In a significant development, reports suggest that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalised a shortlist of 10 players for the ODI Cricketer of the Year 2025 award. The elite list features Virat Kohli as the only Indian nominee, while current No.1 ODI batter Rohit Sharma has missed out despite a strong year.

According to a report by journalist Tanuj Singh, the final nominees are Virat Kohli, Matthew Breetzke, Joe Root, Shai Hope, Daryl Mitchell, Matt Henry, Adil Rashid, Sikandar Raza, Mitchell Santner and Jayden Seales. New Zealand lead the list with three players, the most from any country, while India and South Africa have one representative each.

A closer look at the 2025 performances of the nominees highlights why the competition is intense. Virat Kohli has enjoyed another outstanding year in ODIs, scoring 651 runs in 13 innings at an average of 65.10, including three centuries and four fifties. His consistency and match-winning ability once again underline his dominance in the 50-over format.

Breetzke and Root shine in a stacked field as Kohli leads India’s lone charge

South Africa’s Matthew Breetzke has been a revelation in his debut ODI year. The right-hander has amassed 706 runs from 12 matches, averaging 64.18, with a century and six fifty-plus scores. Joe Root, meanwhile, has continued his prolific run across formats, crossing 800 ODI runs in 2025 with three centuries.

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Among the bowlers, Matt Henry, Adil Rashid and Jayden Seales have been exceptional, sharing 88 wickets between them. Henry stands out as the leading wicket-taker of the year with 31 wickets in 13 innings, making him a strong contender.

The exclusion of Rohit Sharma has raised eyebrows. While the Indian skipper had a solid year and returned to peak fitness, his 650 runs in 14 innings fell just short when compared to the numbers produced by others on the list.

With Virat Kohli continuing to shine and preparing for a rare domestic return in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the Indian great remains firmly in contention for yet another prestigious ICC honour.

India is set to take on South Africa in the 3rd T20 international of a five-match series at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Sunday, December 14. This is a highly significant match, as it is tied at 1-1, with both teams wanting to gain the upper edge.

India started the series on a dominating note with a 101-run victory in the first T20 International, with Hardik Pandya making a remarkable appearance with his incredible all-round display. However, the hosts could not repeat the same show in the second match. South Africa made a strong comeback in New Chandigarh, powered by Quinton de Kock’s brilliant 90 and a four-wicket haul by Ottneil Baartman, to secure a 51-run victory.

India will be keen to bounce back after a poor batting display in the previous game, with Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill under pressure to deliver. Meanwhile, South Africa would have regained their confidence after dominating proceedings in the second T20I and will look to employ the same tactics to keep the hosts under pressure in Dharamsala. 

IND vs SA: Head-to-Head Record in T20Is

• Matches Played: 33
  
• India Won: 19
  
• South Africa Won: 13
  
• No Result / Tied: 1
  

IND vs SA: Pitch Report

The pitch at Dharamsala generally helps fast bowlers, much because of the high altitude level that aids in making the ball travel quicker through the air. Batters can score freely once they settle in, especially in the middle overs. Dew is likely to play a big role, so the team winning the toss may prefer to bowl first.

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IND vs SA: Predicted Playing XIs

India (IND):

Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh

South Africa (SA):

Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Marco Jansen, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman

The BCCI on Wednesday announced India’s T20I squad for the upcoming five-match home series against South Africa, confirming a strong mix of established match-winners and promising young talents. Suryakumar Yadav continues as captain, underlining the selectors’ trust in his fearless batting approach and leadership suited to India’s evolving T20 philosophy.

Shubman Gill has been appointed vice-captain, subject to a final fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Gill, recovering from a neck spasm he suffered during the Test series against South Africa, has resumed light training, and the selectors are hopeful of his availability at least for the latter part of the series.

India pick explosive batting unit and versatile all-rounders for SA T20Is

The squad features an explosive batting core, with Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya offering both power and versatility. Hardik makes a notable return after recovering from a quadriceps injury that kept him out for two months. His commanding 77* off 42 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earlier this week further strengthened his case.

