Sujan Mukherjee, the pitch curator of Eden Gardens, clarified that no Kolkata Knight Riders official requested specific pitch requirements for their match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Mukherjee emphasised he maintains good relations with KKR and prepared the pitch following BCCI guidelines. Despite initial criticism, he maintains that he never denied any request from the team.
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India skipper Rohit Sharma has been dropped from the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Sydney due to poor batting performance. With just 31 runs in five innings, his average hit a low 6.20 during the series. Young Shubman Gill is expected to replace Rohit in the playing XI.
Nitish Kumar Reddy scored his first Test century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, bringing India back into the fourth Test against Australia with 105 not out. Reddy’s innings included ten fours and one six, contributing to a crucial 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar, leaving India at 358/9.
Sam Konstas's debut innings in the Boxing Day Test against India at the MCG drew comparisons to Andrew Symonds's iconic performance in 2006. Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden lauded 19-year-old Konstas, whose aggressive 60 off 65 balls helped Australia establish a strong total. India's innings stumbled early, leaving them at 156/5 by Day 2's end, trailing by 310 runs.
Smriti Mandhana smashed a record-breaking 77 runs in the third T20I against the West Indies, leading India to a series-clinching victory and their highest-ever T20I total of 217/4. She surpassed multiple records, including most 50+ scores and fours in women's T20Is. Richa Ghosh's blistering 54 off 21 balls further solidified India's dominance.
MI Cape Town achieved a dominant bonus-point victory over Durban's Super Giants at Newlands. A strong opening partnership and standout performances from George Linde and Dewald Brevis secured the win. Linde's rejuvenated form and the team's renewed energy under Rashid Khan were key factors.
Virat Kohli congratulated Rajat Patidar on being named the new captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, praising his growth and performance. Despite rumours of Kohli's return to captaincy, RCB chose Patidar, with Director of Cricket Mo Bobat emphasising Kohli's influence and support for the decision. Former RCB skipper Faf du Plessis also heaped praise on Patidar for earning the job.
Faf du Plessis has been appointed as vice-captain of Delhi Capitals for IPL 2025, announced the franchise. Selected at a base price of Rs 2 crore, du Plessis will assist captain Axar Patel. With extensive IPL experience and leadership history, the South African batter is expected to be a key asset for DC in the upcoming season.
Australia's Cricket Board has awarded young batter Sam Konstas with his first central contract for the 2025-26 season after his impressive debut performance against India. Matthew Kuhnemann, cleared after a suspect bowling action report, and all-rounder Beau Webster also made the list. Australia are set to play crucial matches, including the World Test Championship final and the Ashes this year.
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.
Ricky Ponting expresses surprise at Shreyas Iyer's absence from India's white-ball squad, highlighting Iyer's outstanding performances in domestic cricket and the 2023 World Cup. Ponting praises Iyer's ability to excel on slower pitches and expects him to shine in the upcoming Champions Trophy. Delighted with Iyer's inclusion in Punjab Kings, Ponting looks forward to their potential success.