A Look At Team India Stars' Last Ranji Trophy Appearances

Following India's poor performances in the Test arena as of late, with an unfortunate home series defeat after 12 years to New Zealand last year and a conceding 3-1 defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy away from home, the debate whether Indian stars should play more domestic cricket or stick to just international cricket owing to heavy workload has picked up. Many experts and ex-cricketers have raised their voices in favour of India's superstars playing more domestic cricket for their state teams and giving back to their states and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has even come up with a new 10-point player policy, which makes domestic cricket compulsory.

BCCI on Thursday released new policies for Team India, making it "mandatory" to participate in domestic matches to remain "eligible" for selection in the national team and for the central contracts.

In the policy, BCCI stated that taking part in domestic cricket will remain connected to the cricket ecosystem. The statement added that any exceptions to taking part in domestic cricket will be considered only under extraordinary circumstances.

"Participation in Domestic Matches is mandatory for players to remain eligible for selection in the national team and for central contracts, as per BCCI guidelines. This policy ensures that players remain connected to the domestic cricket ecosystem, fostering talent development, maintaining match fitness, and strengthening the overall domestic structure. It also inspires emerging players by providing them opportunities to compete alongside top cricketers, ensuring continuity in talent progression. Any exceptions to this mandate will be considered only under extraordinary circumstances and will require formal notification and approval from the Chairman of the Selection Committee, ensuring fairness and transparency in the process," BCCI said in a statement.

In recent days, young stars Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and even Yashasvi Jaiswal are among the ones who have reportedly confirmed their participation in upcoming Ranji Trophy matches, with the status of star seniors Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli still unknown.

Let us look at last Ranji appearances for all Indian Test stars:

Rohit Sharma: His last Ranji appearance for Mumbai came in November 2015 during which he scored 113 in 140 balls against Uttar Pradesh. The match was drawn. Shreyas Iyer also starred with a brilliant 137 and Shardul Thakur made 56 runs. India's current assistant coach Abhishek Nayar also delivered an all-round show with 42 runs and four wickets.

Yashasvi Jaiswal: He represented Mumbai in January 2023 before his Test debut against West Indies later that year, managing scores of 0 and 14 against Maharashtra. The match ended in a draw, as per Wisden.

Shubman Gill: The lanky right hander's last Ranji appearance for Punjab back in January 2022 yielded poor scores of 9 and 19 against Madhya Pradesh in quarerfinals.

Virat Kohli: The 36-year-old's last appearance in Ranji was back in November 2012 against Uttar Pradesh, in which he was dismissed for 14 and 42 runs in both innings by pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar. In 155 first-class matches, Virat has scored 11,479 runs at an average of 48.23, with 37 centuries and 39 fifties in 258 innings, with the best score of 254*.

KL Rahul: India's all-format, versatile right-handed wicketkeeper-batter made his last Ranji appearance in 2020 March for Karnataka against Bengal, scoring 26 and 0 during the semifinal, which his team lost.

Rishabh Pant: He was the Delhi skipper when he led his side to the Ranji finals in 2017-18 season against Vidarbha and made just 21 and 32 in the title clash as Vidarbha won the title under Faiz Fasal's captaincy. In seven matches in the tournament back then, Pant scored 315 runs in nine innings at an average of 35.00, with a solitary half-century and best score of 99.

Dhruv Jurel: His last Ranji appearance came in January 2024 against Kerala, in which he played a fine knock of 63. In the same year, he made his Test debut during the home Test series against England. The match ended in a draw.

Sarfaraz Khan: The domestic cricket run machine's last Ranji appearance came in January 2024 and made just one run before being dismissed by Sakibul Gani of Bihar. Mumbai won the match by an inning.

Washington Sundar: His last Ranji appearance came during the 2024-25 last year, in which he scored 152 in 269 balls against Delhi and took six wickets in October. The match ended in a draw and he was handed an Indian comeback by coach Gautam Gambhir during the home series against New Zealand.

Ravindra Jadeja: Jadeja made a Ranji appearance in January 2023 for Saurashtra against Tamil Nadu, taking eight wickets in the match, with 7/48 in the second innings. He also scored 40 runs in the match, including 25 in the second innings and Saurashtra lost the match by 59 runs.

Nitish Kumar Reddy: The young all-rounder made an appearance for Andhra Pradesh against Gujarat in October 2024, scoring 47 and 34 with the bat and taking one wicket in 13 overs. Gujarat won the match by one wicket.

Akash Deep: His last Ranji appearance was a poor one as he could take just one wicket in only one inning he bowled and scored just five runs in two innings.

Jasprit Bumrah: The pace spearhead's workload is highly crucial to the team's success and he last played for his state side of Gujarat in 2017 January, taking seven wickets in total including a six-wicket haul in the second innings. This was the semifinal against Jharkhand which his team won and reached the final. Bumrah got the 'Player of the Match' award.

Prasidh Krishna: The lanky pacer last played Ranji in October 2024, bowling just eight overs and getting wicket of Madhya Pradesh's Himanshu Mantri.

Harshit Rana: Harshit's last appearance in Ranji came against Assam in October 2024, where he took a five-wicket haul followed by a fifty for Delhi, which included four boundaries and three sixes. In the second innings, he took two more wickets and was given an Indian call-up, making his Test debut during historic win at Perth. Delhi won the match by 10 wickets.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Will Rohit Travel To Pak For CT 2025 Captains' Meet? BCCI Breaks Silence

A customary captains' meet is set to take place in Pakistan ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. The captains of all the eight participating teams need to be present at the event that is scheduled to take place on 17th or 18th of February. However, there is still no clarity whether India captain Rohit Sharma will be there at the event. Notably, the Indian cricket team has not travelled to Pakistan for over a decade now due to the political tensions between the two nations. Team India even opted not to travel to the country for the upcoming Champions Trophy, and as a result, the side has been scheduled to play all its matches in Dubai, despite Pakistan being the initial designated host.

BCCI newly-elected secretary Devajit Saikia gave an update on Rohit's participation regarding the captains' meet. When asked about Rohit's chances of going to Pakistan for the event, Saikia said that the board hasn't received any such proposal.

"We haven't got any such proposal. This hasn't been part of our discussions with the ICC," Saikia told The Telegraph.

Meanwhile, a source told the newspaper, "This is a very delicate situation and every step has to be taken after judging its repercussions. India have to find a compromise formula to solve the crisis since Pakistan will enjoy certain benefits by virtue of being the hosts."

A different source confirmed to PTI that the PCB has made it clear to the ICC that the opening ceremony, featuring all teams and their captains, will take place in Pakistan.

The source said that recently three Indian nationals, who were a part of the ICC delegation which came to Pakistan, were promptly issued visas once the world body sent their names to the PCB.

The Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19, while the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan game will take place on February 23 in Dubai.

(With agency inputs)

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PCB Restricts Movement Of Scribes At Stadiums In Karachi And Lahore

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday restricted the entry and movement of the mainstream and digital media at its stadiums in Karachi and Lahore which are under construction ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. The PCB is in a scramble to complete the renovation work of the stadiums ahead of next month's Champions Trophy. The media will now only be allowed to visit stadiums on a fixed day during the week when they can tour the venue and make videos in the presence of PCB media representatives.

"It has become irritating for us the way some people are constantly going to the stadiums without permission and filming or talking about minor issues of construction work and presenting their views on preparations for the mega event," an insider in the board said.

He said the decision to restrict the entry and movement of media at the stadiums was taken because "these conflicting reports are being picked up by the international media" and giving an impression that the country is not ready to host the Champions Trophy.

The National Stadium in Karachi is scheduled to play host to the opening match of the tournament between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19.

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Rules From Kohli's Captaincy Back? BCCI Planning Big U-Turn Amid Slump

Team India's struggles on the international circuit since the arrival of head coach Gautam Gambhir haven't gone down well with the board. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly keen to bring back the old rules over fitness tests that were applicable during Virat Kohli's captaincy days. The board had done away with the mandatory yo-yo fitness Test considering the workload and frequency of travel for the players. But, a report has claimed that the rule could be brought back.

According to the Times of India, the BCCI medical team has been asked to go back to fitness criteria for selection instead of just focusing on injury prevention because of the gruelling schedule. Yo-yo test mandate was removed by the previous management to reduce the number of injuries but a U-turn could be on the cards now.

