Indian Cricket News: BCCI postpones Cooch Behar Trophy due to Covid surge
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced the postponement of the knockout stage matches of the Cooch Behar Trophy following some positive Covid-19 cases within the team environment
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced the postponement of the knockout stage matches of the Cooch Behar Trophy following some positive Covid-19 cases within the team environment. The knockout matches are scheduled to be held in Pune has put on hold until further notice. The BCCI had conducted 93 matches across 20 venues on the league stage. The Board will continue to monitor the situation and identify a new window once the situation improves.
The eight teams to have qualified for the Cooch Behar Trophy knockouts are Mumbai, Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, and Bengal. They were yet to play four-day knockout games starting Tuesday.
"Keeping everyone's health and safety in mind, the knockout matches to be held in Pune have been put on hold until further notice. The BCCI had conducted 93 matches across 20 venues in the league stage. The Board will continue to monitor the situation and identify a new window once the situation improves."
BCCI is hopeful of completing the knockouts of the tournament, once the covid situation improves in the country
The BCCI is hopeful of completing the knockouts of the tournament, once the covid situation improves in the country. "Once the caseload again goes down and the situation improves. Then we will lock in a new window and resume the knockout leg of the tournament. Let's hope we get over this phase quickly and resume our domestic cricket operations once again with full gusto. Best wishes," Shah concluded in his communication to the state units.
On January 5, the BCCI had postponed all the tournaments in domestic cricket after a nationwide surge in coronavirus cases. Meanwhile, only the Cooch Behar trophy's knockout stage matches were excluded till yesterday. Last Friday it had emerged that as many as 15 members of the MCA's staff and three staffers in the BCCI's office had tested positive for Covid-19.
Indian Men's Cricket team have won a total of 7 ICC trophies so far in their history. Here is a detailed article on India's performance in every ICC tournament.
India's performance in the ICCevents has been mixed in recent years. The title win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 ended India’s 11-year-long ICC title drought after it last won a global tournament back in 2013 - the ICC Champions Trophy.
Their latest triumph came via Champions Trophy 2025, as they defeated New Zealand by four wickets in Dubai in the final. It was the second consecutive ICC trophy for India under Rohit Sharma's captaincy.
So far, India have collected 7 ICC trophies including two 50 over World Cups, three Champions Trophy, and two T20 World Cups in 2007 and 2024.
Mahendra Singh Dhonihas won 3 ICC events as a captain and Rohit Sharma has 2 in those 7 ICC trophies that India won so far. In this article, SportzPoint will give you details on India's performances in every ICC tournaments so far.
ICC Cricket World Cup (1975 - 2023):
India lost the 2023 ICC World Cup final against Australia.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) started the ODI World Cup back in the year 1975. From then, ICC organized the tournament a total of 13 times. Australia are the most successful in the format as they won 6 titles so far.
India won their first World Cup under Kapil Dev back in 1983 and next under Mahendra Singh Dhoni in 2011. With 2 titles India are the second most successful team alongside West Indies in the 50 overs format after Australia.
Indian Men's Cricket team also lost two ODI World Cup finals, one under Sourav Ganguly in 2003 and another one under Rohit Sharma in 2023. Here is how India performed in the each of the 13 editions of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
India's performance in every ICC Cricket World Cup
Year
Result
1975
6th
1979
7th
1983
Champions
1987
Semi-Final
1992
7th
1996
Semi-Final
1999
6th
2003
Runner's up
2007
9th
2011
Champions
2015
Semi-Final
2019
Semi-Final
2023
Final
ICC Champions Trophy (1998 - 2025):
ICC started a new tournament of the 50 overs format in 1998 called the Champions Trophy. It was also referred as a "Mini World Cup". Till 2006 the Champion's Trophy was held every two years. After that, it continues with a gap of 4 years from 2009.
In 2003, India reached the Finals of the tournament along with Sri Lanka. As the match got washed out and India were declared joint winners.
However, India finally won the ICC Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni in 2013 after defeating England by 5 runs.
In 2025, India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in Dubai to lift the trophy for the third time. It was the second consecutive ICC trophy for India under Rohit Sharma's captaincy.
Let's take a look at India's performance in the tournament so far.
India won their latest ICC T20 World Cup in 2024. Image | ICC
International Cricket Council introduced a new format marquee tournament in 2007 as T20 Cricket started to grow globally. ICC started the T20 World Cup in the year 2007. India defeated their arch-rival Pakistan in the final that year and won the inaugural T20 World Cup under MS Dhoni.
ICC World Test Championshipstarted in the year 2019 as New Zealand won the inaugural WTC after defeating India in the ICC World Test Championship 2021 Final.
India once again qualified for the Test Championship final in 2023 and this time, it was Australia who challenged them. India bottled their chance to win an ICC trophy after waiting for a decade and lost the match by a huge margin of 209 runs.
