New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra emphasizes the necessity of adapting to Dubai's unique pitch conditions for the Champions Trophy final against India. Despite New Zealand's limited experience on this pitch, Ravindra remains optimistic about their preparation and aims to deliver a stronger performance than in their previous encounter with India.
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Jasprit Bumrah's fiery spell brought India back into the third Test against Australia at The Gabba. He dismissed Steve Smith (101), Mitchell Marsh (5), and Travis Head (152) in quick succession, securing his 12th five-wicket haul in Tests. Head and Smith's 241-run partnership had put Australia in a commanding position, but Bumrah's heroics shifted the momentum.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and chose to bat first against India in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash. Pakistan made one change with Imam-ul-Haq replacing the injured Fakhar Zaman. India fielded an unchanged lineup. This crucial match at Dubai International Cricket Stadium will see both teams vying for a chance to advance in the tournament.
India's T20 cricket team, under the guidance of coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, has adopted a fearless, high-risk, high-reward batting strategy. This approach has led to impressive high scores and a recent series win against England, emphasizing intent and selflessness despite occasional setbacks.
Star India batter Virat Kohli, after his match-winning 84-run knock against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal, expressed his enduring love for cricket and batting. Praising teammates Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer for their crucial contributions, Virat emphasized the importance of staying motivated for big matches and meeting team expectations for successful results.
Matt Sandery, head curator for Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi, discusses the rigorous preparations involved in hosting the upcoming ILT20 and the Champions Trophy that will follow. His team works from early mornings to manage unique pitch conditions and ensure high-quality playing surfaces, while also mitigating challenges like variable weather and dew.
Opener Matthew Breetzke scored a record-breaking 150 on his ODI debut, helping South Africa reach 304-6 against New Zealand in Pakistan. His innings included 11 fours and five sixes. South Africa, missing several key players, had four debutants in this game. This tri-nation series serves as a warm-up for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Afghanistan sealed a 72-run victory over Zimbabwe, winning the two-Test series with standout performances from Rashid Khan, who took 11 wickets, and centurions Rahmat Shah and Ismat Alam. Zimbabwe, overnight at 205-8, failed to add a run, with Khan and other bowlers quickly wrapping up the game, overcoming early rain interruptions.
Jemimah Rodrigues' maiden ODI century helped India secure a dominant 116-run victory over Ireland, clinching the series 2-0 in Rajkot. Rodrigues anchored the innings with 102 runs, while Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, and Harleen Deol also contributed significantly. Deepti Sharma's three-wicket haul led India's bowling attack.
After auction snub and exclusion from the Test squad, Shardul proves doubters wrong with important performances for LSG.
South Africa triumphed over Pakistan by 10-wickets in the second Test at Cape Town, securing their seventh consecutive World Test Championship victory and matching India's record. This win helped Temba Bavuma's team clinch the series and guaranteed a top-place finish in the 2023-25 WTC edition. South Africa's winning streak began in August last year.