Indian captain Rohit Sharma was frustrated after KL Rahul and Axar Patel chose not to review an LBW appeal against Joe Root. In the 25th over, Axar's delivery struck Root on the pads, but umpire Chris Brown denied the appeal. Rahul and Axar decided against reviewing, only for replays to show the ball clipping the off-stump. Rohit was visibly irritated, shaking his head in disappointment. Earlier, India had wasted a review on Root. England, batting first in Cuttack, started strong, with Ben Duckett scoring 65. India leads the three-match ODI series 1-0.

New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra suffered a forehead laceration after losing sight of the ball under floodlights in the first ODI against Pakistan. The incident, which left him bleeding, raised concerns over Pakistan's hosting of the 2025 Champions Trophy. Social media users blamed the PCB, urging the ICC to shift the tournament to Dubai. Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif highlighted LED lights as a potential issue. New Zealand Cricket confirmed Ravindra is "well" but will be monitored under HIA protocols. The PCB now faces scrutiny as discussions on venue safety intensify ahead of the ICC event.

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed Parliament over the deportation of 104 Indian nationals by the US in handcuffs and chains. The video of the deportees, including men from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat, sparked widespread outrage. Jaishankar clarified that the use of restraints follows the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) standard operating procedure (SOP), which has been in place since 2012. He assured that India is actively engaging with the Trump administration to ensure the deportees are treated humanely. Opposition MPs, including Congress’s KC Venugopal, protested in Parliament, demanding a diplomatic response.

Jasprit Bumrah’s name was omitted from the BCCI's updated squad for the India vs England ODI series, sparking speculation ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. Bumrah, recovering from a back injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, is only included in the third ODI. Harshit Rana remains in the squad for the first two matches. Varun Chakaravarthy, who was outstanding in the T20 series against England, has been added to the squad. Chakaravarthy’s recent performances, including a five-wicket haul and a Player of the Series award, further solidify his place in the team.

Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Australia captain Pat Cummins took playful digs at opponents in a commercial. Targeting Virat Kohli, Cummins quipped, “I’ve never seen you bat this slowly.” He also mocked Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope. Australia, the reigning ODI World Cup champions, and India, the T20 World Cup holders, are tournament favorites. Meanwhile, India vice-captain Shubman Gill emphasized that the upcoming ODI series against England is not just Champions Trophy preparation but a crucial contest. India’s squad remains largely unchanged, with Harshit Rana replacing Jasprit Bumrah.

India has added mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy to its ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against England. Vice-captain Shubman Gill confirmed his inclusion, with reports suggesting that head coach Gautam Gambhir wants him to maintain rhythm ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy. Chakaravarthy, who took 14 wickets in the recent T20I series against England, was named Player of the Series. He has already joined training in Nagpur, but his final selection for the Champions Trophy will depend on his ODI performances. India can make squad changes until February 12, giving Chakaravarthy a crucial opportunity.

Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan stunned Virat Kohli in the Ranji Trophy, bowling him for 6 and sending his off-stump flying. Before the match, even the team bus driver advised Sangwan, saying, “Bowl at the fourth-fifth stump line to Virat Kohli, and he’ll get out.” However, Sangwan stuck to his strengths, delivering a sharp inswinger. His Instagram followers soared from 750 to over 18,000 after the viral dismissal. Kohli later signed the match ball, joking, “Oh teri ki! Maza aa gaya tujhe toh.” Sangwan, who struggled for years in domestic cricket, credited hard work and patience for his success.

Cristiano Ronaldo has settled the debate about who is the best player between him and Lionel Messi. In a recent interview, Ronaldo admitted that some people may prefer Messi, Maradona, or Pele, but he believes he is the most complete footballer ever. He proudly stated, "I'm the best player in football history." Ronaldo also revealed that he and Messi have always had a good relationship despite their rivalry. He emphasized his goal-scoring ability, versatility, and skills, stating that he has no equal in football history.

Tickets for the India vs Pakistan match in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 sold out within minutes. The high-demand match will be played on 23 February in Dubai. Fans rushed to buy tickets, but most were gone almost instantly. Prices for premium seats went up to AED 5,000. The tournament follows a hybrid format, with India playing all matches in Dubai. Other teams will play in Pakistan. India’s first match is against Bangladesh on 20 February. The Champions Trophy runs from 19 February to 9 March, featuring top teams from around the world.

Abhishek Sharma dazzled at Wankhede, hammering 135(54) in the fifth T20I against England—the second-fastest T20I century for India. Despite his explosive innings, he downplayed competition with Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, stating, “We’ve played together since U-16. No competition, just a dream to play for India.” Sharma credited Suryakumar Yadav’s advice for his knock and acknowledged mentor Yuvraj Singh’s guidance. India posted 249/9, with Sharma’s blitz setting the stage. With his stellar performance, he’s made a strong case for a permanent spot in the T20I squad.