Monday, May 04
Australia clinched a dominant 4-1 Ashes series victory, defeating England by five wickets in the final Test. Despite a late wobble chasing 160, Cameron Green and Alex Carey secured the win, giving retiring opener Usman Khawaja a fitting farewell. England's tour ended on a disappointing note, with questions arising about their 'Bazball' strategy.
Bangladesh's government has hardened its stance on playing the T20 World Cup in India, citing national dignity and cricketer security concerns. Dhaka will urge the ICC to relocate their matches to Sri Lanka, believing the global body misunderstands the gravity of the situation. Participation will not come at the cost of humiliation or compromised safety.
Fourteen-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is making waves in cricket with astonishing performances. Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted his recent scores, calling his talent inexplicable. Sooryavanshi recently captained India U19 to a series win against South Africa with a century, showcasing his immense potential ahead of the U19 World Cup.
Former Bangladesh batter Rajin Saleh recalled receiving crucial batting advice from Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly during a difficult 2004 series against India. Tendulkar advised him to mentally reset after each innings, while Ganguly urged him to play fearlessly. Saleh then scored in the 80s in the next match, crediting their support.
West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder expressed discomfort with the India-Pakistan rivalry's intensity, citing excessive on-field theatrics and the trophy incident after the Asia Cup final. He also lamented Pakistani players' limited franchise league opportunities due to political dynamics. Holder believes the rivalry has crossed a line, impacting cricket beyond the pitch.
India batter Tilak Varma is expected to resume training within seven to ten days after undergoing minor surgery, his childhood coach has confirmed. The 23-year-old is unlikely to miss the T20 World Cup and could return for the New Zealand T20I series. Tilak remains India’s designated No. 3 in the shortest format.
Ruturaj Gaikwad smashed a brilliant 134 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, reaching his 20th List A century in a record 95 innings. He also became the fastest to 5,000 List A runs. Despite stellar domestic form and a recent ODI century, Gaikwad's omission from the upcoming India squad raises eyebrows. He will lead CSK in IPL 2026.
JP Duminy has backed Ottneil Baartman’s character and resilience after the fast bowler was overlooked for South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad, praising his strong SA20 performances despite the setback. With Dale Steyn also questioning the omission, Baartman’s form has reignited debate around selection margins as the World Cup approaches.
Auqib Nabi produced a sensational unbeaten 114 to lead Jammu and Kashmir to a stunning three-wicket win over Hyderabad in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Rajkot. J&K were reeling at 90/7 before Dar and Vanshaj Sharma (69*) added an unbroken 182-run stand. Dar’s maiden List A century, off 65 balls, overturned Hyderabad’s strong total and sealed one of the tournament’s most memorable comebacks.
Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Khan Tareen has withdrawn from the PSL auction for two new franchises being held in Islamabad. Announcing his decision on X, Tareen said his PSL journey was about representing South Punjab, not business. He plans to watch as a fan this year but hinted at a return if Multan is sold again. Nine bidders remain in the race.