"The board had gone lenient on the players since they are mostly on the road. The focus had shifted to just injury prevention. This has been taken lightly by some players. It is being mooted that a certain fitness level criteria needs to be reintroduced so that complacency doesn't creep in," the paper quoted a source as saying.

The BCCI is reportedly looking to make a few more changes to the way the team functions, with the stay of family members and wives of players also set to be curbed.

Officials believe having families present, especially during overseas assignments, can distract players and impact their performance. Additionally, the BCCI has introduced a rule requiring all players to travel with the team at all times.

This change addresses concerns over some players opting to travel separately in recent years, which the board views as disruptive to team cohesion and discipline.

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Massive Blow Ahead Of Champions Trophy: Star Ruled Out With Back Injury

South Africa pacer Anrich Nortje was on Wednesday ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to a back injury. Nortje, who has not played international cricket since the T20 World Cup final in June last year, was named in the Champions Trophy squad earlier this week but scans on Monday made it clear that he is not going to be fit in time for the ICC event beginning February 19 in Pakistan. "Pretoria Capitals fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the remainder of the Betway SA20 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to a back injury," said Cricket South Africa in a statement.

"The 31-year-old, who was initially named in the Champions Trophy squad, underwent scans on Monday afternoon which revealed the extent of the injury.

"He is not expected to recover in time for the 50-over tournament, where South Africa will begin their campaign on February 21 against Afghanistan in Karachi, Pakistan. His replacement will be announced in due course," the statement added.

Nortje has not played an ODI since September 2023 when he suffered a stress fracture.

In the T20 World Cup the following year, he was South Africa's stand out bowler. The Proteas had lost the final to India in Barbados.

It is the third time in six ICC events that Nortje has been forced to miss due to an injury.

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Ex-RCB Star Misses Ranji Camp To Join IPL Side, Triggers Priority Debate

Delhi wicketkeeper-batter Anuj Rawat has landed himself in hot water after skipping his side's preparation camp for the upcoming round of Ranji Trophy match to attend his Indian Premier League (IPL) side Gujarat Titans (GT)'s training camp in Surat. Rawat was bought by GT for Rs 30 lakh at the IPL 2025 mega auction last year, having been released by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Rawat was mentioned among the players who had joined the nets session in GT's official statement. 

"Gujarat Titans have commenced their preparations for the IPL 2025 with a training camp in Surat. Players like Anuj Rawat, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Kumar Kushagra, Mahipal Lomror and Arshad Khan have joined the team in the camp along with the coaches and support staff," the franchise said in a statement.

At a time when the BCCI brass is adamant that players should give precedence to red-ball cricket during the season, Rawat attending an IPL camp only a week before the commencement of red-ball season is a clear indication of where his priorities lie.

It must be mentioned here that veteran bowler Ishant Sharma has already told DDCA that he won't play red-ball cricket anymore now that he is no longer in contention for a national comeback.

When DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma, who is also the convenor of the senior state team selection committee, was asked if the player in question had sought permission to join his IPL team's pre-season conditioning camp, he replied in negative.

"I have no knowledge that Anuj has skipped the ongoing Ranji Trophy camp to attend the IPL team's camp. Ideally, he needs to take permission from the state association. We have two Ranji games left and the camp is on at the Kotla. I don't know who gave him the permission to skip the Ranji Trophy camp," Sharma told PTI.

"Ishant's case is different as he doesn't need DDCA's permission since he doesn't play Ranji Trophy." It is learnt that normally, if an IPL pre-season conditioning camp coincides with a state team camp, one normally takes permission from either the president or the secretary before attending an IPL net session.

"We have received a few official e-mail requests from certain players asking for permission to join their respective IPL camps but I can confirm that we have received no written request from Anuj Rawat. In that case, he shouldn't have joined the IPL camp," a senior DDCA official, who looks after cricket operations, said on condition of anonymity.

Last year, KKR's IPL-winning captain Shreyas Iyer, who will lead Punjab Kings this season, lost his central contract along with Ishan Kishan, for giving more importance to IPL than domestic cricket.

(With PTI Inputs)

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Gambhir, Agarkar Differ In Test Captaincy Choices. India Coach Wants...

As the new Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary steps into the shoes vacated by Jay Shah, the hunt for Rohit Sharma's long-term captaincy successor has begun. Rohit reportedly came close to hanging his boots in the Test format during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia but was made to change his mind by some 'well-wishers'. Rohit even claimed in an interview during the Sydney Test that he has no retirement plans at present, but Saturday's BCCI meeting with chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir has painted a different picture.

According to a report in Dainik Jagran, there isn't absolute agreement over Jasprit Bumrah's name as India's next Test captain. When it comes to 5-match Test assignments, Bumrah's workload does become an issue and the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar series is an example.

Bumrah had to sit out half of the 5th Test in Sydney due to a back issue. If he gets India's full-time Test captaincy, such issues could prove to be detrimental. While there's no denying that Bumrah is the best candidate to fill in the void that would be created by Rohit's exit, the board and selectors also want a solid Plan B for cases where Bumrah isn't available.

The BCCI and selectors want to groom another strong captaincy candidate, who will be officially named the team's vice-captain. The player would lead the team in Bumrah's absence. The two names that have been floated are Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

While Pant has been fully backed by the selectors, the report in Hindi daily has claimed that Gambhir may be favouring Jaiswal for the role. The India head coach, hence, could be standing at the opposite end of the table on the topic, in comparison to the national selectors.

The BCCI, however, isn't keen to make any changes till the conclusion of the Champions Trophy in order to avoid a negative affect on the team. However, some big alterations are expected to take place after the ICC event.

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Yograj Singh Makes Massive U-Turn On MS Dhoni, Says "Best Thing About..."

Indian cricket team legend Yuvraj Singh's father Yograj made a huge U-turn over his stand on MS Dhoni. In the past, Yograj has brutally criticised Dhoni for cutting his son's career short and even took massive digs at the former India captain. During a recent interview, Yograj lauded Dhoni for his fearless attitude on the pitch and even pointed out how much he has helped youngsters. While he has been always quite critical of Dhoni, he softened his tone and praised his intelligence on the playing field.

“I find Dhoni as a very motivated captain, who can tell people what to do. The best thing about Dhoni was that he could read the wicket can tell bowlers where to bowl,” Yograj Singh said on 'Unfiltered by Samdish', a YouTube show.

“What I liked the most about him was that he was a fearless men. If you remember in Australia, he was hit on the grill my Mitchell Johnson and he didn't moved a bit, he stood there and next ball he pulled him for a six. Aise log kaafi kam hote hai (There are very few people like him),” he added.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have borne a majority of the brunt for India's 1-3 defeat in the recently-concluded 2024/25 Border Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. However, former South African great Jonty Rhodes has backed the duo, claiming that India's two series victory in Australia have resulted in the fans forgetting the conditions are tough in Down Under.

"Everybody's entitled to their opinion. Cricket is that kind of game and I think the cricket players themselves in this day and age, there is no escape from the public, whether it's fans who love them or fans who are criticizing them with social media, journalism these days. Everybody seems to be a cricketing expert and players learn to live with that.

“Touring Australia is really tough. And I think maybe the Indian fans have forgotten that because India have been so successful in the past in their last two tours to Australia. But it wasn't easy. You know, some great performances by the team almost resurrected the previous tours. And it didn't quite happen this time around so to lay the blame at the feet of two people is harsh,” Rhodes told IANS.

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14-Year-Old Ira Smashes 346, Sets Record For Highest U19 Score By An Indian

Fourteen-year-old Mumbai opener Ira Jadhav became the first Indian to score a triple hundred in Under-19 cricket, when she made a 346 against Meghalaya in the U19 Women's One Day Trophy in Alur, Bengaluru on Sunday. Ira, a student of the Sharadashram Vidyamandir, the alma mater of Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli and Ajit Agarkar made her runs in 157 balls with 42 fours and 16 sixes. This is also the highest score in Youth List A matches by an Indian but the world record in the segment stands in the name of Lizelle Lee of South Africa, who made 427 in 2010 in a domestic match.

Jadhav, who went unsold in the previous Women's Premier League auction, however has been named among the standbys for India's U19 T20 World Cup squad for the tournament to be held in Malaysia.

An admirer of India batter Jemimah Rodrigues, Jahdhav's triple hundred and her 274-run stand for the second wicket with skipper Hurley Gala (116, 79 balls) powered Mumbai to a mammoth 563 for three.

