MI Cape Town, Paarl Royals, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, and Joburg Super Kings have advanced to the SA20 playoffs. MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals dominated home matches, while SEC relied on strong bowling performances. Playoff matches will determine the final two teams, beginning Tuesday, February 4 in Gqeberha, with the final held in Johannesburg.
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Chamari Athapaththu, Melie Kerr, Laura Wolvaardt, and Orla Prendergast had exceptional years in women's T20Is with notable contributions in batting and all-round performances. Athapaththu led Sri Lanka to Asia Cup victory, Kerr helped New Zealand win the T20 World Cup, Wolvaardt took South Africa to their first T20 final, and Prendergast excelled for Ireland.
The BCCI announced that Renuka Singh Thakur and captain Harmanpreet Kaur will be rested for the home ODI series against Ireland. Smriti Mandhana will captain the team, with the series starting on January 10 in Rajkot. Harmanpreet is recovering from knee injury, while Renuka is rested to manage her workload.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru capped off their disappointing Women's Premier League season with an 11-run victory over Mumbai Indians, denying MI direct entry into the final. Delhi Capitals secured the top spot and a direct final berth. Captain Smriti Mandhana's 53 and crucial knocks from Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, and Georgia Wareham led RCB to a commanding 199/3.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are gearing up for the first ODI against England with an intense net session, showcasing their versatile strokeplay. Their preparation for the three-match series is significant, especially with the Champions Trophy approaching, where they aim to solidify their standing and achieve new milestones.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape cemented their playoff position with a second consecutive bonus point win against Durban's Super Giants, led by Marco Jansen's stellar bowling. The team restricted their opponents to 115/8, then successfully chased the target, with contributions from key batsmen, securing a convincing victory.
Rohit Sharma's Test career hangs in the balance amidst a batting slump in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His recent struggles, compounded by a shift in batting position, raise concerns about his place in the team. Despite a disciplined KL Rahul solidifying his opening spot, Rohit must adapt his technique to the middle order.
Rohit Sharma's batting struggles continued in the Brisbane Test, dismissed for just 10 runs. His move to the middle order, accommodating KL Rahul's return as opener, has added to his difficulties, according to teammate Cheteshwar Pujara. Rohit's recent scores reflect his struggles, aggregating low totals in previous series against New Zealand and Bangladesh.
Sanju Samson recalled his journey with Rajasthan Royals, starting under Rahul Dravid in 2013. Now, in 2025, Samson captains the team while Dravid serves as coach. Their reunion highlights Dravid's long-term influence. Samson looks forward to learning from Dravid, who returned after coaching India's T20 World Cup win. Rajasthan Royals open their IPL 2025 campaign on March 23.
Agni Chopra, born to Bollywood producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra and critic Anupama Chopra, was drafted by MI New York for $50,000 in Major League Cricket. Despite growing up in a showbiz family, Agni pursued cricket, overcoming challenges tied to his privileged status, and excelling in domestic tournaments. Now, he moves to American cricket, eyeing international opportunities.
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.