India’s all-round options remain rich, with Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Pandya and Dube giving the team tactical flexibility across conditions. In the wicketkeeping department, the selectors have backed Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson, two contrasting yet impactful T20 finishers.

ALSO SEE: Watch: BCCI unveils India's official jersey for T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka

The bowling attack has a balanced look. Jasprit Bumrah leads the pace unit, supported by left-armer Arshdeep Singh and rising quick Harshit Rana. The spin attack features Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy, offering a blend of control, mystery and middle-overs wicket-taking ability.

India vs South Africa T20I Series Schedule

India enter the series as the No. 1 ranked T20I side, with South Africa placed fifth, setting the stage for a high-quality contest beginning December 9.

India T20I Squad

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC)*, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar
*Subject to fitness clearance from BCCI CoE.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially unveiled Team India’s jersey for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup during the innings break of the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur on Wednesday. The launch took place moments after the hosts posted a commanding 358/5, powered by brilliant centuries from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Virat Kohli.

India, who will co-host the tournament with Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8 next year, showcased a refreshed design for the upcoming global event. The new kit retains the traditional deep blue base but features vibrant orange panels along the sides. In a notable design shift, the tricolour, earlier placed across the shoulders, has been moved to the collar. Vertical blue stripes add texture to the front, giving the jersey a modern, dynamic look.

Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma unveil India’s new T20 World Cup 2026 jersey in Raipur

Rohit Sharma and Tilak Varma were present at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium to unveil the jersey. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and Adidas officials handed over the new kit to the duo on stage. Rohit, the brand ambassador for the 2026 edition and India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain in 2024, spoke emotionally about the journey.

Team India's jersey unveiled for the T20 World Cup 2026. 👕🇮🇳

📸: JioHotstar/X#oneturfnews #teamindia #t20worldcup #rohitsharma #cricket pic.twitter.com/ugInlaofgg

— OneTurf News (@oneturf_news) December 3, 2025

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“It took us more than 15 years to win the T20 World Cup trophy after 2007. Now the World Cup will happen in India, and my wishes are always with the team. I’m sure everyone will be behind them,” Rohit said. Having retired from the T20 format, he attended the ceremony in his ambassadorial role.

India have been placed in Group A for the tournament alongside Pakistan, the USA, the Netherlands and Namibia. The hosts will begin their campaign on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium against the USA.

The ceremonial launch added to an electric day in Raipur, where India’s batters dominated South Africa. Kohli scored a composed 102 while Gaikwad struck his maiden ODI hundred with a fluent 105. Their 195-run stand set the tone for India’s imposing total, with KL Rahul providing a powerful finish. With the new jersey revealed and the countdown underway, anticipation continues to build ahead of the home World Cup.

After a quiet return to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Punjab captain Abhishek Sharma roared back to form with a record-shattering counterattack against Bengal at the Gymkhana Ground in Hyderabad on Sunday. The left-hander produced one of the most destructive knocks in Indian domestic T20 history, smashing 148 off 52 balls with 16 sixes and a strike-rate of 284.62, powering Punjab to a mammoth 310/5 - the fourth-highest total ever recorded in T20 cricket.

Sent out to open, Abhishek found rhythm immediately. He blasted a 12-ball fifty, scoring 50 of his first 51 runs in boundaries. In one breathtaking over, he hammered 23 runs off Mohammed Shami, his former SunRisers Hyderabad teammate, signaling the carnage to come. By the time he reached his 32-ball century, Abhishek had launched Bengal’s attack into chaos, repeatedly targeting the straight V with brutal precision.

This ton was his eighth T20 hundred, drawing him level with Rohit Sharma among Indians; only Virat Kohli (nine) has more. It also extended his extraordinary six-hitting record, making him the first Indian to cross 90 T20 sixes in a calendar year.

Most T20 sixes by an Indian in a calendar year

Punjab’s innings was boosted by blazing contributions from Prabhsimran Singh (70 off 35), Ramandeep Singh (39 off 15) and Sanvir Singh (22 off 8) as they struck 28 sixes overall. Bengal pacer Mohammed Shami endured a tough outing, conceding 61 runs in four overs.

