Will KL Rahul miss the ICC Champions Trophy, will Virat Kohli play County cricket or is Gautam Gambhir a hypocrite? A lot of things transpired on Thursday (Jan 09) as far as cricketing developments are concerned. We had preliminary quarters for the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT), where Mohammed Shami showed excellent signs against. Meanwhile, CA announced their Australian squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, with Steve Smith back as captain. On that note, here are the top eye-catching stories from Thursday, January 9.
KL Rahul to miss IND vs ENG ODIs
According to reports, star India keeper KL Rahul is set to miss the white-ball series against England. He recently featured in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) and had a decent outing. But now KL is set to have an extended break before the ICC Champions Trophy. As per the reports, the BCCI has also assured him of a spot in the playing XI. KL Rahul and wife Athiya Shetty are also expecting a baby within the coming weeks.
Gautam Gambhir a hypocrite?
Former KKR batter Manoj Tiwary accused Gautam Gambhir of taking undue credit for KKR’s IPL triumphs in 2012 and 2014, claiming his PR team crafted his hero narrative. Tiwary also called Gambhir a “hypocrite,” alleging favoritism in India’s coaching setup. In response, Nitish Rana, who has developed his game under Gambhir’s tutelage, hit back, calling Tiwary’s remarks baseless and driven by insecurities. Harshit Rana, who has played under Gambhir’s coaching also backed his Team India head coach.
Mohammed Shami-ICC Champions Trophy loading
Mohammed Shami is giving it his all to secure a spot in the Champions Trophy squad! In Bengal’s Vijay Hazare Trophy knockout match against Haryana, he delivered a solid performance, taking 3 wickets for 48 runs in 8 overs. With selectors watching, Shami is clearly determined to prove his fitness and form after a lengthy recovery from an ankle injury. A couple of days ago, there were massive reports of Shami being almost confirmed for a spot in the Indian squad.
AUS Test squad vs Sri Lanka, no Cummins
Australia announced their squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting January 29. Steve Smith will lead the team in place of Pat Cummins, who will miss the series due to the birth of his second child and an injury concern. The squad includes Travis Head as deputy captain and young guns like Sam Konstas and Beau Webster. Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Sean Abbott will form the pace attack, while youngster Cooper Connolly gets his callup as well.
Virat Kohli can play County only if he misses IPL 2025
The plot thickens! Virat Kohli is rumoured to be eyeing a stint in County Cricket to get his Test career back on track, especially with India’s next series against England looming. But here’s the thing – the County Championship schedule clashes with the Indian Premier League (IPL) season, and Kohli is already committed to playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Being the face of the league, it’s an absolute crime to think that he will leave IPL.
ICC Champions Trophy warmup?
India’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign kicks off on February 20 against Bangladesh in Dubai. The highly-anticipated India vs Pakistan match is scheduled for February 23. Before the tournament begins, India will play at least one warm-up match, with the date and opponent yet to be confirmed. “Practice matches are yet to be announced training facilities are being worked out,” a report said.
