<h1 class="hdg1">Virat Kohli touches Axar Patel's feet for game-changing dismissal of Kane Williamson; spinner's reaction takes the cake</h1>
<h2 class="sortDec">It was the dismissal of Kane Williamson by Axar Patel that truly changed the momentum in favour of India.</h2>
<p>India completed an unbeaten run to the 2025&nbsp;<a class="manualbacklink" href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/topic/icc-champions-trophy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Champions Trophy</a>&nbsp;semifinal, finishing top of Group A with a win against New Zealand on Sunday in Dubai. The spinners orchestrated the victory, taking nine of the 10 wickets as India folded the Black Caps to 205 in their chase of 250. Five of those wickets were taken by&nbsp;<a class="manualbacklink" href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/players/varun-chakaravarthy-67469" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Varun Chakaravarthy</a>, who picked up his maiden five-wicket haul, yet it was the dismissal of&nbsp;<a class="manualbacklink" href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/players/kane-williamson-4330" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kane Williamson</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a class="manualbacklink" href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/players/axar-patel-62576" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Axar Patel</a> that truly changed the momentum in favour of India.</p>
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<p>The former New Zealand captain looked well set to single-handedly take his team past the finish line with a century. Batting at 81, he was New Zealand's last recognised batter alive in the contest. But a magical delivery from Axar crushed his hopes in the final ball of the 41st over.</p>
<p>The spinner added more flight to his delivery onto the middle as Williamson, expecting a quicker one, shimmied down the ground, hoping to take a single and get back on strike at the start of the next over. However, the delivery sneaked past the inside edge and the leg stump before wicketkeeper KL Rahul collected it and completed an easy stumping. Williamson did not even bother to look back as he returned to the dressing room.</p>
<p>Moments after the dismissal, Virat Kohli playfully walked up to Axar and caught him by surprise as he touched his feet. Axar tried to stop him as he burst into uncontrollable laughter. The teammates soon joined Kohli and congratulated Axar again.</p>
<h2>India set semifinal date with Australia</h2>
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<p>With a hat-trick of wins, India finished at the top of Group A and reached the semifinal of the 2025 Champions Trophy. They will next face Australia in Dubai on Tuesday. The Steve Smith-led side completed just a solitary win in the group stage after rain led to two washed-out games in Pakistan.</p>
<p>The match will be billed as India's shot at avenging their loss in the 2023 ODI World Cup final at home. Australia had won by six wickets in Ahmedabad against a rampaging Indian side.</p>
<p>In the second semifinal, Group B toppers South Africa will face New Zealand in Pakistan on Wednesday. The final will be on Sunday.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

In a heartwarming gesture, Virat Kohli touches Axar Patel's feet after his game-changing performance. Discover more about this inspiring moment in cricket

Axar Patel's Game-Changing Moment

Virat Kohli touches Axar Patel's feet for game changing

<h1 id="main-heading-article" class="native_story_title">Virat Kohli is the true king not Babar Azam Mohammad Hafeez</h1>
<h2 class="synopsis">Mohammad Hafeez says Babar Azam has yet to play a match-winning knock in SENA countries.</h2>
<p>Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez made a scathing attack on Babar Azam for his another disappointing performance against India.&nbsp;<a class="" href="https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/shoaib-akhtar-would-you-rate-babar-azam-to-virat-kohli-9853121/">India defeated Pakistan by six wickets</a>&nbsp;in Dubai on Sunday.</p>
<p>Babar Azam is not the true king. It is&nbsp;<a class="keywordtourl" href="https://indianexpress.com/about/virat-kohli/" rel="noamphtml">Virat Kohli</a>. Look at his performances. He has dominated all over the world. Get out of your PR machinery. We need a performer,&rdquo; Mohammad Hafeez said on the show &ldquo;Game On Hai.</p>
<p>Pakistan did get off to a comfortable start with Babar Azam scoring five boundaries in 23 off 26 balls. He was then caught behind off Pandya in the ninth over.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Babar Azam is a good product. You tell me his one player of the match performance against India,&rdquo; Mohammad Hafeez said on the show &ldquo;Game On Hai.</p>
<p>Why do we always remember Shoaib Akhtar&rsquo;s performances against India. Why Younis Khan is a big name when we talk about India-Pakistan match. Shoaib Malik has big performances against India.</p>
<p>Tell me Babar Azam, the best Pakistani product that has come in the past 10 years. Tell me his one good performance against India.</p>
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<p>&ldquo;Babar Azam is not Inzamam-ul-Haq.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Inzi bhai used to win matches for Pakistan in difficult conditions.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Babar Azam has not won a single match against India to date.</p>
<p>He is playing for the past 10 years and has never become a player of the series in SENA countries. In Australia or England he has never led Pakistan to victory.</p>
<p><img src="https://backend.primetimesnews.com/storage/news/SAJa32UFyaol4Ridinezczsb7wLQiVduWdFGULkc.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="281"></p>
<p>We need to show them the mirror. We need to realise that those who we are banking on are not performing and we should move on from them.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Give the opportunity to them who are waiting in the system.&rdquo;</p>
<p>India tops the group with four points and has virtually secured its semifinal place. It will play New Zealand in its final league game in Dubai on March 2.</p>
<p>Pakistan flies back to take on Bangladesh on Thursday, with a painful exit looming from its home tournament.</p>
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Explore the debate between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, where Virat Kohli is hailed as the true king of cricket.

