Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants face off in their opening IPL 2025 match with notable leadership changes. Rishabh Pant moves to LSG, while KL Rahul joins DC. Axar Patel captains DC, bolstered by du Plessis and Starc. LSG field domestic talents with new inclusions Shardul Thakur and Rajvardhan Hangargekar. Expect a thrilling, unpredictable contest.
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India's vice-captain, Jasprit Bumrah, emphasized the team's transitional phase following their struggles in the Brisbane Test. He has taken an impressive 18 wickets in the series so far, including a six-wicket spell in the first innings of the third Test in Brisbane, but India's batting disappointed once again. The series is level at 1-1.
India continued their unbeaten streak in the Champions Trophy by defeating Australia in the first semifinal with Rohit Sharma's team now just one win away from lifting the trophy. Former cricketer S Sreesanth expressed confidence in India winning the title, regardless of their opponent in the final
Steve Smith has been cleared to rejoin the Australian squad for the Sri Lanka Test series after recovering from an elbow injury. He will start batting practice later this week in preparation for the first Test in Galle. This comes as a significant development for Australia as Smith takes over as captain due to Pat Cummins' absence.
Steve Smith's recent struggles with the bat mirror those of Kohli and Sharma on turning Indian pitches. His lean run of form has sparked concern in Australia, despite his impressive career average.
The national selectors face a tough decision regarding Ravindra Jadeja's future ahead of the Champions Trophy, as his recent performances across formats are concerning. With coach Gautam Gambhir focusing on building a core for the 2027 ODI World Cup, there is a push to move on from Jadeja.
The Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand in Dubai will feature Australia's Paul Reiffel and England's Richard Illingworth as on-field umpires. Sri Lanka's Ranjan Madugalle will serve as the match referee. India and New Zealand reached the final after defeating Australia and South Africa respectively.
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.
Aayan Afzal Khan, a promising UAE cricketer, is gearing up for his third season with the Gulf Giants in the ILT20. With 36 T20Is and 37 wickets, Aayan highlights the league's importance for local talent, offering significant playing opportunities. Gulf Giants, previous champions, look forward to another exciting season starting January 12, 2025.
David Payne, Gloucestershire's T20 Blast star with 33 wickets, joins Desert Vipers for the 2025 ILT20, aiming to regain his spot in England's white-ball squad. After a successful T20 Blast campaign, where he prioritized white-ball cricket, Payne is eager to showcase his skills in the UAE. He believes the Vipers' strong squad and balanced attack make them title contenders.
India won their third Champions Trophy title by defeating New Zealand by four wickets, thanks to a strong spin bowling performance and Rohit Sharma's 76 runs. KL Rahul's unbeaten 34 helped seal the victory with six balls remaining. The Indian team received a grand welcome at their Dubai hotel following their win, remaining undefeated throughout the competition.