Author: Virat Verma

The third and final ODI between India and Sri Lanka is set to be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on August 7. India is aiming for a victory in this match, but will spinners dominate the pitch, or will the batsmen shine? Here’s what to expect from the pitch conditions. IND vs SL 3rd ODI Pitch Report: How Will the R. Premadasa Stadium Pitch Play? In the first ODI played at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka scored 230 runs. In the second ODI, Sri Lanka set a target of 240 runs, but the Indian team was…

The series of meetings to make the Indian Premier League 2025 even more special has begun. On July 31, a meeting took place between IPL franchise owners and officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), where several important decisions were discussed. This meeting focused on the future of the league, covering topics such as retention, impact player rules, foreign players, Indian capped and uncapped players, mega and mini auctions. Controversy over the Mega Auction The finalists of IPL 2024, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, were against the mega auction. They believed that it took them…

England has reportedly declined Pakistan’s request to host the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 playoffs. According to Cricket Pakistan, PSL franchises were concerned about the costs, leading to an assurance that an official would be sent to England to assess the situation. However, England has denied the request due to unavailability of grounds, noting that the PSL will overlap with the IPL 2024, in which many England players are expected to participate. Also read: Watch Viral Video: Sanath Jayasuriya & Virat Kohli in Intense Chat after DRS Controversy in 2nd ODI England Refuses to Host PSL Playoffs As per the…

For the first time since December 1997, India failed to secure victory in a bilateral series against Sri Lanka, as the home team stunned the two-time world champions in the second ODI of the three-match series in Colombo on Sunday. Jeffrey Vandersay, stepping in for the injured Wanindu Hasaranga, took a record six-wicket haul, restricting India to 208 in their chase of 241, leading Sri Lanka to a 32-run win and an unassailable 1-0 series lead. This victory followed a dramatic tie in the first ODI, orchestrated by Sri Lanka’s spinners. During India’s chase, former captain Virat Kohli was involved…

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the shortlists for the ICC Player of the Month awards for July, highlighting the standout performers from a thrilling month of international cricket. The ICC Men’s Player of the Month shortlist features three remarkable bowlers who made headlines across all formats. England’s Gus Atkinson burst onto the Test scene in July with a brilliant display of pace bowling in their dominant World Test Championship series win over West Indies. Scotland’s Charlie Cassell shone in the ODI format, dismantling Oman’s batting lineup with a spectacular spell in Dundee. Completing the lineup is India’s Washington…

The ICC Champions Trophy is set to return next year, taking place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9. Pakistan, the defending champions, hosted the tournament last in 2017. Although the ICC had canceled future editions after 2017 to streamline major tournaments to one per format, they reversed this decision in 2021, announcing the tournament’s return in 2025. With Pakistan as the host, there are significant uncertainties regarding India’s participation due to political and diplomatic tensions between the two countries. To address potential issues, the ICC has reportedly allocated a budget of around $65 million during its recent AGM…

Virat Kohli will be in action for India on Sunday (August 4) during the second ODI against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The 35-year-old right-handed batter scored 24 runs in the series opener on Friday and aims to deliver a strong performance in the second 50-over match to help India gain a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. In this match, Kohli has a chance to make history by becoming the fastest batter to reach 14,000 runs in ODIs. The former India captain, who debuted against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on August 18, 2008, currently has…

A recent meeting between the IPL and the owners of the ten franchises discussed the retention rules ahead of the 2025 auction, specifically whether cricketers retired for five years should be considered at par with uncapped players. This rule, which existed from 2008 but was scrapped in 2021, had never been used. When reintroduced, several franchises, including Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) owner Kavya Maran, objected. Maran argued that retaining retired players as uncapped would disrespect their value, suggesting instead that these players be part of the auction to let the market decide their price. At least one other franchise also expressed…

Mohammed Shami was in exceptional form for India during the ODI World Cup last year, taking 23 wickets in seven matches and finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. He also won the Purple Cap in the IPL. However, he has been sidelined with an injury since then. The 33-year-old fast bowler, who recently underwent ankle surgery, is uncertain about his return to international cricket but has confirmed he will play a few domestic matches first. At a recent event in Kolkata, Shami revealed that he has resumed bowling at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and aims to make his comeback…

The Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s wealthiest T20 tournament, is poised for a new phase with the 2025 cycle. Although the official schedule for the IPL 2025 auction remains unconfirmed, reports suggest that franchises are proposing several changes for the upcoming edition. An ESPN Cricinfo report indicates that franchises are advocating for a complete two-year ban on overseas players who withdraw from the tournament without a clear reason. The teams argue that there have been instances where players have left mid-season after being acquired in the auction. Additionally, team owners are demanding that overseas players be required to register…