DRS Mar 3: Tragedy in Team India before semis, Rohit Sharma didn’t do PR stunt & worry for IPL 2025 teams

Rohit Sharma and his men have done it. They have remained spotless in the league stage once again after beating New Zealand in the last group stage match. After a top-order failure, Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya rode India’s batting and took the side to 249 before the spinners did the job. Varun Chakaravarthy did a splendid job as he wreaked havoc with a fifer. But alarmingly, Team India was struck with a tragedy just before the result was confirmed. Meanwhile, Vidarbha continued their dominance in recent domestic cricket after clinching their third Ranji Trophy title in the last seven years. Apart from this, there were many other updates, one including the IPL 2025 teams. On that note, let us look at the six top-most news stories from March 3, Sunday.

Rohit Sharma didn’t do PR?

Amit Mishra has come out in defense of Rohit Sharma, rubbishing claims that his decision to drop himself from the 5th Test against Australia was a PR stunt. Mishra, a former Indian cricketer, said Rohit’s nature isn’t to seek publicity and that he genuinely put the team’s interests first. He praised Rohit’s ability to handle pressure and questioned critics to name another Indian captain who would drop themselves from the team after a poor run of form. Read more here: Mishra rubbishes claims of Rohit Sharma’s Sydney act being PR stunt

Tragedy in Team India before semifinal vs AUS

Indian cricket team manager R Devraj has left the team’s ICC Champions Trophy campaign due to a family tragedy. Devraj’s mother passed away, and he has returned to India. He had joined the team just two weeks ago to ensure the BCCI’s Standard Operating Procedures were followed. It’s unclear if Devraj will rejoin the team in Dubai. Meanwhile, India hammered New Zealand on their way to face Australia in the first semifinal. Read more here: Team Manager leaves India midway through Champions Trophy

Worry for IPL 2025 teams?

The BCCI has introduced strict practice regulations for IPL 2025, limiting teams to seven practice sessions before their first match, including only two warm-up games. To preserve pitch quality, practice on the main square is banned four days before a team’s home game. Range hitting will be allowed on designated side wickets, but open nets are prohibited. During the tournament, teams get limited practice slots, and no sessions are allowed on match days. These unprecedented rules aim to maintain pitch conditions throughout the season. Read more here: BCCI cracks a whip on IPL 2025 teams

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New Pakistan head coach?

The overhaul has started in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)! Pakistan is set to appoint Saqlain Mushtaq as their new head coach, replacing Aaqib Javed after a dismal ICC Champions Trophy campaign. Saqlain, a legendary off-spinner, has agreed to take on the role and will start before Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand. He previously served as interim head coach in 2021 and has also worked with the England Cricket Team. Read more here: PCB to appoint Saqlain Mushtaq as Pakistan’s new head coach

Ranji Trophy winners – Vidarbha!

Vidarbha have won their third Ranji Trophy title, defeating Kerala in the 2024-25 final. With a 37-run lead, Vidarbha’s Karun Nair scored a century, while Danish Malewar also contributed with a 153 and 73. Kerala were bowled out for 342 in their first innings, and despite taking five wickets on the final day, they couldn’t catch up. The match ended with a handshake, with Vidarbha declared winners due to their first-innings lead. Harsh Dubey was the highest wicket-taker in the season with a huge tally of 69 wickets. Read more here: Karun Nair’s Vidarbha trump Kerala in their maiden Ranji Trophy final

Chakaravarthy spins India to win

India topped Group A in the ICC Champions Trophy after beating New Zealand by 44 runs. Varun Chakaravarthy’s 5-wicket haul spun India to victory. India’s top order struggled, but Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel’s 98-run stand revived the innings. India posted 249, which proved too much for New Zealand. Chakaravarthy and other Indian spinners dominated, taking 9 wickets and creating a record for the most wickets by spinners in a Champions Trophy game. India will now face Australia in the semifinals on March 4. As for New Zealand, they will face South Africa in the second semifinal on March 5. Read more here: India send spin warning to Australia