Shubman Gill hit a resilient century in the Ranji Trophy match between Punjab and Karnataka, scoring 102 off 171 balls. Despite his efforts, Punjab lost by an innings and 207 runs. After a poor first innings score of 55, Punjab reached 213 in their second innings with Gill's ton as the highlight before being bowled out.
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In a notable SA20 debut, 18-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius scored 97 off 51 balls, leading Paarl Royals to a dominant nine-wicket win against Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Pretorius, focusing on team success over personal milestones, received significant support from Joe Root. Despite a strong innings by Aiden Markram, Royals’ bowlers restricted Sunrisers to 175/5, ensuring a confident victory.
India captain Jasprit Bumrah expressed frustration at not being able to bowl in the second innings due to back spasm, impacting India's efforts in the final Test at Sydney. Despite his absence, Bumrah finished as Player of the Series with 32 wickets.
The SA20 third edition has seen impressive performances from established players like Aiden Markram and rising stars like 18-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius. Delano Potgieter's all-round prowess and Trent Boult's lethal bowling have also been the highlights. Despite a tough start for Sunrisers Eastern Cape, historical resilience inspires confidence. MI Cape Town lead the standings, reversing past underperformances.
Yashasvi Jaiswal will play for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy against Jammu & Kashmir on January 23. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma trained with Mumbai's team, but it's unclear if he will play in the Ranji match, focusing on preparation for the Champions Trophy. Head coach Gautam Gambhir stressed the importance of domestic cricket for player development.
Australia, India, and England, along with the ICC, are reportedly discussing a two-tier Test cricket system to have the big three nations play each other more often. This proposed system may start after 2027, potentially changing the current format and reducing the need for these teams to play against many other nations.
Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane credits his success in IPL and domestic T20s to playing fearless yet composed cricket. He emphasizes staying calm, improving, and enjoying the game while leading KKR in the upcoming season. Rahane applauds India's victory in the Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia.
The ICC has updated its Elite Panel of Umpires, welcoming South Africa's Allahudien Paleker and England's Alex Wharf. Nitin Menon remains the sole Indian on the panel, maintaining his high ranking. ICC Chair Jay Shah praised the newcomers and thanked the outgoing umpires. The 2025-26 panel features officials from around the world.
The pitch for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final is semi-fresh, having been used two weeks ago in the India-Pakistan group stage match. India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir dismissed allegations of undue advantage, stressing that conditions were challenging for all teams equally.
Vidarbha took a crucial 37-run lead against Kerala in the Ranji Trophy final on day three. Harsh Dubey became the highest wicket-taker in a single season with 69 wickets. Key performances included Sachin Baby's 98 and Aditya Sarwate's 79, but Kerala fell short of Vidarbha's first-innings total of 379, getting dismissed for 342.
India's cricket team celebrated their third Champions Trophy win by donning the iconic white jackets during the presentation in Dubai. The jackets, designed by Babita M, symbolize elite success and were introduced in 2009. India's victory over New Zealand was highlighted by Rohit Sharma's commanding 76 and KL Rahul's unbeaten 34, cementing their legacy as the best.