Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated R Ashwin on his international cricket retirement, praising his exceptional 14-year career. Modi's letter highlighted Ashwin's surprise retirement, comparing it to an unexpected "carrom ball." The Prime Minister lauded Ashwin's 765 international wickets, numerous Player of the Series awards, and crucial contributions to India's victories, including the 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy.
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The second season of the Indian Street Premier League reaches its final stage with the top four teams: Majhi Mumbai, Falcon Risers Hyderabad, Srinagar Ke Veer, and KVN Bangalore Strikers. The first qualifier sees top-placed Majhi Mumbai facing Hyderabad, while the Eliminator features Srinagar against Bangalore. Key players include Rajat Mundhe, Abhishek Kumar Dalhor, Kisan Satpute, and Sagar Ali.
Express pacer Mayank Yadav is set to miss the upcoming white-ball series against England, including five T20Is and three ODIs, due to a back injury. The 22-year-old has been recovering at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and last played a match on October 12, 2023.
India captain Rohit Sharma emphasizes that Jasprit Bumrah, India's top fast bowler, requires no interference due to his clarity and confidence in his abilities. With 21 wickets in the ongoing BGT series, Bumrah's performance has been exceptional, easing the workload on other bowlers and making a significant impact on the team’s success.
India aim to maintain their decade-long unbeaten streak at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against Australia in the Boxing Day Test. Having drawn once and won twice since 2014, India seeks a fourth consecutive positive result at this historic venue. These matches include a significant 2018 victory, breaking a long-standing winless drought, and a 2020 triumph under Rahane's captaincy.
MI Cape Town achieved a dominant bonus-point victory over Durban's Super Giants at Newlands. A strong opening partnership and standout performances from George Linde and Dewald Brevis secured the win. Linde's rejuvenated form and the team's renewed energy under Rashid Khan were key factors.
Mumbai, 42-time Ranji Trophy champions, suffered a shock defeat to Jammu & Kashmir for the second time. Despite having star players, Mumbai's batting lineup was demolished by J&K's impressive seamers. J&K has now advanced to the top of Group A, jeopardizing Mumbai's knockout chances.
Melbourne Stars' Glenn Maxwell showcased exceptional athleticism with a sensational boundary catch in their Big Bash League match against Brisbane Heat. Maxwell's effort saw him leaping over the fence, grabbing the ball mid-air, and completing the catch after re-entering the field of play, helping dismiss Will Prestwidge.
Pakistan secured a dominant 127-run victory over West Indies in the first Test in Multan, with spinners Sajid Khan and Abrar Ahmed sharing nine wickets. Pakistan's spinners dismissed West Indies for 123 in their chase of 251. Sajid bagged five wickets, while Abrar picked up four to seal the win.
KKR's bowling coach Bharat Arun remains optimistic despite their opening match loss in IPL 2025. He stresses on learning from the defeat and aims for a strong comeback against Rajasthan Royals. Arun backs players like Andre Russell and Rinku Singh, emphasising team-oriented strategies and the importance of seizing crucial moments in the game.
JioStar broke TV viewership records as the India vs Pakistan match in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 drew 20.6 crore TV viewers. The match, branded as the 'Greatest Rivalry,' garnered 2609 crore minutes of TV viewing time. An unexpected highlight was MS Dhoni and actor Sunny Deol watching together. India's final against New Zealand is on March 9.