Team India Announce Squad For The ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Team India today announced the team that will represent it at theICC Champions Trophy 2025, which starts on February 19, 2025. Team India will face Bangladesh the very next day and will have a much-awaited Pakistan encounter on February 23 in Dubai. Hybrid Model For Team India During Champions Trophy After the breakthrough agreement last month, the ICC has decided on a hybrid model for the 2025 Champions Trophy. In this, the matches involving India will be played in Dubai despite the tournament officially being hosted by Pakistan. Team India To Take On England Before Champions Trophy Team India’s preparation will begin with a bilateral ODI series against England. India will play three bilateral ODIs against England on February 6, 9, and 12 – the first 50-over cricket for the team since the series against Sri Lanka in August 2024. Bumrah And Kuldeep Return Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav have been named in India’s provisional 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy. The final squad must be submitted to the ICC by February 11. Team India Schedule For Champions Trophy Team India will be featuring in the Group A at the Champions Trophy. Under this group, Team India will be playing Bangladesh on February 20, 2025, Pakistan on February 23, 2025 and New Zealand on March 2, 2025. All the matches will be played in Dubai as the Indian authorities refused permission for the team to travel to Pakistan. Team India For The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Team India Champions Trophy 2025 Squad To Be Announced Soon
As per reports, the Team India’s squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 and England ODI’s is expected to be announced today, ie – Saturday, January 18, 2025. Team India Captain And Chief Selector To Address The Media As per reports, Team India Captain, Rohit Sharma and the BCCI Chief Selector, Ajit Agarkar are set to address the media today, ie – Saturday at 12.30 pm IST. Team India is scheduled to kickstart their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, 2025 before taking on arch rivals Pakistan three days later. Team India is supposed to play their last fixture of the group stage against New Zealand on March 02, 2025. Dubai will host all the Champions Trophy 2025 games for the men in blue. Sanju Samson Likely To Be Dropped Out Of Team India Squad It is understood that wicket-keeper batter, Sanju Samson won’t make it to the Team India squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 and for the ODI series against England. BCCI had asked their players to feature in the domestic circuit however Sanju Samson remained unavailable for Kerala in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Jasprit Bumrah’s Selection Depends Upon Injury As per reports, the medical team from BCCI had asked Jasprit Bumrah to at least have a 5 week rest post the Sydney test which ended on January 05, 2025. Jasprit Bumrah is however expected to be up and running before Team India starts their campaign for the Champions Trophy 2025. Jasprit Bumrah’s selection currently completely depends upon his recovery and fitness. Team India would be hoping to have Bumrah in their white-ball set up if not for the England ODI’s then for the Champions Trophy 2025. KL Rahul May Feature For Team India As per reports., KL Rahul is expected to feature for Team India during the Champions Trophy 2025. KL Rahul was pretty decent for Team India during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 where Team India played the final against Australia. However, it is also understood that KL Rahul won’t be featuring during the England ODI’s. He would be rested for the series. Kuldeep Yadav Looks Uncertain For Team India Kuldeep Yadav is still recovering from a sports hernia. Therefore his selection for the England ODI’s and the Champions Trophy 2025 looks uncertain. Kuldeep has been brilliant with the ball for Team India. Varun Chakravarthy will probably replace Kuldeep if he fails to make it to the Team India squad. Will Mohammed Shami Feature For Team India? The National Cricket Academy (NCA) had recently declared Shami fit. He also played three 50 over domestic games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy bowling 26 overs in total. As of now, it seems that Mohammed Shami is set to return to Team India’s ODI set up. Varun Chakravarthy Might Get A Team India Surprise Call It is also understood that spin bowler, Varun Chakravarthy might be included in Team India squads for the England ODI’s as well as for the Champions Trophy 2025. Chakravarthy has been impressive with the ball in the domestic games picking up 18 wickets from six games he played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Will Karun Nair And Devdutt Padikkal Make It To Team India Squad? Karun Nair and Devdutt Paddikkal have been fantastic with the bat during India’s recent domestic season. As of now, the Team India top order looks full, so it’s very unlikely for them to get picked. However, they might get a chance to feature in the 15 member squad. Team India Champions Trophy And England ODI’s Squad The Team India squad for the Champions Trophy and England ODi’s is expected to be out anytime today. Till then, let us know whom do you think can put on the India blue and hit the field. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Should Team India Add More Pacers Or More Spinners Post BGT Loss?
The Indian Cricket Team struggled during their recent tour of Australia. With the bowling unit completely dependent on Jasprit Bumrah, the question arises whether team India should go back playing four specialist spinners or should they continue with four specialist pacers in their bowling unit? Team India’s Preference For Pace For sometime now, Indians have had recourse to a substantial group of frontline pacers particularly during overseas tours where there were favorable conditions. Historically, it has been an obsession under Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli that there needs to be at least four specialist pacers in the playing XI, an approach which most of the times was found successful. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, however, brought forth the debate on whether it is valid in the present times or time to think in a different balance of pace and spin. Recent BGT Upset For Team India The 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy was a demonstration of the dangers of straying from this winning formula. India’s bowling attack was stretched to its limits with Jasprit Bumrah ruled out through injury and India ended up with a disappointing series result of 1-3. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bowled long hours but to no avail against an Australian batting lineup that was far too strong. This put into the fore how important it is to have a strong core of pace bowling when cricketing is done under seam and swing-friendly conditions. Team India’s Bowling Strategy Under head coach Gautam Gambhir, India’s bowling strategy was slightly changed during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Instead of relying on four fast bowlers as specialists, India relied on a core of three specialist pacers accompanied by many all-rounders. This change, though flexible in batting order, went wrong for India in the bowling department. All-rounders like Nitish Kumar Reddy were used and played a not so vital role with the ball and such a move was questionable considering the conditions where pace would play a crucial role. Statistics Highlight Team India’s Bowling Needs Statistical analysis indicated that team India’s third and fourth seamers did well in the away conditions during the last several years, having an average of 27.18 and the main strike bowlers showed an even better average of 24.94. In sharp contrast, while playing the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the very same third and fourth seamers combined to post a worrying 40.18. Such statistics may indicate going back to more traditional configuration of valuing more proven effectiveness over flexibility. Team India’s Condition-Based Decisions The constant seesaw between the pace and the spin also led to a question about the playing conditions. Traditionally, Australian pitches have been known to favor fast bowling, with their speed and bounce. However, team India chose two spinners in its playing XI. It was a rare decision and one that did not go right for them at all. The spinners could bowl only 16 percent of the overs and did little in taking wickets. In contrast, Australia used their fast bowlers very effectively by placing a well-balanced lineup that constantly threatened the Indian batsmen throughout the series. Team India’s Future Bowling Strategy With these recent performances, there is sufficient evidence to justify a return to a pace-heavy strategy for team India’s future excursions, especially on fast, bouncy tracks abroad. Four specialist pacers would ensure sharper penetration with rest for the primary strike bowlers coming into each contest in fresh conditions. These words of Gambhir from previous remarks—words where he does actually emphasize that to win a test match, the team has to take 20 wickets —reinforces that a potent pace attack simply cannot be in test match cricket. The Balanced Philosophy By Team India Bowling Team India should strike the right balance of both pace and spin and depending on conditions and opposition. However, it should, in a way, depend on away conditions more on the pacers side. The strategy would be restored back to using more specialist pacers as future planning is on by the selection committee and management team. Do you think that team India will go back playing with four specialist spinners in their upcoming test match series or will they go with four specialist pace bowlers in their lineup? The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
AUS v IND: India’s Tour Of Australia Dissected
Team India has had a disastrous Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The men in blue were expected to do much better by their fans. However, let’s understand what went wrong with the Indian Cricket Team during their tour of Australia. Team India’s Early Concerns India’s tour of Australia started with a question mark over Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness, many wondering what the team would do if he wasn’t available. However, Bumrah not only played but also produced a series of scintillating performances, almost single-handedly keeping India in the hunt. His leadership and bowling inspired the rest of the attack. However, despite his heroics, India’s chances of success ultimately crumbled without him in the final stages of the series. Team India’s Batting And Leadership Struggles The most notable subplot of the series was the disappointing batting. While Rohit Sharma led by example, his own batting form let him down, whereas Virat Kohli, even at his best attempt to rally his team, made only an indelible mark in the second innings of the Perth test with a crucial century but couldn’t convert stars into substantial innings. Virat and Rohit, who form the spine of Indian batting were not well supported by the rest of the batters. KL Rahul, starting quite sensibly, again became invisible in important moments of the game, something like his ill-judged shot against Scott Boland at the SCG. Team India’s Haphazard Selections And Missed Chances What was concerning at the selection end too. Introducing Harshit Rana at Perth when things were already down and not sending Washington Sundar to bat before the overcast SCG is a dubious policy. Further changes in opening combo, like asking Rohit Sharma to bide time to bat below five, haven’t helped. Among these selection mistakes, all through the series it was such strategic blunders also that provided flavor to chaos this tour epitomized. Australia’s Consistent Performances With chaos all around, India’s bowling remains a strength still led by Jasprit Bumrah. Nevertheless, without appropriate support from their batting lineup, the bowlers did not win any of the moments where they needed them to win this series. It was a case of a very balanced performance by Australia. For Pat Cummins, his tie-up with Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland as well as great contributions from the bat of Steven Smith and Travis Head kept his team ahead. Gambhir’s Tough Decisions In the end, team India’s failure to bring their best games through key individuals in addition to few tough selections they made in a series resulted to be very pricey. Now the series ends losing the BGT, the head coach Gautam Gambhir needs to take many tough calls on players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Ahead team India will have to find a gap and rebuild again for challenges it will face again in the upcoming WTC cycle. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
What to Expect from Team India at ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024?
Ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, the Indian Women’s Cricket Team is all set to detonate a cricketing extravaganza that will offer thrills, chills and loads of sixes. Under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, whose batting displays can light up any stadium, the Indian Women’s Cricket Team is all set to turn the dreams into reality. Tough Competition Ahead India finds itself in Group A with some of the heavyweight contenders: Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It’s like playing a musical chairs game without chairs. However again, fireworks will surely be displayed starting on the very first day by Smriti Mandhana and the ever-explosive Shafali Verma at the top. Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma joining the party would surely help bat the socks off their opponents. Wicket Keepers & Bowling Group For wicket-keepers, Richa Ghosh and Yastika Bhatia. Guessing gloves, better watch her fit out. Speaking about India’s bowling attack, Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar, are ready to hit the timber. What About The All-Rounders? The all-rounders party, Harmanpreet to Sajana Sajeevan and Asha Sobhana are sharp swords that are geared for just about anything. Depth and Strength Traveling reserves such as Uma Chetry and Tanuja Kanwer ready to come in if needed. It’s like having a backup band at a rock concert. You never know when you might need to call them on stage. As the Women in Blue prepare to engage in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 battle in the UAE, the exciting outing of cricket is sure to leave fans sitting on the edge of their couches. With a great mix of experience and vigor, the Indian Women’s Cricket Team is more than ready to participate in the mega-event and have their hands on the title. Indian Women’s Cricket Team Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia* (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil*, Sajana Sajeevan (* – subject to fitness) The Sportz Planet Desk,Nitya Sutrave
IND vs BAN: Rahul & Pant Return, Yash Dayal’s Big Break
Good news for all the cricket lovers out there! India’s squad for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh has been announced, and the familiar arsenal is back. First, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant return after being ruled out because of injuries. Both are geared up to light the field once again in the two-match series, starting in Chennai on September 19 at the iconic M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. With these two heavyweights being thrown into the mix, things just got a lot more interesting. Pant’s Road to Redemption Remember that heart-stopping car accident which sent Rishabh Pant into exile? Well, he is back with a bang! Making his Test comeback after almost a year, Pant is fresh off a solid half-century for India B in the Duleep Trophy and has got redemption on his mind; Bangladesh might just be the perfect playground for his return to form. Yash Dayal is the new kid on the block. The left-arm pacer among the squad headlines for a Test call-up for the very first time! Big moment to say the least, while Pant and Rahul steal the spotlight; Dayal gets his chance to make a name for himself on the grand stage. Shami Sits Out, Akash Steps In While the experienced pacer Mohammed Shami is still recovering from Achilles surgery, Akash Deep replaces him, having shaken up England’s lineup with nine wickets on his debut. He will surely be hoping to work a little magic again against Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s Wave of Victory By the way, Bangladesh are not arriving in India on a whimper, but on a clean sweep of Pakistan 2-0 at home for the first time. This is going to be one fiery series. Team India Squad For Test Matches vs Bangladesh Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris Paralympics 2024: Eight Medals-Countless Smiles!
