India’s star batter Shubman Gill retained the top spot in the latest update of the ICC rankings for men’s ODI batters. In addition, Afghanistan’s rising all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai rose to the top of the all-rounder’s rankings after his phenomenal display at the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Star batter Virat Kohli once again displayed why he is rated so highly in white-ball cricket, more so in big-ticket tournaments, and as the master of run-chases, with his gritty half century helping India beat Australia by four wickets in the high-pressure semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai on Tuesday.
Riding on Virat Kohli's 84, KL Rahul (42 not out) and Hardik Pandya (28 off 24 balls) gave the finishing touches to India's chase of 265 to progress to the final of the eight-team competition.
With the Indian top order of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer firing on all cylinders heading into their semifinal clash against Australia on Tuesday, Aussie skipper Steve Smith hailed his opponent batters’ ability to change gears.
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.
The top team at the end of the league stage of ISL will get a guaranteed berth in the 2021 AFC Champions League and hence the Gaurs will make it to Asia’s top-tier club competition.
Kohli said that it is because of the sporting nature of the Kiwis that he can have easy conversations with Williamson during an ongoing match about life and not cricket.
India's first Test match against New Zealand is scheduled at the Basin Reserve, Wellington and India do not have an impressive record at this venue.
Kohli stated that the intensive workload does take a toll on his body but insisted that he is determined to play all three formats for at least the next three years.
The Indian skipper expects that the two-Test series against New Zealand will be as intense as the recent series between England and South Africa.
