In an intense rematch between the two favored teams, India emerged victorious once again against Nepal to claim the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup title. After defeating South Africa in the semi-final, the hosts remained undefeated throughout the tournament and continued their dominant streak in the final match. Despite a strong performance from Nepal's Rajan Bal, India was able to maintain a significant lead, clinching the win with a score of 54-36.
India ended their 2024 calendar year with a mix of successes and failures, highlighted by a T20 World Cup win and a disappointing ODI series loss. Looking ahead to 2025, India will have a packed schedule, starting with a final Test against Australia and then moving on to a limited-overs series against England. They will also prepare for the Champions Trophy, a five-match Test series against England, and a home series against South Africa. In total, India will play 18 T20Is, 9 Tests, and 12 ODIs in bilateral assignments outside of ICC and ACC tournaments.
With the WTC final set to take place in June 2025, defending champions Australia currently sit at second position in the points table. However, with three matches to go, including a crucial Test against India and two against Sri Lanka, Australia will secure their place in the final if they win at least one of those matches. South Africa has already qualified for the final, but the final spot is still up for grabs and will depend on the results of the upcoming matches.
India suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Australia in the fourth Test, putting their chances of making it to the World Test Championship Final in jeopardy. They will now have to win their final game against Australia and hope that Australia do not win against Sri Lanka in order to secure a spot in the final. With South Africa already qualifying for the final, India's chances are looking slim.
The World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 is heating up as South Africa and India have secured their spots with thrilling wins over Pakistan and an impressive record respectively. On the other hand, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and Pakistan are now out of contention for the final spot, making the remaining matches even more crucial for other teams in the race.
Google and Tesla CEOs Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk reacted to a viral video featuring Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah, who cheekily told a reporter to "Google" his batting skills. Pichai admitted he did just that, while Musk added a simple "Nice" comment. Pichai also suggested they watch a South Africa vs India match together someday. As Pichai once shared his childhood dream of becoming a cricketer, his love for the sport is no secret.
Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah shined in the ongoing third Test against Australia, taking five wickets for 72 runs in 25 overs. With this performance, he not only broke Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma's record for most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket for India, but also became the first Indian bowler to pick up eight fifers in countries like Australia, England, South Africa, and New Zealand. Bumrah's impressive numbers also put him ahead of iconic figures like Kapil Dev in this category.
After South Africa's convincing win over Sri Lanka in the second Test at Gqeberha, India's chances of making it to the ICC World Test Championship Final for the third time in a row have been greatly reduced. This win has propelled South Africa to the top of the WTC Final standings, pushing India down to third place. Australia's 10-wicket win against India in the second Test in Adelaide has put them in second place, making the race for the WTC Final even more intense.
Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian cricket team's T20 captain, is set to return to the field for Mumbai's next game in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy against Andhra on Tuesday, December 3. Despite leading India to a successful series win against South Africa, Surya has taken a two-week break for a family function and will now resume playing for his domestic team. While he may not lead the side as Shreyas Iyer is the current captain, Surya is expected to be a valuable player for Mumbai in their upcoming matches. He remains committed to playing for Mumbai in all domestic tournaments and has his sights set on playing for India across all formats.
The first day of the India vs Australia Test match at Perth was a rollercoaster ride, with 17 wickets falling and Australia reeling at 67 for 7 at stumps. The star of the day was Jasprit Bumrah who ripped apart the Australian top-order with four wickets, making it one of the worst starts for the hosts at home this century. With India's lowest Test score at home at 85 against South Africa in 2016, Bumrah's pacy unit will be aiming to create history on Day 2. The rest of the series and even Saturday's match is now up in the air, making it a thrilling and unpredictable game for both teams.