Team India had a complete training session ahead of their must-win second Test match against New Zealand in Pune. Prior to the practice hours, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate addressed a press conference, where he gave a clearer picture on variety of things. From Shubman Gill’s availability to toss-up between KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan, he revealed most of the possibilities and combinations. Apart from this, Sanju Samson revealed that he was supposed to play the T20 World Cup final clash against South Africa but was pulled out just before the toss. We also had an update regarding the ICC Champions Trophy, coupled with a massive IPL 2025 retention update on Rohit Sharma and Mumbai Indians (MI). On that note, here are six of the most headline worthy stories from October 22.
Sanju Samson in World Cup Final?
Despite India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, Sanju Samson’s role was limited to the sidelines. However, the Kerala-born star gave a surprising revelation. The revelation is that Samson was initially set to play the final against South Africa. However, just before the match, Rishabh Pant retained his spot. Rohit Sharma’s explanation and gesture of empathy, though heartbreaking for Samson, left a lasting impression on him. Samson waxed lyrical about Rohit’s handling of the situation on a recent interview with Vimal Kumar on YouTube.
ICC all well with Champions Trophy in Pakistan?
According to reports, the ICC has expressed satisfaction with Pakistan’s preparations for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB chief presented a report on the stadium renovations to the ICC, which expressed confidence in their readiness. However, the tournament’s success hinges on India’s participation, as the ECB has already indicated their opposition to the event without India’s involvement.
No Williamson for IND vs NZ 2nd Test
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will miss the upcoming second Test against India due to a lingering groin injury. The Blackcaps, who lead the series 1-0, will have to navigate the challenge without their star batter, who missed the opening Bengaluru Test as well. Williamson is currently undergoing rehabilitation in New Zealand, and his return to the Test squad remains uncertain within this series.
Rohit Sharma stays with MI!
Despite conflicting media reports, it seems likely that Mumbai Indians (MI) will retain their former captain, Rohit Sharma, for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. While there have been rumors suggesting otherwise, many believe that the franchise will stick with the player who has led them to five IPL titles. According to a recent report in Sportstar, MI is poised to retain not only Rohit but also Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya. This move will massively impact their purse for the upcoming auction, but these players will surely create a core group once more.
David Warner is back?
David Warner has stunned the cricket world by offering to return to Test cricket for Australia’s upcoming series against India. The veteran opener, who retired last summer, expressed his willingness to fill the void at the top of the batting order. Despite his age (about to turn 38), Warner believes he can still contribute in this high-stakes Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The selectors now face a difficult decision: whether to recall Warner or give opportunities to younger players like Sam Konstas and Marcus Harris!
All is well with Rishabh Pant!
In a positive development for India, Rishabh Pant participated in a full training session on Tuesday, October 22nd. Despite concerns about a right knee injury suffered during the Bengaluru Test, Pant was seen practicing at full intensity just two days before the second India vs New Zealand Test in Pune. While Dhruv Jurel kept wickets for most of the first Test, Pant was back behind the stumps during the practice session. Notably, he did so without any strapping on his injured knee, indicating a significant improvement in his condition. Pant even batted for a long time in the nets, smashing spinners for fun. For a fun fact, he even took down India’s new bowling coach Morne Morkel!
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