'I think Rohit should play aggressively. You saw how he batted in the ODI World Cup -- he was attacking even in the final. So, I believe his approach will remain the same.'
Barely 11 days before their Champions Trophy opener against Pakistan, New Zealand's leading pace bowler Lockie Ferguson has been rendered doubtful for the ODI tournament after suffering a hamstring injury during an ILT20 match in the UAE.
Baroda, Vidarbha, and Uttar Pradesh registered significant victories in the second round of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C on Tuesday. Baroda secured a dominant 10-wicket win over Bihar, Vidarbha clinched a thrilling three-wicket victory against defending champions Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttar Pradesh defeated Goa by 68 runs.
Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir were bowled out for 120, allowing Madhya Pradesh to take a 135-run overall lead on day two of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match. Meanwhile, Baroda, Uttar Pradesh, and Vidarbha also established strong positions in their respective matches.
IMAGES from the Champions Trophy final played between India and New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday.
Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has been named as one of the four event ambassadors for the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19 to March 9.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and head coach Gautam Gambhir have lauded former chief selector Ajit Agarkar for his highly successful three-year tenure, which saw India win three ICC trophies and achieve significant white-ball dominance.
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is set to play for Saurashtra in their opening Ranji Trophy match against Chhattisgarh, with Jaydev Unadkat retaining captaincy, as the team aims for a strong start to the 2026-27 season.
The Vidarbha batter boasts an incredible average of 752 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with five centuries from seven games.
Rinku Singh's unbeaten 118 helped Uttar Pradesh recover from a collapse to post 202 against Goa in their Ranji Trophy match. Goa ended day one at 43 for no loss, trailing by 159 runs. Other Group A matches saw Baroda struggling against Bihar, MP losing wickets against Puducherry, and J&K posting 260 against Vidarbha.
Refusing to travel to India citing "sensitive bilateral situation", Pakistan on Wednesday asked the Asian Hockey Federation to shift its Asian Champions Trophy matches to a neutral venue.
Members of the trophy-winning squad from 2017 were present at the event with then captain Sarfaraz Ahmed in conversation with former West Indies pacer and broadcaster Ian Bishop.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI against New Zealand in Sunday's final?
The Indian women's cricket team, after winning their eighth Asia Cup title against Sri Lanka, declined to accept the trophy from ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi, continuing a trend seen with the men's team last year. This incident highlights an ongoing impasse regarding trophy presentations involving the Pakistani official.
The PCB asserted that the presence of ICC delegation, including broadcast, hospitality and event operations officials in the country, was an affirmation that the event is on schedule in Pakistan.
The PCB is upgrading the facilities at all three venues in the country as Pakistan prepares to host an ICC tournament for the first time since 1996, when they co-hosted the ODI World Cup.
An injury concern looms over Australian skipper Pat Cummins ahead of next month's Champions Trophy with the pacer set to undergo a scan
India's new captain Smriti Mandhana is set to lead the women's team in a T20I series against Zimbabwe, marking a new era. She aims to elevate the team's professionalism, power-hitting, and fielding, while fostering a strong team culture. Mandhana also highlighted the importance of Harmanpreet Kaur's experience and praised deputy Shafali Verma's growth, as the team prepares for the ICC Women's Champions Trophy 2027.
While India are on a high after a measured six-wicket win over a sprightly Bangladesh, Pakistan are evidently tense after the 60-run loss in the tournament-opener to New Zealand.
As the Champions Trophy kicks off, some memorable moments from past tournaments.
Gautam Gambhir, head coach of the Indian men's cricket team, celebrated his 45th birthday on Wednesday. Former teammates Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina, along with BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, extended their wishes. Gambhir is currently with the team in Hyderabad for the fourth T20I against West Indies, where India aims to seal the series.
Bengal secured a 60-run victory over Services in a Ranji Trophy Group C match, powered by Pradipta Pramanik's four-wicket haul. Elsewhere, Delhi established a significant lead against Gujarat, while Maharashtra built a massive first-innings advantage over Jharkhand with centuries from Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ankit Bawne, and Digvijay Patil.
India's group match against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday will be the first ICC Champions Trophy between the two teams in 25 years.
'When you leave, you want to leave the team in better place'
The Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season is set to begin on Sunday, featuring several prominent India cricketers like KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Their participation aims to provide valuable red-ball practice and fine-tune skills, while also offering a platform for players like Mohammed Shami to impress selectors. The tournament will also highlight emerging young talents from various states.
Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir made an impressive start to their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A campaign, dismissing Madhya Pradesh for 196 on the opening day. Medium pacer Rohit Sharma led the attack with a five-wicket haul, while Sunil Kumar added four wickets. J&K were 3/1 at stumps, trailing by 193 runs.
The legendary Ricky Ponting says the quality of players and recent history make India and Australia the favourites to figure in the summit clash of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
Mohammed Shami remains determined to reclaim his India place after another snub, prioritising a full domestic season, consistent performances and skill development ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Spin great Ravichandran Ashwin says New Zealand, despite the absence of the long-serving pace duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, who have quit playing the 50-over format, will pose a challenge to India.
It has been a forgettable campaign for Pakistan in the first global tournament to be staged in the country since 1996.
India face an anxious wait as Jasprit Bumrah's fitness status will only be confirmed in the first week of February.
Former India chief selector Chetan Sharma has lauded his successor Ajit Agarkar for a highly successful three-year tenure, which saw India win three ICC trophies and achieve significant white-ball cricket dominance.
Sanju was excluded from Kerala's squad after he informed the Kerala Cricket Association of his unavailability for the preparatory camp before the tournament.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has suggested Lahore as India's home base during next year's ICC Champions Trophy.
Sri Lanka Cricket is set to lose an estimated USD 20 million in revenue after the ICC stripped it of the hosting rights for the 2027 Women's Champions Trophy.
Uttar Pradesh defeated Bihar by an innings and 267 runs in their Group A Ranji Trophy match in Rajgir. Impressive bowling from Kartik Yadav and Karan Sharma led UP to a comprehensive victory on the third day, dismissing Bihar for 141 and 132 in their two innings.
Incomplete renovation work at Karachi Stadium worries PCB ahead of Champions Trophy
The Pakistan Cricket Board's chief operating officer Sumair Ahmed has blamed the ICC for the mismanagement at the final presentation ceremony of the Champions Trophy in Dubai.
Skipper Steve Smith said the opener, who suffered the quad injury while fielding but struggled on to scored 20 runs from 15 balls before the game was washed out, is unlikely to be fit to face India or New Zealand on Tuesday or Wednesday.
The ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan has seen a decline in attendance following the early exit of the Pakistani cricket team and the start of Ramadan.