Eight medals in a single day. Who would have had ever even imagined it in the wildest of their dreams? Or let’s call it a dream. However our Indian athletes brought the dream into the reality on the eve of 2nd of September 2024 at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Well this is how the day unfolded. Silver Spin to Start the Day Grit, glory and a pinch of magic. Indian athletes belted out a record eight medals on the same day at the Paris Paralympics 2024 to keep the tricolor high and hearts bursting with pride. The day kicked off with Yogesh Kathuniya converting silver into history in the men’s discus F56 final that set the pace for the medal-packed marathon ahead. Golden Triumphs Nitesh Kumar and Sumit Antil Shine But it was just the beginning! The golden boy, Nitesh Kumar, stormed past Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell in the men’s singles SL3 final, clinching gold and securing a place in the legends’ book. Sumit Antil then unleashed his strong points in the men’s javelin F64 final and threw his way to gold with a Paralympic record of 70.59 meters. Silver Streaks: Badminton Battles Bring More Glory The silver lining in badminton came courtesy Suhas Yathiraj and Thulasimathi Murugesan, both of whom lost in a razor-edge cliffhanger in the final. Bronze Brigade: Archery and Badminton Heroes But the bronze brigade wasn’t to be left behind. Manisha Ramadass smashed her way to a third-place finish in the women’s singles SU5, while dynamic archery duo Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar hit the bullseye for bronze in the mixed compound event. Nithya Sre Sivan’s Last Minute Heroics As the day closed at the Paris Paralympics 2024, Nithya Sre Sivan’s victory in the women’s singles SH6 ensured India’s medal tally gleamed even brighter. A Day to Remember India’s athletes didn’t just win medals, they won hearts-a proof that Paris truly is the city of lights-and our para-athletes are its brightest stars! Here’s to more golden dreams and shining moments in the days to come. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Women’s T20WC: BCCI Announces Team India Squad
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the final, 15-member squad representing India in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, which is going to be held in the UAE from 3rd to 20th October. The top 10 women’s cricketing nations will compete for the prestigious title in Dubai and Sharjah. India to be led by Harmanpreet Kaur Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the charge for the 4th consecutive edition of the T20 World Cup with Smriti Mandhana as her deputy. Two important inclusions in the squad are wicket-keeper batter Yastika Bhatia and all-rounder Shreyanka Patil, both of whom are subject to fitness tests. Tournament Format and Groups The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will host a total of 23 matches, scheduled in a round framing where teams are distributed with 2 groups of 5. First group includes defending champions Australia, along with India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Other group has Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies and Scotland. All will have to play 4 matches in the group stage and from each group top 2 teams will qualify for the semi-final. India’s opening matches India, on their part, will begin their quest against New Zealand and have two warm-up games against South Africa and West Indies scheduled before the main tournament. With the Men In Blue lifting the title earlier this year, all expectations are now on the Women In Blue to lift their crown and bring home another T20 World Cup. Team India Squad Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK)*, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil*, S. Sajeevan Traveling reserves Uma Chetry, Tanuja Kanwer, Saima Thakor The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Shikhar Dhawan Retires: Top 5 Knocks Of Gabbar In International Cricket
Very few cricketers evoke the same flair and tenacity as Shikhar Dhawan. Fondly nicknamed “Gabbar,” Shikhar Dhawan’s career has spanned a decade and is a story of grit, elegance, and an undying love for the game. His journey from the dust-bowl grounds of Delhi to the pinnacle of international cricket shall be remembered not only for the runs he scored but also for the style in which he played the game—always with an infectious smile and an aggressive yet graceful style. On the day Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement from international cricket, what needed to be done was to turn back and see those innings which shaped his legacy. Be it his dazzling debut or the match-winning performances in high-pressure games, Dhawan’s career forms a collection of iconic moments forever etched in the memory of cricket fans globally. Here, revisit five of his most memorable innings that define his contribution to Indian cricket. 