Australia have always found ways to tackle tough opponents in different situations, except for Ravichandran Ashwin in India. But, this time they have found a way to prepare for Ravi Ashwin. Mahesh Pithiya, an allrounder from Baroda has a similar action to Ravi Ashwin and the Australian Cricket team has roped him in their practice sessions at Alur, Bangalore to prepare for what is coming in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar trophy.

The Australian team management found out about Mahesh through one of the side-arm specialists in the team and then looked at his bowling action on Instagram. It was 31st January when they called Mahesh to check if he was available to bowl in the nets and the off-spinner could not hold himself from bowling to batters like Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.

"They checked my videos on Instagram and called me to check if I was available to be a net bowler. I said yes. I have been here for the last two days and will bowl at them for two more days," Mahesh Pithiya told Sportz Point in an exclusive interview.

"Alex Carey was the first batter I bowl at. And, he is like, "Well bowled Ashwin." and then all of them started calling me Ashwin," Mahesh added.

Interestingly Mahesh never copied Ashwin's action. As per him, he always had the action and then picked up a few things from Ravi Ashwin's bowling. "I always had this action. But, yes, I picked up a few things and worked on them. If I can emulate the amount of skill Ashwin has, that would be great for me."

Read Also: Ranji Trophy 2022-23: Fighter Hanuma Vihari bats left-handed after getting his elbow fractured against MP

The 21-year bowler kept on bowling to the Aussie batters and they were impressed with the action and his consistency. But, the most exciting part was when he bowled Steve Smith twice and got him stumped as well two times during their practice session. Smith even asked him how many first-class games he has played and where he is from.

"They are playing like me they are facing Ashwin. I got Steve Smith bowled twice and got stumped him two times as well. It feels great to bowl to one of the best batters in the world and getting them out is quite a memory. "

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Mahesh now wants to learn as much as possible from the net sessions with this Aussie team. He is looking forward to having some words with Nathan Lyon in the coming days as well. "I have not had a word with him (Nathan Lyon), but will obviously love to have some words with him on my bowling," Pithiya expressed.

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In just one day suddenly the whole cricketing world is searching for "Who is Mahesh Pithiya?" Mahesh also now knows if he can do well in the coming season, there will be a chance to make a name for himself. But before that, he wants to meet Ravi Ashwin and is waiting for feedback from the great man himself.

For more interviews click here.

As the ICC World Test Championship 2023-2025 is getting closer to the grand final, it is now time to look back at the bowlers with standout performances. They have constantly troubled batsmen which led to their team's success.

Who do you think are the ones with most wickets? Take a look at the highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25.

Jasprit Bumrah | India

Jasprit Bumrah had a remarkable campaign in WTC 2023-25 cycle and has taken the most number of wickets. He took 77 wickets in 15 matches, with an average of 15.09. 

Bumrah recorded five 5-wicket hauls in the cycle and also had his best bowling figure of 6/45 in an innings against England.

Read Also: Jasprit Bumrah becomes first-ever player to pick 200 Test wickets with an average below 20

Jasprit Bumrah stats in WTC 2023-2025

Pat Cummins | Australia 

The Australian skipper, Pat Cummins, has done wonders with the ball, by taking 73 wickets in 17 matches. He is the leading wicket taker for Australia and can also be on top by showcasing his wicket-taking skills in the WTC final against South Africa. 

His best bowling performance in the tournament was a 6-wicket haul for 91 runs.

Pat Cummins stats in WTC 2023-2025

Read Also: WTC Final: Australia and South Africa announce their squads

Mitchell Starc | Australia 

Yet another Australian legend to feature in this list, who is just behind Cummins by one wicket. This fiery left-arm pacer have always been a key bowling of their team. He took 72 wickets in 18 matches total.

Mitchell Starc's best bowling figure in WTC 2023-25 includes a 6-wicket haul for 48 runs.

Mitchell Starc stats in WTC 2023-2025

Other players with 60+ wickets in WTC 2023-25

Seems like the Aussies and Indians have purely dominated the bowling sides and got most wickets up their sleeves.

