 08:08 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesSachin Tendulkar@ sachin_rt“Vaibhav’s fearless approach, bat speed, picking the length early, and transferring the energy behind the ball was the recipe behind a fabulous innings. End result: 101 runs off 38 balls. Well played!” Vaibhav’s fearless approach, bat speed, picking the length early, and transferring the energy behind the ball was the recipe behind a fabulous innings.End result: 101 runs off 38 balls. Well played!!pic.twitter.com/MvJLUfpHmn — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 28, 2025 Also Read: "I predict that he will succeed in all formats": Vaibhav's childhood coach, Jha Yuvraj Singh@ YUVSTRONG12“What were you doing at 14?!! This kid is taking on the best bowlers in the world without blinking an eyelid! Vaibhav Suryavanshi - remember the name! Playing with a fearless attitude. Proud to see the next generation shine!” What were you doing at 14?!! This kid is taking on the best bowlers in the world without blinking an eyelid! Vaibhav Suryavanshi — remember the name! Playing with a fearless attitude 🔥 Proud to see the next generation shine! #VaibhavSuryavanshi #GTvsRR — Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) April 28, 2025 Suryakumar Yadav@ surya_14kumar“Witnessed this carnage of an innings by this youngster. Absolutely insane!” Witnessed this carnage of an innings by this youngster. Absolutely insane! 🧿🧿🧿 pic.twitter.com/b0xJb9jMER — Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) April 28, 2025 Mithali Raj@M_Raj03“Watching Vaibhav Suryavanshi today felt like witnessing history in the making. At just 14, he has taken on a 200+ chase with a level of confidence beyond his years. 100 off 35 balls, and he made it look effortless. Well played, champ!” Watching Vaibhav Suryavanshi today felt like witnessing history in the making. At just 14, he has taken on a 200+ chase with a level of confidence beyond his years. 100 off 35 balls, and he made it look effortless. Well played, champ!👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/hvJSbALZFC — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) April 28, 2025 Ian Bishop@irbishi“I hope we don’t go too far with praising him, but you cannot step back from the fact that tonight was absolutely mind-blowing, other-worldly,” 14 yr old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has bludgeoned an IPL century in 2025 off 35 deliveries. Remarkable👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽. — Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) April 28, 2025 Aaron Finch@AaronFinch5“Have you ever seen anything like this? #vaibhavsuryavanshi what a talent!” Have you ever seen anything like this? #vaibhavsuryavanshi what a talent!! 💯 — Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5) April 28, 2025
30 April,2025 08:04 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentRajasthan Royals’s wonder boy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 14, made the world sit up and take notice with his flamboyant 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Jaipur on Monday, but his Samastipur-based childhood coach Brajesh Jha, believes he isn’t quite satisfied just yet. He believes his ward’s best innings is yet to come. Second fastest IPL ton RR opener Suryavanshi became IPL’s youngest ever and fastest Indian centurion during his 38-ball 101, laced with seven fours and 11 huge sixes. His 35-ball 100 was the second fastest in IPL history, behind West Indies’s Chris Gayle (30 balls). Previously, Suryavanshi had made his IPL debut against Lucknow Super Giants by dispatching India pacer Shardul Thakur for a six off the very first ball he faced en route a 20-ball 34. Also Read: Rana’s fifer, Rawal’s half-ton power India to 15 run-win vs SA Coach Jha recalled his first impressions of Suryvanshi as a kid. “Vaibhav began coaching under me when he was just five. He began calling me uncle and that has continued till date. My first impression about him was that his grasping power was brilliant. Whatever I would instruct him about his batting technique or drills, he would pick it up immediately. He has had a very easy batting flow right from his childhood. He was always fearless and that’s the reason I started playing him against U-20 boys in the nets when he was just eight. And he was never injured even once,” Jha told mid-day over the phone from Bihar. Interestingly, while Suryavanshi is very aggressive in his batting, off the field he’s a very shy boy, revealed Jha. “Vaibhav speaks very little and has very few friends. He is extremely shy by nature,” added Jha. While everyone is still mesmerised by Suryavanshi’s stunning 100 on Monday, Jha went a step ahead and predicted what he expects from his ward hereafter.“Yesterday [Monday], the world saw Vaibhav’s attacking batting, but this is just a start. His best game is yet to come. There is a lot more to see about his batting which for me is sureela [melodious]. And like his icon, West Indies great Brian Lara, who is well known for his stylish big knocks, I’m confident that Vaibhav will not just be classy, but he will go ahead and succeed in all formats of the game. The world will see a lot more of his ability when goes on to play 50-over and eventually Test formats too. I predict that he will succeed in all formats within the next couple of years,” added Jha, 42, who credited RR head coach Rahul Dravid for mentoring Suryavanshi well. ‘Didn’t expect such a knock’ “Honestly, I did not expect him to get a chance in his very first IPL, so let alone expecting such a big knock so early in his career. But he has matured nicely as he practises with the big RR players and under the guidance of top-level coaches. Vaibhav has immensely benefited from former India coach Rahul Dravid, who is currently mentoring him at RR. It’s my dream to see Vaibhav wearing the India jersey and come visit our Patel Maidan here at the Samastipur Cricket Academy and meet us,” Jha signed off.
