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KARACHI, Pakistan : : Captain Temba Bavuma hailed what he termed South Africa’s brave decision to bat first in their comprehensive 107-run Champions Trophy win over Afghanistan on Friday as they mastered a Karachi wicket that had left both teams unsure over how it would play.
Pakistan face arch-rivals India in a Champions Trophy blockbuster on Sunday in front of a sell-out Dubai crowd knowing that another defeat will virtually end their title defence. The neighbours only meet in multi-nation events because of political tensions and the match is taking place in Dubai after India refused to travel to tournament hosts Pakistan. In front of what is expected to be a full house at the 25,000-capacity Dubai International Stadium, and with hundreds of millions more watching glued to their televisions, Pakistan are under pressure.
After India began their 2025 Champions Trophy campaign with a six-wicket win over Bangladesh, skipper Rohit Sharma said it was good to see vice-captain Shubman Gill, who hit an unbeaten 101, stay till the end in the chase of 229 at the Dubai International Stadium. Gill took his time before grinding it hard on a sluggish pitch and amidst the pressure of wickets falling around to hit an unbeaten 101 off 129 balls, laced with nine fours and two sixes.
KARACHI, Pakistan : South Africa opener Ryan Rickelton scored a maiden One-Day International century with a fluent 103 as his side eased to a 107-run win over Afghanistan in their opening Champions Trophy Group B fixture at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday.
Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan said Indian team can handle the pressure situations effectively and that trait gives Rohit Sharma's side an edge in the much-awaited Champions Trophy match against traditional rivals Pakistan at Dubai on Sunday. While India began with a six-wicket thumping of Bangladesh in their tournament opener, Pakistan lost their first game by 60 runs to New Zealand and are currently placed last in the four-team Group A points table. "When it comes to Pakistan, look, they have plenty of problems in the team," Pathan, who will play for India Masters in the International Masters League, told PTI Videos in Navi Mumbai on Friday.
Australian Test captain Pat Cummins is eyeing the upcoming Indian Premier League as his comeback platform from an ankle injury and has expressed confidence in regaining full fitness ahead of the World Test Championship final against South Africa starting June 11 at the Lord's. The 31-year-old, who led Australia to their first Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in more than a decade, battled through pain during the final Test against India in Sydney. He was subsequently ruled out of the two-Test series in Sri Lanka and the ongoing Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The injury layoff coincided with the birth of his second child -- daughter Edi.
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes vice-captain Shubman Gill gives the impression of someone who will be around international for 10-15 more years, something which Shreyas Iyer doesn't give vibes of. Chasing 229 against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium, Gill hit an unbeaten 101 off 129 balls, laced with nine fours and two sixes, and ensured India got a six-wicket win by completing the chase with 21 balls to spare. "He (Gill) is batting at the right position to make a huge impact. When he gets a hundred, like today, it seems like there is plenty left in the tank. It was like 60% of Shubman Gill is enough to get a hundred like this and he stays till the end."
Shubman Gill has an invincibility cloak hung around his shoulder in ODIs these days. Conditions and oppositions do not feature in his set-list. After taking a dominant avatar against England recently at home, Gill faced a different challenge against Bangladesh in India's Champions Trophy opener in Dubai on Thursday night. The pitch was sluggish and the bowlers consistently probed for weakness. But Gill beat both to notch up his eighth ODI hundred that led India to a six-wicket victory. The 125-ball century was the slowest he has made so far, but was perhaps the most important in his career.