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<p>South Africa captain Temba Bavuma acknowledged <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kane-williamson">Kane Williamson</a>'s impact ahead of their ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> semi-final, calling him a 'thorn in our flesh'. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Bavuma said that his team has planned strategies to counter New Zealand&rsquo;s batting mainstay.</p>
<p>Williamson, who scored 81 in a losing effort against India in the final league match, has been in fine form against South Africa, having hit consecutive centuries, including an unbeaten 133 in Lahore last month during the tri-nation series.</p>
<p>"Yes, he (Williamson) has been a challenge for us, and we have specific plans in place. The key will be to raise our intensity when he comes to bat," Bavuma said. "However, execution will be crucial in the end.&rdquo;</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/161-and-counting-india-virat-kohli-becomes-world-second-best-fielder-8781674">'161 and counting': India's Virat Kohli becomes world's second best fielder</a></strong></p>
<p>Despite New Zealand&rsquo;s recent loss to India in Dubai, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/temba-bavuma">Bavuma</a> dismissed any notion that it would dent their confidence. "They have performed strongly in Pakistan, winning all their matches there. They are a well-balanced side, so I don&rsquo;t think their defeat to India will affect them much," he added.</p>
<h2>George Linde roped in as cover</h2>
<p>When asked whether he would prefer to play the final in Lahore or Dubai, Bavuma acknowledged India's strong form in the tournament but maintained that his team is focused on the semi-final for now.</p>
<p>He also commented on the logistical challenges of South Africa and Australia having to travel to Dubai just to determine their semi-final venues. "It wasn&rsquo;t ideal, but there wasn&rsquo;t much we could do given the tournament&rsquo;s structure and logistics," he admitted.</p>
<p>Injury concerns continue to trouble South Africa, with Aiden Markram being the latest to suffer a hamstring strain. Left-arm spin all-rounder George Linde has been brought in as cover.</p>
<p>"Linde is here as a precaution, but Aiden will undergo a fitness test today. On a positive note, both Tony (de Zorzi) and I are feeling much better after our recent illness," Bavuma signed off.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: Williamson, who scored 81 in a losing effort against India in the final league match, has been in fine form against South Africa, having hit consecutive centuries

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma acknowledged Kane Williamson's impact ahead of their ICC Champions Trophy semi-final, calling him a 'thorn in our flesh'. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Bavuma said that his team has planned strategies to counter New Zealand’s batting mainstay. Williamson, who scored 81 in a losing effort against India in the final league match, has been in fine form against South Africa, having hit consecutive centuries, including an unbeaten 133 in Lahore last month during the tri-nation series. "Yes, he (Williamson) has been a challenge for us, and we have specific plans in place. The key will be to raise our intensity when he comes to bat," Bavuma said. "However, execution will be crucial in the end.” Also Read: '161 and counting': India's Virat Kohli becomes world's second best fielder Despite New Zealand’s recent loss to India in Dubai, Bavuma dismissed any notion that it would dent their confidence. "They have performed strongly in Pakistan, winning all their matches there. They are a well-balanced side, so I don’t think their defeat to India will affect them much," he added. George Linde roped in as cover When asked whether he would prefer to play the final in Lahore or Dubai, Bavuma acknowledged India's strong form in the tournament but maintained that his team is focused on the semi-final for now. He also commented on the logistical challenges of South Africa and Australia having to travel to Dubai just to determine their semi-final venues. "It wasn’t ideal, but there wasn’t much we could do given the tournament’s structure and logistics," he admitted. Injury concerns continue to trouble South Africa, with Aiden Markram being the latest to suffer a hamstring strain. Left-arm spin all-rounder George Linde has been brought in as cover. "Linde is here as a precaution, but Aiden will undergo a fitness test today. On a positive note, both Tony (de Zorzi) and I are feeling much better after our recent illness," Bavuma signed off. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy: Ahead of semi-final, HERE is what SA skipper Bavuma said about NZ's Williamson

<p>India skipper Rohit Sharma became the batter with most sixes in ICC ODI tournaments during his innings of 28 against Australia on Mar 4 in Dubai in the Champions Trophy. Rohit now has 65 sixes in 42 World Cup and Champions Trophy games, one more than former West Indies batter Chris Gayle's 64 in 52 games.</p>
<p>Rohit reached the milestone with a six off Nathan Ellis in the second over as India chased 265 for a place in the final. The batter was eventually dismissed on a team score of 43 in the eighth over of the chase. Here's the list of batters with the most sixes in ICC ODI tournaments:</p>
<ul>
<li>Rohit Sharma (India) 65 sixes in 42 games</li>
<li>Chris Gayle (West Indies) 64 sixes in 52 games</li>
<li>Glenn Maxwell (Australia) 49 sixes in 35 games</li>
<li>David Miller (South Africa) 45 sixes in 33 games</li>
<li>Sourav Ganguly (India) 42 sixes in 34 games</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/161-and-counting-india-virat-kohli-becomes-world-second-best-fielder-8781674">'161 and counting': India's Virat Kohli becomes world's second best fielder</a></p>
<h2><strong>Rohit-Gill make world record</strong></h2>
<p>During the opening partnership of 30 runs, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill reached the 2000-run mark in the partnership. They reached the milestone in 33 innings&mdash;the third fastest overall in the world. Check the list of batting pairs fastest to 2,000 runs in partnership:</p>
<ul>
<li>Babar Azam &amp; Imam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) - 27 Innings</li>
<li>Hashim Amla &amp; AB de Villiers (South Africa) - 27 Innings</li>
<li>Rohit Sharma &amp; Shubman Gill (India) - 33 Innings</li>
<li>Gautam Gambhir &amp; Virat Kohli &nbsp;(India) - 34 Innings</li>
<li>Jonny Bairstow &amp; Jason Roy (England) - 34 Innings</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Australia set target of 265 runs for India </strong><strong>to win</strong></h2>
<p>Earlier, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first in the first semi-final. Skipper Steve Smith top scored for the Aussies with 73 before missing out a full toss by Mohammed Shami to get clean bowled.</p>
<p>Alex Carey's 61 then took them to 264 in 49.3 overs. For India, Shami picked up 3/48 while Jadeja and Chakaravarthy chipped in with two wickets each.</p>

Rohit reached the milestone with a six off Nathan Ellis in the second over as India chased 265 for a place in the final. The batter was eventually dismissed on a team score of 43 in the eighth over of the chase. Cricket Sports

India skipper Rohit Sharma became the batter with most sixes in ICC ODI tournaments during his innings of 28 against Australia on Mar 4 in Dubai in the Champions Trophy. Rohit now has 65 sixes in 42 World Cup and Champions Trophy games, one more than former West Indies batter Chris Gayle's 64 in 52 games. Rohit reached the milestone with a six off Nathan Ellis in the second over as India chased 265 for a place in the final. The batter was eventually dismissed on a team score of 43 in the eighth over of the chase. Here's the list of batters with the most sixes in ICC ODI tournaments: Rohit Sharma (India) 65 sixes in 42 games Chris Gayle (West Indies) 64 sixes in 52 games Glenn Maxwell (Australia) 49 sixes in 35 games David Miller (South Africa) 45 sixes in 33 games Sourav Ganguly (India) 42 sixes in 34 games Also Read: '161 and counting': India's Virat Kohli becomes world's second best fielder Rohit-Gill make world record During the opening partnership of 30 runs, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill reached the 2000-run mark in the partnership. They reached the milestone in 33 innings—the third fastest overall in the world. Check the list of batting pairs fastest to 2,000 runs in partnership: Babar Azam & Imam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) - 27 Innings Hashim Amla & AB de Villiers (South Africa) - 27 Innings Rohit Sharma & Shubman Gill (India) - 33 Innings Gautam Gambhir & Virat Kohli (India) - 34 Innings Jonny Bairstow & Jason Roy (England) - 34 Innings Australia set target of 265 runs for India to win Earlier, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first in the first semi-final. Skipper Steve Smith top scored for the Aussies with 73 before missing out a full toss by Mohammed Shami to get clean bowled. Alex Carey's 61 then took them to 264 in 49.3 overs. For India, Shami picked up 3/48 while Jadeja and Chakaravarthy chipped in with two wickets each.

‘65 in 42 matches’:  India skipper Rohit Sharma becomes best hitter in history of ICC ODI tournaments

<p>India player Virat Kohli knocked off another ODI record during the Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia on Mar 4 in Dubai. Kohli took two catches while India were bowling and surpassed former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting for most catches as a fielder in ODIs.</p>
<p>Kohli, who had previously gone past Mohammed Azharuddin to become the best Indian fielder in ODIs, now has 161 ODI catches to his name&mdash;second only to former Sri Lanka great Mahela Jayawardene.</p>
<p><strong>Also Watch:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/73-and-gone-steve-smith-bats-for-95-balls-then-misses-full-toss-to-get-bowled-in-champions-trophy-semis-australia-vs-india-watch-8778516">'73 and gone': Aussie Steve Smith bats for 95 balls then misses full toss to get bowled</a></p>
<p><strong>Here's the list of fielders with most catches in ODIs:</strong></p>
<p>1. Mahela Jayawardene: 218 catches in 443 ODI innings</p>
<p>2. Virat Kohli: 161 catches in 298 ODI innings</p>
<p>3. Ricky Ponting: 160 catches in 372 ODI innings</p>
<p>4. Mohd. Azharuddin: 156 catches in 332 ODI innings</p>
<p>5. Ross Taylor: 142 catches in 232 ODI innings</p>
<h2><strong>Australia set India 265 to win</strong></h2>
<p>Australia won the toss and elected to bat first against India. The decision was proven wrong quickly as Mohammed Shami dismissed Cooper Connolly for a duck off nine balls.<br><br>Travis Head, India's nemesis in recent ICC tournaments, then took on the India attack and especially Shami as he hit the bowler for four fours in an over.</p>
<p>Rohit then did what former spinner Ravi Ashwin had advised on his YouTube channel a day prior to the match. The skipper handed the ball to mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, and he dismissed Head on the very first ball.</p>
<p>Australia finished the first powerplay of 10 overs at 63/2 with Head making 39 off them off just 33 balls, including five fours and two sixes. At the half-way mark of the innings, i.e., 25 overs, Australia were 125/3 with Smith looking fluent.</p>
<p>With Shami dismissing Smith on 73, Australia were bundled out for 264 in 49.3 overs. For India, Shami took 3/48 while Jadeja and Chakaravarthy picked two wickets apiece.</p>

Kohli, who had previously gone past Azharuddin to become the best Indian fielder in ODIs, now has 161 ODI catches to his name—second only to former Sri Lanka great Mahela Jayawardene. Cricket Sports

India player Virat Kohli knocked off another ODI record during the Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia on Mar 4 in Dubai. Kohli took two catches while India were bowling and surpassed former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting for most catches as a fielder in ODIs. Kohli, who had previously gone past Mohammed Azharuddin to become the best Indian fielder in ODIs, now has 161 ODI catches to his name—second only to former Sri Lanka great Mahela Jayawardene. Also Watch: '73 and gone': Aussie Steve Smith bats for 95 balls then misses full toss to get bowled Here's the list of fielders with most catches in ODIs: 1. Mahela Jayawardene: 218 catches in 443 ODI innings 2. Virat Kohli: 161 catches in 298 ODI innings 3. Ricky Ponting: 160 catches in 372 ODI innings 4. Mohd. Azharuddin: 156 catches in 332 ODI innings 5. Ross Taylor: 142 catches in 232 ODI innings Australia set India 265 to win Australia won the toss and elected to bat first against India. The decision was proven wrong quickly as Mohammed Shami dismissed Cooper Connolly for a duck off nine balls. Travis Head, India's nemesis in recent ICC tournaments, then took on the India attack and especially Shami as he hit the bowler for four fours in an over. Rohit then did what former spinner Ravi Ashwin had advised on his YouTube channel a day prior to the match. The skipper handed the ball to mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, and he dismissed Head on the very first ball. Australia finished the first powerplay of 10 overs at 63/2 with Head making 39 off them off just 33 balls, including five fours and two sixes. At the half-way mark of the innings, i.e., 25 overs, Australia were 125/3 with Smith looking fluent. With Shami dismissing Smith on 73, Australia were bundled out for 264 in 49.3 overs. For India, Shami took 3/48 while Jadeja and Chakaravarthy picked two wickets apiece.

