"Hope And Pray He Gets To Play Tests": Ex-India Captain Azharuddin On Tilak

Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin hailed Tilak Varma following a calm and composed knock in a tense run chase against New Zealand in the second T20I, while also expressing hope that he gets to play Test cricket for India as well. Tilak Varma's love affair with run chases and death overs batting continued as he and Nitish Kumar Reddy pulled Team India out of troubled waters, stitching a 69-run stand to chase down 181 runs with a ball to spare at Christchurch. Once again while batting in the middle-order, Tilak brought his game awareness and ball striking, calculated acceleration while chasing. 

Speaking to ANI after the match, Azharuddin, one of the finest cricketers to emerge out of Hyderabad, said, "Today, I am very happy with the way Tilak Varma has played. He is a very good player, and I sincerely hope and pray that he gets the opportunity to play Test cricket. For me, Test cricket is the most important format, and I hope he goes on to represent India in Tests as well. He has been performing very well in T20 cricket, and I think he played a crucial role in ensuring India's victory today. Congratulations to the team. Cricket is a team game, and the entire team deserves to be congratulated. I wish them the very best of luck."

In first-class cricket, Tilak has fine numbers, having made 1,828 runs in 25 matches and 38 innings, with an average of 57.12, five centuries and seven fifties, including a best score of 121. 

Coming to the match, India won the toss and elected to bowl first. They had New Zealand down 41/3 within the powerplay. Glenn Phillips (70 in 46 balls, with four boundaries and sixes each) and Bevon Jacobs (58 in 46 balls, with five fours and a six) led New Zealand's recovery after an early top-order collapse against India after Kiwis were down 41/3 within powerplay, stitching a 116-run stand for the fourth wicket, taking NZ to 180/5 in 20 overs. 

Besides Arshdeep's 2/33, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prince Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy got a wicket each. 

While chasing 181 set by New Zealand, the world champions collapsed from 40/0 to 112/6, with Mitchell Santner's four-fer causing havoc in the middle overs. The hope was reinstated by a quickfire 31 in 17 balls (with a four and three sixes) by Naman Dhir, and it was Tilak (51* in 26 balls, with six fours and a six) and Nitish (26* in 13 balls, with a four and a six) who took India to victory with a ball left. India is 2-0 up in the five-match series.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Drake Maye's Interception Draws Reaction From Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel

It was a throw by Drake Maye that gave the Chicago Bears another chance to add to their lead before halftime of the New England Patriots' 30-24 loss on Thursday night. The rookie tight end Eli Raridon was the unfortunate recipient of the interceptable pass. Even after the “bone-headed play” by the critics,  where the head coach defended his quarterback, Vrabel admitted that Maye would want the throw back but praised him for competing until the end for the team.

Mike Vrabel on Drake Maye's interception

Maye's mistake was committed with a total of 3:31 remaining in the second quarter; it happened when he attempted to complete a pass to Raridon in the end zone, but the Bears intercepted the ball and scored points before halftime to improve their position.

For New England, the play hurt at a time when the offense needed to make the most of its opportunities.

Vrabel spoke about the turnover after the loss. He made sure not to let one bad call define Maye's night. The Patriots coach praised the quarterback's effort under pressure. Highlighted the plays he ran with both his arm and his legs.

“He gave us a chance. He competed,” Vrabel said. “I know he'd like to have that throw back to Eli, but I thought he really competed. Whether that was running around or scrambling... I'm glad he's ours.”

Drake Maye played well against the Bears

The numbers backed up Vrabel's praise. Maye completed 24 of 31 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns, finishing with a 77.4% completion rate.

 He ran for 26 yards and scored a rushing touchdown, giving him a hand in all three of New England's touchdowns.

The quarterback was under pressure from the Bears' defense, which applied blitzes to try to stop him. He responded by going outside the pocket to avoid the pressure, scrambling around and generally finding a way to keep the offense on the field. His interception was an exception, not the rule.

New England entered the game without several impactful players. Wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins were unavailable, while injuries left the offensive line without multiple starters. Those absences added to the challenge against Chicago.

The defeat ended the Patriots' three-game winning streak and spoiled their unbeaten run through October. 

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Brook Breaks Gill's Huge World ODI Record, Scripts History For England

Captain Harry Brook smashed the fastest ever double century in men's one-day cricket internationals and the first for England on Thursday. Brook took 114 balls for the double ton and holed out two balls later for 202 off the final ball of England's innings against Sri Lanka in a tri-series match. He clobbered 10 sixes and 21 boundaries to lead England to 429-4, its fourth highest ODI total. Brook reached his first century off 75 balls with a ramped boundary over fine leg; reached 150 with a similar shot, and took 39 balls to hit the second century, reached with a paddle sweep against Janith Liyanage in the final over.

