Category: Cricket

With the Champions Trophy coming up next month, cricket fans are buzzing with talk about which players will make the Indian team. The selectors are expected to finalize a 15-member squad by the end of the week. Reports say that star players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will stay as key batters, but others like KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja might not make the cut.

KL Rahul was a vice-captain during the last World Cup but is now being talked about as a backup wicketkeeper for the Champions Trophy. Rishabh Pant, who was injured in a car accident, is expected to be the first choice. Rahul played in a few games after the World Cup, but there are questions about his need in the upcoming tournament.

Big names like Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are also in the mix. Kishan hasn’t had a great run lately, while Samson scored well in his only recent appearance.

As for Ravindra Jadeja, he might face tough competition from Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, who have shown better form lately. Jadeja’s batting hasn’t been up to par compared to before.

Mohammed Shami’s place in the team is unclear too. He returned from an ankle injury but hasn’t played much recently. In his latest outings, he took two wickets in eight overs and impressed with the bat by scoring 42 runs.

Lastly, young player Yashasvi Jaiswal is expected to get a chance as a backup opener. Though he hasn’t played in ODIs yet, he has an excellent record in other formats.

Fakhar Zaman, a talented cricketer, is getting ready to play for Pakistan in the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which will start on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai. He recently shared his excitement on the Vipers Voices podcast. “I’m 100% ready to play for Pakistan,” Fakhar said.

He explained that he had missed out on playing for a while because he wasn’t well after the T20 World Cup. But now he feels completely healthy and is eager to join the team for their next series.

Fakhar used to be a key player for Pakistan in one-day matches but hasn’t played since the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Pakistan didn’t do well. His last One Day International (ODI) game was during the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, he remains hopeful about being picked for the Champions Trophy, especially since it holds special memories for him—he became famous during the 2017 Champions Trophy when he scored a fantastic 114 runs in the final against India.

He mentioned, “I have been planning for the Champions Trophy since I didn’t play in the recent tours to Australia and South Africa. My goal has been to be fit and ready for this tournament.” He is thankful to be in good health now and is very excited to participate.

Fakhar also praised the young player, Saim Ayub, who has been doing really well in cricket. Saim has scored three centuries and one half-century in just nine innings. Unfortunately, he injured his ankle recently, and Fakhar hopes he will recover quickly. “Saim is a great talent, and if he keeps performing like this, he will be one of the best players in the world,” Fakhar stated.

Fakhar knows that it will be tough to get back into the team because many talented players, like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, are also vying for top spots. He said, “Sometimes, I feel lucky just to be in the team, even if I can’t always start as an opener. I will play wherever the team needs me.”

As he prepares for a comeback, Fakhar will be playing for the Desert Vipers in the first International League T20 season starting on January 11. He’s excited, especially since many Pakistani players have shared great things about the team.

Fakhar’s return to cricket will be important for Pakistan as they aim to form a strong squad for the Champions Trophy at home.

In an exciting ODI match against New Zealand, Sri Lankan bowler Mahish Teekshana showed his amazing skills by taking a hat-trick. This means he got three batsmen out in just two overs! At only 25 years old, he made history by becoming the first player to take a hat-trick in 2025 and the seventh Sri Lankan to do this in ODIs.

Teekshana’s Hat-Trick Moments

Teekshana’s amazing achievement happened during the 35th and 37th overs. He began by getting New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner out for 20 runs. Then, he quickly got Nathan Smith out on the very next ball. His biggest moment came when he bowled Matt Henry on the first ball of the 37th over, completing his hat-trick. This incredible performance helped Sri Lanka turn the game around after New Zealand had started strongly.

Rachin Ravindra’s Awesome Batting

While Teekshana’s hat-trick grabbed a lot of attention, New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra also played really well with the bat. Playing for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, he scored 79 runs in just 61 balls, reaching his fifty in only 43 balls with nine fours and one six. One of the best parts of his innings was when he hit a fantastic six off Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasranga, sending the ball over the boundary by 86 meters.

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand: Match Overview

The match started late due to rain, and Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first at Seddon Park in Hamilton. New Zealand’s openers, Will Young and Ravindra, got off to a good start, making a 31-run partnership before Young was out for 16 runs. Ravindra continued to impress, partnering with Mark Chapman for 112 runs, as Chapman scored 62 runs. Ravindra’s solid knock left New Zealand in a strong position to build on their good start.

Former Indian cricketers Irfan Pathan and Sunil Gavaskar are worried about the performance of star players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Head coach Gautam Gambhir also hinted that it might be time for them to play in domestic cricket again. Kohli’s performance has been disappointing, with only 90 runs scored besides a century during the recent tour of Australia, making this his worst series there. Meanwhile, Rohit has struggled even more, scoring just 31 runs in five matches, leading to an average of only 6.2.

