The common theme in those defeats was how the seemingly powerful batting and bowling units of KKR and RR failed to fire.
Kolkata Knight Riders have named left-arm pacer Chetan Sakariya as a replacement for speedster Umran Malik ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.
The lack of runs from captain Suryakumar Yadav and his deputy Shubman Gill remains a talking point.
This is the most open T20 World Cup in history. The traditional powers are compromised. The new powers have gained strength, observes Faisal Shariff.
With new rivalries, fresh team colours, and familiar faces reunited, this isn't just the start of a new season-it's a blockbuster waiting to unfold.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 1st Test played between England and South Africa at Lord's on Wednesday.
Images from Day 3 of the second Test between Australia and South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
IPL Auction 2026 was not just about money; it was a celebration of ambition, opportunity, and the unrelenting belief that the next big star could come from anywhere.
With a power-packed batting line-up, match-winning spinners and a solid pace attack, champions KKR are once again the team to beat.
India will look to address several lingering selection puzzles when they take on South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday in the first ODI of the three-match series, where Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the set-up for a short audition that could well shape their 2027 World Cup fate.
The first Test starts at Lord's on Wednesday.
KKR, CSK to engage in bidding war in IPL mini-auction with big purse in hand
Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad find themselves in troubled waters, having lost two of their last three games
Ahead of the mini-auction, scheduled to be held in Doha on December 26, the 10 franchises have released their list of retained and released players.
South Africa's openers Dean Elgar (15) and Aiden Markram were positive at the start of the innings, but disaster struck as they lost two wickets in the final two balls of the middle session.
Aiden Markram and Co took in the sights and sounds of New York.
Images from Day 2 of the third Test between Australia and South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday
Becomes first England fielder to take 5 catches in an innings.
South African speedster Anrich Nortje is impressed by the Delhi Capitals skipper's Rishabh Pant's match-reading skills and ability to project what's in the offing.
Aiden Markram replaced Temba Bavuma as T20I skipper of the South African national side.
South Africa will have no room for error as their world-class batters will be keen to flex their muscles against a spirited USA in their opening Super Eight match of the T20 World Cup.
Flavour of the season Rahul Tewatia didn't prove to be third time lucky in what turned out to be an incredible death overs performance by the Delhi Capitals pace attack in their 13-run victory against Rajasthan Royals in the IPL match, in Dubai, on Wednesday.
Cricketers missing from World Cup 2023.
'DC changed things around tonight by bowling with pace, taking pace off and varying it nicely, we weren't able to deal with that'
The Proteas are not expected to tinker with their four-pronged pace attack comprising Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Ottneil Baartmen that has served them well in the tournament so far with Keshav Maharaj taking on the spin duties.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the 2nd Test played between England and South Africa played in Old Trafford on Friday.
Images from Day 4 of the second Test between Australia and South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.
When the umpires conducted the routine check on Parag's bat, it was found to be non-compliant. As a result, he was asked to switch to a different bat before resuming his innings.
Holder highlighted the case of West Indies' Test captain and opener Kraigg Brathwaite, who has played 83 times since his Test debut in May 2011, while England's Joe Root has 129 caps since his Test debut in December 2012.
The bowling stocks looks good, but the major concern will be around the batting line-up, which struggled on the recent tour of England.
Delhi Capitals finished 9th in IPL 2023. Will IPL 2024 be the year DC win its maiden title?
Images from the T20 World Cup semi-final between Afghanistan and South Africa, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy ground in Trinidad, on Thursday.
It'll be a miracle for Shikhar Dhawan's side, who not only needed a win against Delhi Capitals, but also needed to boost their net run-rate and neither happened.
Images from Day 1 of the third Test between Australia and South Africa at the SCG on Wednesday.
Elgar's tactics and decision-making were terrible, says Simon Katich
Ottneil Baartman registered his best bowling figures of 4 for 11 as South Africa produced a fine bowling effort to restrict Netherlands to 103 for nine
South Africa host Australia for three T20 matches from August 30 to September 3 and five ODIs from September 7 to 17.
In 380 T20s, Dhoni has made 7,308 runs at an average of 38.06, with 28 half-centuries.
Sunrisers Hyderabad ended their disappointing IPL season with power-packed batting effort, etching a crushing 110-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders.
