England's Harry Brook surpasses Joe Root to become the No. 1 Test batter in the latest ICC Test rankings, reaching 898 rating points after his century against New Zealand. Root praises Brook as the "best player in the world." Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja maintain their top spots in the bowlers' and all-rounders' rankings, respectively.
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The third season of the International League T20 (ILT20) will commence on January 11, 2025, in Dubai, featuring 34 matches over a month. The opening match will see Dubai Capitals against defending champions MI Emirates. Teams have finalised their squads, with updates including new players like Phil Salt, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar before the tournament.
R Ashwin identified India and New Zealand as top contenders for the Champions Trophy, citing India's home advantage in Dubai and New Zealand's strong lineup. He warned not to underestimate Australia despite their player injuries, and discussed the prospects of South Africa and the importance of tri-series tournaments for reviving ODI cricket.
Ravi Shastri suggested that Rohit Sharma may consider retiring from Test cricket and urges him to play his natural attacking game in the upcoming match in Sydney. Shastri highlighted that Rohit's recent form has been affected, and a decision on his future might come after the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against Australia.
Deepti Sharma moved to fifth spot in the latest ICC Women's ODI all-rounder rankings, surpassing Amelia Kerr. She holds third in T20 all-rounder rankings and fourth in ODI bowling rankings. Chamari Athapaththu rises to seventh in ODI all-rounder rankings following her series performance. Smriti Mandhana retains second spot in ODI batting, behind Laura Wolvaardt, with Nat Sciver-Brunt in third.
Joe Root is set to return to England's ODI squad for the opening game against India for the first time in the format since the 2023 World Cup. Root's inclusion aims to bolster England's middle-order. He recently excelled in the SA20 competition with both bat and ball.
Matt Sandery, head curator for Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi, discusses the rigorous preparations involved in hosting the upcoming ILT20 and the Champions Trophy that will follow. His team works from early mornings to manage unique pitch conditions and ensure high-quality playing surfaces, while also mitigating challenges like variable weather and dew.
Rishabh Pant's LSG will face Hardik Pandya's MI in the 2025 IPL, with both teams struggling for form. The match, set in Lucknow, will see crucial roles from spinners due to the pitch conditions. Star players Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant are under pressure to perform.
India's emphatic six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy, highlighted by Virat Kohli’s unbeaten ton, sparked joy on social media. Kohli surpassed 14,000 ODI runs, leading India to a win with 45 balls to spare. Fans and celebrities celebrated the triumph, while Pakistan face an uncertain path ahead in the tournament.
Sunrisers Hyderabad are set to kick off the IPL-2025 season on a high note by retaining their formidable batting core and bolstering their bowling lineup with new additions. The team will face Rajasthan Royals, who are missing their captain, Sanju Samson, and have notable changes in their batting lineup.
Josh Inglis scored an unbeaten 120 to lead Australia to a record chase, beating England by five wickets in the Champions Trophy opener. Despite Ben Duckett's 165 propelling England to 351/8, Australia achieved the highest successful chase in ICC white-ball tournament history, with significant contributions from Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell.