Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings aim for a fresh start in the 18th IPL season. The leadership battle between Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer will be in focus, with both vying for T20I spots. The Kings, coached by Ricky Ponting, have a balanced squad, while the Titans welcome back Sai Sudharsan and introduce new faces in the middle order.
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In the final T20I against England, India achieved their highest-ever Powerplay score of 95/1, surpassing their previous best of 82/2. Openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma capitalised on the batting-friendly conditions, with Abhishek's explosive 58 runs off 21 balls leading the charge. Both teams made one change to their line-ups aiming for a win.
Shafali Verma's blistering 80 not out led Delhi Capitals to a dominant nine-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women's Premier League. The victory made DC the first team to qualify for the playoffs, while RCB suffered their fourth consecutive home defeat.
Sunil Gavaskar is concerned about Virat Kohli's recurring issues with getting out due to an open bat face. Kohli's recent struggles include a disappointing performance in India's first Champions Trophy match.
Former Australian coach Darren Lehmann criticized chief selector George Bailey for being too close to the Test team to make tough decisions, particularly regarding the struggling top order. Captain Pat Cummins defended Bailey, praising his boldness and objectivity, emphasizing the broader considerations beyond online scrutiny in selection.
Rashid Khan broke Jasprit Bumrah's record to become the third-fastest to 150 IPL wickets during the Gujarat Titans season opener against Punjab Kings. Khan achieved the milestone in 122 matches, surpassing Bumrah's 124 games. Despite conceding 48 runs, Khan claimed the debut wicket of Priyansh Arya. PBKS ultimately triumphed with a score of 243/5.
Fielding coach T Dilip praised India's exceptional fielding during the ODI series against England, highlighting efforts by players like Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Harshit Rana. India's sharp fielding, including crucial run-outs and catches, contributed significantly to their victories. Iyer's performance earned him the 'Impact Fielder' of the series, crucially aiding in India's clean sweep of the series.
The SA20 Season 3 match between Pretoria Capitals and Durban's Super Giants in Centurion was abandoned due to persistent rain. Despite attempts to start play and inspections by officials, conditions remained unplayable. Both teams received two points each, and ticket holders are eligible for refunds as per the league's policy.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape secured a fourth consecutive win by defeating Joburg Super Kings by 14 runs, climbing to second in the SA20 table. Key contributions included captain Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs. Joburg Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming cited injuries as a challenge. Sunrisers' adaptability and home crowd support were critical to their success.
Virat Kohli marked his 300th ODI match against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy, with teammates acknowledging his significant contributions. Kohli, with over 14,000 ODI runs, is set to challenge Kumar Sangakkara's second position in all-time run charts. His remarkable performance includes 51 centuries and 73 fifties.
Deepti Sharma moved to fifth spot in the latest ICC Women's ODI all-rounder rankings, surpassing Amelia Kerr. She holds third in T20 all-rounder rankings and fourth in ODI bowling rankings. Chamari Athapaththu rises to seventh in ODI all-rounder rankings following her series performance. Smriti Mandhana retains second spot in ODI batting, behind Laura Wolvaardt, with Nat Sciver-Brunt in third.