Jasprit Bumrah's fiery spell brought India back into the third Test against Australia at The Gabba. He dismissed Steve Smith (101), Mitchell Marsh (5), and Travis Head (152) in quick succession, securing his 12th five-wicket haul in Tests. Head and Smith's 241-run partnership had put Australia in a commanding position, but Bumrah's heroics shifted the momentum.
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The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi visited Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on January 6 to look at the unfinished work as the Champions Trophy begins on February 19. Pakistan will host matches in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, while India will play in Dubai. Naqvi expressed confidence in meeting the January 25 deadline.
Captain Meg Lanning's stellar 69 off 49 balls led Delhi Capitals to a seven-wicket victory over UP Warriorz in the Women's Premier League (WPL). Chasing 166, Lanning was supported by Annabel Sutherland's unbeaten 41 and Marizanne Kapp's 19 not out. Despite Kiran Navgire’s explosive 51, UP Warriorz’s total proved insufficient against Delhi's strong batting performance.
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New Zealand's relatively smaller player pool allows for longer runs and a cohesive team culture. Batter Glenn Phillips believes this advantage helps them perform better in ICC tournaments compared to countries like India, where the intense competition may shorten player opportunities and increase individual pressure.
Harbhajan Singh comments on the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, emphasizing the impact it could have on India’s performance in the Champions Trophy. Despite this setback, he believes India remains a favorite due to experienced players like Shami and Kuldeep, along with the batting form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
India's Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma, alongside Yashashvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer, will miss Mumbai's crucial Ranji Trophy match against Meghalaya starting January 30. Their absence, due to commitments with the Indian team and BCCI award functions, means Mumbai will rely on new players such as Ayush Mhatre and Suryansh Shedge for a chance to reach the knockouts.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape triumphed over Paarl Royals with a 48-run win in the SA20 clash. SEC, opting to bat, posted 148/8, driven by Jordan Hermann's 53, despite a top-order collapse. Paarl's chase crumbled, reaching only 100 due to Craig Overton and Marco Jansen's fierce bowling. This victory boosts SEC ahead of their upcoming Eliminator match.
Harbhajan Singh believes Axar Patel is ready to replace Ravindra Jadeja in India's all-rounder role for the Champions Trophy. He also suggests Sanju Samson might be preferred over Rishabh Pant as India's wicketkeeper, especially given Pant's long Australian tour. Both decisions could impact India's squad for the upcoming tournament in Dubai.
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