SA20 Cricket League 2025-26: The SA20 cricket tournament match was played between Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Pretoria Capitals, in which aggressive opener Quinton de Kock played a stormy inning of 77 runs in 47 balls. In this match, Sunrisers Eastern Cape won by 48 runs and this team also won bonus points. Batting first, Sunrisers scored 188 runs for six wickets. In response to which, the entire team of Pretoria Capital was reduced to 140 runs in 18 overs. Sunrisers have won the second consecutive match by a big margin and won the bonus point, due to which Sunrisers now have 10 points.

De Kock and Bridgetke made a century partnership

After winning the toss in this match, Sunrisers Eastern Cape decided to bat first. After opener Jonny Bairstow was out after scoring just 5 runs, Quinton de Kock took the lead along with Matthew Bridtke. There was a partnership of 116 runs on 70 balls between the two for the second wicket. Britzke scored 52 runs in 33 balls with the help of 7 fours and one six. De Kock hit five fours and six sixes in his innings. Apart from these two, Jordan Harman, who is in excellent form (37 runs in 20 balls, five fours, one six) also made useful contribution.

Pretoria Capitals did not bat well

Sunrisers Eastern Cape, who were chasing the target of 189 runs, gave a blow to Pretoria Capitals in the very first over by Marco Yansen. After this, Will Smeed and Shai Hope took over the innings. There was a partnership of 47 runs between the two. Hope was out after scoring 36 runs while Smeed was out after scoring 35 runs. After this the team lost wickets continuously and no other batsman could score big. Capitals’ innings ended at 140 runs in the 18th over. Adam Milne took 4 wickets for 25 runs and Tharendu Ratnayake took 2 wickets for just 15 runs in 4 overs.

Sourav Ganguly is the head coach of Pretoria Capitals.

Former Indian captain and legendary batsman Sourav Ganguly is the head coach of Pretoria Capitals. He got this responsibility this season but the Capitals have not been able to open their account even after two matches. He had to face defeat from Joburg Super Kings in his first match.

Sourav Ganguly’s career as a coach has started with a defeat in the SA20 League. His team Pretoria Capitals had to face a 22-run defeat at the hands of Joburg Super Kings. In this match played on 27 December, Joburg Super Kings had scored 168 runs in the stipulated 20 overs, in response to which the Capitals team could only score 146 runs. In this match, Duane Yansen, brother of South African all-rounder Marco Yansen, wreaked havoc in bowling and took 4 wickets.

Sourav Ganguly’s team lost the first match

SA20 League Sourav Ganguly is the head coach of Pretoria Capitals team. This is his first season as a coach, but the Capitals have lost their first match. Apart from the openers, Will Sameed and Bryce Parsons, no other batsman could play big innings for the Capitals. Sameed scored 34 and Parsons scored 41 runs. At one time the Capitals team had scored 71 runs without losing any wicket. But while scoring the next 71 runs, it lost 9 wickets and lost the match by 22 runs.

Duan Yansen’s havoc

Duane Yansen, brother of South African all-rounder Marco Yansen, bowled lethally for Joburg Super Kings. He gave only 23 runs in 4 overs and took four wickets. Wiaan Mulder also shone for the Super Kings, who gave only 22 runs in 4 overs and kept a check on the run rate of the Capitals. He took one wicket.

Big star players flopped in this match. Joburg Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis could score only 2 runs, while fast bowler Lungi Ngidi gave away runs at an economy rate of more than 10. From Shay Hope to Dewald Brewis were also flops.

The SA20 2025 season started on 26 December and its final will be played on 25 January. Let us tell you that 6 teams participate in this league, all of them are owned by IPL teams. Teams of Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, Sunrajers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals franchises participate in this South African league.

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Argentina’s great footballer Lionel Messi is reaching India on Saturday (December 13, 2025) on his three-day tour (from December 13 to 15, 2025). During his India tour, Messi will also play a match in Hyderabad on Saturday (December 13). At the same time, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is also going to Hyderabad on Saturday to meet footballer Lionel Messi.

