Indian Cricket's batting maestro, often termed the 'Run-Machine' across formats, Virat Kohli is synonymous with greatness. His records speak for themselves and need no justification. Having been a stalwart for India for over a decade and a half, the veteran batter from Delhi smashed several records and etched himself for eternity in the cricketing folklore. His game prowess fetched him immense success on and off the field, and courtesy of that, he became a household name and an inspiration for millions of fans across the globe. Recently retired from the T20 and Test formats, the legendary batter has accumulated 82 international centuries so far. This includes the record for hitting the most number of tons (51) in One Day Cricket (ODI), the format for which he will only step on the field until complete international retirement. 

Kohli's decorated career has not just been limited to elegant and flawless batting masterclasses. He has had his tryst with the cricket ball as well. A part-time, right-arm medium pacer, he has been employed to bowl on certain occasions and hasn't disappointed. His bowling has helped the main bowlers take some rest and load off for a while. His immaculate line and lengths have not allowed the opposition batters, looking to upscale the scoring rates, to break free. Their attacking instincts against, apparently, a 'bits and pieces' bowler like Virat come with definite risks and have helped him strike the woodwork, on course towards amassing nine international wickets, hitherto, in his career. The bowling unit has been boosted by some essential breakthroughs, as Kohli's victims have been potent batters of the opposition line-ups.

See Also: Virat Kohli stands alone with 900+ ratings in all formats

Virat Kohli's International Bowling Statistics:

A look at the batting spearhead's all of the international wickets, a set of nine occasions, yet, in his career, when he has brought his all-rounder skills to the fore. He let the ball talk then, incisively, off his hands and made it a supplementary weapon as well, along with that bat between his gloves, perennially. 

Kevin Pieterson

Virat Kohli's first-ever international wicket was that of the English all-rounder Kevin Pietersen. He got him out stumped in a T20I match between England and India in 2011. Kohli, bowling for the first time at the highest level of the game, sent down an inswinger which the Indian wicket-keeper captain MS Dhoni easily collected, stumping the batter out off his leg side. 

1- Kevin Pieterson

The first bowl he bowled in international cricket was a wide bowl and he got Kevin Pieterson on that bowl. pic.twitter.com/uN9PPdHH1N

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Alastair Cook

Kohli's second international victim was the English opening batter and Legend Alastair Cook, whom he scalped in an ODI match between the two teams in 2011. Bowling a leg-cutter of a delivery, the former foxed the latter to castle his stumps, in a dismissal that every bowler would have felt proud of. 

2- Alastair Cook pic.twitter.com/ZVETJZwDqn

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Craig Kieswetter

Virat's third instance of striking with the ball came in an ODI match between India and England at Mohali, Punjab in 2011. Protecting the off-side by bringing the fielder finer and up, Kohli bowled a ball at an angle and quite wide of the batter's off stump. In an attempt to reach the ball, the then young English batter Craig Kieswetter inside edged, and the ball dragged on behind to chop his stumps off.  

3 - Craig kieswetter

Bowled a beautiful Yorker to kieswetter on first bowl of his over and got him out pic.twitter.com/RG4Jtw97cx

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Brendon McCullum

In an ODI match against the Kiwis at the Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand, in 2014, Virat not only got an opportunity to bowl but also picked up the prized wicket of Brendon McCullum, the explosive batter. The latter danced down the pitch to slog the former over covers, but didn't get enough elevation in his shot and got caught by Rohit Sharma.  

4- Brendon McCullum

virat kohli came and got McCullum out on 5th Bowl of his over after getting hit for six on the first bowl. pic.twitter.com/9JazsgAZWN

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Quinton De Kock

Playing against South Africa in a pink ODI match at The Wanderers, Johannesburg in 2013, Virat bagged his fifth international wicket. He bowled and caught the well-set Quinton De Kock on 135 runs, ending his long and impactful stay at the crease. 

