Saturday, April 26
Aakash Chopra is surprised by BCCI's new rule requiring players to travel together for matches and practices. He suggests the rule may have been introduced due to past misuse. The rule follows a review meeting after India's loss to Australia. Players must get permission to travel separately. Chopra stresses accountability for past exceptions.
Eva Lys, ranked 128th, became the first women's singles 'lucky loser' to reach the Australian Open fourth round since 1988. After losing in qualifying, she gained entry due to a withdrawal and won consecutive matches against Kimberly Birrell and Varvara Gracheva. Lys will now face second seed Iga Swiatek in her best major performance.
Durban's Super Giants suffered a 58-run defeat to Sunrisers Eastern Cape, their second home loss in the SA20 League. Head coach Lance Klusener expressed disappointment, citing a lack of aggression and failure to build partnerships. Despite superb bowling from Noor Ahmad, batting woes persist. Klusener stresses on self-reflection and improving batting to be competitive.
India's senior selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, will announce the provisional squad for the Champions Trophy in Mumbai on Saturday. Choices for the middle-order positions are crucial, with Shreyas Iyer being almost certain. The choice between all-rounders Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja is pivotal, given Axar's recent form.
The Indian team for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai and Pakistan will be selected in Mumbai on Saturday. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar will announce the squad, but ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to be picked due to a back injury. Rohit Sharma is expected to be named captain, while Karun Nair's inclusion remains undecided.
Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes Rohit Sharma and selectors will influence his retirement decision. Manjrekar also suggested Virat Kohli play County cricket to enhance his Test skills before the England series. Kohli's fitness could allow him to continue playing at a the highest level, asserted Sanjay Bangar.
Novak Djokovic advanced to the last 16 of the Australian Open after defeating Czech player Tomas Machac in straight sets. Despite needing a medical timeout, Djokovic showcased his prowess by winning 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. He aims for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, with a potential quarterfinal clash against Carlos Alcaraz on the horizon.
Virat Kohli's availability for Delhi's next Ranji Trophy match against Saurashtra is uncertain due to a neck sprain for which he took an injection. The Delhi Cricket Association awaits an update, while Rishabh Pant confirms his participation. The BCCI mandates international players' participation in domestic matches for national team selection.
Sanju Samson's decision to skip the Vijay Hazare Trophy might affect his selection for the Champions Trophy, drawing scrutiny from the BCCI and selectors. The absence of a clear reason for his unavailability has caused concerns, potentially influencing his chances in the ODI squad selection against England.
Amad Diallo's 12-minute hat-trick saved Manchester United from a potential defeat against Southampton. Diallo equalised in the 82nd minute and scored twice more, securing a 3-1 victory. Southampton initially led but couldn't maintain their advantage. The win ended United's three-game losing streak and moved them to 12th in the table, while Southampton's struggles continued.
