Ricky Ponting expresses surprise at Shreyas Iyer's absence from India's white-ball squad, highlighting Iyer's outstanding performances in domestic cricket and the 2023 World Cup. Ponting praises Iyer's ability to excel on slower pitches and expects him to shine in the upcoming Champions Trophy. Delighted with Iyer's inclusion in Punjab Kings, Ponting looks forward to their potential success.
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The Jukskei Derby between Joburg Super Kings and Pretoria Capitals was abandoned due to heavy rain. Joburg Super Kings used their spin bowlers effectively to restrict Pretoria Capitals to 138/8. Both teams secured two points each, moving Joburg Super Kings to the top of the table, while Pretoria Capitals are joint second with MI Cape Town.
Despite a six-wicket defeat against Desert Vipers, Gulf Giants' Mark Adair praised his team's efforts and determination. He highlighted their strong performance and positive mindset, emphasizing their ability to bounce back. Adair expressed confidence in the team's potential and the professional environment within the franchise as they prepare for their next match against Dubai Capitals on January 18th.
Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Capitals in a thrilling match at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Despite Karun Nair's impressive 89, Delhi's middle-order collapse and three run-outs in the penultimate over cost them the game while chasing 206. Captain Axar Patel blamed soft dismissals and sloppy fielding for the loss, while praising Kuldeep Yadav's exceptional bowling performance this season.
Steve Smith becomes the fourth Australian to surpass 10,000 Test runs, suggesting that Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, or Sam Konstas could be the next. He notes that challenging pitch conditions have made achieving such milestones tougher, especially in Australia.
Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma have advanced to the second and third positions, respectively, in the latest ICC ODI batting rankings following their recent century innings. They are closing in on Pakistan's Babar Azam, the current top-ranked batsman, as a thrilling competition for ranking supremacy looms ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Australia clinched their third straight ICC Women's Championship title, defeating New Zealand by 75 runs in Wellington. Healy and Litchfield's opening partnership, followed by Gardner's explosive 74, propelled Australia to a commanding 290. New Zealand's initial strong chase faltered after Bates and Kerr's dismissals, leading to a 215-run finish.
In a thrilling SA20 match at Kingsmead, Durban's Super Giants narrowly defeated the Pretoria Capitals by two runs. Despite an impressive 154-run partnership between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Will Jacks, Pretoria couldn't chase DSG's target of 210, finishing at 207/6. Key performances from Noor Ahmad, Chris Woakes, and Keshav Maharaj turned the game in DSG's favour.
Australia defeated Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs in Galle, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Matthew Kuhnemann's career-best 9-149 and support from Nathan Lyon were instrumental in Australia's win. Sri Lanka's first innings ended at 165, and they collapsed in the second session despite Dinesh Chandimal's efforts.
Yuzvendra Chahal's exceptional leg-spin propelled Punjab Kings to an improbable victory against Kolkata Knight Riders, defending a meager 111. Chahal's 4/28 triggered a dramatic collapse, as KKR faltered from a comfortable 62/2 to 95 all out. Marco Jansen's crucial wickets sealed the heist, overshadowing Kolkata's earlier dominance with the ball.
Star batter Smriti Mandhana and all-rounder Deepti Sharma have secured places in the ICC Women's ODI Team of the Year 2024, comprising top players from several countries. Mandhana led the ODI run charts with 747 runs, while Deepti impressed with 186 runs and 24 wickets across 13 matches.