Sports

A cricket ball is caught in a pair of wicket keeping gloves with a fan of Australian fifty dollar notes
| Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStock

Everybody has a plan to make cricket more equitable, bring in more money, have more rational calendars, comprehensible points systems and so on. The International Cricket Council, sadly, isn’t one with such plans. Some years ago, the Woolf Report put forward ideas which were heartily ignored. Now the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA), a body with little power since India doesn’t recognise it, has published a report it claims can bring in an additional $240 million annually.

This players’ body (originally called FICA or Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations) has identified four areas that require urgent solution in a recent paper entitled Protecting History, Embracing Change: A Unified Coherent Global Future.

These range from scheduling (which it says is “chaotic, inconsistent and confusing”) to finance (“not optimised, balanced or used effectively”) and from regulations (outdated for a “transnational era with limited security for players”) to leadership, or lack of it (there is “regional self-interest, short-term thinking and an imbalance of power”).

Ironic

If the rationalisation is aimed at making more money, it is ironic because that’s what the WCA is accusing the Board of Control for Cricket in India of focusing on all the time. Should success be calculated in purely monetary terms?

Many of the recommendations have been around for a while. It would have been possible to take the rest more seriously if the essence went beyond complaining about the IPL’s lack of love for the rest of the world. The IPL stimulates half the global economy in cricket, avers the report, “but shares only 0.3% of the revenue with other countries, and less than 10% with the players.”

There is too the recommendation that India and Pakistan play more often “to create significantly further global interest and drive new growth.” In other words, please make even more money, India, and share it with the rest of us.

Another recommendation is that India’s men players ought to be released “to play in global T20 leagues outside the IPL” to increase the leagues’ earning potential. In other words, please help us make more moolah. Money is the root of all good, suggests the WCA.

The International Cricket Council and the BCCI (anyone who can spot the difference is entitled to a prize) have been cavalier about financial accountability. Hence the WCA recommendation: “All distributions from the ICC to National Governing Bodies to be publicly accounted for and independently audited against clear KPI (Key Performance Indicators) and enforcement mechanisms (i.e. future reductions / clawback penalties for any malpractice).” The fact that this obvious practice is a recommendation indicates it is neither obvious nor a practice.

Indians in other T20 leagues

Perhaps an unstated intention in the report is the hope that Indian players (men) would make a case for playing in other domestic T20 franchises for the greater financial benefit of both the individual and the game. Can they sue for restraint of trade, for example? The Indian Contracts Act 1872 which governs contracts might gain currency if that were to happen.

The WCA seems to suggest that nothing can be done about the power of the BCCI and the IPL unless there is a response from within. This is an insidious way of ensuring the growth and spread of the game. As regular readers of this column know, I am not always a great fan of the way the BCCI goes about its job, but isolating India or cutting the BCCI down to size is hardly the way forward for cricket. The WCA report is unlikely to make the slightest difference to either, however.

Reforming ICC?

Is the ICC in need of reform? Yes, it is. The term of its sole independent director (Indira Nooyi) ended in August last, its CEO (Geoff Allardyce) quit in January. Neither has been replaced. Three countries, India, England and Australia together take away 87% of the revenues. There is a “lack of overarching leadership”, as the WCA puts it. Administrators, unlike players, see no merit in those in form helping those struggling. Players complain there’s too much cricket, a lot of it meaningless, but play on nevertheless.

Somewhere between India’s hyper-nationalistic responses to issues and the WCA’s largely single-pointed one there is a solution. Its root lies in altruism, not self-interest.

Adriana Diaz is generally a chirpy character, a livewire on and off the table. The 24-year-old, ranked 16th in the world in women’s singles, has single-handedly put Puerto Rico on the world table tennis map. And she’s managed to do this in a country not particularly known for the sport. An attacking player armed with a bag full of trick shots including chop blocks and ‘No Look’ ones, Adriana has defeated a number of top-ranked paddlers and has carved a niche of her own through active engagement with fans and her scintillating display on the WTT Tour over the last few years.

In fact, a clip shared by WTT for the Star Contender Chennai recently showed a fan telling her, “I am your big fan.” She replied coyly, “Really?”

