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India’s CT 2025 Schedule, Mandhana Rankings And SA XI – December 24 Cricket Highlights

Aakash Saini

Rohit Sharma and Smriti Mandhana [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @BCCIWomen/x]Rohit Sharma and Smriti Mandhana [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @BCCIWomen/x]

The ICC has unveiled the entire itinerary of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, including India’s high-stakes Group A match against tournament co-hosts, defending champions and perennial arch-rivals Pakistan. In India, the ‘Women in Blue’ secured an emphatic ODI series victory over the visiting West Indies, while prolific opener Smriti Mandhana inched closer to the top spot on the ICC rankings for T20I batters.

Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest news that emerged out of Tuesday, December 24.

India Clinch Women’s ODI Series vs West Indies

The Indian Women’s cricket team pulverized the visiting West Indies by 115 runs in the second ODI to seal their three-match series at Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium. Batting first, the ‘Women in Blue’ mounted 358-5 from 50 overs, with Harleen Deol racking up 115 runs from 103 balls. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawat also cracking blazing half-centuries, before Jemimah Rodrigues turbo-charged the Indian innings at the death with a swift 36-ball 52.

In response, West Indies folded up for just 243 in 46.2 overs despite featuring a fighting century from captain and opener Hayley Matthews. For India, young leg-spinner Priya Mishra picked up three wickets in the innings while Deepti Sharma (2-40), Titas Sadhu (2-42) and Rawat (2-37) chipped in with two wickets each.

Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule Confirm IND vs PAK Showdown

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the entire itinerary of the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The high-stakes India vs Pakistan match is set to be played on February 23 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The Dubai-based venue will be hosting all of India’s planned fixtures at the tournament, owing to BCCI’s reluctance in sending the Indian team to Pakistan over security concerns.

The Champions Trophy 2025 will launch on February 19 with a Group A game between defending champions Pakistan and New Zealand. As many as three Pakistani venues, along with UAE’s Dubai will be hosting the three-week long event until the March 9 final.

Corbin Bosch Set For Test Debut As SA Announce XI Vs PAK

All-rounder Corbin Bosch is set to make his Test debut for South Africa through their upcoming first match of the home series against Pakistan. The 30-year-old, who also happens to be a close cricketing associate of Proteas veteran Aiden Markram, was included in South Africa’s playing XI as announced by CSA a couple of days prior to the ‘Boxing Day’ affair.

Temba Bavuma will continue to lead the South African team with strong prospects of qualifying for the 2025 WTC final next year. As per all permutations and combinations, the hosts need to win just one of their remaining two Tests against Pakistan to secure a spot for the title clash.

Smriti Mandhana Closes In On Beth Mooney In T20I Rankings

Prolific Indian opener Smriti Mandhana gained a rung to jump to number two spot on the latest ICC rankings for women’s T20I batters. With 753 rating points, Mandhana is trailing number one ranked Australian batter Beth Mooney (757) by just four points. The dashing Indian opening batter recently cracked three successive half-centuries in each of the three home T20Is against the visiting West Indies.

Apart from her T20I excellence, Smriti Mandhana also occupies the number two spot on the ICC ODI batting rankings behind South African juggernaut Laura Wolvaardt. Overall, in international cricket, the 28-year-old is currently on a fiery streak of six consecutive fifty-plus scores, which included an authoritative 105 against world champions Australia during an ODI at the WACA earlier this month.

Axar Patel Welcomes First Child With Wife Meha

Indian all-rounder Axar Patel and his wife Meha welcomed their first child on December 19. However, the cricketer shared the news on his social media accounts a few days later on December 24. Back in November, the 30-year-old made himself unavailable for India’s five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test tour of Australia to be with his family.