Former India captain and former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly is once again returning to the cricket field. This time, when India and Australia will clash in the WTC final 2023, Sourav Ganguly will be seen doing commentary in Hindi. Ganguly had to leave the commentary after assuming the post of BCCI President in 2019, but once again he is going to return to the commentary box.

Also Read: "Mohammed Siraj Is Up There At Top," Australia Pacer Praise RCB Teammate Ahead of the WTC Final

Meanwhile, along with Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, Sreesanth, Jatin Sapru, and Deep Dasgupta will also be in the commentary box in Hindi on Star Sports Hindi in the WTC final 2023. At the same time, many veterans from both India and Australia have been included as the English commentator for the WTC final 2023. The names of veterans like Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Kumar Sangakkara, Nasser Hussain, Justin Langer, and Dinesh Karthik will play the role of commentator. Although Karthik has not yet retired from international cricket, but still he will do commentary in the Final.

The ICC has recently started the World Test Championship. This is only the second final of this championship. The first final happened in the year 2021 in the cycle of 2019-21. India and New Zealand had played this inaugural title match. India then had to satisfy by becoming the runner-up. This time Australia is in front of them in this title match and they want to win the first title of the World Test Championship in Oval.

Also Read: "I still feel he has got plenty of cricket left in him," Gavaskar believes this India star has a point to prove in the WTC Final

Ahead of the big-ticket clash between the top two Test sides, Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar, the official TV and digital broadcasters of the WTC final 2023, have announced an illustrious list of commentators to describe the action. This stellar team of commentators will elevate the viewing experience, adding depth and excitement to the WTC Final 2023. They will provide comprehensive analysis, interesting anecdotes, and engaging discussions. They will also ensure that viewers and fans don't miss a single moment of the thrilling action. Here is the full list of the commentators for the WTC Final 2023.

Commentators for the WTC Final 2023:

English (World Feed)- Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Kumar Sangakkara, Nasser Hussain, Justin Langer, and Dinesh Karthik

Hindi- Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, Sreesanth, Jatin Sapru, and Deep Dasgupta

Tamil- Yo Mahesh, S. Ramesh, L. Balaji, and S. Sriram

Telugu- Kaushik NC, Ashish Reddy, T. Suman, and Kalyan K

Kannada- Vijay Bharadwaj, Srinivasa M, B. Chipli, Pavan Deshpande, and Sunil J

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the Indian men's cricket team's schedule for the upcoming home series against West Indies and South Africa. The men in blue will play a two-match test series against the West Indies to start the 2025-26 season, followed by an all-format series against South Africa. 

The West Indies series will start with the test match, starting from 2nd October 2025 in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, the second and final test match of the series will be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, starting from 10th October. 

After the West Indies series, the focus will be shifted towards the all-format home series against the strong Proteas side. The first test match of the series will be played in New Delhi from 14th November. Guwahati will host its first-ever test match, as the test series is set to end there from 22nd November. 

The three-match ODI series will be played in Ranchi, Raipur, and Vizag. On the other hand, the five-match T20I series will be played in Cuttack, New Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Lucknow and Ahmedabad. 

Here is the full schedule for the home series against West Indies and South Africa

West Indies Tour of India 2025

South Africa Tour of India 2025

Multiple boundaries in a single over, 200-plus totals and edge-of-the-seat chases are often witnessed in IPL, and most of the entertainment the league is famous for comes through the courtesy of the batsmen. The majority of people prefer electric striking, to say, a maiden over or low run-totals.

However, some batsmen consistently perform well and win matches, while others are one-hit wonders who shine in a couple of games every season. The number of sixes and fours doesn’t define how explosive a player is; his strike rate does.

Also Read: IPL Facts: Who was hit the most sixes in IPL History? Top 10 list

Let's take a look at the batsmen with the best strike rate in IPL with a minimum of 1000 runs.

Best Strike Rate in IPL 

1. Nicholas Pooran | 161.9

Nicholas Pooran is leading the list of players with the best strike rate in IPL - 161.9 with 1601 runs.

