Monday, July 13
Aakash Chopra critiqued Rohit Sharma’s inconsistent Test career in comparison to Virat Kohli, noting Rohit’s drastic form decline in late 2024. Despite scoring six centuries from 2020 to 2024, injuries and inconsistency marred Rohit’s performance, especially during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This analysis raises questions about his role in the Indian Test team.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape, led by Aiden Markram, aim for a third consecutive SA20 title when the 2025 season gets underway on 9 January. The squad includes first-to-SA20 faces like David Bedingham and Zak Crawley. Key players also feature Richard Gleeson and Roelof van der Merwe. The season kicks off against MI Cape Town, promising intense competition.
South Africa triumphed over Pakistan by 10-wickets in the second Test at Cape Town, securing their seventh consecutive World Test Championship victory and matching India's record. This win helped Temba Bavuma's team clinch the series and guaranteed a top-place finish in the 2023-25 WTC edition. South Africa's winning streak began in August last year.
Sunil Gavaskar called Rohit Sharma’s decision to step aside in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy’s final Test a 'brave decision', acknowledging Rohit’s struggles during the series. Questions now arise about the Test futures of both Rohit and Virat Kohli, as their recent performances were underwhelming.
Following India's loss of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli faced criticism for their performances. Yuvraj Singh defended them, highlighting their past achievements and stressing the importance of support during tough times. He acknowledged the role of selectors and BCCI in shaping the future while emphasizing leadership quality even in adversity.
BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla criticised Cricket Australia for excluding Sunil Gavaskar from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy presentation after the Sydney Test. This omission occurred despite the trophy bearing Gavaskar's name. Social media and commentators also expressed disappointment, highlighting Gavaskar’s absence as a significant oversight. The series loss also ended India’s hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, with Australia securing their spot.
Following India's loss of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli faced criticism for their performances. Yuvraj Singh defended them, highlighting their past achievements and stressing the importance of support during tough times. He acknowledged the role of selectors and BCCI in shaping the future while emphasizing leadership quality even in adversity.
Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting are disappointed with India's decision not to include Mohammed Shami for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. They believe Shami's presence would have improved India's chances. Despite showing readiness, Shami was ruled out due to knee swelling. They argue that Shami's experience and fitness management could have been crucial.
India's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh had a celebratory pitch-side birthday party after leading Soorma Hockey Club to a crucial win in the Hockey India League. The event included cake-smashing antics with teammates and fans. Harmanpreet, a two-time Olympic medallist, was recently awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy included bowling over 150 overs and taking 32 wickets, raising concerns about his workload. However, former India pacer Balwinder Sandhu dismisses workload management, stressing the importance of endurance and strength for Test cricket bowlers. The immense workload Bumrah shouldered throughout the series raises concerns about his physical limits.