In response, Bengal fell short by 112 runs despite an outstanding 130 off 66 balls from Abhimanyu Easwaran. Only Akash Deep (31 off 7) offered support, as the rest of the batting lineup collapsed under scoreboard pressure.

Elsewhere, Ishan Kishan lit up Jharkhand’s chase with a superb 113 off 50*, Manan Vohra anchored Chandigarh’s win over Maharashtra with an unbeaten 72, and Railways captain Karn Sharma delivered a clutch all-round performance in a last-over thriller against Assam.

The JSCA International Stadium Complex was buzzing ahead of India’s first ODI against South Africa, but a surprising controversy stole the limelight long before the toss, the pricing of customized team jerseys. Fans were shocked to find that adding Virat Kohli’s name to the back of the official ODI kit costs ₹300, while MS Dhoni’s iconic “7” is priced at just ₹200.

Jersey pricing triggers nostalgia, outrage, and debate as Ranchi gears up for the ODI series opener

The ₹100 gap was enough to ignite a frenzy across Ranchi, Dhoni’s hometown, where fans take immense pride in their legend. Social media erupted overnight, with hashtags like #JusticeForDhoni and #KohliVsDhoni dominating timelines. One viral post read, “₹300 for Kohli makes sense, but only ₹200 for the man who finished the 2011 final? Fix it!” Another fan joked, “Dhoni at ₹200 because he’s priceless, they didn’t know what to charge.”

The controversy began when local vendors and BCCI merchandise counters unveiled limited-edition ODI jerseys priced at a base ₹1,500. Player-name personalization added a premium, ₹300 for Kohli, India’s active superstar coming off 245 runs in three ODIs against Australia, and ₹200 for Dhoni, who retired three years ago but remains Ranchi’s heartbeat.

Merchandise officials defended the pricing as “purely demand-based,” arguing that Kohli’s active status, global appeal, and recent form drive higher premium. Yet, the emotional backlash, especially locally, underscored Dhoni’s undiminished presence. Stories of Dhoni hosting Rohit Sharma, Kohli, and Rishabh Pant for dinner earlier this week only added fuel to speculation that he might appear at the stadium.

Watch the video:

Player Jersey prices outside Ranchi:

Virat - 300 😭
Dhoni - 200
Other Randoms - 100

Sellers just using the name KOHLI to sell 100 rps jersey for 300 as no one is interested in buying random jerseys...!! pic.twitter.com/7XpiQSzVFc

— Praneeth VK¹⁸ (@fantasyy_d11) November 30, 2025

Kohli - 300
DhoNi - 200 😭😭

Unreal cooking of Dhobi in Ranchi 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/H7cu2zntRb

— Vivek (@Hailkohli18) November 27, 2025

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Once the cricket took over, South Africa stand-in captain Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to bowl, expecting evening dew to aid the chase. India, looking to bounce back from a 0-2 Test series defeat, handed Yashasvi Jaiswal his maiden ODI cap. Ranchi’s pitch, with an average first-innings score of 265, promised a balanced contest.

Still, away from pitch reports and toss decisions, the jersey saga captured the city’s pulse. As one banner outside the gates read: “Mahi 200, but forever 7.”

Playing XIs

India: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna

South Africa: Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen, Nandre Burger, Ottneil Baartman

Bigg Boss Tamil Season 4 fame Samyuktha Shan has officially tied the knot with former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cricketer and well-known commentator Aniruddha Srikkanth, son of legendary Indian opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth. The couple got married on November 27, 2025, in an intimate South Indian ceremony attended by close family members and a few friends. Soon after the rituals were completed, they shared their wedding photographs on Instagram in a joint post, captioned simply with the date and a ring and heart emoji, letting the pictures take centre stage.

The wedding visuals immediately went viral and drew admiration for their simplicity. Samyuktha looked radiant in a golden saree paired with traditional jewellery, minimal makeup, and a classic South Indian bridal aesthetic. Aniruddha matched her look with a gold-toned shirt and veshti, completing a graceful and culturally rooted ensemble. The couple appeared joyful and relaxed, and the intimate setting emphasised warmth, tradition, and togetherness rather than grandeur.