5 - Quinton De Kock pic.twitter.com/v56iyM9cmt

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Samit Patel

In a 2011 T20I match against England at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Kohli struck with the ball. He contributed to the wicket of Samit Patel, who holed one up in the air off his bowling, eventually getting caught by Manoj Tiwary at the short covers position. 

6- Samit Patel pic.twitter.com/IeeKd0D75e

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Mohammad Hafeez

In the big-ticket and high-stakes encounter between India and Pakistan at the 2012 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, Kohli bowled Hafeez. On a length delivery angling at the middle and leg stump, the Pakistan batter attempted to play it late, only to misjudge the speed of the ball and see his stumps get dismantled. 

7- Md Hafeez pic.twitter.com/8wtRpnh90q

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Johnson Charles

In the semi-final of the 2016 T20 World Cup, against the big-hitting West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India were staring at defeat and an eventual exit from the tournament. Kohli was trusted to bowl and got the wicket of the half-centurion, Johnson Charles. On a short pitch of a delivery, the batter went aerial and was caught at long-off by Rohit Sharma. It broke their partnership; however, things didn't improve much as the home side went crashing out at that stage. 

8- Johnson Charles

Virat kohli came with his magic and got Charles on the first bowl of his over. pic.twitter.com/yytL4xH9YF

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Scott Edwards

Virat Kohli's most recent and latest international wicket came at the 2023 ODI World Cup against the Netherlands in Bengaluru. In a ball-strangling down the leg side, the batter and Dutch skipper, Scott Edwards, feathered it off guard and got caught by the wicket-keeper, KL Rahul. The dismissal was a Diwali surprise for the fans, and Virat was equally surprised, yet elated, to witness his ninth international wicket of his glorious career, so far. 

9- Scott Edwards

Even he couldn't believe that, He got Edwards out in his second over! pic.twitter.com/ngcF1PLfX7

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

India’s off-spinning all-rounder Washington Sundar delivered a game-changing moment on Day 4 of the third Test at Lord’s by dismissing England captain Ben Stokes for 33. The key breakthrough came in the 55th over of England’s second innings, as Sundar bowled a length delivery that skidded off the surface. Stokes tried a slog sweep but missed it completely, as the ball slipped under his bat and crashed into the middle stump. With his wicket, England lost their last recognized batter and were left reeling.

This wicket was Sundar's third big breakthrough of the innings. He had previously dismissed Joe Root for 40 and Jamie Smith for 8, displaying great control and guile throughout his spell. Sundar also contributed nicely with the bat, scoring 23 runs in India's first innings to allow his team to equal England's total of 387. His all-around performance has been instrumental in getting India in a strong position in the match.

India's bowlers carried on their disciplined show on Day 4. Mohammed Siraj got early breakthroughs by sending both openers—Ben Duckett (12) and Ollie Pope (4)—back to the pavilion, while Jasprit Bumrah mopped up the tail with the wickets of Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes. At the time of writing, England were allout at 192/10. now india innings have started, with jaiswal and KL Rahul at the crease, and India is looking well poised for victory.

India tightens grip as series hangs in balance.

The third Test at Lord’s has been intense, with both teams posting identical scores of 387 in their first innings. KL Rahul scored a magnificent 100 for India, while Joe Root made 104 for England. Jasprit Bumrah again set the example early on with a five-wicket haul, furthering his great form in the series.

Watch the video here

You miss, I hit. 👀

Washington Sundar goes straight through Ben Stokes with a beauty!

The England skipper had no answer, Sundar gets the big reward.#ENGvIND 👉 3rd TEST, DAY 4 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar 👉 https://t.co/vo6bbH9n2o pic.twitter.com/ZAU3VKgTLK

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 13, 2025

See Also: WATCH: Akash Deep rattles Harry Brook's stumps in ENG vs IND 3rd Test at Lord's

With the five-match series standing at 1-1 currently, India is looking for successive victories at Lord's after their historic 151-run win in 2021. England had won the first match at Headingley by five wickets, but India struck back hard with a 336-run triumph at Edgbaston. A victory at Lord's would give Shubman Gill's team a crucial 2-1 edge.

