Ashleigh Gardner's brilliant 58 off 31 balls and economical bowling of 1/22 led Gujarat Giants to a six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women's Premier League. The Giants restricted RCB to 125/7, with key bowling performances from Deandra Dottin and Tanuja Kanwar. Gardner's aggressive batting ensured an easy chase in 16.3 overs.
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The SA20 final on February 8 at the Wanderers will be played before a sold-out crowd for the third consecutive year. Tickets for the season finale have sold out faster than the previous year. Fans are encouraged to purchase playoff tickets to see the top teams compete for final spots.
Quetta Gladiators' bowler Usman Tariq faces scrutiny as his bowling action was reported as suspect during a Pakistan Super League T20 match against Lahore Qalandars. This isn't the first time Tariq's action has been questioned; he was previously reported last year.
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.
Harbhajan Singh comments on the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, emphasizing the impact it could have on India’s performance in the Champions Trophy. Despite this setback, he believes India remains a favorite due to experienced players like Shami and Kuldeep, along with the batting form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Shan Masood and Babar Azam led Pakistan's fightback with a record 205-run opening stand against South Africa after following on in the second Test. Masood remained unbeaten on 102, while Babar scored 81. Pakistan ended day three at 213 for one, still needing 208 runs to make South Africa bat again.
The Chennai Super Kings will attempt to secure their sixth Indian Premier League title as they face the Mumbai Indians in their 2025 season opener in Chennai. Former India opener Kris Srikkanth expects another successful season for Chennai, while Mumbai look to rebound after a disappointing 2024 season.
Dwayne Bravo is set to mentor Kolkata Knight Riders in the upcoming IPL season, replacing Gautam Gambhir. With 631 wickets and 17 T20 titles, Bravo aims to instill his champion mentality and mold the next generation. KKR retains their core team, with Venkatesh Iyer as vice-captain and Ajinkya Rahane as the new captain.
The BCCI is likely to seek an extension to announce India's provisional squad for the Champions Trophy by January 19, past the ICC deadline of January 12. The decision follows the selection of the squad for the T20I series against England, with ODIs and the Champions Trophy squad announcement postponed.
Ravichandran Ashwin's sudden retirement from international cricket during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series has signaled the start of India's transition phase. Aakash Chopra believes Ashwin's decision stemmed from limited overseas opportunities, exacerbated by Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar's presence. Chopra anticipates more retirements may follow, reshaping the team's composition in the coming months.
Australia won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and qualified for the World Test Championship Final by defeating India 3-1 in the series. Key performances came from Travis Head, Pat Cummins, and Scott Boland. This victory marks Australia's first series win against India since 15, and they continue to dominate major international cricket events.