Category: Cricket

Indian cricket stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are working hard to get ready for the upcoming ODI series against England in Nagpur. A recent video from the BCCI shows them practicing their batting skills in the nets, hitting plenty of exciting shots before the first match.

Both players had a tough time in the 2024-25 Test season, with Rohit scoring only 164 runs in eight matches at a low average of 10.93, while Kohli managed 382 runs in ten matches at 22.87, with just one hundred and a half-century. Their recent performances in domestic cricket weren’t great either; Rohit got out for 3 and 28 runs in a Ranji Trophy match, while Kohli struggled in his first-class comeback with just 6 runs against Railways.

In 2024, Kohli faced challenges in all formats and ended the year with only 655 runs in 23 matches, averaging 21.83. The highlight was his single century in the Perth Test, scoring 100. On the other hand, Rohit shined in T20s, leading India to the T20 World Cup title and topping the team’s scoring chart with 257 runs at an impressive strike rate of 156.70. He scored a total of 378 runs in 11 T20I matches during the year, including one century and three fifties.

For ODIs, both Rohit and Kohli didn’t play many matches last year, with Rohit scoring 157 runs in three games against Sri Lanka at an average of 52.33. Kohli had a tough time there but performed well in ODIs overall, hitting 1,435 runs in 30 matches since 2023 at an amazing average of 65.22, including six centuries and eight half-centuries. His outstanding performance in the 2023 World Cup made him the top scorer, accumulating 765 runs with an impressive average of 95.62.

As they prepare to play in Nagpur, both Rohit and Kohli want to leave their Test struggles behind and showcase their skills in ODIs again. Their batting form will be vital for India as the team gears up for the Champions Trophy starting later this month.

In Melbourne, Australia, cricket captain Pat Cummins is unlikely to play in the ICC Champions Trophy because of an ankle injury. Coach Andrew McDonald shared that Cummins missed the recent tour to Sri Lanka to welcome his second child and has been dealing with an ankle problem. This issue started after he bowled a lot during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he took 25 wickets.

While Cummins cannot join the team, others will be flying to Sri Lanka soon for two One Day Internationals (ODIs). The coach mentioned that key bowler Josh Hazlewood is also struggling with a hip injury, making his participation uncertain.

“Pat Cummins cannot bowl yet, so we will need a new captain,” McDonald said. He pointed out that Steve Smith and Travis Head are the main candidates for leadership while they are preparing the team for the Champions Trophy.

Smith has done well in recent matches, making him a strong choice alongside Head.

Additionally, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will miss the Champions Trophy due to a back injury, but he might play for the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League. The coach is considering adding Beau Webster to the ODI squad because of his seam bowling skills.

Other all-rounders, Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis, are also dealing with injuries. Hardie has just returned to bowling after being hurt for a while, while Stoinis has tightness in his hamstring from playing in another league.

With both Cummins and Hazlewood possibly out, Sean Abbott might have a chance to return to the ODI team. Spencer Johnson is also in line to travel to Sri Lanka as backup.

The Champions Trophy is coming soon, and the excitement is building! Eight teams will compete in this important 50-over cricket tournament. It will take place in Pakistan and Dubai, featuring a total of 15 matches.

Australia is the favorite to win because they recently won the 2023 ODI World Cup and have been doing really well in ICC events. However, India, led by Rohit Sharma, also has a chance after winning the T20 World Cup in 2024, breaking their title drought. Both teams want to collect more trophies!

In a fun advertisement for the Champions Trophy, Australian captain Pat Cummins poked fun at players from other teams, including Virat Kohli. Here are some of his comments:
– “Oi Ben, I am not excited about you.”
– “Hey Pope, you better start praying.”
– “Hey Kohli, I’ve never seen you bat this slowly.”
– “More like Quinton de Block. I’m Pat Cummins, get mean!”

India and Australia are the two teams that have won the Champions Trophy twice. India won in 2013 and shared the title with Sri Lanka in 2002 when the final was canceled. Australia won back-to-back in 2006 and 2009.

Pakistan, the host nation, will also be competing as the defending champion after beating India in the 2017 final.

This tournament is especially important for Kohli, who has faced criticism for not performing well recently. Before the Champions Trophy starts, India will play a three-match ODI series against England. The first match will be on Thursday in Nagpur, followed by two more matches in Cuttack and Ahmedabad.

The Champions Trophy will run from February 19 to March 9 and matches will be held in both Pakistan and the UAE, with India playing in the UAE under a special plan known as a hybrid model.

