Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan took part in the popular This or That challenge in the “who is the better batter” category. The right-handed batter ignored legendary batters like Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, and Saeed Anwar, and instead picked out-of-favour Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad as his choice.

Sahibzada is currently playing for Dhaka Capitals in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The opener has scored 20 runs in two matches at an average of 10 and a strike rate of 100, including a golden duck. However, he will miss some part of the ongoing BPL season after being named in Pakistan’s T20I squad.

Watch: Sahibzada Farhan Ignores Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma to Pick Ahmed Shehzad

Sahibzada Farhan recently participated in a This or That challenge, where he was asked to choose between cricket’s all-time greats in a “winner stays on” format.

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Farhan paused for a few seconds when asked to pick between Saeed Anwar and Ahmed Shehzad. He chose Shehzad over Anwar and moved on to the next round. The opener then continued to pick Shehzad over Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma.

In the final round, the 34-year-old batter was asked to choose between Sachin Tendulkar and Shehzad. After a brief pause, Farhan named Shehzad the winner of the This or That challenge. However, he added that Sachin Tendulkar is his favourite cricketer.

Here is a video of the same on X (formerly known as Twitter):

No way he chose Ahmed Shehzad over Saeed Anwar and Sachin Tendulkar 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ChdDBC7zVT

— Maaz (@IsThatMaaz) December 29, 2025

Sahibzada Farhan Looks to Regain Form Ahead of Sri Lanka T20Is

Sahibzada Farhan caught attention earlier this year during the Asia Cup. He smashed several sixes against Jasprit Bumrah and was one of Pakistan’s most consistent batters in the tournament, even though Pakistan lost the final.

After the Asia Cup, Sahibzada Farhan continued his good form in the home T20I tri-series. He scored 191 runs in the series at an average of 47.75.

However, the start of the Bangladesh Premier League 2025-26 season has been difficult for him. Farhan has scored only 20 runs in two innings so far. In the first match, he made 20 runs off 19 balls, and in the next game, he was dismissed for a golden duck.

With Pakistan preparing for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka, Farhan will be eager to find form again in the remaining BPL matches and regain his confidence before international duties.

Ahmed Shehzad Out of National Setup Since 2019

Ahmed Shehzad has been out of the national setup since 2019, and a return now appears unlikely. The right-handed batter has featured in 13 Tests, 81 ODIs, and 59 T20Is for the Pakistan national team.

Shehzad has scored 982 runs in Tests at an average of 40.91, including three centuries and four half-centuries. He has amassed 2,605 runs in ODIs at an average of 32.56, while he made 1,471 runs in T20Is at an average of 25.80. He has been out of favour for the past five years due to inconsistency.

Shehzad last appeared in the Pakistan Super League in 2020 for Quetta Gladiators. He was part of their title-winning squad in 2019. However, he scored just 61 runs in seven innings during the 2020 season, further dimming his chances of a comeback at the top level.

Also read: PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi sides with India, endorses no-handshake policy

Hobart Hurricanes player Nikhil Chaudhary was forced off the field after picking up an injury while trying to take a catch near the boundary. The incident occurred during the match between Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades, which is being played at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Monday, December 29.

The Hurricanes opted to field after winning the bat flip in their match against the Renegades. All-rounder Beau Webster returned to the Hurricanes lineup after being temporarily released from Australia’s Ashes Test squad. Matthew Wade and Hugo Burdon also came into the playing XI due to injury concerns.

Watch: Nikhil Chaudhary Suffers Injury Scare During BBL Clash

Nikhil Chaudhary picked up a serious-looking injury while fielding near the boundary during the ninth over of the Melbourne Renegades innings. The incident occurred when Oliver Peake hit a big shot off Rishad Hossain toward the deep.

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Chaudhary ran across from long-on and jumped near the rope in an effort to take an overhead catch. He got his hands on the ball but could only push it over the boundary for six.

