Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday (August 27), and now he is reportedly getting ready to participate in foreign cricket leagues.  

Ravichandran Ashwin: 5th leading wicket-taker in IPL

On Wednesday, the 38-year-old Ashwin surprised everyone by announcing his retirement from the IPL through his social media post. He finished his IPL career as the fifth leading wicket-taker with 187 wickets in 221 IPL matches. He served for five IPL teams, and these were Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiants, Kings XI Punjab (presently known as Punjab Kings), Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals. While the right-handed batter also scored 833 IPL runs, including one half-century, he finished as one of the five players in IPL history with 750+ runs and 150+ wickets. 

Serving for CSK, Ashwin picked up 127 wickets in 130 T20 matches, and finished as the third leading T20 wicket-taker for the team. He ended his IPL career serving for CSK, where he made a comeback for the team last season and picked up seven wickets in nine games in the IPL 2025. 

Due to the strict BCCI policy, the active Indian male domestic cricketers can't participate in the overseas franchise leagues. While we have seen former Indian cricketers play special cricket leagues, generally run with former cricketers, Dinesh Karthik featured in the last SA20, where he served for Paarl Royals. Recently, another former Indian cricketer Piyush Chawla, the joint third leading IPL wicket-taker (192 wickets), registered his name in the upcoming SA20 auction.  

See Also: Three important reasons why Ravichandran Ashwin’s IPL retirement could be a mistake

R Ashwin in The Hundred

According to Telegraph Sport, Ashwin is eyeing participation in the Hundred 2026. If he gets selected, he can be the first Indian to feature in this special T20 cricket. Ashwin previously experienced English domestic cricket for Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Surrey. As the IPL owners have also entered The Hundred ownerships, the expectation of Ashwin in the next Hundred season isn't very unnatural. 

Harry Brook pulled off a spectacular shot during the 14th fixture of the Men's Hundred competition between Northern Superchargers and Birmingham Phoenix, leaving everyone in an absolute state of disbelief. Brook, who is naturally known for his aggressive style of play and often incorporates an element of unorthodoxy to his stroke-making, played an out-of-the-world shot, which only a few modern-day batters can dare to dream of. 

The Northern Superchargers batter managed to execute a highly audacious ramp shot from a very unbelievable position, which still went all the way for a maximum. It was during the 74th ball of the Superchargers' innings when the crowd was brought to their feet. Facing up to the veteran pacer Tim Southee from Birmingham Phoenix, Brook was served a good length delivery, which pitched around the off-stump channel. Playing a ramp shot off such a length is usually considered very tricky and requires an extraordinary amount of courage.  

But as unbelievable as it may sound, Brook was still able to score runs off that delivery. And to make it sound even more mind-boggling, the 26-year-old managed to somehow send this flying over the keeper's head for a six. While trying to attempt the conventional scoop, the ball certainly arrived at an uncomfortable height, but Brook was somehow able to duck down under the line of the ball and was able to make a decent enough connection to send it flying over the keeper's head for a six. 

See also: The Hundred 2025: OVI vs WEF Dream11 Prediction 16th Match Fantasy Cricket Tips, Probable Playing XI

Watch the shot:

ONE OF THE CRAZIEST SHOT EVER BY HARRY BROOK...!!! 🥶🔥 pic.twitter.com/aYaEVebTRk

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 16, 2025

The charismatic batter rode his luck and remained unbeaten on 31 to lift the Superchargers' side to a competitive 193-5. Brook's whirlwind 14-ball cameo featured two fours and two sixes apiece. His rapid contribution with the bat proved to be a turning point as Birmingham Phoenix fell comfortably short during the run chase and lost the game by a margin of 36 runs. On the back of this thumping win, Northern Superchargers take the top spot in the points table, while leaving Birmingham Phoenix in a sorry state of affairs at number eight position. 

Liam Livingstone delivered a breathtaking performance for Birmingham Phoenix in their clash against Oval Invincibles in The Hundred on Tuesday. Playing at Edgbaston, the England all-rounder showcased his match-winning abilities in pursuit of a challenging 181-run target.

Livingstone’s innings was nothing short of sensational, smashing an unbeaten 69 runs from just 27 balls. His knock included seven boundaries and five towering sixes, maintaining a strike rate of over 225. His aggressive approach turned the momentum in Phoenix’s favour, keeping the chase alive even against a strong bowling attack.