Shubman Gill, India’s ODI vice-captain, feels sad that Karun Nair was not included in the team for the three-match series against England, even after shining in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Leading the Vidarbha team, Karun Nair scored an impressive 779 runs, with an astonishing average of 389.5. His outstanding performances, which included scores like 112, 163, and 122, even caught the attention of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.

Gill mentioned that while Nair was exceptional, the players currently in the squad have also been doing well. He pointed out that the middle-order batters performed greatly during the 2023 ODI World Cup, helping India reach the final.

“There have only been three ODIs after the World Cup. Players have shown great form, and I don’t see a reason to replace them. The team needs consistency,” Gill explained to reporters before the first ODI against England.

Gill acknowledged the disappointment of not having spots for talented players in domestic cricket but emphasized that it wouldn’t be fair to drop those who are already performing well. “A good team supports its players. If we want to build a strong team, we can’t let insecurity grow among our players,” he said.

Karun Nair is still on a roll, recently scoring a century for Vidarbha in a Ranji Trophy match against Hyderabad.

In the recent fourth T20I match between India and England, there was a lot of talk about a concussion substitute rule. Former Indian player Robin Uthappa said that India might have found a way to use this rule to their advantage, joking that Shivam Dube proved his doubters wrong by performing well as a bowler in the fifth T20I.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen claimed that match referee Javagal Srinath should admit he made a mistake letting Kolkata player’s Rana replace Dube, especially since Rana took three wickets and helped India win. Pietersen wanted to see Dube bowl, and he ended up making a great start, taking a wicket with his first ball against Phil Salt, who was the only England player to score runs easily that day.

“Kevin Pietersen wanted to see Dube bowl, and Dube answered back by taking a wicket right away. There’s confusion around the rules, and the ICC should clear it up,” Uthappa said on his YouTube channel.

Uthappa also praised Dube as a real all-rounder. Although he might bowl a bit slower than Harshit, he’s still effective. In the fourth T20I, Dube was named Player of the Match for scoring 53 runs off 34 balls. He partnered with Hardik Pandya, who also scored 53 runs off 30 balls, rescuing India after they were struggling at 12/3 and 79/5. India totaled 181/9 runs.

England started their chase well, with Ben Duckett and Salt scoring 62 runs together. However, they lost the match by 15 runs due to some risky shots and great bowling from India’s spinners. With this win, India secured the series and then dominated England in the fifth T20I, winning by 150 runs.

In Gqeberha, Rashid Khan, captain of MI Cape Town, shared how he wants to lead his team similarly to how he led Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup. He believes that being familiar with his teammates has made him a better leader. This season, MI Cape Town has performed well after two not-so-great years and is now on top of the points table with 30 points from nine matches, earning a playoff spot.

Rashid, 26, led Afghanistan to a big win over Australia in the Super Eight stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup, helping them reach the semifinals. Before the crucial qualifier against Paarl Royals, he said, “I wanted to lead MI Cape Town like I did with Afghanistan. Coach Robbie Peterson also helped me with this.”

Rashid captained MI Cape Town in their first season but missed last season due to an injury. This year, he feels he knows the players well and has spent more time with them. “Clear communication was key, sharing what’s in the captain’s mind and understanding players’ thoughts,” he added.

He remarked on the noticeable change in the team’s attitude. “Previously, we played good cricket but struggled to finish strong. This year, every player has stepped up and contributed positively. Regardless of how short their time on the field was, they played for the team.”

Rashid praised the bowlers too, saying, “Each bowler has played a part. The most significant change is that we’re enjoying our cricket. We’re focused on having fun rather than stressing about results.”

He also stressed the importance of having a supportive leadership group. “It’s crucial for a captain to have a team of leaders around. Leading the team from another country isn’t easy,” he explained. “This season, everyone knows their roles, which has made my job easier. It’s not just about my decisions; listening to experienced players who know the local conditions is important too.”

Hyderabad, India: The Indian women’s Under-19 cricket team received a warm and cheerful welcome in Hyderabad after winning the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur. Fans came out in large numbers to celebrate the team’s incredible achievement. The team played excellently, winning all their matches and securing the championship for the second time in a row!

In the final, they beat South Africa by 9 wickets. Team members like Drithi Kesari and Gongadi Trisha were very happy as they spoke about their journey. Drithi was full of joy and said, “I am so happy that our country is on top and has won twice! Virat Kohli inspires me a lot since I began playing cricket, and my family has always supported me.”

