India plans to tweak their playing XI with the return of Mohammed Shami and availability of Rinku Singh as they look to seal the T20 series against England in Pune. The team aims to optimize spin-heavy combinations and powerplay strategies against a formidable England side to secure victory and avoid a series decider in Mumbai.
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Former Australian coach Darren Lehmann criticized chief selector George Bailey for being too close to the Test team to make tough decisions, particularly regarding the struggling top order. Captain Pat Cummins defended Bailey, praising his boldness and objectivity, emphasizing the broader considerations beyond online scrutiny in selection.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) plans to bolster the Indian cricket team's support staff by appointing Sitanshu Kotak as the new batting coach. Kotak, an experienced former cricketer and current India A head coach, will join head coach Gautam Gambhir and other coaching personnel for the home series against England.
Smriti Mandhana has climbed to second place in both T20I and ODI batting rankings after impressive performances against the West Indies. She now trails only South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt and Australia's Beth Mooney. Alongside, Indian and Australian players, including Harmanpreet Kaur, Annabel Sutherland, and Renuka Singh Thakur, made notable advancements in their respective rankings.
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.
West Indies' 2025 home schedule features a highly anticipated Test series against Australia, their first since 2015. Scheduled across June and July, the series is part of the ICC World Test Championship. Additionally, West Indies will host Pakistan for ODIs and T20Is. The women's team has crucial matches against England and South Africa, aiming for World Cup qualification.
Significant upgrades have been made to Gaddafi Stadium and National Bank Stadium, including new chairs, state-of-the-art LED lights, and large digital replay screens, enhancing the overall spectator and broadcast experience. New hospitality enclosures are nearly complete, for players and officials. Pakistan will start their Champions Trophy campaign against New Zealand in Karachi on February 19.
India captain Rohit Sharma's performance with the bat in the Champions Trophy was defended by head coach Gautam Gambhir, emphasizing the skipper's intent rather than the amoutn of runs he has scored. Gambhir highlighted Rohit's fearless approach at the top of the order as having a positive impact on the team’s dressing room.
India, trailing 2-1 in the Test series, face a challenging task against Australia to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The final match begins on January 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where India have a poor record, winning only once since 1947.
Virat Kohli congratulated Rajat Patidar on being named the new captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, praising his growth and performance. Despite rumours of Kohli's return to captaincy, RCB chose Patidar, with Director of Cricket Mo Bobat emphasising Kohli's influence and support for the decision. Former RCB skipper Faf du Plessis also heaped praise on Patidar for earning the job.
Several Indian cricketers, including KL Rahul, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, and Amit Mishra, along with badminton star Saina Nehwal, took to social media to extend their warm wishes for Holi. They expressed their hopes for happiness, joy, and colorful celebrations, reminding fans to enjoy responsibly. "May the splashes of colour brighten your life with laughter, love, joy and unforgettable memories. #HappyHoli," former India cricketer Virender Sehwag wrote.