Read Also: Fav four in Test cricket: Kohli vs Root vs Williamson vs Smith stats in Tests

Here are the other players who crossed the 60 wickets mark and deserves a shoutout in the list of highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25.

The second season of the Bengal Pro T20 League is set to commence on May 16, starting with the women's tournament, while the men's tournament will begin on June 4. Although the first season was relatively successful, the fans were somewhat disappointed by the limited runs scored by the batters. Shreevats Gowasmi, a former Bengal and IPL cricketer, hopes to see more runs this season to attract both scouts and fans.

Goswami, a 2008 ICC U-19 World Cup winner and the recipient of the 2008 IPL Emerging Player of the Year award, shared his insights in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point. 

"Youngsters should focus on performing in state tournaments like BPT20L

The former left-handed top-order batter, who is a commentator and cricket analyst now, emphasised the significance of local state leagues in a recent Instagram post, highlighting the necessity for players to focus on these leagues before aspiring for larger platforms like the Indian Premier League.

"I.P.L. teams are always on the lookout for unknown talents who can surprise opponents. Players like Priyansh Arya, Aniket Verma, Vignesh Puthur, and Digvesh Rathi were relatively unknown before entering the I.P.L. All of them made a significant impact in their first few games. This is what teams are currently seeking," Goswami told Sportz Point.

"Since I.P.L. teams now send scouts to observe performances in state T20 leagues, there's always a possibility of getting noticed through these leagues. Thus, players must concentrate on delivering strong performances in tournaments like the Bengal Pro T20 League," he added.

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In addition to providing a platform for players, Goswami believes these leagues can also benefit the states by helping identify the next generation of cricketers. 

"With these leagues comprising 5-7 franchise teams, they offer a pool of players to evaluate. This also aids states in discovering their next wave of talent. So, it works well for both young players and the states," Goswami expressed.

Read Also | Exclusive: Bowls like Malinga, once doubted by her family, Nadia's Sonali Das is set for Bengal Pro T20 League dreams after an 8-wicket haul in School Cricket

"I would love to see more sixes and bigger scores"

To attract fans and impress scouts in a T20 format, significant scores and exhilarating last-ball finishes are crucial. These elements highlight the skills of the batters while challenging bowlers in high-pressure situations similar to those encountered in the I.P.L. 

For example, Priyansh Arya made headlines in the Delhi Premier League by hitting six sixes in an over during his knock of 120 runs off 50 balls. Ashwani Kumar bowled six yorkers in an over in the Sher E Punjab T20 Trophy in 2024. 

Such performances helped both players secure spots in the auction, leading to notable achievements—Arya scored the third-fastest IPL century by an Indian, while Ashwani became the first Indian man in IPL history to take more than three wickets on his debut.

"The only thing I want to see this season in the Bengal Pro T20 League is big sixes and bigger scores. More scores in the range of 180-200, or even greater, will challenge the batters to aim for large hits during chases, while also providing opportunities for bowlers to excel in demanding conditions," Goswami stated. 

"However, given all the I.P.L. matches and club games throughout the season, it may be challenging to secure batting-friendly pitches. Nevertheless, I am confident that the C.A.B. will make an effort to prepare batting-friendly wickets this season," he added.

Read Also | Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future

"Batters need to do more open nets"

To achieve high scores and experience impactful performances, Bengal's highest run scorer of Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy feels that batters need to adopt a more fearless approach. As one of Bengal's greatest white-ball batters, he advises players to engage in open net sessions to enhance their hitting skills. 

"I would recommend that young batters spend more time in open nets. See if you can clear the boundaries or not. Aim to hit 100 sixes every day from the centre of the ground. This will help them understand their abilities and better prepare for matches," Goswami shared.

Using the example of a talented 14-year-old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Shreevats noted, "Look at someone like Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Even at such a young age, his hitting ability rivals that of anyone in the I.P.L. How does he achieve that? First, he has a fearless mindset, and second, he practices hitting big sixes."

"Developing the habit of hitting sixes is essential for success in leagues like the Bengal Pro T20 League."

Read Also | Exclusive: "Do not call him a 'baccha', he will play T20s for India in two years," says Bihar head coach after Vaibhav Suryavanshi's historical IPL ton

"More T20-specific practice is needed"

The last time Bengal won a white-ball tournament was in 2012 when they lifted the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with Shreevats as the opener for the team. Since then, they have struggled to achieve similar success in white-ball cricket. While they have reached a few finals in red-ball formats, their white-ball accomplishments have been elusive.

Read Also | Where Are They Now: Last Time Bengal Men's Cricket Team Won A Trophy

Shreevats believes that to thrive in the white-ball format or T20 cricket, players must engage in more T20-specific practices. Additionally, he feels that academies should provide grounds that allow for more open net sessions. 

"It is quite basic. Batters need to participate in more T20-focused practices. For that, access to open nets at training academies would greatly benefit the players."

But how can Bengal cultivate stars like Vaibhav?

Shreevats, who became a cricketing star even before turning 18, believes that to cultivate more white-ball talents at a young age, guardians need to place greater trust in coaches and allow them to develop the children. Additionally, coaches should engage with the kids to understand their aspirations and then guide them accordingly.

“To develop any cricketer, guardians need to have more confidence in the coach's abilities, and coaches should ask the kids what they want to achieve. After understanding their goals, coaches can guide them in the right direction,” Goswami shared.

Ravi Kumar, the star of the ICC U-19 World Cup 2022 victory for India, has so far played only 5 T20 games for Bengal. Whereas other players from that 2022 batch have gone on to play for their states, IPL teams or even India A, Ravi was not even tried in the first-class arena by the Bengal team management. 

Do you know that Ravi missed the IPL 2022 Auction because he had not featured for Bengal in any senior game before the auction? 

Read more about that - IPL 2022 Mega Auction: 8 U19 Players ineligible for the auction, here's the reason

Despite taking 45 wickets last season for Bhowanipur Club, the most by any pacer in C.A.B. First Division Cricket, Ravi was heartbroken not to get a first-class cap for Bengal. Not only that, he was also part of the team which won every single possible trophy in the Kolkata Club Cricket last season. 

After another stunning performance, on one of the flattest pitches of the season, where more than 700 runs were scored, Sportz Point sat with Ravi Kumar for an exclusive interview.

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"Performing well on flat pitches gives you added confidence"

Ravi showed his skill and class in the Kalighat vs Bhowanipur C.A.B. First Division League semi-final with a 4-wicket haul that helped Bhowanipur enter the final for consecutive seasons. On a pitch where getting a dot ball was tough, Ravi made sure he stuck to his strength of bowling good length to take wickets. 

"It gives you added confidence when you do well on those kinds of pitches. It was flat. So, I had to be patient with my line and length to achieve success. Getting the first wicket in the first over itself was an advantage as well," Ravi told Sportz Point. 

"Whenever you have more than 500 or 600 on the board, you get that extra cushion as a bowling unit. But, when you have someone like Anustup Majumdar in the opponent lineup, you need to be accurate with every ball," the 21-year-old pacer added.

Read Also | Exclusive: Bowls like Malinga, once doubted by her family, Nadia's Sonali Das is set for Bengal Pro T20 League dreams after 8-wicket haul in School Cricket

Length and discipline = Success

This was not the first time Ravi got wickets and success in the hot Kolkata weather in a pressure game. He has been doing this for the past few seasons. What has been his secret to bowling well on pitches where there is less support for the bowlers?

For Ravi, it is his length and discipline.

"You need to be disciplined on a wicket like this. In this hot weather, you need to make sure you are not wasting your energy on bad balls. Hitting the lengths and not giving away anything is the only way you can get success on this kind of wicket," Ravi shared.

Ravi's ability to hit a length from both over and around the wicket has given him lots of success in the last two seasons. In fact, in a champion team like Bhowanipur, he has been their go-to man whenever they are in trouble. And, Ravi loves the responsibility of doing well in a crunch situation for his team.

