India’s premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who was ruled out of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy due to a back issue, was on Sunday spotted in Dubai ahead of the high-octane India-Pakistan clash during which he also collected his prestigious International Cricket Council (ICC) awards at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The uncertainty over pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, starting February 19, could be over by Tuesday as the BCCI is running against time to submit the final squad to the International Cricket Council by February 11.
India skipper Rohit Sharma faced intense scrutiny over his form in the past six months, but quashed all of it in swashbuckling fashion by hitting 119 off 90 balls, his 32nd ODI century, in a four-wicket series-clinching win over England at Cuttack.
The Ranji Trophy 2024-25 has entered its business end, with the quarterfinals set to kick off on Saturday. After weeks of intense competition in the group stage, eight teams remain in contention for the coveted title.
India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has played down the extra relevance of his side’s contest against arch-rival Pakistan at the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy by declaring each match at the tournament is of equal importance.
Stand-in skipper Keshav Maharaj, coming in for an injured Temba Bavuma, won the toss, maintaining South Africa's clean slate in winning the tosses in the series.
Hardik recently returned to the India squad for the T20I series against South Africa, where he made some critical contributions. His selection followed a sensational IPL season with the Gujarat Titans, where he proved his form and fitness by leading them to the title.
Despite losing the first two matches, India didn't tinker with their playing eleven, as Dravid continued to keep his faith on the playing eleven. In India's 82-run win over South Africa at Rajkot, pacer Avesh Khan repaid the faith in him despite going wicketless in the first three matches, picking a career-best haul of 4/18 to skittle out the visitors for 87.
Now, 16 years later, in Rajkot, Karthik notched up his first half-century in the format, blistering 27-ball 55, hitting nine fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 203.7. He was also involved in a crucial 65-run stand-off with 33 balls with Hardik Pandya to set up India's 82-run thrashing of South Africa and take the series to a cracking finale on Sunday.
In the first T20I in Delhi, Rassie van der Dussen had smashed Harshal for three sixes and a four in an over to turn the game around. After the match, the Proteas had said that post the first two sixes, he knew Harshal would turn to his slower balls.
