Despite his team's unbeaten record, India head coach Gautam Gambhir is still seeking a 'perfect game' for the Champions Trophy final. Post India's semifinal win against Australia, Gambhir emphasized the importance of improvement and keeping players out of their comfort zone to achieve the best results.
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MI Cape Town clinched their first SA20 title with a commendable performance led by Kagiso Rabada's four-wicket haul. Restricting Sunrisers Eastern Cape to 105, following an imposing total of 181/8, MI Cape Town's consistency and aggressive strategy were key. Both teams' resilience and standout performances were highlighted, with the Sunrisers vowing a strong comeback.
Ravindra Jadeja did not bowl in Saurashtra's win over Assam to provide younger players with experience, as confirmed by coach Niraj Odedra. Jadeja is fit and batted, but with two other left-arm spinners in the team, he chose to let the youngsters gain confidence for the quarterfinals, where Saurashtra will likely face Gujarat.
Pakistan's spinners led their team to a 127-run victory over the West Indies in the first Test in Multan. Sajid Khan and Abrar Ahmed took nine and four wickets, respectively, as West Indies were dismissed for 123. This marks Pakistan's third consecutive home win by making pitches extremely spin-friendly.
Ryan Rickelton, wicketkeeper-batter for MI Cape Town, aims to cement his spot in the team and return to the Test side. He values guidance from Hashim Amla and sees wicketkeeping as complementary to batting. Rickelton plays for personal and team success, finds joy in the game, and aims to make an impact in the upcoming SA20 season.
Travis Head's magnificent century shifted the momentum of the third Test at the Gabba in Australia's favor. His blistering innings of 100, punctuated by 13 fours, countered India's initially tight bowling.
Aakash Chopra selected his squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy, excluding Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav. He emphasized Rohit Sharma’s leadership and credits Shreyas Iyer's recent performance. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant will be included as wicketkeeper-batters. Chopra picked Iyer due to his consistent run-scoring, while Pant replaces Ishan Kishan.
Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal have recovered from their injuries. They will be available for Rajasthan Royals' first match in IPL 2025 against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23. Jaiswal has joined the Royals' camp after recovering from an ankle injury. Samson will join the team on Monday after clearing his fitness test.
Harshit Rana's ODI debut in Nagpur included a powerful 3-53 performance, helping India beat England under 250. Despite a challenging start, he recovered by taking key wickets. Rana justified his controversial inclusion as a concussion substitute, saying he is focused on delivering for his country. His performance ensured India's emphatic win in the first ODI.
South Africa claimed a decisive 10-wicket win over Pakistan at Newlands, topping the World Test Championship standings. Despite Pakistan's resilient 478-run second innings, South Africa quickly chased the 58-run target. Having already secured their spot in the WTC Final against Australia at Lord’s in June, South Africa continued their unbeaten home streak, marking their seventh consecutive Test win.
Shardul Thakur remains positive about his future in Indian cricket despite currently being out of the national setup. He is hopeful of making a comeback for the England tour in June-July. Meanwhile, Shardul continues to impress in domestic cricket, having played a crucial role for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Haryana.