Latest news with #Vidarbha
Time of India
an hour ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Jitesh Sharma set to switch to Baroda from Vidarbha
Jitesh Sharma is set to move from Vidarbha from Baroda (Image via X/@thcoolcric) Mumbai : Even though they won the Ranji Trophy last season, Vidarbha are set lose one of its star players ahead of the upcoming domestic season. It's learnt that 'keeper-bat Jitesh Sharma , who captained the side in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy last season to the quarterfinals has decided to part with the Nagpur-based team and will move to Baroda. The 31-year-old Jitesh, who has played nine T20Is for India (100 runs@14.28), was a star performer for IPL-2025 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (261 runs in 15 matches@37.28, with one fifty and a strike rate of 176.35, including a top score of 85 not out in a league stage match and a crucial cameo off 24 off 10 balls in the final against his former IPL team Punjab Kings. "He wasn't happy about certain things at Vidarbha, and hence decided to move to Baroda for the next season," a source said. 15:33 WV Raman backs Shubman Gill to fire in England: 'He needs the right support' At Baroda, Jitesh will his RCB teammate, left-arm spinning allrounder Krunal Pandya, who captains the team, playing alongside him. A white-ball specialist, Jitesh, who made his first-class debut in 2015, did not play in the Ranji Trophy last season. He played the his 18 first-class matches in Jan 2024. He has scored 661 runs in 18 first-class matches, 1533 runs in 56 List A ties and 2886 runs in 141 T20s with a strike rate of 152.29. Poll Do you think Jitesh Sharma can help Baroda win more matches? Definitely Unlikely Apart From RCB, Jitesh has played for Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He was a part of the Rohit Sharma-led MI team which won the trophy in 2017. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Life has come full circle in England': Comeback man Karun Nair ahead of first ENG vs IND Test
When India takes on England in the first Test at Headingley in Leeds, it will also potentially mark the end of an eight-year wait for Karun Nair to make a comeback into the national side. The middle-order batter believes his life has 'come to a full cricle' after having been dropped from the Indian Test team in England to making a comeback in England after eight long years. 'Life has come a full circle because I went out of the team in England and now I'm coming back into the team in England. So it's been a while and I'm trying to embrace that,' said Nair ahead of the first Test to The Karnataka batter who now represents Vidarbha in the domestic circuit, justified his India call-up after scoring a double century for India A in the unofficial Test against England Lions in Canterbury. 'My first thought when I woke up was I want to play Test cricket, I want to play for India again. That's probably what kept me going and kept me hungry. The driving force, go to training every day, go to practice every day. I had a goal of I want to play Test cricket again and I was always looking at playing Test cricket and every day, every morning I used to wake up thinking what should I do to reach that goal,' said Nair. Nair is expected to fill the void in the middle-order after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirements from this format last month. 'Never losing that belief and having that target to reach was something that helped me. Feeling honoured to wear this jersey and honoured to be representing my country. When I saw everyone for the first time, that's when I really, you know, felt it that I'm finally in the team. Till then it was like a wait for me to kind of start feeling like I've made it again. It's been a few years, I used to always watch everyone on TV, now to be back again in this dressing room feels amazing. You know, getting that first session under the belt was relief, grateful to get that opportunity,' he said. An emotional yet confident Nair said he is now more forgiving of himself and more patient in life. 'Enjoying the feeling of being with everyone. Enjoying the feeling of wearing this jersey. Just going out there and having fun with everyone in the group and trying our best to win games for our country. Mentally, I'm more patient and I'm more forgiving of myself. I've learnt to enjoy small things a little more. You know, not trying to be someone that I'm not. I've always tried to keep it very simple. Always think about the positive and have certain goals in mind, visualise thing and have real belief in what you visualise,' he said.
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
India tour of England: England vs India Test series: Karun Nair talks about his comeback trail
On comeback trail, Karun Nair says the presence of childhood companions KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna in the Indian dressing room adds a layer of comfort as he seeks to capitalise on the chance that came his way after eight years. The five-match Test series against England, starting in Leeds on Friday (June 20, 2025), is an opportunity for Karun to cement his place in the side, years after becoming only the second Indian batter to score a triple century in Test cricket. "I try to keep it very simple, always think about the positive, have certain goals in mind, visualize things and have real belief in what you visualize. "Playing alongside Rahul and Prasidh is also a very comforting factor. We've played cricket for so many years since probably we were young kids and grew up together," Karun told BCCI in a video posted on its website. Karun and Rahul, both 33, have played age-group cricket together and have been close friends since then. "Life has come a full circle because I went out of the team in England and now I am coming back into the team in England. It's been a while and I embrace that." He was dropped from the Indian team in 2017. "My first thought when I woke up (after being dropped) was I want to play Test cricket, I want to play for India again. That's probably what kept me going, kept me hungry and was the driving force to train and practice everyday. "I had a goal to play Test cricket again. Everyday, every morning I used to wake up thinking what should I do to reach that goal. Never losing that belief and having that target to reach was something that helped me," he added. In the 2024–25 domestic season, Karun amassed 863 runs in nine matches at an average of 54, helping Vidarbha clinch their third Ranji Trophy title. The season revived his Test career as he made his return to the Indian Test side for the tour of England. "Mentally I am more patient and I am more forgiving of myself. I have learnt to enjoy small things a little more and also not trying to be not someone that I am not. I have tried to keep it very simple. I always think about positives, have certain goals in mind, visualise things and have real belief," Karun said. "Feeling honoured to wear this jersey and honour to be representing my country." Karun said the realisation of making the Indian team again came to him when he met the touring group. "When I saw everyone for the first time that time I realised I am finally in the team, till then it was a wait for me to start feeling I have made it again," he said. "It's been a few years, I used to watch everyone on TV and to be back again in this dressing room feels amazing." "I enjoy the feeling with everyone, enjoy the feeling of wearing this jersey, just going out there and having fun with everyone in the group and trying our best to win games for our country."
