Tuesday, April 22
Former New Zealand cricketer Martin Guptill has announced his retirement from international cricket after a 14-year career, expressing disappointment with how it ended. He played 367 matches and scored 23 international centuries. Guptill remains New Zealand's leading T20I run-scorer and played a pivotal role in notable innings, including a record-breaking double century in the 2015 World Cup.
Aakash Chopra announced his squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy, backing Rohit Sharma as captain and opener. He included players like Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and a mix of seasoned bowlers and spinners.
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar anticipates Indian captain Rohit Sharma to adopt a conservative approach in the upcoming ODI series against England, aiming to regain his form. Bangar highlights the potential of Yashasvi Jaiswal as a backup player, favouring Shubman Gill alongside Sharma and Kohli as the top three.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape face MI Cape Town in the SA20 Season 3 opener at St George’s Park, with a sold-out crowd expected. Key players include Ottneil Baartman, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, and Tristan Stubbs for the Sunrisers, while MI Cape Town's squad features Trent Boult, Kagiso Rabada, and Reeza Hendricks. The match promises high energy and entertainment.
Aakash Chopra selected his squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy, excluding Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav. He emphasized Rohit Sharma’s leadership and credits Shreyas Iyer's recent performance. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant will be included as wicketkeeper-batters. Chopra picked Iyer due to his consistent run-scoring, while Pant replaces Ishan Kishan.
Young Australian batter Sam Konstas reflected on his encounter with Indian star Virat Kohli during the Boxing Day Test. He described Kohli as down to earth and expressed his admiration for the former Indian captain. Konstas had a chat with Kohli after the match, and the interaction left a lasting impression on him.
Mohammad Amir reminisces about Shaheen Afridi's match-saving play in the 2024 ILT20. He highlights the league's challenging nature, emphasises its impact on UAE cricket, and praises emerging talents. Amir also reflects on the importance of adapting to conditions for effective bowling and acknowledges Pakistani players' limited participation in the league.
Amid rumours of a divorce between cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and his wife Dhanashree Verma, the latter addressed baseless allegations and character assassination by trolls on social media. Both unfollowed each other recently, fueling the speculation. Dhanashree stressed on holding on to her values and focusing on the truth.
Ravi Shastri suggests Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to domestic cricket to hone their Test skills and mentor younger players. Following India's performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Shastri believes domestic play can help them overcome technical issues and contribute to the team's transition. He emphasises the importance of hunger and desire in their careers.
Ravichandran Ashwin's sudden retirement from international cricket during India's tour of Australia left the cricketing world stunned. Former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin suspects Ashwin's dissatisfaction with consistently being benched led to his decision. He feels the development highlighted India's lack of a cohesive game plan, evident in the frequent change of spinners during the series.
