AUS v IND: Steve Smith Finally Finds His Hands At The GABBA
He was never out of form, he was just out of runs. Or maybe he was just finding his hands. And today, he silenced his critics with a fantastic ton against the Indian Cricket Team. Yes, we are speaking about none other than Steve Smith. Steve Smith Returns To Form With 33rd Test Match Ton On Day 2 of the third test match at the GABBA, Steve Smith finally silenced his doubters and ended his yearlong century drought with a resolute and disciplined 101 runs against India. His 33rd Test century came before an electrified Brisbane crowd as the former Australian captain showed mental resilience and patience in a challenging battle against India’s relentless bowlers. A Steve Smith Sunday Masterclass Smith’s innings came off 185 balls and was a masterclass in composure. He found his rhythm despite the pressure of the moment and the testing spells from India. His drives and cuts were a reminder of the class that has defined his illustrious career. Dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah with an edge caught behind at slip, Smith departed with his trademark focus and poise, having re-established himself as one of cricket’s finest battlers. Steve Smith Celebrates Calmly The 82nd over of Australia’s innings was the turning point when Smith hit a boundary off Akash Deep and then took a single off the next delivery to take his hundred. Smith’s calm celebration was cheered by teammates and fans. Smith’s century was not just a personal triumph, it signaled his return to form during a crucial moment in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This century marked his first since December 2022 and his 10th century against India in 22 Tests and so far he has averaged over 60 against India. This was Smith’s first hundred in 2024. Therefore, it proved that Steve Smith is back to all guns blazing as more big knock would be needed in days to come. Steve Smith Century Sets Australia Through Fire Steve Smith shared an instrumental 241-run partnership with Travis Head for the fourth wicket, a partnership that proved crucial in pushing Australia past the 300-run mark on Day 2. Both Smith and Head capitalized on their opportunities to put Australia in a strong position against a competitive Indian Cricket Team. Rohit Catches Smith It was only by a spectacular catch from Rohit Sharma that ended Steve Smith’s innings at 101 while returning him to the pavilion. He had also given enough momentum and confidence to Australia going into the remaining parts of the game, despite being dismissed. Captain Cummins Backs Smith Steve Smith’s return to form came just days after Australian skipper Pat Cummins publicly backed him during his lean patch with the bat. Smith’s great display at the GABBA only seemed to reinforce that confidence, as he rode out the pressure and delivered when it mattered most. Over 2,000 runs against India alone and a proven record in big moments, Steve Smith has set the tone for a strong finish to the series. With this century behind him, all the remaining matches at Sydney and Melbourne will be focused on by Smith to continue his form, thus making his position stronger as one of the cricketing world’s most consistent performers. Steve Smith Turns To Be Mentally Strong Steve Smith’s drought-breaking century was a display of his mental toughness and ability to stay composed under pressure. In a year filled with challenges, Smith’s test match century against the Indian Cricket Team has not only lifted his personal confidence but has sent a clear message to the world, Smith is back in the groove and his hunger remains undiminished. As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy unfolds, all cricket fans and pundits can only wait to see if Steve Smith manages to maintain his rhythm with the bat and take Australian cricket to further heights of success. With his 33rd test match century now in the record-books and Australia in such a strong position at GABBA, Steve Smith has surely written another remarkable chapter to his storied career. Has there been a more popular hundred in the recent times? The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
SA vs IND: Sanju Samson Becomes The 1st Indian To Do This
