Latest news with #MegLanning
Int'l Cricket Council
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Australia remain on top while Thailand climb up in the annual T20I rankings update
Australia and New Zealand have been the big winners on the ICC Women's T20I team rankings following the annual update made by the ICC on Friday. The Aussies maintained their stronghold on the No.1 ranking with 299 rating points and even extended their lead over second-placed England (279) from 18 points to 20 after the update. Women's T20I Team Rankings WATCH: Australia lift the 2023 T20 World Cup trophy The moment Australia lifted the T20 World Cup for the sixth time | Women's T20WC 2023 Australian captain Meg Lanning and her team celebrated in style as they lifted the trophy at Newlands in Cape Town after beating South Africa in the final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. While there are no positional changes among the top-eight ranks, reigning ICC Women's T20 World Cup winners New Zealand were rewarded with a two-point increase to 253 rating points and are now within seven points of third-placed India (260). South Africa (243), West Indies (240), Sri Lanka (228) and Pakistan (220) round out the top eight teams on the rankings. Ireland move up one place and past Bangladesh into ninth following the update that provides weightings at 50 percent for matches between May 2022 and April 2024 and 100 percent for matches thereafter. WATCH: New Zealand win 2024 T20 World Cup crown MUST WATCH | New Zealand's Epic Relived – The pure drama of a historic night | WT20WC 2024 New Zealand players recall a historic night | WT20WC 2024 Asian side Thailand climb two places to move to 11th overall, while Sierra Leone (34th) and Kuwait (37th) are other big improvers as they gain seven rating points and move up three spots overall apiece. Four teams – Mexico, Czechia, Oman and Ghana – drop out of the rankings due to not having played at least eight T20Is since May 2022. Meanwhile, UAE have taken the place of USA among the 16 teams granted ODI status for the 2025-29 cycle, which will come into effect on 12 May. WATCH: Netherlands stun South Africa in World Cup shock | Match Highlights | CWC23 Netherlands stun South Africa in World Cup shock | Match Highlights | CWC23 Match highlights as Netherlands opened their account in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 with a stunning upset victory over South Africa in Dharamsala. The list of teams with ODI status now features five Associate Members, with Thailand, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and the Netherlands retaining their status, and the UAE joining them following strong performances in T20Is. Thailand and Scotland secured their ODI status through qualification for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025, while PNG and the Netherlands retained theirs based on their T20I rankings. The UAE earned ODI status as the next highest-ranked Associate Member at the time of the annual ICC Women's T20I Team Rankings update. Teams with ODI status are required to play at least eight ODIs over a three-to-four-year period to achieve or maintain a ranking.
The Hindu
29-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Cricket constantly on my mind... dream is to play in a World Cup, rising star Shree Charani says after making India debut
It's not easy for a young up-and-comer to make an impression in a team stacked with superstars. But N. Shree Charani did just that in the recently concluded iteration of the Women's Premier League (WPL), where she represented runner-up Delhi Capitals. The 20-year-old left-arm spinner featured in crucial games against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians (final), leaving a lasting impression on teammates, including skipper Meg Lanning, and those watching from the stands and on TV. With selectors keeping an eye on her domestic performances, where she proved handy with the bat too, Charani unsurprisingly earned a maiden India call-up for the Tri-Nation series involving India, South Africa, and Sri Lanka in the island nation. In her debut game against the host, she finished with two wickets, conceding just 26 runs in eight overs. In an interview with Sportstar, the Kadapa native looked back at her maiden WPL stint, her call-up to the senior national team, how COVID-19 pandemic shaped her budding career, and more. Excerpts: What was your initial reaction to getting the India call-up? I was very proud of it. Playing with Harman di (Harmanpreet Kaur), Smriti (Mandhana) di, Jemi di (Jemimah Rodrigues), they are such legends of the game, and to be playing with them is a pleasure. I knew that they would see my performances in the WPL. I had the hope that if I performed