New Zealand is working on a spin to beat India. They believe India might take advantage of their plan when they meet in the ICC Champions Trophy final in Dubai on Sunday. A net bowler has even shared some details about their plans. India started using four spinners from their third group-stage match, which was against New Zealand. In that game, New Zealand struggled against spin, scoring only 205 while chasing India’s 249, and eventually, they were short under pressure.

They are ready for the challenge, New Zealand's batters are putting in extra work to improve against spin, as net bowler Shashwat Tiwari told ANI. He shared that the New Zealand players are aware of how dangerous India’s spinners can be, especially since they played a big role in India's wins over New Zealand in the group stage and Australia in the semi-finals. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy was particularly impressive in both matches, taking seven wickets in those two games, including a five-wicket haul (5 for 42) against New Zealand in the Group-stage match.  

"They are practicing against left-arm spinners,", "I wouldn’t say they are struggling, but India has world-class spinners, and it won’t be easy for them to handle," Tiwari told ANI.

ALSO READ: Williamson Can Be The Biggest Threat For India In Champions Trophy Final

India has a strong spin attack with experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, along with Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav as their left-arm spinners. Varun Chakravarthy and Washington Sundar add more depth to the spin department.  

Net bowler Shashwat Tiwari said that, "I was lucky to get a chance to bowl in the nets today. At one point, one of their batters (name not mentioned) asked me to bowl from 18 yards instead of the usual 22 to prepare for Ravindra Jadeja’s pace. He expected the ball to come that fast. We bowled from that distance, and it went well. But when he found the ball was coming too quickly, he asked me to switch back to 22 yards."  

India won all Group A matches and they topped the table, winning all three matches, and then defeated Australia by four wickets in the semifinal. Meanwhile, New Zealand reached the final aftera win over South Africa.

Former Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie has dismissed Sunil Gavaskar’s words that an Indian B team could compete with and possibly defeat the current Pakistan team. Gavaskar made this remark after India’s win over Pakistan in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group A match, raising concerns that the rivalry is becoming one-sided every time when they play against each other.

Gavaskar said, "I believe an India B team could definitely challenge Pakistan. I’m not too sure about a C team, but a B team would be very tough for Pakistan to beat in their current form."

Gillespie completely shot down the idea, calling it "absolute nonsense". He said Pakistan has enough talent to compete with any team if they get the right support. "I don't buy that talk," he added. "I saw Sunil Gavaskar's comments about an Indian B or C team beating Pakistan's top team, and that's just absurd."

He explained that Pakistan's main problem isn't a lack of talent but constant team changes and a lack of patience from the PCB management. "Pakistan needs to pick the right players and give them time to grow and improve. They have the skill to beat any team, no doubt about it. They just need to support their players and be patient," Jason Gillespie said.

ALSO READ: BCCI Likely to Make a Decision on Rohit Sharma's Captaincy and Central Contract After Champions Trophy Final

Jason Gillespie "I saw some comments from Sunil Gavaskar about the Indian B or C team would beat the Pakistan top team, that's nonsense" #CT25 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/qJQn6910st

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) March 7, 2025

Pakistan’s tournament ended on a disappointing note as they finished last in Group A after losing to India and New Zealand. Their team selection has been heavily criticized, especially for choosing just one frontline spinner and not having strong openers in the Pakistan team. Gillespie, who resigned as Pakistan’s coach before their Test series against South Africa, blamed the management, particularly head coach Aaqib Javed and the selection committee, for the team’s poor performance.

"If the PCB wants better results, they need to put the right people in charge, pick the right players, and have a strong selection panel. They need to support them, be patient, and let them do their jobs". He also criticized the constant changes in coaching, saying it creates instability. "The same applies to coaches. If you hire someone, give them enough time to build something meaningful. Otherwise, the results will stay the same" Gillespie added.

This is a surprising move from India to make a important key change to its squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. Varun Chakaravarthy has been taken in to team in replace of young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal in the final team selection.

Chakaravarthy Performance in recent matches :
Chakaravarthy had a fantastic series against England in T20I, where he took 14 wickets and Player of the Series . The selectors were impressed with his ability to spin and trap batsmen with his variations , which made him a player in the tournament.

