New Zealand faces uncertainty over the fitness of their key bowler Matt Henry ahead of the Champions Trophy final against India. Henry, the tournament's leading wicket-taker, injured his right shoulder during the semifinal match against South Africa. Coach Gary Stead is hopeful of his recovery, with the team giving Henry every chance to play in the crucial match.
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The Gulf Giants secured a thrilling two-wicket win over MI Emirates in ILT20 Season 3, overcoming early setbacks and a tough bowling attack. Key contributions from Tom Alsop, Gerhard Erasmus, Tom Curran, and Mark Adair were crucial. Aayan Khan's last-over heroics sealed the victory, moving the team to fifth place on the points table.
Australia's newest Test player, Sam Konstas, showcased his talent with an impressive debut in the Boxing Day Test, scoring a quick 60. Astrologer Greenstone Lobo predicts Konstas, who displays traits of both Leo and Virgo, has the potential to become a cricketing great, with audacious yet perfected shots, and possibly the best replacement for David Warner as an opener.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) plans to bolster the Indian cricket team's support staff by appointing Sitanshu Kotak as the new batting coach. Kotak, an experienced former cricketer and current India A head coach, will join head coach Gautam Gambhir and other coaching personnel for the home series against England.
Virat Kohli achieved a landmark by surpassing Rahul Dravid's record for the most catches by an Indian fielder in international cricket, following his catch off Josh Inglis' shot. Kohli's fielding feat came during India's semi-final match against Australia in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) launches "Strike Force", a nationwide talent hunt for the T20 squad. Former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq will lead the program, aiming to discover 50 hidden players with big-hitting potential from local tape-ball cricket circuits. The initiative seeks to address Pakistan's recent T20 struggles and improve their hitting prowess.
India's Rishabh Pant adopted a cautious approach on the first day of the fifth Test against Australia due to the challenging SCG pitch, scoring 40 off 98 balls. Pant is striving for a balance between aggression and defence, acknowledging the mental challenges during rough patches. Australian debutant Beau Webster concurred on the pitch's demanding nature.
Afghanistan earned a narrow eight-run win against England in the Champions Trophy, sending them packing from the tournament. Ibrahim Zadran's stellar 177 led Afghanistan to a total of 325 for seven. Despite Joe Root's century, England couldn't chase the target. Ravi Shastri and Michael Vaughan criticised England's performance, urging them to improve their sub-continent play.
England's Jamie Smith returns for their Champions Trophy opener against Australia in Lahore. Absent from the previous ODI series against India, Smith will bat at No. 3 and keep wickets. England has included Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and Mark Wood in their pace attack.
Harleen Deol's maiden century propelled India to a 115-run victory over West Indies, sealing the series lead. Her knock of 115, along with contributions from Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, and Jemimah Rodrigues, helped India achieve an impressive 358 for five.
Former captain Dilip Vengsarkar criticized the speculation on Rohit Sharma's retirement, saying the player should decide his future. Rohit, 37, remains pivotal for India, especially in crucial tournaments. Vengsarkar praised Rohit's performances and also highlighted the contributions of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul in India's recent successes, giving credit to the selectors for their decisions.