India’s latest ICC run — 14 games, 13 wins, one abandoned, zero defeats, two trophies — is the kind of record that commands genuine admiration. Perfection is a rare, elusive beast — except in Indian exams, where college cut-offs waver teasingly around 99 or 100 per cent, reducing our academic aspirations to mild despair. Sporting … Read more
The stage was set perfectly for Pakistan. The country was hosting its first ICC tournament since the 1996 World Cup and was the defending champion. Yet, six days into the event, its campaign came to a shuddering halt. While injuries to Saim Ayub (in the lead-up) and Fakhar Zaman (in the first match) weakened the … Read more
New Zealand’s change of guard in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) had a lacklustre initiation with a 0-2 series loss to Sri Lanka in November, but the pieces are falling into place for the Kiwis as they head into the ICC Champions Trophy. Since being named full-time captain, Mitchell Santner has overseen a 2-1 series win over … Read more
Few teams boast a legacy in global tournaments as formidable as Australia’s. Heading into the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, the reigning ODI World Cup holder arrives with a squad facing significant challenges. The absence of several key players due to injuries and retirement has forced a reshuffle, leaving Australia with a vastly different line-up from … Read more
The 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA demonstrated that Afghanistan is no longer just making up the numbers. The incredible talent pool in the country’s reserves, coupled with the experience it has gained by playing cricket in leagues around the world, has made the team a serious contender to go deep … Read more
Bangladesh’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 can best be described as a team of accumulators, lacking significant firepower. Opening its campaign against a formidable India in Dubai, UAE, before travelling to Rawalpindi for its remaining Group A fixtures against New Zealand and host Pakistan, Bangladesh appears to be a side built to score … Read more
Once the reigning world champion in both white-ball formats, England bungled two World Cup defences, in 2023 and 2024, leading to changes in the coaching staff and player personnel. However, resisting any knee-jerk reaction regarding captaincy, the team has persisted with Jos Buttler through troubled times, and it will hope the 34-year-old repays the faith … Read more
South Africa’s performances in multi-nation tournaments have often followed a familiar pattern — strong starts in the early stages, only to fall short when the stakes are highest. This recurring trend has led to persistent discussions about its ability to handle pressure in knockout matches, shaping the narrative around its tournament history. Less than a … Read more
The last time the Champions Trophy was played in 2017, Pakistan clinched the title by defeating India in the final. Few expected it to go all the way, but the team rode on fine performances and jigar (sheer determination) – as the then captain Sarfaraz Ahmed later highlighted – to create history. Eight years on, … Read more
Since winning the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean in June 2024, India has endured an underwhelming run of results. This has mounted pressure on coach Gautam Gambhir, who took over from Rahul Dravid after the World Cup, and skipper Rohit Sharma heading into the ICC Champions Trophy. Can India’s players get their act together … Read more