India celebrated a historic win in the Champions Trophy final, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in Dubai. Skipper Rohit Sharma scored 76, leading the team to their third title. KL Rahul contributed with an unbeaten 34, sealing the victory with six balls remaining. The win sparked widespread celebrations and congratulatory messages on social media from fans, former cricketers, and politicians.
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Smriti Mandhana has become the fastest Indian woman to reach 4,000 runs in international cricket, surpassing Mithali Raj by achieving the milestone in just 95 innings. Mandhana's achievement places her third globally, behind Australia's Belinda Clark and Meg Lanning. This feat was accomplished during India's victory over Ireland women in the first ODI on Friday.
MI Cape Town secured their maiden SA20 Playoff spot with a dominant 10-wicket win over Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Corbin Bosch and Kagiso Rabada's excellent bowling led to SEC being bowled out for 107, with openers Ryan Rickleton and Rassie van der Dussen guiding MICT to victory without losing a wicket.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed Pakistan's readiness to host the Champions Trophy, with venues in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi prepared on schedule. Despite some renovation delays, facilities for teams and media are upgraded. The tournament starts on February 19.
KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit acknowledges every team values home ground advantages and understands the preference for spin-friendly pitches. However, he emphasized that pitch preparation remains under the curator's control and the team focuses on playing with the provided conditions.
Virat Kohli urges a collective effort to make India a 'Sports Forward Nation' by 2036, emphasizing a holistic approach that includes infrastructure and public education. He highlights the progress in women's sports, praising female athletes for their self-driven success and stressing the need for continued support and infrastructure development across all sports.
English all-rounder Sam Curran has been a standout in the International League T20, leading Desert Vipers to the top of the table with 239 runs and six wickets. The Vipers aim for the title with strong team performance and confidence heading into the playoffs.
Sachin Tendulkar celebrated winning the International Masters League 2025 with India Masters, who defeated West Indies Masters by six wickets. Tendulkar praised the experience, reminiscing about past cricketing days. Key performers included Ambati Rayadu, Yuvraj Singh, and Vinay Kumar. India successfully chased 149, with notable contributions from Rayudu and Tendulkar.
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.
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.
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.