Harbhajan Singh shared how his feud with Andrew Symonds transformed into a deep friendship after the infamous "Monkeygate" scandal. Symonds' visit to Harbhajan's home with a bottle of rum initiated their reconciliation. They later won the IPL championship together. Harbhajan expressed grief over Symonds' untimely death, highlighting their strong bond.
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Delhi Capitals opener Shafali Verma emphasized the significance of the Women's Premier League in improving her cricket skills and adapting her batting approach. Shafali has demonstrated remarkable growth by interacting with international players and plans to focus on scoring runs to regain her ODI squad position, starting with their WPL 2025 campaign against Mumbai Indians.
South African coach Shukri Conrad responded to criticism over the World Test Championship's scheduling after South Africa qualified for the final. Despite disparities in the number of matches played by different teams, Conrad expressed pride in making it to the final. South Africa's consistent performance, including six successive Test wins, secured their spot.
Scott Boland praised Nitish Reddy's batting skill after the 21-year-old scored an unbeaten 105 on the third day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Boland, who previously played against Reddy, acknowledged the young Indian's ability to score in all areas of the field.
Ajinkya Rahane's century and Royston Dias' five-wicket haul led Mumbai to a 152-run win over Haryana, securing a Ranji Trophy semi-final spot. Rahane scored 108 to set a 354-run target, while Dias (5/39) and Thakur (3/26) dismantled Haryana's chase. Lakshay Dalal and Sumit Kumar's partnership briefly resisted but could not prevent Mumbai's commanding victory.
MI Cape Town secured a 33-run victory over Paarl Royals in the first Cape Derby of SA20 Season 3. Reeza Hendricks hit a stylish 59, supported by Rassie van der Dussen's 43. Kagiso Rabada's exceptional bowling turned the game in MI Cape Town's favour. George Linde and Rashid Khan further dismantled the Royals, restricting them to 139/9.
New Zealand defeated South Africa by 50 runs in the Champions Trophy semifinal, setting up a title clash with India. Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson's centuries propelled New Zealand to 362 for 6, while South Africa's response fell short despite David Miller's unbeaten century. The final is set for March 9 in Dubai.
Chamari Athapaththu, Melie Kerr, Laura Wolvaardt, and Orla Prendergast had exceptional years in women's T20Is with notable contributions in batting and all-round performances. Athapaththu led Sri Lanka to Asia Cup victory, Kerr helped New Zealand win the T20 World Cup, Wolvaardt took South Africa to their first T20 final, and Prendergast excelled for Ireland.
Sam Konstas, a 19-year-old opening batter, is set to debut for Australia in the Boxing Day Test against India, replacing Nathan McSweeney. Former captain Ricky Ponting acknowledges Konstas's talent and attitude, noting his significant challenge against India's top bowlers, including Jasprit Bumrah. Ponting believes Konstas is ready to handle the pressure and maintain his attacking style.
Shreevats Goswami humorously advised Abhishek Sharma to keep his room clean. He praised Abhishek's fearless cricket and his growth as a bowler, thanks to the guidance of Muttiah Muralitharan. Cricketer Jagadeesha Suchith encouraged Abhishek to persist with hard work, sharing advice from Sachin Tendulkar. Abhishek's big-hitting and bowling skills have made him a valuable asset.
KL Rahul is set to miss Karnataka's Ranji Trophy match against Punjab due to an elbow niggle. He has reported his concerns to the BCCI medical team and may return for the final league game against Haryana. The Karnataka Cricket Association will announce the team soon, with Shubman Gill available for Punjab.