Australia's Test opener Nathan McSweeney has been dropped from the squad for the fourth Test against India after struggling against Jasprit Bumrah. Teenage prodigy Sam Konstas receives his first call-up. McSweeney, a non-specialist opener, averaged a meager 14.40 in three Tests. His dismissal by Bumrah four times in six innings sealed his fate.
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Bhuvneshwar Kumar became the joint-highest wicket-taker among pacers in IPL history with 183 wickets during RCB's match against Gujarat Titans. Despite his impressive performance, RCB lost by eight wickets. Bhuvneshwar's economical bowling stood out in the game where Gujarat chased a 170-run target successfully, thanks to contributions from Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler.
Mitchell Santner has been named New Zealand's new white-ball cricket captain, succeeding Kane Williamson. The 32-year-old spinner, a veteran of 243 international matches, will lead the ODI and T20I sides, starting with the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. Santner, praised for his calm demeanour and experience, has previously captained the team in several matches.
India faced a roller-coaster journey in the World Test Championship, with early victories followed by crucial defeats. Despite a strong start, losses against New Zealand and Australia proved costly. Critical matches and the performances of other teams ultimately led to India's elimination from the WTC final contention.
Shreyas Iyer continues to shine in domestic cricket with a stunning century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, amassing 312 runs in four matches. In contrast, India's T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav struggles with consecutive ducks. Karun Nair sets a world record with 542 runs in five games before dismissal, leading Vidarbha to an unbeaten run.
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.
Ashleigh Gardner's brilliant 58 off 31 balls and economical bowling of 1/22 led Gujarat Giants to a six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women's Premier League. The Giants restricted RCB to 125/7, with key bowling performances from Deandra Dottin and Tanuja Kanwar. Gardner's aggressive batting ensured an easy chase in 16.3 overs.
UAE and Saudi Arabia secured victories on Sunday in the ILT20 Gulf Cricket Championship at the ICC Academy in Dubai. UAE defeated Oman by 24 runs, with Muhammad Waseem's all-round performance earning him Player of the Match. Saudi Arabia dominated Qatar by nine wickets, thanks to Usman Khalid's unbeaten 75. UAE remains unbeaten atop the standings, while Saudi Arabia climbs to fourth.
Astrologer Greenstone Lobo has predicted a promising future for young Shubman Gill as a cricket leader but advises against making him captain before 2027. Lobo emphasises the potential of other cricketers like KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Shreyas Iyer for leading India to a World Cup victory due to their powerful horoscopes.
Sanju Samson impressed with a fiery batting display against England, hitting 22 runs in the first over before being dismissed for 26 off 20 balls. India bowled out England for 132, with notable contributions from Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy, who took key wickets.
Hashmatullah Shahidi will captain Afghanistan in their first ICC Champions Trophy, starting February 19. Key players include Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, and Mohammad Nabi. Spinner Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman will miss the tournament. Afghanistan's group matches are against South Africa, England, and Australia.