Axar Patel attributes his rapid development as an all-rounder to increased self-belief. He played a key role in India's Champions Trophy win over New Zealand and emphasizes the importance of his promotion in batting order. He also commends Varun Chakravarthy for his impactful performance, highlighting his challenging bowling pace and the difficulty in reading his deliveries.
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The ODI-format Champions Trophy is scheduled to begin on February 19, with England set to play only three 50-over matches against India before the prestigious tournament. England skipper Jos Buttler highlighted the appeal of the series, adding, "I think it's going to be a really exciting T20 series. There are ODIs to follow as well, so yeah, I'm just looking forward to the games."
Pat Cummins, Jasprit Bumrah, and Dane Paterson have been shortlisted for the ICC Men’s Player of December 2024. Cummins led Australia to a 3-1 series win against India, claiming 17 wickets. Bumrah excelled with 32 wickets despite India’s series loss. Paterson's key performances helped South Africa secure their spot in the WTC25 Final.
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.
England's recent decline in white-ball cricket becomes evident as they prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy. Struggling under Jos Buttler's leadership, England face challenges from strong opponents and must adapt their strategies to progress in the competition.
New Zealand defeated South Africa by 50 runs in the Champions Trophy semifinal, setting up a title clash with India. Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson's centuries propelled New Zealand to 362 for 6, while South Africa's response fell short despite David Miller's unbeaten century. The final is set for March 9 in Dubai.
Travis Head continued his dominance against India with a second consecutive century (103*) in the third Test at the Gabba. His blistering knock, alongside Steve Smith's steady 65*, propelled Australia to 233/4 at tea on Day 2. This marked Head's third century in seven innings against India in Test cricket. He also scored a century to win Australia the 2023 ODI World Cup final against India.
Key members of India's victorious ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad, including skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir, have returned home after their successful campaign. The team created history by winning the Champions Trophy for the third time, defeating New Zealand in the final held in Dubai. India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir also touched down in Delhi, marking his return after successfully guiding the team to the prestigious Champions Trophy title.
Axar Patel has been appointed as the vice-captain of India's T20I squad for the home series against England. Despite this, says captain Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya remains an integral part of the leadership team. The skipper emphasized his long-standing relationship with Hardik and the collective decision-making approach within the team.
Vidarbha captain Karun Nair continued his red-hot form with an unbeaten 44-ball 88, leading his team to 380 for 3 against Maharashtra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy semi-final. Nair has now amassed 752 runs in the tournament, including four consecutive tons. Openers Dhruv Shorey and Yash Rathod also scored centuries.
West Indies cricketer Alzarri Joseph faced a penalty for using inappropriate language towards the fourth umpire during the first ODI against Bangladesh. He was fined 25% of his match fee and received a demerit point for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct.