Women’s Ashes 2025: England v Australia fixtures, format and TV details

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Who reached 200 Test wickets in the quickest time?

Jasprit Burmah reached 200 Test wickets in late December 2024.

He collected the milestone in 44 Tests.

But Bumrah did not take 200 Test wickets in the quickest amount of time.

Here, we recall the players to achieve the feat in the fewest number of Tests.

5. Waqar Younis – 38 matches; 6 years, 23 days

The Pakistan fast bowler took 38 matches across just over six years to reach 200 Test wickets. The landmark came in 1995, as Pakistan beat New Zealand in Christchurch.

Tail-ender Dion Nash was Younis’ only wicket in the match, but he only needed the one for the momentous milestone. Of course, true to form, Younis didn’t need a fielder involved in the dismissal, as he simply bowled Nash with that express pace of his.

4. Dennis Lillee – 38 matches; 9 years, 3 days

Just over nine years into his Test career, back in the day when international cricketers were playing a lot less than they do these days, Lillee completed 200 wickets in the longest format for Australia.

He did it during the Ashes series, against the old enemy England, in Melbourne, in victory, to make the celebrations all the more sweeter.

Also read: The 25 bowlers who took a wicket with their first ball in Test cricket

3. Ravichandran Ashwin – 37 matches; 4 years, 321 days

One of two slow bowlers on this list and the only off-spinner, Ashwin reached 200 Test wickets just short of five years into his career.

The scene was Kanpur and the opposition New Zealand as Ashwin’s milestone arrived. He loved bowling in Kanpur and took 10 wickets in the match. Ashwin just recently retired from international cricket. India will miss the veteran spinner, who batted really well as well.

2. Clarrie Grimmett – 36 matches; 10 years, 353 days

Long before the days of Shane Warne, Grimmett was the number one leg-spinner in Australia.

He reached 200 Test wickets in 36 matches. The 200th came against South Africa in Johannesburg. It took him over a decade to reach the milestone. Like, Lillee, Grimmett was not playing as much international cricket as modern-day players do now.

1. Yasir Shah – 33 matches; 4 years, 42 days

The Pakistan leg-spinner is the bowler to achieve 200 wickets in Test cricket the fastest. It took him a mere 33 matches – that’s prolific, indeed.

The milestone came during a hugely successful series for Shah, when he took 29 wickets amid a three-match meeting against New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates.

It will likely be quite a while before anyone beats Shah’s record.

Read next: 2024’s cricket obituaries – remembering those who died this year

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England’s top 7 wicket-takers in Test cricket in 2024

England had several successful bowlers in Test cricket in 2024.

A few did a lot better than others.

Here, we look at England’s most prolific wicket-takers in Test cricket this year.

7. Rehan Ahmed – 15 wickets in 4 Tests

Ahmed was England’s seventh-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024. They used him a lot during the tour of India and again, later in the year, on the visit to Pakistan. The young leg-spinner likely has a big future ahead of him.

6. Jack Leach – 18 wickets in 4 Tests

Leach was England’s sixth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024. Leach weathered a long stint on the sidelines due to injury, but still managed to finish the year amid England’s four most prolific wicket-takers in the longest format of the international game. He’ll hope he can remain free of injury going forward. Time and match fitness will tell.

5. Tom Hartley – 22 wickets in 5 Tests

Hartley was England’s fifth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024. Considering nine of his wickets came on debut, Hartley’s next four Tests were relatively quiet. England will, little doubt, turn to him again the next time they tour the sub-continent.

4. Brydon Carse – 27 wickets in 5 Tests

Carse was England’s fourth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024. His haul this year included a 10-wicket match haul against New Zealand in Christchurch for the Player of the Match award.

Also read: The 25 bowlers who took a wicket with their first ball in Test cricket

3. Chris Woakes – 32 wickets in 9 Tests

Woakes was England’s third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024. Woakes all but became the leader of the seam attack as England continued to navigate life without Broad and started to plot beyond Anderson. This was an empowering year for Woakes in Test cricket.

2. Shoaib Bashir – 49 wickets in 15 Tests

Bashir was England’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024. He made his Test debut this year and has not looked back. Bashir, like Ahmed, is testament to head coach Brendon McCullum’s willingness to blood young spinners early in international cricket. At just 21 years old, there is evidently a lot more to come from Bashir.

1. Gus Atkinson – 52 wickets in 11 Tests

Ahmed was England’s seventh-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024. He, like Carse, has been key to England’s motivation to succeed after the retirements of Broad and Anderson. Atkinson took 12 of his 50-plus wickets on Test debut at Lord’s. There will be a lot of expectation from him going forward.

Read next: 2024’s cricket obituaries – remembering those who died this year

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Who were the busiest T20 cricketers in 2024?

Gone are the days of cricketers representing their nation in this or that country.

Nowadays, the global T20 circuit sees players frequently jetting from one continent to another.

The Indian Premier League, Caribbean Premier League, Pakistan Super League and other tournaments kept these stars the busiest in 2024.

10. Imad Wasim

9. Andre Russell

8. Naveen-ul-Haq

7. Tim David

Also read: The 25 bowlers who took a wicket with their first ball in Test cricket

6. Sikandar Raza

5. Moeen Ali

4. Akeal Hosein

3. Reeza Hendricks

2. Rovman Powell

1. Nicholas Pooran

Read next: 2024’s cricket obituaries – remembering those who died this year

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2024’s cricket obituaries – remembering those who died this year

Several former international cricketers died in 2024.

These included former England batsman Graham Thorpe.

Former South Africa all-rounder Mike Procter also passed away this year.

Robin Hobbs

• Died: 20 January 2024 – 89 years old

Hobbs took 1,099 wickets across 440 matches in a 20-year first-class career. He played seven Tests for England from 1967 to 1971.

“I look back on it with great pleasure that I got over 1,000 wickets as a leg-spinner because it will never be done again now, with the reduction of county cricket matches. I was very, very lucky in my career,” Hobbs told BBC in 2020.

Datta Gaekwad

• Died: 13 February 2024 – 95 years old

Gaekwad played 11 Tests for India from 1952 to 1961. He captained Test team, too. Gaekwad was India’s oldest living Test cricketer at 95 years old.

Since Gaekwad’s death, the 94-year-old Chingleput Gopinath has become India’s oldest living Test cricketer.

Mike Procter

• Died: 17 February 2024 – 77 years old

Procter took 41 wickets in seven Tests for South Africa from 1967 to 1970. He became the Proteas’ head coach in 1992. Procter was also a International Cricket Council match referee from 2002 to 2008.

“We were part of each other’s lives. Anyone who played for Natal, Rhodesia and Gloucestershire in the 1960s and 1970s knew that they were in the presence of a genius,” said former team-mate Barry Richards.

Read more: Test cricket’s most prolific bowler-fielder combinations

Derek Underwood

• Died: 14 April 2024 – 78 years old

Underwood took 297 wickets for England in Test cricket from 1966 to 1982. He remains England’s most prolific spinner in Test cricket.

