The ICC Champions Trophy is approaching, and eight captains are ready to lead their teams. These leaders aim for victory in the 19-day tournament hosted by Pakistan. Notable captains include Hashmatullah Shahidi of Afghanistan, Steve Smith of Australia, Jos Buttler of England, and Rohit Sharma of India. Each team arrives with high hopes and strong strategies.
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Mumbai's lower order rescued the team from a perilous 101 for six to 278 for eight on Day 1 of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Haryana. Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian's crucial 165-run partnership played a pivotal role. Haryana bowlers Anshul Kamboj and Sumit Kumar initially dominated, but Mumbai found stability thanks to Mulani and Kotian's resilience.
Michael Clarke, former Australian cricket captain, has been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame. Clarke, known for his outstanding performance, achieved over 8600 Test runs, 28 centuries, and a triple century at the SCG. Praised for his leadership, especially after the tragic death of Phil Hughes, Clarke expressed his honor during the Sydney ceremony.
Pakistan's spinners led their team to a 127-run victory over the West Indies in the first Test in Multan. Sajid Khan and Abrar Ahmed took nine and four wickets, respectively, as West Indies were dismissed for 123. This marks Pakistan's third consecutive home win by making pitches extremely spin-friendly.
Chennai Super Kings faced their second consecutive IPL defeat on Sunday, losing by six runs to Rajasthan Royals. The match showcased contrasting fielding efforts, with RR players excelling while CSK struggled. Ambati Rayudu highlighted CSK's poor fielding, stressing the impact of missed chances on close games. Riyan Parag’s game-changing catch exemplified RR's sharp fielding crucial for their victory.
Opener Abhishek Sharma credits mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy for India's turnaround in their seven-wicket victory against England in the T20 series opener. Chakaravarthy's pivotal over halted England's progress, allowing other bowlers to capitalize. Sharma also praised the team's support and his IPL experience for bolstering his fearless batting.
Lucknow Super Giants received a boost with pacer Akash Deep joining ahead of their IPL match against Mumbai Indians. After recovering from a back injury, Akash Deep is now fit and set to enhance LSG's bowling lineup. He bolsters the team amidst injuries to players like Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan, making this crucial for LSG's playoff hopes.
Australia clinched a historic women's Ashes whitewash, dominating England with an innings and 122-run victory in the pink ball Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Displaying superior depth and strength, the hosts triumphed across all formats, highlighting their continued supremacy since securing the Ashes in 2015.
The ICC announced a neutral venue policy for India-Pakistan clashes in upcoming tournaments. This applies to the 2025 Champions Trophy, 2025 Women's World Cup, and 2026 T20 World Cup. Pakistan will host the Champions Trophy and defend its 2017 title. The Women's T20 World Cup 2028 will be in Pakistan. Australia will host a women's event between 2029 and 2031.
Travis Head continued his dominance against India with a second consecutive century (103*) in the third Test at the Gabba. His blistering knock, alongside Steve Smith's steady 65*, propelled Australia to 233/4 at tea on Day 2. This marked Head's third century in seven innings against India in Test cricket. He also scored a century to win Australia the 2023 ODI World Cup final against India.
Ricky Ponting believes Mitchell Starc's exceptional performance in the second Test against India might have been fueled by Yashasvi Jaiswal's playful taunt about his bowling speed in the previous match. Starc's improved consistency and ability to start spells strongly, particularly with the pink ball, contributed to his success, according to Ponting.