One of the highlights of his innings came against star spinner Rashid Khan, whom he attacked fearlessly. Livingstone hammered 26 runs in only five balls off Rashid, dramatically turning the momentum of the match in his team’s favor. 

See Also: Is Mohammed Rizwan's captaincy is the reason for Pakistan's downfall?

With his explosive batting display, Birmingham Phoenix sealed the win with two balls remaining, pulling off a remarkable chase and underlining Livingstone’s status as one of the most dangerous finishers in the format.

Liam Livingstone’s Fearless Approach Towards Rashid Khan:

With 61 runs needed off 25 balls and six wickets remaining, Oval Invincibles turned to their key weapon, Rashid Khan. The Afghan leg-spinner, known for stifling chases with tight overs or crucial wickets, was expected to deliver. Instead, the outcome was drastically different, as the momentum swung sharply in Birmingham Phoenix’s favour.

Liam Livingstone unleashed a stunning assault on Rashid Khan, one of the top white-ball spinners in the game, smashing three sixes and two fours in a single over. The five-ball carnage produced 26 runs, making it the turning point of the match. Rashid conceded 59 runs in 20 balls, marking his most expensive spell in both The Hundred and his overall T20 career.

WATCH NOW! ⏯️

Liam Livingstone has just scored 26 runs off 5 Rashid Khan balls! 🤯#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/fstSjKPa13

— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 12, 2025

The onslaught reduced the target to 35 runs from 20 balls, shifting momentum firmly towards Birmingham Phoenix. Despite losing two wickets at the start of the final over, the hosts stayed composed to secure a thrilling four-wicket victory. Livingstone’s explosive knock not only sealed the victory but also stood out as one of his finest match-winning performances.

Liam Livingstone After Winning the Match:

In an electrifying game at Edgbaston, Liam Livingstone played a captain’s knock of exceptional skill and match-winning impact. His explosive finish, combined with composure in crunch moments, proved crucial in guiding Birmingham Phoenix to their maiden win of the tournament. Speaking after the game, Livingstone reflected on the importance of his match-winning performance.

Livingstone said, “ We needed it, it's been a bit of a disappointing start to the tournament. It's nice to lead from the front and hopefully that gives the boys a bit of momentum and a bit of confidence. I was trying to be there at the end, it's something I haven't done a lot of in my career, so it was in the back of my mind, but we still needed to take some risks. It's an incredible win from where we were.”

Liam Livingstone earned the Meerkat Match Hero award for his brilliant match-winning knock, which not only propelled Birmingham Phoenix off the bottom of the table but also revived their hopes in this year’s tournament, giving their campaign a much-needed boost.

Amanda-Jade Wellington of Oval Invincibles stood out in yesterday's Women's Hundred fixture against Birmingham Phoenix, thanks to her extraordinary brilliance on the field. Although she missed out with the willow and perished without troubling the scorers, she made it up by pulling off a spectacular no-look run out to catch the in-form Emma Lamb off guard. The dismissal came at a critical time for Oval Invincibles as they were able to put the brakes on and restrict the home side to 152. 

Tasked with chasing 175, Birmingham Phoenix were regularly jolted by the fall of wickets. However, this no-look run-out dismissal came to light during the 59th ball of the run chase. Wellington bowled a leg-side delivery, which Lamb was able to work it away towards deep mid-wicket. She played it well to place the ball into the gap, but wasn't expecting a rocket-arm throw from the deep. Franklin, the fielder in the deep, released the ball quickly and threw it towards the non-striker's end. 

Wellington anticipated the throw to perfection and almost immediately flicked it back onto the stumps after collecting the ball. Interestingly, she wasn't even looking back, but her throw turned out to be accurate as the ball went on to crash into the stumps. Lamb was left agonizingly short of her crease as she fell prey to the outstanding fielding effort from both Franklin and Wellington combined.  