“It was a privilege to compete against such a tough but exemplary opponent,” said former Australian cricketer Ian Chappell.

Raman Subba Row

• Died: 17 April 2024 – 92 years old

Subba Row played 13 Tests for England from 1958 to 1961. He hit three centuries. His final Test innings was 137 against Australia at The Oval.

“Raman was a respected cricketer of his era,” said ICC general manager Wasim Khan. England Wales Cricket Board chairperson Richard Thompson added: “He was a great cricket man with a successful career.”

Graham Thorpe

• Died: 4 August 2024 – 55 years old

Thorpe played 100 Tests for England from 1993 to 2005. He scored three Ashes centuries. Thorpe remains among England’s top 15 highest run-scorers in Test cricket.

“Graham was the best left-handed batsman I ever bowled to,” said former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram. England batsman Ben Duckett added: “He was my hero.”

David Johnson

• Died: 20 June – 52 years old

Johnson played two Tests for India in 1996. Australia’s Michael Slater and South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs and Brian McMillan were Johnson’s only Test wickets.

“David was full of life and never gave up on the field,” said former India captain Sachin Tendulkar.

Billy Ibadulla

• Died: 12 July 2024 – 88 years old

Ibadulla played four Tests for Pakistan from 1964 to 1967. He was the first Pakistan batsman to score a century on Test debut. Ibadulla also played for Warwickshire in England.

“He was a special cricketer, one of the greatest, and we had a lot of fun times together. He could be really naughty at times, lots of mickey taking and he gave as good as he got. We loved him at Warwickshire.” said Warwickshire president Dennis Amiss.

Aunshuman Gaekwad

• Died: 31 July 2024 – 71 years old

Gaekwad played 40 Tests for India from 1975 to 1985. His first and last Tests were played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. He also represented India in 15 ODIs.

“My first West Zone captain. He was one player in the West Zone that every Mumbai player respected. He had balls of steel,” said former India coach Ravi Shastri. Former India captain Anil Kumble added: “Importantly, he always had my back. A kind-hearted person with a fierce competitive streak.”

Mohammad Nazir

• Died: 21 November – 78 years old

Nazir played 14 Tests for Pakistan from 1969 to 1983. After retiring from playing, he became an international umpire.

“His contributions for Pakistan cricket will always be remembered,” said Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

Ian Redpath

• Died: 1 December 2024 – 83 years old

Redpath scored eight centuries in 66 Tests for Australia from 1964 to 1976. He also played five ODIs.

“As a fine opening batter, Ian was a mainstay of the national team through one of the great eras of Australian cricket and beloved by many throughout the world for his courage, impeccable sportsmanship and wry humour,” said Cricket Australia chairperson Mike Baird.

Read next: Who has hit the most Test centuries for Australia?

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South Africa’s top 9 run-scorers in all formats in 2024

South Africa played 10 Tests, nine ODIs and 23 T20Is in 2024.

Who scored the most runs for the Proteas across all three formats this year?

Find out during this interesting read.

9. Kyle Verreynne

• 499 runs, 15 innings, 35.64 average

Verreynne was South Africa’s ninth-highest run-scorer for South Africa in international cricket in 2024. He also hit the joint-most Test centuries for the Proteas this year – one against Bangladesh in Mirpur and another against Sri Lanka in Port Elizabeth.

8. David Bedingham

• 526 runs, 17 innings, 32.87 average

Bedingham was South Africa’s eighth-highest run-scorer for South Africa in international cricket in 2024. He was the Proteas’ leading run-scorer in Test cricket this year. His tally included a maiden Test century against New Zealand in Hamilton.

7. Heinrich Klaasen

• 542 runs, 17 innings, 38.71 average

Klaasen was South Africa’s seventh-highest run-scorer for South Africa in international cricket in 2024. He did not play any Test cricket this year after retiring from the format in January. Klaasen was the Proteas’ highest run-scorer in ODI cricket this year.

Read more: Test cricket’s most prolific bowler-fielder combinations

6. Temba Bavuma

• 582 runs, 15 innings, 44.76 average

Bavuma was South Africa‘s sixth-highest run-scorer for South Africa in international cricket in 2024. Bavuma has the highest multi-format average for the Proteas this year. He did not play T20I cricket in 2024.

5. Reeza Hendricks

• 614 runs, 26 innings, 24.56 average

Hendricks was South Africa’s fifth-highest run-scorer for South Africa in international cricket in 2024. He was the Proteas’ highest run-scorer in T20I cricket this year. Hendricks did not play any Test cricket in 2024.

4. Ryan Rickelton

• 626 runs, 24 innings, 27.21 average

Rickelton was South Africa’s fourth-highest run-scorer for South Africa in international cricket in 2024. His tally included a maiden Test century against Sri Lanka in Port Elizabeth. He featured among South Africa’s top eight run-scorers in each format this year.

3. Tony de Zorzi

• 629 runs, 21 innings, 29.95 average

De Zorzi was South Africa’s third-highest run-scorer for South Africa in international cricket in 2024. His tally included a maiden Test century against Bangladesh in Chattogram. De Zorzi did not play any T20I cricket this year.

2. Aiden Markam

• 915 runs, 38 innings, 26.14 average

Markram was South Africa’s second-highest run-scorer for South Africa in international cricket in 2024. He featured among South Africa’s top seven run-scorers in each format this year. His 38 innings brought four half-centuries and one century.

1. Tristan Stubbs

• 1,173 runs, 37 innings, 39.10 average

Stubbs was South Africa’s highest run-scorer for South Africa in international cricket in 2024. He was the Proteas’ second-highest run-scorer in each of Test, ODI and T20I cricket this year. He hit South Africa’s only century in ODI cricket in 2024.

Read next: Who has hit the most Test centuries for Australia?

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Women’s Ashes 2025: England vs Australia fixtures, format and TV details

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7 famous cricket families of 3 or more international players

Zimbabwe batsman Ben Curran debuted in international cricket during December 2024.

His father Kevin Curran, and two brothers Sam Curran and Tom Curran, played international cricket as well.

Here, we recall other families of three or more international cricketers.

Stick around for some interesting sibling rivalries and healthy competition between fathers and sons.

1. Greg, Ian, Trevor Chappell

Their grandfather, Vic Richardson, played Test cricket for Australia, so perhaps it was just meant to be that Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell and Trevor Chappell would go on to do the same.

Trevor’s 23 international appearances were the least among the brothers, while Ian managed 91 and Greg 161. Alongside the Waughs and Marshs, the Chappells epitomise Australian cricket families.

2. Arjuna, Dammika, Nishantha, Sanjeeva Ranatunga

Arjuna Ranatunga captained Sri Lanka for many years. His three brothers also played for Sri Lanka. He retired relatively shortly after losing the national captaincy.

