All posts tagged: blessing muzarabani

Sooryavanshi 2.0: In only 6th game, Vaibhav shows unexplored facet of his batting | Cricket News

Sooryavanshi 2.0: In only 6th game, Vaibhav shows unexplored facet of his batting | Cricket News

The cricketing world has quickly come to associate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with one thing — boundaries. Fours punched through the infield, towering sixes into the stands and an ultra-aggressive approach that leaves bowlers with little room to settle into a rhythm. At 15, he has already forged a reputation for measuring innings not in runs, but in the damage they leave behind. On Sunday, however, in the third T20I against Zimbabwe, Sooryavanshi revealed another side to his batting. While the boundaries were still there in his 81 off 49 balls, beneath the spectacle lay an innings built on patience, strike rotation and game awareness. It was a knock that suggested there is far more to his game than brute force. There were still moments that reminded everyone why he is regarded as one of most exciting young batters in the world. Blessing Muzarabani banged one into his body, and Sooryavanshi swivelled into a pull that disappeared over backward square leg. Wellington Masakadza floated one into his arc, and it sailed over deep midwicket. Wessly Madhevere was …

India defeat Zimbabwe by 90 runs, Shreyas Iyer wins first series as captain

India defeat Zimbabwe by 90 runs, Shreyas Iyer wins first series as captain

3 min readJul 25, 2026 08:02 PM IST India wrapped up the series vs Zimbabwe with one game in hand as they took an unassailable 2-0 lead against the hosts with a 90-run win at Harare on Saturday. Chasing 219, Zimbabwe did not look comfortable, losing wickets at regular junctures, ultimately scoring just 129. Abhishek Sharma tookk 3 wickets while Prince Yadav and Yash Thakur took 2 scalps each while all the others except Mayank Yadav chipped in with a wicket apiece. Earlier, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Verma led an intent-filled batting effort with well-paced 81 and an unbeaten 60 respectively. Asked to bat first India were in early trouble at 29 for two. But Kishan first made 66 runs for the third wicket with skipper Shreyas Iyer (25) and then a 94 for the subsequent wicket with Tilak as the tourists overcame the early wobble. Kishan paced his innings to a nicety as he focused on giving some stability to Indian innings. The left-hander brought his fifty in 31 balls, but the next 31 …

String of poor returns sparks questions on how long Abhishek Sharma’s ‘longer rope’ is

String of poor returns sparks questions on how long Abhishek Sharma’s ‘longer rope’ is

3 min readNew DelhiJul 25, 2026 06:05 PM IST Abhishek Sharma’s dismissal in India’s second T20I against Zimbabwe on Saturday was, paradoxically, both an anomaly and entirely familiar. An anomaly because of how it unfolded. Sharma – the world’s No. 1-ranked T20I batter not too long ago – meekly pushed a Blessing Muzarabani delivery straight to Ryan Burl at backward point. Stripped of context, it could easily have passed for a routine fielding drill. This manner of departure – on a whimper, and not aplomb – is not in synchronisation with the southpaw’s batting style. But while it seems like an exception in isolation, it was the 10th time in his last 17 T20Is that Sharma had fallen for 10 or fewer, raising fresh questions about how long the ‘longer rope’ the team management has given him is. Sharma’s form took a nosedive during the initial stages of this year’s T20 World Cup, wherein he was dismissed for a duck on three consecutive occasions. The rut effectively ended with a 55 against this very opposition, …

Blessing Muzarabani handed two-year PSL ban after pulling out for IPL

Blessing Muzarabani handed two-year PSL ban after pulling out for IPL

2 min readApr 14, 2026 04:17 PM IST The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has banned Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for two years after he backed out of a contract for the 2026 season. Muzarabani was signed by Islamabad United for the upcoming PSL season but later decided to pursue an opportunity in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 29-year-old joined Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman for IPL 2026, leading the PCB to take disciplinary action against the pacer. The PCB released a statement highlighting the importance of honouring contracts in franchise cricket. “After a thorough review, the PCB has declared that Zimbabwean cricketer Blessing Muzarabani is ineligible to participate in the next two editions of the HBL PSL, effective immediately. This decision results from his failure to honor agreed commitments, which undermines the league’s professional structure. “The PCB believes that professional cricket depends on trust and the certainty of agreements. In this case, despite a clear offer and a definite acceptance of the …

SRH mark KKR’s first home game of the season with 65-run thrashing | Cricket News

SRH mark KKR’s first home game of the season with 65-run thrashing | Cricket News

2 min readUpdated: Apr 2, 2026 11:14 PM IST SunRisers Hyderabad thrashed Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs in the latter’s first home game of the 2026 IPL season, dismissing them for 161 runs after setting a total of 226/8. SRH’s batting power came to the fore once again, with this being their second-consecutive 200-plus score this season, but this was backed up by a clinical bowling performance which powered them to their first win this year. KKR were off to quite a sensational start to their chase, with Finn Allen being subbed in for Blessing Muzarabani, who took four wickets, and smashing 28 runs in seven balls. Allen fell in the second over to Harsh Dubey after which KKR kept losing wickets at frequent intervals. Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green were both ran out after some careless running. AS IT HAPPENED | KKR vs SRH IPL 2026 match The first was a mix-up between the two players themselves, with Raghuvanshi initially walking back before the umpire’s called him back and sent off Green as …

