Ajinkya Rahane, initially almost unsold, now leads Kolkata Knight Riders as captain after a remarkable performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament. Despite being relieved from his captaincy at Rajasthan Royals, Rahane is confident and ready, with KKR aiming to defend their title.
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At the BCCI's annual Naman Awards, Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana were honored as the best international cricketers. Legendary Sachin Tendulkar was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. In total, 26 awards were distributed, recognizing excellence in both men's and women's cricket across various categories.
The IPL 2025 season opener between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday is under threat due to an orange alert for thunderstorms and lightning by the weather department in West Bengal. The groundstaff has already taken precautions by covering the playing arena.
India triumphed with a historic first Test series win in Australia on January 7, 2019, winning 2-1 and retaining the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Cheteshwar Pujara stood out with 521 runs and Jasprit Bumrah led the bowling charts with 21 wickets.
Mohammed Shami celebrated his fifer during India's win over Bangladesh with a gesture dedicated to his late father. Backed by skipper Rohit Sharma, Shami became the fastest Indian to 200 ODI wickets. Reflecting on his journey, Shami emphasized the importance of dedication, persistence, and living in the present while acknowledging past challenges.
New Zealand's skipper Mitchell Santner acknowledged India's dominant performance in the Champions Trophy final, where India chased a target of 252 with six balls to spare. Key contributions came from Rohit Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy. Santner praised his team's efforts, especially Rachin Ravindra's consistent performances, and expressed gratitude for the team’s collective efforts throughout the tournament.
KL Rahul is set to miss Karnataka's Ranji Trophy match against Punjab due to an elbow niggle. He has reported his concerns to the BCCI medical team and may return for the final league game against Haryana. The Karnataka Cricket Association will announce the team soon, with Shubman Gill available for Punjab.
Smriti Mandhana, a prominent figure in Indian women's cricket, has had an exceptional year, emerging as the ICC's Women's ODI Player of the Year. With 747 runs in 13 One-Dayers in 2024, she outperformed top players globally. Her consistent performances, including four centuries, and leading Royal Challengers Bangalore to a title, underscore her growth and maturity.
Pakistan's Azam Khan lauded teammate Saim Ayub's unbeaten 98-run knock against South Africa despite a seven-wicket loss in the second T20I. Ayub's impressive innings, featuring 11 boundaries and 5 sixes, anchored Pakistan's 206/5 total. Khan emphasized the importance of consistent opportunities for players to perform at their best.
The conflict between the Kerala Cricket Association and S Sreesanth continues as the KCA defends issuing a show cause notice to Sreesanth. They referenced his spot-fixing scandal. Sreesanth remains committed to supporting Kerala players. The KCA insists they will not tolerate indiscipline and will take strict actions against false claims.
Fakhar Zaman is set to return to international cricket for Pakistan's Champions Trophy after an eight-month break due to illness and fitness issues. He criticizes the PCB's handling of player selection and expresses optimism about young talent Saim Ayub's recovery from an injury.