Tilak Varma sets a new record with his third successive T20 hundred.

In T20 cricket, Indian batsman Tilak Varma became the first player, male or female, to reach hundreds in three consecutive innings. He accomplished the milestone in Hyderabad’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 opening match against Meghalaya at Rajkot, scoring 151 off 67 balls.

Following back-to-back hundreds in South Africa 107 not out in Centurion and an undefeated 120 in Johannesburg Tilak, 22, entered the domestic T20 tournament. He became the first male cricketer from India to hit 150 or more runs in Twenty20 cricket with his knock for Hyderabad. In 2022, Kiran Navgire, who currently plays for Maharashtra, scored an undefeated 162 while representing Nagaland in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy match against Arunachal Pradesh.

Tilak Varma walked out in the first over, hammered 10 sixes and 14 fours before falling on the final ball of the innings. He batted at No. 3 against Meghalaya and finished with a strike rate of 225.37. He hit 50 runs off 18 balls with six fours and three sixes against medium pacer Dippu Sangma, whom he was harsh on. With just 48 balls, he scored 122 for the second wicket, which served as the foundation for Hyderabad’s highest Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy score of 248 for 4. In addition, it is the fifth-highest total in the competition’s history.

Tilak, who has played for the Mumbai Indians for the last three seasons, was one of five players the team kept before the IPL 2025 auction.

Ricky Ponting compares the rivalry for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to the Ashes.

Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has likened the Australia-India rivalry to the Ashes ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25.

Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting compared the Australia-India rivalry to the Ashes, saying that these matches are among the most anticipated in international cricket ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25. Optus Stadium in Perth will host the first Test of the much awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting on November 22. Throughout the series, the former Australian captain has pushed both teams to play with a spirit of fair competition. Ponting stated that he expects the matches to be played on the edge of his seat due to the intensity and banter that would be expected throughout the series.

In addition to the history of the Ashes between Australia and England. Australia and India have a long-standing relationship that is not far behind. I believe that we all anticipate these kinds of conflicts. In a recent ICC Review episode, Ponting stated, “As a former player and broadcaster, I want to watch these two teams go out there and play hard and fairly and then see who is left standing at the end of the next five games.”

Ricky Ponting

“I’m not sure if the word “spice” is appropriate, but I anticipate that two of the world’s top teams will play the game practically on the edge, if you will, with neither team wanting to give the other an inch. The World Cup-winning skipper stated, “I don’t want to lose a single match during those entire five Test matches, nor do I want to give the opposition an inch.”

Ponting additionally highlighted the rivalry’s importance. “That’s what makes these fierce rivalry in international sports so wonderful. The 49-year-old went on to say, “Australia-India in a Test match is now as big a rivalry as there is in world sport, not just cricket.”

On November 22, the series will kick off in Perth. From December 6–10, a day-night Test will take place in Adelaide. The Gabba in Brisbane will host the third Test from December 14–18. From December 26 to 30, the Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the customary Boxing Day Test. The fifth and final Test match of the series will take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3–7.

Squads for the first Test (Perth):

India:

Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, and Washington Sundar.

Australia:

Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, and Mitchell Starc.

Rahul, Pant, Suryakumar, Gill set to play Duleep Trophy

Duleep Trophy : Previous to the start of the international season. Senior players like Rohit, Kohli, Bumrah, and Ashwin are probably going to miss the competition.

The teams for India’s season-opening Duleep Trophy, which takes place on September 5. This month of the selection panel headed to given Ajit Agarkar. Without Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah. The majority of the other centrally contracted players. They’re going to take part in the four-team competition.

KL Rahul previously sustained an injury. This year that caused him to miss four of the five England Test matches. Rishabh Pant, who may play in his first red-ball match. After fully recovering from a vehicle accident in December 2022.  Are two players that will be being monitored. Aside from Rajat Patidar, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, and Suryakumar Yadav. These additional specialist batters are probably going to be selected among the four squads.

Mohammed Shami, who is getting close to being fully healthy. As he nears the end of his rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru, Shami has been gradually increasing his bowling workload over the past week.

Duleep Trophy Test Series IND vs BAN

The senior players will get a longer rest, The first of their ten Test assignments. A two-Test series against Bangladesh. Which begins in Chennai on September 19, begins. India will play five Tests in Australia and five at home.

Logistical reasons may force the simultaneous staging of two Duleep Trophy matches. Moving from Anantapur to Bengaluru commencing on September 5. There have been casual requests to see. If the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) is willing to host the match.

The decision to include multiple contractual players in the league aligns with the BCCI’s objective of prioritising domestic cricket. Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan lost their central contracts. According to a letter secretary Jay Shah sent out in February threatening “severe implications”. If the IPL was given priority over domestic cricket.

Originally, a convener from each of the six zones selected the winners of the Duleep Trophy. Which was a zonal contest. Agarkar was part of a BCCI working group that suggested changing the format. Former head coach Rahul Dravid, NCA chief VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, and BCCI general manager Abey Kuruvilla.

The selectors could give players from a wider pool including those in the targeted group enough opportunities. Starting on September 22, there will be a four-team competition. And will feature round-robin play between each club and the other three. The winner will be the topping at the conclusion of the standings.