Category: Cricket

Kolkata: Axar Patel missed his flight to Australia last November, but now he’s the vice-captain for the T20I series. Even though some decisions seem puzzling, Patel is still here at a time when Indian cricket is changing, giving him a great chance to prove he’s essential for all formats of the game.

In recent years, especially in India, Patel has stepped in as a backup for Ravindra Jadeja. While they have similar skills, Patel has shown he can be as good, if not better. In the 2021-22 Test season, he took five wickets in five matches! His better bowling rate shows he is ready to take over when Jadeja is unavailable, especially in red-ball cricket.

Patel has already played in a T20 World Cup final and was picked for the 2023 ODI World Cup squad, but he got injured and had to step out. Some say it was tricky to decide on Patel’s role when Jadeja was fit, but there were also concerns about Patel’s batting in T20s. However, that has changed.

Now, India is using Patel as a flexible batsman, allowing other players to do the same based on different situations in the game. “It’s not just about me,” Patel shared. “From the start of 2024, we agreed to have a fixed opening position, but for the other batting spots, everyone can switch depending on who is performing best.”

This approach has paid off for Patel. His T20I batting average climbed from 14.25 to 25.15, and his strike rate jumped from 132.55 to nearly 148 since November 2022. In the last two years, he has hit three times more sixes than before.

With Jadeja planning to retire from T20Is after the 2024 final, Patel’s role is becoming even more important. His promotion to vice-captain shows how valuable he is, especially looking ahead to the next T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February-March 2026. Success in this series could further strengthen Patel’s position.

Patel remains calm amid the pressure. “I’ve played all formats and just focus on doing well when I get a chance,” he explained. “I don’t really feel the need to prove myself. I think more about how to seize opportunities than about my place in the team. I know only a few players can be picked, and my spot isn’t guaranteed. I just want to fulfill my role and keep getting better. If I perform, my spot will take care of itself.”

In a surprising announcement, Sanjiv Goenka, the main owner of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), has named Rishabh Pant as the team’s new captain for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Rishabh, an Indian cricket star, shared that he was quite nervous during the IPL auction day. He feared he might be bought by the Punjab Kings, who had the most money to spend. There were strong rumors that he could join either the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) or Punjab Kings. Many thought CSK wanted him because of his close friendship with the legendary MS Dhoni. On the other hand, with Rick Ponting, the former coach of Delhi Capitals, joining Punjab, fans speculated he could join Punjab to work with him again.

When asked about how he felt during the auction on Star Sports, Pant said, “I was only worried about Punjab (laughs). They had the most money. When Shreyas Iyer was picked by Punjab for a huge sum of INR 26.75 crore, I felt happier about a chance to join LSG. But during an auction, you never really know, so I just waited and hoped for the best.”

Rishabh was let go by the Delhi Capitals before the auction in Jeddah, and LSG purchased him for a record INR 27 crore. Goenka stated that Pant was always part of their plan, and they built their team around him. “We did a lot of strategizing with Rishabh in mind,” Goenka explained. “I think, in time, people will see that he is not just the most expensive player in the IPL but also the best player

New Delhi, India – Former cricketer Suresh Raina talked about how important Rishabh Pant is for the Indian cricket team in the upcoming Champions Trophy in 2025. He believes Pant needs to play with more responsibility. Recently, Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar and team captain Rohit Sharma held a press conference to reveal the 15-player squad for the Champions Trophy and an ODI series against England.

Rishabh Pant made his ODI debut in 2018 against the West Indies and has scored 871 runs in 31 matches with a strike rate of 106.21. However, his last game was against Sri Lanka in 2024, where he only scored six runs. Raina praised Pant’s improvement in wicket-keeping and mentioned that the upcoming one-day series against England offers a great chance for him to improve even further.

Raina said if young player Yashasvi Jaiswal does not make the playing eleven, then Pant will have a crucial role. Raina advised Pant to bat responsibly and spend more time at the crease, saying that if Pant plays around 40-50 balls, he could score 80-100 runs, helping his team win.

The ICC Champions Trophy will take place from February 19 to March 9, hosted by Pakistan and the UAE. India’s first match is against Bangladesh on February 20, and the big match against Pakistan is on February 23.

India’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 includes:
– Rohit Sharma
– Shubman Gill
– Virat Kohli
– Shreyas Iyer
– KL Rahul
– Hardik Pandya
– Axar Patel
– Washington Sundar
– Kuldeep Yadav
– Jasprit Bumrah
– Mohammed Shami
– Arshdeep Singh
– Yashasvi Jaiswal
– Rishabh Pant
– Ravindra Jadeja

The Indian cricket team has started following a new set of 10 rules before their home T20I series against England, which kicks off at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informed all state associations that will host matches during the next few weeks.

