Kusal Perera's blistering 101 off 46 balls powered Sri Lanka to a thrilling seven-run win over New Zealand in the third T20 match, securing a consolation victory. Despite earlier series losses, Perera's record-breaking century, alongside partnerships with Avishka Fernando and Charith Asalanka, showcased the visitors' resilience. New Zealand fought hard but fell short at 211-7.
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Smriti Mandhana's explosive 81 off 47 balls and a solid 107-run stand with Danni Wyatt-Hodge propelled RCB to a commanding eight-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals in the Women's Premier League. Renuka Singh and Georgia Wareham led RCB's strong bowling performance, dismissing Delhi for 141. RCB now leads the league with two wins in two matches.
South Africa's Corbin Bosch made history at Centurion, scoring an unbeaten 81 on his Test debut from the No. 9 position. His performance helped South Africa recover from 213/8 to post a respectable 301 all out. Bosch also excelled in bowling, claiming four wickets in Pakistan’s first innings, contributing significantly in both departments.
India's cricket team celebrated their third Champions Trophy win by donning the iconic white jackets during the presentation in Dubai. The jackets, designed by Babita M, symbolize elite success and were introduced in 2009. India's victory over New Zealand was highlighted by Rohit Sharma's commanding 76 and KL Rahul's unbeaten 34, cementing their legacy as the best.
Tickets for the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025, set to take place in Dubai, go on sale on Monday, February 3. Fans can buy tickets for India's matches and the semi-final online. Tickets for games in Pakistan, held in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, are already available. The final match tickets will be sold after the first semi-final.
India on Sunday lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to Australia 3-1. Despite a strong squad, India's batting failures led to their downfall. The likes of Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sarfaraz Khan were benched for the entire series while Dhruv Jurel featured in a solitary game. India lost BGT after 10 years.
MI Cape Town, Paarl Royals, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, and Joburg Super Kings have advanced to the SA20 playoffs. MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals dominated home matches, while SEC relied on strong bowling performances. Playoff matches will determine the final two teams, beginning Tuesday, February 4 in Gqeberha, with the final held in Johannesburg.
Ravichandran Ashwin unexpectedly announced his retirement from international cricket after the Brisbane Test, surprising teammate Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja learned about the decision just minutes before the press conference, despite spending the day with Ashwin. The off-spinner retires with 537 Test wickets and six centuries. Jadeja expressed confidence in the team finding a suitable replacement and highlighted the opportunity for youngsters.
India pacer Arshdeep Singh took five wickets and Prabhsimran Singh scored an unbeaten 150 as Punjab beat Mumbai by eight wickets in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match. Prabhsimran and Abhishek Sharma's opening partnership set the tone for chasing down 249 in just 29 overs. Earlier, Mumbai managed 248 with Atharva Ankolekar's 66 being a highlight.
In 2024, India's cricket schedule was light on ODIs, with only one series against Sri Lanka, which India lost. The focus was on T20Is to prepare for the T20 World Cup and shifting back to Test cricket post-tournament. This strategic scheduling aimed to manage player workload and reduce injuries. Captain Rohit Sharma topped India's ODI run charts.
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.