Collectively, Dammika Ranatunga, Nishantha Ranatunga and Sanjeeva Ranatunga gathered 26 appearances for Sri Lanka across Test and/or ODI cricket.

3. Geoff, Shaun, Mitchell Marsh

Geoff Marsh was the first international cricketer in the family. He then watched his old son, Shaun Marsh, debut for Australia. Mitchell Marsh followed in his father and brother’s footsteps.

There is a sister in the mix as well. Melissa Marsh played professional basketball and won several titles with the Willetton Tigers in the 2000s. Her playing days ended in 2014.

Read more: Test cricket’s most prolific bowler-fielder combinations

4. Peter, Graeme, Shaun Pollock

Graeme Pollock will probably go down as the most famous of the family. He was effectively robbed of a full Test career due to South Africa‘s isolation from international cricket before their return in the early 1990s.

His brother was Peter Pollock, who was the father of Shaun Pollock. All three played international cricket for South Africa.

5. Sam, Tom, Ben, Kevin Curran

Sam Curran made a name for himself in the Ashes. Tom Curran has international cricket, too, and represented several T20 franchises around the world.

Ben Curran tried to make it for England like his brothers, but ultimately played for Zimabwe in ODI and T20 cricket. Their father, Kevin Curran, had played ODI cricket for Zimbabwe.

6. Hanif, Sadiq, Mushtaq, Wazir, Shoaib Mohammad

Hanif Mohammad was a prolific batter for Pakistan. He hit a dozen Test centuries, including a career best 337 against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1958.

He set a solid example for his brothers, Mushtaq Mohammad, Sadiq Mohammad and Wazir Mohammad, and eventually his son Shoaib Mohammad, to follow in international cricket.

7. Frank, George, Alec Hearne

Brothers Franke Hearne, George Hearne and Alec Hearne all played Test cricket. They represented South Africa and England – or both.

Read next: Who has hit the most Test centuries for Australia?

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The 25 bowlers who took a wicket with their first ball in Test cricket

Proteas seamer Corbin Bosch took a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket against Pakistan in Centurion on 26 December 2024.

Bosch is the fourth South African Test cricketer to achieve the feat – and 25th overall.

Three bowlers – two South Africans and one West Indian – did it in 2024.

One did it in 2023. Prior to 2023, the last bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket was in 2016.

Read more: Test cricket’s most prolific bowler-fielder combinations

25 bowlers to take wicket with first ball in Test career

Bowler | Country	Wicket | Country	Venue | Year
25. Corbin Bosch | South Arica	Shan Masood | Pakistan	Centurion | 2024
24. Tshepo Moreki | South Arica	Devon Conway | New Zealand	Mount Maunganui | 2024
23. Shamar Joseph | West Indies	Steven Smith | Australia	Adelaide | 2024
22. Nijat Masood | Afghanistan	Zakir Hasan | Bangladesh	Mirpur | 2023
21. Hardus Viljoen | South Arica	Alastair Cook | England	Johannesburg | 2016
20. Dane Piedt | South Arica	Mark Vermeulen | Zimbabwe	Harare | 2014
19. Shaminda Eranga | Sri Lanka	Shane Watson | Australia	Colombo | 2011
18. Nathan Lyon | Australia	Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka	Galle | 2011
17. Chamila Gamage | Sri Lanka	Mohammad Ashraful | Bangladesh	Colombo | 2002
16. Nilesh Kulkarni | India	Marvan Atapattu | Sri Lanka	Colombo | 1997
15. Richard Illingworth | England	Phil Simmons | West Indies	Nottingham | 1991
14. Intikhab Alam | Pakistan	Colin McDonald | Australia	Karachi | 1959
13. Dick Howorth | England	Dennis Dryer | South Africa	London | 1947
12. Keith Miller | Australia	Walter Hadlee | New Zealand	Wellington| 1946
11. Tyrell Johnson | West Indies	Walter Keeton | England	London | 1939
10. Dennis Smith | New Zealand	Eddie Paynter | England	Christchurch | 1933
9. Matt Henderson | New Zealand	Eddie Dawson | England	Christchurch | 1930
8. Maurice Tate | England	Fred Susskind | South Africa	Birmingham | 1924
7. George Macaulay | England	George Hearne | South Africa	Cape Town | 1923
6. Jack Crawford | England	Bert Vogler | South Africa	Johannesburg | 1906
5. Bert Vogler | South Africa	Ernie Hayes | England	Johannesburg | 1906
4. Ted Arnold | England	Victor Trumper | Australia	Sydney | 1903
3. Bill Bradley | England	Frank Laver | Australia	Manchester | 1899
2. Arthur Cunningham | Australia	Archie MacLaren | England	Melbourne | 1894
1. Tom Horan | Australia	Walter Read | England	Sydney | 1883

“If I make my debut at SuperSport Park, especially for Test cricket, I don’t think anything could be more fitting for it is where my dad started his cricketing journey,” Bosch told IOL before his Test debut. His father, Tertius Bosch, played for the Proteas and Titans.

“So, for me to start my Test journey. I don’t think there could be a better place. I love the ground. I love the fans. And it’s just a fantastic place to play cricket. The atmosphere, I absolutely love it.

“And it couldn’t be a more special occasion if I was to get my debut at SuperSport Park.”

Read next: Who has hit the most Test centuries for Australia?

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Will the Royal Challengers Bengaluru break their IPL duck?

Since the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket competition started 2008, 15 teams have participated, and only seven teams have won the coveted cup.

The two most successful teams that have won this men’s professional cricket tournament on five separate occasions are the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Mumbai Indians (MI).

Other winners include the Kolkata Knight Rides (KKR), the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SR), the Rajasthan Royals, the Gujarat Titans (GT), and the Deccan Chargers (DC).

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB, formerly known as Royal Challengers Bangalore) have come close and were season runners-up in 2009, 2011, and 2016.

The question being asked here is, can RCB break their IPL duck this season and win the league outright? Let’s dive straight in to find out.

Can the Royal Challengers Bengaluru win their first IPL title in 2025?

The quickest, easiest, and most reliable way to determine whether the Royal Challengers Bengaluru can win their first IPL title is to see what today’s most trusted online bookmakers are currently pricing them at.

In other words, if we turn to globally renowned online sports betting sites like 10bet, which is well-known for having some of the most highly competitive cricket betting odds, we can see which IPL teams stand the best chance at winning in 2025.

Although the odds are subject to change at any time, and even the favourites aren’t always guaranteed to come out on top, they give us the best representation of which team will most likely win.

Besides pre-match betting odds, which allows you to place a wager on a cricket event long before it has started, you can also now place far more informed bets as the action unfolds with live betting (aka in-play betting) services on this page: 10bet.com.

