Category: Cricket

India’s cricket star, Varun Chakaravarthy, has come back strong after facing tough times. In the 2021 T20 World Cup, he didn’t perform well and didn’t take any wickets, which made him feel very low. After the tournament, he received threatening messages from fans saying he shouldn’t come back to India. He even had people following him home on bikes, which was scary for him.

Varun shared how he struggled with depression after the World Cup because he felt he let everyone down. It took him three years to get picked again for the team, and he worked hard during that time to improve his skills. Recently, he showed everyone how much he has grown by taking nine wickets in the Champions Trophy. In this important tournament, he helped the team win the title by playing really well, including getting five wickets against New Zealand.

Varun said he changed his daily routine and practiced a lot more after the World Cup. He used to practice hitting 50 balls during each session but began practicing double that amount. He felt happy when he finally got the call to join the team again. Varun wants to keep growing and improving, and he feels thankful for the positive attention he is now receiving compared to the past. Former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin believes Varun was the best player in the tournament and deserved a special award.

Yuzvendra Chahal, the talented leg-spinner from India, is coming back to play for Northamptonshire in 2025. After playing with the Punjab Kings in the IPL, Chahal will join the English county team once again. Northamptonshire announced this exciting news on Thursday.

Chahal will start playing for Northamptonshire on June 22, with a home game against Middlesex. However, he will miss the first seven matches of the season, which begins on April 4. Before heading to England, he will lead the Punjab Kings’ bowling team in the IPL from March 22 to May 25.

His return comes just as India is gearing up for an important five-Test series in England that starts on June 20, but Chahal is not currently part of India’s Test plans. He had a great time with Northamptonshire in 2024, taking 19 wickets in just four County Championship matches. He also made a mark in the One-Day Cup with a memorable five-wicket haul against Kent and a career-best performance of 9 for 99 against Derbyshire.

“I’m very happy to be coming back because I loved my time here last season,” Chahal said. “There are amazing people in the team, and I can’t wait to play with them again. We played very well towards the end of the last season, and I hope we can win some matches this time.”

Darren Lehmann, the head coach of Northamptonshire, welcomed Chahal back, saying, “I am really excited that one of the best leg-spinners in the world is returning. He brings a lot of experience and is a great person who loves the game. Having him with us from mid-June onwards will be fantastic.”

Chahal will return to play on March 25 for the Punjab Kings, after making history by becoming the most expensive spinner ever in the IPL with a bid of ₹18 crore.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially complained to the International Cricket Council (ICC). This happened after there was a problem during the final of the Champions Trophy, where their COO, Sumair Ahmed, was not invited to the trophy presentation ceremony.

In the final match held in Dubai, India beat New Zealand to win the Champions Trophy for the third time. Since PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi was not at the match, Sumair went instead as their representative. However, the ICC did not call him to the stage, ignoring his presence completely.

During the ceremony, BCCI president Roger Binny gave white jackets to the Indian players and handed out medals. Meanwhile, ICC chairman Jay Shah presented the trophy to Indian captain Rohit Sharma and awarded the winning team.

A PCB official said, “We’ve filed a complaint because what happened is unacceptable.” However, the ICC is unlikely to give a formal response to the PCB. According to ICC sources, protocols led to Sumair being left out. They explained that only certain high-ranking officials are usually invited on stage, and since Sumair is not a top office-holder, he was not included.

The PCB finds this explanation unreasonable and has called for an official public clarification. They believe that being ignored was disrespectful to Pakistan, the host nation.

They are waiting for an apology and assurance that such treatment won’t occur again, warning that they may take the matter to the Board of Governors if necessary.

Rishabh Pant, the famous Indian wicket-keeper, believes that while the Indian Premier League (IPL) is exciting, young cricketers should always aim to play for their country first. Pant, who was part of India’s Champions Trophy winning team but didn’t get to play, made his international debut in 2017.

“When I was a kid, my only dream was to play for India. I never thought about the IPL. Now, everyone is focusing more on it. The IPL is great, but if you want to play for your country, everything else, including the IPL, will come later,” Pant shared in an interview with JioHotstar.

He is grateful for his chance to play for India at just 18 years old. Pant is known for his exciting style of play, even hitting a one-handed six at times. He explained why his bat sometimes slips from his hands. “I hold my bottom hand lightly to keep it from taking control. I grip my top hand tightly. But when I might reach too far—like if the ball is too wide—I’m willing to take risks, even if it’s a 30-40% chance to succeed. In that moment, my goal is just to hit the ball as far as I can,” he explained.

Pant also mentioned that doing gymnastics as a kid helped him in cricket. “My gymnastics coach always said it would be useful. Our fitness trainer once thanked him, saying what I learned still helps me today,” Pant said. He continues to practice and believes it has greatly improved his fitness for cricket.

Former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi has raised important concerns about cricket in Pakistan. He claims that the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, admitted he doesn’t know much about cricket. This revelation comes after the Pakistani cricket team had a disappointing performance in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, where they lost to New Zealand and India. Their last game against Bangladesh was canceled due to rain, leaving Pakistan at the bottom of their group.

People are criticizing everything about the team’s performance, including the coach Aaqib Javed and his choices for players. Notably, Pakistan only took one main spin bowler, Abrar Ahmed, to the tournament, which was hosted by Pakistan.