On Day 4 of the third Test between India and England at Lord's, on Sunday, July 13, Akash Deep delivered a stunning moment of redemption. The Indian speedster had gone for three consecutive boundaries in his previous deliveries to Harry Brook when he came in to bowl in the 22nd over. The full, attacking delivery had Brook, who was looking to get aggressive again, being away and playing a rash sweep shot, as he completely missed the ball. The ball crashed into stumps behind his legs, dismissing him for 23 runs off 19 balls, leaving England 87/4.

This was an important wicket for India since Brook had looked very aggressive, playing some shots at Akash Deep. He just took 4, 4, and 6 in the previous three deliveries of his last over. Brook's eagerness to get after the bowling got himself out. Akash, who was India's standout performer in the second Test with a 10-wicket match haul, roared back with a crucial wicket to shift the momentum firmly in India’s favor.

India’s bowling attack dominated the morning session. Mohammed Siraj provided early breakthroughs by removing openers Ben Duckett (12) and Ollie Pope (4), while Nitish Kumar Reddy struck to dismiss Zak Crawley (22). With Brook's wicket falling soon after, England were under pressure at 98/4 at Lunch on Day 4, with experienced campaigners Joe Root and Ben Stokes at the crease, trying to rebuild.

First-innings parity sets up tense final days

Earlier in the match, both teams ended with identical scores of 387 in their first innings. Joe Root anchored England’s innings with a composed century (104 off 199), while KL Rahul responded with an equally impressive 100 off 177 for India. The bowlers also played key roles—Jasprit Bumrah bagged his 13th overseas five-wicket haul, and Chris Woakes picked up three wickets for the hosts.

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Relentless and rewarded! 🙌🏻👏🏻#AkashDeep’s disciplined length proves too good for #HarryBrook, as a costly shot sends his middle-stump flying! 🔥#ENGvIND 👉 3rd TEST, DAY 4 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar 👉 https://t.co/vo6bbH9n2o pic.twitter.com/xIL09UHRtR

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 13, 2025

See Also: [WATCH] 'Main College Ke Samne....' – Suryakumar Yadav reveals how he first met wife Devisha Shetty

India entered the third Test high on confidence after crushing England by 336 runs in the second Test, their biggest overseas win by runs. Akash Deep was instrumental in that win, claiming six wickets in one inning. With the third Test evenly poised at Lunch on Day 4, India’s bowlers once again took center stage as they sought to push for a series lead.

Mohammed Siraj took a crucial wicket for India on Day 3 of the 1st Test at Headingley, dismissing England captain Ben Stokes with a classic outswinger. With England positioned at 276/4—still trailing India’s massive first-innings total of 471—Siraj delivered a good length ball just outside the off stump. The ball pitched and moved away, and Stokes, tempted into a loose poke away from his body, edged it behind. Rishabh Pant did the rest with a clean catch. Stokes, who made 20 off 52 balls, looked dejected, hanging his head and walking off slowly, aware that he had played a poor shot to a good ball.

India had seized early control of the Test by piling on 471, led by brilliant centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), Shubman Gill (147), and Rishabh Pant (134). England started Day 3 at 225/3 with Ollie Pope on 106, but India struck early through Prasidh Krishna, who removed Pope in the morning session. Siraj’s wicket of Stokes further disrupted England’s recovery and handed India a much-needed breakthrough.

The Headingley pitch, bathed in constant cloud cover, provided plenty of movement, and India's fast bowlers fully capitalized on the conditions. Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah had laid the foundations on Day 2 by sending Crawley, Duckett, and Root back. Siraj, with rhythm and purpose, bowling, and Krishna complementing from the other side with neat lines, has put England's middle order under strain.