Without further ado, here are the latest 2025 IPL outright winner odds, which show that RCB are currently one of the favourites:

• Team to win IPL 2025 outright: Mumbai Indians (MI). Odds: 9/2 (fractional) 5.50 (decimal) American/moneyline (+450). IPR (implied probability rate): 18.20% – ODDS-ON FAVOURITES
• Team to win IPL 2025 outright: Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Odds: 11/2 (fractional) 6.50 (decimal) American/moneyline (+550). IPR: 15.40% – JOINT-SECOND ODDS-ON FAVOURITES
• Team to win IPL 2025 outright: Kolkata Knight Riders (KLR). Odds: 11/2 (fractional) 6.50 (decimal) American/moneyline (+550). IPR: 15.40% – JOINT-SECOND ODDS-ON FAVOURITES
• Team to win IPL 2025 outright: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Odds: 13/2 (fractional) 7.50 (decimal) American/moneyline (+650). IPR: 13.30% – FOURTH ODDS-ON FAVOURITES

You then have the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at around 15/2 (8.50 or +750) with an 11.80% IPR, the Sunrisers Hyderabad at around 8/1 (9.00 or +800) with an 11.10% IPR, and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at around 9/1 (10.00 or +900) with a 10.00% IPR).

Three of the least favourite teams to win the competition outright are the Delhi Capitals and the Gujarat Titans, who are both jointly priced at 10/1 (11.00 or +1,000) with only a 9.10% IPR, and the Punjab Kings (PBKS) – the least favourites, at around 12/1 (13.00 or +1200) with only a 7.70% chance of winning.

Can RCB upset the odds?

Anything can happen in men’s professional cricket to upset the odds. In other words, yes, RCB can potentially win IPL 2025. In fact, with these odds, they would be an excellent value bet. They will be looking to win their first-ever title and have a few good players who could help them lift their first title.

Two key batters are Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar. They also have all-rounder Swapnil Singh and bowler Yash Dayal. This team is owned by USL (United Spirits Limited), coached by Andy Flower, and they play their home games at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, which is in the Indian state of Karnataka.

Although the Mumbai Indians look like a safer bet, don’t forget that the odds-on favourites don’t always win. Always try to stay on top of the latest IPL news to ensure you place well-informed bets.

Final thoughts

RCB fans will hope that 2025 is the year they finally break their IPL duck. Can they go all the way, or will the Mumbai Indians or Chennai Super Kings claim their sixth title? We will just have to wait and see. 

If you decide to bet on any upcoming IPL cricket matches, remember to bet on fully licensed and regulated, globally renowned sites like the official 10bet iGaming site. It’s one of the safest sites and typically has thousands of monthly cricket betting markets with the best odds.

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11 international cricketers born on Christmas day

Several international cricketers of yesteryear were born on 25 December – Christmas day.

Find out more about these relatively famous birthdays.

There are a few Ashes cricketers among this select list.

1. Simon Jones

Simon Jones was born on 25 December, 1975. His career could have lasted a lot longer than 18 Tests, were it not for long-term injuries. Jones was an outstanding seam and swing bowler before fragile knees caught up with him.

2. Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook was born on 25 December, 1984. He grew up to captain England in Test cricket – and collected several famous Ashes wins over the old enemy, Australia. Cook was England’s leading run-scorer in Test cricket before Joe Root took over.

3. Marcus Trescothick

Marcus Trescothick was born on 25 December, 1975. He struck 14 centuries in 76 Tests for England. A gritty, left-handed opener, Trescothick moved into coaching with the national team after retiring from playing.

4. Azhar Saeed

Azhar Saeed was born on 25 December, 1970. He played first-class cricket in Pakistan before being capped seven times at ODI level by the United Arab Emirates.

5. Charlie Smith

Born on 25 December, 1872, Charlie Smith went on to play three Tests for South Africa. All were against Australia in 1902, when put in a few good starts but never converted beyond 45.

Read more: Test cricket’s most prolific bowler-fielder combinations

6. Walter Lees

Walter Lees came into this world on 25 December 1875. Three decades later, he debuted for England in Test cricket and added four more caps – all against South Africa – for a total of five.

7. Mohammad Ramzan

Mohammad Ramzan was born on 25 December, 1970. He only ever played one Test for Pakistan. He was an unknown named in that 1997 XI, which included big fish Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed and Saeed Anwar.

8. Tapash Baisya

Tapash Baisya was born on 25 December 1982. He eventually forged a five-year international career with Bangladesh, which comprised 21 Tests and 56 ODIs. A 10-year ban from the Bangladesh Cricket Board eventually ended his career.

9. Hedley Howarth

On 25 December, 1943, Hedley Howarth was born. He played 30 Tests for New Zealand from 1969 to 1997 – and too 86 wickets. His Test career started at the home of cricket, Lord’s, and ended at home in Auckland.

10. Clarrie Grimmett

One of Australia’s greatest leg-spinners, long before the emergence of Shane Warne, Clarrie Grimmett was born on 25 December, 1891. He took a remarkable 216 wickets in 37 Tests – this included seven match 10-fors.

11. Walter Cornford

Affectionately known as ‘Tich’, Walter Cornford was born on 25 December, 1900. He played four Tests for England in 1930. He was one of the shortest wicketkeepers in first-class cricket, standing at a little more than five feet.

Read next: Who has hit the most Test centuries for Australia?

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The 7 highest Test scores of 2024

Which batters hit the highest scores in 2024? Find out here.

We have all the information you need to know about the highest individual Test match scores this year.

One Indian star features twice among this top seven.

7. Mushfiqur Rahim

6. Ollie Pope

5. Yashasvi Jaiswal

Read more: Test cricket’s most prolific bowler-fielder combinations

4. Yashasvi Jaiswal

3. Rachin Ravindra

2. Joe Root

1. Harry Brook

Read next: Who has hit the most Test centuries for Australia?

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India’s highest Test wicket-takers in Australia

This week has all but belonged to Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from international cricket recently.

He has hogged the headlines – and rightly so.

But quietly, in the background, Jasprit Bumrah has become the Indian with the most Test wickets in Australia.

Let’s understand how he got there – and who he surpassed for the milestone.

5. Bishan Bedi

Bedi took 266 Test wickets overall and 35 of these came in Australia, across seven matches and at an average of 27.51. His bowling average in Australia was stronger than his overall Test average.

The left-arm spinner would often enjoy the benefit of a bit of extra bounce in Australian conditions, which he relished and made sure to cash in.

4. Ravichandran Ashwin

After 11 Tests in Australia, Ashwin ended with 40 wickets in the country. He retired from international cricket during the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Series, so won’t be building on this tally.

Overall against Australia, in their country and his, Ashwin took a resounding 115 Test wickets. He loved performing well against the old enemy.

Read more: Test cricket’s most prolific bowler-fielder combinations

3. Anil Kumble

The only leg-spinner on this list, Kumble has the third most Test wickets for India in Australia. He took 619 overall and 49 of those came in Australia.

Few fans will forget that match figures of 12 for 279 he took at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2004, when Sourav Ganguly was his captain. What a remarkable feat that was.

