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Champions Trophy: Phillips Predicts Kohli’s Legacy Will Endure for Generations

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This Sunday, Virat Kohli is set to play his 300th One-Day International match as India faces New Zealand in their final Group A game of the 2025 Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium. Kohli will become the seventh Indian player to reach this milestone, joining the ranks of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Mohammed Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly, and Yuvraj Singh.

New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips praised Kohli’s achievement, stating that reaching 300 ODIs is a remarkable feat, and his legacy in 50-over cricket will be remembered for generations.


“He’s an extraordinary player. Knowing him personally is a privilege. His incredible work ethic and contributions to the sport and Indian cricket, especially for young players entering the game, are truly remarkable,” Phillips commented.

“His legacy will undoubtedly inspire many for years to come. Achieving 300 ODIs is a significant accomplishment, especially nowadays when ODI matches aren’t as frequent as before. It’s a big deal for him,” Phillips added during the pre-match press conference.

Both India and New Zealand have already secured their spots in the Champions Trophy semifinals, with the winner of Sunday’s match set to face Australia and the loser squaring off against South Africa. Phillips noted that New Zealand has consistently exceeded expectations in ICC ODI events thanks to their strong team culture.

“Our team culture is what truly defines us. It’s bigger than any individual. Each player is committed to their personal processes, and we have immense trust in one another. We all play differently, but when we’re in the middle, we rely on each other to execute what we’ve practiced,” he explained.

“The effort put in by each player fosters a strong team environment. Cricket can be unpredictable, and results don’t always favor you, but we’ve established a solid foundation to build upon,” Phillips continued.

Alongside his impressive batting form, Phillips has gained attention for his acrobatic catches on the field, attributing some of his success to luck. “There’s definitely an element of luck involved. I wish I could say I have some secret glue, but that’s not the case,” he joked.

“Honestly, my palms tend to be sweatier than other players. Ultimately, it’s about hard work and fundamental skills, and sometimes luck plays a role too,” he added.

When discussing the importance of quickly adapting to the conditions in Dubai for their first game at the venue, Phillips remarked, “Every pitch we’ve played on in Pakistan has been vastly different. This variety has prepared us well for Dubai, where we expect the pitch to present its own unique challenges.”

“We’ve faced varying conditions, from spinning surfaces to flat and fast ones with small boundaries. This ground may be slightly slower with less grass and slower outfields, which poses its own challenges,” Phillips noted.

“We take pride in our adaptability. While nothing is guaranteed, we feel confident that we’re well-prepared. Together, we rise to new challenges and remain competitive, no matter the situation,” concluded Glenn Phillips.


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Jatinder Singh Excels in Super Over as Oman Narrowly Defeats USA in Exciting League 2 Showdown

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Oman triumphed over the United States in an electrifying Super Over match on Wednesday at Lauderhill, as reported on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) official website. Captain Jatinder Singh was instrumental in securing the victory.

Jatinder played a pivotal role by scoring a century, bringing Oman to a total of 266, a score that the USA managed to match. He returned for the extra over to deliver the crucial hit that secured Oman third place in the League 2 rankings.


The experienced right-hander led Oman’s innings after the USA skipper, Monank Patel, elected to bowl first. Jatinder scored 100 runs off 101 balls before being dismissed in the 41st over. Despite Oman appearing to have set a defendable target, Jasdeep Singh’s late effort of 17 runs from the final six balls forced a Super Over.

In the Super Over, Jatinder hit 12 runs off the first three balls, leading Oman to victory, while the USA, represented by Harmeet Singh and Andries Gous, scored only 13 runs.

With this win, the USA remains in second place in the League 2 rankings, while Oman moves ahead of Scotland to secure third place.

Oman will next face Canada on Friday at the same venue in Lauderhill.

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Woakes Returns as Rocky Flintoff Joins 14-Member England Lions Squad to Challenge India A

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The England Lions have unveiled a robust 14-member squad for their two upcoming four-day matches against India A, commencing May 30 in Canterbury. The selection boasts a blend of seasoned players, promising youth, and some intriguing picks.

Leading the announcement is the return of veteran pacer Chris Woakes and the maiden call-up for Rocky Flintoff, son of former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.

Woakes, 36, who missed the one-off Test against Zimbabwe due to an ankle injury, aims to use the Lions fixtures to showcase his fitness and form ahead of the senior team’s Test series against India in June.

Having excelled in last summer’s Ashes series with 19 wickets at an impressive average of 18.15—securing the Compton-Miller Medal—Woakes is a pivotal player under English conditions. However, with younger seamers like Essex’s Sam Cook making a push for selection, these matches could be essential for him to maintain his place in the senior team.

The Lions will be captained by Somerset’s James Rew, who is also part of the senior squad for the Zimbabwe Test starting May 22. Rew will lead a vibrant group, which includes legspinner Rehan Ahmed—available only for the first match before joining the T20I squad for the West Indies—and talented top-order batter Dan Mousley.

One of the standout selections is Rocky Flintoff, the son of Ashes 2005 hero Andrew Flintoff. The squad also features left-arm fast bowler Josh Hull, who made his England debut last summer against Sri Lanka, and opener Ben McKinney, a former England U-19 player looking to climb higher.

Another notable inclusion is Farhan Ahmed, younger brother of Rehan, who has earned his place thanks to impressive performances for Nottinghamshire with his off-spin bowling.

Jordan Cox is expected to return for the second match in Northampton after being sidelined for the Zimbabwe Test due to injury, while Jofra Archer will not be participating. Initially considered for the second match at Wantage Road, Archer is out due to a right-thumb injury sustained during the IPL.

England Lions Squad: James Rew (Captain), Farhan Ahmed, Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Jordan Cox, Rocky Flintoff, Emilio Gay, Tom Haines, George Hill, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Dan Mousley, Ajeet Singh Dale, Chris Woakes.

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Mukesh Kumar of DC Fined for Violating IPL Code of Conduct

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Mukesh Kumar, a pace bowler for the Delhi Capitals, was fined 10% of his match earnings following his team’s loss to the Mumbai Indians, which officially ended their hopes of advancing to the IPL 2025 playoffs, according to ESPNcricinfo.

He was found guilty of a Level 1 breach under Article 2.2 of the IPL Code of Conduct, relating to the improper handling of cricketing equipment during the match. Kumar accepted the penalty imposed by match referee Daniel Manohar and acknowledged the charge.


In Wednesday’s match, Kumar struggled with his bowling, giving away 48 runs in his four overs, which included three sixes and five boundaries. Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir scored a staggering 27 runs in his 19th over, playing a crucial role in setting Mumbai’s total to a strong 180. Kumar’s figures ended at 2/48, with that over going for 6, 1, 4, 6, 6, and 4.

The Delhi batting lineup faltered, managing just 121 runs after Kumar was substituted for KL Rahul as the impact player during the chase. Only two uncapped players, Vipraj Nigam (20) and Sameer Rizvi (39), managed to cross the 20-run mark. Mumbai’s bowlers, particularly Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Santner, were impressive, combining to take three wickets while conceding just 23 runs in 44 deliveries.

Season-wise, Kumar has played in 11 of DC’s 13 matches, claiming 11 wickets. However, his performance has been costly, with an economy rate of 10.11 and an average of 32.63 runs. Following Mumbai’s victory, the playoff spots are locked in for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Punjab Kings, leaving the rankings of these four teams to be determined in their final group stage matches.

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