Afridi urged Naqvi to work with experts in cricket instead of bureaucrats who don’t understand the game. He mentioned that he met Naqvi and appreciated the improvements made at the Gaddafi Stadium but emphasized that a lack of cricket knowledge among PCB officials could hurt the team.

Afridi pointed out that many current members of the PCB’s selection committee have no real experience in cricket. He believes they should strengthen the domestic cricket system in Pakistan because a better foundation will lead to a stronger national team. Afridi stated, “If the guardian is good, the child will automatically be good,” suggesting that good leadership leads to better players.

Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the caretaker minister of the Pakistan government, took over as PCB chairman last year. Under his leadership, Pakistan’s cricket team also failed to advance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Dubai – Hardik Pandya stepped up to bowl for India in the Champions Trophy when Jasprit Bumrah was not available. Despite his new role, he kept his fighting spirit and adjusted well. In the tournament, India relied mainly on spinners, so Pandya only bowled 24.3 overs in five matches, taking four wickets. He commented, “Bowling will take care of itself. This year was all about learning and facing challenges. I never run away from tough situations. If challenges come, I face them head-on. As long as I stay in the game, I have a chance.”

After India’s victory, Pandya expressed that he has been quietly working hard to improve his game. “I always believe in myself and know that hard work pays off. The way you prepare shows in your performance,” he stated. Winning this tournament also helped him forget the disappointment of losing to Pakistan in the 2017 edition, where he was also a player. He said, “Today, I feel like a long-hidden dream has come true. Eight years is a long time, and many things have changed, but winning for India means everything to me. It’s not just about me; it’s about the team’s success that matters most.”

Pakistan’s former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar was surprised when no one from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was present during the Champions Trophy trophy ceremony. The PCB did send its CEO, Sumair Ahmed, to the finals in Dubai, but he was not invited onto the stage. This incident left the PCB very upset.

A source revealed that Sumair Ahmed was there to represent the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, who couldn’t attend due to other responsibilities. The source suggested it was a misunderstanding because Sumair might not have communicated well with the ICC officials responsible for the ceremony.

The PCB is considering discussing this issue with the ICC, questioning why their CEO was not called to the stage at such an important event.

Former players like Wasim Akram were also surprised by this situation. Akram stated, “It’s unbelievable that no one from the PCB was on stage at the final ceremony. We were the hosts, and it felt odd that no representative was there. Even if they couldn’t give out the trophies or medals, someone should have been present.”

Fans and players alike felt that Pakistan should have had someone on stage, especially since they were co-hosting the tournament, which is a significant event for Pakistan cricket.

Former cricket star Inzamam-ul-Haq from Pakistan has strongly disagreed with Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar. Gavaskar recently said that India could beat Pakistan with their second-best team, calling attention to the big gap between how the two teams are performing lately.

Pakistan used to have a strong record against India, but they have now lost their last six matches. Inzamam has spoken out against players like Mohammad Rizwan and how the Pakistan team has played but believes Gavaskar went too far with his comments.

Inzamam reminded Gavaskar of the history between India and Pakistan, saying that Gavaskar once did not play in a match against Pakistan in Sharjah. He expressed respect for Gavaskar but insisted that it is not right for him to speak about other countries that way. Inzamam said, “Gavaskar should check the statistics – they show where Pakistan stands. I was hurt by his statement. He is a great player, but his comments are hurting his own legacy. He should think before he speaks.”

Gavaskar had noted that “a B team from India can definitely challenge Pakistan in their current form,” which sparked a debate. Former Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie also called Gavaskar’s remarks “nonsense.”

The Champions Trophy was a significant cricket event for Pakistan, marking the return of an ICC tournament after 29 years. Unfortunately, Pakistan could not advance to the semi-finals, losing matches to both New Zealand and India.

Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, who is married to famous cricketer Virat Kohli, celebrated India’s exciting win in the Champions Trophy. India played against New Zealand and won by four wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. This victory made India the most successful team in ICC Champions Trophy history!

After the game, Rohit Sharma, the captain who celebrated his second ICC trophy win, shared a sweet moment with his wife, Ritika, and their daughter, Samaira. Anushka joined them to give Rohit a big hug and congratulate him. Hardik Pandya also joined the celebration, hugging Ritika and giving Rohit a pat on the back. He then greeted Anushka, who was standing next to Kohli. Other players, like Ravindra Jadeja, who hit the winning shot, celebrated with their families too. Jadeja took pictures with his wife, Rivaba, and their daughter. Mohammed Shami’s mother met Kohli during the celebrations, while Shubman Gill’s dad was thrilled to see his son win his first ICC trophy.

India Lifts its 3rd Champions Trophy Title

New Zealand’s captain, Mitchell Santner, chose to bat first in this important match. Daryl Mitchell scored 63 runs, and Michael Bracewell added 53 runs, helping New Zealand reach 251 runs for 7 wickets in 50 overs. In response, Rohit Sharma played beautifully, scoring 76 runs off 83 balls, along with seven fours and three sixes. He formed a strong opening partnership of 105 runs with Shubman Gill. Shreyas Iyer contributed 48 runs, while KL Rahul calmly finished the game with 34 runs, leading India to victory with one over to spare.

This win marked India’s third Champions Trophy title, following victories in 2002 under Sourav Ganguly and in 2013 under MS Dhoni. Rohit Sharma became the second Indian captain ever, after Dhoni, to win multiple ICC trophies. Last June, he guided India to a T20 World Cup title as well!