India's use of Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube in the fourth T20I against England sparked debate. Dube was struck on the helmet, and Rana took three crucial wickets, including Liam Livingstone's. England's captain Jos Buttler questioned the move, while Kevin Pietersen felt it wasn't a like-for-like replacement. India's bowling coach Morne Morkel defended the decision.
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A debate ignited over Rohit Sharma's batting position for the Brisbane Test. Sunil Gavaskar suggested Rohit return to opening, with KL Rahul at No. 6. Matthew Hayden, while initially opposing changes, mistakenly referred to "Rahul Dravid," attributing it to Dravid's memorable Adelaide double century from 2003/04.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius, an 18-year-old talent, scored a formidable 83 off 52 balls, leading Paarl Royals to a six-wicket victory over MI Cape Town at Boland Park. Pretorius' excellent performance, aided by teammates, helped the Royals move to joint second place in the SA20 standings.
With Josh Hazlewood out for the rest of the India series due to a calf injury, Australian captain Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are prepared to shoulder increased bowling responsibilities. The series is currently tied 1-1. Cummins and Starc are expected to play in the remaining Melbourne and Sydney Tests, barring any unforeseen issues.
After a setback against Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, led by Axar Patel, aim to rebound against a struggling Rajasthan Royals side. Karun Nair's impressive form bolsters Delhi's batting, while their spin attack, spearheaded by Kuldeep Yadav, poses a threat. Rajasthan Royals seek consistency, hoping Jofra Archer finds his rhythm to strengthen their bowling unit in this crucial encounter.
Simon Taufel, one of cricket's top umpires, will lead the match officials panel for ILT20 Season 3, with Roshan Mahanama. The tournament features experienced umpires from various countries and will commence on January 11, 2025. The opening match will see MI Emirates against Dubai Capitals. Top players like Andre Russell and David Warner will participate, ensuring an exciting event.
Steve Smith and Travis Head's centuries propelled Australia's dominance in the third Test against India at the Gabba. Rohit Sharma's captaincy and field placements drew criticism from former players like Kerry O'Keeffe and Michael Vaughan for lacking pressure tactics. Head's fearless approach, detaching from consequence, earned praise from Ravi Shastri and O'Keeffe for his impactful innings.
The Indian cricket team paid tribute to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh by wearing black armbands during the fourth Test against Australia. Dr. Singh, known for his 1991 economic reforms, passed away at 92 in New Delhi. The match resumed with Australia at 311/6 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar praised Rishabh Pant for his crucial half-century against Australia in Sydney, highlighting his bravery and calculated risks. Pant's aggressive 50 in 29 balls helped India stay in contention to win the Test match. Bangar commended Pant's diverse gameplay and resilience throughout the series, despite earlier challenges.
Pakistan secured a dominant 127-run victory over West Indies in the first Test in Multan, with spinners Sajid Khan and Abrar Ahmed sharing nine wickets. Pakistan's spinners dismissed West Indies for 123 in their chase of 251. Sajid bagged five wickets, while Abrar picked up four to seal the win.
Ravindra Jadeja did not bowl in Saurashtra's win over Assam to provide younger players with experience, as confirmed by coach Niraj Odedra. Jadeja is fit and batted, but with two other left-arm spinners in the team, he chose to let the youngsters gain confidence for the quarterfinals, where Saurashtra will likely face Gujarat.