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From Coimbatore to cricketing circles, the couple’s journey meets at a happy milestone

Samyuktha, originally from Coimbatore, began her career in modelling before stepping into the film and television industry. She was crowned Miss Chennai in 2007 and eventually built a strong presence as an influencer, model, and actor. Her participation in Bigg Boss Tamil 4 brought her nationwide recognition, after which she appeared in films such as Varisu, Tughlaq Durbar, Madras Mafia Company, and My Dear Bhootham. This is her second marriage; she was previously married to businessman Karthik Shankar, with whom she shares a son named Rayan.

Actress #Samyuktha got married to #AniruddhaSrikanth today morning. Best wishes to the couple ♥️#Tamil #Tamilactress pic.twitter.com/HD4d2wu540

— Cine buff Sakthi 🎥 (@vimal2874293336) November 27, 2025

Aniruddha Srikkanth, 38, is a familiar face to cricket followers. A former opening batter for Tamil Nadu, he played for CSK in the early years of the Indian Premier League between 2008 and 2013. After his playing days, he transitioned into cricket commentary and has since become a respected voice in the sport. This is also his second marriage; he was earlier married to model and actor Arthi Venkatesh.

As soon as the couple posted their wedding pictures, the internet was flooded with congratulatory messages from fans, colleagues, and celebrities. Their traditional and heartfelt ceremony has quickly become one of the most talked-about celebrity weddings of the season.

India’s World Test Championship hopes have taken a serious hit following back-to-back defeats to South Africa at home, a result that has dropped them to fifth place on the 2025–27 WTC points table. With four wins from nine Tests and a modest 48.15% points percentage, the Men in Blue now face a fierce uphill battle to stay alive in the race for the 2027 final at Lord’s.

The new cycle had begun with optimism. Shubman Gill took over the reins from Rohit Sharma after India missed the previous final, and there was a sense of renewal in the setup. But after a spirited 2–2 draw against England, familiar issues resurfaced, inconsistent selection calls, an unsettled batting order and a continued vulnerability against spin. South Africa capitalised ruthlessly, handing India their second consecutive home whitewash.

Halfway through the cycle, India’s record reads 4 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw, leaving almost no room for error as they brace for nine more Tests.

Qualification Math: What India Need

Historical trends show that teams usually need a PCT above 60 to qualify for the final. India can still reach that mark, but the path is narrow.

A breakdown of key scenarios:

• 7 wins from 9 Tests - PCT 62.96 (realistic qualification)
• 6 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss - PCT 61.11
• 6 wins, 3 losses - almost certainly eliminated

Winning all nine remaining Tests would take India to a commanding 74.07%, but given their schedule, that is an enormous challenge.

India’s Remaining Fixtures: The Road Ahead

Sri Lanka (Away, August 2026)

Sri Lanka’s turning tracks will test India’s much-discussed weakness against spin. Since 2021, spinners have dominated proceedings at home:

At Galle, spinners account for nearly 80% of all wickets, making batting a serious challenge for India’s inexperienced lineup.

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New Zealand (Away, Oct–Nov 2026)

New Zealand remains India’s most difficult away venue. Green, seaming pitches and quality fast bowling have historically troubled Indian batters.

India have been whitewashed on their last two tours and have won only once in New Zealand since 2009, a pattern that will worry the team heading into another critical series.

Australia in India (Home, Jan–Feb 2027)

Even at home, the challenge will be stiff. Australia’s spin attack of Lyon, Murphy and Kuhnemann has already tasted success in Asia. With India’s own batters struggling against spin recently, pitch preparation becomes a strategic dilemma, turning tracks may not necessarily favour the hosts.

Recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy results:

• 2017: India win 2–1
• 2023: India win 2–1

A similar margin may not be enough this time unless India enter the series with a stronger WTC standing.

