England have recalled Matthew Potts for the third Test against New Zealand, replacing Chris Woakes. Captain Ben Stokes aims to give less experienced players opportunities with the series already won. New Zealand's Devon Conway is out, replaced by Will Young, and Tim Southee is expected to play his final Test.
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The disagreement over pitch conditions at Eden Gardens has resurfaced, with KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane desiring spin-friendly wickets. Pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee insists franchises have no say in pitch preparation, creating tension. Former players argue for home advantage to maintain cricket's excitement and competitiveness.
India, buoyant after their first T20I victory against England, looks to continue their dominant run in the second match on Saturday. With the return of pacer Mohammed Shami and a strong spin attack, India aims to capitalize on England's weakness against spin. England hopes to improve by introducing fast bowler Brydon Carse to counter India's aggressive play.
Hardik Pandya has won back the support of fans through key performances in India's ICC T20 World Cup win in the Caribbean last year. As the Champions Trophy continues, Pandya and the team are determined to secure another championship title, starting with their upcoming match against Pakistan.
Corbin Bosch had a remarkable Test debut for South Africa, claiming a wicket on his first delivery and finishing with impressive figures of 4/63. His performance brought back memories of Ashwin's praise on X about Bosch's talent. Bosch's impact helped South Africa put Pakistan on the back foot at 209-9 by tea on the opening day.
Venkatesh Iyer hit a rapid 60 off 29 balls, leading Kolkata Knight Riders to an 80-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens. KKR posted 200/6, bolstered by Iyer's 91-run stand with Rinku Singh. Vaibhav Arora and Varun Chakravarthy took three wickets each as SRH crumbled to 120 all out.
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.
Ricky Ponting believes Rohit Sharma faces significant challenges in returning to Test cricket after not being part of the fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test. Ponting suggests it might be a long and difficult road back for Rohit, considering India's next Test match is months away and Rohit is at the back end of his career.
India triumphed over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final, marking their second ICC title in nine months. Key decisions, including promoting Axar Patel in the batting order and backing KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant, played crucial roles, while Varun Chakravarthy's unexpected inclusion bolstered their spin attack. This win marked India's second ICC title in just nine months. They had previously clinched the 2024 T20 World Cup in June, defeating South Africa in the final in Barbados.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir refuted claims by Australia's Andrew McDonald that Jasprit Bumrah intimidated young opener Sam Konstas. Gambhir emphasised cricket's toughness and asserted Konstas had no right to interfere. McDonald voiced concerns about Konstas' mental state following the incident, but Gambhir dismissed the intimidation allegations.
Several Indian cricketers, including KL Rahul, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, and Amit Mishra, along with badminton star Saina Nehwal, took to social media to extend their warm wishes for Holi. They expressed their hopes for happiness, joy, and colorful celebrations, reminding fans to enjoy responsibly. "May the splashes of colour brighten your life with laughter, love, joy and unforgettable memories. #HappyHoli," former India cricketer Virender Sehwag wrote.