skywritg.com – Today’s Pulse & News Briefings

Ajinkya Rahane has identified Axar Patel as an underrated yet crucial player for India in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, highlighting his versatility with both bat and ball, especially in Dubai's spin-friendly conditions.

Virender Sehwag revealed the emotional toll of India's losses to Pakistan, admitting they sometimes disrupted his focus. Despite averaging 50.65 against them, the frequent defeats affected him deeply. He fondly recalled his masterful 119 against Pakistan in 2008 while fasting, showcasing his determination. India is set to face Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.

Despite Sanju Samson's impressive domestic form in the Kerala Cricket League, his place in India's Asia Cup 2025 playing XI is uncertain due to Shubman Gill's return. Irfan Pathan suggests Samson could potentially replacing Jitesh Sharma, but highlighted that he needs to play lower down the batting order to do so.

India faced a disappointing start in the Super4s stage of the Asia Cup, drawing 2-2 with South Korea after leading early. Despite Hardik Singh's initial goal, South Korea surged ahead with two quick goals. Harmanpreet Singh's late assist to Mandeep Singh salvaged a draw, but India's poor finishing and missed penalty corners highlighted a lackluster performance.

Team India will participate in the Asia Cup 2025 without a lead sponsor after Dream11 ended its contract due to new online gaming regulations. Consequently, the 'India' logo on the team's jerseys will be more prominent.

Before the Pakistan-Afghanistan Tri-Series match in Sharjah, a minute's silence honored victims of Afghanistan's earthquake and Pakistan's floods. Players stood in respect as Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan shared his grief over the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that devastated eastern Afghanistan, killing hundreds and causing widespread destruction. The disaster prompted prayers and condolences from the cricketing world.

Asia Cup 2025 ticket sales have officially commenced on Platinumlist, offering fans a chance to secure their seats for the tournament in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Several package options are available, including group-stage matches, Super Four contests, and the final, alongside individual match tickets. The competition gets underway on September 9.

Jitesh Sharma scored only 261 runs in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) title-winning season, but it was not the runs that caught the selectors’ eyes, it was his 176.35 strike rate while batting at 6 and 7. Jitesh, who never had a coach, learnt cricket by watching YouTube videos of his childhood heroes Adam Gilchrist and Sourav Ganguly. Making a comeback into the Indian team at the age of 31 is as breathtaking as his cricketing sojourn.

India stormed into the Asia Cup Super 4s with a dominant 15-0 victory over Kazakhstan, marking their third consecutive win. Abhishek's four goals led the charge, supported by hat-tricks from Sukhjeet Singh and Jugraj Singh. China also advanced from Pool A, while Malaysia and Korea progressed from Pool B.

Rinku Singh, known for his T20 heroics, asserts his capabilities extend to red-ball cricket, aiming to represent India in Tests. Preparing for the Asia Cup 2025, he emphasizes evolving his technique with guidance from Abhishek Nair and Gautam Gambhir. Singh aspires to contribute across all formats, driven by self-belief and a desire to win the T20 World Cup.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice as India edged Japan 3-2 in their second Pool A match of the men’s Asia Cup. Mandeep Singh added an early goal for India, while Kosei Kawabe netted twice for Japan. India had opened their campaign with a 4-3 win over China and will face Kazakhstan next, with the winner earning a World Cup spot.

Rishabh Pant is determined to get back on the cricket field after fracturing his toe during the Test match against England. Pant shared a photo of his bandaged foot on Instagram, expressing his eagerness to recover.

India's hockey team faced a tough challenge from China in their Asia Cup opener, despite being the top-ranked team. Coach Craig Fulton acknowledged the need to address defensive errors, especially conceding penalty corners. Meanwhile, Malaysia impressed with a dominant 4-1 victory over defending champions South Korea, fueled by Akhimullah Anuar's hat-trick. Bangladesh also secured a win, defeating Chinese Taipei 8-3.

As India gears up for the 2026 T20 World Cup, Suresh Raina suggests a bold opening pair. With Kohli and Sharma potentially out, Raina backs youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhishek Sharma to lead the charge. He also mentioned Priyansh Arya, who impressed in his debut IPL season, could be a surprise package.

Arshdeep Singh, after an unfortunate injury during the England Test series, showcased his readiness in the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal. Despite not playing, he utilised his time in England to hone his skills, focusing on strength and conditioning.

Afghanistan’s rise from ICC’s lower divisions to Asia’s No. 2 white-ball team is cricket’s most remarkable story of the last decade. From inspiring World Cup campaigns to a T20 semifinal run, they’ve surpassed Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, uniting a nation through hope, resilience, and a fearless brand of cricket.

Oman has announced their 17-member squad, led by Jatinder Singh, for their debut in the Asia Cup, commencing on September 9 in the UAE. They are scheduled to play their first match against Pakistan on September 12 in Dubai. Following this, Oman will face the UAE and India later in the tournament.

Bazid Khan analyzed India's Asia Cup squad, noting the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will impact the team's intensity. He highlighted Suryakumar Yadav's struggles against Pakistan and emphasized Ravindra Jadeja's all-round contribution and fielding prowess will be missed. India faces the challenge of finding the right combination to compensate for these key players.

India and Pakistan are set to clash in the Asia Cup and Women's ODI World Cup. Mohsin Naqvi advocates for equal footing in negotiations with India. Despite reservations in India, engagement is expected in multi-nation tournaments. Earlier agreement involved neutral venues. Pakistan secured concessions, including hosting rights for a future ICC Women's tournament.

Shardul Thakur voiced his support for Shreyas Iyer after his Asia Cup 2025 squad omission, emphasizing the selectors' decision and Iyer's resilience. Thakur expressed confidence in Iyer's ability to make a strong comeback in future matches. He also highlighted the Asia Cup's significance as a confidence booster ahead of the World Cup, particularly the high-stakes India-Pakistan match.