West Indies has just began a new chapter with Shai Hope, their new T20 captain. And Kraigg Brathwaite has officially stepped down from the Test captaincy role. Cricket West Indies yet to announce the name of their new Test format skipper. Windies cricket had find some exciting moment during the Kraigg Brathwaite, including a heroic Test series victory over Australia in Brisbane almost after 27 years. 

Read More: Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings (LSG vs PBKS): Match 13, IPL 2025, Match Preview

Cricket West Indies informed in a release, "Brathwaite first indicated his intention to do so to CWI leadership earlier this year ahead of the completion of the West Indies’ successful tour of Pakistan. Understanding the importance of continuity, Brathwaite wanted to ensure the team had a period of transition before his departure."

Furthermore they added, "As a result, he has submitted his resignation ahead of the home series against Australia, giving the new leadership time to establish itself. This series will be particularly special, allowing Brathwaite, who is two matches shy of 100 Test matches, to double down on his batting without added responsibility."

Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe

Says a test captain will be named in the coming weeks while the appointment of Shai Hope as the T20 is an alignment with his success while guiding the 50 over team.

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 31, 2025

Miles Bascombe said, "Kraigg Brathwaite has been an outstanding leader for our Test team, guiding the squad with discipline, resilience, and a deep understanding of the game. His contributions have been invaluable, and under his leadership, we have witnessed historic moments that will be remembered for years to come." 

Brathwaite's test captaincy tenure will be written on the Windies cricket history for numerous occasions. Under his leadership WI defeat England at home in 2022 also. 

Meanwhile, Hope will now lead the in the T20I cricket, he replaced Rovman Powell. 

"Shai Hope’s appointment signals a progressive shift for West Indies cricket, given his success with the 50 over team in the last 18 month", said head coach Daren Sammy. 

The fourth match of the IPL 2025, Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants experienced a stunning encounter where Delhi Capitals surprised everyone with a successful 200+ chase in a last-over thriller. 

Visakhapatnam hosted the unforgettable IPL match, where Delhi Capitals chose to field first. With the help of Mitchell Marsh’s 72 off 36 balls (six fours and six sixes) and Nicholas Pooran’s 75 off 30 balls (six fours and seven sixes), LSG scored 209/8 in 20 overs. 

In reply, Delhi Capitals were once struggling at 65/5 but the middle-order batters never gave up hope. Tristan Stubbs scored 34 off 22 balls (one four and three sixes), while Vipraj Nigam scored 39 off 15 balls (five fours and two sixes) and Ashutosh Sharma fought till the end to bravely finish the game for the Capitals as they chased down the target in 19.3 overs with a sixer from the hero Sharma with only one wicket in hand. 

With the help of five fours and five sixes, Ashutosh Sharma scored 66 not out off 31 balls to secure the stunning win. Here are some key stats of the match.  

See Also: Twitter reactions after DC win of IPL 2025

Ravi Bishnoi played his 44th match for Lucknow Super Giants. 

• With this match, Bishnoi surpassed Krunal Pandya's 43-match record for Lucknow Super Giants and set a new record for the most matches for LSG. Also, it was Ayush Badoni's 43rd match for LSG. 

Mitchell Marsh completed his half-century in just 21 balls.

• It was his fastest IPL fifty and his joint-fastest fifty in T20 cricket.  

With his seven sixes, Nicholas Pooran recorded 606 T20 sixes.

• Pooran became the fourth batter in T20 cricket history to hit 600+ sixes. The other names in this list are Chris Gayle (1056 sixes), Kieron Pollard (908 sixes), and Andre Russell (733 sixes).
  

Lucknow Super Giants completed their 100 runs in 8.1 overs.

• It was LSG's second-fastest 100-run completion. Their record is completing the first 100 runs in 7.4 overs against Punjab Kings in the IPL 2023. 
  

Delhi Capitals won the match by 1 wicket.

• It was the fifth time in IPL history that a team won by one wicket. The one-wicket IPL victory records are as follows:

  • Kolkata Knight Riders won against Kings XI Punjab in 2015
  • Chennai Super Kings won against Mumbai Indians in 2018
  • Sunrisers Hyderabad won against Mumbai Indians in 2018
  • Lucknow Super Giants won against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2023
  • Delhi Capitals won against Lucknow Super Giants in 2025

Despite scoring 209/8 in 20 overs, Lucknow Super Giants failed to defend.

