The BCCI has released its list of annual player contracts, with the headline being the inclusion of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan in Grade B and C respectively. While Suryakumar Yadav remains in Grade B despite being named T20I captain, there were no major promotions or demotions in the other categories. Interestingly, there are 19 players in Grade C this year, with five new additions including Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy.
Shreyas Iyer returns to the BCCI's central contract list after a year of absence due to a fallout with the selection committee. Along with him, newcomers Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Abhishek Sharma make their debut on the list. These changes come after Team India's successful run at the 2025 Champions Trophy, where Iyer emerged as the top scorer. Other notable names include Ishan Kishan who gets a Grade C contract, and MS Dhoni hinting at bringing in younger players in the next IPL season.
Brace yourselves as Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru face off in the opening game of IPL 2025 at the iconic Eden Gardens. Both teams have undergone major changes through the mega auction and will be looking to start off the season with a win. RCB will rely on their star player Virat Kohli, who is set to play his 400th T20 match. KKR, on the other hand, will look to their spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine to lead the way. Don't miss the action live on Star Sports and Jio Hotstar.
Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has predicted that Indian batsman KL Rahul will win the Orange Cap and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the IPL 2025. Sehwag believes that Rahul, who was signed by Delhi Capitals for a whopping Rs 14 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, has the potential to be the top run scorer. He also backed spinner Varun Chakaravarthy to be the top wicket-taker, and predicted that Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Lucknow Super Giants will qualify for the playoffs, with LSG eventually winning the IPL title.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma's selection of spinners, including Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy, proved to be the decisive factor in their win against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final. Despite facing a setback with an injury to Patel, Rohit's strategic use of spin bowlers and their stellar performance limited New Zealand to a manageable total, ultimately leading to India's victory.
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.
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.
India's captain, Rohit Sharma, silenced his critics with a magnificent 119 off 90 balls and led India to a series-clinching win against England in Cuttack. Former player and selector Jatin Paranjape praised Rohit's determination and elegant play, while also applauding the impressive performance of debutant wrist-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy. With the deadline for the Champions Trophy selection fast approaching, Paranjape predicted that Chakaravarthy's precision and pressure-inducing bowling style will surely earn him a spot in India's final squad.
All eyes are on Ravindra Jadeja as he takes the wicket of Ben Duckett for 65 in the second ODI between India and England. With Joe Root and Harry Brook at the crease, England is determined to build a solid partnership, while India's bowlers are pushing for quick wickets. The match was off to an exciting start as England's captain Jos Buttler won the toss and chose to bat, while India welcomed back star batter Virat Kohli and newcomer Varun Chakaravarthy to their lineup.