'161 and counting': India's Virat Kohli becomes world's second best fielder

<p>South Africa hold the edge over New Zealand in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> semi-final due to their superior class and power, according to former Australian captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a>. While he acknowledges New Zealand&rsquo;s capabilities, Ponting believes South Africa&rsquo;s deep batting lineup makes them favourites to advance.</p>
<p>New Zealand enter the knockout stage after a heavy defeat to India in Dubai, whereas South Africa have momentum on their side following a dominant seven-wicket win against England. Ponting highlighted that, much like India, South Africa&rsquo;s batting depth gives them an advantage.</p>
<p>&ldquo;If I compare both teams, South Africa has that extra bit of class. They bat deep and might have a little too much power for New Zealand,&rdquo; Ponting said on ICC Review. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m backing South Africa to win, even though I&rsquo;ve praised New Zealand.&rdquo;</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/73-and-gone-steve-smith-bats-for-95-balls-then-misses-full-toss-to-get-bowled-in-champions-trophy-semis-australia-vs-india-watch-8778516">'73 and gone': Aussie Steve Smith bats for 95 balls then misses full toss to get bowled in Champions Trophy semis vs India - WATCH</a></strong></p>
<p>Ponting emphasised the importance of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kane-williamson">Kane Williamson</a>&rsquo;s role, stating that top players must step up in crucial moments. &ldquo;Williamson needs to score runs in this game. Big games require big performances, and he is a big-match player. He knows the magnitude of this semifinal, and I wouldn&rsquo;t be surprised if he delivers,&rdquo; he said.</p>
<h2>'Klaasen is crucial for SA'</h2>
<p>After struggling against Pakistan (1) and Bangladesh (5), Williamson regained form with a 120-ball 81 against India, which could boost his confidence. However, Ponting feels South Africa&rsquo;s top and middle-order batters&mdash;Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, David Miller, and Heinrich Klaasen&mdash;could pose serious challenges for New Zealand.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Klaasen is crucial because he plays spin exceptionally well and is a clean hitter. If he comes in around the 30-over mark with South Africa only a few wickets down, he could be truly dangerous,&rdquo; Ponting added.</p>
<p>Ponting also pointed out key match-ups that could influence the outcome. &ldquo;Rickelton has provided strong starts for South Africa, including a big hundred against Afghanistan. On the other hand, Matt Henry has been outstanding for New Zealand with a five-wicket haul in the group stage. Their battle will be fascinating.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Another potential game-changer, according to Ponting, is the contest between Klaasen and Mitchell Santner. &ldquo;Klaasen thrives against spin, but Santner is a smart left-arm spinner. New Zealand might introduce spin early against him, and whoever wins that duel could decide the match.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Ponting also expressed surprise over New Zealand&rsquo;s inconsistent opening combination, particularly Devon Conway&rsquo;s omission despite his solid performances. &ldquo;They started with Will Young and Conway against Pakistan and Bangladesh but brought in Rachin Ravindra against India. I&rsquo;d stick with Conway at the top for a left-right combination,&rdquo; he suggested.</p>
<p>With both teams aiming for a place in the final, the semifinal promises to be an intense battle where key players and match-ups could determine the outcome.</p>

Cricket, Sports: Ponting also expressed surprise over New Zealand’s inconsistent opening combination, particularly Devon Conway’s omission despite his solid performances

South Africa hold the edge over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy semi-final due to their superior class and power, according to former Australian captain Ricky Ponting. While he acknowledges New Zealand’s capabilities, Ponting believes South Africa’s deep batting lineup makes them favourites to advance. New Zealand enter the knockout stage after a heavy defeat to India in Dubai, whereas South Africa have momentum on their side following a dominant seven-wicket win against England. Ponting highlighted that, much like India, South Africa’s batting depth gives them an advantage. “If I compare both teams, South Africa has that extra bit of class. They bat deep and might have a little too much power for New Zealand,” Ponting said on ICC Review. “I’m backing South Africa to win, even though I’ve praised New Zealand.” Also Read: '73 and gone': Aussie Steve Smith bats for 95 balls then misses full toss to get bowled in Champions Trophy semis vs India - WATCH Ponting emphasised the importance of Kane Williamson’s role, stating that top players must step up in crucial moments. “Williamson needs to score runs in this game. Big games require big performances, and he is a big-match player. He knows the magnitude of this semifinal, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he delivers,” he said. 'Klaasen is crucial for SA' After struggling against Pakistan (1) and Bangladesh (5), Williamson regained form with a 120-ball 81 against India, which could boost his confidence. However, Ponting feels South Africa’s top and middle-order batters—Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, David Miller, and Heinrich Klaasen—could pose serious challenges for New Zealand. “Klaasen is crucial because he plays spin exceptionally well and is a clean hitter. If he comes in around the 30-over mark with South Africa only a few wickets down, he could be truly dangerous,” Ponting added. Ponting also pointed out key match-ups that could influence the outcome. “Rickelton has provided strong starts for South Africa, including a big hundred against Afghanistan. On the other hand, Matt Henry has been outstanding for New Zealand with a five-wicket haul in the group stage. Their battle will be fascinating.” Another potential game-changer, according to Ponting, is the contest between Klaasen and Mitchell Santner. “Klaasen thrives against spin, but Santner is a smart left-arm spinner. New Zealand might introduce spin early against him, and whoever wins that duel could decide the match.” Ponting also expressed surprise over New Zealand’s inconsistent opening combination, particularly Devon Conway’s omission despite his solid performances. “They started with Will Young and Conway against Pakistan and Bangladesh but brought in Rachin Ravindra against India. I’d stick with Conway at the top for a left-right combination,” he suggested. With both teams aiming for a place in the final, the semifinal promises to be an intense battle where key players and match-ups could determine the outcome.

Champions Trophy: South Africa have bit more class and power compared to NZ: Former Australia captain

<p>Aussie batter Steve Smith survived a close call during the Champions Trophy semi-final against India on Tuesday (Mar 4) in Dubai. The batter was very lucky, as the bails didn't dislodge despite the ball hitting the stumps on a shot played by Smith off Axar Patel.</p>
<p>The incident happened on the last ball of the 14th over when Axar pitched a delivery on good length and Smith defended on the front foot. The ball then travelled to stumps and hit them, but the bails didn't get dislodged. The incident left the Indian fielders in complete shock and disbelief. Have a look at the video below:</p>
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<p>Earlier, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first against India. The decision was proven wrong quickly as Mohammed Shami dismissed Cooper Connolly for a duck off nine balls.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/pak-vs-nz-t20-series-babar-rizwan-dropped-from-pakistans-squad-8777806">PAK vs NZ T20 series: Babar, Rizwan dropped from Pakistan's squad</a></p>
<p>Travis Head, India's nemesis in recent ICC tournaments, then took on the India attack and especially Shami as he hit the bowler for four fours in an over.</p>
<p>Rohit then did what former spinner Ravi Ashwin had advised on his YouTube channel a day prior to the match. The skipper handed the ball to mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, and he dismissed Head on the very first ball.</p>
<p>Australia finished the first powerplay of 10 overs at 63/2 with Head making 39 off them off just 33 balls, including five fours and two sixes.</p>
<p>After those two wickets, Smith started the rebuild with Marnus Labuschagne, and the duo added 56 runs for the third wicket before Ravindra Jadeja trapped Labuschagne LBW on a personal score of 29. The partnership, however, did take Australia past 100.</p>
<p>At the half-way mark of the innings, i.e., 25 overs, Australia were 125/3 with Smith looking fluent at 44 in 64 balls with the help of three fours.</p>

The incident happened on the last ball of the 14th over when Axar pitched a delivery on good length and Smith defended on the front foot. The ball travelled to stumps and hit them, but the bails didn't get dislodged. Cricket Sports

Aussie batter Steve Smith survived a close call during the Champions Trophy semi-final against India on Tuesday (Mar 4) in Dubai. The batter was very lucky, as the bails didn't dislodge despite the ball hitting the stumps on a shot played by Smith off Axar Patel. The incident happened on the last ball of the 14th over when Axar pitched a delivery on good length and Smith defended on the front foot. The ball then travelled to stumps and hit them, but the bails didn't get dislodged. The incident left the Indian fielders in complete shock and disbelief. Have a look at the video below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by ICC (@icc) Earlier, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first against India. The decision was proven wrong quickly as Mohammed Shami dismissed Cooper Connolly for a duck off nine balls. Also Read: PAK vs NZ T20 series: Babar, Rizwan dropped from Pakistan's squad Travis Head, India's nemesis in recent ICC tournaments, then took on the India attack and especially Shami as he hit the bowler for four fours in an over. Rohit then did what former spinner Ravi Ashwin had advised on his YouTube channel a day prior to the match. The skipper handed the ball to mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, and he dismissed Head on the very first ball. Australia finished the first powerplay of 10 overs at 63/2 with Head making 39 off them off just 33 balls, including five fours and two sixes. After those two wickets, Smith started the rebuild with Marnus Labuschagne, and the duo added 56 runs for the third wicket before Ravindra Jadeja trapped Labuschagne LBW on a personal score of 29. The partnership, however, did take Australia past 100. At the half-way mark of the innings, i.e., 25 overs, Australia were 125/3 with Smith looking fluent at 44 in 64 balls with the help of three fours.

Champions Trophy, IND vs AUS: WATCH | LUCKY Smith survives as bails don’t come off despite ball hitting stumps

<p>Aussie skipper Steve Smith top scored for his team against India in the Champions Trophy semi-final on Mar 4, but his dismissal was rather a lame one. After being on the crease for 95 deliveries and scoring 73 runs, Smith missed a juicy full-toss ball from Shami on the stumps and was clean-bowled.</p>
<p>The wicket came in the 37th over at a time when Australia were looking good for a score of 300. The dismissal, which came with Australia two short of 200, sparked a little collapse as the Kangaroos were bowled out for 264 in 49.3 overs. Have a look at the dismissal below:</p>
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<p>Smith had survived a close call in the 14th over as well when the ball, after he defended, rolled back to hit the stumps, but the bails didn't dislodge.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-scheduling-is-out-of-our-control-nzs-latham-ahead-semi-final-against-sa-8778201">'Scheduling is out of our control', NZ's Latham ahead semi-final against SA</a></p>
<p>Earlier, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first against India. The decision was proven wrong quickly as Mohammed Shami dismissed Cooper Connolly for a duck off nine balls.</p>
<p>Travis Head, India's nemesis in recent ICC tournaments, then took on the India attack and especially Shami as he hit the bowler for four fours in an over.</p>
<p>Rohit then did what former spinner Ravi Ashwin had advised on his YouTube channel a day prior to the match. The skipper handed the ball to mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, and he dismissed Head on the very first ball.</p>
<p>Australia finished the first powerplay of 10 overs at 63/2 with Head making 39 off them off just 33 balls, including five fours and two sixes. At the half-way mark of the innings, i.e., 25 overs, Australia were 125/3 with Smith looking fluent.</p>
<p>For India, Shami was the pick of the bowlers with the figures of 3/48, while Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakaravarthy chipped in with two wickets each.</p>

Champions Trophy, India vs Australia: The wicket came against the run of play in the 37th over at a time when Australia were looking good for a score of 300. Cricket Sports

Aussie skipper Steve Smith top scored for his team against India in the Champions Trophy semi-final on Mar 4, but his dismissal was rather a lame one. After being on the crease for 95 deliveries and scoring 73 runs, Smith missed a juicy full-toss ball from Shami on the stumps and was clean-bowled. The wicket came in the 37th over at a time when Australia were looking good for a score of 300. The dismissal, which came with Australia two short of 200, sparked a little collapse as the Kangaroos were bowled out for 264 in 49.3 overs. Have a look at the dismissal below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by ICC (@icc) Smith had survived a close call in the 14th over as well when the ball, after he defended, rolled back to hit the stumps, but the bails didn't dislodge. Also Read: 'Scheduling is out of our control', NZ's Latham ahead semi-final against SA Earlier, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first against India. The decision was proven wrong quickly as Mohammed Shami dismissed Cooper Connolly for a duck off nine balls. Travis Head, India's nemesis in recent ICC tournaments, then took on the India attack and especially Shami as he hit the bowler for four fours in an over. Rohit then did what former spinner Ravi Ashwin had advised on his YouTube channel a day prior to the match. The skipper handed the ball to mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, and he dismissed Head on the very first ball. Australia finished the first powerplay of 10 overs at 63/2 with Head making 39 off them off just 33 balls, including five fours and two sixes. At the half-way mark of the innings, i.e., 25 overs, Australia were 125/3 with Smith looking fluent. For India, Shami was the pick of the bowlers with the figures of 3/48, while Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakaravarthy chipped in with two wickets each.

'73 and gone': Aussie Steve Smith bats for 95 balls then misses full toss to get bowled in Champions Trophy semis vs India - WATCH

<p data-start="0" data-end="352">New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tom Latham stressed his team's "anywhere, anytime" mindset ahead of their ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> semi-final clash against South Africa. Acknowledging that tournament scheduling is beyond their control, Latham said that their focus remains on delivering their best performance, regardless of the conditions or venue.</p>
<p data-start="354" data-end="647">Returning from Dubai, where they struggled on a slow and low pitch against India, New Zealand is now preparing to adjust back to Lahore&rsquo;s conditions in time for their crucial semifinal on Wednesday. Speaking to the media, Latham made it clear that the Black Caps are not looking for excuses.</p>
<p data-start="649" data-end="888">"(The scheduling) is something that is out of our control," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/tom-latham">Latham</a> said, as quoted by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/icc">ICC</a>. "For us, it&rsquo;s about turning up for each game, no matter where it is, and playing our best brand of cricket. Our focus now is on South Africa."</p>
<p data-start="649" data-end="888"><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-ind-vs-aus-watch-lucky-smith-survives-as-bails-dont-come-off-despite-ball-hitting-stumps-8777990">Champions Trophy, IND vs AUS: WATCH | LUCKY Smith survives as bails don't come off despite ball hitting stumps</a></strong></p>
<p data-start="890" data-end="1243">Reflecting on past matches in Lahore, Latham noted that conditions often improve for batting later in the game. "We&rsquo;ve seen throughout the games in Pakistan that towards the back end, a little bit of juice settles in, and sometimes it can be a bit easier to bat. We&rsquo;ll have to wait and see what kind of surface we get and adapt accordingly," he added.</p>
<p data-start="1245" data-end="1537">New Zealand will take confidence from their recent win over South Africa at the same venue during a tri-series with Pakistan. In that match, they chased down 304 with eight balls to spare. Latham confirmed that the Kiwis would draw on that experience heading into the high-stakes encounter.</p>
<p data-start="1539" data-end="1761">"We were fortunate to have played a tri-series in Pakistan, including matches against South Africa," he said. "We&rsquo;ll look back on those experiences and give it our best shot in a semifinal, which is a great opportunity."</p>
<p data-start="1763" data-end="1998">Despite their recent loss to India, New Zealand has been in strong form in 2025, winning eight of their ten ODIs, including the Tri-series final against Pakistan. However, none of those games carried the pressure of an ICC semi-final.</p>
<h2 data-start="1763" data-end="1998">'SA has well-rounded squad'</h2>
<p data-start="2000" data-end="2291">Meanwhile, South Africa has been in formidable form, having already reached two ICC finals in the past year&mdash;the 2024 T20 World Cup final and the upcoming World Test Championship final against Australia. Latham acknowledged the challenge ahead, praising their opponents&rsquo; well-rounded squad.</p>
<p data-start="2293" data-end="2538">"They have been playing some fantastic cricket," he said. "They&rsquo;ve got match-winners across their squad and have performed well in these conditions. We know the hard work required to reach the final, and we respect how strong South Africa is."</p>
<p data-start="2540" data-end="2699" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">"They&rsquo;ve got all bases covered&mdash;batting, bowling, and fielding. It should be a fantastic game, and I&rsquo;m sure both teams are looking forward to it," he signed off.</p>
<p data-start="2540" data-end="2699" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: Returning from Dubai, where they struggled on a slow and low pitch against India, Kiwis are now preparing to adjust back to Lahore’s conditions

