Australia strengthened their position in the fourth Test against India, ending the fourth day with a lead of 333 runs. Captain Pat Cummins' determined 41 and Marnus Labuschagne's 70 were crucial, while Jasprit Bumrah's 200th Test wicket highlighted India's effort. Australia's decision to extend batting raised questions, and Mitchell Starc dismissed fitness concerns.
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India's Mohit Sharma shared a balanced view of BCCI's revised policy restricting family members on tours. A day earlier, Virat Kohli, however, had strongly emphasised the importance of family presence for players' mental well-being. Players' spouses and families are allowed only after the first two weeks on tours exceeding 45 days or for a week on shorter tours.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav's over-aggressive approach in the ongoing T20I series against England has been critiqued by former England captain Michael Vaughan. Vaughan suggests that Surya should focus on spending time in the middle and choosing the right balls to hit, emphasizing the need for sensible batting to rebuild innings.
Matthew Breetzke debuted for the Proteas in the ODI tri-series with an impressive 150 against New Zealand. Breetzke's composure against challenging conditions set the stage for South Africa's strong innings. However, Kane Williamson's unbeaten 133 secured victory for New Zealand.
India captain Rohit Sharma assured that his knee injury is fine before the Boxing Day Test against Australia. Despite speculation about his batting position, Rohit emphasized the team's interests and praised KL Rahul's recent performances and young Yashasvi Jaiswal's natural playing style.
Smriti Mandhana, a prominent figure in Indian women's cricket, has had an exceptional year, emerging as the ICC's Women's ODI Player of the Year. With 747 runs in 13 One-Dayers in 2024, she outperformed top players globally. Her consistent performances, including four centuries, and leading Royal Challengers Bangalore to a title, underscore her growth and maturity.
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir clarified that Shreyas Iyer was not benched throughout the series against England, despite speculation. Iyer played in the first ODI due to Virat Kohli's injury and performed well in subsequent matches. Gambhir emphasized the importance of rotating players and confirmed Iyer's significance ahead of the Champions Trophy.
The ICC has decided that India-Pakistan matches in ICC tournaments through 2027 will be held at neutral venues. This includes the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the 2025 Women's World Cup in India, and the 2026 T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal supported the decision, stating it benefits all involved.
Australian pacer Scott Boland caused significant damage to India's batting lineup by dismissing key players Jaiswal, Rahul, and Kohli in the fifth Test at the SCG. Rishabh Pant stabilized the innings with a knock of 61. Kohli's struggle against Boland continued, with Boland dismissing him for the fourth time in the series.
Pakistan and Bangladesh have chosen to replace their scheduled ODI series with a five-match T20 International series this May. This new arrangement aims to better prepare both teams for the Asia Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup, providing crucial exposure for younger players. The source further mentioned that Bangladesh will likely play in Lahore, Multan, and Faisalabad, while Pakistan is set to tour Bangladesh in June or July for a three-match T20 series.
Australian pacer Scott Boland excelled in the Test series against India, taking 21 wickets in three matches at an average of 13.19, including a ten-wicket haul in the final Test. Boland's performance, highlighted by dismissing Virat Kohli four times, secured him the best bowling average in men's Test cricket since WWI.