2. Kapil Dev

Dev is one of two seamers on this list. He particularly enjoyed travelling to Australia for Test cricket, collecting 51 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 24.59.

Keep in mind that he took 434 Test wickets in total, so the percentage claimed in Australia is relatively high and an achievement to be proud of. He took five innings five-fors, but never managed a match 10-for in Australia.

1. Jasprit Bumrah

Averaging more than five wickets per Test in Australia, Bumrah has collected 52 in 10.

His bowling average in the country is a wonderful 17.21 – that’s a truly impressive number for a visiting bowler in Australia. It pretty much accounts for a quarter of his total of 194 Test wickets.

He has taken three five-fors, but doesn’t have a 10-for there yet. Watch this space.

These five cricketers have shown that Indian bowlers can succeed in foreign conditions – especially on tricky pitches for visiting seamers and spinners in Australia. Their away records in this country have been well worth highlighting.

Read next: Who has hit the most Test centuries for Australia?

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How many times has a team won after following on in Test cricket?

In Test cricket, a follow-on is often enforced when one side has a better opportunity for victory and to reduce the chances of a draw.

The side that batted first can force the opposition to take their second innings immediately after their first if they have scored far fewer runs.

If the first side to bat bowls out the opposition with a lead of at least 200 runs in the first innings, the captain may notify the opposition and umpires that they’d like them to get their pads back on and bat again immediately.

Following on, heaps the pressure on the batting side with a margin of at least 200 runs, leaving the bowlers room to push for victory without having to bat twice.

Usually a death sentence, very few sides have managed to follow on and turn the game on its head in Test cricket.

Here are the 4 times that a team has managed to clinch victory from the jaws of defeat.

4. New Zealand vs England, 2023

England started strongly in Wellington with Joe Root and Harry Brook’s centuries leading them to a first-innings declaration of 435.

They then dismissed New Zealand for 209 and enforced the follow-on.

An improved second innings total of 483 thanks to a ton from skipper Kane Williamson set England a target, with the Black Caps dismissing England just one run short of their target for a famous comeback win.

3. England vs Australia, 1894

The visitors kicked off with a big score of 586, which was replied with a score of 325 for England, leaving them just shy of avoiding the follow on.

The hosts then collected a resilient total of 437 after being put back into bat and dismissed Australia for 166 to claim victory against all odds.

Read more: These are the 9 biggest sixes in the history of cricket

2. England vs Australia 1981

A patient century from Australia opener John Dyson set up his side to be able to declare with a first innings score of 401.

In reply, England limped their way to 174, with the visitors smelling an early victory and enforcing the follow-on.

But a heroic, run-a-ball century from Ian Botham set his side a much more competitive second innings score, with Bob Willis taking eight wickets to skittle Australia for 166 and seal a famous win.

1. India vs Australia, 2001

Australia started well with a score of 445, courtesy of a Steve Waugh century with Glen McGrath then helping them dismiss the hosts for 171 with bowling figures of four wickets for just 18 runs.

After being asked to follow on, India came out a different beast with 280 and 180 from VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid, turning the game on its head and an unlikely follow-on declaration of 657/7.

Six wickets from Harbhajan Singh helped his side dismiss Australia for 212, condemning them to an almost unbelievable 171-run defeat.

Read next: The 16 men with 10,000-plus runs in professional T20 cricket

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Bizarre batting stances that confused the world

The art of batting has no set way of being carried out.

No two batters’ techniques are the same, and this uniqueness has provided us with a wide variety of elegant stroke makers over time.

The best have crafted their trade through endless sessions in the nets, facing delivery after delivery and forging a style of batting that suits and works for each individual.

We’ve seen orthodox and unorthodox batting stances with equal heights of success, highlighting that the art of batting is not one-size-fits-all.

Variety, personalities and contrasting approaches to the game of cricket have provided the characters and entertainment that make cricket such a popular sport worldwide.

Individuals in the sport will forever come up with new adaptations and intricacies to try and gain the upper hand or solidify their technique.

But sometimes, the lengths players push the norm to strike form baffles cricket fans alike.

Here are some players who adopted unusual yet revolutionary batting stances that baffled the cricketing sphere.

Kevin Pietersen

With over 8,000 England Test runs, Pietersen was one of the most stylish batters in recent history.

His destructive style of play was revolutionary and helped shape the landscape we see today.

A distinctive style of play made him so incredibly interesting to watch, with his feet very wide in his stance and constant motion around the crease, making him a nightmare to bowl to.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Chanderpaul, a West Indies legend, collected a magnificent 11,867 runs in his coveted Test career.

His class will be remembered for years to come, along with his unconventional yet fearless set-up at the crease.

With his torsoe fully open, staring down the bowler and his shoulder at square-leg, the batter was a big target with the shorter ball.

However his technique, likened to a ‘crab’ was dependable and brought repeated results.

Read more: These are the 9 biggest sixes in the history of cricket

Steven Smith

At times in his career, ‘Smudge’ has been almost invincible, batting out sessions without giving the bowlers a sniff.

But the manner in which he carries out his work is by no means conventional.

Smith is a serial shuffler and his constant movement makes him impossible to read with his constant moments of unorthodox flare leaving us stunned with amazement.

A livewire at the crease and a lover of a leave makes Smith absolute box office to watch.

George Bailey

Perhaps the most mind-blowing stance of them all, stand up George Bailey for Australia.

The way that the Australian sets up makes him look as if he isn’t even facing the bowler, instead the fielder at point.

Watch the ball – we’ve all heard this at some point, but for Bailey, an unconventional stance has worked wonders.

Read next: The 16 men with 10,000-plus runs in professional T20 cricket

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India v Pakistan – the hottest confrontation in world cricket

There are certain sporting rivalries that go down in history. Like Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali in the world of boxing. Canada vs. Russia/The Soviet Union in ice hockey. The All-Blacks vs. the Springboks in rugby. Or Brazil vs. Argentina in football.

In cricket, the definitive rivalry is India vs. Pakistan. It’s the one that fans across the world all know. The one they cite as the greatest clash the game has ever seen, without any doubt.

These are two nations with close ties, geographically, culturally, and even spiritually. Yet separated by the fiercest of sporting rivalries. It’s a contest that has played out time and time again on cricket pitches the world over.

It’s a rivalry with many connotations – historic, political, and cultural – fanning its flames. And even as times change and the situations in both countries evolve (along with their attitudes towards one another) this matchup remains thrilling and steadfast.

It’s no wonder literally millions upon millions of fans, not just in India and Pakistan, but around the world, look forward to and tune in whenever these two titans of sport meet.

Let’s take a deeper look into the biggest rivalry in cricket, exploring its origins, some of its most famous matchups, the players who have defined those crazy games, and the future of the India-Pakistan rivalry, too.

