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.
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Law enforcement raided a bungalow in Pilerne, Goa, arresting three men from Gujarat involved in illegal betting on a cricket match. Seized items included mobile phones, a laptop, and a router valued at Rs 1.1 lakh. The suspects face charges under the Goa Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act as the investigation continues.
Sunil Gavaskar feels that India might have a tough time defending even a score of 200 against Australia if Jasprit Bumrah is not fit to bowl in the final innings of the Sydney Test. Bumrah's availability is crucial, and his condition will be assessed on Sunday after he left the field due to back spasm.
The ODI-format Champions Trophy is scheduled to begin on February 19, with England set to play only three 50-over matches against India before the prestigious tournament. England skipper Jos Buttler highlighted the appeal of the series, adding, "I think it's going to be a really exciting T20 series. There are ODIs to follow as well, so yeah, I'm just looking forward to the games."
Virat Kohli's unbeaten century against Pakistan in his 299th ODI has propelled him to the fifth position in ICC rankings and surpassed Ricky Ponting's run total. Kohli now needs 149 runs to overtake Kumar Sangakkara. Ricky Ponting commented on Kohli's pursuit of Tendulkar’s record, highlighting Kohli's enduring performance and fitness at age 36.
Steve Smith is set to lead Australia in the Test against Sri Lanka, and is just one run away from reaching 10,000 Test runs. Stand-in captain for the unavailable Pat Cummins, Smith downplayed the milestone and is focused on the match. Australia aim to strengthen its position as top-ranked, while Sri Lanka seeks to reclaim the Warne-Murali Trophy.
As India and Pakistan prepare for the high-profile ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash, former Indian opener Navjot Singh Sidhu emphasises the psychological intensity of the match. Both Yuvraj Singh and Shahid Afridi reflect on the significance and immense pressure of playing in an India-Pakistan encounter, underlining its unique impact on players and fans.
Torrent Group is set to acquire around two-thirds stake of Gujarat Titans from CVC Capital Partners, valuing the deal at Rs 7,500 crore. The agreement, pending BCCI approval, will be finalized before the IPL season starts in March. The deal marks the first majority stake sale of an IPL team since 2008.
Virat Kohli's decision to move to the UK received significant support on social media, contrasting with the criticism Aamir Khan faced a decade ago. Kohli's behavior during the Boxing Day Test against Australia highlighted a broader issue of entitlement and aggression in India.
Former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson criticised Team India for using ineffective intimidation tactics against Australia's debutant players in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Johnson said the attempts to unnerve the rookies failed as two of them performed well in Australia's 3-1 series win. He emphasised the need for experienced players to guide newcomers in handling high-pressure situations.
As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is tied at 1-1, former India coach Lalchand Rajput emphasised the necessity for the Indian batters to post a significant first innings score in the decisive Test at Melbourne. Highlighting the strength of India's bowling, he acknowledged the need for batters' contributions and anticipates a smooth transition despite recent retirements.