In the Vijay Hazare Trophy final held in Vadodara on Saturday, Karnataka set a formidable target of 349 runs for Vidarbha. After winning the toss, Vidarbha opted to bowl first. Karnataka experienced a shaky start, losing three wickets for just 67 runs. Captain Mayank Agarwal contributed 32 runs, while Devdutt Padikkal and KV Anish managed 8 and 23 runs, respectively.

However, Smaran Ravichandran’s crucial century of 101 runs stabilized the innings, allowing Karnataka to reach a total of 348 for 6 in their 50 overs at Kotambi Stadium. Ravichandran forged a vital partnership of 160 runs with KL Sreejith (78) for the fourth wicket, with Sreejith striking 9 fours and a six in his innings.

Following his dismissal at the score of 227, Ravichandran teamed up with Abhinav Manohar to add another 106 runs for the fifth wicket, where Ravichandran completed his century in just 89 balls.

Smaran’s innings included 3 sixes and 7 fours, and he played a noteworthy knock amidst pressure when Vidarbha was on top. After his dismissal for 101, Abhinav Manohar continued the attack with a blistering 79 runs off just 42 balls, featuring 4 sixes and 10 fours. Ultimately, Karnataka reached 348 runs for 6 wickets.

Vidarbha’s bowlers, including Darshan Nalkande and Nachiket Bhute, who claimed 2 wickets each, had strong initial spells, but as the innings progressed, Karnataka’s batsmen proved overwhelming.

With a challenging total on the board, all eyes will be on Vidarbha captain Karun Nair, who has been in sensational form, scoring 752 runs in his last seven innings at an astonishing average of 752. Nair’s recent scores include 112, 44, 163, 111, 112, 122, and 88, with all but one of those runs coming in unbeaten knocks.

Vidarbha (Playing XI): Dhruv Shorey, Yash Rathod, Karun Nair(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Shubham Dubey, Apoorv Wankhade, Harsh Dubey, Nachiket Bhute, Yash Kadam, Darshan Nalkande, Yash Thakur.

Karnataka (Playing XI): Mayank Agarwal(c), Devdutt Padikkal, Aneesh KV, Smaran Ravichandran, Krishnan Shrijith(w), Abhinav Manohar, Shreyas Gopal, Hardik Raj, Prasidh Krishna, Vasuki Koushik, Abhilash Shetty.

India’s cricket selectors have finalized the national squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, confirming the inclusion of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and the return of veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami. Led by Rohit Sharma, with Shubman Gill as the vice-captain, the team is gearing up for a significant cricketing event scheduled to unfold across Pakistan and Dubai.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, during a recent press briefing, highlighted the conditional inclusion of Bumrah pending a fitness clearance, expected to be provided by the BCCI’s medical team in early February. In light of this, Harshit Rana has been added to the squad for the three-match ODI series against England, providing additional cover for Bumrah.

The Champions Trophy will feature eight teams competing in 15 matches of 50 overs each. The high-stakes game between India and Pakistan is set for February 23 in Dubai, promising to be a major highlight. India kicks off its campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, concluding the group stage with a match against New Zealand on March 2.

Group A comprises the current trophy holders and hosts, Pakistan, alongside India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. Group B includes the 2023 Cricket World Cup champions Australia, Afghanistan, England, and South Africa.

Ahead of the Champions Trophy, India will face England in a three-match ODI series starting February 6, following a five-match T20I series beginning on January 22 in Kolkata. The T20 series will see matches played across various cities including Chennai, Rajkot, Pune, and Mumbai, where the series finale will be held on February 2.

The full roster for the Champions Trophy features Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that India’s squad for the forthcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be unveiled on January 18. The announcement is set to take place in Mumbai, followed by a press conference featuring India captain Rohit Sharma and the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar.

This press conference, scheduled for 12:30 PM following the squad announcement, will not include India head coach Gautam Gambhir. The meeting and subsequent briefing are expected to provide insights into the selections and preparations for the upcoming international fixtures.

In addition, the BCCI has recently introduced a 10-point policy aimed at enforcing discipline and unity within the team. This policy includes measures such as making participation in domestic cricket compulsory, restrictions on family and personal staff during tours, and a ban on individual commercial endorsements during series.

The cricket action will start with a five-match T20 International series against England, beginning on January 22 in Kolkata, with subsequent matches in Chennai, Rajkot, Pune, and Mumbai. This will be followed by the three-match ODI series starting February 6.

The main event, the ICC Champions Trophy, will commence on February 19 and continue until March 9. This year, the tournament will be hosted by Pakistan and the UAE under a hybrid model, with India’s matches taking place in the UAE. The highlight of the tournament is anticipated to be the high-stakes match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan on February 23 in Dubai. India’s campaign will begin against Bangladesh on February 20, and the team will face New Zealand in their last league match on March 2.

The teams are grouped into two pools, with India placed in Group A alongside the current Champions Trophy holders Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. Group B includes the 2023 Cricket World Cup champions Australia, Afghanistan, England, and South Africa.