Kane Williamson's masterful 123 not out, his seventh century at Seddon Park, propelled New Zealand to a commanding 478-run lead over England on Day 3 of the third Test. Rain hampered play, but Williamson's innings, combined with a 107-run partnership with Rachin Ravindra (44), solidified the Black Caps' dominance.
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Deepti Sharma moved to fifth spot in the latest ICC Women's ODI all-rounder rankings, surpassing Amelia Kerr. She holds third in T20 all-rounder rankings and fourth in ODI bowling rankings. Chamari Athapaththu rises to seventh in ODI all-rounder rankings following her series performance. Smriti Mandhana retains second spot in ODI batting, behind Laura Wolvaardt, with Nat Sciver-Brunt in third.
Tony de Zorzi and Jordan Hermann led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to their third consecutive SA20 final. De Zorzi scored 78 runs against the Royals, securing an eight-wicket victory. Sunrisers prepare to face MI Cape Town in the final. Paarl Royals captain David Miller reflects on their exit, acknowledging the need for squad reassessment next season.
Jasprit Bumrah shared his first image after being ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to a back injury. He shared an Instagram post from an NCA gym with India heading to the eight-team tournament with Harshit Rana as his replacement. Concerns over his fitness led to Bumrah's exclusion.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar praised Rishabh Pant for his crucial half-century against Australia in Sydney, highlighting his bravery and calculated risks. Pant's aggressive 50 in 29 balls helped India stay in contention to win the Test match. Bangar commended Pant's diverse gameplay and resilience throughout the series, despite earlier challenges.
West Indies legend Clive Lloyd opposes the two-tier Test cricket proposal, stating it will hinder new teams' growth by confining them to a lower division. He emphasizes Test cricket's unmatched appeal and urges the ICC to create a fair system to support all teams equally. Lloyd also highlights financial challenges in sustaining Test cricket.
Australian captain Pat Cummins describes the Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch ahead of the Fourth Test as 'nice and firm' with some grass coverage. The match between Australia and India is crucial for the ICC World Test Championship final. Spinner Nathan Lyon could benefit from the wicket.
Rajasthan Royals face Kolkata Knight Riders in Guwahati after both teams suffered losses in their opening matches. The Knight Riders lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru while the Royals were defeated by Sunrisers Hyderabad. Both teams aim to bounce back, with RR captain and local boy Riyan Parag hoping for home support.
India vice-captain Shubman Gill will now use an MRF sticker on his bat starting from the Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia. This new endorsement deal ends his long association with CEAT. At 25, Gill has already secured partnerships with several premium brands, highlighting his rising market value.
Australia is poised to reclaim the Border Gavaskar Trophy after a decade, leading 2-1 against India in the current Test series. A win or draw in the final Test in Sydney would seal their victory. India's loss to Australia in Melbourne has nearly ended their chances of reaching the World Test Championship final.
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.