Afghanistan earned a narrow eight-run win against England in the Champions Trophy, sending them packing from the tournament. Ibrahim Zadran's stellar 177 led Afghanistan to a total of 325 for seven. Despite Joe Root's century, England couldn't chase the target. Ravi Shastri and Michael Vaughan criticised England's performance, urging them to improve their sub-continent play.
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Smriti Mandhana smashed a record-breaking 77 runs in the third T20I against the West Indies, leading India to a series-clinching victory and their highest-ever T20I total of 217/4. She surpassed multiple records, including most 50+ scores and fours in women's T20Is. Richa Ghosh's blistering 54 off 21 balls further solidified India's dominance.
Virat Kohli arrived an hour before the team for extra practice to address his poor form ahead of India's crucial Champions Trophy match against Pakistan. Michael Clarke praised Kohli's dedication, predicting he could excel under pressure, while Sanjay Manjrekar warned that Kohli might be overexerting himself.
Dubai Capitals achieved a remarkable eight-wicket victory over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Sunday. They successfully chased a daunting target of 204, led by a 135-run partnership between Shai Hope and Gulbadin Naib, setting a new record in ILT20 history.
Ashleigh Gardner's all-round performance led Gujarat Giants to a six-wicket victory against UP Warriorz in the Women's Premier League. Gardner's contributions with 2 for 39 in bowling and a swift 32-ball 52 in batting were pivotal. Priya Mishra's 3 for 25 and essential partnerships propelled Gujarat to chase down 143 with two overs remaining.
KL Rahul's unbeaten 42 guided India to a four-wicket win over Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final. Australia scored 264, with contributions from Steve Smith and Alex Carey. Player of the match Virat Kohli anchored India's chase with 84 runs before Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul sealed the victory.
Shreyas Iyer expressed his joy on India's 2025 Champions Trophy win, noting his contribution in crucial moments. With 243 runs, Iyer was the top scorer for India, playing a key role in their victory against New Zealand. Iyer highlighted the collective effort in securing this triumph, marking his first ICC trophy win and fifth title in a year.
Jasprit Bumrah expressed gratitude upon winning the prestigious ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year award, highlighting India's T20 World Cup victory as his most cherished memory of 2024. Bumrah, who also earned the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year title and a spot in the Test Team of the Year, emphasized that team success remains his top priority.
Australia's Big Bash League may introduce 'double play run-outs' and 'designated hitters' to attract elite players and spectators. High-level discussions are underway to implement these innovations in BBL15, aiming to speed up matches and reduce players' workload. The Playing Conditions Advisory Committee will review these potential changes, inspired by baseball and England's 'The Hundred' tournament.
Greg Chappell analyzes how cricket legends like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Joe Root face their eventual decline, termed "Elite Performance Decline Syndrome." He observes subtle shifts in their approach, marked by increased caution and a struggle to recapture peak fluency.
England's Harry Brook surpasses Joe Root to become the No. 1 Test batter in the latest ICC Test rankings, reaching 898 rating points after his century against New Zealand. Root praises Brook as the "best player in the world." Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja maintain their top spots in the bowlers' and all-rounders' rankings, respectively.