Mitchell Santner has been named New Zealand's new white-ball cricket captain, succeeding Kane Williamson. The 32-year-old spinner, a veteran of 243 international matches, will lead the ODI and T20I sides, starting with the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. Santner, praised for his calm demeanour and experience, has previously captained the team in several matches.
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Kane Williamson's masterful 123 not out, his seventh century at Seddon Park, propelled New Zealand to a commanding 478-run lead over England on Day 3 of the third Test. Rain hampered play, but Williamson's innings, combined with a 107-run partnership with Rachin Ravindra (44), solidified the Black Caps' dominance.
Suryakumar Yadav is optimistic about the upcoming IPL season despite a recent dry spell with the bat. He remains flexible in the batting order, focusing on consistency and maintaining a clear mindset. The season carries extra significance as he aims to regain form for the Indian cricket team. He will lead the Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings in the absence of suspended Hardik Pandya.
Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul is set to play for Delhi Capitals in the upcoming 2025 IPL season. He was acquired for Rs 14 crore after being released by Lucknow Super Giants. Rahul is excited to join DC, appreciating their balanced squad and strong team potential. He is ready to contribute and adapt as per team requirements.
Michael Clarke, former Australian cricket captain, has been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame. Clarke, known for his outstanding performance, achieved over 8600 Test runs, 28 centuries, and a triple century at the SCG. Praised for his leadership, especially after the tragic death of Phil Hughes, Clarke expressed his honor during the Sydney ceremony.
Former cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen, and Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir extended their New Year greetings for 2025, wishing everyone health, happiness, prosperity, and success. They shared their messages on X, expressing optimism and excitement for the year ahead, while highlighting personal and professional goals and aspirations.
India suffered a 0-3 series whitewash against Australia despite Smriti Mandhana's century (105) in the third women's ODI in Perth. Australia, recovering from 78/4, posted 298/6 thanks to Annabel Sutherland's 110 and Ashleigh Gardner's 50. Gardner later took 5/30 to restrict India to 215, securing an 83-run victory for Australia.
Virat Kohli congratulated Rajat Patidar on being named the new captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, praising his growth and performance. Despite rumours of Kohli's return to captaincy, RCB chose Patidar, with Director of Cricket Mo Bobat emphasising Kohli's influence and support for the decision. Former RCB skipper Faf du Plessis also heaped praise on Patidar for earning the job.
Tamim Iqbal, former Bangladesh captain, has retired from international cricket. In his career, he scored over 15,000 runs and hit 25 centuries. Although expected to return for the Champions Trophy, he chose to walk away. Tamim played 70 Tests, 243 ODIs and 78 T20Is, scoring hundreds in all formats.
Spinner Allah Ghazanfar from Afghanistan will miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to a fracture in his vertebra. The injury, sustained during a recent tour of Zimbabwe, will sideline him for at least four months. Nangyal Kharoti has been promoted to the main squad. Ghazanfar will also miss the IPL 2025 season for Mumbai Indians.
The Women's Premier League (WPL) is gearing up for its third season with a mini-auction in Bengaluru on December 15 (Sunday). 120 players, including nine capped Indians and 29 overseas players, are vying for just 19 open slots. Gujarat Giants hold the largest purse, while Delhi Capitals have the least.