INDIAN CHAMPIONS TROPHY CHANGES:

- Harshit replaces Bumrah.

- Varun replaces Jaiswal. pic.twitter.com/8ncL9Cax8B

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 11, 2025

ALSO SEE : ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Jasprit Bumrah ruled out; BCCI announces replacement

Replacement for Jaiswal nedded or NOT :
However, it does come, as a surprise to many, considering his past performances in the recent tournaments. It seems, though, that the selectors have gone for spin-heavy bowling attacks, given the conditions in which it is expected to be played in the Champions Trophy. To top it, Jaiswal's form in some recent ODIs was inconsistent, and he has struggled with spinners in subcontinental conditions.

NON-TRAVELLING RESERVES OF TEAM INDIA FOR CT:

- Jaiswal, Siraj & Dube.

They will travel to Dubai when the team requires them. pic.twitter.com/no7zWK4NJq

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 11, 2025

INDIAN SQUAD FOR CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025: 

Rohit (C), Gill (VC), Kohli, Iyer, Rahul (WK), Pant (WK), Pandya, Axar, Sundar, Kuldeep, Harshit, Shami, Arshdeep, Jadeja, Varun.

Some Big Changes and Expection from India :
Another huge change is that spearhead pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out because of a back injury. Harshit Rana has been called up in his place. This is a bummer for India, considering Bumrah has been a vital cog in the bowling lineup.With all these, India aims to strike the right balance between spin and pace. Fans are waiting to see how this affects India's performance in the eagerly awaited championship.

Missing the key players has created a major void in Mumbai’s lineup for their crucial final match of the league stage. 

Read More : https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/pictures-of-mohammad-siraj-and-zanai-bhosle-creates-viral-sensation/

Unavailability Of Key Players

Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai and Indian team captain, has been a stalwart in both formats of the game. His leadership and experience would have been crucial for Mumbai, especially in a match that could determine their qualification for the knockout stages. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young batting sensation who has great red ball season in Australia, scoring the best of his scores, is going to be missed badly. Having impressed in domestic cricket, Jaiswal’s aggressive opening style and consistency would have been a vital asset for Mumbai in the upcoming game. His absence means the team will miss out on his potential to give the side a strong start. But his recent form depiction of Jammu creates a question mark. 

Read More : https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/rohit-sharma-gets-an-heartfelt-message-from-a-15-year-old-fan/

Shreyas Iyer, who has been a regular member of India’s middle order, is also unavailable for Mumbai. A dependable player who can be a valuable asset for the team in these tuff situation. His absence weakens Mumbai’s middle order significantly, leaving a gap that will be hard to fill.

Shivam Dube has been called for the Indian squad in the absence of Rinku Singh has given another setback to the Mumbai squad; Dube’s all-round capabilities would have added value to the Mumbai team. His ability to provide crucial breakthroughs with the ball and accelerate with the bat would have made him an important player for the team’s balance.

Major Backdrop For Mumbai

Due to the lack of main players Mumbai’s head coach and team management will be looking for suitable replacements to step up and deliver strong performances. The team’s batting order will likely undergo some reshuffling, and young players might be given opportunities to showcase their skills.Mumbai already has lost the match against Jammu and Kashmir despite the heroics of Shardul and Tanush. Shardul scored his second century in the Ranji Trophy with the assist of Tanush half century. Mumbai’s match against Meghalaya holds substantial importance, as they need a solid performance to ensure their qualification for the knockout rounds. The absence of some of their key players adds an element of uncertainty, but the squad still has enough talent to rise to the occasion. Players like Prithvi Shaw, Captain Ajinkya Rahane, and others will have to shoulder additional responsibility and guide the team through this crucial encounter.

Heavy cricket schedules in modern cricket players have to prioritise national commitments still Mumbai possesses enough firepower that they can give a stellar performance against Meghalaya. 