A Huge Test Awaits Gill’s India

India must win at least seven of their last nine matches to have a realistic shot at reaching the 2027 WTC final. Their upcoming tours to Sri Lanka and New Zealand, both difficult in very different ways, will likely decide their fate.

Without solutions to their spin troubles, a reliable new-ball pair, and more stability in the batting order, India’s WTC dreams could slip away again. As it stands, qualification remains possible, but only with a dramatic turnaround in form, consistency and selection clarity. If the issues persist, India may need to wait until 2029 for another shot at a WTC final.

Asian Paints has strengthened its footprint in Indian sports by signing a three-year partnership with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The association, announced on Tuesday, makes the paint and décor giant the official colour partner for Team India across 110 home matches. The financial details of the agreement remain undisclosed, but the deal places Asian Paints alongside prominent brands such as Campa, SBI Life and Atomberg Technologies in BCCI’s official partners category.

The collaboration spans men’s, women’s and domestic matches played in India. As part of the activation plan, Asian Paints will roll out on-ground fan engagement initiatives, including the Asian Paints Colour Cam, a special fan cam designed to spotlight the most vibrant and spirited supporters in stadiums. The partnership also promises a “colour countdown,” which will introduce trending colour palettes and home décor ideas to viewers during matches.

BCCI Hails Partnership as Brand Strengthens Its Cultural and Sporting Presence

Amit Syngle, managing director and CEO of Asian Paints, highlighted why cricket is the ideal platform for this partnership. Speaking at a press event at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, he noted that cricket’s ability to reach millions of Indian households aligns with the company’s vision of “Har Ghar”, bringing colour and creativity into every home. He added that cricket remains unmatched in fan passion and visibility, not only in India but also in neighbouring markets like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, where Asian Paints enjoys significant brand presence.

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Syngle further stated that while the brand is open to exploring other sporting formats in the future, its association with cricket will continue to be central to its long-term marketing strategy.

BCCI spokesperson Devajit Saikia welcomed the partnership, saying Asian Paints’ legacy of adding colour and emotion to daily life connects naturally with the energy of Indian cricket. Both organisations, he said, aim to deliver richer experiences to fans across the country.

The timing of the deal is notable, coming ahead of two major ICC events next year, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where fan engagement is expected to reach new heights.

India are preparing for an important white-ball assignment in South Africa, but the biggest concern for the selectors right now is Shubman Gill’s fitness. The young opener, who also took over India’s ODI captaincy earlier this year, is expected to miss the upcoming three-match ODI series due to a neck injury sustained during the Kolkata Test. While Gill is unavailable for the second Test in Guwahati, reports suggest he will also sit out of the ODIs starting November 30 in Ranchi.

Selectors Ajit Agarkar, RP Singh and Devajit Saikia are set to meet in Guwahati for discussions before officially naming the squads for both ODIs and T20Is. The meeting takes place in the middle of the Test series, and several factors are complicating decisions, including ongoing injury concerns for multiple senior players. Hardik Pandya is still recovering, Shreyas Iyer is ruled out until March due to a spleen laceration, and now Gill’s continued absence has made the captaincy slot vacant.

Rahul, Pant or Axar? India weigh leadership choices for South Africa ODIs

According to BCCI sources quoted in PTI and Times of India reports, Gill has been advised additional rest by medical specialists and will not be rushed back. The board, however, remains optimistic that he will return for the five-match T20I series that follows.

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With Gill sidelined, three names have emerged as the frontrunners to lead India in the ODIs: KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel. Rahul has prior leadership experience in the format and remains a stable middle-order option. Pant, who is already captaining the Test team in Gill’s absence in Guwahati, could continue his leadership in white-ball cricket as well. Meanwhile, Axar Patel’s steady rise as a multi-format contributor has seen him enter the captaincy conversation too.

Veteran stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are expected to feature in the ODIs, adding much-needed experience to the squad. In terms of replacements for Gill, options like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad could come into play, depending on team balance and combinations.

The focus now shifts to the selectors’ upcoming announcement, which will reveal how India plan to tackle the challenge of a South African tour without several key players, and who steps up to take charge.