International Cricket

England’s disappointing tour concluded with yet another one-sided victory for the home team, as India decisively defeated the visitors in the final ODI held in Ahmedabad. The match was marked by Shubman Gill’s impressive seventh century, achieved in his 50th ODI match for India, alongside significant contributions from players such as Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul. In response, England’s batting effort faltered around the midway point, resulting in a substantial defeat by 142 runs.

Rohit Sharma delivered an explosive century, scoring 119 runs off 90 balls, marking his 32nd in One Day Internationals, which

Abhishek Sharma captivated the Wankhede Stadium with an extraordinary record-setting century, as India triumphed over England in the final T20I by an impressive margin of 150 runs. With the series already secured, India’s batting prowess was on full display, spearheaded by Abhishek’s remarkable performance. The team concluded their innings at 247/9, bolstered by the opener’s explosive 135 runs off just 54 balls. In response, England faltered dramatically, being dismissed for under 100 runs, despite a commendable half-century from Phil Salt.

Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube both scored half-centuries, while an impressive all-round bowling display from Ravi Bishnoi and concussion substitute

Tilak Varma led India to victory with an impressive fifty in a tense second T20I match against England in Chennai. The game seemed manageable at the halfway point, especially after England’s lackluster batting performance. However, India faced significant challenges against the visitors’ pace bowlers, finding themselves at a precarious 104/6 while chasing a target of 166. Demonstrating remarkable composure and adaptability, Tilak kept the Indian innings afloat until the final moments, ultimately securing the win with four balls remaining.

India’s spin trio delivered an impressive performance, achieving figures of 5/67 across their 12 overs, thereby establishing a strong precedent in the T20I series. This effort contributed significantly to their commanding seven-wicket victory over England in Kolkata on Wednesday, January 22. In a matchup anticipated as a showdown between two formidable batting lineups, India showcased their spin bowling strength in home conditions, restricting England to a mere 132 runs. A remarkable innings from Abhishek Sharma, who scored swiftly, ensured the match concluded with 43 balls remaining.

Maheesh Theekshana’s impressive hat-trick proved futile as New Zealand clinched the three-match series against Sri Lanka with a commanding 113-run victory in a rain-affected second ODI held in Hamilton. Following an extended rain interruption, Rachin Ravindra (79) and Mark Chapman (62) contributed significantly with their half-centuries, leading the home team to a total of 255 for 9, while Theekshana effectively contained the lower-order batsmen. Unfortunately, aside from Kamindu Mendis, the Sri Lankan batting lineup faltered, resulting in a disappointing total of just 142 in their response.

India’s cautious batting strategy proved ineffective as they were dismissed for 185 after choosing to bat first on a green pitch in Sydney. Scott Boland emerged as the standout bowler for Australia, achieving figures of 4-31, thanks to his consistent lines and lengths complemented by the seam movement available on the surface.

Kusal Perera’s explosive innings of 101 runs off just 46 balls, combined with his century partnership with captain Charith Asalanka, propelled Sri Lanka to victory in a thrilling high-scoring encounter during the final T20I at Saxton Oval in Nelson. Despite losing the series after two defeats, the Sri Lankan team posted a formidable total of 218 runs. New Zealand, in pursuit of their highest successful chase in T20 history, made a valiant effort led by aggressive innings from Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell but ultimately fell short by seven runs.

Australia’s top-order batsmen utilized the festive season to regain their form, enabling the hosts to secure early accolades on Boxing Day. After winning their first toss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Australian quartet of Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith each surpassed the 50-run mark. Although the first three were unable to convert their innings into centuries, their contributions were crucial in achieving a total of 311 for 6 on the opening day. For India, Jasprit Bumrah’s two wickets in the final session, along with Akash Deep’s commendable performance, helped them remain competitive in the match.

Pakistan will commence the 2025 Champions Trophy with a match against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi, as confirmed by the ICC on Tuesday, December 24, during the announcement of the fixtures. India’s group stage games, along with one semi-final, are slated to take place in Dubai, with the highly anticipated encounter against Pakistan scheduled for February 23.