Varun Chakravarthy led India’s charge with a superb 5-42, the best figures by a bowler in the ongoing tournament, as India beat New Zealand by 44 runs in the final Group A match at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
After India sealed their semi-final date with Australia in the 2025 Champions Trophy with a 44-run win over New Zealand, skipper Rohit Sharma said the move to play Varun Chakaravarthy, who took 5-42, was to try and see what the wrist-spinner can bring to the table.
Varun Chakravarthy led India’s charge with a superb 5-42, the best figures by a bowler in the ongoing tournament, as India beat New Zealand by 44 runs in the final Group A match at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
Come Sunday, Virat Kohli will be playing his 300th One-day International match when India take on New Zealand in their final Group A match of the 2025 Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium here on Saturday.
Australia all-rounder Jess Jonassen put on another clinical performance at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as she, alongside opener Shafali Verma, put on a 146-run stand to help the Delhi Capitals secure a spot in the playoffs for the third time running.
India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has achieved the joint-highest rating ever by an Indian player, equalling the record rating points held by recently-retired spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, and the 31-year-old has the chance of going one better during the upcoming Melbourne Test.
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting believes 19-year-old rookie opener Sam Konstas has what it takes to make a mark in the remaining Border-Gavaskar trophy Tests against India.
If Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane were Australian strongholds, Melbourne brings happy memories for India as the tourists return to the iconic ground having won the last two Tests at the MCG in 2018-19 and 2020-21, and the New Year’s Test in Sydney will bring spin into play.
In a thrilling Pro Kabaddi League clash that secured UP Yoddhas the third spot in the league table with a 44-30 victory over Bengaluru Bulls, the spotlight shone brightest on PKL legend Pardeep Narwal, who achieved an extraordinary milestone of 1,800 raid points.
Despite Manchester City’s recent struggles which has seen them fall from the top of the Premier League table to seventh place, behind the likes of Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Aston Villa, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca believes that the defending champions will be in the title race by the end of the season.
