Ravi Shastri suggested that Rohit Sharma may consider retiring from Test cricket and urges him to play his natural attacking game in the upcoming match in Sydney. Shastri highlighted that Rohit's recent form has been affected, and a decision on his future might come after the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against Australia.
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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.
Mumbai's lower order rescued the team from a perilous 101 for six to 278 for eight on Day 1 of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Haryana. Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian's crucial 165-run partnership played a pivotal role. Haryana bowlers Anshul Kamboj and Sumit Kumar initially dominated, but Mumbai found stability thanks to Mulani and Kotian's resilience.
Sanjay Manjrekar criticizes India's cricket culture of prioritizing iconic players' form over the team's best interests. He highlights the decision to move KL Rahul from the opener position, where he excelled, to accommodate an out-of-form Rohit Sharma. This practice, he argues, often disadvantages the team's overall performance.
Ashleigh Gardner's brilliant 58 off 31 balls and economical bowling of 1/22 led Gujarat Giants to a six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women's Premier League. The Giants restricted RCB to 125/7, with key bowling performances from Deandra Dottin and Tanuja Kanwar. Gardner's aggressive batting ensured an easy chase in 16.3 overs.
Corbin Bosch had a remarkable Test debut for South Africa, claiming a wicket on his first delivery and finishing with impressive figures of 4/63. His performance brought back memories of Ashwin's praise on X about Bosch's talent. Bosch's impact helped South Africa put Pakistan on the back foot at 209-9 by tea on the opening day.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is level at 1-1 as India and Australia head into the crucial Boxing Day Test at the MCG. India aims to repeat their 2020 victory at this venue, while Australia hopes to regain their historical dominance. Bumrah is nearing 200 Test wickets, and Smith is on the cusp of 10,000 Test runs.
Pakistani all-rounder Imad Wasim, 35, has announced his retirement from international cricket, just six months after returning for the T20 World Cup. His comeback was short-lived as Pakistan exited the tournament early. Imad's international career included 55 ODIs and 75 T20Is, where he showcased his skills with both bat and ball.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir refuted claims by Australia's Andrew McDonald that Jasprit Bumrah intimidated young opener Sam Konstas. Gambhir emphasised cricket's toughness and asserted Konstas had no right to interfere. McDonald voiced concerns about Konstas' mental state following the incident, but Gambhir dismissed the intimidation allegations.
Dinesh Karthik is set to make a comeback in professional cricket by playing for Paarl Royals in the SA20 league. This marks his return after retiring in June 2024. Karthik expressed excitement about the opportunity to compete in South Africa again. Paarl Royals, led by David Miller, will begin their campaign on January 11.
A senior Pakistani official plans to request Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address the national cricket team's poor performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Concerns over the Pakistan Cricket Board's management and spending will be discussed in Parliament and the Federal Cabinet, highlighting the need for transparency and reforms.