Momentum Shift: Siraj’s Outswinger Rocks England

With cloud cover thickening and showers forecast later in the day, India will look to capitalize. At stumps in the second session, England are 293/5 in 69 overs, still trailing by 178 runs. Harry Brook remains unbeaten on 46 off 59 balls, while Jamie Smith is on 0* off 15 balls.

Watch the video here

The English captain @benstokes38 is gone! @mdsirajofficial gets his first of the match as #TeamIndia tightens its grip on the game.#ENGvIND 1st Test Day 3 LIVE NOW Streaming on JioHotstar 👉 https://t.co/SIJ5ri9N8a pic.twitter.com/PEBRVW3su6

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 22, 2025

See Also: MLC 2025, SEA vs LAS Match 12: Grand Prairie stadium stats and Head to Head

Siraj’s dismissal of Stokes may prove pivotal. It wasn’t just a captain’s wicket—it was a shift in tone. India’s bowling unit, led by Bumrah and Siraj, now eyes a collapse that could hand them a firm grip on the first Test at Headingley.

Ben Stokes produced a moment of brilliance just when England desperately needed a breakthrough on Day 1 of the first Test against India at Headingley. With India in complete control after a wicketless afternoon session, England’s captain took matters into his own hands, bringing himself on for the second over after tea. On just his third delivery, Stokes bowled an absolute ‘jaffa’ to dismiss the well-set Yashasvi Jaiswal, sending the top of the off stump cartwheeling and lifting the hosts' spirits.

It was a good length ball angled in from outside off, with just a hint of movement that beat Jaiswal's straight bat and clipped the bail—a classic bail-trimmer. Jaiswal walked back for a sublime 101 off 145 balls, an innings laced with 15 fours and a six. His knock was a masterclass in off-side play, with only nine of his first 100 runs coming on the leg side. The left-hander cut and drove England’s seamers into submission on a warm Leeds afternoon, and in the process, he became the first Indian batter to score a century in his debut Test in both Australia and England.

This latest century also extended Jaiswal’s remarkable record against England—he now has 813 Test runs against them in just 10 innings. His third-wicket partnership with Shubman Gill was worth 123 runs at the tea interval. Gill, captaining India in Tests for the first time, played with intent and flair, reaching his half-century in just 56 balls—his fastest in the format—as England’s inexperienced bowling unit toiled hard in challenging conditions.

Pant Returns with a Bang, Stokes Has a Laugh

Following Jaiswal’s dismissal, Rishabh Pant walked in to bat for the first time in a Test match since his return from injury. He had missed India’s 4-1 home series win over England in early 2024 while recovering from his serious car accident. But the keeper-batter wasted no time settling in. On just his second ball, he charged down the track and lofted Stokes over his head for a boundary, drawing a smile from the England captain.

Watch the video here

pic.twitter.com/NTxZKFAhf1

— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) June 20, 2025

See Also: ENG vs IND: 'Jais-Ball better than 'Bazball'—Fans react as Yashasvi Jaiswal scores his maiden century in England

Pant, who scored a memorable 146 off 111 in his last Test against England at Edgbaston in 2022, looked keen to carry on from where he left off. A misfired off-cutter from Stokes moments later brought more smiles between the two players, as Pant calmly pushed the dipping full toss away in defense. At tea, India was strongly placed at 215 for 2, with Jaiswal’s elegant ton and Gill’s assertive knock giving them the perfect platform in the series opener.

The curtains were drawn on IPL 2025 on the night of 3rd June. The extended season came to a close, not least after crafting several glorious and memorable moments for everyone involved. Whether it was the players, franchise owners, loyal fan bases, or viewers, all stakeholders had a great time, and numerous milestones were unlocked throughout its entire journey. The campaign, which began in March, ran until early June and is now a source of nostalgic awe. This season had a pause in its latter stages due to the geopolitical issues between India and Pakistan, but there was no let-up in the intensity of performances. 