Experts believe it might help them get back into form if they play in the upcoming Ranji Trophy, which starts on January 23. A member of the Indian team management said, “Playing domestic cricket can help them find their rhythm.” They worry that without practice, especially since India won’t play any Test matches until June of next year, Kohli and Rohit’s gameplay could worsen. They easily switch to white ball cricket, but returning to red ball cricket is a challenge.

It’s been a long time since Kohli (last played in 2012) and Rohit (hasn’t played in nine years) participated in the Ranji Trophy. Pathan noted this lack of commitment from today’s players, pointing out that several other key players also haven’t played in the Ranji Trophy for years.

Former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin recently talked about the surprising retirement of Indian spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. After the third Test in Brisbane ended in a draw, Ashwin announced he was stepping away from international cricket, leaving many fans and players in shock.

Ashwin didn’t play in that match, and prior to it, he appeared in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide, where he scored a total of 29 runs and took one wicket. Earlier in the series, India suffered a shocking loss to New Zealand in a Test match at home, which was a big surprise since they hadn’t lost like that in 12 years. Ashwin, known for being a top performer in India’s Test matches, expressed his frustration after not being chosen to play.

On the Willow Talk podcast, Haddin commented, “India started this series not knowing their best spin option, and it’s a bit strange that Ashwin decided to retire mid-series. It seems like he was upset not being picked.” Haddin believes Ashwin views himself as the best spinner and didn’t want to sit on the bench if the team didn’t think he was essential. “He’s accomplished a lot and probably feels he doesn’t need to keep playing if he’s not the first choice,” Haddin explained.

India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3, finishing after losing the fifth Test at Sydney. With this defeat, India can no longer compete for the ICC World Test Championship final next year, as Australia and South Africa have already secured their spots.

Over his career, Ashwin played 106 Tests, taking 537 wickets with an average of 24.00 and achieving best figures of 7/59. He claimed 37 five-wicket hauls and is now the second-highest wicket-taker for India, right behind Anil Kumble. Ashwin also scored 3,503 runs in Tests, including six centuries.

In One Day Internationals (ODIs), he took 156 wickets and scored 707 runs. Overall, Ashwin collected 765 wickets across all formats, making him India’s second-highest wicket-taker. He was also a vital member of the Indian teams that won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013

Virat Kohli had a tough time during his recent tour of Australia. In five Test matches, he only scored 190 runs, despite hitting a century in the first game at Perth. He kept getting out in the same way by chasing wide balls. As a result, his average was just 24, and his struggles contributed to India losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade.

Ricky Ponting, a former captain of Australia, believes that Kohli still has a lot to offer to Indian cricket. He remembered his own difficulties towards the end of his career and how they are similar to what Kohli is facing now. While Ponting averaged 39.48 in his last five years of playing, his overall average was 51.85.

Ponting said, “I can see how much Virat wants to succeed. But sometimes, trying too hard can make things harder. In the past, I focused more on not getting out than actually scoring runs, which might sound weird.”

Kohli has only made three centuries in the last five years of Test cricket, and he struggles against deliveries pitched outside the off-stump. Ponting thinks there might be a mental block for Kohli, but he believes Kohli still has valuable experience to share with his teammates.

Ponting explained, “When I was playing my best, I just focused on scoring runs. Now, with Virat, it seems like he doesn’t want to play those wide balls, yet there’s something holding him back.”

Finally, Ponting reflected on his own career and mentioned that he played for two more years than he should have. He wanted to help guide younger players and make sure they were ready for international cricket as some senior players were retiring, including Mike Hussey.

India’s fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is once again in the running for the ICC Player of the Month! He earned this nomination for his powerful bowling during the exciting Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. The ICC announced the nominees for December 2024, and Bumrah is on the list for the second time in a row.

In December, Bumrah showed his incredible skills by taking 22 wickets in just three Test matches. Despite Australia gaining confidence in the series, Bumrah was a shining star for India. He had amazing performances, including four wickets for 61 runs in Adelaide, six wickets for 76 runs in Brisbane, and a thrilling nine-wicket victory in Melbourne. His success even helped him reach the highest scoring points for any Indian bowler!

Bumrah hopes to win the Player of the Month title and also aims for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy as the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year in 2024.

On the other hand, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins is also on the shortlist thanks to his strong bowling. He helped Australia win matches in Adelaide and Melbourne. In December, Cummins scored 144 runs and took 17 wickets, showing his leadership.

Completing the list is South Africa’s Dane Paterson, who performed well with 13 wickets in just two Tests that helped South Africa qualify for the WTC Final at Lord’s in June. Paterson made a great comeback in the Test team, especially with his amazing five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka and another five wickets against Pakistan.

