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.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants in Dharamsala, on Sunday.
Spinner Maheesh Theekshana's hat-trick was in vain as New Zealand clinched the three-match One-Day International series against Sri Lanka with a game to spare after a 113-run victory in a rain-shortened second one-day international in Hamilton on Wednesday.
Babar Azam's approach drew heavy criticism from fans
India's pace talisman Jasprit Bumrah's absence will certainly hurt India, but the team's quality batting and spin bowling make them title contenders alongside South Africa and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.
With an impressive blend of composure and aggression, Iyer has been a standout performer in the 50-over format, particularly against the Blackcaps.
Delhi Capitals looked like a well-oiled machine with four wins in a row before a stunning batting meltdown against Mumbai Indians halted their momentum.
LSG were outplayed with both bat and ball by Mumbai Indians as some of their biggest names failed once again to deliver under pressure.
Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Ajinkya Rahane expressed disappointment with the Eden Gardens pitch, lamenting the lack of assistance for spinners after his team's second loss at home.
Adam Zampa wants new heroes to emerge from the Australian squad at the Champions Trophy to cover the "big loss" of the team's champion pace trio.
Both teams have struggled in the ODI format recently. World champions Australia lost to Sri Lanka (0-2) and Pakistan (1-2) in their last two series, while England, now coached by Brendon McCullum in all formats, haven't won an ODI series since their disastrous 2023 World Cup campaign.
'For me it's about trying to get the ball off as close to the middle of the bat as possible and trust my bat swing.'
As the Champions Trophy kicks off, some memorable moments from past tournaments.
Prabhsimran Singh - Punjab Kings' pint-sized powerhouse whose explosive batting, sharp game sense, and newfound maturity have made him the breakout Indian star of the tournament.
Kohli reviewed the on-field LBW call, but replays showed it was 'umpire's call', leaving him and the crowd stunned.
Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey has backed Mitchell Starc to be ready for the decisive fifth and final Test of the series against India when it starts in Sydney on Friday despite doubts over the fast bowler's fitness.
With the pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) expected to offer some grip to the spinners, the Indian batters did not want to leave anything to the chance.
IMAGES from the Champions Trophy Group A match played between India and New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, in Dubai on Sunday
Sri Lanka are still 518 runs behind and will need a Herculean effort to avoid the follow-on even though more rain is forecast for Saturday.
New Zealand batsman Daryl Mitchell made a splash on the opening day of the second Test against England on Friday when he smashed a six straight into a startled female fan's pint of beer.
Rohit Sharma fires again as Mumbai Indians pulverise hapless Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets.
'But we'll savour this for a couple of hours at least and then it'll be recovery for the next few days.'
IMAGES from the IPL match between Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals in Ahmedabad on Saturday
Mitchell Santner believes that putting Rohit Sharma's side under pressure in that encounter gave his team the confidence for their upcoming summit clash on Sunday.
Shubman Gill was batting on 31 while Rishabh Pant was not out on one at stumps after India had come back into the game with Jadeja claiming 5-65 and Washington Sundar bagging 4-81.
With Rahul and wife Athiya Shetty expecting their first baby, the senior player could miss a game or two depending on the due date.
This is Kevin Pietersen's first coaching assignment in the IPL, where he featured as a player from 2009 to 2016.
Australia, who have already secured their place in the final of the World Test Championship against South Africa, won the opening Test, also in Galle, by an innings and 242 runs.
'We were 20 or 25 under to what we were looking for.'
After restricting Lucknow Super Giants to 171 for 7 on a tricky Ekana surface in Lucknow, Punjab Kings chased down the target with ease, losing just two wickets, on Tuesday, April 1 2025.
Tim Seifert top-scored with a quickfire 45 from 22 balls and Finn Allen slammed 38 from 16 to guide New Zealand to a comfortable five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the rain-hit second T20I.
Jasprit Bumrah took four wickets as a rampaging Mumbai Indians demolished Lucknow Super Giants by 54 runs.
Images from Day 5 in the fourth Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday.
'These are areas that we're trying to tidy up and try and be much more consistent all around.'
Across four Tests, Australia's fifth bowling option Marsh has bowled only 33 overs, a statistic that underscores his underutilisation. However, McDonald defended the all-rounder.
MI will hope Jasprit Bumrah returns to his menacing best, which is essential for them to stop an explosive Sunrisers Hyderabad batting unit in its tracks.
Australia legend Ricky Ponting believes a cheeky comment from India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal may have ignited Mitchell Starc's career-best performance during the second Test in Adelaide.
Struggling Mumbai Indians will be hoping their batters get their act together and shoulder responsibility when they take on an inspired Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League match in Mumbai on Monday.
About playing India in the final group game on Sunday in Dubai, he said, 'It will be a different challenge on a different surface. Might be slower.'
New Zealand must adapt quickly, says Daryl Mitchell as spin-friendly surface beckons at Pune
