The Indian team held a near full-tilt training session in Adelaide on Tuesday, but Jasprit Bumrah remained absent as part of his workload management. The five-Test series is tied 1-1, with India's batting struggling in three out of four innings so far. Bumrah's performance as the leader of India's bowling has been crucial, making his fitness critical to the team's chances.
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In the Champions Trophy match in Dubai, Pakistan faced an early setback against India. They lost both openers, Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq, due to sharp fielding and bowling by Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya. Pakistan needs to win to stay in the tournament. India, meanwhile, can qualify for the semi-finals if they win.
Smriti Mandhana has climbed to second place in both T20I and ODI batting rankings after impressive performances against the West Indies. She now trails only South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt and Australia's Beth Mooney. Alongside, Indian and Australian players, including Harmanpreet Kaur, Annabel Sutherland, and Renuka Singh Thakur, made notable advancements in their respective rankings.
The Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) has responded to the state's show cause notice regarding the floodlight malfunction during the India-England ODI on February 9. OCA has decided to deploy two generator sets per floodlight to avoid future incidents. OCA president Pankaj Lochan Mohanty assured no disturbances occurred during subsequent matches and the BCCI did not seek a report.
Australian pacer Scott Boland excelled in the Test series against India, taking 21 wickets in three matches at an average of 13.19, including a ten-wicket haul in the final Test. Boland's performance, highlighted by dismissing Virat Kohli four times, secured him the best bowling average in men's Test cricket since WWI.
Former Pakistan skipper Younis Khan has been appointed as Afghanistan cricket team's mentor for the 2025 Champions Trophy, beginning February 19. The high-stakes tournament, with 15 matches held across Pakistan and Dubai, will see eight teams competing. Naseeb Khan, Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO, expressed confidence in Younis' expertise given the conditions.
Pakistan recalled top-order batter Fakhar Zaman for the Champions Trophy, starting February 19, after his recovery from a knee injury. Saim Ayub misses out due to injury Mohammad Rizwan will captain the team, which also features 2017 champions Zaman, Babar Azam, and Faheem Ashraf. Pakistan will play India in Dubai on February 23.
Karun Nair returns to top-level cricket with Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, five years after his last IPL game. At 33, having scored nine centuries in the domestic season, Nair is pushing for an India 'A' selection, aiming for a comeback to India's Test middle order.
At a BCCI awards ceremony in Bengaluru in 2018, young Nitish Kumar Reddy had a memorable fanboy moment with his idol Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma. Anushka kindly arranged a photo session, creating a treasured family memory. The Reddy family reunited with Kohli in Melbourne on Saturday, adding another cherished photo to their collection.
The first Test between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan ended in a draw with record-breaking scores. Zimbabwe scored 586 runs, while Afghanistan amassed 699, with historic performances from Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah. Zimbabwe's Brian Bennett impressed with both ball and bat. Rain affected the match's conclusion. The second Test starts Thursday in Bulawayo.
Jasprit Bumrah received ICC Awards and Team of The Year caps at the Dubai International Stadium in recognition of his exceptional 2024 performances. Despite a back injury from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy keeping him out of the 2025 Champions Trophy, Bumrah's accolades highlight a remarkable year in Test and T20 cricket.