India's tour of Australia brought spotlight to Nitish Kumar Reddy's impressive batting, unexpectedly showcasing his potential as a core batter rather than a bowling allrounder. His Test century at MCG under pressure against a strong opposition has raised questions about possible promotion up the batting order and re-evaluation of team balance.
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Joe Root stresses the necessity of consistency ahead of England's five-Test series against India, beginning June 20. Root, England's top Test run-scorer, is prepared for the challenge and emphasizes the importance of performing consistently well in such major series.
MS Dhoni has clarified that Ruturaj Gaikwad is in charge of the Chennai Super Kings, while he himself focuses on adapting his game to stay relevant at 43 years of age. Dhoni praised Gaikwad's leadership and discussed his evolving friendship with Virat Kohli. He also appreciated the addition of regional commentary in the IPL, noting its energetic appeal.
Aakash Chopra selected his squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy, excluding Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav. He emphasized Rohit Sharma’s leadership and credits Shreyas Iyer's recent performance. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant will be included as wicketkeeper-batters. Chopra picked Iyer due to his consistent run-scoring, while Pant replaces Ishan Kishan.
KL Rahul's unbeaten 93 led Delhi Capitals to a six-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Karnataka man Rahul, playing on his home ground, utilized his experience to adapt to the tricky surface.
Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman's half centuries powered New Zealand to a 113-run victory against Sri Lanka in the second ODI, securing a 2-0 series win. Ravindra scored 79 and Chapman contributed 62 as New Zealand posted 255-9. Sri Lanka faltered at 22-4 and despite Kamindu Mendis' career-best 64, they were bowled out for 142 in 30.2 overs.
New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra made a triumphant return from a bizarre on-field injury, scoring a match-winning 112 in a victory over Bangladesh to secure a spot in the Champions Trophy semi-finals. His crucial partnership with Tom Latham helped eliminate Bangladesh and Pakistan from the competition.
Delhi Capitals achieved a convincing six-wicket victory over Gujarat Giants in the Women's Premier League, led by Shafali Verma's 44 and Jess Jonassen's unbeaten 61. Successfully chasing 127 in 15.1 overs, a 74-run stand between Verma and Jonassen was pivotal. Earlier, Delhi's bowlers restricted Gujarat to 127, spearheaded by Marizanne Kapp, Shikha Pandey, and Annabel Sutherland.
New Zealand's relatively smaller player pool allows for longer runs and a cohesive team culture. Batter Glenn Phillips believes this advantage helps them perform better in ICC tournaments compared to countries like India, where the intense competition may shorten player opportunities and increase individual pressure.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius, an 18-year-old talent, scored a formidable 83 off 52 balls, leading Paarl Royals to a six-wicket victory over MI Cape Town at Boland Park. Pretorius' excellent performance, aided by teammates, helped the Royals move to joint second place in the SA20 standings.
Mohammed Siraj made a triumphant return to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, delivering a stellar performance for Gujarat Titans against his former IPL team, RCB. Showcasing his growth as a white-ball bowler, Siraj’s impressive 3/19 highlighted his successful reinvention and determination to prove his doubters wrong.