dolarkit.com – Strategic News & Policy Briefs

South Africa defeated England by 5 runs at Lord's, winning the ODI series. Matt Breetzke's impressive 85 runs and contributions from Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs helped South Africa post 330-8. England fought hard, with notable performances from Joe Root, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer. However, Nandre Burger's crucial wickets secured the win for South Africa.

Rohit Sharma, India's ODI captain, was recently seen offering prayers to Lord Ganesha in Mumbai amidst a large crowd. Videos circulating online show the cricketer performing rituals and acknowledging fans, causing a chaotic scene around his car. He is expected to return to action in October for an ODI series in Australia, with a preparatory series planned beforehand.

Ruturaj Gaikwad's exciting return to form in recent matches has shown just how good he can be when he's firing on all cylinders. He had to cut short his IPL season due to ijnury and then and missed India A selection. Gaikwad scored a century in the Buchi Babu tournament in late August. He then followed it up on Thursday with another century in the Duleep Trophy semi-final for West Zone.

Rivaba Jadeja, BJP MLA and wife of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, enlivened G.D. Shah High School's Sports Day in Jamnagar. She actively participated in traditional games like kabaddi and tug-of-war alongside students, creating an energetic atmosphere. Clips of the same were shared on her social media handle and have gone viral.

Shreyas Iyer's Asia Cup snub puts him in the spotlight as he aims to prove his worth in the Duleep Trophy semifinal. West Zone boasts a star-studded lineup, while Central Zone relies on Patidar's form. Injury concerns plague both zones, while South and North Zone face off in the other semifinal, each grappling with squad changes and player unavailability.

Following heated exchanges in the India-England Test series, former cricketers debated introducing yellow and red cards. David Lloyd, recalling his time on the umpires' selection committee, advocated for stricter penalties. The panel suggested using cards for incidents like Mohammed Siraj's barge and the Gill-Crawley face-off, proposing a traffic-light system for warnings and escalating punishments.

Shai Hope's bizarre dismissal, hitting his own stumps while attempting a reverse ramp, highlighted the Guyana Amazon Warriors' innings against the Trinbago Knight Riders. Despite Hope's unfortunate exit and Akeal Hosein's impressive bowling, the Warriors managed a competitive 163/9, thanks to contributions from Shepherd, Pretorius and Sampson.

Sri Lanka clinched a thrilling seven-run victory against Zimbabwe in Harare, highlighted by Dilshan Madushanka's remarkable hat-trick in the final over. Zimbabwe, needing 10 runs with five wickets in hand, saw Sikandar Raza dismissed on 92 by Madushanka, who then secured the win with two more wickets. Sri Lanka posted 298-6, with key contributions from Pathum Nissanka and Janith Liyanage.

Rohit Sharma fondly recalled Shikhar Dhawan's humor, highlighting his ability to lighten the mood in the Indian dressing room. Sharma expressed his desire to hit every bowler for a six, emphasizing his aggressive mindset. Despite retiring from T20Is and Tests, Rohit remains focused on ODIs, anticipating his return in the upcoming series against Australia.

Shubman Gill, recovering from a viral flu, is expected to arrive in Bengaluru to begin Asia Cup preparations at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. He will undergo assessment and training due to unsuitable facilities near his home, and is likely to depart for Dubai from Bengaluru, joining other squad members.

Rohit Sharma, India's ODI captain, expresses his desire to hit every bowler for six. He retired from T20Is in 2024 and Tests in May 2025. He remains a key player in ODIs, with over 11,000 runs. Sharma recently celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi with his family in Mumbai. He is expected to play in the upcoming ODI series against Australia in October.

England's fast bowler Mark Wood is set to return to county cricket next month, aiming to play for Durham in September after recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him since February. Wood is cautiously preparing for the Ashes series in Australia later this year, with England's management prioritizing his long-term fitness.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran Indian off-spinner, has announced his retirement from the IPL after a stellar 17-year career. Ashwin expressed gratitude to the franchises and the BCCI. He hinted at exploring opportunities in other global leagues like The Hundred and SA T20. The veteran spinner ended his IPL career with the Chennai Super Kings.

Mark Wood, the England fast bowler, finds Rohit Sharma the toughest batter. Wood says Sharma's mastery over short balls makes him hard to get out. Wood played in England's 2019 ODI World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup wins. He balances county cricket with franchise cricket. Wood is known for his express pace, often exceeding 145 kmph.

England's Mark Wood has opened up about how to bowl to India's aggressive batter Rishabh Pant, emphasizing the need for precision against him. Wood also humorously noted Virat Kohli's vulnerability around the off-stump, but that he never managed to use it to his advantage. He named Rohit as the toughest batter he's faced.

Despite losing the ODI series to South Africa, several Australian players saw significant gains in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Rankings. Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, and Cameron Green all climbed the charts after their impressive centuries in the final match, with Green making the most dramatic leap of 40 places.

James Anderson, playing for Manchester Originals, took two wickets against Northern Superchargers. Jos Buttler's brilliant 70 helped Manchester chase down the target easily. Thomas Aspinwall also contributed with three wickets. Despite the victory, Manchester didn't qualify for the play-offs. Northern Superchargers secured a play-off spot and will face Trent Rockets. The winner will play Oval Invincibles in the final.

Aryavir Sehwag recalls a light-hearted incident from his childhood. He missed watching his father, Virender Sehwag, bat in an IPL match in Delhi. Traffic caused the delay. Virender got out before they reached the stadium. Aryavir named this as his earliest childhood memory of his father playing. Aryavir now plays professional cricket. He said that he understands his father's greatness after he started playing professionally.

Sunil Gavaskar has strongly criticized overseas cricketers for commenting on India's team selection, particularly Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from the Asia Cup squad. The legend questioned the need for foreign voices to judge decisions made by Indian selectors, emphasizing that Indian cricket is strictly an Indian affair. He also argued that such foreign players hardly comment when it pertains to matters of their own country.

The BCCI has ended Rajeev Kumar's decade-long tenure as the Indian cricket team's masseur. Kumar, a beloved figure known for his dedication and trademark smile, confirmed his departure on Instagram. He was crucial in player recovery, providing massages, energy drinks, and on-field support. Players like Shami and Chahal have publicly acknowledged his vital contributions.