Hardik Pandya didn’t practice on the eve of the Cuttack T20I. Suryakumar Yadav has talked about removing Sanju Samson as an opener. South Africa is wary of the threat posed by Abhishek Sharma. Ravi Shastri has spoken about the BCCI potentially sacking Gautam Gambhir. ICC is looking for a new media rights partner. And what is CSK vs RR like?
Why was Samson removed as opener?
On the eve of the Cuttack T20I, Suryakumar Yadav was asked whether Sanju Samson would return as India’s second opener. The Indian captain stated there have been no conversations about replacing Shubman Gill, who had displayed Samson. Surya further added that Gill ‘deserved’ the opener spot over the wicketkeeper batter.
Shastri on Gambhir
Considering how poor India’s performance has been in Test cricket, Ravi Shastri thinks that Gautam Gambhir could be fired. However, he doesn’t think one individual, whether it be a coach, captain, or anyone else, should be blamed for failure. The former India head coach thinks players should feel the hurt of the loss and take responsibility.
JioStar cancels ICC deal
JioStar, the broadcaster for ICC events until 2027, has decided to end the media rights deal, worth $3 billion, prematurely after incurring heavy losses. The ICC is looking to sign a new 4-year deal for $2.40 billion and has approached digital platforms such as Sony Sports Network, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.
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Markram wary of Abhishek Sharma
Aiden Markram is ecstatic that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli won’t trouble South Africa in the 5-match T20I after they punished Proteas bowlers in ODIs. The South African skipper added that he’s wary of the threat Abhishek Sharma poses and has been rigorously planning to keep him quiet.
Hardik Pandya injury scare
Hardik Pandya was absent from India’s last practice session for the Cuttack T20I against South Africa. The all-rounder had trained alone on December 7 and experienced some discomfort after bowling for about 20 minutes. Although Hardik continued to practice, he didn’t join the team at the Barabati Stadium on the eve of the match.
Cricket’s Manchester derby
Phil Salt has talked about being part of an RCB vs CSK match. The opener was taken aback by how serious the players and the media became before the match, unlike in other IPL games. Salt added that to him, it felt like the Manchester derby, City vs United.
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Massive cut in IPL 2026 auction pool as BCCI confirms final list of 350 from 1355 registered players
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