South Africa's cricket captain, Temba Bavuma, is determined to lead his team to their first World Test Championship Final. Currently topping the standings, they face a crucial two-Test series against Pakistan. Winning just one game secures their spot at Lord's in June. Bavuma emphasized the significance of the championship, calling it a "World Cup" for red-ball cricketers.
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Afghanistan's head coach Jonathan Trott praised his team's resilient performance in their eight-run victory over England, which keeps them in contention for the ICC Champions Trophy semifinals. The win demonstrates Afghanistan's progress under Trott's guidance and sets the stage for a crucial match against Australia.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia is captivating a massive audience on Star Sports Network. The first two Tests saw a staggering 86 million viewers and 12.8 billion minutes of watch time, significantly surpassing the 2020-21 series. The Adelaide day-night Test alone drew 49 million viewers, a 22% jump from the previous edition.
Speculation arises that India may rest senior players like Rohit Sharma, Shami, and a spinner for Sunday's match against New Zealand, as both teams have already qualified for the semifinals. This game provides an opportunity to test bench players and ensure a fully-fit squad for the crucial semifinal, which follows just a day later.
Former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain praise Virat Kohli's remarkable ODI records after his unbeaten century against Pakistan in a Champions Trophy match. They consider him potentially the greatest ODI batsman ever, highlighting his 51st century and rapid achievement of 14,000 runs.
ILT20 is sponsoring a 22-day Ramadan cricket tournament at the ICC Academy in Dubai from 13 March to 3 April 2025. The event will feature 10 domestic teams with over 200 players competing. David White, CEO of ILT20, emphasized their commitment to developing local cricket talent. The tournament will be live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook.
Nitish Kumar Reddy scored his first Test century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, bringing India back into the fourth Test against Australia with 105 not out. Reddy’s innings included ten fours and one six, contributing to a crucial 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar, leaving India at 358/9.
India turns focus to limited-overs cricket with upcoming T20I and ODI series against England after Test series losses against New Zealand and Australia. The series is pre-cursor to the ICC Champions Trophy which begins on 19 February with India playing a day later in Dubai. Rohit Sharma is expected to captain India in both series.
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.
Virat Kohli and Harbhajan Singh's playful dance during the rain delay at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy went viral. Harbhajan, on commentary duties, recounted the incident, explaining how Kohli teased him about his outfit resembling actor Jeetendra's, leading to an impromptu dance-off. Their lighthearted exchange highlights the camaraderie between the two cricketers.
The Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers face off in the ILT20 Season 3 final at Dubai International Stadium, with a prize pool exceeding USD 1 million. Captains Sam Billings and Lockie Ferguson highlight their teams' strengths and top players like Shai Hope and Alex Hales. The championship boasts significant rewards for both the champions and standout individual performers.