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tom Latham stressed his team's "anywhere, anytime" mindset ahead of their ICC Champions Trophy semi-final clash against South Africa. Acknowledging that tournament scheduling is beyond their control, Latham said that their focus remains on delivering their best performance, regardless of the conditions or venue. Returning from Dubai, where they struggled on a slow and low pitch against India, New Zealand is now preparing to adjust back to Lahore’s conditions in time for their crucial semifinal on Wednesday. Speaking to the media, Latham made it clear that the Black Caps are not looking for excuses. "(The scheduling) is something that is out of our control," Latham said, as quoted by the ICC. "For us, it’s about turning up for each game, no matter where it is, and playing our best brand of cricket. Our focus now is on South Africa." Also Read: Champions Trophy, IND vs AUS: WATCH | LUCKY Smith survives as bails don't come off despite ball hitting stumps Reflecting on past matches in Lahore, Latham noted that conditions often improve for batting later in the game. "We’ve seen throughout the games in Pakistan that towards the back end, a little bit of juice settles in, and sometimes it can be a bit easier to bat. We’ll have to wait and see what kind of surface we get and adapt accordingly," he added. New Zealand will take confidence from their recent win over South Africa at the same venue during a tri-series with Pakistan. In that match, they chased down 304 with eight balls to spare. Latham confirmed that the Kiwis would draw on that experience heading into the high-stakes encounter. "We were fortunate to have played a tri-series in Pakistan, including matches against South Africa," he said. "We’ll look back on those experiences and give it our best shot in a semifinal, which is a great opportunity." Despite their recent loss to India, New Zealand has been in strong form in 2025, winning eight of their ten ODIs, including the Tri-series final against Pakistan. However, none of those games carried the pressure of an ICC semi-final. 'SA has well-rounded squad' Meanwhile, South Africa has been in formidable form, having already reached two ICC finals in the past year—the 2024 T20 World Cup final and the upcoming World Test Championship final against Australia. Latham acknowledged the challenge ahead, praising their opponents’ well-rounded squad. "They have been playing some fantastic cricket," he said. "They’ve got match-winners across their squad and have performed well in these conditions. We know the hard work required to reach the final, and we respect how strong South Africa is." "They’ve got all bases covered—batting, bowling, and fielding. It should be a fantastic game, and I’m sure both teams are looking forward to it," he signed off. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy: ‘Scheduling is out of our control,’ NZ’s Latham ahead of semi-final against SA

<p>Captain Mohammad Rizwan and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/babar-azam">Babar Azam</a> were dropped from Pakistan's squad for the upcoming five-match T20 series in New Zealand, announced on Tuesday (March 4). Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the new T20 captain, with all-rounder Shadab Khan making a return to the squad as vice captain.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mohammad-rizwan">Rizwan</a>, however, retains his leadership role in the ODI squad despite Pakistan&rsquo;s disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy. The selectors have refrained from making wholesale changes to the ODI squad, retaining most players despite their struggles in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-linda-mcmahon-once-wwe-boss-now-appointed-as-donald-trumps-education-secretary-8776634">Who is Linda McMahon? Once WWE boss, now appointed as Donald Trump's education secretary"</a></strong></p>
<p>Babar Azam remains in the ODI squad, but batters Saud Shakil and Kamran Ghulam have been dropped. Additionally, fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf have been sidelined from the ODI setup.</p>
<p>Pakistan&rsquo;s tour of New Zealand, beginning March 16, includes five T20Is and three ODIs. However, the team will be without opener Saim Ayub, who is still recovering from an ankle injury. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/fakhar-zaman">Fakhar Zaman</a> has also been ruled out after sustaining an injury during the first match of the Champions Trophy. Fakhar had only recently returned to the national squad in a three-nation tournament, while Saim suffered his injury while fielding in the Test series against South Africa earlier this year.</p>
<h2>Pakistan squads for New Zealand tour:</h2>
<p><strong>ODI squad:</strong><br>Muhammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Wasim Jr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir.</p>
<p><strong>T20 squad:</strong><br>Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Muhammad Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Haris, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Muqeem, Usman Khan.</p>

Cricket, Sports: Mohammad Rizwan, however, retains his leadership role in the ODI squad despite Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Captain Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam were dropped from Pakistan's squad for the upcoming five-match T20 series in New Zealand, announced on Tuesday (March 4). Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the new T20 captain, with all-rounder Shadab Khan making a return to the squad as vice captain. Rizwan, however, retains his leadership role in the ODI squad despite Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy. The selectors have refrained from making wholesale changes to the ODI squad, retaining most players despite their struggles in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Also Read: Who is Linda McMahon? Once WWE boss, now appointed as Donald Trump's education secretary" Babar Azam remains in the ODI squad, but batters Saud Shakil and Kamran Ghulam have been dropped. Additionally, fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf have been sidelined from the ODI setup. Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand, beginning March 16, includes five T20Is and three ODIs. However, the team will be without opener Saim Ayub, who is still recovering from an ankle injury. Fakhar Zaman has also been ruled out after sustaining an injury during the first match of the Champions Trophy. Fakhar had only recently returned to the national squad in a three-nation tournament, while Saim suffered his injury while fielding in the Test series against South Africa earlier this year. Pakistan squads for New Zealand tour: ODI squad: Muhammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Wasim Jr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir. T20 squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Muhammad Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Haris, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Muqeem, Usman Khan.

PAK vs NZ T20 series: Babar, Rizwan dropped from Pakistan squad

<p>Former India spinner Ravi Ashwin says that skipper Rohit Sharma should give the new ball to mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy in the first semi-final against Australia on Mar 4 in Dubai. The comments came as a tactic to get Aussie opener Travis Head out early. Head has been India's Achilles heel in recent times, including the ICC tournaments.</p>
<p>&ldquo;New ball and give it to Varun and ask him to bowl over the stumps to Travis Head,&rdquo; Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Travis Head shows all his three stumps and then clears his leg and hit it over the field. Varun Chakravarthy with new ball might give India an edge. It will be a mouth watering contest,&rdquo; he said.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-this-arrangement-made-sense-to-us-says-smith-on-australia-and-sa-travelling-to-dubai-8776902">'This arrangement made sense to us,' says Smith on Australia and SA travelling to Dubai</a></p>
<p>&ldquo;I would be very surprised if Travis Head will take on a back seat against Varun. He would love to go aggressive and it will high-risk option. Either he will give Australia good start or India will get him out cheaply.</p>
<p>&ldquo;If Travis Head doesn&rsquo;t take him on, then keeps Varun on for five overs. This Australian team has too many right-handedness and for that we have Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. If I am India then I won&rsquo;t be worried about this bowling line-up of India," added the former spinner.</p>
<p>Head was the point of difference between the two sides when Australia beat India in 2023 ODI World Cup Final on November 19, 2023 and WTC Final in June 2023.</p>
<p>In the ongoing tournament though, Head has not been able to score as freely as he would have liked. On the two occasions Head has batted, the left-hand power hitter has scored 65 runs with 59 not out coming in one of those innings.</p>
<p>If India manage to get Head out early, they'd surely have a better chance at winning the semi-final and proceed to the title showdown.&nbsp;</p>

Champions Trophy: Head was the point of difference between the two sides when Australia beat India in the ODI World Cup Final in November  2023 and WTC Final in June 2023. Cricket Sports

Former India spinner Ravi Ashwin says that skipper Rohit Sharma should give the new ball to mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy in the first semi-final against Australia on Mar 4 in Dubai. The comments came as a tactic to get Aussie opener Travis Head out early. Head has been India's Achilles heel in recent times, including the ICC tournaments. “New ball and give it to Varun and ask him to bowl over the stumps to Travis Head,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. “Travis Head shows all his three stumps and then clears his leg and hit it over the field. Varun Chakravarthy with new ball might give India an edge. It will be a mouth watering contest,” he said. Also Read: 'This arrangement made sense to us,' says Smith on Australia and SA travelling to Dubai “I would be very surprised if Travis Head will take on a back seat against Varun. He would love to go aggressive and it will high-risk option. Either he will give Australia good start or India will get him out cheaply. “If Travis Head doesn’t take him on, then keeps Varun on for five overs. This Australian team has too many right-handedness and for that we have Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. If I am India then I won’t be worried about this bowling line-up of India," added the former spinner. Head was the point of difference between the two sides when Australia beat India in 2023 ODI World Cup Final on November 19, 2023 and WTC Final in June 2023. In the ongoing tournament though, Head has not been able to score as freely as he would have liked. On the two occasions Head has batted, the left-hand power hitter has scored 65 runs with 59 not out coming in one of those innings. If India manage to get Head out early, they'd surely have a better chance at winning the semi-final and proceed to the title showdown.

Champions Trophy: Ravi Ashwin reveals how to get Travis Head out early in semis

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>IND vs AUS, Champions Trophy 2025 Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: </b>A place in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 is up for grabs as India take on Australia in the first semifinal on Tuesday (Mar 4). The contest at the Dubai International Stadium will be a repeat of the 2023 ODI World Cup final as India and Australia take centrestage. Ahead of the final group stage contest between India and Australia, here are all the details of the Champions Trophy 2025 clash.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="left"><strong>Where to watch the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match Live Streaming online on OTT?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India.</p>
<h2 class="left"><strong>Where to watch the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match on TV?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will be telecast on Star Sports Network in India.<o:p></o:p><strong></strong></p>
<h2 class="left"><strong>Which stadium will host the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will be played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal left"><strong>What time will the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match start?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will start at 2:30 PM IST on Tuesday (Mar 4) with the toss taking place at 2:00 PM IST.<strong></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-ex-spinner-kumble-says-varun-got-opportunity-because-india-qualified-for-semis-8775071" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Champions Trophy: Ex-spinner Kumble says Varun got 'opportunity because India qualified for semis'</a><br></strong></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Champions Trophy 2025: IND vs AUS Squads</strong><o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>India: </strong>Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Australia: </strong>Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Adam Zampa, Cooper Connolly.</p>

IND vs AUS Free Live Streaming |  Watch the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal! Get all the details on live streaming, match time, venue for the March 4 clash in Dubai.

IND vs AUS, Champions Trophy 2025 Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: A place in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 is up for grabs as India take on Australia in the first semifinal on Tuesday (Mar 4). The contest at the Dubai International Stadium will be a repeat of the 2023 ODI World Cup final as India and Australia take centrestage. Ahead of the final group stage contest between India and Australia, here are all the details of the Champions Trophy 2025 clash. Where to watch the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match Live Streaming online on OTT? The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India. Where to watch the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match on TV? The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will be telecast on Star Sports Network in India. Which stadium will host the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match? The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will be played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. What time will the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match start? The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will start at 2:30 PM IST on Tuesday (Mar 4) with the toss taking place at 2:00 PM IST. ALSO READ | Champions Trophy: Ex-spinner Kumble says Varun got 'opportunity because India qualified for semis' Champions Trophy 2025: IND vs AUS Squads India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy. Australia: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Adam Zampa, Cooper Connolly.

IND vs AUS Free Live Streaming | When and where to watch Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal India vs Australia live online

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>SA vs NZ, Champions Trophy 2025 Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: </b>A place in the Champions Trophy 2025 will be up for grabs as New Zealand and South Africa battle it out in the second semifinal on Wednesday (Mar 5). South Africa were undefeated in the group stage while New Zealand qualified despite a defeat against India on Sunday. Ahead of the semifinal contest between South Africa and New Zealand, here are all the details of the Champions Trophy 2025 clash.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="left"><strong>Where to watch the South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match on TV?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match will be telecast on Star Sports Network in India.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 class="left"><strong>Where to watch the South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match Live Streaming online on OTT?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India.</p>
<h2 class="left"><strong>Which stadium will host the South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match will be played at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal left"><strong>What time will the South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match start?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match will start at 2:30 PM IST on Wednesday (Mar 5) with the toss taking place at 2:00 PM IST.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal left"><strong>Champions Trophy 2025: SA vs NZ Head-to-Head Stats</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Overall:</b> South Africa 42 wins, New Zealand 26 wins, no results 5</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal left"><strong>Champions Trophy 2025: SA vs NZ Pitch Report</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Spinners should get good help at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore as South Africa and New Zealand look to make the most of the conditions. The pitch has historically favoured fast bowlers, so it will be interesting to see how it works on the match day.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal left"><strong>Champions Trophy 2025: SA vs NZ Weather Report</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The contest should go ahead without any rain interruption as both South Africa and New Zealand search for a place in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025. The pleasant weather conditions should favour the bowlers, while the temperature would range between 25 and 30 degrees on the match day.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-aus-live-streaming-free-when-and-where-to-watch-champions-trophy-2025-semifinal-india-vs-australia-live-for-free-online-mobile-and-tv-8775654" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IND vs AUS Live Streaming Free | When and where to watch Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal India vs Australia live online</a><br></strong></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Champions Trophy 2025: SA vs NZ Squads</strong><o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>South Africa: </strong>Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch. Travelling reserve: Kwena Maphaka.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>New Zealand: </strong>Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Jacob Duffy.</p>

Sports, Cricket:  A place in the Champions Trophy 2025 will be up for grabs as New Zealand and South Africa battle it out in the second semifinal on Wednesday (Mar 5).

