India vice-captain Shubman Gill has surpassed Babar Azam to become the top-ranked ODI batter, following his impressive performances against England. His rise in the ICC ODI Rankings comes ahead of the Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana has claimed the top spot for bowlers, replacing Afghanistan's Rashid Khan. India's Rohit Sharma is currently ranked third in batting.from Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Live Match Scores & Sports News Headlines, Results & more https://ift.tt/exfPHC7
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 begins in Pakistan and the UAE from February 19 to March 9. Defending champions Pakistan host, with India playing in Dubai. World champions Australia, with a depleted squad, rely on experienced batters amidst setbacks in bowling. Their group stage matches include facing England, South Africa, and Afghanistan.
India's cricket team is gearing up for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, with matches hosted in Dubai due to security concerns of travelling to original hosts Pakistan. They start against Bangladesh on February 20. India has a strong record in Dubai, with significant performances from players like Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan.
New Zealand's fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to a foot injury. Pacer Kyle Jamieson has been named his replacement. Ferguson's absence is a significant loss for the Black Caps. The team will begin their campaign against Pakistan on Wednesday in Karachi.
Pakistan is hosting its first major cricket tournament in nearly three decades, the Champions Trophy, which starts on Wednesday. The event's successful execution could significantly improve the country's international reputation. Despite India's refusal to play in Pakistan due to political tensions, seven other nations will participate. Security has been heightened to ensure a smooth and safe tournament.
Fomer cricketer Suresh Raina highlights the significance of skipper MS Dhoni's tactical brilliance and the formation of the successful Rohit Sharma-Shikhar Dhawan opening partnership in India's victorious 2013 ICC Champions Trophy campaign. Raina also elaborates on his own contributions as a part-time bowler in crucial moments that played a key role in their success.
India and Pakistan are set to clash in Dubai on February 23, with key players Rohit Sharma and Mohammad Rizwan leading their teams. The absence of Jasprit Bumrah significantly impacts India's chances, with Mohammad Shami expected to shoulder much of the bowling responsibility. India are placed in Group A alongside Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. They will begin their campaign in Dubai on February 20 against Bangladesh, followed by the much-anticipated showdown against Pakistan on February 23, before taking on New Zealand on March 2.
Former Bangladesh cricketer Imrul Kayes highlights the absence of Jasprit Bumrah as an advantage for Bangladesh in their Champions Trophy opener against India. With Mohammed Shami leading India's pace attack, alongside Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh, Kayes emphasizes the importance of stepping up in Shakib Al Hasan's absence, particularly for vice-captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Former India pacer Laxmipathy Balaji backs Mohammed Shami to lead India's pace attack at the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai. Balaji highlights Shami's crucial role in making early breakthroughs, mentoring younger pacers, and exploiting Dubai's conditions. Shami's experience and skills are expected to be pivotal in India's quest for Champions Trophy success.
The ninth edition of the Champions Trophy will feature the top eight ODI teams. Hosted by Pakistan and the UAE, the tournament begins on February 19, 2025. Teams are split into two groups, with the top two from each advancing to the semi-finals. The final is set for March 9, contingent on India's participation.
Mumbai Indians signed 18-year-old Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman to replace Allah Ghazanfar, who is sidelined due to a vertebra fracture. Ghazanfar, who sustained the injury during Afghanistan's tour to Zimbabwe, will also miss the Champions Trophy. Mujeeb brings his experience of over 300 T20 matches to the team.
The Champions Trophy is returning for the first time since 2017. India and Pakistan will face off in Dubai on February 23 in a Group A clash. Experts predict top performances from players like Shubman Gill, Babar Azam, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, with Yuvraj Singh, Shahid Afridi and others providing insights.
India will start their Champions Trophy campaign on February 20 in Dubai, facing Bangladesh. They have included five spinners in their squad, which has raised concerns about being too spin-heavy. Former off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin suggests that India might have one or two spinners too many in their 15-member squad.
Ravichandran Ashwin emphasizes the need to stop treating Indian cricketers as superstars and urges for normalization in the sport. He believes players should be seen as relatable sportspersons. Ashwin, who recently retired, advocates considering top performances as routine and aims for higher collective goals in Indian cricket.
