Afghanistan produced one of the biggest upsets in the history of the ICC World Cup on Sunday. They outplayed the defending champions England in match No.13 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Afghanistan's historic win over the reigning world champions lifted the Asian nation off the bottom of the group standings at the 2023 World Cup.
Afghanistan recorded its second win ever in the 50-over World Cup. They also handed England its second defeat of the 2023 World Cup in India. The ninth-ranked side last won a World Cup match against Scotland back in 2015. This was also Afghanistan's first-ever One Day International (ODI) win against England. The Afghans shattered multiple records with their historic win over Jos Buttler's men at Delhi.
England vs Afghanistan: Records shattered by the Afghans
Afghanistan ended its losing streak at the ODI World Cup on Sunday. Before this match, they failed to win a single match in their last 14 appearances at the ODI World Cup. The unwanted record for most consecutive defeats in ODI World Cup cricket was set by Zimbabwe. From 1983 to 1992, Zimbabwe suffered 18 defeats in ODI World Cups. Meanwhile, Star performer Mohammad Nabi (15) surpassed Dawlat Zadran (14) to become the highest-wicket taker for Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup.
13 wickets were taken by spinners in the match. Only Kenya's clash with Sri Lanka (14 wickets) in World Cup 2003 and Canadia versus Zimbabwe (14) at World Cup 2011 have witnessed spinners taking more than 13 wickets in a match. This is the first time in the history of the World Cup, that England lost as many as 8 wickets to spinners.
Afghanistan's 69-run win over England saw Afghan spinners taking the most wickets (8) in a World Cup inning. Rashid recorded the fourth-best bowling figures for Afghanistan at the World Cup. Back in 2019, the spinner recorded the most expensive bowling figures in the history of the World Cup against England. He went wicketless and leaked 110 runs in 9 overs at the time. But this time, he came up with a revenge.
If anyone has followed cricket casually over the last decade, they're likely familiar with four key names: former Indian captain Virat Kohli, batting genius Steve Smith, English great Joe Root, and New Zealand's all-time leading run-scorer Kane Williamson.
They together are known as the 'Fab Four' in the modern era of cricket.
Each of them has set new benchmarks for performance, continually pushing one another to enhance their skills. These four batsmen have not only dominated the world of cricket but have also met the expectations of their respective nations.
In this article, we will examine the statistics of the Fab Four across all formats.
Fav Four in cricket: How many runs & centuries have they scored in International Cricket?
Virat Kohli has been the most prolific all-format batter among the fav-four. Kohli, till now in his 550 international games, has scored 27,599 runs with an outstanding average of 52.27. His record of 82 international centuries is only second to Sachin Tendulkar's 100 international centuries.
Joe Root comes in second among them with 20,724 runs so far for England across formats. However, undoubtedly, he has been the best test batter of his generation with 12972 test runs, which sets him as the highest test run scorer for England. Root has also scored 53 international hundreds, of which 36 came in tests only.
Kane Williamson, New Zealand's highest runscorer in international cricket, comes at number three in terms of international runs among the fav four. The former Kiwi leader has scored 19,086 runs so far in his career at an average of 48.56. Kane is now only two short of reaching 50 international hundreds.
Aussie great Steven Smith comes at four with 17,165 runs at an average of 47.81. A late bloomer with the bat, Smith has been outstanding for Australia in tests and ODIs. Along with Root, Smith has also been one of the greatest test batters of this generation.
Here is a comparison of international stats of the fav four.
ICC Anounces Venue and Key Dates for The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 England
ICC has confirmed seven venues that will host the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in England next year, with the Lord's Cricket Ground set as the venue for the Final.
The ICChas officially announced that the Final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be held at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on 5th July. The news was shared during a special launch event at Lord’s on 1st May.
Alongside this major reveal, it was confirmed that the matches will also be played at other popular venues across England, including Edgbaston, the Hampshire Bowl, Headingley, Old Trafford, The Oval, and the Bristol County Ground.