Ruturaj has lifted himself with a bang after a certain failure. The past few months have been hard for the Maharashtra opener, neglected by Indian team for Bgt, neglected from ongoing England series and from Champions Trophy too. Still Ruturaj is maintaining his good form in domestic seasons. Sometimes we have too feel for him despite scoring tons of runs in domestic and other leagues still been side-lined from Indian team completely. 

 Read More : https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/khaleel-ahmad-fifer-stops-the-karun-nair-show-on-their-ongoing-ranji-match/

A Fantastic Half Century

  At initial stage of the match Ruturaj had the really tuff time where he was dismissed in 10 runs of 23 balls. Maharashtra innings started to collapse over there but they evidently managed to put a decent score. After a failure talks started against him and doubting his place in the team.

 During the beginning of the second innings Ruturaj looked determined and was looking into his natural touch. He took on the responsibility of rebuilding and ensuring that Maharashtra didn’t lose the momentum. His knock was built around solid technique and an understanding of how to handle both pace and spin. Throughout the innings, Gaikwad displayed a calm character and steadily builded his innings.

A Long Way For Ruturaj

Ruturaj didn’t make a single mistake in that innings. He played some aggressive shots as he didn’t wanted himself to be in a shell. His knock included several boundaries that not only entertained the crowd but also took the game away from the bowlers. The most impressive aspect of Gaikwad’s innings was his shot selection despite losing early wickets he kept on going.

Read More : https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/rocky-flintoff-makes-history-as-the-youngest-player-to-score-a-maiden-century-for-england-lions/

 He scored a well-set half-century and carried forward his momentum. Unfortunately, he got out on 89 runs playing just 83 balls. His innings had the valued aggression which could be seen the number of bowls he faced. This particular match he had a decent outing but not satisfied as he is known for, As Ipl is nearing this innings would be a booster for him to perform in his upcoming ventures. Though he might me betrayed but he has sticked with his consistency. Ruturaj will be aiming for a good Ranji season for now later he would be focusing for the main picture IPL 2025.

Maharashtra top order batter Ankit Baware has been caught in the eye of the storm and is suspended for a game with immediate effect for showing dissent at an umpire's decision in their fifth-round game against Services. With the ban coming into effect, Bawne has taken no part in the ongoing Group A Ranji fixture which is taking place between Maharashtra and Baroda in Nashik.

See also: Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Shardul Thakur Saves Mumbai as Rohit, Jaiswal, Iyer, and Rahane Fail Against J&K

Baware causes an uproar and refuses to walk

While facing the left-arm spin of Amit Shukla from the Services team, Baware had fended at a wide tossed-up delivery which resulted in a genuine outside edge. Shubham Rohilla standing at first slip claimed the catch and Baware was adjudged out. However, the Maharashtra batter refuted the on-field umpire's decision and refused to walk off as he was not convinced by the decision. At that moment, there appeared to be conclusive evidence to suggest that the ball may have landed just in front of the slip fielder before settling into his hands. 

Since the game was only available on a live stream, Baware, being the stand-in captain could not opt for a DRS review as there was no provision for DRS technology to be in place. Baware was left distraught by that call and his denial to walk off resulted in the suspension of play for nearly 15 minutes. The match referee Amit Sharma and Maharashtra coach Sulakshan Kulkarni had to intervene to ease the simmering tensions and allow the game to carry on from the point where it was halted.

Maharashtra team challenges Baware's controversial out decision

After that dismissal, Maharashtra coach Kulkarni mounted a scathing attack on the umpires and highlighted their poor standards in domestic cricket. He argued that while the players face suspension and fines for showing dissent, the match officials at large evade scrutiny from the governing body.

"Players are subject to fines and reprimand, what about proper assessment of umpires? Why do the same erring umpires continue to officiate and play spoilsport? When there are blunders of this nature, the anger is justified."

These sentiments were also echoed by the Maharashtra skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad who also posted replays of his dismissal challenging the umpire's decision.

The mayhem over Baware's controversial out decision has died down after his suspension. Aside from that, Bawne has been Maharashtra's leading run-scorer this season, with 361 runs from five matches at an average of 51.57. Additionally, he has also scored one century and two fifties.