Cricket Australia claims that KKR was completely aware of Cameron Green’s bowling situation | Cricket News

Cricket Australia claims that KKR was completely aware of Cameron Green’s bowling situation | Cricket News

3 min readMar 30, 2026 05:50 PM IST Cricket Australia has claimed that Kolkata Knight Riders management was completely aware about the bowling unavailability of Cameron Green after KKR’s captain Ajinkya Rahane took a cheeky dig on the board last night. After the loss against Mumbai Indians, when Rahane was asked why Green didn’t bowl, he said, “Ask Cricket Australia”, triggering a mild controversy. “Cameron has a lower back injury which is being managed but requires him to abstain from bowling for a short period,” a CA spokesperson told PTI. “Cameron is currently rebuilding his bowling loads in India with a view to return in around 10-12 days’ time. KKR has been communicated with and is fully aware of this information.” Green has been off the bowling duties for nearly an year after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his back. Green’s last competitive outing with the ball came in the T20 World Cup against Oman on February 20 earlier this year at Pallekele, where he bowled just two overs. Widening bowling crisis KKR …

‘That length doesn’t work at all…’

‘That length doesn’t work at all…’

2 min readMar 20, 2026 05:48 PM IST Kolkata Knight Riders have roped in Blessing Muzarabani for the upcoming Indian Premier League season. The Zimbabwe national has been delivering for his country consistently in recent times. His ability to swing and seam the ball both ways and also make the most of the bounce that is available on the surface are his strengths. But former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra predicted that his natural length in Indian conditions might make him expensive. “Although Blessing Muzarabani had an excellent World Cup, I am not very hopeful about him replicating that performance in the IPL. That’s what I feel. I could be completely wrong. I will put my hand up and say that I made a mistake, but the length at which he bowls mostly and the kind of wickets that are there in India, I am not 100 percent certain,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel. “That length doesn’t work at all at the death. It still works with the new ball, but if they have to …

Coach Nayar hails Blessing Muzarabani signing, eyes KKR’s ‘fourth star’ in IPL 2026

Coach Nayar hails Blessing Muzarabani signing, eyes KKR’s ‘fourth star’ in IPL 2026

2 min readMar 19, 2026 12:11 AM IST Kolkata Knight Riders new head coach Abhishek Nayar on Wednesday termed the arrival of Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani as a “blessing in disguise”, as the franchise looks to regroup after a forgettable last season and aim for a fourth IPL title. Addressing the squad during their first training session at the Eden Gardens, Nayar made a pointed reference to the late replacement of Mustafizur Rahman, welcoming Muzarabani into the fold. “Blessing, you are a blessing in disguise for us,” the 42-year-old former India all-rounder, who has been a longtime part of KKR set up under Gautam Gambhir, said in his opening pep-talk. Nayar was elevated to head coach ahead of IPL 2026 after KKR parted ways with Chandrakant Pandit following an eighth-place finish last season. Nayar had also recently taken charge of Women’s Premier League side UP Warriorz, who finished last in the five-team 2026 season.“I know so far we’ve sort of folded you in the bus, but it’s great to have you, the tallest member ever …

Kolkata Knight Riders sign Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani for upcoming IPL season | Cricket News

Kolkata Knight Riders sign Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani for upcoming IPL season | Cricket News

3 min readUpdated: Mar 13, 2026 07:20 PM IST Three-time Indian Premier League champions Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday announced the signing of Zimbabwe’s pacer Blessing Muzarabani for the upcoming season, set to start from March 28. Muzarabani joins the Knights as a replacement to Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman who was let go from the franchise due to political tensions between Bangladesh and India. “The 6 ft 8” right-arm quick has emerged as one of Zimbabwe’s leading pace bowlers in the shortest format, known for his steep bounce and ability to strike in key phases of the innings. Muzarabani brings significant T20 experience, having claimed over 90 wickets in more than 80 T20 Internationals at an average of around 21, with best figures of 3/8. His pace and consistency across global leagues and international cricket add further depth to KKR’s pace attack heading into the season,” the franchise said in a statement about the Zimbabwean’s arrival. The player was recently in India for the T20 World Cup and took 13 scalps, even making it into the …

Zimbabwe’s tricky posers to India: Their motley crew of varied bowlers, led by 6-foot-9 pacer Blessing Muzarabani | Cricket News

Zimbabwe’s tricky posers to India: Their motley crew of varied bowlers, led by 6-foot-9 pacer Blessing Muzarabani | Cricket News

Even from a distance the eyes can’t miss Blessing Muzarabani. In half-sleeve, bright green practice suits, he towers above his teammates. He is six foot nine inches tall; his shoulder-span befits his height and the cropped dreadlocks sit like a crown on his head. He is in a world unto his own, stretching his sinews, painstakingly measuring his run-up with a tape the mild breeze takes for a toss. The steps are leisurely, as though the force of gravity is pulling him down. The movements gradually gather momentum, before he begins his run-up. No wild energy seizes him, as he breaks into his strides. The release has no violent twists of his body or explosive leave; it’s just as though he is brisk-walking into the delivery. But the ball magically explodes off the surface, not at knee-shaking pace but at an awkward height that discomfits batsmen. He was bowling in an empty nets, but you could visualise the ball’s path. Into the mid-riff of a right-hander, an imaginary batsman hopping to get on top of …