Meghalaya were bowled out for a mere 19, an inning that contained six ducks, as Mumbai recorded a massive 544-run victory.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Rohit Wanted To Retire, Well-Wishers Stopped Him. Gambhir Unhappy: Report

Rohit Sharma's decision to sit out of the fifth India vs Australia Test led to a speculation over-drive on whether it was the end of the India captain's journey in Tests or not. Rohit had been out of form in the three Tests that he played, and dropping himself from a must-win final game in Sydney meant only one thing. However, on the second day of the fifth Test match in Sydney, Rohit gave an interview where he said that he just 'stood down' and was not retiring from Test. 

However, a report has now given some interesting details on what may have happened in the Indian dressing room after the fourth Test in Melbourne, that started on the Boxing Day. Rohit Sharma decided to step down after the Test, according to the report, but was stopped by his 'well-wishers'.  

"Rohit had made up his mind after MCG. Had his well wishers from the outside didn't force him to change his mind, we could have well seen another retirement in Australia," a report in Times of India quoted a source as saying.

The report added that Rohit's decision to take a U-turn on his retirement decision 'did not sit well' with coach Gautam Gambhir.

Before the Sydney Test, Gambhir had stayed non-committal over Rohit's place in the XI. 

Rohit, on his part, had put up a brave front during the Sydney Test. He had said that nobody from outside can determine when he is going to hand his boots. 

"I don't believe in what will happen in five months. I want to focus on the present. This decision is not a retirement decision. I am not going to move away from the game. But, for this game, I am out because I am not scoring with the bat. There is no guarantee that after five months I will not score runs. Every day life changes. I believe in myself," Rohit said, speaking on his future.

"At the same time I have to be realistic as well. I have played this game for so long. Nobody from outside can decide when I should go, or sit out or lead the team. I am a sensible, matured, father of two. I know what I want in life," he added.

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Pacers Unlikely To Give Clear Advantage To SA In WTC Final: Jonty Rhodes

As South Africa prepares for its World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's, legendary cricketer Jonty Rhodes says the Proteas' pace battery is unlikely to give a big advantage to the side as Pat Cummins' team too is equally adept at handling the quick bowlers. The one-off Test will be played from June 11 to 15, with June 16 available as a reserve day if required. "Well, I don't think so. There is no advantage to South Africa. The Australians are adept at playing pace bowling. They have a battery of fast bowling whom South African batters will be facing at Lord's.

"So, I wouldn't say that we have an advantage. Australians have grown up facing pace and know all about it, but it certainly is going to be a great contest," the South African, known for his breathtaking fielding, told PTI Videos on Saturday.

South Africa's run to the WTC final has been driven by their dominant performances, especially at home. In those matches, their potent pace attack, featuring Kagiso Rabada (37 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 19.8) and Marco Jansen (29 wickets in 7 matches), has proved to be a game changer.

Beyond the immediate focus on the WTC final, Rhodes believes that South African cricket appears to be on the cusp of a resurgence.

"You know, success breeds success. For a long time, South Africa was in the middle of the ICC rankings and it kind of showed. Rugby has a cult fan following in South Africa because we have had consecutive World Championships winning teams.

"I as a player and cricket coach in India have seen that the success of the men's team and the women's team has driven the popularity of the game and support for the players and the team," said Rhodes, who is also the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) fielding coach.

"I hope that cricket in South Africa will get a resurgence, one from the Test team's performance and other from tournaments like the SA20," he added.

At one point, it seemed rather impossible for the Proteas, with several key players unavailable and the team going through transition, to make it to the WTC summit clash.

Rhodes says the roller-coaster journey has been amazing.

"Well to win that many Test matches is pretty tough. Test cricket has certainly changed from my generation and my era when a lot of drawn matches used to happen. The way the players play these days, the game certainly goes forward very, very quickly.

"Not too many Tests last for five days. But to be able to win eight out of nine games is a spectacular performance", Rhodes said.

"Considering that the team has changed, at one point players weren't available. It's amazing to see that South Africa has reached the final of the WTC," he added.

Rhodes feels leagues like SA20 have played a vital role in reigniting interest and unearthing talent back home.

"The standard of young players coming through the ranks is pretty exciting... exciting times ahead if you are a fan of cricket in South Africa." Rhodes, who was invited as a special guest speaker at the Viksit Bharat Youth Leaders Dialogue and National Youth Festival here, was particularly inspired by the Viksit Bharat 2047 mission.

"In a team environment or society, communication is so essential and it is not a monologue. And to actively listen to the youth of the country, is just mind-blowing. The fact that the PM's gonna be here tomorrow, the youth of the country that will be driving the Viksit Bharat 2047 mission..." "The fact that they will get a chance to present their thoughts to the Prime Minister of the country blows me away," he added.

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Manoj Tiwary Justifies Calling Gambhir 'Hypocrite', Recalls His Old Remark

Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary left the cricket world shocked with his relentless attack at current national team head coach Gautam Gambhir. Tiwary called Gambhir a 'hypocrite', owing to his recent results with the Indian team, particularly the losses at home to New Zealand and against Australia Down Under. Tiwary didn't mince words as he questioned several decisions taken by Gambhir, in the capacity of the team's coach, especially with regards to the selection of a few players and his own coaching staff.

Gambhir, notably, handpicked Ryan Ten Doeschate and Morne Morkel as part of this support staff after being named Team India's head coach. Tiwary, during an interview with the Hindustan Times, said that Gambhir himself once criticised the BCCI for hiring overseas coaches. Now, he himself did the same.

"Why did I call him a hypocrite? It is because of one of his interviews if you remember. In one of the interviews, he said, 'All these foreign coaches, all the guys who come from abroad, have no emotions, they have no feelings. They earn money and enjoy themselves.' When the time was there for him to select all the Indian coaches and all the Indian-origin support staff, why did he put forward the names of Ryan ten Doeschate and Morne Morkel? He got everything he wanted but he is not able to produce the results. Actions don't match his words, so I called him a hypocrite," said Tiwary.

Despite getting the support staff of his choices, Gambhir has had some forgettable results as the Indian team's coach. Be it the ODI series loss against Sri Lanka, the home Test sweep against New Zealand or the most recent 1-3 defeat against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Tiwary even questioned Gambhir's appointment as the Indian team's head coach, saying he didn't have much coaching experience, having only worked as a mentor in the IPL so far in his career.

"You tell me, before taking up coaching in the Indian team, did he have any coaching experience in first-class cricket or IPL or anywhere in the world? Did he coach any one of the teams? Mentoring and coaching are totally different. That is where everyone mixes up. That is where fans mix up, and a lot of others mix up. Coaching and mentoring are totally opposite. When you don't have experience, how do you expect to perform? That is what is happening right now, and the results are there for everyone to see," said Tiwary.

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Tamim Iqbal Announces Retirement From international Cricket Again

Bangladesh cricket stalwart Tamim Iqbal has announced his retirement from international cricket, marking the second time he has stepped away from the game. His first retirement came in July 2023 during an emotional press conference, a decision he reversed within 24 hours after an intervention by Bangladesh's then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Tamim made his latest decision known to the Bangladesh selectors in Sylhet on Wednesday. Despite the Gazi Ashraf Hossain-led selection panel urging him to return for the upcoming Champions Trophy, Tamim reiterated his intent to retire. Though some of his teammates, including captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, requested him to reconsider, Tamim took an additional day to reflect but ultimately stood firm on his choice.

"I have been away from international cricket for a long time," he wrote on Facebook, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

"That distance will remain. My chapter in international cricket is over. I have been thinking about this for a long time. Now that a big event like the Champions Trophy is coming up, I do not want to be the focus of anyone's attention, which could lead to the team losing their focus. Of course, I did not want this to happen before, too," he added.

"Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto sincerely asked me to return to the team. There were discussions with the selection committee too. I am grateful to them for still considering me in the team. However, I have listened to my own heart," the post said.

With the deadline for Champions Trophy squad announcements set for January 12, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) was prepared to wait until the last moment for Tamim's decision. His impressive domestic form had kept him in contention. He has been active in domestic cricket since stepping away from the international stage, leading Barishal to victory in the 2024 BPL and earning the 'Player of the Tournament' award. He also performed admirably in the Dhaka Premier League, followed by consistent runs in the NCL T20s and the ongoing BPL season.

