Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting praised Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami for his remarkable five-wicket haul in India's Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh. Ponting highlighted Shami's resilience and determination following his recovery from a long injury layoff. Shami's achievement of 200 ODI wickets underscores his consistency and dedication, earning appreciation for his performance amidst adversity.
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In a bizarre scheme of things in the Pakistan Super League 2025, James Vince of Karachi Kings received a hair dryer as the 'Reliable Player' award after his match-winning century against Multan Sultans. Vince's explosive 101 off 43 balls, coupled with Khushdil Shah's 60, powered Karachi to a record-breaking chase of 235.
Sunrisers Hyderabad will open their IPL campaign against Rajasthan Royals, led by Riyan Parag in place of injured Sanju Samson. SRH's strong lineup includes top performers like Abhishek Sharma and Pat Cummins. The Royals face a challenge with Jos Buttler absent and reliance on key players like Shimron Hetmyer. The match starts at 3:30pm IST on Sunday.
Shubman Gill's composed 87-run knock, alongside Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel's crucial contributions, led India to a four-wicket victory over England in the first ODI. Despite early setbacks, Gill remained positive, adapting well to the challenging pitch. The match was notable for the absence of Virat Kohli, with Gill stepping up as vice-captain and excelling under pressure.
Australia's struggling opener Nathan McSweeney has been dropped for the Boxing Day Test against India after a string of low scores. Nineteen-year-old Sam Konstas has joined the squad, potentially opening alongside Usman Khawaja, whose form is also under scrutiny. Selectors might reshuffle the batting order given inconsistencies from other players. Scott Boland will replace the injured Josh Hazlewood.
Virat Kohli achieved a landmark by surpassing Rahul Dravid's record for the most catches by an Indian fielder in international cricket, following his catch off Josh Inglis' shot. Kohli's fielding feat came during India's semi-final match against Australia in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer scored an unbeaten 97 in the IPL 2025 opener against GT. He chose to prioritise the team’s total over his milestone century. His selfless leadership impressed fans and former cricketers. Shreyas has consistently demonstrated team-first mentality, as evidenced by his performance in the 2014/15 Ranji Trophy season.
Suresh Raina, an IPL legend, discusses various aspects of the upcoming IPL season, focusing on CSK's chances, Shreyas Iyer's potential impact on Punjab Kings with Ricky Ponting, and Rishabh Pant's challenges at Lucknow Super Giants. He highlights MS Dhoni's dedication and the strengths of CSK’s spin department, emphasizing key players and their roles in achieving success.
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.
The third season of the International League T20 (ILT20) will commence on January 11, 2025, in Dubai, featuring 34 matches over a month. The opening match will see Dubai Capitals against defending champions MI Emirates. Teams have finalised their squads, with updates including new players like Phil Salt, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar before the tournament.
South Africa's sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, urged the national men's cricket team to boycott Afghanistan at the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan to support Afghan women who face severe repression under Taliban rule. McKenzie argued for solidarity, echoing concerns from activists and organisations about the Taliban's restrictions on women's rights in Afghanistan.