The prestigious tournament was set for a first-time winner. Just three franchises that featured in the inaugural edition remained trophyless before the 2025 final. Two of them, Rajat Patidar-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Shreyas Iyer's Punjab Kings (PBKS), faced off in the title decider, hoping to break that jinx. However, it was the RCB and their most loyal talisman, Virat Kohli, who ended their 18-year-long wait for the IPL silverware, etching their names in cricketing folklore and enabling millions of fans to rejoice. Had Iyer triumphed, he would have won the cup twice in succession, and as the skipper. Having led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to glory in 2024, the stylish player became the only skipper to spearhead three franchises to an IPL final. The Delhi Capitals (DC) were the first team in that streak. 

Several highlights were created over the season, and there were facts in figures. As it drew to a close, here are some numbers that encapsulate this year's tournament. Statistics don't lie, and a certain set of trends worked, while others didn't. However it was, the 18th season of the IPL was a record-breaking one, and its 74 matches narrated tales that have become the talking points for years to come. Here is a detailed look at the 'Roll of Honour'. 

See Also: WATCH: Vijay Mallya reveal reason behind buying Royal Challengers Bengaluru at IPL

RCB's Success Mantra

The key to RCB making it to the playoffs and then laying hands on the trophy was their record-equalling nine wins on the road. They matched the number of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) who achieved it in 2014. Incidentally, KKR were also the champions that year. In a strange scenario, RCB failed to win even once at their home den of the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and giving up on the fortress stature for the season. However, they managed to claim victories in all their away games, matching an unprecedented record held by their rivals for eleven years. 

The Jostle for 200 Runs with a Uniform Surge in Scoring Phases

IPL 2025 saw the most 200-plus scores. In 74 matches throughout the season, there were 52 instances of teams posting 200 or more runs on the scoreboard. Sides jostled to pile on the runs, and thus the surge in batting strike-rates left its mark. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) were the clear leaders with seven 200-plus totals, including the top three - 286/6 against the Rajasthan Royals (RR), 278/3 against the KKR, and 247/2 against the PBKS. The previous record of double-ton team scores was 41 in the 2024 season.

Since 2021, the scoring run rates have gone up in all the phases (Powerplay, Middle, and Death). Teams start more aggressively, show greater intent in the middle, and finish with higher impact. In the league stage, sides crossed 75 runs or more in the first six overs 14 times this season. 

Raining Boundaries - Fours and Sixes

No boundary is long enough for T20 cricket's powerful batters, and if it is in the arc, then it is out of the park. This edition of the IPL saw 1294 sixes hit over 74 matches, the highest in the tournament's history. The previous highest was 1260 in 2024. The Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) Nicholas Pooran hit the most sixes (40) of any batter this year. Also, 2245 fours were hit this season, which is also a record. The previous highest was 2174 fours struck in 2023. The Gujarat Titans' (GT) Sai Sudarshan, also the orange cap holder for the most runs (759), won the award for hitting the maximum number of fours (88) among all players this year.

The Milestone Moments - Fifties and Partnerships

Batters held center stage, and there were 143 individual fifties smashed, an IPL record, bettering the 141 fifty-plus scores in 2023. RCB's maestro Virat Kohli hit 8 fifties, the most by any player this season. The quickest to this milestone was again RCB's Caribbean all-rounder, Romario Shepherd, in 14 balls. This year also saw 178 partnerships of fifty runs or more, the highest in an IPL season. The previous best was 169 in 2023. 

There was a prolific explosion of left-handed batters this term. Left became right and soared. Players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Priyansh Arya, and Nicholas Pooran did the bulk of the scoring and maximised powerplay impact under the field restrictions. With the highest of strike rates, they converted starts into fifties and hundreds.