Tamim, however, dismissed the BCB's prolonged anticipation for his response, calling it "unnecessary" as he had already opted out of the central contracts for 2024, signalling his withdrawal from international cricket considerations.

"I removed myself from the BCB central contract a long time ago because I did not want to return to international cricket," he wrote.

"Many have said that I have left the matter hanging. Why would anyone discuss a cricketer who is no longer in BCB's contracted list? I voluntarily stepped down more than a year ago," he stated

"Even after that, there has been unnecessary discussion. The decision to retire or continue playing is the right of a cricketer or any professional sportsman. I have given myself time. Now I feel that the time has come," the post added.

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Rinku Effect In South Africa, Glass Broken By His Six Remains Unrepaired

The first game of SA20 2025 was played between Sunrisers Eastern Cape and MI Cape Town on Friday in Gqeberha. In the opening match, Cape Town emerged victorious by 97 runs as they posted 174/7 while batting first and then bundled out the Sunrisers for 77. During the match, MI batter Dewald Brevis, who scored 57 off 29 balls, hammered a huge six which brought back the memories of a gigantic six from India batter Rinku Singh in 2023. The Indian had hit a big maximum off Aiden Markram during a T20I match against South Africa in December 2023, which ended up damaging sightscreen of the press box. 

Interestingly, after 394 days on the incident, the sightscreen which was broken by Rinku's six, is still not repaired due to the budget constraints. The press box at the St George's Park in Gqeberha is placed at a high altitude and it is also one of the reasons for the delay in the repair work. 

After the opening match of SA20 2025, Terrance, who is one of the officials of the St George's Park and looks after the maintenance work, spoke to Hindustan Times and shared some details. 

"Firstly, look at the height. It's too much and not that easily possible to get fixed because it would require a crane and all sorts of heavy machinery. You can't bring all that stuff into the field when you have games like these. We've had windows broken here at the bottom from time to time. That we fix in a jiffy. So there is always a priority set. And with the budget shortage, we have to work with what we've got," said Terrance. 

"We had the roof fixed. If you see that roof, we've got it covered. That is a new roof. I can show you projects that have been successfully completed," he added. 

Terrance further stated that during a storm in August 2024, the condition of the stadium deteriorated and a lot of money was spent on the repair work. 

"We suffered storms in August, so the entire roof of a stand blew away. And then we made a claim to the insurer, who said it's wear-and-tear. We can't really pay for that. And we had to pay around 400,000R. It was quite a big portion," he said. 

"Other parts had corrosion, and so on; those needed repairing and some replacements. It cost a lot of money. So, in that context, I am saying it's not really a priority. Because it doesn't pose a danger to anybody. Then again, it doesn't mean that it's not on our list to get it fixed," he added. 

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Rajasthan Enter Quarters, Bengal Lose Despite Shami's Three-Wicket Haul

Opener Abhijeet Tomar struck a well-paced hundred as Rajasthan recorded their first ever win over Tamil Nadu in Vijay Hazare Trophy history to enter the quarterfinals in Vadodara on Thursday. At the Kotambi Stadium, Tomar (111 off 125) shared a 160-run stand with skipper Mahipal Lomror (60 off 49) for the second wicket to set the platform for Rajasthan's 267 all out in 47.3 overs. Tamil Nadu and India mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy outfoxed the opposition to take a five-wicket haul but it was not enough to get his team over the line.

Chakaravarthy (18 off 22) also chipped in the with the bat as wickets kept falling at the other end before being the last man to be dismissed, limiting Tamil Nadu to 248 all out in 47.1 overs.

Rajasthan pacer Aman Singh Shekhawat (3/58) dropped one short and the ball got big on Chakaravarthy who was caught at long-on.

Rajasthan will face Vidarbha in the quarterfinals scheduled on Sunday.

The star for the winning team was undoubtedly Tomar who struggled a bit against the new ball before gaining in confidence to complete his fourth List A hundred.

He played all around the ground and his innings included 12 fours and four sixes. Tomar brought up a memorable hundred with a single in the 30th over.

In the other Preliminary quarterfinal staged at Motibaug Cricket Ground, Haryana bulldozed over Bengal by 72 runs following an all-rounder effort form Parth Vats (62 off 77) and Nishant Sandhu (64 off 67), who struck half-centuries before taking couple of wickets each.

S P Kumar came up with a timely cameo down the order to push the score to 298 for nine in 50 overs. Mohammad Shami, playing his third game of the tournament, picked up three wickets but Bengal came a cropper in the run chase, folding up for 226 in 43.1 overs.

Haryan take on Gujarat in a quarterfinal scheduled on Saturday. The other two quarterfinals will be played between Karnataka and Baroda, and, Maharashtra and Punjab.

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Bumrah "Shouldn't Be In CT Squad If...": WC-Winning Team's Physio's Warning

Jasprit Bumrah enjoyed the series of his life in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25. India's pace spearhead picked up 32 wickets in five Tests, equalling the record for the most wickets taken in a single series between India and Australia. However, Bumrah picked up an injury during the final Test in Sydney, which forced him to not bowl in the fourth innings and has also cast a shadow on his participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy. Former India trainer Ramji Srinivasan opined that Bumrah should not be risked for the Champions Trophy if he isn't fully fit.

"Bumrah is a treasure and he should be handled with care. A Champions Trophy is not the end of the world," said Srinivasan, who was the head strength and conditioning coach for Team India's 2011 World Cup-winning squad, to the Times of India.

"If there is the slightest doubt, he shouldn't be in the squad. Five back-to-back Test matches isn't something he has ever played in his cricketing career," Srinivasan continued.

Initially, Bumrah's injuries were reported to be back spasms, for which he had apparently gone to have scans on Day 2 of the fifth Test. Srinivasan stated that recovery from back spasms shouldn't be too difficult, but any injury beyond that should not be risked.

"If it is only spasms, he should be fit. In fact, he might be feeling alright even before he boarded the flight back home. But I am not so sure about it. The injury is related to stress, which is a direct result of playing too much cricket. If it is anything between a Grade 1 to Grade 3 injury related to stress fracture, it can take up to one to six months of recovery," Srinivasan added.

India will play three ODIs and five T20Is against England ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.

India must announce their Champions Trophy squad by January 12, although they can make changes till February 13.

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Not Just Tests, Rohit To Retire From Cricket Totally? Ex-Captain Drops Hint

Rohit Sharma's future in Test cricket, not only as captain but also as a player for Team India, is up in the air. Following a disastrous Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 - where Rohit scored 31 runs in five games and did not win a Test - he has been tipped to retire from the longest format of the game altogether. One such person who believes he will retire from Tests is his former skipper in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Deccan Chargers, Adam Gilchrist. However, Gilchrist even hinted that Rohit might completely retire from international cricket after the ICC Champions Trophy.

"I don't see Rohit going to England. I just felt that he says he will assess it when he gets home. I mean, the first thing he will be met with when he gets home is a two-month-old baby that he has to change the nappies on. Now that might incentivise him to go to England. But I don't see him pressing on. I think he'll probably have a crack at the Champions Trophy and that might be. That might see him out," Gilchrist said, speaking on the Club Prairie Fire podcast.

Gilchrist also threw in an interesting name into the hat as a contender for India's Test captain. That name is none other than Virat Kohli.

"I don't know whether (Jasprit) Bumrah should be full-time captain. I reckon that might get a little bit challenging for him. So, who that next captain may be is anyone's guess, really, whether they go back to Virat (Kohli). I wouldn't be surprised if he wouldn't mind doing it," Gilchrist added.

On the other hand, former England captain Michael Vaughan did give his vote to Bumrah as India's next Test captain, but also stated that Shubman Gill could be considered as the vice-captain and a potential long-term captain.

"I would give the captain seat to Jasprit Bumrah, and the reason is the two performances that India were at their finest in Australia were Perth (first Test) and the SCG (fifth Test). And if he had not been injured, I honestly think they would have won that game," he said. I'd have someone like Shubman Gill as the vice-captain," Vaughan stated.

India's next Test selection headache will come around May, ahead of the five-Test tour of England beginning June 20.