Virat Kohli is the true king not Babar Azam

<h1 class="hdg1">Emma Raducanu speaks out after disturbing incident at Dubai Tennis Championships</h1>
<h3 class="sortDec">Emma Raducanu faced emotional distress during her match at the Dubai Tennis Championships after a man exhibited unsettling behaviour in the crowd.</h3>
<p>British tennis star Emma Raducanu faced a distressing situation during her second-round match at the Dubai Tennis Championships. The 22-year-old became visibly emotional after noticing a man in the crowd exhibiting unsettling behaviour. Struggling to focus, she walked behind the umpire&rsquo;s chair as security intervened and removed the individual from the stands.</p>
<p>Raducanu, who was consoled by her opponent Karolina Muchova, eventually resumed play but lost 7-6, 6-4.</p>
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<p>Following the incident, the Women&rsquo;s Tennis Association (WTA) confirmed that the man had been banned from attending future events. Reports also emerged that Raducanu had received an unsolicited letter from the same person at her hotel the day before the match.</p>
<p>In response to the situation, Raducanu took to Instagram to express gratitude for the support she received, and wrote:</p>
<p>"Thank you for the messages of support. Difficult experience yesterday, but I&rsquo;ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match. Thank you to Karolina for being a great sport, and best of luck to her for the rest of the tournament.</p>
<p>The WTA has since been in direct contact with Raducanu and her team to ensure her well-being and security going forward.</p>
<p>This is not the first time Raducanu has encountered safety concerns. In 2022, a London court issued a five-year restraining order against a man who had stalked her, including making uninvited visits to her home.</p>
<p>Tennis authorities in the UK have vowed to take extra precautions to protect Raducanu and other players at upcoming events, particularly Wimbledon. A spokesperson for the All England Club emphasised the importance of player safety, revealing that they work closely with security experts and law enforcement to monitor individuals who may pose a risk.</p>
<p>Ensuring a secure environment for players is a top priority. We are aware of certain individuals who follow players across events, and we work closely with the Metropolitan Police, WTA, ATP and fixated risk management experts to provide necessary protection at all times.</p>
<p>Raducanu&rsquo;s upcoming schedule includes the Indian Wells and Miami Opens in March, followed by a Billie Jean King Cup tie for Great Britain in April.</p>
<p>The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) also weighed in on the situation, stressing that such incidents highlight the unique security challenges faced by professional athletes, particularly female players. An LTA representative stated:</p>
<p>"We provide security support for British players and have been in contact with Emma and her team regarding the events in Dubai. Our security measures at UK tournaments are extensive and under constant review. The tours already have strong protocols in place, and we will continue working with law enforcement and security providers to handle these situations effectively.</p>
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Emma Raducanu addresses a disturbing incident at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Emma Raducanu Speaks Out After Disturbing