In 2023-25 World Test Championship, India failed to qualify for the final.
The premier domestic competition named after the first Indian cricketer, Ranjitsinhji, who was also known as 'Ranji', was launched in 1934-35 featuring 15 teams in four zones in a knockout format and has since expanded to a 32-team tournament in the league and knockout format.
The first-ever edition was won by Bombay now known as Mumbai, who have also won the Ranji title the most. Record champions Mumbai have won the Ranji Trophy 41 times so far. Mumbai has also reached the final 47 times.
Karnataka earlier played as Mysore is the second most successful team in the Ranji Trophy, having won the title 8 times and finished runners up 6 times followed by Delhi, who have won the title 7 times and finished as runners-up 8 times.
The Ranji Trophy 2024-25 has finally concluded with Vidarbha winning their third Ranji title defeating Kerala in the finals. Let's check out the last 10 winners of the Ranji title.
Harsh Dubey has already taken 66 wickets in 2024-25 season. Image | PTI
Ranji Trophy, the Premier Division Tournament in Indian domestic cricket has given future stars of Indian cricket over the years. Domestic players prove themselves in the Ranji Trophy as best in the country, before announcing themselves on the world stage.
Today, we will discuss the players who have taken the most wickets in a Ranji Trophy season to cement their place in the history of Indian domestic cricket. Ashutosh Aman of Bihar has the record for most wickets taken in a single Ranji season currently.
Most Wickets in a Ranji Trophy Season
10. Sai Kishore | 53 wickets
Image | PTI
Tamil Nadu left-arm spinner Sai Kishore took 53 wickets in a single season in 2023-24 and listed himself in the record books. He became the first Tamil Nadu bowler to take more than fifty wickets in a Ranji Season.
Sai Kishore took a total of 53 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 18.52 including 3 five-wicket hauls. Despite his heroics with the ball, Tamil Nadu fell short against Mumbai in the semi-finals that season.
Playing for Meghalaya, left-arm spinner Gurinder Singh took 53 wickets in just 8 matches to finish as the second-highest wicket-taker of the 2018/19 Ranji Trophy season. Gurinder created the record in the plate group of the tournament.
Gurinder's splendid season with the ball included 5 five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul in a match as well. The spin-bowling all-rounder started his career with Tripura and played for Punjab, Meghalaya and Chandigarh as well.
8. Aditya Sarwate | 55 wickets
Image | PTI
Aditya Sarwate, the left-arm spinner from Vidarbha listed himself among the bowlers with the most wickets in a single season in 2018/19 when he picked up 55 wickets in 11 matches.
Sarwate at that time was the only Vidarbha bowler to pick up more than 50 wickets in a single Ranji Trophy season. He picked up 11 wickets in the 2018/19 Ranji Trophy final as Vidarbha defeated Saurashtra to become the sixth team in history to defend a Ranji Trophy title.
Another left-arm in the list, Sanjay Yadav took 55 wickets in the 2019/20 season playing for Meghalaya in the plate group. Though Meghalaya failed to reach the knock-out stage of the tournament, Sanjay made a name for himself with five 5-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket hauls in the season.
6. Shahbaz Nadeem | 56 wickets
Image | Sunny Shinde.
Shahbaz Nadeem is one of the renowned names in Indian domestic cricket's history with 542 first-class wickets to his name. Playing for his state Jharkhand, Nadeem picked up 56 wickets in 10 games in the 2016/17 season at an average of 25.60.
The left-arm spinner's incredible season with the ball included four 5-wicket hauls and 2 ten-wicket hauls in a match. Despite his incredible season, Jharkhand could not reach the final as Jasprit Bumrah's 6-wicket haul helped Gujarat defeat them in the semis.
Nadeem himself also had taken a five-wicket haul in the semi-final.
Saurashtra's Dharmendrasinh Jadeja outshined everyone with a record-breaking 59 wickets in the 2018-19 Ranji trophy season. He then was the highest wicket-taker for Saurashtra in a single season of Ranji Trophy, which was later broken by Jaydev Unadkat.
In 11 games that season Jadeja averaged 27.16 and took five 5-wicket hauls including one 10-wicket haul in a match. Despite Jadeja's six-wicket haul, Saurashtra lost the final at the hands of Vidarbha.
4. Kanwaljit Singh | 59 wickets
Hyderabad's off-spinner Kanwaljit Singh had set the record for most wickets in a Ranji Trophy season in 1999/00 season which lasted till 2018-19 when Ashutosh Aman of Bihar broke that record.
Kanwaljit took 59 wickets in 11 matches to set the record. He averaged 24.06 with the ball and had taken 4 five-wicket hauls alongside two 10-wicket hauls. The off-spinner retired after taking 369 first-class wickets and was one of the unluckiest off-spinners to not have played for India during his era.