The History of the India-Pakistan Rivalry

India vs. Pakistan cricket history goes back a long, long way. Here’s a quick look back at key moments throughout this intense rivalry so far:

• 1947: The Partition of India. This split the country into separate states: the Union of India (later the Republic of India) and the Dominion of Pakistan (later the Islamic Republic of Pakistan) – a tumultuous and dramatic time for the two countries.
• 1952: The first game. It took the form of a Test match and was part of a three-match series. India claimed the first win in Delhi, but lost the second in Lucknow. The third test came in Bombay, and India won it to win the series.
• 1955: The second Test series ends in a draw, as the players on both sides played very defensively. This was because both sets of fans got very emotional, and neither team wanted to risk losing and upsetting their crowd.
• 1961: Another drawn Test series. Again, both teams are a little on edge, not wanting to play too dangerously for fear of angering their home nation.
• 1965: Indo-Pakistani War breaks out. This spells a hiatus on the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry, which will last until 1978.
• 1971: Another war, prolonging the lack of matches between the two sides and fueling the flames of their rivalry even further.
• 1978: Cricket games tentatively resume between the two sides. The first ODI is held, with India claiming a narrow 4-run win.
• Late 1980s-90s: Most games are played on neutral territories, like Canada or the UAE, never on Indian or Pakistani soil.
• 1999: Matches suspended again because of the Kargil War.
• 2007: First T20 meeting at the 2007 T20 World Cup – India won.
• 2008: In the wake of the Mumbai attacks, India refuse to play any further Test matches with Pakistan.
• 2021: The teams met for their 200th clash in the T20 World Cup. Pakistan won.
• 2023: At the Asia Cup, the teams met twice. First match was rained off, but India won the second by a record margin and went on to win the cup.
• 2024: The sides meet in the 2024 World Cup, with India claiming a narrow 6-run win, with one over to spare.

The Players Who Defined the Rivalry

We’ve seen some legendary players pull on the pads for both Pakistan and India over the years, and people from both nations deem it to be an immense honor to be called up for an India vs. Pakistan squad list. There are even a few players, back in the 1940s and 50s, who represented both nations, like Amir Elahi and Gul Mohammad.

But certain players, more than others, have truly defined this rivalry and left a real legacy, influencing the results of clashes and stepping up during the most difficult moments to help their nations to glory. On the Indian side of the rivalry, some of the most famous players to appear against Pakistan are:

• Sachin Tendulkar: Deemed by many to be the best batsman of all time, Tendulkar managed 2,526 runs in 67 ODI innings against Pakistan between 1989 and 2012. That puts him at the top of the leaderboard in terms of runs scored, and he also posted one of the best ever run totals, 141, in a match India actually lost in 2004.
• Virat Kohli: In the T20 game, Kohli is king for India. He’s scored by far the most runs in games between the two countries, with 492, and got the highest individual score of 82 during a 2022 game in Melbourne.
• MS Dhoni: Another Indian cricket legend, Dhoni has scored many runs against Pakistan and led the Indian side to victory numerous times, like in the final of the 2007 T20 World Cup, or when he top-scored in all three of the games in India’s tour of Pakistan in 2012.

For Pakistan, legends of this rivalry include:

• Wasim Akram: A remarkable boller and former captain of the Pakistan national side, Akram is the leading wicket taker from either side in ODI games, with a whopping 60 wickets across 48 matches, for a bowling average of 25.15. In test matches, too, despite playing just 12 matches, he took 45 wickets.
• Shoaib Akhtar: One of the fastest bowlers ever. Akhtar made a name for himself in many games against India in 1999, when he famously took a whopping eight wickets in an Asian Test championship match in Calcutta. He had a great rivalry with Sachin Tendulkar and notoriously bowled Tendulkar with the first ball he ever bowled him.
• Babar Azam: A former captain of Pakistan in all formats of the game and the country’s leading T20 batter, Azam had a huge moment against India in 2017 in the Champions Trophy game, making 46 off only 52 balls. He was also the first Pakistan captain to oversee a World Cup win over India.

Memorable Moments in the Rivalry

When it comes to India vs. Pakistan, all matches are special and momentous in their own ways, but a few special moments really stand out:

• It was 1978, and Sunil Gavaskar, legendary batsman, scored centuries in both of his innings in a dramatic Test match – the third of a three-match series. But Pakistan batters Asif Iqbal and Javed Miandad went into overdrive at the end of the game to seal a big win.
• In a 1985 ODI, Pakistan impressively bowled India out for just 125. A poor total, by any metric, but India’s captain, Kapil Dev, claimed three for 17 and Pakistan ended up making just 87 runs.
• At the 1996 ODI World Cup quarterfinal, Pakistan were on set to win, when Venkatesh Prasad smashed through the stump of cocky Pakistani opener, Aamer Sohail, changing the entire course of the game – India win by over 30 runs.
• 1999. A Test match in Chennai. India needed 271 to win. They were soon down to 82/7, but Tendulkar led the fight back. India only needed 17 runs from three wickets at the end to win, but Pakistan wiped them all out for a 12-run win.
• 2007 brought us the first T20 between India and Pakistan and one of the most dramatic games ever. Both sides scored 141 and had to have a dramatic tie-breaking bowl-out, with India winning.

The Impact of the Rivalry on Global Cricket

India vs. Pakistan ranks as the most viewed cricket match in the world and is easily the biggest rivalry in the game, and clashes between the two sides routinely draw gigantic crowds, not just of Indians and Pakistanis, but cricket fans far and wide.

Similar to how even casual football fans will tune in to big World Cup or Euros games, tons of people love to watch the drama of India vs. Pakistan unfold, helping the sport of cricket gain new fans.

The rivalry has also had an impact on relationships between the two countries, both for the better and for the worse, at different times. 

Famously, and positively, the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup (the second most-watched game in cricket history) had India and Pakistan’s prime ministers watch side-by-side, a sign of unity after the terrible 2008 Mumbai attacks.

India vs Pakistan: A Fan’s Perspective

For fans of both sides, India vs. Pakistan matches represent huge moments, must-see clashes, key dates on the sporting calendar. Nothing else in the sporting world comes close for Indians or Pakistanis. And, unsurprisingly, every true fan wants to be there in the crowd, cheering on their side.

That’s why there are literally hundreds of thousands of applicants for tickets whenever an India vs. Pakistan match is announced. Lots of fans sadly miss out, but stadiums are always fill to the brim, and millions more watch at home or in public places around both countries and the rest of the world.

Atmospheres in the stadiums tend to be incredibly tense and exciting, with constant noise, cheering, booing, and chanting from both sets of fans. They set the standard for spectators everywhere, and even fans of other countries get sucked into the fervor and frenzy of it all, with many from countries like England and Australia also having their preferred nation.

