Ajit Agarkar addressed the media, revealing India's Test squad for the England tour, highlighting Jasprit Bumrah's workload management due to injury concerns. The squad signals a transition with retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Shubman Gill assumes captaincy, Rishabh Pant as deputy, while Karun Nair makes a surprising return, and Arshdeep Singh earns his first Test call-up.
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Brad Haddin emphasises Virat Kohli's significant impact on Test cricket, highlighting his competitive spirit and passion during high-stakes matches against top teams like Australia. Haddin believes Kohli's absence will be deeply felt in the Test format, considering it his most influential arena. He also praises Shreyas Iyer's leadership qualities and his strong rapport with coach Ricky Ponting.
Joe Root etched his name in cricket history during the ongoing Test against Zimbabwe, becoming the fastest to reach 13,000 Test runs in his 153rd match, surpassing Jacques Kallis' record. While Root leads in matches taken, he's the slowest in terms of innings. He stands as the first English and fifth overall player to achieve this milestone.
Punjab Kings secured a dramatic victory against Rajasthan Royals, overcoming a blistering start from the opposition's openers. Harpreet Brar's crucial wickets shifted the momentum, while disciplined bowling in the death overs sealed the win. With this triumph, Punjab moves closer to the IPL playoffs, showcasing resilience and a strong team spirit.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming affirmed the franchise's commitment to experienced players despite a disappointing IPL 2025 season. Fleming acknowledged the team's struggles and the need to reassess strategies while emphasizing the importance of balancing experience with emerging talent. He dismissed the notion of solely focusing on young players, highlighting the value of seasoned performers.
During Friday's IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Krunal Pandya suffered an unfortunate dismissal. He became the 17th batter in IPL history, and second this season after Abhinav Manohar, to be out hit wicket.
Delhi Capitals' IPL campaign faltered after a promising start, winning only one home game at Kotla. Lack of homework on the home ground and inadequate pre-season training at the venue proved costly. Management's unclear strategies regarding batting order and bowler utilization, including Kuldeep Yadav's sporadic usage, further contributed to their struggles.
Shubman Gill credits his effective batting partnership with Sai Sudharsan to an attribute other that IPL teams haven't yet managed to emulate. Their impressive 839 runs as an opening pair have propelled Gujarat Titans to the IPL 2025 playoffs. Gill also praises coach Ashish Nehra's vision and empowerment as to being one of the pillars of GT's success this year.
Following Sunrisers Hyderabad's dominant victory over Lucknow Super Giants, captain Pat Cummins shared a heartwarming moment by playfully carrying a cardboard cut-out of Mitchell Marsh onto the team bus. Despite their on-field rivalry, the gesture highlighted the strong bond between the Australian cricketers. SRH's win, fueled by explosive batting, kept their playoff hopes alive while ending LSG's chances.
Mumbai Indians secured the final IPL playoff spot, defeating Delhi Capitals in a crucial match. They join Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Punjab Kings in the knockouts, marking their 11th playoff appearance. With this victory, MI reached 16 points, eliminating DC from contention, while the battle for the top-two positions intensifies among GT, RCB, and PBKS.
Chris Woakes, recovering from an ankle injury, has been named in the England Lions squad for upcoming matches against India A, confirmed by the ECB on May 21. The 36-year-old aims to prove his fitness for the marquee five-Test series against India in June. James Rew will captain the side, which includes talents like Rehan Ahmed and Dan Mousley.