Saturday, July 11
Virat Kohli, India's batting icon, has signaled the end of his 14-year Test career, marked by 123 Tests and 9230 runs. Reflecting on disappointments like the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Kohli emphasised the weight of expectations and technical vulnerabilities. He acknowledged the need for self-awareness, reinforced by a conversation with Rahul Dravid.
Yograj Singh, father of Yuvraj Singh, praised the BCCI for retaining senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the Champions Trophy 2025. He emphasised their importance to the team’s stability and success. The 15-member squad also includes notable players such as Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah. India will play their matches in the UAE.
Former India cricket stars including Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rohit Sharma celebrated 50 years of Wankhede Stadium. Gavaskar shared memories of the inaugural match in 1975, expressing pride in the home ground. The event included cultural festivities, music, dance, and a laser show.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders secured their second win in ILT20 Season 3 with a 37-run victory over Gulf Giants. Michael Pepper’s half-century and strong bowling contributed to the win, overshadowing Aayan Afzal Khan’s 4/16 for the Giants. The Knight Riders’ solid start and strategic play were crucial, while the Giants' batting struggle was evident.
Rishabh Pant has been named the captain of IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants for the 2025 season after being the most expensive player in last year's auction. Pant, who previously captained Delhi Capitals, will work with head coach Justin Langer and team mentor Zaheer Khan. The team includes notable players like Nicholas Pooran, David Miller, and Avesh Khan.
The Australian Open match between Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune faced a 20-minute delay due to a loose net screw. The screw came undone during the fourth set. Both players took a break in the locker room due to the heat. The net was fixed, and the match resumed after a brief warm-up.
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra criticised Mohammed Siraj's omission from India's Champions Trophy squad, suggesting Siraj's consistent ODI performances should have earned him a place over Ravindra Jadeja. Chopra emphasised Siraj's higher potential for contribution and discussed his impressive statistics, arguing that he would have been more valuable to the team in the tournament.
Pakistan's spinners led their team to a 127-run victory over the West Indies in the first Test in Multan. Sajid Khan and Abrar Ahmed took nine and four wickets, respectively, as West Indies were dismissed for 123. This marks Pakistan's third consecutive home win by making pitches extremely spin-friendly.
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra criticised Mohammed Siraj's omission from India's Champions Trophy squad, suggesting Siraj's consistent ODI performances should have earned him a place over Ravindra Jadeja. Chopra emphasised Siraj's higher potential for contribution and discussed his impressive statistics, arguing that he would have been more valuable to the team in the tournament.
India's T20 vice-captain Axar Patel states that the batting lineup for the England series will be flexible, except for the openers. The team is set to begin playing at Kolkata's Eden Gardens. Patel highlights team discussions, leadership responsibilities, and praises Mohammed Shami's return, emphasizing the team's readiness to move past previous setbacks and focus on the upcoming games.
