Australia has announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, starting February 22. Led by Pat Cummins, despite his ankle injury, the team includes stars like Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, and Mitchell Starc. Rising talents Matt Short and Aaron Hardie add depth. Adam Zampa is the sole specialist spinner, with all-rounders providing additional support.
Rohit Sharma joined the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team for a training session at Wankhede Stadium on January 14, 2025. He was seen batting alongside captain Ajinkya Rahane. This marks his first appearance for the Mumbai team since 2015. Although his last outing in international cricket was disappointing, Sharma’s decision to train for the Ranji Trophy aligns with coach Gautam Gambhir’s emphasis on the importance of domestic cricket.
Gautam Gambhir’s coaching staff has reportedly blamed the IPL for Team India’s recent struggles during a BCCI review meeting. They argued that big IPL contracts lead to players not giving their best for the national team, particularly in Tests. India has been underperforming, with poor batting displays, resulting in losses against Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Australia. Gambhir’s future as head coach may depend on India’s performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Sarfaraz Khan, accused by Gautam Gambhir of leaking sensitive information from the Indian dressing room, has a long history of controversies. Despite his impressive performances, such as scoring 150 against New Zealand, his career has been marred by incidents like age fraud allegations, disciplinary issues, and being expelled from a BCCI camp. These issues have overshadowed his immense cricketing talent.
Axar Patel is set to captain Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, as revealed by Dinesh Karthik, despite the signing of KL Rahul for INR 14 crore. Axar, who has been with DC since 2019, was retained for INR 18 crore. Rahul, a seasoned captain, will play as a specialist batter, marking his first such role since 2020.