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Champions Trophy: BCCI Eyeing Star Who's Been Out Of Action For 417 Days

The Champions Trophy squad announcement deadline is January 12. The tournament starts on February 19, while India's first match is on February 20. All eyes will be on India's squad, especially after the Border Gavaskar Trophy debacle. Focus will be on veterans like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah among others. In the midst of this, there is some positive news. Mohammed Shami, who last played an international match on November 19, 2023 (417 days ago from today), is expected to make a return, according to a report in Cricbuzz. Shami has been out of action since the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he was the top wicket-taker. 

The report said that Shami's is being closely monitored by the BCCI's medical team. Shami underwent a surgery in his ankle after the World Cup. Then a knee swelling delayed his return and he missed the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Now, the report said that there is 'optimism' in the BCCI corridors over his return. A fitness clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) is mandatory for Shami to be available. 

Shami bowled regularly for his state team Bengal in t he Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy. A NCA physio is accompanying him while BCCI selectors will asses him further during the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockout matches in Baroda. 

Bumrah uncertain

The report also said that Jasprit Bumrah is still not a certainty for the Champions Trophy. Bumrah suffered a back spasm during the fifth India vs Australia Test in Sydney. He immediately went for a sacn in a hospital. The BCCI selectors are awaiting a report from the NCA regarding the pacer. He is also expected to report to the NCA.

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has termed the incomparable Jasprit Bumrah the greatest all-format fast bowler after his Player-of-the-Series performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

"I know a lot of great fast bowlers, Curtly Ambrose, Glenn McGrath, didn't get to play T20 cricket, so I'm not talking about those guys, but in regards to anyone who has played all three formats, I think he might be the best ever," he said.

"He's actually that good in any conditions, that's what makes him great; any conditions, any format, this guy's a freak."

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"Choose To...": Dhanashree Breaks Silence Amid Divorce Rumour With Chahal

Dhanashree Verma, wife of Indian cricket team star Yuzvendra Chahal, broke her silence on Wednesday night amid viral rumours of her divorce. Chahal got engaged to Dhanashree, a YouTuber, dance choreographer and dentist, who has participated in the reality show Jhalak Dheekha Ja, on August 8, 2020. The couple got married in a private ceremony on December 22, 2020 in Gurgaon. According to reports, Chahal removed all pictures with Dhanashree from social media, fuelling the rumours. However, Dhanashree continues to keep Chahal's pictures on social media, leaving their fans wondering. 

"The past few days have been incredibly tough for my family and me. What's truly upsetting is the baseless writing, devoid of fact checking, and the character assassination of my reputation by faceless trolls spreading hate," Dhanashree wrote in a long post on her Instagram story.

"I've worked hard for years to build my name and integrity. My silence is not a sign of weakness; but of strength. While negativity spreads easily online, it takes courage and compassion to uplift others.

"I choose to focus on my truth and move forward, holding onto my values. The truth stands tall without the need for justification."

On Tuesday, Chahal posted a cryptic message on Instagram which read: "Silence is a profound melody, for those who can hear it above all the noise." - Socrates

Earlier, on Saturday, Chahal posted another cryptic message on Instagram. "Hard work spotlights the character of people. You know your journey. You know your pain. You know what all you have done to reach here. The world knows. You stand tall. You have worked with all your sweat to make your father and your mother proud. Keep standing tall like a proud son always," Chahal's Instagram story read.

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BCCI To Review Aus Debacle. Gambhir Will Survive While Kohli, Rohit...

After India's 1-3 loss against Australia in the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy series, many questions were raised on the side's senior players, mainly Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, after a series of poor outings for the duo. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and his support staff's role too has come under scrutiny. But as things stand, all three will survive the debacle and BCCI sources told IANS that Rohit and Virat will remain in contention to represent the country in the Champions Trophy and the five-match Test series against England in June.

Both Rohit and Kohli have been a vital part and mainstay of India's top-order for the past decade, and were crucial in the country winning their second T20 World Cup in June, but have heavily struggled since then. According to IANS sources, a review of the recent performances will be conducted soon but the BCCI does not blame head coach Gautam Gambhir for the defeat.

"Yes, there will be a review meeting but no firing. C'mon, you can't sack a coach for the batters' poor show in one series. Gautam Gambhir will remain the coach, and Virat and Rohit will feature in the England series. The focus is Champions Trophy," BCCI sources told IANS on Tuesday.

Kohli began the series on a high note, scoring a century in the opening Test in Perth. However, his form dipped drastically and he ended up with 190 runs in the series. He was dismissed eight times while chasing balls outside off-stump.

On the other hand, Rohit, who missed the Perth Test because of the birth of his second child, managed only 31 runs in three Tests, before opting to rest for the fifth match in Sydney.

At the end of the Sydney Test. Gambhir was questioned about Virat and Rohit's future in the side, after the BGT series, but he remained adamant that the duo still have the ‘hunger and passion' to represent the country. “I can't talk about the future of any player. It is up to them as well. But yes, what I can say is that they still have hunger and passion, they are tough people. Hopefully, they can continue to take Indian cricket forward. But ultimately, as we all know, whatever they plan, it will be in the best interest of Indian cricket,” said Gambhir.

Since Gambhir was appointed head coach across all formats, India dominated the shortest format of the game but have struggled in Test cricket. Following a 2-0 home series win against Bangladesh, following which it seemed India had all but sealed a spot in their third consecutive World Test Championship final. However, a humiliating 0-3 loss against New Zealand followed, which was the nation's first home-series defeat in 12 years. India were eliminated from WTC contention following the loss in the BGT.

India will host England for a white-ball series -- five T20Is and three ODIs starting towards the end of January before they leave for Dubai for the forthcoming Champions Trophy. India's next Test assignment will be the five-match Test series away in England in June.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Not Rohit: De Villiers Namedrops 5 Indian Players He Wants To See In SA20

South African great Ab de Villiers hopes the BCCI will allow Indian players to take part in the SA20 in the near future as it will only raise the profile of the young franchise-based league. Dinesh Karthik is set to become the first Indian cricketer to compete in the SA20 but that was only made possible when he announced his international and domestic retirement last year. The BCCI doesn't allow active players to take part in overseas leagues and as of now, the only way to play events outside India is by calling time on your career at home. Having said that, there is a growing trend of cricketers taking retirement in India to try their luck in the burgeoning overseas competitions.

"I would love to see more Indian players involved. We know Dinesh Karthik will be here this year which is fantastic and it's great for the tournament.

"And hopefully the BCCI will allow us to get more Indian players in the future to come and join the fun of the SA20," said de Villiers in a select media interaction ahead of third edition of SA20 beginning on January 9.

Having said that, he is fully aware that the BCCI is not going to make active Indian players available for overseas leagues anytime soon but he would love to his the likes of Virat Kohli being part of SA20.

”It would be nice to see some Indian players, especially in the peak form of their careers, come over and play. If I had to pick, I'd choose all the current players: Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Virat, Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav.

"Imagine SKY playing here — that would be amazing! But if I think about past players, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik, or maybe even Irfan Pathan come to mind. Some of these players already participate in Masters Leagues around the world. Who knows, maybe I'll join them in the near future," said de Villiers.

He also reckons that only way to keep a league ahead of its rivals is by attracting the best overseas talent like the IPL has done over the years.

"We (SA20) can just keep growing with regards to the overseas players. That's a large part of the success of the IPL over the years and I've followed the IPL since 2008. It's every year the overseas contingents seem to get stronger and stronger.

"You get the best players in the world and the best players in India and that combination makes for great cricket. So I think for Graeme Smith and his team moving forward it's just to keep pushing hard, as hard as they can (to get the best overseas talent)," de Villiers said.

De Villiers not a fan of impact player rule

The contentious impact player rule in the IPL has been extended till 2027 but de Villiers is not a fan of the concept.

When asked if the rule should be introduced in SA20, he added:" "I've never been a big fan, to be honest, and I did speak about it at the IPL last season. I feel it's a bit confusing, it also puts a bit of pressure on the all-rounders and their role in the teams.

"From the outside it looks exciting, but actually when the game takes place, I've never found it to be... a good thing to have in cricket. So, I mean, you can try it out. And the SA20, they've always been open to new ideas and new rules, which I find good," he said.

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Not Hardik, Gill: This Star To Be India Vice-Captain For Champions Trophy

India's squad for Champions Trophy: While the official announcement of India's squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 may be a few days away, reports have stated that the choice for leadership is already a foregone conclusion and unlikely to change. As per a report by The Times of India, Rohit Sharma is all set to captain India in the Champions Trophy. Regarding vice-captaincy, that responsibility will reportedly be given to pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, should he recover in time for the tournament. The vice-captaincy, in particular, has been a much-debated position.

