Cricket

Former South African batting legend AB de Villiers has urged Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to prioritize acquiring world-class spinners in the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. De Villiers, who played for RCB for 11 seasons, believes that re-signing Yuzvendra Chahal would be a crucial move for the franchise."I've always said that RCB needs a world-class spinner. Let's bring Yuzi back. He should never have left," De Villiers emphasized on his YouTube channel.De Villiers also identified four players who he believes RCB should target in the auction: Chahal, Kagiso Rabada, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar."I really like Ashwin. He brings a wealth of experience and can also contribute with the bat. Imagine having the twin spins from Rajasthan Royals at RCB," De Villiers said.He also advocated for his compatriot Rabada, stating, "Let's get Kagiso Rabada. If we get him, Chahal, and Ashwin, we'll have a tournament-winning bowling attack."De Villiers suggested that RCB should allocate a significant portion of their auction purse to these four players. "I'd spend almost my entire purse on them. If we can't get Rabada, we should go for Mohammed Shami or Arshdeep Singh," he added.RCB enters the auction with a purse of INR 83 crore and three Right to Match (RTM) cards, having retained Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal. The IPL 2025 mega auction will take place in Jeddah on November 24 and 25.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the nominees for its Player of the Month awards for October, honoring exceptional performances in both men's and women's cricket.Men's Nominees:* Noman Ali (Pakistan): The Pakistani pacer impressed in the Test series against England, claiming 20 wickets at an average of 13.85 in two matches. His performance played a pivotal role in Pakistan's 2-1 series victory.* Mitchell Santner (New Zealand): Santner's impactful bowling in the second Test against India in Pune earned him a nomination. His figures of 7 for 53 in the first innings and 6 for 104 in the second innings were instrumental in New Zealand's historic series win.* Kagiso Rabada (South Africa): Rabada's outstanding bowling performance in South Africa's Test series victory against Bangladesh secured his nomination. He reached the milestone of 300 Test wickets and played a crucial role in South Africa's victory in the first Test with figures of 9 for 72.Women's Nominees:* Amelia Kerr (New Zealand): Kerr played a key role in New Zealand's victory at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in the UAE. She set a new record for wickets taken in the tournament, claiming 15 wickets and scoring 135 runs, earning her the Player of the Tournament award.* Deandra Dottin (West Indies): Dottin's impactful return to the West Indies team during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup earned her a nomination. Her all-round performance helped the team reach the semi-finals, with notable contributions against Scotland, Bangladesh, and England.* Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa): Wolvaardt's consistent performance as captain of the South African women's team during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup earned her a nomination. She finished as the tournament's highest run-scorer with 223 runs at an average of 44.60, leading South Africa to the final.The ICC Player of the Month awards recognize outstanding individual performances in international cricket. The winners will be announced in due course.

Mominul Haque's gritty half-century and a crucial ninth-wicket partnership with Taijul Islam rescued Bangladesh from a precarious position on the third morning of the second Test against South Africa.After South Africa's pace attack, led by Kagiso Rabada, tore through Bangladesh's top order, leaving them reeling at 48 for 8, Haque and Islam combined for an 89-run stand that frustrated the Proteas.Rabada, who recently regained the top spot in the Test bowling rankings, continued his impressive form, claiming his second five-wicket haul of the series. His average of 7.78 in the series is the best among South Africans who have taken at least ten wickets.Bangladesh's collapse began with the dismissal of Mushfiqur Rahim, who gifted a catch to Tony de Zorzi at square leg for a second-ball duck. The wickets continued to fall in quick succession, with four batters dismissed within 12 balls.However, Haque and Islam showed resilience and determination, digging in to rebuild Bangladesh's innings. Haque reached his 20th Test fifty, while Islam provided valuable support with a patient 33.Their partnership frustrated South Africa's bowlers and gave Bangladesh a glimmer of hope. The Proteas eventually broke through when Rabada dismissed Islam, but Haque remained unbeaten on 51 at the end of the day's play.Bangladesh still trail South Africa by 144 runs, but Haque's innings and the ninth-wicket stand have given them a fighting chance of saving the Test.