The three-time Olympian, who lost in the round of 16 to Kim Nayeong of Korea in Chennai, is a huge of fan of India, its food, culture and players. In this interview, Adriana spoke about her progress on the WTT Tour, on being the first Puerto Rican to reach the world’s top 20 and on playing in three Olympics, among other things. Excerpts:

You frequently come to India. How do you find the country?

I’ve been to India plenty of times. I really like to be here. I like Indian culture. I respect it. I love Indian food. So, I’m very happy to be here in Chennai for the WTT Star Contender Chennai.

You are the first player from Puerto Rico to compete in three Olympics. Tell us a little about table tennis in your country.

Being the first Puerto Rican to qualify to the Olympics (Rio 2016) was amazing for me. At the time, I was 15 years old, so I didn’t know how crazy it was.

I was like a little kid just playing the sport I loved. So, right now when I think of it, it’s for me, it’s a pleasure to be one of the best players in the world. Coming from Puerto Rico — which is a small island where not many people play table tennis — to play the sport at a high level is great.

But, I think table tennis is growing right now. There are many more TT players in Puerto Rico. There’s also young talent. So, I’m very happy that I could help a little to inspire more young kids.

Table tennis runs in the family. You and your four sisters play the sport with your father coaching you all. What is the impact of having the sport play such a huge role at the family level too?

Yeah. We all grew with the sport. My mom met my dad while playing table tennis. So, we kind of grew up with it. One of the best childhood memories that I have is playing with my sisters for hours and being competitive. I think it really helped me develop as a professional table tennis player. As a kid, I was the third sister. I was very competitive. I always wanted to beat my big sister. I think that also helped me to have a little bit of character in the matches. As a family, we also helped each other a lot. I’m grateful for that.

You’re in the world’s top 20 in singles and the top 30 in women’s doubles with Prithvika Pavade. You used to partner your sister Melanie in doubles and even broke into the top 10 once. How was it playing with your sister?

I mean, back in 2019-2019, we were in the world’s top 10. My sister and I, we’ve always liked to play with each other. Normally, we don’t fight, but sometimes it’s inevitable! I have a very strong opinion sometimes but she’s more laid-back than I am. But it is always fun. My sister was here with me in Chennai and I was very happy about that.

You have regularly been to China and experienced the table tennis culture there first-hand. What is it about the system there that makes them such a solid force in the sport?

There are many things that make China the best table tennis-playing country. I think the most important one is that they are a big team. They have so many people behind them. For example, in my case, I’m here (Chennai) with only my coach. Chinese players have a lot of physios and a lot of people who know the sport really well in their teams who help these players get to the top.

And, of course, China has a glorious tradition in table tennis. Most Asian countries are really good and potentially the best in table tennis. But we’re fighting with what we have and what we know. I think there’s still a lot to learn. But I’m very happy and pleased with what I’ve done.

We see you are interested in rap music? What are your interests outside of table tennis?

I enjoy a lot of music. Puerto Rico has a party culture. We like to dance, we like to listen to music. Bad Bunny is one of the best rappers and singers in the world. We’re proud of him and I usually love to hear some Bad Bunny (songs) before matches.

The other thing I do is this thing called Pretty-Ugly. It’s a company I started three years ago alongside my sisters Melanie, Fabiola and Gabriela that produces school notebooks to support environmental and social causes by design and purpose. The notebooks are free of plastic and therefore environment-friendly and a part of the proceeds also go to charity.

You’re still chasing your maiden WTT women’s singles title. In WTT Contender Muscat in 2023, you came close, reaching the final losing to Hina Hayata in the final and became the first player from the Americas to reach a women’s singles final in the WTT Series. How close do you think you are?

In Muscat, I reached the final, losing to Japan’s Hina Hayata. I know table tennis is very difficult because there are so many players who are just pouring their hearts out. And they’re practising every day, especially the Japanese, Indians and Koreans. There are a lot of people who want to get to the top and I’m one of them. Of course, it’s very hard, but I believe in myself. I think I can achieve it.

At the age of just 24, you have featured in three Olympics. You tried quite hard for the medal in Paris, but couldn’t go all the way. What was that experience like for you? Can you recall the meeting with Monica Puig, the 2016 Rio Olympics tennis gold medallist of Puerto Rico, who was the first medal winner from your country?