SA vs NZ, Champions Trophy 2025 Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: A place in the Champions Trophy 2025 will be up for grabs as New Zealand and South Africa battle it out in the second semifinal on Wednesday (Mar 5). South Africa were undefeated in the group stage while New Zealand qualified despite a defeat against India on Sunday. Ahead of the semifinal contest between South Africa and New Zealand, here are all the details of the Champions Trophy 2025 clash. Where to watch the South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match on TV? The South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match will be telecast on Star Sports Network in India. Where to watch the South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match Live Streaming online on OTT? The South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India. Which stadium will host the South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match? The South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match will be played at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore. What time will the South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match start? The South Africa vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 match will start at 2:30 PM IST on Wednesday (Mar 5) with the toss taking place at 2:00 PM IST. Champions Trophy 2025: SA vs NZ Head-to-Head Stats Overall: South Africa 42 wins, New Zealand 26 wins, no results 5 Champions Trophy 2025: SA vs NZ Pitch Report Spinners should get good help at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore as South Africa and New Zealand look to make the most of the conditions. The pitch has historically favoured fast bowlers, so it will be interesting to see how it works on the match day. Champions Trophy 2025: SA vs NZ Weather Report The contest should go ahead without any rain interruption as both South Africa and New Zealand search for a place in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025. The pleasant weather conditions should favour the bowlers, while the temperature would range between 25 and 30 degrees on the match day. ALSO READ | IND vs AUS Live Streaming Free | When and where to watch Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal India vs Australia live online Champions Trophy 2025: SA vs NZ Squads South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch. Travelling reserve: Kwena Maphaka. New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Jacob Duffy.

SA vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025: All you need to know, check live streaming, head-to-head, stats, pitch report, squad

<p>Australia skipper Steve Smith has backed the decision of his team and South Africa travelling to Dubai ahead of the India vs New Zealand fixture on Mar 2. With the first semi-final set to be played on Tuesday (Mar 4) in Dubai, both teams were waiting on who gets to play in UAE.&nbsp;</p>
<p>After India beat New Zealand and finished on top of Group A, Australia stayed in Dubai but South Africa had to travel back after a 18-hour sojourn in Dubai. The Proteas will now play New Zealand in the second semi-final on March 5 in Lahore, Pakistan.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-countering-indias-spin-attack-on-a-dry-wicket-will-be-key-says-australia-skipper-steve-smith-8775228">&lsquo;Countering India&rsquo;s spin attack on a dry wicket will be key,&rsquo; says Australia skipper Steve Smith</a></p>
<p>"We guessed right in the end," Australia captain Steven Smith said during the pre-match press conference on Mar 3.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"So yeah, ideal to be here and have a couple of days' preparation. I think had we stayed and waited for last night's result, we would have had to have flown here today and play tomorrow.</p>
<p>"We wouldn't get a chance to train on the surface or get used to the conditions that we have at the academy and if we had to go back, we would have just got on the same plane back as New Zealand and had a day there before playing. So this arrangement made sense to us," he added.</p>
<p>The Dubai drama has been called out by many former and current players and tagged as India getting one venue advantage while other teams played on different venues across Pakistan including their matches against India in Dubai.</p>
<p>India skipper Rohit Sharma, however, countered this and said: "Every time, the pitch is giving you different challenges. The three matches that we played here, the pitch has behaved differently. This is not our home, this is Dubai. We don't play so many matches here, and this is new for us too."</p>

The Dubai drama has been called out by many former and current players and tagged as India getting one venue advantage while other teams played on different venues.

Australia skipper Steve Smith has backed the decision of his team and South Africa travelling to Dubai ahead of the India vs New Zealand fixture on Mar 2. With the first semi-final set to be played on Tuesday (Mar 4) in Dubai, both teams were waiting on who gets to play in UAE. After India beat New Zealand and finished on top of Group A, Australia stayed in Dubai but South Africa had to travel back after a 18-hour sojourn in Dubai. The Proteas will now play New Zealand in the second semi-final on March 5 in Lahore, Pakistan. Also Read: ‘Countering India’s spin attack on a dry wicket will be key,’ says Australia skipper Steve Smith "We guessed right in the end," Australia captain Steven Smith said during the pre-match press conference on Mar 3. "So yeah, ideal to be here and have a couple of days' preparation. I think had we stayed and waited for last night's result, we would have had to have flown here today and play tomorrow. "We wouldn't get a chance to train on the surface or get used to the conditions that we have at the academy and if we had to go back, we would have just got on the same plane back as New Zealand and had a day there before playing. So this arrangement made sense to us," he added. The Dubai drama has been called out by many former and current players and tagged as India getting one venue advantage while other teams played on different venues across Pakistan including their matches against India in Dubai. India skipper Rohit Sharma, however, countered this and said: "Every time, the pitch is giving you different challenges. The three matches that we played here, the pitch has behaved differently. This is not our home, this is Dubai. We don't play so many matches here, and this is new for us too."

Champions Trophy: 'This arrangement made sense to us,' says Smith on Australia and SA travelling to Dubai

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">India captain Rohit Sharma has been in the spotlight as his side prepares for the Champions Trophy 2025 knockout stage. The stage is set for the Indian team as they take on Australia in the semis, but captain Rohit Shara has found himself in the middle of a political row over his fitness. It all started with Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed calling Rohit &ldquo;fat for a sportsperson,&rdquo; leading to a debate surrounding the fitness of the Indian captain.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">However, Rohit has been defended by multiple former players while Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Mansukh Mandaviya criticised Mohamed for her remarks. So the big question is, is Rohit fit and has he proven his fitness despite the criticism? Here&rsquo;s what we know.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has implemented a yo-yo test to check the fitness of the players before a series or a tournament starts. While all the results are not made public, one of Rohit&rsquo;s recent yo-yo tests was taken in the build-up to the ODI World Cup in 2023. He scored 18.6, which is good enough to earn a fitness NOC in a squad.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>What is a yo-yo test?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Yo-Yo Test involves running over a distance of 20m at different speeds. The players need to cover a distance of 2 km during the test. The fast bowlers are required to cover the distance in 8 minutes and 15 seconds while other players need to cover the distance in 8 minutes and 30 seconds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">During the test, two cones are kept at 20 metres apart and players need to run from cone A to Cone B and then return back. The players start with a beep and have to reach Cone B before the second beep and then return to Cone A before the third beep.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-aus-live-streaming-free-when-and-where-to-watch-champions-trophy-2025-semifinal-india-vs-australia-live-for-free-online-mobile-and-tv-8775654" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IND vs AUS Live Streaming Free | When and where to watch Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal India vs Australia live online</a></strong></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Who introduced the yo-yo test?</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The yo-yo test was introduced by Danish Soccer physiologist Dr Jens Bangsbo in the 1990s.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>When did Indian cricket team adopt yo-yo test?</b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Indian cricket team adopted the yo-yo test in 2017, ahead of India&rsquo;s tour of Sri Lanka. It was brought by former India strength and conditioning coach Shankar Basu.</p>

Sports, Cricket: The stage is set for the Indian team as they take on Australia but captain Rohit Shara has found himself in the middle of a political row over his fitness.

India captain Rohit Sharma has been in the spotlight as his side prepares for the Champions Trophy 2025 knockout stage. The stage is set for the Indian team as they take on Australia in the semis, but captain Rohit Shara has found himself in the middle of a political row over his fitness. It all started with Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed calling Rohit “fat for a sportsperson,” leading to a debate surrounding the fitness of the Indian captain. However, Rohit has been defended by multiple former players while Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Mansukh Mandaviya criticised Mohamed for her remarks. So the big question is, is Rohit fit and has he proven his fitness despite the criticism? Here’s what we know. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has implemented a yo-yo test to check the fitness of the players before a series or a tournament starts. While all the results are not made public, one of Rohit’s recent yo-yo tests was taken in the build-up to the ODI World Cup in 2023. He scored 18.6, which is good enough to earn a fitness NOC in a squad. What is a yo-yo test? The Yo-Yo Test involves running over a distance of 20m at different speeds. The players need to cover a distance of 2 km during the test. The fast bowlers are required to cover the distance in 8 minutes and 15 seconds while other players need to cover the distance in 8 minutes and 30 seconds. During the test, two cones are kept at 20 metres apart and players need to run from cone A to Cone B and then return back. The players start with a beep and have to reach Cone B before the second beep and then return to Cone A before the third beep. ALSO READ | IND vs AUS Live Streaming Free | When and where to watch Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal India vs Australia live online Who introduced the yo-yo test? The yo-yo test was introduced by Danish Soccer physiologist Dr Jens Bangsbo in the 1990s. When did Indian cricket team adopt yo-yo test? Indian cricket team adopted the yo-yo test in 2017, ahead of India’s tour of Sri Lanka. It was brought by former India strength and conditioning coach Shankar Basu.

Rohit Sharma fitness row: What is yo-yo test and did the Indian captain ever pass it? What we know

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">World cricket lost a gem of legend on this day in 2022 when Aussie great Shane Warne was found dead on a vacation in Thailand. Away from his usual broadcast duties, 52-year-old Warne suffered a heart attack caused by atherosclerosis on 4 Mar 2022. Three years on, the legacy of the Australian lives on as he is fondly remembered by cricket fans as one of the greatest of all time. A career glittered with many memorable moments, Warne&rsquo;s tragic death left everyone in shock.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>What happened to Shane Warne?</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Having long hanged his boots, Warne was a featured commentator and a renowned broadcaster in his post-playing days. One of the commentators for the Ashes 2021-22, Warne had an excellent time Down Under as Australia won the coveted trophy 4-0. Soon he was off to Thailand&rsquo;s Ko Samui island enjoying time away from his broadcasting role.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Before 4 Mar 2022, Australian cricket had lost another legendary cricketer Rod Marsh for whom Warne would pay his tribute. The Aussie great took to his X account (then known as Twitter) to post on the death of Marsh.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">However, the worst was to follow for Australian cricket as Warne was pronounced dead in the evening of that same day. While there were suspicions of foul play, it was later revealed that Warne had suffered a heart attack caused by atherosclerosis. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">It took six days for the authorities to bring Warne&rsquo;s body back to his Melbourne home, with his funeral taking place on Mar 20 at Moorabbin Oval.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-aus-live-streaming-free-when-and-where-to-watch-champions-trophy-2025-semifinal-india-vs-australia-live-for-free-online-mobile-and-tv-8775654" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IND vs AUS Live Streaming Free | When and where to watch Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal India vs Australia live online</a></span></strong></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Legendary career, IPL champion</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">With 708 wickets in Test format, Warne is only bettered by Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Muttiah Muralitharan in terms of stats. In his illustrious career, he won the Ashes on multiple occasions but his greatest achievement was winning the 1999 ODI World Cup in England. On the other hand, he also stamped his authority as one of the best captains in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) helping Rajasthan Royals clinch the title in the inaugural edition of 2008.</span></p>

Sports, Cricket: On 4 Mar 2022, the 52-year-old Warne left us when he suffered a heart attack caused by atherosclerosis .

World cricket lost a gem of legend on this day in 2022 when Aussie great Shane Warne was found dead on a vacation in Thailand. Away from his usual broadcast duties, 52-year-old Warne suffered a heart attack caused by atherosclerosis on 4 Mar 2022. Three years on, the legacy of the Australian lives on as he is fondly remembered by cricket fans as one of the greatest of all time. A career glittered with many memorable moments, Warne’s tragic death left everyone in shock. What happened to Shane Warne? Having long hanged his boots, Warne was a featured commentator and a renowned broadcaster in his post-playing days. One of the commentators for the Ashes 2021-22, Warne had an excellent time Down Under as Australia won the coveted trophy 4-0. Soon he was off to Thailand’s Ko Samui island enjoying time away from his broadcasting role. Before 4 Mar 2022, Australian cricket had lost another legendary cricketer Rod Marsh for whom Warne would pay his tribute. The Aussie great took to his X account (then known as Twitter) to post on the death of Marsh. However, the worst was to follow for Australian cricket as Warne was pronounced dead in the evening of that same day. While there were suspicions of foul play, it was later revealed that Warne had suffered a heart attack caused by atherosclerosis. It took six days for the authorities to bring Warne’s body back to his Melbourne home, with his funeral taking place on Mar 20 at Moorabbin Oval. ALSO READ | IND vs AUS Live Streaming Free | When and where to watch Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal India vs Australia live online Legendary career, IPL champion With 708 wickets in Test format, Warne is only bettered by Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan in terms of stats. In his illustrious career, he won the Ashes on multiple occasions but his greatest achievement was winning the 1999 ODI World Cup in England. On the other hand, he also stamped his authority as one of the best captains in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) helping Rajasthan Royals clinch the title in the inaugural edition of 2008.