Gongadi Trisha stood out in the final match, scoring 44 runs and earning the Player of the Match award. Overall, she scored an impressive 309 runs in the tournament and also took 7 wickets, winning the Player of the Tournament award. With pride in her voice, she said, “Winning the World Cup twice is special, and I thank my parents for their support. Indian cricketer Mithali Raj is my role model.”

Mantravadi Shalini, the Strength and Conditioning Coach at BCCI, praised Trisha, saying, “We knew Trisha would do well. She has been amazing and the highest run-scorer this time.”

After South Africa’s team struggled to score, the Indian bowlers restricted them to just 82 runs. In response, Trisha and teammate Sanika Chalke quickly scored the runs needed with over eight overs left. It was a happy moment for India as they celebrated their victory!

India’s fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, went to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru on Sunday for a medical check-up. He hurt his back during a test match against Australia last month, which made him miss the T20I series against England. He was also not included in the ODI squad for the upcoming games against England starting this week in Nagpur.

A report from the Times of India says that Bumrah, who was picked for the Champions Trophy even with his back injury, will only play in the tournament if he gets a “green light” from doctors after his check-up. The 31-year-old will stay in Bengaluru for several days, while NCA specialists send their updates to Ajit Agarkar, who leads the selection committee.

When the Champions Trophy squad was announced last month, Agarkar didn’t share much about Bumrah’s injury but mentioned that Bamrah asked for about five weeks to rest. This means he won’t play in the first two ODIs against England. The committee will know more about Bumrah’s health in early February, and they may share details with the public.

As all teams have given their provisional squad for the Champions Trophy, they must finalize the list by February 11. Agarkar has only eight days to decide if Bumrah can play. If he can’t, there’s a chance Harshit Rana, who is in the ODI squad for the England series, might take his place.

India will leave for Dubai on February 15, where they will play all their matches for the Champions Trophy.

MI Cape Town showed they are the best team in the SA20 league by winning easily against the Pretoria Capitals. This victory gave them a perfect record at their home ground, Newlands. They became the second team to win all five home games this season, following the Paarl Royals.

With a total of 35 points, MI Cape Town set a record for the most points in the league after the regular matches. They scored a powerful 201 runs for 5 wickets and then quickly bowled out the Capitals for just 106 runs, winning by an impressive 95 runs.

The new opening pair of Sediqullah Atal and Connor Esterhuizen did a fantastic job, scoring 133 runs together without losing a wicket. Sediqullah entertained everyone with a thrilling 77 runs in just 46 balls, while Esterhuizen contributed a strong 69 runs off 43 balls. Delano Potgieter added 26 runs in only 15 balls, helping MI Cape Town reach the highest score at Newlands this season.

The bowling team kept the pressure on as off-spinner Dane Piedt took a wicket on the first ball he bowled, getting Capitals’ opener Will Jacks caught behind. Piedt, playing his first game for MI Cape Town, took 3 wickets for just 28 runs and was named Player of the Match. The other spinners also did well: Thomas Kaber took 3 wickets for 21 runs, and George Linde took 2 wickets for only 11 runs, together dismissing the Capitals for a low score of 106 in just 14 overs.

Stand-in captain Colin Ingram expressed his gratitude for the fans, saying it’s been satisfying to see such great support for the team. He praised the players for their excellent performances and teamwork.

Next, MI Cape Town will travel to Gqeberha to play against Paarl Royals in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday. The winner will move straight to the final at the Wanderers on Saturday.

In an exciting moment, India’s team celebrated their victory in the final of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup. Sanika Chalke hit the winning runs by sending the ball to the boundary right in front of her cheering teammates at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur. G Trisha was the star of the tournament, scoring a total of 309 runs. In the final match, she also helped her team by taking 3 wickets for just 15 runs and scoring 44 runs, leading India to a 9-wicket win against South Africa.

The Indian bowling was fantastic, thanks to three left-arm spinners: Vaishnavi Sharma, Aayushi Shukla, and Parunika Sisodia, who did an amazing job of stopping the South African batsmen. After winning the tournament, the team proudly held up the trophy, showing their strength and determination. Team captain Niki Prasad expressed her happiness, saying they remained calm and focused on their game.

“It feels great to keep India at the top. We’re here to show our best,” Prasad said. “We want to keep winning for India.”

The South African team, led by Kayla Reyneke, felt the pressure of the final. Reyneke was emotional during the national anthem and after the game. She said, “We worked really hard, and though it hurts to lose, we have a strong spirit and will come back stronger.”