The 2025 Champions Trophy promises to be a battleground for the world's top cricketers, with several players ready to leave their mark on the tournament.
Captain Harry Brook scored a dazzling 87 before Liam Livingstone wrought havoc by smashing 62 in 27 balls as England thrashed Australia by 186 runs in a rain-shortened ODI at Lord's.
'(Bumrah) is so unique, and that's with any of the bowlers, really. Every (batter) picks up different cues and goes about it in a different way.'
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2025 after Game 39.
Out-of-form skipper Rohit Sharma's batting position will be in focus against a dangerous Australia
With the series locked at 1-1, Brisbane could well decide the course of the rubber and whether Rohit's men would continue to be the master of their fate in the ongoing World Test Championship.
England skipper Jos Buttler expressed delight in Ben Duckett's record-breaking knock even as he hailed Australia for chasing down a massive total of 352 runs in the ICC Champions Trophy Group B match in Lahore on Saturday.
The introduction of Webster was the only change to the side, with Mitchell Starc included despite struggling with a back niggle during the fourth Test.
Nathan McSweeney, who opened in the first three Tests with little success, has been dropped.
He added that, Ravindra Jadeja and Rachin Ravindra would also be crucial retentions, with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad also an obvious choice.
The difference between the bowling averages of Jasprit Bumrah and his seam-bowling teammates stood at 21.76, suggesting Bumrah operated as India's one-man army with the ball.
Images from the T20 World Cup Group B match between Australia and England, at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday.
Cheteshwar Pujara pointed out the inexperience of the Indian batters against the pink ball, highlighting how they played too late, leading to a string of dismissals.
Australia all-rounder Beau Webster described his impressive debut against India during the fifth and final Test in Sydney as a 'dream come true' moment.
Kapil Dev, who led India to the 1983 World Cup title, said Jasprit Bumrah should be given a long stint to prove himself as Test captain.
India were struggling at 128 for 5 in their second innings, still trailing Australia by 29 runs at stumps on day two of the day-night Test.
With 539 scalps in 134 matches at an average of 30.39 and best figures of 5/39, Lyon is the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Tests and has 24 five-wicket hauls and five ten-wicket hauls.
Mohammed Siraj lit up the Rajiv Gandhi international stadium, his domestic home ground, with a sensational spell of 4/17.
Teenager Konstas to make debut in fourth Test against India
Images from Day 1 of the first Test between Australia and India in Perth, on Friday.
'I am a big fan of Travis Head as a cricketer, I believe he will be a future star for Australia in all forms of the game.'
Hardik Pandya reclaims top spot among T20I all-rounders, Tilak Varma jumps 69 places to third among batters
Australia completed a clean sweep of their three-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand on Sunday as Matthew Wade's side won a rain-affected clash by 27 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method at Eden Park.
Australia might experiment in the group stage to find their best XI. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa will play a crucial role while left-arm spinner Ashton Agar is also expected to be in the mix.
'He is a great player not scoring enough runs & that's the crux of it.'
England captain Jos Buttler lauded Abhishek Sharma for his blistering 54-ball 135 in India's dominant 150-run win in the fifth T20I on Sunday
'Especially in the middle overs. That's going to be a key challenge.'
Images from Day 3 of the fifth Test between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
By avoiding the follow-on and standing firm against Australia's aggression, India ensured that they stayed alive in the series.
It was a match where the bowlers and fielders didn't have much of a role to play.
Jaiswal and Rahul ended the day unbeaten on 90 and 62, as the hosts failed to take a wicket in two sessions, a dizzying change of pace from day one when 17 wickets tumbled.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff's first Most Valuable Player Index for IPL 2025.
Josh Inglis smashed a 43-ball century, Australia's fastest in the shortest format, as the visitors thrashed Scotland by 70 runs in the second Twenty20 International at The Grange, in Edinburg, to clinch the series with a game to spare on Friday.
India pace bowler Akash Deep played down concerns over skipper Rohit Sharma's knee injury in the build-up to the fourth Test against Australia this week after the batsman was hit during a practice session on Sunday.
Pacer Mitchell Starc was adjudged player of the match for his sensational bowling up front when he claimed the scalps of Travis Head, Nitish Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed in the powerplay.
England captain Jos Buttler believes the ongoing tour of India is the perfect preparation for this month's Champions Trophy, given the similarities in conditions with Pakistan, where the event will be held. He also backs veteran batter Joe Root to play a crucial role in both the ODI series against India and the upcoming tournament.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the third Test against Australia in Brisbane?
Images from Day 3 of the fourth Test between Australia and India at the MCG on Saturday.
New Zealand's big-hitting opener Chad Bowes smashed the fastest double hundred in List A cricket on Wednesday, reaching the mark in just 103 balls.
Australia captain Pat Cummins said it is a "privilege" to have a bowler of Mitchell Starc's calibre at his disposal.
