Mumbai allrounder Tanush Kotian has been asked to be ready for the first flight out Down Under, ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Australia. Kotian will come in as a replacement for R Ashwin - who announced his retirement after the third Test.
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The Indian team held a near full-tilt training session in Adelaide on Tuesday, but Jasprit Bumrah remained absent as part of his workload management. The five-Test series is tied 1-1, with India's batting struggling in three out of four innings so far. Bumrah's performance as the leader of India's bowling has been crucial, making his fitness critical to the team's chances.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan criticized the decision-making in Pakistan cricket after the team's early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy. He specifically pointed out Mohsin Naqvi's leadership, accusing him of consistently mishandling responsibilities. Pakistan's elimination came after consecutive losses to New Zealand and India, with a final group stage match against Bangladesh having no stakes.
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.
The IPL 2025 season opener between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday is under threat due to an orange alert for thunderstorms and lightning by the weather department in West Bengal. The groundstaff has already taken precautions by covering the playing arena.
Steve Smith confirms Travis Head will open alongside Usman Khawaja in the first Test against Sri Lanka, with Sam Konstas being considered for the middle order. Smith notes the experience will benefit Konstas, even if he doesn't play, recalling his own development in similar situations.
In the Ranji Trophy final, Karun Nair shone for Vidarbha with a crucial century against Kerala, boosting their lead by 200 runs. Nair's continued form included surpassing 8,000 career runs and securing his ninth century of the season. His performance follows recent successes in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and previous Ranji finals.
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.
Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar praised Karun Nair’s outstanding performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, noting his remarkable average of 752 runs in seven innings, with five centuries. Nair’s achievements have led Vidarbha to the tournament final, where they will face Karnataka.
Three Pakistani cricketers, including Shaheen Afridi, were fined for ICC code of conduct breaches during a record run chase against South Africa. Afridi was fined 25% of his match fee for obstructing a South African batter, while Shakeel and Ghulam were fined 10% for celebrating excessively.
The three venues in Pakistan for the Champions Trophy will be ready by the end of this month , according to the PCB. The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the National Stadium in Karachi and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium are undergoing renovations. The tournament begins on February 19, featuring eight teams, with India playing their matches in Dubai.