The Maverick Abhishek Sharma

The SRH opener Abhishek Sharma's 141-run innings against the PBKS, in a successful chase of 246 runs, in Hyderabad, was the highest individual score by an Indian in IPL history. He bettered the record of 132 runs - an unbeaten innings by KL Rahul of PBKS in 2020. With batters to have exceeded 250 runs for the season, the star left-hander was third on the highest strike rate list. He scored at a rate of 193.39, amassing 28 sixes in total.   

The Super Punjab Kings

The PBKS defended a target of 112 runs against the KKR at Mullanpur (the former's home) this season. This was a record as it became the lowest target defended in an IPL match. The previous low was 117 runs by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) against the then Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in Durban, South Africa, in 2009.

Opting to bat, the PBKS bundled out for a paltry score of 111 runs, even though they had begun well courtesy of their openers, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya. However, while bowling, they pulled off a heist and successfully defended their score. The spin wizard Yuzvendra Chahal and the tall and lanky Proteas pacer Marco Jansen combined to scalp 7 wickets. Their miraculous feats enabled the home side to restrict their opposition to just 95, winning by 16 runs and setting a new record in the IPL's history. 

Vaibhav Suryavanshi - The Prodigy with Youthful Energy

Vaibhav Suryavanshi of the RR became the youngest player to debut in the IPL. Moreover, he also became the youngest batter to score a T20 hundred. He achieved this landmark at the age of just 14 years and 32 days. He smashed 101 runs off 38 balls in their match against GT in Jaipur. Going bonkers, he took the attack to the opposition and affirmed his cricketing prodigy status. This was also marked as the fastest century of the season, in just 35 balls. 

The India Under-19 opener bettered the record of the Maharashtra batter Vijay Zol, who hit a T20 century against Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) when he was 18 years and 118 days old in 2013. Vaibhav won the Super Striker award for the season, having the highest scoring rates among all the batters, and producing his tally of runs at a lethal strike rate of 206.55.

The Green Initiative - A New for the Season

The IPL, this season, introduced an award for the most dot balls bowled by a bowler. It was an environment-friendly and sustainable initiative, collaborated between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the title sponsors TATA Group. Each dot ball was equivalent to 18 trees planted, commemorating the 18th season, and was recognised as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) task. 

Although GT's Prasidh Krishna won the purple cap for taking the most wickets (25) across the tournament, it was Mohammad Siraj from the same team who bowled the maximum number of dot balls of any bowler this season. He delivered 151 of those balls, winning the 'Green Dot Balls' award and helping plant saplings in multiples of eighteen. 

Lord's, London, June 11, 2025 – Josh Hazlewood provided a moment of sparkle at 20.2 overs, sending back Tristan Stubbs for 2 and deepening South Africa’s woes in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025. Having South Africa's bowlers, spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada's 5/51, dismiss Australia for 212, their batting faltered against a fiery Australian pace attack. Hazlewood's jaffa—a 136 kmph good-length ball outside off that curved back sharply—snuck through Stubbs' defense, breaking his stumps as the batter played from the crease and couldn't recover to the inward movement. 

South Africa's innings started on a wobbly note, with Mitchell Starc getting rid of Aiden Markram for a duck in the first over and Ryan Rickelton for 16, caught at slip. Pat Cummins joined the attack, sending Wiaan Mulder back for 6, leaving the Proteas 25/3 prior to Hazlewood's delivery. Stubbs, who was supposed to steady the middle order, scored only 2 from 13 balls, going to Hazlewood's unrelenting accuracy. The Australian pacers took advantage of the seaming Lord's surface, with South Africa's batting group finding it difficult to support their bowlers' initial superiority.

Hazlewood's triumph mirrored Australia's resurgence, and they felt a chance to seize control. South Africa, on 30/4, looked up to captain Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham to arrest the collapse. Australia's bowlers, having given away only 43 runs from 22 overs, demonstrated their champion pedigree, subjecting the Proteas to extreme pressure on a track producing consistent movement.

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Aesthetic... done and dusted. Josh Hazlewood joins party took Stubus wicket.

