Australia's captain Pat Cummins defended his batters after a mini-collapse on day five of the rain-affected drawn third Test against India at the Gabba. Despite the scare, Cummins emphasized the team's focus on roles and situational play over individual stats. He praised debutant Nathan McSweeney's selfless approach despite a lean series so far.
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Virat Kohli has been ruled out of Delhi's Ranji Trophy matches against Saurashtra and Railways due to a persistent neck sprain. The Senior Men's Selection Committee announced a 21-member squad led by Ayush Badoni, with Rishabh Pant as the designated wicketkeeper. Kohli's recent struggles with form in the ongoing Test season were also noted.
Kagiso Rabada's two wicket-maiden overs led MI Cape Town to a 33-run victory over Paarl Royals in the first Cape Derby of SA20 Season 3. Rabada praised teammate Trent Boult's support and the unique atmosphere at Newlands. Highlighting team continuity, he emphasised the importance of resetting for their upcoming rematch with the Royals.
Gautam Gambhir's tenure as India's head coach faces scrutiny with mixed results across formats so far. While successful in T20Is (6/6 wins), the Test performance, especially the 1-3 defeat in Australia and batting issues, raises concerns. Support staff's effectiveness is also under scrutiny going forward. India's next Test assignment is the five-match series in England in June-July.
Steve Smith achieved his 33rd Test century, his first in 18 months, despite the difficulties posed by the changed Kookaburra ball introduced in 2020. He considers the last three years the toughest of his career due to increased seam movement and harder wickets.
Jasprit Bumrah shone at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, taking his 200th Test wicket and troubling Australia's middle order. Despite Bumrah's efforts, Australia extended their lead to 333 runs with a wicket and day left in the Test, forcing India to face a record challenge.
Ron Draper, the oldest living Test cricketer, passed away at 98 in Gqeberha. Draper played two Test matches for South Africa in 1950. His first-class debut was marked by a century on his 19th birthday. Draper is remembered for his continued cricketing career until 1959-60, maintaining an impressive average of 41.64.
Tom Alsop's unbeaten 85 off 60 balls led Gulf Giants to a six-wicket victory over Sharjah Warriors in ILT20, successfully chasing 171 for 6 in the final over. Tom Curran supported with 26 not out. Zimbabwean pacer Blessing Muzarabani took 3 for 32, helping to restrict the Warriors, who had strong contributions from Jason Roy and others.
Rohit Sharma has navigated a challenging phase from a disappointing series loss against New Zealand to leading India to a Champions Trophy win. Despite criticisms and speculations regarding his form and fitness, Rohit's decisive captaincy and resilient performance have reaffirmed his significant role in the team.
In the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur and Renuka Singh, Smriti Mandhana leads the Indian women's cricket team in their first bilateral series against Ireland. India looks to maintain their winning streak after recent victories against the West Indies, with notable performances expected from Harleen Deol, Pratika Rawal, and Jemimah Rodrigues.
Faf du Plessis has been appointed as vice-captain of Delhi Capitals for IPL 2025, announced the franchise. Selected at a base price of Rs 2 crore, du Plessis will assist captain Axar Patel. With extensive IPL experience and leadership history, the South African batter is expected to be a key asset for DC in the upcoming season.