"I am fortunate that the team looks at me whenever they need something to happen. Luckily, I have also delivered in those crunch situations for the team," the left-arm pacer stated.

Read Also | Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future

45 wickets but yet no call from selectors

Last season, Bhowanipur won the treble of Kolkata Club Cricket by winning the League, ODI and T20 Championship. Ravi Kumar was one of their standout performers in that extraordinary season. Ravi returned with 45 wickets, the most among the pacers in the Kolkata first division. 

Though he was hoping for his ultimate goal of playing first-class after the end of a great season, Ravi was heartbroken not to see him on that Bengal squad for the Ranji Trophy. 

"I was heartbroken. I took 45 wickets last season and hoped to get into the Ranji Trophy team. But, do not know why I was not given a chance. But, that has made me stronger in mind that I have to keep doing well to earn that cap," Ravi expressed.

Read Also | Bengal Cricket Exclusive: "If 100 does not work, I will score 150," Sandipan Das doesn't want to leave any stone unturned

That ankle injury and the toughest phase of Ravi's career so far

Meanwhile, Ravi also suffered a career-threatening ankle injury and then returned to action stronger than ever. Post recovering from his injury, Ravi did not miss a single game for U-23 Bengal and even prioritised club games more than a few IPL trials to get his chance to play for senior Bengal. 

However, the young pacer was hurt to see the lack of support from everyone during his toughest time. 

"Injuries are the toughest time for any bowler. It was a tough period for me. Sadly, I did not get the support I was looking for during that time. But, I came back stronger and played all the games at the U-23 level and club level," Ravi said.

Read Also | Where Are They Now: Last Time Bengal Men's Cricket Team Won A Trophy

"I know my body better now"

But Ravi has moved on without resentment from those sad times and is only looking to focus on his process as an athlete. 

"Post the injury, I have known my body better. I now know the amount of workload my body can take. I am working on my skills every day, and  I am sure I will be able to impress the selectors with more crucial performances," Ravi stated. 

Ravi will be eyeing his back-to-back C.A.B. First-Division League title for Bhowanipur in the final against East Bengal. 

It is uncommon in India for a girl to pursue a career in sports without facing skepticism from family and friends. Four years ago, Sonali Das from Habibpur, Nadia, picked up a cricket ball to bowl after being inspired by videos of Jhulan Goswami. At that time, many doubted her aspirations, and some even laughed at her.

However, in just four years, the 16-year-old has turned those doubts into confidence and laughter into applause. She bowls like Malinga, a fact that becomes immediately evident to anyone who sees her bowl.

With an impressive 8-wicket haul in the semi-finals of the U-16 Girls School Cricket and receiving the Bowler of the Tournament award in the presence of her idol, Jhulan Goswami, Sonali now has her sights set on representing Bengal in the upcoming Bengal Pro T20 League 2025.

Recently, Sonali was selected by the Adamas Howrah Warriors for this prestigious tournament, an opportunity that brings her one step closer to realising her dreams. Sportz Point had the privilege of hearing her inspiring story in an exclusive interview.

Read Also | Bengal Women's Cricket Exclusive: Two out of two finals, record chase against Haryana, Jhulan Goswami, WPL and more

"Watching Jhulan Maam's videos inspired me to play cricket"

Sonali fell in love with cricket at the age of 12, captivated by Jhulan Goswami's bowling. Like countless other girls in the country, she aspired to emulate the greatest bowler in women's cricket history. Notably, both Jhulan and Sonali hail from the same district in Nadia, West Bengal.

"I started getting attached and loving this game after watching Jhulan Goswami maa'm bowl. I just loved how she used to clean up stumps at the international level. Everything started from there for me," Sonali told Sportz Point. 

However, convincing the family to support a sporting career can be challenging, especially for a 12-year-old girl in India.

"Initially, my father was reluctant to send me to a cricket coaching centre. But after COVID, I managed to persuade him to enrol me in a coaching centre in Ranaghat," Sonali recounted.