30 April,2025 07:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureSpinner Sneh Rana grabbed three wickets in a single over for her maiden five-wicket haul on WODIs while Pratika Rawal excelled with a well-crafted fifty to shape India’s 15-run win over South Africa in the Women’s Tri-series here Tuesday. Rawal continued her rich vein of form with a measured 78 off 91 balls, helping India post a competitive 276 for six after skipper Harmanpreet Kaur elected to bat first under sunny skies. Also Read: Champions Training Centre, Central Rly win WCG rink hockey India’s Pratika Rawal during her 78 against SA in Colombo yesterday. Pics/BCCI@X Rana then snared five wickets as South Africa were bowled out for 261 in 49.2 overs despite Tazmin Brits 109. South Africa lost their last five wickets for 21 runs, giving India their second consecutive victory in the tournament. The seasoned off-spinner ended with figures of 5-43. She bowled a crucial 48th over, picking three wickets while giving away just three runs. Chasing a challenging total, South Africa came out all guns blazing, putting India on the backfoot early in the chase. Brits weathered adverse conditions and cramps to score a gritty 108 off 105 balls. She and captain Laura Wolvaardt stitched together a commanding 140-run opening stand. But just when the momentum seemed to have shifted decisively in South Africa’s favour, India’s spinners turned the tide. Seasoned off Deepti Sharma (1-40) broke the stand in the 28th over, trapping Wolvaardt leg-before with one pitched outside off. 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
30 April,2025 07:49 AM IST | Colombo | PTITheir play-off hopes all but over, Chennai Super Kings would look to turn around a floundering campaign when they square off against a better-placed but erratic Punjab Kings in their Indian Premier League match here on Wednesday. Poor show by Chennai It has been a disappointing season for five-time champions CSK, languishing at the bottom of the table with just two wins out of nine games.PBKS, on the other hand, are placed fifth in the standings with five wins from nine matches and would look to rise up with a victory against a demoralised CSK side, which failed to get its combinations right so far in the season. Also Read: KKR clinch 14-run victory as Sunil Narine dismantles DC’s middle order What has been most disheartening for CSK is their inability to master the home conditions at the Chepauk, considered a fortress for a long time.,CSK would be desperate to register their third win of the tournament to keep slim hopes of making it to the playoffs alive. Even a talisman like Mahendra Singh Dhoni has failed to fire up the side after taking over the leadership from Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has been ruled out due to an elbow injury. And Dhoni admitted that CSK are struggling to get their line-ups right. “If you see the Powerplay, whether it was the combination or the conditions, we are struggling with both bat and ball,” Dhoni had said. CSK’s young recruit Ayush Mhatre, who grabbed eyeballs on his IPL debut, will look to put on a strong display when he takes on Arshdeep Singh in the Powerplay. The most entertaining battle is expected to be between Shivam Dube and Yuzvendra Chahal in the middle overs. Chahal has been in fine form in the second half of the tournament, and it would be interesting to see how the CSK middle order handles him. Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh have been in good form for PBKS while opening the batting and the onus would be on left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed to contain the duo. In skipper Shreyas Iyer, PBKS have got a batter, who can control the pace of the game, but CSK would rely on Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad to deliver the goods. Can’t get combination right At 43, Dhoni has shown glimpses of his legendary finishing skills but despite being a shrewd tactician, he is struggling to field a winning combination on the field. Rachin Ravindra too has been inconsistent at the top. The struggles of Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Matheesha Pathirana haven’t helped CSK’s cause either. On the batting front, the likes of Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda and Rahul Tripathi have been below par. In Marco Jansen, PBKS have a very good all-rounder, while the bowling unit will be spearheaded by Arshdeep and Chahal. 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
30 April,2025 07:26 AM IST | Chennai | PTIKolkata Knight Riders secured a thrilling 14-run victory over Delhi Capitals in their IPL 2025 encounter, staging a remarkable turnaround in what appeared to be a lost cause at one stage. Chasing a formidable target of 205, Delhi looked firmly in control with seasoned campaigners Faf du Plessis (62) and Axar Patel (37) forming a solid partnership at the crease. However, KKR’s spin maestro Sunil Narine turned the game on its head with a match-winning spell, claiming three vital wickets that derailed the Capitals’ chase. Earlier in the evening, KKR, after being asked to bat first, produced a commendable collective batting performance to post 204 for 9 on the board. The innings began with aggression and flair as the batters came out with clear attacking intent. Though DC managed to rein in the scoring rate by striking at regular intervals, the Knight Riders still kept the scoreboard moving efficiently. Young Angkrish Raghuvanshi anchored the innings with a mature knock of 44 off 32 balls, showcasing a blend of controlled aggression and smart running between the wickets. His ability to rotate the strike and pierce the gaps allowed KKR to maintain momentum in the middle overs. Rinku Singh added a valuable cameo of 36 runs, providing a crucial push in the latter stages of the innings. His stroke play and ability to find boundaries ensured that the run rate didn’t stagnate, even as wickets continued to fall around him. Supporting contributions from the rest of the batting line-up added depth to KKR’s total, enabling them to cross the 200-run mark. Delhi Capitals’ bowling unit had its moments. Mitchell Starc led the attack with figures of 3 for 43, using his pace and bounce to good effect. The left-arm quick varied his deliveries smartly, often unsettling the batters with sharp short balls. Spinner Axar Patel was the most economical, claiming 2 for 27 from his four overs, applying crucial pressure in the middle phase of the innings. Youngster Vipraj Nigam also made his mark with 2 for 41, grabbing key wickets at vital junctures. Despite their best efforts, Delhi struggled to contain KKR’s intent throughout the innings. In the end, the total proved just enough, as the Kolkata bowlers — spearheaded by Narine, stepped up to secure a well-earned victory in a closely contested fixture.
29 April,2025 11:35 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