Pooran began his IPL career with Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) in 2019, where he played for three seasons. In 2022, Pooran joined Sunrisers Hyderabad. By 2023, he moved to the Lucknow Super Giants, quickly establishing himself as a crucial player. As of November 2024, he is one of the five players retained by the Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the 2025 IPL mini-auction.

In the 2024 IPL season, Pooran delivered a standout performance, scoring 499 runs in 14 games with an impressive average of 62.38 and a striking rate of 178.21, which included three half-centuries.

2. Andre Russell | 162

The second name in this list is a very expected one who has actually redefined power-hitting in T20. Andre Russell who plays for Kolkata Knight Riders has an incredible strike rate of 162 with 1084 runs. Russell has many times won games for KKR on his own in very difficult situations.

After spending two seasons with the Delhi-based franchise, he was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders. He helped KKR win the title in his first season. 

Overall Russell played 127 matches in the cash-rich league so far in which he has aggregated 2484 runs at an incredible strike rate of 174.92. He has eleven half-centuries with a high score of 88 not out in the IPL.

3. Suryakumar Yadav | 157.7

The list includes another an Indian player, Suryakumar Yadav who scored 2050 runs in IPL at an impressive strike rate of 157.7.

Surya had his IPL debut in 2011 for MI. He played just one game for Mumbai Indians in 2012. He got his breakthrough in KKR. 2018 saw him return to MI, where he made massive strides in his IPL career. He has been an integral part of the team since and has been retained in the 2025 Mini Auction.

Overall in 150 matches, Suryakumar Yadav scored 3594 runs. In the IPL, Suryakumar Yadav's highest score is 103. Surya has a strike rate of 145.3 and an average of 32.1.

In 2023, he had his greatest IPL season, where he was appointed as the vice-captain of MI along with scoring 605 runs with a strike rate of 181.14 in 16 innings.

4. Shimron Hetmyer | 156

West Indies' middle-order batter Shimron Hetmyer is the fourth name on this list. The left-handed batter has struck 1153 runs with a deadly strike rate of 156.

Hetmyer played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2019. The Delhi Capitals (DC) acquired him in the 2020 season. He played there for two seasons before the Rajasthan Royals signed him in the IPL 2022 mega auction. He will continue to play for the Royals in the upcoming edition. He is the only overseas player to be retained amongst the six retentions of the Royals.

Overall Hetmyer has scored 1243 runs in 72 matches at an average of 31.07 and a strike rate of 153.07. He has smashed 76 boundaries and 82 sixes. His best season came in IPL 2022 when he helped the Rajasthan Royals reach the finals. He had scored 314 runs in 15 innings at an average of 44.85 and a strike rate of 153.92.

Also Read: Most runs in IPL since 2018

5. Dinesh Karthik | 155.9 

Dinesh Karthik comes in at fifth place in this list scoring 1188 runs with an impressive strike rate of 155.9.

Dinesh Karthik’s IPL career has been full of highs and lows, with the veteran batting for around six teams as a middle-order batter. 

After the highs of the 2022 season which earned him a national call-up after three years and a return to India’s T20I squad for the ICC World T20 in 2022 after twelve long years, Dinesh Karthik’s form went down as the wicket-keeper batter has a poor season, managing only 140 runs in 13 matches.

Overall Karthik has scored 4842 runs in 257 matches at an average of 26.31 and a strike rate of 135.36. He has smashed 466 boundaries and 161 sixes. 

Since its inception in 2008, the Indian Premier League has gone to achieve unprecedented success in global cricket scenario. Over its illustrious journey, the tournament has also accommodated several stars and match-winners.

The league is currently amid its eighteen edition and is all set to kick off on March 22. The 10 teams will lock horns against each other in a bid to clinch the title. 

Also Read: IPL 2025: Captains of every franchise

So, before the start of the season let's take a look at the IPL facts that which player has lost the most games in IPL history.

IPL Facts | Most defeats for a player in IPL

1. Virat Kohli 

Virat Kohli has played 252 matches from 2008-24, in which he has scored 8004 runs at a strike rate of 132.0 and an average of 38.7. 

Even though Virat is the highest run scorer in IPL history, there is also a statistic that he is also the cricketer who has lost the most matches in IPL.

2. Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik's name comes second in the list of players who lost the most matches in IPL. Karthik has scored 4842 runs at a strike rate of 135.4. He played for many IPL teams and finally retired while being a part of RCB.

3. Rohit Sharma 

The most successful skipper of the tournament– Rohit Sharma's name comes third in the list of players who have lost the most matches in IPL. He has played 257 matches in IPL, in which he has faced defeat in 119 matches. During this period, his bat has scored 6628 runs at a strike rate of 131.14.

Before shifting his base to the Mumbai franchise, Rohit was a part of the now-defunct Deccan Chargers side.

Also Read: Most Wickets in IPL history

4. MS Dhoni 

While MS Dhoni holds the record for playing the most matches in IPL, he is fourth in the list of players who have lost the most matches in IPL. Mahi has played 264 matches in IPL, in which he scored 5243 runs at a strike rate of 137.54 and an average of 39.13.

Mahi, who made Chennai champion 5 times, comes at number 6 in terms of scoring most runs.

5. Shikhar Dhawan 

Shikhar Dhawan, popularly known as Gabbar, comes at number 5 in the list. He has played 222 matches, in which he has faced defeat in 108 matches. During this time Dhawan has scored 6769 runs at a strike rate of 127.14 and an average of 35.26.

We have all heard multiple times that T20 cricket is a batter’s game. However, one thing is to be noted that it is a bowler who turns the game for his team most times. The teams across the world have understood the fact that they need a good set of bowlers to win a tournament. This is true in the biggest T20 tournament IPL as well.

Over the years, it has been seen that teams who possess quality bowlers perform quite well, while those who struggle in this department generally lag behind.

So, let's take a look at the bowlers with the most wickets in IPL history.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Squads of every IPL team after the auction

Top 10 bowlers with most wickets in IPL history:

10. Ravindra Jadeja | 160* Wickets

Ravindra Jadeja is easily the most well-rounded cricketer India has ever produced. A major portion of his success needs to be credited to the IPL, as the Saurashtra superstar built his international career by learning in the IPL under cricketing greats like Shane Warne, MS Dhoni, Stephen Fleming, and others. 

Apart from missing the 2010 season, Ravindra Jadeja has played all the other seasons with him representing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) since 2012. He has played 240 games taking 160 wickets with the ball with an average of 30.40 and an economy rate of 7.62.

His generational fielding skills have also shined, as the 36-year-old has taken 103 catches in the competition, making him ‘The Ultimate All-rounder’ as he is the only player to have 1000+ runs, 100+ wickets, and 100+ catches, fulfilling his 3-dimensional abilities to the fullest. 

9. Jasprit Bumrah | 165* Wickets

Jasprit Bumrah, the game-changer of the game has put his name at no. 9 on this list of bowlers who scalped the most wickets in IPL history. Bumrah has been playing for Mumbai Indians since the 2013 season, in which the franchise bought him at a cheap price.

Bumrah has scalped 165 wickets in 133 games with an average of 22.51. Meanwhile, Bumrah has bowled at an economy rate of 7.30 in the franchise cricket league. This year he will be playing for MI again as the franchise retained him before the mega auction.

8. Lasith Malinga | 170 Wickets

Lasith Malinga, who is undoubtedly the greatest pacer in the IPL history has taken 170 wickets in 122 games he has played. Malinga averages 19.79 with the bowl and maintained an economy rate of 7.14 in the cash-rich league. 

Though 108 of these wickets have come in death overs where batters try to score at a faster pace and often get out in the process, still his overall numbers are too good to be questioned.

Malinga started playing for Mumbai Indians in the 2009 season, and last appeared in the 2019 season. His final over in the 2019 final was enough to prove his greatness even at that stage of his career.

7. Amit Mishra | 174 Wickets

The next bowler on the list is Indian leggie Amit Mishra who has picked 174 wickets in 162 games. The seventh-highest wicket-taker in the history of IPL, Mishra, went unsold in the mega auction of IPL 2025. 

He has recorded an impressive economy of 7.37 in the league and has been crucial in taking wickets in middle overs. However, previously he has played for Lucknow Super Giants.