Karun Nair, a former Indian Test cricketer, has made history again. Even though his international career was short, playing only six Test matches, he is famous for his amazing knock of 334 not out against England in 2016. With this, he became the second Indian after Virender Sehwag to score a triple century in Test cricket.

Now, at 33 years old, Karun is not playing international cricket but is still showing his talent in India’s domestic cricket. On January 3, as the captain of Vidarbha, he made a new record in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He has shown amazing consistency this season and created a streak by scoring 542 runs without getting out, the most by any player in List A cricket. He broke the previous record of 527 runs by New Zealand’s James Franklin in 2010.

Read Also: Gautam Gambhir Likely to Step Down as India Head Coach Due to Poor Team Performance and Player Concerns

Karun’s streak of not getting out started on December 23. Since then, he has scored four centuries, including three back-to-back in his last three innings. In his latest match against Uttar Pradesh, he scored 112 not out and helped Vidarbha win the game.

Captain Karun Nair in the Vijay Hazare Trophy..

112**(108)
44*(52)
163*(107)
111*(103)
112*(101)#KarunNair#INDvsAUS#INDvsAUSTest#AUSvINDIA #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/k0n8SZ7yJO

— 𝗔𝗻𝗸𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝘆. (@ankit_2200) January 3, 2025

On Friday, Vidarbha finished at 313/2, with Yash Rathod scoring an unbeaten 138 off 140 balls. Nair and Rathod shared a huge 228-run partnership for the second wicket.

Read Also: Virat Kohli Aspires to Be Interim Test Captain for Transition Phase and Desires to Play Till 2027

This win moved Vidarbha to the top of Group D with 20 points from five matches, ahead of second-placed Tamil Nadu (14 points) and Uttar Pradesh (14 points), who are tied for third.

Former legendary Indian batsman and World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni has landed in a soup after he was found to have been involved in a land-related dispute in his hometown in Ranchi. The plot of land in question is Dhoni’s Harmu Road residence gifted to him by the Jharkhand government during Arjun Munda's tenure as Chief Minister.

It's been believed that Dhoni has violated the norms set by the residential plot regulations by transforming his residential plot for commercial purposes. To probe the allegations against his property, the Jharkhand State Housing Board sprung into action to investigate the matter further.

See also: Watch: Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma's bodyguard accused for misbehave

More about Dhoni's disputed property

The currently disputed Harmu Road residence is situated in Ranchi’s upscale Harmu Housing Colony. The plot has a surface area of approximately 10,000 square feet and was gifted to the Indian legend as a reward for his achievement in the field of sports. Soon after, a lavish residence was built at the site and the family was in brief possession of the property before leaving for a farmhouse in Simaliya on the city’s outskirts to ensure privacy.

But in recent times, speculations have been rife about a possible diagnostic center being planned at the Harmu Road property, compelling the Housing authorities to launch a formal probe. Furthermore, a signboard of the pathology center was also erected outside the residence but was later concealed with a green cloth. 

Subsequently, an investigation was launched to ascertain whether Dhoni had indeed committed a violation by conducting commercial activities on a residential land. Sanjay Lal Paswan, the Housing Board Chairman has issued a clarification stating that any deviation from the intended use of residential plots constitutes a violation of the rules.

"We have received complaints and instructed officials to investigate. If the allegations are proven, a notice will be issued to Dhoni." 

Not the first time Dhoni's property has come under scrutiny

Prior to this recent controversy, Dhoni's Harmu property has hardly evaded the wrath of the housing officials. In 2015, the board highlighted the presence of an illegal plot that was acquired adjacent to his plot. Although the controversy was long over, the recent allegations have once again sparked concerns about the property's usage. 

The Housing Board has notably initiated comparable measures against around 300 additional property owners for the conversion of residential plots into commercial properties. Furthermore, the state BJP office located in the same area has also received notices for analogous infractions. Authorities have been instructed to revoke allotments should any unauthorized activities be verified.

The closure of the third Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (2024-25) series brought curtains to Ravi Ashwin's glorious 13-year-long international career. A crafty off-spinner, a useful lower-order batsman, and a tactically astute cricketer were some of Ashwin's standout traits that made him a complete cricketer. 

