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Sanju Samson joined the Rajasthan Royals (RR) team on Monday after suffering finger surgery last month. Samson was receiving treatment at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, and it was doubtful if he would immediately take wickets. Keeping Dhruv Jurel in case Samson isn't fit could be a possibility. In the fifth Twenty20 International against England in February, Jurel had also maintained wicket in place of Samson after the latter was struck on the finger by a delivery from Jofra Archer while batting. Riyan Parag will start for RR after fully recovering from a shoulder injury. In the second stage of the Ranji Trophy, the batting all-rounder made his comeback after recovering from the injury that prevented him from playing in the Twenty20 Internationals against South Africa and England. Against Saurashtra, he bowled 26 overs and struck a half-century in the opening innings. RR will play back-to-back home games against the Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in Guwahati on March 26 and 30, following their inaugural match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on March 23.

Virat Kohli, famous Indian batsman, has declared his immediate retirement from Test cricket. In 123 Test matches, the former captain of India amassed 9230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 hundreds. As cricket moved to three formats and a vibrant franchise ecosystem, Kohli also left as India's most successful Test captain and a passionate champion for the longest format. "It's been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket," Kohli said on Instagram on Monday, May 12. To be honest, I had no idea the path this format would lead me down. It has put me to the test, molded me, and given me lifelong lessons. "Playing in whites carries a very particular meaning. The long days, the quiet grind, and the little moments that nobody notices but that stick with you forever. It's difficult for me to leave this format, but it feels right. It has returned far more than I could have imagined after I gave it everything I had. "I'm leaving with a heart full of appreciation for the game, the teammates I played with, and everyone who helped me feel like I was seen. "I'll always grin when I think back on my Test career. #269, concluding." Following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, Kohli's decision to leave Test cricket marks a significant change that Indian cricket hasn't seen since the departures of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in 2012 and then Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. Months after being a member of a squad that won the ODI World Cup, Kohli made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies at Sabina Park. After a difficult first year of adjusting to the longer format, he settled in in 2012 with a brilliant 116 against Australia in Adelaide, a place that would hold great meaning for him. He returned to the South Australian capital for India's subsequent tour in 2014, where he led the team as a stand-in captain and scored twin hundreds in a close loss. Following MS Dhoni's retirement in Melbourne a few weeks later, Kohl

The ICC Men's Player of the Month nominee for February 2025 is Shubman Gill. He is the only Indian on the shortlist, which also includes Australian Steve Smith and New Zealander Glenn Phillips. Following an outstanding showing in international cricket in February, Gill was nominated. In five one-day internationals, he amassed 406 runs at an average of 101.50 and a strike rate of 94.19. India won the series 3-0 thanks to several outstanding innings against England, including 87 in Nagpur, 60 in Cuttack, and 112 in Ahmedabad. Gill started the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with an undefeated 101 against Bangladesh and a crucial 46 against Pakistan, maintaining his form. He was named one of the month's best players for his steady batting, which has been crucial to India's victory. The winner will now be chosen by the ICC Voting Academy and supporters; the results will be revealed shortly. Gill's increasing impact in international cricket and his potential as an Indian leader in the future are highlighted by this nomination.

Match Preview: The final match between host Pakistan and Bangladesh, who have been eliminated from the competition, will take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. On Thursday, February 27, the two clubs will play one another. Pakistan has received criticism for their play this season and has lost the competition to arch-enemy India and New Zealand, both of whom are disappointing. Despite being the favorites and defending champions, the team captained by Muhammad Rizwan has not had many favorable opportunities with the bat or the ball. The same is true for the Bangla Tigers, who, despite potentially displaying flashes of genius in their two games, such as their comeback against India in the first inning and their early success against the New Zealand openers in their last meeting, were unable to overcome the opposition and finished second best on the entire day. PAK vs. BAN 9th Match Details: Match: Pakistan vs Bangladesh, ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Date: 27th February 2025 Time: 2:30 PM IST Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi PAK vs. BAN Pitch Report: The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is nearing its conclusion, and Pakistan's final Group A matchup is against Bangladesh. The game is scheduled for February 27 at 2:30 PM IST at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. Bangladesh did not make it to the semifinals, and Pakistan has already been eliminated. Both teams want to end their campaign on a high note. Let's examine the specifics of the game, the head-to-head record, the pitch conditions, and the likelihood of victory. Head-to-Head Record: Matches Played: 38 Pakistan Won: 33 Bangladesh Won: 5 No Result: 0 PAK vs. BAN Winning Prediction: Who Will Win? Pakistan has the advantage because they are playing at home, but Bangladesh and Pakistan have both had difficulties in the tournament. Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Babar Azam will be important figures. For Bangladesh to stop Pakistan's batting order, they must put up a good bowling effor

Fast bowler Ben Sears, who signed with Yorkshire for the 2025 campaign, will get there in time for the team's second County Championship match of the year at Headingley against Worcestershire. When Sears, 27, took five wickets at Christchurch in 2024 against Australia, including four for ninety in the second innings, he demonstrated his raw pace for New Zealand. This was his lone Test match yet. Previously, in 2021, he made his T20I debut against Bangladesh. The club has also drawn comparisons with his countryman and former Yorkshire foreign star Lockie Ferguson. He will be joined at Headingley by fellow New Zealand fast Will O'Rourke, who has signed for the T20 Blast. "I can't wait to get over to Headingley and start playing with the guys," commented Sears. "I hope I can add to the fantastic signings that have already been made. In any season, it's critical to establish the mood early. There are several important games in that first block, and I'll be prepared to start the team as strongly as possible. "Ben is a true talent who can get some extra bounce when he bowls," stated head coach Anthony McGrath. I'm eager to get him over and begin working with him because he'll be a real handful during the early part of the year when pitches can be slower or greener." Cricket General Manager Gavin Hamilton also said: "The club's ability to draw in such gifted bowlers as Ben is evidence of Yorkshire's appeal on a global scale. Ben is a talented player who will add something extra to the team that will be vital this season. We are overjoyed that he has committed, and we can't wait to have him visit Headingley in April.

As IPL 2025 is ready to resume on May 17, the majority of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) international players will likely land in Bengaluru between Wednesday evening and early Thursday. At the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, KKR will play Royal Challengers Bengaluru in an important game as the season begins. Following the IPL's one-week suspension on May 9 due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, and team coach Dwayne Bravo, who are part of KKR's West Indian contingent, have been in Dubai since departing India. After a ceasefire was declared on May 10, the IPL might potentially return, and clubs started calling up their foreign players. While South Africa's Anrich Nortje will join the team in Bengaluru from the Maldives, KKR's wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who is currently in Kabul, will travel to Dubai to join the West Indian team. Fast bowler Spencer Johnson and all-rounder Moeen Ali are currently in Australia and the UK, respectively, and while there is no word on when they will be available again, there are signs that they will. The return of Quinton de Kock has not yet been confirmed. On Wednesday, KKR's Indian players and support staff are expected to begin arriving in Bengaluru in groups. With 5 wins and one loss from 12 games, KKR is now ranked sixth in the standings. On May 25, KKR will play their final league match in Delhi against Sunrisers Hyderabad following their match against RCB. To have a chance of making the playoffs, they must win both games to get 15 points. On Monday, the IPL announced the updated schedule for the remaining games of the season, which now includes 13 league games in addition to the four playoff games. The locations for the playoffs have not yet been revealed, but the remaining league games will take place in Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The following are the playoff dates: May 29 for Qualifier 1, May 30 for Eliminator 2, June 1 for F