On this day: Legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne tragically passed away, here's what happened

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>IND vs AUS, Champions Trophy 2025 Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue:&nbsp;</b>In a repeat of the 2023 ODI World Cup final, India will take on Australia in the first semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025 on Tuesday (Mar 4). The contest between the two traditional rivals will be one to watch as India search for revenge while Australia look to add another ICC trophy to their cabinet. Ahead of the final group stage contest between India and Australia, here are all the details of the Champions Trophy 2025 clash.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="left"><strong>Where to watch the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match on TV?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will be telecast on Star Sports Network in India.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 class="left"><strong>Where to watch the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match Live Streaming online on OTT?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India.</p>
<h2 class="left"><strong>Which stadium will host the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will be played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal left"><strong>What time will the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match start?</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will start at 2:30 PM IST on Tuesday (Mar 4) with the toss taking place at 2:00 PM IST.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal left"><strong>Champions Trophy 2025: IND vs AUS Head-to-Head Stats</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Overall:</b> India 57 wins, Australia 84 wins, no results 10</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal left"><strong>Champions Trophy 2025: IND vs AUS Pitch Report</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Spinners should get good help at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai as India and Australia look to make the most of the conditions. The pitch has historically favoured fast bowlers, so it will be interesting to see how it works on the match day.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal left"><strong>Champions Trophy 2025: IND vs AUS Weather Report</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The contest should go ahead without any rain interruption as both India and Australia look to start on a winning note. The pleasant weather conditions should favour the bowlers, while the temperature would range between 25 and 30 degrees on the match day.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-ex-spinner-kumble-says-varun-got-opportunity-because-india-qualified-for-semis-8775071" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Champions Trophy: Ex-spinner Kumble says Varun got 'opportunity because India qualified for semis'</a><br></strong></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Champions Trophy 2025: IND vs AUS Squads</strong><o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>India: </strong>Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Australia: </strong>Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Adam Zampa, Cooper Connolly.</p>

Sports, Cricket: In a repeat of the 2023 ODI World Cup final, India will take on Australia in the first semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025 on Tuesday (Mar 4).

IND vs AUS, Champions Trophy 2025 Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: In a repeat of the 2023 ODI World Cup final, India will take on Australia in the first semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025 on Tuesday (Mar 4). The contest between the two traditional rivals will be one to watch as India search for revenge while Australia look to add another ICC trophy to their cabinet. Ahead of the final group stage contest between India and Australia, here are all the details of the Champions Trophy 2025 clash. Where to watch the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match on TV? The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will be telecast on Star Sports Network in India. Where to watch the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match Live Streaming online on OTT? The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India. Which stadium will host the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match? The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will be played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. What time will the India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match start? The India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match will start at 2:30 PM IST on Tuesday (Mar 4) with the toss taking place at 2:00 PM IST. Champions Trophy 2025: IND vs AUS Head-to-Head Stats Overall: India 57 wins, Australia 84 wins, no results 10 Champions Trophy 2025: IND vs AUS Pitch Report Spinners should get good help at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai as India and Australia look to make the most of the conditions. The pitch has historically favoured fast bowlers, so it will be interesting to see how it works on the match day. Champions Trophy 2025: IND vs AUS Weather Report The contest should go ahead without any rain interruption as both India and Australia look to start on a winning note. The pleasant weather conditions should favour the bowlers, while the temperature would range between 25 and 30 degrees on the match day. ALSO READ | Champions Trophy: Ex-spinner Kumble says Varun got 'opportunity because India qualified for semis' Champions Trophy 2025: IND vs AUS Squads India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy. Australia: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Adam Zampa, Cooper Connolly.

IND vs AUS Champions Trophy 2025: All you need to know, check live streaming, head-to-head, stats, pitch report, squad

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/beth-mooney">Beth Mooney</a> delivered a scintillating unbeaten knock of 96 as the Gujarat Giants thrashed UP Warriorz by 81 runs in a one-sided <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/womens-premier-league">Women's Premier League</a> (WPL) clash on Monday. Mooney fell just short of what could have been the season&rsquo;s first century, but her explosive 59-ball innings, laced with 17 boundaries, propelled the Gujarat Giants to a formidable 186/5.</p>
<p>In response, UP Warriorz crumbled under pressure, managing only 105 in 17.1 overs. The crushing defeat saw them slip from third to fifth in the points table, while Gujarat Giants climbed from the bottom to second place.</p>
<p>Chasing 187, UP Warriorz suffered a disastrous start, slumping to 36/5 by the eighth over. Their batters struggled against the Giants' disciplined bowling attack, failing to mount any resistance.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/legendary-mumbai-spinner-padmakar-shivalkar-dies-aged-84-8775423">Legendary Mumbai spinner Padmakar Shivalkar dies aged 84</a></strong></p>
<p>Deandra Dottin (2/14) set the tone with two crucial wickets in the very first over, dismissing Kiran Navgire and Georgia Voll for ducks. Kashvee Gautam (3/11), Meghna Singh (1/21), Tanuja Kanwar (3/17), and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ashleigh-gardner" rel="dofollow">Ashleigh Gardner</a> (1/9) further dismantled the fragile batting lineup.</p>
<p>Grace Harris was the only specialist batter to make an impact, scoring 25 off 30 balls, while Vrinda Dinesh (1), captain Deepti Sharma (6), and Shweta Sehrawat (5) failed to contribute meaningfully. A late 14-ball 28 from Chinelle Henry and a 17-run effort from Uma Chetry reduced the margin of defeat but could not prevent UPW&rsquo;s collapse.</p>
<p>Earlier, the Gujarat Giants posted a competitive total, thanks to Mooney&rsquo;s commanding innings. The left-handed Australian anchored the innings, forming a crucial 101-run partnership with Harleen Deol (45 off 32 balls, six fours) after an early setback with the dismissal of Dayalan Hemalatha (2).</p>
<p>Mooney&rsquo;s aggressive stroke play saw her dispatch boundaries at will, but she was left stranded on 96, falling just short of a well-deserved century. With 10 runs needed for the milestone in the final over, she could only manage five.</p>
<p>Sophie Ecclestone (2/34) was the standout bowler for UP Warriorz, taking the key wickets of Deol and the dangerous Deandra Dottin (17).</p>

Cricket, Sports: UP Warriorz only managed 105 in 17.1 overs. The defeat saw them slip from third to fifth in the points table, while Gujarat Giants climbed to second place

Beth Mooney delivered a scintillating unbeaten knock of 96 as the Gujarat Giants thrashed UP Warriorz by 81 runs in a one-sided Women's Premier League (WPL) clash on Monday. Mooney fell just short of what could have been the season’s first century, but her explosive 59-ball innings, laced with 17 boundaries, propelled the Gujarat Giants to a formidable 186/5. In response, UP Warriorz crumbled under pressure, managing only 105 in 17.1 overs. The crushing defeat saw them slip from third to fifth in the points table, while Gujarat Giants climbed from the bottom to second place. Chasing 187, UP Warriorz suffered a disastrous start, slumping to 36/5 by the eighth over. Their batters struggled against the Giants' disciplined bowling attack, failing to mount any resistance. Also Read: Legendary Mumbai spinner Padmakar Shivalkar dies aged 84 Deandra Dottin (2/14) set the tone with two crucial wickets in the very first over, dismissing Kiran Navgire and Georgia Voll for ducks. Kashvee Gautam (3/11), Meghna Singh (1/21), Tanuja Kanwar (3/17), and Ashleigh Gardner (1/9) further dismantled the fragile batting lineup. Grace Harris was the only specialist batter to make an impact, scoring 25 off 30 balls, while Vrinda Dinesh (1), captain Deepti Sharma (6), and Shweta Sehrawat (5) failed to contribute meaningfully. A late 14-ball 28 from Chinelle Henry and a 17-run effort from Uma Chetry reduced the margin of defeat but could not prevent UPW’s collapse. Earlier, the Gujarat Giants posted a competitive total, thanks to Mooney’s commanding innings. The left-handed Australian anchored the innings, forming a crucial 101-run partnership with Harleen Deol (45 off 32 balls, six fours) after an early setback with the dismissal of Dayalan Hemalatha (2). Mooney’s aggressive stroke play saw her dispatch boundaries at will, but she was left stranded on 96, falling just short of a well-deserved century. With 10 runs needed for the milestone in the final over, she could only manage five. Sophie Ecclestone (2/34) was the standout bowler for UP Warriorz, taking the key wickets of Deol and the dangerous Deandra Dottin (17).

WPL 2025: Beth Mooney smashes 96 not out as Gujarat Giants thrash UP Warriorz

<p><span>Former <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ranji-trophy">Ranji Trophy</a> star and stalwart of Mumbai Maidan cricket, Padmar Shivalkar, passed away due to age-related issues in Mumbai on Monday (March 3), the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) informed.</span></p>
<p><span>He was 84 and considered one of the best players not to have played for the national team. </span><span>Born on September 14, 1940, Shivalkar was a left-arm spinner who served Mumbai cricket with distinction in a two-decade-long career.</span></p>
<p><span>Shivalkar was unlucky not to be selected for the Indian Test side, as his career coincided with that of the legendary <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/bishan-singh-bedi">Bishan Singh Bedi</a>. He did a tour with an Indian team to Sri Lanka in 1973&ndash;74, playing in both matches and taking four wickets. But the matches were considered unofficial Tests.</span></p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-countering-indias-spin-attack-on-a-dry-wicket-will-be-key-says-australia-skipper-steve-smith-8775228">Champions Trophy 2025: &lsquo;Countering India&rsquo;s spin attack on a dry wicket will be key,&rsquo; says Australia skipper Steve Smith</a></strong></p>
<p><span>"Mumbai cricket has lost a true legend today. Padmakar Shivalkar Sir's contribution to the game, especially as one of the finest spinners of all time, will always be remembered. His dedication, skill, and impact on Mumbai cricket are unparalleled. His passing is an irreplaceable loss to the cricketing fraternity. May his soul rest in peace," the MCA said in a condolence message on Monday.</span></p>
<h2><span>Stellar record</span></h2>
<p><span>Shivalkar, revered in Mumbai cricket as Paddy sir, played 124 first-class matches before he retired at the age of 50, claiming 569 wickets at an average of 19.69. He had 43 five-wicket hauls and had taken 10 wickets in a match on 13 occasions. He had best bowling figures of 8-16 against Tamil Nadu in the 1972-73 Ranji Trophy season. He still holds the record for being the highest wicket-taker for Mumbai in domestic cricket.</span></p>
<p><span>Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/eknath-shinde">Eknath Shinde</a> mourned his demise on X and wrote, &ldquo;The news of the demise of former Mumbai cricketer Padmakar Shiwalkar is very sad. With his left-arm orthodox bowling, he had shown the way to many veteran batsmen. With his demise, a star has been lost in the cricket world. May God grant his soul eternal peace and give his family and fans the strength to overcome this grief. Heartfelt condolence.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span>Former Karnataka and India pacer Dodda Ganesh also paid rich tributes to the stalwart cricketer. </span><span>"Padmalkar Shivalkar sir was definitely one of the greatest cricketers who should've played for India. Nonetheless, he's still the legend of the game. Rest in peace, sir, your contribution to the game of cricket is huge. Thoughts and prayers," said Ganesh.</span></p>
<p><span>In 2016, Shivalkar was awarded the C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honour conferred by BCCI on a former player.</span></p>

Cricket, Sports: Shivalkar was unlucky not to be selected for the Indian Test side as his career coincided with that of the legendary Bishan Singh Bedi.

Former Ranji Trophy star and stalwart of Mumbai Maidan cricket, Padmar Shivalkar, passed away due to age-related issues in Mumbai on Monday (March 3), the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) informed. He was 84 and considered one of the best players not to have played for the national team. Born on September 14, 1940, Shivalkar was a left-arm spinner who served Mumbai cricket with distinction in a two-decade-long career. Shivalkar was unlucky not to be selected for the Indian Test side, as his career coincided with that of the legendary Bishan Singh Bedi. He did a tour with an Indian team to Sri Lanka in 1973–74, playing in both matches and taking four wickets. But the matches were considered unofficial Tests. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: ‘Countering India’s spin attack on a dry wicket will be key,’ says Australia skipper Steve Smith "Mumbai cricket has lost a true legend today. Padmakar Shivalkar Sir's contribution to the game, especially as one of the finest spinners of all time, will always be remembered. His dedication, skill, and impact on Mumbai cricket are unparalleled. His passing is an irreplaceable loss to the cricketing fraternity. May his soul rest in peace," the MCA said in a condolence message on Monday. Stellar record Shivalkar, revered in Mumbai cricket as Paddy sir, played 124 first-class matches before he retired at the age of 50, claiming 569 wickets at an average of 19.69. He had 43 five-wicket hauls and had taken 10 wickets in a match on 13 occasions. He had best bowling figures of 8-16 against Tamil Nadu in the 1972-73 Ranji Trophy season. He still holds the record for being the highest wicket-taker for Mumbai in domestic cricket. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde mourned his demise on X and wrote, “The news of the demise of former Mumbai cricketer Padmakar Shiwalkar is very sad. With his left-arm orthodox bowling, he had shown the way to many veteran batsmen. With his demise, a star has been lost in the cricket world. May God grant his soul eternal peace and give his family and fans the strength to overcome this grief. Heartfelt condolence.” Former Karnataka and India pacer Dodda Ganesh also paid rich tributes to the stalwart cricketer. "Padmalkar Shivalkar sir was definitely one of the greatest cricketers who should've played for India. Nonetheless, he's still the legend of the game. Rest in peace, sir, your contribution to the game of cricket is huge. Thoughts and prayers," said Ganesh. In 2016, Shivalkar was awarded the C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honour conferred by BCCI on a former player.