For the women’s nominations, we have Indian star Smriti Mandhana, who scored a lot in December games against Australia and the West Indies. South African player Nonkululeko Mlaba is nominated for the first time for her impressive wicket-taking in a Test against England. Finally, Annabel Sutherland from Australia shined brightly, scoring back-to-back centuries against India and New Zealand while also picking up important wickets.

West Indies cricket legend Clive Lloyd is worried about a new proposal to split test cricket into two tiers. This idea, which involves creating a top and a bottom division, would mean that only a few countries, like India, Australia, and England, would play against each other more often. Lloyd believes this would hurt other countries, especially those struggling to compete.

Lloyd, who was captain of the West Indies when the team was at its best in the 1970s and 1980s, said, “It’s bad for countries that worked hard to get test status. How can they improve if they don’t get to play the stronger teams?”

In the meantime, test cricket is facing tough competition from popular T20 leagues all over the world. Despite that, there are exciting test matches, like the recent series between India and Australia, which attracted big crowds. Former India coach Ravi Shastri supports the two-tier idea, saying it would make test cricket better by ensuring exciting matches.

However, Lloyd warned that being put into a lower tier could result in less funding for struggling countries. This could seriously damage the West Indies team, which consists of players from 15 different islands. He pointed out that the West Indies used to support cricket around the world, and now they need help.

“Our islands have to play together. We’ve been doing that for years,” Lloyd added. He reminded everyone that the West Indies were once very important for the sport and deserve better attention now.

On this day in 2019, the Indian cricket team made history! Led by captain Virat Kohli, they won a Test series in Australia for the very first time, something no other Indian team had done before. The exciting four-match series ended with India leading 2-1, and they could have won 3-1, but rain interrupted the final game in Sydney.

The series kicked off in December 2018, with both teams showing their skills and determination. India won the first Test and the third, while Australia claimed victory in the second. The last match ended in a rain-affected draw.

Key Players Who Shined:

– Cheteshwar Pujara: Pujara was the heart of India’s batting, scoring 521 runs with an amazing average of 74.42. He hit three centuries and made 193 runs in the Sydney Test, proving he could handle the Australian bowlers.

– Jasprit Bumrah: Bumrah emerged as a star bowler, taking 21 wickets at an average of 17 runs per wicket. He had a fantastic match in Melbourne, taking 6 wickets for just 33 runs.

– Rishabh Pant: The young wicketkeeper-batsman impressed everyone with an unbeaten 159 runs in the Sydney Test. He became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a century in Australia and was the second-highest scorer for India in the series with 350 runs.

– Mohammed Shami: Shami was a great help to Bumrah, finishing the series with 16 wickets, including a brilliant performance of 6 wickets for 56 runs in one match.

Match Results:

– First Test (Adelaide): India won by 31 runs, thanks to Pujara’s century and strong bowling from Bumrah and Shami.

– Second Test (Perth): Australia bounced back, winning by 146 runs. Despite Kohli’s impressive 123 runs, India struggled in the second innings.

– Third Test (Melbourne): India took control and won by 137 runs. Pujara and Bumrah both played incredibly well.

– Fourth Test (Sydney): India declared their innings at an amazing 622 runs for 7. With centuries from both Pujara and Pant, Australia was saved by rain, and the match ended in a draw.

This incredible series victory was a major moment for Indian cricket. It showed how teamwork and strong performances could lead to success, even in challenging conditions abroad. The lessons learned and confidence gained from this series helped future Indian teams, including their next win in Australia in 2020-21.

Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan spoke out on Tuesday to support a new idea to help save Test cricket. Vaughan, along with former India coach Ravi Shastri, believes that introducing a two-tier league with promotion and relegation could help keep this type of cricket alive. They shared their thoughts after watching the exciting five-Test series between Australia and India, which Australia won 3-1 in front of large crowds.

Vaughan wrote in a column that he thinks Test cricket needs to change to stay relevant. He suggested having matches last four days with a set number of overs each day, at least three matches for each series, and two groups of six teams, where teams can move up or down between groups based on their performance.

Shastri agreed with Vaughan, saying the recent Australia-India series showed that Test cricket is still popular, even with the rise of T20 franchise cricket. But he added that the top teams need to play against each other more often to keep things exciting.

Reports say that Australia, England, India, and the new chairman of the International Cricket Council, Jay Shah, will meet this month to discuss the two-tier structure. If they decide to go ahead, changes would start after 2027 when the current schedule ends.

Vaughan was happy to hear that the ICC is thinking about this plan, suggesting it could lead to famous matches like the Ashes happening twice every three years. He believes that having the best teams play against each other more often would make the games more interesting and reduce unfair matchups.

The ICC has been thinking about this two-tier system for a long time, but previous plans didn’t succeed due to resistance from powerful cricket boards like India’s. Although India could benefit from more matches against teams like England and Australia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) argued that smaller cricket countries would suffer too much.