See also: Top 3 reasons why Oval Invincibles Men lost to Birmingham Phoenix Men in the Hundred 2025 match 10

Watch the video here:

A no look run out! 🤯

Amanda-Jade Wellington 👏#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/0k8cjnoZP4

— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 12, 2025

Lamb was eventually run out for 25, making her the third-highest run scorer for Birmingham Phoenix. Sadly, her departure caused Birmingham Phoenix to lose a little bit of momentum during the run chase. The team struggled to regroup after that blow and found it difficult to keep up with the asking rate. Before her eventual demise, Lamb played a very instrumental role in holding Birmingham Phoenix's innings together. Ailsa Lister tried to salvage the game and slammed a courageous 33 (18) to take the home side close, but failed to get them over the line, thus handing the Invincibles a convincing 22-run victory. 

The Hundred 2025 starts. The fourth game of the tournament will see Birmingham Phoenix taking on Trent Rockets at Edgbaston, with two sides that are bursting with star names. The 100-ball matches are action-packed and short, so it will be fireworks from some of the best batters and fast bowlers in world cricket under the lights at Birmingham Much of what is to follow for both sides this season will be on display in this match. 

Match Details:

• Fixture: Birmingham Phoenix vs Trent Rockets
• Day & Date: Friday, 8 August 2025
• Time: 11:00 PM IST / 6:30 PM BST
• Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham

Players to watch out:

• Liam Livingstone (Birmingham Phoenix) - Fearless lad, power-hitter, team captain, and can change a match in a few balls.
• Trent Boult (Birmingham Phoenix) - World-class left-arm pacer who swings the new ball big time. 
• Tim Southee (Birmingham Phoenix) - Experienced seam bowler with sharp death over variations. 
• Will Smeed (Birmingham Phoenix) - Young opening batsman who has an attacking mindset and can start quickly. 
• Joe Root (Trent Rockets) - Dependable run scorer who keeps a hand on the innings and builds partnerships. 
• Marcus Stoinis (Trent Rockets) - A hard-hitting all-rounder who can hit big sixes and bowl crucial overs as well. 
• Lockie Ferguson (Trent Rockets) - One of the fastest bowlers worldwide, capable of bowling so fast it can make batters feel rattled.

ALSO READ:KL Rahul vs Sanju Samson, who can be best fit for KKR? See comparison

BP vs TR Predicted Playing XI

Birmingham Phoenix Playing XI 

Ben Duckett, Will Smeed, Joe Clarke, Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone, Dan Mousely, Benny Howell, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Louis Kimber 

Trent Rockets Playing XI

Tom Banton, Max Holden, Joe Root, Adam Hose, Marcus Stoinis, Sam Hain, George Linde, Akeal Hossein, Rehan Ahmed, Lockie Ferguson, David Willey

It was a night that was meant to herald a bold new chapter in English cricket. With six of The Hundred’s eight franchises now privately owned, the stage was set for the competition’s glitzy relaunch. But while the investors dazzled in the stands, London Spirit's men faltered under the lights at Lord’s.

Among those watching were the “Tech Titans” – a consortium of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who had recently secured ownership of the Spirit in a record-breaking £295 million deal. Their arrival marks a new era at the Home of Cricket, one where venture capital meets tradition. The group was seen enjoying the facilities at Lord’s, even dining in the Pavilion the night before. Operational control of the franchise formally began on October 1, but their presence was already being felt.

Unfortunately, Spirit’s men did little to match the fanfare. Bowled out for a meagre 80 on a sluggish pitch, the side failed to provide any spark. A lineup dominated by players over 30 struggled to adapt, managing just nine boundaries in 94 balls. “It wasn’t a shocking pitch,” admitted Liam Dawson, “we just didn’t adjust quickly enough.”

ALSO SEE: Afghanistan announce preliminary squad for Tri-series and Asia Cup 2025

Spirit Women Shine as Investors Eye the Future of The Hundred

In stark contrast, the women’s match offered the fireworks that the occasion demanded. Grace Harris’ explosive 89* outshone Meg Lanning’s stylish 85 as Spirit successfully defended 176, with over 15,000 fans in attendance by the second innings. It was a reminder that, despite the corporate reshuffling, the competition still has the power to thrill.

Meanwhile, Akash Ambani – chairman of Reliance Jio – continued discussions for a deal involving the Oval Invincibles, attending both the Test at The Oval and the Hundred opener. Rashid Khan, a key part of Invincibles’ plans, noted his link with the Mumbai Indians franchise had helped pave the way for his move.

