India and New Zealand clash in the Champions Trophy final in Dubai. Key factors include Matt Henry's pace, Varun Chakravarthy's spin, and the batting prowess of Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson. The pitch conditions are crucial, favoring spinners. India benefited from Rohit Sharma's opening starts despite criticism.
Related news
Harmanpreet Kaur's 54-run knock and Mumbai's effective bowling ensure a nine-run win over Gujarat Giants in the Women's Premier League. With this victory, Mumbai joined Delhi Capitals at 10 points but remains second due to a lower net run-rate. They will seek to finish at the top in their final league match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Shane Watson reflects on his cherished memories of the ICC Champions Trophy, highlighting significant moments from his career, including his crucial role in Australia's 2006 and 2009 victories. Notably, Watson recalls his PSL experience in Pakistan as one of the most memorable weeks of his life. He hopes current players will cherish their experiences similarly.
Ashwani Kumar had an exceptional IPL debut for Mumbai Indians, taking four wickets for 24 runs and playing a crucial role in his team's victory over Kolkata Knight Riders. Missing lunch due to nerves, he followed captain Hardik Pandya's advice and impressed with his aggressive bowling.
Karun Nair was run out for 86 in a critical moment, but a strong partnership with Danish Malewar, who remains unbeaten on 138, helped Vidarbha recover to 254/4 against Kerala on the first day of the Ranji Trophy final in Nagpur. Vidarbha's innings struggled initially but was stabilised by the 215-run fourth-wicket stand.
MS Dhoni, at 43, is showing he can still compete at the highest level ahead of the IPL 2025 season with the Chennai Super Kings. During training, he showcased his classic skills, including his famous 'Helicopter shot', impressing with a strike rate of 220.55 last season despite knee issues.
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.
India face a crucial Sydney Test against Australia, with its World Test Championship final hopes at stake. India's win percentage is behind top contenders Australia and South Africa. Victory is essential to stay in the hunt, alongside needing favourable results from Australia's series against Sri Lanka. Failure to win in Sydney would end India's WTC campaign.
New Zealand triumphed over England by a staggering 423 runs in the third Test at Hamilton, securing a consolation victory. England, having already clinched the series, collapsed in their chase of 658. Mitchell Santner's four wickets led New Zealand to their largest victory by runs, while Tim Southee ended his Test career on a high.
Shafali Verma's blistering 80 not out led Delhi Capitals to a dominant nine-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women's Premier League. The victory made DC the first team to qualify for the playoffs, while RCB suffered their fourth consecutive home defeat.
During an IPL 2025 match between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, a fan invaded the pitch to touch RR's stand-in captain Riyan Parag's feet. This was Parag's debut as IPL captain in Assam. Though Parag performed modestly, the incident highlighted his growing popularity. RR remains winless and will face Chennai Super Kings next.