• It was the first time when a team successfully chased a 200+ total against Lucknow Super Giants. The previous highest successful chase against Lucknow Super Giants was the 197-run target by Rajasthan Royals in 2024. 

Delhi Capitals successfully chased down the 210-run target in 19.3 overs.

• Delhi Capitals recorded their highest-ever successful chase. Their previous record was successfully chasing the 209-run target against Gujarat Lions in 2017. 

The second T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played on March 23, 2025, at  Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. Having dominated the 4TH T20I, New Zealand will seek to increase their lead, whereas Pakistan will hope to recover and tie the series

Match Details: NZ vs PAK 4th T20I

• Match Date: March 23, 2025
• Venue:  Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
• Match Time: 11:45 AM IST (Indian Standard Time)

Live Streaming & Broadcast Details

Cricket fans can watch the match live through various broadcasting platforms:

For Viewers in India

• TV Broadcast: Sony Sports Network
• Live Streaming: Sony LIV app and website, FanCode app and website

For Viewers in Pakistan

• TV Broadcast: PTV Sports
• Live Streaming: ARY ZAP and Tamasha app

For Viewers in New Zealand

• TV Broadcast: Sky Sport NZ
• Live Streaming: Sky Go and Spark Sport

ALSO READ:NZ vs PAK Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win? | 4th T20I, Preview & Analysis

NZ vs PAK Predicted Playing XI

PAK Playing XI

Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Mohammad Haris, Usman Khan, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem

NZ Playing XI

Finn Allen, Tim Robinson, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Hay/ Tim Seifert, Jimmy Neesham, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Will O Rourkee, Ben Sears

Cricket is a records game and there are some player who have pulled of such amazing feats in their careers that they have got name in guinness records. These records are recognized around the globe and they prove that these cricketers never let you down. Thus are some of these players who made that place by doing something truly amazing 

1) Muttiah Muralitharan -most Test Wicket
The all-time great off-spinner of Sri Lanka Muttiah Muralitharan, holds the record most number of test wickets in the Guinness World Records. He has 800 under his belt in what he has played, a record today. The biggest partcipator in turning the ball sharply, hence one of the toughest bowlers to face then and there.

•  most wickets in Test cricket:800 wickets ,Year ended: December 2010

2 AB de Villiers :First to 50, 100 and 150 in ODI
South Africa are a very aggresive, `creatively minded' team with batsman AB de Villiers leading the charge. He also holds multiple Guinness World Records for the fastest half-century, century and 150 in ODIs (One Day International)

• Quickest 50: 16 balls
• In quickest 100= 31 balls
• Quickest 150: 64
• In: February 2015 vs. West Indies
  He was fondly called "Mr. 360” because of his extreme acumen in the bat, that he could hit a ball in all possible directions.

3 Fastest t20 century & max sixes in an Innings by Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle (West Indies): another one of the dangerous T20 batters.. Gayle is a T20 batted-based powerhouse with the Guinness World Record for the fastest century in this format notching an IPL 2013 match for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in just 30 balls & not-outs to hit another Championship jumbo.

In the same game he went on to hit 17 sixes, which is another record for most sixes in a T20 Innings.

• Fastest T20 century: 30 balls (IPL 2013)
• Most sixes in one innings: 17 Sixes

4. Sachin Tendulkar: Highest International Run scorer
God of cricket Sachin Tendulkar holds the record of scoring the most runs in international cricket matches, according to Guinness Book of Records.

• Most International runs: 34,357 runs
• 100 international century
• Between: 1989: 2013
  Sachin T’s records are a good example of why consistency is the greatest skill in cricket.

ALSO READ:IPL Stars Who Failed in International Cricket:Players Who Couldn't Replicate Their Success

5 MS Dhoni: Most expensive cricket bat ever sold
M.S. Dhoni: The most famous batsman for Indian cricket, cool-tempered (until he takes over from Steve Waugh), powerful finisher. The bat used by Gayle during the winning six during the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final fetched ₹83 lakh ($161,295) when it was sold in an auction, the expenditure being the most ear-marked expenditure on any cricket bat worldwide TO DATE.

• Record: Most expensive bat ever sold at an auction
• Sold for: ₹83 lakh ($161,295)
• Auctioned in: 2011

The Most Costly Cricket Bats Ever Sold

Cricket is among the world's most popular games. Many cricket bats over the years have become expensive as they were played in historic matches. Some of these bats have been auctioned at very high prices.Here are some of the most expensive cricket bats to be sold.