in the multi-day Challenger (in Dehradun), I might have a chance. When I played in that tournament, after my first match, I felt there was a chance of getting the call-up. I got a six-wicket haul, and felt like I bowled well in that match. I thought if I kept performing like this in the next few games, then I stood a chance. Was the call-up that came for the Tri-Series validating, given all your efforts to come through the ranks? When I officially got the news, there was a Challenger match going on. I was in the dressing room. Harleen (Deol) di and Yasthika (Bhatia) di entered, gave me the news, and congratulated me. Actually, we sort of knew beforehand about the news because they asked us for our jersey [name, number, and size] the previous night, and I had shared it with my parents. I told them that there was a chance [of getting a call-up]. I was actually a little nervous then, wondering what would happen, and I was a little tense till I got the confirmation. I spoke with my parents six hours after I got the official news. My mother and my uncle were very excited. Everyone was excited, honestly, but they both were a little extra happy. Were you always into cricket, or did you try your hand at other sports in your younger days? My father first enrolled me in badminton when I was in class six. I used to play, come home, and then move to playing cricket. He then made me sign up for an academy in Proddatur and even complained to the coaches there that I would return home after coaching and start playing cricket without taking any rest. I played Kho Kho in school too. Usually, I would come home and then head to play Kho Kho by 5:30 PM. I used to go early, play cricket, and then go for Kho Kho. Cricket was constantly on my mind. Even when I was going for athletics, I used to ask my father about joining a cricket academy. When I was in Class 10, he finally agreed to let me switch to cricket full time. How did COVID-19 affect your game? COVID-19 helped me a lot, actually. There was a mud ground near my house. I used to work on both batting and bowling there, alongside my brothers and friends. I played a lot and had no fear of playing the game even before I started training professionally. I then went to an academy in Hyderabad for training. That's where my name was submitted for the State U-19 probables list. That's how everything fell into place for me. Tell us your first impressions of life with Delhi Capitals in the WPL. When I first joined the DC camp, I did not have any idea of how things would be. The team gave me a lot of comfort; it was a fantastic group. I am normally a very calm person. Jemi di used to come and speak with me a lot, she would give me the same amount of comfort that Aru (statemate Arundhati Reddy) akka used to give. That helped me settle down quickly. Charani of Delhi Capitals in action during the final match of the Women's Premier League 2025. | Photo Credit: SPORTZPICS FOR WPL Who among the squad ended up becoming your close friends during your time with the franchise? Aru akka and Jemi di took care of me very well. Whatever was there or whatever I needed, I could ask them very freely. There is no language barrier between Aru akka, so I would ask her if I had any doubts. I was very comfortable with Aru akka and Sneha (Deepthi) akka because we all speak the same language, as well as Jemi di and Lisa (Keightley) ma'am. Even after the WPL final, Jemi di came and told me, 'While your analysis may be different, please know that you bowled very well.' How did the WPL playing experience help and change you, if at all? As a person, I have not changed much, but as a professional, my routines have changed. Take food consumption, for example. I keep an eye on the amount of protein, fiber, and vitamins I consume. I have been very inspired after seeing everyone in the WPL, in the DC team, and beyond – their routines, their discipline, and more. I understood why all those players have achieved as much as they have, and the amount of work that went into achieving it. Videos of your camaraderie with DC assistant coach Lisa Keightley were quite popular during the league. What has your association with her been like? Lisa ma'am (DC assistant coach) is very experienced. She was very helpful. I got feedback on what I can do, what to improve in my bowling, and a lot more. She was the reason why I got some structure and clarity in my game. We had Jess (Jonassen) at DC who is a very experienced left-arm spinner and one of the world's best. What Lisa ma'am used to do was speak with her and also with Meg (Lanning), and ask them 'What's going on with Shree? What can she do today to improve?' and get information. That used to be very helpful to me; it would give me a clear plan