Actually, footballer Lionel Messi will visit four big cities of India during his tour, which earlier included visiting Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi. However, later Telangana capital Hyderabad has also been added to this prestigious list, where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will meet him.

What is footballer Messi’s program?

Lionel Messi will reach Kolkata from Miami at 1:30 pm on Saturday (December 13). Meanwhile, he will stay in Dubai for some time. Their meet-and-greet session will start at 9:30 am on Saturday. After this there will be a virtual unveiling of his 70 feet tall statue. After this Messi will go to Yuva Bharti Krirangan. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, actor Shahrukh Khan and former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly can be present with him. Messi will also play a friendly match in Kolkata. Organizers have reserved 78,000 seats for the event to be held at the Salt Lake Stadium. The price of tickets for this is up to Rs 7,000.

Messi will leave for Hyderabad in the afternoon

After this, Messi will leave for Hyderabad at 2 pm. He will participate in an exhibition match at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy will also participate in it. A concert has been organized in Messi’s honor in the evening. After this, on Sunday (December 14, 2025), Messi will be in Mumbai and will participate in many high-profile shows.

Their programs include a session at CCI for the Paddle Cup, a celebrity match and a big event at the Wankhede Stadium, while there will be a charity fashion show in the night. There will also be a Spanish music performance by Suarez and De Paul during the night.

Messi will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi

Lionel Messi will reach Delhi on Monday (December 15, 2025) in the last stop of his program. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a special program organized at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Meet-and-greet events with Messi are organized in all four cities.

(Report- with inputs from IANS)

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Sourav Ganguly Gave Statement On T20Is Captaincy: The 5-match T20 series between India and South Africa is going to start from today i.e. December 9, 2025. The first match of the series will be played at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack. Meanwhile, former Indian captain and former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has given a big statement regarding the future captaincy of Team India. Saurav says that currently the captain of Team India in T20 format is Suryakumar Yadav, but this responsibility should be given to Shubman Gill in his place. He suggested that now Shubman Gill should be made the captain in all three formats.

Statement given on split captaincy

At present, split captaincy is going on in the Indian cricket team, but now there are talks of making Gill the captain in all formats. Now former captain Sourav Ganguly has also given his opinion regarding this. During a program organized at Eden Gardens, when Ganguly was asked questions regarding T20 captaincy. So he replied that ‘In my view, Shubman Gill should be the captain in all formats.’

Shubman had performed brilliantly on the England tour

Talking about the England tour three months ago, Sourav said, ‘Look at Shubman’s performance in England three months ago. It was great to lead a young team from the front despite the absence of veteran players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the team. He shone like gold in both batting and captaincy.

He further reminded that in that Test series, Shubman scored 750 runs and also scored four centuries. A young captain who has shown so much maturity under pressure and on foreign soil should not be underestimated just on the basis of a few failures. Ganguly suggested that Shubman should be given time as captain and fans and cricket experts should not take decisions in haste.

He said, ‘It is not right to criticize a player who has performed brilliantly in one quarter in the next three months. As captain, he should be given adequate time and support. There is no rocket science in this, just trust and patience is required.

Donna Ganguly, wife of veteran Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly, has reached the police station, where she has lodged a complaint after being fed up with the obscene comments. Donna Ganguly is a famous Odissi dancer from Kolkata, recently she performed at the Kolkata Film Festival. Since then his Facebook page is being targeted. For this reason, Dona Ganguly has lodged a complaint of body shaming and indecent comments in Thakurpukur police station.

Dona Ganguly said in her complaint that she has been representing Indian culture across the world by performing Odissi dance for the last 45 years. Nasty comments are being made continuously for him on a Facebook page, which has troubled him mentally. Ganguly said that this post has been deliberately shared as part of a conspiracy to defame him. He has also lodged a complaint regarding attempts to tarnish his image.