Legendary Mumbai spinner Padmakar Shivalkar dies aged 84

<p>Australia captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/steve-smith">Steve Smith</a> has acknowledged the challenge of facing India's spin-heavy attack on a dry pitch in Dubai ahead of their Champions Trophy semi-final. He said that his team&rsquo;s success will largely depend on how they tackle India&rsquo;s spinners.</p>
<p>India, fielding four spinners in their last group-stage match against New Zealand, secured a 44-run win by choking the Kiwi batting lineup. Smith, aware of the threat posed by India&rsquo;s spin attack, admitted that countering them effectively will be crucial.</p>
<p>"I think it&rsquo;s not just about Chakravarthy; the rest of their spinners are quality as well. The key for us will be how we handle their spin," Smith said on the eve of the semi-final. "There&rsquo;s going to be some turn, and we have to find ways to counter that. We&rsquo;ve got a few plans, and we&rsquo;ll see how they play out tomorrow."</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/who-is-sonali-pandey-appointed-as-team-doctor-for-the-australian-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-hoh-cricket-team-8775168">Who is Sonali Pandey? Appointed as team doctor for the Australian deaf and hard of hearing (HoH) cricket team</a></strong></p>
<p>One of Australia&rsquo;s key weapons, opener <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/travis-head">Travis Head</a>, has a strong record in knockout games, and Smith hopes he can deliver again.</p>
<p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s always pressure in big games, but Travis has stepped up many times before. He looked in great touch against Afghanistan, and I&rsquo;m sure he&rsquo;ll come out with the same aggressive intent. Hopefully, he can make an impact early on.&rdquo;</p>
<p>While India have played all their matches in Dubai, giving them familiarity with the conditions, Smith downplayed any advantage.</p>
<p>&ldquo;They have seen the conditions firsthand, but I&rsquo;m not sure if it&rsquo;s an advantage. The square block is quite dry, and we&rsquo;ve seen how the wickets play here,&rdquo; he said.</p>
<h2>'We have variety of options'</h2>
<p>Australia&rsquo;s preparation was slightly disrupted after their last league match against Afghanistan was rained out, forcing them to wait on India&rsquo;s result to confirm their semifinal venue. However, Smith saw a silver lining.</p>
<p>"It worked out well for us. If we had waited for last night&rsquo;s result, we would have flown in today and played tomorrow without training on the surface. Instead, we got two days to prepare and adapt to the conditions."</p>
<p>Smith also expressed confidence in Australia&rsquo;s spin options, mentioning all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/glenn-maxwell">Glenn Maxwell</a> and Cooper Connolly as potential contributors.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We have a variety of options. Maxwell is there, and although Matthew Short&rsquo;s absence is a loss, he bowled well in the last game. Connolly is another option, and we have part-timers who can play a role.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The Australian squad is missing key pacers like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, but Smith praised the replacements for stepping up.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re without some experienced bowlers, but the guys who have come in have done well. This tournament has been a great opportunity for them to gain international exposure. Hopefully, they can deliver another strong performance and take us to the final,&rdquo; he signed off.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: One of Australia’s key weapons, opener Travis Head, has a strong record in knockout games, and Smith hopes he can deliver again

Australia captain Steve Smith has acknowledged the challenge of facing India's spin-heavy attack on a dry pitch in Dubai ahead of their Champions Trophy semi-final. He said that his team’s success will largely depend on how they tackle India’s spinners. India, fielding four spinners in their last group-stage match against New Zealand, secured a 44-run win by choking the Kiwi batting lineup. Smith, aware of the threat posed by India’s spin attack, admitted that countering them effectively will be crucial. "I think it’s not just about Chakravarthy; the rest of their spinners are quality as well. The key for us will be how we handle their spin," Smith said on the eve of the semi-final. "There’s going to be some turn, and we have to find ways to counter that. We’ve got a few plans, and we’ll see how they play out tomorrow." Also Read: Who is Sonali Pandey? Appointed as team doctor for the Australian deaf and hard of hearing (HoH) cricket team One of Australia’s key weapons, opener Travis Head, has a strong record in knockout games, and Smith hopes he can deliver again. “There’s always pressure in big games, but Travis has stepped up many times before. He looked in great touch against Afghanistan, and I’m sure he’ll come out with the same aggressive intent. Hopefully, he can make an impact early on.” While India have played all their matches in Dubai, giving them familiarity with the conditions, Smith downplayed any advantage. “They have seen the conditions firsthand, but I’m not sure if it’s an advantage. The square block is quite dry, and we’ve seen how the wickets play here,” he said. 'We have variety of options' Australia’s preparation was slightly disrupted after their last league match against Afghanistan was rained out, forcing them to wait on India’s result to confirm their semifinal venue. However, Smith saw a silver lining. "It worked out well for us. If we had waited for last night’s result, we would have flown in today and played tomorrow without training on the surface. Instead, we got two days to prepare and adapt to the conditions." Smith also expressed confidence in Australia’s spin options, mentioning all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and Cooper Connolly as potential contributors. “We have a variety of options. Maxwell is there, and although Matthew Short’s absence is a loss, he bowled well in the last game. Connolly is another option, and we have part-timers who can play a role.” The Australian squad is missing key pacers like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, but Smith praised the replacements for stepping up. “We’re without some experienced bowlers, but the guys who have come in have done well. This tournament has been a great opportunity for them to gain international exposure. Hopefully, they can deliver another strong performance and take us to the final,” he signed off. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy 2025: ‘Countering India’s spin attack on a dry wicket will be key,’ says Australia skipper Steve Smith

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span>Dr. Sonali Pandey, an orthopedic surgeon and sports and exercise medicine specialist, has been appointed as the team doctor for the Australian Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) cricket team. She is currently accompanying the squad on their tour of India for the upcoming T20 and ODI tri-series.</span></p>
<p><span>An alumnus of Somalwar High School and Indira Gandhi Government Medical College &amp; Hospital, Dr. Sonali holds three master&rsquo;s degrees in her field, demonstrating her remarkable academic credentials. She has over 25 years of experience in orthopedics and traumatology, specialising in musculoskeletal problems, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sports-injuries">sports injuries</a>, arthritis, and stress-related injuries. She has earned qualifications from India, the UK, Australia, and the US, making her a highly accomplished professional in her field.</span></p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-ex-spinner-kumble-says-varun-got-opportunity-because-india-qualified-for-semis-8775071">Champions Trophy: Ex-spinner Kumble says Varun got 'opportunity because India qualified for semis'</a></strong></p>
<h2><span>Making her own path</span></h2>
<p><span>Dr. Sonali&rsquo;s journey has been unique and inspiring. Coming from a family of orthopedic surgeons&mdash;her father, Dr. Sudhir Babhulkar, her brother, Dr. Sushrut Babhulkar, and her husband, Dr. Ketan Pandey&mdash;she has forged her own path.</span></p>
<p><span>Serving as the team physician for a deaf cricket team poses distinct challenges. Many players have cochlear implants, which allow them to hear in daily life, but these devices must be removed during matches, increasing the risk of collisions and injuries. In a regular game, fielders communicate through verbal calls to avoid crashes, but for deaf players, such coordination is not possible. This makes Dr. Sonali&rsquo;s role crucial in handling injuries and ensuring optimal recovery for the athletes.</span></p>
<p><span>A sign language interpreter travels with the team to bridge communication gaps between players and support staff. Dr. Sonali finds working with the team both challenging and enriching, as she learns from the players while applying her expertise to help them maintain peak performance.</span></p>
<p><span>The Australian Deaf and Hard of Hearing team is competing against India and South Africa in the tri-series at Karnal Cricket Stadium, New Delhi, from March 2 to March 8, followed by a three-match ODI series between India and Australia from March 10 to March 12. Dr. Sonali also acknowledged the efforts of the Indian Deaf Cricket Association in promoting the sport within the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.</span></p>
<p><span>Her appointment as the team physician has drawn admiration, particularly in India, where many were surprised to see an Indian woman in such a high role. However, Dr. Sonali remains focused on her journey, determined to continue growing in her field and making a difference in the world of sports medicine.</span></p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

Cricket, Sports: An alumnus of Somalwar School and Indira Gandhi Government Medical College & Hospital, Sonali boasts an impressive academic record

Dr. Sonali Pandey, an orthopedic surgeon and sports and exercise medicine specialist, has been appointed as the team doctor for the Australian Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) cricket team. She is currently accompanying the squad on their tour of India for the upcoming T20 and ODI tri-series. An alumnus of Somalwar High School and Indira Gandhi Government Medical College & Hospital, Dr. Sonali holds three master’s degrees in her field, demonstrating her remarkable academic credentials. She has over 25 years of experience in orthopedics and traumatology, specialising in musculoskeletal problems, sports injuries, arthritis, and stress-related injuries. She has earned qualifications from India, the UK, Australia, and the US, making her a highly accomplished professional in her field. Also Read: Champions Trophy: Ex-spinner Kumble says Varun got 'opportunity because India qualified for semis' Making her own path Dr. Sonali’s journey has been unique and inspiring. Coming from a family of orthopedic surgeons—her father, Dr. Sudhir Babhulkar, her brother, Dr. Sushrut Babhulkar, and her husband, Dr. Ketan Pandey—she has forged her own path. Serving as the team physician for a deaf cricket team poses distinct challenges. Many players have cochlear implants, which allow them to hear in daily life, but these devices must be removed during matches, increasing the risk of collisions and injuries. In a regular game, fielders communicate through verbal calls to avoid crashes, but for deaf players, such coordination is not possible. This makes Dr. Sonali’s role crucial in handling injuries and ensuring optimal recovery for the athletes. A sign language interpreter travels with the team to bridge communication gaps between players and support staff. Dr. Sonali finds working with the team both challenging and enriching, as she learns from the players while applying her expertise to help them maintain peak performance. The Australian Deaf and Hard of Hearing team is competing against India and South Africa in the tri-series at Karnal Cricket Stadium, New Delhi, from March 2 to March 8, followed by a three-match ODI series between India and Australia from March 10 to March 12. Dr. Sonali also acknowledged the efforts of the Indian Deaf Cricket Association in promoting the sport within the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Her appointment as the team physician has drawn admiration, particularly in India, where many were surprised to see an Indian woman in such a high role. However, Dr. Sonali remains focused on her journey, determined to continue growing in her field and making a difference in the world of sports medicine. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Sonali Pandey? Appointed as team doctor for the Australian deaf and hard of hearing (HoH) cricket team

<p>Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday lashed out at Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed for questioning India captain Rohit Sharma's captaincy and fitness levels, terming it "deeply shameful" and "outright pathetic."&nbsp;</p>
<p>Her remarks came after Rohit was dismissed for 15 runs off 17 balls during India's Champions Trophy match against New Zealand on Sunday.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-ex-spinner-kumble-says-varun-got-opportunity-because-india-qualified-for-semis-8775071">Ex-spinner Kumble says Varun got 'opportunity because India qualified for semis'</a></p>
<p>Training his gun on the Congress spokesperson, Mandaviya wrote on 'X', "Congress and TMC should leave sports persons alone as they are fully capable of handling their professional lives." <br><br>"Remarks made by leaders from these parties, indulging in body shaming and questioning an athlete's place in the team, are not only deeply shameful but also outright pathetic."&nbsp;</p>
<p>In the midst of the widespread backlash that Shama Mohamed's remark on the T20 World Cup winning captain drew, Mandaviya added, "Such comments undermine the hard work and sacrifices that our sports persons make to represent the country on the global stage." Shama caused a stir on social media with her controversial post directed at the Indian captain.</p>
<p>Acknowledging her comments were out of line, Congress asked Shama to delete the post from her 'X' account.</p>
<p>In her now-deleted post, Shama wrote, "Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had!" India have reached the semifinals of the Champions Trophy and play Australia in the semifinal in Dubai on Tuesday. They beat New Zealand by 44 runs on Sunday to top their group.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, former India seamer Venkatesh Prasad also slammed Shama.</p>
<p>"Rohit has maintained great dignity as a captain, led us to a T20 WC win 8 months back, and in the middle of an ICC tournament, body-shaming him is absolutely pathetic and uncalled for," Prasad tweeted.</p>
<p>"Should have some respect for a person who has achieved through his skills and leadership for so many years," Prasad added.</p>
<p>BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia also criticised Shama for "such a trivial comment" in the middle of the national team's Champions Trophy campaign.</p>
<p>"Very unfortunate for a responsible person to pass such a trivial comment when the team is in the midst of such a marquee ICC tournament. It may have demoralizing effect on an individual or the team," Saikia told PTI.</p>
<p>"All the players are performing to their highest potential and results are visible. I hope individuals shall desist from making such derogatory statements for personal publicity sake at the cost of National Interest," he added.</p>
<p><em><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Shama Mohamed's remarks came after Rohit was dismissed for 15 runs off 17 balls during India's Champions Trophy match against New Zealand on Sunday. Cricket Sports

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday lashed out at Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed for questioning India captain Rohit Sharma's captaincy and fitness levels, terming it "deeply shameful" and "outright pathetic." Her remarks came after Rohit was dismissed for 15 runs off 17 balls during India's Champions Trophy match against New Zealand on Sunday. Also Read: Ex-spinner Kumble says Varun got 'opportunity because India qualified for semis' Training his gun on the Congress spokesperson, Mandaviya wrote on 'X', "Congress and TMC should leave sports persons alone as they are fully capable of handling their professional lives." "Remarks made by leaders from these parties, indulging in body shaming and questioning an athlete's place in the team, are not only deeply shameful but also outright pathetic." In the midst of the widespread backlash that Shama Mohamed's remark on the T20 World Cup winning captain drew, Mandaviya added, "Such comments undermine the hard work and sacrifices that our sports persons make to represent the country on the global stage." Shama caused a stir on social media with her controversial post directed at the Indian captain. Acknowledging her comments were out of line, Congress asked Shama to delete the post from her 'X' account. In her now-deleted post, Shama wrote, "Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had!" India have reached the semifinals of the Champions Trophy and play Australia in the semifinal in Dubai on Tuesday. They beat New Zealand by 44 runs on Sunday to top their group. Meanwhile, former India seamer Venkatesh Prasad also slammed Shama. "Rohit has maintained great dignity as a captain, led us to a T20 WC win 8 months back, and in the middle of an ICC tournament, body-shaming him is absolutely pathetic and uncalled for," Prasad tweeted. "Should have some respect for a person who has achieved through his skills and leadership for so many years," Prasad added. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia also criticised Shama for "such a trivial comment" in the middle of the national team's Champions Trophy campaign. "Very unfortunate for a responsible person to pass such a trivial comment when the team is in the midst of such a marquee ICC tournament. It may have demoralizing effect on an individual or the team," Saikia told PTI. "All the players are performing to their highest potential and results are visible. I hope individuals shall desist from making such derogatory statements for personal publicity sake at the cost of National Interest," he added. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya slams Cong's Shama Mohamed for remarks on Rohit Sharma