Chaudhary landed awkwardly on his right shoulder and stayed on the ground holding it, making it clear that something was wrong.

The physios rushed out to check on him as he struggled to move his right arm. After several minutes of treatment on the field, Chaudhary was helped off and taken into the dressing room for further assessment. The injury appeared serious and added to the Hurricanes’ growing injury concerns.

Watch the video of the same posted by BBL on X (formerly known as Twitter) below:

Nikhil Chaudhary has left the field following an injury sustained while attempting a catch in the deep. #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/JV8qqGEAkb

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 29, 2025

Hurricanes Sweating on Nikhil Chaudhary Injury After Strong Bowling Show

The Hobart Hurricanes are concerned about Nikhil Chaudhary’s injury, especially with Tim David already ruled out for the rest of the tournament. Chaudhary has been among the runs recently, and the team will be hoping he can still play a role later in the match.

There is some hope that Chaudhary could still bat in the second innings. If the injury is classified as external, he would be allowed to bat anywhere in the order despite the time spent off the field. Otherwise, he would be restricted to batting at No. 7 or lower.

On the field, the Hurricanes delivered a strong bowling performance. After conceding 101 runs in the first 10 overs, they tightened up well and allowed only 61 in the final 10, as the Melbourne Renegades failed to build partnerships, with several batters getting starts but none converting them into big scores.

Playing XIs: Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades

Hobart Hurricanes: Mitchell Owen, Tim Ward, Beau Webster, Ben McDermott, Nikhil Chaudhary, Matthew Wade (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Chris Jordan, Nathan Ellis (c), Rishad Hossain, Riley Meredith

Melbourne Renegades: Josh Brown, Tim Seifert, Muhammad Rizwan (wk), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Oliver Peake, Hassan Khan, Will Sutherland (c), Andrew Tye, Gurinder Sandhu, Adam Zampa, Jason Behrendorff

Also read: ICC gives ‘Unsatisfactory’ rating to MCG pitch after Ashes Test ends in just two days

Sunil Gavaskar, the former Indian skipper, has slammed England management for the lack of preparation with the red ball and has questioned their decision to skip first-class cricket before the demanding and prestigious Ashes tour in Australia.

England have received immense criticism for their weak showing in the ongoing Ashes series. The criticism continued despite England’s win in the Boxing Day Test match at the MCG. However, it came in the fourth Test of the series, and with three humiliating losses, the fate of the Ashes was sealed in favour of the Australians.

However, England managed to break their 19-match losing streak on Australian soil, and the Ben Stokes-led side finally got some nerve back after the win at MCG. However, they set an unwanted record of losing an Ashes series within 11 days.

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Sunil Gavaskar slams England players for lack of first-class practice

Amid their disastrous run in the Ashes, England captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum have been constantly backing the team and have kept faith in their Bazball strategy. However, the much-hyped approach can be increasingly one-dimensional when put under pressure by disciplined and accurate gameplay.

Australia have not only defeated the England team but has also crushed the confidence of the English batters. The likes of Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, and even Joe Root have struggled for every run in the Australian island.

To this, Indian batting great Sunil Gavaskar highlighted the lack of patience within the players due to the lack of sufficient first-class exposure ahead of the crucial series. Hence, the players cannot adjust adequately to the rhythm of Test match batting.

“He [The modern batter] thinks counterattack is the answer, when a little bit of patience, with some deep breaths taken to slow down the adrenaline, might help in reducing the bat speed and the big swing, so even if he miscues or edges, the ball may not carry to the fielder.

“But then, if he hardly plays any First-Class cricket, how will he mentally get used to adjusting to the required rhythm of a Test match?” Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.

“The more you play, the better you will get,” feels Sunil Gavaskar

England greats like Ian Botham and Michael Vaughan all looked unconvinced by the fact that England started off their Ashes campaign without a single warm-up game in the Australian islands. As a result of this, the hyped Bazball strategy collapsed during the first three Tests.

