The Rest of India squad for the Irani Trophy has been announced, with Ruturaj Gaikwad named as the captain. The team will face off against Mumbai, the 2023/24 Ranji champions, from October 1st to 5th. Dhruv Jurel and Yash Dayal, currently with Team India, will join the ROI squad but their participation is subject to them not being selected for the second Test against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur, Shreyas Iyer, and Ajinkya Rahane will feature for Mumbai, while Sarfaraz Khan was released from the Indian squad for the Test, with the MCA selection committee set to pick their squad for the game on Tuesday.
With just a few days left for the Irani Cup to begin, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for Rest of India. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been given the captaincy while Mumbai's squad is led by Ajinkya Rahane. The match will see a face-off between Ranji Trophy winners Mumbai and the Rest of India team. With the likes of Prithvi Shaw and Shreyas Iyer in the squad, both teams are expected to put up a tough competition.
The India C team defeated India D by four wickets in the Duleep Trophy, largely thanks to an impressive performance by young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar. Suthar took seven wickets in the second innings to orchestrate a batting collapse for India D, setting a target of 232. India C's top order, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad (36), Aryan Juyal (47) and Rajat Patidar (44), successfully chased down the target and secured the win. Saransh Jain also played a crucial role in the match, picking up four wickets for India D.
In the Duleep Trophy 2024 tournament, India B has started off strong against India A, scoring 65 runs and losing only 2 wickets at lunch. Meanwhile, in the match between India D and India C, India C's Ruturaj Gaikwad has managed to overcome India D's Shreyas Iyer, who has lost 7 wickets. Fans on social media were excited to see the 'Khan Brothers,' Sarfaraz and Musheer, batting together. The session has been eventful, with both runs scored and wickets taken by the teams.
Indian batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal has climbed up to fourth position in the latest ICC T20I rankings for batters after his impressive performance in the recent series against Sri Lanka. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav also retained his second rank, while opener Ruturaj Gaikwad and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi made significant jumps in the rankings. With the upcoming series against Bangladesh, Bishnoi will be looking to further improve his standings.
Former CSK captain MS Dhoni may continue as a player in IPL 2025 if BCCI allows 5-6 retentions ahead of the mega auction. After passing on the captaincy baton in IPL 2024 due to knee issues, Dhoni is now expected to return as captain for 2025. Dhoni has reportedly discussed his future with CSK owner N Srinivasan and if the BCCI's retention rules change, Chennai is likely to retain Dhoni for the next season.
With the IPL mega auction around the corner, Chennai Super Kings are looking to retain key players for the upcoming season. It's a no-brainer for the team to retain top performer Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has previously captained the side. Other names like MS Dhoni, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, big-hitter Shivam Dube, and pacer Matheesha Pathirana are also expected to be retained, considering their crucial roles in the franchise's success.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has announced an aid of INR 1 crore for former India cricketer and ex-team India coach Anshuman Gaekwad, who is battling blood cancer. The cricket board assured the family of every possible assistance and also received support from former cricketers Kapil Dev, Sandeep Patil, and Dilip Vengsarkar. Gaekwad's condition was brought to light by Patil earlier this year and the cricketing community is rallying to offer support and create a system for former players in need.
India has taken a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, after winning the third match at the Harare Sports Club. The Indian team was led by skipper Shubman Gill's impressive half-century, with support from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal. In response, Zimbabwe's Myers put up a good fight with his first T20 international half-century, but Washington Sundar's three-wicket haul ensured India's victory. The next two matches will be played on Saturday and Sunday in Harare.
Ruturaj Gaikwad's impressive performance in the second T20I against Zimbabwe has propelled him to the seventh position in the ICC T20I batting rankings. His teammates Rinku Singh and Abhishek Sharma have also climbed up the rankings, while leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi has broken into the top 15 of the bowlers' rankings. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's Brian Bennett and Blessing Muzarabani have also made significant gains after their performances in the first two matches. Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga is now the sole leader in the all-rounder rankings, with India's Hardik Pandya in second place.