The Gabba prepares for a pre-Christmas Test between Australia and India, with hopes of a lively pitch offering a balance between bat and ball. Australia's historical dominance at the venue in December contrasts with recent January losses. The curator aims to replicate conditions from a recent Sheffield Shield match.
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The IPL 2025 race for the Orange and Purple Caps begins with Ishan Kishan leading the Orange Cap standings, scoring 106 not out off 47 balls for SRH. CSK's Noor Ahmad heads the Purple Cap leaderboard with a 4/18 performance against MI. Significant contributions from RR’s Dhruv Jurel and others highlight early standout performances.
India captain Jasprit Bumrah expressed frustration at not being able to bowl in the second innings due to back spasm, impacting India's efforts in the final Test at Sydney. Despite his absence, Bumrah finished as Player of the Series with 32 wickets.
Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional bowling performance has been crucial for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His timely wickets, including a five-wicket haul in Perth and crucial interventions in Adelaide and Brisbane, have prevented Australia from gaining a significant advantage. Without Bumrah's contributions, India could have been 0-2 down going into the third Test.
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."
Virat Kohli and Harbhajan Singh's playful dance during the rain delay at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy went viral. Harbhajan, on commentary duties, recounted the incident, explaining how Kohli teased him about his outfit resembling actor Jeetendra's, leading to an impromptu dance-off. Their lighthearted exchange highlights the camaraderie between the two cricketers.
Ricky Ponting praises Travis Head's exceptional performance, particularly his recent 140 against India, highlighting his potential to become a batting great. Ponting compares Head's aggressive style to Adam Gilchrist, emphasizing his fearless approach and ability to deliver under pressure in crucial matches like the World Test Championship and World Cup finals.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar praised Rishabh Pant for his crucial half-century against Australia in Sydney, highlighting his bravery and calculated risks. Pant's aggressive 50 in 29 balls helped India stay in contention to win the Test match. Bangar commended Pant's diverse gameplay and resilience throughout the series, despite earlier challenges.
Delhi Capitals' left-arm medium-pacer T Natarajan faces challenges in the upcoming IPL season due to limited recent playtime and high price-tag pressure. Despite this, he leverages his experience and is optimistic about regaining form under the guidance of head coach Hemang Badani and learning from teammate Mitchell Starc.
Shubman Gill showcased his batting prowess with an impressive 52-ball 46 against Pakistan in Dubai, reminiscent of master balster Sachin Tendulkar's style. After a challenging tour in Australia, Gill has returned to form, hitting a century against Karnataka and excelling in recent matches. He enjoys a successful partnership with Rohit Sharma, providing thrilling performances in ODIs.
Ravindra Jadeja will play for Saurashtra in their next Ranji Trophy match against Delhi at Rajkot, starting Jan 23. In addition to Jadeja, other top Indian players, including Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill, will also participate in various Ranji matches. The BCCI emphasizes domestic match participation for player eligibility and central contracts.