Kolkata Knight Riders face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2025 IPL opener at Eden Gardens. RCB's solid batting and new captain Rajat Patidar's leadership face the challenge of KKR's strong core and spin strength with Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine. Virat Kohli remains RCB's X-factor.
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a 50-run victory over Chennai Super Kings with crucial early wickets during Power Play overs. Bowler Josh Hazlewood's excellent performance and skipper Rajat Patidar's quick-fire 51 played key roles. CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad acknowledged fielding lapses and a higher-than-par target as decisive factors.
Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan believes India’s chances in the ICC Champions Trophy will hinge on the form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Muralitharan highlighted India's well-balanced bowling attack, emphasizing the role of spinners on the subcontinent-friendly pitches in the UAE.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are gearing up for the first ODI against England with an intense net session, showcasing their versatile strokeplay. Their preparation for the three-match series is significant, especially with the Champions Trophy approaching, where they aim to solidify their standing and achieve new milestones.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar praised Rishabh Pant for his crucial half-century against Australia in Sydney, highlighting his bravery and calculated risks. Pant's aggressive 50 in 29 balls helped India stay in contention to win the Test match. Bangar commended Pant's diverse gameplay and resilience throughout the series, despite earlier challenges.
Anil Chaudhary, a former international umpire, had highlighted Mohammad Rizwan's excessive appeals, prompting Indian wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan to critique Rizwan during a chat. Kishan advised appealing only when sure to instill confidence in umpires. He also discussed improvements in umpiring over the past decade with Chaudhary, emphasising the importance of confident, unbiased decision-making among new umpires.
Star batter Smriti Mandhana and all-rounder Deepti Sharma have secured places in the ICC Women's ODI Team of the Year 2024, comprising top players from several countries. Mandhana led the ODI run charts with 747 runs, while Deepti impressed with 186 runs and 24 wickets across 13 matches.
Steve Smith is set to lead Australia in the Test against Sri Lanka, and is just one run away from reaching 10,000 Test runs. Stand-in captain for the unavailable Pat Cummins, Smith downplayed the milestone and is focused on the match. Australia aim to strengthen its position as top-ranked, while Sri Lanka seeks to reclaim the Warne-Murali Trophy.
The third season of the International League T20 (ILT20) will commence on January 11, 2025, in Dubai, featuring 34 matches over a month. The opening match will see Dubai Capitals against defending champions MI Emirates. Teams have finalised their squads, with updates including new players like Phil Salt, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar before the tournament.
The article recollects notable IPL moments from 2008 to 2016. It includes Brendon McCullum's opening night knock, Rajasthan Royals' 2008 win, Chris Gayle's 175-run innings, the 'Slapgate' controversy, and Mumbai Indians' 2015 last-ball final. It highlights high tension, dramatic games, and unforgettable performances that defined the early years of the league.
Dasun Shanaka's late innings blitz led the Dubai Capitals to a victory over the Gulf Giants at the Dubai International Stadium. Shanaka scored 34 off 10 deliveries, helping the Capitals chase down a target of 154 with five wickets in hand and eight balls to spare.