Persistent rain halted the third day of the first Test between Australia and Sri Lanka, with Australia leading by a significant margin of 518 runs. Sri Lanka, struggling at 136-5 by lunch, saw Dinesh Chandimal fighting at 63 not out while Starc and Lyon kept up the pressure.
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Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues secured her first international century, propelling her to 19th in the ICC Women's ODI rankings. Her 102 runs helped India achieve their highest total of 370 in the second ODI against Ireland, leading to a series win. Smriti Mandhana maintained her third place ranking, with Alyssa Healy advancing to fifth.
Bengal keeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha received a guard of honour during the Ranji Trophy match against Punjab, marking his retirement from all cricket forms. Saha's career includes 141 First-Class matches and 40 Tests for India. The 40-year-old veteran last represented India in December 2021 against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium.
Tom Alsop's unbeaten 85 off 60 balls led Gulf Giants to a six-wicket victory over Sharjah Warriors in ILT20, successfully chasing 171 for 6 in the final over. Tom Curran supported with 26 not out. Zimbabwean pacer Blessing Muzarabani took 3 for 32, helping to restrict the Warriors, who had strong contributions from Jason Roy and others.
Australia aim to maintain their strong record at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the fourth Test against India. With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy currently tied 1-1, both teams need a result to boost their World Test Championship final hopes. Australia boasts a 57.75% win rate at the MCG, having won 67 out of 116 matches played there.
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's Arshdeep Singh attributes his T20 cricket success to continuous improvement and constructive criticism. Playing for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, Arshdeep supports new captain Shreyas Iyer's player-centric approach. With 99 international T20 wickets, he thrives on high-pressure situations and emphasizes patience and learning from mistakes to achieve success.
Nat Sciver-Brunt's stellar performance in both batting and bowling led the Mumbai Indians to a five-wicket win against Gujarat Giants in the Women's Premier League. Sciver-Brunt claimed two wickets and scored 57 runs off 39 balls. Key contributions by teammates further restricted Gujarat Giants to 120 runs, securing an easy chase for Mumbai.
MS Dhoni has clarified that Ruturaj Gaikwad is in charge of the Chennai Super Kings, while he himself focuses on adapting his game to stay relevant at 43 years of age. Dhoni praised Gaikwad's leadership and discussed his evolving friendship with Virat Kohli. He also appreciated the addition of regional commentary in the IPL, noting its energetic appeal.
Varun Chakaravarthy becomes the oldest Indian ODI debutant since 1974, debuting at 33 years and 164 days in the second ODI against England in Cuttack. His debut cap was presented by Ravindra Jadeja. Chakravarthy expressed his pride in the achievement and aims to make a significant impact. India lead the three-match series 1-0.
Axar Patel, a spin-bowling all-rounder and potential successor to Ravindra Jadeja, emphasises he doesn't need to prove his worth amid Indian cricket's transition. With 184 international wickets, the 31-year-old Axar focuses on performing whenever opportunities arise. He remains unfazed by selection issues, highlighting the importance of role clarity and communication, especially in T20 cricket.