on what I could and should be doing. Lisa ma'am is the reason why my bowling got a lot more clarity. She used to help me a lot, not just in cricket but in all things; she would give me a lot of guidance. She is a very funny person also, and she can handle anything with a smile. She doesn't take anything to heart, she is a very genuine person. How was your relationship with your captain Lanning? My relationship with Meg was good. She also used to guide me a lot. She would tell me how and where to bowl, what kind of fields to set, how to bowl to a particular field, and more. In the match, she would talk to me before every ball and remind me of the plan we discussed. I learned how to be calm from her, irrespective of the situation. When I was getting smashed for sixes in the WPL final, if Meg wasn't around, I would have been more nervous. She and the whole team were constantly cheering me on, telling me when I was doing well. That final was disappointing for the DC faithful. How do you look back at that match? When I look back, I feel bad about it. I think I could have performed slightly better, maybe. I felt that right after the match and even now, when I think about it. How did your family and friends react to your WPL stint? All of my friends and family watched my WPL matches. I got a lot of messages after the two matches I played in WPL. It took me two days to reply to all those messages. Those messages gave me a lot of confidence in my performance during the league. There was a lot of praise for your fielding in the WPL. How do you go about working on improving that aspect of your game? I was a much better fielder, but I am not that good right now. I need to work on that, since I am just making my way back from a few niggles. It will take about six months for me to get back to my old self. It doesn't matter if I am in the playing XI. I would go and take catches daily, work with Milap (Mewada, the fielding coach at DC). If I wasn't playing in a match, I would finish bowling and stay with him and then take catches for about 20 minutes, which eventually helped me. Are you keeping an eye on the Women's World Cup in India later this year? Every player will want to take part in the World Cup, that's obvious. If I have to go there, I need to focus on the present. My dream is to play for India, and if possible, in a World Cup. But I am not going to think about that. I will keep working hard. Whatever has to happen will happen.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Shree Charani Interview: Cricket constantly on my mind... dream is to play in a World Cup
It's not easy for a young up-and-comer to make an impression in a team stacked with superstars. But N. Sree Charani did just that in the recently concluded iteration of the Women's Premier League, where she represented runner-up Delhi Capitals. The 20-year-old left-arm spinner featured in crucial games against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians (final), leaving a lasting impression on teammates, including skipper Meg Lanning, and those watching from the stands and on TV. With selectors keeping an eye on her domestic performances, where she proved handy with the bat too, Charani unsurprisingly earned a maiden India call-up for the Tri-Nation series involving India, South Africa, and Sri Lanka in the island nation. In her debut game against the host, she finished with two wickets, conceding just 26 runs in eight overs. In an interview with The Hindu, the Kadapa native looked back at her maiden WPL stint, her call-up to the senior National team, how COVID-19 pandemic shaped her budding career, and more. Excerpts ALSO READ | G. Kamalini - The accidental cricketer on the fast lane to stardom What was your initial reaction to getting the India call-up? I was very proud of it. Playing with Harman di (Harmanpreet Kaur), Smriti (Mandhana) di, Jemi di (Jemimah Rodrigues), they are such legends of the game, and to be playing with them is a pleasure. I knew that they would see my performances in the WPL. I had the hope that if I performed in the Multi-day Challenger (in Dehradun), I might have a chance. When I played in that tournament, after my first match, I felt there was a chance of getting the call-up. I got a six-wicket haul, and felt like I bowled well in that match. I thought if I kept performing like this in the next few games, then I stood a chance. One Brings Two 👏 N. Charani gets her first and second #TATAWPL wickets in the same over 🙌#DC have pushed #RCB back to 131/5 after 18 overs. Updates ▶️ | @ — Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 1, 2025 Was the call-up that came for the Tri-Series validating, given all your efforts to come through the ranks? When I officially got the news, there