1. Sir Donald Bradman's 1934 Ashes Bat : Rs 1.9 Crore
Sir Donald Bradman, one of the greatest cricketers, used this bat during the 1934 Ashes series. With this bat, he scored two triple centuries and a record 451-run partnership with Bill Ponsford. The bat was sold at an auction in 2021 for about Rs 1.9 crore (around $250,000).

2. MS Dhoni’s 2011 World Cup Final Bat : Rs 1.5 Crore
MS Dhoni, captain of the Indian cricket team, played this bat in order to hit the winning six during the final of the 2011 World Cup against Sri Lanka. The incident is etched in Indian cricket history forever. The bat was auctioned for Rs 1.5 crore ($200,000) later, ranking among the world's most pricey cricket bats.

3. Gary Sobers' 1968 Six-Sixes Bat :Rs 36.89 Lakh
Sir Garfield Sobers became the first-ever cricketer to score six sixes off an over in a first-class match in 1968. The bat that he used for this record is sold at an auction in 2000 for approximately Rs 36.89 lakh ($45,000).

ALSO READ:Dale Steyn Criticize Today's Bowlers For Their Inconsistency

4. Brian Lara's 1994 Record-Breaking Bat : Rs 80 Lakh
Brian Lara set a world record by scoring 375 runs in a Test match against England in 1994. The bat he used for this innings was sold for Rs 80 lakh ($100,000).

5. Virat Kohli’s 2018 Test Century Bat : Rs 75 Lakh
Virat Kohli used this bat to score 1322 runs in the 2018 Test series against England. The bat was auctioned for about Rs 75 lakh ($95,000).

Legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting set a great example to dominate the cricket world in the early 21st century. Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma has produced similar success stories in the recent ICC tournaments. Here, we are going through the key stats differences between the captain Ricky Ponting and Rohit Sharma. 

Australia under Ricky Ponting's leadership

Under the leadership of Australian captain Ricky Ponting, Aussies won four ICC trophies. While they won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 and ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, both as the unbeaten sides, they won the ICC Champions Trophy 2006 and ICC Champions Trophy 2009. The cricket fans can't forget skipper Ricky Ponting's one of the greatest batting performances during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 Final against India, where he won the Player of the Match award for his powerful batting performance of 140 not out.

See Also: Kohli Talks About India's Success in the 2025 Champions Trophy

Rohit Sharma-led India

Meanwhile, after finishing as the runners-up in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 by losing the Final against Australia, which was the only defeat for Rohit Sharma-led India in that entire tournament, they won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 and ICC Champions Trophy 2025, both as the unbeaten sides. Rohit Sharma-led India have recorded 23 wins in their last 24 fixtures in the ICC tournaments, which is just incredible for any team. 

Just like the legendary Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting, the Indian captain Rohit Sharma has played an integral role with the bat for his team. While captain Ponting was always a key name for Australia in the ICC tournaments, skipper Rohit has proved it in recent ICC tournaments. While Indian captain Rohit batted powerfully consistently in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 and ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, he won the Player of the Match award in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final against New Zealand. 

Ricky Ponting vs Rohit Sharma in ICC events as captain 

As a batter

The ICC Champions Trophy is cricket's most elite tournament. Popularly referred to as the "Mini World Cup," it sees the best ODI teams in a limited and intense format.

This tournament, over the years, has seen legendary performances, legendary rivalries, and match-winning moments. As Champions Trophy 2025 draws near, let's take a look at its past, champions, and what awaits us in the next edition.

History of the ICC Champions Trophy

The ICC ChampionsTrophy was initially launched in 1998 as the ICC KnockOut Tournament. It was conceptualized as a shorter version of the World Cup, with just the top teams.

The competition was rechristened the Champions Trophy in 2002 and has since continued to be one of the most thrilling tournaments of ODI cricket.

In contrast to the World Cup, which features several teams and a lengthy format, the Champions Trophy is an elite tournament. Only the best-ranked teams make it in, so each game is high-pressure.

Some of the most successful teams in ICC Champions Trophy history are:

• Australia – Two-time champions (2006, 2009)
• India – Two-time champions (2002*, 2013)
• Pakistan – 2017 champions
• South Africa – First-ever champions in 1998

The tournament has seen some of the most exciting matches and finest individual performances in the history of cricket.