Dona Ganguly has also given a screenshot of that Facebook page and a mobile number linked to the same page to the police. The police have registered a case against this unknown person and started investigation. Police officials say that considering the seriousness of the matter, the cyber team has been alerted.

In the same year, Dona Ganguly had filed another complaint in the cyber cell of Kolkata Police. Donna had accused a female YouTuber of posting social media posts regarding tarnishing the image of her and her family.

A similar incident has happened with Dona Ganguly in 2021 also. Four years ago he had told that a fake Facebook page was being run in his name. On this fake page, Donna Ganguly alleged that photographs of her, Sourav Ganguly and her daughter were also shared without her consent.

The Indian cricket team had to face a crushing defeat in the match played against South Africa at the historic Eden Garden in Kolkata. Chasing the target of 124 runs, the Indian team was reduced to 93 runs and lost by 30 runs. Amid questions being raised about the pitch after India’s shameful defeat, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has said something very important for the team management and Indian team head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Ganguly’s reaction came just after the controversy over the Eden Gardens pitch. He said that the pitch was exactly as the team wanted. The former Indian captain said, “The Indian team management should stop tampering with the pitches to dominate the home ground. Play on good wickets. Give the batsmen the opportunity to score more than 350 runs and motivate the bowlers to take wickets on the same wicket.”

Ganguly, popularly known as Dada in Indian cricket, said that we should trust our bowling. We have Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj, who are bowling well in Tests. I think Mohammed Shami should also be included in this. Shami, along with the spinners, has the ability to lead the Indian team to victory in the Test. Ganguly said that I hope that Gautam Gambhir will be listening to me.

Taking the name of the head coach of the Indian team by the former captain is a clear indication that he is not happy with the Indian team and the demand for a special pitch for the Test.

Let us tell you that in 2024, the Indian team had to face 0-3 defeat in the home Test series against New Zealand. Even at that time, the pitch was made suitable for spinners and the Indian team had to suffer the loss in the form of defeat.

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly wants to see Mohammed Shami return to the Indian team in all formats of cricket. Ganguly believes that he is an excellent fast bowler and he is completely fit.

Let us tell you that the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar did not select 35-year-old Shami for the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa. Many people expressed their displeasure after this decision. Mohammed Shami last played in the Champions Trophy in March.

Ganguly said on Monday, “Shami is bowling excellent. He is fit and we saw this in the three Ranji Trophy matches, where he single-handedly won matches for Bengal.”

Ganguly further said, “I am sure the selectors are keeping an eye and talks are going on between Mohammed Shami and the selectors. If you ask me in terms of fitness and skills, this is the same Mohammed Shami we know. So, I don’t see any reason why he can’t keep playing Test matches, ODIs and T20 cricket for India.”

Shami has taken 15 wickets so far in Ranji, which has helped Bengal achieve consecutive wins in its first two Ranji Trophy matches. However, he did not get any wicket against Tripura. He bowled 91 overs in three matches this season. This experienced fast bowler had undergone ankle surgery after the 2023 World Cup. In that World Cup, he made the record of taking the most wickets in the tournament by taking 24 wickets at an average of 10.70.

Krishna and Akash Deep, famous in Test matches, have become an integral part of the fast bowling attack. The 2027 ODI World Cup is still two years away. In such a situation, it is a big question when Shami will return.

Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Sourav Ganguly said on Monday that the Indian team management has not demanded a spin-friendly pitch for the first Test of the two-match series against South Africa starting on Friday at the Eden Gardens. India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir arrived here late on Sunday night with members of the team playing the limited overs series in Australia. He inspected the Eden Gardens pitch along with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Monday morning.

Ganguly also inspected the pitch in the evening, after which the entire ground was covered to protect it from dew or unexpected rain. When Ganguly was asked whether the Indian team management had asked for a pitch conducive to spinners, he said, “They have not asked for it yet.” Therefore, I will not be able to answer this question. This looks a very good pitch.

Eden Gardens has hosted two Ranji Trophy matches so far this season and the pitches have been slow with little support for the fast bowlers.