While no one ever doubted his ability to score, concerns were only about him grabbing the opportunity. And boy, did Sanju Samson do it in style. Sanju Samson smashed his second T20I hundred in as many games, putting the South African attack to sword at Kingsmead with some extraordinary hitting. Samson Delivers It Back-To-Back Sanju Samson continued his scorching form as he completed two consecutive T20I centuries, taking India to a commanding position in the on-going series against South Africa at Kingsmead. The wicketkeeper-batter who had made an explosive 111 off 47 balls against Bangladesh in his previous outing, produced another masterclass in aggressive batting when he amassed a scintillating 100 off just 47 balls to lead India to set a daunting target. Samson Gives A Fiery Start To The Innings Samson’s scorching knock off 47 balls came as an onslaught from the very start. He raced to 35 runs from just 20 balls in the Powerplay, displaying excellent timing and power. Even after the field spread out, Samson’s intent remained clear as he launched into Nqaba Peter, smashing back-to-back sixes in the eighth over. The South African bowlers had little answer as Samson continued accelerating, cruising past the 50-run mark before setting his eye on three figures. Samson Breaks New Records Blistering hundred by Samson sets new records for Indian cricket. He became the first Indian to hit back-to-back T20I centuries and also registered the highest T20I score for India against South Africa. His performance included a devastating display of power hitting, smashing 10 sixes and 7 fours, at an astonishing strike rate of 214.00. Samson’s Shift From Middle-Order To Opening A transformation has been real for Samson after being seen largely as a middle-order batter. The 29-year-old batsman was patchy for some time and then was given the responsibility of opening the batting for India in T20 Internationals where he has produced rich dividends in matches played thus far. The adaptability with which he has performed in the top order has been worth gold, while even the fact that he managed consecutive centuries speaks to how crucial he is becoming for India’s T20I team. It is, in fact, one of his best plays that has sealed his place as one of the most thrilling T20 talents in India. He has raised himself to greater heights simply because of his fearlessness and now refuses to take on the bowlers around the globe; thus, making his remarkable strides in the shortest format of the game worth noticing by the cricketing world. Samson Sets Benchmark Other than being the first Indian to score successive T20I hundreds, Samson also set a new benchmark for Indian players against South Africa with his hundred standing as the highest ever hundred scored by an Indian in T20Is against the Proteas. He also registered the second-fastest T20I hundred against South Africa, thereby making it crystal clear that he is capable of delivering in high-pressure situations. What’s In Store For Samson Sanju Samson is the bright star India is looking for, for them to extend their dominance in T20I cricket. His splendid form is the glimpse of what he may become, however more importantly, a pronouncement of things to come in Indian T20 cricket, with Samson now firmly established as one of the leaders to watch out for in cricket. With the series on, all eyes would be glued to Sanju Samson as he looks to possibly continue that kind of form in this series and carry India further up the T20I leaderboard. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IND vs BAN: Anna Sets The Tone In Chennai With His Sixth Test Match Ton
Ravichandran Ashwin and his marvelous performances at Chepauk is literally a match made in heaven. For on Thursday, the hometown hero danced his way to a spectacular sixth test match century, pulling India from a wobbly 144/6 to a much more respectable 339/6 on the first day of the first test against Bangladesh. It was also Ashwin’s second consecutive test match century at Chepauk, his last one coming off against England, back in 2021. Wrecking Ball Moment For Bangladesh Hasan Mahmud takes a Miley Cyrus turn for India’s misery as the top order goes for a toss. Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and even Virat Kohli perished quickly. Mahmud was an unspent volcano, getting four wickets, as a band without its lead singer, India stumbled to 144/6. Chennai’s Familiar Faces To The Rescue In walked Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. Ranked No.1 and No.2 in the ICC Men’s Test all-rounder rankings, this dynamic duo was not letting the party end early. Together, they stitched an unbroken 195-run stand that left Bangladesh scratching their heads and India back in the game. Jadeja, always the cool-headed sidekick, closed the day on 86*- a stone’s throw away from his own century. Ashwin’s Century: Chepauk’s Favorite Repeat Performance Ravichandran Ashwin, the showman smashed 10 fours and 2 sixes, robbing the opposition of every chance, taking his century in a mere 108 balls. The man clearly reveals in an encore; after all, his last test match ton came right here in 2021. Much like before, Ravichandran Ashwin swooped in at a critical moment to save the day. Chepauk, of course, loved every second of it. Ashwin’s Magic Brings India Back On Track By stumps, India was sitting pretty at 339/6. Bangladesh, high on its own ambitions, woke up scratching its collective head, wondering how things unraveled so quick. One thing is for sure: when Ravichandran Ashwin is batting at Chepauk, expect magic. The Sports Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