South Africa's Kagiso Rabada has ascended to the pinnacle of the ICC Test bowling rankings, dethroning India's Jasprit Bumrah. Rabada's exceptional performance in the first Test against Bangladesh, where he claimed nine wickets, propelled him to the top spot.Rabada's rise to the summit marks a significant milestone in his illustrious career. He first achieved the top ranking in January 2018 but relinquished it in February 2019. His return to the apex demonstrates his unwavering consistency and world-class ability.Bumrah, who had held the top spot for an extended period, has slipped to third place. Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood occupies the second position, while India's veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin remains at fourth. Australia's captain and fast bowler Pat Cummins rounds out the top five.Pakistan spinner Noman Ali has made a remarkable entry into the top 10, securing the ninth spot. His impressive performances in the home series against England, where he played a pivotal role in Pakistan's 2-1 victory, have earned him a career-high ranking.New Zealand's left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner has also achieved a personal best ranking. His outstanding performance in the Pune Test against India, where he claimed 13 wickets, has propelled him 30 positions to the 44th spot.Rabada's ascent to the top of the rankings is a testament to his exceptional skill and unwavering determination. His ability to generate pace, swing, and accuracy makes him a formidable force in Test cricket. As he continues to lead South Africa's bowling attack, Rabada will undoubtedly aim to maintain his dominance and cement his legacy as one of the greatest bowlers of his generation.

The World Test Championship (WTC) has been thrown wide open after South Africa's historic victory in the subcontinent and New Zealand's series triumph in India. Both teams remain in contention for the final, with every remaining match crucial.South Africa's next challenge is in Chattogram, where they face Bangladesh in their final away Test of the 2023-25 cycle. After their victory in Mirpur, the Proteas are confident of a clean sweep, especially given Bangladesh's ongoing turmoil.Bangladesh's head coach was replaced on the eve of the series, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is considering stepping down after less than a year in charge. To salvage some pride, Bangladesh must improve their first-innings performance, where they faltered in the opening Test.South Africa's bowling attack, led by Kagiso Rabada, who recently claimed his 300th wicket, will be a formidable challenge. The spin duo of Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan will also be key, as they exposed weaknesses in South Africa's batting.South Africa needs to win at least four of their remaining five Tests to qualify for the WTC final. Bangladesh, though out of contention, will be eager to perform well at home after a disappointing setback.

South Africa's bowlers put in a dominant performance on the final morning of the first Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur, dismissing the hosts for 307 and setting themselves a target of 106 runs to win.Kagiso Rabada, who had already taken his 300th Test wicket on day three, struck early to remove Nayeem Hasan and complete a five-wicket haul. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who had been Bangladesh's top scorer with 97, was the last man out, falling to Rabada's bowling just three runs short of a century.South Africa's bowlers had taken the remaining three wickets in just 4.5 overs on the opening morning, with Rabada finishing with figures of 6 for 46 and Keshav Maharaj taking 3 for 105.Bangladesh had resumed their innings on 283 for 7, with Mehidy and Taijul Islam at the crease. The pair added 24 runs to their overnight score before Taijul was dismissed for 12, caught at second slip off the bowling of Wiaan Mulder.Mehidy continued to bat aggressively, reaching the nineties with a boundary off Mulder. However, he was unable to convert his innings into a century, falling to Rabada for 97 when he attempted to ramp a delivery but sent a catch to slip instead.South Africa's bowlers had opted to use spinners with the old ball at the start of the day's play, but they had a new ball available as soon as play began. Rabada made immediate use of the new ball, dismissing Nayeem with his third delivery.South Africa will now be confident of chasing down the target and taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The pitch has become better for batting, and the Proteas will be looking to their top order to get them off to a good start.