Also see : Shreyas Iyer vs Babar Azam in ICC Events

List of ICC Champions Trophy Winners

Following is a complete list of Champions Trophy winners and runners-up:

Top 5 Memorable Moments

1. 2002 Final – Joint Winners

The 2002 final between Sri Lanka and India was rain-affected to a great extent. Despite a reserve day, the match could not be finished.

For the first time in the history of ICC, India and Sri Lanka were declared joint winners. This is a one-time occurrence in cricket.

2. West Indies' Revival of 2004

West Indies played England in the 2004 final and were in trouble at 147/8, in pursuit of 218.

An incredible partnership between Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw took them to victory. This is one of the greatest comebacks in the history of Champions Trophy.

3. Australia's Back-to-Back Titles (2006 & 2009)

Australia became the first team to win back-to-back Champions Trophy titles.

• In 2006, they thrashed West Indies.
• In 2009, they beat New Zealand comprehensively.

Key players such as Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson, and Brett Lee were instrumental in Australia's success.

4. India's Thrilling Victory in 2013

India played England in a rain-hit 2013 final. The match was cut short to 20 overs a side.

India defended a low total of 129 runs on the back of excellent bowling by Ravindra Jadeja. They won by 5 runs, and MS Dhoni became the first captain to win all three ICC titles.

5. Pakistan's Historic Victory in 2017

Pakistan stunned the world with an incredible win against India in the 2017 final.

• Fakhar Zaman played a marvelous 114 runs.
• Mohammad Amir's killer spell got India's top order batsmen out early.

Pakistan won by 180 runs, winning their first-ever ICC Champions Trophy title.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Teams & Expectations

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be organized by Pakistan and the UAE.

Semifinalists:

• India
• New Zealand
• Australia
• South Africa

The ICC Champions Trophy has given cricket fans legendary matches, unforgettable moments, and intense rivalries.

Also see :Shreyas Iyer vs Babar Azam in ICC Events

Playing in ICC tournaments is a real test of the mettle of a cricketer under pressure. Two contemporary stars, India's Shreyas Iyer and Pakistan's Babar Azam, have proved their worth on the international stage.

Whereas Babar is famous for his consistency and captaincy, Iyer has impressed with his big-match performances.

Shreyas Iyer in ICC Events

Shreyas Iyer first appeared in the ICC tournament in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Although he wasn't experienced enough, he was a vital player in India's run.

Shreyas Iyer's ICC Tournament Stats (2023 ODI World Cup):

• Matches Played: 11
• Total Runs: 530
• Batting Average: 66.25
• Strike Rate: 97.27
• Centuries/Fifties: 2/3
• Best Score: 128*

Key Performances:

• 128 vs Netherlands:* A stupendous knock during the group stage.
• 105 vs New Zealand (Semi-Final): A match-winning century in a tight knockout encounter.
•  82 vs Sri Lanka: A thrilling innings that enabled India to register a huge score.

Iyer's capability to push the innings and deliver under pressure makes him an asset middle-order batsman.

Also See : Karun Nair's Ranji Trophy Heroics: 86 & 135 – A Strong Case for India Test Recall!

Babar Azam in ICC Events

Babar Azam has been the mainstay of Pakistan's batting unit in ICC events, playing in the T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, and Champions Trophy since 2017.

Babar Azam's ICC Tournament Stats (ODI & T20 World Cups):

• Matches Played: 43
• Total Runs: 1,604
• Batting Average: 42.2
• Strike Rate: 81.13 (ODIs), 112.15 (T20s)
• Centuries/Fifties: 1/15
• Best Score: 101*

Key Performances:

• Scored a spectacular 101 against New Zealand during the 2019 ODI World Cup*.
• Led Pakistan to the final of the T20 World Cup 2022 as captain.

Has faced criticism for a poor strike rate in pressure situations.

Despite his consistent run-scoring, Babar has been criticized for being conservative in do-or-die matches, especially in ICC knockout matches.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Shreyas Iyer vs Babar Azam in ICC Competitions

Performance Analysis:

• Iyer is superior on average and strike rate even though he has played fewer games.
• Babar has more runs and experience, but his performance in knockout matches is inferior.
• Iyer has played high-pressure games, while Babar has played well but not that aggressively in crucial moments.

If we consider total experience and total runs, then the advantage lies with Babar Azam

If we compare strike rate, match-winning potential, and pressure match performances, then Shreyas Iyer has been superior.

