KL Rahul will be rested from India's upcoming eight-match white-ball series against England starting January 22 in Kolkata. He will return for the Champions Trophy in February. In the meantime, Rahul opted out of Karnataka's squad for the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy to rest after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia.
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The Dubai Capitals clinched the ILT20 trophy on Sunday in a thrilling final against Desert Vipers, driven by Rovman Powell's 63 off 38 balls and Sikandar Raza's explosive 34 off 12. Despite losing early wickets, the Capitals chased down the Vipers' 189/5 with their explosive bating delivering a four-wicket win.
Falcon Risers Hyderabad triumphed over KVN Bangalore Strikers by 6 runs in a thrilling ISPL match. Vishwajit Thakur top-scored with 26 runs, helping Hyderabad post 84/9 despite early setbacks. Irfan Patel's 4/14 stood out for Bangalore. Bangalore's chase fell short as Hyderabad's bowlers held their nerves, ensuring a tense finish.
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.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasized Shreyas Iyer's critical role in India's ODI set-up ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. Iyer performed consistently during the three-match series against England, helping India secure a 3-0 whitewash.
Sunrisers Hyderabad lead the IPL 2025 points table with a 44-run win over Rajasthan Royals, thanks to Ishan Kishan's unbeaten 106. Chennai Super Kings secure a close win over Mumbai Indians. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, also victorious in their opening match, sit in second place. Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals face heavy defeats, occupying the bottom spots.
Australia won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and qualified for the World Test Championship Final by defeating India 3-1 in the series. Key performances came from Travis Head, Pat Cummins, and Scott Boland. This victory marks Australia's first series win against India since 15, and they continue to dominate major international cricket events.
Ryan Rickelton (176 not out) and Temba Bavuma (106) led South Africa to 316 for four on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan. Their 235-run partnership countered early setbacks and dominated a lacklustre Pakistan bowling attack. Rickelton scored his second Test century, and Bavuma recorded his fourth before getting out just before the close.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is under fire for reducing match fees for players in the National T20 Championship amid financial concerns. Several cost-cutting measures have affected domestic cricket, including travel standards and player contracts. Amidst the backlash, star players Babar Azam and Naseem Shah have withdrawn from the championship, raising concerns about their priorities.
Australia faces significant challenges ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy with key players Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitch Marsh likely to miss out due to injuries. Coach Andrew McDonald has hinted at a potential new captain, with Steve Smith and Travis Head as the frontrunners for the role.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav's over-aggressive approach in the ongoing T20I series against England has been critiqued by former England captain Michael Vaughan. Vaughan suggests that Surya should focus on spending time in the middle and choosing the right balls to hit, emphasizing the need for sensible batting to rebuild innings.