The first Test match between Bangladesh and South Africa commenced in Dhaka, marking the resumption of international cricket in the country after a period of political unrest. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto elected to bat first, citing the dry wicket conditions that could prove challenging for batting in the fourth innings.South Africa's opening bowlers, Kagiso Rabada and Wiaan Mulder, applied early pressure on the Bangladesh openers. Rabada drew first blood, trapping Shadman Islam leg before wicket for a duck in the first over. Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mominul Haque steadied the innings, but Mulder struck again in the third over, removing Joy for 10.Haque, the former Bangladesh captain, showed his class with a well-crafted 25, including a boundary off Mulder. However, he was dismissed by Rabada in the 10th over, leaving Bangladesh at 39/3.Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das attempted to rebuild the innings, but both fell in quick succession to Mulder and Rabada, respectively. Bangladesh were reeling at 60/5, with the South African bowlers dominating the proceedings.Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Jaker Ali, making his Test debut, showed some resistance, adding 30 runs for the sixth wicket. However, Mulder returned to dismiss Miraz for 22, and Ali followed soon after, caught behind off Rabada for 15.Bangladesh's innings eventually folded for 127, with Rabada and Mulder sharing seven wickets between them. South Africa's bowlers had exploited the conditions superbly, extracting bounce and movement from the pitch.In response, South Africa's openers, Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi, negotiated the Bangladesh bowlers cautiously. They reached stumps on day one with the score at 15/0, trailing Bangladesh by 112 runs.The match is evenly poised heading into day two, with South Africa needing to build a substantial lead to put pressure on Bangladesh. The home side, on the other hand, will be looking to strike early and restrict South Africa's scoring.

Ben Stokes, the England Test captain, has signed with MI Cape Town for the upcoming season of the SA20, joining Azmatullah Omarzai as the franchise's marquee overseas signings. The duo will bolster a squad that includes Rashid Khan, Trent Boult, Nuwan Thushara, and Chris Benjamin, who have been retained from the previous season.MI Cape Town's domestic contingent is equally impressive, featuring Kagiso Rabada, Dewald Brevis, Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton, and George Linde. They are joined by Delano Potgieter, Thomas Kaber, and Connor Esterhuizen, who have been added to the roster.For Boult, this marks his fourth stint with a Mumbai Indians-owned team, having previously played for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, MI New York in MLC, and MI Emirates in the ILT20.The SA20 franchises have been actively targeting top English Test players for the 2025 season, with Joe Root joining Paarl Royals, Ollie Pope signing with Pretoria Capitals, and Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes joining Joburg Super Kings and Durban's Super Giants, respectively. Zak Crawley has been acquired by Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the two-time SA20 champions.England's Test tours to Pakistan and New Zealand in the winter of 2024-25 will conclude before Christmas, making English players available for the full duration of the ILT20 and SA20. The 2025 edition of the SA20 will run from January 9 to February 8.Stokes' England contract expires in September, and he has not played a white-ball game for England since the 2023 ODI World Cup. He is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, but is targeting a return for England's Test tour of Pakistan in October.If Stokes participates in the SA20, it will be a rare appearance for him in a franchise league. His previous IPL stints were disrupted by injuries, and he opted out of IPL 2024 to manage his workload.

Kagiso Rabada, South Africa's star fast bowler, has opened up about the challenges and responsibilities he faces as the only black African player in the national T20 World Cup squad. Rabada emphasized that he embraces his role and encourages discussions on transformation in South African cricket.Despite the pressure and scrutiny, Rabada remained focused on the team's success at the World Cup. He believes that his inclusion is not solely based on his race but on merit. However, he acknowledges the need to address the underrepresentation of black African players in the national team.Rabada's comments come amidst ongoing debates about transformation in South African cricket. The country has had transformation targets in place since 1999, but the progress has been slow. The recent T20 World Cup squad included only one black African player, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the current policies.Rabada understands the challenges faced by players of color and the potential impact of media scrutiny on their mental health. He believes that the transformation issue often becomes more prominent during World Cups, leading to unnecessary pressure on players.Despite the challenges, Rabada remains optimistic about the future of transformation in South African cricket. He believes that the system is complex and requires a nuanced approach. He also emphasizes the importance of celebrating achievements regardless of race, citing the recent Olympic gold medal won by South African swimmer Tatjana Smith.Rabada's insights provide a valuable perspective on the ongoing transformation debate in South African cricket. He highlights the need for a balanced approach that addresses the underrepresentation of black African players while also recognizing the importance of merit-based selection.