Brook's effort was two balls less than Shubman Gill's record of 116 balls which the Indian made against West Indies at Guwahati last month.

Fastest Double Century in ODIs:

114 balls - Harry Brook v SL*
117 balls - Shubman Gill v WI
126 balls - Ishan Kishan v BAN
128 balls - Glenn Maxwell v AFG
136 balls - P Nissanka v AFG
138 balls - Chris Gayle v ZIM 
140 balls - Virender Sehwag v WI

- Fastest ODI double century in history. - Highest individual ODI score for England. - Highest ODI total vs Sri Lanka. - Highest ODI total in Pakistan. - Highest individual ODI score in Pakistan. HARRY BROOK - A HISTORIC DAY, A HISTORIC PLAYER. https://t.co/3jki2n3Jzi

— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) October 22, 2026

Joe Root (69), Will Jacks (66 not out) and Tom Banton (50) also contributed to England's monster total after being sent in.

Sri Lanka fast bowlers Eshan Malinga (0-91) and Dilshan Madushanka (0-89) were blazed all around Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium while Dasun Shanaka, returning to ODIs after more than two years, was smacked for 74 off his six overs.

Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage returned with somewhat respectable figures of 2-56, but the seamers went for plenty as Brook and Jacks added a rapid 156 runs in the final 10 overs.

Both teams are looking for their first win in the tournament after losing to Pakistan.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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iPhone 17 At Rs 79,999, iPhone 15 At 62,999: Deals, Discounts At Flipkart Shopping Utsav

Apple's iPhone 17 and iPhone 15 are available at discounted prices during Flipkart's Shopping Utsav Sale, offering buyers an opportunity to purchase the smartphones at lower prices through bank offers and exchange benefits. 

The final price of both smartphones may vary depending on the payment method, eligibility for bank offers and the exchange value of an old device. Buyers can combine eligible promotional benefits, where permitted, to reduce the overall purchase cost.

iPhone 17 Gets Major Price Reduction

The Apple iPhone 17 (256GB) carries an MRP of Rs 99,900 but can be purchased for an effective price of around Rs 79,999 during the sale. Eligible customers can avail themselves of instant discounts on select ICICI Bank and Axis Bank credit cards, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.

An additional exchange bonus of up to Rs 3,000 is available on eligible devices, over and above the exchange value of the old smartphone. Customers trading in higher-value devices may be able to reduce the effective purchase price further.

In terms of specifications, the iPhone 17 features a 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, Apple's A19 processor, a 48-megapixel dual rear-camera system and iOS 26. These features position the device as an option for buyers seeking newer hardware and display technology.

ALSO READ: Moto G47 Power 5G: Price, Colour Options, 5G Features, Specifications

iPhone 15 Available at Around Rs 63,999

The Apple iPhone 15 is available at an effective price of approximately Rs 63,999 during the sale. Like the iPhone 17, it offers additional savings through eligible bank-card discounts and exchange benefits.

The device features a compact design, measuring 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.80 mm and weighing just 171 grams. Up front, it sports a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display (2556x1179 resolution, 460 ppi) equipped with Dynamic Island, True Tone, and a peak outdoor brightness of up to 2,000 nits.

For photography, the advanced dual-camera system is led by a 48MP main sensor ($f/1.6$ aperture) with sensor-shift OIS, paired with a 12MP Ultra Wide lens. Software highlights include Smart HDR 5, Photonic Engine, and next-generation portrait controls.

Customers can check the applicable ICICI Bank and Axis Bank offers, along with exchange incentives, before completing their purchase. The final price will depend on the promotional terms and the condition and eligibility of the exchanged device.

Bank and Exchange Offers Can Lower Prices

Both models benefit from similar promotional schemes, including eligible bank discounts and additional savings through smartphone exchanges. However, the advertised effective prices may not apply to every customer, and buyers should verify the final checkout amount before placing an order.

ALSO READ: iPhone Duo Shortage In India: Only 6,000 Units Expected In First Week; Grey-Market Prices Soar

While the iPhone 17 offers newer hardware and a higher refresh-rate display, the iPhone 15 provides a lower entry price. The choice ultimately depends on the buyer's budget, preferred features and the final price available after applicable offers.

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