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.
Young superstar Kylian Mbappe leads Real Madrid to victory in the Intercontinental Cup 2024 final against CF Pachuca, scoring a goal and assisting in another to secure a 3-0 win for his team. Mbappe was able to put behind his previous World Cup 2022 final loss as he helped Real Madrid claim the championship title in Qatar.
Travis Head dominates with his second century in the series against Indian cricket team. Team India's domination came crushing down on their day two of the third BGT Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane when Travis Head scored another hundred, his second in the series and ninth overall in Tests. This has been the second consecutive time in a row that the Australian left-hander has targeted the Indian team in a decisive manner since his pivotal role in both the 2025 WTC Final and the dramatic 2023 ODI World Cup Final. With these two innings, Head has been the source behiond Australia's two biggest wins against India in recent times and the end is still not in sight.
Anandita Kishor, a promising all-rounder from Dhanbad, has been selected to play for India in the upcoming U-19 Women Asia Cup tournament. The young player has already made a mark in the cricketing world with impressive stats in both batting and bowling. With the tournament starting on December 15 and the final match scheduled for December 22, all eyes will be on Anandita to see how she performs on the international stage. This selection is a significant milestone in her budding cricket career and has put her in the spotlight of the national team selectors.
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe recently opened up about his relationship with fellow football superstar Lionel Messi. The duo, who previously played together at Paris Saint-Germain, faced off against each other in the Qatar World Cup final in 2022. While Mbappe left PSG to join Real Madrid, Messi signed for Inter Miami. Despite their past rivalry, Mbappe and Messi have become closer since the final, as revealed in a new interview with CANAL+ journalist Moloud Achour. On the field, Mbappe has struggled to find his form with Real Madrid, while Messi has had a successful stint with Inter Miami, leading them to a record-breaking season.
Pakistan's blind cricket team has achieved a monumental victory by winning their first-ever Blind T20 World Cup. Defeating Bangladesh in the final, Pakistan's bowlers put in a dominant performance, restricting their opponents to 139/7. In response, Pakistan's batsmen Nisar Ali and Mohammad Safdar chased down the target with ease, securing a 10-wicket victory for the team. The win marks a significant milestone for Pakistan in the tournament, breaking India's dominance since its inception in 2012. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi praised the team for their exceptional performance and expressed hope for their future success.
Former Australian cricketer Joe Burns has been appointed as the new captain of Italy's T20I team. Burns, who becomes eligible to play for his mother's home country in May this year, has been given the responsibility to lead the team in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup Europe Regional Final. The team aims to secure a spot in the 2026 tournament in India and Sri Lanka, and with Burns' impressive record of 211 runs in 5 T20I matches for Italy, they have a strong chance to do so.
Captain Temba Bavuma has declared that the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan will serve as "like cup finals" as South Africa aims to secure a place in the World Test Championship showpiece. A series sweep against both opponents could potentially put them in contention for the final at Lord's in June. With Bavuma's return from injury and the inclusion of young seamers Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen, the Proteas are confident in their all-out attack and plan to stick to the tactics that have brought them success. However, Sri Lanka, also vying for a spot in the final, will provide tough competition and have shown their proficiency against fast bowling.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) team stunned their competition in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier B event, held at West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha. The UAE team, represented by CMD, put on an impressive show with a total of 132 runs in 20 overs, leaving their opponents with a required run rate of 6.44. The match ended with a partnership of only 2 runs in 3 overs and a final wicket claimed by Lalan Gupta, securing UAE's victory with an unbeatable performance.
In the final ODI between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, both teams were looking for a strong finish to a rain-interrupted series. However, the New Zealand top-order finally clicked in the absence of their star players, with Will Young and Henry Nicholls leading the attack. Despite their efforts, the rain prevented any further play and Sri Lanka ultimately secured a 2-0 series victory. This win is promising for Sri Lanka's future in ODI cricket as they continue to build a strong team for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Meanwhile, New Zealand will now focus on the Test series against England.