It was a quiet day for Indian fans after the country recorded an emphatic victory against Bangladesh in a rain-curtailed Kanpur Test. However, the Irani Cup continued its thrill on the back of a masterful performance by Sarfaraz Khan! The middle-order batter became the first-ever Mumbaikar to smash a double century in the Irani Cup, remaining unbeaten at 221. Ajinkya Rahane, meanwhile, failed to notch up his century, getting out at 97. However, we even saw the resignation of Babar Azam as the white-ball skipper of the Pakistan cricket team. In other news, fans witnessed some development regarding the IPL 2025, involving the likes of MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant. On that note, here are the six headline-worthy stories from October 1.
MS Dhoni not certain yet for IPL 2025
Despite his age (43), MS Dhoni has an unmatched aura in the IPL. However, uncertainty surrounds his participation in the upcoming IPL 2025 season. With the recent rule change, Dhoni could be considered an “uncapped player” and receive a significant hit in his IPL contract. His former teammate, R Ashwin, has expressed ignorance about Dhoni’s plans, and the CSK’s CEO, Kasi Viswanathan, has also stated that a decision is yet to be made. Despite all the noise for Dhoni’s return, the final call rests with the legendary phenomenon himself.
Rishabh Pant is confirmed for IPL 2025 at DC!
The Delhi Capitals have confirmed their intention to retain star wicket-keeper and captain Rishabh Pant for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. Team owner Parth Jindal recently stated that Pant, who made a comeback to competitive cricket this year, will undoubtedly be a part of the DC squad. Jindal also hinted at potential retention for other key stars like Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Abhishek Porel.
Senior Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has dismissed recent rumours suggesting a prolonged injury. Despite reports claiming he would be out for six to eight weeks, Shami clarified via social media that neither he nor the BCCI has confirmed his absence from the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He emphasized his commitment to recovery and urged the public to avoid spreading misinformation. While initially aiming for the Bangladesh Test series, Shami is now targeting a return for the New Zealand series later this month, with his rehab progressing steadily under the supervision of BCCI specialists.
No Kohli, Pant in Ranji Trophy
Delhi Ranji Trophy’s 84-member probable squad included Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, but both have been excluded from the first two matches. Kohli’s workload management and upcoming Test series against New Zealand, coupled with Pant’s importance in the Indian Test team, led to their omission. Despite his impressive performance in the Delhi Premier League, Priyansh Arya was not included in the 18-man squad. Himmat Singh will skipper the team.
Sarfaraz Khan madness!
Sarfaraz Khan’s spectacular 227-run innings powered Mumbai to a commanding 536/9 on Day 2 of the Irani Cup. The young batter’s double century, the first for Mumbai in the tournament, put the Rest of India under immense pressure. Ajinkya Rahane and other Mumbai batters also contributed brilliantly. Mukesh Kumar was the standout bowler for Rest of India, picking up four wickets.
Jasprit Bumrah the GOAT
Jasprit Bumrah has returned to the top of the ICC Test bowling rankings, overtaking another superstar in Ravichandran Ashwin. Undoubtedly the best bowler of this generation, Bumrah impressed with his match-winning in the recent series against Bangladesh, including six wickets in the 2nd Kanpur Test, has propelled him to the top spot. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli (6) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (3) have also made strides in the batting rankings.