Aakash Chopra speculates the 2025 Champions Trophy might be the last ICC event for Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja due to the upcoming changes in the Indian team. The trio's participation in future tournaments is uncertain. With the next T20 World Cup in 2026 and ODI World Cup in 2027, the team might look different.
New Zealand fast bowler Ben Sears has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to a hamstring injury. Jacob Duffy will replace him. Head coach Gary Stead highlighted Sears' potential and expressed confidence in Duffy's readiness for the tournament. New Zealand’s campaign starts against Pakistan on February 19, 2025.
The Sports Ministry debunked claims of converting cricket players into baseball players to win medals at international events. Baseball, unrecognised by the ministry, was never discussed at Mission Olympic Cell meetings. A BCCI official noted the impracticality of such a switch, given cricket's lucrative paths like IPL and T20 leagues, while baseball lacks governmental support.
Virat Kohli congratulated Rajat Patidar on being named the new captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, praising his growth and performance. Despite rumours of Kohli's return to captaincy, RCB chose Patidar, with Director of Cricket Mo Bobat emphasising Kohli's influence and support for the decision. Former RCB skipper Faf du Plessis also heaped praise on Patidar for earning the job.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasized Shreyas Iyer's critical role in India's ODI set-up ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. Iyer performed consistently during the three-match series against England, helping India secure a 3-0 whitewash.
Varun Chakravarthy missed India's third ODI against England due to a sore right calf. The Indian team rested key players and made several lineup changes. Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Arshdeep Singh were given opportunities. India aimed to test their bench strength before the 2025 Champions Trophy. England also made a change, bringing in Tom Banton.
India's Champions Trophy selection faces scrutiny with the injury of key pacer Jasprit Bumrah and opting for a spin-heavy attack. Coach Gautam Gambhir's risky strategy includes five spinners and a new pacer Harshit Rana, raising questions about the balance and experience of the squad in the upcoming tournament.
Former England pacer Steve Harmison emphasized the irreplaceable role of Jasprit Bumrah for India, likening his potential absence from the ICC Champions Trophy to a FIFA World Cup without Cristiano Ronaldo. Harmison suggested India should carry Bumrah in the squad hoping for his return in the knockout stages.
Marco Jansen attributes his success in SA20 to his adaptability to diverse South African pitches. He leads with 47 wickets, excelling in the Powerplay. His all-round capabilities, including scoring 204 valuable runs, highlight his importance. Jansen now prepares for the Proteas ODI squad, hoping to continue his strong SA20 form internationally.
Former England batter Kevin Pietersen praises Shubman Gill’s current form and believes he is on the verge of scoring big centuries like Rohit Sharma. Pietersen notes Gill's technical improvements against fast bowlers, making him harder to dismiss. With 147 runs in the series, Gill's hunger for significant scores continues to grow.
Joe Root surpassed Eoin Morgan to record the most fifty-plus scores for England in men's ODIs during the second ODI against India, scoring 69 runs off 72 balls. Despite Root's effort, which helped England post 304, India comfortably chased down the target, winning the match and series. Root's achievement underscores his key role in England’s ODI team.
Nathan Lyon surpassed Shane Warne to become Australia's highest wicket-taker in Test cricket against Sri Lanka, claiming 60 wickets. His instrumental performance helped Australia secure a 2-0 series win in Galle. Despite a minor setback, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne guided Australia to a dominant victory, cementing Lyon's status as one of Australia's greatest spinners.
Steve Smith has become Australia’s leading catcher in Test cricket, surpassing Ricky Ponting with 197 catches. Smith achieved this during Australia’s Test series against Sri Lanka, where he also scored a century. Australia won the series after 14 years, with notable performances from Alex Carey and Smith, and solid contributions from the bowlers.
Australia clinched a 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka in the second Test at Galle. Chasing 75, they lost only Travis Head before lunch on day four. Australian spinners Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann claimed four wickets each, with Kuhnemann emerging as the leading wicket-taker in the series. Steve Smith achieved a milestone of 200 Test catches.
Three Indian cricketers, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Axar Patel, visited Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri before their second ODI against England. They sought divine blessings and were provided with tight security. The Indian team is scheduled for a practice session at Barabati Stadium with extensive security measures in place for their movements.
Team India aims to secure the ODI series against England in Cuttack, but faces challenges with Rohit Sharma's poor form and Virat Kohli's potential return, creating a selection dilemma. Kohli's comeback would likely see Shreyas Iyer or Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped. India's stable bowling unit, led by Mohammed Shami, poses another challenge for England's batsmen.