With India playing only three ODIs in 2024, there hasn't been much need to change a working formula. India, under Rohit, reached the 2023 World Cup final in dominant style, with Rohit himself performing excellently with the bat.

However, what may come as a surprise is the decision taken by the selectors to appoint Bumrah as the vice-captain. The role of vice-captaincy in limited-overs cricket has switched hands considerably.

Hardik Pandya was usually the vice-captain during the Rahul Dravid era, while KL Rahul also took up the responsibility at times. Shubman Gill was entrusted with the role in ODIs and T20Is following Gautam Gambhir's arrival, but is seemingly no more in their plans.

Instead, Bumrah is set to be named as deputy. The pacer led India to victory in their only Test win during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and has also led by example with his performances with the ball.

However, Bumrah's participation in the Champions Trophy is not certain. After picking up an injury in the final Test against Australia, he is not certain to feature in the ODI series against England from February 6, just two weeks ahead of the Champions Trophy.

If Bumrah misses out, the can of worms will be opened again regarding vice-captaincy, with no clear favourite for the role.

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SA Seal Top Spot In WTC Standings, Beat Pak By 10 Wickets In 2nd Test

Temba Bavuma-led South Africa on Monday clinched a massive 10-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second and final match of the series at the Newlands in Cape Town. With the win, the Proteas whitewashed Pakistan in the two-match Test series. According to ICC, Pakistan began Day 4 of the second Test trailing South Africa by 208 runs with nine wickets in hand in their second innings. Unbeaten overnight, Pakistan skipper Shan Masood continued eating away at the South Africa total with help from the Pakistan middle order. However, South Africa managed to eke out the wickets of Khurram Shahzad (18) and Kamran Ghulam (28) in the first session.

South Africa got back into the game with the new ball in hand, dismissing Saud Shakeel in the 83rd over. And then soon after, debutant Kwena Maphaka delivered a crucial breakthrough by trapping Masood in front of his pads. Masood walked back after a valiant 145.

Under pressure once again, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha showed remarkable resilience, building another vital partnership. The duo took Pakistan to 398-5 at Tea, narrowing the deficit to just 23 runs.

But the Pakistan innings crumbled in the final session. Keshav Maharaj was South Africa's star, getting the wickets of Rizwan, Salman and Aamer Jamal. When Kagiso Rabada had Mir Hamza dismissed for 16, Pakistan had reached 478, setting the Proteas a modest target of 58.

Having been promoted to opener, David Bedingham went all guns blazing at the total and smashed an unbeaten 44 off merely 30 balls as South Africa secured a win in just 43 balls without losing a wicket.

Ryan Rickelton was the Player of the Match for his impressive double ton that helped South Africa set a massive first innings total of 615. Pakistan had been bowled out for merely 194 in their first innings, before being asked to follow on.

Marco Jansen was the Player of the Series for his all-round excellence. The lanky all-rounder scored 80 runs and picked up 10 wickets in the series.

With this win, Proteas maintained their unbeaten record in the home summer (four on a trot) and the overall season too.

With a win in the first Test, Temba Bavuma's side had already secured a place in the ICC World Test Championship final, where they'll take on Australia at Lord's.

South Africa's point percentage of 69.44 means that they'll finish this cycle of the World Test Championship as the leaders of the league phase.

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Ashwin Sends Message To Wrong Ritika Amid Rohit Future Talks, Deletes Post

Veteran cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin had an awkward interaction with a fake account of Ritika Sajdeh, wife of Indian team captain Rohit Sharma. However, after realising that the account was fake, Ashwin was quick to delete his post on social media platform X. As India lost the Sydney Test to Australia and conceded the series 1-3, a user on X named @Nishitha018 replied to one of Ashwin's post on the micro-blogging platform. Since the user had Ritika's name and photo on her profile, Ashwin dropped a reply on her comment, unaware that it was a fake account.

'Australia thought they can clean sweep us," the user commented.

Since Ashwin was not aware that it wasn't Ritika's official handle, he asked her: "Hi Ritika, how are you? Regards to the little one and family."

"I'm good Ashwin anna," the user replied, which prompted Ashwin to delete his message.

See the conversation here:

Meanwhile, Rohit and Ritika welcomed their second child in November, a baby boy named 'Ahaan'.

Rohit had missed the series-opener against Australia in Perth as the match was clashing with the expected date of his son's birth.

After India won the match without him, Rohit returned to the team for the second Test.

However, Rohit decided to "opt out" of the series-decider in Sydney, owing to poor form.

India lost the match by 6 wickets, losing the series 1-3.

Reports have been circulating that Rohit is no longer in the scheme of things, as far as the Test team is concerned.

However, Rohit insisted that he was not going anywhere and the decision to sit out in Sydney was a tactical one.

Ashwin, on the other hand, returned to India after the second Test in Melbourne, having announced his retirement from international cricket mid-series.

Ashwin will now be seen in action during the IPL in late March.

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Amid Retirement Claims, Report Says Kohli Wants To Play Till This Tournament

Has the world seen the last of Virat Kohli in Test cricket, or will he be able to revive his career and enjoy a second wind? The flag-bearer of Indian batting since the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli yelled at himself and punched his thigh, as he got out for the eighth time edging to the slip cordon or keeper in his nine visits to the crease in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 36-year-old's career was hanging by a thread after he once again fell victim to a back-of-length delivery on a sixth-stump line on the second day of the fifth and final Test against Australia, the bowler being the self-effacing but relentless Scott Boland.

His problems seem unsolvable at the moment as it is more mental than technical.

The sameness in the mode of his dismissals mean it has become his second nature to "fish" at deliveries on the corridor of uncertainty.

Kohli batted in nine innings across five Tests and barring the second innings century at Perth in the opening Test, and a 36 in the first innings in Melbourne, he has failed to get going.

Remove the 136 runs he had aggregated over his two innings in Perth and Melbourne, and Kohli is left with just 54 runs across his seven other completed knocks.

For a champion player, it is very difficult to take a decision when he is going through his career's all-time lowest phase.

It is understood that Kohli is in no mood to retire and wants to play for India till the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has been constantly saying that the right-hander would continue.

But an ex-national selector looked at the situation differently. He asked how Kohli plans to convince the selectors for the England tour in June without playing any tangible red-ball cricket.

"It would be very hard for selectors to pick either Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli on the basis of IPL performance or form. Their has to be some red-ball cricket for them in lead-up to England tour. Else you can't justify their selections," the former selectors told PTI.

If sources are to be believed there is no indication as of now that Kohli intends to play the Ranji Trophy, which restarts from January 23.

Delhi will play Saurashtra from January 23-26 in an away game in Rajkot when the Ranji Trophy resumes.

In the next round of matches from January 30 to February 2, Kohli's state team Delhi is scheduled to play Railways.

However, playing domestic red-ball cricket in India in January and February for Test matches in England in June practically won't make sense.

Kohli lives in his new home in London for better part and only joins the national team or IPL side before the start of a series or tournament.

India's next assignment is a three-match ODI series against England from February 6 followed by the Champions Trophy (from February 19 to March 9) and then the IPL starts on March 14.

Clearly there is no window to play any red-ball tournament for preparation unless he skips the IPL for a county stint to gear up for the England tour.

Kohli is one of the biggest brands of the IPL and he won't be losing a chance to captain RCB once again this year and fulfil his dream of winning at least one IPL trophy before drawing the curtains on his glorious career.

The only other option left is talking to selectors and playing at least couple of India A games during its shadow tour to England just before the senior team's tour begins with the first Test at Leeds from June 18.

As of now, Kohli has played his last Test at SCG. But when the name is as big as Virat Kohli, there could always be a twist in the tale.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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5th Test Live: With Bumrah Doubtful, India Eye 200-Plus Target vs Austraila

India vs Australia 5th Test Day 3 Live Updates: With the match hanging in the balance, Team India resume at the score of 141 for 6, with a lead of 145 runs against Australia on Day 3 of the final Test match. Ravindra Jadeja (8 not out) and Washington Sundar (6 not out) will resume India's innings and the visitors' first aim will be to get past the 200-run mark at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Scott Boland has been the wrecker-in-chief in India's innings, picking four wickets so far. It was Rishabh Pant's 61 off 33 on Day 2 that kept India in the hunt after their pacers did a commendable job to bundle out Australia for 181. India had scored 185 runs in their first innings. (Live Scorecard)

Here are the Live Score and Updates of India vs Australia 5th Test Day 3 -

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2nd Test: Pakistan In Trouble After Rickelton Leads South African Run Feast

Pakistan were reeling in response to a relentless South African batting performance on the second day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Saturday. Pakistan were 64-3 at the close after double centurion Ryan Rickelton led South Africa to a first innings total of 615. Kagiso Rabada struck twice and Marco Jansen once when Pakistan started their innings. The tourists were effectively four down because opening batsman Saim Ayub was ruled out of the match with a broken right ankle.