<p>Former India spinner Anil Kumble believes that Varun Chakaravarthy got an opportunity because India had already qualified for the semis in the Champions Trophy. Kumble, however, acknowledged that Varun has consistently won the matches for India in the last 18 months or so.</p>
<p>"I think Varun has been exceptional in the last 1-1.5 years, consistently winning matches for whichever team he has played for, whether it's Tamil Nadu or KKR or for India in T20Is," Kumble said while speaking on ESPNcricinfo Match Day on Mar 2 during the India vs New Zealand game.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"And now, today, getting an opportunity [in ODIs], because obviously India had already qualified," he added.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-i-always-believe-former-coach-shastri-backs-varun-to-come-good-in-semis-8774663">'I always believe...,' former coach Shastri backs Varun to come good in semis</a></p>
<p>India played four spinners in their last group match in Dubai, their venue for the tournament, and defended 249 runs. Each of India's spinners took a wicket, with Varun taking 5/42 as India won the match by 44 runs.</p>
<p>Kumble also acknowledged that the conditions and pitch in Dubai favours India for the semi-final against Australia on March 4 and the final as well, if India make it.</p>
<p>"But going by the pitch and the conditions perhaps for the semi-final and hopefully for India, the final, this certainly augurs well."</p>
<p>"And if this is the kind of pitch India will continue to play on in Dubai, then this four-pronged spin attack would be really a challenge for any team. Australia would find it extremely difficult to manoeuvre these four spinners," said the former coach and Test skipper.</p>
<p>Dubai was selected as the venue after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided not to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the tournament due to political tensions.</p>
<p>Post multiple rounds of talks with all the participating teams, the ICC, PCB, and BCCI agreed upon hosting the tournament under a hybrid model.</p>

Champions Trophy: Ex-India spinner Anil Kumble acknowledged that Varun Chakaravarthy has consistently won the matches for India in last 18 months or so. Cricket Sports

Former India spinner Anil Kumble believes that Varun Chakaravarthy got an opportunity because India had already qualified for the semis in the Champions Trophy. Kumble, however, acknowledged that Varun has consistently won the matches for India in the last 18 months or so. "I think Varun has been exceptional in the last 1-1.5 years, consistently winning matches for whichever team he has played for, whether it's Tamil Nadu or KKR or for India in T20Is," Kumble said while speaking on ESPNcricinfo Match Day on Mar 2 during the India vs New Zealand game. "And now, today, getting an opportunity [in ODIs], because obviously India had already qualified," he added. Also Read: 'I always believe...,' former coach Shastri backs Varun to come good in semis India played four spinners in their last group match in Dubai, their venue for the tournament, and defended 249 runs. Each of India's spinners took a wicket, with Varun taking 5/42 as India won the match by 44 runs. Kumble also acknowledged that the conditions and pitch in Dubai favours India for the semi-final against Australia on March 4 and the final as well, if India make it. "But going by the pitch and the conditions perhaps for the semi-final and hopefully for India, the final, this certainly augurs well." "And if this is the kind of pitch India will continue to play on in Dubai, then this four-pronged spin attack would be really a challenge for any team. Australia would find it extremely difficult to manoeuvre these four spinners," said the former coach and Test skipper. Dubai was selected as the venue after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided not to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the tournament due to political tensions. Post multiple rounds of talks with all the participating teams, the ICC, PCB, and BCCI agreed upon hosting the tournament under a hybrid model.

Champions Trophy: Ex-spinner Kumble says Varun got 'opportunity because India qualified for semis'

<p>Australia&rsquo;s journey in the ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> 2025 semi-finals has been a tale of resilience, grit, and a bit of fortune. Despite losing key players before the tournament, they have showcased their trademark fighting spirit, scripting a historic run chase against England before rain played its part in their remaining group games. Now, with a place in the final on the line, Australia will lock horns with India in a high-stakes semi-final in Dubai, eyeing yet another ICC title. <span>As they gear up for the knockout battle, WION takes a closer look at their&nbsp; journey so far in the tournament.</span></p>
<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-recapping-indias-road-to-semi-finals-8774865">Champions Trophy 2025: Recapping India's road to semi-finals</a></strong></p>
<h2>Huge win over England</h2>
<p>Their tournament got off to a thrilling start against England, where they chased down 352 - the highest-ever successful chase in history of Champions Trophy. In the first innings, Ben Dwarshuis, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/adam-zampa">Adam Zampa</a> and Marnus Labuschagne all collected multiple scalps, but <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ben-duckett">Ben Duckett</a>'s indomitable 165 powered England to 351/8 from their 50 overs.</p>
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<p>Australia faltered early in the chase, before Matthew Short and Alex Carey steadied things with half-centuries. But the hero was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/josh-inglis">Josh Inglis</a>, whose game-changing 120 not oout propelled the Aussies over the line in Lahore.</p>
<h2>Rain plays spoilsport vs South Africa</h2>
<p>Their match against South Africa was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to persistent rain in Rawalpindi, leading to both the team sharing points.</p>
<h2>Australia vs Afghanistan - Match abandoned</h2>
<p>And then a subsequent rain-affected game against Afghanistan added a point to their bag, sealing their semi-final spot at another marquee ICC event.&nbsp;Afghanistan posted a total of 273 runs on the board from their 50 overs and Australia looked set to chase it at 109/1 in 12.5 overs, before play was abandoned in Lahore.</p>
<p>They will now face India in a cut-throat semi-final in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4), with the winner advancing to the tournament decider on Sunday (March 9).</p>

Sports, Cricket: Despite losing key players, they have showcased their fighting spirit, scripting a historic run chase vsEngland before rain affected their remaining group games

Australia’s journey in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals has been a tale of resilience, grit, and a bit of fortune. Despite losing key players before the tournament, they have showcased their trademark fighting spirit, scripting a historic run chase against England before rain played its part in their remaining group games. Now, with a place in the final on the line, Australia will lock horns with India in a high-stakes semi-final in Dubai, eyeing yet another ICC title. As they gear up for the knockout battle, WION takes a closer look at their journey so far in the tournament. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Recapping India's road to semi-finals Huge win over England Their tournament got off to a thrilling start against England, where they chased down 352 - the highest-ever successful chase in history of Champions Trophy. In the first innings, Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Zampa and Marnus Labuschagne all collected multiple scalps, but Ben Duckett's indomitable 165 powered England to 351/8 from their 50 overs. Australia faltered early in the chase, before Matthew Short and Alex Carey steadied things with half-centuries. But the hero was Josh Inglis, whose game-changing 120 not oout propelled the Aussies over the line in Lahore. Rain plays spoilsport vs South Africa Their match against South Africa was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to persistent rain in Rawalpindi, leading to both the team sharing points. Australia vs Afghanistan - Match abandoned And then a subsequent rain-affected game against Afghanistan added a point to their bag, sealing their semi-final spot at another marquee ICC event. Afghanistan posted a total of 273 runs on the board from their 50 overs and Australia looked set to chase it at 109/1 in 12.5 overs, before play was abandoned in Lahore. They will now face India in a cut-throat semi-final in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4), with the winner advancing to the tournament decider on Sunday (March 9).

Champions Trophy 2025: Recapping Australia’s road to semi-finals

<p>India has stamped its authority in the ongoing ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> 2025, cruising through the group stage unbeaten. With three clinical wins under their belt, the Men in Blue have set the stage for a high-stakes semi-final clash against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4).</p>
<p>From a fiery opening win against Bangladesh to a high-voltage triumph over arch-rivals Pakistan and a commanding performance against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma's men have showcased a perfect blend of skill, depth, and resilience. As they gear up for the knockout battle, WION takes a closer look at their dominant journey so far.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-i-always-believe-former-coach-shastri-backs-varun-to-come-good-in-semis-8774663">Champions Trophy: 'I always believe...,' former coach Shastri backs Varun to come good in semis</a></strong></p>
<h2>Beat Bangladesh by six wickets</h2>
<p>India's tournament opener saw them prevail in a tight contest against Bangladesh in Dubai, registering a sizzling six-wicket win to begin their campaign on a winning note.&nbsp;Pacer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mohammed-shami">Mohammed Shami</a>'s impressive 5/53, combined with three wickets from Harshit Rana and two from Axar Patel, restricted Bangladesh to 228.</p>
<p>Shubman Gill's unbeaten 101*, combined with stylish knocks from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, ensured smooth sailing for India as they chased down the total with 21 balls to spare.</p>
<h2>Dominant win over arch-rivals</h2>
<p>In their high-voltage clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, India displayed their all-round prowess by chasing down 241 runs with six wickets in hand yet again.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kuldeep-yadav">Kuldeep Yadav</a> weaved his magic for the Indian side by taking three crucial wickets to bundle out Pakistan for 241 in 49.4 overs. Shubman Gill (46) and Shreyas Iyer (56) came in handy with some crucial knocks, but the age-old rivalry was marked primarily by a Virat Kohli masterclass that saw him score an unbeaten 100 to steer India to victory.</p>
<h2>Beat New Zealand by 44 runs</h2>
<p>A different challenge for Rohit Sharma's side in the form of New Zealand, with the winner staying unbeaten in the tournament and earning top spot in Group A.</p>
<p>New Zealand's bowlers did well to restrict India's batting line-up, with Shreyas Iyer (79) and Hardik Pandya (45) leading the way as the Men in Blue posted a competitive total of 249/9 after they were put to bat first.</p>
<p>It was a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/varun-chakaravarthy">Varun Chakravarthy</a> show in reply, with the spinner claiming an impressive five-wicket haul to help bowl New Zealand bundle out for 205 in reply as India progressed through to the final four with their unbeaten record intact.</p>

Cricket, Sports: Three dominating wins from as many matches have India in fine form ahead of their knockout semi-final against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4)

India has stamped its authority in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, cruising through the group stage unbeaten. With three clinical wins under their belt, the Men in Blue have set the stage for a high-stakes semi-final clash against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4). From a fiery opening win against Bangladesh to a high-voltage triumph over arch-rivals Pakistan and a commanding performance against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma's men have showcased a perfect blend of skill, depth, and resilience. As they gear up for the knockout battle, WION takes a closer look at their dominant journey so far. Also Read: Champions Trophy: 'I always believe...,' former coach Shastri backs Varun to come good in semis Beat Bangladesh by six wickets India's tournament opener saw them prevail in a tight contest against Bangladesh in Dubai, registering a sizzling six-wicket win to begin their campaign on a winning note. Pacer Mohammed Shami's impressive 5/53, combined with three wickets from Harshit Rana and two from Axar Patel, restricted Bangladesh to 228. Shubman Gill's unbeaten 101*, combined with stylish knocks from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, ensured smooth sailing for India as they chased down the total with 21 balls to spare. Dominant win over arch-rivals In their high-voltage clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, India displayed their all-round prowess by chasing down 241 runs with six wickets in hand yet again. Kuldeep Yadav weaved his magic for the Indian side by taking three crucial wickets to bundle out Pakistan for 241 in 49.4 overs. Shubman Gill (46) and Shreyas Iyer (56) came in handy with some crucial knocks, but the age-old rivalry was marked primarily by a Virat Kohli masterclass that saw him score an unbeaten 100 to steer India to victory. Beat New Zealand by 44 runs A different challenge for Rohit Sharma's side in the form of New Zealand, with the winner staying unbeaten in the tournament and earning top spot in Group A. New Zealand's bowlers did well to restrict India's batting line-up, with Shreyas Iyer (79) and Hardik Pandya (45) leading the way as the Men in Blue posted a competitive total of 249/9 after they were put to bat first. It was a Varun Chakravarthy show in reply, with the spinner claiming an impressive five-wicket haul to help bowl New Zealand bundle out for 205 in reply as India progressed through to the final four with their unbeaten record intact.