Australia's bowling attack is unreal. pic.twitter.com/Um5U0Ly8t3

— Ammarꨄ (@itxamustafa4) June 11, 2025

Also Read: SA vs AUS WTC Final 2025 Day 1 Recap – Key performances and major highlights

Australia Tighten Grip

David Bedingham pushed back at the end of the day with successive boundaries off Cummins, remaining unbeaten on 8, with Bavuma still on 3. South Africa's collapse at the top, however, left them exposed to the Australian pacers on a thrilling Day 1.

The Proteas are in need of a steely partnership on Day 2 to undo Australia's bowling prowess. With the pitch still favoring the seamers, South Africa has an uphill task to bridge the 169-run gap.

Current Score: South Africa 43/4 (22 overs)—David Bedingham 8*, Temba Bavuma 3*; Josh Hazlewood 1/10, Mitchell Starc 2/10.

Lord's, London, June 11, 2025 – Mitchell Starc set Australia's World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 fightback alight with a stunning Aiden Markram dismissal for a six-ball duck at 0.6 overs. Following South Africa dismissing Australia for 212 with Kagiso Rabada's ferocious 5/51, Starc responded with a vicious inswinger in the first over. The good-length delivery, clocked at 145 kmph, pitched around off and swung back sharply, catching Markram off-guard. Guarding tentatively on the back foot, Markram's half-hearted prod found an inside edge that smashed into his stumps, leading to jubilant celebrations from Starc and a beaming Alyssa Healy in the stands.

South Africa's strategy to bowl first yielded dividends as Rabada and Marco Jansen (3/39) dismantled the Australian batting, with Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72) providing resistance. A late collapse, however, saw Australia lose their last five wickets for 22 runs. Starc's early wicket ensured Australia fought back momentum, keeping South Africa's top order on their toes. Markram, released for his seventh Test duck, was dismissed by Starc's pace and swing, which reminded them of their 2018 Newlands encounter, laying a scorching foundation for the Proteas' innings.

The Lord's pitch, providing seam movement, suited pacers, and Starc's wicket maiden over in the first over highlighted the willingness of Australia to benefit from the same. South Africa, in pursuit of their first ICC title since 1998, had it tough with Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder assigned the responsibility of steadying the innings against a strong Australian attack spearheaded by Starc and Pat Cummins.

Australia's Bowling Onslaught

Post-Markram’s dismissal, Starc struck again, removing Rickelton for 16, caught by Usman Khawaja at slip off an away-swinger, leaving South Africa at 19/2. Temba Bavuma survived a close lbw shout, with replays showing an umpire’s call, as Starc’s inswingers kept the Proteas on edge.

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FIRST OVER MITCHELL STARC FOR AUSTRALIA....!!! 👑 pic.twitter.com/39TePxRhhd

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 11, 2025

Also Read: WATCH: Marco Jansen's amazing reflex catch sees end of Steve Smith's innings in SA vs AUS WTC Final 2025

Cummins and Josh Hazlewood shared tight lines, and a rare blemish was the dropped catch by Alex Carey off Mulder. South Africa is 193 runs behind, with 20 overs remaining on Day 1.

Current Score: South Africa 19/2 (11 overs)—Wiaan Mulder 1*, Temba Bavuma 0*; Mitchell Starc 2/9.

Lord’s, London, June 11, 2025-the World Test Championship Final 2025 erupted into life as South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada produced a blazing double-strike in the seventh over, dismissing Australia’s Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green. Opting to bowl on grey skies, South Africa relied on their pace spearhead, and Rabada did not disappoint. Removing Usman Khawaja for a 20-ball duck, he edged a length ball that had straightened slightly to David Bedingham in the slips, and four balls later, dismissed Cameron Green for 4. Green nicked an away-shaping delivery to Aiden Markram, leaving Australia on 12/2 in the WTC Final 2025.