Emma Raducanu speaks out after disturbing incident at Dubai Tennis Championships

<h1 id="main-heading-article" class="native_story_title">Rajat Patidar named RCB captain for IPL 2025</h1>
<p class="synopsis">Rajat Patidar takes over as RCB captain for IPL 2025 from Faf du Plessis who led the side across three seasons between 2022-24 where Royal Challengers Bengaluru made it to the IPL Playoffs twice.</p>
<p>Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have named India and Madhya Pradesh batter Rajat Patidar as the captain of the franchise for the IPL 2025 season on Thursday.</p>
<p class="no_first_intro_para">Patidar takes over from Faf du Plessis who led the side across three seasons between 2022-24 where the team made it to the&nbsp;<a class="keywordtourl" href="https://indianexpress.com/section/sports/ipl/" rel="noamphtml">IPL</a>&nbsp;Playoffs twice. The 31-year-old Indore-born batter made a dramatic re-entry into the IPL mid-way through the 2022 season as a replacement player for Luvnith Sisodia in&nbsp;<a class="keywordtourl" href="https://indianexpress.com/about/royal-challengers-bangalore/" rel="noamphtml">RCB</a>&nbsp;after having previously played four games in 2021 for the franchise but not retained later that year.</p>
<p class="no_first_intro_para">In eight games in 2022, Patidar aggregated 333 runs including an unbeaten 112 off 54 balls in the IPL Eliminator win against&nbsp;<a class="keywordtourl" href="https://indianexpress.com/about/lucknow-super-giants/" rel="noamphtml">Lucknow Super Giants</a>. Patidar later missed the 2023 season due to an Achilles Heel injury but was retained by the franchise for another season. In 2024, Patidar was at his destructive best for RCB, smashing 33 sixes while amassing 395 runs in 15 matches.</p>
<p class="no_first_intro_para">Ahead of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction in November 2024, Patidar was retained for Rs 11 crore alongside former skipper&nbsp;<a class="keywordtourl" href="https://indianexpress.com/about/virat-kohli/" rel="noamphtml">Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;(Rs 21 crore) and Yash Dayal (Rs 5 crore).</p>
<p class="no_first_intro_para">Patidar is the eighth captain for RCB since the IPL&rsquo;s inception in 2008, following&nbsp;<a class="keywordtourl" href="https://indianexpress.com/about/rahul-dravid/" rel="noamphtml">Rahul Dravid</a>, Anil Kumble, Kevin Pietersen, Daniel Vettori, Kohli,&nbsp;<a class="keywordtourl" href="https://indianexpress.com/about/shane-watson/" rel="noamphtml">Shane Watson</a>&nbsp;and du Plessis.</p>
<p class="no_first_intro_para">atidar recently Madhya Pradesh to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 final, losing to eventual champions&nbsp;<a class="keywordtourl" href="https://indianexpress.com/section/cities/mumbai/" rel="noamphtml">Mumbai</a>. Smashing 27 maximums, Patidar racked up 428 runs in nine outings with five fifties. Patidar&rsquo;s only ODI and three Test appearances came between December 2023 and February 2024.</p>
<p class="no_first_intro_para">&nbsp;</p>
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have named India and Madhya Pradesh batter Rajat Patidar as the captain of the franchise for the IPL 2025

Rajat Patidar named RCB captain for IPL 2025

<h1>Champions Trophy Will high-risk-high-reward selection approach pay for India?</h1>
<p>India's Champions Trophy selection faces scrutiny with the injury of key pacer Jasprit Bumrah and opting for a spin-heavy attack. Coach Gautam Gambhir's risky strategy includes five spinners and a new pacer Harshit Rana, raising questions about the balance and experience of the squad in the upcoming tournament.</p>
<p>NEW DELHI: It fits with head coach Gautam<br>Gambhir's high-risk, high-reward strategy, but can India's Champions Trophy team do well at the ODI showcase after losing their game-changing pace talisman Jasprit Bumrah to injury?</p>
<p>Given the bold decisions made to choose the final 15, the answer to that issue is not really clear-cut.</p>
<p>The drafting in of five spinners is the first step in the selection risks. Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Ravindra Jadeja will all be part of the spin-heavy bowling attack on the aircraft to Dubai.</p>
<p>Bumrah has been replaced by Harshit Rana, while Mohammed Siraj, who is more experienced, has been placed in the non-traveling reserves along with all-rounder Shivam Dube and rookie batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal.<br>Dubai, where pacers have historically had gre matches.</p>
<p>According to available data, India's home stadium, the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, has held 58 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) since 2009. During that time, pacers have claimed 466 wickets at an average of 28.6 and economy of 4.8.<br>Together, the spinners have taken 334 wickets at the DICS so far, and they average 30 runs with a marginally higher economy of 4.2.</p>
<p>"The Dubai surface has a bit more carry than say in Sharjah, and the pacers here have found some good success and that's why Pakistan has picked more pacers in their squad, though they are supposed to play only a couple of matches here," a former national selector told PTI.<br>"If you use the new ball well, then you can have a good purchase there. I am not faulting the selection of Varun. He is in good form, but I would have liked to see one more experienced pacer in that side, someone like Siraj," he added.</p>
<p>Having five spinners appears to be an overestimation of the situation from the outside. But because of Chakravarthy's outstanding recent form, the management decided to take a chance.<br>After failing to perform well in the T20 World Cup 2021 at the same location, Chakravarthy has been trusted to perform well in a multi-nation competition.</p>
<p><br>The fact that Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand, India's league stage opponents in the Champions Trophy, have never faced him before may have tipped the odds in his favor.</p>
<p>He also benefited from the way he was able to cause England problems in the current home series by being a mystery to the visitors.</p>
<p>On the other hand, it puts Kuldeep Yadav in danger. Given their batting prowess, Jadeja and Axar are the preferred spinners; hence, Kuldeep and Chakravarthy will compete for the third spinner's spot.</p>
<p>Chakravarthy can pip the left-arm wrist spinner, at least in the early going of the Champions Trophy, if India adopts the strategy of the most recent second ODI match against England at Cuttack.<br>Placing Rana ahead of Siraj as Bumrah's substitute for a competition where teams must walk a tightrope between three league-phase matches is another example of selection dilemma.<br>According to conventional wisdom, experience is more important in these situations than explosiveness, yet the wise guys chose to use Rana.</p>
<p>Captain Rohit Sharma claims that Siraj was left out of the main event because of his inefficiency with the old ball.<br>Rana has demonstrated his ability to strike when the white ball loses its lacquer twice previously on that count.</p>
<p>Rana, who was the sixth bowler in his T20I debut and a controversial replacement for Shivam Dube due to a concussion, finished with game-changing numbers of 3 for 33.<br>Rana went for a few runs in ODIs, but he had the guts to bowl three spells in three different parts of the game.</p>
<p>The management has taken a chance by putting their faith in Rana to advance in his position swiftly and perform well in a demanding competition when needed.<br>After Bumrah was disqualified due to a lower back ailment, it is a prevalent belief that the selectors wanted a bowler with a certain air of mystery in the squad.<br>So, they chose Chakravarthy, who was in form. Justifiable decision. However, why pick him over opener Jaiswal?</p>
<p>Should they have swapped him out for a spinner? To make room for Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar might have been the one left out.<br>The opening dilemma that plagued them in the first ODI against England at Nagpur, however, has also been evaded by the selectors in a single shot.</p>
<p>Having Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer in the same eleven was difficult, but they were momentarily relieved when Virat Kohli got hurt.<br>The big wigs did not want an encore in Dubai, and Jaiswal missed the second match after Kohli returned.<br>Shubman Gill, who struck two fifties in as many ODIs against England, and Rohit, who scored a century at Cuttack, are now being trusted by India to perform well in the Champions Trophy.<br>Instead of putting pressure on the other middle-order players, they hope Kohli will find a way to resume his imposing scoring ways.</p>
<p>The management has taken a chance by assuming that the top five will be in excellent form for the duration of the competition.<br>Additionally, they have jeopardized Hardik Pandya's historically questionable fitness and his capacity to fill the void as the third seamer behind Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana.<br>India appears to have taken too many chances based on the squad. Will they receive the high prize they want? Or will they falter?<br>For now, it's the alluring unpredictability of a path fraught with danger.</p>
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Champions Trophy: Will high-risk-high-reward selection approach pay for India?