Champions Trophy 2025: Recapping India's road to semi-finals

<p>Former India coach Ravi Shastri has lauded the team management for giving spinner Varun Chakaravarthy an opportunity at the right time in the Champions Trophy. Varun took a five-for in India's 44-run win against New Zealand on Mar 2 in Dubai.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Very impressed with him (Chakravarthy), and full marks to the think tank and the team management for making the right choice because he&rsquo;s someone who will get you wickets in the middle overs.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the right time to unleash him. They brought him into the side; he&rsquo;s got a five-wicket haul, and I think he&rsquo;s there to stay,&rdquo; Shastri said in a video posted by the ICC on Instagram.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-india-spinner-varun-reveals-he-wanted-to-be-an-architect-or-make-movies-before-taking-cricket-at-26-8773470">Varun started playing cricket at 26, before that he wanted to be 'an architect or make movies'</a></p>
<p>&ldquo;If you see his current form, and I always believe in current form &ndash; it&rsquo;s vital and when you look at his body language, his self-confidence and his own ability and when you look at oppositions like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa that are left in this tournament, not many sides have played too much of him or seen enough of him,&rdquo; Shastri added.</p>
<p>The spinner has been a late inclusion in the India squad after his sensational performance in T20Is against England prior to the tournament.</p>
<p>Varun made his ODI debut against England, which followed the T20Is, before being included in the Champions Trophy squad. The mystery spinner sat out the first two games but was given a chance against New Zealand and proved his worth.</p>
<p>His performance in Dubai came full circle after the debacle in the 2021 T20 World Cup, due to which he was dropped from the side before making a comeback last year.</p>
<p>It'll now be interesting to see the playing XI India select for the semi-final game against Australia on Mar 4 in Dubai because a bowler can't sit out after taking a five-for in only his second ODI.</p>

The spinner has been a late inclusion in the India squad after his sensational performance in T20Is against England prior to the tournament. Cricket Sports

Former India coach Ravi Shastri has lauded the team management for giving spinner Varun Chakaravarthy an opportunity at the right time in the Champions Trophy. Varun took a five-for in India's 44-run win against New Zealand on Mar 2 in Dubai. “Very impressed with him (Chakravarthy), and full marks to the think tank and the team management for making the right choice because he’s someone who will get you wickets in the middle overs.” “It’s the right time to unleash him. They brought him into the side; he’s got a five-wicket haul, and I think he’s there to stay,” Shastri said in a video posted by the ICC on Instagram. Also Read: Varun started playing cricket at 26, before that he wanted to be 'an architect or make movies' “If you see his current form, and I always believe in current form – it’s vital and when you look at his body language, his self-confidence and his own ability and when you look at oppositions like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa that are left in this tournament, not many sides have played too much of him or seen enough of him,” Shastri added. The spinner has been a late inclusion in the India squad after his sensational performance in T20Is against England prior to the tournament. Varun made his ODI debut against England, which followed the T20Is, before being included in the Champions Trophy squad. The mystery spinner sat out the first two games but was given a chance against New Zealand and proved his worth. His performance in Dubai came full circle after the debacle in the 2021 T20 World Cup, due to which he was dropped from the side before making a comeback last year. It'll now be interesting to see the playing XI India select for the semi-final game against Australia on Mar 4 in Dubai because a bowler can't sit out after taking a five-for in only his second ODI.

Champions Trophy: 'I always believe...,' former coach Shastri backs Varun to come good in semis

<p>Rishabh Pant&rsquo;s unforgettable comeback from a life-threatening car crash to Test glory for India has been recognised with a nomination for the prestigious Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award. Pant will represent both India and the sport of cricket as the world&rsquo;s biggest sports awards celebrates its 25th anniversary.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rishabh-pant">Rishabh Pant</a>&rsquo;s story has more drama than any sports movie script: A national hero and a sporting icon who almost lost everything in an accident; a long and testing road to recovery; and finally a heroic comeback on the biggest stage, cheered on by millions of Indian cricket fans.<br>&nbsp;<br>&ldquo;I felt my time in this world was up,&rdquo; said Pant of the accident in December 2020 on the Delhi-Dehradun highway, in which he had to be pulled from his vehicle before it burst into flames. Pant was fortunate not to lose a leg and suffered multiple critical injuries before beginning a 629-day journey back to Test cricket. The movie script ended in the perfect finale&mdash;on his comeback Test, he scored a match-winning century against Bangladesh, equalling MS Dhoni&rsquo;s record for the most Test hundreds by an Indian wicketkeeper.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-bought-at-base-price-of-inr-150000-veteran-batter-ajinkya-rahane-set-to-lead-kkr-8774095">IPL 2025: Bought at base price of INR 15000000, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane set to lead KKR</a></strong></p>
<p>Reflecting on his nomination for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award, Rishabh Pant said: &ldquo;I have always believed that the biggest virtue of life is to be grateful for everything God has blessed you with. Over the course of my life, I have focused on being positive and happy in every situation, trusting the power of self-belief and resilience to deal with every challenge. When I survived the near fatal car crash, I realised that I have been fortunate to be a blessed soul, which inspired me to work extremely hard to undo everything and return to the pitch as a better version of myself with greater motivation. I knew that my return to normal life was only half the circle of my comeback and I needed to complete the circle by being committed towards my dream of playing for India again. In 2024, I returned to play for the Indian Test team 629 days after the car crash, the year where we also won the ICC T20 World Cup."<br>&nbsp;<br>"Being nominated for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award is very special to me and an acknowledgement to the efforts of everyone involved in my comeback, right from my family, the BCCI, doctors, medical team, support staff, trainers and the fans. This Award is a symbol of inspiration and commitment, represented by some of the greatest stories in sports. Hence, it's an honour for me to be nominated this year," he added.<br>&nbsp;<br>Pant is joined on the shortlist by gymnast Rebeca Andrade who successfully battled through a tortuous struggle with anterior cruciate ligament injuries to win gold in Paris; ski racer Lara Gut-Behrami and swimmer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ariarne-titmus" rel="dofollow">Ariarne Titmus</a>, who defended her Olympic 400m freestyle title shortly after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour on her ovary; Caeleb Dressel, who won two relay golds in the pool in Paris after a break to address his mental health, and Marc M&aacute;rquez, the Spanish Moto GP ace who won three Grands Prix after an arm injury that threatened his career.</p>
<p>Laureus Ambassador and legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh said, &ldquo;I met with Rishabh in March 2023. At that point, he was well on the road to recovery from his injuries, but also still had a way to go. What struck me most was his relentless positivity. We enjoyed a good laugh in each other's company and it was that generosity of spirit and optimism which carried him through &ndash; and saw him cap a remarkable comeback with his return to Test cricket in 2024. He is an example to all sportsmen and women that maintaining a positive approach to injury and setbacks is vital to returning to competitive action.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the list of contenders for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award is a who&rsquo;s who of sporting royalty, including France&rsquo;s Olympic hero L&eacute;on Marchand, tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, pole vaulting great Mondo Duplantis, all-conquering Formula One champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/max-verstappen">Max Verstappen</a>, and Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar.<br><br>The ceremony will take place in Madrid, Spain, on April 21, 2025.</p>

Sports, Cricket: Nominees for the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards are decided after a vote by the world’s sports media. The ceremony will take place in  Madrid, Spain, on April 21

Rishabh Pant’s unforgettable comeback from a life-threatening car crash to Test glory for India has been recognised with a nomination for the prestigious Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award. Pant will represent both India and the sport of cricket as the world’s biggest sports awards celebrates its 25th anniversary. Rishabh Pant’s story has more drama than any sports movie script: A national hero and a sporting icon who almost lost everything in an accident; a long and testing road to recovery; and finally a heroic comeback on the biggest stage, cheered on by millions of Indian cricket fans. “I felt my time in this world was up,” said Pant of the accident in December 2020 on the Delhi-Dehradun highway, in which he had to be pulled from his vehicle before it burst into flames. Pant was fortunate not to lose a leg and suffered multiple critical injuries before beginning a 629-day journey back to Test cricket. The movie script ended in the perfect finale—on his comeback Test, he scored a match-winning century against Bangladesh, equalling MS Dhoni’s record for the most Test hundreds by an Indian wicketkeeper. Also Read: IPL 2025: Bought at base price of INR 15000000, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane set to lead KKR Reflecting on his nomination for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award, Rishabh Pant said: “I have always believed that the biggest virtue of life is to be grateful for everything God has blessed you with. Over the course of my life, I have focused on being positive and happy in every situation, trusting the power of self-belief and resilience to deal with every challenge. When I survived the near fatal car crash, I realised that I have been fortunate to be a blessed soul, which inspired me to work extremely hard to undo everything and return to the pitch as a better version of myself with greater motivation. I knew that my return to normal life was only half the circle of my comeback and I needed to complete the circle by being committed towards my dream of playing for India again. In 2024, I returned to play for the Indian Test team 629 days after the car crash, the year where we also won the ICC T20 World Cup." "Being nominated for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award is very special to me and an acknowledgement to the efforts of everyone involved in my comeback, right from my family, the BCCI, doctors, medical team, support staff, trainers and the fans. This Award is a symbol of inspiration and commitment, represented by some of the greatest stories in sports. Hence, it's an honour for me to be nominated this year," he added. Pant is joined on the shortlist by gymnast Rebeca Andrade who successfully battled through a tortuous struggle with anterior cruciate ligament injuries to win gold in Paris; ski racer Lara Gut-Behrami and swimmer Ariarne Titmus, who defended her Olympic 400m freestyle title shortly after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour on her ovary; Caeleb Dressel, who won two relay golds in the pool in Paris after a break to address his mental health, and Marc Márquez, the Spanish Moto GP ace who won three Grands Prix after an arm injury that threatened his career. Laureus Ambassador and legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh said, “I met with Rishabh in March 2023. At that point, he was well on the road to recovery from his injuries, but also still had a way to go. What struck me most was his relentless positivity. We enjoyed a good laugh in each other's company and it was that generosity of spirit and optimism which carried him through – and saw him cap a remarkable comeback with his return to Test cricket in 2024. He is an example to all sportsmen and women that maintaining a positive approach to injury and setbacks is vital to returning to competitive action.” Meanwhile, the list of contenders for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award is a who’s who of sporting royalty, including France’s Olympic hero Léon Marchand, tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, pole vaulting great Mondo Duplantis, all-conquering Formula One champion Max Verstappen, and Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar. The ceremony will take place in Madrid, Spain, on April 21, 2025.

After Sachin Tendulkar, Rishabh Pant becomes second Indian cricketer to be nominated for Laureus Award

<p>India skipper Rohit Sharma dismissed claims that his team has an unfair advantage in the ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> as it is playing all the matches in Dubai. Speaking ahead of India's semifinal clash against Australia, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma">Rohit</a> emphasised that Dubai is not India's home venue and that the pitches have behaved differently in each match.</p>
<p>"Every time, the pitch is giving you different challenges. The three matches that we played here, the pitch has behaved differently. This is not our home, this is Dubai. We don't play so many matches here, and this is new for us too," the Indian skipper said.</p>
<p>Several former cricketers from Pakistan, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/australia-cricket">Australia</a>, and England had questioned India's prolonged stay in Dubai, arguing it allowed them to acclimatise better than other Group A teams. However, Rohit pointed out that adapting to different surfaces has been a key factor in their success.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/sourav-gangulys-befitting-reply-to-england-broadcasters-over-india-enjoying-one-venue-advantage-in-champions-trophy-8773594">Ganguly&rsquo;s befitting reply to England broadcasters over India enjoying &lsquo;one venue&rsquo; advantage</a></strong></p>
<p>"There are four or five surfaces being used here. I don't know which pitch we will play on in the semifinals, but whatever happens, we will have to adapt," he added.</p>
<h2>'Adaptation is key'</h2>
<p>Citing India&rsquo;s last group-stage match against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/new-zealand-cricket">New Zealand</a>, Rohit explained how pitch conditions kept changing. "We saw some swing for the New Zealand bowlers, which wasn&rsquo;t there in the first two games. In the last game, there wasn&rsquo;t much spin, but today there was a bit of it. So, it's not like we know exactly how the pitch will behave."</p>
<p>Rohit also defended India's decision to include five spinners in the squad, stating that their selection was influenced by observing the ILT20 matches played in Dubai. "We had an idea that the surfaces would be slow. Watching ILT20, we felt slower bowlers would play a big role here."</p>
<p>On India's early arrival in Dubai, Rohit acknowledged it helped the team adapt. "Luckily, we came here five or six days before the tournament, trained well, and the pitches at the ICC Academy were similar to the match conditions. Adaptation is the key, and we have done that well so far."</p>
<p>India will take on Australia in the semifinal, where Rohit expects a good contest, particularly if the pitch offers something for the bowlers. "When you have surfaces that challenge both batters and bowlers, it makes the game more exciting. I am all for it."</p>

Cricket, Sports: Several former cricketers have questioned India's prolonged stay in Dubai, arguing it allowed them to acclimatise better than other Group teams

India skipper Rohit Sharma dismissed claims that his team has an unfair advantage in the ICC Champions Trophy as it is playing all the matches in Dubai. Speaking ahead of India's semifinal clash against Australia, Rohit emphasised that Dubai is not India's home venue and that the pitches have behaved differently in each match. "Every time, the pitch is giving you different challenges. The three matches that we played here, the pitch has behaved differently. This is not our home, this is Dubai. We don't play so many matches here, and this is new for us too," the Indian skipper said. Several former cricketers from Pakistan, Australia, and England had questioned India's prolonged stay in Dubai, arguing it allowed them to acclimatise better than other Group A teams. However, Rohit pointed out that adapting to different surfaces has been a key factor in their success. Also Read: Ganguly’s befitting reply to England broadcasters over India enjoying ‘one venue’ advantage "There are four or five surfaces being used here. I don't know which pitch we will play on in the semifinals, but whatever happens, we will have to adapt," he added. 'Adaptation is key' Citing India’s last group-stage match against New Zealand, Rohit explained how pitch conditions kept changing. "We saw some swing for the New Zealand bowlers, which wasn’t there in the first two games. In the last game, there wasn’t much spin, but today there was a bit of it. So, it's not like we know exactly how the pitch will behave." Rohit also defended India's decision to include five spinners in the squad, stating that their selection was influenced by observing the ILT20 matches played in Dubai. "We had an idea that the surfaces would be slow. Watching ILT20, we felt slower bowlers would play a big role here." On India's early arrival in Dubai, Rohit acknowledged it helped the team adapt. "Luckily, we came here five or six days before the tournament, trained well, and the pitches at the ICC Academy were similar to the match conditions. Adaptation is the key, and we have done that well so far." India will take on Australia in the semifinal, where Rohit expects a good contest, particularly if the pitch offers something for the bowlers. "When you have surfaces that challenge both batters and bowlers, it makes the game more exciting. I am all for it."

Champions Trophy 2025: 'Dubai is not our home...', India captain Rohit Sharma on one venue advantage

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