CAB curator Sujan Mukherjee expressed satisfaction with the pitch. He said that Gambhir was also satisfied after seeing the pitch. According to Mukherjee, India’s head coach had asked when the pitch would start providing support to the spinners and he replied that turn could be expected ‘from the third day’.

Mukherjee said, “Both batsmen and bowlers will get help on this pitch. Spinners will also get help.” The current World Test champion South Africa team has left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj along with off-spinner Simon Harmer and left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy. These bowlers had recently performed well on the Pakistan tour.

After the defeat in the home series against New Zealand on a spinner-friendly pitch, the Indian team would like to completely avoid playing on a spinner-friendly pitch. CAB will also organize the Dalmiya Memorial Lecture on the eve of the match, in which batting great Sunil Gavaskar has confirmed his participation as the keynote speaker. Ganguly said that to commemorate this historic series, a special coin with the pictures of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela on both sides has been issued for the toss.

Indian Player Receive Gold-Plated Bat And Ball: Indian women’s cricket team has registered its name in the pages of history by winning the ODI World Cup 2025. Team India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the Women’s World Cup final and won its first ICC title. Along with winning the World Cup, the players of Team India are getting many big rewards and honors. Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has also announced to give a gold plated bat and ball to the Indian team’s ace batsman and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh.

Richa Ghosh will get gold ball and bat

Indian cricket team’s star wicketkeeper batsman Richa Ghosh batted brilliantly during the World Cup. Richa came in the last overs of the Indian innings and scored quick runs with fours and sixes, which benefited India in many matches of the Women’s World Cup. Now Bengal Cricket Association is going to honor Richa for her brilliant batting.

For her significant contribution to Indian cricket, Richa Ghosh will be given a ball and bat signed by former Indian men’s team captain Sourav Ganguly and women’s team’s veteran player Jhulan Goswami. Bengal Cricket Association President Sourav Ganguly said that ‘the association feels very proud to honor Richa Ghosh. This player has made Bengal and the whole of India proud with his brilliant performance.

CAB President Sourav Ganguly said about Richa Ghosh’s brilliant performance that ‘Richa has shown amazing talent, composure and fighting spirit on the world stage. For his huge contribution to Indian cricket, we are just paying him a small tribute by giving him a gold plated bat and ball. Richa is an inspiration not only for Bengal but for all the young players all over India.

Powerful performance by Richa Ghosh

Indian cricketer Richa Ghosh had scored 235 runs in 8 innings in the Women’s World Cup. Richa scored these runs at a strike rate of 133.52, which was the best strike rate of this tournament. Richa was included in the top 5 players who scored the most runs for the Indian team.

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Chris Broad Allegations On Sourav Ganguly: Former ICC match referee Chris Broad has made many serious allegations against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Chris Broad claims that BCCI tries to save Indian players from penalties. Chris Broad, father of former England cricket fast bowler Stuart Broad, has also targeted former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly in his allegations. Broad even said that he used to get direct calls to behave softly with the Indian players.

Chris Broad made serious allegations

Chris Broad, without mentioning any match, has claimed in an interview to Telegraph that ‘in one match, Team India was trailing by 3-4 overs, due to which an automatic fine would have been imposed on them’. At the same time, Broad said that due to pressure from BCCI, the timing had to be changed to bring India’s slow over rate below the penalty limit. Broad also claimed that nowadays sport has become more political than in the early days.

Chris Broad further said that ‘India has a lot of money and they have gone ahead of ICC in many matters. I am happy that now I am away from this world, because now more politics is happening here than before. After talking about slow over rate, Chris Broad also mentioned his next match. Taking aim at Sourav Ganguly, Chris Broad said, ‘The same thing happened again in his next match. Sourav Ganguly did not pay attention to anything, then I called him and asked what do you want me to do. Then he said just work. Chris Broad said that ‘there is politics here’. There is no response from BCCI to all these allegations yet.

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