Royal Challengers Bengaluru, led by new captain Rajat Patidar, enter IPL 2025 with an improved squad featuring international stars and local talent. With seasoned bowlers like Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and versatile players like Liam Livingstone and Krunal Pandya, RCB aims to overcome past struggles and end their title drought.
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Sam Konstas impressed during the Boxing Day Test with his explosive batting and energetic fielding. His 65-ball 60 and adventurous shots against Jasprit Bumrah earned him praise from Steve Smith, who called him 'mad.' Konstas's lively on-field behavior and confidence in his debut performance promise a bright future in cricket.
Top Indian cricketers attended BCCI's annual Naman awards in Mumbai, where Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana won the Best International Cricketer of the Year awards. Notably, Virat Kohli was absent due to his participation in a Ranji Trophy match in Delhi. Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and ICC chief Jay Shah were among the event's notable attendees.
David Warner praised 19-year-old Sam Konstas for his bold debut in the Boxing Day Test against India, where he impressed with a 60 off 65 innings, including a challenging 18-run over against Jasprit Bumrah. Warner urged selectors and fans to support Konstas' fearless approach, emphasizing its potential to inspire other players.
Former captain Dilip Vengsarkar criticized the speculation on Rohit Sharma's retirement, saying the player should decide his future. Rohit, 37, remains pivotal for India, especially in crucial tournaments. Vengsarkar praised Rohit's performances and also highlighted the contributions of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul in India's recent successes, giving credit to the selectors for their decisions.
Washington Sundar praised Nitish Kumar Reddy's impressive maiden century in the Boxing Day Test against Australia. Reddy's composed 100 off 171 balls helped India avoid a follow-on and featured a popular celebration tribute. Sundar highlighted the team's clarity on their responsibilities and commended Reddy's skill and temperament during the crucial 127-run partnership.
India face Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai, with a decision to maintain their successful four-spinner strategy, including the mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, or add a pacer. Australia's selection dilemma includes replacing injured Matt Short. One of India, Australia will face New Zealand or South Africa in the final.
A mix-up on social media led Virat Kohli's fans to mistakenly target Bollywood actor Arshad Warsi's Instagram with hate messages after GT bowler Arshad Khan dismissed Kohli for seven runs in an IPL match. RCB lost the game by eight wickets as GT, bolstered by Mohammed Siraj's bowling and Jos Buttler's half-century, secured the win.
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.
England enter the Champions Trophy after a 3-0 series loss to India in ODIs. Former batter Mark Butcher pointed at the squad's inexperience in the 50-over format, attributing it to not playing enough ODIs. With only four wins in 14 matches since the 2023 World Cup, England's players, even seasoned ones, lack the experience compared to their opponents.
Ravindra Jadeja did not bowl in Saurashtra's win over Assam to provide younger players with experience, as confirmed by coach Niraj Odedra. Jadeja is fit and batted, but with two other left-arm spinners in the team, he chose to let the youngsters gain confidence for the quarterfinals, where Saurashtra will likely face Gujarat.