Babar Azam, forced to open the batting in Ayub's absence, was 31 not out at the close with his side still 551 runs behind.

Left-handed opening batsman Rickelton made a chanceless 259, South Africa's joint seventh highest Test score, before he was seventh man out with the total on 557.

South African captain Temba Bavuma opted to keep Pakistan in the field until the last man, 18-year-old debutant Kwena Maphaka, was out 40 minutes after tea.

By then, South Africa had added 299 runs to their overnight 316-4, scoring at almost five runs an over.

Resuming on 176, Rickelton was content to play the anchor role while Kyle Verreynne hit 100 off 147 balls in a sixth-wicket partnership of 148 off 222 deliveries.

Verreynne holed out to deep midwicket after an innings which included five sixes as well as nine fours, but Rickelton continued to bat flawlessly while Jansen thrashed a 42-ball half-century.

A rapid seventh-wicket stand of 86 was ended when Rickelton was caught at mid-on going for a big hit after batting for 607 minutes. He faced 343 balls and hit 29 fours and three sixes.

Jansen was out for 62 off 54 balls, but Keshav Maharaj hit 40 off 35 deliveries as the bowlers continued to take a pounding.

South Africa's innings ended when Maphaka was bowled second ball for nought to become the 100th Test wicket for Mohammad Abbas.

At 18 years 270 days, Maphaka became South Africa's youngest Test player when the match started on Friday.

Abbas took three for 94, while wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan held six catches in the South African innings.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood was caught at first slip off Rabada for two in the first over of his team's reply.

Kamran Ghulam was bowled by Jansen for 12 and Saud Shakeel was out for nought, providing a second catch for David Bedingham at first slip off Rabada.

Pakistan were floundering at 20-3, before Babar and Rizwan put on an unbeaten 44 for the fourth wicket as the day's play ended.

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"Baby Bunch": Bumrah And Co Target Of Nasty Assault By Australian Media

It was an interesting day of play in Sydney as India and Australia fought it out in the final Test encounter of their five-match Test series on Friday. From India skipper Rohit Sharma not playing in the match following a dismal run of form to Jasprit Bumrah engaging in an on-field spat with Sam Konstas, the day had it all. Australia finished with the advantage as India were bowled out for just 185 but Usman Khawaja's dismissal on the final ball of the day was enough to set up an interesting encounter. While experts and fans had a lot of opinions about everything that transpired on Friday, the Australian media once again took a brutal dig at Jasprit Bumrah and Co. The West Australian featured a number of Indian cricketers looking disappointed along with the caption - "The Baby Bunch - India cement status as world's biggest sooks".

The back page of tomorrow's The West Australian.@TheWestSport @westaustralian pic.twitter.com/kPCMyQ6A2u

— Jakeb Waddell (@JakebWaddell) January 3, 2025

Meanwhile, Sanjay Manjrekar was amazed by the aggression shown by the Indian team and especially stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah on Day 1 of the final Test.

The atmosphere flared up when a heated altercation between Bumrah and young Sam Konstas unfolded towards the final moments of Day 1.

The expressions on Bumrah's face clearly indicated he wasn't pleased with whatever Konstas had said to him while standing at the non-striker's end.

On the next delivery after the fiery exchange, Bumrah gave a fitting reply to the young Australian. He put Usman Khawaja in an awkward stance to lure out a thick outside edge, with KL Rahul taking a sharp catch at the second slip.

The entire team celebrated in front of Konstas, with stalwart Virat Kohli being the most animated among all the Indian players. Bumrah initially charged and then slowed down while staring at Konstas, who walked away to avoid the Indian's gaze.

"Yeah, they're all fired up, and it's great to see, right at the end of a long series, this kind of emotion. I mean, Bumrah has been phenomenal, and 'great' doesn't seem to be enough to describe his performance as a bowler. To see him fired up in this fashion is quite rare. Sam Konstas--there's something about him that gets under the skin of the Indian players. You saw Virat Kohli in the background as well, really fired up," Manjrekar said on Star Sports.

(With IANS inputs)

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5th Test Day 2 LIVE: Action Starts, Bumrah On Cusp Of Historic Record

India vs Australia Live Score, 5th Test Day 2: Australia are set to face an ultimate Jasprit Bumrah challenge on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test vs India at Sydney Cricket Ground. The dramatic scene that unfolded on the final ball of Day 1 has added more life to the crucial Test match, which is a do-or-die affair for India. Bumrah and Sam Konstas first got involved into an argument, which seemed to be initiated by the Australian teenager. Bumrah dismissed Aussie opener Usman Khawaja off the very next ball and the Indian players were all over Konstas. The opening day however belonged to hosts Australia, who bundled out India for 185 after getting an invitation to bowl first. The Pat Cummins-led side was 9 for 1 at the end of play on Day 1. (Live Scorecard)

Here are the Live Score and Updates of India vs Australia 5th Test Day 2 -

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Pat Cummins Enters 500 International Wickets Club

Australia captain Pat Cummins entered the 500 international wickets club after another effective display with the ball in the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. The Sydney Cricket Ground bowed to Cummins after the Australian skipper took the spotlight with his faultless captaincy and stunning bowling display. While up against a struggling Indian batting unit, Cummins kept the pressure on the top order but found his reward in the tail end. Washington Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah were his two victims in the first innings as he returned with figures of 2/37 in his 15.2 over spell.

With another clinical performance, Cummins entered the 500 international wickets club, becoming the seventh Australian to achieve the feat.

In 214 matches, Cummins has 500 wickets to his name at an average of 24.45 and an economy of 3.76. Among all the Australians, the 31-year-old's average is only bettered by legendary Glenn McGrath, who averaged 21.75 for his 948 scalps in 375 appearances.

Cummins joins the elite list of Australians who took 500 international wickets in their career, featuring Shane Warner (999), McGrath (948), Brett Lee (718), Mitchell Starc (699), Mitchell Johnson (590) and Nathan Lyon (569).

In the longest format of cricket, Cummins has made 66 appearances and scythed 289 wickets, averaging 22.54 while striking at 46.4. In ODIs, Cummins has featured for Australia 90 times and boasts 143 scalps with an average of 28.78 while striking at 32.7. In T20Is, Cummins has 66 wickets in 57 matches at an average of 23.57 with a strike rate of 19.0.

In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Cummins is the second-highest wicket-taker in the series, with 22 wickets to his name. His tally is only behind India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. The stand-in Indian skipper boasts a whopping 31 wickets in five Tests at an average of 12.65.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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2nd Test: Rickelton, Bavuma Centuries Put SA In Strong Position vs Pakistan

Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma hit centuries and batted South Africa into a strong position on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Friday. South Africa were 316 for four at the close of play. Rickelton (176 not out) and South African captain Bavuma (106) put on 235 for the fourth wicket after the pair came together with the total on 72 for three. At that stage South Africa were in danger of wasting the advantage of winning the toss on a good batting pitch. But Rickelton and Bavuma were seldom troubled as they posted a fifty partnership off 66 balls and scored consistently at better than four runs an over throughout their stand.

It was the left-handed Rickelton's second Test century in three matches, following a shaky start to his Test career in which he had failed to register a half-century in his first 12 innings. He was in commanding form, striking 21 fours and a six off 232 balls.

Bavuma recorded the fourth Test hundred of a career in which he has made 24 half-centuries. He was out 15 minutes before the close, caught behind off occasional off-spinner Salman Agha. He hit nine fours and two sixes in a 179-ball innings.

Despite taking three wickets before lunch, it was a lacklustre performance by Pakistan, who only managed to bowl 80 overs in six-and-a-half hours and seldom looked threatening.