The tournament is set to kick off on 12th June and will run for 24 days, featuring a total of 33 matches leading up to the highly anticipated final at Lord’s. The complete match schedule is expected to be released soon.
All the confirmed venues for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026. Image | ICC
Featuring a record 12 teams, the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will be the biggest edition in the tournament’s history. With two more teams than the previous edition, fans can expect fierce competition as the world’s top sides battle it out for the title.
Qualified Teams for the Women's T20 World Cup 2026
England (Host)
Australia
India
New Zealand
Pakistan
South Africa
Sri Lanka
West Indies
Four additional teams will join them through the Qualifier scheduled next year.
The 12 teams will be split into two groups of six for the group stage, followed by the knockout rounds and finals.
Official Statement
ICC Chairman Jay Shah opened up about the tournament, saying, "The confirmation of venues represents a defining moment as we build towards the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026"
"The sell-out Women’s Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s in 2017 remains a landmark in the rise of the women’s game, and I cannot think of a more fitting stage for the final."
"As we turn our focus to preparing for the tournament, we are excited by the promise of thrilling T20 action that will not only captivate fans here but also serve as a showcase for cricket’s return on the Olympic stage in Los Angeles 2028."
Legacy
New Zealand Women's Cricket Team celebrating their 1st title defeating South Africa in the final. Image | ESPNcricinfo
Moving on from the most recent edition, hosted by Bangladesh in the UAE in 2024, saw New Zealandclaim their first-ever title, defeating South Africa by 32 runs in the final.
The 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup will mark the milestone 10th edition of the tournament, which began in 2009.
As Yuzvendra Chahal picked up his second IPL hat-trick in the CSK vs PBKS game in IPL 2025, here are all the 23 IPL hat-tricks so far in the tournament.
As we reach the halfway mark of IPL 2025, the overseas stars are undeniably playing good cricket. Here are some impactful overseas players in IPL 2025.
In IPL 2025, we have seen some great performances from the Indian stars, along with a few overseas players as well. Players like Josh Hazlewood, Nicholas Pooran and Jos Buttler have shown why they are considered one of the best in the world in T20 cricket.
In this article, we all talk about a few of those impactful overseas players in IPL 2025 who have helped their teams win in the tournament so far. Read the full article to know about a few new names as well.
Nicholas Pooran (West Indies) | LSG
Nicholas Pooran during his iconic knock of 87* from 36 balls against KKR in IPL 2025. Image | Instagram
The West Indies power-hitter, Nicholas Pooran, is having an incredible season with the bat this year. He has consistently proved himself and played some match-winning knocks for LSG in IPL 2025.
Pooran is also among the top 5 contenders in the race for orange cap. He has scored 377 runs in 9 matches with a strike rate above 200.
Pooran's stats in IPL 2025 so far
Matches: 9
Runs: 377
Batting Average: 47.12
Highest Score: 87*
Strike Rate: 204.89
Josh Hazlewood (Australia) | RCB
Josh Hazlewood during his match-winning spell of 4-33-4 against RR in IPL 2025. Image | Instagram
The Australian pacer, Josh Hazlewood, is a key bowler for RCB in IPL 2025. His wicket-taking abilities in the death overs has turned out to be game changing for the team. His experience brings a strong balance in the bowling unit of RCB.
Hazlewood’s strong impact is highly crucial for RCB's progress in the tournament.
Hazlewood's stats in IPL 2025 so far
Matches: 9
Wickets: 16
Economy Rate: 8.37
Best Bowling Figure: 4/33
Jos Buttler (England) | GT
Jos Buttler in action against DC to score 97* off 54 balls in IPL 2025. Image | Instagram
Jos Buttler is having yet another magnificent IPL season this year. He consistently stood up for the Gujarat Titans, keeping them ahead in the points table. He scored three half-centuries this season, with 97* from 54 balls being his highest so far.
Just like previous years, Buttler has once again proved to be one of the most impactful overseas players in IPL 2025.
Noor Ahmad during his 4 wicket haul against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025. Image | Pinterest
Noor Ahmad, the young spinner from Afghanistan, has been impressive this season. He picked up crucial wickets for CSK and proved to be one of the impactful overseas players in IPL 2025.
