Former England batter Jonathan Trott has been named the head coach of the Afghanistan men's cricket team on Friday. He replaces Graham Thorpe who quit the role due to illness. Trott will begin his stint during Afghanistan's five-match T20I tour to Ireland in August. 

Also Read: Lance Klusener to step down as Afghanistan Cricket coach

"I can't wait to get to work with a group of players who are clearly capable of generating results in a style that will make the people of Afghanistan proud."

Jonathan Trott said while speaking about his appointment

Trott has worked with England's senior batting unit in South Africa, during the English Test summer of 2020 and on England's tour to India last year. He has also worked with the England Lions and the U-19 sides as a batting coach and mentor. Moreover, he was also a batting consultant for Scotland during the T20 World Cup 2021.

In 52 Tests, 68 ODIs, and 7 T20Is, Trott recorded 3835, 2819, and 138 runs respectively, with the help of 13 centuries and 42 half-centuries.

Read Also: KFC T20 Max: IPL Stars Chetan Sakariya and Mukesh Choudhary set to play

He last donned the national colors during England's Test against the West Indies in May 2015 at Bridgetown in Barbados. Trott was also a handy medium-pace bowler.

Afghanistan's tour of Ireland is ready to get underway on August 9 with the opening match at Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. Their tour will end on August 17.

The 2025 IPL season has delivered a brutal reality check for Rishabh Pant. After being picked up by LSG for 27 crore, he turned out to be the most expensive flop of this season.

Can a player sustain an international career after such disappointing performance? Is Rishabh Pant's T20I career nearly over after a horrific IPL 2025?

Let's dive into the cold facts.

The disappointing IPL 2025 numbers 

Rishabh Pant was picked up by Lucknow Super Giants as the most expensive player in IPL history for ₹27 crore, which proved to be totally not worth it. He only managed to score 151 runs in 13 matches with an average of 13.73 and a strike rate barely crossing 107.

He is the lowest scorer among all the LSG batters in IPL 2025. Apart from batting performance, he also failed as a captain. The team only won 6 matches out of 13 and lost their playoffs berth under Pant's captaincy.

Pant's questionable descision-making, poor shot selections, and a complete lack of form did not justify the big price tag ahead in the auction.

Read Also: Expensive flops? Rishabh Pant and Venkatesh Iyer's IPL 2025 disappointments

Rishabh Pant stats in IPL 2025

• vs DC: 0 runs (6 balls)
• vs SRH: 15 runs (15 balls)
• vs PBKS: 2 runs (5 balls)
• vs MI: 2 runs (6 balls)
• vs KKR: 0 runs (0 balls)
• vs GT: 21 runs (18 balls)
• vs CSK: 63 runs (49 balls)
• vs RR: 3 runs (9 balls)
• vs DC: 0 runs (0 balls)
• vs MI: 4 runs (2 balls)
• vs PBKS: 18 runs (17 balls)
• vs SRH: 7 runs (6 balls)
• vs GT: 16* runs (6 balls)

The T20I context: India's current pool and future outlook

Rishabh Pant's position is now critically questionable as India's T20 squad selection prioritizes consistency in batting, high strike rates, and adaptable wicket-keeping.

The current pool of contenders are highly competitive and has the potential to outperform Pant.

Read Also: BCCI Central Contract 2025: Talking points from BCCI's contract announcement

The wicket-keeper batsman contenders

• KL Rahul: His current form in IPL 2025 is magnificent and he has consistently performed well for the team. Rahul's ability to anchor and accelerate has again brought him into T20I contention.
• Sanju Samson: Yet another prime contender with high experience and quality performance. He also holds the ability to blend well into the format.
• Dhruv Jurel: A promising young talent who also has the ability to make impactful finish for the team.
• Ishan Kishan: The pocket dynamo who started his IPL 2025 season with a phenomenal century, and gained his spot in BCCI's central contract (2025), is another strong contender.

Where Rishabh Pant fits (or doesn't fit):

Following the poor performance of Rishabh Pant, several known names have speculated about his mental state and his inability to deal pressure. The former Indian cricketer, Kris Srikkanth, also suggested that Pant should consider taking a break from his format.