I think that the Olympics are the most important event in sports. I lost after leading 3-0, but I’m really happy with what I did in the Olympics because just being able to reach the quarterfinals in the Olympics is a huge deal. I got very close to it, losing in the round of 16. I’m just happy that I had that opportunity. Of course, I would have loved to take the match. It just wasn’t possible. Maybe at the next Olympics, I hope I can go a step further and make the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. And about Monica, we’ve talked sometimes. I was actually in the same room as her in Rio when she won the Olympics gold. I’m her fan. I hope I can be like her one day.

How big are the World Cup in Macao in April and World Championships in Doha for you personally?

I think every event is important, but especially World Championships and World Cup. It’s even more because, you know, it’s those events you really want to stand out. You really want to take it and win.

You are quite popular for those ‘no-look shots’ and chop blocks. You tried it in the match against Syndrela Das in the second round. Is it a go-to skill in your repertoire?

Really? I didn’t know. I like to do that because I want the people watching to enjoy the match. My coaches aren’t happy sometimes, because these shots make them nervous (laughs).

That said, if there are people watching my matches, I’m going to try to do something cool so that they can just enjoy the match. That’s just my game.

How do you see the progress of women players in India?

I’ve played with Sreeja (Akula), Ayhika (Mukherjee), Sutirtha (Mukherjee) and Manika (Batra). They’re all great players, really. The pimples (rubbers) are very hard to manage and it’s also very hard for them to control it. I really respect them for that. Look at Manika. She’s been at the top for many years. Sreeja is rising through the ranks now. Few others have also done that. Table tennis in India is great and I hope that India can continue this culture with the sport.

You love languages. You know English, Spanish and Mandarin. How did you pick them up?

I know Mandarin. I can understand the language since I’ve been travelling to China since I was eight years old. I never studied the language… it’s just that I’ve heard it a lot.

You were part of the Waldner Cup, the exhibition tournament in December 2024. You played for Team World against Team Asia. How was the experience?

When the organisers reached out to be to play the Waldner Cup and told me the players taking part — Manika Batra, Ma Long, Truls Moregardh, and Hugo Calderano — I didn’t hesitate. And it was one of the best weekends of my life. It felt like a school trip with friends. Everyone wanted to win, but we just had fun.

What does it take to be in the world’s top 10 and and break the Asian stronghold?

If I knew, I would have done it already. If you enter the world’s top 10, there are five Chinese and five Japanese players. I think they just have a big culture in table tennis. They know what to do.

Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer exchanges a handshake with Lucknow Super Giants’ Manimaran Siddharth after their Indian Premier League 2025 match, at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 1, 2025
| Photo Credit: ANI

Opener Prabhsimran Singh followed up a disciplined performance from Punjab Kings bowlers with a blazing fifty to help his team outclass Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets in an IPL 2025 match at the Ekana Stadium here on Tuesday (April 1, 2025).

Prabhsimran’s early blitz ensured a comfortable win for Kings as they scaled LSG’s 172-run target inside 17 overs.

The wicketkeeper-batter kicked things off by taking down LSG’s pacers. While Shardul Thakur was driven through cover and slashed over point, Avesh Khan was dispatched over extra cover with a shot mirroring a tennis forehand.

Prabhsimran fared even better against the LSG spinners, employing a battery of sweeps, reverse sweeps and scoops to garner boundaries.

The 24-year-old reached his fifty off the 23rd ball and was threatening to wipe off the chase on his own before he was caught at the fence following an acrobatic relay catch involving Ayush Badoni and Ravi Bishnoi.

Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer marshalled the chase from thereon as he ticked off his second consecutive fifty.

With Impact Player Nehal Wadhera for company, Shreyas secured his side’s second win in as many games.

Earlier, Shreyas’ choice to put LSG in was validated by his bowlers led by pacer Arshdeep Singh (three for 43). The home team lost Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Rishabh Pant in the PowerPlay as the Kings attack clicked in unison.

With his top-order colleagues departing early, Orange Cap-holder Nicholas Pooran decided to bide his time. He eventually rose from his slumber by taking on the spinners. Pooran carved Yuzvendra Chahal for a couple of boundaries through the off-side before lofting him down the ground for a six.