Sonali's journey began at a cricket coaching camp in Ranaghat, where her unique bowling style caught the attention of others, though she also faced harsh criticism. During a U-14 District Zonal camp, coach Paramita Roy noticed Sonali’s accuracy and aggressiveness and believed that with proper training, Sonali could become a future star for Bengal. 

Soon, Sonali started her 3-hour-long train journey three days a week to reach her goals. And, Goutam Das, Sonali's father, understood that her daughter was born to do something great in cricket.

Read Also | Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future

Getting noticed by the greats during the Girls' School Tournament

As the training started under Paramita Roy, Goutam Das felt that to help her daughter shine in cricket, she needed to be closer to the coaching camp and avoid a long journey. Along with that, he realised that Sonali needed to play more tournaments to enhance her skills. 

Soon, he admitted Sonali to Infocus India Public School so that Sonali could take part in the C.A.B. Organised U-16 Girls School Cricket. And that tournament turned out to be a turning point for Sonali. 

"I began working under Paramita Ma'am and improved rapidly as a bowler. She also focused on my batting so I could contribute valuable runs in the lower order," Sonali explained.

"With my progress, I gained support from everyone around me. Now, I live in a rented place in Kolkata to minimise travel for practice. My father has been my biggest supporter on this journey," she emphasised. 

"Playing in the U-16 Girls' School Cricket tournament changed the trajectory of my career. I was noticed by many former Indian cricketers like Jhulan (Goswami) Maa'm, Lopamudra Bhattacharji) Maa'm and Gargi (Banerjee) Maa'm during the tournament. They all gave me some valuable advice to improve and work on."

That 8/9 in the semi-final

Sonali's moment came when she rattled through South Point High School, batting line up and returned with a bowling figure of 8 for 9 runs and also scored 22 runs as Infocus India Public School defeated South Point by 306 runs. Sonali received the Player of the match award from former India cricketer Gargi Banerjee, which she feels is one of the best moments of her career.

In the final against Behala Kishore Bharati Girls' High School, Sonali again returned with 3 wickets for only 9 runs as Infocus India Public School won the tournament. Sonali won the "Best Bowler of the Tournament" award for taking 15 wickets in just 5 matches. 

Read Also | Exclusive | Taunts to Claps: Priyanka Bala's journey from rural village of Nadia to WPL

From school cricket to senior cricket

This helped her get drafted into the C.A.B. Women's Club Tournament, where she got the chance to go shoulder to shoulder against some of the best in Bengal cricket. In the C.A.B. Women's Club Cricket League (ONE-DAY) Tournament 2024-2025, Sonali returned with 9 wickets in 6 matches at an average of 18.67, to gain the trust of Adamas Howarh Warriors Franchise to pick her for the Bengal Pro T20 League 2025.

"I am thankful to everyone in the Adamas Howrah Warriors for picking me for this huge tournament. I am delighted to get this opportunity," Sonali stated. 

"My immediate goal is to help the franchise do well in the tournament under Dhara (Gujjar) di. And then play for the Bengal U-19 team. I know if I can make myself ready for the U-19 level, I will be doing good. It is all about taking it step by step," the 16-year-old pacer shared. 

Post the Bengal Pro T20 League 2025, Sonali will be shifting to Kolkata along with her parents to fully focus on cricket. She now just wants to make her parents and family proud.

"We will be shifting to Kolkata permanently only for my cricket. I just want to make my parents and family proud and happy," she expressed.

The Bengal Pro Women's T20 League 2025 will start from 16th May, till 4th June at the M.G.R. Sports Academy Ground in Birbhum, West Bengal. 

Whether with Bhowanipur Club or East Bengal, Sandipan Das has consistently helped his teams win trophies. After achieving numerous victories, including a treble last year with Bhowanipur, the former ICC U-19 World Cup winner is now on the brink of delivering East Bengal's first league trophy in a decade.

Following his man-of-the-match performance in the semi-final against arch-rivals Mohun Bagan, Sandipan Das shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point. 

