What a roller coaster ride Day 1 of the fifth BGT Test between India and Australia was! Jasprit Bumrah, take a bow for carrying the visitors for literally every day of the series and in Sydney, he fired up by taking a wicket off the last ball of the day. He even contributed with the bat when the Indian top-order failed again. The major storyline was, however, on Rohit Sharma, who ultimately dropped himself. But is his captaincy at the ICC Champions Trophy also in jeopardy? Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami made his one-day return in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT), where even Shreyas Iyer continued his stellar form. On that note, let us look at the most eye-catching stories from Friday, January 3.
Rohit to play under Pandya at ICC Champions Trophy?
The BCCI may discuss leadership options for the Champions Trophy, with Rohit Sharma’s ODI captaincy potentially under review. Hardik Pandya, with experience leading India in white-ball formats, is a strong contender to take over. A source praises Pandya’s ability to lead in high-pressure situations, making him an ideal choice for the Champions Trophy. Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill are also contenders, but Pandya’s experience gives him an edge. Pandya has led across 16 T20Is and 3 ODIs before Rahul Dravid and the management made Suryakumar Yadav the permanent T20I captain.
Shreyas Iyer doing best to enter Champions Trophy
Shreyas Iyer is reminding everyone of his importance in ODI cricket with his impressive form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He led Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title and has continued his great form in the 50-ver format, scoring 312 runs in 4 matches. With the ICC Champions Trophy just 45 days away, Iyer is staking his claim as India’s number four, a role he mastered at the ODI World Cup 2023. Shreyas took Mumbai to 290 from a position of 82/5. He scored 137 of these runs himself and ended up unbeaten with the 11th man on the other side of the crease.
Mohammed Shami in for IND vs ENG
Mohammed Shami is eyeing a comeback to the Indian team for the upcoming ODI series against England and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. After a long injury layoff, Shami has returned to competitive cricket, featuring in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Bengal. The BCCI is monitoring his fitness and performance, and if he does well, he may be considered for selection for the England ODIs and potentially the Champions Trophy.
Cracks in Indian dressing room?
India’s cricket team is facing some internal issues. A benched player recently revealed that he’s been kept in the dark about his status, with no communication from the captain or coach. “Has Gauti (Gambhir) bhai, said anything about me to you? Nobody says anything to me in the team. Not the captain or the coach. I don’t know what’s happening,” an Indian benched player asked a reporter. Previously, when reports of dressing room troubles erupted, former players criticised the development. They went on to claim that matters discussed in the dressing room should not leave the walls of the room.
Abhishek Sharma-Prabhsimran Singh wow!
Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh are wreaking havoc in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring a massive 644 runs together in their last three matches. Their partnership has been a game-changer for Punjab, with the duo equalling the record for the highest partnership in the tournament. Prabhsimran has scored three consecutive hundreds, averaging 118, while Abhishek averages 66 with a strike rate of over 140. Their impressive form might just earn them a spot in the India squad for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against England. With India in a transition phase, Abhishek and Prabhsimran’s fiery form bodes well for the duo.
Horrific clash in BBL
A horrific collision occurred during a Big Bash League match between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder, involving Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams. Both players were attempting to catch a ball when they crashed into each other, leaving them lying on the field. Bancroft walked off with a bloody nose, while Sams was stretchered off due to a severe concussion. Despite the shocking incident, both players were reported to be breathing properly and conscious after receiving immediate medical attention. The game resumed after a 12-minute delay, with Sydney Thunder eventually winning the match on the last ball of the match with Sherfane Rutherford hitting a boundary.