For now, the fifth season of The Hundred feels like a bridge year – a transitional phase ahead of what’s expected to be a transformative sixth edition. The investments are locked in. What remains uncertain is how much will change once the new owners take full control.

Cricket is gearing up for a major global shake-up as the Champions League T20 format is set to return – this time with a new identity. Reports suggest the revamped competition will be called the World Club Championship, bringing together the winners of the world’s top T20 franchise leagues in a blockbuster tournament format.

Several sources have indicated that the event will take place in 2026, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) being two of the most invested in the revival. Furthermore, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has also given support to the idea, signalling its desire to take club T20 cricket globally.

Participating Leagues in the Inaugural Edition:

However, there’s a major omission. No team from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will feature in the first edition, reportedly due to Pakistan Cricket Board’s absence from a key meeting held in London. The meeting, hosted under the ICC’s umbrella, was attended by representatives of all the major T20 leagues, including the Emirates League, SA20, CPL, and more. The Lahore Qalandars, the reigning PSL champions, will miss out.

Building a Unified T20 Ecosystem – and Blunting Saudi Ambitions

ECB CEO Richard Gould, in a statement to ESPNcricinfo, confirmed that the tournament is indeed "on the cards" for both men and women, calling it “the next logical step” for the evolution of franchise cricket.

The World Club Championship is also reportedly being fast-tracked to counter the emergence of the Saudi Cricket League, a high-budget T20 initiative backed by a reported USD 400 million investment. Saudi plans to model their league on the tennis Grand Slam format, but opposition from top cricket boards like the BCCI and ECB – who are unlikely to grant NOCs to their players – has already created roadblocks.

ALSO SEE: RCB analyst credits this player over Virat Kohli for their maiden IPL 2025 title victory

With nearly every cricketing nation now boasting a franchise T20 league, a unified global competition makes strategic sense. It not only provides a global stage for top-performing teams but also gives players from emerging leagues – like those in the UAE and USA – a golden opportunity to rub shoulders with the sport’s elite.

A Global Reboot of Franchise Cricket's Biggest Stage

The concept closely mirrors the now-defunct Champions League T20, which ran from 2009 to 2014. That tournament saw top clubs from the IPL, BBL, South Africa’s Ram Slam, and others compete in a high-stakes, intercontinental format. The new World Club Championship aims to revive that legacy – but with a more inclusive, globally aligned structure.

Though the exact format and schedule are still under discussion, the World Club Championship is likely to:

• Feature winners (or top teams) from each major T20 league
  
• Rotate venues globally
  
• Feature both men’s and women’s editions in the long run
  
• Be supported by strong broadcast and commercial deals
  

The stage is now being set for what could become cricket’s ultimate franchise showdown. With most of the cricketing world on board and ICC backing secured, the World Club Championship promises to redefine the global T20 calendar – and spark new rivalries along the way.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Luke Williams has been named the new head coach of Southern Brave for the Women’s Hundred 2025, stepping into the role vacated by Charlotte Edwards, who recently took over as head coach of the England women's national team.

Williams has been with the Brave for a long time and led RCB to their first Women's Premier League (WPL) title in 2024. He was Edwards' assistant since the first Hundred, when Southern Brave made it to the finals in 2021 and 2022 and won their first title in 2023.

His coaching pedigree also includes back-to-back Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) titles with the Adelaide Strikers in 2022 and 2023. In a further show of his rising profile, Williams was among the consultant coaches with England Women during their recent home series against the West Indies.

"It's a privilege to take charge of Southern Brave this year from Charlotte Edwards," Williams said in a statement. "Having worked with the team for a number of years, we have an excellent group of players and staff. We also recruited well in the draft earlier this year, so hopefully we can get back to Finals Day and lift the trophy this summer." Williams will continue to work with familiar faces at the Brave, including South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt, who also plays under him at the Adelaide Strikers.

ALSO SEE: Rishabh Pant, Digvesh Rathi among 10 IPL players set for Delhi Premier League auction

Marcus Trescothick Named Batting Coach of Southern Brave Men's Team Ahead of Hundred 2025

In another key move, former England opener Marcus Trescothick has been appointed as the batting coach for the Southern Brave men’s team for the 2025 season. He replaces Jimmy Adams, who is set to coach Hampshire during the One Day Cup in August.

