Dinesh Karthik is set to make a comeback in professional cricket by playing for Paarl Royals in the SA20 league. This marks his return after retiring in June 2024. Karthik expressed excitement about the opportunity to compete in South Africa again. Paarl Royals, led by David Miller, will begin their campaign on January 11.
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Yograj Singh has backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy despite their poor performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. He emphasizes the importance of their presence in grooming young talent. Singh also praised the IPL's role in improving Indian cricket and lauded the BCCI's support for women's cricket.
Former New Zealand cricketer Martin Guptill has announced his retirement from international cricket after a 14-year career, expressing disappointment with how it ended. He played 367 matches and scored 23 international centuries. Guptill remains New Zealand's leading T20I run-scorer and played a pivotal role in notable innings, including a record-breaking double century in the 2015 World Cup.
India clinched their second consecutive women's U-19 T20 World Cup title with a dominant nine-wicket win over South Africa in the final in Kuala Lumpur. Gongadi Trisha starred with an unbeaten 44 after bowlers restricted South Africa to 82 runs in their 20 overs.
MI Cape Town secured a spot in the SA20 Final by winning their qualifier, while Sunrisers Eastern Cape had to fight through back-to-back matches. The final matchup highlights a contest between MICT's strong batting lineup and SEC's formidable bowling attack, with both teams focusing on their respective strengths and strategies.
MI Cape Town, Paarl Royals, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, and Joburg Super Kings have advanced to the SA20 playoffs. MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals dominated home matches, while SEC relied on strong bowling performances. Playoff matches will determine the final two teams, beginning Tuesday, February 4 in Gqeberha, with the final held in Johannesburg.
India's Smriti Mandhana has been nominated for the ICC Women's ODI Cricket of the Year award after an impressive 2024, marked by several centuries. She joins contenders Laura Wolvaardt, Annabel Sutherland, and Chamari Athapaththu. Each player demonstrated outstanding performances throughout the year, contributing significantly to their respective teams' successes.
Cricket Australia announced that over 6,000 Indian fans traveled to Australia for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With over 837,879 total spectators, it became the fourth most-attended Test series in Australia. Indian supporters significantly boosted ticket sales, especially during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Future tours are planned, further enhancing cricket tourism and trade.
Despite a narrow defeat against Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants' assistant coach Lance Klusener lauded Rishabh Pant, Aiden Markram, Ravi Bishnoi, and Avesh Khan for their performances. Mentor Zaheer Khan delivered an inspiring speech, emphasising the team's resilience and ability to compete in any situation.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead acknowledges India's 'mystery' spinner Varun Chakravarthy as a significant threat for the ICC Champions Trophy final. He plans to strategize against Chakravarthy's skills. Despite India's familiarity with Dubai conditions, Stead is optimistic about his team's adaptability and preparation, emphasising the importance of the crucial match against India on Sunday.
A viral video of Yuzvendra Chahal warmly reuniting with MS Dhoni after the CSK vs PBKS match has won hearts online. The moment follows another buzzworthy post featuring Chahal and rumoured girlfriend RJ Mahvash, who showed public support for the spinner, hinting at a blossoming friendship amid IPL 2025.