The upcoming white-ball series between India and England sees Gautam Gambhir and Brendon McCullum headlining as respective coaches. McCullum praised Gambhir's leadership and is tasked with revitalizing England's team after past disappointments. Gambhir aims for success in the Champions Trophy to secure his position, while McCullum focuses on creating a positive environment for England.
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Steve Smith's unbeaten 104 propelled Australia to 330-2 on day one of the opening Test in Galle on Wednesday, surpassing 10,000 Test runs alongside Usman Khawaja's 147. The pair's unbroken 195-run stand frustrated Sri Lanka. Smith became the fourth Australian to reach the milestone, joining cricket legends Allan Border, Steve Waugh, and Ricky Ponting.
India's captain Rohit Sharma credited Shreyas Iyer as the 'silent hero' after India's ICC Champions Trophy win. Iyer played a crucial role throughout the tournament, particularly in the middle order. He ended as India's leading run-scorer and second overall, ensuring vital partnerships like the fourth-wicket stand with Axar Patel in the final against New Zealand.
Punjab Kings have had strong start to IPL 2025 under their new captain Shreyas Iyer, with victories over Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans. Shreyas, praised by coach Ricky Ponting, has played key roles with undefeated scores, while the team has maintained strong bowling and batting performances.
Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin dedicated a song to India's fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah during their concert in Ahmedabad. Bumrah, who attended the event, was seen enjoying the performance and blushing as Martin acknowledged him.
Australia secured the second spot in the World Test Championship standings after a 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka. They confirmed their place in the final following their 3-1 Border-Gavaskar series victory over India. South Africa topped the standings to qualify for the final, slated for June 11 at Lord's.
Madan Lal criticised the poor drainage system at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium during the Afghanistan-Australia Champions Trophy match, calling it a "bad advertisement" for Pakistan. Despite efforts to clear rainwater, the game was called off.
Virender Sehwag criticised the Royal Challengers Bengaluru management for releasing Mohammed Siraj, asserting that former captains Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis failed to use him effectively during powerplays. Siraj's recent performance against RCB highlighted their mistake, demonstrating his potential when utilised properly. He took three wickets against his former team on Wednesday.
Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill is focused on winning in IPL 2025 despite external distractions. Under his captaincy, GT has won two consecutive matches, climbing to fourth on the points table. Gill emphasised adapting to different pitch conditions and the importance of seizing opportunities despite occasional fielding errors.
Steve Smith will lead Australia in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka as Pat Cummins is on paternity leave and attending to an ankle issue. The squad is without Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh. Travis Head is Smith's deputy.
Mohammed Shami's return to the India squad has been a major point of interest in the series against England. Although he's fit, his match participation is pending a strategic decision by coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, likely closer to the ICC Champions Trophy. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak citeed planned management of Shami's workload as key.