India's decisive moments in the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand included Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy's impactful spin, Rohit Sharma’s explosive start with the bat, and the composed middle-overs play of Shreyas Iyer. KL Rahul's poised finishing touches led India to victory, highlighting their ability to perform under high-pressure situations.
Related news
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed reflects on Pakistan's stellar 2017 ICC Champions Trophy win, recalling how the team regrouped under senior players' guidance after an initial defeat to India. With a positive mindset and strategic changes, Pakistan won the title, defeating India by 180 runs in the final. Pakistan begins their 2025 campaign against New Zealand.
Team India engaged in a lively fielding drill in Brisbane before the crucial third Test against Australia. Players were divided into groups, aiming to knock down targets within a limited number of balls. Captain Rohit Sharma missed a target, while Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli added to the spirited session with their inputs and banter.
Niki Prasad, once overlooked for the U-19 Women's T20 World Cup, has been chosen as India's captain for the 2025 edition after leading the team to victory at the U-19 Asia Cup. She emphasises teamwork and draws inspiration from Harmanpreet Kaur, preparing to defend their title in Malaysia.
Mushfiqur Rahim, the 37-year-old veteran cricketer from Bangladesh, has retired from ODI cricket following his team's exit from the ICC Champions Trophy. In a heartfelt Instagram post, he expressed gratitude for his 19-year career, during which he amassed 7,795 runs and secured 243 catches and 56 stumpings. He remains the second-highest run-scorer for Bangladesh in ODIs.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape secured a fourth consecutive win by defeating Joburg Super Kings by 14 runs, climbing to second in the SA20 table. Key contributions included captain Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs. Joburg Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming cited injuries as a challenge. Sunrisers' adaptability and home crowd support were critical to their success.
ICC chairman Jay Shah attended the Brisbane 2032 Olympic committee meeting, discussing cricket's exciting future in the Olympics. Shah played a key role in cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Games, highlighting its global fanbase and potential for growth. He believes Olympic participation will boost the sport's reach into new markets.
Steve Smith has been appointed captain for Australia's Sri Lanka tour. He aims to mentor young players with his sub-continental expertise. Pat Cummins is on paternity leave. The series includes two Tests starting on January 29 in Galle. The Australian squad features promising talents like Nathan McSweeney, Cooper Connolly, and Sam Konstas.
India and New Zealand have secured their spots in the Champions Trophy semi-finals with consecutive Group A victories. India beat Bangladesh and Pakistan, while New Zealand triumphed over the same teams. India are playing all their matches in Dubai. Australia's Pat Cummins pointed out that it gives India the benefit of staying in one location
Varun Chakravarthy has been nominated for the ICC Men's Player of the Month for January for his impressive performance against England in the T20I series, taking 14 wickets. Other nominees include Jomel Warrican and Noman Ali. Indian opener Gongadi Trisha was nominated in the women's category for her standout play in the ICC Women's U19 T20 World Cup.
India clinched a thrilling two-wicket win over England in Chennai in the second T20I, with Tilak Varma's unbeaten 72 steering the team to victory after a top-order collapse. Ravi Bishnoi also played a crucial role, scoring 9 runs and praising Tilak's performance as one of the best in T20s. Their efforts secured a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.