Kolkata Knight Riders have named Ajinkya Rahane as captain and Venkatesh Iyer as vice-captain for the upcoming IPL season. KKR CEO Venky Mysore expressed confidence in their leadership abilities. Rahane stated it is an honour to lead KKR and looks forward to defending their title, starting with a match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 22.
Related news
Shubman Gill's century in the ODI against Bangladesh was marked by immense satisfaction and maturity. Despite a slow start, Gill adapted his game to counter Bangladesh's spin pressure, maintaining control and clarity. His innings ensured India’s win, showcasing brilliant strokes and a contained performance, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Vidarbha seeks revenge against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy semifinals. Vidarbha, led by Akshay Wadkar, boasts seven wins from eight matches, showing strong form. Despite Mumbai's star-studded line-up, their top-order struggles, relying on lower-order players like Thakur. Karun Nair, Yash Rathod, and others drive Vidarbha's success. Rahane acknowledges Vidarbha's home advantage.
England have announced a strong playing XI for the opening T20I match against India in Kolkata, led by experienced captain Jos Buttler. The squad features a mix of seasoned players and all-rounders, offering seven bowling options. Phil Salt and Ben Duckett are set to open, with Harry Brook serving as vice-captain.
India's Rishabh Pant adopted a cautious approach on the first day of the fifth Test against Australia due to the challenging SCG pitch, scoring 40 off 98 balls. Pant is striving for a balance between aggression and defence, acknowledging the mental challenges during rough patches. Australian debutant Beau Webster concurred on the pitch's demanding nature.
In the ILT20 match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Dubai Capitals defeated Desert Vipers by nine wickets, thanks to Gulbadin Naib's unbeaten 55 and Qais Ahmad's brilliant four for 25. This win secured the Capitals' second place in the standings, setting up a Qualifier 1 clash with the Vipers. Naib's aggressive batting ensured a commanding chase to victory.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders claimed their second win in ILT20 Season 3, defeating Gulf Giants by 37 runs despite Aayan Afzal Khan's record-setting 4/16. Michael Pepper's half-century led the Knight Riders to 176/9, with the Giants struggling at 139/8. Sunil Narine highlighted the importance of teamwork and batting depth for future matches.
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) faces challenges attracting top international players unsold in the IPL auction due to a salary cap of USD 200,000. Franchises are keen to sign players like Steve Smith and David Warner, but the overlapping schedule and financial constraints create difficulties. Direct negotiations with player agents and concerns about player disparity further complicate matters.
The Indian cricket team has arrived in Brisbane for the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting December 14th at the Gabba. The series is currently tied 1-1. The Gabba pitch is expected to offer its traditional pace and bounce, but its fresher pre-Christmas condition might play a different role compared to India's 2021 victory there in January.
Steve Smith and Alex Carey led Australia to a commanding position against Sri Lanka on day two of the second Test in Galle. Smith’s unbeaten 110 and Carey’s career-best 139 contributed to an unbroken 239-run partnership, with Australia poised for a substantial first-innings lead at 330-3. Earlier, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 257.
MCG curator Matt Page addressed allegations of providing subpar practice pitches to India, clarifying it's standard procedure to offer fresh pitches only three days before a Test. He emphasized the pitches' usual characteristics of pace and bounce, countering claims of intentional disadvantage amid media-stirred controversies surrounding the Indian team.