Rohit Sharma cited Varun Chakaravarthy's X-factor as the reason for his selection in India's Champions Trophy match against New Zealand, where he took 5 wickets for 42 runs. India's win by 44 runs set up a semi-final against Australia. Varun, the Player of the Match, credited his teammates' support for easing his initial nerves.
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Falcon Risers Hyderabad and Srinagar Ke Veer began their ISPL Season 2 campaigns with emphatic victories. Hyderabad triumphed over Chennai Singams by eight wickets, chasing 69 runs easily. Srinagar Ke Veer then dominated KVN Bangalore Strikers, winning by 10 wickets, with Sagar Ali scoring the season's first half-century.
India set a record for most consecutive tosses lost in ODIs, with Pakistan choosing to bat first in their Champions Trophy match. Losses began November 23rd, surpassing Netherlands' record of 11. India remain unchanged, aiming for semi-final qualification. Pakistan made one change, with Imam replacing Fakhar Zaman. Both teams look forward to their high-stakes encounter.
Former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson criticised Team India for using ineffective intimidation tactics against Australia's debutant players in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Johnson said the attempts to unnerve the rookies failed as two of them performed well in Australia's 3-1 series win. He emphasised the need for experienced players to guide newcomers in handling high-pressure situations.
Tickets for the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025, set to take place in Dubai, go on sale on Monday, February 3. Fans can buy tickets for India's matches and the semi-final online. Tickets for games in Pakistan, held in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, are already available. The final match tickets will be sold after the first semi-final.
Anil Chaudhary, a former international umpire, had highlighted Mohammad Rizwan's excessive appeals, prompting Indian wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan to critique Rizwan during a chat. Kishan advised appealing only when sure to instill confidence in umpires. He also discussed improvements in umpiring over the past decade with Chaudhary, emphasising the importance of confident, unbiased decision-making among new umpires.
Mohammed Siraj dismissed Usman Khawaja and signaled Australian fans to 'keep quiet' amidst their booing following a previous clash with Travis Head. Australia reached 53 for 2 at lunch, leading by 158 runs. Nitish Kumar Reddy scored a century for India, aiding his team to reach 369 before falling to Nathan Lyon. Nitish has accumulated 293 runs so far in his maiden Test series.
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.
India vice-captain Shubman Gill will now use an MRF sticker on his bat starting from the Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia. This new endorsement deal ends his long association with CEAT. At 25, Gill has already secured partnerships with several premium brands, highlighting his rising market value.
Pakistan made history by becoming the first team to sweep South Africa 3-0 in an ODI series in South Africa. Saim Ayub smashed his second century of the series; he scored 101 runs. Ayub joined the ranks of Virat Kohli, Joe Root, David Warner, Kevin Pietersen and Fakhar Zaman with his second ton of the series. Pakistan won the match by 36 runs (DLS method).
Kevin Pietersen criticised England for not holding practice sessions after losses in the T20I and ODI series against India. He highlighted that practicing is crucial for improvement, especially when facing defeats. Jos Buttler defended their approach, stressing that they trained adequately despite tour challenges. Pietersen also dismissed media excuses regarding injuries and lack of turnaround time.