"The winning mentally is there since childhood"

For Sandipan, playing in the final of a championship or winning it is not new; he has been securing trophies since his U-13 days. The Bengal all-rounder attributes his winning mentality to his childhood coach, Debesh Chakraborty, who instilled this mindset in him from an early age.

“I have been winning trophies since childhood. Whether it was the Ambar Roy tournament in U-13s or any other competition, I've always been part of champion teams. Thanks to Debesh Sir, who took me to play in those tournaments, the winning mentality has stayed with me throughout my career,” Sandipan Das told Sportz Point.

Read Also | Bengal Ranji Team in Last Three Seasons: 13 opening combinations, 22 debutants and many more numbers

"If 100 is not enough, I need to score 150"

After contributing to India's victory in the ICC U-19 World Cup under Unmukt Chand in 2012, Sandipan was fast-tracked into the Bengal team. Just a month after the World Cup, he made his List A debut, followed by his First-Class and T20 debuts.

However, despite showing promise, he struggled to make a significant impact for Bengal and has not played a single game since January 2015. Although he has excelled in the club format and helped his teams win titles nearly every season, Sandipan found himself out of the state team.

"It has been a long time since I played for Bengal. But I do not want to blame anyone for that. I believe I should score 150 if 100 is not enough. That has been my motive. I want to improve every day as a cricketer and leave the rest to God," Sandipan expressed.

"This attitude has also helped me win for my teams. If I think 100 is enough, I might become complacent and get out. Or if I feel that taking just two wickets suffices, I might bowl a loose over. There is no room for complacency in cricket," he added.

A perfect example of this mindset occurred during Sandipan's innings for East Bengal against Mohun Bagan in the C.A.B. First Division Championship semi-final. The match was evenly poised after the first day, and one mistake from Sandipan could have tipped the scales in favor of Mohun Bagan.

At the start of Day 2, Sandipan believed they could reach 450 runs. However, after losing partners, he decided to focus on taking the game deep, even if it meant not scoring a century. Eventually, East Bengal finished with 408 runs, and Sandipan remained unbeaten on 108.

Read Also | Batting, bowling & captaincy - Sandipan Das is ready for a rebirth at the first-class level | Bengal Cricket Exclusive

Monayem+Sandipan = Success in Kolkata Club Cricket

Such patience and attitude of Sandipan did not develop overnight; they are the result of years of practice, dedication, and guidance from his coaches. In addition to his childhood coach, Abdul Monayem has been a constant support for Sandipan for over a decade.

Monayem is one of the most successful coaches in Kolkata club cricket, who led Bhowanipur Club to three league titles in recent years. Sandipan thrived under Monayem’s guidance, which not only helped him grow as a cricketer but also as a captain of the team.

Currently the coach of East Bengal, Monayem brought Sandipan to join the team this year, aiming for more trophies together. The success in the P. Sen Trophy and reaching the league final after nearly a decade is a testament to their strong camaraderie.

"He (Abdul Monayem) is like a mentor to me. I have been playing under him for more than ten years now. He knows me very well, and I understand his expectations. Sometimes he is like a big brother; other times, he is a friend with a supportive hand on my shoulder. This relationship has allowed him to bring out the best in the players," Sandipan shared.

"Players like Abhishek Das, Agniv Pan, and many others have been together for many years now. This group, under Abdul (Monayem) Sir, has consistently achieved great things because he understands each player, and as a team, we strive to do our best," Sandipan added.

Read Also | Bengal Cricket Exclusive: "We all know this game can make us heroes to the fans," East Bengal's Satyaki Dutta ahead of Kolkata Derby

"I enjoy being around the young kids"

In addition to being one of the top batting all-rounders in Bengal, Sandipan runs a coaching center. This initiative allows him to switch his focus from his own cricketing career and share his knowledge with the next generation.

"I believe this brings out a different side of me. Working with kids and teaching them the basics of cricket is something I love. I truly enjoy being with them," Sandipan stated.

"During my childhood, I did not have access to many facilities here in Jagaddal, so I try to give them as much as I can and share my knowledge," he concluded.