But, with a third consecutive fifty on the horizon, Pooran was snared by Chahal, who baited the left-hander with a wide googly. The resultant miscue was pouched by Glenn Maxwell at long-on, silencing a boisterous home crowd.

LSG enjoyed a mini-recovery through a 47-run, sixth-wicket partnership between Badoni and Abdul Samad, which dragged the side past 170. But it proved insufficient in the face of Prabhsimran’s onslaught.

NEW DELHI: If left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh set the stage with the ball, it was Prabhsimran Singh who stole the show with the bat as Punjab Kings dismantled Lucknow Super Giants with a dominant eight-wicket win in their IPL 2025 clash on Tuesday.
Prabhsimran played a breathtaking knock of 69 off just 34 balls, smashing the LSG bowlers all over the park. His blistering innings, laced with nine fours and three sixes, ensured Punjab chased down the 172-run target with ease.
On a pitch offering grip and variable bounce, Punjab Kings maintained their aggressive approach. Despite losing Priyansh Arya (8) early, Prabhsimran launched a fierce attack, propelling Punjab to a rapid start. His explosive hitting put LSG on the back foot, allowing captain Shreyas Iyer (52* off 30) and Nehal Wadhera (43* off 25) to cruise to victory in just 16.2 overs.
Punjab Kings’ bowlers had earlier put up a collective effort to restrict LSG to 171/7 in 20 overs. Arshdeep Singh (3/43) led the charge, dismissing Mitchell Marsh for a golden duck in the first over and later accounting for Abdul Samad (27 off 12) and Ayush Badoni (41 off 33). Lockie Ferguson (1/26), Marco Jansen (1/28), Glenn Maxwell (1/22), and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/36) also chipped in with crucial breakthroughs.

LSG’s innings lacked momentum, with Nicholas Pooran (44 off 30) being the only batter to provide resistance. Skipper Rishabh Pant’s struggles continued as he managed just 2 runs before falling to Maxwell. David Miller (19 off 18) and Samad tried to push the scoring rate, but Punjab’s disciplined bowling kept them in check.
Digvesh Rathi (2/30) was the lone bright spot in LSG’s bowling attack, but he couldn’t stop Punjab’s aggressive chase. Iyer and Wadhera ensured there were no further setbacks, finishing off the chase comfortably.
Punjab Kings will next face Rajasthan Royals at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh, on Saturday.

IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer in action for PBKS vs LSG© BCCI/IPL

RCB’s Virat Kohli, during the training session ahead of the IPL 2025 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Gujarat Titans (GT) in Bengaluru on April 01, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Murali Kumar K.

On paper in the lead-up to IPL-18, and on the field during the opening two matches, Royal Challengers Bengaluru has given the impression of a champion outfit.

On display was its considerable batting might, power-hitting ability and shrewd bowling skills as it recorded two fantastic victories over defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders and bogey side Chennai Super Kings.

Wednesday (April 1, 2025) will be RCB’s first opportunity to showcase its new, confident self to the Garden City faithful when it welcomes Gujarat Titans to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

What should give RCB confidence is that Phil Salt up top, skipper Rajat Patidar in the middle, and Liam Livingstone and Tim David lower down have displayed serious batting muscle that can potentially take advantage of the small boundaries.

The bowling, led by Josh Hazlewood, seems ready for the arduous task of defending totals at the Chinnaswamy, which otherwise is a graveyard for bowlers.

Titans, however, will offer a good test. Though the Shubman Gill-led side lost the opener to Punjab Kings, it made a good fist of the 244-run chase, eventually reaching 232. In contrast to the previous season, there is a genuine urgency in run-making.

Then, in the 36-run victory over Mumbai Indians, Titans’ bowling nous came to the fore, with speedster Prasidh Krishna leading the way, and ably supported by the wily Rashid Khan and Mohammed Siraj.

There is also the thinking Sai Kishore and the old warhorse Ishant Sharma to round off a capable bowling unit. Will they be able to crash RCB’s early momentum?

NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss on Tuesday and opted to field against Rishabh Pant-led Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Iyer included New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson in the playing XI, handing him his debut cap for Punjab Kings.
“We are going to bowl first. It’s a new ground, new pitch, dew could be a factor as well, and with this being a red-soil pitch, we want to chase. The players have the freedom to express themselves. You have to play the situation; the important goal is to win. We try to keep things simple. We don’t know how the pitch is going to play, but we have to adjust quickly. Lockie comes into the team,” Iyer said.
Also See: LSG vs PBKS Live Score
Known for his express pace, Ferguson had clocked a blistering 157.3 kmph during an IPL 2022 match against Rajasthan Royals.
Pant, meanwhile, retained the same XI for the match against Punjab Kings.
“We wanted to bowl first, but there are things that are not under our control, so happy to bat first. There are a lot of people who have come to support us, and we are definitely going to give our best. No changes for us,” Pant said.

Head-to-Head Record: LSG 3 – 1 PBKS
When these teams met in Lucknow last season, which was also LSG’s first home game, the hosts secured a 21-run victory.
Playing XIs:
Lucknow Super Giants:
Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi
Punjab Kings:
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (w), Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is targeting a “game-changing” return to the Champions League after the club ended their painful 56-year trophy drought. Around 300,000 fans turned out in Newcastle at the weekend to celebrate last month’s victory in the League Cup final against Liverpool. But the focus has already turned to Wednesday’s Premier League clash with Brentford at St James’ Park and the race for the top four. Sixth-placed Newcastle, who played in the Champions League last season for the first time in two decades, are in a scrap with a big group of clubs.

Bournemouth, in 10th place, are just three points behind the Magpies, who have a game in hand over their rivals.

A strong season by English sides in European competitions means it is almost certain that a top-five finish will secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

“It could be game-changing in terms of revenue and also in terms of what it means and the competition, and then of course the changes that you have to make to be ready for Champions League football,” Howe said on Tuesday.

“That changes everything — as we found last year to our cost to some degree with the extra games — so there’s a lot to think about.”

But the Englishman said the run-in would be tough.

“It’s one of the tightest Premier Leagues that we’ve seen in recent times, very little between the teams competing for those places, so it’s going to come down to who is the most consistent,” he said.

Newcastle beat runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool 2-1 in the League Cup final at Wembley but Howe said consistency was a problem, with three defeats in their past five home games in all competitions.

“That is the big question: Can we be that team that we were against Liverpool? You can’t be there every game, but you can still reach a standard and win the game. That is what we have got to try to do,” he said.

“We have done it — we played West Ham before the final, didn’t play great, but won the game through defensive steel, really.

“We have to find ways to win games when we are not at our best.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

MI bowler Ashwani Kumar celebrates the wicket of KKR batter Rinku Singh during the IPL 2025 cricket match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, in Mumbai, Monday, March 31, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Mumbai Indians’ unheralded fast bowler Ashwani Kumar, who became the first Indian to take four wickets on IPL debut, is a “lot quicker than people recognise at first”, says his teammate Ryan Rickelton.

The left-arm Punjab seamer took 4/24 on Monday (March 31, 2025) to blow away Kolkata Knight Riders as Mumbai Indians recorded an eight-wicket win which took them to the sixth spot in the points table.

“He’s a lot quicker than I think people recognise at first, that’s a great attribute he has and he can swing the new ball,” Rickelton told the media after the match here at the Wankhede Stadium.

“He’s a lot quicker than you think and he rushes you a little bit lower as well. He’s a great addition obviously to the group and the wicket can suit him.” “Looking forward to seeing if he gets an opportunity with the new ball to see that other set of skills come through. He’s a nice find for MI and really looking forward to seeing how he goes,” he added.

Rickelton said the Punjab seamer, who had only played four senior T20 matches, four List A matches and two Ranji Trophy games before his IPL debut, executed his plans really well.

“I’ve played a few warm-up games with him, keeping (the wickets) to him and batting against him in the nets. He’s a really nice bowler. He can swing the new ball and he executed his plan really, really well,” he said.

“The group’s really happy for him. But yeah, it’s cool that he got an opportunity. The group’s really chuffed that he managed to get out of the match performance,” he added.

KKR’s Ramandeep Singh, who is also from Punjab and trains in the same academy as Ashwani, termed him as a “talented cricketer”.

“Ashwani is a very talented cricketer, he is from Punjab. This IPL is known for the fact that youngsters come and perform here and you can see their talent,” he said.

Rickelton, meanwhile, said getting his maiden half-century was a massive relief. The left-handed South African wicketkeeper-batter hit 62 not out off 41 balls with five sixes and four fours.

“Obviously a massive relief, in all honesty. The first two games were on tricky (and) on some tough wickets. But to get out here in Mumbai and have Spencer (Johnson) turn me inside out was quite a tough battle to get through,” he said.

“But once I managed to get through that, it’s just really pleasing to get a score. But more relief than anything and to get two points on the board is great for the team.” Rickelton said having joined the MI camp before — he played for MI Cape Town in the SA20 competition — gave him a good experience.

“It’s been a nice intro. It’s not just coming in blind. It’s been an easier transition, but the IPL is a different beast in its own. To mentally work my head around that is a bit of a different one for me and I’m trying to just adapt to the group and luckily I’ve got a few familiar faces around as well. It makes the transition a bit easier,” he said.

Talking further about the pressure in IPL, the South African player said it is entirely different.

“Naturally, there’s just a lot more pressure. The standard is incredibly high and the conditions are all changing,” he said.

“A year ago, turn on the television and teams are getting 260 and you think it’s a free for all. But you come here and it’s actually not that easy; different grounds have their unique characteristics, so the pressure factor internally is big, but externally is huge.” “You’re playing with some of the world’s best players, not just in this team, but obviously around the country. That extra pressure is there and it’s hard, I’m not going to lie, it’s hard.

“Just trying to find my way through that and try to adjust my game in order to give me the best chance of being successful for the team,” he added.

India stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to continue their A+ grade BCCI central contract list for 2025-26, while Shreyas Iyer is expected to return to the list after being dropped on the previous occasion due to reportedly missing domestic cricket. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to retain Virat and Rohit in the A contract, which will see them earn Rs 7 crore despite the duo’s retirement from the T20I format. Rohit and Virat had their last dance in the format after ending India’s ICC trophy drought by lifting the T20 World Cup last year in Barbados.

“Rohit and Virat will continue their A+ grade central contract (7 crore) even after retiring from T20I format. They are big players and will be accorded the respect they deserve. Shreyas Iyer is all set to be back in central contract,” BCCI sources said.

Rohit, a modern-day icon in the white-ball cricket, has lost his charm and purple patch across all formats. After bringing the curtain down on his T20I career on a memorable note, the seasoned opener’s bat has resorted to silence.

During India’s historic 3-0 home series whitewash against New Zealand, the fiery opener, who has lost his flamboyance, contributed just 91 runs across three Test matches, averaging 15.17.

Even before the series loss against the Kiwis, when India faced Bangladesh, the dynamic opener amassed a mere 42 runs in two Test matches while averaging just 10.50.

After a forgettable run at home, Rohit’s performance sparked criticism after his shambolic display in Tests in Australia. In five innings during the series, Rohit had only 31 runs to show at an abysmal average of 6.20.

Meanwhile, Virat, who could just make 190 runs in 10 innings during the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, was among players who came under scrutiny after the 1-3 series loss to Australia.

Virat ended the last year with just 655 international runs in 23 matches and 32 innings, averaging 21.83, with a century and two fifties to his name. His best score was 100*.

On the other hand, Shreyas, along with Ishan Kishan, were dropped from the BCCI’s central contract list after reportedly missing domestic cricket despite being available. Since then, Shreyas has put in the hard yards in India’s domestic circuit and exhibited a scorching form.

In his last Ranji Trophy campaign, Shreyas garnered 480 runs from five matches for Mumbai, averaging 68.57 while striking at a healthy rate of 90.22.

With 345 runs in his kitty from nine matches, Shreyas was the fourth-highest run-getter in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He exhibited his rich vein of form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, boasting 325 runs in five games at a staggering average of 325.00.

He was a part of India’s Champions Trophy-winning run in February and ended the tournament as the nation’s leading run-scorer with 243 runs from five matches.