Sunil Gavaskar clearly feels that these struggles are only due to a lack of enough Test exposure for the players. With the terrible record they hold in the island nation, England should have been more cautious in batting practices. The Indian great also pointed out how, after playing three matches, England could manage a win as they improved with on-field exposure.

“England’s win, even though it came in the fourth Test with the series already lost, does prove once again that the more you play, the better you will get, especially in unfamiliar overseas conditions… The point, therefore, is that England should have played a few more First-Class games before the first Test? The ‘ares’ do not agree with the ‘has-beens’ here,” Sunil Gavaskar added.

England look to win the SCG Test to hold onto the Bazball legacy

England finally won their third match of this WTC cycle and made it count in Australia. Following their win at the MCG, the Englishmen would also be eyeing another win at the Sydney Cricket Ground, considering that this win might help them keep some hopes alive in the WTC.

Also, with several more players released by the Australians, England might seek this as an opportunity to save some honour in Australia. Coming from behind and finishing the Ashes 3-2, this would be a major boost for Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum to defend the ‘bazball’ strategy.

ALSO READ: ICC gives ‘Unsatisfactory’ rating to MCG pitch after Ashes Test ends in just two days

Mumbai batter and Rohit Sharma’s new List A opening partner, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, has taken up wicket-keeping practices to evolve his skillset in the game, which would add to his value in the future. The KKR batter has hinted at donning the gloves in the IPL as well.

The Kolkata Knight Riders almost revamped their squad by all means ahead of the next season in the IPL. Angkrish Raghuvanshi has turned out to be a valuable asset for them in the middle order.

However, considering the way KKR acquired their players during the 2026 IPL mini-auction, every player in the side will be on their toes to replace the other in the playing XI. Hence, Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been practising new skill sets to consolidate his position within the XI.

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Angkrish Raghuvanshi turns wicket-keeper to retain spot in KKR XI

Young Angkrish Raghuvanshi entered IPL in 2024 as a young 19-year-old cricketer. Under Gautam Gambhir’s expertise, he made his debut for KKR and batted in the top order, gaining some sublime control. Raghuvanshi also turned out to be KKR’s man when it came to runs in the previous season of the IPL.

Recently, he was spotted playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for the Mumbai Cricket team. He was part of the 141-run opening stand alongside Rohit Sharma and was recently interviewed from the sidelines of one of the matches for Mumbai.

When asked about the recent wicket-keeping drills he has been doing, and if he would keep wickets for KKR in the IPL as well. Angkrish Raghuvanshi said, “I’m really enjoying it. It’s challenging, but it feels like you’re in the game all the time.” He added that whether he would keep it for KKR or not shall be found out in due time.

VIDEO | When asked about practising wicketkeeping to expand his skill set ahead of the IPL, Angkrish Raghuvanshi said he is enjoying the challenge and working hard on it. “I’m really enjoying it. It’s challenging, but it feels like you’re in the game all the time,” he added.… pic.twitter.com/z4a7pFpCiH

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 29, 2025

Kolkata Knight Riders invested big money in Indian wicket-keeper Tejasvi Dahiya

The Kolkata Knight Riders entered the 2025 IPL auction with the highest purse and acted accordingly, as they bought two of the costliest players of the auction (Cameron Green and Matheesha Pathirana) and also set a record for the costliest overseas buy, surpassing their own set record with Mitchell Starc.

After having made the majority of their buys, the Kolkata Knight Riders still had enough money to invest in any player. They then went all out for the Delhi wicket-keeper batter Tejasvi Dahiya, who had performed promisingly in the Delhi Premier League.

The batter also had some promising numbers for Delhi. In two List A games, he had a hundred before making his third List A appearance for Delhi against Saurashtra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. Averaging 56.50 in T20s, the batter amassed 113 runs in 4 T20 matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this season.