Pakistan opening batsman Saim Ayub suffered an ankle injury when he fell awkwardly in the outfield in the seventh over of the day. He was taken to the dressing room on a mobile stretcher and did not return to the field.

Pakistan's hopes rose when Aiden Markram was caught behind off Khurram Shahzad for 17 after he and Rickelton put on 61 for the first wicket.

Wiaan Mulder (5) and Tristan Stubbs (0) followed in quick succession shortly before lunch, caught behind off Mohammad Abbas and Agha respectively. But the rest of the day belonged to South Africa.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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5th Test Live: Rohit Sharma 'Opts Out' As India Opt To Bat In Sydney

India vs Australia 5th Test Day 1 Live Updates: India's full-time captain Rohit Sharma opted out of the 5th and final Test against Australia as stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah decided to bat first at SCG on Friday. India made two changes in the team, with Shubman Gill replacing Rohit while Prasidh Krishan came into the team in place of injured Akash Deep. A win is what India need from the game to keep their World Test Championship Final hopes alive. Anything less than that will simply throw India out of the race for the summit clash. On the other hand, a win in the final game will also seal the deal for Australia, while a draw will see their WTC Final fate hanging on their two-match series vs Sri Lanka. (Live Scorecard)

Here are the Live Score and Updates of India vs Australia 5th Test Day 1 -

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"Has Slacked Too Much": Ex-India Star's Warning For Underperforming Pant

While the entire focus during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy is on the duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, another star performer Rishabh Pant has also been under scrutiny. The wicketkeeper-batter has scored 154 runs in 4 matches at an average of 22. While runs have not come as much as expected from the bat of Pant, his shot selections and batting approach have also been under the radar of critics, of late. Former India cricketer Atul Wassan feels the 27-year-old needs to "think" and "tamper" his game according to the situation.

The statement from Wassan comes after Pant was brutally slammed for his performance in the Melbourne Test. Pant ended the fourth Test with scores of 28(37) and 30(104). 

Pant faced backlash from fans and former cricketers after India fell to a 184-run defeat in front of a record-attendance crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the Boxing Day Test. The southpaw gave away his wicket while trying to pull off an audacious shot in the first innings. Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who was on commentary, didn't mince his words while talking about Pant's dismissal.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid. You've got two fielders there, and you still go for that, you've missed the previous shot. And look where you've been caught. You've been caught at deep third," was Gavaskar's reaction during commentary.

In the second innings, when India stood in a comfortable position to end the Test at a draw, Pant's dismissal opened the floodgates. He tried to take on part-time bowler Travis Head and holed it to Mitchell Marsh, ending his time on the crease.

"He (Pant) has won matches with such shots. But now there are a lot of expectations. So he should know how to tamper his game. I think Pant has slacked too much. He has to think. If you are not tampering with yourself according to the situation as a senior player, then you need to think," Wassan told ANI.

Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes Pant should be criticised for his failures, but not the way he gets dismissed.

"Pant should be criticised only for his failures, rather than how he fails. He averages 42 in Tests with at least 3 great innings, ever played by an Indian! In 42 tests he has 6 hundred & 7 nineties. He is a great player not scoring enough runs & that's the crux of it," Manjrekar wrote in a post on X.

(With ANI Inputs)

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"Rohit Addressed The Media...": Gavaskar Gives Fresh Twist To 'Rift' Rumours

On the first day of the New Year, several reports emerged that claimed there are rifts in the Indian dressing room. It happened right after India's 184-run defeat to Australia in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Head coach Gautam Gambhir is believed to have said, "Bahut ho gaya (I've had enough) in his dressing room speech, with the dressing room environment being 'far from ideal'. While reacting to such reports, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said that these all stories are cooked by media to keep the fans and their users engaged. He backed his opinion by saying that such stories emerge only after India lose a match.

"Every time the Indian team has not done well, these things about rifts and all that (come up). It is a common story. It's almost as if we people feel that the Indian team cannot lose. So if they lose, there has to be some reason other than cricketing," Gavaskar told India Today.

"I don't think any of the players really give a thought to what has been written. They just want to focus on how to get better than what they were in the previous Test," he added.

Amid speculation of unrest in the dressing room following a huge loss in the Boxing Day Test, Gambhir also clarified in a presser that it were "just reports, not truth".

NDTV, through its sources, has understood that Rohit is likely to be "rested" for the fifth Test vs Australia. Another point that has put doubts over Rohit's selection for the game that Gambhir came for the press conference on the eve of the game. The event is usually attended by the team captain.

Trying to find out the reason behind it, Gavaskar said: "The captain addressed the media just two days ago, so maybe he felt that he didn't need to address the media again and the coach had not addressed the media at all. So maybe the coach had to come and say that nothing of that sort had happened, which again should tell you a thing or two about those reports."

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Rain Threat Looms Over Sydney Test? Report Has Some Bad News For India

The fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) could get affected by rain during the last two days of the match, reported Wisden Cricket. The final Test will be a New Year's Test starting on January 3 at the SCG. Also, the Test is a special event as it marks the 'Jane McGrath Day', the wife of legendary pacer Glenn McGrath who lost her life in a battle with cancer. "On the third day of the match venue is covered with a full sea of pink and millions of dollars are typically raised for cancer support and awareness in Australia.

As per Google Weather as quoted by Wisden, on day one, the game will start under a thick cloud cover. There is a chance of rain by 25 per cent, which will reduce to just five per cent on day two. The second day will be bright and sunny as will Sunday, with the temperatures also rising to the mid-thirties.

The last two days of the match could get affected by inclement weather, with showers starting at day four end and continuing overnight. A constant drizzle is also likely on day five of the Test.

Also, as per BBC Weather, there could be some rain on Friday afternoon. During the weekend, there will be some sunshine. There is a 68 per cent chance of rain on the night of Monday, the day four of the match, but the weather is likely to be clear during the day's play. Day five, however, is likely to have heavy showers, which will continue throughout the day.

India is affected by form of their key batters, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, who have scored just one fifty-plus score throughout the series combined. Despite some incredible bowling from Jasprit Bumrah, who has taken 30 wickets in four matches at an average of 12.83, India have failed to make a big impact in the series and are trailing by 1-2.

Australia, on the other hand, are facing injury concerns with pacer Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the series due to calf injuries. Also, recent reports suggest that another frontline pacer Mitchell Starc has been sent for scans two days before the Sydney Test.

The series is 2-1 in favour of Australia and they are in a strong position to join South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship. However, if India wins the match and draws the series, not only they will retain the trophy again, but will also keep themselves alive in the WTC race, given the results of the Australia-Sri Lanka series next year go their way.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head (vc), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar. Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed, Yash Dayal.

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Clarke Gives His Take On Which Dismissal Pant Would Have Regretted More

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke feels Rishabh Pant would have regretted the shot that led to his dismissal in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test more. Pant was at the receiving end of backlash from fans and former cricketers after India succumbed to an 184-run defeat in front of a record-attendance crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the Boxing Day Test. In the first innings, he lost his wicket after trying to execute a cheeky shot. The plan was there in his mind, but when it came to execution, Pant fluffed and lost his wicket.

Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who was on commentary at that time, was livid and didn't mince his words while reacting to the chain of events he saw unfolding right in front of his eyes.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid. You've got two fielders there, and you still go for that, you've missed the previous shot. And look where you've been caught. You've been caught at deep third," was Gavaskar's reaction during commentary.

In the second innings, Australia captain Pat Cummins gambled on Travis Head to find a breakthrough. Pant was tempted to take on the part-timer and went for glory. He holed it to Mitchell Marsh and opened the floodgates that marked the beginning of India's downfall.

"I think his shot in the second inning was one he'll probably regret even more. The situation of the game, the building of partnership, and they were batting so well together, they really were stopping Australia from winning the Test match. I don't think they were going to win the Test. (it was) muscle memory, and he just reacted. He saw it short and tried to hit it out of the park," Clarke said on the ESPN Around The Wicket podcast.

"He could have hit it hard but probably should have just hit it along the ground. And when you are a big player and someone that's scored Test hundreds, and there's an expectation, if you are getting out like that, you are going to cop criticism. There is no doubt he is a wonderful player, just shot selection, it's the right time and right place," Clarke added.

Pant ended the fourth Test with scores of 28(37) and 30(104), summing up his underwhelming run in Australia since landing in Perth. Overall, in the series, the 27-year-old has managed to amass 154 runs at an average of 22.00 in seven innings.

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