Noor will definitely have a fair shot at being the purple cap holder if CSK qualifies for the playoffs. He also has a decent bowling average and economy.
Noor's stats in IPL 2025 so far
Matches: 9
Wickets: 14
Economy Rate: 8.03
Best Bowling Figure: 4/18
Ryan Rickelton (South Africa) | MI
Ryan Rickelton celebrating his maiden half century in IPL 2025 for Mumbai Indians. Image | IPL T20
Ryan Rickelton is a South African wicket-keeper batsman who made his debut in IPL 2025 for the Mumbai Indians. He is also the highest scorer among the overseas batters in the team. He contributes impressively, not only with the bat, but also with gloves behind the wickets.
Mitchell Starc in action against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025. Image | Instagram
The Australian legend, who was a part of the winning team in IPL 2024, is one of the leading wicket-takers for Delhi Capitals this season. Mitchell Starc is the only bowler to take five wickets in a match, having the best bowling figures in IPL 2025 so far.
Starc undoubtedly falls in the category of impactful overseas players in IPL 2025 for the gem of a player he is.
Starc's stats in IPL 2025 so far
Matches: 8
Wickets: 11
Economy Rate: 10.06
Best Bowling Figure: 5/35
Mitchell Marsh (Australia) | LSG
Mitchell Marsh after scoring his 3rd IPL half-century of the season. Image | BBC
Another international star from Australia to make a spot in this list for his impactful batting performance in IPL 2025. Mitchell Marsh opens with the bat for LSG and gives a head start with his steady batting.
Marsh has scored 4 half-centuries in IPL 2025, with 81 off 48 balls being his highest score so far in the tournament.
Marsh's stats in IPL 2025 so far
Matches: 8
Runs: 344
Batting Average: 43.00
Highest Score: 81
Strike Rate: 160.74
Jofra Archer (England) | RR
Jofra Archer after taking his third wicket in a match against PBKS in IPL 2025. Image | BBC
The right-arm fast bowler from England is the key bowler for the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. Jofra Archer has been one of the impactful overseas players to have bowled the most dot balls this season. His pace with the new ball has given a tough time to the batters facing him.
Other impactful overseas players to watch out for in IPL 2025
Apart from the well-crafted list above, there are some other international names that hold to potential to be as impactful. Here are such players, based on their ongoing performance in IPL 2025:
1. Aiden Markram (South Africa) | LSG
Aiden Markram has been contributing as a compact all-rounder for the Lucknow Super Giants.
2. Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) | RR
Hasaranga adds a pillar of strength with his wicket-taking spells for Rajasthan.
3. Trent Boult (New Zealand) | MI
Despite having a mediocre start to the tournament, Trent Boult is picking up the pace with each passing match.
4. Phil Salt (England) | RCB
Phil Salt has showed a glimpse of his batting storm this season and is yet to score more by staying at the crease for longer.
5. Marco Jansen (South Africa) | PBKS
Marco Jansen has strengthened the bowling unit of PBKS, contributing to their close-finish victories.
6. Moeen Ali (South Africa) | KKR
Having played only 4 matches so far, Moeen Ali proved to have the best bowling economy in IPL 2025 so far.
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'.
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
Season
Matches
Balls
Wickets
Average
Economy
IPL 2024
12
262
10
36.70
8.40
IPL 2025
7
132
4
53.75
9.77
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
Season
Matches
Balls
Wickets
Average
Economy
IPL 2017
14
324
17
21.05
6.62
IPL 2018
17
408
21
21.80
6.73
IPL 2019
15
360
17
22.17
6.28
IPL 2020
16
384
20
17.20
5.37
IPL 2021
14
336
18
2083
6.69
IPL 2022
16
383
19
22.15
6.59
IPL 2023
17
402
27
20.44
8.23
IPL 2024
12
262
10
36.70
8.40
IPL 2025
7
132
4
53.75
9.77
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.
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.
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