Welcome to our special segment, DRS or the Daily Review System. In this, InsideSport will provide you with the top cricket stories from a day before that you might have missed in the hustle and bustle of your busy life.
The countdown for the ICC Champions Trophy is finally about to end! Pakistan, after a wait of almost three decades, is ready to host an ICC event as they play the tournament-opener against New Zealand. However, the eve of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was filled with spicy rumours and important updates. Reportedly, there is a split of opinions for the choice of a frontline spinner between Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir. While Rohit wants Kuldeep Yadav, Gambhir bats for Varun Chakravarthy. Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur is ready for a County stint after he was unpicked at the IPL 2025 mega auction. Talking about Thakur, his Mumbai team had a poor day in the Ranji Trophy semi-final, with skipper Ajinkya Rahane and star batter Suryakumar Yadav failing miserably. On that note, let us look at the top cricketing stories from February 18, Tuesday.
Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav fail
Mumbai’s batting woes deepened as Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shivam Dube fell to Parth Rekhade’s left-arm spin, who bowled a match-changing 3-wicket over. Vidarbha’s 383 now looks like a formidable total. Akash Anand’s unbeaten 67 is Mumbai’s only bright spot. Shardul Thakur’s counter-attacking 37 wasn’t enough. Mumbai trail by 195 runs, and losing the first-innings lead is a strong possibility. Both Rahane and Suryakumar haven’t had a great Ranji Trophy campaign. While SKY has only scored 86 runs in 4 innings, Rahane has scored only 1 century in 13 Ranji Trophy 2024/25 campaign. Read more here: Ranji Trophy: No Samson no sweat for Kerala, Rahane-Suryakumar fail for Mumbai
Rohit Sharma vs Gautam Gambhir?
A fascinating debate is brewing in the Indian cricket camp. Captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir are at odds over who should be the specialist spinner against Bangladesh in the ICC Champions Trophy. Rohit wants Kuldeep Yadav, but Gambhir is backing Varun Chakravarthy, who’s in scintillating form. With Chakravarthy’s recent T20I exploits, it’s a tough call. Will Rohit’s preference prevail, or will Gambhir’s influence win out? The decision will reveal who’s calling the shots in the Indian team. Read more here: Rohit Sharma vs Gambhir before India vs Bangladesh
No IPL 2025 contract, Shardul Thakur joins County
Shardul Thakur is making a strong case for his return to the Indian Test team after an exceptional Ranji Trophy season. He’s Mumbai’s second-highest wicket-taker and fifth-highest scorer, with 275 runs and 19 wickets in the second leg of the tournament. After being snubbed in the IPL 2025 auction, Thakur will join Essex County Cricket Club to prepare for India’s Test tour of England in June. This stint will help him adjust to English conditions and potentially earn a spot in the Indian team. Read more here: No IPL 2025 contract, Shardul Thakur joins County Cricket
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‘War-like’ security in Pakistan for Champions Trophy
Pakistan is leaving no stone unturned to ensure top-notch security for the Champions Trophy 2025. A massive contingent of 12,000 personnel, including 18 senior officers, 54 DSPs, and 10,556 constables, will be deployed across Lahore and Rawalpindi. The two cities will host six matches, with Lahore getting 8,000 personnel and Rawalpindi getting 5,000. The IG Punjab Police has assured full security for players, officials, and fans, with intelligence-based operations already underway. Read more here: ‘War-like’ security in Pakistan for Champions Trophy
MS Dhoni – CSK update
The wait is almost over! MS Dhoni is set to join the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on February 25, ahead of the IPL 2025. The 43-year-old legend has been abroad for a while, but is now ready to dive into training with his team. Despite concerns over his fitness, sources claim Dhoni is “fully fit” and has been training well. He’ll likely play a key role in CSK’s decision-making, even after handing over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Read more here: MS Dhoni – CSK update
Special move by BCCI on Indian players
In a special move, the BCCI has made an exception for the families of Indian cricketers participating in the ICC Champions Trophy. Despite a mandate restricting family visits, the board will allow players’ families to watch one match, provided they seek permission in advance. As per the new mandate, the families of the players are allowed for a short duration only if an overseas tour exceeds 45 days. As a result, there is no provision for the same during the ICC Champions Trophy. Read more here: BCCI makes special provision
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