Rabada's blistering spell stirred up the Lord's crowd and created a dominating tone for South Africa. The 30-year-old, returning from a doping-related ban, proved his expertise in English conditions, where he has 15 wickets in three Tests at 19.38. His initial successes against a powerful Australian team, who claimed the WTC in 2023, reinforced his big-match player profile and South Africa's aspirations to break a 27-year ICC trophy dry spell.

South Africa's decision to bowl first proved to be a tactical risk that paid off. They came into the match with a pace attack led by Rabada and featuring Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen. Australia was rattled early; now Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith will be trying to rebuild the innings, with Labuschagne and Smith at the crease. Given the early seam movement on offer, there is no reason why the match shouldn't offer a fascinating five days' play.

Australia’s Fightback

As time goes on, Australia are 29/2 after 3 overs, with Labuschagne and Smith batting, trying to stop the slide. Rabada’s relentless pressure, backed by Ngidi’s pace, keeps South Africa in control, but we know from Australia's batting depth they are capable of scoring plenty of runs.

Watch the video here

KAGISO RABADA GETTING BOTH KHAWAJA AND GREEN IN AN OVER. pic.twitter.com/tGGGfwYVWV

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 11, 2025

Also Read: SA vs AUS, WTC 2025 Final: Toss result and playing 11s, umpires list and pitch report

The game is in the balance, as South Africa hopes to make the most of their initial control and Australia tries to strike back. With clear skies predicted, the WTC Final is in line for a heart-stopping conclusion, as both sides battle for the coveted mace.

Current Score: Australia 29/2 (13 overs)—Marnus Labuschagne 17*, Steve Smith 5*; Kagiso Rabada 2/9.

In a thrilling finish to the First innings of IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Chandigarh, Josh Hazlewood of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had delivered a memorable performance, and wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma had played an integral role. Hazlewood effectively ended the Punjab Kings (PBKS) innings at just 101 after dismissing Azmatullah Omarzai at 14.1 overs. Hazlewood bowled a length seam-up delivery over-the-wicket line on the fourth stump, and it held seam in and moved in a little as Omarzai stepped down to slog-sweep across the line, offering a thick outside edge that flew to Jitesh's right. Jitesh leapt athletically for a stunning one-handed catch, igniting wild celebrations and stamping RCB's position in this crunch playoff match.

RCB's disciplined bowling, by Hazlewood, with three wickets including Omarzai's with their final wicket, helped dissolve PBKS's batting lineup when support came from three from Suyash Sharma and two from Yash Dayal. RCB maximized the bounce and movement of the surface, and PBKS struggled to build an innings or partnerships, with Hazlewood's wicket capping the PBKS innings, and Jitesh's sensationally acrobatic catch also showed RCB's fielding had been sharp in supporting their bowling. The early dismissals and consistent pressure from RCB’s attack ensured PBKS could only muster 101, with just two batters reaching double figures, setting RCB a straightforward chase for a spot in the IPL 2025 final.

Watch the video here

Look this unbelievable catch by jitesh sharma❤️ #IPL2025 #Qualifier1 #JiteshSharma #rcb #rcbfans #RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/XJYJvGJU3p

— Aditya kumar (@adityagupta_418) May 29, 2025

Also Read: [WATCH] Qualifier 1: Shreyas Iyer dismissed by Josh Hazlewood in PBKS vs RCB clash in IPL 2025

Current Match Situation: PBKS vs RCB 

PBKS were bowled out for 101 runs in 14.1 overs, and RCB only needed 102 runs to qualify for the final of IPL 2025. Jitesh Sharma took an outstanding one-handed catch off the bowling of Hazlewood to dismiss Omarzai, and in our opinion it concluded an impressive bowling performance. Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma each took three wickets, and Yash Dayal took two wickets; consequently, there is an opportunity for RCB's bowlers to pull off a commanding chase in this important Qualifier match, aided by Jitesh's brilliant fielding.