India.com
11 hours ago
- Sport
- India.com
Karun Nair ditched this team after getting place in the national team for India vs England Test match, the team is ....
Every Indian cricket fan's eyes are now fixed on the Test series between India and England. With the series starting with the first Test match at Headingley in Leeds, fans are also focused on Karun Nair, who is making a return to the team after a long wait of 8 years. But a day before the match, shocking reports came out, claiming that Karun had suddenly decided to leave the team. Before you think Karun left Team India that's not the case. Karun has decided to leave his team Vidarbha in domestic cricket. A report by CrickBuzz has revealed that Vidarbha cricket team's star batsman Karun Nair has decided to part ways with the team before the start of the next domestic season. 33-year-old right-handed batsman Karun joined the team two years ago. He was part of Vidarbha in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons and during the last season, he played a key role in the team winning the Ranji Trophy by scoring runs. Nair is believed to be joining his home team Karnataka once again. He was dropped from the Karnataka squad two years ago due to poor form. Only after this did he hold the foot of Vidarbha. He had a great last Ranji season in this team, where he scored 863 runs including 4 centuries. In the final, Karun also played a crucial role in making the team champions. He also made history by scoring five consecutive centuries in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. However, the team missed out on the title by losing in the final. Not only Karun is leaving the Vidarbha Cricket Association, but the team has suffered a double blow. Jitesh Sharma, who captained the team in two important white ball tournaments like Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, is also going to join the new team from next season. The report claims that Jitesh Sharma, who played a key role in helping Royal Challengers Bangalore win the IPL 2025 title, will now join the Baroda cricket team in the new season. Coincidentally, the captain of Baroda is Krunal Pandya, who is Jitesh's teammate in RCB. Image credit: ESPNcriclife Indian cricketer Karun Nair became first batsmen who played his maiden century 303 and is not out. India declared the inning by scoring 759/7.
News18
18 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
Homecoming For Karun Nair, Jitesh Sharma To Leave Vidarbha For Baroda: Report
Last Updated: Karun Nair is all set to return to Karnataka after eight years, leaving Vidarbha, as the domestic transfer season begins. Star India batter Karun Nair, who is all set to make a return to the Test fold after eight years, is on the verge of leaving Vidarbha to move back to Karnataka, as the domestic transfer season begins with just over two months to go for the 2025-26 season to start, according to a report in Cricbuzz. Not just Nair, but Vidarbha is also set to lose the services of IPL 2025 winner Jitesh Sharma, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's star wicketkeeper-batter, as he too is contemplating a move to Baroda. Vidarbha were the champions in the Ranji Trophy, runners-up in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and quarterfinalists in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in the 2024-25 season. Vidarbha's domestic success last year was built on strong batting contributions from Nair and Jitesh, with the former playing a crucial role. Nair scored 863 runs in the Ranji Trophy, the fourth-highest in the event and topped the charts in the Vijay Hazare one-day tournament with 779 runs. Nair had left Karnataka ahead of the 2023-24 season, but according to the report, he will return to the state for personal and family reasons. KSCA sources confirmed to Cricbuzz that Nair's return is a strong possibility. The star Indian batter led Vidarbha in the Vijay Hazare last year. Sources within BCA have confirmed to Cricbuzz that the transfer of Jitesh from Vidarbha to Baroda should be completed within a day or two. Jitesh led Vidarbha in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and played under Nair in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but couldn't make much of an impact. Jitesh enjoyed a successful Indian Premier League season with RCB and delivered some match-winning innings, including a 10-ball 24 in the final. Baroda Cricket Association officials have said that Jitesh will play in both red-ball and white-ball formats for the state side. Last year, Karnataka won the Vijay Hazare defeating Nair's Vidarbha, but couldn't make the knockouts in the Syed Mushtaq Ali. In the Ranji Trophy, Karnataka couldn't reach the knockouts. Nair's inclusion in the red-ball team might just provide Karnataka with the much-needed push in the Ranji Trophy. First Published: June 19, 2025, 23:18 IST
