Former Australia captain Michael Clarke shared his predictions for the upcoming 2025 IPL season on a podcast, naming SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) as the potential winners under the leadership of Pat Cummins. Clarke also believes that Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) will continue to struggle in their quest for a maiden title. He also backed Travis Head and Kuldeep Yadav for the Orange and Purple Caps, respectively, while discussing the potential playoffs teams. The new-look SRH, with the addition of Mohammad Shami and Ishan Kishan, will begin their campaign against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on March 23.
As India and New Zealand face off in the final of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, all eyes will be on the leading wicket-takers of the tournament. While Varun Chakaravarthy and Mohammed Shami lead the charts for India, the Kiwis suffered a setback with the withdrawal of Matt Henry. Both teams will be looking to end their drought for an ICC 50-over title and create history. Meanwhile, we take a look at the overall record for most wickets in a Champions Trophy edition.
In a must-win match against New Zealand, India pacer Shami dropped an important catch of in-form batter Rachin Ravindra, leading to the skipper Rohit Sharma's frustration on the field. Despite the lifeline, Rachin continued to trouble the Indian bowling attack, even using the DRS to overturn a controversial decision. In the end, it was Kuldeep Yadav who finally dismissed Rachin, but the damage was already done as India's luck with the toss continued to plague them.
The highly-anticipated final match of the 2025 Champions Trophy between India and New Zealand in Dubai has triggered a debate on unfair advantage for India due to all their games being played in one venue. Former cricketer Brad Hogg supported India but also pointed out the contradictory statements made by Mohammed Shami about the conditions in Dubai. India head coach Gautam Gambhir dismissed all claims of an advantage and called out the "perpetual cribbers". However, Hogg believes that New Zealand is the only team that can defeat India at this venue.
Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami's choice to consume an energy drink during a high-pressure match has sparked controversy among religious leaders, who have criticized him for not fasting during the ongoing month of Ramzan. While some have called his actions a violation of Islamic principles, others have come to his defense, citing exemptions for athletes and travellers. Shami's family members have also supported him, stating that as a professional athlete, he has the right to make this choice.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Rohit Pawar defends star pacer Mohammed Shami's decision to drink water during a Champions Trophy match in Ramadan, stating that performance should take precedence over fasting. The MLA emphasised that religion and sports should not be mixed and that Shami's achievements are a point of pride for the Muslim community.
The national head of All India Muslim Jamaat condemns Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami for not observing Roza during the ongoing Champions Trophy, sparking outrage from religious scholars. UP BJP leader and spokesperson condemns the cleric's statement, stating that faith is a personal affair and one's religious practices cannot be dictated. In the semi-final game against Australia, Shami proves his form by taking 3 vital wickets.
Indian speedster Mohammed Shami is facing backlash on social media for sipping on an energy drink during the Champions Trophy semifinal match while Muslims are fasting for the holy month of Ramzan. However, Shami also received praise for prioritizing his country's victory over religious practices. He also opened up about the pressure of leading the Indian pace attack after a long injury layoff.
Australian cricketer Travis Head's aggressive innings was cut short by Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy, sparking controversy over a dropped catch. Despite this, Head's teammate Steve Smith put on a stellar performance with a score of 73 runs, followed by a 61-run knock from Alex Carey. India's Mohammed Shami and Varun Chakravarthy both took three wickets each in a high-stakes semi-final match at the Champions Trophy in Dubai.
In a tense semi-final match of the Champions Trophy, Australian captain Steve Smith led his team with exceptional strike rotation and astute shot selections. However, his journey to this crucial score was paved with lucky breaks, as two key chances went begging for India to dismiss him. Even a sharp return catch by Mohammed Shami failed to stop Smith, solidifying the idea that destiny was on his side in this high-pressure game against India.