During his prime, Ashwin propelled the Indian side to glorious wins and played a pivotal role in the national side's success in the 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy. Besides, India's home dominance in Test cricket can majorly be attributed to his all-round heroics with the bat and the ball. 

His sudden retirement midway through the series sent shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity. Ever since his retirement, Ashwin has been receiving countless tributes and wishes from former cricketers wishing him well for his future endeavors. 

See also: Watch: Lyon, Cummins heart-warming gesture to Ashwin on his retirement

Ashwin makes his call log public on social media

In recent times, social media has been buzzing with Ashwin's shocking retirement news. The 38-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder has received numerous congratulatory wishes on his X (formerly Twitter) account. While responding to the wises, Ashwin casually revealed a screenshot of his call log which had the names of legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev mentioned on it. 

If some one told me 25 years ago that I would have a smart phone with me and the call log on the last day of my career as an Indian cricketer would look like this☺️☺️, I would have had a heart attack then only. Thanks @sachin_rt and @therealkapildev paaji🙏🙏 #blessed pic.twitter.com/RkgMUWzhtt

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) December 20, 2024

Calling it a "heart attack" post, the purpose behind making this post viral was to express his gratitude and acknowledge the role the living legends played in helping him shape his glorious cricketing career. The photo of his call log is believed to be from the final days of his international career. Ashwin was reportedly in touch with both Kapil and Tendulkar moments before he made his retirement plan public. From this post, it can be understood that Sachin had interacted with him on Facetime while Kapil Dev got in touch with the spinner on WhatsApp.

While taking to X (formerly Twitter), Ashwin wrote that had someone informed him 25 years ago that his call log would appear the way it has been projected on his post, then he would probably not believe it and faint from a heart attack. Ashwin further adds that he feels immensely honored to have worked with them closely throughout his cricketing career, both on the field as well as off the field. 

Ashwin has previously shared the dressing room with the legendary batsman Tendulkar while representing India. His relationship with Kapil Dev, the captain of India's inaugural World Cup-winning team, has primarily been one of inspiration, occurring mostly off the field.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has deferred to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to persuade the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, set for the first quarter of next year.

According to a PCB source, the event’s budget was recently approved during ICC meetings in Colombo, but the schedule and format were not discussed.”The PCB has fulfilled its duties as hosts of the Champions Trophy by submitting the draft schedule, format, and budget for the event,” a PCB insider told news agency PTI. “It is now up to the ICC to circulate, discuss, and finalize the schedule of the Champions Trophy.”

“The PCB has proposed in the draft schedule to host all of India’s matches in Lahore, including a semi-final (if India qualifies) and the final,” he said. Another source confirmed that the PCB has already provided all required details in its expression of interest document to the ICC. “The PCB has formally informed the ICC about tax arrangements, venue selections, and government clearance for hosting the Indian team in Pakistan for the event,” he added.

The PCB first showed interest in hosting the Champions Trophy in 2021, during Ehsan Mani’s tenure as Chairman. The ICC granted hosting rights in 2022, and the final host agreement was completed under Ramiz Raja’s chairmanship. Although PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi did not have formal meetings with BCCI secretary Jay Shah or other BCCI officials at the ICC meetings, their interactions were described as cordial.

Next Steps for ICC: Confirming schedule and securing Indian participation

The PCB has now delegated the task of finalizing and announcing the tournament schedule to the ICC. The ICC also needs to confirm with the BCCI regarding the Indian team’s travel to Pakistan. The budget for the tournament includes provisions for additional expenses in case the Indian team needs to play matches outside Pakistan.

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Historically, the BCCI has stated that decisions about playing cricket in Pakistan are made by the Indian government. During the 2023 ODI Asia Cup, India played its matches in Sri Lanka under a ‘Hybrid Model.

‘According to the draft schedule, all of India’s games, including a possible semi-final and final, are set to take place in Lahore, with the high-profile India vs Pakistan match scheduled for March 1.

The PCB has completed all its responsibilities as hosts by submitting the draft schedule and budget and providing detailed documentation to the ICC. The ICC is now responsible for finalizing the event logistics and securing India’s participation.