Read Also: Most Player of the Match awards in T20I cricket history

The modern T20 format demands a lot of things that Pant is completely missing:

• Insufficient strike rate 
• Lack of clarity in shot-making
• Inability to convert build innings 
• Diminished reliability as wicketkeeper-batter
• No longer an unique left-handed power option 
• Difficulty handling run-rate pressure 

Pant is missing the "X-factor" that he once possessed. Therefore, unless his form significantly improves soon and makes a comeback, his T20 career is effectively over.

Scoring a century in any form of cricket is a moment of glory, but in the fast-paced format of T20s, it gets more exciting to watch. Numerous cricketers have consistently proved themselves in this format by delivering spectacular tons.

The list goes deep as we have such power-hitters from around the globe!

Join us as we explore the list of players with most centuries in WT20Is and celebrate their glorious innings.

1. Esha Oza (4 centuries) | UAE

The current captain of UAE, Esha Oza, holds the record for most centuries in WT20Is with 4 centuries in her T20 career so far. This Indian-born cricketer made her debut in T20Is in 2018 and reached this milestone extremely fast.

She is also the fastest player from UAE to reach 1000 runs in T20Is. Her fourth century in T20Is came against Qatar in the Asia Cup qualifier, where she led her team to a brilliant victory.

Read Also: Top 10 fastest centuries in Women's T20Is

Esha Oza stats in WT20Is

2. Chamari Athapaththu (3 centuries) | Sri Lanka

Chamari Athapaththu, the current captain of Sri Lanka national team, holds the 2nd position in this list with her 3 centuries in WT20Is. She is one of the finest cricketers from Sri Lanka and led them to win the 2024 Asia Cup.

Chamari scored her first hundred in T20Is in 2019 against Australia. She scored the other following centuries in 2024 against Scotland and Malaysia.

Read Also: England or Australia? Which team has won more Women's Ashes?

Chamari Athapaththu stats in WT20Is

3. Fatuma Kibasu (3 centuries) | Tanzania 

The former captain of Tanzania, Fatuma Kibasu, holds the 3rd position with her 3 centuries in WT20Is. She is the only Tanzanian woman to score a century at international level so far, and holds the highest individual score for her country in WT20Is.

Fatuma made her T20 debut in 2019 and played magnificently ever since!

Fatuma Kibasu stats in WT20Is

Read Also: Most WT20I runs in a calendar year

Other players with 2 centuries in WT20Is 

Here's a list of players who scored 2 centuries in WT20Is and comes in the list following the TOP 3.

Gujarat Titans entered IPL 2025 with one of the best bowling line-ups. They had Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Ishant Sharma among fast bowlers. And Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore and Washington Sundar leading the spinners. But while you would have expected Rashid Khan to be the main stars, reality has been different. Rashid endured the worst-ever phase of bowling he’s had in any IPL, and he has been playing in the tournament since 2017. He has gone wicketless in 7 innings out of 18 since IPL 2024. 

So, let's take a look at the stats of 'Rashid Khan in IPL since 2024'.

Also Read: Most Wickets Among Spinner in IPL Since 2023

What has gone wrong with Rashid?

The Rashid Khan in IPL of 2017 to 2023 was a master at landing the ball where he wanted to. He would find that sweet spot where batters were neither confident coming forward because the ball was not full enough, nor rocking back because it wasn’t short enough. And with Rashid’s speeds, you couldn’t safely just read him off the pitch either.

Moreover, it was extremely difficult to pick his variations. The googly caught many a batter plumb or bowled, because when he delivered it the difference in action was miniscule compared to his leg-break. His changes of pace, sliders and top-spinners were equally subtle. There was a fizz to his bowling.

But of late, that control has been lacking. The master of length has been bowling too short, too full, and straying in line too. What could be the reason?

Rashid had back surgery in late 2023, and that could well be a contributing factor. Since his comeback from that surgery, he has been a diminished version of what he was at his peak. The numbers show that clearly.

Rashid Khan in IPL since 2024

There is a clear contrast between the 2025 numbers and those of previous years. IPL 2024 was the first time Rashid was a bit below average, although in the most batting-dominated season of all time, his numbers were still quite okay. But in 2025 that decline was steeper.

