Fans and experts speculate that explosive batsman Rajat Patidar may be appointed as the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for IPL 2025, as the franchise released their current captain Faf du Plessis. Patidar's impressive leadership and performance for Madhya Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024, where his team has reached the final after 13 years, has caught the attention of RCB and their social media. The franchise's post praising Patidar's crucial role in guiding his team to the summit clash has triggered widespread speculation about his potential captaincy for RCB in the future.
Skipper Rohit Sharma's decisions have come under fire once again as India struggles in the ongoing third Test against Australia. After losing the toss and choosing to field, Australia took control with Travis Head and Steve Smith putting up an imposing score of 405/7 by the end of Day 2. This has led to fans questioning Sharma's choice to bowl first, arguing that India's batting may have been more favorable on the pitch.
Under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar, Madhya Pradesh convincingly beat Delhi by seven wickets to enter their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final in 13 years. Opting to field, MP's bowlers, led by Venkatesh Iyer's 2/12, restricted Delhi to a modest 146/5. In the chase, Patidar's unbeaten 66 off just 29 balls, supported by Harpreet Singh Bhatia's 46 not out, helped MP reach the target in just 15.4 overs. Delhi's hopes of a comeback were dashed as they were unable to defend their total against MP's strong batting display.
Despite being unsold in the first round of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, Ajinkya Rahane has emerged as the top performer for Mumbai in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. With four back-to-back half-centuries and a record-breaking run chase, Rahane has not only secured his spot in the Mumbai team but also caught the attention of Kolkata Knight Riders who picked him up in the accelerated auction. He is now not only a top contender for the captaincy role but also proving that age is just a number in T20 cricket.
Since joining Arsenal in 2018, Martin Odegaard has become a key figure in the team's revival, eventually being named captain in 2022. With his 100th game as captain, Odegaard now holds the best record with a rate percentage of any captain in the club's history over the past 30 years, surpassing the likes of Tony Adams, Thierry Henry, and Patrick Vieira. Odegaard himself spoke out about the achievement, highlighting his role in Arsenal's success on and off the field.
Gujarat captain Axar Patel showcased his leadership skills once again with an unbeaten half-century and two crucial wickets to lead his team to victory against Karnataka in the Group B match at Holkar Stadium in Indore. This has further boosted his chances of becoming the captain of Delhi Capitals in the upcoming IPL 2025 season, as per comments from franchise co-owner Parth Jindal. Patel has been a key player for Gujarat this season, with six wickets and 134 runs in just seven outings so far.
Bangladesh have named their 15-member squad for their upcoming three-match ODI series against West Indies, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz being appointed as the captain in the absence of regular skipper Najmul Shanto. The team has also been hampered by injuries, with Towhid Hridoy being ruled out due to a groin injury and will be reassessed after two weeks. The Bangladesh Cricket Board also confirmed the captaincy appointment and explained the player's injury situation. The team will face West Indies in a three-match ODI series starting on December 8 at Warner Park.
In a surprising move, Kolkata Knight Riders bought back Indian cricketer Venkatesh Iyer for a record-breaking price of Rs 23.75 crore in the IPL mega auction. Iyer, who has previously represented KKR, expressed his excitement to take on the captaincy challenge and lead the team to defend their championship title. The franchise's decision to choose Iyer over their previous 2024 winning captain Shreyas Iyer at the auction came as a shock to many, but Iyer is grateful for the trust and confidence shown in him by the team.
The highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy between Australia and India is set to commence this Friday. With two star pacers leading their respective teams, this clash at Perth Stadium promises to kick off an action-packed Australian summer. However, India will face a hurdle as Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will not play in the first game, leaving Jasprit Bumrah to take on the captaincy role. Meanwhile, Australia is likely to give newcomer Nathan McSweeney his maiden cap as an opener. With the two teams having faced off in a total of 107 test matches, the Aussies hold the lead with 45 wins, while India has 32 wins under their belt. 29 tests have ended in draws, with one being tied. Don't miss this thrilling match at 07:50 AM IST on November 22, 2024, only at the Perth Stadium.
As the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy is about to commence from November 22, the stakes are high for both teams - India and Australia. In a recent press conference, former India cricketer and coach, Ravi Shastri, has revealed Australia's hidden weapon and the pressure will be on Jasprit Bumrah as he leads the Indian team in the first Test. The Aussies are known to attack the leadership of the opposing team and Shastri believes that Bumrah, being the best fast bowler in the world, is up for the challenge. He also expressed confidence in Bumrah's maturity and ability to stick to his strengths as a player despite the added pressure of captaincy.