Also See : Karun Nair's Ranji Trophy Heroics: 86 & 135 – A Strong Case for India Test Recall!

Harsh Dubey is a name that has been making headlines in Indian domestic cricket. A left-arm spinner and all-rounder from Vidarbha, he made news with his record-breaking Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season, when he created a new record for the most wickets in a season. His regular performances have got cricket enthusiasts and experts sitting up and taking notice, and several feel that he may be playing at the top level very soon.

Who is Harsh Dubey?

Harsh Dubey was born on July 23, 2002, in Pune, Maharashtra. He fell in love with cricket at a young age. His hard work and talent made him play for Vidarbha Cricket Team in domestic cricket, where he has impressed with his bowling as well as batting.

Harsh Dubey's Cricket Career

First-Class (Ranji Trophy) Performance:

• Matches: 18
• Wickets Taken: 97
• Best Bowling Figures: 6/36
• Bowling Average: 19.98
• Runs Scored: 709
• Highest Score: 76

List A and T20 Cricket:

• List A Matches: 20
• Wickets Taken: 21
• Runs Scored: 213
• T20 Matches: 16
• T20 Wickets: 9

Shattering Records in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy

The 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season was a turning point for Dubey. He took 69 wickets, setting a new record for most wickets in a season, eclipsing Ashutosh Aman's previous record of 68 wickets. His unforgettable bowling performances played a crucial role in Vidarbha winning the title, proving that he is a match-winner.

Also see : Ranji Trophy 2025 Final: Kerala vs Vidarbha: A Thrilling Contest in Nagpur

Training with Ravichandran Ashwin

Harsh Dubey honed his bowling skills under the guidance of Ravichandran Ashwin while playing club cricket in Chennai. His coaching under Ashwin helped him to perfect variations and match sense, and thus he turned into a more feared bowler.

Harsh Dubey's Future in Cricket

With his ability and regular performances, Harsh Dubey is regarded as a future India player. He is also a good bet for the Indian Premier League (IPL), where teams are constantly looking for quality spin bowlers.

Harsh Dubey's path from a young hopeful cricketer to a record-shattering Ranji Trophy player is motivational. His skill to take wickets when the pressure is on and also score runs with the bat makes him a must-have player for any team. Be it IPL or the Indian national team, Dubey's future seems promising, and Indian cricket enthusiasts must watch out for this new talent.

Also Read : 

Ranji Trophy 2025 Final: Kerala vs Vidarbha: A Thrilling Contest in Nagpur

Karun Nair, the gifted Indian batsman, is back in the news again for his unbelievable consistency in domestic cricket. Having become only the second Indian to score a Test triple century, Nair's international career took an unexpected turn, but his recent performances indicate that he is now set for a national comeback. With multiple centuries and match-winning knocks, Nair is proving that he still has a lot to offer Indian cricket.

A Match-Winning Performance

Karun Nair stepped up when the chips were down. 

He hit 86 in the first innings and then an excellent 135 in the second.

His timely knocks enabled Vidarbha to gain the upper hand over Kerala in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 final.

Karun Nair's Recent Domestic Cricket Performance

Nair's last 17 innings in domestic cricket have been nothing but breathtaking:                                                                                            122(108), 44(52), 163*(107), 111*(103), 112(101), 122*(82), 88*(44), 27(31), 39(80), 4(7), 3(13), 105(193), 122(243), 45(70), 6(17), 86(188), 135(295)**

• 860 runs in Ranji Trophy 2024-25 with a dazzling average of 57.33.
• 779 runs in Vijay Hazare Trophy with an astounding average of 389.50 with five centuries.

Such a consistency across formats makes him a prime candidate for an India comeback.

The 'Nine' Celebration – A Message to Selectors?

After crossing his century, Nair gestured a 'nine' with his hands. Several people felt this was a message to BCCI selectors, as he has been overlooked for international selection since 2017. However, Nair soon explained that it was a premeditated gesture for the Vidarbha support staff, as he was celebrating his ninth century of the season.

Should Karun Nair be recalled to an India Test?

Even after scoring a record triple century (303*) in 2016, Nair has been ignored for the Indian team since 2017. But with India's middle-order struggling in the current England series, his present form makes him a prime choice for selection.

Karun Nair's run-scoring exploits in the Ranji Trophy final and in the domestic season have once again raised questions regarding his inclusion in the Indian Test team. Given his experience, reliability, and desire for runs, he could very well prove to be India's solution for the middle order.