6. Ravichandran Ashwin | 180* Wickets

Ravichandran Ashwin is always known as a great bowler in Test cricket but he has also proved his ability in the shortest format of the game. Meanwhile, Ash comes at number six on this list of bowlers with the most wickets in IPL history. 

Ashwin also has picked 180 wickets in 212 matches with an average of 29.82. He has also maintained an economy rate of 7.12. 

Ashwin went on to play for Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, and returns to the CSK fold after having featured for Rajasthan Royals for the last three seasons.

The Indian off-spinner was bought by Chennai Super Kings for Rs. 9.75 crore at the IPL 2025 auction. Ashwin had burst onto the scene in 2009 with CSK under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. He represented Super Kings till 2015 and was part of two title-winning campaigns, in 2010 and 2011. 

5. Sunil Narine | 180* Wickets

The next bowler on this is none other than the West Indies magician Sunil Narine. Narine has taken 180 wickets in 176 games with an average of 25.39 and bowls with an economy rate of 6.73. 

He has been a crucial member of the Kolkata-based franchise KKR, as the franchise won the league back in 2012, 2014, and 2024.

Narine has also played as an opener under Gambhir's captaincy. However, currently, he is with the KKR franchise as they retain the off-spinner before the IPL 2025 mega auction.

4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 181* Wickets

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with 181 wickets is the fourth name in this list of players with the most wickets in IPL. Bhuvi has played in 176 matches in which he took those 181 wickets at an average of 27.23. However, he has bowled with an economy rate of 7.56 in the league. 

Meanwhile, Bhuvi will play for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise as they bought him in the IPL 2025 mega auction at a whopping 10.75 crore price.

3. Dwayne Bravo | 183 Wickets 

Dwayne Bravo with 183 wickets is the third name on the list. He is the second pacer after Lasith Malinga on the list to take the most wickets in IPL. 

Bravo had been a vital cog in Chennai’s bowling lineup, particularly in the death overs. With MS Dhoni being captain, Bravo’s potential has been used very cleverly for the team’s benefit. 

The all-rounder has played 161 IPL games and averages 23.82 with the ball. 

He played his last IPL match in the 2022 season for Chennai.

2. Piyush Chawla | 192 Wickets

Piyush Chawla, who was bought by Mumbai Indians for IPL 2021 in the mini-auction is the second-highest wicket-taker in the league history. He has picked 192 wickets in 192 matches with an average of 26.60 and an economy being 7.96. 

Piyush Chawla has earlier featured for Chennai, Punjab, and Kolkata-based franchises in the cash-rich league.

Over the last two years, Chawla was the lead spinner for Mumbai Indians. But, no teams went for him in IPL 2025 auction.

1. Yuzvendra Chahal | 205* Wickets

Yuzvendra Chahal has taken the most wickets in IPL history. Chahal has played in 160 games in which he has scalped 205 wickets with an average of 22.44. Moreover, he has an economy of 7.84 in the league.

Previously Chahal has played for RCB till 2021 and this season he will be featuring the Rajasthan Royals as they bought him in the IPL mega auction.

Chahal was with Rajasthan Royals since the 2022 season, claiming 66 wickets in 46 games. He has also represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians earlier in the IPL. He is among the 19 bowlers to have claimed a hat-trick in the IPL.

The leg-break bowler also won the Purple Cap for being the leading wicket-taker during the 2022 season, with 27 wickets to his name in 17 games at an average of 19.51 and an economy of 7.75.

India's performance in the ICC events 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 Dhoni has 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):

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. 

Read Also: Most ICC Trophy wins by any team

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

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.

Read Also | ICC Men's Champions trophy winners list

India's performance in Champions Trophy so far

ICC T20 World Cup (2007 - 2024):

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.

Read Also: India's performance in every T20 World Cup 

Since then, the Indian cricket team became runners-up in 2014 and then finally lifted the trophy again in 2024 under Rohit Sharma.

India's performance in every T20 World Cup

ICC World Test Championship (2019-2025):

ICC World Test Championship started 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.

India's performance in every WTC