was a Challenger match going on. I was in the dressing room. Harleen (Deol) di and Yasthika (Bhatia) di entered, gave me the news, and congratulated me. Actually, we sort of knew beforehand about the news because they asked us for our jersey [name, number, and size] the previous night, and I had shared it with my parents. I told them that there was a chance [of getting a call-up]. I was actually a little nervous then, wondering what would happen, and I was a little tense till I got the confirmation. I spoke with my parents six hours after I got the official news. My mother and my uncle were very excited. Everyone was excited, honestly, but they both were a little extra happy. Were you always into cricket, or did you try your hand at other sports in your younger days? My father first enrolled me in badminton when I was in class six. I used to play, come home, and then start move to playing cricket. He then made me sign up for an academy in Proddatur and even complained to the coaches there that I would return home after coaching and start playing cricket without taking any rest. I played Kho Kho in school too. Usually, I would come home and then head to play Kho Kho by 5:30pm. I used to go early, play cricket, and then go for Kho Kho. Cricket was constantly on my mind. Even when I was going for athletics, I used to ask my father about joining a cricket academy. When I was in Class 10, he finally agreed to let me switch to cricket full time. ALSO READ | T20 leagues will dominate world cricket: W.V. Raman How did COVID-19 affect your game? COVID-19 helped me a lot, actually. There was a mud ground near my house, I used to work on both batting and bowling there, alongside my brothers and friends. I played a lot and had no fear of playing the game even before I started training professionally. I then went to an academy in Hyderabad for training. That's where my name was submitted for the state U-19 probables list. That's how everything fell into place for me. ALSO READ | No coach can change a player over 4-6 weeks in franchise cricket: Pietersen Tell us your first impressions of life with the Delhi Capitals in the WPL. When I first joined the DC camp, I did not have any idea of how things would be. The team gave me a lot of comfort; it was a fantastic group. I am normally a very calm person. Jemi di used to come and speak with me a lot, she would give me the same amount of comfort that Aru (statemate Arundhati Reddy) akka used to give. That helped me settle down quickly. Who among the squad ended up becoming your close friends during your time with the franchise? Aru akka and Jemi di took care of me very well. Whatever was there or whatever I needed, I could ask them very freely. There is no language barrier between Aru akka, so I would ask her if I had any doubts. I was very comfortable with Aru akka and Sneha (Deepthi) akka because we all speak the same language, as well as Jemi di and Lisa (Keightley) ma'am. Even after the WPL final, Jemi di came and told me, 'While your analysis may be different, please know that you bowled very well.' How did the WPL playing experience help and change you, if at all? As a person, I have not changed much, but as a professional, my routines have changed. Take food consumption, for example. I keep an eye on the amount of protein, fiber, and vitamins I consume. I have been very inspired after seeing everyone in the WPL, in the DC team, and beyond – their routines, their discipline, and more. I understood why all those players have achieved as much as they have, and the amount of work that went into achieving it. ALSO READ | A flash of Dhoni and a peep both into the past and the future Videos of your camaraderie with DC assistant coach Lisa Keightley were quite popular during the league. What has your association with her been like? Lisa ma'am (DC assistant coach) is very experienced. She was very helpful. I got feedback on what I can do, what to improve in my bowling, and a lot more. She was the reason why I got some structure and clarity in my game. We had Jess (Jonassen) at DC who is a very experienced left-arm spinner and one of the world's best. What Lisa ma'am used to do was speak with her and also with Meg (Lanning), and ask them 'What's going on with Shree? What can she do today to improve?' and get information. That used to be very helpful to me; it would give me a clear plan on what I could and should be doing. Lisa ma'am is the reason why my bowling got a lot more clarity. She used to help me a lot, not just in cricket but in all things; she would give me a lot of guidance. She is a very funny person also, and she can handle anything with a smile. She doesn't take anything to heart, she is a very genuine person. How was your relationship