Rashid Khan in IPL over the years

From his first year in 2017, Rashid was a phenomenon. He was extremely difficult to score off, and despite opponents playing him defensively and trying to just get through his overs without damage, he was picking up regular wickets too.

Also Read: IPL Facts: Best Economy in IPL Since 2024

We expect Rashid to be back soon

Rashid still remains a key part of the Gujarat Titans. His experience and nous can’t be discounted, and he adds value with his batting too. As he showed against Royals, he can be handy with his bowling still. What has helped Titans is how Kishore has seamlessly stepped up, while Siraj and Prasidh are on track to have their best IPL seasons. That has allowed the team to not be too hindered by Rashid’s drop off. And they expect him to be back to his best soon too.

Whether this game marks the start of better fortunes for Rashid or not remains to be seen. But it did show that he can’t be discounted yet.

India’s most-watched sports tournament, the Indian Premier League (IPL), has returned with its latest edition, IPL 2025. The new season is following the footsteps of its previous editions with almost every match turning out to be a nail biting one. However, despite the tournament's history of being batting-dominant, many players over the years have proved why people say that batters win you matches, but bowlers win you tournaments.

Also Read: IPL facts: Most IPL centuries by IPL teams

It is a common sight in the IPL that teams with better bowlers often end up securing a podium finish. So, let's take a look at most wickets among spinner in IPL since 2023.

Most Wickets Among Spinner | Since 2023

5. Piyush Chawla | 35 Wickets

Piyush Chawla has been playing in the IPL since the inaugural edition. He has represented four teams in the IPL. Chawla took 35 wickets since 2023 season. 

Overall in 192 matches, Chawla owns a total of 192 wickets at 26.60. His economy rate is 7.96. The right-arm spinner has two four-wicket hauls. Chawla had a remarkable IPL 2023 season for MI.

4. Noor Ahmad | 35 Wickets

Noor Ahmad started his IPL career with Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2022. He did not feature in a single game during the season. Later on, he played 13 and 10 games respectively in the IPL 2023 and 2024 season. In the IPL 2025, Chennai Super Kings signed him for INR 10 crores.

Noor Ahmad has taken 35 wickets since 2023 with an average of 23.11 and a strike rate of 17.14. His economy in the IPL is 8.09 with the best figures of 4/18. His best figures came against Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025 in Chennai.

Noor also took 16 wickets in the IPL 2023, contributing his team; Gujarat Titans to reach the final of the season. He was also a part of the GT squad that played in the final of the IPL 2022.

3. Yuzvendra Chahal | 40 Wickets

Yuzvendra Chahal comes third in the list of most wickets among spinner in IPL since 2023 with 40 wickets. He has represented multiple franchises in the IPL. His journey in the IPL has seen him don the jerseys of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Mumbai Indians (MI).

Chahal is also the leading wicket-taker in IPL history. He has been a match-winner with his exceptional leg-spin. Since his debut in 2013, he has consistently troubled batters with his variations and accuracy. Chahal has taken 206 wickets in 164 matches at an economy of 7.88, with a best bowling performance of 5/40.

2. Rashid Khan | 40 Wickets

Rashid Khan has been the standout bowler for Gujarat Titans since their inception. The Afghan leg-spinner, known for his pinpoint accuracy and ability to bowl economical spells, has consistently delivered for the team. Rashid also took 40 IPL wickets since 2023 season.

Overall Rashid has taken 152 wickets in 126 matches. Known for his variations, Rashid has been a consistent performer for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans. He’s one of the most economical bowlers in IPL history boasting an economy of 6.94.

Also Read: IPL Facts: RCB's record at Chinnaswamy since IPL 2023

1. Varun Chakravarthy | 47 Wickets

Varun Chakravarthy has taken the most wickets among spinner in IPL since 2023. He was initially picked by Kings XI Punjab in 2019 for a whopping INR 8.40 crore. KKR bought Chakravarthy for Rs. 4 crore at the 2020 IPL auction. He has since been a vital part of the team's bowling attack. 

The mystery spinner has raced to 47 wickets since 2023. Chakravarthy has been a key spinner for KKR throughout his career, taking 89 wickets in 76 matches. His best bowling figures are 5/20. With an average of 23.90, and an economy of 7.50, he remains a reliable bowler. Notably, he has one four-wicket haul and one five-wicket haul.