1. Debut – 187 vs Australia, 2010 Dhawan’s Test debut against Australia was nothing short of spectacular. Facing a formidable Australian bowling attack, the Delhi-born cricketer announced his arrival with a breathtaking 187, setting the record for the highest score by an Indian on Test debut. His innings was adjudged to be an exemplary combination of confidence and skill which put his skillful abilities with the bat in the limelight and scripted the foundation for India’s victory. This knock not only secured the victory but was also a starting point in Dhawan’s journey as one of the pivotal figures in the Indian batting line-up. 2. Champions Trophy 2013 – 137 vs England The situation was clear: any runs would count in the ICC Champions Trophy final in 2013. That 137 for Dhawan was of paramount importance in the context of India’s chase. His association with Virat Kohli turned out to be the deciding factor, and his ability to perform under pressure earned him the Player of the Tournament award. This knock testified more to his ability to rise to any situation and play match-winning innings whenever it really mattered. 3. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 – 137 vs South Africa One of Dhawan’s most memorable innings was saved for a strong South African bowling attack during the 2015 ICC World Cup. His 137 off 146 balls helped India post a challenging total and secure a crucial win against one of the tournament’s top contenders. Playing in Melbourne, Dhawan’s knock broke India’s jinx against South Africa in World Cups and proved he can perform on the biggest stage. 4. India’s Tour Of Sri Lanka 2017 – 190 vs Sri Lanka Dhawan’s 190 off 168 balls against Sri Lanka during the Galle Test was an example of his attacking bent of mind in the game’s longer format. His blistering innings set up the scene for a comprehensive Indian victory, underlining his reputation as one of the most dangerous batsmen in the team. This aggressive and incisive knock would go a long way in proving that Dhawan has the mettle to dominate any bowling attack in any format. 5. West Indies Tour Of India 2018 – 190 vs West Indies When Dhawan needed reaffirmation in his Test career, he came up with a masterclass in the form of a knock of 190 against the West Indies in Rajkot. Runs came both in terms of elegance and power, as Dhawan’s innings saw him hit 26 fours, proving very crucial to India’s victory. This not only reinstated his place in the Test team but also proved that Dhawan could adapt and do well in any situation. As Shikhar Dhawan walks into the sunset of international cricket, it will be recalled not only for the runs he scored but also for the manner in which he played the game—being infectious with his smile, fearless in his approach, and always rising to the occasion. His legacy thus is one of flair, resilience and rising to an occasion with what looked like never-say-die attitude—his contribution to Indian cricket, in general, cannot be belittled. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Shreyas Iyer Opens Up On How Rohit Sharma’s Distinct Way of Communicating Impacts Team
While Rohit Sharma continues to win hearts with his performance, both with the bat and with his on-field antics, the hilarious stump mic conversations and words like “ye” and “wo” at the time of playing have become sources of entertainment for Indian cricket fans. The endearing and occasionally forgetful nature of Rohit only seems to add to his charm, converting him in reality to a true entertainer on the field. Shreyas Iyer Shares Insights on Rohit’s Quirky Communication There was much buzz recently at the CEAT Cricket Awards held in Mumbai on Rohit’s quirky style of communication. One of his colleagues who has shared the cricketing field for several years now is Shreyas Iyer. He shed light on what it is like to work with Rohit Sharma and how the team handles situations where the skip constantly uses ambiguous words. “These are like fill-in-the-blanks for us. We just visualize whom he can refer to at that time and we understand his feelings. We have been playing together for so many years. And what he is trying to say is not that he keeps beating around the bush. We know what exactly he means,” said Shreyas Iyer. Simple Logic by Rohit Sharma in Response Rohit, who is known for his straight forwardness, turned around and replied to Iyer’s remarks with a simple logic in his way of communicating. He said that he wants every player to be himself on the field and, as a leader, he applies the same rule on himself. The relaxed and humorous approach would not only keep the team content but also positive in keeping an ambiance within the squad. A Night of Celebrations at the CEAT Cricket Awards It was a memorable night at the CEAT Cricket Awards for both cricketers. Rohit Sharma won the prestigious Men’s International Cricketer of the Year, where he was lauded for his spectacular performance on the international platform, and Shreyas Iyer bagged the award for “Outstanding Leadership” in the IPL 2024 season, where he led the Kolkata Knight Riders to a title win. Camaraderie and Success Donning the blue jersey, Rohit and Shreyas have been assets for Indian cricket, and both on and off the cricket field, the camaraderie they share is unmatchable. The friendship and mutual respect were there for all to see, and the camaraderie they shared was visible with the success they tasted together in the CEAT Cricket Awards. The fans will continue to have more fun, not just with Rohit’s comic timing but also with how effective a leader he can actually be. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye