India captain Rohit Sharma bid an emotional farewell to 2024 with a heartfelt video on Instagram. The video, a mosaic of personal and professional moments, provided a glimpse into the rollercoaster year for the 37-year-old cricketer, filled with joy, heartbreak, and unforgettable memories.

The video opened with Rohit celebrating Holi, a festival close to his heart, with family and friends. The vibrant colours and laughter were followed by snippets of his interactions with his wife Ritika Sajdeh, Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty, and fans. These personal touches underscored the importance of relationships and connections in Rohit's life.

“For all the ups and downs, and everything in between, Thank you 2024," Rohit posted on Instagram.

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has come to the defense of Rishabh Pant, urging critics to focus on the wicketkeeper-batter’s results rather than his style of dismissals.

The comments come in the wake of Pant’s controversial shot selection during the fourth Test against Australia in Melbourne, which played a significant role in India’s collapse and eventual 184-run defeat.

During the second innings of the Melbourne Test, with India fighting to save the match, Pant fell while attempting a risky six off Travis Head. The ill-timed shot resulted in his dismissal and triggered a collapse in the Indian batting lineup, leading to their inability to survive the final 91 overs of Day 5.

India’s loss put them 1-2 behind in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, damaging India’s hopes of reaching the WTC final, drawing widespread criticism of Pant’s shot selection.

Punjab’s opening duo of Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh etched their names in the record books with a monumental partnership during their Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Saurashtra on Tuesday at the Gujarat College Cricket Ground in Ahmedabad.

The pair added a scintillating 298 runs for the first wicket, equalling the tournament’s second-highest opening partnership set by Bengal’s Sudip Gharami and Abhimanyu Easwaran in 2022.

Abhishek and Prabhsimran’s partnership, built on an aggressive approach, laid a solid foundation for Punjab's innings. Prabhsimran was the first to reach his century, eventually scoring 125 runs off 95 balls, showcasing his trademark flair with 15 boundaries and three sixes. His partner, Abhishek, was even more dominant, smashing 170 runs off just 96 deliveries. His innings featured 22 fours and eight towering sixes, leaving the Saurashtra bowlers with no answers.

Their electrifying stand propelled Punjab past 300 in the 32nd over, ensuring the team was on course for a massive total.

The aftermath of India’s crushing 184-run defeat in the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne saw Rohit Sharma facing tough questions about his future as a Test cricketer and a leader. During the post-match press conference, the Indian skipper admitted that both his batting and captaincy had fell short of expectations.

Rohit’s individual form has been a glaring issue, with just 31 runs in five innings in the series and a mere 123 runs across his last six Tests. His captaincy record has also come under scrutiny, with India winless in their last six Tests under his leadership, including a historic 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand in October-November.

"We had the opportunity today to pull the game in our favour or draw it, Still a game to go, if we play well, it'll be 2-2. I stand where I am standing today. Nothing to think what has happened in the past. Lot of things I am trying to do as a batter are not falling into place. You want to come here and try to do things successfully. When it doesn't come off, it is disappointing," Rohit told reporters.

Ashton Agar has thrown his support behind Western Australian teammate Mitchell Marsh, insisting the under-pressure all-rounder remains one of Australia’s top six batters despite a challenging run in the Border-Gavaskar Series.

Marsh’s form slump, which has seen him endure five consecutive single-digit scores, has sparked debate about his place in the Test side ahead of the fifth Test at the SCG and two-match tour of Sri Lanka.

Marsh has managed just 283 runs at an average of 18.86 across nine Tests in 2024. His latest dismissal - a duck to Jasprit Bumrah in Australia's second innings on Sunday - was his fifth consecutive single-digit score in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

Former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri has called for Nitish Kumar Reddy to be promoted up the batting order following his sensational maiden Test century in the ongoing fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Reddy’s unbeaten 105 off 176 balls, laced with ten fours and a six, showcased his temperament and skill under pressure, making him India’s leading run-scorer in the series with 284 runs at an impressive average of 71.

Speaking on Star Sports, Shastri emphasised the need for Reddy to bat higher in the lineup to improve the team’s balance and allow India to field five bowlers.

"I feel that the way he's batted, this is the last time he will bat at 7. To get the balance of the side, you need him to go higher up the order, either 5 or 6 and then you have the opportunity of playing 5 bowlers to take the 20 wickets, and he's given that kind of confidence to the selectors and the team management and the captain,” Shastri said on Star Sports

India all-rounder Shreyanka Patil is among the nominees for the ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year award for 2024. Annerie Dercksen (South Africa), Saskia Horley (Scotland) and Freya Sargent (Ireland) are the other candidates for the award, the International Cricket Council announced on Saturday.

Patil's debut for India in December 2023 was just the beginning of an incredible year. The young bowler has been a consistent performer for India across white-ball formats, regularly delivering in high-pressure situations.

Primarily known for her bowling, Patil also has untapped potential as a lower-order batter. Her standout performances in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup have cemented her place in the team.

In a must-win World Cup clash against Pakistan, Patil's figures of 2/14 helped restrict the opposition to 105/8. Her economical bowling, including a wicket-maiden, played a pivotal role in keeping India’s campaign alive.

From academia to international cricket, Annerie Dercksen’s rise has been remarkable. A teacher by qualification, the 23-year-old made her debut in 2023 and quickly became an integral part of South Africa’s squad. She played a crucial role in South Africa’s journey to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final in 2024.

A late batting collapse by Sri Lanka saw New Zealand register a thrilling eight-run victory in the first game of the three-match T20I series at the Bay Oval on Saturday. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis’ 121-run opening partnership went in vain thanks to some great death bowling by the likes of Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, and Zakary Foulkes.

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field first in the T20I series opener and asserted dominance over the Black Caps in the opening overs.

Tim Robinson (11) was the first to depart when he was caught and bowled by Binura Fernando in the fourth over. Robinson’s opening partner Rachin Ravindra (8) soon followed him back to the dugout after he edged the ball into the safe hands of Mendis three balls later.

Gus Atkinson (England), Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka), Saim Ayub (Pakistan), and Shamar Joseph (West Indies) have been named the 2024 ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year nominees

Gus Atkinson’s meteoric rise began with a stunning debut in James Anderson’s final Test in July. The 26-year-old announced himself with a career-best performance of 7/45 at Lord’s against the West Indies, followed by a five-wicket haul in the second innings to finish with 12/106—the fourth-best figures by a debutant in men’s Test history.

Atkinson has since cemented his place as England’s frontline pacer, claiming 34 wickets in home Tests against the West Indies and Sri Lanka, and adding 12 more during England’s historic series win in New Zealand.

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar showered praise on India’s young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy after his gutsy maiden Test century on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here on Saturday. Reddy’s unbeaten 105 spearheaded a spirited Indian fightback as they reached 358/9, trailing Australia by 116 runs. Impressed by the youngster’s temperament and composure, Tendulkar took to social media to commend the innings that kept India in contention in the fourth Test.

"A knock to remember by Nitish. He has impressed me right from the 1st Test and his composure and temperament have been on display right through. Today he took it a notch higher to play a crucial innings in this series. Wonderfully and ably supported by @Sundarwashi5 as well. Well played!" Tendulkar wrote on X.