Champions Trophy

<h1 id="main-heading-article" class="native_story_title">Cristiano Ronaldo says Kylian Mbappe is not a natural striker: &lsquo;If I were at Real Madrid, I would teach</h1>
<p class="synopsis">Cristiano Ronaldo who will turn 40 on Wednesday, said that the 26-year-old Kylian Mbappe is not a natural striker and will need time to adapt at Real Madrid.</p>
<p>Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has received backing and a piece of advice from club legend Cristiano Ronaldo as he continues to find his feet in the Spanish capital.</p>
<p class="no_first_intro_para">After a free transfer switch from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, Mbappe has the chance to emulate his idol at the Santiago Bernabeu. Embracing a new position as the team&rsquo;s no. 9 unlike his PSG days, Mbappe&rsquo;s had a rocky start to his Madrid journey and Ronaldo has now come and urged the club and its fans to support the Frenchman in his journey.</p>
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<p>&ldquo;I love him very much, and not only because of the story he had as a young man that he loved Cristiano Ronaldo very much and he was his idol,&rdquo; Ronaldo said in an interview with El Chiringuito.</p>
<p>But I really see him as a crack [a star player] and he is going to give Real Madrid a lot of joy,&rdquo; Ronaldo predicted.</p>
<p>&ldquo;The striker position makes it a bit difficult for Mbappe, because he doesn&rsquo;t know how to play as a striker in my opinion&hellip; It&rsquo;s not that he doesn&rsquo;t know, it&rsquo;s not his position,&rdquo; the Portuguese icon said.</p>
<p>&ldquo;If I were at Real Madrid I would teach him to play as a 9. Because I wasn&rsquo;t a striker. I got used to playing as a striker. I played on the wing and people forget,&rdquo; Ronaldo added</p>
<p>Kylian shouldn&rsquo;t be your typical striker. If I were him, I would play more or less like how Cristiano Ronaldo plays as a striker,&rdquo; suggested Ronaldo.</p>
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<div class="newsletter_form">Ronaldo, Real Madrid&rsquo;s record goal-scorer also urged the fans and the club to primarily to look after Mbappe. &ldquo;I say this to the Real Madrid fans&hellip; Take care of the kid. I have no doubt Mbappe is going to give Real Madrid fans a lot of joy.</div>
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Cristiano Ronaldo who will turn 40 on Wednesday, said that the 26-year-old Kylian Mbappe is not a natural striker and will need time to adapt at Real Madrid.

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Champions Trophy: Will high-risk-high-reward selection approach pay for India?

Cristiano Ronaldo says Kylian Mbappe is not a natural striker