3. Harsh Dubey | 66*
Image | PTI
Harsh Dubey, the Vidarbha all-rounder has already listed himself among the greats of Indian domestic cricket only in his third season. The left-arm spinner has already taken 66 wickets in the 2024-25 season and will have a chance to break the overall record in the ongoing final between Kerala and Vidarbha.
In 10 matches till now Dubey has taken 66 wickets at an average of 16.81. His 7 five-wicket haul in his season is also the joint-highest in Elite group history. Dubey also has taken two 10-wicket hauls this season.
2. Jaydev Unadkat | 67
Image | Jaydev Bhatnagar.
Jaydev Unadkat in the 2019-20 season broke multiple records as he led Saurasthra to their maiden Ranji Trophy title. The left-arm seamer became the first and still only pacer to take more than 60 wickets in a Ranji Trophy season.
Not only that in that record breaking season he became the bowler to take most wickets in a Ranji season in elite groups. Undakat took 67 wickets in 11 games at an average of 13.23. His 7 five-wicket hauls is still a record in elite group. He also took 3 ten-wicket hauls that season.
1. Ashutosh Aman | 68 wickets
Image | PTI
Bihar's Ashutosh Aman still holds the record for most wickets in a single Ranji Trophy season, which he achieved in 2018/19 season.
The left-arm spinner took 68 wickets in just 8 plate group games at an incredible average of 6.48 runs per wicket. Aman took 9 five-wicket hauls that season, which is also a Ranji Trophy record. His five 10-wicket haul is also a record in Indian domestic cricket.
Champions Trophy 2025: India vs Pakistan match preview | Head-to-head stats, Possible XI, match prediction, streaming details
India and Pakistan's matches have always been considered epic clashes in the ICC tournaments. Here is everything you need to know before the India vs Pakistan clash in Champions Trophy 2025.
The Indian cricket team will be aiming to continue their winning momentum when they lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in their second Group A match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, February 23.
India and Pakistan's matches have always been considered epic clashes in the ICC tournaments. In the last decade, the two teams have not faced much due to strained relations between the two countries.
Here is everything you need to know before the India vs Pakistan clash in Champions Trophy 2025.
Match Details
Match: India vs Pakistan
Tournament: ChampionsTrophy 2025, 5th Match Group A
Date: 23 February 2025
Time: 2:30 PM IST
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Streaming Details
The live telecast of the India vs Pakistan match will be available on the Star Sports network in India.
The live streaming will be available on the JioHostar App and website in India.
India vs Pakistan: Head-to-head stats in Champions Trophy
India have played Pakistan five times in ICC Champions Trophy. Pakistan won the first two before India drew level with two wins in the next two occasions.
Pakistan went 3-2 ahead with a win in their last encounter in 2017.
Pakistan are ahead in terms of overall ODI record as well, having won 73 games and losing 57 (NR: 5).
The arch-rivals last met in the 2023 World Cup as India claimed a massive seven-wicket win.
Meanwhile, the two teams have clashed twice in Dubai in ODIs. India prevailed on both occasions.
Virat Kohli back in Ranji Trophy: Will the match be streamed LIVE?
Virat Kohli returns to Ranji Trophy after 12 years! The match will be streamed LIVE on Jio Cinema for free. Here are the details you need to know before the match.
Virat Kohli is making his return to domestic cricket after 12 long years. The question which is booming around the internet is will the match be streamed LIVE?
Yes, Virat Kohli’s highly anticipated comeback in the Ranji Trophy will be streamed LIVE! Initially, the Delhi vs Railways Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match wasn’t on the broadcast schedule, but keeping the stature of the match in mind, BCCI and JioCinema have stepped in to stream the match LIVE.
Match Details:
Match: Delhi vs Railways
Date: January 30, 2025
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Live Streaming: JioCinema
A Grand Return After 12 Years
It has been over a decade since Kohli last played in the Ranji Trophy. His last appearance dates back to the 2012-13 season, making this return a nostalgic moment for fans and a significant boost for domestic cricket.
Given his stature in world cricket, this match could also be the last time Kohli plays a domestic game, adding to the excitement and emotions surrounding his return.
DDCA has announced that 10000 fans will be allowed at the stadium for free with first come first serve basis.
Apart from Kohli’s match, three other key Ranji Trophy matches will also be streamed live on JioCinema:
Bengal vs Punjab
Karnataka vs Haryana
Baroda vs Jammu & Kashmir
Why This Match is Special?
This is more than just a Ranji Trophy fixture for the fans. Kohli’s return could attract record-breaking viewership for domestic cricket, something rarely seen outside of IPL or international matches.
Moreover, Kohli, who has struggled for runs, will look to score some runs ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 to get himself ready. With Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal failing to score runs in their return to domestic cricket, it will be interesting to see how Kohli goes about his business.