In the midst of all the hype surrounding Varun Chakravarthy's five-wicket-haul in India's match against New Zealand, Axar Patel's crucial contribution with both the ball and the bat went unnoticed. After being labeled as the 'poor man's Jadeja' for most of his career, Axar made a conscious effort to improve his batting skills in 2022. This transformation was on full display in his unbeaten 64 against the West Indies, giving him the much-needed confidence to finish games. Promoting him to No. 5 ahead of the reliable KL Rahul was a bold move by the team management, but it ultimately paid off as Axar proved to be a dependable finisher for the team.
As India takes on New Zealand in the high-stakes ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, a heartwarming hug between skipper Virat Kohli and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has caught the attention of fans and experts alike. With speculations about Jadeja's retirement gaining momentum, the 40th over of the match became the most talked-about moment. As Jadeja finished his spell with brilliant figures, Kohli's embrace was seen as a possible farewell gesture, adding an emotional element to the intense final clash. If this is indeed the end for Jadeja, his legacy as one of India's finest all-rounders will continue to live on.
As New Zealand faces India in the final of the Champions Trophy, net bowler Shashwat Tiwari reveals that his team is facing a tough challenge preparing for India's spin quartet. In their group-stage meeting, New Zealand were tricked by Varun Chakravarthy's five-for, and now they are focusing on preparing for left-arm spinners like Ravindra Jadeja. However, with the experienced Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel in India's spin attack, it won't be an easy task for New Zealand's batters. Captain Mitchell Santner admits that they were troubled by spin in their semifinal clash against South Africa, and they will need to rotate strike and hit boundaries to counter India's spinners.
During the Australia vs India match, Ravindra Jadeja's bandaged hand caused a stir reminiscent of a similar incident involving Dean Jones and Curtly Ambrose. Jadeja argued that his hand was injured, but the umpire asked him to remove the tape as it could obstruct the view for the batsmen. Coincidentally, the umpire was Richard Illingworth, who was also umpiring in the 2023 World Cup final between India and Australia. Jones had once asked Ambrose to remove his wristbands, leading to a heated dispute and ultimately, Ambrose becoming more aggressive in his bowling.
In a thrilling and action-packed match between India and New Zealand, the Black Caps displayed exceptional fielding skills, with Kane Williamson's stunning catch to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja stealing the spotlight. Despite the early wicket of top players, the knocks of Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya helped India reach a competitive score of 249 runs. However, it was Matt Henry's impressive five-wicket haul that limited India's potential.
New Zealand's Kane Williamson displayed impeccable athleticism as he took a stunning diving catch to dismiss India's Ravindra Jadeja for 16 runs in their ICC Men's Champions Trophy match in Dubai. The catch left India struggling at 223-7 and the match remains a tense battle between the two teams. Follow live updates of the match, only available to UK viewers.
As the Champions Trophy heats up in Dubai, Indian bowlers shared their thoughts on the most dangerous batters in the tournament so far. While Ravindra Jadeja tipped Jos Buttler and Glenn Maxwell as formidable match-winners, Md Shami chose New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra for his aggressive approach and shot-making ability. Interestingly, Travis Head was not mentioned despite being a constant thorn in India's side, while Axar Patel picked South African power-hitter Heinrich Klaasen for his high impact in the middle order.
As the highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025 kicks off, India and Bangladesh face each other in the opening match at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India, fresh off a 3-0 victory against England in the ODI series, will look to continue their winning momentum. Meanwhile, Bangladesh, known for their struggles in ICC events, will aim to turn things around and surprise their opponents with their three spinners. With a strong lineup, India under the leadership of Rohit Sharma will be a tough challenge for Bangladesh as they bring back Ravindra Jadeja in place of Varun Chakaravarthy.
With the final deadline for the Champions Trophy squad looming, India made some last-minute changes to their team, including the return of Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja. However, the exclusion of Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube came as a surprise to many. Shami, who made a strong comeback after a long injury layoff, will be crucial for the team's success in the upcoming three-week-long tournament. India will rely on their experienced batters and spinners, as they aim to lift the trophy once again.
In a thrilling start to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and chose to bat against India. In a surprising move, India opted for young pacer Harshit Rana over regular Arshdeep Singh. However, their strong spin attack consisting of Jadeja, Yadav, and Patel remains unchanged. On the other hand, Bangladesh will be looking to make the most of the sunny conditions and post a challenging total against the Men in Blue.