Shardul Thakur remains positive about his future in Indian cricket despite currently being out of the national setup. He is hopeful of making a comeback for the England tour in June-July. Meanwhile, Shardul continues to impress in domestic cricket, having played a crucial role for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Haryana.
Related news
Jasprit Bumrah received ICC Awards and Team of The Year caps at the Dubai International Stadium in recognition of his exceptional 2024 performances. Despite a back injury from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy keeping him out of the 2025 Champions Trophy, Bumrah's accolades highlight a remarkable year in Test and T20 cricket.
SA20, South Africa's premier T20 competition, remains a key platform for emerging cricket talents. This season saw standout performances from Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Rubin Hermann, and others, showcasing their impressive skills and earning recognition. The league continues to be a valuable launchpad for young players aiming for international success.
During an IPL 2025 match between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, a fan invaded the pitch to touch RR's stand-in captain Riyan Parag's feet. This was Parag's debut as IPL captain in Assam. Though Parag performed modestly, the incident highlighted his growing popularity. RR remains winless and will face Chennai Super Kings next.
England must defeat Afghanistan in their crucial Champions Trophy match to stay in the tournament. Following a disappointing loss to Australia, England's inconsistent batting and weak bowling performance need improvement. Afghanistan's strong spin attack poses a challenge. Both teams are at risk of elimination, making this a high-stakes match.
Rohit Sharma cited Varun Chakaravarthy's X-factor as the reason for his selection in India's Champions Trophy match against New Zealand, where he took 5 wickets for 42 runs. India's win by 44 runs set up a semi-final against Australia. Varun, the Player of the Match, credited his teammates' support for easing his initial nerves.
Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed concerns about the balance in ODIs, citing that changes like two new balls and an additional fielder in the circle favor batsmen. He suggests that the format might be revitalized by using red balls instead of white, highlighting the diminishing role of reverse swing and finger spin.
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 captain Rohit Sharma confirms KL Rahul will continue as wicketkeeper for the ODI series against England despite Rishabh Pant's return. Rahul's performance in the 2023 World Cup solidifies his position, while Pant's comeback provides valuable flexibility for the team.
MI Cape Town secured a 33-run victory over Paarl Royals in the first Cape Derby of SA20 Season 3. Reeza Hendricks hit a stylish 59, supported by Rassie van der Dussen's 43. Kagiso Rabada's exceptional bowling turned the game in MI Cape Town's favour. George Linde and Rashid Khan further dismantled the Royals, restricting them to 139/9.
Tickets for the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025, set to take place in Dubai, go on sale on Monday, February 3. Fans can buy tickets for India's matches and the semi-final online. Tickets for games in Pakistan, held in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, are already available. The final match tickets will be sold after the first semi-final.