Australia's World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins is in a race against time to recover from an ankle injury ahead of the Champions Trophy. Scans will determine his availability. Meanwhile, Steve Smith will lead the Test team in Cummins's absence for the Sri Lanka tour. Josh Hazlewood, also injured, is expected to be fit for the Champions Trophy.
Related news
The ICC has updated its Elite Panel of Umpires, welcoming South Africa's Allahudien Paleker and England's Alex Wharf. Nitin Menon remains the sole Indian on the panel, maintaining his high ranking. ICC Chair Jay Shah praised the newcomers and thanked the outgoing umpires. The 2025-26 panel features officials from around the world.
Gulf Giants secured their first win of ILT20 Season 3, defeating Dubai Capitals by six wickets. Contributions from Gerhard Erasmus and Shimron Hetmyer helped chase down 166 runs with 11 balls remaining. The Giants' bowlers, especially Aayan Afzal Khan, were instrumental in restricting Dubai to 165/7. Dubai Capitals aim to address their fielding issues for better results ahead.
South Africa's coach Rob Walter remains optimistic despite the team's failure in the ICC semifinal against New Zealand. The Proteas fell short by 50 runs. Walter emphasized the importance of learning from each game and remains focused on the 2027 ODI World Cup at home.
England captain Ben Stokes suffered another hamstring injury while bowling in the third Test against New Zealand. He left the field due to discomfort after bowling just two balls of his third over. The injury is to the same left leg he injured in August. Stokes's availability for England's second innings is uncertain.
JioStar broke TV viewership records as the India vs Pakistan match in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 drew 20.6 crore TV viewers. The match, branded as the 'Greatest Rivalry,' garnered 2609 crore minutes of TV viewing time. An unexpected highlight was MS Dhoni and actor Sunny Deol watching together. India's final against New Zealand is on March 9.
India's World Test Championship final hopes rest on winning both Tests against Australia. If India splits the series, they need Pakistan to upset South Africa. A Pakistan series win improves India's chances, while a 2-0 Pakistan win guarantees qualification regardless of Sri Lanka's results against Australia.
India began training in Adelaide after a 10-wicket loss to Australia. The team held a net session to prepare for the third Test in Brisbane. Batters practiced defensive and aggressive techniques. India need a series win to improve their World Test Championship standing. The series is currently tied 1-1. India aim to turn things around in the next match.
UAE clinched a thrilling two-run victory over Kuwait in the ILT20 Gulf Cricket Championship (GCC) final. Alishan Sharafu and Tanish Suri provided crucial runs for UAE. Meet Bhavsar's 72 almost led Kuwait to victory. The match went down to the wire. Muhammad Jawadullah held his nerve in the final over. UAE secured their first ILT20 GCC title.
As the IPL 2025 approaches, anticipation builds not just for the games but for the intense rivalries and heated moments. Memorable incidents include Harbhajan Singh’s slap to Sreesanth, Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir’s clashes, Kieron Pollard’s bat toss, MS Dhoni’s pitch invasion, and David Warner’s confrontation with the umpire, highlighting the passion and pressure in the tournament.
Yograj Singh has backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy despite their poor performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. He emphasizes the importance of their presence in grooming young talent. Singh also praised the IPL's role in improving Indian cricket and lauded the BCCI's support for women's cricket.