Virat Kohli's relationship with the Australian crowd has fluctuated between hostility and admiration. His aggressive on-field demeanour often incites reactions from fans, leading to confrontations. Over time, his remarkable performances and sportsmanship have earned him respect, though he still faces occasional booing and sledging.
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Nineteen-year-old Sam Konstas made a sensational Test debut, hitting two sixes off India's Jasprit Bumrah at the MCG, becoming the second player to do so in a single innings. His fearless performance and rapid half-century in 52 balls marked him as a promising future star in Australian cricket. He was eventually dismissed on 60 by Ravindra Jadeja.
The Indian team held a near full-tilt training session in Adelaide on Tuesday, but Jasprit Bumrah remained absent as part of his workload management. The five-Test series is tied 1-1, with India's batting struggling in three out of four innings so far. Bumrah's performance as the leader of India's bowling has been crucial, making his fitness critical to the team's chances.
Pretoria Capitals, the 2023 SA20 finalists, aim for a comeback in 2025 with new captain Rilee Rossouw and head coach Jonathan Trott. Key additions, including Liam Livingstone and Evin Lewis, bolster the squad. After a disappointing 2024 season, the team aims to reclaim its form, starting against Durban's Super Giants on 10 January.
India triumphed over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final, marking their second ICC title in nine months. Key decisions, including promoting Axar Patel in the batting order and backing KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant, played crucial roles, while Varun Chakravarthy's unexpected inclusion bolstered their spin attack. This win marked India's second ICC title in just nine months. They had previously clinched the 2024 T20 World Cup in June, defeating South Africa in the final in Barbados.
MS Dhoni, former India and CSK captain, highlighted the importance of wicketkeeping for reading the game effectively. Despite stepping down from captaincy, he continues to be a key figure in guiding the five-time IPL champions. Dhoni praised Ruturaj Gaikwad's leadership, mentioning he handled most decisions independently. CSK commenced their IPL 2025 season with a win and will face RCB next.
Over 160 British parliamentarians urged the ECB to withdraw from the Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, protesting the Taliban's restrictions on women's rights. ECB's Chief Executive Richard Gould advocates for a coordinated ICC-wide stance for impact. England's match against Afghanistan is scheduled for February 26 in Lahore, with the tournament hosted by Pakistan in a hybrid model.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's spectacular fielding in his ODI debut for India against England drew praise from Axar Patel and fielding coach T Dilip. Jaiswal's stunning catch of Ben Duckett was instrumental in shifting the momentum, as India managed to bring down England from 75/1 to 77/3.
India captain Jasprit Bumrah expressed frustration at not being able to bowl in the second innings due to back spasm, impacting India's efforts in the final Test at Sydney. Despite his absence, Bumrah finished as Player of the Series with 32 wickets.
Marcus Stoinis, Australian all-rounder, retires from ODIs after 74 matches, to focus on T20Is. Cricket Australia will replace him for the ICC Champions Trophy. Stoinis, a pivotal ODI player, helped in the 2023 ODI World Cup win. Coach McDonald praised his contributions and leadership. His exit coincides with injury concerns for Cummins and Hazlewood.
Ravichandran Ashwin's sudden retirement from international cricket after the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy raised questions about the team management's handling of his departure. Anil Kumble criticised the lack of a “grand farewell†plan for Ashwin. Ashwin, who retired with 537 Test wickets, had aimed to reach the 600-wicket mark, following Kumble's advice.