Australian pacer Scott Boland excelled in the Test series against India, taking 21 wickets in three matches at an average of 13.19, including a ten-wicket haul in the final Test. Boland's performance, highlighted by dismissing Virat Kohli four times, secured him the best bowling average in men's Test cricket since WWI.
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Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting commended the record-breaking attendance of the India-Australia Test series, suggesting the rivalry may now be cricket's biggest. The series saw 837,000 attendees, with 375,000 at the Melbourne Test alone. Both praised the players' performances and Australia's ability to turn the series around, emphasizing the growing interest and intensity of this cricket rivalry.
Ajinkya Rahane's century and Royston Dias' five-wicket haul led Mumbai to a 152-run win over Haryana, securing a Ranji Trophy semi-final spot. Rahane scored 108 to set a 354-run target, while Dias (5/39) and Thakur (3/26) dismantled Haryana's chase. Lakshay Dalal and Sumit Kumar's partnership briefly resisted but could not prevent Mumbai's commanding victory.
Yuzvendra Chahal's exceptional leg-spin propelled Punjab Kings to an improbable victory against Kolkata Knight Riders, defending a meager 111. Chahal's 4/28 triggered a dramatic collapse, as KKR faltered from a comfortable 62/2 to 95 all out. Marco Jansen's crucial wickets sealed the heist, overshadowing Kolkata's earlier dominance with the ball.
Vidarbha seeks revenge against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy semifinals. Vidarbha, led by Akshay Wadkar, boasts seven wins from eight matches, showing strong form. Despite Mumbai's star-studded line-up, their top-order struggles, relying on lower-order players like Thakur. Karun Nair, Yash Rathod, and others drive Vidarbha's success. Rahane acknowledges Vidarbha's home advantage.
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.
The IPL 2025 race for the Orange and Purple Caps begins with Ishan Kishan leading the Orange Cap standings, scoring 106 not out off 47 balls for SRH. CSK's Noor Ahmad heads the Purple Cap leaderboard with a 4/18 performance against MI. Significant contributions from RR’s Dhruv Jurel and others highlight early standout performances.
Australia clinched a 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka in the second Test at Galle. Chasing 75, they lost only Travis Head before lunch on day four. Australian spinners Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann claimed four wickets each, with Kuhnemann emerging as the leading wicket-taker in the series. Steve Smith achieved a milestone of 200 Test catches.
Imran Tahir, at 45, displays his brilliance, aiding Joburg Super Kings in a 28-run victory over Durban's Super Giants. His impressive catch symbolizes JSK's determination. Tahir credits the spin trio for their performance and highlights the team's growing momentum and unity as they prepare for upcoming matches.
Karun Nair's impressive 89 off 40 balls marked a stellar IPL comeback, though Delhi Capitals lost to Mumbai Indians. Mumbai secured a 12-run win against Delhi, fueled by Tilak Varma's 59 and Hardik Pandya's captaincy, despite Nair's valiant effort in chasing down the 206-run target.
In 2024, the Indian cricket team excelled in T20 internationals, winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup undefeated. India also triumphed in series against Bangladesh and South Africa. Veterans Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20Is post World Cup win, marking a historic year.