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar recalled Shubman Gill's impressive first net session with the senior national team, highlighting his performance against fast throwdown specialists. Gill, who debuted in 2019, has since become a key player for India, achieving significant milestones including centuries across all cricket formats.
India's vice-captain Shubman Gill assured that Virat Kohli is fit and should play in the second ODI against England, despite missing the first match due to knee swelling. Gill highlighted his own performance, scoring 87 runs and stressing the importance of adapting to the game situation while batting.
Shreyas Iyer revealed he wasn't initially in India's line-up for the first ODI against England, stepping in last-minute for the injured Virat Kohli. Iyer shone with a key 59 off 36 balls, leading India to victory. Aakash Chopra questioned the logic of the initial selection, praising Iyer's indispensable role in India's middle order.
Australia faces setbacks as Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy due to injuries, with Steve Smith or Travis Head likely to replace Cummins as captain. Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis are also out, leaving the team with significant selection challenges ahead of the tournament starting February 19 in Pakistan.
England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and chose to bat in the first ODI against India. Virat Kohli is sidelined due to a sore knee, while Mohammed Shami returns to the squad. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harshit Rana make their ODI debuts for India. This is India's first ODI since August 2024, when they suffered a 0-2 defeat in a three-match series against Sri Lanka.
Marcus Stoinis, Australian all-rounder, retires from ODIs after 74 matches, to focus on T20Is. Cricket Australia will replace him for the ICC Champions Trophy. Stoinis, a pivotal ODI player, helped in the 2023 ODI World Cup win. Coach McDonald praised his contributions and leadership. His exit coincides with injury concerns for Cummins and Hazlewood.
Gujarat Giants have appointed Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner as the new captain for the upcoming Women's Premier League, replacing Beth Mooney. Gardner, an experienced player with significant achievements, aims to lead the team to success. Head coach Michael Klinger and franchise Chief Sanjay Adesara expressed confidence in her leadership abilities to guide the team in WPL.
MI Cape Town clinched a spot in the SA20 final with a decisive 39-run win over Paarl Royals in Qualifier 1. Kagiso Rabada praised his team's performance and readiness, while the Royals look forward to another chance in Qualifier 2. Dayyaan Galiem acknowledged their shortcomings and remains hopeful for the next match.
Former Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne has announced his retirement from international cricket after his 100th Test match against Australia. At 36, he has scored 7,172 runs in Tests and 1,316 runs in ODIs, deciding to retire due to his recent form and the limited number of Test matches played annually.
Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa clinched the Tata Steel Masters 2025 title in Netherlands by defeating World Champion D Gukesh. His victory, inspired by peers' achievements, marked a key moment in his career. Despite losing the first game in the tiebreaker, Praggnanandhaa's remarkable comeback secured his triumph, drawing praise from Viswanathan Anand and highlighting his strategic acumen.
Michael Bevan, renowned for his pivotal role in One-Day Internationals, was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, following the revision of its criteria to equally honor players across all formats. Bevan's exceptional performances and record-breaking achievements in ODIs, including two World Cup wins, cemented his legendary status in cricket.
N Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli secured India's place in Davis Cup World Group I with a straight-set win against Togo, giving India an unassailable 3-0 lead. The duo's victory in just 57 minutes was decisive, capitalizing on Togo's lineup change due to an arm injury. India's dominance was evident throughout the match.
Gulf Giants achieved an important seven-wicket win against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20. A strong bowling performance restricted the Knight Riders to 123. The partnership between Erasmus and Curran, along with Hetmyer’s powerful finish, ensured a comfortable chase. This victory lifted the Giants to third place and strengthened their playoff prospects.
India's use of Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube in the fourth T20I against England sparked debate. Dube was struck on the helmet, and Rana took three crucial wickets, including Liam Livingstone's. England's captain Jos Buttler questioned the move, while Kevin Pietersen felt it wasn't a like-for-like replacement. India's bowling coach Morne Morkel defended the decision.
England captain Jos Buttler was angered by the selection of Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube, but India's bowling coach Morne Morkel defended the decision. Match referee Javagal Srinath approved the substitution, and Rana successfully helped India to a 15-run victory in the T20I series.