Trescothick currently serves as the England men's national team’s batting coach and briefly stepped in as interim head coach for the white-ball squad last July. The role with Southern Brave marks his first coaching assignment in the Hundred.

These appointments come as both the men's and women's Brave sides look to build on their recent successes and make a strong push for titles in the upcoming Hundred season.

Cricket and its shortest format are not alien to records. As the game evolves with the rise of franchise T20 competitions, the apex body, the ICC (International Cricket Council), awarding international status to every T20 game played between two countries worldwide, and pitches becoming increasingly flatter, have aided the format in several ways. There has been a massive surge in scoring rates, with 200-plus totals increasingly becoming just about par and the new norm. At the heart of things are batters who, at their prolific best, possess the calibre and power to uptick run-scoring, on their way to smash personal hundreds. They deal in high strike rates, profound shot-making, and percentage cricket. Their value for shots fetches them maximum rewards, even though it is risky most of the time. 

With multiple lucrative franchise-level leagues operating throughout the year, across all the cricketing nations, and beyond, players have great opportunities to gain exposure and improve their skills. Playing with foreign stars builds a social community at the expense of the international game. With the rise of such tournaments and the subsequent decline in international cricket, players have become globetrotters and ply their trade professionally with the former. These leagues, running both domestically and internationally, offer immediate monetary benefits and are tempting for players and fans alike. With drop-in pitches being used mainly for such purposes, batters have found run-scoring easy and have thus been enabled to produce scintillating knocks of greater value, both in quantity and quality. Smashing a hundred, unlike past, seems a cakewalk. Small ground boundary dimensions and the usage of modern bats have only complemented that. Let's nosedive into the charts and explore the statistics of batters currently leading the way with the most T20 hundreds. This accounts for tons in age-group cricket, national side, franchise teams, etc. 

See Also: Top 10 Memorable Moments from IPL 2025

Players with the most T20 hundreds 💯🔥

Glenn Maxwell equals Klinger, Warner, Finch, Butter, and Rohit 🤝 pic.twitter.com/LBRNwiWfL2

— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) June 18, 2025

Christopher Henry Gayle, also nicknamed 'The Universe Boss', is miles ahead of every other batter in the table. The now-retired Caribbean legend boasts an astonishing 22 T20 hundreds. These include tons for his national side, the West Indies, and all the numerous franchises he has played for. Some of the notable ones are the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League (BBL), and the Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Gayle, recognised as the best batter in T20 cricket history, was known for his effortless six-hitting, the ability to stand tall and produce humongous innings called 'Daddy Hundreds'. Babar Azam, Pakistan's run machine, is second on the list with 11 hundreds. Known as one of the most consistent batters around the world, Babar has played for quite a few domestic teams in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). 

Rilee Rossouw and Virat Kohli are next, tied on nine tons each. The former, a South African player, was once a mainstay in the middle order of the national unit and has played for reputed teams like the RCB, Somerset in England, and the Eagles in his home nation. Kohli has the most IPL hundreds (8) of any player, and once scored four of them, for the RCB, in a single season in 2016. Glenn Maxwell, currently playing in the Major League Cricket (MLC) for the Washington Freedom, has moved up the ranks after scoring 106 runs off 49 balls, including 13 sixes, in a winning cause. He is also the joint record holder for the most hundreds in T20 internationals, along with India's Rohit Sharma.

The table also includes the likes of star T20 players in David Warner, Aaron Finch, and Jos Buttler. Their names are enough to strike fear among opposition bowlers. Their T20 batting prowess is a cut above the rest, and therefore, they have been able to make names for themselves across households. A unique inclusion in the list is the veteran, Michael Klinger. The batter was a stalwart in Western Australia, and his batting single-handedly led the Perth Scorchers to glory in the BBL on several instances. 

The England and Wales Cricket Boaed (ECB) has officially announced the schedule for Hundred 2025 tournment the highly anicipited 100 ball competition from August 5 to August 31,2025,it has eight mens and eight womans teams 

The Highlights of the Hundred 2025:

Duration:August 5-August 31,2025

Finals:August 31,2025

Eliminator match:August 30,2025

Schedule for The Hundred 2025:

Eliminator & Final Matches

Live streaming Details:

Where to Watch The Hundred 2025?

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