India face Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai, with a decision to maintain their successful four-spinner strategy, including the mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, or add a pacer. Australia's selection dilemma includes replacing injured Matt Short. One of India, Australia will face New Zealand or South Africa in the final.
Related news
Sunrisers Eastern Cape bowler Ottniel Baartman aims for new achievements in SA20's upcoming season after earning Bowler of the Season with 18 wickets in 2024. Inspired by the guidance of coach Dale Steyn and motivated by personal aspirations, Baartman focuses on consistency and his signature yorkers to drive further success for his team.
KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit acknowledges every team values home ground advantages and understands the preference for spin-friendly pitches. However, he emphasized that pitch preparation remains under the curator's control and the team focuses on playing with the provided conditions.
R Ashwin identified India and New Zealand as top contenders for the Champions Trophy, citing India's home advantage in Dubai and New Zealand's strong lineup. He warned not to underestimate Australia despite their player injuries, and discussed the prospects of South Africa and the importance of tri-series tournaments for reviving ODI cricket.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have signed young Mumbai batter Ayush Mhatre for Rs 30 Lakh as a replacement for the injured Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is out for the rest of IPL 2025 due to an elbow injury. Mhatre impressed CSK scouts during mid-season trials. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) also signed Smaran Ravichandran as a replacement for the injured Adam Zampa.
Mohammed Shami celebrated his fifer during India's win over Bangladesh with a gesture dedicated to his late father. Backed by skipper Rohit Sharma, Shami became the fastest Indian to 200 ODI wickets. Reflecting on his journey, Shami emphasized the importance of dedication, persistence, and living in the present while acknowledging past challenges.
Shreyas Iyer continues to shine in domestic cricket with a stunning century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, amassing 312 runs in four matches. In contrast, India's T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav struggles with consecutive ducks. Karun Nair sets a world record with 542 runs in five games before dismissal, leading Vidarbha to an unbeaten run.
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir approves the challenging SCG pitch, emphasizing its importance for Test cricket. He highlights the need for converting starts into big scores and underscores the importance of fairness in team selection. Gambhir also advocates for senior players to guide Indian cricket forward and stresses the significance of domestic cricket.
KL Rahul's resilient 84 in the third Test against Australia highlighted his defensive approach as key to success on the challenging tour. Focusing on respecting bowlers early on, leaving deliveries, and tightening his defense during the initial overs, Rahul believes this strategy allows batsmen to capitalize later.
David Miller-led Paarl Royals made history with a 100% home record at Boland Park in SA20 2025. Key contributions from Luhan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka helped them secure the record, having already qualified for the playoffs with seven wins from eight matches. Before the Royals, Joburg Super Kings had the best home run in SA20 history.
Sam Konstas, Australia's young opener, was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah in the second innings of his Test career on Day 4 of the fourth Test in Melbourne. Australia managed to dismiss the Indian side for 369, taking a 105-run lead. Nitish Kumar Reddy was the last wicket to fall for India, scoring 114. Indian bowlers began their innings with discipline.