with your captain Lanning? My relationship with Meg was good. She also used to guide me a lot. She would tell me how and where to bowl, what kind of fields to set, how to bowl to a particular field, and more. In the match, she would talk to me before every ball and remind me of the plan we discussed. I learned how to be calm from her, irrespective of the situation. When I was getting smashed for sixes in the WPL final, if Meg wasn't around, I would have been more nervous. She and the whole team were constantly cheering me on, telling me when I was doing well. That final was disappointing for the DC faithful. How do you look back at that match? When I look back, I feel bad about it. I think I could have performed slightly better, maybe. I felt that right after the match and even now, when I think about it. How did your family and friends react to your WPL stint? All of my friends and family watched my WPL matches. I got a lot of messages after the two matches I played in WPL. It took me two days to reply to all those messages. Those messages gave me a lot of confidence in my performance during the league. ALSO READ | Metronomic Hazlewood, the go-to-man for RCB There was a lot of praise for your fielding in the WPL. How do you go about working on improving that aspect of your game? I was a much better fielder, but I am not that good right now. I need to work on that, since I am just making my way back from a few niggles. It will take about six months for me to get back to my old self. It doesn't matter if I am in the playing 11. I would go and take catches daily, work with Milap (Mewada, the fielding coach at DC). If I wasn't playing in a match, I would finish bowling and stay with him and then take catches for about 20 minutes, which eventually helped me. Are you keeping an eye on the Women's World Cup in India later this year? Every player will want to take part in the World Cup, that's obvious. If I have to go there, I need to focus on the present. My dream is to play for India, and if possible, in a World Cup. But I am not going to think about that. I will keep working hard. Whatever has to happen will happen.
Al Jazeera
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
WPL 2025 final: Delhi Capitals Women vs Mumbai Indians Women; teams, stream
Who: Delhi Capitals Women vs Mumbai Indians Women What: Women's Premier League (WPL) final 2025 Where: Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, India. When: Saturday, March 15 at 8pm (14:00 GMT) Delhi Capitals Women will hope to end their woes in the WPL final as they face Mumbai Indians Women for the 2025 crown in Mumbai on Saturday. It's the third consecutive final that Delhi have reached, but they are yet to lift the trophy, and they now face the team that beat them in the inaugural final in 2023, Mumbai Indians. Al Jazeera takes a look at the final of the third edition of the tournament. How did the teams reach the WPL final? Delhi Capitals topped the group stage from Mumbai Indians, who lost their final match – and with it, the top spot – in an 11-run defeat by Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Monday. The result forced Mumbai into an eliminator with third-placed Gujarat Giants on Thursday. A resounding 47-run victory was recorded as Hayley Matthews smashed 77 in a total of 213-4. Who are the previous WPL winners? Mumbai Indians beat Delhi by seven wickets in the final of the first edition of the WPL in 2023. Royal Challengers Bangalore were crowned champions with an eight-wicket win last season. Can Delhi Capitals end their final jinx? Former Australia captain Meg Lanning has led Delhi since the formation of the WPL and vice captain at the Capitals believes her skipper's winning mentality and unwavering optimism are instrumental 'Meg is someone who wants to win every game. But, at the same time, she has the amount of clarity in what she's looking for. Winning is one thing that she tells us, but she also tells us to focus on what we need to do,' India batter Jemimah Rodrigues said of the seven-time World Cup winner. 'She has clarity in what she wants to do and what she wants this team to do and makes sure she takes everyone along in doing that thing. I think that helps us be a successful team. 'The thing I love about Meg, and this is something that I would like to add in myself … is that she's calm but aggressive at the same time. And as a leader, that's a very crucial quality to have.' Who are the WPL's leading run scorers? Nat Sciver (Brunt Mumbai Indians) – 416 Ellyse Perry (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) – 372 Shafali Verma (Delhi Capitals) – 300 Meg Lanning (Delhi Capitals) – 263 Who are the WPL's leading wicket-takers? Amelia Kerr (Mumbai Indians) – 14 Hayley Matthews (Mumbai Indians) – 14 Georgia Wareham (Royal Challengers Bangalore) – 12 What is the secret to Delhi Capitals' consistency? Rodrigues has credited the team's professionalism and unity for their consistency, especially during the current season which she described as the most challenging ever. 