Smriti Mandhana climbed to the second spot in ICC Women's ODI batting rankings after stellar performances in the series against Ireland. Deepti Sharma reached fourth in bowling rankings and sixth among all-rounders. Australian Ashleigh Gardner led the all-rounders' list, delivering outstanding performances in the Ashes.
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Ishan Kishan's unbeaten 106 propelled Sunrisers Hyderabad to a formidable 286/6, aiding a 44-run victory over Rajasthan Royals. Traversing a blistering start, Kishan's innings showcased his return to form, backed by notable contributions from teammates, and solidifying SRH's dominance in high-scoring IPL matches.
KL Rahul will be rested from India's upcoming eight-match white-ball series against England starting January 22 in Kolkata. He will return for the Champions Trophy in February. In the meantime, Rahul opted out of Karnataka's squad for the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy to rest after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia.
Gautam Gambhir believes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma maintain their hunger and passion, despite recent poor performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Kohli’s and Rohit's recent struggles have raised questions about their future in Test cricket. Meanwhile, Ravi Ashwin has announced his retirement, suggesting a possible transitional phase for Team India.
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.
Pretoria Capitals, the 2023 SA20 finalists, aim for a comeback in 2025 with new captain Rilee Rossouw and head coach Jonathan Trott. Key additions, including Liam Livingstone and Evin Lewis, bolster the squad. After a disappointing 2024 season, the team aims to reclaim its form, starting against Durban's Super Giants on 10 January.
Abhishek Sharma scored a record-breaking 54-ball 135 against England, showcasing his improved consistency and shot selection. Mentored by Yuvraj Singh and Brian Lara, Sharma's performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and IPL highlighted his remarkable strike rates and intent, further solidifying his role in India's T20 squad.
Axar Patel attributes his rapid development as an all-rounder to increased self-belief. He played a key role in India's Champions Trophy win over New Zealand and emphasizes the importance of his promotion in batting order. He also commends Varun Chakravarthy for his impactful performance, highlighting his challenging bowling pace and the difficulty in reading his deliveries.
India clinched their second consecutive women's U-19 T20 World Cup title with a dominant nine-wicket win over South Africa in the final in Kuala Lumpur. Gongadi Trisha starred with an unbeaten 44 after bowlers restricted South Africa to 82 runs in their 20 overs.
Sujan Mukherjee, the pitch curator of Eden Gardens, clarified that no Kolkata Knight Riders official requested specific pitch requirements for their match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Mukherjee emphasised he maintains good relations with KKR and prepared the pitch following BCCI guidelines. Despite initial criticism, he maintains that he never denied any request from the team.
Joe Root's unbeaten 78 and two vital wickets propelled Paarl Royals to an 11-run win over Pretoria Capitals, securing their SA20 playoff spot. Coach Trevor Penny praised Root's on-field and off-field contributions. The Royals' unique strategy of using 20 overs of spin was effective. Captain Rilee Rossouw remained optimistic about the Capitals' playoff chances despite the defeat.