We are finally here. A fresh chapter between two fierce rivals, India and Australia, will be added on. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024/25 kickstarts today at the Optus Stadium, where Australia have been unbeaten thus far. As for India, they got a big boost in the form of Rohit Sharma, who will join the team midway during the 1st Test. In the meantime, Jasprit Bumrah will skipper the Indian team. On the eve of the commencement of the BGT, we had opinions coming from everywhere, with Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravi Shastri speaking to media houses too. Devdutt Padikkal was also officially added to the Indian BGT squad. On that note, let us take look at six of the top cricketing stories from November 21, Thursday.
KL Rahul to DC?
Ravichandran Ashwin’s IPL 2025 mock auction was pure excitement as KL Rahul was sold to Delhi Capitals (DC) for a whopping Rs 18 crore, surpassing his base price of Rs 2 crore. A intense bidding war between DC, Gujarat Titans, and KKR ensued, with DC ultimately outbidding KKR’s Rs 17.5 crore offer. Ashwin’s mock auction saw DC assemble a formidable team, utilizing their Rs 73 crore purse to secure key players including Quinton de Kock (Rs 8cr), Mitchell Marsh (Rs 6cr via RTM), Nitish Rana, Dewald Brevis, Daryl Mitchell, Mayank Agarwal, Naman Dhir (Rs 3.25cr), Naveen Ul-Haq (Rs 5.5cr), Umran Malik, and Kartik Tyagi (Rs 1.75cr).
Rohit Sharma to join IND at BGT
Rohit Sharma, India’s incumbent captain, welcomed his second child on November 15 and will join the team in Australia on November 24, during the third day of the Perth Test. Rohit had postponed his trip to be with his family. He’ll miss the first few days of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but is expected to play the second Test in Adelaide. Before that, India will have a two-day practice match against Prime Ministers XI in Canberra to prepare for the pink-ball Test. Rohit’s arrival boosts India’s chances, especially with stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah leading the team initially.
Furious Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami blasted Sanjay Manjrekar on social media after the former cricketer predicted Shami’s IPL 2025 Mega Auction price would drop due to injury concerns. Manjrekar stated that investing heavily in Shami could be risky for teams if he gets injured mid-season. Shami responded sarcastically, calling Manjrekar a “fortune-teller” and saying, “All hail to the baba… Keep some knowledge for yourself.” He suggested people contact Manjrekar for future predictions, mocking his analytical comments. Shami’s reaction indicates he took Manjrekar’s criticism personally.
Sehwag scores a double century!
Aaryavir Sehwag, son of Virender Sehwag, smashed an unbeaten double hundred (200*) for Delhi against Meghalaya in the Cooch Behar trophy. His destructive innings included 34 fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 87.34. Aaryavir’s debut in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy was equally impressive, scoring 49 runs in a 6-wicket win against Manipur. Partnering with Arnav Bugga (114), they formed a 180-run opening partnership. Aaryavir’s aggressive style mirrors his father’s, indicating a promising cricket career ahead. Delhi leads by 208 runs in the first innings.
Ishan Kishan to GT for Rs 14.5cr?
Ravichandran Ashwin’s IPL 2025 mock auction saw Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) acquire Ishan Kishan for Rs 14.50 crore, outbidding Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Punjab Kings (PBKS). Kishan’s impressive IPL record (105 matches, 2644 runs) made him a sought-after player. LSG also signed Krunal Pandya (Rs 9.5cr), Jake Fraser-McGurk (Rs 9.5cr), David Miller (Rs 8cr), and retained Marcus Stoinis (Rs 12cr via RTM). Notably, Prithvi Shaw’s value plummeted, selling for Rs 2.5cr, a significant drop from his previous retention price of Rs 8cr. Ashwin’s mock auction revealed intriguing team dynamics and player valuations.
“India shouldn’t hesitate playing Champions Trophy”
Former Pakistani cricketer Mushtaq Ahmed hopes cricket can bridge diplomatic gaps between India and Pakistan during the upcoming Champions Trophy. ICC officials are working behind the scenes to ensure tournament participation, with India currently planning to play matches in the UAE instead of Pakistan due to security concerns. Ahmed believes the tournament should focus on sportsmanship, urging India to play the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
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