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NDTV
6 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Shivam Dube's 5 Sixes To Suryakumar Yadav's Title-Winning Knock: 5 Unforgettable Moments Of T20 Mumbai League
Cricket fever is set to grip the city as the T20 Mumbai League 2025 kicks off from June 4 to 12, bringing high-voltage action to the Wankhede Stadium and DY Patil Stadium. One of India's leading franchise-based domestic tournaments will feature eight power-packed teams — North Mumbai Panthers, ARCS Andheri, Triumph Knights Mumbai North East, Bandra Blasters, Eagle Thane Strikers, Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs, SoBo Mumbai Falcons, and Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals, battling it out for the coveted title. As anticipation builds for the grand return of T20 Mumbai league, here are the top five unforgettable moments that define the spirit of the League. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav's sensational title-winning 90 knock in Season 1 The current India T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, is set to return for his third appearance in the T20 Mumbai League, bringing with him the same fearless flair that has made him a global star. Since the league's inception, Suryakumar has led the Triumph Knights Mumbai North East, leaving a mark with both his dynamic leadership and explosive batting. In the inaugural season, he delivered one of the most iconic performances in league history — a scintillating 90 off just 42 balls in the final. Walking in with his team reeling at 34/5, Suryakumar launched a breathtaking counterattack. His unbeaten 148-run partnership with Parikshit Valsangkar powered the Triumph Knights to a formidable 182/5, eventually securing a nail-biting 3-run victory and the first-ever T20 Mumbai League title. Shivam Dube's five towering sixes in an over off Pravin Tambe Few moments in T20 Mumbai League history have matched the sheer power of Shivam Dube's five consecutive sixes in a single over — a performance that lit up the Wankhede Stadium and etched his name into T20 Mumbai League's history. In the 2019 season, representing the Shivaji Park Lions, Dube took on veteran spinner Pravin Tambe of NaMo Bandra Blasters and launched a relentless attack, clearing the ropes five times in a single over. The innings reminded fans of Yuvraj Singh, leaving them in awe and firmly establishing Dube as one of the most exciting prospects in Indian cricket. The knock was a defining moment in his career. He was also part of the Indian squad that won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024. Jay Bista's record first-ever century of T20 Mumbai League Jay Bista's explosive 110 stands as one of the most breathtaking knocks ever witnessed in the T20 Mumbai League — a record-breaking display that redefined batting dominance. In the Season 2 semi-final, Bista, then playing for the SoBo SuperSonics, delivered a remarkable performance, scoring the first-ever century in the tournament's history. His fearless stroke play not only powered SoBo SuperSonics to a massive 217/4 but also secured a spot in the final by defeating Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs. Bista's innings earned him the Man of the Match award and he also emerged as the top five run-scorers that season, finishing with 242 runs in seven matches. 4. Shreyas Iyer's finishing masterclass in the Season 1 Eliminator Star India batter Shreyas Iyer, who has been currently leading Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, has always been known for rising to the occasion. His unbeaten 91 in the Season 1 Eliminator of the T20 Mumbai League remains one of the most memorable and defining innings in the tournament's history. Back in 2018, playing for the NaMo Bandra Blasters, Iyer delivered a true captain's knock. With the team at 109/3 after 16 overs, and Iyer on a patient 45 off 43 balls, he shifted gears dramatically. He reached his half-century in next three balls — a single followed by back-to-back sixes — and then exploded in the death overs, adding 46 more runs off the final 15 balls he faced. His late attack powered his side to a formidable 169/4, a total that proved decisive. T20 Mumbai League starts off with a wicket When the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) launched the T20 Mumbai League, it aimed to create a grand platform for the city's cricketing talent and it couldn't have asked for a more electrifying start. In the opening match of Season 1, Shivam Malhotra of the North Mumbai Panthers delivered a moment that instantly etched itself into the league's history. Bowling the very first ball of the tournament, Malhotra dismissed ARCS Andheri's opener Akhil Herwadkar, making an immediate impact and sending a wave of excitement through the Wankhede crowd. Malhotra went on to claim four wickets in a match-winning spell that set the tone for the North Mumbai Panthers. That first delivery wasn't just a wicket — it was the spark that ignited passion among fans.
Hindustan Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Fitter, leaner Sarfaraz gears up for India A tour of England
MUMBAI: Sarfaraz Khan is eagerly looking forward to playing his first match for India A in England. It is going to be a perfect platform for the batter to showcase the kind of preparation he has done for the upcoming five-Test series in England. Under the guidance of his father-coach, Naushad Khan, the Mumbai batter has left no stone unturned in his bid to prove that he has the game to perform in all conditions, and not just on home tracks. Apart from going through long hours of batting drills, he has worked extra hard on fitness over the last two months. He has switched to a strict diet plan, and the benefits were evident when he came for the T20 Mumbai League auctions as the icon player of the Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs along with Suryakumar Yadav. His learner look earned compliments from everyone. 'Looking at Sarfaraz, I am also following him. We have stopped making rice and rotis at home. It's mainly grilled chicken, grilled fish, boiled eggs, vegetables like broccoli, avocado, etc. Sarfaraz has shed nine kg in the last one-and-a-half months. I have also benefitted by losing around 12 kg,' said Naushad, a former Western Railway cricketer. While the rest of the Indian cricketers' form and progress can be tracked in the Indian Premier League, Sarfaraz, who is not playing in the T20 league, has made use of the time by preparing hard for red-ball cricket. The regulars at the Cross Maidan see the father and sons slog it out every morning at the Karnataka Sporting Association pitch. The matches he was waiting for is here after being included in the Abhimanyu Easwaran-led India A squad for the tour of England starting on May 30. India A are scheduled to play two games against England Lions (May 30-June 2 in Canterbury and June 6-9 in Northampton) and one intra-squad match against the India Test squad (June 13-16 in Beckenham). How Sarfaraz fares in the matches is important to win back his place in the Test eleven. The England players know Sarfaraz's potential. He made his debut against them at home last year, making a mark with three half-centuries in five innings to aggregate 200 runs at an average of 50. In his nascent six-Test career, Sarfaraz also smashed 150 against New Zealand in the first Test late last year, on a challenging Bengaluru pitch where India were shot out for 46 in their first innings. But low scores in the last two Tests – India lost 0-3 to New Zealand – saw him lose his place in the playing XI for the series in Australia. The English conditions throw up a different challenge with the ball moving around all day. Determined to do well there, his training is specifically tuned to address that. 'He is practising with the red ball on green tops, playing around 300 balls each session, in the morning and in the evening,' Naushad said. 'Sarfaraz does two-and-a-half hours of batting against a set of six-seven bowlers, including two-three right-arm pacers, a left-arm pacer, off-spinner, leg-arm spinner. We use a dark shiny ball, similar to the Dukes cricket ball. We know the ball will move all day long, the ball will not get old early (in England),' said Naushad. In the evenings, the days he doesn't have a gym session, Sarfaraz bat at the nets installed in their society complex. 'We pour water on the Astroturf pitch. It is to play the swing ball (synthetic). The ball comes on rapidly on a wet wicket.' The practice is focused on leaving the ball, to know where the off-stump is, on ducking, leaving and the drives. 'He is doing fitness and fielding also. Every week there are gym and swimming sessions at BKC club (Sharad Pawar Indoor Academy). Monday is dedicated to fielding, high catches, slip catches, close-in fielding,' said Naushad. Looking at past series in England, it had been a challenge for most Indian batters to adapt to the conditions. For those who did well, specific preparation was the key. Sarfaraz has done the preparation. Now, it's about putting it to practice.