Betting Trends on India vs Pakistan: All Matches

As well as being one of the most watched matches in cricket, India vs. Pakistan is always popular with gamblers, too, with many flocking to their favorite betting sites, such as Mostbet, in the hopes of winning big on their predictions. Lots of people like to place bets on just the outcome of the games, but also:

• The top run scorers
• The top wicket takers
• The manner of victory
• Total number of runs
• Number of boundaries

Just remember – it’s easy to let your emotions get the better of you when gambling on big games like these, so you should try to be responsible. Separate your own preferences and hopes from your bets, and never gamble more than you’re prepared to lose.

The Future of the India-Pakistan Rivalry

It’s been an extraordinary rivalry so far. Just looking at how many T20 matches played between India and Pakistan, for example, there have been 13 games. Plus 139 ODIs and 58 Tests. And there are surely many more yet to come in the years ahead of us, with India and Pakistan guaranteed to meet many times at big tournaments, like the T20 World Cup.

At the moment, no series have yet been scheduled between the two in 2025, 2026, or further. And political tensions have historically caused problems for organizers wanting to arrange India and Pakistan clashes. But, with lots of great talent emerging in both countries and exciting, ever-evolving cricket formats, fans surely have lots of exciting matches to look forward to.

Conclusion

With its dramatic moments, passionate fans, unparalleled political and cultural backdrop, and the rich array of talent on both sides, there’s just no rivalry quite like India – Pakistan. This rivalry has told a stunning tale so far, with wins and losses on both sides, and the next generation of fans are already eagerly anticipating the next big meeting of these cricket giants.

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What to expect from the 2025 IPL auction

Here is everything we know so far about the upcoming IPL (Indian Premier League) auction, including dates, times, and locations.

We have also included a few predictions about who might be the winners and losers at this year’s auction and some early theoretical cricket odds for which team will most likely come out on top in the league next season.

More accurate odds will soon be available on trusted iGaming sites.

What we know so far about the 2025 IPL Auction

Here’s everything we know so far about the multi-day auction known as the IPL Mega Auction, where men’s professional cricket players who will be competing in the 2025 IPL campaign are pooled together and then sold/auctioned to the franchise with the highest bids (as per the rules and regulations in the official IPL rulebook).

A total of teams, each comprising 18 players (a maximum of 25 players per squad), can have no more than 8 overseas players. The bidding takes place in separate groups for spin bowlers, batters, fast-bowlers, all-rounders, and wicket-keepers, and the marquee players are put up for auction first.

Here are a few quick facts about the 2025 IPL Mega Auction:

• Name: IPL Mega Auction
• Date: November 24 and 25
• Time: The most likely start time is 12:30 local time
• Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• Number of players being auctioned: 574 players (336 Indian and 208 overseas players)
• Marquee players at IPL 2025 (first and second groups): Liam Livingston, Rishabh Pant, Jos Butler, KL Rahul, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Shreya Iyer, Mohammed Shami, David Miller, Mitchell Starc, and Kagiso Rabada

Some of the biggest Indian stars to keep an eye out for at IPL 2025 are R Ashwin, Krunal Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Khaleel Ahmed, Umesh Yadav, Deepak Chahar, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

That’s not forgetting Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, Harshal Patel, Devdutt Padikaal, and Mukesh Kumar, to name a few.

The biggest overseas stars to keep an eye out for are Sam Curran, Rachin Ravindra, Faf du Plessis, Jonny Bairstow, David Warner, Devon Conway, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stionis, and Quinton de Kock, among others.

Every three years in the IPL, teams must undergo a huge reshuffle, meaning they can only retain a specific number of players (6) and must use the Mega Auction to rebuild their squads. In the years between, Mini Auctions are held, and IPL franchises aren’t restricted to the number of players they can retain during these auctions.

Final thoughts

We will likely see records being broken at the upcoming 2025 IPL auction, with franchises spending more money than ever during their efforts to rebuild their squads. It’s hard to say who the biggest winners and losers will be, so we will have to just wait and see what happens. There will no doubt be many surprises this year.

It’s still too early to say who might come out on top next year in IPL 2025, and the odds for this particular market aren’t yet available. The current reigning champions, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who recently secured their third IPL title, will likely be priced at around 13/4 (fractional odds), which is 4.25 in decimal odds/+325 in American/moneyline odds, meaning they have a 23.50% implied probability rate of winning IPL 2025 outright.

You may also find that when the odds are released for next season, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK and Mumbai Indians (MI) will likely be jointly priced at around 4/1 (5.00 or +400) with a 20.00% IPR. However, don’t forget that these odds are just theoretical.

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Top cricket movies every fan should watch

Is it not amazing how a “simple sport” can become such a force in a nation? As football transformed and shaped Brazilian culture and society, and Badminton has become an emblem for the Indonesian country, so has the game of cricket become not just a culture, but a literal religion for the nation of India.

“There’s a lot that divides us as a country, but one thing that brings us all together is cricket”

– Madhavi Pothukuchi, Indian international Writer and journalist.

And this statement could not be more true. The game of cricket has become such an inspiration and such an embodiment of the spirit of resilience and perseverance in India that people who are at loggerheads with each other will still sit down together to watch a cricket match–especially when it’s a match featuring the iconic team India.

In this cricket-loving nation, where the sport transcends boundaries and unites people, fans are always on the lookout for ways to stay connected to the game they adore. From thrilling live matches to engaging discussions and updates and online betting opportunities, cricket enthusiasts seek platforms that enhance their experience. One such trusted hub for cricket lovers is Indbet , a go-to destination for staying immersed and betting on cricket games.

Now, the entertainment world of India has not wasted a moment to capitalize on this opportunity. Many movies and cricket documentaries have come out of India that beautifully capture the spirit and culture that cricket has come to embody in the nation. Some of these movies have even gone beyond the Indian shores to make such an impact in the world, because they tell stories of perseverance and resilience, a theme that so many people immediately relate to and connect with.

This article is a compendium of the best cricket movies in India that you can enjoy with your loved ones and fellow fans. The good thing here is that you don’t need to be a cricket fan to enjoy them. From The legendary Lagaan to the more family-drama Ferrari Ki Sawaari, these movies masterfully combine the love for cricket with other themes that hold a universal appeal.

Ready to explore? Let’s dive in.

1. Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)

This amazing movie produced and starring Aarmir Khan is not just one of the best cricket movies in India, but also one of the most successful movies to come out of India.

Plot

The story features the farmers of a village in India called Champaner, who are being oppressed by the British rulers living in their land. As if that’s not bad enough, the villagers in Champaner are being forced to pay land tax (lagaan), even though the villagers are suffering from serious poverty caused by a terrible drought.

When the villagers go to their king to plead that their burden be relieved, a British captain named Russell who sees them, proposes to make them free from paying taxes for three years if they can win a cricket match against his team. But there’s a catch: The villagers would pay three times more their tax cost if they should lose the match.

We know, right? Cruel.

A young farmer named Bhuvan (played by Aamir Khan) accepts the challenge, and has just three months to prepare for a match he and the villagers know nothing about.