Finn Allen and Tim Seifert are among the power strikers for KKR

Kolkata Knight Riders could not get their hands on the likes of Sanju Samson or KL Rahul despite desperate attempts to acquire them through trades. Hence, they had to settle for Finn Allen and later Tim Seifert, the two New Zealand wicket-keepers.

Though Allen is not used much as a keeper by his national team as well as other franchise teams, he is a wicket-keeper and an explosive opening batsman. Seifert has the same attributes but is used more regularly as a gloveman.

KKR picked both these players at their base prices of INR 2 crores and INR 1.5 crores, respectively. Seifert, playing for the Melbourne Renegades in the BBL, scored a century in the BBL opener, and Finn Allen has also shown a promising performance with 138 runs in 3 matches for the Perth Scorchers.

ALSO READ: Nikhil Chaudhary suffers HORRIFIC INJURY in BBL 2025-26, carried off the field

Young Mumbai batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi has opened up about his partnership with veteran Team India opener Rohit Sharma during the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025. The right-handed batter said he enjoyed batting alongside Rohit, describing watching him from the non-striker’s end as being like a movie.

Rohit made himself available for selection for Mumbai for the first two matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy ahead of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. The opener scored 155 runs off 94 balls, including 18 fours and nine sixes, while chasing a target of 237 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

It Honestly Felt Like a Movie – Angkrish Raghuvanshi on Batting With Rohit Sharma

Angkrish Raghuvanshi described batting alongside Rohit Sharma as a special experience after their big opening stand against Sikkim. Raghuvanshi said that he enjoyed having a front-row view from the non-striker’s end. He added that watching Rohit bat was like watching a movie unfold.

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“Out of the 141 runs, I got only 40, so it was just so much fun. I was mostly giving him singles and watching from the non-striker’s end, and it honestly felt like a movie,” Angkrish Raghuvanshi said.

VIDEO | Vijay Hazare Trophy: Mumbai opener Angkrish Raghuvanshi, reflecting on his 141-run opening-wicket partnership with Rohit Sharma against Sikkim, said, “Out of the 141 runs, I got only 40, so it was just so much fun. I was mostly giving him singles and watching from the… pic.twitter.com/EI52maJaWn

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 29, 2025

Raghuvanshi scored 38 runs off 58 balls, including four boundaries, during the tournament opener. The young batter added a 141-run partnership with Rohit in the run chase. However, he failed to convert his start into a half-century.

Rohit Sharma Set To Return To International Cricket In January

Rohit Sharma is set to return to international action in January during India’s three-match home ODI series against New Zealand, which begins on January 11 in Vadodara.

Rohit enjoyed an outstanding year in ODI cricket in 2025. He played 14 matches and scored 650 runs at an average of 50.00 and a strike rate of just over 100, including four half-centuries and two hundreds. The batter climbed to the top of the ICC ODI batting rankings during the year.

Rohit scored 202 runs in three innings against Australia, including a century in Sydney. He then carried that form into the home series against South Africa, where he struck two half-centuries.

Overall, the 38-year-old has featured in 279 ODIs for India, scoring 11,516 runs at an average of 49.21, with 33 centuries and 61 fifties to his name.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi Smashes Half-Century After Being Discharged From Hospital

Mumbai continued their strong run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with an easy nine-wicket win over Chhattisgarh. The chase was never in doubt, as Mumbai stayed in control from the start.

Chasing a target of 143, Angkrish Raghuvanshi played with confidence and maturity. The 21-year-old scored an unbeaten 68 off 66 balls, including six fours and two sixes. Mumbai reached the target in just 24 overs, finishing the game comfortably.

Raghuvanshi showed a good balance between playing safe shots and attacking when needed. A few days earlier, he had suffered a serious-looking injury while fielding, hurting his head and shoulder while attempting a diving catch. He was stretchered off and taken to the hospital for scans.

Also read: BCCI Central Contracts 2026: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma demoted as Shubman Gill gets promotion