After a tough Test series, the team is now focusing on short-format cricket, getting ready for the upcoming Champions Trophy next month. India will play five T20I matches against England, starting January 22, followed by three One Day Internationals (ODIs).

Captain Suryakumar Yadav and his team reached Kolkata last weekend to get ready for their first game on Wednesday. They started practicing on Sunday. The BCCI told the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) that all players should travel together in a team bus, so no separate vehicles were arranged for anyone.

As part of the rules set by BCCI after the team’s poor performance in Australia, players must stay for all practice sessions and travel together. This is to promote teamwork and commitment. CAB president Snehasish Ganguly confirmed that they are following these rules, stating, “Only a team bus is arranged for the Indian players. There will be no personal cars allowed.”

Additionally, BCCI has enforced a new rule banning personal assistants from staying in the team hotel. This change comes after concerns about a personal manager of a support staff member being seen in restricted areas during the Australia tour

Veteran Indian bowler Umesh Yadav is feeling sad after not being sold in the IPL 2025 auction that took place in November last year. The 36-year-old had played for the Gujarat Titans in 2024, where he was bought for INR 5.80 crore. Despite his impressive IPL career, which includes 148 matches and time with four different teams—Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals, and Gujarat Titans—he didn’t get any bids this time.

Talking about his disappointment, Umesh said, “It’s shocking for me. I’ve been playing for 15 years. After almost 150 IPL matches, it hurts not to be chosen.” In the 2024 season, he played seven games and took eight wickets, but his high economy rate of 10 might have affected his chances in the auction.

He shared, “It depends on the franchises’ choices. My name might have come late in the auction, and they ran out of money. It’s frustrating, but I can’t change what they decided.”

Umesh had surgery on his leg after the last IPL season and is determined to return stronger. He mentioned, “As long as I can bowl at 140 km/h, I’ll keep playing. If I can’t, then I’ll quit cricket myself, no need for anyone else to tell me.” Umesh last played for India in 2023 during the World Test Championship final against Australia. While he has played in 57 Tests and taken 170 wickets, his last One Day International was in 2018.

Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant might face each other in the Ranji Trophy, India’s important domestic cricket tournament. Jadeja recently joined Saurashtra’s team and practiced with them, which means he could play in their upcoming match against Delhi starting January 23 in Rajkot.

This is exciting because Jadeja and Pant have played on the same side in the Indian team but also competed against each other in the IPL. Just recently, they partnered well in a match against Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

India’s captain Rohit Sharma will also be playing for Mumbai against Jammu and Kashmir on January 23. Another young player, Yashasvi Jaiswal, will join him in the match. Shubman Gill is set to play for Punjab. However, two big names, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, are not playing right now because they are still healing from their injuries. Kohli might return for Delhi’s next match, while Rahul could play for Karnataka later.

Get ready for some exciting cricket as India starts their journey in the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup on Sunday! They will be facing Samara Ramnath’s West Indies team. Nikki Prasad will captain the Indian squad, and they are the defending champions, eager for a strong opening game.

India recently showed their strength by winning the U19 Women’s Asia Cup, defeating Bangladesh by 41 runs. One of India’s star players, G Kamalini, made headlines after being bought by the Mumbai Indians for a whopping INR 1.60 crore in the Women’s Premier League auction!

The team will also rely on Shabnam Shakil to lead their bowling attack. India is in Group A with Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies.

Here’s the Indian squad:
– Nikki Prasad (c)
– Sanika Chalke
– G Trisha
– Kamalini G
– Bhavika Ahire
– Ishwari Awasare
– Mithila Vinod
– Joshitha VJ
– Sonam Yadav
– Parunika Sisodiya
– Kesari Drithi
– Aayushi Shukla
– Anandita Kishor
– MD Shabnam
– Vaishnavi S.

And the West Indies squad:
– Samara Ramnath (c)
– Asabi Callender
– Abigail Bryce
– Kenika Cassar
– Jahzara Claxton
– Denella Creese
– NaiJanni Cumberbatch
– Erin Deane
– Amiah Gilbert
– Trisha Hardat
– Brianna Harricharan
– Amrita Ramtahal
– Selena Ross
– Kristen Sutherland
– Aaliyah Weekes.