'Every player adds so much value to the team that they just know their stuff,' she said. 'I think out of all the three seasons, we are most proud of this year, because it wasn't easy, but we found a way to pick ourselves up and still come at the top.' What are Mumbai's chances of overcoming Delhi? Delhi may have topped the group this year but Mumbai already have one WPL title under their belt – and Delhi carry their losing streak in the finals with them into Saturday's game. 'We have a really good balance of international players as well as the local Indian players, too,' Matthews said as she analysed the Mumbai squad. 'We get contributions from so many different participants in the team like Nat [Sciver-Brunt], Melie [Amelia Kerr], Shab [Shabnim Ismail], myself, being able to step up as internationals. 'When you look at a captain like Harmanpreet [Kaur], even the young players, like Sanskriti Gupta that have come in this year, have been able to make massive impacts.' How did the WPL reach its final in Mumbai? The tournament has been on a road trip across India with the opening six games staged in Vadodara, before eight were played in Bengaluru. Lucknow and Mumbai concluded the 20-match group stage. Thursday's eliminator was also played in Mumbai. Are impact players allowed in the WPL? Unlike the Indian Premier League (IPL), the WPL does not allow for a substitute player to be brought into the team during the match to make an impact. Delhi's Rodrigues hopes this remains the case. 'I am not a massive fan of the impact player [rule] because I am someone who loves the rules we already have,' she said. 'It's unfair to the bowlers also sometimes when they have bowled so well and have done so much and then towards the end, a proper batter is coming in.' Has the WPL been a success? According to West Indies white-ball captain and Mumbai all-rounder Hayley Matthews, Twenty20 leagues have transformed women's cricket from a sport that once relied on public support for survival into an appealing spectacle. The 26-year-old, who shot to fame in the West Indies' 2016 T20 World Cup triumph, said T20 leagues like the WPL have fostered global exposure and helped develop the women's game. 'I feel like once upon a time, women's cricket was probably like, 'Come and watch the game to support the women,' whereas now I feel like we have a product that's entertaining and we have these skills that people want to see us play cricket,' Matthews told Reuters. 'Just getting the opportunity to play these leagues and have all the games televised and have people watching and supporting is naturally going to help the game to grow. 'There's plenty of opportunities for women to grow in cricket and I think competitions like the WPL give a platform for the game to grow. It introduces people to the game … shows the level of skill that we have in women's cricket.'
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Deol guides Giants to victory over Capitals
India's Harleen Deol hit an unbeaten 70 as she guided Gujarat Giants to a five-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in the Women's Premier Australia captain Meg Lanning's 92 had provided the bulk of the Capitals' 177-5 as she plundered 15 fours and one and Shafali Verma, who hit three sixes in a breezy 40, had shared a stand of 83 for the first wicket in nine overs in the remainder of the Capitals batters could not get going as Meghna Singh claimed 3-35 and Deandra Dottin Beth Mooney got the Giants' reply off to a solid start as she Deol put on 85 for the second wicket before the former was snared for 44 by Minnu Mani's kept her composure during the chase, though, as Giants skipper Ash Gardner and Dottin chipped in with 22 and 24 respectively before they were dismissed by Jess Jonassen (2-38).The Giants still needed 13 off the last seven balls but any nerves where eased when Kashvee Gautam clubbed the final delivery of the penultimate over from Shikha Pandey for then whipped the first ball of the final over - bowled by Jonassen - for four before Gautam got the Giants over the line with three balls to spare. Table-topping Delhi have now completed all their games and face a nervous wait to see if they will qualify for the final automatically, with third-placed Mumbai Indians able to overhaul their total of 10 points with victory in their final two could also finish top if they beat Mumbai in their final match and finish with a superior net fixtures & table