Highlights

Aamir Khan is known for an unrelenting excellence work ethic, and his performance in the movie is one of this movie’s most appealing aspects. The cricket match also was an epic showdown that is guaranteed to keep audiences glued to the screen from start to finish. The movie was released to massive success and critical acclaim, and was even nominated for an Oscar award.

Why Watch?

The movie’s script was excellently written and perfectly executed, and blends the themes of sports, drama and patriotism seamlessly. Whether you are a cricket fan or not, you’ll find this movie an interesting watch.

2. MS Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016)

This sports documentary is a tribute to one of India’s most beloved captains. It is a biopic that shows us the inspiring life and journey of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who rose to fame in the 2000s.

Plot

This movie is a chronicle of Dhoni’s life, starting from his humble beginnings as a ticket collector, and taking viewers on his journey to winning the ICC Cricket World Cup for India in 2011.

Highlights

Dhoni is played by Sushant Singh Rajput, and the actor delivered an amazing performance that captured Dhoni’s quiet determination and unwavering focus beautifully. The movie’s expository of his personal life is very relatable and inspiring, too.

Why Watch?

Since it tells a true story, the reminder that we can achieve our dreams through hard work and perseverance is not just some fantastic cliche, but a true encouragement. This makes it one of the best cricket movies in India.

3. 83 (2021)

When you watch this sports documentary, it will take you back into the time when the world could not ignore India anymore because it became the world champion of cricket under the leadership of Kapil Dev.

Plot

The film is an emotional journey that shows us the ups and downs of India’s campaign in the 1983 Cricket World Cup. They eventually won an unforgettable victory at Lord’s. It’s one of the best cricket documentaries that unite old and young in the spirit of Indian cricket.

Highlights

Ravneer Singh was the perfect person to be able to play the part of the captain Kapil Dev. Then the iconic moments of that match, like the famous catch that turned the game around, is just pure magic.

Why Watch?

For people that are raving fans and lovers of cricket, this film will be a trip down memory lane , and it will make them remember the passion and never-give-up approach that made India become victorious.

4. Iqbal (2005)

This one is one of those underdog tales that tells us about the power of dreaming. As fantastic as the tale seems, it doesn’t fail to capture the spirit of resilience that cricket has come to embody in India.

Plot

The name of the main character is Iqbal, and he is a deaf and dumb teenage boy that is obsessed with cricket and wants to play for his country’s team, in national and international cricket.  Even though his family and even the society make fun of him, he continues to pursue his dream with passion.

Highlights

The delivery of Shreyas Talpade literally turned his acting career around, as well as the acting of Naseeruddin Shah who played the role of an unconventional coach.

Why Watch?

The film tells a very emotional story of believing in yourself and not giving up. Cricket lovers will definitely fall in love with this one.

5. The Zoya Factor (2019)

This story is taken from a novel book and then turned into a film. It is about Zoya, a woman that the Indian cricket team sees as their lucky mascot because they start to win matches over and again when she joins them.

Highlights

The actors who play Zoya and Nikhil have a serious chemistry between them that makes this quirky film charming.

Why Watch?

This is really just a fun film that features cricket, so you can watch and enjoy it even if you’re not a cricket fan.

6. Patiala House (2011)

The picture was not given a rating that would make it look like it is a great film by many critics, but it combines a compelling drama with cricket, making it a good watch.

Plot

A young man that loves the cricket game and wants to join the England cricket team is initially stopped by his father who says he will commit suicide if he does.

After some years doing what his father wants, he goes for it again, and he puts his own desire first this time.

Highlights

Ashkay Kumar has a very good performance in this movie with a display of high control mixed with intense passion.

Why Watch?

This movie will appeal to people who enjoy dramas, and those who also appreciate cultural infusions. This movie mixes both with family life depictions.

7. Ferrari Ki Sawaari (2012)

This movie titled Ferrari Ki Sawaari has the translation of “A Ride in the Ferrari” and was released in June 2012 under Eros International.

Plot

A man who is a widower lives with his son in a little apartment in the Parsi colony. He is always teaching his son that life should always be lived honestly. But because the boy is so obsessed with cricket and finally has a chance to play beside a star at a school excursion, his father for the first time breaks his own rule and steals a Ferrari to ride his son to Lord’s.

Highlights

Ferrari Ki Sawaari has high emotional appeal, and mixes in a good dose of humor too. And the cricket theme is added in representation of the cultural nature of the game amongst Indians.

Why Watch?

Again, we have another family drama about dreams, and determination. So it will inspire people. If you’re looking for something to watch with your family, Ferrari Ki Sawaari is a good choice.

8. Azhar (2016)

This movie is inspired by the life of cricketer and former national team captain Mohammad Azharudeen.

Plot

The story of this movie is the controversial career of Azharudeen’s in cricket. After a good start and progress in his career, he is faced with charges of match fixing and struggles to get himself out of the mess.

Highlights

The movie is unique in that it gives us insight not just about another player’s life, but the dark side of the game of cricket and how things can be behind the scenes.

Why Watch?

Although the movie was not so well received critically, it is still a good expository to the darker side of things in the cricket game.

9. “Kai Po Che!” (2013)

The translation of the film is “I have cut the kite”, and the film is based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel. It was a critical and commercial success, receiving five awards nominations and winning two of them.

Plot

The movie is about three friends who are very close and want to start their own sports shop and sports academy. It also features some real events that took place around 2001 and 2002 in India including the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, the 2002 Godhra train burning and the 2002 Gujarat Riots.

Highlights

The film stars Rajkummar Rao, Amit Sadh, and newcomer Sushant Singh Rajput gave very stellar performances, and the movie portrays how cricket is such a uniting force in India.

Why Watch?

The movie leverages the turbulent way of cricket to portray life’s ups and downs. But just as the game can be beaten with hardwork and determination, so can life be bested too.

10. “Victory” (2009)

This sports drama had its filming done in the countries of Australia and India, and released in India.

Plot

A very talented boy pursues a career in cricket, and after he begins to succeed a little, he lets fame get into his head and falls out of the game. Then he has to struggle and fight to get back into the game like before.

Highlights

The film has appearances of real life cricketers and game sequences.

Why Watch?

The movie may not have made much waves as intended, but the story is a good inspiration that features not only passion, but redemption as well.

Conclusion

For non-fans, movies incorporating the cricket theme might be purely entertainment. But for cricket lovers and enthusiasts, these movies are more than that. Beyond entertainment, cricket movies are a source of unity and inspiration to fans all over the world. As we’ve seen, the best cricket movies celebrate that sport spirit, and show the ability of people to be resilient.

So, whether you’re a die-hard fan or just a casual viewer, these movies bear stories that will leave you moved, motivated and thoroughly entertained. Kapil Dev, India’s legendary cricketer, once said: “Cricket is more than a game; it’s a religion that unites us all.” These movies capture that essence beautifully.

The post Top cricket movies every fan should watch appeared first on Cricket365.

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