Match Details:
– When: Sunday, January 19, at 12 PM IST (Toss at 11:30 AM IST)
– Where: Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur
– Broadcast: Watch it live on the Star Sports Network.
– Streaming: Catch the game on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website.

Don’t miss it!

Mumbai’s cricket captain Rohit Sharma has said he will play in the upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir on January 23. He emphasized the importance of taking breaks from cricket despite the growing calls for big players to join domestic matches.

Rohit, speaking at a press conference, confirmed his participation after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) introduced new rules saying that players must participate in domestic tournaments to be selected for the national team. For many years, Rohit and his teammate Virat Kohli have been in the spotlight regarding their availability for these games.

For Rohit, the last few years have been packed with cricket matches, leaving little time to rest. He mentioned that the cricket calendar is busy from October to March, and players often don’t have breaks. He said, “It’s important for players to take time off to refresh and prepare for upcoming seasons.”

Rohit, who recently struggled with bad performances during India’s tour of Australia, was seen training with the Mumbai Cricket Squad at Wankhede Stadium. His last Ranji match was back in November 2015. He stated, “We’ve made it clear that players should not take domestic cricket lightly. We need to consider how much rest each player requires before making decisions on participation.”

Rohit has faced a challenging time recently, scoring only 31 runs in three Tests during the Australia series. He even gave up his captaincy for the final Test in Sydney but assured fans he’s not going anywhere.

Captain Rohit Sharma will lead India’s talented team in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, aiming to win the title for the first time since 2013. India has won this tournament two times before. Star bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s participation depends on whether he is healthy enough to play. As a backup, Harshit Rana has been chosen just in case. If Bumrah plays, he will join the team with Mohammed Shami, who is returning to one-day internationals.

Bumrah and Shami will team up with Arshdeep Singh, the best bowler for India in 2024. This same team will also play a three-match ODI series against England starting February 6. Despite scoring a lot of runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Karun Nair has not been included in the squad. Nair has made 752 runs, including five centuries, and even caught the attention of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. However, BCCI chairman Ajit Agarkar said Nair didn’t make it because there were other players selected who play with the national team more regularly.

Shubman Gill has been named vice-captain of the team, taking over from KL Rahul. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, Hardik Pandya was the deputy, but he got injured. When India last played against Sri Lanka in July 2024, Gill stepped in as vice-captain without an official announcement. Now, the BCCI has officially named him for this role.

Young star Yashasvi Jaiswal has received his first ODI call-up after performing well in Test matches last year. He will join experienced players like Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer in the batting lineup. Rishabh Pant is the only wicketkeeper in the squad, which means Sanju Samson is out. However, KL Rahul can also keep wickets if needed, like he did during the World Cup. Kuldeep Yadav is back after recovering from a groin injury.

India squad for the Champions Trophy and England ODIs:
– Rohit Sharma (Captain)
– Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain)
– Virat Kohli
– Shreyas Iyer
– KL Rahul
– Hardik Pandya
– Axar Patel
– Washington Sundar
– Kuldeep Yadav
– Jasprit Bumrah
– Mohammed Shami
– Arshdeep Singh
– Yashasvi Jaiswal
– Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper)
– Ravindra Jadeja
– Harshit Rana (Bumrah’s backup)

Star India cricket stars, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, have told the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) that they are injured and can’t play in the Ranji Trophy right now.

Virat Kohli is having trouble with his neck. He got a shot to help with the pain on January 8, but it hasn’t worked, so he will miss Delhi’s game against Saurashtra in Rajkot. It has been a long time since Kohli last played in the Ranji Trophy—his last match was in November 2012 against Uttar Pradesh, where he scored 14 and 42 runs. In his 155 first-class matches, he has made 11,479 runs, with 37 hundreds and 39 fifties. His best score is 254.

On the other hand, KL Rahul is struggling with his elbow and won’t be playing for Karnataka in their next match against Punjab in Bengaluru. His last Ranji game was in March 2020, where he scored 26 and 0 runs.

Recently, the BCCI announced new rules that say players must play in domestic matches to be eligible for the national team and central contracts. They want players to stay active in domestic cricket to help them improve, stay fit, and support the domestic game. Changes to this rule can only happen in special situations and must be approved by the chairman of the Selection Committee.

Other young talents like Rishabh Pant (Delhi), Shubman Gill (Punjab), Yashasvi Jaiswal (Mumbai), and experienced player Ravindra Jadeja (Saurashtra) have all confirmed they will play in upcoming Ranji Trophy matches.