Saturday, July 11
England batter Sam Hain made his debut at Newlands in a losing effort as Paarl Royals fell to MI Cape Town by 33 runs. Despite the loss, Hain cherished the iconic venue and praised both the atmosphere and young teammate Lhuan-dre Pretorius. He remains optimistic about the team's prospects in upcoming matches.
Kagiso Rabada's two wicket-maiden overs led MI Cape Town to a 33-run victory over Paarl Royals in the first Cape Derby of SA20 Season 3. Rabada praised teammate Trent Boult's support and the unique atmosphere at Newlands. Highlighting team continuity, he emphasised the importance of resetting for their upcoming rematch with the Royals.
Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma trained with Mumbai for the Ranji Trophy's resumption, despite a lean patch in recent months. Calls for top batters like Rohit and Virat Kohli to return to domestic cricket grow louder as both have struggled in Tests. Key players' recent Ranji Trophy appearances are also highlighted.
India's all-rounder Hardik Pandya is focusing on fitness and preparation for the white-ball season, starting with a five-match T20I series against England on January 22. He recently played in domestic tournaments and shared his training on Instagram, indicating a big season ahead. This series will be followed by three ODIs and the ICC Champions Trophy in February.
BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla dismissed reports of internal rifts among chief selector Ajit Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and captain Rohit Sharma after India's Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss. He attributed poor player form to natural phases in sports. The team for the ICC Champions Trophy, starting February 19, will be decided by January 18 or 19.
MI Cape Town secured a 33-run victory over Paarl Royals in the first Cape Derby of SA20 Season 3. Reeza Hendricks hit a stylish 59, supported by Rassie van der Dussen's 43. Kagiso Rabada's exceptional bowling turned the game in MI Cape Town's favour. George Linde and Rashid Khan further dismantled the Royals, restricting them to 139/9.
The MI Emirates secured their first win of the ILT20 2025 season with a 26-run victory against the Dubai Capitals. Tom Banton and Nicholas Pooran hit half-centuries, and Fazalhaq Farooqi delivered excellent bowling. Despite Shai Hope's century, the Capitals fell short, finishing at 161, unable to chase the Emirates' 187. Player of the Match: Tom Banton.
The MI Emirates secured their first win of the ILT20 2025 season with a 26-run victory against the Dubai Capitals. Tom Banton and Nicholas Pooran hit half-centuries, and Fazalhaq Farooqi delivered excellent bowling. Despite Shai Hope's century, the Capitals fell short, finishing at 161, unable to chase the Emirates' 187. Player of the Match: Tom Banton.
Jasprit Bumrah has been named ICC Men's Player of the Month for December 2024, thanks to his stellar performance during India's tour of Australia. Bumrah took an impressive 22 wickets in three Test matches, playing a crucial role in keeping India competitive.
Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues secured her first international century, propelling her to 19th in the ICC Women's ODI rankings. Her 102 runs helped India achieve their highest total of 370 in the second ODI against Ireland, leading to a series win. Smriti Mandhana maintained her third place ranking, with Alyssa Healy advancing to fifth.
