Month: January 2025

In a significant setback for Australia’s hopes of clinching the Champions Trophy, prominent allrounder Mitchell Marsh has been sidelined from the tournament due to a back injury, as reported by ESPNCricinfo. There is a possibility that he may not return to play this season, raising concerns about his involvement with the Lucknow Super Giants, who acquired him for Rs 3.4 crore.

Marsh has faced a challenging season and has been replaced by Beau Webster for the last Test match against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He scored a total of 73 runs in seven innings and contributed modestly with the ball during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Marsh’s physical condition was frequently mentioned throughout the five-Test series, and he did not perform optimally with either bat or ball. His ongoing back issues have led the selection committee, headed by George Bailey, to exclude him from the Champions Trophy.

“Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Men’s Champion’s Trophy with ongoing lower back pain and dysfunction,” Cricket Australia said in a statement released on Friday.

“The National Selection Panel and Australian men’s medical team ruled Marsh out of the tournament with the injury which has not responded sufficiently to rehabilitation,” the statement added.

Due to ODI and Test captain Pat Cummins dealing with an ankle injury and attending the birth of his second child with his wife Becky, Marsh was considered as the potential substitute captain should Cummins be unable to participate.

Due to uncertainty regarding Cummins’ availability and Marsh being unavailable, Steve Smith may captain the team in the Champions Trophy following the conclusion of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

Australia will kick off their tournament journey with a game against their long-standing rivals England on February 22 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

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New Delhi: It’s not every day that you see fans lining up in long queues since early morning for a Ranji Trophy match, but the buzz surrounding the Delhi vs Railways encounter was special. Despite Delhi being out of the knockout race, the massive excitement among fans stemmed from the return of veteran cricketer Virat Kohli, who featured in the Ranji Trophy for the first time since 2012. Kohli’s availability was largely due to the BCCI’s directive for players to participate in domestic cricket following India’s disappointing 3-1 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His comeback drew immense attention and added a unique thrill to the match.

As Virat Kohli stepped onto the field during the Delhi vs Railways Ranji Trophy match, the atmosphere at the Arun Jaitley Stadium was electric with fans chanting his name. The excitement reached a peak when one fan breached security and approached Kohli to touch his feet. Showing remarkable composure, Kohli calmly helped the fan up before security swiftly intervened and escorted him away. Demonstrating his kindness and humility, Kohli even requested the security not to harm the fan, further endearing himself to the crowd and highlighting his professionalism in handling the situation.

Incidents where fans breach security to meet their favorite cricketers are not uncommon, though they are generally not appreciated. While such actions disrupt the game, players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and others have often shown great grace in handling these situations. Despite the interruptions, these cricketers remain composed and avoid reacting negatively. Kohli’s calm response during the recent incident at the Arun Jaitley Stadium is just one example of how players continue to maintain professionalism, even when faced with enthusiastic yet disruptive fans.

Virat Kohli’s recent struggles in Australia, where he repeatedly poked at deliveries outside off-stump, have raised concerns about his place in the Indian team. With his spot under scrutiny, the veteran batter faces pressure to regain his form ahead of the England tour. A strong performance in the Ranji Trophy could be a crucial step in rebuilding his confidence. India will need an in-form Kohli for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and a string of solid performances leading into the five-Test series against England could help him return to his vintage best, silencing doubts about his place in the squad.

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